but I hope on some future
occasion to have the opportunity of going over it more
carefully. I thank you again for the kind way in which my health
and that of the Princess of Wales have been proposed and for the
very warm reception you have given me."

The Duke of Cambridge, in responding for the Army, referred to wars now
being carried on in different parts of the world. He also spoke with
praise of two pictures in this year's Exhibition by Miss Thompson. Mr.
W. H. Smith spoke for the Navy. Lord Beaconsfield responded for Her
Majesty's Ministers, Mr. Froude for Literature, the Lord Chief Justice
for the Guests, and the Lord Mayor for the Corporation of London. The
Lord Chief Justice (Sir Alexander Cockburn) gave an eloquent description
of the chief works of Sir Frederick Leighton, beginning with the
"Procession of Cimabue," nearly a quarter of a century ago, from which
men felt that "a new genius had arisen who was to add to the lustre and
renown of British Art." Sir Frederick Leighton, in his concluding
speech, paid a generous tribute to the memory of Sir Francis Grant, and
also of Mr. E. M. Ward, in whom the Academy had lost "one of the few
artists who made the history of our country a constant subject for
study."

_1880._

At the annual banquet in 1880, the President, Sir Frederick Leighton,
paid to the Prince of Wales a handsome compliment when he said: "Sir,
of the graces by which your Royal Highness has won and firmly retains
the affectionate attachment of Englishmen, none has operated more
strongly than the width of your sympathies; for there is no honourable
sphere in which Englishmen move, no path of life in which they tread,
wherein your Royal Highness has not, at some time, by graceful word or
deed, evinced an enlightened interest." Coming from Sir Frederick
Leighton, this was not the mere language of flattery.

In replying, the Prince, after expressing his sincerest thanks, said:--

"Year by year the members of my family and myself receive
invitations to take part in the proceedings at this anniversary
banquet. You can therefore well understand that I find some
difficulty in replying to the toast. At the same time I can
assure the President and the members of the Academy that, though
year by year we visit these exhibitions and take part at these
banquets, the interest we take in them does not in any way
diminish. I may be allowed to congratulate him and