The Sun.
London, England, 1869-05-03 00:00:00

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:13 A .V.,?1,.= AT T .TTE I:0 AL A CADTMY.

High festival was kept in the new roomy of the Royal
Academy on Saturday evening. The president and ccvn-
cil of the great art institution gave the usual annual banquet
—the first one in the new building—to many distinguished
guests. There were present the Duke of Cambridge, the
Prince of 'reek, Prince Edward of Saxe Weimar, the Lord
Chancellor, the Lord President of the Privy Council,
First Lord of the Treasury, Secretary of State for the
Home Department, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs,
Secretary of State for the Colonies, Secretary of State
for War, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the President
of the Board of Trade, the First Commissicner of her
Majesty's Works, the Lord Chief Justice of the Common
Pleas, the Lord Chief Baron, the Master of the Polls,
Archbishop of Canterbury, A rchbisliop of York, Bishop
of London, Dean Stanley, Bishop of Oxford, Dean Alford,
Dean Manse], Bishop of St. David's, Bishop of Peter•
borough, &c., &c.

Amongst the speakers were the Duke of C.timLridge►
Lord Chelmsford, ?Sr. Gladstone, and Mr. Disraeli,
Sir FuANCIS GllANT—who occupied the chair—in pro-
posing the toast of the Queen, announced that the Princess
Louise had sent to the Exhibition a marble bust of her
Majesty, a work which, he said, was full of truth and
genius. The Queen, he-stated, was to visit the Academ.Y
on the 12th inst.

The Duke of CAMBRIDGE returned thanks for the army,
his speech being full of congratulation.
Lord CHELMSFORD of all men was called upon to return
thanks for the navy. Mr. Childers was absent ; and so
the learned lawyer who held the great seals in Lord
Derby's Government was called upon to return thanks.
He recalled an episode in his life which the general public
has probably forgotten. "Many, many years ago (he said)
—it is so far back it is more like a dream than a remera•
brance—l was a very small officer in the navy ; but I think
that, considering what I have passed through since, if the
navy were called upon and asked whether they would take
me as their representative, they would be very much in'
disposed to do so, because, in the first place, I am 3
deserter from them, and in the next, if there is- one
thing a sailor dislikes more than another, it is a lawyer.
He is, indeed, generally termed a land shark. I don't
know that I should be looked upon with more partiality
because I had passed for some time into a great seal,
but I must, on behalf of the navy, say this, that although
times have very much changed since now upwards of
sixty years ago I was in the navy, our ships and
men being now so very different from what they were,
the one being then our wooden walls,' and now wear'
ing ' armour,' and the other, instead of sailors, being,
in fact, ' stokers and pokers,' I am quite confident
that officers and men still possess the hearts of English-
men, and that if called on to fight, they will show they
have not declined in the least degree from the character
so long and so worthily possessed by the British navy."
" Iler Majesty's Ministers" was the next toast
honoured. It was replied to by Mr. GLADSTONE. The
right lion. gentleman referred to the great service of the
Royal Academy in the way of education. "We come
here annually," he said, "to receive a part, and A
much valued and prized part, of our education ; for
we all know that education does net terminate in
youth, but goes on in a process continued through our
lives, and I do believe that some elements of civilisation
enter into our minds and temperaments from all circrn-
stances which place us in relation to humanising cause'
Among the most conspicuous of these are those which bring
us in connection with works of art on these walls. laM
even so sanguine as to believe that the influence of that
civilisation might be traced by discriminating observers in
the moderated character of the conflicts which we wage
in other places, although on that subject, as some might,
have scruples, I will not press the argmnent too far.''
Rather suggesting that it would be better to waive the toast
of the Government of the day, as being unsuited to a non-
political institution, Mr. Gladstone went on to congratulate
the A; ad my on its migrating to the enlarged building.
"I am afraid of paying compliments to you and to the
body of artists which might justly be considered only ne
compliments from pupils to teachers; yet I know that
all artists skilled in their profession are glad t°
receive the knowledge of our ignorant impressions,
and I know the secret of extracting advantage from
them. Without pretending to minute computation, s°
far as my experience goes, the pictures of the Royal
Academicians are this year represented on the walls in
numbers unexampled, and in genius and excellence
perhaps never exceeded. And the veterans of the art are
followed, I think, according to the general verdict,
so far as it has yet been pronounced, by younger men
of this noble profession of an order, and with a success
full of the richest promise for the future,. and leading
us confidently to believe that when those who neW
form the object of our delight and admiration are gene'
they will be succeeded by others who will maintain their
traditions and their fame. I trust, sir, that the impetus
which has been given by this migration to the power 10(`
energy of British art may prove to be of no mere tempo-
rely stimulus, but that this era may be the commeoce•
ment of a yet brighter period for British art, and that, 35
time rolls on, this Academy, and those whom you from
time to time may aggregate to your body, may establish
yet higher claims on the admiration of their countrymen
and the acknowledgments of the world at large.
The Aeeneisnor of CANTERBURY made some aPPrc).
priate remarks on the relation between religion and art'
" Coleridge introduced the use of the word clereey, which
made it include all the institutions of the nation, and the
clergy proper certainly have usually felt that there is
great affinity between their mission and yours. e eel!:
eider it to be our high privilege to promote Christian
;
civilisation at home and throughout the world. There
may have been times when religion and the arts were
dissociated—when a gloomy form of religion averted 1 _
eyes from the study of beauty, or the arts for a tithe
unnaturally associated themselves with worldliness °r
heathenism ; but you will agree with me that there hat,,
;
been exceptional times, and not the best either 1°
religion or for art. And as the Christian Church 1,3,
given to painting its most inspiring subjects, so the adorn,
.
went of the House of God has called forth in old times some
of the very highest specimens of the skill of the painter;
the sculptor, and the architect. Indeed, we have
common mission, and I trust that we shall work hand 1.0
hand.
The PRESIDENT, in replying to the toast of his health,
spoke of the coincidence that at the beginning of the',
second century the new room should be used. He gaveer
history of the institution, reminding his guests how I°o
nierly the Academy occupied auctioneers' rooms.
serFr°,,
thence the institution went to Somerset 1-011t-80
by the express provision of George 111., thence e,
Trafalgar-square, and now it was in Burlington_geedefro
" We are proud to reflect," he went on to say, " that tue
Royal Academy has never applied for or received :111,
grant of public money. On reviewing the efforts of tsc,
past century, although we might possibly Lave hoped 4
produce still greater results, I think when we recall tljje
names of some of those eminent artists who have bee-
students in this Academy, who derived all 0114•
inspiration and knowledge of art within its "0"? ',ea
I feel it cannot be said that we have fade
in our mission ; such names as Nollekens, Jaerel,„4:
Barry, Copley, Banks the sculptor, Smirke
hard, Lawrence, Hopner, Flaxman, -Jose
Turner—a name alone sufficient to glorify a centurr-a
Caleot, Wilkie, Mulready, Leslie, Etty, Newton, 3,1;0
Constable. There are some who are now members of this
Academy whose works will be admired as long as 0'
appreciated. There is one name which I feel assured 0',"0
Joseph Slalla
brother academicians will forgive me for singling out---et'o
whose works are known and admired in every towo,
and capital of Europe and America—one wilt()
though he certainly has greatly contributed
the glories of the past century, has at the sit"..
time inaugurated the coming century by the produce
tion of a work now on these walls, which I venter%
to say, he has never surpassed if he has ever equallecLe
need not mention the name of Sir Edwin Landseer.
I recall to memory these illustrious pupils of the 1-0-Y
theft
country, who have brought glory and fame to t
country, I feel we have no occasion to blush for the 1)3150
or the present. But I anticipate a still more glorieof
future for art in this country, because our means et
instruction will be far more complete than they have hot
in times past. No artists should consider themselves °-
side this institution. All artists should seek to be allied to it!
and all should strive to paint sowell as to ensure successa° t
demand recognition. But a standard of excellence Infect
he maintained. In the Academy we must adopt 0,
levelling-up,' certainly not the levelling-down' sYsteey
The Academy has all along had to contend with 10
difficulties. They have constantly had to suffer fri,C)g,
attacks, often unjust and frivolous—stereotyped attae':te
which have never ceased to assail the institution frona
foundation to the present hour. Yet. notwithstausll
we have continued to maintain our position. Of late Yetisis
we have also suffered from wart of space, and I fear lies
is a difficulty from which we shall never be altoge,t'by
absolved. Increased space has been accompaniecLeee
increased demands. This year 1,600 pictures have
sent in more than in any former year—many of large ej"
and so good as to demand recognition; and, althouglil,o
am glad to be able to say that every accepted work he
this year been placed, and also a large number M "e 0
best of them that were marked doubtful, still theev
remained a few pictures of sufficient merit to justify
et
being placed if there had been room, and we much reg
their exclusion."
nich
Mr. REVERDY JOHNSON repeated the same story vrrteS
lie had so often told. War between the United State
arid this country was impossible, sinless the Governlne-
of both countries were absolutely insane.
;
Mr. DISRAELI drew attention to some points of s-mle eey;
between the House of Commons and the Aeaue-enO
"You have recently reformed your institution, -so
so have we ; you have got a new house, an to
to
have we; you have many who have apPlie`heee
enter that house, and whose claims Yell
posits been obliged to reject, and we are in the same pc's.- erS
I doubt not, Mr. President, you have more petitiolsot
even than the House of Commons in that respect. 'log
this I can say, and it is some similarity of a more Ple3Bster
character, that in the political academy at Westrnin t
we find a sufficient number of the old R.A.'s and SVVI, co
still more, a very gratifying promise of future exce"eeen
on the part of young members. I must congratulate ;Yolie
and the members of the Royal Academy 1111°n 3'oo
meeting to-day for the first time really under your
in
roof. I must say for myself, having now for Tbet
than a generation participated in your hospitality; Soo
meeting you here to-day, I feel as if some kind frienslloo
has a long time favoured us with agreeable dinner? 7, at
lie lived in lodgings has, like a wise man, when arron!lee.
that age when he should settle in life,
self a house, and received his friends with all that deLoat",
and comfort, and all that befitting splendour, which„oyal
certain period of existence---and we are told the -I`.___ne-
has built unto. Irlt_P.'e
Academy has arrived at that period of existencs seal
comes, I think, all men and institutions. I hone thloiefl
be the commencement of an era of prosperity mere
And enduring."