rethren whose works have been accepted.

"Before sitting down I wish to acknowledge on behalf of my
sister and her husband the kind sympathy which you, sir, have
expressed to-night in such feeling words. I wish it were
possible for me to give on this occasion greater hopes of the
life of one so near and dear to me, of one of such value, not
only to his own country, but, I maintain, to the world at large.
The recent news which we have received has been rather more
favourable, and God grant that such news may continue. At any
rate, as long as there is life there is hope. I thank you once
more, Mr. President, for the cordial terms in which you have
proposed my health and the kind way in which you have alluded to
the members of my family."

The Duke of Cambridge, who has the pleasurable duty every year of
responding to the toast of the Army, must naturally feel increasing
difficulty in varying the subject of his discourses. He was, however,
never more happy in his remarks than at the banquet of 1888. "Every year
that I come here," said the Duke, "I feel more at home among you, and
for this reason, because I believe that there is great sympathy between
artists and military men. It has been said that the services seem to
some extent out of place in a company composed of artists, because
artists are concerned with art and science and peaceful pursuits; but I
believe, on the other hand, that artists derive a great advantage from
observing our profession, because it supplies them with many subjects
which they love to portray. And the military sentiment among artists is
by no means to be considered as effaced. When I see what a splendid
corps of Volunteers the artists supply, I think I may claim them as one
of the elements of strength which we should use should any emergency
arise. God forbid that it should ever arise; but, if it should, may the
services be in a condition to prevent danger from approaching this
country." These last words form the burden of most of the wise and
patriotic speeches which the Duke of Cambridge delivers at the Academy
and elsewhere.

ROYAL BANQUETS AT TRINITY HOUSE.

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ROYAL BANQUETS AT THE TRINITY HOUSE.

_July 2nd, 1866._

The Corporation of the Trinity House received its first charter in 1514,
from King Henry VIII. It was then a guild or brotherhood for the
encouragement of the science and art of navigation, and was