out to it by the
opinion of Europe." The Princess of Wales, as all knew, co-operated with
never-failing grace with the Prince in fulfilling the duties of their
high station. As to the other members of the Royal Family, "all had
grown up in the love of arts, and several of them practise one or other
of those arts with enthusiasm and with marked success. I give 'The
Prince and Princess of Wales, and the rest of the Royal Family.'"

The Prince, in responding, said:--

"Sir Frederick Leighton, your Royal Highnesses, my Lords, and
Gentlemen,--I am very grateful for the excessively kind manner
in which this toast has been proposed and received by this large
and distinguished company. As the President, Sir Frederick
Leighton, has said, it is four years since I last had the
advantage of being present at your annual celebration. It was a
matter of great regret to me that so long a time should elapse,
but it has given me great pleasure to come here to-night and
take part in your proceedings. During those four years events
have occurred in the history of the Royal Academy which have
awakened deep regret. The members of the Royal Academy--I may
say all who sit at these tables--feel that they lost a friend in
the death of Sir Francis Grant, who so long presided with so
much geniality and kindness at these anniversaries. But of the
Academy, as of Royalty, it may be said, '_Le Roi est mort! Vive
le Roi!_' The President is dead; another President is elected.
Sir Frederick Leighton is an old friend of mine--a friend of
upwards of twenty years' standing. I congratulate him most
cordially and sincerely on the high office he now holds. I may
also congratulate the Royal Academy on having such a man to
preside over their meetings.

"I have to return my thanks, and those of my colleagues, to Sir
F. Leighton for the able assistance he has rendered during the
recent International Exhibition in Paris. Your President was
unanimously elected chairman of the Section of Fine Arts, and he
presided over a jury of at least forty members, and I think we
have every reason to congratulate ourselves on the results.

"Let me now congratulate you, Sir Frederick, and the Royal
Academy generally, on the magnificent Exhibition which we see
before us this evening. I have not yet had sufficient time to
enable me to speak to its merits,