The Express.
London, England, 1857-08-22 00:00:00

OPENING THE SOUTH KENSINGTON MUSEUM

ON Sr_VD.AYS.

DIPTTATION TO EARL 01

Yesterday afternoon a deputation from the
National Sunday League waited by appointment upon the
Right Hon. Earl Granville, at the Privy Council-office, for
the purpose of urging upon his lordebip the necessity for
opening the Sheepshanks Gallery and South Kensington
Museum on Sunday afternoons.
The deputation was introduced by Sir Joshua Walmaley,
Bart., and accompanied by Sir John Trelawny, Bart., M.P.
They consisted of Mr. J. Baxter Langley, Mr. Wm. Duthie,
Mr. R. M. Morrell, Mr. John Heap, Mr. Henry Hall, Mr.
Wm. Medland, Mr. Wm. Allan, Mr. John Kenny, Mr. John
Bainbridge, Mr. Wm. Turley, Mr. Alex. M•lutyre, and Mr.
W. 11. Cottle.

Sir JostivA Watwetur Yid he had the honour of intro-
ducing the deputation, who were chiefly working artisans,
who were exceedingly anxious that en opportunity should be
afforded the industrious chases of this metropolis of study-
ing the works of art presented to the public by Mr. Sheep-
shanks, and contained in the South Kensington Museum, on

the afternoons of the only day when their thus was unoc

Oak namely, Sundae. ilia; could bo no doubt of what

the with of the donor of thepieturea, as it was clearly en-
premed in the deed of sift, and he did hope that the govern-
ment would enable the induatrious dares to participate in
the advantages which that valuable collection aorded.
Mr. DUTIIIT, after expreming his conviction that it was
the duty of a govertment to do everything it could to
premoto the education and improve the taste of
the mow of the people, procetcled to show that
in consequence of the want of facilitim in this eolith y to
I stable the aril.= to study science and art they had to follow
lather than lead the ideas of foreign workmen. The South

Kensington Museum was a step in advance, but it did not
filial the purposes for which it was intended, as, although
opened three nights in the week, it was impossible for artisans
living in the east and other parts of London to visit it alter
their hour. of labour. Ho reminded the noble lord that there
were precedents for opening this museum, in the fact that
Hampton Court Palace. Kew Gardens and museum, and
Greenwich Hospital painted Hall were open on Sundays,
and referred to the fact that in Paris and A icons the schools
of art end design were open to apprentices on Sundays for
study, and as a proof that the cultivation of a taste for art
had n moral rather than immoral effect, be referred to the
fact that whilst the colfee-boures in Paris were the most ele-
gant buildings, and the wino shop the moet contemptible,
the reverse was the fact is London.
ME. MORRELL, Sa a goldsmith, bore out rho statement
that there was a want of originality of design in this country
amongst. workmen from their not having the opportunity of
studying works of art in this country ea they had on the
continent on a Sunday. He Mao impressed upon his lord-
ship the error which was fallen into in supposing the vast
main of the people were not fully alive to this subject because
they were not continually sending up deputations; the fact
was that they could not afford the time from their labours to
do so.

Mr. linar writ into tantiatica to show that there was an

increasing taste on the pert of the people for intellectual
recreation, aa shown by the fact that whit. in 11351. the
Pshibition yew, there were 327,990 tinders to the Kew-
garderut, List year the number inereeeed to 344,140, and the
excess of Sunday visitors during the year over all the week
dye was 42,172. The same remark applied to Hampton
Court and other places.
Mr. KtNNY, as it printer, explained the position of corn-
peritors, and showed the impernibility of their being able to
give their wives and families the advantages of these public
exhibitions without losing a day's work.
Sir Joun TRELAWNY raid he had cheerfully voted for
the grant of 2,0001. fur • National Portrait Uslkry ; and he
would have voted for ten times the amount if it would be
opened on a Sunday to the working three.
Mr. M xiit.te 0 sad Mr. Id'hirvnts having also addressed
the ?tibia lord, _ .

Mr. &ULTRA LANGLEY wild, ea an evidence that Om feel-
ing of the people was in favour of the opening of these places
of intellectual recreation on the Sunday, they were in pee-
PGINAOII of the valuable fact, which they could prove, namely,
that lost Sunday 2.SO.OOOFrISOUR, or one•sixth of the whole
population of the mein-twills, were preempt to hear the bends
in the Perks, Kensington-gardena, and other plane.
Earl ORANVILLX Allll.l he moat pay the deputation the
compliment to my that he could not conceive they required
the advantage of galleries of science sad art to aid them in
the extraordinary ability they had displayed in arguing this
question. The precedent of Kew-gardens end Hampton-
mart weehardly =slogans to the South Kensington Museum
which bore more affinity to the opening of the British Mu-
seum and the National Galleries on Sundays. The subject
woe a difficult one, and however dispoeed the government
might be to acquiesce in the view' of the deputation, it was
a questke how far they could consistently do it with the
strong expresidon of opinion which had been given by parlia-
ment on the =Meet. It should, however, have hie bso and
warm= eanaklaration.
The deputation then Man&