The Express.
London, England, 1859-05-02 00:00:00

BANQUET AT THE ROYAL ACADEMY.

The opening of the exhibition of paintings and
ecnlpture for the year 1869 wee celebrated on Saturday by
the usual smelvereary dinner, given within the walls of the
Academy. The guests begin to sasembk at 2 o'ckein and
Ent the isterval before the dinner began In inspecting the
tires distributed through the venous apartment". The
coot wee held is the Sset-room.
Bee C 11,1111.111 EASTLAKE, toe president of the icetitotick
occupied the chair; and among the guests wen the Duke a
Cambridge, the Bari of Derby, the Lord Chuoellor. the
Lord President of the Council, Lord J. Manners, Lord Chief
Justice Campbell, Chief Baru Pollock, the Muter of the
Rolla the Bishop of Orford, the Bishop of Lichfield, the
Bishop of Ripon, Red Cawder, the Earl of Cimarron' the
Bail of reirUs Lord Cramworth, Earl Orsaville, Lord
Hants" Lard J. Rusesil, Marquis of tieedowns, Leal
KM=Lewd Methane, Marquis of Northam/Ms, Lord
Lord 0111111M81% But of Riper, Beets Alp/ma.
de Rothenhili, the Duke of Somerset, Reel Shelburne, Lend
M. Leman* Bad Warekk, Mr. Gladstone, M.P., Mr.
Cardwell, /LP., the Chairman of the Bosrd of Customs, the
Deem of St. Pees, Professor Faraday, Sir B. Brodie, Go-
vernor of the Beek of England, the Lord Mayor Sir R.
Munition, Mr S. Northeots, M.P., Professor Owe., Presto
diet of the College of Physician', Mr. Norge Gems, Mr.
Theakeray, Mr. J. Foster, Sir W. F. Williams, Profemor
Whasterees~her with a lug* ammeter of eminent Ace.
deseiokum ale Associates.

The marl loyal toasZnere duly proposed In realm{
with. =aka mikaimin.

ivianittan seliettoseet"The Alley sad RIM," oullo
aeottag with ft tam seam of his Royal Highness the Cosa-
to!ader of the Forces.
_

Hie Royal Highness the Duke of CAMBRIDOI4 In rottirn-
ins thanks, raid—ln looking round on this festive, this calm
and p-awful gathering, I cannot help comgratnleting you
that whereas In various ports of the Contusent Greats of
melons moment are now going on, in this gioeious country
we are enabled to meet in the manner we have Awe this
wining. (Cheers.) It may at first sight appear a very
trivial matter that we can now assemble so tranquilly and
agreeably round this festive board ; but the ekonmetance
shored really read a lesson to other notices. and, Indeed, to
the whole world While other cousteies are at this time
unfortunately involved in mach difficulty, we at least ere
determined, as far al pos.ibk, to remain peaceful, happy,
mud contented. (Cheers.) But, though I cannot too
etreagly impress upon you, gentlemen, the favourable'
position which we occupy, on the other Wad I am the last
person who would hesitate to tell you that, in order that we
may condone la that peaceful, happy, and prosperous state,
we ought, especially under prism cirearnetances, to be well
prepared fur whatever may happen. (Renewed cheers.) It
Is a different matter not to wish for war and when war comes
not to be prepared for it. I believe the people of England,
fro one ea of the country to the other, are imbued with
the conviction that in order that we may enjoy ccatiansd
oenteatment and wearily we must he ready for the worst if
ow neighbours will not allow us to be at peace. (Cheers.)
Such is the position which this country ought to occupy, sod
It is the paition which every man, whatrver hie shads of
politic', is &drone that she shoal occupy. (Hear.)
The Panswitivr proposed " The health of the nob'emen
and gentlemen who this day bower the Academy with their
presenen" szpressieg his regret that the elections had caused
the abeam:oW those who would have otherwise honoured
them on that aeration.

The Loin CH.I;ELLOR reanded to the toast, and In
return proposed " Prosperity to the Royal Academy."
The toast wee drunk with nosh mentality.
The PILIDiCT tetilended, sod d u soot toast
" The I I eilth of her ajesty's M om." (Loud chars.)
The Earl of DiltllT—Mr. Presideat, ay lord., and gen-
tleenezi, I beg to return you, ea the pert elf my col iene an
mewl', our gralehd Inman for the kind manner is which
you Ina received the teat which has Joann proposed, I
coshes that whoa I came hare to-6"y I had some Hale Imi-
tation as to the way is which we were Daly to be !Waived,
inemuch aa 1 send sot hat feel that if there were say diad-
em ion is the ambers attending es thin Welkin, we might,
perhaps, be held somewhat responsible for that circumstance
is consequence of the political step which we advised our
Sovereign to take. (A laugh.) I know not whether the
mate for this evening has tam specially arranged with
reference 10 that subject, but I find in the glee (of Spileth)
about to be sung we are told that—
" From the Mall and from the Ring
Rig, one has taken wing—(laughter)
Chloe, threphaa, Corydon,
All are fled, and all are gone"
(Renewed laughter.) Whether or out the next line helda
good—
" What is left's sot worth year stay,"
I will net viniure to en ; but Ude I know titer, with the
'titian chatty of therm who represent the City of Loathe,
to snow I should be sorry to apply ecipersei am so dis-
respectful—(fighter)—many who would hate been exceed-
ingly denims te sand to-day bore been compelled, by
drentiotasen math mere ding:vie:this than those of
" the gawky lawn," to absent themselves from year
festive hosed, mad that they " all are fled and all are
good' (Remand areghter.) And there is one who, if
reggae would eartaisly set be behind is tendering you hie
seknowlenvessa he the honour you have done the nand
service—l VMS my eight hem. friend the First Lord of the
Admiralty, who this day had to go through the ordeal of
&melanin beta kis constituents. Seriously nankin, I
ant deeply tensible of the kind reeepth n you have gives to
"the health of her Majoity's minister.," because I am quite
sure clost never was there a time when those charged with
the jublic effaire of this c matey Lai greeter need of knag
supported by the confidence., the eympetby, and the good-
will of that Allowthountrasee, then tame who an now
istraeled with the anxious and booty task of conducting
the government of this empire. (Cheers.) We are at this
moment is the heat of a political straggle perhaps ano
ordisary character ; but it is not now for the firet time we
les that, la the mld.t of the rain earnest political strife,
party difference are not allowed for a tingle instant to die-
tab the harmony or int erupt the social intercourse be-
tears men of the mat opposite opinion. manila at
festive mations like this. (Cheers.) But the anxieties and
the !shouts of the government would be little, lotted, if
they were confined to matters of mew domestic intense.
We ore oa the eve of male of which no man ran
foresee the sad. (Heir, hear.) We have striven earnestly
and diligently to avert the calamities of war. We have
bees tuteuteesitel. War le, I fear, inevitably on the point
of bre thing out, and how it may close no human vaccines
can pretend to tall. But of this I ant quite sure, than, what.
ever oar other difference, may be, there la a perfect and
entire unanimity among all classes of this great community
a to the course—the dignified courre—which thin country
ought to parses in the present crisis of foreign atlaire.
(Cheers.) The Wustriona duke who so worthily presides
over the seam y has told you how math= he himself as well
all the gallant profession to whkb he belong; facie that
the peen of this country, at all events, should not be dis-
turbed. And, indeed, it would be a melancholy case if, on
the very eve of tetarnirig our heartfelt thanks to Aleatory
God ter the blaring He has bedewed upon us Is putting an
end to the fiemidaine revolt which has raged in India, we
were about to be involved in the vortex of another war pee-
hap. still more b'oody, sad in all probability much more
lasting. (Hear, hear.) Of this I am satisfied, that the conduct
which Remind ought to adopt is, se Lir as may be paean., to
unintein as impartial, a dignified, and a neutral attitude—
(toud eheerg)—ti thins every oppettnity that may present
itself of reconciling ciesdieling ostine, sad—what fa eves
more difficult—cf woad ng conflicting principle/. (Hear,
beer.) The state of war ea which Eurme is about to enter
will no doubt entail on this • oust ry much of satiety, much
eppreheasioe, much of expenditure. But God forbid
that it should entail on as that meet fearful of all esprit&
teres—that of British blood and British lives. (Caere.) la
endeavouring to mitigate the caleraitice of war and promote
the miss of Imams shall have the Nast of all tees of all
'claiml opinion whose opines is worth having is this coun-
try; and meet the great sources of induesee which Eaglaed
pongees in the world I. this, that whatever our differesees of
opinion may be at non when the honour and the interest of
the country see conarsed, all private Nuts and animosities
ore forgotten, sad all men in sad out of -e are equally
reedy to lend their aid for the promotion of the
public antes mil the public good. (Cheers.) Gen-
Remelt, I cordially tenor with the Mulattoes duke when he
rays that is order te mainiain the attitude which
England ought to bold, it is necessary for the make
of peace that she should not he 'tampered for
any condagesein which coy ariae. I suet this
aecembly will believe that such a sentiment is in satire se-
cortinos wih the vise, and I think before 24 hours are
over, it will be wen that it is also In moire accordance with
the practice of her Majesty's present advisers. (Load
char..) Before I sit down there is oily one meat ea which
I may venture to express a dill recce of opinion with my
nolie and learned frit ad the Lord Chancellor. Yoe, Mr.
Pre have alluded very slightly to the possible, and I
proboble, immanent is the aceommodatieu which
in a sOvet time is to be gives to the Royal Ai mislay ter the
exhibition of their works of art. My noble and learned friend
espressed a very natural anxiety sad chains—forgetting, I
think, wasething of the dreamt ences—that we should often
Ina again in this place. (A nigh.) Now, without having
lay difference of opinioa in substance with my nob' aid
lathed friend, I beg to express, a ith no lees eurdiality, my
Sops that we, way not odes meet again here. (Chen, and
laughter.) I oust that before many 'asthenia:is+ are over
we may be 'tabled to congratulate the Royal Academy on
haring a larger sad more suitable the for the exhibition of
the trophies of art which adorn thee walle—thrthe extension
ef their raer:torioas sad laudable eindi avows to maths's the
bas arts and proccoee the icioructien of their younger
brethren; end that at so distant period we shaft fin I the
productions of British artists is their nasal collecti-na
dirpieyed where there le rose for all the deeervine, of ion,
which lam me from the meant inadequacy of the nice
at your command have necessarily to be excluded. Gen-
Peenee, I recoiled that when I last had the honer of
bolting oiling seder the crows I expeasad is this pine
ohs same amass dthere, set I then mode an aped to the
liberality of my right hasourehle friend the Chandler
•of the Exchequer, who to not sow preset, to provide