The Sun.
London, England, 1859-05-02 00:00:00

ROYAL ACADEMY BANQUET.

The opening of the exhibition of paintings and
sculpture for the year 1859 was celebrated on
Saturday by the usual anniversary dinner given
within the walls of the Academy. The company on
these occasions ordinarily comprises ministers of
State, dignitaries of the Church, commanders in
the army and navy, statesmen of all shades of
pollees, men of letters and of' science, as WEII as
eminent representatives of trade and commerce. In
this instance, however, owing to the general elec-
tion, there were not a few noticeable gaps at the
festive board ; and such of the leading members of
the Government as were able to attend had to leave
at an early hour on account of the pressure of public
business.
The guests began to assemble at two o'clock, and
spent the interval before the dinner began in in-
specting the pictures distributed through the various
apartments. As group after group arrived the
most animated conversations were carried on, in
which it must be confessed that eager gossip about
electioneering topics and " the state of the poll"
divided attention pretty equally with criticisms
upon the productions of the painter.
The banquet was held in the East-reom, the light-
ing of which is so arranged, as at a preconcerted
signal—viz., the health of her Majesty—hundreds
of gas jets in the ceiling are simultaneously turned
on, bringing out, as with magical and entrancing
effect, the pictorial glories with which the walls are
so richly studded.
Sir Charles Eastlake, the president of the in-
stitution, occupied the chair; and among the assem-
blage were—his Royal Highness the Duke of Cam-
bridge, the Earl of Derby, the Lord Chancellor, the
Lord President of the Council, Lord J. Manners,
Lord Chief Justice Campbell, Chief Baron Pollock,
the Master of the Rolls, the Bishop of Oxford, the
Bishop of Lichfield, the Bishop of Ripon, Earl
Cawdor, the Earl of Carnarvon, the Earl of Carlisle,
Lord Cranworth, Earl Granville, Lord Hardinge,
Lord J. Russell, Marquis of Lansdowne, Lord Mont-
eagle, Lord Methuen, Marquis of Northampton,
Lord Northwick, Lord Overstone, Earl of Ripon,
Baron Alphonse de Rothschild, the Duke of Somer-
set, Earl Shelburne, Lord St. Leonards, Earl War-
wick, Mr. Gladstone, ALP., Mr. Cardwell, M.P.,
the Chairman of the Board of Customs, the Dean
of St. Paul's, Professor Faraday, Sir B. Brodie, the
Governor of the Bank of England, the Lord Mayor,
Sir R. Murchison, Sir S. Northcote, M.P., Professor
Owen, President of the College of Physicians, Mr.
G. Grote, Mr. Thackeray, Mr. J. Foster, Sir W. F.
Williams, Professor Wheatstone, together with a
large muster of eminent academicians and asso•
crates.

The usual loyal toasts were duly proposed and
received with marked. enthusiasm.
The PRESIDENT next gave "The Army and
Navy," connecting with it the name of his Royal
Highness the Commander of the Forces. The toast
was drunk amid loud cheers.
His Royal Highness the Duke of CAMBRIDGE—
Mr. President, my lords, and.gentlemen, in respond-
ing to the toast which has just been given, I have
to express to you, in the name both of the army
and navy—for I believe there is no naval officer
present to speak on behalf of the latter service—
their warmest thanks for the ,honour you have done
them. In looking round on this festive, this calm
and peaceful gathering, I cannot help congratulat-
ing you that whereas in various parts of the Conti-
nent events of serious moment are now going on, in
this glorious country we are enabled to meet in the
manner we have done this evening. (Cheers.) It
may at first sight appear a very trivial matter that
we can now assemble so tranquilly and agreeably
round this festive board; but the circumstance
should really read a lesson to other nations, and
indeed, to the whole world. While other countries
are at this time unfortunately involved in much diffi-
culty, we at least are determined, as far as possible,
to remain peaceful, happy, andcontented. (Cheers.)
But, though I cannot too strongly impress upon
you, gentlemen, the favourable position which we
occupy, on the other hand I am the last person who
would hesitate to tell you that in order that we may
continue in that peaceful, happy, and prosperous
state, we ought, especially under present circum-
stances, to be well prepared for whatever may
happen. (Renewed cheers.) It is a different matter
not to-wish for war, and when war comes not to be,
prepared for it. I believe the people of England,
from one end of the country to the other, are im-
bued with the conviction that in order that wemay
enjoy continued contentment and security we must
be ready for the worst if our neighbours will not
allow us to be at peace. (Cheers.) Such is the posi-
tion which this cou;:try ought to occupy, and it is
the position which every man, whatever his shade
of politics, is desirous that she should occupy.
(Hear.) To pass, however, to a more agreeable
theme, I cannot but congratulate the members of
the Royal Academy on the . result, as far as I can
judge, of their present exhibition. I perceive that
the army and navy are largely represented in this
collection. Some of my friends around me are very
well delineated to the world, and I have no doubt
they will be very well satisfied with the effect thus
produced and the justice that has been done them.
(A laugh.) I see other most charming works around
me, all proving that art in this country has in no
respect deteriorated. (Cheers.) My worthy friend
the chairman has referred to the Indian mutiny,
and brought to your especial notice a most illus-
trious name. Perhaps I may be forgiven if I bring
before you another name—not so illustrious, cer-
tainly, yet not undistinguished, and one more
immediately connected with your own body, thus
exemplifying that arts and arms are more inti-
mately associated than many persons imagine.
Among your most eminent artists who have contri-
buted so largely to the success of this admirable ex-
hibition
my excellent friend Mr. Grant will, I believe,
be admitted to hold no inconspicuous place. Now,
we hare in the army in India a most distinguished
soldier, the brother of that gentleman—(hear)—
who, when the mutiny broke out, was only a
colonel of Dragoons, and of whom nothing was
known, except that he was a good officer. How-
ever, during the war he had an opportunity, like
many others, of showing in various commands of
what he was made, and he has acquitted himself
quite as well in his profession as his accomplished
brother has acquitted himself in yours. (Cheers.)
Gentlemen, I have only again to thank you for the
compliment which you have paid to the army and
navy.
The PRESIDENT next proposed " The Health of
the noblemen and gentlemen who this day
honoured the Academy with their presence."
The toast was responded to by the Lord Chan-
cellor in an elegant and characteristic speech. His
lordship concluded by giving " Prosperity to the
Royal Academy."
This was acknowledged by the President, who
proposed as the next toast " The Health of her
Majesty's Ministers."
The Earl of DERBY—Mr. President, my lords
and gentlemen, I beg to return you, on the part of
my colleagues and myself, our grateful thanks for
the kind manner in which you have received the
toast which has just been proposed. I confess that
when I came here to-day I had some little hesita-
tion as to the way in which we were likely to be
received, inasmuch as I could not but feel that if
there were any diminution in the numbers attend-
ing on this occasion, we might, perhaps, be held
somewhat responsible for that circumstance in con-
sequence of the political step which we advised our
Sovereign to take. (A laugh.) I know not whether
the music for this evening has been specially ar-
ranged with reference to that subject, but I find in
toldglee (f

" From the mall and from the ring
Ev'ry one has taken widon,
ng—(laughter);
Ch
Stedrep, haul, Corydon,
Allloaere fled, all are gone I"
holds laughter.) Whether
holds good_ or not the next line
" What is left's not worth your stay,"
I will not venture to say ; but this I know, that,
with the exception chiefly of those who represent
the City of London, to whom I should be sorry to
apply expressions so disrespectful—(laughter)—
many who would have been exceedingly desirous to
attend to-day have been compelled, by circumstances
much more disagreeable than those of " the smoky
town," to absent themselves from your festive board,
and that they "all are fled and all are gone." (Re-
newed laughter.) And there is one who, if present,
would certainly not be behind in tendering you his
acknowledgments for the honour you have done the
naval service—l mean my right hon. friend the
First Lord of the Admiralty, who has this day to go
through the ordeal of appearing before his constitu-
ents. Seriously speaking, I am 'deeply sensible of
the kind reception you have given to•the health of
her Majesty's Ministers, because I am quite sure
that never was there a time when those charged
with the public affairs of this country had greater
need of being supported by the confidence, the sym-
pathy, and the good-will of their fellow country-
men than those who are now entrusted with the
anxious and heavy task of conducting the govern.
men tof this empire. (Cheers.) We are at this mo-
ment in the heat of a political struggle of no ordi-
nary character; but it is not now for the first time
we see that, in the midst of the most earnest political
strife, party differences are not allowed for a single
instant to disturb the harmony or interrupt the
social intercourse between men of the most opposite
opinions assembled at festive meetings like this.
(Cheers.) But the anxieties and labours of the Go-
vernment would be little indeed if they were con-
fined
to matters of mere domestic interest. IVeare
on the eve of events of which n.o man can foresee
the end. (Hear, hear.) -We have striven earnestly'
and diligently to avert the calamities of War'
We have been 'unsuccessful. War is, I fear, ineYl-