The Sun.
London, England, 1865-05-06 00:00:00

N

LONDON, SATURDAY, MAY 6, 1865.

♦

The old prejudice which stigmatised the English
as being totally devoid of taste for art is long ago dis-
posed of, if, indeed, it had any foundation to rest on,
with regard to the brush and the pencil. Our English
painters are by no means unworthy representatives
of the national powers, and year by year, as know-
ledge and taste become more widely diffused among
the people, they gain a larger circle of admiring and
appreciating critics. The Art Exhibitions and Art
Galleries have, doubtless, contributed much to this
desirable result, and the fact that 10,000 persons
visited the National Gallery in a single day proves'
how much they are valued. The British Museum,
also, numbered on the occasion referred to 11,000
visitors ; but this fact is less surprising, seeing that
the English were never accused of indifference to
science, or of dullness in its pursuit. The practical
information afforded by these exhibitions is most
saluable, and, like all teaching by objects instead
of by words, it is most attractive. Surely, then,
the great aim should be to encourage as much as
possible the attendance at the Museum, the National
Gallery, and every other collection of works of
science or art. This end, it must be evident, is
much more likely to be attained when the exhibition
is situated at an easy distance from the populous
parts of London, and when a working man who
feels inclined to take his family to see the sights
will not have to drag them five or six miles each
way. Yet our Government does not seem alto-
gether to appreciate this view of the question, or
to understand that it is a very different
thing to reach Charing-cross, or Bloomsbury,
from any part of the metropolis, than it is
even for a person of moderate means and leisure to
,
reach Kensington from the north, north-east south
south-east, and east of London. Yet these various
points of the compass take in a goodly share of our
metropolitan population, and especially of those
classes for whose benefit and mental training these
exhibitions are especially designed. For a clerk
who lives at Bow or Hackney to reach South Ken-
sington after office-hours is a somewhat serious un-
dertaking. The longest summer's day would not
give him much daylight even on his half holiday;
and if the expense of conveyance were an object to
him, he would be very much in the position so
amusingly described by ALBERT SMITH, when told
to admire the view from Mont Blanc, after his
sleepless night. Again,the Surrey side of the

Thames has a very large and increasing population,
but Kennington, Camberwell, or Peckham, stand in
a very different relation to Charing-cross to what
they do towards the stately western suburb. The
common sense of the House of Commons has un-
mistakeably affirmed that the positions now occu-
pied by the National Gallery and by the British
Museum are by far the best and most advantageous
to the public. It is impossible, of course, to bring
such establishments home to every man's door, or
into every parish, and while our population con-
,
tiues to be so widely dispersed through the envi-
rons, it must always be a matter of some difficulty
and fatigue to reach it. But the best way to con-
sult the interests of all is to place the collections in
a central position, which not only is the nearest
point to each alike, but from the facilities for traffic
is so much the more convenient. There are cheap
and direct routes to Charing-cross from every part
of London by road, by rail, and by water. Now
that the Charing-cross Terminus is in full working
order, the means of access are considerably in-
creased, while the Underground Railway brings the
same facilities almost within a stone's throw of
Bloomsbury, so that for three halfpence an
artisan can get from Paddington or the City
within a few minutes' walk of the Museum. The
number and regularity of the trains give every con-
venience, so that the time and cost of getting to or
fro need not weigh in the scale. But notwithstand-
ing all these facts, which must be familiar to every
one who knows London, the Government still
cherish the idea of removing the Natural History
Collections to South Kensington. It is in fact their
pertinacity on this point that is stopping all progress.
The House of Commons has decisively affirmed
that our collections, both scientific and artistic, shall
stay where they are. They are willing to vote any
sum that may be reasonably required, provided
always that this primary condition is isomplied with.
But owing to this perverse resolution on the part
of the Executive, nothing whatever has been
done, or is to be done, and our magnificent
collections are huddled together in most unsuitable
style, and in a light which Mr. GREGORY declared
to be better adapted to the eyes of owls and of bats
than of creatures accustomed to the sunshine. Mr.
COWPER and Mr. GLADSTONE are, however, prompt
to shift the reproach from themselves to their
antagonists. The Chancellor of the Exchequer espe-
cially condemns the random recklessness of the house,
and points out the folly and wickedness of buying
eight acres of land in Bloomsbury at £50,000 an
acre, instead of availing themselves of the seven
acres of cheap land at Kensington. But allowing
this extreme. estimate, the sum total would not
amount to half a million, and might be spread over
several years, so that it would not be by any means
disproportionate to the importance and durability
of the work. The Government thinks very little of
throwing away two or three hundred thousand
pounds on an Admiralty whim or blunder, but when
it comes to a great national undertaking that
is to to last for generations every sixpence must
be considered. But, in truth, the eight acres are
not indispensable. Sir J. BOWYER suggested a very
simple remedy for the want of room both at the
National Gallery and the Museum—the addition of
another storey. The great architectural fault of the
Trafalgar-square buildings is its want of height,
and of course by a proper arrangement of the
roof, &c., first-rate lighting might be obtained.
The addition of another storey to the Museum
would give an immense addition of space, and
would enable our rich and varied collection of scien-
tific objects to be arranged with some little idea of
classification. Every year we may expect these
collections to increase, since our relationships with
distant colonies and countries afford every facility
for the acquisition of precious and curious objects,
and the English public is fully qualified
to appreciate the value of such means
of knowledge, while its Parliamentary repre-
sentatives never begrudge the requisite money.
The whole blame of the present entanglement and
confusion rests with the Government, who will
neither accept the general opinion nor the dictum of
Parliament, but refuse to proceed in any other way
than the one most unpopular and inconvenient.
Last night, as usual, the subject dropped without
any practical result from the debate ; but Mr.
GREGORY has done good service in bringing it for-
ward, and in demonstrating to the public the neces-
sity of watchfulness if they do not wish their col-
lections broken up and distributed to places where
the fragments will be virtually inaccessible to two-
thirds of the metropolis.

Lord AIRLIE was fully justified in calling the
attention of the House of Lords last night to the
subject of the defences of Canada. In some respects
this question is one of the most important which has
occupied the attention of Parliament, because it
may happen that before the next session events of
magnitude may take place in that colony, and the
honour and interests of England be materially con-
cerned therein. Lord AIRLIE asked the Govern-
ment whether negotiations were still pending be-
tween the Government of Canada, and also,
if so, " whether when the negotiations had
been concluded the papers relative to
them" 'would be laid before Parliament
In the course of his remarks the noble lord said
that it was desirable for the Government to make
some declaration as to the principles upon which
they based their arrangements, as well as merely
intimating the amount of money that it was pro-
posed to spend on the works. This is a very cor-
rect argument, and one which ought to meet with
attention. Doubtless had more care and attention
been adopted at the outset, the matter might by
this time have been satisfactorily disposed of, so
far as preliminaries are concerned, instead of merely
being in process of arrangement. Earl DE GREY
stated that he fully agreed as to the
importance of the subject referred to, but
that he did not think it expedient for that very
reason to enter into detail. Some members of the
Canadian Government have come this country for
the purpose of discussing the difficult points of the
affair with her MAJESTY'S Government. Lord DE
GREY declared in the name of Ministers, when
asked for a definite answer, that it was not expe-
dient just now to make public the result of the
negotiations which were in process of arrangement.
He would say, however, that the representatives of
Canada who had come over appeared to be impressed
with the importance of their mission, and when the
plans had been perfected the communications would
be laid before Parliament. It cannot be said that
we are much wiser when we have concluded Earl
DE GREY'S speech than we were before we com-
menced it, and it really seems advisable that Minis-
ters should depart a little from the absurd custom
of making a mystery of everything. By the time
all is needed we shall be told that it is too late to
interfere or to make any alterations, and so on to
the end of the chapter. In this instance, however,
it is to be earnestly trusted that the Government
will take heed to their ways, because the subject of
Canadian defences is a very important one, and
cannot afford to to be treated with carelessness or

caprice.

Affairs 'are not going prosperously with the
Prissian Ministers. The last intelligence confirms
the unfavourable opinion already entutained of the

manner in which the Chamber of Deputies have
dealt with the various subjects brought before them.
From the commencement of the session there has
been nothing but altercations on one point and
another, and the ministers have not made any ad-
vances in endeavouring to conciliate the Deputies.
The debate upon the Military Reorganisation Bill
was resumed yesterday in the Lower House. Herr
Von BoNN's amendment between the Government
and the Chamber, and the question of the Military
Budget, was lost, and it is curious to notice that
only eight votes were given in its favour. The first
and second paragraphs of the Government Bill
were registered by 258 to 31 votes. When this
significant circumstance had taken place the
Ministers declared that they took no further interest
in the discussion. They, of course, say that any
effort to save their measure from an ignominious
doom would be unavailing, and they abandoned it
to its fate. The third and fourth paragraphs were
rejected afterwards, and, finally, it was proposed to
put all the remaining sections to the vote, and they
were rejected. This is in some respects the most
complete defeat that the Ministers have yet had to
encounter in the prosecution of their plans, but it is
not really of so much consequence as would appear
at first sight, because it is well known that the
Berlin authorities are rather indifferent to con-
stitutional practices, and can contrive to go on
with great assurance on their own responsi-
bility. At any rate, however, a stigma has
been attached to their career during this Parlia-
mentary campaign, and they must feel irritated and
disheartened at the retrospect which they have to
survey. Time after time reproach has been heaped
upon them, and they have been treated with scorn
and indignation by those whose support they should
unquestionably have received, and whose assistance
was necessary to secure their position as popular
statesmen. No one can regret the adverse fate
which has befallen these plotters and schemers,
however, because they really have shown themselves
to be so utterly indifferent to the claims of the com-
munity whom they profess to serve, and so false to
their own reputation, and consequently to that of
their country. Whether any result of an important
nature follows upon this rejection of the Ministerial
plan or not, it is at any rate satisfactory to notice
that the Chamber of Deputies has made its protest
against such extraordinary and unconstitutional
measures as those of the Government. The Schles-
wig-Holstein affair is meanwhile at a stand-still,
and neither side abate their pretensions. Herr VON
BISMARK is anxious to adopt active measures, but
the King appears unwilling to do so, and doubtless
he is wise in his reticence. Those who scheme and
strive to get possession of more territory than justly
belongs to them may learn a salutary lesson in the
state of Prussia at present, distracted at home by a
confused policy and hostile Chambers, and perplexed
abroad with the dissensions among her allies, while
her best friends must be thoroughly ashamed of her
tactics and inanceuvres.

WILLS AND BEQUESTS.

(From the Illustrated London News)

Probate of the will of the Right Hon. Wm. Thos.
Horner Fox Strangways, Earl of Ilchester, of Mel-
bury House, and Abbotsbury Castle, Dorset, and
of Redlynch, Somerset, was granted to his relative
Lord Digby, and Henry Framyton, Esq., the exe-
cutors. The personalty was sworn under £60,000.
His lordship was the second son of the second earl,
and succeeded his brother as fourth earl in 1858,
and died, on the 10th Jan. last, at the age of 70.
His will bears date 1860, and a codicil 1863. His
lordship confirms the settlement made on his mar-
riage, in 1857, with his wife Sophia, daughter of Sir
R. Sheffield, Bart., and also the subsequent provi-
sions in her favour, leaves her his carriages, horses,
wine, and the plate not marked with the coronet,
and all jewels not being heirlooms, and an immediate
legacy of £2,000. The plate bearing the family
arms, all pictures, marbles, bronzes, or other articles
of virtu, books, drawings, medals, coins (ancient or
modern, not being current coins of the realm), old
charters, MSS., collections of science, antiquities,
art,or curiosities,as well those bequeathed to him by
his brother the late Earl (Henry Stephen) as those
acquired by him, to be held by the person in the
possession and enjoyment of the manor and estates;
and he bequeaths the residue of his personal pro-
perty to his nephew and successor, Henry Edward
Fox Strangways, now in his minority, born 1847,
son of his brother, the late Hon. John George
Charles Fox Strangways. There are numerous
legacies and annuities to his nephews, nieces, and
other relatives and friends, also to servants, to be
paid free of duty ; and bequests to the following in-
stitutions and objects, viz., the County Hospital,
Dorchester, £lOO ; Dorset Eye Infirmary, at Wey-
mouth, £100; Dorset County Museum, £5O; to the
officiating clergy of the parishes of Melbury Sampford
and Osmond, Melbury-Bubb, Abbotsbury,Evershot,
and Redlynch, £lOO each, subject to the payment of
£2O to the poor of each parish at their discretion ;
to the Vicar of Somerton, £5O for the use of the
fabric of the parish church ; to the Literary Associa-
tion of the Friends of Poland in London, £lOO ; to
the Chancellor, Master, and scholars of the Univer-
sity of Oxford, £l,OOO, for founding and establish-
ing an exhibition, lectureship, or scholarship, or
periodical prize for the encouragement of the study
of Polish and other Sclavonic languages, literature,
and history, with a view of promoting the know-
ledge of European politics in general, and, more
especially, of benefiting the diplomatic service of
this country. His lordship, among other appoint-
ments, was attached to the Embassy of St. Peters-
burg in 1816.

The will of Major-General Richard Say Arm-
strong, Royal Artillery, lately residing in the city
of Bath, but-who died at Lucerne, in Switzerland,
on the 18th of January last, was proved in London
on the 6th of April. The personalty was sworn
under £20,000. The will, with a codicil, bears
date August, 1863, and appoints as his executors and
trustees his wife, Mrs. Mary Ffolliott Armstrong ;
his sister, Mrs. Harriet Maude ; and his nephew,
Richard Armstrong Maude, Esq. To his wife he
leaves his carriages, horses, furniture, &c., all money
at his agents' and bankers', an immediate legacy of
£2,000, and an annuity of £6OO. Any surplus or
residue arising from his estate he leaves to his said
sister for her life, together with the reversion of the
annuity of £6OO. The whole of his property will
ultimately devolve upon the children of his said
sister. To his executors he leaves £lOO each, and
to his said.nephew a further bequest of £5OO by the
codicil.

The will of Benjamin Harris, Esq., formerly of
Madras, in the East Indies, but late of Blackheath
Park, Kent, was proved in London, under £90,000
personalty. The testator died on the 31st of January
last. His will is dated April 13, 1854, and dis-
poses of the whole of his property to his wife abso-
lutely, appointing her sole executrix.

Letters just received from Mas'sowah state that
up to the 10th ult. no reply had been received from
King Theodorus, who had lately returned from his
expedition to Shoa. According to one report, his
Majesty had succeeded in quelling the rebellion in
that province, and on reaching Magdala had ordered
Consul Cameron's fetters to be removed. Another
rumour, however, regarded as more reliable, repre-
sents the expedition to Shoa as a failure, and denies
that any favourable change has taken place in the
condition of the captives. Another messenger was
dispatched to his Majesty on the 30th of March,
whose return was expected about the middle of
May. Should this renewed attempt fail to elicit a
reply from the King, it is presumed that the exist-
ing mission at Massowah will be abandoned.
Correspondents from Aden report that a second
letter from her Majesty has been forwarded to King
Theodorus, and that a junior lieutenant had been
associated with Mr. Rassam. Also, that 500 stand
of arms had been dispatched to Massowah,'intended
as a present to his Abyssinian Majesty.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

HEALTH OF THE KING OF THE
BELGIANS.

BRUSSELS, MAY 6.

The King has passed a more quiet night.
The Duke of Brabant returned here this morning
from his long tour.