The Sun.
London, England, 1853-05-02 00:00:00

THE ROYAL ACADEMY.

On Saturday last, according to custom, the President
an 1 Gmincil of the Royal Acadethy of Arts entertained a
party of noblemen and gentlemen of distinction at the
rooms of the association in Trafalgar-square on occasion
of the opening of " The Exhibition."
The company assembled some time before the dinner-
hour, and inspected the pictures in the several rooms,
which are to be thrown open to the public to-day. The
dinner, which was provided by Messrs. Willis, of the
Thatched-Louse Tavern, and which comprised every deli-.
racy that could be furnished, was served in the eastern
apartment.
Sir C. L. EASTLAKE, the President of the Academy,
was of course in the chair.
The Bishop of LONDON, chaplain of the Academy, said
grace.
Among the company were—the Prussian and Sardinian
Ministers, the Lord Chancellor, the Archbishop of York,
the Earl of Aberdeen, Lord J. RusselL.M.P., Lord Pal-
merston M.P., the'Earl of Clarendon, Earl Granville, the
Duke of Argyll, the Duke of Newcastle, Mr. S. Herbert,
M.P., Lord Hardinge, Sir C. Wood, M.P., Sir J. Graham
M.P., the Duke of Wellington, Mr. Cardwell, M.P., Sir
W. Molesworth, M.P., Lord Campbell, the Master of the
Rolls, the Lord Chief Baron, Mr. Justice Talfourd, the
Marquis of Anglesey, Mr. T. Baring, M.P., the Governor
of the Bank, the Earl of Carlisle, Lord Colborne, the
Earl of Derby, Earl de Grey, Lord Dufferin, Mr. C.
Dickens, Sir 11. Ellis, Sir G. Grey, the Marquis of
Granby, Mr. C. Hardinge, Mr. B. Hawes, Mr. Holford,
the Earl of Jersey, the Bishops of London, Oxford, and
Lincoln, the Marquis of Lansdowne, Mr. Labouchere,
Sir E. B. Lytton, M.P., Sir C. Lyell, Lord Londes-
borough, Lord J. Manners, M.P., the Lord Mayor,
Lord Monteagle, Sir R. Murchison, Mr. R. M. Milnes,
M.P., the Marquis of Normanby, Sir J. Pakington,
M.P., Colonel Phipps, the Presidents of the Royal and
other Societies, the Dean of St. Paul's the Earl of Yar-
borough, with most of the members of the Academy,
J many other gentlemen of eminence.
When the cloth had been removed, and "Non Nobis"
sung,
The PRESIDENT called upon the company to drink to
the "Health of her Majesty," and stated that, although
the Queen had not been able to pay a visit to the Ex-
hibition, Prince Albert, accompanied by some members
of the Royal family, had honoured the Academy with his
company on a previous day, when his Royal Highness
was pleased to express his high approbation of the pre-
sent Exhibition.
The company rose to drink the toast, and the Na-
tional Anthem was sung.
The PRESIDENT then proposed "The health of his
Royal Highness Prince Albert," and observed, that the
terms of grateful respect in which his Royal Highness
was invariably spoken of upon all public occasions might
be said to indicate, or rather to constitute, a settled pub-
lic opinion ; and we might be sure that none would be
found to resemble the capricious Athenian who was tired
of hearing Aristides always called " the just." (Cries
of "Hear, hear.") Among his Royal Highness's titles
to this fair fame might be mentioned his earnest efforts
to promote art and science, not only for their own sake,
but for the benefit of commerce and manufactures.
(Hear.) Whatever might be the mode in which his
Royal Highness's views, in conformity with the opinion
of Parliament, might be carried out, we might feel as-
sured that we should have additional reason to acknow-
ledge the value of those remarkable qualities which had
already secured for him the respect and gratitude of the
nation. (Cheers.)
The toast— " The health of Prince Albert, the Prince
of Wales, and the rest of the Royal Family, not forget-
ting the last interesting addition," was drunk with much
applause.
The PRESIDENT next gave "The Army and Navy."
With " the army," he should, according to official eti-
quette, connect the name of the Commander-in-Chief ;
but Lord Hardinge had requested that the name of
Field-Marshal the Marquis of Anglesey be substituted.
The fittest course in this dilemma appeared to be to pro-
pose the health of both those illustrious commanders.
(Cheers.) But it would ill become the representative of
that institution on the present occasion not to recal the
name 'of one who honoured the Royal Academy with
especial notice, and he might almost venture to say, at-
tachment. In speaking of Field-Marshal the Duke of
Wellington in that place no apology would be needed
for confining himself to the Duke's taste in art. His
Grace, as was well known, appreciated the works of the
great masters, but he also took delight in those of living
artists, and where his feeling led him to approve, suf-
fered no fastidious prejudices against modern efforts to
influence him from expressing his opinion. (Hear, hear.)
The last public dinner, he believed, that the Duke ho-
noured with his presence was their own, at the former
anniversary, which happened to be his birthday. (Hear,
hear.) On the evening before the close of the Exhibi-
tion—not to mention intermediate inspections—his
Grace honoured the Academy with a visit, and upon
that occasion carefully surveyed all the principal pic-
tures, making his observations freely, relating anecdotes
in reference to the subjects of some of the works, and
taking an interest in meritorious productions of the
most opposite character. (Hear, hear.) It was a con-
solation now, when missing the Duke from their table,
to do honour to one of the few surviving heroes of Water-
loo. The Marquis of Anglesey was now the only field-
marshal in the British army not of royal blood. It would
be unnecessary to remind the assembly that he com-
manded the cavalry at Waterloo, and was second in com-
mand at that battle, where his blood flowed so freely for
his country. (Hear.) With regard to Lord Hardiuge, he
(the President) might be permitted to say that the Com-
mander-in-Chief inherited the love of art which distin-
guished his illustrious predecessor, as it also distinguished
his illustrious friend Lord Anglesey. (Hear.) He was
the possessor of two noble works in the present Exhibi-
tion—(hear)—and, as a guarantee for his enduring in-
terest in art, it might be mentioned that a member of
his own family now present had successfully cultivated
drawing and painting—(hear)—so much so that he had
worthily represented the scenes and incidents of that
Indian campaign, rendered for ever memorable by the
triumphs of Lord Hardinge and his brave companions
in arms. (Cheers.) With " the Navy" he begged to
connect the name of Sir James Graham, the First Lord
of the Admiralty. (Hear.) The relation of the First
Lord of the Admiralty to the navy would be a sufficient
reason for connecting his long-distinguished name with
the toast. Two names were thus associated, which were
remembered and uttered together in almost the last mo-
ments of the still lamented Sir R. Peel—(hear)—who,
in so pronouncing the honoured names of Hardinge and
Graham, bequeathed them, as it were, with an additonal
and peculiar distinction to our respect. (Hear.)
The Marquis of ANGLESEY, who was much cheered on
his rising to acknowledge the toast, said he was sur-
prised to be thus called upon in the presence of the
highly-distinguished officer to whom the Sovereign had
assigned the office of Commander-in-Chief; but, being
called on, he would say a very few words with respect
to the army. He believed it to be, for its numbers [he
was sorry to say they were far from what he should like
to see—(hear))—in the very highest state of efficiency,
and of discipline. (Hear.) He did not speak of its
merits in the field—that would be superfluous—(hear)—
but he would wish to make this remark respecting it—
that he believed there did not exist in the whole extent
of this empire a body of men more loyal, more peace-
able, mere ready to support and defend the laws, more
ea.
intii
army.nae
e eb, e
(lei etboenethi
nr eso.ts)eb
be
Ha
awal
lave,
wntg and ea
theit
dh e
gsoldiersthis
our
i of
uern tohf e
soldiers British
express-
inga
downsol d alsoi e rii(besbearaddrmi)n—iar
insubordination
noenneerovfteerthe
ey conwd
eurcet
cao fl oe ud r
ucpi
ot i
nz ethos p
ua st
he was not entitled under the
our which had been donebe h(Cheers.)he Hewa
was
really
very feltsensible
ren-
dered their service 11
to thanke stoththeye hroenni
n m
the ad e
ejoominptan company on representative
t s
behalf
of it, and, as he had
Viscount Haanissqno
the army, begged
(Cheers.)
aliciieiL(ll,lso acknowleding the toast,
was more indebted than the that no class or professien
them acquainted with illustrious men rem4r4c4 thipt he c
saw. For instance, those whoy to artists, Who made
might wish to look upon
Plen whom they never
one of the most distinguished
army might behold him in Sir Theoamvaash
(Cheers.) Or, • w
officers of the
Lawrence'sai
at the
at,rila i
fi m
likenesslotable portrait of the noble marquis,
wanted another instance, we'niight look
of Napier close by where In (Lord
standing. (lfe4r, lies's%) Qr, tqr sister prionfege4won4s,
there was that magnificent tablet of Stanfield's which