The Sun.
London, England, 1861-05-06 00:00:00

BANQUET AT THE ROYAL ACADEMY.

pany to say the people of this country entertained
—of an atrocious crime, which, if it had passed
On Saturday afternoon the President and Council unpunished, would have placed in jeopardy the
of the Royal Academy of Arts gave a sumptuous life of every European in China (cheers), I felt that
entertainment at their rooms in Trafalgar-square, the time had come when I must choose between
to inaugurate the opening of the exhibition. The the indulgence of a not unnatural sensibility and
distinguished company, which was larger than on the performance of a painful duty. (Loud cheers.)
any previous occasion, began to arrive shortly after The alternative is not a pleasant one; but I trust
2 o'clock, and spent the interval till dinner was an- that there is no man serving the Crown in a
nounced in viewing the gems of British art by responsible position who would hesitate when it is
which the walls of the Royal Academy are adorned. presented to him as to the decision at which he
Sir Charles Eastlake, President of the Royal should arrive. (Cheers.) And now, Sir, to pass
Academy, oficiated as chairman, to another topic, I have been repeatedly asked
The cloth having been removed, whether, in my opinion, the interests of art in this
The PRESIDENT, after the usual loyal toasts had country are likely to be in any degree promoted by
been given, said the toast which I have next the the opening of China. I must say, in reply, that I
honour to introduce to your notice is it The Army do not think that in matters of art we have much
and Navy and the Volunteers," connecting with the to learn from that country, but lam not quite pre-
Army the name of his Royal Highness the COM- pared to admit that even in this department we
mender of the Forces, with the Navy•that of the can gain nothing from them. The distinguishing
First Lord of the Admiralty, and with the Volun- characteristic of the Chinese mind is this—that at
teers, that of Viscount Bury. (Cheers.) all points of the circle described by man's intelligence
The Duke of CAMBRIDGE said—Sir C. Eastlake, it seems occasionally to have caught glimpses of a
my lords, and gentlemen, I rise to respond to the heaven far beyond the range of its ordinary
toast which has just been given from the chair, and ken and vision. It caught a glimpse of the
in doing so I feel considerable diffidence in address- 5 path which leads to military supremacy when
ecially it invented gunpowder some centuries be-
iug myself to a society so eminent, and sp
assembled this evening to celebrate and enjoy the fore the discovery was made by any other
feel as- nation. It caught a glimpse of the path which leads
arts of peace. (Cheers.) But, gentlemen, I
sured that the fact that this toast has not been over- to maritime supremacy when it made, at a period
looked may arise from the conviction that the very equally remote, the discovery of the mariner's
enjoyment of the arts and blessings of peace must compass. It caught a glimpse of the path which
in a great measure, in a great country, depend on leads to literary supremacy when in the 10th cen-
of its defence, and is thus tury it invented the printing press; and, as my
the facility and security
identified with the service with which lam myself illustrious friend on my right (Sir E. Landseer)
connected. Gentlemen, this fact must be evident to has reminded me, it has caught from time to time
state here that even many of those
all, and I mayglimpses of the beautiful in colour and design.
connected specially and eminently with the cultiva- (Cheers.) But in the hands of the Chinese them-
tion of the arts of peace have come forward as selves the invention of gunpowder has exploded
Volunteers to shoulder a musket and attend to in crackers and harmless fireworks. (Cheers.)
their drill, in order that should the time The mariner's compass has produced nothing better
of need arrive they might lay aside those charming than the coasting junk. (Cheers.) The art of
arts which we see delineated aronna those wells, printing has stagnated in stereotyped editions of
and assist the regular army in the defence of the Confucius, and the most cynical representations of
country. (Cheers.) There are other circumstances the grotesque have been the principal products of
which cannot but associate in our minds the army Chinese conceptions of the sublime and beautiful.
and the fine arts in an assembly like the present. (Cheers.) Nevertheless lam disposed to believe
lam happy, in looking around me, to see that you that under this mass of abortions and rubbish there
have not neglected to delineate some of the impor- lie hidden some sparks of a Diviner fire, which the
port personages connected with the service of which genius of my countrymen may gather and nurse
lam the representative. Ot course I do not pre- into a flame. (Loud cheering.)
tend to be so competent a judge as most other gen- The PRESIDENT next gave" The Health of Lieu-
tlemen in this room, but I venture to think there tenant-General Sir Hope Grant."
is not a picture in the collection more to be appre- The toast was drunk with all the honours.
elated than that of my gallant and distinguished Sir HOPE GRANT, who was loudly cheered, said,
friend, Lord Clyde. (Cheers.) It is painted by a —lt is a difficult thing for me to return thanks to
very distinguished member of your society whom you, Sir Charles Eastlake, to his Royal Highness
I am happy to see sitting near me, and the circum- the Duke of Cambridge, and to the noblemen and
stance recalls to my recollection a fact to which I gentlemen whom I now see before me , for the
ventured to allude the last time I had the honour honour now done me, —an honour far higher than
of dining in this room. I then took occasion to say I expected to receive—far greater than I deserve.
that the army and the fine arts had many social and (Cheers.) During the Indian mutiny I was so for-
personal connexions, as well as more general rela- tnnate as to gain the confidence and approbation of
tions of goodwill and friendship, and a better illus- that great man Lord Clyde, and it was owing to
tration of the fact I could not find than in the fact the kind manner in which his lordship presented
that I now see sitting side by side one of your most my name to his Royal Highness that
distinguished members who delights in the name he was pleased to give me the com-
of Fran]; Grant, and his gallant brother, Sir Hope mand of the force in China. (Cheers.)
Grant—(loud cheers)—who has recently so emi- To his Royal Highness and Lord Clyde, there-
nently distinguished himself in China. (Cheers.) It fore, lam indebted for all that has since followed. It
is to me peculiarly gratifying that I should be able would have been difficult for me not to succeed with
on this occasion to point to so remarkable an illus- the magnificent army which was put under my
tration of the truth I ventured to enunciate on the command. (Cheers.) You are aware of the great
last occasion I addressed you. (Cheers.) My gal- perfection of the Armstrong guns ; the precision of
lant and distinguished friend has just returned from their fire and their great range are indeed wonder-
India, and it is one of the great characteristics of ful. The infantry under my command were fine
this country that the moment he returns he reverts t soldiers and well disciplined, the artillery and
to his usual social position ; however eminent his cavalry all that could be desired. The whole force
military services may have been, he remembers was such as any General officer might be proud to
that he is an English citizen. That feeling never command. It was more especially an.honour to me
leaves him, and we are all delighted to see him to have the command of such an army in conjunc-
among us this day. (Cheers.) In presence of tion with our noble allies the French. It may be
Sir H. Grant it would ill become me to say more supposed I had a difficult part to play; but from
than that, from the highest to the lowest in this the urbanity, the cc rdiality, and the good feeling of
country, every individual has heard of his prowess General Montauban and all his staff no difficulty
and his success, knows that he has eminently and , occurred—(cheers)—and I trust the French General
zealously performed his part, and is justly proud can say the same thing with regard to the British
that the country possesses such a son. (Cheers.) army. (Cheers.) Gentlemen, a peace has been
On the part of the Ariny I beg to thank you for made, thanks to the talents, great decision, and
drinking their health. I can assure you I have great determination of his Excellency Lord Elgin—(loud
pleasure in bring present at these anniversaries, cheers)--in conjunction with Baron Gros. Let us
for, though Ido not set myself up as a judge of the trust it may be a lasting peace. (Cheers.) The
fine arts, I cannot help thinking that, as progress Chinese have now found out that we can fight as
in everything is the law, we have progressed in the well by land as by sea—(cheers)—and I trust we
fine arts too. (Loud cheers.) shall have no difficulty in treating with them in
The Duke of SOMERSET—My Lords and Gentle- future. With regard to what Lord Elgin has said
teen, it is my privilege on the present occasion to about the destruction of the Summer Palace of the
offer you my thanks on behalf of the Navy, and to Emperor of China, I must say that I do candidly
express to you my acknowledgments for the mark of think it was a necessary act of retribution—(cheers)
respect you have paid them. The changes that are for an abominable murder which had been cora-
taking place in the building of our ships and in the mittpd ; and the army, as well as myself, perfectly
armament of our vessels of war will make great concurred with him in what he did. (Cheers.)
alterations, probably, for the future; but there is The PRESIDENT—The toast which I have now
one thing that among all these changes I trust and the honour to propose especially recommends itself
believe will never change—the character of British to the members of the Royal
Academy. That toast
seamen. (Cheers.) I trust they will always dis- is, " The Health of
the Noblemen and Gentlemen
play and be animated by the same feeling of loyalty who this day honour the Academy with their pre-
to their Sovereign and of duty to their country— Bence." (Cheers.)
(cheers)—and that, as in times past, they will con- The LORD CHANCELLOR on rising was received
tinue to merit and to receive the approbation and with loud cheers. His Lordship said,—Mr. Presi-
honour of their countrymen. (Cheers.) dent and Gentlemen of the Royal Academy, it falls
Lord BURY—Though the Volunteer service of the to my lot this evening to respond to the toast which
country is now on almost all public occasions con- 1 has just been given. For many years I have had
netted with the toast of "The Army and the Navy," ' the high gratification of attending this anniversary
I feel that it would not be right to accept that posi- meeting. I have always looked forward to it with
tion otherwise than as an exceptional one—that pleasure, and I ever keenly enjoy it as a short re-
we should not attribute the c,mpliment you pay spite from the cares and turmoils of the world and
the Volunteers to anything but your courtesy, of politics for men of all parties in the State, who
and not to their merits. While acknowledg- assemble here in the calm regions of art amid bright
ing the toast on the part of the Volunteers, I hues and enchanting forms of beauty. (Cheers.)
cannot help observing that the body whom I I must confess that one reason which thade me pre-
now chiefly address has contributed more than fer this to all other public meetings throughout the
their fair share to the Volunteer force of Great year was that, on this occasion, I encountered no
Britain. (Cheers.) There is no better corps than risk of being called upon to make an after-dinner
that of the Artists in this country, and they have speech—(a laugh)—the President's list of toasts,
worthily associated the arts of peace with
the arts happily for me, not containing any of those to
of war on the walls of the Royal Academy by per- which I have been required to respond, such as,
traying incidents of Volunteering life, the artistic e the Attorney. General and the Bar," or "the Lord
records of which when hung up in ancestral halls Chief Justice " ce and her Majesty's Judges." (Cheers.)
will mark an epoch just as the state of a Rembrandt I have a Painfulof my inadequacy to perform
rtehing shows the particular date from which it is properly the Sense
-
task which now devolves upon me.
taken. (Cheers.) In presence of the illustrious But this does - not arise from insensibility to the
Duke I may be allowed to say that not only has hi, beauties of painting and sculpture, nor want of ad-
Royal
Highness been a patron of the Volunteers, miration of those who have excelled ave excelled in high art.
but a most judicious adviser. (Cheers.) On all Adopting the distinction lately,
that, madeg
by no means a•
- -
y Yen, Mr
fitting occasions he has given us most admirable
President I may say although .
advice, which in the name of the Volunteers I will
connoisseur, I am a lover of fine arts, and willing to
cheers.)
tell him we are at all times read yto follow. (Loud acknowledge the homage which is due to them.
The PRESIDENT.—The toast which I have next (Cheers.) I would by no means disparage my own
•to propose is in some degree connected with the 13 pieces of Raphael, Correggio, and Reynolds therofession but I must admit that in the master-
'
last. It is, at all events, connected with a universal
feeling of admiration and respect. That toast is turns divinior shines out more brightly than in the
finest judgments of Lord Holt, Lord Hardwicke, or
" The Health of his Excellency the Earl of Elgin."
(Loud cheers.) The President, after referring to a Lord,u.Mansfield. (Cheers.) I feel that any ',pinion
Elgin's return recent interesting account of to his els I way express on works of art, or any praise
which I might be prompted to bestow on the artist,
home in Fifeshire, and to his Lordship's instructive must be
of little value. Yet I cannot refrain from
speech on that occasion, quoted a passage from the alluding to - have had an opportunit
sive of welcome and congratulation. The toast was modern schools yof comparing the different
of painting.
I will not rashly say
drank with much enthusiasm. that you equal or nearly approach to the excellency
Theßarl of ELGIN, who was loudly cheered, spoke of the ancient masters; but I am bold enough to
as follows a--Sir Charles Eastlake ,my Lords, and express my opinion that the English .
Gentlemen,--I am • school is
especially gratified by the great now superior to that of any of the Continental
and very unexpected honour which you have done nations. (Cheers.) I have seen exhibitions of
to me in drinking my health,
because I trust that I paintings at Paris, at Brussels, at Milan,
may infer from it that in your judgtnent, sir, and in and at Naples, and I have as often thought and said
that of this company lam not so incorrigibly barbar- " How inferior are they in originality, i n
'
compo-
ons as to be incapable of feeling the humani • • ' ' • land in colourin zing in. sition, in spin , g, to what I have
of which fall upon us from .thenoble •-.
works seen in Somerset-house and in Trafalgar-square."
of art by which we are surrounded. (Cheers.) And, (Loud cheers.) I may likewise say that I should
as I have ventured to approach so nearly to the be proud to introduce any foreign connoisseur—the
margin of a burning question, I hope that I may be
more knowing the better—(cheers)—to the South
allowed to take one step more in the same direction Kensin ton Museum, where he would see, perhaps
...
and to assure you that no one regretted more sin-
with sea
rpr. ~ and perhaps not without envy, a
se
cerely than I did the destruction of that collection
noble '
no e specimen of the English school—(cheers)—
of summer-houses and kiosks, already and previ- I venture to predict that in the grand national Ex-
ously to any act of mine rifled of their contents, hib-t-
-i ion of 1862 which is to embrace the fine arts,
,
which was dignified by the title of Summer Palace and to which
all foreign artists are invited, the
of the Chinese Emperor.
(Cheers.) But when I English school w'll
Imaintain its superiority. (Loud
Lad satisfied myself that •in no other way except, cheers.) What we beh ld
indeed, by inflicting on this 0 here to-day gives strength
country and on China to my anticipations, (Cheers.) Allow me to eon-
the calamity of another year of war, could I mark gratulate you on the improved
the sense -which I entertained,which the arrangement of the
British "ctures, and still more on the t pictures, transfer of the sculp-
army entertained,—and on this point I may appeal Lure from a dark-cellar to well-lighted .
to my gallant friend who is present here this rooms, in
even- which its merits maybe duly appreciated. (Cheers)
ing, and who conducted that army triumphant
I can as yet only speak from a hasty glance, but I
to Pekin with so much honour to himself and to
those under his command (cheers),—and which might be allowed to say that an exhibition must be
moreover I maize bold in the •
ch ,
D
highly prized which contains such pictures as" The
,prssenee of this own-
eath of Charles II.," by Mr. Warcl., and " The