st interest
in the welfare of all our great institutions, and more
especially those connected with art--I allude to the late
lamented Lord Derby. My lords and gentlemen, I assure you the
Princess of Wales will be highly gratified to hear how kindly on
this, as on every other public occasion, you have received her
name and health, and I beg to thank you for the kind manner in
which you have listened to the few remarks I have made."

The usual toasts were afterwards given, and responded to by eminent men,
including Mr. Motley, the American Minister, and Charles Dickens.

_1871._

At the Royal Academy banquet of 1871, the President, Sir Francis Grant,
in proposing "The Health of Her Majesty the Queen," referred to the
recent opening of the Albert Hall, a proceeding which, in some degree,
tended towards the realisation of the late Prince Consort's constant
efforts for the promotion of Science and Art in this kingdom.

In proposing "The Health of the Prince and Princess of Wales and the
rest of the Royal family," Sir Francis referred to the zeal of the
Prince in the encouragement of Art, and said that he was shortly to
preside on two different occasions in connection with Art, at the
opening of the International Exhibition, and at the dinner of the
Artists' General Benevolent Institution.

The Prince, in responding, said:--

"I feel very much touched by the kind way in which you, Sir
Francis, proposed my health, and this company received it, and I
beg also to thank you for the very kind terms in which you
alluded to the name of the Princess, who, I am confident, will
be deeply gratified by the kind way in which you alluded to her
name and the company have received this toast. You have referred
to the opening of the International Exhibition next Monday, and
I sincerely trust that the opening of that series of Exhibitions
may be as successful as the others which preceded it, and that
the promotion of science and art may be carried forward by the
means of these numerous Exhibitions. It is always a great
pleasure for me to meet you here at this annual gathering, to
see so many distinguished and celebrated persons, and to be
surrounded on all sides by the pictures of the most celebrated
artists of our own country, and also, by the permission of the
Academicians, by the pictures of the most distinguished foreign
artists. I fee