The Sun.
London, England, 1853-01-08 00:00:00

LITERARY 4AD ARTISTIC DINNER IN

BIRMINGHAM

The festival of literature and art, of which the note of
preparation has been sounding for the last two months,
took place on Thursday evening, and in its agreeable
character, and we trust in its results, has fulfilled the
expectation of its projectors. The idea of thus honour-
ing literature and art arose out of the increased atten-
tion which had been called to one of these departments
by the establishment of a prize-fund ; and it is due to
the Society of Artists, and to its vice-president, to say,
that they cordially co-operated in carrying out the in-
tentions of its originators.
Very soon after the hour fixed for the minor incident
of the day—the presentation of the testimonial to Mr.
Dickens—the rooms of the• Society of Artists were
crowded by as gay and distinguished an assemblage as
has ever met in Birmingham or any other provincial
town. It was not until nearly half-past five that the
presentation was made. A circle being then formed at
the upper end of the principal room (the Iliad salver
and the diamond ring being placed on a handsome pa-
pier mache table in the centre), Mr. Councillor Brisband,
as chairman of the testimonial committee, briefly stated
the nature of the presentation about to be made, and
called upon Mr. G. L. Banks to read the following ad-
dress :

" To CHARLES DICKENS, ESQ.

" Sir,—ln requesting your acceptance of the accom-
panying ring and salver, it may be necessary for your
personal gratification, as well as for the satisfaction of
those whose opinions are therein embodied, to explain
the reasons which have led to this open expression of a
feeling as sincere and deeply seated as it is humbly and
imperfectly conveyed. It has been remarked that a
regard fpr our national writers enters into and forms
part of the sacred emotions of every educated man ;
and perhaps to this sentiment, no less than to the high
moral purpose by which your works are distinguished,
your Birmingham readers may appeal for the sanction
of this grateful acknowledgment of your varied and
well-applied talents. The lightest work of fiction, if
written with a pure aim, tends to universal exaltation ;
and this admitted, who shall affect to speak slightingly
of that genial mind, and the mingled wit and wisdom
exhibited in those writings, which have secured for
their author a fame not confined to this kingdom, nor
yet circumscribed by the language of its people. It has
been your aim "to hold, as 'twere, the mirror up to
nature ; to show virtue her own feature, scorn her own
image, and the very age and body of the time his form
and pressure." Seeking this end, you have striven
to instruct the social mind of the country, to
establish a kindly sympathy between all classes, to
reconcile men to the discipline of calamity and
the harsh treatment of fortune, and to maintain
in its integrity that great law of God which teaches
us to feel that all mankind are brothers. Hence, while
unconsciously building up for yourself a name among the
world's great, and making that name " familiar in our
mouths as household words," you have drawn towards
you the sympathy of all loving heart!, and the esteem
and admiration of the Englishi people. With these feel-
ings we ask you to honour us by accepting these two
articles of Birmingham manufacture, adding a hope that
the day is not far distant when there shall be a national
value set upon such services as yours, when, before even
the bright chivalry of biith, there hall be a public re-
cognition of that higher order which is derived from the
sovereignty of genius, and whose letters patent are a
grant from Heaven."
Mr. DICKENS then said—Gentiemen, I feel it very dif-
ficult, I assure you, to tender my acknowledgments to
you, and through you to those many friends of mine
whom you represent, for the honour and distinction you
have thus conferred upon me. I can most honestly as-
at is
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with
reference to one class, some members of which,
pre-
sume to be included there, that I should be in my own
eyes very unworthy of their generous gift and gene-
rous feeling, and this occasion, instead of pleasure,
could give me nothing but pain, if I were unable to as-
sure you, and those in front of this assembly, that what
the working people have found me towards them in my
books lam throughout my life. (Hear, hear.) Gentle-
men, whenever I have tried to hold up to admiration
their fortitude, patience, gentleness, the reasonableness
of their nature, their accessibility to persuasion, and
their extraordinary goodness one towards another, I
have done so because I have first genuinely felt that ad-
miration myself, and have been thoroughly imbued with
the sentiment which I have sought to communicate to
others. (Hear.) Gentlemen, I accept this salver and
this ring, so far above all price to me, and so very
valuable in themselves, as beautiful specimens of the
workmanship of this great town, with much emotion, I
assure you, and with the liveliest gratitude. You re-
member something, I dare say, of the old romantic sto •
ries of those charmed rings that would lose their brilli-
ancy when their wearer was in danger, or would press
his finger reproachfully when he was going to do wrong.
In the very improbable event of my being in the least
danger of deserting the principles which have won me
these tokens, I am quite sure that diamond (pointing to
the presentation ring) would assume a clouded aspect in
my faithless eyes, and would squeeze a throb of pain out
of my treacherous heart ; but I have not the least mis-
giving on that point. And in this confident expectation
I intend to remove my own diamond ring to my left
hand, and in future wear my Birmingham ring on my
right, where its presence will keep me in mind of my
good friends here, and preserve a very vivid remem-
brance of this very happy hour. (Hear, hear.) Gentle;
men, in conclusion, allow me to thank you and the so-
ciety to whom these rooms belong, that this presenta
tion has taken place in an atmosphere so congenial, in
an apartment decorated with so many beautiful works of
art, amongst which I recognise the productions of pro-
fessional friends of mine whose labours and triumphs
will never be subjects of indifference to me. I thank
those gentlemen for the opportunity which enables me to
meet so many of those friends, and though last, not least,
that charming presence which is here, without which
nothing beautiful can be complete, which is endearingly
associated with rings of a plainer description—(laughter)
—and which, gentlemen, I must confess, awakens in my
mind at the present moment a very strong feeling of re-
gret that I am not in a condition to offer those testi-
monials. (Renewed laughter.) I beg you, gentlemen,
to commend me very earnestly and gratefully to our ab-
sent friends, and to assure them of my affection and
heartfelt respects. .
We may here state that the salver formed one of the
specimens of Birmingham art manufacture sent to the
Great Exhibition by Messrs. Elkington, Mason, and Co.
It bore the following inscription :—" This salver, to-
gether with a diamond ring, was presented to Charles
Dickens, Esq., by a number of his admirers in Birming-
ham, on the occasion of the Literary and Artistic Ban-
quet in that town, on the 6th of January, 1853, as a
sincere testimony of their appreciation of his varied lite-
ral

,ry acquirements, and of the genial philosophy and high
floral teaching which characterise his writings." The
ring is in its way a no less creditable specimen of our
manufactures. It was " got up" at the establishment
of Mr. Thomas Aston, • jeweller, Regent-place. It is
very valuable, and is a novel and appropriate design, the
feather of a pen being introduced.
Immediately after the presentation the company pro-
ceeded to Dee's Hotel, where the banquet took place.
The Mayor presided, the Presidents on either side
being Alderman Smith and Mr. John Jaffray (Chairman
of the Committee of the Fine Arts Prize Association).
The Vice-Presidents were—Mr. Peter Hollins, Mr.
Henry Harris, and Mr. G. L. Banks. Sir Chas. East-
lake, President of the Royal Academy, sat on the Chair-
man's right, and Mr. Dickens on his left hand. Amongst
those present were—Lord Lyttelton, Mr. Muntz, M.P.,
Mr. Scholefield, M.P., Mr. Geach, M.P., the Ven.
Archdeacon Sandford, the Rev. Chancellor Law, the
Rev. E. H. Gifford, the Rev. J. B. Owen, the Rev. C.
Clarke, the Rev. C. Bradley, the Rev. A. Vaughan, the
Rev. E. Landells, Mr. G. Dawson, M.A., Mr. avid
Roberts, R.A., Mr. T. Creswick, R.A., Mr. D. Maclise,
R.A., Mr. S. A. Hart, R.A., Mr. C. R. Cockerill,
R.A., Mr. John Hollins, A.R.A., Mr. E. M. Ward,
A.R.A., Mr. Willmore, A.E.R.A., Mr. David Cox,
Mr. K. Meadows, Mr. John Forster (author of the
" Life of Goldsmith"), Mr. J. Pye, Messrs. Martineau,
Peyton, J. T. Lawrence, Baron D. Webster, W. Lucy,
S. Beale, A. Ryland, W. Chance, jun., J. 0. Mason,
John Rawlinsawlins ; Dr. Heslop, Dr. Bel Fletcher, Dr.
Evans, Dr. Russell. Altogether, about 200 gentlemen
sat down to table, forming one of the most intellectual
and influential parties ever assembled in Birmingham.
After the usual loyal toasts,
Mr. J. T. LAWRENCE, in a few complimentary obser-
vations, gave "The Clergy;" which was acknowledged
by the Venerable Archdeacon Sandford.
Mr. GEACH, M.P., then observed that if they were
accustomed generally to do honour to the clergy and the
ministers of all denominations, this was more especially
an occasion when it should be so, when the clergy and
ministers assembled with them to do honour to literature
and art. He would not interpose longer between them
and their illustrious guests than to say that he hoped the
time had come when no longer jealousy between profes-
sors of literature and the ministers of religion would ex-
exist, believing that their union was absolutely necessary.
He would give, therefore, " The Ministers of all Religi-
ous Denominations."

The toast having been most cordially honoured,
The Rev. R. A. VAUGHAN acknowledged the compli-
ment.
HENRY SMITH, Esq., proposed "The Royal Academy
and the Fine Arts of Great Britain. (Applause.)
Sir CHARLES EASTLAKE, on the part of the Royal
Academy, returned thanks.
Mr. SCHOLEFIELD, M.P., proposed the health of Mr.
Charles Dickens.
Mr. CHARLES DICKENS, who was loudly cheered on
presenting himself, said—Mr. Mayor and gentlemen, I
am happy, first, in behalf of many labourers in that great
field of literature to which you have pledged the toast,
to thank you for the tribute you have paid to it. Such
an honour, rendered by acclamation in such a place as
this, seems to me, if I may follow on the same side as
the rev. archdeacon who lately addressed you, and who
(cheehas inspired me with a gratification I can never
ed
°e
for,Yhereet—
rs)—such an honour, gentlemen, renCer seems to me the two-sided illustration of th'
that literature holds in these latter Position
, and of cour-S Peo " generate" days. (Cheers and laughter.) To the great

compact phalanx of the people, by whose industry, per-
severance, and intelligence in their results, such places
as Birmingham, and many others like it, have arisen-
to that great centre of support, that comprehensive ex-
perience, and that beating heart, literature has turned
happily from individual patrons, sometimes munificent,
often sordid, always few—and has there found at once
its highest purpose, its natural range of action, and its
best reward. (Loud cheers.) Therefore it is right also,
as it seems to me, not only that literature should receive
honour here, but that it should render honour too, re-
membering that if it had undoubtedly done good to Bir-
mingham, Birmingham undoubtedly has done good to it.
(Cheers.) Gentlemen, from the shame of the purcha,edi
dedication, from the scurrilous and dirty work of Grub-
street, from the dependent state of sufferance at my lord
duke's table to-day, and from the sponging-house and
Marshalsea to-morrow, from that venality, which, by a
fine moral retribution, has degraded statesmen even to a
greater extent than authors, because the statesman had
but one idea as to his low belief in the universality of cor-
ruption, while the author, yielding to his dire necessity;
brought such evils on his calling as set literature free ;
and my creed in the exercise of that profession is that lite-
rature cannot be too faithful to the people in return, or
cannot too ardently advocate the cause of their advance-
ment, happiness, and prosperity. (Loud applause.)
Gentlemen, I have heard it sometimes said, and, what
is worse, as expressing more coldblooded—l have some-
times seen it written, that literature has suffered by this
change—that it has degenerated by being made cheaper.
I have not found that to be the case. (Cries of " Hear,
hear.") Nor do I believe that you have made the dis-
covery either. But let a good book, in these "bad
times," be made accessible, even upon an abstruse and
difficult subject, so that it be one of legitimate interest
to mankind, and, my life on it, it shall be extensively
bought, read, and well considered. (Cheers.) Why do
I say this ? Because I believe there are in Birmingham
at this moment many working men infinitely better
versed in Shakspeare and Milton than the average of fine
gentlemen in the days of bought and sold dedications
and dear books ' • and I ask any one to consider for him-.
self what would have been the use or the motive of dis-
seminating such useful works as Macaulay's History,
Layard's Researches, Tennyson's Poems, the Duke of
Wellington's published Dispatches, or the minutest
truths, if any truth can be called minute, discovered by
the genius of a Herschel or a Faraday (Great ap-
plause.) It is with all these things as with the great
music of Mendelssohn, or a lecture upon art delivered
to-morrow by my distinguished friend, the Presi-
dent of the Royal Academy—and how happy we should
be if such was the case. (Great cheering.) However
small the audience, however contracted the circle in the
water in the first instance, the people are now the wider
.range outside ; and the Sister Arts, while they instruct
them, derive wholesome advantage and improvement
from their ready sympathy and cordial response. (Ap-
plause.) I may instance the case of my friend Mr.
Ward's magnificent picture—(cheers)—and the reception
of that picture here is an example that it is net now the
province of art in painting to hold itself in monastic
seclusion—that it cannot hope to rest on a single foun-
dation for its great temple, on the mere classic pose of a
figure, or the folds of a drapery—but that it must be im-
bued with human passions and action, human right and
wrong, and being so formed, it may fearlessly put itself
upon its trial, like the criminal of old, to be judged by
God and its country. (Cheers.) Gentlemen, to return
and conclude—as I shall have occasion to trouble you
again—(loud cries of "Go on")—for this time, gentle-
men, I have only once again to repeat what I have
already said, as I begun with literature I shall end
with it. I would simply say that I beheve no true man,
with anyth,ing to tell, need have the least misgiving
either for himself or his message before a large num-
ber of hearers—always supposing that he be not afficted
with the coxcombical idea of writing down to the popu-
lar intelligence, instead of writing the popular intelli-
gence up to himself, if, perchance, he be above it,
and provided always that he deliver himself plainly of
what is in him, which seems to be no unreasonable
stipulation, it being supposed that he has some
dim design of making himself understood. ("Oh !"
and laughter.) On behalf of that literature to
which you have done so much honour, I beg to thank
you most cordially ; and on my own behalf for the most
flattering reception you have given to one whose claim
is, that he has the distinction of making it his profession.
(Mr. Dickens resumed his seat amidst enthusiastic
cheering.)
Mr. JOHN FORSTER, who was loudly cheered on pre-
senting himself, said—Mr. Mayor and gentlemen, I am
requested to ask you to drink " Prosperity and success
to the Birmingham Spciety of Artists," which in this
great town supports an annual exhibition of paintings,
which gives large and liberal premiums to its exhibitors,
which supplies them with an additional market for their
works, and by its example stimulates the hope of the
younger aspirant, educates his taste, and holds out the
Promise of those sure rewards when he too shall become
a painter. (Cheers.) It is not for me to speak gene-
rally on such a theme as this, after what has been said
by the President of the Royal Academy—by him who
has been deservedly placed at the head of one of the
most important of those societies in Europe—for he is
their knight of the shire, and represents them all.
(Cheers.) I should find it difficult to say whether lo-
cally or generally the advantages of such an institution
are most entitled to our warmest praise. Your local
artists are enabled by its means to study the best ex-
amples of the modern school of art—such examples as
those referred to by my friend Mr. Dickens ; his educa-
tion is made altogether easier to him, and he is also en-
abled to profit very largely by the improved taste which
such institutions as those encourage and keep active
among his fellow-townsmen. But, gentlemen, far beyond
yourselves the advantages of such societies extend, and
if I may be allowed to add anything to what has been
already so well said by Mr. Smith and others who have
preceded me on the subject of art and painting, I would
say that I know of no professions in which it is so essen-
tial that it should be accessible to all—that there should
be as many courts of appeal as possible from hasty and
ill-considered judgments. Painting is a language which
everybody- can pretend to judge, although it is certainly
a language that everybody cannot pretend to know, and
against judgment founded on imperfect knowledge, I
know of no greater advantage than those annual exhi-
bitions do supply a Court of Appeal of that kind, where
many pictures of the so-called unsuccessful artists, mis-
judged or ill-appreciated, may boldly plead, may appeal
to you, for tardy but complete justice, and that has been
done over and over again ; and their pictures have at
last found a home in the halls of your merchant princes.
(Applause.) Gentlemen, there never was a time when
commerce so well deserved to be called princely as now.
If nobler and happier days have arisen for the fine arts,
it is due mainly to men of whom you have so many
illustrious examples among yourselves—men who have
raised themselves above their fellow-townsmen, by their
honest labour and enterprise, to be the aristocracy, as
I may call them, of the working men. (Cheers.) Gen-
tlemen, it is the happiest omen for the painter, that
such an institution, and similar ones, in the rich
and prosperous towns of Birmingham, Liverpool, and
Manchester, have been established ; and it is well
to observe how such patronage will be repaid ; for these
great towns will be the first to profit by the improved
taste, and that new and better spirit which their wealth
Ind enterprise have so largely and generously contributed
,o foster. (Cheers.) As, for example, as I spoke of the
ug men and their aristocracy, I may as well speak
at great conception of an illustrious Prince who does
,t disdain to be a workingman—(great cheering ) I
will say that the realisation of that scheme will mainly—
depend on the continued success of such societies
these ; for they educate the popular sense of beauty—. sas
they train the public mind in the principles of taste,
and
contribute to work out that valuable truth which
is the
very corner-stone of Prince Albert's magnificent scheme,
that our material wealth can never be separated from
our intellectual advancement and enjoyment—that com-
merce carlot enrich, or freedom ennoble us to the fu
extent of which both are capable, unless the fine arts are
invoked to soften, refine, and elevate the character of
the people. Loudrmingh( applause )
I give
theg healthentlemenoi
Mr. Peter Hollins."
" The Biam Society of: Artists, and
enthusiasm. The toast was drank with much
Mr. PETER HOLLINS responded, apologising for his in-
ability properly to thank them, and proceeded to say that
he had thought the most interesting way in which he
could acknowledge their kindness would be to give a his-
tory of the rise, progress, and present position of the
arts in Birmingham. (Laughter, he found would
not do, so he thought of That.z:,uching on the more
prominent features in that history.; but on reviewing
them, he found them so mixed up with matters that had
produced the bitterest feelings in Birmingham, that he
abandoned the idea altogether
ofHe hoped, nevertheless,
that he should car the sensthe meeting with him,
if he considered tha ry
t assemble
an act of obli-
vion of all that was painful iny
arr-
est of an undivided athsePassingn:lnd as al succ,apnadst' orious future.
earn-
(Cheers.) He would content himself with remarking that
as respects the past, the course the artists had pursued
was that which their sense of public duty pointed out.
To such an assembly it was not necessary,
eof Artists
continued,
presentists
to enlarge on the advantages the Society
ferred, more especially as there were Iwo
were not aware the mass of the articles fewein Con
Ili wile
, and propor-
required elegance of design, beauty of f
tion. Many, however, might imagine form
at these quali-
ties could be conferred by a School of De
Artists' Society was founded for the purepigonse,
an artistic education, while the Government Sof glvin
chool of
w, the
Design, or of Ornamental Art, was established to edu-
ere thus entirely dis-
cate the artisan. Their provinces W
tinct, although tending to one end. The artists required
an expensive building for their The
and acade-
mies, while the School of Des'
quen a less expensive
building, in a less public, and co needtly
situation. It was thereforeproposed to founldesas newexpensive
-
tution. (Loud cheers.) INvas proposed that the town
should raise a subs.eription, erect buildin for a school of
design, the subscribers to have no privilegeges attached, so
that the Society of Arts and School of Design would save
the whole income of theipresent building, which could
be devoted tobetltieheenloyment of a larger staff of masters,
and thereby
means of extending the benefits of the
institution. The Society. of Artists would be placed in
the large and ex etnhseivie
.building now occupied by the
School of Desiolip r income would be augmented by
the increased revenu arising from exhibitions there, and
thus the two societies might cordially join to promote the
general improvement and education of all classes.
(Cheers.) The ground the new Schools of Design
need not be expensive ; and the governors of
ward's School, who had won for themselves an imperish-
able name by their liberality in extending their own in-
stitution, would add greatly to their reputation by
giving a site for the new buildings, and thus entitle themselves
to the gratitude of succeeding generations. (Cheers.) ln
the event of this plan being accepted by the town,
Mr.
Hollins said, in conclusion, the artists had authorised
him to say that they would head the subscription list with
100/. (Loud cheerio.