The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-03-28 00:00:00

SOCIETY OF ARTISTS.

The Second Anniversary Bineer of this Associatien took place
at the Society's Rome, Suffolk-street, Pall-tuall East, so Sour.
"TA. Chair was taken at halt past six o'clock by T. C Horr.
LAND, Esq. President of the Society, who was supporta& en the
right by Sir Francis Burdett and the honourable Agar Eli* and
on the left by the Honourable Douglas Kinnitird and C. B. Wall,
Esq. M.P.
After the cloth am removed, and "Benedict us sit Dens" IMPS

by the professional gentlemen present,
The Cnstitstste gave "The King," which was drank with
three times three. "Ood save the King."
"The Duke of York and the rest of the Royal Family." Glee,
" Now the bright morning star."
The Hon. AGAR ELLIS said, he felt pecpliar pleasure in pro-
posing the neat toast, connected as it was with the gratification he
tirrised from the very brilliant display of an that covered these
walls. Ile berNed to propose " The President and Society of
British Artists." _

The Cunt n MAN said. he felt himself inadequate to the task of
expressing his gtatimde and the gratitude of the Society for the
manner in which the last mast had been received. He begged to
take that opportunity of saying a few worsts respecting the notices
which led to the establishment of the Society, which was the mote
necessary. as it was of vital importance that their views and obiccta
should not be misunderstood or mi.,prescnted. The Royal Aca-
demy, which bud been established or out late revered !Rom reh,
inigiat be considered up to I.st year it's the only lastitution for the
encouragement and promotion of the Arts in this cruutry No one
could be rnore ready to acknowledge the benefit derived from that
. .

frottitutiou than hi-veself; but..frOm the great increase of artt'sts

and the growing taste for the Fine Aua, the Royal Academy be.
came inadequate to supply the wants created by the increase to
which he had alluded; consequently they had been obliged to look
around for means proportionate to their increasing wants. They
were obliged to leave the Parent Institotion.a: d c doniae, from wain
of room. 'I hey had come here to build a hive of their own, and
that was the canna which gave birth to the "Society of British
Artists." Their real motives in originating the Society had been,
to obtain an opportunity of placing their works before the public
for exhibition and sale; and they wished it to be understood duet
they were not opposed to any Institution for the promotion of the
Fine Arts in the country. Ile was happy to he able to say that,
their success had surpassed their moat sanguine expectations. This
was only the second year of their existence, end the liberality of
their patrons had already enahled them to pay off I.OOW. of the
6,000 i. incurred by their occupation of those rooms. All future do-
nations and the profits of exhibitions would be devoted to the com-
pletion of the purchase. He again thanked the literal and et:tight.
tined patron% of the Fine Arts for the encouragement they had
extended to the Society, and begged personully to return his
warmest thanks and those of the Society for the honour row done
them.—Gite--" The spring. the spring, the pleasant spring."
The CuatitMAx said, previous to proposing the next toast, he
wait desirms of submitting to their attention a communication he
hid jitst rective I from a gentleman. whose name deserved to be al-
ways mentioned with respect and admiration, connected as it was
chit the Arts, and every generous and litters' principle. He thought
it hardly necessary aft-1i this to mmtiert the name of Mr. Soane.
" Mr. Soane presents his best thanks to the President of the So-
ciety of British Artists for the honour done him by the invitation
to their second annual feitival : lie laments his inability to attend,
but begs :o offer his be.' wis:tcs for their prosperity, a... 01 as Prates-
sir of Architecture to the Royal Academy, he encloses a cheque
for 25 guineas to a•sist the objects of the Society." This was the
seentid donation of Ord liberal and enlightened Artist: he hed be-
fore presented the Society with a sum of 50 guineas: but this was
only one of the many instances in which Mr. Soane had shown
himself ready to patronise and support the Arta. Mr. Swine's li-
berality was the more gratil'yieg on the present occasion, because it
In-oval he was wilting to consider them as not opposed to the Royal
Academy. bid only a branch of that Institution, formed for the
furtherance ore common object He begged leave to give, " The
President and Royal Academy," with three.
Glorious Apollo."
The Ctratl.MAN said, Gentlemen could not but be aware how

much the Fine Arts were indebted to the exertions of the Noble-
men a•ld Gentlemen composing the British Institution. That So-
ciety had formed the first School fir painting in this country ; they'
first exhibited pictures with a view to their sale; and by their an-
nual exhibition of the works of the old Masters. gave to young Ar-
tists an opportunity of looking at mute throuiet the medium of
standard a orks. The exhibitions of th • British Institution, which
had been previously kept open till August, were now cloud in
April. This abridgment of the customary period had formed one
of the grounds and motives for the establishment of the Society of
British Artists. During the months of flay, June, and July, they
had no opportunity of coming before the public except by the
means now afforded by this Society. They were notwithstanding
anxious to contribute to the support of the British Institution, and
spare them as many pictures as possible, because they felt grateful
for tho services that Society had rendered to the cause of Art in this
country. He would conclude with proposing " The President,
Governors, and Directors of the British Institution."
The Hon. AGA! Ettis, an one of the Directors of the British
Institution. begged to return thanks for the manner in which the
last toast had been received by the assembly. He could not avoid
repeating his congratulations o" the display of talent he saw around
him. It held nut a hope that this Socioty would mainif contribute
to what had sieve formed the object of the British Institution—the
promotion of the progress of the Fine Arts in England.
" Hail, smiling Morn."
Toast—" The Water Colour Painters of Great Britain."
Song, by Master S pith—" Home, sweet home."
The CHAIRMAN said he had now to propose a toast which be
MAN sure would warm every heart in the assembly—
" The Donors and Subscribers to the Society of British Artists."
—Drank with three times three. •

klr. C. B. WALL, M.P. said, his subscription to the funds of the
Society was so small in antotint, as hardly to afford him a claim on
their attention fur the new observations with which he should trou-
ble them. But in the absence of many gentlemen who had sub-
scribed more liberally, he felt he should be wanting in his duty to
them and to himself, if he forbore to state how sensibly the honour
conferred by the Society was felt and appreciated. No individuals
in the country could have the cause of British Artists more at heart
than the Duke of Bedfotil nrd Sir Gerard Noel, as their conduct
on this and all other occasions hail proved. His Hon. Friend on
his right (Mr. Ellis) had already complimented them on the nature
of their Instimtion,and the high talent displayed in the present ex-
hibition. It was unnecessary for him to allsl any thing upon those
points ; but lie avid not avoid commending the good feeling that
appeared to pervade the Society on the ',abject of other similar in-
stitutions. Ile thought that feeling, seconded as it had been that
evening by the discretion and good taste evinced in all the observa-
tions that had fallen from their worthy CI airman, more likely to add
to the prosperity of the Society titan any other c 'arse that could be
adopted. Their grand object should he union, and to nuke as
many friends and as few encodes u
Glee—" %Vint equals on earth the delights of the horn."
The Cues haus/ then gave—d. The Visitors who haze honoured
the Society with their prosence this day."
The ilarantrable IS. KIN NAI RD said. he was requested by their
Amiable and Worthy Chairman to prepare a toast which he
felt great pleasure in giving. At the sane time he was de-
sired by his brother visitors to acknosledge the honour they
had conferred upon them in drinking their health. He assured
them the pleasure they enjoyed in the display that surrounded
them bad more than compensated their attendance, without this
additional ninth of their respe.i. Ife thought the toast he was
about to propose, though last. would rot bc least in the recollec-
tions of that evening. Ile withal to give the health of a party
most deeply interested in the success of the Institution. and in ob-
taining patronage from the public. for the Arts. Already had they
pail a tribute of gratitude to all those individuals who had assisted
in the present honourable elide:taking ; it remained for him to ac.
knowledge the liberality of these artists who had slept forward
and ventured their hard-earned gales for the benefit of the Arts, and
to assist the exertions of their less successful brethren. They had
already drank prosperity to the donors and contributors to the So-
ciety. There was a set of men more deeply interested—he meant
those artists who depended on this ssiociety for their livelihood. In
giving the health of the Exrabitors, he did not do it merely out of
1 gratitude for the amusement to be derived (rein their labours, but
front a deep conviction of the utility of their ettrtions. In nut-
pictures an individual not only grat:fied himself, but he-
incited a meritorious and ilseful net of men ; and he trusted the
effect of there exhibitions would be to cause gentlemen of fortune
to purchase pictures fmm artists who were not as )tat in a sienotion
to command success for their works. In drinking the health of
the Contributors to this Exhibition, he considered himself as
having to do with many men who were likely to go down to pee-
terity. Ile could point with satisfaction to the picture on the
of the Chairman. as me production of a Royal Academician (Mr.
Northcutt:), and he keret rn man more distinguished by Ids talent:
and his virtues. But there were film.) other names in the list of ORR
tributors which need not fear corn:minims with the most celebrated
artists in any other irocieiy in the kitigdoin. Ile thought the com-
pany would feel rewarded io drinking the health of " The Exhi-
bitors," by a sense of Inc merits ef these indivithials.
Sir F. fII!RDE T rose amid loud and continued cheers and
said. their Chairman had pet a toast into his hands which he felt
himself unworthy of soopesing, but if wishing well to the cause
of Art could entitle hint to the honour for which he had been se-
lected, be was free to say no man could feel a warmer interest in
the success of the Fine Arts generally, andin the triumph of British
Art in particular. He did not pretend to pease,' the ability or Se-
formation necessary to constitute a judge of theArta, but lie heartily
wished them success, becamie lie cersitered them an honour to the
country. lie would merely purpose—" Prosperity to the Fire
Arta," adding his own sincere wish for their success.
The CHAIRMAN said these moms had, net Thursday last, been
honoured with the presence of her Royal Highness the Princess
Augueta. liar Royal Highness examined every pic:ote. and ex-
pressed lien high admiration of the Exhihi•ioo. She had been fur-
ther pleased to say she would report her favourable opinion in the
highest quarter. He thought this communication could not fail to
be gratifying in the highest degree to the, assembly. Ile had now
to give it tuat, which lie was sure would warm all their hearts—
" The Ladies. Honortry keembers of the Society."
The Crtalnsisw thin proposed " the health of Sir G. Noel."
" Mr. roan"
" Mr. Lintot, Secretary to the Society," alto returned thanks.
" 3lessrs. Kinnaird and A. Ellis."
" Sir F. Burdett."
" Alr. Glover, Vice President."
Mr. CLOVER returned thank..
Sir F. Bunlett, the Hon. A. Ellie. and several of the guests re-
tired at an early hour. but the hiderity of the evening was outlawed
a ithout abatement up ft., twelve o'clock.