The Sun.
London, England, 1864-06-08 00:00:00

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE,

ASCOT RACES.—TUESRAY.
The Royal meeting on Ascot Heath has features pecu-
liarly its own, and stands apart from its great rivals, Epsom
and Goodwood, in marked individuaiity. Its present easi-
ness of aceess had, indeed, rebbed it of much of the charm
that used to hang about it 10 or 15 years ago, and the in-
undation of Londoners has given, particularly on the Cup
day, somewhat of a Derby tone to the gathering. But still
people came to Ascot to see the racing. It is not entirely a
question of new bonnets (though they do not enter largely
into the scheme), elaborate toilettes, and Fortnum and
Mason. Pleasure and business meet on equal terms, and,
differing from the frantic revelry of Epsom and the dolce
far niente of Goodwood, Ascot claims serious attention for
its crowded programme, and the many interesting patterns
there submitted for selection.
There have been many alterations rand improvements in
the Stand and on the course since last year. Private boxes
and stalls have been added to the former, and a much wanted
saddling paddock to the latter. These, together with other
minor details, evince a readiness on the part of the execu-
tive to attend to hints and suggestions, and Ascot is now
what a meeting claiming the title of " Royal" should be—
as near perfection as possible in its arrangements.
With nearly £l,OOO in added money, entries unusually
large, the anticipated presence of It oy-alty, and glorious
weather, it bids fair to be this year extraordinarily suc-
cessful.

The attendance was certainly above the average for a
first day. The Prince and Princess of Wales, accompanied
by the Prince and Princess Louis of Hesse, and the Prin-
cess Mary of Cambridge, and Prince Arthur, arrived by
railway before the commencement of racing, and were re-
ceived with every mark of respect, but with an absence of
that too demonstrative loyalty that sometimes intrudes on
Royal privacy.
The Queen's Vase, one of the three chief events of the day,
brought oat a field of 12 to do honour to the Royal gift,
and, according to custom, the competitors were paraded in
the Enclosure, and passed in review order before the occu-
pants of the Stand. Little Stag was made the favourite,
and he and Birch Broom were the leading horses until near-
ing home, where Lord St. Vincent's colt was beaten, and
Yuung Rapid, who had been going well throughout, came
out at the stand, and with only Fairwater and Sea King
near him, won easily.
The Ascot Stakes, which were not run for until one hour
and a half after time, could not boast of a good acceptance,
and betting upon them was very limited. Hippolyta, who
had been the only horse mentioned at the Corner last week,
resumed her position, from which she had been temporarily
driven, as first favourite, before the flag fell, and won easily
by two lengths.
The Prince of Wales's Stakes was a rather hollow victory
for Ely, who with Fille de l'Air, had the race to themselves
from the distance, the horse defeating the Oaks winner by
two lengths.
The tedious delay above alluded to caused the latter events
to be hurried over in a slovenly fashion. In fact, there was
an embarras de richesse in to.day's card. Nine events are
rather too much, taking into consideration the inevitable
time lost in these half mile races—of which there were two
out of the nine that were run to-day. The Royal party tool/
their departure for Frogmore soon after the issue of the
Prince of Wales's Stakes.
The Trial Stakes of 5 soles each, with 100 added, for 2 and
3-yr-olds. Weight for age, with certain allowances. The
New Mile, 13 subs.
Lord Westmoreland's Auditor, 2 yrs, sst 71b (£200)
ms
Grihave) 1
Mr W. Day's Catch-'em-Alive, 5 yrs, 0$(£600)
Lord Ailesbury's Menace, 3 yrs, fist (J. Adams
21b (£200) 2
)
(H. Grimshaw) 3
The following also ran :—Nourmahal filly, Verbena,
Diomed, General Hess, The Gillie, Man-at-Arms, Change
of Luck, Hopper, and Holkar.
Betting-9 to 4 agst Auditor, 3to 1 agat Catch'em Alive,
10 to 1 eget Holkar, and 12 to 1 each agat General Hess
and Diemed.
After running a few strides in company, Verbena lying
in the centre came on with a clear lead, having Auditor,
Menace, and Hopper on her right, with Diomed and Catch-
'ens Alive on the left, the others, who were headed by
General Hess and Holkar, followed close in their wake. On
leaching the enclosure Verbena gave way to Auditor,
Catch-'em Alive, and Menace, who came oa nearly abreast
although wide, and finished the race home, the young one
landing Lord Westmoreland's colours very cleverly at last
by a length and a half. There were two lengths between
the second and third ; Diomed was fourth, Verbena fifth,
Man-at-Arms and Holkar side by side sixth and seventh,
Hopper, General Hess, and Change of Luck were the next
pulling up, Velooity and The Gillie being last.
The Gold Vase, given by her Majesty, added to a Sweep.
stakes of 20 soya each; 3-yr-olds and upwards, weight
for age, with certain allowances and penalties. 2 miles.
14 subs.
Mr Craven's Young Rapid, 3 ;yrs, 7st 71b ttkins) 1
Mr W. S. Cartwright's Fairwater, 6 yrs, fist 12,b
yrs, Sat
3ib..(.C.u(sxtvaorleles)) 23
Baron Rothschild'
e, wingraw, 5
also ran :—Claremont, Caller Ou, Johnny
ArTmheetrfo°*l_,l7:- -‘g
14acchug, sea King, Ostentation, Little Stag,
Birch, a3room, and Oldminster.
Netting-7 te 4 agst Little Stag, sto 1 agat Caller Ou, 7
to 1 agst Birch Broom, 8 to 1 eget Fairwater, and 10 to 1
agst Young Rapid.
The start was delayed a short period through the restive-
! ness of Ostentation, who refused to join his horses. When
they were despatched Bacchus, next the rails, rushed to the
front, and w th Birch Broom and the favourite close is his
wake, made play at a sound pace—the trio being followed
by Johnny Armstrong, Sea King, and Young Rapid, who
headed the next division, which was brought up by Clare-
mont and Oldminstar. As they reached the top turn Little
Stag, overpulling Carroll, went past his horses, and pro-
ceeded on wish a clear lead of a couple of lengths, Lord
Westmoreland's colt having a similar advantage of Young
Rapid and Bacchus, who were side by side, Wingrave,
Fairwater, and Caller On being their immediate followers.
In these positions they reached the bottom, but half across
Fairwater ran into the third place, followed at the Old Mile
post by Wingrave, the pair coming on in attendance upon
the leaders into the straight, where Birch Broom gave way,
followed in a few strides after by the favourite, which left
Fairwater with a slight lead of the Baron's colt, the pair,
however, being joined at the old stand by Young Rapid,
who came up on the left with a rush and won very cleverly
at last by a length, Fairwater defeating Wingrave for the
honour of second by a head. Little Stag was a bad fourth,
Johnny Armstrong fifth, Claremont sixth, Sea King and
Bacchus aide by side were the next two, then came Caller
Ou, Birch Broom, and Oldminster, who trotted in, Run
in 3 miu 41 secs.

A Sweepstakes of 50 sous each, h ft, for 2-yr-olds; colts Bst
71b, fillies Bst 31b. Three quarters of a mile. 6 subs.
Duke of Beaufort's Siberia (Fordham) 1
Mr G. Bryan's Reinfrid (Custance) 2
Betting-11 to 10 on Siberia, who, with a slight lead,
made play to the enclosure, where she was joined for a few
strides by Reinfrid, but after a little rousing the favourite
shook him off and won cleverly by a length.
A Maiden Plate of £lOO for 2-yr-olds; colts Bst 101 b, and
fillies Bst 71b. Entrance 1 soy. Half a mile. _

Count Batthyany's King Charming 8 sti011; (Custance) 1
Mr J. Morris's Shrapnell, Bst 101 b (Judd) 2
Mr Alexander's Cordelia, Bst 71b (E. Sharp) 3
Tli
iv
The
Afoileodwisitno,s
gaaldsaom ran:—Seheldt, Czarina, Radcliffe,
Spice,
filly, Audax, Vigilant, Colombine,
Drino, Brigand, Pepper's Ghost, Delilah, Threadbare,
MußnecthtianiLsg—en4,
toL olpeaagrs,t
Kingßialto, Leader, Lady Florence,
Arkansas, and Fred,
tto
8g
Charming,astany 6 to 1
other.ach agst
After innumerable false starts the flag was lowered to an
equitable start, Shrapnel! on the upper ground being the
first away, closely followed in the centro of the course by
Leader, Cordelia, and Czarina; and on the far side by King
e
Audax and Shrapnel!, and 100
Charming and Radcliffe. In the centre of the Stand Leader
was beaten, and Cordelia joined Mr Morris's colt, the pair
a dozen strides from the chair being caught by King
Charming, who running the longest wnn a flue ace by a
neck, half a length separating the second and third ; Czar.
ins was fourth, close up, Radcliffe fifth, Audax sixth,
Rialto seventh, and Drino next. The last two were Bri-

gand and Scheldt.
The Queen's Stand Plato of 200 sous, added to a sweepstakes
of 10 soya each. For 2-yr-olds and upwards; weights for
ago. Winners extra; with maiden allowances. T.Y.C.
22 subs.
Count F, de Lagrange's Le Bearnais, 2 yrs, Oat 51b
(J. Grimshaw) 1
Captain Christie's Lady Clifden,
6 yrs, gat 51b
(Fordham) 2
Mr Merry's Zambesi, 2 yrs, Oat 121 b.... (H. Covey) 3
The following also ran :—Pearl Diver, Kildare, Soap-
stone, Umpire, Black Duchess, Syren, Bertha, Starboam,
Bunch, Castlo Hill, King John, and Birch Broom.
Betting--5 to 2 agst Le Bearnais, sto 1 agst Lady Clif-
den, 7 to 1 each agst Umpire and Zambesi, and 10 to 1 any
other.

The favourite on the far side was the first away, and in
company with Lady Clifden made the running, followed on
the Stand side by Zambesi, Pearl Diver and Umpire to the
Stand, where the three placed drew away and finished the
best of h
it, ome.woLnevery cle
Bearnais,ver v.ly'hboyaahlveanygstha, twice that distanceppeared to have the
separating the second and third. Pearl Diver was fourth,
Umpire fifth, and Soapstone sixth; Star Beam and Birch
Broom close together next, the last three being Kildare,

Syren, and Castle Hill.
The Ascot Stakes of 25 soya each, 15 ft, and 5 only if de-
clared, &c., with 200 added. The winner of any handicap
after tho weights are daclared (May 27th, 10 a.m.) to
carry 71b extra. Two miles and a half. 49 subs., 33 of

whom pay 5 soya each. The highest weight accepting
being Bst 91b, it has been raised to Bst 121 b, and the others

in proportion.

Baron Rothschild's Hippolyta, 3 yrs, Gat Glb
(J, Grimshaw) 1
Mr G. Rigby's Black Doer, 4 yrs, 74 31b (Perry) 2
Mr Bryan's Lady Hylda, 3 yrs, 64 10Ib (Carroll) 3
The following also ran : —Baldwin, Bally Edmond,
Canary, Hypermnestra, Welbeck, Redcap, Wandering
Minstrel, Claxton, Alabama, Sheridan, Rappel, and
Potash.

Betting-3 to 1 agst llippolyta, 5 to 1 agst Canary, 6 to
agst Sheridan, 10 to 1 each agst Alabama and Rapp!,
00 to 8 agst Wandering Minstrel, 100 to 7 each agst Lady

Hylda, Claxton, and Welbeck, and 100 to 2 agst Bally
Edmond.
Redcap jumped away with a clear lead, having Claxton
and Welbeck as his immediate followers ; three lengths
in whose rear were seen Rappel, Wandering Minstrel,
Alabama, and Black Deer ; the rear division, who were
following close in their wake, being brought up by
Bally Edmond. Rounding the top turn, Claxton dropped
back, and the leader was followed by Welbeok, Wan-
dering Minstrel, and Rappel to the foot of the Swinley hill,
where the favowite ran into the fourth place, and was
joined half way across the bottom by Sheridan and Canary,
the latter getting upon closer terms with the leaders as
they reached the Old Mile-post, where Redcap was beaten
and dropped away. The lead from this point was taken up
by Sheridan, closely attended by Canary, Baldwin, and
the favourite, the four running in a body to the turn into
the straight, where the Baron's filly came up on the out-
side and half way up obtained a clear lead ; Canary at
the same time dropped back, followed by Baldwin, who
broke down, leaving Black Deer and Lady Hylda in atten-
dance upon the leader, who won in a canter by a couple of
lengths, three quarters of a length separating second and
third; Alabama was fourth, Sheridan fifth, and Wandering
Minstrel sixth. The others were pulled up and walked in
some distance in their rear, the last of which was Potash.
The Prince of Wales's Stakes of 20 sous each, h ft with
£5OO added, for 3-yr-olds ; cults, Bst 1016; and fillies,
Bst sib, Winners extra, with certain allowances, The
owner of the second horse to receive 100 80V8, and the
owner of the third horse 50 soya out of the stakes. New
Course, about a mile and five furlongs, 140 subs.
Mr W. Cartwright's Ely, Oat 111 b One 51b extra)
Custance
Count F. de Lagrange's Fille de l'Air, Oat (inc( fib extra)) 1
. Edwards) 2
Captain T. Cooper's Knight or Snowdon,(A Bst 81b
(r, Adams) 3
The following also ran :—ldler, Lord Zetland, Gazza
Ladra, Glendask, Calista colt, Figaro, Major, liellyfox,
Hymettus, E lmsd ale.
Betting-3 to 1 agstKnight of Snowdon, 7to 2 agst Fille
de l'Air, 5 to 1 agst Hollyfox, 6 to 1 agat the Calista colt,
and 3 to 1 agst
Idler and Major, side by side, made play) followed by
Gomm Ladra, Calista aolt, Ely, and the french filly, into the
Swinley bottom, where they elootd and ran in company to
the half distance, where Ely and Fille de l'Air came out,
and, with Knight of Snowdon in attendance, finished the
race home, Ely winning cleverly at last by two lengths ;
twice that distance separated the second and third. Glen-
dusk was fourth, Hollyfoi fifth, and Figaro next.
The First Year of the Seventh Ascot Biennial Stakes of
10 soya each, with 100 added each year ; for 2-yr-olds ;
colts, Set 101 b ; fillies, Sat 61b; the owner of the second
horse to receive 25 soya out of the stakes. T.Y.C.
56 subs.
Mr Merry's Liddington, Bst taibt (Fordham)
Mr H. Melville';; Wild Boy, 101 b (Goater) 1
2
Mr R. Sutton's GardeVisure, Bst 61b ........ (T. French) 3
The following also ran :—Ostregor, Salpinctes, Rotho-
C‹,ntraband, Shrapnel], and Sister to Tomato.
Betting—Even on Liddington, 2to 1 agst Gardevisure,
and 10 to 1 agst any other.
Gardeviaure jumped away with a slight lead, closely fol-
lowed by Wild Boy and the favourite, and Sister to Tomato
to the Stand Enolosure, when Liddington came first and
won a good race by a neck ; four lengths between the second
sad third; Sister to Tomato was fourth; Ostregor fifth;
and Shrapnell sixth.

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS,

the fourth year of the American War
the grand array of the Federal States will, perhaps,
succeed in appearing before the walls of Richmond.
This, ever since the summer of 1801, has been its
single object. Actuated by motives of which we
cannot judge, the leaders of the new Confederacy,
instead of establishing their capital in the centre
of their territories, fixed it in the frontier State of
Virginia, and within some seventy miles of the
chief military position of their enemies. The pro-
vocation could not be resisted. The earliest and the
greatest efforts of the North were devoted to the
creation of an army for the capture of Richmond.
This force, the first and the largest put by the Fede-
rate In the field, was called the Army of the Potomac,
and by this title it has now for upwards of three
years been familiarly known. But never, during
the whole of this time, could the Army of the Poto-
mac accomplish the purpose for which it was created
by occupying the capital of the " rebels." Its first
levies were scattered at the battle of Bull Run in
July, 1801. It was then raised to a far higher
strength, re-organised, re•equipped, and well-disci-
plined by the scientific and circumspect M'Clellan ;
but it was again defeated, notwithstanding his skill
aed patience. Once more was it recruited, rein-
forced, and intrusted to a new commander, but with
no better fortune. The road to Richmond was the
road to ruin. It 'mattered not from what base or
under what General the expedition started. it
always failed, and the best that could ever be said
was, that the Army of the Potomac, after incalcul-
able losses, was substantially " safe." The expres-
sion, indeed, passed into a kind of proverb, for
though the Federal Generals were invariably com-
pelled to retreat, the Confederate Generals as in-
variably failed either to nursue:or take anything by
their pursuit. Neither Lee nor Jackson could 'de-
street the Array of the Potomac, but the Army of
the Potomac could never get to Richmond. Other
Federal expeditions were more successful. Admiral
Farragut took' New Orleans. The army of the
South-west,whieh began by fighting inTennessee,is
now fighting inGeorgia. But never could the grand
army of the North—that army on which pains and
treasure had been most profusely lavished—succeed
in traversing the few stages between Fredericks-
burg and Richmond, a distance about es great as
that from London to Brighton. Still, the North
clung with unyielding tenacity to its purpose. The
Army of the Potomac was maintained in full
strength by incessant renewals, and kept unchange-
ably on the same ground with the same object. It
did, indeed, serve for the protection of Washington
at the same time, but its real mission was never
forgotten. Every year saw this great army
newly equipped, commissioned, and commanded.
Every year saw a new General appointed with
the standing order, "On to Richmond." At
last a man has been found to go there.
General Grant is not actually nearer Richmond
than M'Clellan has been. He is, in al probability,
not so near at this minute, after losing half an army,
as Butler is; but though he has accomplished only
30 miles out of the 50, he has done this in spite of
the utmost resistance which the best army and the
best General of the Confederates could oppose to his
advance. He has not beaten that army, but he re-
fuses to consider that army as having beaten him.
He has suffered repulses and losses enough to dis-
courage a less obstinate commander, but he persists
in disregarding them, and in pursuing his course at
any cost. The other day, if the account of his flank
movement be true, he appears to have thought if he could but get to Richmond he would be conthat
- tent to leave the whole Confederate
army in his
rear, though the result must have placed him be-
tween two fires, with a strong city in front, and an
army as good as his own behind him. He says in
plain words, but without gasconade, that to Rich-
mond he will go. lie has spent 50,000 of his men
in getting half way, but he does not haggle about
cost, His adversary retires deliberately before him,
making preconcerted halts in chosen positions, re-
pulsing every assault, and then retiring afresh. At
this rate Lee will ultimately find himself within the
lines of Richmond, and Grant before them. Then
what is to happen P Instead of speculating further
on a question involving so many uncertainties, let us
seek information from another narrative which has
been rather excluded from the notice it merits by
the superior interest attaching to the campaign in
Virginia. Virginia has not yet been occupied by
the Federals, but there is a State of the Confede-
racy where an occupation of this character has been
established and matured under circumstances more
favourable to the
.invaders than would occur any-
where else. Lout ana has been more or lees in the
grasp of the Notate for some time. New Orleans
fell early in the war. The Mississippi and its tribus
taries, intersecting the State, have enabled the North
to take advantage to the utmost of his naval ascend •
ancy. A whole campaign was devoted by Grant
himself to the capture of Vicksburg and the opening
of the mighty river, until at last the Federal gun-
boats commanded the entire stream. Louisiana, in
short, was regarded as " conquered." General Banks
was appointed to govern the State, and it was held
to have recovered even its title to the Parliamentary
franchise. The capture of Richmond could do no
more—indeed, would not do half as much for the
conquest of Virginia as events had combined to de
for the conquest of Louisiana. Well, in this "con-
quered" State, just two months ago, the Governor
set out on an expedition towards a certain
town within his own dominion. It sounds ill
for the tranquillity of his Government to say
that he took with him on his journey an army
of 50,000 men and a strong force of gunboats,
It sounds wore() to say that even these forces have
not saved him from a complete defeat in the field
'and an ignoininoue retreat. Yet all this is literally
true. Banks, within the limits of the State under his
own command, has been beaten in battle, and forced
to retreat how he can. In a corner of his province
there were rival authorities rejecting his jurisdic-
tion, and owning allegiance to the Confederacy. It
was desirable to upset this rival Government, and,
besides, it was believed the expedition might bring
be
out large quantities of the cotton supposed to
stored in those parts. This exploit, if it could be
achieved, would turn the balance of trade in favour
of the United states, and this again would diminish
the export of gold from New York, and so relieve
Mr. Chase from a portion of his embarrassments.
With these objects, therefore, Gen. Banks, having
proclaimed a rendezvous at Alexandria on the Red
River about the end of March, advanced on the Bth
of April from that town upon Shreveport, also on

the Red River, but at some distance up the stream.
He first fell into an ambuscade, and lost upwards
of 1,000 men ; then retreated, and sustained, with
better fortune, a regular attack i but in the
end retreated again., With the lose of 4,000 or
5,000 men, twenty guns, and the whole of his
train. Then his very transports were attacked, and
his gunboats could hardly protect them. Finally,
the whole squadron was placed in a position of the
utmost peril, from which! as We learn by the latest
telegrams, they are only just now hoping to escape.
Banks himself is reported to have at last succeeded
in reaching New Orleans. It was for a long time
by no means certain that he, the " Governor of
Louisiana," and thts, commander of an army
numbering altnost as many effectives as Grant's at
Spottsylvania, had not been taken prisioner in his
own province by a Confederate force which was
hardly known to exist. Now, if this is the state
of things in Louisiana, what state of things is to be
expected in Virginia, even if Lee should evacuate
Richmond and leave the city to Grant P How are
even "conquered" provinces to be held if their
"governors" fare like Banks P Certainly, after such
a forcible and timely illustration, we must recognise
the truth of President Davis's saying, that, though
Richmond might be taken, the war could be conti-
nued for 20 years iu the State of Virginia alone.
HERALD.—Prudent men pause before they lecture
people. Mr. Gladstone is not a prudent man, and
he has more than ',nee Undertaken to rate the
House of Commons for its extravagance. The last
instatlee Was on Friday night. Tlsere Was a re-
commendation by Sir L. Falk that justice should
be done to a most meritorious body of naval
officers at the expense of a few' thousands. At
this decent vtcposal, well supported by influ-
ence and argument, the Chancellor of the Er
chequer hectored. "The Government would give
every attention to the requirements of those who
served the Crown, but they would not be driven one
step in advance. The primary duty of members of
the House of Commons was to check the Government
in their expenditure, but during the whole of the
present Region the time spent in attempting to check
the expenditure had been vastly exceeded in the
attempt to induce Government to increase that ex-
penditUre.° This was pretty sharp, in the face, too,
of the gross outlay on account of the operations
in China, amounting, from 1857 to the close of
last April, to nearly five millions of money. No
wonder that members, thus unreasonably twitted
for their waste of the public fends by a Govern.
ment spending seventy millions a year, besides
additional votes for fortifications and other ques-
tionable objects, should feel ill-disposed to enter-
tain Mr. Cowper's vote for one hundred and fifty
thousand pounds towards establishing a new Na-
tional Gallery. The motion of the right hon. gentle-
man, with that strange incongruity so often notice-
able in the conduct and acts of the present Govern-
ment, stood in opposition to the declared opinions of
the Prime 11Iinister in 1860. At that period our
versatile Premier was enthusiastically in favour of
Trafalgar-square for the National Gallery. If the
house would only vote him seventeen thousand pounds
he would take care that every defect would be cured,
and now that the smoke had been got rid of by a
unique act of Parliament of which he himself was the
happy author, we should have the finest site in Eu-
rope rendered a consummate perfection for an exhibi-
tion of pictures. The original building already cost
nearly two hundred thousand pounds of the public
money, and then there were some forty thousand
pounds more for the ornamentation of Trafalgar-
square. These were all considerations why the pre-
sent building should be retained for its definite and
established purpose, and every idea to the contrary
treated as impractical and utopian. It is a pity that
the First Commissioner of Public Works should
have made his noble chief eat humble-pie in so
conspicuous a manner on Monday night. The Prime
Minister of England has had to undergo too much
of this kind of vassalage of late. We all feel for his
humiliations, for the country suffers in them. But
the chastisement dealt to the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer was still more severe. Mr. Bernal Osborne,
who has a mischievous faculty in raking up bitter
memories, reminded the right hon. gentleman of
his famous diatribe in 1860. It was then we had
that graphic picture of the Public Works Departs
ment under Whig management, which has immor-
talised the name of Sir B. Hall and his present sues
cessor. According to Gladstone the conduct of that
office was "characterised by vacillation, uncertainty,
slovenliness, extravagance, and meanness. There
was a total want of authority to direct and guide,
a total want of making up the mind what to do,
and such were the evils of the system that nothing
short of a revolutionary reform would ever be a
sufficient remedy." Surely this was prophetic. We
had the revolution on Monday night. Not the Ra-
dical perversion of the noble Premier, not the silent
vote of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, could pro-
tect the Government from the antagonism of the
house. The proposed expense was deemed unneces-
sary, the proposed change of site undesirable. The
National Gallery is to stand where it is. The repre-
sentatives of the people, in a pretty full house, have
decided this against the Government by a majority
of 52. The arguments in favour of this decision
are overwhelming. In the first place, the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer had no right on a previ-
ous occasion to catechise the House of Commons on
economy and essay to teach members their duty.
He should have felt his own position. He should
have reviewed the past and forecast the future. As
we have said, China and this very vote to come on
ought to have been present in his vivacious asso-
ciative mind. The first assembly of gentlemen in
the world have their esprit de corps, and no matter
what their party politics they do not like to be
collectively rated as so many school girls. The cen-
sure of Monday night was, therefore, a just retribu-
tion and a prude.it and necessary warning. The
judgment which Lord Palmerston himself had pro-
nounced on the present site of the National Gallery
in 1860 must have forcibly weighed with the house.
At that period there was first a modest call for
thirteen thousand pounds, then for fifteen, and this
was capped by the final vote for seventeen thousand,
which was carried on the repeated assurances of the
noble Premier that the sum asked for would be
ample for enlarging and improving the National
Gallery so as to make it sufficient for some years for
all the pictures belonging to the nation. But obli

vious of all this, and-having succeeded in making
his venerable relative take a new turn on the matter
—the First Commissioner comes down to the House
of Commons on Monday with the bold proposal of
a summary vote for a hundred and fifty thousand
pounds. This would do for ten years or so, and
then there might be another grant, and then another
and so on, to meet changed views and circumstances.
It is true that to properly house the national collec-
tion on the Burlington site the present pile of build-
ings would have to be swept away, and on the three
and a-half acres a suitable edifice could be reared,
which might cost the countrya million or so of money.
This no doubt would perfect the job; and, had
the House of Commons been so unwise as to liste❑
to Mr. Cowper's hazy scheme, and the noble
Premier's recantation and cajolery, the tax-
payers of the kingdom, of whom Mr. Glad-

stone is so nervously tender, would now be in the
direct road to bearing the enormous and useless
burden. When Lord John Manners described the
proposal as a proof that £17,000 had been raised by
false pretences in 1860—when he made it evident
that the Government were forcibly condemning
themselves, he rendered an adverse vote a necessity.
Ministers may stultify themselves; it is not for the
Legislature to do so, and this with the naked facts
before them ; for in truth there never were stronger
reasons for continuing the collection in the present
building than those which can be adduced now.
The conditions are greatly improved since 1860.
The site is still the same magnificent one it has
always been. There is also room for extension. A
scheme has been prepared according to which, at a
very slight expense, an additional gallery 200 feet
by 40 could be obtained in the rear of the existing
building without buying a single inch of land.
Then, should the barracks be removed and St.
Martin's Workhouse, such an alteration might be
effected as would render the structure suited to
every reasonable and expected exigency. Of course
the Royal Academy would have to decamp. This
was promised by Lord Palmerston when he s ac-
ceeded in raising the £17,000. But it is not a little
remarkable that Mr. Cowper was wholly silent on
the subject of the Royal Academy on Monday night.
For our own part we have always considered the
juxtaposition of our modern pictures with the great
masterpieces of Europe an injustice to our own
artists. Their reputation is certainly not exalted
by their very close proximity to the national col-
lection. This had better remain where it is, it
for no better reason, simply because it is there.
The situation is admirably central. With the
recoil,: and destined improvements in Charing-
cross and the neighbourhood, with new railways,
new steam accomodation on the river, and the
completion of the Thames embankment, so valuable
a recommendation will be vastly enhanced. In fact,
there is scarcely a word to be said against the pro-
posal to retain the National Gallery in Trafalgar-
square, and this is the substantive effect of the
amendment of Lord John Manners, On the con-
trary, not one striking or forcible argument can be
urged in favour of the change to Burlington House
---a change involving a large and growing expel:).
diture of the public money, the violation of former
pledges, and the desertion of an excellent position
for one not half so desirable, and not so free for
extension in regard to the future. The crushing
majority of Monday night, and the equally decided
vote on the International Exhibition building last
session, are sure proofs that the house of Commons
has no confidence in Lord Palmerston and his col-
leagues on questions relating to public economy and
the art exhibitions of the kingdom. Monday