The Express.
London, England, 1860-05-07 00:00:00

(Stamped Id. Additional.)

BANQUET AT THE ROYAL ACADEMY.

The banquet to inaugurate the opening of this
year's exhibition of the Royal Academy in Trafahmr-equare
was given on Saturday evenmg. The company was much
larger than on any previous ocomion. Lord Palmerston,
the Duke of Somerset, Earl De Gray sad Ripon, Lord J.
Rowell, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Sidney Her-
bert, Sir Charles Wood, Mr. Miner Gibson, Earl Derby,
Mr. Disraeli, Lord Chelmsford, Lord Stanley, the Bishop of
Loudon, the Bishop of Oxford, the Marquis of Lansdowne,
Earl Grey, Earl Clarendon, Sir J. Lawrence, Lient.-Colonel
Edwaides, Professor Owen, Professor Faraday, Mr. George
Grote, and Mr. J. Former were amoog the guests. The
entertainment wan served in the east mom. The presi-
dent, Sir CHARLES E,sarc►xs, occupied the chair, which
was placed immediately in front of Phillips's picture of the
royal marriage.

After Dinner " Non noble Domino" having been sung,
The Paean:lm, in
.g,.the first taint, " The
Health of her Majesty: . dated that her lea-
' jell is the poeseesor ofWads in the present exhihi-
non. (Cheers.) The tor 4 which wesestrunk with muck
Lune, was followed br —rho' th of his Royer
lines, the Print'. OassieW• " The Health of his Ralik
H hoes' the Prince of Wass end the Royel hemib,"weet
" e Army and Navy," responded to by the Duke el
Somerset and Mr. Sidney Herbert. '
The Pneareeter, in proposing the heath of the '•to
whom he lammed se the • ef all e
friends of art, said the ,fir art a
amateurs is, In roost Instant*. If fteeludiS
love of the oblate ital. A bran* Oa °rarities
almost seem to ham beekiniatoesd Ififfttts,HtdM,
De Bad, Taste towhee As what se 1011.1111111.
which might saailylead to enlversal disapprobation and ex-
"laden. The alighfiy idtaria bat more Weal fora.: "lade
tenches us What to prefer," which is more conaonant to, the
Anent disposition of the friends of artoreplles, hated,
selection, but at the same time • willingness to select.
The humanising tendencies of the fine arts, he ressaked,
are by no means confined to those who can command their
productions, but they exercise an increase eg and m-
m isakable influence on the halite and laden el the lower
classes. Nor should it be forgotten that ia the various
branched they promise to afford the means of congenial and
honourable employment to young women who might other-
wise fed to obtain the means of support. He need not point
out the ultimate benefits of such an occupation and of such
an inflames in a social point of view. (Cheers.)
Viiiesennt Parausarrox, who was received with great
=aped —I am persuaded that I am only a faithful
he opinions and feelings of those whom you have
hammed by pogo to drink • their health when I return
meow most- dames thanks forth. great pleas are and ell-
*swept which has been conferred up= us by the invitation
we have received. I am convince indeed, that there is
.not one among those whom the Royal, Academy is in-the
habit of honouring with invitations to their an '
meetings who does not look forward to that day as one
the. brightest in the whole course of the year. (Cheers.)
It la a meeting doubly gratifying to those who areirr-
mitted to attend it. In the first place, we have the ea-
sure of seeing assembled within these walla men the
greeted aid most eminent distinction in all the walks of
life. You meet assembled here politicians forgetful of an-
tagonism—men of professions free from their cares, men of
literature unmeant of their anxieties, men of science,
who for • time do not think of their labours—all who ante;
your doom deposit upon the threshold every troubling
thought of that outer world, and meet here enly for a com-
mon purpose to appreciate and admire--(cheeril--and,
undoubtedly, I em convinced that I am speaking the isenti-
mints of all those for who I am returning thanks when I
say that I believe there never was an occasion on which
those assembled within your walls had grader reason to ap-
'sedate and to admire. (Cheers.) The display of talent
which we see adorning your walls does the highest partible
credit to the state of the arts in this country. (Cheers.)
This country, indeed, is making most wonderful progress in
everything that constituters national greatness and pros-
, perky : and wonderful it would be if the arta did not keep
pace with that progress', and did not show that the intellect
of this country is equal to any exertion which may be made
by any of the other claws and interest. of the nation. (Chaim)
There is nothing more ennobling than the cultivation of art.
Nations have been great in war, although they were to •
certain extent deserving of the epithet of barbarians;
but a nation to be really great must not only excel in its
strength, wealth, and prosperity, but must excel also, as I
am proud to say this country dote, in the development of its
intellectual powers. (Loud cheers.) It has been said of
another branch of intellect, namely, that which delights us
in theatrical repretentations—it has been said, I think un-
justly, that
"The drama's petal's' give the drama laws."

- -
Fteslump besmear purer tiwor4ioot4Me would imply it lie
=but the reverse undoubtedly may be said of the
ente of art. The artist not only creates, hut lei-
proves, and directs, and guides the taste of the patrons of
art; and the power of the artist survives even the duration
of his life, because even when the mind which directs; is
Bone, and when the hand, that executes is cold, the genius
it recorded continues to remain a standard of taste, and
to guide and direct the judgment of mankind for ages after
thiedecease of the artist himself. (Loud cheers.) I trust
that the ptogren we have the satisfaction at seeing may
continue. We may think, perhaps, when we see the per-
imam to which the artists of the day have arrived, that
then is not much left for their summers to do ; but if we
only hope that the encouragement which is given by public
les. to artists will maintain art I the degree of perfee-
thth to which it has already arrived we shall have ample
mid= to be satisfied. I trust I may be allowed, Sir
Aliles, by the authority of those whom you have he-
Pond, to request that you will permit me to drink,
" raiprity to the Royal Academy." (Loud cheers.)
The PENMEN!, in the course of the speech in which he
proposed the health of her Majesty's ministers, said—l
must do the members of the Royal Academy the justice to
' say that some of their own works have been this year with-
drawn to make room for others—(cheers)—and it is satire
factory, amid the disappointments which under the circum.
'tenon are unavoidable, to see works by contributors
occupying those prominent places which by a fair and
acknowledged privilege are usually assigned to members.
(Cheers.) From the experience of the present exhibition
alone it is plain that the additional space which the
Academy so reach wants would be a boon to the contri-
butors, end it is on this account the more earnestly de-
sired. The members of the Royal Academy are sincerely
anxious to render this institution as useful as pos-
sible in conformity with the objects of its foundation.
(Cheers.) They, too, are prepared to set their house in
order—thew, hurl—but before they can do so it is essential
that they should know without a figare where and whet
their hones is to be, (Cheers and a laugh.) Under any cir-
cumstances they are deeply sensible of the consideration
they have received from the present end from the late
government--(cheers)--and knowing how many important
oonoores must take precedence of any questions connected
with the Fine Arts—above all, knowing that there is every
disposition to do justice to their claims, they wait the result
without impatience.
Lord J. Russell., who was received with peat applause,
, said—l do not rise, Sir Charles, to thank yen fur the tout
of her Majesty's Ministers. I rise rather to protest against
it. (A laugh.) I think that in these meetings of the Royal
Academy it is very difficult to speak of the merits of her
ye ministers without raising a political debate, and
Me..
••
you in the situation of Speaker of the House of
(A laugh.) Now, if I were to dilate, which were
self epeakini the troth, on the devotion and patriotism
wMohiser Majesty's ministers have shown in accepting
otko—(sheen end laughter)—on the unerring wisdom
which all their measures ahow, and the universal popularity
which has attended them—(cheers and laughter conti nued)—
I are afraid, instead of meeting the assent of all who are
present, l should, as I have said, raise a diw.ussion, and have
to contend with Mr. Disraeli—(cheep)—or some other gen-
tleman to prove the assertions I have made. Therefore, I
really think that this toast of her Majesty's ministers is not
one that ought to be given. (Loud cheers.) At the same
time, lam very grateful to you for the honour you have
done us, although 1 must not say much about it. (Cheers.)
I would rather, if I could, spank of the merits of the pictures
we Sae on these web.. That is a topic at least on which
we should all agree. (Cheers.) Anti in connexion with
the merits of thine pictures I may say that you, Sir Charles,
have supplied me with en argument for which I am exceed-
ingly grateful ; because you have said that the cultiva-
tion of art and the exhibition of works in the highest
' style of art, and executed with great skill, teed to elevate
the taste and improve the minds of the lower orders. I
trust, therefore, that by means of a great many exhibitions
of these and other works of art these orders may be per-
nutted to exercise the elective franchise. (Cheers, and a
laugh.) Certainly. I did not expect to hear a new argument
in favour of lowering the franchise, but as you have given
me the benefit of that argument I return you my grateful
thanks for it. (Loud cheers.)
The Ilimiromer next pee "the Health of the Right
Hon.
Hon. the Lord Mayor and Pe...peaty to the City of London,"
followed by " Success to the Manchester Gallery and the
health of Mr. Fairhairn ;" and "The Royal Institute of
British Architects, end the health of its president, Mr.
Cockerell."
With the next toast, "the Interests of Literature," was
coupled the name of Mr. Motley, author of " The Rise of
the Dutch Republic."
iishirramner. fif or.t.let. —I
esml risee
bto...exiopressf.mt
my
yg eyrati.tuactaannidy my
ous e,m-to
admire the works of English genius which adorn the walls,
and to listen to those men whose eloquence has delighted
us to-night and has so often rung through ure.
(Cheers.) But I came to listen and to admire only • for
most unfortunately I have neither the habit nor the gift of
pnblie speech, and. it is only for the sake of thanking you
most fervently, but most briefly and simply, for the honour
you bestow in mentioning my name before so distinguished
an assembly that I venture to rise at all. Some one of
your own illustrious authors should have responded to the
toast at " Littustoto"--moso one to the maw born. Lad