The Express.
London, England, 1846-12-26 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, SATURDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 26, 1846.

(Front hist night's (.arr'tr.)
FOREIGN-OFFICE, Dix. 22.—The Queen has ap-
proved of M. Matmel de Oliveira Santos as Consul at the
Cape of Good Hope for the Emperor of Brazil.

ADMIRALTY, Due. 18.
Marine•—Copt. and Brer.-Major T. Wearing to be lieut-eoi.,
sloe Hewes, 114, f First Lieut. P. Priest lobe apt.; net-. Lieut.
J. Manger to be fleet lieut.

SIR ROBERT PEEL'S NEW PORTRAIT
GALLERY AT DRAYTON MANOR.
The ma4nificent portrait gallery at Drayton Manor
is now entirely completed, and, perhaps, has nut its equal in
this country. Sir It. Peel had, prior to the building of this
new gallery, several of the best portrait. of Sir Thomas Law-
rence ; and, with the exception of the Roysl collection, the
right hon. baronet could boast of a larger number
than any other private individual. These works of
that distinguished painter, with perhaps, ten or a dozen
other original works by eminent artists, constituted the
nucleus of the matchless colleet'on of partraita of eminent
statesmen and men of celebrity in literature and the arta and
sciences, now brought together at Drayton Manor. There
are upwards of fifty portraits exhibited in the gallery, the
majority of which, particularly those only recently finished,
have never been seen beyond the private circle of the right
hon. baronet. Before we enter, however, on an enumera-
tion of the portraits, it will be necessary to supply a descrip-
tion of the gallery.
The new picture-galtery is attached to the south-east angle
of the mansion, and firms a wing a hundred feet long in
extension of the north front. Tho exterior is built of
Ashlaced stone, from Hollington. The style of architecture
is that which prev..iled during the latter part of Queen
Elizabeth', reign, and that of James I. An arcade extends
along all three sides, surmouated by au entablature with an
*Vic, upon which are small carved pinnacles, breaking
the outline of the building. The exterior is further
decorated by four statues, somewhat larger than life, the
two towards the south or garden-front being Ruben.
and Vandyke' and the two towards the north, Rey-
nolds and Lawrence. There are no windows, but
a glazed sash door at the south-western extremity,
which leads on to a new terrace, about 160 feet
long, and 19 feet wide, decorated with 11 stone bullevi-
trade, vase., pedestals, &e. This terrace joins on to other
terraces surrounding three sides of the mansion, embellished
with a profusion of marble and stone VW?, &c., which
harmonise well with the building. The new gallery
is entered from the south side of the entrance
corridor of the mansion, through an ante-room by
wide folding doors of carved oak. The north end
of the gallery is separated from the gallery itself by a
spacious arch, richly ornamented with carved oak pilastres,
archivolts, pendants, &c. Through that arch you pass into
the gallery, which is divided into three compartments, by
groups of sixteen marble columns and pilastres. The ceiling
is deeply carved and elaborately ornamented with the
trusses, frets, pendants, and pannelling which characterise
Elizabethan architecture. In the cove are thirty heraldic
lions, with shields, bearing the initial letters of the names of
Sir Robert Peel and his lady and of his children. The
walls are painted of a strong greenish neutral colour;
the skirtings are of wainscot. The floor is bordered with
an inlaid band, of a scroll pattern, consisting of oak,
walnut-tree, and ebony woods. The columns and pilasters
are of marble of the Roman Doric order, the favourite order
of the architects of the reign of Elizabeth. The capitals
and bases are of white veined Italian marble; the shafts are
each of a single block of Belgian maille, of variegated
colours, chiefly of reddish hues, intermixed with white.
The pedestals on which they stand are paunched and com-
posed of the same marbles. The gallery is wholly lighted
by horizontal sky-lights in the roof, so placed that every
part of each picture is advantageously seen from the proper
points of view ; the absence of any glare oflight from windows
level with the eye is very advantageous. This recent addition
to the mansion Wag erected from the designs and under the im-
mediate direction of Mr. Sydney Siturke, F.S.A., and was
finished at the close of last autumn. Those who have had the op-
portunity to inspect the collection, have been unanimous in
their admiration of the general elegance which pervades
the whole arrangement. The following is the order in which
the portraits are viewed, beginning by, turing, to the left-1.
" Viscount Hardinge," by Lucas. Phis admirable likeness
of the Governor-General of India was taken just before
that gallant nobleman proceeded to the seat of his governor-
ship. It is the best likeness of his lordship in existence.-
2. Sir David Wilkie : This half-length portrait of tbat ini-
mitable painter is by himself. The face was alone completed
when he was seized by the " ruthless hand of death "
in 1811. He is represented as in the robes of a
Doctor of Civil Law.-3. The Right Hon. W. E.
Gladstone, by Lucas, a I-length portrait: The likeness is
most striking. It was painted in the spring of last year for
Sir R. Peel.-4. The Right Hon. Henry Goulburo, by Pick-
ersgill : A splendid I-portrait of the late Chancellor of the
Exchequer, painted expressly for Sir R. Peel.-5. The Right
Hon. Sir J. Graham, Bart., by Lucas: This portrait wastaken
last summer, and corresponds in size with the other portraits
by the same artist in the collection.-(l The late Lord Abin-
ger, by Sir Martin A. Shee, P.R.A. : An excellent portrait,
taken shortly after his elevation to the judicial bench.-7.
Gibson (the sculptor), by Geddes.-8. Arthur Murphy (the
dramatist), by Sir Joshua Reynolds.-9. The late Earl Grey,
by Lonsdale. Full length portrait, recently purchased by
sir Robert Peel of the widow of the artist. The
earl is represented holding a roll of writings in his
hand, and was taken subsequent to his lordship be-
ing enrolled among the Knights of the illustrious
Order of the Garter. The likeness is much praised.-10.
The Earl of Aberdeen, by Sir Thomas Lawrence ' • size
length. It was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1830,
the year of Sir Thomas Lawrence's death.-11. The Right
Hon. Sir Robert Peel, Bart, by Sir Thomas Lawrence ; I
length ; taken twenty-one years ago. It has been re-
peatedly engraved. It was in the exhibition in 1826.-12.
Lady Peel, by Sir Thomas Lawrence : a companion to the
above, and in the Royal Academy exhibition in 1815.-13.
The late Sir Robert Peel, Bart., by Sir Thomas Lawrence
a faithful resemblance of the "founder of his family."-14.
Wycherley. This portrait of the celebrated dramatic
poet was taken when he was at the age of twenty-
eight years. It is considered the best portrait of
him extant. It has been engraved by Smith.-
15. Mr. Samuel Rogers (the poet), by Lucas. The likeners
is remarkably faithful-16. Mr. Wordsworth (the poet
laureate), by Pickersgill. Also much admired.-17. The
late Lord Byron. This portrait is a duplicate of the likeness
of the noble bard, in the possession of Lord Byron, and was
copied by Mr. T. Phillips, about three years back, fur Sir
Robert Pcel.-18. Cowley (the poet), by Sir Peter Lely.
This portrait was purchased for Sir Robert Peel, at the
Strawberry-hill sale, it having been many yean in the
Walpole family. This charming picture represents the poet
in the character of a shepherd, with pipe and crook. Zincke
made his famous copy in enamel from this prized original.-
19. Lord Lyndhurst, as Lord Chancellor, by Pickersgill.-
20. The late Sir W. Follett, by Say. At the death of Sir
William the portrait was in an unfinished state.-21. The
late Lord Erskine, by Sir:. Lawrence.-22. Lord Brougham.
An admirable likens, full length, and represents his lord-
ship seated in the library, with his legs crossed. -23. Sir
Fred. Pollock, by Say. The learned chief baron is here
length ; it was taken three years since for this gallery.-24.
B. West. A good likeness of the president of our Royal
Academy, who succeeded Sir Joshua Reynolds.-25. Otway
(the dramatist), painted by Mary Beale, a pupil of Sir Peter
Lely.-26. Finch, by Sir Thomas Lawrence.-27. John P.
Kemble, by Sir Thomas Lawrence. This painting, origi-
nally 15 feet high, has recently been reduced. It formerly
occupied a prominent place in the staircase of Sir It. Peel's
mansion in Whitehall-gardens. The great tragedian is re•
presented in the character of Rolla.-28. Shakspeare.-29.
The late Sir Francis Chantrey, by Jackson. A 3.qr. portrait,
painted a few years prior to his death.-30. Cuvier, by
Pickeragill. A beautiful portrait of the great French tutu-
ralist.-31. Professor Owen, by Pickengill, recently painted.
32. The late Sir Henry Raiford, Bart., by Sir Martin A.
Shee.-33. Vandyke ; a portrait of himself. It has no rival.
-34. Dr. Buckland, by T. Phillips, R.A.-35. The Right
Hon. George Canning. by Sir T. Lawrence. A full-length,
representing that statesman standing in the House of Com-
mons, in the act of addressing that assembly. Painted by
Sir Thomas in 1825, and exhibited in the following
year.-36. Lord Stowell, by Sir T. Lawrence. This
not quite full-length portrait was in the exhibition
in 1824, and was painted expressly for Sir Robert Peel.
37. Czar Peter. An original of that extraordinary potentate.
-38. The late Right Hon. Wm. Huskieson, by Sir Thomas
Lawrence, painted a few years before Mr. Huskisson'e death,
-39. The Duke of Welling:on, by Sir Thomas Lawrence. A
full length representing the noble and gallant duke stand-
ing on a raised pround,wearing a military cloak, and having
a telescope is his hand. This portrait was in the exhibition
of 1815.-40. The late Earl of Eldon, by Sir Thomas Law-
rence.-41. Edmund Burke, by Sir Joshua Reynolde.-
42. Judge Al
This portrait was purchased for Sir
Robert Peel, the year before last, atthe sale at Castle Priory.
43. The late Earl of Liverpool, by Sir Thomas Lawrence-
full length. It was exhibited in the Royal Academy in
1827. It was painted for Sir Robt. Peel.-44. Southey
(the poet), by Sir Thomas Lawrence : a faithful likeness.-
45. William Pitt, by Gainsborough.--46. Lord Stanley, by
Say: an excellent portrait,takenlast yet..-47. Gen. D umou-
ries :an original-48. Liebig. A fine 8 length portrait.-
49. His late R. 11. the Duke of York, by Sir Wm. Beeehey.-
50. The Right Hon. Admiral Sir George Cockburn, by
Lucas.-51. Camuccini, by Geddes. Thu portrait closes
the series. Sir Robert has portraits of Sir Robert Walpole,
by J. Vanderbank ; the celebrated Countess of Kildare, by
Sir Peter Lely; Sir George Beaumont, by Edward Owen:
William Dobson, the court painter to Charles 1., by himself
&c., in the old gallery as it may be termed.
The

PARISH OF ST. MARYLEBONE.—OPPOSITION TO
Ttle POOR LAW COMMISSIONRBB.—Yesterday, notwith-
standing it was Christmas-day, a St. meeting o
of f the Board
of Directors and Guardians of the poor Mary-
lehone, took place in the Board room of the Work-
house, New-road. Mr. Bird in the chair. Mr. Thorne, the
secretary to the board, stated that since the last meetiag had
been held, he had been compelled, by summons, to atttnd
before the Poovlaw Commissioners at Somerset House. In
pursuance amok summons, he had attended at Somerset
House on Wednesday, and underwent an examination, on
oath, before the commissioners and Mr. Hall, the assist .nt
commissioner for the Metropolitan district. such examination
lasting upwards of three hours. The tenour of the examina-
tion was principally as to the administration of relief to the
out-door poor, the general management of the poor, and the
relative positions of the vestry, and directors and guar-
dians, with regard to such management and adminis-
tration. The questions put to him appeared to be
with a view of ascertaining if there was any deficiency
in the present system to afford the commissioners au
opportunity of affecting its abolition, and introducing into
Marylebone their own system. Amongst other things the
commissioners called upon him (Mr. Thorne) to produce the
hoard the Finance Committee and other documents which
rethpoe rthad previously reinsid lie (Mr. Thorne) in-