he
chair at the special request of the President. In introducing Mr.
Gladstone, he said: "The next toast is, 'The Interests of Literature.'
I have been somewhat perplexed myself to think why the custom of the
Academy places Science before Literature. I see, however, that it is
quite right, for Literature is a member of our own family--our sister.
[Cheers.] I am old enough to recollect that when Sir Morton Archer
Shee, who united Art with Poetry, was elected President of the
Academy, this epigram appeared in the 'Times':

"'So Painting crowns her sister Poesie,
The world is all astonished, so is She (e).'

Many present will remember in more recent times how Charles Dickens,
when returning thanks for this toast, expressed the same sentiment of
relationship by altering some words of Rob Roy's and saying that when
at our Academy he felt so much at home, as to be inclined to exclaim:
'My foot is on my native heath, although my name is not Macgregor.'
Next to religion, literature in very many of its phases supplies the
noblest subjects for Art. History, Biography, and works of fiction all
contribute their share; while poetry enjoys the cumulative privilege
of uniting in itself the incentives to Art which are commanded by all
other branches of Literature as well as the ennobling sentiments
inspired by religion, patriotism and other affections of the human
heart. An elevating mission, indeed, be it only directed in a worthy
course. Frivolity and license are alike the bane of literature and
art. Earnestness of purpose and severity of moral tone are the stamina
of both. Shorn of these, both alike find their strength is gone from
them. It is consoling to reflect that notwithstanding the laborious
turmoil of politics we have had three, and I think successive, Prime
Ministers who have made Literature the solace of their scanty leisure
and delighted the world by their writings on subjects extraneous to
State politics. I give you the 'Interests of Literature,' and I have
the honor to connect the toast with the name of one of that
distinguished trio, the Right Honorable William Ewart Gladstone."]

MR. CHAIRMAN, YOUR ROYAL HIGHNESS, MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN:--I
think no question can be raised as to the just claims of literature to
stand upon the list of toasts at the Royal Academy, and the sentiment is
one to which, upon any one of the numerous occasions of my attendance