The Sun.
London, England, 1856-03-17 00:00:00

THE SUN, I_aONDCIN, IVIONDAY EVENING, MARCIII 17 1856.

THE ARTISTS' GENERAL BENEVOLENT
INSTITUTION.

Yarborough had presented to the institution the copy-
right of the engravings by Mr. T. 0. Barlow, of two
pictures by Mr. J. W. M. Turner, R A., " The Wreck
of Vie Minotaur " and "Vintage in the Valley of Ma-

'aid,l HanATATS;

Lc~+Eit+e
Compaw

this (boy

1-..astaed 3
this day.

- -
On Saturday evening the 41st anniversary festival of
the Artists' General Benevolent Institution was held at
the Freemasons' Tavern, Lord Stanley, 21. P., in the
chair. As is usual on the occasion of these annual ga-
theringe of the supporters of the institution, the pro-
ceedings, although the number attending was consider-
able, partook more of the character of a social meeting
of personal friends than of a public dinner. The arrange-
ments were in every department excellent ; and the
musical eeterta.intaent, which comprised the services of
Mr. and l'%lrs. Lockey, Mr. and Mrs. Weiss. and Mr.
Francis, under the superintendence of Mr. J. L. Hatton;
geve much satisfaction. There were present, among
other', Earl Stanhope, Sir C. L. Eastlake, P.R.A, Sir
W. C. Ross, R.A., Sir Charles Berry, R.A., C. R.
Cockerel!, Esq., R.A., R. Redgrave, Fnq., R.A...
ft. J. Lane, R.A,, Thomas Creswick, R.A., David
Webster, R.A., Samuel Cousens,
!
R.A., A. Elmore. A.R.A., W. E.
R 4. )1)11.t
Es ,
Ward,.,
Frost, A.R.A., Henry Weekes, A.R.A., W. Boxall,
A.ll. A., Augustus Egir, A . Et. A., J. C. Hoasley, A.lt A ,
Mr. Alderttrui Spiers, of Oxford, Gen. Landseer, Esq.,
Jacob Bell, Lq.,.George Christie, Esq., Henry Graves,.
Eeq., and H. W. Phillips, E,q.
Atter the customary loyal and patriotic toasts had
been disposed of;
Tee CELAIiIMAN proposed " Prosperity to the Artists'
General Benevolent Institution," and in doing so the
noble lord briefly traced the progress of the society from.
its foundation in 1814—the names of Turner and
Chantrey being amongst those of its founders. It was
now loathe 41st year of its existence, and did not owe
its foundation to the munificence or desire for posthu-
mous fame of any individual, but to the generosity of
members of the artistic professions. This society stood
without a rival. There was, indeed, another society
well designed, and well conducted, and somewhat simi-
lar in name to this, but the two societies were essentially
different. Hs was informed that the other society to
which he alluded was in the nature of a benefit
society, and according to its principle justly limited to
its subscribers, whereas the Artists' Institution required
no quelificatiens on the part •of applicents for its aseist-
once except those of artistic merit and professional exi-
gency ; so that the two institutions were not cmpeti-
tiy,.. Anxious to see what progress the Artiste' Inati-
tion had made since its foundation he had procured a
return of the amount of capital po‘-seseed by the society
at different periods of its existence, and found that in
1820 the funds of the institution amounted to 2,6001. ;
in 1830, 6.3001. ; in 1840, 12,100/. ; in 1850, 13,600. ;
and is 1855, 17,3001. (Cheers.) Now that state of
things was peculiarly gratifying, for while on the one
hand the institution had no desire to accumulate capi-
tal, on the other it did not wish to be living from
" hand to month." It was quite right to insure
the society against the consequences of casualties,
and in that view the steady increase of the funds was
very satisfactory. From the foundation of the society
up to the present time, the institution had relieved
1,547 cases, and given away nearly 18,0001. The
balance between that sum and the 35,000/., which they
had received since the foundation of the society, had
been applied to making permanent provision for the
carrying out of the objects for which the institution bad
been established. Tbeir expenditure in last year
amounted to 1,4311. 125., and this included printing and
salary charges, and expenses connected with the annual
dinner ; but exclusive of these latter expenses, the ex-
penditure fell short of 7 per cent. on the funds of the
society. The society was worked very economically—
(hear)—they kept up no establishment—not even a
house ; and the council met in a room hired for the pur-
pose. Having looked into the subject, he felt justified
in Paying that their operations were carried on with the
utmost degree of economy consistent with the interests
of the institution. As a general rule, public benevolent
institutions, in the published accounts of the proceed-
ings, announced the names of persons whom they re-
!ieveci. Now, that was a wholesome practice, inas-
much as it enabled the public to see that such societies
honestly discharged their responsibilities to the
public ; but in Cases like those relieved by the
Artiets' Inst:tution, privacy was essential to the main-
tenance of the self-respect of the recipients of the society's
bounty ; and in not publiAiii,g i,:iney= of those whom
they relieved, the Artists' Institution sacrificed the lesser
in order to obtain the greater afjeantage. He thought
the society had framed a wise rule in laying down the re-
ulatiou which defined the qaalificetiont for recipients of
rrelief. One of the conditions wee professional exigency-.
They did not, nor they could not, attempt to assist par-
ties -whose distress was the result of trade speculations.
Their &Eject was to save artists from distress ; not neces-
sarily from distress of every kind, but merely from such
distresses as were incidental to them in their capacity as
'resets. As to the second qualicio,ation, that the recipients
should be artists of merit—artists whose works had, at
least to some extent, received public approval—an extract
which he had a few days before read, from the "Census
of the United Kingdom," proved that condition to be or
_
csssary.

eau."
Sir C. EASTLAKE, P.R.A., proposed "The health of
the Chairman ;" and a remark he made with reference
to the noble lord's efforts to promote the recreation of
the people, was received with much applause.
The next toast was "The Royal Academy ;" in ac-
knowledging which Sir C. EASTLAKE stated that, by a
decision in the Court of Chancery, the Artists' Benevo-
lent Institution would be entitled to a donation of 5001.
under the will of the late J. W. M. Turner, R.A.
Earl STANHOPE prOpoFed "The Societies established
for the promotion of Art." In the course of his address
he took occasion to state that a portion of the papers
left by the late Sir Robert Peel, under the care of him-
se!f and Mr. Card Nell, would be published in a few weeks.
The publication would consist of a part of Sir Robert
Peel's memoirs, wriven by that statesman himself, and
related to an important period of his life—namely, the
period in which the Roman Catholic Relief Bill was
passe3, and contained a full account of his own opinions
and conduct in that transaction. The late Sir Robert
Peel had directed his literary executors to apply the
profits arising from the publication of any of his papers
to the assistance of deserving men in need, who had
followed the pursuits of art, literature, and science. It
might perhaps be mentioned that the very last' public
meeting of any kind at which Sir R. Peel was present,
was the anniversary festival of this institution. in 1850,
over the proceedings of which ho presided. In virtue,
therefore, of the powers vested inAllaero, he (Earl Stan-
hope) and Mr. Cardwell now offered to this institution
the first fruiti of the intended publication, and ho begged
to tender to the society a draft for 100 guineas!, which he
truited they would accept as another proof, if any other
was; wanting, of the good-will that Sir R. Peel ever felt
and displayed towards art and artists. (This communica-
tion waal received with every mark of the greatest inte-
rest and with applause of a peculiarly hearty character.)
The other toasts, including " The Artist's Annuity
end Benevolent Fund," were then disposed of.
The subscription list annonnced contained a sum -total
of 6041. 13s. Among the donations were—The Chair-
man, 201. ; Lady Chantrey, 20/. ; Sir C. Eastlake, 10/. ;
Messrs. Webster, R.A., Cockerell, Roberts, R.A.,
and Haigh, each sent a SUM of 100 fr (Si),. which had
accompanied the prize gold medal awarded to theta at
the late Exhibition in Paris.
The company separated about half-past ten o'oloek,
after an anniversary meeting which, notwithstanding the
involuntary absence of several of the warmest supporters
of the institution, was very successful.