ROYAL ACADEMICIANS

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with transparent paintings, as usual, executed by the Royal Academicians." The first formal meeting of the Royal Academy was held in Pall Mall in December 1768. The ideas of the Academicians were laid before the King, who approved them; and at the end of the "Instrument " he wrote, "I approve of this plan; let it be put in execution,” adding his signature, "George R."

Sir Joshua Reynolds appears as the first President. He was succeeded by Mr Benjamin West, Sir Thomas Lawrence, Sir Martin Archer Shee, Sir Charles Eastlake, Sir Francis Grant, Sir Frederick Leighton, Sir John Millais, and Sir Edward John Poynter.

Edmund Burke's eulogy of Sir Joshua Reynolds is very interesting. It is as follows:

"In full affluence of foreign and domestic fame, admired by the expert in Art and by the learned in Science, courted by the great, caressed by sovereign powers, and celebrated by distinguished poets, his native humility, modesty, and candour never forsook him, even on surprise or provocation; nor was the least degree of arrogance or assumption visible to the most scrutinising eye in any part of his conduct or discourse. His talents of every kind-powerful by nature, and not meanly cultivated by letters

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FAMILIAR LONDON

his social virtues in all the relations and all the habitudes of life-rendered him the centre of a very great and unparalleled variety of agreeable societies, which will be dissipated by his death. He had too much merit not to excite some jealousy, too much innocence to provoke any enmity. The loss of no man of his time can be felt with more sincere, general, and unmixed sorrow. Hail and farewell!"

Sir John Millais held the post of President for six months only. He was a splendid-looking man: I well remember passing him in Piccadilly, and being struck by the impression he gave of perfect health in mind and body. He presided at the Banquet in 1895, in the absence of Lord Leighton ; and in his speech he said :

"I must tell you briefly my connection with this Academy. I entered the Antique School, as a probationer, when I was eleven years of age; then became a student in the Life School; and I have risen from stage to stage until I reached the position I now hold of Royal Academician; so that, man and boy, I have been intimately connected with this Academy for more than half a century. I have received here a free education as an artist-an advantage any lad may enjoy who can pass a qualifying examination-and I owe the Academy a debt