The Sun.
London, England, 1856-05-05 00:00:00

applies with especial force to the painter. The artist
who would fitly depict upon his canvass all the softer
graces and sterner sentiments which adorn and ennoble
cur common nature, miler, eiel,elf be actuated by
responding feeling ; ,and therefore I think I tnay
out exaggeration say that no triumph can be more ate;
vated than that which crowns with laurels the brow °'
the eminent and nuccessful painter. (Cheers.) Gentle:
men, I beg once more to thane you for the honour yas
have done the members of her Majeety's Government.
The PRESIDENT—Thy next toast which I have to Pre
•
pose is " The City of London and the Health of the
Right Hon. the Lord Mayor." (Hear.) There has been
an increased ciispeeitiou on the part of the City of Lop.
don of late years to promote the fine arts, and .t
those views have always had a warm supporter in the
present Lord Mayor. His lordship has been lane
known as a lover of the fine arts, and he is himself the
worthy possessor of a choice collection of the prodne•
tions of living arti-ts.
The toast was warmly received.
The LORD MAYOR briefly acknowledged the toast.
The PRESIDENT, in proposing "The Society of dpti,
queries and the Health of its President, Earl Stanhope
s
referred to the scheme which his lordship lately brougil.
before the notice of Parliament for the formation r
na.ifinal portrait gallery. -
Earl STANIIOPE-1 beg to return my sincere Wolke
for the t rest you have just given. I have also to tha";
the president for the favourable manner in which be wl`i,
pleased to notice the motion which the House of reefti
lately adopted on my recOMmendatidn for the formac°:.
of a national gallery of ponraite.
that, since that august assembly approved that proP°.',lo;
it has been very cordially accepted by her Majestys ung
I am happy to et:7
vernment, who are, I believe, prepared to suggest Ptt
fir carrying it into praptical effect. You will obeervet%
the project is also touched' upon in the. last report of tie
commissioners for the Great Exhibition of 1851, wh°l°i
elude in their number several most eminent members °,
the House of Commons, some of whom I now see croup
me. This body, in their report recently published, real;
mend as the fir,t step for establishing the proposed 1:1°,3
trai c gallery, that an exhibition of national portraits sholn
be held, to which pictures from all parts of the king
might in the first instance be contributed as loans. I call;
not but anticipate from such a commencement a favPoig
'able progress in the scheme which I had the honour be
suggest. You may perhaps think me insatiable in t
matter of national portrait galleries if I venture before l
conclude to hint to those who are their advocates that i
is in their power to institute an excellent one by a very
limited effort on their own part. Why, for exanWea,'-'
should not every member of the Royal Academy be n-fe
quired to contribute his own likeness. (Laughter.)
that rule were adopted from this time forware not nil
years would elapse before we should have a portrait g°.
lery of such interest which would transmit to veteriftill
memorials of those who, in their day, brought cre If
upon art. I throw out this suggestion, the 1141°°°.
which you are better able than I to appreciate, free
simple desire that a permanent record may be ban"-I,
down of those who may hereafter be favourably h",°":„
for their artistic productions, but of Whose own lal-be
ments no adequate remembrancers might otherwise
preserved.
The PRESIDENT—The next toast which Ibe to Ers
pose is "The Interests of Literature, and the Health
those of its Representatives who have deigned to be °t,,
guests." I do not undertake to enumerate thelne;the
select would be no less ; but on the part el ;he
professors of the sister arts, I beg to thank them for :ye
inspiration amid instruction which their writings '
afforded. (Cheers.)
or
The Dean of ST. PAUL'S—My lords and gentlentew
at the risk of appearing presumptuous, I cannot the
this toast to pass unacknowledged. I therefore take
liberty of thanking you in the name of the men of lettrnr:i
many of whom (and among them my own per'°;"es
friend) I see around me, for the honour you have elen"„,r
in drinking our healths, and in inviting us to share Y-6,10
splendid hospitality, as well as to enjoy a much ,111„- t.
delightful feast in the inspection of, your works ti-orre
The artists of thin country will, I trust, have maul
munificent patrons than men of letters generaltY :or
hope to be ; but I take upon myself to say that tile/
have no more ardent admirers, none to ✓
wboir, y
afford higher or more sincere gratification—none, 1 ,111-es
perhaps venture to say, who are more-intelligent Pll-0,
prO ep.
of their works than the members of the literary
Rion. (Elear, hear.) If there be poetry in art, as our
questionably there is, who can feel it more deeply,
estnnate it more highly, than our poets. (Hear, hen do,
If it be the distinguishing excellence of the artist to
lineate the beauties of nature with vividness and pnw6rbr
.
who can better appreciate his success than such keet°,....
servers and admirable portrayers of. nature in Wort.
not in forms--as, for example, my friend Mr. C.Dicke°o,
whose withdrawal from this assembly has devolved °0
ins the duty of addressing you. (Hear, bear.) beg
The PRESIDENT—The next and last toast which e
to propose comprehends the governors of the British ,
stitutione and those possessors of works of art who oeTe
sionally open their collections to connoisseurs and tco.
public. (Hear, hear.) It is understood that the Prig'
cipal portion of the Cammucini collection, now the Pill
perty of his Grace the Duke of Northumberland, wi
this year be exhibited at the British Institution, tltno
,
forming a new and powerful attraction in that ex/31
bider), which is always so full of interest. (Licar)
Such a mode of exhibiting flue examples of art demands
our acknowledgments, and no less so the liberality °'
those who allow their treasures to be inspected in the
mansions which those treasures adorn,
The toast was given amid loud applause, after whicli,
the distinguished company retired to the adjoiniap
apartments, and spent some further time in inspecting
the paintines they contained. Many appeared to lea!:
the rich, intellectual treat with reluctance, and be'
they could wholly make up their minds to withdraw,
cast lingering looks behind their as they proceeded frog
brilliantly lit saloon to saloon.
The corps of vocalists, who greatly enlivened the e eri;
tertainment . by their superior execution of faVect
glees and madrigals, were under the direction of et"
Francis, and oeinprised Messir. Lockey, Benson, Franct
Young, G. Backhand, and Lawler, together with
choristers.