The Sun.
London, England, 1864-06-25 00:00:00

CONVOCATION.

PIZUVATE BUSINESS.

The following billy were read a second time :—Metropoli-
tan and St. John'E-wood Railway—Shrewsbury and
Welchpool Railway—Belfast Improvement—Nantwich
arid Market Drayton Railway—Bristol Port and Channel
Docks—London and South Western Railway (North
Devon Extension,)
. _

The following bilk were read a third time and passed :
Suuningdale and Cambridge Town Railway, and Argyle-
Aire r. ofte.s.

SLAVE TRADE.

Lard BUOIMIIAM gave notice that on Tuesday he
would call attention and express his high approbation of
the course pursued by the Government of Brazil in totally
abolishing the slave trade.
THE ROYAL ACADEMY.
Earl STANHOPE called the attention of the house to
the present position of the Royal Academy, and asked what
further steps with respect to it were in contemplation by
the Government. He took the opportunity of referring at
length to the present state of the National Gallery and the
Royal Academy, the complaints- of aitists with re-
spect to the bad display ;of their works, and
various other subjects,allpf -which, he said, was occasioned
by the present inadequate apace of the existing building,
He regretted the decision the House of Commons had
arrived at the other evening, and hoped he should hear some
satisfactory explanation from the noble earl, the President
of the Council, as to the futureintentions of the Government.
Lord ST. LEONARDS concurred with the Royal Aca-
demicians in thinking that it was not desirable to introduce
a lay element into the academy. He did not think that it
would promote the harmonious action of the body. At
present they possessed the contflence of the public, and
they had deserved it. With regard to the propositions of
the commissioners in respect to the associates, he must say
that he thought they went too far, and that they would
have the effect of injuriously diminishing the power and
privileges of the academicians. He hoped that the Go-
vernment would consider well before they imposed upon the
Royal Academy any conditions which were unacceptable to
that body.
Lord TAUNTON said that the one great boon that the
Government could
,confer upon the Royal Academy, and
upon the art of the country, was to provide an adequate site
fur the exhiiiition et* the national pictures, and of those of
the Royal Academy. So long as that was done, he cared
little whether the Royal Academy was placed in possession
of the present building in Trafalgar-square, or,w, re left to
erect a new building for itself in the gardens of Burlington
House, although he confessed that he should prefer the
f rmer plan. He deprecated Government interference with
the constitution and administration of the Royal Academy,
and hoped that the adoption of any particular rules would
not be imposed upon that body as a condition of their re•
ceiving the grant of a site.

Lord HOUGHTON said it seemed strange that the
Royal Academy, which had done its duty loyally to the
country for nearly a hundred years, should be unpopular in
any assembly of Englishmen. It certainly seemed to him
that there never were censures more unfounded than those
which had been passed upon that body. In that house he
believed that they were unanimous in desiring that the
Academy should contiaae to exist, and to discharge the
functions which it had hitherto done. He did not think
that any conditions distasteful to them should be forced upon
them as a condition of their receiving a site for a build-
ing. At the same time, he confessed that he was sur-
prised at the opposition made by the academicians to the
reception of a lay element. From such an element the
Academy owed its rise ; and he believed that its presence
in the Academy would be very useful. He thought that the
academicians were quite right in oljecting to the associates
having votes. A substantial difference should be maintained
between the two ranks.

The Duke of RUTL AND desired to impress upon the
Government the necessity of taking immediate steps to pro-
vide adequate accommodation both for the National Gallery
and the Royal Academy. No time ought to be lost in meet-
ing this great public want.
Atter some observations from Lord II ARDINGE,
Lord OVERSTONE deprecated the Government or
Parliament meddling with the details of the Royal Academy.
He did not think that any good would arise from the intro-
duction of a lay element into that body. He trusted that
no time would be lost in providing proper accommodation
for the National Gallery. Ho regretted that the House of
Commons had rejected the plan for erecting a new National
Gallery on the gardens of Burlington House. If that had
been carried out we should have had galleries superior to
those possessed by any other country in Europa.
Earl GRANVILLE said it wes impossible not to feel
that the Royal Academy was a body of great public utility.
It was that conviction which led the Government to appoint
the commies:on which had been presided over by the noble
earl opposite. That commission had reported last year, and
their report had been sent by the ll.Ane Secretary to the
Royal Academy. The reply of that body was now under
the censideration of the Government. In reply to the noble
earl opposite, he had to state that the Government had felt
it their duty to bow submissively to the vote of the House
of Commons, rejecting the proposition to build a new
National Gallery on the gardens of Burlington House.
They were now engaged in considering a plan for providing
the requisite accommodation in conformity with what
seemed to Le the wish of the Houeo of Commons, that the
National Gallery should remain in Trafalgar-square. He
should be sorry to see the Government or Parliament in-
terfere in the details of the administration of the Royal
Academy. But, on the other hand, he did not see u hy,
when they were giving that body increased facilities, by the
grant of a new site or otherwise, they should not by friendly
negotiation, endeaveur to obtain the assent of the Academy

to such a popularisation of their constitution as would be
acceptable to the public and to artists generally. That

done, the best way would be to leave the Ac•yal Academy

to manage its own afftirs.

Th 3 subject then dropped.
In answer to a question from Lord RAVENSWORTH,
Lord STANLEY of ALDERLE Y ascribed the imper-
fect working of the Act for the suppression of nuisances
caused by noxious vapours from certain manufactories to
the short time the law had been in operatiLn.
the lordships adjourned at half past 7.

HOUSE OF COMIONS--Last Evening,
The SPEAKEIL took the chair at four o'clock.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.
The fol:owing bills were read a third time and passed :
Port Glasgow _Harbour—South London Maiket•—and Can-
nock Chase and Wolveiharripton Railway.
poLifiE IN ST. J AXES'S PARK.
Mr 3. HA 1.1,DY asked the Secretary of State for the
ILme Dl:a:latent whether it was the fact that the police are
not employed in St. James's-
park as they are in the G:Ten-
park and other parks; and, it so, why that ants the easy
an I, whether frequent complaints have bien made to the
Home Office of the proceedings which take place from want
of police supervision in St. James's-park ?

Sir G. GREY said that ever since 1810 the ordinary
police had flat been employed in the enclosure of St. Jarnees
Park, as t':lat Park was under the control of the First Corn-
missioner of Public Works. The park-keepers were sworn,
and exercised the functions of the police in the parks, and
he had not heard of any complaint owing to the absence of
tho regular police.

INTERCOLONIAL RAILWAY 1N THE NORTH

AMERICAN PROVINCES.

Mr ADDERLEY asked the Secretary of State for the
Cuknies, whorher correspondence had been renewed be-
tween the North American provinces and tke Imperial
Government on the stapct of their application for assist-
ance in raising a ben for an intercolonial railway; and, if
so, whether Parliament will be fully informed and consulted
before any prorniAe is made of an Imperial guarantee.
Mr CARDWELL said ha should be happy to lay on
the table any papers in possession of Government on the
aubj,:ct, but there had been no new correspondence with
Government in reference to the matter.

THE KEA RSAGE.
Mr CORRY asked the Secretary to the Admiralty
whether the Admiralty would objebt to send a com-
petent agent to Cherbourg to examine and report on the
mode adopted to strengthen the sides of the Kearsage
against shot and shell, as described by Captain Semmes in
his letter which appeared in yesterday's Times?
Lord C. PAGET said that the vessel was in this coun-
try in dock, and therefore all infarraatien relative to her
could be obtained.
TRANSIT OF TROOPS TO THE WEST INDIES.
Mr DALGLISII asked the Secretary to the Admiralty
whether it was true that the transport which conveys the
troops from Cape Coast Castle to the West Indies is likely
to pass through a belt of 690 miles, in which only calms
and light winds may be expected ; and if the mean limit of
the nor h-east trade wind in August is now considered to be
in the 13:h degree of north latitude ?
Lord C. FA.GET read a report of the hydrographer of the
Ray Navy.

Lord lIOUGHTON gave notice that on Tuesday next
he should ask a que2tion rcgerding the powers of the Con-
voca:ion of the province of Canter! ury.