The Express.
London, England, 1861-05-06 00:00:00

LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, MAY 6. 1861.

BANQUET AT THE ROYAL ACADEMY:

On Saturday afternoon the President and Glutt-
ed of the Royal Academy of Arts save an entertainment at
their rooms in Tratelgar-equare, to inaugurate the opening
of the exhibition. The distinguished company, which was
larger than on any previous occasion. Wpn to arrive
shortly after two o'clock, and spent the interval till dinner
was announced in viewing the genie of British art by which
the walls of the Royal Academy are adorned.
The following sere some of the principal guests :—His
Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, the Loral liancel-
lor, the First Lord of the Treasury, the Lord President of
the Council, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, the
First Lord of the Admiralty, the Lord Chamberlain,
the Lord Steward, the Chanel or of the Exchequer, the
First Commissioner of Works, the Secretary for Ireland,
Marquis of Lansdowne, Earl of Shaftesbury, Earl of k2gin,
Earl Grey, Earl Spencer, Earl Stanhope, Duke of Slither-
' land, Earl of Derby, Duke of Rutland, Archbishop of York,
Bishops of London and Oxford, Marquis of Breadalbane,
Lori! De Grey and Ripun, Viscount Bury, Lord Cranworth.
' Earl of Clarendoo, Viscount Crewe, Lord Cimarron, Lord
Stanley, Fart of Warwick, Lord Monteagle, Lots! John
Manners, Marquis of Northampton, Lord °vendors), Lord
Shelburne, lorl St. Leonards, had Taunton Lord Vernon,
Lord Wensleydale, Si, Hope Grant, Sir J. Pakiustou, Mr.
Disraeli, kc &c. . _ _

Needy all the of the Academy were present.
The uival loyal and patriotic to having been given,
The Duke of Caunninoc, V replying to that of the army
and navy, said be felt sacred that the fact that that toast
had not been overlooked might arise front the conviction
that the very enjoyment of the arts sad the blessings of
peace must in • pest memo, in a great country depend on
the facility end security of its defence, and woe thus identi-
fied with the service with which be was himself connected.
(Cheers.) That fact moat be evident to all ; and be might
mate there that even many of those connected specially
and eminently with the cultivation of the arta of peace
had come forward se volunteer, to shoulder a musket
and attend to their drill, in order that should the time
of need arrive they might lay aside those charming arta
which they saw delineated around these Indio, and mist the
army in the defence of the country. ((beers.)
Duke of Sou tioirr replied on behalf of the navy, and
Lord BURT for the volunteer service.

- The l'ilisiiiitr;th;Wiroposa 171Ite Health of his Excel-
lency the Earl of Elgin.' After referring to a meant inter-
eating account of his lordship's return to his house in Fife-
shire, and to his instructive speech on that occasion, he quoted
a pump from the eddies' of the magistrates of Dunferm-
line, expeemiye of welcome and congratulation. The toast
was drunk with much enthusiasm.

The Fart of Exam, who was loudly cheered, said-1 am
especially gratified by the great and very unexpected
honour which you have done to me in drinking my health,
because I trust that 1 may infer from it that in yourjudg.
meet, and in that of this company, I sin not so incorrigibly
barbarous—(a laugh)—as to be incapable of feeling the
humanising influences which fall upon as from the. noble
works of art by which we are surrounded. (Cheers.) And,
as I have ventured to approach so nearly to the margin
of a burning question, I hope that I may be allowed to
take one step more in the same direction, and to
assure you that no one regretted more sincerely than
I did the destruction of that collection of summer
homes and kiosks. already and previously to any act
of mine rifled of their contents, which was dignified by
the title of Summer Palace of the Chinese Emperor.
(Cheers.) But when I had satisfied myself that in no other
way, except, indeed, by inflicting on this country and no
China the calamity of another year of war, could I mark
the sense which I entertained, which the ritish arm en.
tcrtained--and on this point I may appeal to my gallant
friend who is present here this evening, and who conducted
that army triumphantly to Pekin with so much honour to
himself and to those under his conunand —(cheers)—and
which, moreover, I make bold in the presenes of this corn.
pany to say the people of this country entertained, of an
atrocious crime, which if it had passed unpunished would
have placed in jeopardy the life of every European in
llhina—(cheers)—l felt that the time had come when
I must choose between the indulgence of a not un-
natural sensibility and the performance of a painful duty.
(Loud cheers.) The alternative is not • pleasant one ; but
I trust that there I. no man serving the crown in a respoo.
Bible position who would hesitate when it is presented to
him as to the decision at which he should arrive. (Cheers.)
1 And now, to pass to another topic. I have been repsatedly
salted whether,'
in my opinion, the interests of art to this
country are likely to be in any degree promoted by the
opening up of China. I meet say, in reply, that Ido not
think that in matters of art we have much to learn from
that country, but I am not quite prepared to admit that
even in this department wo can gain nothing from them.
The distinguishing characteristic of the Chinese mind
is this—that at all point. of the circle described by
man's intelligence it seems occasionally to have caught
glimpses of • hammier beyond the range of its ordinary ken
and vision. It caught • glimpse of the path which lesda to
military supremacy when it tovented gunpowder, some cen-
turies before the discovery was made by any other nation.
It caught a glimpse of the path which leads to maritime
supremacy when it made, at a period equally remote, the
discovery of the mariner's compass. It caught • glimpse of
the path which leads to literary supremacy when in the 10th
century it invented the printing press ; and, as mY illus-
trious friend on my right (Sir E. Landseer) has reminded me,
it has caught from time to time glimpses of the beautiful in
colour and design. (Cheers.) But in the hands of the
Chinese themselves the invention of gunpowder has exploded
in crackers and harmless fireworks. (Cheer.) The mariner's
compass has produced nothing better than the courting
junk. (Cheers.) The art of printing has stagnated in ste-
reotyped editions of Confucius, and the most cynical re-
presentations of the grotesque have bean the principal pro-
ducts of Chinese conceptions of the sublime sod beautiful.
(Cheers.) Nevertheless, I am disposed to believe that
under this mass of abortions and rubbish there lie hidden
some sparks of a diviner fire, which the genius of my coun-
trymen may gather sad muse into • flame. (Loud and
continued cheering.)
The Pasounswr next gave "The health of Lieutenant-
()mend Sir Hope Grant," who briefly returned thanks, ex-
peering his hearty concurrence in what had fallen from
Lord Flgin, in reference to the Summer Palace.
The PRINTOUT then proposed "The health of the Noble.
men and Gentlemen who this day honour the Academy
with their presence." (Cheers.)
The LORD CITANCILLOR, replied and gave—" Prosperity
to the Royal Academy, acid long lit, to its distinguished
President."

_
The toast was drank with much cheering.
The PKOSIDENT returned thanks, LW proposed "The
Health of her Majesty's Ministers."
The toast was drunk amid loud chowe

Visoosat i'rugseurto--- was gveotsd with loud
amen. acid—Sir Charles Festlake, my Leeds, and thentle-
ass : I can moue you on Lebanese my colleagues and myself
that we are extremely thankful for the honour you have
done us in proposing our health, and I beg to amuse pm
I that we labour under no mistake se to the sense in which
that toast has been proposed. We se, quite aware that you.
Sir Charles, in proposing, and this slatinguiabed company
is drinking, our health, did not mean to imply a wish that
we might retain our aeons 'along es we retain our health—
(cheers end a laugh)—but ualy that we may retain our health
es
long ea we retain our offices. (Continued cheers.) Sir,
it is quite right and natural that, apart from all political
reference, sops/aunt from all party difference, a society like
this, a society founded by artists for the promotion of art,
should pay a compliment to the ofticebearere for the time
being, whose duty it is—sod who must, I trust, if they are
worthy of their position, always endeavour to perform their
duty—to give whatever eccouragernent it roar be the tune-
' tem of a government to afford to the promotion of the arts
of the country. (Cheers.) For, indeed, those men must be
very unfit for the high offices which they hold who should
not be sensible of the great value and importance to a great
nation of prugrorive improvement in the cultivation of the
Gas arts. (Cheers.) The fin* arts are act only a source of
intellectual enjoyment to the nation hi which they flourish.
but they are also a measure in the estimation of other
countries of the humour, of the dignity, of the reputa-
tioo of the position of the country to which they belong
in le scale of civilian( nations. (Cheering.) in fact,
the office of art is higher even than that. For not only
does the artist promote the intellectual enjoyment of his
contemporaries ; not only does be raise them in the scale of
social existence, but he perpetuates the records of the age in
which he lives, and even of the age* which have preceded,
and hands down from generation to generation those memo-
rials of 'great events, those records of distinguished men
which,,being subjected to the faithful eye, arc more instruc-
tive and more permanent monitors of the greatness and glory
of a nation than even those traditions which may be conveyed
sometimes to the treacherous and forgetful ear. (Cheers.)
Allusion has been made during the evening to one most re-
markable incident of the meeting which has taken place to-
day--an incident which cannot be too often adverted to,
and which I trust will long be recollected. The incident I
mesa to mention is this—that we have here before us living
examples of the manner in which art may be connected with
glory, and glory may bo connected with sat (Cheers.) We
have herebefore us one of the most illustrious of oar mili-
tary commanders, who has carried the glory of the Bri-
tish army to the aatipodes— (theers)--who has raised
the reputation of our military prowess by the judicious
and high-minded manner in which be has directed the sue-
MO of our arms ; amid we have also before as an illustrious
painter capable. by that eminence he has attained in
his own profernion of art, of bonding. down to the latest
posterity a memorial of that distinguished ecesmander,
allied to him by the ties of consanguinity, and allied
to him also by the connexion between the two proles-
s ion& to which they severally belong. (Cheers.) We have
the satisfaction of feeling that the exhibition of this
year must be gratifying to evesy one who takes a deep
interest in the progress of art in this country. (Cheers.)
For I will ventage to my that there are hung upon these
walls examples et unrivalled n,erit, which must attract the
admiration of all who have the good fortune to see them.
(Cheers.) You have been plowed, Sir Charles Eastlake, to
allude to the improvements which hays been mode in regard

to a portion of the building appropriated to the display of
the works of art. Why, it is quite true that, though we
afford. I will not soy adequate, hut tolerable space to the
exhibition of those who distinguish themselves in the art
of painting, the place in which sculptures were exhibited
was really a disgrace to the country. We have among us
sculptors who are capable of producing statue of men
mareely less alive than they ; but fortunate it was they were
lees alive than the persons they represent, otherwise I am
bound to say, the place where they were kept being only
comparable to the Muck Hole in Calcutta, their living exist-
ence would certainly not have been of long duration. (A
laugh.) I can only add that we are most thankful to you
for inviting us to this feast, and for the homier you have
dune us in drinking our health. I ran assure you that these
pen...heal meetings are among the most werble days of
the year ; and seeing as we do on these walls the works of
living genius— meeting as we do at this social board • com-
pany of the most distinguished celebrities of all kinds, we
feel that this day deserves, if I may use both • clerical and
artistic expression, to be marked with white chalk. (Loud
cheers and • laugh.)
The Paenthear said the toast which he would beg to pro-
pose was, "The Intereeta of Literature." (Cheers.) A title
so comprehensive supereeded the necessity of any introduc-
tion : all that could be desired in addition was • worthy
name by way of illustration. It was not mg to single out
a representative where distinguished examples were so
numerous ; but, exercising as ho best could, like • well-
known been in the Arabian Nights, the short-lived despotism
of a chairman, he begged to propene in connexion with
"The Interests of Literature," but without the slightest
allusion to the paper duty—(a laugh)—the " Health of the
Right Hon. William Gladstone." (Loud them)
The ChiaNCLLIAili of the EXCHEQUER—Sir Charles East-
lake, mg lords, and gentlemen,-1 certainly should be
the laseNsan to question the propriety of the toast which
you have given. Anything which connects politics with
literature is acceptable in the highest degree to all pohti-
clans. With regret to the name you have appended to it,
I must sey that if this were • place of controversy I should
be much disposed to question your judgment. (A laugh.)
And in rising to return thanks for the toast in behalf of
many worthier and more distinguished penises I assure you
I do it only on those principles of unreasoning obedience by
which me these occasions we ought to be guided. As for me,
sir, the process you have adopted reminds me of what hap-
the great case of Lord Strafford's impeachment.
gel ie
charge against him was that of high treason ; but it was
admitted that no act he committed taken singly amounted
to high treason; while it was contended that by putting
• great number of them together, however incongruous
the mixture, they might contrive to find him guilty. You
have framed in my use • treasonable indictment for poli-
tical and other adiv, and by a process somewhat different,
perhaps, from that tithe Earl of Strafford, certainly more
graceful and humane, you have succeeded in connecting my
name with the repreesotation of politics and literature. In
behalf of the ales of whom I am a very unworthy repre-
sentative, I feed that you have pieced me thereby
upon • very dangerous eminence, and I think the
beet thing I can do is, with your approbation,
to get down again as soon as possible. (A laugh.) The con-
nexion to which you have adverted is one, I trust, which
will ever subsist, and it is one to which almost every page
of the catalogue in our bands bean witness ; for no small
number of the brilliant works which we see on these walls
have had their and idea suggested by one or other of the
works that adorn our literature. (Cheers.) Perhaps, if I
might go so far back, I should soy it
beautifully illustrated than in the group of the famous
LaocoOn compared with Ow not less famous description in
the poem of irml, and with regard to which literary men
for ages argued whether it was the group that suggested the
poem, or the poem that suggested the idea to the sculptor.
Modern criticism has resolved that controversy, and has de-
termined that both were original, and that the treatment of
each was strictly in accordance with the principles of each
art—the name of the poet well known, that of the sculptor
unknown, but not less illustrious ; each relying on hie own
inspiration ; each pursuing the path of his own distinct
alit of human excellence, parallel to each other ; each one
entire, varying one from the other; independent of each
other, yet never servile one to the other. Such may they
ever continue. (Cheers.) It is not for me to presume to
speak of the literature with which you have connected my
name. Nor do I speak in the chara:ter of • judge of works
of art, though you have hospitably extended to us all the
title ; but there are things of which we may speak. I
should not venture to offer any opinion of the height to
which English artists have attained, yet there are some
volute which mark their proceedings upon which any man,
as • asap, may give an opinion. He may judge of the spirit
in which they work. I have before me two men I need not
name, each of the most distinguished in one of the sister
arts which are united together in the Academy, and of
whom I believe I may say that at about the sometime, they
imeinginsesieed a commission for the execution of a peat
week from high authority, sad each having executed the
commission in • manner that must have satisfied the se-
verest taskmaster, independent of himself, yet neither the
one nor the other had satisfied the severer taskmaster still
that he bore within his own mind and heart ; and each of
them has given, or is about immediately 'Ai giver the whole
of his achieved labour to pitiless destruction, in cedar to
begin again something that may approach more nearly to
his ideal perfection. (Loud cheers.) The 'tete of art can-
not be other than promising when such a spirit el reso-
lute self-sacrifice and chivalrous devotion distinguishes it.
professors—men who have attained the command of un-
limited public confidence—men wheels very name is enough,
independent of criticism, to give circulation to whavever
they produce. (Cheers.) I trust that, as literature, so art
may continue to pursue its forward path, and prove • bless-
ing to mankind. (Load cheers.)
" prosperity to the City of London, and the Health of the
Right How. the Lord Mayor," "Su to the Great Sabi-
bitiou of ISi2, and the Health of the Commissioners." and
"The Royal Society," having been drunk, the company
separated.