The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-05-08 00:00:00

ARTISTS' BI:NEVOLENT FUND.

The Seventeenth Anniversary Festival of this Institution was
held at Freemasons' Hall, on Saturday last,
The Right lion. FREDERICK JOHN RostNsoir, Chancellor of
the Exchequer, in the Chair;
supported by Sir J. E. Swinimine, Sir Thomas Lawrence, Messrs.
Moore and Campbell, and a large portion of Royal Academicians.
The company embraced all the leading members of the School of
Painting in England, and amounted in number to nearly two
hundred. The dinner and wines were of the first character, and
the general arrangements were such, as to reflect the greatest credit
on the Stewards, for the very able and judicious manner in
which their duties wen! performed. As soon as the cloth was re-
moved " Non Nobis Domine" was most effectively sung, by
Messrs. Broadhurst, Bellamy, Rooke, &c.
The CHAIRMAN then rose and said, that in proposing the health
of his Majesty, he had a du' y to perform, in which he was fully
persuaded he 'Mould meet the most cordial support from those to
whom lie had the honour to submit the proposition. Ilia Majesty
had been one of the earliest patrons of that most excellent insti.
tutinn, which they had that day met to celebrate the formation of;
and while his Majesty possessed taste to feel, and judgment to ap.
preciate, all things that belonged to the Fine Arts, his hand was

" Open as the day to melting charity."
It was no ordinary gratification to himto say, that while his Majesty's
parental solicitude for the wellbeing of his people, by providing as
far as his means would enable him for the relief of that extremity
of distress which unfortunately prevailed to so great an extent—it
was no ordinary gratifization to him to say, that his Majesty had
neither forgotten nor neglected the interests of the Artists' Benevo.
lent Fund. It was a must pleasing part of his duty to state that he
held in his hand a proof of his Majesty's good will in their behalf;
and although the sum of one hundred guineas, compared with that
amount which was necessary for the relief of the distress to which
he had alluded. as existing elsewhere, might appear small, still it
would prove perhaps sufficient to alleviate the sufferings, or even to
prevent the ruin, of many on whose behalf they had that day as.
sembled. He felt assured that the mark of Royal bounty which he
had the pleasure of communicating, would be received with the
same gratitude of feeling by the unfortunate artist, as it would by
the starvmg manufacturer and distressed artisan. (Much cheering.)
lie had only therefore to propose the health of his Majestg, with
three times three.

"God save the King" was then sung in verse and chorus.
The third verse as a duet, by two young gentlemen of the Chapel
Royal, pupils of Mr. Hawes, was much applauded.
TheCHAI RMAX, in rising to propose the health of the Duke of York
and Royal Family, said, that he believed there wax not a charitable
Institution in the metropolis that did not enrol some of them among
their Members, and that did not receike the countenance and sup-
port of some branch of the Royal family. It was impossible to
find a family that were more anxious to discharge the duties of
charity for the well-being of their fellow creatures, as far as they
possessed the ability to do so. They united with the public an the
common work of charity to an extent unknown is other countries,
not that he said that with any disparagement to those countries;
for it was a peculiarity attaching 'lane to the Royal Family of
England that they were brought in contact with the people for the
benefit of all classes of the community.
Glee—" flail Star of Brunswick."
The next toast was " the Army and Navy," with three times
three, which was tollowed by the National Air of " Rule Bri-
tannia."

.....
Sir J. SeVIWBURNE, as Chairman of the Institution, said that he
rose fur the purpose of giving a toast which lie knew it would be
most gratifying to the company to receive ; he meant that of the
health of the Right lion. Gentleman who filled the chair that day;
to whom they were so much indebted tit his distinguished
patronage and support, and who had come forward, at the sacrifice
of his most valuable time, to aid by his presence the objects of
the Institution. He would say no more than propose the health
of the Right Hon. Frederick Robinson, with three times three.

As soon as the applause had subsided,
The CHAIRMAN rose and said, that, gratified as he must have
been by the honour of receiving from those who were interested in
the prosperi:y of that Institution a proposal to preside on the
present occasion, he must with equal truth say that he was over-
whelmed by the manner in which his health had been drunk.
But when their excellent president of the Institution, Sir John
Sivinburne, said that he (the Chairman) had sacrificed his time, to
preside on that occasion, he must be allowed to say, that he did not
know what the real value of time was tirCess he could give up a
portion of it to relieve the distress of suffering humanity. It was
his lot to fill an office under the Cronn at a time peculiarly fa-
vourable to the advancement and progress of the Arts—at a
period when the country felt the benefit of being relieved from an ea-
rn- v. and protracted war. At the time when he received the King's
commands to take upon himselt the office he had the honour to till
its the Government of the country, he found the situation of the
country such as to give the opportunity of proposing to Parliament
that It should take the Arts under its Metering protection ; and he
Could lay with perfect truth that he had never witnessed a propel-
don Teemed 'with more favour, or that was prosecuted With more
urgent support deem the proposition was, which he two years ago
felt it his duty to inbmit to Parliament, for the formation of a Na.
Coati! Gallery at the pillffic expense. He felt, and the Parliament
and the country felt, the intimate connexion that existed between
all that was d gniled in human 'nature and the Vine Arts. It was
a most gratify fly tircumstance, Oldth he never could forget, nor
which could not be forgotten by his posterity, that he had happened
to be the fortunate it.dividual to propose to Parliament to embark
in that proposition. It might not be known, and therefore he was
bound to stwe it, that those from whom he sprang *ere admirers of
the Arts in all their branches. His tither rasa practical promoter
of them as far as his means enabled him ; ant) !ie thought he might
venture ats say, without laying himself open to the charge of filial
vanity, that he was not an unsuccessful professor. There were
also other branches of his family, not less sincere admirers of the
Arts, and who reit that they were intimately connected with the
honour and dignity of a noble anti free country. It only remained
for him to drink the healths of the company with all his heart and
soul. The applause that followed this speech lasted several tninutes.
The CHAIRMAN then sad,that having at hisright hand the Presi.
dent of the Royal Academy, and surrounded as he was by indivi-
duals so distinguished for their talents', he felt it necessary, in pro.
posing the health of Sir Thomas Lawrence and the Royal Academy,
to say a few words. He must say that England stood the first place
in rank, as the school of arts, in Europe; and the object he had in
vitt' was that the exhibitors should have a place more worthy than
they at present possessed to hold the specimens of that school.
(Chem.) It was obvious that the apartments they at present occu-
plea were totally inadequate to display that which the public were
so anxious to see. It was his hope, at no distant period, to witness
in the metropolis a building worthy of the subjects it was intended
to contain, and of the country in which it should be erected. The
public would not grudge the expense of that which was so essential
to the due exhibition of the works of art, and he hoped to be pre.
sent at no distant day, wlit n the first stone of that building should
be laid. Having thus expressed his intention on the subject, it
remained for him to propose the health of Sir Thomas Law.
retire and the members of the Royal Academy. (Applause.)
Sir T. LAWRENCE said, that although the honour that had just
been done him was not unexpected, still the generous reception it
had met with was not felt the less deeply by hint. He thanked
the Right Honourable Chairman for the manner in which he had
been pleased to vitamins himself, and begged to be allowed to say
that the success of the profession would be greatly assisted by
attending to the wishes of doveenment. It gave him the greatest
'pleasure to state that the Institution had obtained auother highly
valuable addition by the Earl of Aberdeen having become a patron
of the Society, but who had been prevented attending on that
occasion. He (Sir T. Lawrence) was anxious to correct an error
into which he had fallen at the annual dinner of the Royal Aca-
demy, and to atone for it on the present occasion. It was known
that the Royal bounty and patronage was not confined to England,
inasmuch as his Majesty had graciously condescended to extend It
to Ireland, where an Academy had been formed. The error into
which he (Sir Thorn's Lawrence) had fallen was, that of oniittiog
the Royal Irish Academy in the number of their toasts, and which
he begged to remedy by proposing on the present occasion.
The Royal Irish Academy was then drank with great applause.
The next toast was that of the Earl of Aberdeen and the British
Institution, which was followed by " Sing, sing, Music was given,"
from the Irish Melodies, by Mr. Broadhurst, which was raptu-
rously encored, no doubt in compliment to the poet and composer
then being present.
The CHM RNA/4 said that, at the anniversary last year, they hail
the advantage of having for their Chairman, a gentleman who was
as distinguished for his nice, judgment, and liberality in the pro-
motion of the fine arts, as he was for the talents and ability which
he displayed in the office lie filled in his Majesty's Government. If
the Society could insure a Chairman equally gifted with that gen-
tleman on future occasions, they might be well assured their So-
ciety would flourish ; and not the least part of the gratification of
the duty he haul to perform was, to propose the health of the Right
Hon. Robert Peel, with three times three. (Applause.)
31r. Bellamy sang " \When wine, generous wine expands the
soul."
The CHAIRMAN said that it had often been mentioned as matter
of reproach to Englishmen, that they could not conduct a work of
charity without the ceremony, or perhaps he ought to say, the jovi-
ality, of a dinner. And why should they not do so? It might be
a peculiarity, but it was no reproach. "It was true, Charity should
be silent, and not ostentatious; but why persons were not to meet
together in that innocent harmony of feeling which belonged to an
English dinner—why they were not to avail themselves of such
means—he was at a loss to conceive; and he should call a departure
from the principle national prudery, rather than which he would
have the national peculiarity. That peculiarity was an honour to
the country, which was four...tied i.l good nature and to produce a
good end, and therefore must be considered as a happy peculiarity,
and calculated in some means to excite the feelings in support of
the work of charity. He might say that the Institution had
flourished for sixteen years, and knowing the comfort which it must
have conveyed to destitute objects during that period, and the re-
lief it was likely hereafter to afford, he hoped it would last, not
only for sixteen years to come, but beyond die ages of the youngest
born. He would therefore propose " Prosperity to the Artists'
Benevolent Institution." (Great applause.) The Chairman then
said that joint-stock companies were out of fashion, and yen, pro-
perly so, when they had occasioned so much Individual suffering.
Such, however, was not the character of the joint-stock company to
which he alluded. Their speculations were not founded in extra-
vagant hopes of gain ; they were founded in motives of prudence ;
and if success crowned their efforts, it must end in real prosperity.
They did not expect a sudden and extraordinary increase by
chance, but to provide for the poor, the destitute, and desolate, a
small but necessary pittance out of those savings which it might be
in the power of individuals to contribute. There could not be an
object more desirable than that of endeavouring to provide, by
prudence and foresight, for those most dear to them, and who

THE BRITISH PRESS.

might remain behind. lie should therefore propose, Prosperity
to the Joint Stock Annuity Fund, and may its merits be universally
known." _ . .

l‘lr. C. TAYLOR smutted the company with a very clever sortg,
the subject of whirh WAS the rice, progress, and decay, of a law.
suit, calling upon those fond of procrastination and loss of their
money to go to law.
The Cum ;maw said, that if the President of the Institution
(Sir John Swinburne) was not present, he might perhaps have
been obliged to call upon the Company for a little of that procras-
tination which they had just heard so humorously portrayed,
though not of law (laughter), but of the payment of a debt, and
that the debt of gratitude, to the President of the Institution. It
was quite unnecessary for him to enter into any description, or to
state any thing at length, as to the manner in which Sir J. Swin_
borne had filled that situation, further than toasty, he had at various
times subscribed no less a sum than 200 guineas to henetit the In-
stitotion. The debt, however, that the Society owei him was nut
that of money, but of honest gratitude, and he called upon them
to pay it on demand.
The health of Sir John Swinburne was then drank amidst the
loudest cheera.

Sir JOHN Swinattnsz said, that labouring under severe in-
disposition, he should trouble the company with but a very few
words. The manner in which they had received the tout, and the
channel by which it had been conveyed, left him hut little lan.
gunge in which to express his feelings. He had watched with
anxious solicitude the progress of the Institution. and the mode In
which it was conducted, and he was satisfied of the propriety with
which the duties were performed. The Institution was under great
obligation to the Committees of both Societieit ; they had never re.
limed in any duty which could be to the advantage of the Society.
He returned his thanks to them and the Chairman, and assured
them, as long as his health and strength should last, his services,
such as they were, should be at their command.
' Mr. BA LmAN NO (the Secretary) then read a letter which he had
received front Mr. Soane, stating his inability to attend, in conies
quence of the complaint in his eyes not permitting film to encounter
the glare of light necessarily attendant on a public meeting. The
little property which he possessed he owed to having studied the
arts, d while he retained a guinea, it shoold be at the service of
the artist's widow and child, and begged to enclose a donation of 211.
The applause which followed the reading of this letter was loud
and deep. Mr.Balmanno then proceeded to announce the donations,
amongst which appeared the following :—flis Majesty. 1051. ;
the Right Honourable J. Robinson, 25/. ; C. E. Pigou, 11/. ; J.
%V. Croker, dd. Sir Charles bong. 101.0 s. : Mr, Justice Best,
101. 10s. ; Sir John Swinhurne, 151. ; Sir Thomas Lawrence,
ID!. 10s. ; the Earl of Aberdeen, 21/. • John Nash, 10!. 10s. ; H.
Sass, 51. hs„; Ors, IL Sass, 10/, 106 ; anti a variety of others.

The health' of the Vice-President, Secretary, and Committee,
were then drank with considerable applause.
The CHAIRMAN said there was another Institution for the
same purpose as that which they had met to commemorate ; but
there was no rivalship between them. Their objects were the same;
they were embarked in the same laudable cause, and were actuated
by the same motives ; therefore they would not do justice to their
own feelings, nor justice to their motives, if they did not express
their hearty good will to the kindred Institution. There might he
circumstances of difference in the mode of administering their
funds, but their main object was the interests of those whose cause
he then advocated. It was their duty to lbel interested for that
society as well as the one to which they belonged. He should
therefore propose as a toast—" The Artists' General Benevolent
Fund."

_
Mr. Pitict.tra returned thanks, and assured the company, that
the Artists' General Benevolent Fund felt the most cordial good
will totVards the Society whose anniversary they had met to
celebrate.

The Cdarttasax said, before he left the Chair, there was one
toast he was anxious to give. Although custom, on such occa•
alone, did not admit the Ladies to sit at table with them, they were i
still present, and were looking down upon them, not, lie hoped,
with a supercilious eye, but of favour. The Society would not do
their duty as English Gentlemen, they did not drink the healths
of those Ladies who had favoured them with their presence ; and
although, Iron the imperfection of his sight, lie had not the satis-
faction of seeing them, yet he begged to assure them that he bowed
to their suptemaey with all submission, and drank their health.
with hearty good wdl. (immense applause.)
Mr. SIIEE said that he was anxious, before the Chairman
quitted the Chair, to offer a few words, surrounded as they were by
persons the most distinguished In every department of art. In
common with all, lie congratulated the Meeting on the flattertrig
state of their prospects. With reference to the patronage the Arts
had received, he must say, that hitherto the Ministers of the
country had not been remarkable in the promotion of them ; he was
happy, however, to find that a new era had arisen, and an addi-
tional stimulus afforded to the excellence and genius of the country.
Gentlemen would bi ready, he was assured, to afford justice to their
Right Hon. Chairnisn, who was so anxious to extend the Arts.
Their acknowledgments were alsb due in another quarter—to two of
the noblest poet.• the. Britain possessed, for their presence. The
principle of the Arts was founded on poetry. If a painter painted
a picture, if an architect erected a building, or a statuary carved a
figure, success could only be obtained by the poetic feel ig of the
artist. It was impossible not to feel the influence which poetry
possessed over their minds, sad therefore he should propose the
hoalth of Messrs. Moore and Campbell, and to express their sense
of their merits and obligations for their presence.
Messrs. Moons: and CAMPBELL returned thanks; but we
regret that from the extreme anxiety that prevailed to bear those
gentlemen—the consequent pressure from all parts of the room—
and the very low tone in which they spoke, which only enabled us
to catch disjointed parts of sentences, we are wholly unable with
any regard to justice, to attempt a report of them ; suffice it, that
their observations were very brief.
The Right Hon. Chairman then left the room, amidst the cheers
and well wishes of the Company, having previously requested
Sif John .."winburne to take his place.
Sir JtastW filvt NH URNE then proposed the health of Mr. Bal
manno, the Sebretary, which was moat flatteringly received.
Mr. Baistposaro returned thanks, and announced the subscrip-
tions that day, independent of annual payments, to amount to 6601. ;
and the company separated at eleven o'clock.

LIVERPOOL COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

LIVERPOOL, MAY 6.

The demand for British Plantation Sugar has been again limited
during the week ; the sales only amount to about 600 hogsheads.
chiefly of good and line sorts, for grocers at about Is. per cwt. re-
duction, in addition to which about 600 bags fine white Bengal
Sugars have been sold at 71s. a 725. 6d. per cwt. In Molasses
nothing done, and in Coffee only some few lots sold for home
consumption, at former prices. Nothing done in ginger or
Cocoa. About 100 bags Pimento sold at Bid. to B. per lb.
In Rum the demand is very limited, some old imported
Demerara have been sold very low. The holders of Dyewoode
seem less disposed to sell, and there is more demand. A cargo of 170
tons Campeachy Logwood sold at 6/. 10s., and 20 tons Jamaica at
51. 7s. 6d. In Fustic 30 tons of mixed Cuba and Spanish have
been sold at 71. ss. Ashes are less in demand, 100 brls. Montreal
Pot have been sold at 21a. 6d. for old, and 23a. for new ; 100 brie.
Montreal Pearl at 241. a 255.; and 50 brie. New York Pearl at
255. In Tar 1,000 brls. American have been sold at 10a. 9d. a I ls,
and BO bets. Stockholm at 15s. per brl. About 2,000 brls. Turpen-
tine sold at 115. 9d. per cwt. In Hides the sales are 1,000 3loute-

video Ox and Cow at 70.; and 1,000 North American

salted at 30. 100 tierces of New Caroline Rice sold at 18a.
a 18s. 6d. ; and 450 bags East India at 18s. a 225. per cwt.
Yesterday 280 chests East India, and 352 mons Cara=
Indigo were offered by public auction, .of which only 63
chests were sold at 4s. a Bs. 7d. : and 130 serons Caraccas at
4s. 2d. to Bs. bd., which ate considered fair prices, comparing them
with the London market. We have had more demand for Tobacco
this week than for some time, and about 500 hhds. have been sold,
of which 300 have been bought on London account, 100 for the
trade, and the remainder for Ireland at prices rather lower. In the
Corn Market we have not heard of any salesof foreign grain. Other
aorta are rather lower. In Clover Seed about 30 tierces American
red have been sold at 40s. to 50a., and 16 bags Dutch white Seed
at 50s. to 51s. per cwt. Sowing Flax Seed declines : 80 tierees
New York have been mold at 465. dd. per tierce ; 70 hhds. Phila.
delphia Bark have been sold at Bs. 9d.' and some inferior at 7s. 6d.
per cwt. A public sale of 164 casks Dutch ombro and crop Mad-
ders was attempted, but were all taken in, the buyers not being
disposed to come up to the prices expected. Twenty tons Sicily
brimstone have brought 51.105. per ton. Olive Oil is in very limited
request. Palm Oil moves very slowly at 221.
Early in the week our cotton market was depressed; but on
NVednesday, when the motion was known for the allowing of
bonded grain to be allowed for home consumption, added to a better
feeling at 31anchester' they combined to give 4 little more life. to
the market, and the btsainess has been since to more extent, and at
an advance of id. to 4d. per pound on Boweds, Orleans, and Ala-
bamas ; and although a better demand is evinced for Brazils, the
prices remain nearly as before. The sales consist of 4990 bags
Uplands, at bid. to 70 • 1859 New Orleans, at 6d. to lid. ;
_5O
Sea Islands, at 14d. to and 15 stained Sea Islands, at bd. ;
1600 Alabamas. at bid. to 7d.; 300 Pernambuco, at 10d. a 104 d. ;
200 Bahia. at 90., and 270 by auction, at 84d. to 94d. ; 1100 31a-
ranham, at iiad. BM Para, at Rd.; 200 Demerara, at 80. to
94d. ; 400 Egyptian, at 7d. to 9d. ; 20 West India, at lid.; 150
Peruvians in the seed, at 10. ; 10 Mexican. at 61d.; 300 Surat'.
at Ad. to 50. ; and 40 Bengal. at 40. to aid. ; being a total of
about 11,500 bags. About 3000 of Atneticati, put of the above,
have been taken on speculation.

Report states that the populace at Bolton were so rejoiced
with the news of the Bond Grain release, that they actu-
ally embraced the soldiery, and cried out " God savolhe
King and George Canning."
iVednesday the Presbytery met at Paisley, when it was
moved that an overture against pluralities in the church be
transmitted to the next General Assembly, which was
agreed to, and the Presbytery resolved accordingly ; against
which the Rev. Mr. Fleming, of Neilston, entered his dis-
sent and complaint to the next meeting of the General
Assembly.

BEPRESENTAY'ION OF THE CITY.
From the Dispatch.)
A correspondence, of which the following is a copy, has
taken place between R. Slade. Esq., an Old Member of the
Common Council, and W. Ward, Esq., one of the Candi-
dates for the Representation of the City of London:—
Doctors' Commons. April 28, 1826.
SIR— Is you aspire to the Civic honours, the questions I wish
to propound to you are, lint, whether. in the even.' of your be-
coming one of the Repre.entiltives in Parliament lot the City of
London. you will support a Reform in the Representation of the
People? Second, whether you will engage, in such case, to take
your share of the Civic duties, by accepting the flown whenever en
opportunity offers ? I contemplated 'osing these questions to you
from the moment you honoured me with a call to sdiait my vote,
and have now no reservation in doing so. seeing that in your
etteech yesterday, at Ironmongers' Hall, you frankly pledged your-
self to answer any question that might be put to you by an gleetor
whose suffrage you soliciiedr
I have the honour to subscribe myself, Sir,
Your obedient servant.
To W. Ward, Esq., Ste. It. SLADE.
tits—lf my success at the approaching Election depends either
on my accepting the Aldermsn's gown, or on my undertaking to
support any motion fur a Reform in Parliament, I respectfully de-
cline the honour.
Nothing can be more unlikely than that I should undertake
either the one or the other.
I remain respectfully, your obedient servant,
WILLIAM WARD.
34, New Broad street, Aprit29, 1326.