The Sun.
London, England, 1859-06-29 00:00:00

AEA% S PAPER
- • •
crt.
•
..••
.;
,PlCrilt7 140
. ?4 M
,S
CIETY OF ARTS
• 0111. • Ar.,_
I `"•.' 1.-:t.ZPlce, =
\
•
••
•
•• •
iii,„\\•
, .
t--.
.7. . ;?‘-- •1- „n ;er,
.\" • y
r " -AO-S 4*- k
- _20,41 aa {sty
;

The 105, . anniversary dinner of this society
,was
given last evening at St. James's-hall, the Right
Hon. Lord Napier in the chair. Among the gen-
tlemen present were Mr. C. W. Dilke, president of
the council ; Mr. H. G. Hubbard, Sir T. Phillips,
' Mr. J. P. Humphrey, Alderman Meehi, Mr. P.
Hennessey, M.P., Mr. W. Hawes, Canon Girdle-
stone, General Sir C. Pasley, Mr. W. Stirling, Mr.
T. Twining, Mr. J. C. Macdonald, &c.
After the usual loyal toasts had been honoured,
The CHAIRMAN, in proposing the toast of the
evening, said that a previous course of study could
little enable him to do justice to thp :important
subjects which he had to bring under their notice.
He belonged to a profession which had often been
unjustly associated with frivolity and artifice, but
it was a profession which, when rightly practised
and understood, was rather associated with the
weightiest interests of the country, and especially
with the interests of arts, manufactures, and com-
merce. Upon being invited to preside, he felt that
he could not deny himself the advantage and plea-
sure of mixing, if but for a moment, with the great
intellectual movement of the time, and meeting an
important and highly intelligent assembly of his
countrymen. He need not tell them that previous
study also little enabled him to draw a picture of the
proceedings of the society during the past year, or,
indeed, during any former period of its history. He
had, however, by the kindness of the secretary been
permitted to inspect a draught of the annual report,
which would be shortly laid before the associa-
tion. He found in that report evidence that the
past year had not been thrown away, and that due
attention had been given to the three principal
subjects which were indicated in the title of the
association. With reference to arts, he found that

the attention of the society had been bestowed- on
the momentous question of copyright in works of
art, and although, owing to the interruption of
public business and the dissolution of Parliament,
the project of law embodying the views of the
society had not been submitted to the Legislature,
it was hoped that before long it would be lipid
before Parliament. (Cheers.) With regard to
manufaetures, two specialities had occupied atten-
tion—viz., the use of gutta percha in manufacture,.
and the important articles surgical instruments.
With regard to commerce, the object of the asso-
ciation was to draw public attention to the advan-
tages which our colonies afforded, both as markets
and as settlements, and he had no doubt that when
the, correspondence which had been commenced
with the inhabitants of different colonies had been
perfected, a result would be obtained of great im-
portance to the mother country. (Cheers.) Besides
the special subjects of arts, manufactures, and com-
merce, the society had directed its efforts in two
other directions—to establishing an enlarged
system of examination, and realizing another
Great Exhibition i.i 1861. The plan of the
exhibition was communicated to many influential
gentlemen, but unfortunately the aspect of the
times was not considered favourable at pre-
sent. It was clear that the public interests in
such an undertaking would be checked and
discouraged by the hostilities which had broken
out in continental Europe, and that the co-operation
of foreign countries would for the same cause be
considerably curtailed. The project had therefore
been laid aside for a more convenient, but he hoped
not very distant period. (Cheers.) He believed
that the energy of the society during the past year
had not been thrown away, but even if it were
otherwise, it was their duty on this occasion to re-
affirm the great necessity of union and to declare
anew the purposes for which they were embodied.
It.was an unquestioned fact that more. than half
the population lived by arts, manufactures, and
commerce, in contra-distinction to the si.nple form
of industry in agricultural pursuits. In works of
skilled labour linglismen might be excelled some-
times by foreign countries, but, at all events, the
unrivalled mineral structure of the soil gave abroad
basis of natural advantage. (Cheers.) He had no
apprehension of the commercial future of this coun-
try, because the demand for British products was,
he believed, capable of indefinite expansion. With-
out reference to the home market, which was un-
doubtedly capable of still further development, there
must be an immense increase by the opening up of
new. markets. The activity of a future age would
revert perhaps with curiosity to the respectable
efforts of the 19th century, and possibly China and
Japan alone, to say nothing of the interior of
Africa, would require 60 millions worth of British
manufactures, or, in other words, half as much
again as the whole amount of British production
now exported. (Cheers.) It was the ambition of
the English merchant to promote useful manufac-
tures, and to rival the accredited seats of labour
in the production of articles of au lesthetical
and decorative character, and if they were shut
out from continental Europe either by the exist-
ence of conventional fashions, or by the more ob-
stinate impediments of illiberal legislation, they
yet would find new markets in those rising States
in America and Australia which had been planted
by the vigour and. industry of the Anglo-Saxon
race. (Cheers.) Having referred to the impor-
tance of the gold discoveries, the noble lord com-
mended the establishment of numerous schools of
art, and dwelt upon their-beneficial influence, in
educating agd endowing the ' people with an ar-
tistic taste. The noble lord referred to the assist-
ance in the -promotion of art which had been ren-
dered by members of the Church of England care-
fully reviving the mediaeval style, and by 'the Go..
vernment in seeking designs in an open com Pet-
ition. Bat, after all, he said, to have successful
artists they must have a generous public. There
could not be artistic producers without intelligent
purchasers. Fortunately the industry of England
was fostered through a thousand sources. Her
treasures were not laid up like grain in warehouses,
but scattered abroad like good seed in pleasant and
fruitful places. He would give as the toast " Pro-
sperity to the Society for the Encouragement of
Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce." (Loud
cheers.)
Mr. T. WEBSTER responded.
Sir C. PraLws proposed the House of Commons,
which was acknowledged by Mr. W. STERLING.
" Prosperity to Societies in union with the So-
ciety of Arts," was responded to by the Rev. Mr.
HOWSON, of Liverpool.

Mr. C. W. DILKE, in proposing the
ha
shwi
cea
shoa
manufacturelnt lthy declared
f so-
cietyosthet-
tbCei Chairman,
iaoionr
fmhi
an.ta
dn2l, referredcBsoo6n,lof,
oehree
sciaTtibedhy
ett
that
initiating
t Exhibition
benefitswh ihbei
nt i
ow the:wwr
of cheap paint-boxes, cheap mathematical cases,
and cheap microscopes. In reference to the Exhi-
bition
had been prepared down to a guar"-
poned, and he hoped it would take place in 1862 or
1863, when no doubt it would be as successful as
that of 1851. (Cheers.)
Lord NAPIER, in reply, alluded to his residence
in America. He felt, he said, the warmest grati-
tude for the thousand acts of kindness he had ex-
perienced there, and the deepest sympathy for the
tgore man.ates t
destinies of those millions of Englishmen :n that
country who were working out their future on the
CheT.s.) .
The proceedings were thus brought to a most
theatre( which Providence had ever granted
satisfactory termination, and the company se-
parated. ,