The Sun.
London, England, 1855-04-02 00:00:00

7--1

-ARTISTS' GENERAL BENEVOLENT

INSTITUTION.

The fortieth anniversary dinner of this institution
took place on Saturday evening at the Freemasons
Tavein, the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor in the chair,
supported by Mr. Alderman and Sheriff Muggeridga
and Mr. Sheriff Crosley, and a numerous company ;
among whom we noticed the Rev. Dr. Croly, Sir C. L.
Eastlake, P.R.A., Sir W. C. Ross, R.A,, Sir C. Barry,
R.A., Messrs. D. Roberts, R.A., Daniel Maclise, R.A.
C. R. Cockerill, R.A., Philip Hardwick, R.A., W. P.
Frith, R.A., with many other associates and members
of the Royal Academy and gent!emen connected with
the fine arts.
After due honour had been rendered to the usual loyal
toast

The LORD IVLI.YOE proposed " The Army n.nd Navy,"
and, after paying a well-merited tribute to the gallantry
and devotion displayed by our forces in the East, said
that it must he a source of intense gratification to all pre-
sent, as Englishmen, that he should be able to couple
with that toast "Our gallant Allies." (Cheers.) He
hoped that the union which now existed between France
and England would remain unshaken long after the pre-
sent contest bad been decided on a basis consistent with
the honour and dignity of the two countries. (Cheers.)
He Lit convinced also that the Emperor of the French,
on his approaching visit to this country, would be re-
ceived with the honour and respect to which, by his
loyal co-operation, he was so well entitled. (Cheers.)
The toast was drunk with enthusiasm. In proposing
the toast of the evening,. "The Prosperity of the
Artists' General Benevolent Institution," the Lord
Mayor explained that its object was to extend re-
lief to distiessed artists, whether subscribers to its
fund or not, whose works had been generally known
and esteemed by the public, as well as to their widows
and orphans. He was sure an appeal of this kind
would induce all present to do their utmost in aiding
and assisting so laudable an undertaking. (Cheers.)
The toast having been duly honoured,
Sir C. L. EASTLAKE next proposed " The Health of
the Chairman," and in so doing said he regarded the oc-
cupation of that chair by the Lord Mayor as an auspi-
cious event, inasmuch as it was calculated to recommend

the institution to these distinguished and influential
individuals in the city of London who, when once as-
sured that the objects of the society were laudable, and
its affairs judiciously administered, would lend their
valuable aid and promote it by their sympathy and sup-
port. (Cheers.) There was, however, another cause of
congratulation. No one present could be ignorant of
the manner and of the extent to which the present Lord
-Mayor of the city of London lad been connected with
r. (Cheers.) Could anysone
forga.—thaTiFi'6,e :~lttedelbtessaLarkietsee.
had been made familiar, by iiiettus excellent engrav-
ing:, u)t. only throughout our cwn country, but he might
say without exaggeration throughout the civilised world ?
(Cheers.) When he remembered that grand work re-
presenting the scenery of Egypt, of Syria, and of the
Holy Land, recommended and adorned as it was by the
able pen of Dr. Croly, he could not but regard it as a
lasting record of the spirit of its publisher, while it was
a monument partly raised by him to the fame of David
Roberti'. (Cheers.)
The LORD MAYOR having returned thanks,
Dr. CROLY then gave the toast of "The Royal Aca-
demy," coupling with it the name of Sir Chas. Eastlake.
In the course of an eloquent address tee reverend gen-
tleman said they were ail acquainted with the history of
.the Royo Aeaderny—that it began in quarrels—hke
Richard; was " tetchy and quarrelsome" in its youth, but
bad since risen to man's estate, and had sustained tho
talent, the arts, and honour of country. If he were
to speak of art, a question altogether beyond his power,
he should say that it was the source of the strongest and
most permanent power of a country. In all instances
which he ha I seen, in all those recollections of history
which are common to us all, he found that the arts have
been the only permanent, powerful, and influential evi-
dences of the fame of those countries to which they were
common. How little did we care now about the con-
quests even of Athens, yet we saw its fame immortalised
by the relics of its art. How little did we care now
about the squabbles and factions of Italy, her princes,
and her potentates ; for we looked to Italy only as the
country of Titian, Michael Angelo, and Raphael. The
history of Louis XIV. presented a similar example. He
was a great man and a great conqueror. His conquests
had long since disappeared, but his proudest memorials
—the illustrations of his country's glory— still remained
in the arts. (Cheers.) If England desired to be the
first country in the world—a natural desire it was, and
one which was put within her own power—she must
make her cities the temples of the arts. Be did not
wish to speak disrespectfully of individual patronage,
but before the arts could receive their full development
the patronage must be national in its extent and charac-
ter. Why should not all corporate halls advance the na-
tional appreciation of art Why should not the history
of England be explained on those walls, which might,
contain the noblest illustrations ; and our peasantry be
taught the history of their forefathers by seeing that his-
tory emblazoned on walls which they were wont to see
in their daily avocations ? Could they doubt that it
would promote a public spirit, thatit would be an incite-
ment to public feeling ? We might produce many a man
who was now lost to society merely by the contemplation
of the glorious deeds of "the days that are gone." Might
not many a "mute inglor:ous Milton" be roused toinspira-
Lion by seeing the scenes of history vividly depicted before
his eyes ? Might not many an unconscious hero be led to
offer himself for the honour of his country by seeing
what had been done by those who had gone before ?
Might not the whole spirit of the country be incited,
elevated, and inspired by that noble vision, from things
that were past up to things that were to come ? These,
he conceived, were the legitimate purposes of art. They
were called upon that evening ti administer such bene-
volence as they might to individuals who had supported
the honour of the country and gratified the taste of in-
dividuals. In ministering to such as these it must be
borne in mind that they were supplying the necessities
of those who were more sensitive to sorrow than any
other men, who were the distinguished of our age, and
whom it should be the glory of our age to cultivate,
sustain, and honour. The artist was a patriot of the
first water, unstained by faction, not looking to the
mere circumstances of the moment, but a patriot striving
after immortality, and seeking to confer that immor-
tality upon his country. (Loud cheers.)
Sir C. L. EASTLAKE, on the part of the members of
the Royal Academy and of himself, in returning thanks,
expressed his special acknowledgments to the eloquent
speaker for the kind manner ie which he bad recom-
mended the toast of the Royal Academy. Among the
members of the Royal Academy there had been, and
there were, many who had enjoyed the friendship of
their chairman. Among those who were now no more,
he could not mention one who had a steadier regard for
his lordship than David Wilkie. He stated this from
his own experience, for he remembered well the terms of
respect with which the great painter uniformly spoke of
hie friend Mr. Moon. (Cheers.)
The SECRETARY read the report of the proceedings of

tie society fu• the past ycar, from which it appe-ared
that a suet of 826/. hal Leen expended during the year

in the relief of G 5. applicants, the amount awarded to
each applicant varying frmi 351. to Sl., according to
the necessities of the cas::.

The TREASURER (Mr. C. R. Cockerel!, 11. A.), in ac-
knowledging the receipt of the subscriptions in the room,
congratulated the meeting on their having reached the
sum of GM., beim! upwards of 1001. more than was col-
lected at the anniversary dinner last year.
The remaining ordinary routine toasts having been
disposed of, the proceedings terminated.
A selection of vocal music by Madame Weiss, Mrs.
Lockey, and Miss Williams (who was much applauded),
assisted by Mr. Weiss, Mr. Lockey, and Mr. J. L.
Hatton, contributed much to the enjoyment of the
evening. Mr. Harker officiated ai toastmaster.

MEDICAL MEN APPOINTED EXECUTIONERS.—To the
unitiated it might perhaps appear not quite the thing
that a gentleman by birth and education, a member of a
learned and humane profession, should, on accepting her
Majesty's service, be degraded to a level with the com-
mon hangman, and forced to undergo a training in
g bru-
tality and ruffianism. What is the opinion of the mili-
tary authorities on this point let the following letter tes-
tify. It is a verbatim copy of one written a week ago
by an Adjutant-General of Forces. For obvious rea-
sons we conceal names :—" Adjutant-General's-office,
E— ---) March —. Sir—ln reply to your letter of
the 9th inst., I have the honour to acquaint you, that,
will by direction of the Major-General commanding, Private
D J ,of the —th Regiment, is to undergo
the sentence awarded him in the gaol of ----, and
that the prisoner must be marked with the letter D in
the Regimental Hospital, by the Assistant-S.urgeon, be.
fore beirnbEgereocntel.cmsroemantitestdeadti to gaol." Ours ea.cers
cis
re-
member the regulation under which th.above letter •
authorised, and also the vigorous opposition it eneoun-
wprll evers theianlik cos:l:teen:
the Army and Navy
bteerendeeidneoduT pages when
the heals
jsfirosft
De-
nyeistlfpreEdllineaAiNcrti).Lescaonlidsiatebtltee.
partments bad resolved upon making. the Medical Ser.
vice one which no gentleman
ing, they could not takoetntehree effectualßev means than they
sensa.
owing to the myste-
rious recently do
Gloucester,.
George Watts, of
:day last the reverend gentleman
ppear
aGloucesternee t
ot.ohis:e Mr. Davis, of Bell-lane, on
drt iiroooMunvseT hasiSdni' ti
so a
Brockwortb.
business.
the Bell-lane er
the last time be was seen was about mid-
On going
at home, and house, however, he was not
appears that he I at the Bell states that he was in
mid-
day, when the ostler
of the membersTi walkingofad towards the Southgate-street. It
tmheadfeamanilyartroaningeemetentthewmithatsotte
but as he did nolte
Bell Hotel. yretwuarnitetdheuyntdiil.olvlealfh-poamste, fourtbin thinking lie
had gone before them. Not returning, his friends and
relatives, were naturally in a state of great anxiety.
Information was given to the police and search was
made in every direction, and ultimately a reward of
50/. was offered for his discovery, and a full description
of his person was published. Several reports have been
prevalent that he had been seen in different parts of the
county, but none on which thorough reliance can be
places. Yesterday it was stated that he was found at
Hinton, near Bristol, but this turned out to be untrue,
another person having been mistaken for him. We are
sorry to hear that although every effort has been made
to discover him, and although messengers have been
sent to every part of the county, all search has as yet
proved ineffectual. We understand that latterly the
rev. gentlemlin has suffered from severe headaches,
'which it is stated may Lave affected his intellect. A.
most painful anxiety surrounds the affair, as it is not
known whether he is living or dead. He was much re-
spected by his parishioners and all who knew him,—.
Oloucester traviri44