The Sun.
London, England, 1824-04-14 00:00:00

SOCIETY OF BRITISH ARTISTS.

Yesterday evening a grand dinner took place
at the new Gallery in Suffolk-street, Pall-mall East, to celebrate
the establishment of the above institution. The pictures which
ars intended to be exhibited on the opening of the gallery on
Monday next were hung up, and naturally attracted much of the
attention of the company. As another opportunity will be af-
forded us of offering such remarks as we think necessary upon
the works here offered to the notice of the public, we shall con-
tent ourselves on the present occasion with remarking, that the
exhibition on the whole is one of considerable merit, anti far
superior to what might have been expected to have been got to-
gether by an infant society. Haydon, Martin, Lintet, Heaphy,
Glover, Hofland, and other well-known artists, have several
excellent pictures. Haydon has a picture of extraordinary me-
rit,,which we shall notice-more fully on another occasion, when
we take a general view of the gallefy. Northcote is the only
Member of the Royal Academy who has sent any pictures to
the gallery : two of his paintings appear in the great room.
At half-past six o'clock the company, in number about 150,
sat down to an excellent dinner. Mr. Heaphy, the President
of the Society, was in the Chair, and was surrounded by his
Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex, the Hon. I). Kinnaird,
Mr. Hart Davis, 111. P.; Mr. Latubton, 11I.P.; Mr. Hobhouse,
M.P.; Sir 11. Fergusson, M.P.; Mr. Rolland; Captain 31orris,
Mr. Thomas Campbell, and many other Gentlemen eminent
for their rank or abilities.

The usual toasts having been drank after the removal of the
cloth,
Mr. D. KINN•Atnn proposed the health of the Duke of Sus-
sex, which was drank with three times three.
. The Duke of SUSSEX, after expressing his thanks for the
honour which had been conferred upon him, observed that he
felt a very warm interest in the success of the society, He
thought that the Royal Academy, so far from feeling any jea-
lousy with respect to the present society, ought to look upon it
with satisfaction and pride, because it bad in sonic manner
emanated from itself.—(Hear !)—He had no doubt that if the
object of the society were fairly represented in that quarter
whence honour and distinction were derived, it would receive
all the encouragement to which it was so justly entitled.—
(Hear !)—Long, he hoped, would the institution continue to
flourish ; and he felt proud in being the first to propose " Pro-
sperity to the Society of British Artists."
Ir.
HEAPHY acknowledged the compliment which had been
paid to the Society by their Royal guest. The success which
had attended the Society was far beyond what its most ardent
supporters had anticipated.—(Applause.)—lt had encountered
much apposition, but it had triumphed over every impediment.
He concluded by toasting " The Patrons and Supporters of
the Society."

- -
LAMBTON said, that no man could feel a more anxious
desire than he entertained for the success of the Society whose
institution they were met to celebrate, because no man was
more anxious than he was to promote the welfare of British
A rtists.—(A pplause.)
Mr. HOFLAND begged to notify that he had received an in-
timation from an Honorary Member of the Royal Academy,
which he was sure would be received with the utmost gratifi-
cation by the present company, from the eminent person who
addressed to him the letter, which he would beg leave to read:—
" 13, Lincoln's Inn-fields, April 13, 1324.
" Dear Sir— regret that a disease in my eyes
prevents my
having the pleasure of dining with the Society of British Artists
to-day, agreeably to the card I have been favoured with.
" Front the communication you were pleased to make to me
yesterday, I am fully persuaded that the Members of your So-
ciety are anxious to combine their_ interests with those of the
Royal Academy. The greater the number of enlightened
Societies in town and country, so much the better for the inte-
rests of the Fine Arts; they will all .form. one family, and I
trust their rallying point will always be the Royal Academy.
" To the Founder of the Royal Academy my obligations are
great; of course, I have a deep interest in whatever relates to
the-welfare of his noble Institution. The patronage of his late
Majesty gave me the opportunity of pursuing my studies in
Italy, anti has thereby enabled me•occasionally to assist in re-
lieving the distressed artist, his widow, and children.
" With this view of the subject, and with these feelings, I
have the most heartfelt satisfaction in wishing success to the
Society of British Artists, and to offer them, by the accompa-
nying inclosure, the strongest pledge of my best wishes for the
success of the institution.

" I am, dear Sir,
" Your's very truly,
" To J. C. Hofland, Esq. &c. " JOHN SOAVE."
Mr. Iloilo:1d accompanied the announcement of this letter
with the intimation to the Society, that the individual who had
addressed it to hint had also contributed fifty guineas to the
Society.—( Applause.)
" The Royal Academy" was drank with three.
Mr. HEAT II returned thanks.
" The British Institution" was next drank with like honour.
Mr. HART DAVIS returned thanks, and expressed a warm
wish for the prosperity of the Institution.
The CliAllt MAN next proposed " The Royal Society,"
which was drank with three.
Mr. HOBIIOUSE, as a member of the Society, returned
thanks in an eloquent speech.
" The Society of Arts" was next drank.
Mr. LamitToN then proposed " The health of Mr. Thomas
Campbell, and the Poets of Great Britain.—(Applause.)
Mr. 'l'. CA si PBE LI, rose and was received with louttapplause.
He begged to return his most respectful thanks for the honour
which the company had been pleased to confer upon him; He
also begged to express his most cordial, sincere, and sanguine
wish for the success and prosperity of the Institution. It was ex-
tremely gratifying to him to observe that the company had been
.honoured by the presence of a scion of the British throne, who
and identified himself on all occasions with the interests of the
people.—(Applause.).—There was a congeniality between the
arts of poetry, painting, and music ; and it was the wish dearest
-to his heart, that there should be a similar congeniality between
the professors of those arts.—(Applause.)
Several other appropriate toast were given, and the company
did-not separate till a late hour.