The Sun.
London, England, 1841-08-30 00:00:00

SIR DAVID WILKIE.

A meeting of the admirers of the late Sir David Wilkie,
took place on Saturday at the Thaahed House Tavern,
for the piirpoee of considering the best method of evinc
ing their admiration of the genius of that great artist, in
the erection of some memorial to his memory.
.Some delay having been occasioned by the unavoidable
detention at the House of CoMinons of Sir Robert Peel,
who had consented to preside,- Sir Peter Laurie, the
treasurer, came forward, and solicited, for a short time,
the iadulgt nee of the meeting, which was cheerfully
conceded.
Shortly efter two o'clock the Right Hon. Baronet,
attended by the Committee, enterad the room, and took
the Chair,- t.pon which some foolish fellow stepped for-
wa. d, and was apparently about to object to the Chair
being so occupied, and to argue that the Chairman should
be elected by the meeting, but he was speedily inter-
rupted by the indignant cry of the assembly for his unce-
remonious rejection, which would certainly have been
effected but that the Chairman generously came to his
rescue.
'lhe CHAIRMAN said, I strongly advise you to abstain
from resorting to any forcible measures against the gen-
tleman who has just addressed you. I was under the
impression that I had competent authority for taking the
Chair on the present occasion. I was not aware that any
preliminary form was necessary for the purpose ofentitling
me to assume it—(Cheers)---and I confess I think I shall
best consult the object for which this meeting is assembled,
and the feeling which I am sure 'must predominate among
the vast majority of this meeting, if I abstain from any
further reference to the interruption which has just
taken place.—(Cheers.) Gentlemen, I feel it a great
honour, as it is a great satisfaction to my private feelings,
to have been requested to take the Chair on the present
occasion ; and, Gentlemen, I feel also relieved from the
necessity of pronouncing any elaborate eulogium on the
character of Sir David-Wilkie. His loss has been so re-
cent ; his name stands pre-eminent ; the productions of
his genius are so familiar not only to his countrymen—
not only to Europe—but I am justified in saying, to the-
whole civilized world—that I think it would be unbecom-
ing to the simplicity of his character if I attempted to
pronounce any such studied or elaborate eulogium. I had
the honour of claimine, Sir D. Wilkie as my private
and intimate friend. I 7 am addressing many who have
sustained the same relation to him who were not merely
admirers of his genius, but who were admitted to the
intercourse of his•private friendship,: and those of you
who did stand in that relation to him can sympathize
with the feeling of deep regret at the loss which we, his
private friends, have sustained.— (Hear, hear.) There
was something in the simpheity of his character, in --the
generosity which he constantly exhibited towards every
competitor in art, that must have endeared him to every
one who waaedmitted to-familiar intercourse with him.
—(Cheers,) I had the satisfaction of maintaining that
intercourse while he was resident in London, and of con-
tinuing it during his absence by an extensive correspond-
ence ; and if that :correspondence,:on this part at least,
should ever see the light, I am sure that it would only
serve to add to the honour in which "he is held by exhi-
biting the devotion he manifested to the" art he loved, the
generosity he displayed towards every competitor, and
the sincere feeling of cordial satisfaction which he uni-
formly manifested when the tidings reached his ears of the
cess of any live! fordistinction.—(Cheers.) Gentlemen,
although our primary object is to do honour to the
memory of Sir David Wilkie, yet the effect of feelings
of this nature is not confined to any single measure of
respect for individual genius. You will be supplying,
by marking that respect, a great incentive, a powerful
stimulous to the exertion of many a young man who is
now toiling in his profession, whose hope of pecuniary
return for his exertions may be disappointed, but who
will be animated and consoled by. the reflection that the
time may come when justice will be done to his merits,
and when that fame, which he prizes more than any pe-
cuniary emolument. will be awarded, and justice be done
to his merits, and respect paid to his character.—
(Cheers.) I well know, from my intercourse with the
profession, that that is the prevailing opinion in the
minds of those who devote themselves to it. I know how
inadequate are its rewards—how small, speaking gerie-
ralif, are its returns compared with those of other pro-
resstons, for great talents—how often the greatest efforts
fail of ensuring success, if 'success is to be measured by
popular applause, or merely pecuniary advantage.—
(Cheers.) I know that the great object which-animates
them, is the noble ambition of distinction by public meet-
ings of this kind, by the manifestation of respect for the
memory of Sir David Wilkie. A stimulus is supplied
to future exertions, and the rewards granted. which can
hardly be hoped for from other sources.—(Cheers.)
On ehese accounts—on account of the justice of doing
honour to the memory of Sir David Wilkie, and of pro-
moting our principal object, of stimulating and encou-
raging art—l inviteyou to join with me in thepromotion
of the object for which we are assembled ; and I cannot
doubt that the resolutions which will be submitted to your
consideration will meet with your unanimous approval;
and that ratified beeyour 'preliminary sanction, an appeal
will be made to the lovers of art, to the admirers of ge-
nius, to the respecters of private virtue, which will
enable us to raise ~memorial worthy of the man whose:
memory we are met to honour.—(Loud cheers.)
The Duke of SUTHERLAND rose amidst cheers to pro-
pose the first resolution. The Noble Duke said that he
felt peculiar satisfaction in answering the appeal made to
him on that occasion. He was happy to be allowed perso-
nally to take a share in -the object for which they had met,
that of showing their respect for the memory of an emi-
nent artist and excellent man, such as the late Sir David
`Wilkie.—(Cheers.) He did not intend to take up any
large portion of their time by any eulogium upon the
works of Sir David Wilkie after the speech they had just.
heard. Besides, the resolution he had to propose, con-
densed so well all that'his feelings would prompt him to
say, that he would be content with moving that resolu-
tion. He should premise, however, that he was sure
the propriety of their meeting upon that occa-
sion must be the more felt from the melancholy
circumstances of the artist's death which prevented thorn
from paying him the funeral honours which they would
have been anxious to reader to the illustrious dead. It
was a gratification to them, however, to know that though
the remains of Wilkie had been consigned _to ae grave
distant from his- femily, his friends, and his coentry,
they might welLsay of him what had been said of an-
other distinguished
.persons, that the- whole:world is the
tomb of great man,—(Cheers.) Indeed Wilkie might be
said to have long since reared a monument to himself by
his works. The painter had twenty years since executed
works which would transmit his fame to the latest pos-
terity. Not only had he been appreciated as the Chair-
man had appropriately said by this country, but no
artist he believed could be said to be more universally
popular than Sir David Wilkie: From the highest
nobleman in the land to the humblest mechanic, all had
derived pleasure from the fruits of his genius, and all
had.knowii him to appreciate genius in others, whilst his
private character endeared him to • every one admitted to
his acquaintance. He, therefore' felt great pleasure in
seconding the resolution that had been placed in his
hand—" That it is the opinion of this meeting that. the
genius of Sir David Wilkie was of that high order which
entitles him not only to the public gratitude of his
country hut to a public record among those whom she
loves to hononr."—(Cheers.)
Sir JAMES Meceezaott seconded the motion.
The CHAIRMAN then put the motion, observing that
he anticipated it would be unanimously concurred in.
The resolution was unanimously agreed to.
Lord J. Ressrmt, then rose amidst repeated cheers,
to propose the next resolution. The Noble Lord spoke
as follows:—I feel happy in having it in my power to
contribute in any way to the purposes of this meeting,:
But I feel that after-what has fallen from you, Sir, and
those who have preceded me, and knowing the feeling,
with which this meeting has assembled—l feel that it
will be unnecessary for me to say more than a very few
words in support of the resolution which I am about to
move. I believe there is no one who knew Sir David
Wilkie whe would not be ready to testify his admiration
of his great worth as a man. Among his nearest rela-
tions he insured the strongest affection, and among
his friends he was everywhere received with regard ;
and to his brother artists of all degrees and ages he was
a friend and protector.—(Cheers.) There was nothing
in his nature of of envy, or of bitterness to any
one.—(Cheers.) On the merits of Sir David Wilkie as
an artist, it is still less necessary for me to speak, because
his works are so well known that every one must feel
assured thetehe must take his place among those men of
originial genius who have adorned the arts id England.
The productions of his pencil were celebrated during his
own life-time, and when time has added to them its
mellowing hand T believe they. will be still better appre-
ciated and more valued. He is nosy lost to the• world,
and all we can do is to testify our sense of his merits by
raising some record to his memory. But in so doing we
shall be bencfitting ourselves and the country; for by
showing we haves sense of regard for the excellence of Sir
David Wilkie as an artist, and his worth as a man, we
shall contribute to inspire others to seek for similar
lionours ; and I trust that those in whom nature has
implanted the genius to execute works worthy to be
placed by those of Sir David Wilkie will make it their
study likewise to imitate his gentleness and the kindness
of his disposition—(geer, hear)—a gentleness and kind-
-riess which In any walk of life must have made him
beloved by all those who might have been admitted to
the honour of his friendship, or who might have app propelled him in any of the relations of life.—(Cheers.)
With these few words I beg to move " That this record
shall be a permanent and characteristic testimony of his
worth as a man and his great excellence as an artist."
T. PHILIPS, Esq., R.A., seconded the resolution.
The motion was then put and unanimously carried.
Viscount MAHON moved the next resolution. It had
been his fortune to have enjoyed the personal acquaint-
ance of Sir David Wilkie; and he remembered still the
pleasure he had experienced, during a journey in Spain.
in his society, and that of another man of. distinguished
genius, Mr. Washington Irving. One of those illustri-
one men had depicted in his graphic pages every trait
which could deserve a commemoration; while the other
transported to his living canvass the scenes which they
bad witnessed. The Noble Lord after paying a tribute
to the private worth of Sir David Wilkie, concluded
by moving the next resolution :—" That a Statute,
which shall perpetuate the manly and expressive figure
of Sir David Wilkie, and preserve, skill and taste with
his looks and sentiments, would be the most appropriate
testimony."
Mr. BOND CABBELL seconded the motion.
Mr. RENNIE expressed his opinion, that the most'
appropriate monument to a man, such as Sir David
Wilkie, was to be found in his works. Men of genius
needed no public commemoration, nor had it been usual
to raise a statue to their memory. He would therefore
suggest whether it would not be more appropriate to
apply any funds that might be raised, to the encourage..
rnent of that particular branch of art in which the
illustrious artist excelled.
The Rev. Mr. DIBDIN coincided in the principle re-
fereed to by the Gentleman who had preceded him. He
would propose that a Wilkie medal should be founded
for the encouragement of British art.
Mr. TURNIBR, would suggest that the interest of

the funds should be devoted to a premium for tho.encou-
cagement of nationaL and historical painting.;
After some further remarks to the same purport by
other gentlemen, the motion was put to the meeting and
carried by a large majority.
Lord C. TOWNSEND proposed, and Sir A. CALLCOMT,
R.A., seconded the next resolution—" That this Statue,,
the more effectually to excite the
.young to emulation,
and fulfil our object of honorary genius, should be erected
in the National Gallery ; and that application be made
to the trustees of that institution for the necessary per-
mission."

Lord BURGEERSE and Mr. P. MAXWELL STEWART
proposed the next resolution :—" That a Committee be
appointed to carry these resolutions into effect ; that the
said Committee shall consist of the- following noblemen
and gentlemen, and that five form the quorum ; that Sir
P. Laurie and Peter Laurie, Esq., be requested to act as
joint treasurers ; Allan Cunningham, Esq., as Hon. Se-
cretary ; and P. Cunningham, Esq., as Assistant Secre-
tary.
Sir PETER LAURIE then proposed a vote of thanks to
the Chairman, which was seconded by Melville, Esq.,
and carried amid loud acclamations.

Sir R. PEEL said, he was much gratified that his'con-
duct had met the approbation of the meeting. At the
same time he could assure them, he had that admiration
of the genius of Sir D. Wilkie, and that attachment for
him as a personal friend, that he was amply rewarded by
having co-operated with them in passing that respect to
his memory.

A list of the:subscriptions, amounting to about 1,0001.,
was then read, after which the meeting seperated.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.
• (From the Hampshire Telegraph.)
PORTSMOUTH, Auc. 28.—Rear-Admiral Sir Francis
Mason, K.C.8., has been appointed second in command
of the Mediterranean fleet, and on Tuesday morning
hoisted his flag on board the Impregnable, Capt. Forrest,
C. 8., at Spithead. It will be seen by the Gazette of
of Tuesday that her Majesty has conferred upon Sir
Francis the second class of the Order of the Bath. CaV.
Smart is to be his flag Captain. The Impregnable will
sail on Monday or Tuesday for Malta.
The Pique, 36, Captain Yates, is hourly expected at
this port, from Chatham, to receive the flag of Vice-
Admiral Sir Charles Adam, who will proceed on Tues-
day to assume the North American and West India com-
mand.
The Electra, 18 guns, Commander Gostling, Went hut
of harbour esterday, and will sail to-morrow (Sunday)
for the West Indies.
The Scout; 16, Commander Larcom, now at Spithead,
will sail in a few days for the Mediterranean. • -
The Tortoise; Store-ship, Mr. Wood, master, arrived
yesterday from the River ; she is destined to New Zea-
land to bring home the timber, in part got, ready.by the
late Buffalo., store-ship, and carries out convicted felons
Yan Dieman's Land ; she will sail in a few days.
The Iris arrived at British Accra from Sierra Leone,
on 21st May, and sailed for Princes ; the Dolphin arrived
there, on the sth June, from a cruize, and sailed again on
the 7th.
The Beileisle, 72, Captvin J. Toup Nicolas, is ordezed
from Dublin to Plythouth, and from thence forthwith• to
the Mediterranean.
The Savage, 10, has left Gibraltar for Madeira. The
yacht Heron was at Gibraltar on the 7th instant.
The Formidable, 84, at Chatham, and the Spartan,
26, at Plymouth, have this week been commissioned.
The Brandywine, American frigate, arrived at Gibral-
tar on the 6th inst. from New York.
The Apollo troop-ship, bound to Quebec, was spoken
on the 25th July.
The Volcano, steam vessel, has been commissioned, at
Woolwich by Lieut. Joseph West
The Samarang, 26, Captain Scott, was paid off on
Wednesday.
On Tuesday the Collingwood, an 80-gun ship, built on
the modem plan with only two decks, and each of her
guns being 32-pounders, was launched at Pembroke.
NAVAL CHANGES.—Capt. Shirriff removes from the
superintendance of the Victualling Yard at Deptford, to
the charge of Chatham Dock-yard ; he is succeeded at.
Deptford by Captain Sir W. 0. Pell, whose .ship, the
Howe: will become Sir F. Mason's .Flag ship, and be
commanded by Captain R. Smart, K.H.; Captain T. For-
rest, C.8.,_ of thelmpreg,nable, is appointed to the charge
of the Ordinaryat Portsmouth. *
PROMOTlONS.—Commanders—Francis Rawdon Moira
Crozier, the Hon. JoSephlienman, and Granville Gower
Loch, to the rank of Captain.
Lieutenants—Edward Joaeph Bird, Benjamin Fox, -
Henry Georg Shute, Peter Fishar, Sir Frederick Wil-
liam Erskine Nicholson, Bart., and Edward Norwich
Truobridge, to the rank of Commander.
Assistant-Surgeon— G. Doak ; H. Bowman (from the
Illustrious); Charles William White, William Graham,
and Robert Thomas C. Scott, to the rank of Surgeon.
Mates—Alfred Royer, David Duchan, James Ste-
phens, James St. Aubyn, Grenville Hamilton Wood,
and H. Caldwell, Alexander John Smith, John Palmer,
E. J. B. Clarke, Peter Cracroft, R B. Eneas isi`Leod,
and David Robertson, to the rank of Lieutenant. •
AeponastENTs.—Captains—Francis E. Loch, to be
Superintendent of Quarantine Establishment, at Stand-
gate Creek; Thomas Forrest, C.B. (of the Impregnable)
to Victory ; Sir T. Troubridge, C. 8., to the Formidable;
Hon. C. G. J. B. Elliot, to the Spartan; Robert Smart,
K.H., to the Howe.
Commanders.--C. C. Otway, 'to Victor ; John Mae-
donna, to Malabar ; Hon. G. F. Hastings, to the Har-
lequin.

Lieutenants—G. Burslem, to command Lynx •, A. P.
Ryder, W. Hamley,- C: M. Mathison. and W. F. Ro-
"binson, to
,Maittivar A.-EK: Ams-ten;''to Cambrian-;-
Lysaght and H.-. Flood; to Spartan ; It. H. B. Rowley, to
Formidable.; W. Horton and T. Baillie, to Warspite
E. Smith, B. Sotheby, and W. Hawker, to Madagascar ;
R. Loweay, to Poietiers ; Hon. G. D. Keane and John
F. Warne, to the Formidable ; A. Farquar, to the
Southampton ; W. H. rHornby, to the Warspite ; C. C.
Grey,,Flag Lieutenant, 'to the Queen ; Joseph West, to
comManct the Volcano steam vessel.
-Master—J. C. Barlow, to Malabar.
Master's .Assistant-W. Blissett, to Madagascar. ' '
Second Master--T. Hart; to Lynx.
Pursers.—James Ozzard, to the Packet Establishment
at, Weymouth ; -G. Nicholls. to Formidable ; G• B. Hai
-
risen, to Malabar ; G. M. Read,- to Cambrian ; John H.
Greaves,
,to Spartan.
Surgeons—Mr. Thomas Miller (from the Queen), to,
the Surgeoncy of the Plymouth Division of Royid.
Marines, vice Mr: Ryall, who retires with the rank of
Deputy Inspector ; J. Hatton, to Malabar ; G. H. Dabbs,
to Thunderer ; A. Johnston, to Warspite.
Assistant-Surgeons—Robert Hayward and Ernest El-
liott to Malabar ; J. W. Fletcher, to Harlequin '-.T. H.
Graham, to Aig/e ;J Dr. F. Graham and 11. D. Mason,
to Warspite, • . •
Chaplains—P. Somerville, -to Warspite ;A. Fielding,
to Illustrious. •
Mates:—Hon. T. Pakenham, toWarspite '; F. G. Sinip-
kin-s, to Cambrian ; W. H. Connolly,--tO Formidable';
J. C. W.' N. Taylor; to Ardent ; *Dickyer,. 'to
Aigle Arthur Wilmshurst, to Spartan ; and 0. Cum-
berland, to Caledonia ; W. Lambert, H.. Foote, and C.
Wood, to Illustrious ; B. T. Girdlestone. to'Madagascar;
Hon. J. W:` S. 'Spencer, to Isis , W. IL Hood, to the
Seaflower.
Midshipmen—Mr. Howard Molyneaux, to Impregna;
ble ; J. Henderson, to Illustrious ; E. Leeds, and F.
Lloyd, to Warspite ; D. Herbert, to Electra ; W. La-
pidge, to Illustrious.
Volunteers Ist Class— Mr. Courtland H. Simpson; to
Malabar ; Thomai Langley Hallowes, to Isis ; E. Stone
and T. Ramsay, to Illustrious ; J. Ward. J. Newport,
and F. P. Owen to Warspite ; W. B. Urmston, to
Howe ; W. Elphinstone to Illustrious ; G. R. Packin,
to Howe ; P. Lethbridge, to Wellesley; F. Protheroe, to
Madagascar.
Naval Instructor.—A. Lane, to Illustrious.
Clerk.—W. H. De Carteret, to Queen ; R. Godson, to
Excellent ; E. W. Atkin, Clerk in Charge, to Lynx.
The following gentlemen passed their examination on
Monday last,' and obtained Commissions as Second
Lieutenants in the Royal Marines :—Mr. D. J. Slog
gett, H. B. Leonard, Geo. Webb, W. M. Mansell,
and W.,8. Haberfield.—The following obtained Cadet
ships in the Corps :—Messrs. J. S. Downman, H. S.
Buck, S. B. PuddiComb, Mtchael Spratt, Chas. 'T. F;
Onslow.

FLANDERS AND DUTCH MAit.::.
ie . an a
Ratyss LS, AUG. 27.—We have receivedus
(on
npl e a i
) t
-
sant Piece of intelligence. Mr. Alaman,lrhow
smaller scale
Bel-
gium, hag
s. Mexico what Mr. Cockerill was to Bel-
eight caiiii.orr.d.PsYnaent ; his failure is for, sevo. et
paralize the ont
_francs. This event was calculated to
Mexico, af
whle;.llehavottrs to establish manufactures in
he was the principal instrument .
On the; .94th, at half- past
ttast eight in the morning the
lightning struck
tthe electric fluid . 'steeple of the church of Houave ;
having much injured it, penetrated into
the church, then into the .vestry, where it touched the legs
of the priest, and knocked down a boy who was in attend-
ance, It then re-entered
the church, through which . it
passed, and issued by
a
window. The persons who
were in the church, thought
at first that the whole build-
ing.was in flames.
ZEALAND.—On Saturday last, „
warm
weather,after some days of fine,
but extremely
farmers to got in part of the corn,
enabled the,
tti, a violent thun
soui ,
der-storm came up from the -aw,,est, which raged
fur half an hour : the peals of then
and the lightning incessant, accompanied with
dreadful, 1
of rain, which did great damage to the standl‘vith torrents
DUTCH FUND3.—AIISTERbAM, A". 2;lg corn.
MoneY• Bills.
Actual Debt, 2.3 i per Cent
Ditto, ditto 5 per cent.
Aniert Syndic,434 per cent ..... ..... ........
Ditto, ditto, 334 per cent 7514 751
ComtnerciarCompany, 4.4 per cent 155% .55,E
Ditto (1835 and 1837) 5 per cent. ......
Loan 1837, 5 per cent.. ..............
Exchange op London, One month l2 07.4
Twomonths ..... ...• 1! V 734
Hamburgh, One month 35 87
Two months .......
Dutch Papers, Aug. 27.
nELO IAN 1. UNDS—Baussats, Auc. 27.
Actual Debt, 23,4 per Cent. ....„. ..... 51 -
Rothschild's Lean, 5 per Cent
Loan of Thirty Millions, 4 per Cent.......... 1/3
3per Cent..........
.r.-..,

Th 1 rty -seven.

(P4O)
Loan of City, 1`232, 4 per Cent
Society of Comm.ree, 44 per 93if
Bain, of Belgium, 5 pa. Cent. .......«....,... 7434
National Society. % .. .... „.
Exchange on Landow (shot t)
.—Brussels Papers, Aug. 27.

A must disgraceful outrage was committed at
the entrance of the House of Commons on Tuesday night. A
cab was at the door for Colonel Baillie, a Member of the
House, and as hewas preparing to step into it a policeman rushed
up, seized the reins, turned the cab away, and did personal
violence to Colonel Bailie himself. Fortunately one of the
officers who had been selected for duty in the House of Corn-
rnons was present. The offender was seized, and he turned
cut to be a constable of the B division, James Meads, 125.. He
had no right whitever to be en that spot. The next day
Meads was suspended, and on Thursday he was dismissed the
service by Mr. Mayne. ' -