The Sun.
London, England, 1864-05-02 00:00:00

Banquet at the Royal Academy,

On Saturday afternoon the President and Council
of the Royal Academy gave a sumptuo us banquet
to the Ministers and other distinguished guests on
the eve of the opening of the annual exhibition in
the rooms, Trafalgar-square, The company began
to arrive shortly after two o'clock, and spent the
interval till dinner was announced in vie wing the
pictures with which the walls of the Academy are
adorned. The President of the Royal Academy
(Sir Charles Eastlake) occupied the chair.
Among the guests were the Home Sevsetary, the
Foreign Secretary, the Colonial Secretary, the Se-
cretary for War, the Secretary for India, the First
Lord of the Admiralty, the Speaker, the Chancellor
of the Exchequer, the President of the Board of
Trade, the Commissioner of Works and Public
Buildings, the Lord Chief Justices of the Queen's
Bench and Common Pleas, the Lord Chief Baron,
the Master of the Rolls, the Attorney-General, the
Archbishop of Canterbury, the Archbishop of York,
the Bishop of London, the Earl of Derby, the Right
Hon. B. Disraeli, Mr. C. Dickens, the Lord Mayor,
the Bishop of Oxford, Lord Overstone, Lord Stan-
ley, Lord Stratford de Redeliffe, and all the prin-
cipal members of the Royal Academy.
After the usual loyal and patriotic toasts,
The PRESIDENT gave " The health of the noble•
men and gentlemen rho this day honour the Aca-
demy with their presence." (Cheers.) On a former
occasion, he said, I ventured to express a hope that
the study of the fine arts:might, to a certain extent,
be introduced in our universities. lam happy to
find that steps are being taken with a view to the
promotion at least of that object ; and should those
efforts be successful, I trust that architecture will
occupy the first place in any scheme that may be
proposed. (Cheers.) Although now extensively
ed—perhaps more so than at any former
employ
period—architecture bas not been so much an object
of general interest as have been its more intelligible
rivals: The prosperity of the country is un-
doubtedly the chief cause of the impulse which this
noble art has received; but we are not the less
sensible of the encouragement which is being ex-
tended to it by the Government and by public-
spirited individuals. Societies have also done their
part. I speak not of speculative undertakings,
however useful, but of more disinterested efforts.
The exertions of the Institute of British Architects,
and the estahlishment a few years since of an Archi-
tectural Museum—an object accomplished with the
zealous and liberal assistance of some enlightened
amateurs now present—have all co-operated in pro-
ducing the results to which I have the satisfaction
to refer. (Cheers.) At such a time the introduc-
tion of the study of architecture into the university
curriculum would probably find public opinion pre-
pared to recognise the advantage of such an addi-
tion. (Cheers.) Viewed only as an academic study
no pursuit connected with the objects of taste can
more fitly recommend itself as an adjunct to a
liberal education. An acquaintance with the archi-
tectere of antiquity, leading to a corresponding
knowledge of Greek sculpture, is closely allied to
classical studies. Medim sal architecture, the
examples of which abound in our own country,
and even in the seats of learning themselves, has
a peculiar interest from its frequent past and
present application to the service of religion.
It is also to be remembered that much of the
theory of this art, depending as it does on
scientific principles, is commun'cable by lectures and
illustrations. With such aids and the study of
existing edifices, the attainment of correct know-
ledge, the power of appreciating well-selected
examples, and the gradual formation of a sound
judgment, would be placed within the reach of
many. (Cheers.) I advert to this subject now be-
cause some of those whom I have the honour to
address may possibly have opportunities of assisting
the efforts which are at present being made for pro-
moting the study of the fine arts in the universities.
Tne Archbishop of CANTERBURY—I shall not, 1

think, misinterpret the feelings of thosein whose be
half I am called upon to address you when I express
to yourself and your fellow Academicians the grate-
ful sense we eztertain of the splendid hospitality
which you have offered us this evening, and of the
rich treat you have provided for ns in the choice works
of art which adorn these walls. These annual gather-
ings arc always looked forward to with sanguine
anticipations, and those anticipations are never dis-
appointed. The fruits of this year's exhibition seem
to be especially the subject of congratulation,
from the marked excellence which characterises
the various productions of the pencil—an exhibition
which, by the suffrages of all whose opinion I have
heard expressed, rises decidedly above the ordinary
level. (Cheers.) Much as we have to admire in
brilliancy of colouring and fineness of touch, we
value far more those inner qualities which are the
soul of art, those moral characteristics which
through the eye touch and improve the heart, while
they inform the intellect, animating and encourag-
ing us to deeds of self-denial and self-sacrifice for
the good of others. This is the noblest province of
art—one in which the Royal Academy ever has,
and I trust ever will, devotedly employ itself. As
to the remarks you have made, Sir Charles, on the
cultivation of the fine arts, and especially of archi-
tecture, in our public schools, and universities, I so
far agree with you that I should be glad to see every
branch of knowledge, and all the accomplish-
ments which may combine to form the complete
English gentleman, pursued therein so far is com-
patible with the maintenance in its real supremacy
of the study of classical literature. (Cheers.)
That has hitherto been the staple of the educa-
tion of the youth of England in our public
schools and universities, and will, I trust,
continue to be so. (Hear, hear.) Returning
however, to the subject on which I rose to address
you, and in grateful recollection of cur obligatieme
to the Royal Academy, I would say for myse).i that
I always desire to derive profit as well as pleasure
from my visits to these rooms. On the present occa-
sion I have learnt a very wholesome lesson, which
may be usefully studied, not by myself alone, but
by those of my right rev. brethren else, that surround
me. I see a little lady there (pointing to Mr. Mile
lair's picture of a child asleep in church, entitled
"My Second S_rmon,") who, though all unconsci-
ous whom she has been addressing, and of the
homily she has been reading to us during the last
three hours, has in truth by the eloquence of her
silent slumber— (cheers and laughter)—given na a
grave warning of the evil of lengthy sermons and
drowsy discourses. (Loud cheers.) Sorry, indeed,
ehou'd I be to disturb that sweet and peaceful slum-
ber, but I beg that when she does awake she may
be informed who they are who have pointed the
moral of her story (cheerB)—have dra-vn the true
inference from the change that has passed over her
since she heard her first sermon, and have resolved to
profit by the lecture she has thus delivered to them.
(Cheers.) Impressed With these feelings of gratitude
for much of pleasure and much of profit derived
from your hospitable reception of us, your guests,
I have to beg you will all welcome with the utmost
cordiality the toast I have to (6
Propose,Prosperity
to the Royal Academy."
The PRESIDENT returned thanks, and proposed
'" The health of the Right Hon. \\iain Glad-
stone."

The CHANCELLOR of the ExcHEQuEil said—The
toast which you have just been pleased to give from
the chair places me in a position of prominence
o
which I am by no means entitled; for if it be true
that I feel a sincere, though an uninstructed inte-
rest in the noble profession with which you are
connected, I feel that interest I believe in company
with almost the entire body of my educated fellow
countrymen, and I may go much further then the
line thus described, and say in common with the
increasing mass of the community. (Cheers.) I
think I may best reply to the just and almost too
moderate reference yon have made to the peculiar
position of this body with respect to its wants
if I rather consider myself in connection
with the class to which I belong. As re-
gards thoie wants I trust the time is ap-
-
proac r, hit when the collective wisdom of the
nation, represented in Parliament, and for this
purpose especially represented in the House of
Commons, will be able, after having solved such a
multitude of great p aad social prob'ems
during the generation to which we belong, like-
wise to cut its way through another problem which