. 
4809.) 
-well succeeded €hambers and SStigart: 
but (judging from the’ present exhibition) 
af the present retrograde movements of 
the art continue; whois to succeed 
them ? - Itinost imperiously demands the 
attention of every lover of his cqutrtry’s 
arts, and his country’s fame ! 
ttle 
merate the best, aud indeed: the subject 
is too’ me lancholy, long to dwell upon. 
Mr. Soane’s Bank of England, (778) can- 
notbe called NEw tothedxhibition; having 
been exhibited in various § shapes, ahd cont 
mented on several timesbefore. It possesses 
the highest degree ofexce!lence,asa desigtt,” 
and is a real ornament to the. metrovolis. 
There are, as usual, villus, cottages, col- 
leges, baths, and boul-houses, in abun- 
dance, but so little novelty, except what 
is bad, that they must be passed dver- 
unnoticed, or ‘more severely ceusured 
. than wauid: be gratifying to either, the 
reader, the author, or the critic. . Bus- 
by’s large drawings, (Nq. 761;) a ior 
view, being part of a design for a. 
Academy, wid (779) ditto, of a pete fora 
cuthedral;. display. great industry and 
inehit, and although no great vovelty of 
desigty is attempted, yet no rules are vie 
olatedy aud no ridiculous inbovations. 1" 
troduced,» Elmes’s design for the. im- 
PRaeaE of. W estminster,: is manifestly 
unfinished, and, shouid have been called 
a sketch. : 
With these iste observations, the ar- 
chitectural department ot the present 
exhibition shall close. Against the next 
year, something of hope. revives. Mr. 
Soane, it is presumed, will give his course 
of lectures, which he commenced with 
an introductory essay, the last season, 
and will, it is ‘hoped, strongly pondeenn 
all such “childish and absurd mnevations, 
that clouded and disfigured the art, in 
the decline of the Roman empire: point- 
ing out that road to arelittéctural emi- 
sence, which he ‘hiniself has so well 
trodden; and effect as yrayd a revolution 
and reformation 1a architecture, as has 
been. most gloriousty effected’ te painting 
and sculpture. 
Intelligence. 
CELEBRATION OF JHE KING’s BIRTH-DAY, 
BY TRE ROYAL ACADEMY. 
On Monday, the 5th of June, the 
members and «students of the Royal 
Academy, met at the Crown and Anchor 
tavern, in the Strand, to celebrate the 
‘anniversary of his majesty’s birth-day. 
The day was spent with the utmost ccn- 
viviality ; and harmony reigned predo- 
minant, The chair was taken by Ben- 
Monthly Retrospect of ‘the Fine Arts, 
room can be spared to ent- - 
Royal ; 
695 - 
jamin West, esq. the venerable presi- 
‘dent, supported by a select and bighly 
respectable company of amateurs, meu= 
bers, students, and exhibitors, who were 
invited on the occasion, After the cloth i 
was cleared, Non Nobis Downe wis 
adinirably sung by Messrs. Goss, Layluiy 
Neale, and Mi ister Buyyen; the Presie 
dent: then gave, “ the ‘Bung, our fouLe 
der and our patron,” which was. drank 
with the most enthusiastic applause. 
Alter a variety of other toasts, tue Pre- 
sident’s health was proposes § tu be dranic 
by Caleb Whitetoord, whica 
immediately called up. Mi iflaxmiani, 
who Legged leave to address | the 
company on this interesting Occasive. 
Our venerable and worthy president ob= 
served, Mr. I. has the singular aud un- 
precedented furtune of having beeu oue 
of the greatest supporters io the bine 
Ar ts, of almost any man, in any ave, or 
country 3 for forty- -siX years, without @ 
single intermission, he bas exhibited in 
thes annual exhibition of the Royal Aca- 
démy of England. Among which were the 
celebrated eae res of the death of 
General Wolie ; Agrippina, following the 
bedy of her husbanl: Avripplaa, bearing 
the ashes of Genantous; the battles ot 
the Boyne, and La Hogue; the return 
‘of Regulus to Carthage ; “and many other 
equally celebrated pictures. 
nerable man continued he, 
noted as anarust, and as the father of 
the British seb BDO} of pai heing 5. than 
he is for bis estimable ehalactet, in pri- 
vate life as a husband, a father, and a 
truly pious pian. And from his own know- 
ledge of the state of foreign SEC EME, 
This ve- 
is NOL mere 
he! could sately. say, no wihdr than the 
British al could boast Such a ne 
sident? Myr. Biaxuian apologized to the 
company, for eile himself sO long 
on their attention ; but observed, he had 
threeveasoiis - fist, as belog a member 
of the academy, aud not a. paimter; 
ow yy ‘as a member of the cauirel, 
aoa cana, enue sir, West Shaving 
been iis first patron in lilies. Mr Flaxmaa 
was here so overpoweied with. tits teele 
ings, he was ob’iged toconclude. . ‘Phese 
are truly noble scenes, worthy of the best 
ages of Greece or Rume; andl as such, 
was thls: interesting’ scene contemplated 
by ali present. Mri: West returned 
thanks ni a@ neat aid clegaut imunner,, 
thanking Mr. Whitefudrd and the gus 
pany, for the honour they had just conte. 
ferred on hinr3 observing, that ior nearly 
half a’ century, ‘had Theit thiendsinp 
lasted, 
¢ 
eee 
