The Sun.
London, England, 1837-12-26 00:00:00

THE SUN, LON DON, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 26, 1837.

the object which they had in view would be in a great mea-
sure accomplished, as the Royal Academy could no longer
close its doors against the public. It might perhaps be
necessary, as a matter' of justice, to supply any deficiency
which the adoption of his plan would occasion in the funds
of the British Academy by means of a subscription ; but
without going further into that matter at present, he would
only say, that it was also his intention to call for returns to
show what tho Royal Academy with all its advantaises and
privileges, bad done for the cause of science and the arts.
He believed it had wholly failed in these respects, and that
to this failure was to be attributed the reluctance which was
evinced in giving the papers which bad been asked of the
managers of that establishment. At all events the discus-
sion might do much good, and this was the opinion of Sir
Robert Peel, Lord Sandon, Mr. Hope, and other Hon. Gen-
tlemen, who, though concurring in his views, wished the
point to be carried rather by indices:it means than positive
compulsion. He could only say, that when the whole of
the correspondence on this and other subjects was pub-
lished and circulated, he would be happy to receive any
suggestions that might be sent to him. He had entered into
correspondence with all the Bishops, but be was sorry to say
there was nothing to hope from any of them, with the ex-
ception of the Bishop of Chichester, and one or two others.
They were all favourable to the employment of the " golden
key." He must say that Lord John Russell had reasoned the
matter well with the Dean of Westminster, Dr. Ireland.
Dr. Ireland was, however, immovable. The threat which he
had thrown out of moving for an inquiry to ascertain what
funds had been allotted out of the public moneys for the
maintaining and keeping the cathedrals generally open,
would, he had no doubt, hare a good effect. Finding from a
statement in the newspapers that the Turkish Ambassador
had been refused admission to see the Regalia of Scotland
without paying the customary fee, and that, too, not-
withstanding he had the authority of a Member of the
Government in his hand ; he (Mr. Hume) had written to the
Lord Provost of Edinburgh on the subject, and he was happy
to say that a similar difficulty was not likely again to occur.
The Lord Advocate was in correspondence in reference to
the same transaction, and there was therefore strong hopes
that in a littlo time the whole of the national monuments and
curiosities contained not only in Edinburgh, but in the other
towns of Scotland, would be open to gratuitous inspection by
the public. It appeared that the shilling fees paid for a sight
of the Regalia of Scotland produced an annual sum of 4001.,
and that out of this a snug sinecure of 3001. a-year had been
secured to Sir Adam Ferguson for duties which he did not
perform, but which were discharged by a serjeant, to whom
he paid about 321. a year. With respect to the Tower of
London, the fees on admission to the sights there had been
reduced by the instrumentality of Sir Hussey Vivian from
3s. to Is., but he (Mr. Hume) objected that any charge at all
should be made, and therefore he had left the matter as an
open question. The Lord Chamberlain, he believed, received
1,500/. a year ft om the exhibition of the Regalia at the Tower.
He (Mr. Hume) would submit to the meeting a proposition
for appointing a Committee to frame a Report, with the view
of making the public more fully acquainted with their pro.
ceedings.—( Hear, hear.) In Edinburgh the greatest interest
had been manifested on the subject. The Lord Provost had
taken a very active part and tad called .a Council, when an
excellent Report was adopted, which would be laid before the
House of Commons and printed.—( Hcar, hear, hear.) The
prospect in Edinburgh was very good, and it was expected
that in a short time every public building, Holyrood House
included, would be open to the public for a certain number
of hours every day. The Lord Provost had not only sent
petitions to the Houses of Lords and Commons, but also an
address to the Queen. He (Mr. Hume) had written to Glas-
gow on the subject, and an address to the Throne and peti-
tions to the Legislature had been since forwarded from that
place. In many of the great towns of England a great desire
bad been manifested to second their efforts, and thes only way
to concentrate this sympathy was by giving increased publicity
to their proceedings.—(Hear, hear.) He had spoken to
several Members of the House of Commons, and there was
scarcely a man he had spoken to but was willing to join in
promoting their object. He had nothing further to suggest,
sale that of having recourse to a Committee of the House of
Commons, with regard to the funds for protecting and main-
taining the public monuments, which would let in sufficient
evidence to guide them in their further operations.—( Hear.)
A Sub-Committee was then named and appointed to report
on the correspondence, and to point out such steps, as under
all the circumstances, it would be advisable to adopt for the
furtherance of the object which they bad in view.
Lord WORSLEY moved, " That the Committee express
with much pleasure their gratification at the prompt and
liberal attention which their efforts in this great public cause
have experienced from her Majesty's Government, and espe-
cially at the able and decisive manner in which Lord John
Russell, as Secretary of State for the Home Department, has
promoted their labours by his correspondence with the Dean
of Westminster and other parties."
Mr. WYSE seconded the motion, which was carried unani-
mously.
Lord WORSLEY next proposed a resolution to the effect,
that this meeting has learned With great disappointment and
regret the objection made by the High Constable of the
Tower, and other authorities, to opening the historical re-
cords and curiosities of the Tower to the inspection of the
public; also the refusal of the Dean and Chapter of West-
minster to accede to Lord John Russell's proposal for open.
ing Westminster Abbey to the public, and the impediments
to free exhibitions raised by the President of the Ro) al
Academy.
A resolution, thanking the Bishop of Chichester, the Bishop
of Norwich, the Bishop of Bath anu Wells, and the Dean and
• Chapter of St.• Paul's, for the liberality which they had
' evinced, was also unanimously agreed to.
Thanks were then voted to the Chairman, Mr. Hume, and
Mr. Foggo, for their respective services, and the meeting
adjourned.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

MARYLEBONE.

On Saturday a dashing member of the ' swell mob," who
gave his name John Wilson, was charged with the perpetra-
tion of daring robberies.
Mr. Edmund Savage, the proprietor of the Pavilion Hotel,
Brighton, stated that on Tuesday, the 12th inst., the prisoner
put up at his house, representing himself to be a person of for-
tune. His exterior corresponding with that of a gentleman,
no suspicion was entertained of his honesty, and he was ac-
cordingly accommoda'ed with the best of everything. On the
follovving evening he dressed himself and went out, telli:g the
waiter that he was going to the theatre, and should not be
back till rather late. As he did not return that night accor-
ding to promise, they began to suspect that all was .not right,
when, on searching a drawer in the coffee-room, where the
plate was deposited, it was discovered that the " gentleman of
fortune" had decamped with it.
Mr. Solomon, -the superintendent of the Brighton police,
traced the prisoner to Lewes, an adjacent town, and there
diccovered that after he had committed the robbery at Mr.
Savage's house, he had broken open a jeweller's travelling
case, who was proceeding by the same coach as himself.
The prisoner, who said nothing in his defence, was re-
manded for the attendance of the jeweller whom he had
robbed.