h
Kensington, interesting alike to the artist and to the student of
history.

_1867._

After dinner, the customary loyal toasts were proposed and responded to,
the President making special reference to the severe and protracted
illness of the Princess of Wales, which they all deplored, with the
trust that it would please God soon to restore her to perfect health.
The Prince, on rising, was loudly applauded, and spoke with evident
emotion, in witnessing the warm sympathy shown by the assembly:--

"Sir Francis Grant, your Royal Highness, my Lords, and
Gentlemen,--I beg to tender you my warmest thanks for the very
kind manner in which you have proposed and received the health
of the Princess of Wales and myself. I feel sure she will be
deeply gratified for the kind words you have this evening
uttered, and I am glad to say that, although she has now for
very nearly two months been kept to her room by a long and
tedious illness, she is now progressing towards recovery. I know
I can have no more pleasing announcement to make to her Royal
Highness than to tell her of the very kind feeling which has
always been exhibited to her since her first coming to this
country. I beg also, Sir Francis, to thank you for the very kind
manner in which you have alluded to the interest I take with
regard to science and art. I need not tell you that I do take
such an interest. If I may say so, I take the same interest
which my parents have always taken, although I may not have the
same experience or knowledge; still, I hope I shall always tread
in their footsteps in that respect.

"I am flattered, Sir Francis, by your statement that I have
shown an appreciation of art in becoming the possessor of a work
by so celebrated an artist as Sir Edwin Landseer. I think it
would be impossible to find at this table any one who would not
feel the same appreciation of so admirable a work of art. I
obtained the picture under somewhat peculiar circumstances. It
had been painted for a private person who was kind enough to
give it up to me. Sir Edwin Landseer, although he has been
before the public for many years as a painter, has within the
last two months achieved great distinction as a sculptor, and
has produced one of the finest monuments of art that exist in
this country. He kept us perhaps some time in waiting for his
lions,