The Express.
London, England, 1860-06-23 00:00:00

DINNER OF TEE SOCIETY OP ARTS.

Yesterday the hundred and sixtieth anniversary
dinner of the Society of Arts took place in St. James's.
hall ; the Right Hon. BINJAIHN DISRARLI in the chair.
In proposing the toast of the evening the CHAIRMAN
began by observing that • century was no mean period of
• nation's life. A hundred year' ago the United States of
America were not in existence ; a hundred years ago the
French Revolution was not contemplated by Robespierre;
a hundred years ago India was not conquered, and Aus-
Willa was not even discovered. Many of the arts now
deemed meoeuery to daily existence were not invented.
Them relictions would help them to appreciate the stand-
fag of those man who, • hundred years and many more
lofzvi.ere beaded together in the attempt to found &Society
Its sumer was far greater at first than could have
beware tisipeted ; but as time advanced the society de-
clined, ealß, some fifteen years ego, its very being might
have beseepsestioned. But just as its utter extinction was
at baud this society revived in ea extraordinary manner.
ifir:ato=se wee conceived and carried out, which
the admiration of the world. On this
180th anahereary of theirs, instead of indulging in self-
psnilaUm, it would be well to inquire what was the
principle which had led to their revival and hops. The
most forlorn situation which humanity could occupy was
the being shut up for a whole rainy day in • country inn.
luck • situation had once been occupiedby him, when he
was fortunate enough to light upon en odd volume of the
transactions of their body. He remembered that at
the time in question, which was in the early part
if the present century, the influence of the society
was very important. Premiums of considerable num-
ber and amount were given, about tweet-five of
which were for encouraging the fine arts, whilechemistry,
iaventions, and manufactures bore off the remainder. Agri-
culture especially was very much indebted to those well
considered arrangements for the application of resources.
Thnociety, in its very title, was almost of • universal cha-
racter ; the subject, however, which was least thought of
being the most important, to wit commerce. Fifteen years
ago, when on the eve of disappearing from the scene of ex-
iatence, the society happily discovered that
_they bad a
mission to educate the artisans of EnglaniL From
the moment they recognised this as one great
office imposed on them by duty, from that very moment
their prosperity began to increase. There were two modes
by which their purposes could be accomplished. The first
of these modes was the exhibition of mulls of
industry. Even so late as 1848 the proposal of • uni.
vernal exhibition was looked upon with cold-
ness. But when once the feasibility of this scheme
was made manifest they appeared before the world
as the originators of a great enterprise. If this were only •
meeting to celebrate the anniversary of their existence it
would be a barren proceeding. But they bad to consider
the future. The exhibition they had planned must not be
isolated. By acknowledging merit and not encouraging it
they were adhering still to • system of monopoly. They
had dame nothing by the Exhibition of 1851 if they resolved
to go no farther. They should pursue the principle
which, happily for them, they had struck out some fifteen
years ago. Some period, not too short for them to have •
difliculty in taking stock, as it were, of industrial advance,
nor so long as to allow emulation to languish, should be
determined on. Was it wise to acknowledge the principle
that, because a popular apprehension of war might
exist, the hopes of peace should be discouraged? The
arts of wer were, he thought, very much neglected some
15 years ago. He could not help saying that they had been
too much neglected, in fact injuriously so. But it would
be an equal mistake to suppose because we had fallen on
troublous times that the arta of cis ilisation need be share-
domed. He thought, therefore, that the society should con-
template, and practically contemplate, another great ex-
hibition. He did not mean • mere repetition of 1851. That
was essentially an exmptional exhibition. We should, be
thought, found au exhibition not so much on national as
on elms productions. He further recommended the induct.
ing music and painting. Having now touched on the first
means by which the objects of the society could be attained,
he would refer to • second. That amend means—and they
had not neglected it—was union with local societies. Several
hundred local associations had given in their adherence to
the Society of Arts. He had no shame in acknow-
ledging that he had felt disappointed with the results
of the mechanics' institutes. They were named on the
terms non /men& principle, and for a long time they bed
no mechanics as members. When mechanics were induced
at length to join they did not fulfil what was required of
them. He could not help expressing his conviction that it
was in the complete education of all classes, from the
highest to the lowest, that they could maintain their posi-
tion as • nation. Unless they placed that aim sad object
first before their sight, it was benighted egotism to suppose
that, with • limited population, they could maintain excel-
lence in any branches of industrial enterprise. He
these points upon them, because he thought it fit T07"4
society to consider the reasons wh they had failed at one
time and succeeded at another ; also there was ea
use in their having reached their 180th anniversary if they
had not found by experience that the industrial strai
of the country must be stimulated. The universities were
not shut because there were rumours of wars—(hear, hear)
—end a society which had somehow existed more than a
century was not to abandon its functions because a province
was annexed or • river had been paned. (Loud cheers.)
The arts were eternal, and the nation which pursued them
with most spirit and applied them with most assiduity
would he the first to ensure the intellectual power of its
people and the welfare of the state.
The conclusion of the chairman's speech was followed by
loud and long continued applause.

CILICKIT.-BVILSZT V. SIXTEEN OF CAXBEIDOI
UNIFIZAITT. —This match was commenced at the Oval au
Thursday, and brought to a oonclusion last evening in fa-
your et Cambridge by 42 runs. The score is as follows :
Cambridge, lit innings, 89; 2nd innings, 77. Surrey, lit
innings, 34 ; 2nd innings, 90.—Ten ZINGAII CLOD V. rgs
Hovers or PARLLOOOrr, WITH Ores PLATKIL —This match
was played at Lord's yeeterd►y. The weather being lbw, a
lame and faahionable attendance congregated to witness the
contest. The following is the score: Houses of Parlia-
ment, lest innings, 68 ; 2nd innings, 73. Zingari, Ist
innings, 68, with a ken at ten wickets. . .

The cricket matches for next week are on this
who :—On Monday, Oxford v. Cambridge,at Lord's ; Surrey
v. Southgate (return), at Southgate; Heat v. Sussex, at
Brighton ; and All England Eleven v. Twentytwo of Wall-
mall and District, at Walluill ; on Wednesday the M.C.C.
and Ground v. Rugby, at Lord's ; and Geutletnen of the
Surrey Club v. the Bar of England, at the Oval ; and, on
Thursday, Rugby v. Marlborough, at Lord's : Surrey v. Six-
teen of Oxford ljniveteity, at the Oval ; and the All Ear
Lad Eleven v. Oaptain Hoinfray's Twenty-two, at Newport.
The Henley-on-Thames Royal Regatta is fixed for
Noway and Tuesday, and additional as well as regular
trains will stop at Twyford. On Friday there is the Isle-
worth Regatta and the Royal Thames Yacht Club s:homier
match from Gravesend round the Mouse Light and back to
Greenkithe ; and ou Saturday the Royal Mersey Yacht Club
have their selling matches for first, wow:Valid third class
yachts.