The Sun.
London, England, 1862-05-16 00:00:00

FRENCH. GALLERY, PALL-MALL.

FRENCH AND FLEMISH EXHIBITION.
Mr. Gambart is entitled to the praise of present-
ing the London public with the most perfect exhi-
bition which they enjoy throughout the year, Whe-
ther in respect to extent or quality, his collection is
unique. It has the distinction in the first place
that it never contains a bad picture, whilst it often
exhibits many great ones, and it has the distinction
in the second that it always lies within a compass
which can be enjoyed without a headache. Our
gratification in his rooms is never abated by a
penalty which stands in the way of a
second visit. The good policy, therefore,
as well as taste which decides the charac-
ter of his collection sufficiently accounts for a
popularity which every year serve's to augment.
The present Exhibition, which opened a few weeks
since, and within a few days has been enlarged by
many valuable additions, is, on the whole, one of
the best that Mr. Gambart has yet given us. Whilst
retaining the great features which distinguished its
commencement—the " Roman': Mother," by Gallait
(76), in which the mingled regal and sad expression
suggests so happily Rome's decline, and the point-
ing of the hands exhibits such a mastery of treat-
ment—the " Aspasias House," by Gerome, which,
however cold in colour, is a most marvellous
expression of the voluptuous repose of old
Greek life the " Bernard Palissy," by
Vetter, (86), a perfect drama upon canvass,
in which the figure of the unhappy potter,
as he sits in his cottage, watching his oven, wherein
seethes the last experiment that decides his fame
and fortunes—is a piece of tragic pathos that it
would be difficult to rival—the admirable groupes of
Edward Frere, more especially his "Notre Dame"
(66) and his "Young Boy Dressing" (70) ;
the cattle pieces of Troyon the ?cried
landscapes of Lambinet, and last, not least, the
characteristic and manipulative marvels of Meie-
r...m.l.a —la 113 Tvlivhivol copcoi —the uaaitjALls
that have been made may be said to enlarge the
gallery's attraction, by being, in one respect at
least, of a highly ideal character. We allude
to the noble picture by Robert Fleury, of
the " Sack of Rome," referring, we presume, by
its costumes, to the sack under the Constable De
Bourbon. Here, in a group of four figures only,
almost the entire essence of the event, is concen-
trated. An august patrician stands on a terrace over-
looking the work of slaughter, whose ample chest
and massive head, sternly defiant in its composure,
carries us back to the days when Brennus encoun-
tered the Senate in their curule chairs. His wife
and child aghast shrink in their agony, beside him,
whilst another female, crushed by terror, stretches
prostrate at his feet. A more imaginative work
than this has not been seen in London for some
time, and the merit of its detail is quite on a
level with its conception. In contrast to this ideal
effort hangs the " Itinerant Conjuror," by Louis
Kraus—one of the most striking transcripts of
reality which we have seen for many years. A
Bohemian in Belgium gives an entertainment in the
stable in which he has placed his cart, and is seen
performing his great trick—the flight of canaries
from a hat, before an audience of the villagers, com-
posed of old and young. The composition of this paint-
ing, its excellent treatment, and above all, its great
variety and strength of character, give it claims
which would repay an entire hour's quiet inspac-
tion. The singular ease and naturalness of the
drawing and the wonderful diversity of look—from
the rotund farmer who, couched on the hay, roars at
the conjurer's cleverness, to the old woman in the
foreground, who is departing under the full con-
viction that he is none other than Satan
himself—combine to convey the sense of a
very rare power in the painter. After this
the visitor may turn with not diminished satisfac•
tion to some exquisite cabinet pictures by Duver-
ger, as, for instance, the " Little Brother's Toilet,"
in which the mending of his brace is evidently re-
garded by the boy and his sister as the most
serious work the world contains ; as also to
an exquisitely finished painting by Lasalle.
" Alms-giving," a striking picture, by Leys, the
student, which, with all the hardness of the old
Flemish school, has all the air and life of the
present ; and some animal pictures by
a new candidate in that field of art—
Madlle. Micas—whose ducks especially are worthy
of the school of the immortal Rosa. This summary,
however brief, must be sufficient, we should hope,
to commend this charming collection to all lovers of
superior painting.

211.11 LEiDS ATUR 7'o THE PRINCE

CONSORT '.

At a meeting of the Leeds town council on Wednesday
the propriety of placing the proposed marble statue of the
Prince Consort in the vestibule of the Town-hall was one
of the subjects for discussion, the question being brought
before the council on the motion of Alderman Botterill.
The MAYOR said he had had the honour of submitting to
General Grey, for the consideration of her Majesty, the
arrangement proposed for the placing of the statue in the
vestibule, which is at present solely occupied by a magni-
ficent marble statue of the Queen, presented by Sir Peter
Fairbairn. He had also enclosed plans, showing what
alteration in the position of the present statue was contem-
plated, so as to pro vide room for the Albert memorial, and
he had since been favoured with a reply from General Grey
to this effect :—" I am desired to state that her Majesty
approves most entirely of the arrangement you name; no
arrangement could be more gratifying to the Queen."
Alderman BOTTERILL then moved, " That the council
approve of a marble statue of his late Royal Highness the
Prince Consort being placed in the vestibule of the Town-
hall, and that the council alter and construct the founda-
tions in such manner as may be necessary for the removal
and replacing of the statue of her Majesty, and the placing
of the statue of the Prince Consort therein." By the re •
moval of the statue of the Queen to the right-hand side of
the vestibule, it was the opinion of the architect and of the
artist that the beauties of the work would be more favour-
ably shown, as it would be in a better light for glimpsing a
proper sight of the head and upper portion of the statue.
Mr. George Gilbert Scott had also been consulted on the
subject, and he was of opinion that the removal from the
centre to the side of the vestibule would bo a decided ad-
vantage. The consent of Sir Peter Pairbairn's family had
also been obtained to the change; and as her Majesty had
fully approved of it, with the object of obtaining a site in
the same porch for the statue of her late husband, he had
much pleasure in proposing the resolution.
Councillor FERNS seconded the proposition, which was
adopted.

The statue of the Prince Consort has been entrusted to
Mr, Noble, who was the sculptor of the Fairbairn statue of
her Majesty, and it is proposed that the drapery of the
new work of art shall be of the same character as that be-
stowed upon the subject already finished.

CADET REVIEW AT THE CRYSTAL PALACE.—At
the forthcoming review of the cadet corps of the metropoli-
tan and suburban volunteer regiments by Lord Elcho,
lieutenant-colonel, commanding the London Scottish Vo-
lunteers, which will take place on M ednesday, the 11th of
June, at the Crystal Palace, the following cadet corps have
agreed to be present :—London Rifle Brigade, 3d City of
London, 4th City, Queen's (Westminster), South Middle-
sex, 20th Middlesex (Euston-square), 29th Middlesex (St.
Pancras), 33d Middlesex (Tottenham), 36th Middlesex
(Paddington), 37th Middlesex (Bloomsbury), 40th Middle-
sex (Gray's inn), Ist Surrey, 4th Surrey, 2d Tower Ham-
lets, 4th Tower Hamlets, and 6th do., West Middlesex, 3d
Kent, and 13th Kent. The review, which is expected to
prove very interesting on account of the large number of
cadets who will take part in the movements, will commence
at three p.m.

LIVERPOOL EXCHANGE, Wednesday Evening.—
The American news, though containing no fresh intelli-
gence of importance, or to which full credit can be givkeent,
.
has contributed to still further depress the cotton market.
There has been a retort current here this afternoon
The t
New Orleans has been retaken by the Confederattur
r.e
Mexican news has given rise to some uneasiness
agpaprrd:
the intentions of France, and some persons are
hensive of a rupture taking place between F
the troubles in
land, if the former betrays a purpose to turn
Mexico to her own exclusive advanta
reference to the es-
- STORIES.—With le and Eng-
rd Palmerston is reported
Chancellor of the Exchequer,
to that honest, upright, and
to have thus spoken in rep::
::ttack on the foreign policy of
hon. gentleman has said as to
44 I utterly and entirely deny
straightforward statesman's
her Majesty's Governrni3
ht
every word that the g
and quarrels betw eenthe two nations.
say,
engets his information I cannot, of
but I advise him to receive with
hostility, bickmheeerninctgoe,
(Hear.) W
course, presume
great istrust any information he may receive from the
same quarter again. (Cheers and laughter,) No doubt
Ntr Disraoli spoke from the same inspiration as that which
dictated his works, which are works of imagination. Ili;
literary fame bid! fair to be matched by his reputatior, as an
orator.a
lie enuently derives his intelligeniN3 from his
g and as the man of genius always
;;
was faith in him-
self,e he will probably continue, in 'spite of the Premier's
advice, to believe as implicitly its he now does, every word
of the information he may receive from that trustworthy
quarter.--,Funchl

LATEST NEWS.

PARIS, MAY 16.

The Monitetor of this morning says :

" Some French journals have published the pro-
spectus issued by M. Mires relative to a new loan.

" The tenour of this prospectus has decided the
Government upon inviting the organs of the press
not to reproduce it."

TURIN, MAY 16.

The Pope went on the 12th inst. to the church of
St. John of Lateran, where fifty bisops had as-
sembled.

NAPLES, MAY 15.

The official Gironale di Napoli publishes an article
on the arrival of Prince Napoleon, which it con-
siders as a fresh proof of the friendship of France.

The article continues thus :

" This feeling might, however, give rise to pre-
mature hopes in reference to the Roman question,
which, instead of hastening the solution of this
question, wouid only obstruct the steps al-
ready taken, and which must certainly lead to a
result. We believe we may state that the arrival
of the Prince still more assures the cordial under-
standing between the Emperor and the King, and
will facilitate a common action, for which the two
Governments are closely united, without, however,
his Imperial Highness having any mission to make
special propositions to the King."

FRANKFORT, MAY 16, 10.15 A.M.

Up to the present time no intelligence has been
received here of any intention or act denoting
that tko Elector will recede from his position.

MADRID, MAT 16.
Marshal O'Donnell and M. Barrot have had a
,ong conference on Mexican affairs.

CASSEL, MAY 16.
Up to yesterday evening the Elector bad not
yielded to the demands of Prussia and Austria.
The chief mayor has notified to the director of the
police, that as an individual elector he would not
give in a declaration to adhere to the Constitution
of 1860, as ordered by the ordinance of the 26th
April last, but in his capacity of commissioner super-
intending the pending elections, he would fulfil the
duties of his office,

The official Kasseler Zeitung of to-day announces
that the Electoral Government has made a declara-
tion to the Federal Diet, justifying the late ordin-
ance respecting the elections. The Government
further stated that the wish of the Federal Diet,
that the elections should be stopped, could not be
complied with on account of the constitutional
duties of the Elector.

DRESDEN, MAY 15.

The official Dresden journal of to-day publishes a
telegram from Frankfort-on-the-Maine, stating that
the Government of Electoral Hesse had resolved
to act in accordance with the resolution passed by
the Federal Diet the day before yesterday, and to
place itself in communication with the Federal Diet
in reference to the further course of action to be
pursued by the Electoral Government.

CASSEL, MAY 15.

The papers of this morning state that General von
Willisen withdrew yesterday to Minden, in Hano•

ver.

In 23 districts of Hesse no members were elected.
Besides the electors in 25 of the principal towns
the majority of the landowners have signed the

protest.

In the circle of Hofgeismar, out of 43 rural
mayors three only have made tb e official declaration
required by the law of April 26.

THE BOMBAY MAIL.
MALTA, MAY 15.
The Massilia, with the above mail, left on the
14th, at seven p.m., for Marseilles.

The Euxine, with the heavy portion of the mail,
left this day, at six a.m., for Southampton, where
she may be expected about the 24th.