of England," the Empress of Germany.

The Prince, in reply, said:--

"Mr. President, my Lords, and Gentlemen,--This toast has been
proposed in far too flattering terms, but the words which have
fallen from Sir Frederick Leighton have not failed to touch me
deeply, as they also will touch the Princess. I thank you,
therefore, Mr. President, for the kind manner in which you have
given the toast, and you, gentlemen, for the way in which you
have received it. My coming here this evening marks, as it were,
a double anniversary. This is not only the year of my silver
wedding, which your President has kindly referred to, but it is
now just a quarter of a century ago since I first had the
pleasure and gratification of accepting the kind hospitality of
this great Academy. There have, no doubt, been many changes
during that interval in this body. Many illustrious and
distinguished members of the Academy have passed away; but,
while we cannot but regret them, we know that there has been no
lack of others to fill their places. When one thinks of the old
buildings in which we used to assemble, which are now devoted to
the purposes of the National Gallery, and when one sees this new
edifice, which has existed now for nineteen years, and the
beautiful objects that adorn its walls, one can form some idea
of the great progress that has been made in art in this country.
It is a remarkable fact that, although many new galleries are
constantly springing up, there appears to be no difficulty in
adorning their walls and filling them with pictures and
sculpture. In 1869, 3000 works of art were offered for
acceptance by this Academy; but this year, I am told, no less
than 9300 were sent in. Unfortunately, of that number upwards of
7000 had to be returned, because you have only room for 2000
odd. The responsibility which rests upon the President, and
especially upon that most hard-working and perhaps I may say
also best-abused body, the hanging committee, is very great, and
their labours increase as years go on. They, of course, cannot
give satisfaction to everybody; but those distinguished artists
who must be disappointed at not seeing their works upon these
walls may perhaps find some consolation in observing how very
high is the general standard of excellence attained by their
more fortunate b