The Sun.
London, England, 1854-04-17 00:00:00

of his Catholic subjects, publicly consign to the flames at
Chelsea. In front of the court, and occupying a promi-
nent position of the nave, are the eight restored effigies
of the Crusaders, from the Temple Church, remarkable
as exhibiting that purity of style which is scarcely to be
met with in any other monuments of the same period.
Since our last account of the works of art in the Ger-
man Gothic courts, considerable progress has been made
in illustrating the works of Adam Kraft, Vect Stoss,
.Peter-Visoher, and others. A writer in the Atheneum
gives the following interesting description of some of
the specimens in this court :—" Upon a high cornice in
the German aisle are a row of dancing mannikins from
the Rath-haus at Munich, fantastically dressed with
bells, like jesters, the conical caps and long wide sleeves,
belted doublets, pointed toes like mummers or Mores-
coes, the shoulders curiously shrugged, the toes quaintly
turned out, the faces twisted with a sly, ruefulgrimace and
the hands assisting the dumb show of these middle-age
Pucks. In the little corbels below are children read-
ing, fat men laughing and holding their sides, and two
gossips discussing news over a horn of Rhenish wine.
In the spandrils of the centre court there are some
curious figures of angels fiddling and harping, sur-
rounded by a forest-work of tracery. Below, on the
left-hand side of the court, is a valuable alto-I-slier°,
consisting of a central circle of figures, surrounded by a
border of twenty-three divisions, representing scenes in
our Saviour's life—his execution, his death, and his
resurrection. The figures, though small, are delicate
in expression, and full of quaint truth and vitality.
Above the central cross is God the Father, represented
as an old crowned king, and the emblem of the spirit—
the brooding dove—below. Surrounded by the patri-
archs, the prophets, kings, and saints, is Christ ; on
his right hand, angels are summoning the Messed,
amongst whom Adam and Eve are seen unduly con-
spicuous ; and on the other, devils, in the shape of wild
beasts, are hurrying the lost into hell. The miser is
being crammed with gold pieces from an exhaustless
bag—the glutton is clasped by a wild boar—and one
monster has thrown his helpless prisoner ever his
shoulders as men might a sack. The saints are con-
spicuous, hugging their emblematical bulls, eagles, or
lions. St. Anthony has his pig, and St. George his
tame dragon ; while the peaceful-looking martyrs carry
ferocious-looking weapons, typical of their mode of death.
We defy any one to escape a smile at St. Stephen, who
very ruefully carries some formidable-looking geological
specimens on his psalter, like apple-dumplings in
a dish. Some other relievos, on the opposite side, re-
present the Last Supper and the passage to Calvary, in
which the brutal, truculent-looking kolzhneclt's wear
medieval armour. John Knox himself could not wish
better protests for the Reformation than, amid the
anxious tearful beauty of the virgins, the calm dignity
of maternal love and saintly aspiration we see depicted
upon some of these faces. The malicious grin, the
blubber sensual lip, the wrinkled sneer, the self-com-
placent smile, the double chin, bloated cheek, and hard,
cruel forehead ; the small, crafty eye ; the stony abstract
stare of the ascetic, and the swinish grin of the drunken
abbot, pass before us like the monsters of Spenser's
visions."

THE SOCIETY OF ARTS AND THE

MECHANICS' INSTITUTES.

The following interesting circular has been published
by the Society of Arts :
The subject of the classes for systematic instruction in
the institutions in union with this society has long been
under the consideration of the council. In the replies
given by the institutions to the first circular, addressed
to them by the council in March, 1852, its attention
was especially drawn to this very difficult subject, aid
it was discussed at the annual conferences in 1852 and
1853. It appears to be an unanimous opinion that
every institute should have its classes for adult
instruction ; but this desideratum is at present,
in most cases, ♦ery difficult, and in many cases im-
possible to be attained. Sufficient inducements have
not as yet been generally given to the members of an
institute to pursue systematic studies in its classes ; but
it has been suggested that this defect might in a great
measure be supplied, if stated examinations, by a board
of competent authority, were to present to those mem-
bers the stimulus of emulation and competition, together
with the honourable reward of a diploma or certificate,
which might attest the merit of the examined ; and that
this society might greatly benefit the institutes by under-
taking the requisite arrangements for the establishment
of such examinations.

The council is not unwilling to undertake this duty, if
the institutes in union deliberately desire it ; but the
best possible scheme of examinations cannot succeed if
the institutes are not now, and are not likely soon to be,
in a position to present to the examiners a sufficient
number of candidates properly prepared for examination.
Assuming, however, that in due time such candidates
will be forthcoming, the council has considered what
measures must be taken by the society to ensure success,
if the institutes should be able and willing to do their
part in this business.

- In order that diplomas, or certificates, may be accepted
as really valuable testimonials of persevering study and
superior attainment, the examiners must be men of dis-
tinguished reputation, and their awards must not be
lightly given.

-The council has reason to believe that the society can
obtain the services of examiners whose names will com-
mand confidence.

The details of the examinations cannot be settled
until after the conference of the representatives of the
institutions, in June next. IThe following is a mere
outline, intended to show how the plan would work,
and to elicit the opinions of the institutions. It is pro-
posed :

- 1. That the examinations be held at least once a year
(say in March), at convenient places in different dis-
tricts, the institutions in each district being grouped
together for the purpose.
2. That the examinations be conducted simultaneously
by papers previously prepared by the examiners in
London.

3. That every candidate for examination shall have
been, for a certain period (say six months), a student of
a class in an institute in union.
4. That a local committee, possessing the confidence
of the institutions at each place of examination, receive
the papers by post from that board ; see that the papers
are fairly worked by the candidates, without copying
from each other, and without books or other assistance ;
certify that all has been properly conducted ; and re-
turn the worked papers by post to the board of exa-
miners in London.
5. That such worked papers as the examiners may
approve of be divided by them into three classes, accord-
ing to merit. Ist, 2d, and 3d ; and that corresponding
certificates be issued to the successful candidates.
6. That each certificate state the name and age of the
candidate ; the total number of lessons given to the
class ; the number of lessons that he (or she) has at-
tended ; the subject, or subjects, on which the candidate
was examined ; and the result of the examination.
7. That no certificate be awarded for any paper which
gave evidence of only a smattering of knowledge, how-
ever extensive, or which was not well spelt, and fairly
and clearly written.
8. That Ist class certificates be very cautiously
awarded, so as to indicate a high standard of solid
attainment.
9. That a list of suitable subjects for examination be
prepared for the approval of the " Conference." That
candidates be examined at their option in any of those
subjects ; but that no candidate, after his first examina-
tion, take up more than two of the subjects in the same
year ; a thorough knowledge of one or two subjects
being far more important thaa a superficial acquaint
ance with many.
_

In putting forth this very important matter for con-
sideration, the council trusts that it will be borne in
mind that success can only be obtained through the
hearty co-operation of the institutions. Such co-opera-
tion may be given by the institutions in preparing and
bringing forward fit candidates for examination, and by
the influential friends of education, in stamping the pro-
posed diplomas with a real commercial value, by acknow-
ledging them as testimonials worthy of credit. It is
hoped that few will look coldly upon an attempt to
supply to the members of the literary and scientific in-
stitutions, mechanics' institutes, and Athenzeums, in
union with the society of Arts, a portion, however
of those advantages which are abundantly offered
to the higher classes of the community in their compe-
titive examinations, honours, and degrees.

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