The Sun. — London, England, 1857-07-03 00:00:00

$50,000 persons had visited the Museum during the year which was a proof how fully the public availed them selves of its advantage. A question had also been raise d whether it should not be open on the Sunday. (Hear.) The house, however, had decided in the negative by a very large majority, and the trustees had nothing to do bnt to carry out their decision. The Museum had been very much increased by amateurs from time to time. The late Sir W. Temple, our minister at Naples, a man of great taste and intelligence, made a large collection of Greek and Roman antiquities, for which he had pecu liar facilities, and had left the entire to the Museum. (Hear.) lie did not think it was necessary for him to trouble the house further, but he would be:ready to give a ny explanation which might be required. It would be only fair to mention that some complaint had been made that the subordinate officials were not paid in the same manner as in other similar establishments. The trustees had requested the Treasury to send some persons to in ♦estigate the subject. The gentlemen appointed had bald the inquiry, but had not yet made their report. Until that was done the trustees could take no step, and the persons lately engaged were paid on the old scale. In conclusion he begged to move the vote. 1853 the picture was valued at 12,0001., which sum the owner aBked for it, on whic 1 the trustees recommended vented the nation from getting valuable pictures in con sequence of the squabbles and differences of opinion be tween the director and the travelling agent. The house recollected the blunder made last year in the Venetian Paul Veronese, which was worth about 3701., but which the travelling agent thought proper to buy for 1,9701., and he need not go into that ; but the house would be surprised that in the Austrian Official Gazette it was ac tually stated that when the church from which it was taken was restored all the pictures were taken down, and permission was obtained from the Pope to sell them to assist in paying the expense of the restoration. After the sale there remained some paintings, and among them this very Paul Veronese, which was appraised by the official officer at 300/. That was the picture which the travelling agent gave 1,9701. for. He admitted that they had bought a better Perugino, but the result of the outcry against the Paul Veronese was that they were deter mined to rectify the mistake next year, so they went to Venice, where it was known to all the world that there was another Paul Veronese in the Pisani palace, which they determined to get at any price, and for that picture they paid what t Why, no less than 13,6501., a price per fectly ridiculous for a Paul Teronese, who, in the first place, was not a first rate painter, and the picture itself not being one of his best. Well, the consequence was, that by giving this enormous sum they exceeded the an nual grant of 10,0001. forthe purchase of pictures, and now an extra 5,0001., which was obtained from the civil con tingency list, was charged in the estimates. He really thought the house ought to refuse to vote that 5,0001., which would, perhaps, teach these gentlemen better. The noble lord read a list of the items paid on the purchase of the picture for the National Gallery, alleged to be a Paul Veronese, as the chambermaid 101., the cook 61. Such was the way in which the money was expended. Now as to the picture itself. Sir C. Eastlake said in his report that sovereigns had contested its possession, but his (Lord Elcho's) opinion was that Sir C. Eastlake had been foolishly, wastefully extravagant. (Hear.) When at Ve nice he heard that the seller had refused to part with the frame to Pisani, which it turned out exactly fitted a picture retained by the seller. Our agent having heard this, of course suspected that the picture retained was the original by Paul Veronese. (Laughter.) The noble lord then went on to propose to reduce the vote. He did not object to travelling expenses, but the director should be his own collector and traveller ' • and there need be no travelling agents. During the London season the best place to collect pictures was London, at the sales of the great i.icture auctioneers, Messrs. Christie or Foster. (Hear.) Then after the season the director should travel in a private manner—(bear)---as it was our travelling neat had spoiled the market by raising the prices. (Hear.) Why the Austrian government had actually for bidden his admission into public places. (A laugh.) The sum charged for'expences was bi b !), asid ought not to be allowed as compensation for a poor salary. (Hear.) If the salary was too low it should be raised ; but the director should be the traveller. On the whole he moved that the vote be reduced from 23,1501 to 22,6151. ; that is to say reducing the salary of the secretary from 7501. to 5001,, &c. The noble lord added an observation directed against the removal of pictures to Ireland. If they were bad, we ought not to have them ; if good, we should not lose them. Irish membfrs would not approve of making the Dublin Gallery a refuge for the refuse of the National Gallery. (Hear.) Mr. COX denounced the whole system of the National Gallery purchases as a system of jobbery so gross that he would not be content with the amendment of the noble lord, and he should be prepared to refuse the vote alto gether for that head. He disapproved altogether of a tra velling agent, and of travelling expenses. He objected, above all, to the grant of 10,0001. for the purchase of pic tures. The case of the picture in question was truly mon strous. Why, from information he bad received (which was confirmed by the noble lord's statement), he believed that the picture was only a copy. (Hear.) Such was the foolish way in which the public money was expended. He should oppose the vote, and moved that the vote be reduced to 4,9001. the government to give 10,5001., honestly saying at the same time that it was worth 12,0001. Now that was a curious way of doing business. (Hear.) In his (Mr. Henley's opinion, if they thought a man was asking a fair price for an articleit was better to give him his own money, for if they attempted to take him down they were sure to make him raise his price. This had been the case with this picture. The price asked for it in 1843 was 12, 0001., but the price paid for it in 1853 was 13,6501. That was what was got by offering 10,0001. for a work of art admitted to be worth 12,0001. (Hear.) Then came the question how this vote was to be dealt with. The amount by which it was proposed to be reduced was larger than he could approve of, but if the proposition was to reduce it by the sum overpaid last year, he should be glad to give it his support, upon the ground that if the house agreed to give 10,0001. a-year for pictures,it was a pretty clear indication that they did not mean the Government should go and spend 15,0001. (Cheers.) To the amend ment so altered he should be happy to give his assent. Mr. LA.BOUOHERE deprecated the violent and in temperate language which had been imported into the discussion ; for about matters of taste gentlemen might proverbially differ, and that without imputations of in capacity, much less of jobbery and dishonesty, being cast upon any one. (Cheers.) He was surprised at bearing the objection of Mr. Henley that the Govern ment had spent 5,0001. more than the amount granted— as if they must confine themselves within a limited sum, whatever the opportunities which presented themselves of purchasing valuable works of art. With regard to this particular picture, he had never heard till then the expression of a single doubt as to its being a work of as established a European reputation as any picture that could be mentioned. But he should not have risen on this occasion if it were not to do justice, not so much to a distinguished man, as to his own feelings. He regretted that they could not discuss a question of this kind with out going into personal attacks. He had had the honour of the acquaintance of Sir C. Eastlake for many years, and he was confident there was not a man of higher in tegrity, purer character, and a more accomplished mind in the country. Indeed, he believed him to be one of the most accomplished artists the nation possessed. He was sorry to hear his hon. friend (Mr. Coeingham), than evhom there could be no better judge of art, indulge in personal attacks upon Sir C. Eastlake. His hon. friend said Sir C. Eastlake had shown his incapacity by the mode in which he managed the National Gallery, and overlooked the cleaning and preservation of the p his ictu noble res. friend eapp who had appealed from friend, i h n is tro hdounb.edthisquestion however, nestino to first. He had stated truly that there eas not a great public collection in Europe which was not far worse treated than the National Gallery—(laughter)—and he (Mr. Labouchere) would refer especially to the two most celebrated—the one at Madrid, perhaps, the noblest collection of pictures in the world, and the other the great gallery at Dresden, in both of which some of the beet works had suffered in the greatest degree from the system of cleaning that hsd been adopted. He believed that Sir Charles Eastlake deserved the credit of being a most careful director of the National Gallery alike in the cleaning and in the restoration of pictures. True, there might have been cases of injudicious cleaning ; taken as a whole, he thought they had reason to rejoice at the care, vigilance, and caution exercised. Feeling confident, then, that they were safe in the hands of a man of the high honour and integrity, pure and en lightened taste and judgment of Sir Charles Eastlake, he should deeply regret if the house did not support the vote. Mr. STIRLING did not think that if the vote were n i st e r e that d agents 23,oool.a a year oni dn was be employedt w o i eiy much.an and properly Asll o v e to r th the c e a da loi suggest ion ntinent, how did they suppose that would work 1 He believed the ordinary per ten tage which a picture elealer expected for undertaking a commission of the kind was 10 per cent. Now, as 13,0001. had been expended on the Pisani picture alone, the commission would have amounted to 18001., or con siderably more than had been paid for the whole, year. His hon. friend (Mr. Coningha.m) had reflected with some asperity on the National Gallery; but what was his main accusation against the director of that institu tion l The " head and front" of Sir Charles Eastlake's " offending," as stated by his hon. friend, amounted to this, that having in the purchase of some picture made a mistake, he had had the candour and the manliness to own it—(cheers)—and on several occasions to ex press considerable diffidence in his own judgment. Well, these were two errors into which collectors of pictures were not very apt to fall—(a laugh)—and he must say that his hon. friend (Mr. Coning ham), and his noble friend (Lord Elcho) had never to his knowledge done so. (Laughter.) He beggee to ask the Secretary to the Treasury by whose advice the purchase of the Kruger collection was made for the National Gallery ? Mr. WILSON—That collection was purchased in 1853, and paid for in 1854 ; but in consequence of the absence of his right hon. friend (Mr. Gladstone) he was unable to state upon whose advice—professional advice —the purchase was made. It was certainly not bought by the trustees of the National Gallery. Lord ELCHO said if the G ivernment had been offered 4001. for their bargain of the Paul Veronese, he thought the best thing they could do would be to accept the offer. The defence of his hon. friend reminded him (Lord Elcho) of a joke of the Secretary to the Admiralty last year, who said, when the discussion on this picture WWI going on, that he did not believe it to be a Paul Vero nese but a Wilson. (Laughter.) He (Lord Elam) dis claimed any intention of disparaging Sir C. Eastlake ; he believed him to be a thorough gentleman and an ac . complished man, but his perfict fitness for the situation . which he held was another question. He (Lord Elcho) suggested that the boo. gentleman should limit his mo ; tion to the re , uction of 5,0001. for civil contingencies. The CHANCELLOR of theEXCHEQUER said it was admitted that it was a matter of national policy that there should be a National Gallery, and Parliament had not only provided a place for the reception of pictures pre sented to the nation, but had acted on the principle that pictures should be purchased to add to this collection from time to time. 10,0001, a year was placed for that purpose at the disposal of the Government, who were ad vised in their disposal of it by the board of trustees of the . National Gallery, composed of noblemen and gentlemen well acquainted with art, whose names were before the public, and by the secretary of that board, who was likewise the president of the Royal Academy, a first rate artist, and moreover a historian of art, inti mately acquainted with the Italian schools. If the Government could not act on such authority their functions in regard to the disposal of the sums voted by Parliament would be completely paralysed, as it was impossible that any Government as such could have special knowledge on the subject of art, more than on medical or other subjects. Atter a few words from Mr. SPOONER and Mr. Cox, The motion was withdrawn accordingly ; and another motion was put that the vote should be reduced to 16,604/. Mr. CONINGHAM denied having made any attack on Sir C. Eastlake's character ; he simply impugned the judgment of that gentleman ; and he submitted that he had established his case. The committee came to no other conclusion than that the sum paid for the Paul Veronege was monstrous and extravagant, and he hoped the hou a would coma to the same conclusion. Lord PALMERSTON said that the contrast between this discussion and the scene he had just left produced a painful impression on his mind. He had just come from the city of Manchester, where the voluntary contribu tions of a set of enlightened merchants, at the expense of 100,0001., had procured for the people of that neigh bourhood, and f ur th e p eo pl e w h o c h ose to come there from other p ar t s o f th e wor ld, th e temporary grat i f i cation of witnessing a magnificent eat h haggling ge collectioning found m adtobfseci ipictures;representativesiablbi g nd h about e of came t he to thatnited hou se, g where a matter of 13,0001., and censuring the Government for having given what his noble friend thought an excessive amount for a picture, which the Secretary for the Colo g nies rhsa n v. et o e d b thßh l o e aaunt tps l lord masterhar : te eh and awitn a Pauls t mightht n h e o e tn Veronese onlyt o ni o n on . ta member lraacngoklgreat eesaacost. nies and the Secretary fo r th e T reasury h a d properly de nominateds f a n l r l v ß e r r y i h w t e o l n l a picture of world-wide r e p u t a ti on. I t sva, t f o or te t l h l nota master of great value, and this pi c t ure not one highsv,,nl c. h a seminentwasly r true e t s e t colourist, but one of the most instructive painters, in point of composition, whose works could be placed in a collection where instruction as well as gratification was the object. And now that the house had had the amusement of the levities of the noble lord the member for Haddingtotishire, and of the personalities of the hon member for Brighton, who had probably now vented that long stored up spleen by which he was sorry to say he was animated against that amiable, accom plished, and distinguished man, Sir C. Eastlake, he hoped that after they h a d h a d their awing on t h e i r favou rite topics, the house would come gravely and seriously to the di, , cussion of the question before them ; and if they thought that it was proper and right that this country should be in possession of a gallery of pictures worthy of its reputation, and that Parliament was right in piecing at the disposal of the Government a sum for that purpose, he trusted they would remember that the picture now in question was one of great value, that it had long been an object of attention to everybody in the country where it was placed ; that it was one that the Government of the country was very much indisposed to part with, and the possession of which would be honour. able to this country, and conduce to the objects of a national gallery so desirable, and for which it was useful tbat Par:iament should vote money. The question really involved in this vote was whether the country should have a national gallery or not, and whether Par liament would continue the policy it had for a long time pursued ; or whether there should be a total change of system, and that henceforth there should be no addition made to the national gallery of pictures that we possessed. (Cheers.) The house then divided, when there were— For the amendment B9 Against it Majority Lord ELCRO was sorry to trouble the house to di vide again, but the last was not the question on which he wished to take their opinion. His motion specially referred to the salary of the secretary and travelling agent. He thought that the salary of the secretary was too high when fixed at 7501., and should be reduced to 5001., and that the appointment of the travelling agent was altogether vicious in principle, and that the amount of his salary should therefore be struck out of the vote altogether. In order to carry out that view, and to effect the reductions which he thought desirable, he would therefore move that the vote be reduced to 22,6161. - Mr. W. WILLIAMS observed that a large balance was carried over every year ; he wished to know whether that remained in the Treasury or was drawn out and placed at the disposal of the trustees; he complained that the Museum was only open three days in a week ; it ought to be open every day. (Hear, hear.) Mr. B. WILLIAMS objected to the item of 5,0001. for gilding the dome of the New Reading Room. If the dome was so magnificent as stated by the noble lord, it ought not to require any gilding. Mr. M. MILNES admitted that great accommodation was now afforded to students, but unless something more WAS done a large number of persons would be deprived of the benefits of the institution, as there were many persons of high distinction in literature who could not bring themselves to study in a public room. Tinder the former arrangement no accommodation was provided for such persons, but he hoped that the trustees would now take such steps as would afford the requisite convenience for at least a small number of these persons ; in every foreign country these conveniences were provided. He had still to complain that no arrangements were made for rending out books at this or any other of our public libraries. Mr. LOCKE bad, on the occasion of the discussion on the Kensington Museum, complained that the work ing classes had no facilities for visiting these institutions, as they were all shut on Sunday. The hon. member for Hertford (Mr.'Cowper) met the objection with regard to the exhibition at Kensington by stating it was open in the evening three times a week. He (lr. Locke) saw no reason why the same rule should not be applied to the Museum. (Hear, hear.) There were some diffi culties in doing so with regard to the library, but under the present system it was only those who devoted themselves to literature as a pursuit, or who bad the day at their disposal, who could enjoy any of its ad vantage. With regard to other portions of the Mu seum, there was no reason why they should net be opera in the evening ; but even if that were done, it would be no great boon to the working classes to open it to them when they were exhausted by the toils of the day. To give them the full benefit of the institution it should be open ed on Sunday, at such hours as would not interfere with divine service. (Hear, hear.) It was a fa'lacy to suppwe such a step would necessitate the employment of any great number of persons on Sunday ; he was informed twenty would be the outside number. At present tee working classes were put to considerable expense to get to any of the public places which were open on Sundays, as they were all out of town, and their travelling re quired the employment of a very considerable number. If the noble lord would promise to turn his attention to this matter a great step in advance would be made. Mr. CHILD w.oe no a lvoeate for opening the Mu seum on Sunday, but it ought to be accessible to the public in the evening. He wished to suggest to the noble lord that means should be devised to enable the public generally to view the cn.dlection of prints and en gravings. They were now in portfolios, and could not be seen without a special order ; if room was wanted for displaying them, they might be placed in the portion of the National Gallery now occupied by the Royal Aca demy. Mr. J. WILSON said the statements made as to the picture in question were a ti-isue of misrepresentations. Many months before the purchase the consul was em ployed through the Foreign-office for the purchase. Therefore the responsibility rested upon the Government. Many years ago the picture had attracted the attention of Lord Aberdeen, and offers had been made and refused until 12,0001. had been demanded for it, with the addi tion of compensation for the loss of money which might have been received by its exhibition. The total price, therefore, was 13,6501., and as to the distribution of the money, it was a matter with which we bad no concern. The agents of our Government had no negotiation with any one but the owner. As to the value of the picture, it would be more satisfactorily discussed after it had been exhibited in a gallery. (Hear.) It was of world-wide celebrity, and would give a character to any gallery. One gentleman had declared it worth 20,0001,, and when the Government ha purchased it, that very gentleman was the first to accuse them of extravagance. (Name.) As the gentleman was not a member of the house, be would not crime him. As to the constitution of the Na tional Gallery, it was settled when the noble lord (Elcho) was a member of the Government. Sir J. TRELAWNY suggested that members of the Jewish persuasion should be engaged as attendants on Sundays. Mr. BAXTER wished to remind the committee that the Museum was now open on Saturday. With regard to opening it on Sunday, the house had decided the point last year by a great majority. The present was not a proper occasion to raise a discussion on a question in which the feelings of the country were so deeply in terested. If hon. members wished to test the feelings of the new Rouse of Commons, they ought to bring for ward a substantive motion. Mr. STEUART was glad to see a disposition evinced to shorten the hours of labour by what was termed the Saturday half-holiday movement, and would be sorry to see any change at the British Museum which would tend to interfere with that movement. Stil) more should he regret to see the Museum opened on Sunday. Sir H. VERNEY believed that nothing would tend more to the injury of the working classes than the dese cration of the Lord's day ; and those who felt most in terested in their welfare were most anxious to preserve it for them. Lord ELCHO —I had no concern in it, and knew nothing of it. Mr.WILSON went on to declare that there was great advantage in having a travelling agent. As to the secretary, he was also keeper, and made a great sacri fice of income on accepting the appointment. That gentleman was now ta--ef ally occupied on an historical cateloeue of the pictures in the gallery. There was no divided responsibility, and the travelling agent had no power to purchase pictures. The subject had been abun dantly discussed last year, and as to the picture particu larly in question, the Government accepted the responsi bility for its purchase. The reduction of the vote now r proposed would include the price of the picture and that could not be withdrawn, although a vote of censure might be moved. If the grant for the present year were with drawn many important purchases would be interfered with, and he ( ir. Wilson) hoped that hon. members who were anxious for a good National Gallery would not sup port the amendment. The hon. member said the picture was a copy, but nothing could be more groundless. Our agent had seen the copy, and it was a perfect wreck—a wretched performance of a wretched artist, and utterly spoiled, such as it was. With respect to travelling ex penses, the director travelled yearly to confirm or to make purchases, the agent not being authorised to pur chef • pictures. The expenses were regulated by the Trea sury and audited by the directors. Mr. CONINGHAM admired the courage of the hon. member for endorsing the acts of Sir C. Eastlake and the directors of the National Gallery. Sir C Eastlake was clearly responsible for the purchase of the pictures. With regard to having a purchaser abroad, if the English Go vernment only made it known that they would purchase first rate works of art, they would soon have good pic tures sent to this country from all parts of the world. Whil-t Sir C. Eastlake filled the keepership of the Na tines! Gallery a number of works of art were purchased, one of the first being a portrait of a medical gentlemen, by Holbein, for 6301. This was a spurious daub. Another libel on a great master was what was called "The Youth ful Saviour," by Guido. Sir C. Eastlake afterwards be came trustee ; in that capacity he made the signal mis take of purchasing " The Tribute Money," by Titian, frcm Marshal Soult's collection—a picture pronounced to be spurious by the most competent judges in Europe, but for which Sir C. Eastlake paid a sum of 3.683'. 3s. 3d. He (gr. Coningham) would not dwell on the spurious Albert Duren (Hear, hear.) He did not know how far Sir C. Eastlake was responsible for the purchase of the Kruger collection ; but who ever was responsible for it was responsible for the pur chase of one of the worst collections that could have been precered. (Hear.) It consisted of some sixty pictures; the purchase money was 2,9151 ; and a considerable portion of this collection was sold at Messrs. Cnrietie's at an average of about 3/, a piciure. (Laughter.) The minimum sum ohteined at the auction was 21. 108. and the maximum 201. (Hear.) With the picture cleaning in the National Gallery the house was farnilar. (Hear ) It appeared to him that the National Gallery was a nest of a number of intrigues ; who pulled the wires was a matter which it would be difficult to discover. (Cheers.) " The Adoration of the Magi," by Paul Veronese, was one of the most recent purchases made eby Sir C. East lake ; but it was not necessary to say much about it or the price for it. (Hear.) The system of purchasing col lections, and selling off the more villanous of them, was a plan imported from Berlin. He (Mr. Coninghate) would, in purchasing for the nation, wish to go back to the good models of the 15th and 16th centuries. (Hear ) It was quality and not•quantity they ought to lay before the people in exhintione of the fine arts. (Hear.) Mr. HENLEY said that, as he understood it, three objections had been taken on the present vote. First, as to the selections that had been made in the purchase of pictures ; secondly, as to the employment of the tra velling agent ; and, thirdly, as to the spending of money without the authority of Parliament. (dear.) He should say that the explanation of the Secretary for the Treasury, in answer to those objections, was rather an alarming one. (Hear.) The vote was objectionable enough as it stood in the estimates ; but the explanation given of it made the matter of serious consequence to the house. (Hear.) A good deal had been said about the increase in the civil service estimates ; but let the com mittee consider for a moment the vote now before them in comparison with what it was in former years. In 1848 the estimate for the National Gallery paintings was 5,0021. From that amount it had iecreased till in 1854- 16,0001. ; in 1856-57, 5 12 5 ,0 itool. was 6 ; a C 6 d ool this ; y ( n a e a l e r a B r s i , t s h - ases6a;ru. hear.) et r o t m h e this it moderateappe appeared d portion of 23,0001. that the estimate was going on at a very comfortable rate, to say the least of it. (Hear, and laughter.) It could not be said that in this respect art was neglected in England. But the most alarming feature in the busi ness was that 6000/. had been paid without the sanction aym said ent was of pa r li ament. (Hear.) The Secretary for the Trea sury)twas s t sl u n i c t t e i o a n emd mistake parliament a t rl io asmupenpot,se that that i and added, that parliament, cou l d, if it wished, censure the Govern ment. The a rgument of the hon. g en tleman was based upon the fact th e H ouse of Commons placed in the hands of the government 100,000/. far what were called ex gencies ; tut if this argument were admitted the house might next year be called upon to grant a sum of 123, 0001. (Hear.) He though the case was put in rather too broad a w e y by the government. m eta , ) Now let them see how whet w as ca ll e d t h e travel ling agent woiked. They had been told that the government bad been nibbling at a certain picture since 1853. It seemed ' very clear from the negotiations carried on in respect of that picture that the country had not derived much ad- ' vantage from this travelling agent on that ground, n e . less the advance of price which was the necessary con sequence of that nibbling process could be called an advantage. (Laughter.) They were informed that the picture in question had more than a European—that it ha d a wined- wide reputation; that everybody who hail been anywhere bad seen it. If so, it could scarcely triavciing expenses, "nibbling ' at it fur have been nece:4,ary to have a travelling agent , at 6001. a year, wits four years. (Hear.) It appeared that sv far bask as Mr. INGRAIVI thought that before they talked of opening the British Museum on Sunday they should en deavour to secure the opening of some portion of it every day in the week. Mr. JOHN LOCKE said the hen. member opposite (Mr. Steuart) had talked about a working man's half holiday. Until he could show that the thnployers of the metropolis were prepared to pay a full day's wages for half a day's work the less he said about the matter the better. Another hon. member (Sir H. Verney) had talked about the desecration of the Sabbath. There were two opinions as to what constituted a desecration of the Sabbath. He himself considered that it was no dese cration for a working man to walk into a place hke the British Museum and leek at the works of art which it contained. The Ninevite remains constituted a better commentary on the Bible than many of the commenta. ries in writing, and great benefit was derivable from the study of the works of art generally, and from the natural productions which were to be seen in the Museum. Sir H. VERNEY thought there could be no question that if there were no Sunday at all the working claeses would not get one farthing more for their labour than they do at present. An How. MEMBER recommended that the British Mu seum should be opened in the evenings during the week. Mr. STEUART said, in reply to the challenge of the hon. member opposite (Mr. Locke), he would observe that the grants for general education, and for education in the fine arts, which had been increasing from year to year, were based on the principle that skilled labour was more valuable than unskilled ; and, believing that 65 hours of the former a re a t l eas t equa l t o 60 hours of the latter, he thought that if a Saturday half holday should hereafter become general, wages would not be lowered in consequence. Lord J. RUSSELL said that the whole question of throwing open the Museum, as far as practicable, had occupied the attention of the trustees since the discus sion of the question last year in this hoes. Oa that oc casion he stated what were the days on which the Museum was open, namely on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, and on Tuesdays and Fridays to those who wished cot to view, but to study works of art or to make:copies of them. After the discussion which took place last year, he, being one of the trustees, placed be fore the committee a proposal with regard to those days on which the trustees might, of their own authority, throw open the Museum, and they were quite unani mous that if the Museum was thrown open to the general public on Tuesdays and Thursdays it would be extremely useful for those who attended the Museum for the purpose of study. That was the opinion of the trustees ; and not satisfied with that, it was decided that the opinioo of the officers of the Museum should be obtained. That was done, and it was in accordance with that of the trustees. Upon the question of open ing the Museum in the evening with regard to which the hon. member for Sheffield made a suggestion last year, the trustees were of opinion that there was so much danger from fire, that, considering the valuable contents of the building they were not justified in introducing gas or any other light into it. With respect to the number of days, be expressed great doubts whether, even if it were open every day in the week, those persons who could not find time to visit it on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, would be able to do so on the ether three days of the week. The trustees did not consider the question of opening the Museum on Sunday was one for their consideration, but for that of Parliament, and of course it was competent for any hon. gentleman to bring forward a motion upon the subject, but the co-n -mittee must be aware a discussion could not be attended with any result taken on this vote ; it niu-t be by a substantive resolution. For himself, he was entirely satisfied with the reasons which the noble lord at the head of the Government gave last year against the Open ing of the buildings on Sundays, and therefore it was not necessary that he should go into the question now. Tne hon. member for Pontefract had said that it was very hard that persons eminent in literature, who wished to study in privacy, should be obliged to go into a room in which, perhaps, 250 persons were reading, a n d h e ex pressed an opinion that there ought to be a separate room. He confe sse d h e th ought, with the trustees that there would be a difficulty in dr aw i ng the line' (Laughter.) After re f err i ng t o t h e gilded dome, about . which a question had been asked, and which he observed was considered a great improvement, he concluded by saying that it was the wish of the trustees to make the building as accessible as possible to the working classes, and nothing could give them greater satisfaction thin to see it well frequented by them. Colonel SYKES entirely concurred that the build ing should be as accersible as possible to the masses, and referring to the Louvre, expressed an opioion that per sons who went to the Museum to study for the advance ment of their own interests, ought to do so while the public were admitted. At all events, if days were to be set apart for them, there ought to be some system established whereby foreigners visiting England, or per sons from the country visiting Loudon for a day or two ; shr . ) ... tild be admitted on application. Ytte wan then a, f , reed to. On the rote of 2 3,0001. for the Nrtt ai Galery Lord-I:UR° drew items for secretary a e n w l the attention of the house to the (edturavelling agent, Last year a motion was made to r ling agent, but unsuccessicuellhe expenses of the travel ling committee who sat upon the subject in 1853 recommended of a director, and that he should receive the appointment salary; but not a word was said .eceive a handsome of a secretary, and yet a secretary aboutha: th e appointment with a salary of 7501, a-year, W hi ch he l'een appointed, cessive, seeing the very light duties he bad ex form ; and as for the travelling agent, he bad to per to see that office abolished altogether, for t t'hould in i6b i to an increased payment of pictures, but not " ' '''' actually pre. , The committee divided again, when there were— For the amendment. . ....... , 123 Again5t.................................. 161 Majority sooz. for the Geographical Society was agreed to. —TIi;.CHAIRMAN announced some other votes in a THE SUN, LONDON, 'FRIDAY EVENING, JULY 3 ~ 1857 tone of voice which was utterly inaudible in the gallery, as well as to many Members of the house, even in his immediate neighbourhood, as was apparent from the ob servation of Mr. WILLIAMS, who complained of being utterly unable to hear Mr. Fitzroy, from the manner in which he put the questions. The CHAIRMAN then endeavoured to improve his enunciation, but was a second time invited by the hon member for Lambeth to raise his voice. A vote of 3,5411. was voted to defray the charges of the Indian department of Canada The CHAIRMAN then reported progress. The Attorneys' and Solicitors' Colonial Courts Bill was read a second time. The Summary Proceedings before Justices of the Peace Bill was real a second time. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL for IRELAND an nounced that in committee he should move the bill be extended to Ireland. The Municipal Corporations Bill was read a second time. The Constabularly Forces (Ireland) Bill passed through committee ; as did also the Probates and Letters of Ad ministration (Stamps) Bill. The Enclosures Act Amendment Bill was read a third time and passed. THE WAREHAM ELECTION PETITION. Mr. GASKELL announced, as the decision of the select committee, that John Hales Calcraft, Esq., was duly elected to sit in Parliament for this borough. NEW ZEALAND. *Qn the motion of Mr. LABOUCEIERE, a select com mittee was ordered to be appointed to inquire into the expediency of guaranteeing by Act of Parliament the liquidation of a loan to be contracted in pursuance of an act passed by the legislature of New Zealand, for de fraying the debt of the colony to the New Zealand Com pany, toward extinguishing the native title to lands in certain portions of the colony, and for other purposes. CALEDONIAN AND CRINAN CANALS. Mr. WILSON obtained leave to bring in a bill to amend the acts relating to the Caledonian and Crinan Canals, and to make further provision for the accommo dation of the traffic thereon, The house adjourned at five minutes to 1 o'clock. 1111 OYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE. Lessee, Mr. Alfred Wigan. I.IIJ THIS EVENING, will be revived Murphy's comedy of ALL IN THE WRONG. Mr. Robson. To conclude with (2d time) an o iginal Extravaganza, by R. B. Brougb, Esq., called MASANIELLO. Messrs. Rob son, Cooke, Danvers, dm. ; Misses Swanborough, Thirlwall, Hughes, Bromley, and Mrs. Melfont. Commence at half-past Seven. ALSTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. W. Cooke. Under the patronage of Her Majesty and His Royal Highness Prince Albert. Recommencement of the Dramatic Season. Mr. William Cooke begs to announce the Revival, f - r the Midsummer Scholastic Vacation, MAZEPPA and RICHARD 111. on alternate nights. Engagement of - Madlle. Mililos, the celebrated Parisian Equestrienne. THIS EVENING (Friday), Lord Byron's MAZEPPA AND THE WILD HORSE. . TO-MORROW (Saturday, July 4), RICHARD 111., with Equestrian Illustrations, introducing Mr. W. Cooke's stud of highly trained Horses. Mazeppa and Richard HI., Mr. James Holloway. The entertainments terminating with a brilliant and match less display of incomparable SCENES in the ARENA, intro ducing the wondrous performance of the Brothers Francisco on La Perche, and Madlie. Mililos ; with a variety of other novelties. H ER- MAJESTY'S THEA.TRE, I PURITANI. Ortolani, Giuglini, Beneventano, Belletti. TO-MORROW EVENING, SATURDAY, JULY 3, I PURITANL Elvira, Madlle. Ortolani ; Ricardo, Signor Beneventano ; Giorgio, Sig. Belletti ; Arturo, Sig. Giuglini. Aftev which, will be produced the entirely New Ballet Divertissement, by M. Massot, entitled LES ROSES. Principal dancers—Madlle. Boschetti, Mesdlles. Salvioni, Morlacchi, Karliski, Pasquali, and Signor Boretti. For particulars, see bills. A limited number of Boxes in the Half-circle Tier have been specially reserved for the public, and may be had on appliel tion at the Box-office, at the Theatre Colonnade, Haymarket. Price One Guinea and One Guinea and a Half each. On Tuesday will be produced a new Ballet, in which Mdle. Rosati will make her first appearance this season. Commence at seven o'clock. Dress Boxes, 4s. ; Upper Boxes, 35.; Private Boxes, from 21s. no charge for booking; Pit, s. ; Gallery, is. ; Upper Gallery, 6d. H tlf-price at half-past Eight. Box-office open from Eleven till Four. Stage Manager, Ur. W. West. Equestrian Director, Mr. W. Cooke, jun. During the Midsummer Holidays there will be Three Grand Morning Performances, viz., Saturday, July 11, 18, and 25, at Two o'clock each day. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. BENEDICT'S LAST GRAND MORNING CONCERT, at her Majesty's Theatre, on WEDNESDAY, July B.—Rossini's STABAT MATER, by Madlles. Piccolomini. Spezia, Ortolani, and Madame Alboni ; Sigs. Giuglini, Berralt, Beichardt, Charles Braham, Beneven tano, Corsi, Vialetti, and Belletti. The " Brousil Family" will perform " Vienxteraps Fantasie Caprice." A Solo, by Madlle. Eloise A MISCELLANEOUS CONCERT, in which Madlle. Piccolomini will sing Benedict's English Ballet, "I am thine, only thine." To conclude with the Lesson Scene of " Il Barbiere di Seviglia." Rosina Rode's Variations, "Il d o l ce canto M m e. Alboni, who will sing .nto ;" Bartolo, Sig. Rossi ; II Conte d'Alma, viva, Sig, Bottardi; Basilio, Sig. Vialetti ; and Figaro, Sig. Belletti. Boxes, 2,3, and 4 guineas ; pit stalls, 11. Is. ; pit, 7s. ; gallery stalls, ss. ; can be obtained at Mr. Benedict's, 2, Manchester-square ;or at the Box-office at the Theatre, The Programme will be published this day. HER ➢MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Madlle, PICCOLOMINI Has the honour to inform the Nobility, Subscribers, and the Public that her BENEFIT will take place on MONDAY EVENING, JULY 6th. The Entertainments will comprise the Second Act of LA FIGLIA DEL REGGIMENTO. Maria Mdlle. Piccolomini. La Marchesa Mdlle. Poma. Tonio Signor Belart. Sergeute Sulpizio Signor Belletti. The Last Act of II TROVATORE. Leonora Azucena Madame Alboni. II Conte di Lunc Signor Beneventanto. Ferrando Signor Vialetti. Manrico Signor Giuglini. The Last Act of Verdi's Opera, LA. TRAVIATA. Violetta Mdlle. Piccolomini. Germont Georgic Signor Beneventanto. Alfredo Signor Giuglini. For the First Time, the Last Act of Donizetti's Opera, I MARTIRI, - • Including the grand dLo, "II suon dell' Arpe Angelicke.." Pauline Mdlle. Piccolomini. Po:into With various entertainments in the BALLET DEPARTMENT, embracing the talents of MADAME ROSATI, MDLLE. BOSCHErri, MDLLE KATRINE, MESDLLES. PASQUALE, MORLACOHI, AND MADAME PEREA NENA. Applications for Boxes, Stalls, and Tickets, to be made al the Box-office of the Theatre. lir ES BOUFFES PARISIENS—St. JAMES'S LA THEATRE. Triumphant Success of the FRENCH PLAYS. THIS DAY—Morn. 56 min. aft. 10 —Even. 27 rain. aft. 11 To NioNnow—Morn. 0 min. aft. o—Even., 58 min aft. 11 THIS EVENING, FRIDAY, July 3, the entertain ments will commence, at half-past eight precisely, by the performance of Opera-Comique, en un acte, L'OPERA AUX FENETRES. M. Leonce, M. Tayau, M. Charles Petit, and Mdlle. Dalraont. After which (3d time) Opera-Bouffe, moyen age, en un acte, CR X2UEFER ; ou, Le Derider des Paladins. To conclude with Operette-Bouffe, en un acte, LES PANTINS DE VIOLETTE. The Orchestra of the Theatre des Bouffes will accom pany these Represe ntations, under the dir ection of the composer, M. Offenbach. Boxes, stalls, a nd tickets may be engaged at Mr. Mit c h e ll' s Royal Library, 33, Old Bond-street. THE A TR E-R O YA. G, DRURY-LANE Lessee, Mr. E. T. Smith. OPEN EVERY EVENING. GREAT EQUESTRIAN AMERICAN and CONTINENTAL COMPANY, under the direction of Miss Ella. Prices—Pit and Promenade, Is; Boxes, 2s. 6d,, 25., and ls. 6d. ; Galleries, 6d. Doors open at half-past 7. Commence at 8. First Equestrian Artistes in the World : —Madame Schap lain, M a dame Newsome, La Petite Wells, Signora Delavanti, and Miss Ella ; Miss E. J.Wells, Mdlles. Flora, Fabia, ann and Marie, Misses Newsome, Moffatt, Delavanti, Potter, Jen nings ; the Manchester Boy, Masters J. Wells, A Wells, E. Moffatt, lienrico and Carlo Delavanti, Sig. Felix Delavanti, Mons. Becq, Mons. Ferdinand, Mons. Eugene, Mr. Tom Swann, Mr. B. Faller, Mr. W. Fuller, and the great Shaks -1,-="ian Clown, Wallett, will appear each evening in a scries of P er f ormances, o riginal and unapproachab l e. Director—Mr. Stokes, Acting Manager—Mr. E. Stirling. 1.) OY AL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, It THIS EVENING will be performed Shakespere's Play of THE TEMPEST. Preceded by A GAME OF ROMPS. THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET Lessee—Mr. J. B. Buckstone. THIS EVENING, to commence at Seven o'clock, with the new drama, in two periods, entitled THE HUSBAND OF AN HOUR. Mr. Buckstone, Miss Reynolds, &c. Followed by THE FIRST AND SECOND FLOOR. After which, t h e s uccessful Classical Love Story, un der the Apple-l'ation of A CAL ANTA ; or, The Three Golden Apples: in which Miss M. Oliver will appear; also Miss M. Wilton, and Miss Ellen Ternan. In future the prices will be : Orchestra Stalls (which may be retained the whole of the evening), 6s. each. (go charge for booking.) First Price. s. d. Second price. s. d. ....... Dress 80xe5.,,,,,, 5 0 Dress Boxes 3 0 Upper Boxes ........ . 3 0 Upper Boxes 2 0 Pit ............... 2 0 Pit . 1 0 Lower Gallery... Upper Gallery ................ 0 6No half - price to Upper Gallery. 1 0 Lower Gallery 0 6 T HEATRE ROYAL, ADELPHI. Lessee—Mr. Ben. Webster. THIS EVENING, w ill b e performed IRELAND AS IT WAS ; or, The Middleman. Mr, and Mrs. Barney Williams. Followed by Mr. and Mrs. B arney Williams. a new farce, LA TEST FROM NEW YORK. To conclude w ith IRIS ASSURANCE AND YANKEE MODESTY. STRAND THEATRE.—L essee, Mr. T. Payne. —THIS EVENING will be performed Douglas Jerrold's drama of THE RENT DAY. Messrs. Stuart, Kinloch, 4.ic. Miss Craven a nd Mrs. Weston. After which, THE ' CO4 ET will appear. To conclude with TWO HEADS BETTER THAN ONE. Commence at half-past Seven. Stalls, 35.; Boxes, 2s. ; Pit, ls. ; 6d. GREAT NATIONAL STANDARD Proprietor, Mr THEATRE. . Joh n Douglas.—lmmense Success. THIS EVENING , Professor ANDERSON, the Great Wizard of th e North, in his entirely Ne w Ma g ical Drama, A NIGHT IN WONDER WORLD ; or, Magic, Mirth, and Mystery, Th e Witch's C o ff ee -pot. A cup of coffee for everybody, made by m ag i c and by invisible fingers. The Superhuman Boy, WllO has the strength o f a thousand men, is the most as t onishing phenomenon ever presen t e d on th e stage. Pres en t s for everybody. CANTERBIJ RY HALL, Westmi nst er-road.— OPEN EVERY EVENING.—The follow ng company of V ocalists are engaged f or th e per f ormance o f elections from a ll t h e popular Operas, )liss Brunel% Miss Summers , and Madame Marietta; Mr. J. Madrigals, Choruses, Glees, Duets, di e . , viz, • Miss E. Pearce, Mrs. J. Caulfield, 'autfield, Herr F , Jonghmans, H. Grover, T. Farrant, S. i Tonec, J. B ar k er, W. Melling, P. Corti, Senor Antonio M. .le Solla, and E. L. Him° ; Masters Bennett and Corri ; Messrs. Sam Collins, and E. Mackncy. Pianoforte, Mr. Cecil Hicks harmonium J . :Caulfield, jun.; limier, Mr. J. Caulfi e ld. Commence, al Seven t o'clock :-precitiely. 6u2pero, 4c., until twelve o'clock THE WEATHER—SUN OrnoN, JULY 3. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 65 —highest singe noon yesterday. 58 —lowest this morning and during the night. 66 —this day at noon. BAROMETER, 30.07. WIND, S.W. ; light, with dull cloudy weather, inclin ing to rain. r lee Academy President. " Amiable ! " We are getting absolutely to be quite sick of the word— it is dragged in so incessantly and incongruously in the way of deprecation. " Amiable !" A the sepoy force is in a normal state of disaffection, and cannot be relied upon ; 211 y, that a favourable opportunity has arisen by means of the recent meeting, for eliminating from the Indian Army the dangerous elements which cannot safely be retained. The simple fact that the ringleaders are mainly Mahommedans, who cannot possibly be influenced by these affected scruples, proves beyond the possibility of doubt that the disease is mere deeply seated than may be supposed, on a mere superficial tx imination. There is wide spread discontent, and we plats arms in the hands of men, who may, on an emergency, turn them against ourselves. We organise and discipline those who may prove our most virulent opponents. Surely the Anglo- Indian Government should not rest tranquilly on the edge of the volcano that may burst forth into activity at any moment, and in its eruption sweep away all the established landmarks. There ought unquestionably to be an infusion of new blood. A large proportion of European soldiers should be mingled with the old regiments. With proper encouragement there would be no difficulty in obtaining suitable recruits for the Indian army from the United Kingdom. There might be a little additional expense in the first instance, but if we desire permanently to retain our Eastern empire that expense should be set at nought, and everything disregarded but the means by which we may increase the stability of the Government of India. We have rendered ourselves indepen dent of foreign aggression. We should now di rect attention to the measures necessary to guard against domestic disturbance should obtain guards who do not themselves require vigilant watching ! General wastes a campaign, ruins an army, causes it to be decimated frightfully by cold, and disease, and famine—and then we are told to hold our tongues, because, forsooth ! he is so very " Ami able !" A Fiue-Arts Director squanders the pub lic money upon a parcel of daubs, and we are bid not to complain by one syllable —for precisely the irrelevant reason--be cause, forsooth, be is so very " Amiable !" It was so with Lord RAGLAN. It is so with Sir I CHARLES EASTLAKE. When are we to have an end of these " Amiable" Bunglers ? Amiable, quotha, ! We actually begin to long at last for a perfectly new race of Clever Curmudgeons ! Last week the Times hoped that the Bank Charter Committee " would not break up until they bad given ample latitude to every gentleman anxious to unfold any idea on the subject !" We cordially concur in the desire. Many intelligent and clear headed men, whose views were at least entitled to respectful consideration, were abso lutely refused a hearing by the Select Committee of the Commons of 1848. Seventeen witnesses only were examined, and of these, no less than thirteen were opposed to the Act of 1844. Among the number was the late SAMUEL GURNEY, whose great experience and sound practical com mon sense entitled any opinion of his to the utmost weight, and with him were Mr. GEORGE CARR GLYNN, and many others of the most eminent merchants and bankers, including Mr. BIRKBECK, of the Craven Bank, Yorkshire, who appeared as the delegate and representative of a large number of Provincial bankers ! Against their powerful testimony there were only four persons—three directors of the Bank of England, who were directly interested in maintaining the existing monopoly—and Mr. SAMUEL JONES LOYD, now Lord OVERSTONE, the putative parent of that most unjust and impolitic measure. It could not for a moment be doubted as to the pre ponderance of the evidence. But, not withstand ing the convincing testimony advanced, the Com mittee decided by a very numerous majority that "it was not expedient to make any alteration in the provisions of the Act." In fact, it signified little what facts and arguments might have been ad duced, when the report was " a foregone conclu sion," the nature of which might have been pre dicted the day the committee was appointed. Even Sir CHARLES WOOD himself made an unfor tunate admission for his party, which clearly developed the nature of the "dodge" resorted to, declaring that the Government would be culpable in appointing any committee unless they were previously certain as to the nature of their re port. On the other hand, the Lords' committee unequivocally condemned the act, stating " that the recent panic was materially aggravated by the operation of that statute, and by the proceedings of the Bank itself adding, "This effect may be traced directly to the Act of 1844, in the legislative restrictions imposed on the means of accommodation, whilst a large amount of bullion was held in the coffers of the bank, and during the time of favourable ex- changes, and it may be traced to the same cause, indirectly, as a consequence of great fluctuations in the rate of discount, and of capital previously advanced at an unusually low rate of discount 1" The Act, too, has been virtually condemned, from the mere fact of its suspension—au imperative necessity—for as the Committee declared, " Un less a step involving such extraordinary responsi ' bility, and so undisguised a departure from the law were indispensable, it could not be justified. Its absolute necessity was its sole justification !" In support of that opinion Mr. G. C. GLYN declared that " the letter of the Government stopped the crisis, and abrogated the act," while Mr. BROWNE, the distinguished representative of South Lan cashire, considera that the letter " virtually con demned, and annulled the law of 1844." But still the well selected Committee of the Commons, " after a cateful review of all the evidence," thought it not expedient to make any alteration in the provisions of the Bill ! Under such circumstances there was, at all events, a substantial question at issue. The de lusion in which the Lords Committee, ten out of twenty-two of the Commons Committee, and 17 out of 21 of " the greatest adepts " that could be produced as witnesses, participated, must have at. at least some better foundation than " the belief in witchcraft," to which the bullionist organ is this day pleased to assimilate it. The " sneer," is however a favourite practice of the Times, usually adopted as a dernier ressort. Never did it so perseveringly strive to ridicule the professors of any creed, as the opponents of the war 9d., on the eve of the last session, and its present spasmodic effort, to laugh, or rather to cough, down, the opponents of the Bank Charter Act—" whose name is Legion"—is of a similar character, and may possibly meet with a similar fate—when, doubtless, the Times, as is its wont, will " con gratulate itself and the community on the auspi cious results produced by its labours" ! ! ! It has, however, made another awkward ad mission ! It states that " a correspondent evidently a man of education, and probably a sound and intelligent man, in other respects-- writes to protest against his exclusion," or in other words, against the refusal of a hearing by the committee, and that, although his opinions were put forward through one of their number. LWUSIC-HALL, STORE-STREET, BEDFORD- It is, therefore, manifest that the blue book will not contain " the whole arguments of the vari- ous schools ; " but that, according to custom, only those will be examined, whose views have already been ascertained. We may th en an ticipate numerous " breaches of p r i v il ege, " ready the publication of evidence that ought to have been received, but was rejected, and which will be brought before the public in some form or another t We cannot conclude without noticing the fact that there has been no reduction in the minimum rate of discount, although, as the Times admits, " the stock of bullion and the reserve of notes are very much beyond the amounts at which they stood in 1856, when the rate was 5 per cent. " It is clear that " the old Lady" is striving to make the utmost of her opportunities. She sees that they will not continue long, and must there fore turn them to the best account during the brief harvest-time that still remains at her disposal. SQUARE. We earnestly invite attention to a very able letter, signed " M.P.," which will be found in another part of this day's impression. We fully concur in the views and opinions so clearly put forward by the talented writer, and have already so recently commented on the existing state of affairs that it is not necessary to repeat our argu ments at any length. The salient points are, Ist, that from various causes, partly the results of religious views, but still more from specious pretexts founded on these views, a considerable portion of Mr. Ellis Roberts gave his annual concert at this ball last night. Mr. Roberts is well known as an accomplished harpist, and be displayed his powers to unusual a ivantage on this occasion. His first performance was a harp solo on two Welsh airs, and, he also played the graceful accompaniment to Stephen Glover's favourite cavativa—" The Blind Girl to her Harp." In the second part he played his own arrangement of " The Rising of the Lark" and "Llyon Owen," and on being encored he substituted a pi ece represen ti ng.a m il itary band going round a hill. This very clever piece, which Mr. Roberts played with skill and taste, was loudly applauded. The manner in which the distant music, now swelling, now sinking, was imitated on the harp was admirable. Miss Messent, Miss Lascelles, Miss Heywood, and Miss Hughes were the lady vocalists, and acquitted themselves with credit. Mr. Frank Bodda greatly amused the audience in several comic songs. One of Samuel Lover's was especially successful. Mr. Roberts bad also the advantage of being assisted by Mr. Brinley Richards on the pianoforte. He played some of his own arrangements of popular airs with taste and execu tion. The hall was crowded, and the audience seemed highly gratified with their evening's enter tainment. LONDON, FRIDAY, JULY 3, 1857. Yesterday, in the House of Commons, the National Gallery Question was duly ventilated ! Not, observe, the Old question as to the New site of it ! for that problem has already been solved, and solved, we rejoiced to think, most satisfactorily. But the still Older question as to the mismanagement of the National Gallery. And that, unfortunately, has decidedly not been settled yet 1 In fact, it was not even prospectively in terfered with, much less immediately mitigated in the smallest particular last evening. But at any rate it was—in Parliamentary slang—ven tilated I And that, though very little, is at least —something 1 If it does nothing better it, at least serves to keep the public mind alert as to the otherwise snug and secret peccadilloes of an exceed ingly Close Corporation. It lets a ray of light into the darkness, from time to time, • most opportunely. It gives us a glimpse or two of the mysterious doings behind the scenes of the dramatis personce in that grand, interminable, tedious, tantalizing Fine Arts Masque of " The National Gallery." The Travelling Agent—by Herr OTTO MIINDLER. [Or, as the Hon. Gentle man the Member for Finsbury called him last night—cribbing a very old joke of our own in saying it—Herr MUDDLER 0 The Secretary—by Mr. RALPH WORNIIM. The Director-General, or, "Lord of Misrule"—by Sir CHARLES EASTLAKE. The whole—as the Play-bills have it—By PARTI 017LAR DESIRE. That one inconsiderable star first mentioned (Herr MIINDLER, or " MUDDLER" to wit) being secured at an annual stipend of 750/. and a Commission ! Really and truly the thing has long been getting far advanced indeed beyond a joke. More especially when we have witnessed the jobbery going on behind those ricketty scenes, behind those inefficient screens in the "darkness visible" of that same unfortunate National Gallery. People have turned restive at last—and no wonder—when they have observed thousands upon thousands of the public money thrown away in the purchase of pieces of tawdry rubbish called Great Pictures! Reputed Originals, that have no sooner been bought than they have proved on examination to be no originals at all— but, in lieu of that, merely vamped-up copies by unknown and ungifted hands, spurious works and such like trumpery ! Now, these things we main tain have long been notorious. They have not only been notorious, but—worse than that—they have been reiterated I Nevertheless, while the " facts" of the case have long been thus, and, for that matter, are still thus undeniably—nobody is to presume to raise a whisper against their conti nuance ! Sir CHARLES EASTLAKE is still to be allowed an almost irresponsible authority in a matter in which, notwithstanding all his un doubted ability, he has proved himself again and again to be wholly incompetent ! Herr MIINDLER and MR. WORNUM are still to be highly remune rated, each in his respective capacity—for what ? For assisting in squandering the public money in the purchase of daubs, some of them even worse than worthless—daubs that are monuments of our want of taste, and attestations of our lack of dis cernment ! Noy, if my Lord ELcso, for example, presumes to raise his voice against these follies, i n the most good-humoured way in the world, in expostulation—the Prime Minister (vide his speech last evening) "listens to the levities of his noble friend " with astonishment The Prime Minister even will not tolerate the motion of that same "noble friend," the member for Had dingtonshire venturing upon the temerity of denying the first rank in art to an eminent Painter, but certainly not one of the most emi nent of Painters—PAULO VERONES2 I Ne-Lthe fact being that a very dubious specimen by that i master had been snapped up by us for close upon 2,0001. (viz. just 1,977/.) although it had been valued at something under 4001. (viz. at 370/.), by its proprietors—PAUL VERONESE must needs be vaunted to the skies by our indignant Prime ' Minister as apparently quite upon a par with MICHAEL ANGELO, and DA VINCI, and TITIAN, and RAFFA.ELLE l " His pictures," exclaims Lord PALMERSTON, " are master-pieces of composition, as well as excellent examples of colouring." Good—but that patched, and botched, and cob bled daub of his in the National Gallery is certainly at the same time not worth close upon two thousand guineas ! Lord &ono may surely be permitted to express that as his opinion with out necessarily implying thereby that he gainsays the glory of the great Venetian artist, whether in regard to colour, or in regard to composition. Again—when the Noble Lord the Prime Minister forgets himself so far as to talk (as ho did talk last evening) of " the long stored-up spleen of the hon. Member for Brighton against that amiable at.d dis tiriguished man Sir C. EASTLAKE"—We don't w onder in the least that the remark was greeted in the House of Commons with "loud laughter." Of course —it was greeted with loud laughter. The notion is altogether preposterous —the notion of this "long stored-up spleen" of Mr. CONINGHAM. We repudiate the faintest idea of having the slightest particle of " spleen" against Sir CHARLES EASTLAKE -- the notion of our It ►ving this " spleen" would be simply ridiculous ! Yet we are to the full as indignant as either Mr. CONNINGHAM or Lord ELCHO can be with the bungles and blunders of " that amiable and distinguished man," the Royal FIFTY MARRIAGEABLE PRINCESSES. The Siecle publishes *the following article, which it heads "Fifty Marriageable Princesses :" " A. German newspaper, the Brunswick Gazette, states in a late number that thereexists at the present moment —not in the whole world, not even in Europe, but in Germany alone—fifty princesses of an age to marry. The above journal does not say whether there are an equal number of marriageable princes, and our know ledge of reigning families is too limited to enlighten us on this point ; but a person who is well up in his ' Al manac de Gotha' assures us that the number of princes is far inferior to that of princesses, and that not more than 20 princes of Europe have attained or surpassed their 18th year. We thus behold some 30 young, and doubt less beautiful, princesses, with more or less Royal blood flowing in their veins, placed in the cruel alternative of remaining old maids or of marrying plain no bl es o r country squires. For some time past we have remarked that the daughters of nobles and country squires do not fear committing a misalliance by marrying enriched parvenues ; and we inquire with horror if the princely and aristocratic races aro thus to lose themselves, and become confounded i n th e great democratic whirlwind whichinvades moder n soc i ety like a spring tide. We detect in the fact of 50 marriageable princesses existing , alone in Germany a symptom of decline which we burn' bly submit to the attention of persons who dream of re organising society on its ancient basis, and who wish to re-establish the right of primogeniture, &c. If out of 50 princesses there are 30 who run the risk of marrying simple mortals, what becomes of the good old priocr plea? Are the privileges of birth about to disappear ! May the Heavens preserve Germany from so profound an evil ! In order, therefore, to conjure the latter, we beg to acquaint all the princes of the universe that 5 0 German princesses are of an age to marry." COURT CIRCULAR. The Queen and the Prince Consort returned to Buck• ingham Palace, from Wonky Hall, near Manchester, at 20 minutes before three o'clock yesterday afternoon• Her Majesty and his royal highness were accompanied by the Prince of Wales; the Princess Royal, Prince Alfred, the Princess Alice, and Prince Frederick Wil' Liam of Prussia. In attendance were Lady Churchill, the Hon. Eleanor Stanley, the Lord Chamberlain, Colonel the Hon. C. Phipps, Major-General the Hon. C. Grey, Colonel F. H. Seymour, Baron de Moltke, Mr. Gibbs, and Lieu. tenant Cowell. The royal party proceeded from the Euston-squaro Terminus of the London and North Western Railway in several of the Queen's carriages, and escorted by detachment of Light Dragoons, to Buckingham Palace, where the Queen and the Prince Consort were received by the Lord Steward, the Master of the Horse, tho Vice-Chamberlain, Sir F. Stovin, and Colonel F. Sey mour, C.B. Viscountess Jocelyn has succeeded Lady Churchill as Lady in Waiting to her Majesty. Lord Byron, Lord in Waiting to the Queen, and Car tain the Hon. Dudley de Roe, Equerry to the Prince, have London left for Dover, to receive the King of the Belgians o❑ his arrival from the continent. THE ART TREASURES EXHIBITION. VISIT OF THE EMPEROR AND EMPRESS OF THE FRENCH. - We believe we are justified in making the announce' meat that it is the intention of the Emperor and Ear press of the French to visit the Art, Treasures Exhibi' tion in the course of the next six weeks. The Count De Nieuerkerke, having received the instructions of the Emperor to attend the Exhibition and report upon its contents, was specially admitted on Wednesday, during the visit of her Majesty and the Royal family. and eS' pressed himself extremely satisfied with the result. The Emperor and Empress will probably sojourn in Man chester two days. The Rev. Dr. Booth, F.R.S., has been elected chair man of the Council of the Society of Arts for the ensuing year. The Earl and Countess of Fingall have left Edwards' Hotel, George•street, for Harrogate. Viscount Palmerston returned to London, yesterday, from Manchester. Lord and Lady Da Lisle and Dudley have left the St. George'sheßaroness a H ro o n t e el ss fo x r i r co e i n a s y hu h r a s s t, Kent.left T to vn for the conti nent. The Hon Mrs. B3sville has arrived at the St. George's Hotel. DEATH OF THE EARL OF MORNINGTON.—Another peer has passed from the scene on which he was a buil actor some years since. Lord Mornington died yester day, after a brief illness, at his residence in London. Se was the son of the third earl, and was born in 1788. INTENDED MARRIAGE IN HIGH LIFE.—We under stand that Lord Ashley, M.P. for Hull, the eldest son of the Earl of Sh a f tes b ury, i s about to be mar ried to Lady Harriet Chichester, only child of the Marquis and Marchioness of Donegal. HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.—Her Royal Highness the Ductless of Cambridge and her Royal Highness the Princess Mary honoured the performances at her Majesty's Theatre with their presence yesterday (Thurs• day) evening. Their Royal Highnesses were attends(' by Maio- Home Purvey. The Marchioness of Win chester, Lady Geraldine So -,er-et, Mrs. Home Purvest the Marchioness of Winchester, and his Excellency the Count de Vitzthum d'Eckt-ta,dt (the Saxon Minister) had the honour of accompanying their Royal Highnesses. Amongst the noble and distinguished individuals also honoured her Majesty's Theatre with their presence Oa, this occasion we ohstived—hiq Gr ace the Duke °I Cleveland and Lady Augustus Paulett, the Earl of Lolls' dale, the Countess (Dowager) of Harrington, the Cone' Less o f mountcharles, the C ., untess Caroline Bellew, the hi V . : is Earl of Cardigan, the Earl of M ountc h ar l es , the count Curz , Lady Clementi na Villi ers, L a d y EliZe beth Gordon, Lady Blaney, Lord IL Seymour, &c. CO I edit i nun sees tha: intc arn by thei to ex al goix of 1 hay whi mai pen wou re-ei also arre Rep hag; med Ti land Sc Cagl ban( is, brow In le: of