The Sun.
London, England, 1868-03-09 00:00:00

NEW SPA PEtt
• -'7VINV
CICT eIH-f
•
TILE ANGLO-BELGIAN PRIZ.E jlibra
s
On Saturday arternoon a meethzg*as held of_ the
Executive Committee which has bea-appoiiit*ter
an Anglo-Belgian Prize Fund. It be ,Msolle d
that at the Tir National; held in Brussels last
July, his Majesty the King of the Belgians was
presented with a full-length portrait, which had been - -
painted by Captain Charles Mercier. Since then a sug-
gestion has been made that a prize fund might be raised
by engraving the portrait, and that the prizes should be
shot for alternately at Wimbledon and Brussels.
The following report, which was presented to the
committee, will explain the matter :—" It was
reported that the King of the Belgians had been
pleased to accept from the Manchester Belgian Reception
Committee a portrait of his Majesty, painted by Captain
Charles Mercier, in commem oration of the national
interchange of visits between the Belgian and the
English volunteers in 1866-7. Captain Mercier,
subsequent to its presentation to Isis Majesty, suggested
the formation of an Anglo-Belgian Prize Fund, and offered
to give the copyright of the picture should a committee be
formed to carry out his suggestion, viz., that the picture
be engraved, and the profits arising from the sale of
copies be vested in trustees, who, out of the interest
arising therefrom, should give an annual prize, to be
called the Leopold Prize, the same to be competed
for alternately at the 'fir National, Brussels, and at
Wimbledon, London. The proposal having been submitted .
to the King, his Majesty at once expressed his approval,
and offered every facility for the engraving of the picture,
and graciously promised to affix his autograph to a certain
number of selected proofs. It was estimated that, after
deducting expenses, the amount received, if invested at
5 per cent., would produce an annual income of £l4o—a
sum sufficient to provide one oz more prizes, as might be
determined upon by the General Committee."

,
-G-----2.---Z._----

At the special meeting of the committee on Saturday,
the chair was taken by Colonel Chambers, in the absence
of General Sir John Burgoyne, whose official duties pre.
vented him from being present.
Colonel TuommoN reported that General Sir John
Burgoyne had'sent a letter to H.R.H. the Prince of Wales,
asking if his Royal Highness would be graciously pleased
to accept the office of president of the fund, but the
General had not yet received an answer from the Prince.
Colonel Thompson said he was happy to say that his
Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge and his
Serene Highness Prince de Teak had consented
to act as vice-presidents. The Comte de Flandre was
the third vice-president. Lord Howard de Walden,
English Minister at Brussels, had sent a letter to say that
he should be•very happy to have his name on the corn•
mittee. His Excellency the Baron du Jardin, Belgian
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary in
England, had also stated that he should feel honoured in
acting.

Upon the motion of Colonel Taomrsos, seconded by
Colonel Vic NOLLES, C.E., General Sir John Burgoyne was
unanimously elected president of the fund. Besides the
three mentioned, the following names are on the list of
vice-presidents :—Field-Marshal Right Hon. Lord Viscount
Gough, K.P., G.C.8., General the Right Hon. Lord
Straithnairn, G.C.8., General Sir George Pollock, Bart.,
G.C.8., Lieutenant-General his Grace the Duke of Wel-
lington, K.G., Lieutenant-General Sir J. Hope Grant,
G.C.8., Major-General A. A. T. Cunynghame, C. 8.,
and• Admiral Sir Augustus Clifford, Bart. Arthur Van
de Welde, Prdmiere Sdcraa.ire de la Legation de Belgique,
said that the Belgian Minister regretted that he could not
attend the meeting that day.

A vote of thanks was then given to the chairman, anti
the proceedings terminated.

It is understood that the engraving of his Majesty's por•
malt will at once be proceeded with, and it is most likely
that the first prize will be shot for at the nest Tir National
at Brussels.