The Sun.
London, England, 1846-04-06 00:00:00

A PRIL 6, 1846.

ARTISTS' GENERAL BENEVO-

LENT INSTITUTION.

The thirty-first anniversary dinner of this excellent
and philanthropic institution—from which the artist
receives succAir when prevented from following his pro-
fession by sickness, old age, or the fatalities which
attend all human pursuits, and to which his widow find
children may confidently look for aid in the hour of
need—was held' at the Freema-son's Tavern, and was
attended by a considerable number of eminent artists
and patrons of the fine arts. The pllen of the Hall
was graced by several beautiful and elegantly dressed
ladies.
W. R. Collett, El., M.P., occupied the chair.
The dinner—a very good cn —Non nobis Domine, and
the usual loyal and national toasts, which were responded
to with the usual enthusiasm, being disposee of,
The CHAIRMAN proeosed " Prosperity to the Artists'
General Benevolent Institution." In doing so he said he
felt from the.first the great responsiblity of the task, and
his inability to do proper justice to it, but he had been
buoyed up the hope and belief that though he might
not discharge the duties of the chair to their satisfac-
tion, he should show that he felt no want of enthusiasm
for the institution, another anniversary of which they
had met to celebrate.--(Cheers) The object of the in-
stitution was to make some return to artists in general,
when misfortune betel them, for the works which they
had executed under better auspices, and it was for them
to say to what extent they would respond to the carry.
ing out of such a noble and philanthropic object- Nine
hundred and fifty-three cases had been relieved—and
not simply relieved, for the assistance thus given pre-
vented the periling, and, in all probability, prolonged
the lives of those who upplied fir such relief and ob-
tained it.—(Cheers.) And more, its charity had
been so well bestowed that the sensitiveness
which always characterised genius had never been
wounded in the sl.ghtest degree.—(Hear, hear.) The
British Institution, he was delighted to find, intended to
promote exhibitions of the fine arts, and that there was
a growing taste in the public mind to visit them, and to
purchase works of art, thus opening up a wider field for
the execution of the artist, and stimulating theta to
emulate each other in producing Works of the highest
and most refined character.—(Cheers.) Whatever might
be said of the backwardness of the great body of the
public in supporting the fine arts, he was satisfied, from
experience, that they had never turned a deaf ear to the
appeal of men of talent. This was evident from their
having contributed to relieve the necessities of 953
persons. Every member of the institution knew that
his contribution would be devoted to the assistance of a
brother artist in the hour of adversity, but he was satis-
fied that they required no inducement from him to step
forward to give them all the aid they required. After
expressing his intention to do all in his power to pro-
mote the interests of the institution, he concluded
by proposing the toast, which was drunk with great
enthusiasm.

J. 11. Mann, Esq., one of the Vice-Presidents of the
institution, briefly returned thanks. He was delighted
to see Sir W. C. Ross, R.A., amongst thorn, because he
was one of the founders of the institution, and one of
its Vice-Presidents, deservedly at the head of the Royal
Academy, and because he had had the honour of painting
the first portrait of our beloved Queen before she as-
cended the throne.—(Cheers.) He also passed a high
eulogiuin on the talents of Thomas Phillips, R.A., and
Andrew Robertson, who had died since their last anni-
versary.
J. R. TODD, Esq., then gave the health of the Chair-
man, which was warmly responded to.
The CHAIR/nit; in returning thanks, regretted that
business and politics had prevented him from giving that
attention to the fine arts which he desired, as in their
pursuit, he had passed some of his happiest moments, as
he had studied nature in her fairest and loveliest forms.
—(Laughter.) He could assure them that lie was sin-
cere is the sentiment. He then gage—`• Sir Arthur
Martin Shee, and the Royal Academy."
The toast was received with all the honours.
Taos. Emus, R.A., briefly returned thanks.
C. R. COCHAELL, R.A., the Treasurer, then read a
list of the subscriptions which had been received during
the evening. They amounted to a considerable sum, and
among them were the following :—R. 'Joliet, Esq., 221.25.,
the Lord Chancellor, 101. lOs , the Duke of Sutherland,
10/. 10s., T. Baring, Esq , 101., R. Impsey, 101.,
G. Jones, Esq , 201., Lord F. Egerton, 101., %V. J.
Dennison, 101. 10s. ; 761. the proceeds of a theatrical
perform snco got up by several young artists, the en-
, nounceaient of which, and in fact all, was received with

loud cheers.
The CHAIRMAN remarked that the Royal Commis-
sioners of Fine Arts, who had not been able to accom-
plish all they wished, were thing everything in their
power to encourage artists. He had seen frescos in all
parts of the world, but he was agreeably surprised to
find that those recently exhibited in Westminster-hall
were equal to those producA in any other country. He
felt that the time had gone by when they had to look
for the initiative in that department to Germany,
or any of the countries of the continent.
Now English artists took the lead, and would
set an example to other countries for their colouring
whether in figure or landscape, was superior ; but he 6
would not say that they had equalled the ancient
painters. Instead of saying that the art had reached
maturity. he would rather say it had not, in order that
the genius of the English artist might be stimulated.
The Commissioners hail taken a step in the right direction;
and, as th,.y had evinced the utmost desire to promote
the higher branches of the art, he confidently antici-
pated that no public building, in this or any other coun-
try, would be decorated like the new !lunges of Parlia-
ment. He therefore besought young artists especially
to avail themselves of the opportunity thus afforded to

them.
A number of other toasts were drunk, and the com-
pany did not break up until a late hour.
Several songs and glees were sung during the evening
by the Misses Williams, Mr. Hatton, and others.
Mr. Higgins officiated as toast-master, and acquitted
himself very effectively.