The Sun.
London, England, 1824-09-22 00:00:00

ARTISTS' DINNER at EDINBURG 11.

'On Friday last, the Artists of Edinborgli'held
their Third Animal Dinner at the Itritish Hotel, Queenestreet,
in- commemoration of the distinguished honour conferred by
the King on the Fine Arts, during his MAJESTY'S visit to
Scotland. The Chair was ably tilled by ALEXANDER
NASIIITTir, Esq. with his usual kindness and urbanity, a Gm-
denten who has laboured all hislife roost successfully to advance
the arts of his conntry. The meeting. was numerously attend.'
ed.; but what added greatly to the pleasure of the Artists on
this occasion, was the pretence of their distinguished country-
man, David Wilkie, Esq. and Limner to his Majesty
'for Seothted. This celebrated Artist is now, here for the
purpose of painting portraits, and collecting materials, for a
picture of the King's arrival at hie Palace of llolyroivlhouse, at
the express desire of his Majesty, When the Chairman rose
• and gave the toast of the day, The King, the most enligh.teem! Sovereign, and greatest Patron of the Arts in Europe,"
every artist felt how much he owed his Majesty, and the toast
was drank.with feelings, of the deepest gratitude.. Here the
Chairtnan took occasion to remark, thus his Majesty was pot
a nominal Patron, 'but a real judge, and a liberal encou-
rager of the ,Fine Arts; and observed, that his Majesty's
visit to Scotland must be • productive of the most bene-
'tient! effects to the ,Fint! Arts in this part of the United
Kingdom.—After the health of their distinguished guest, " Mr.
Wilkie," was given from the Chair, in rising his feelings were
much overcome by the rapturous manner in which the toast was
received. In a most elegant reply, he expressed the warmest
..love for his native country, and that it was his highest pride to
be known wherever he was au a Scotsman. Here he took the
opportunity pi' remarking with pleasure the great progress
the Art 4 had made in his native country within these few years,
and paid a well-merited tribute to the talents of the late John
Graham, Esq,. He also mentioned with mingled feelings of
regret and esteem, the toss which the Arts had sustained by the
death of that eminent artist, the late Sir Henry lifieburn. The
whole of the evening was an intellectual treat, and must have
made a lasting,..impret.elion on every Artist present. Mr.
weslitittnittl,to with the greatest attention. Ills nervous
manner of exprsaiing himself *hews deep thinking, as well as
sound reasoning. There was no: department of art which was
Lot referred to by him at eonsiderable length. His remarks
on the art of engraving, as connected with sculpture and paint-
ing, ahewing how little would have been. known of the
greatest works of the old.wraetere, without the aid of the sister
art., was practically expretuted, by supposing copies of, them
" to be wafted, as if on wings, to the most distant tarts of the
globe t" and. tide hr illustrated by alluding to Mr. W. Allan's
account of heving,testri in a Russian cabin on the borders of
Twiny, two the Death of Wolfe," after West:
and the interment of "General Fraser," after Graham—a cir-
eusustence Which Afforded the late venerable President the
greatest satis(aCtion. The whole evening's entertainment was
ligth gratifying, andabe whole party were deeply indebted to
Mr. Nannyth, who, on•this as on fortner occasions, chewed the
greatest readiness to promote the good of art, and impart de-
delight and instruction byhis conventatex..—(Edinburgh
J'apirr.)