The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-12-18 00:00:00

ANNUAL SPEECHES AND DELIVERY OF
PRIZES AT THE ROYAL INSTITUTION.

The annual recitations and distribution of prizes
took place yesterday at the Roy2l Institution, Colquit-
street. The attendance on the occasion was faf more
numerous than it has been for many years past. This
was owing, in great measure, to the increased patron-
age which this excellent institution has recently ob-
tained. The whole of the theatre, including the
gallery, was crowded by a highly respectable assem-
blage of ladies and gentlemen, the numbers of the
former being greatly predominant. The following
were among the clergy and gentry present :—Joseph
Brooks Yates, Esq., President ; Sir J. S. P. Salusbury ;
the Rev. Rector Brooks, Vice President; Rev. Dr.
Head Master of the Institution; Rev. Dr. Byrth,
Rector of Wallasey; Rev. Richard • Richards, Rector
of Caerwys, Flintshire ' • Rev. H. M'Neile; Rev. Robt.
Davies ; Rev. Richard Davies ; Rev. J. B. Monk ;
Rev. James Hassall ; Rev. J. Picton ; Rev. F. Barker;
Rev. -- Coles; Rev. Wentworth; Rev. Ack-
land ; Rev. Mansfield; Andrew Melly, Esq. ; D.
Gladstone, Esq. ; Harmood Banner, Esq. LA. Swain-
son, Esq. ; Aneuryn Lodge, Esq.; C. Boutflower,
Esq.; D. Evans, Esq.; J. Rigby, Esq.. R. Griffith,
Esq.; D. Willink, Esq.; Dr. James Vose; and the
Rev. Dr. Shepherd. The pupils of the institution
were ranged on the side forms in the lower part of the
theatre. Those young gentlemen who were selected
to deliver the speeches, as well as those to whom prizes
were awarded, occupied a seat in the front of the
elevated platform. We may here observe that we have
never witnessed so many fine, ingenuous, and intel-
ligent looking youths assembled together on any simi-
lar occasion in the town of Liverpool. We have no
doubt that many of them are hereafter destined to
occupy a prominent place in society.
The Rev. Dr. Iliff said that he would, without any
prefatory remarks, call upon the young gentlemen to
deliver their several speeches.
Master G. Banner undertook the delivery of " Hinda
and Hafid," from Moore, and acquitted himself in a
highly creditable manner. His action was exceedingly
appropriate, without any of that ranting and " tearing
of a passion to pieces" which too frequently charac-
terises similar exhibitions. This remark applies equally
to the whole of the recitations. Master Banner's
delivery was a little too rapid in some passages; but
his enunciation was remarkably clear and distinct.
His pronunciation, as well, indeed, as that of the
young gentlemen who followed, shows that particular
attention is paid at, this school to the study of orthoepy.
Master Banner retired amidst the loud applause of the
audience. .
Master Lowry then recited " The Choice of Her-
cules," from Xenophon. His enunciation of the noble
and classic language of Greece was exceedingly cor-
rect, and afforded a rich treat to those of the clergy
and laity who could appreciate his efforts. The accu-
rate manner in which he managed his emphases proved
that he perfectly understood his author, and that the
piece was not merely " got off by rote." Master
Lowry also retired amidst the loud applause of the
audience.

Master Harrison was then called upon to deliver
the beautiful and classic ode of Addison " On Italy."
This he did most effectively. His voice was remark-
ably clear and melodious, his action suitable and not
superabundant. The apostrophe " 0 Liberty ! thou
goddess bright," was particularly well delivered, and
elicited much applause at its conclusion. Master Har-
rison possesses all the physical requisites for a public
speaker.
Master Robert Davies, (son of the Rev. Robert
Davies, the minister of St. David's Church), then
ascended the platform. He undertook the delivery of
" Thee Crossing of the Rubicon," from Lucan. This
recitation afforded another proof of the high standard
of classical attainments which has been introduced
into the High School, under the able superintendence
of Dr. Iliff. Master Davies's voice is a clear and me-
lodious barytone, strongly reminding us of the pulpit
delivery of his brother, the Rev. Richard Davies, Cle-
rical Secretary to the Church Missionary Society. We
did not discover a single false quantity in the whole
speech. He was loudly applauded on resuming his
seat.

Master Freme then delivered " The Progress of
Poesy," from Gray. He managed the change of
metre in this splendid ode with great taste and judge-
ment, accompanying the delivery with appropriate
action. This recitation also derived much additional
interest from the exquisite voice and fine intonations of
the youthful speaker. Master Freme retired amidst
'oud applause.
Master Gladstone then recited "The Poet's Wishes,"
from Horace. Considering the youth of the speaker,
this must be pronounced one of the most effective
recitations of the day. The correct emphasis observed
throughout indicated his perfect acquaintance with the
sense of the author. The passage 0 ! noctes, ccenw-
que Deorum," was exceedingly well delivered, and
elicited loud applause, especially from the clergy
present. _

Master Willink then recited an imitation of the last
piece, from Swift and Pope. The voice of the speaker,
without any apparent effort, enabled every one in the
theatre to hear him with the greatest distinctness.
His action was in perfect accordance with the Shaks-
perian standard, ".suited to the voice." The allusions
to rural delights were very happily delivered, and the
fable of " The Two Mice," elicited very marked ap-
plause.

Master Lightfoot next ascended the platform, and
delivered, with much correctness of diction, " Scipio's
Address to his Troops after a Mutiny," from Livy.
The appeals to the passions of the soldiery were given
with much energy and effect. We did not detect an
instance of false quantity throughout the speech. We
would, however, recommend Master Lightfoot to study
a little more the modulation of his voice, which is
capable of much improvement. On resuming his seat
he-was greeted with loud applause.
Master Picton then recited "The Death of Hippo-
lytus," from Euripides. This exquisite composition
was delivered in a strikingly effective manner. Mas-
ter Picton had evidently bestowed much study upon
the part allotted to him, and made a very favourable
impression upon the audience. His peculiarly intelli-
gent countenance led us to anticipate from him a richer
treat than ordinary : and we were not disappointed.
His voice was full of pathos, and his action was cha-
racterised by equal grace and dignity. He retired
amidst much applause.
Master Benson and Master T. Banner then intro-
duced that beautiful scene from Shakspeare, " Brutus
and Antony, on Cwsar's Funeral." Each of the youth-.
ful speakers entered con amore into the spirit of this
admirable colloquy. Master Benson's fine manly voice,
in the part of Brutus, produced a powerful effect ;
whilst the address of Antony over the body of Caesar,
by Master Banner, was replete with feeling and pathos.
These young gentlemen were also loudly applauded on
resuming their seats.

The whole of the recitations were highly creditable
to the.character of the Royal Institution, and furnished
conclusive evidence of the care and attention which
must pervade every branch of instruction in the High
School. The audience signified, by their marked ap-
plause, their unqualified approbation of all the proceed-
ings. _

Dr. ILIFF then said that the pleasing duty devolved
upon him of appropriating the prizes. In doing so he
felt a difficulty—the difficulty, not of selecting those
whose exertions entitled them to the distinction of ob-
taining prizes, but of leaving out so many boys upon
whom that distinction might have been fairly conferred.
He hoped, however, that the parents would fulfil what
was necessarily omitted that day. Formerly the prizes
had been divided into classical and mathematical : this
year they were awarded for general progress in both
departments combined.
The PRESIDENT then proceeded to deliver the prizes.
He was happy to find that the attention of the young
gentlemen who were to receive them had not been ex-
clusively devoted to one department of study, but that
they were resolved omnibus ornatis excellere rebus.
In presenting the 6everal prizes, the President delivered
brief and suitable addresses to the successful competi-
tors. He said that he was happy to learn that both
Master Lowry and Master Davies had, last year, re-
ceived prizes for good conduct and classical composi-
tion. The principal prizes, this year, were awarded to
Masters Lightfoot, Davies, Lowry, and Willink. A
drawing prize was awarded to Master Hebden, for a
series of well-executed drawings, illustrative of classical
reading. A prize was awarded to Master T. Banner,
for two original paintings in oil. Prizes for drawings
were also given to Masters Fletcher and Hopkins.
The following is a list of the prizes, all of which were
elegantly bound, and some of which were works of
very great value :
Master Lightfoot—Tredgold on the Steam Engine,
Morelli's Thesaurus,- and Lucretius.
Master Davies—Wordsworth's Greece, and Barlow's
Manufactures.

Master Lowry—Morelli's Thesaurus, and Peile's
Agamemnon and Coephorm of Eschylus.
Master Willink— Treatise on Machinery, &c. of
Great Britain, and other works.

The PRESIDENT, after the distribution of prizes,
briefly addressed the audience. He said that the
goodly company before him, which was greater than on
any previous occasion, would yield to none in intelli-
gence and respectability. He appealed to the audi-
ence whether they would not join with him in thanks
to the pupils and to Dr. Iliff. When the Doctor came
there, seven years ago, there were not one half the
number of pupils that there were at present. The
number was now raised to upwards of one hundred.
They had that day had a specimen of what the pupils,
could do. He was sure that they need not yield in
attainments to the scholars in the great schools of the
country. That institution ought to be called in future
the great classical, school of the north of England.
The recitations they had heard afforded proofs of
ability that must be highly satisfactory to the parents.
It should be known that the attainments of the pupils
were not confined to those branches in which they had
that day excelled. He then alluded to the testimonials
presented to the Rev. A. Rigg and to Dr. Iliff, the
latter of whom then appeared in the suit of academical
robes, appertaining to the degree of Doctor of Divinity,
which had been recently presented to him. The pupils
had -accompanied- their present with a testimony of
affection which must have been highly gratifying to
Dr. Iliff's feelings. Nothing could more redound to
their credit than their subordination to Dr. Iliff and