9 MAY 1981, Page 11

One hundred years ago

The dinner of the Royal Academy, held this day week, was a sufficiently brilliant one, Sir Frederick Leighton, as usual, showing a singular tact and judgement in his choice of speakers and the skill with which he drew them out. Mr Gladstone's speech was thoughtful, as well as both terse and graceful. After renewing his respectful protest against the new practice of toasting her Majesty's Ministers within those walls, he returned his thanks emphatically to Mr Millais for having 'enormously improved' his own chance of immortality, and congratulated the same great artist on having commemorated the last phase in the life of 'the extraordinary man who was distinguished even among distinguished men.'

Spectator, 7 May 1881