The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1820-05-01 00:00:00

ROYAL AC4DEMY.

Saturday the Nlembers of the Royal Academy
gave their annual dinner, previous to the ape * gof
the Exhibition this day, in their large room tut So-
merset-house. Sir Thomas Lawrence presided, for
the til-at time since his election to the Pre•ideucy.
The spacious ro 1111 l was filled with the most emi-
nent turn this country ran hood, both as to rank
■od wealth, most of diem, highly to their c►edit,
giving every encouragement to Artists, and the
Fine Arts in general. Among them were—
Prince Castelcieals, several foreigners of distinction, who
are now in Englaud, most of the Foreign Ambassadors sod
Ministers. his Royal Highness Ilse Duke of Some: sat at the
right of the President, and the Archbishop of York on his
left, the LAITII Chancellor and most of the Cabinet NI 'Morro,
the Bishops uf ChrstersOxford, Salisbury, Ike. the three Chief
Judges, the Attorney anA Solieiier.Uearral, the Dukes of
Redford and Argyll, the Marquise• of Camden, Stsifoitl,
Lowdown, lee the Earls of Heshorough, Yarinooth, Gros-
venor, Lonsdale, Ike. Viscount Palmerston, the Lord Mayor
of ILOWIOII, Sir William Grant, Aldermen Wood and Birth,
UMW; . 11 liski•orm, Wilberforce, Arbuthnot, Lister Parker,
sad General Phipps.

'Flie dinner was sumptuous and very excellent,
including many rarities, which was served from
the Freemasons' Tavern. 'flie dessert was profuse,
■nd a great variety of excellent wines.
After the health of the King, the President
gave—
« The Duke of Sussex, and the rent of the royal Fa

The Royal Duke, iii retur ll itt g thanks, minced,
in a vest' feeling manner, the demise of the las..
King, which, t•e said, he felt as a loyal subject
en affectionate soil; and although the Royal
Society had Inst their great patron, he congratulated
it in a successor in the person of his present Ma-
jesty, who had often honoured the Society with his
presence, and who would give the Society every
support in his power, and the Fine Arts in general.
He congratulated the Society on the choice they
bad made of a Preside''', and he had no doubt
hut that it would give universal aatiii.iction. He
pledged himself, that the Society of Arts and
Sciences, over which he had the honour to preside,
would co-operate with the Royal Society iu pro-
owing the Arts.
The P,SSIDIINT, in reply, made his acknowledg-
ments to the Royal Duke for the flattering mousier
in which he had noticed his name, end pledged
himself to exert all his powers to fill the office of
President, to which be had the honour of being
elected, to support the society and the arts in
general.
On the health, of the Noblemen and Gentlemen
being drunk who had done the Society the boom,r
of attending the nieehog, the LORH CM•aCaLLOR
returned thanks, and oh,crved. that he thought the
honour was conferred upon them, by being ■Motsg
such an assembly of ilistingui.lied Artists.
On the healtlis of the Marquis of Stafford and
Earl Grosvenor, the two west supporters and
promoters of the arts, iiertieularly that of paint-
ing, these highly distinguished Noblemen returned
thanks, and promised w continue their patronage
and support.
" The Lord Mayor, and prosperity to the City of Loading,"
was d'art. _ _ _

The LORD MAYOR roamed thanks, and said
he could not speak fur esionw.lf but for the Corsa-
ratsoo generally, being anxious tO aupiron the line
saris. _ . .

Some excellent vocal motile was performed duo.
ing the evening, snider the direction of Mr. Sale,
The pert; ttttt era cootnaten of Master Marottal4
Memo. Gore, Terrain, Evan.. Meld, Sole. Clark,
and J. B. Sale. Non Aubis Limier was very finely
sung.
God ;ewe Kieg." atm Abe bealth of Lis Ma.
irsy.
" Hai/ Sitar ojf Broataroicit," •f:rr the health
of the Puke wf Sgaaes wad tiara soot of the Royal
Faintly.
Mr, Tarsi' snug an excellent Scotch song.