The Sun.
London, England, 1825-04-19 00:00:00

FOR TIIE SUN.

.
by Mal :w.
riteErD EDlTOR—'rite suggested
and BENJAMIN WEST have respectfully offered the collection
pamphlet,he o b(jin7wth which humblyMesers . RAPHAEL
of the late President'e historical, paintings to Government, as
A purchase of British materials for the NATIO:6I2. GALLERY)
is twofold ; first for the purchase of the late President's pic-
tures, and second, for the lippropriation of an annual :am by
Parliament, to be expended in eiring commissions to British
Historical Paintete, tbr historical pictures on a grand scale
for the National Gallery, and as an embellishment for such
public buildings as' be selected by the wisdom of a Corn-
,
m- ittee appointed by the House of Commons, and sanctiond by
his Majesty.
There would hare been no necessity for this, or for any such
application, if the only proper tide of the rornere see. LI of
history painting had not been closed against the entrance and
exertions of British Genius, for two hundred and eighty years
by the power of the State, which, in the first instance, was em-
ployed to crush the Fine Arts, in the time of. EL/ZABETII
and Ebwaep VI. The application for a remedy is, therefore,
on public as well as personal grounds, made to the State. In
consequence of the exclusion of paintings from Churches and
public buildings, there being neither a public necessity nor a
'
private demand, for historical pictures in the:PUBLIC STYLE,
-
the paternal efforts of his late and present Majesty, tire ex-
ertions of the Royal Academy and British Institution- have
hitherto failed to create any other field far the cultivation of the
pubii: style, anti have also, failed to 'difliase a taste 'in this
country for the PUBLIC STYLE, although during the last and
present century, the British artists have Carried every branch-of
the DOMESTIC STYLE, in which they were
*liberally mean.
raged, to the higheit degree of excellence. v the-high
authority of the Committee on the Elgin Marbles, and of the
Committee of the British Institution, that it is only by a
splendid patronage of the PUBLIC STYLE that the British
Esnpire can hope ever to vie with the.artists of ancient Greece,
and with Italy in the
golden days of Leo ; or to employ paint-
ing as a moral instrument and means of national glory.
At present, it is a Melancholy fact,
that .the young artists,
who, on the formation of the British Institution, came CritiltlSi-
astically forward, and devoted their
time,
talents, and the fu-
ture hope of their lives, to the study of Historical Painting,
have been, with perhaps only one or two exceptions, obliged some
time since, gradually to abandon History Painting upon a grand
scale, and to betake theineelves to designing for . thetooke
sellers, or to Painting. whatever was in demand; fur-the
ornament of private mansions. Certainly,eif we set is School
of Artists to contend with the Carver, Gilder, and Upholsterer,
great triumph over the Artists of
we cannot hope for any very
ancient-Greece, or of the golden era of the Arts in Italy; from
was the noble object, when the
their victory. To vie with, not merely to imitate,. " the great
Artists of the renotined ages,"
preliminary letter in 1805 "their
British Institution with a truly national spirit, pointed out to
the British Artists, in their
, in
subsequent publications.'
If the exclusion of pit-hires from Churches and publichuild-
ings had not produced an atte-historical spirit in this country,
and extinguished all public necessity and demand for the-pub—
lic style of history painting, by which British Genius was de-
prived of all patronage in that high department, there would
have been no necessity for founding that patriotic Associetion,
-called ". The British Institution, to ask thatprofresfonal .taxi,
and talent, and national patronage be no longer contincil to IN OBJECTS ;. but that our Artieei ybe encouraged
-to direct their attention to higher ensi clothe, attainments, to
paint the -mind and passions of man, and to illostratethe G ItF.AT.
EVEN-TS which have been cecorded in history." (Page 0:1, Pro.
ceedings of the British Institution, 1305.) The very formation•
of this high-mindedpublie Body,proved to the world the existenee
twerAy yearsewhen not-
of the' Anti-historical and .Anti-British Spirit, which. they
pleiged thetnselvss to counteract and conquer as far as they.
haze power ! But, now, at the end of
withstanding; all their liberal prizes, purchases, end most mein'
torious exertiens, they have been unable to effect their purpose,
their call in
in favour of the public tale of history, when the voting Artists,'
who, with so much etiffillSiaStie (IeVOLiOTI, obeyed
1305, have. been compelled to abandon that department, .aagi
when the head of the..l its in the British Empire; the late:Kine's
Historical Painter, after having been 27 yeare essesieeei of, 016
prevent the utter extinc..
'Royal Academy, at hie decease in his 8?,,t year.,
.w.t.no
other
inheritance but the !tideland collection of his urotold histnricat
pictures to' his sons, subject to all the contingencies of the A n tie
.11ritisis and Anti-historical spirit, it i s:
flay eecome a matter of
tion of historical painting in the reelin. If the Churcle.exclu=
for the Government to
' tings had not produced an Anti-historical spirit
sion of pain • ,
Strife necessity
the late President's historical
.pictures would. haVe camel par=
chaeers as fast its they' were painted. I hove -long ant well
rOpOidered this [subject, ;ma I
,Mn it.niratighly convinced that
upon tale fate of these pictures Opell ds• the
gusßtion ; whether
story
-the public style of-history . .. is speedily to oecorne.extiect or
t 001. -At Present 1 . ' ' ever
to flourishin the British to
i n
4,..a1i,
no •le study of history
painting is " The Road to R. i
art:inetnt
tireless ignorant
in Lis senses,
would devote his son. o that ctep , _ less ignorant (lithe
i petrohage. I shall, is
real state of public taste and
~,ow.anct.,
own.
spine , your next
publication, with your liberal 11 very hut:tittle.
' I advantages of
remarks, on the neceesity ant
..4 . pert:hitting ,the
. he ,AT toNAL. UAL LEtt v '
late President's pictures for _ . , .
4prillo. 1825. .k.. e..I.VN
,dux,

ANTI-CATHOLIC PETITIONERS-
The LORD CHANCELLOR said, that he had two pett-f
•tions to present _to their Lordships, praying that no further
"concessions might be. granted .to • the Roman Catholics. The
first petition was from the inhabitants of the town of New
castle-under-Lyme, in the county of StaffOrd ; and the second
:was from the Protestant Dissenters of Camberwell-grove Cha.e..
pel.—Both the petitions were read, and ordered to lievpori the"
table of the House.
The Earl of LIVERPOOL (to whom a bun-dle of petitions,
were handed the moinent he entered the House) said, that he
had several petitions on the subjeet of those just .presented by
his Noble and Learned Friend, which, having' been entrirsted
to him personally, he considered it to be his:duty to present to.
the House.
As far as we could catch (he . names of the greater part of
the petitions, they were froth the 'Minister' and Elders of the.
parish of Gla.serow ; from the parish of St. Janics, Glasgow ;-
from the. Gardeners of filanow ; from the. Weavers-of Glas-
gow ; from the Tailors of Glasgow ; from the. Presbytery of
Glasgow.; .from the Earbet-s- of. Glasgow ; from. the Maltsters'
of Glasgow; from PollochShaws, near Glasgow; from Kirlt-
patrick; and from Stirling.
The Earl Of. LAUDERDALE said, he really wished to
know, if the Noble Earl-opposite,-for whoni he felt a very high
esteem, was quite assured as to the names and topography of
some of the places from whence the petitions purported to have
come. For instance, the petition from POlhickshaW sounded
rather new to him, though he did not mean to assert there was
actually no such place. Buti.at all events, he had heard of no
great meetings on the subjict of Catholic Clain-is. in ScOtland
and, therefore, these Petitions ought to be received- with some
caution by that Rouse. - •
The Earl of LIVERPOOL could only.say, in reply to the
Noble Lord, that lie had received the petitions. with letters from
the parties, requesting that he would present them to their Lord.
ships. He then presented siniihir petitions froM the Borough
of Calton,-and the town of Ramsgate.
Lord ROLLE presentedseveral petitions 'so the same effect,
among which, were those of the inhabitants of the parish
.of St.
Mar K, Exeter,.and the towns of. Bideford and lloniturt,
_
vons ire. .
Lord KlNG—There is a counter petition to one of those.
Lord ROL LE.—From the Sociniana,'l suppose.
Lord KING.—/ don't know• whether it is front the,Sociniatis
or not, but' the petitions have a rightttr approach_ this.Hpuse.
and, at any rate, their language is quite as serisild i as that con-
tained in the petitions presemcd by the Noble Lord. •
'The Earl of LIVEI:POOL..- I really 'hope, that the Noble
Lord (King) will consider the propriety of abstainingfrom such
remarks as he has lately been in the habit of -making on these
occasions. For one speech ofit is, there are sure to be six peti.
tions laid- upon the table of this House. .• -
Lord HOLLA ND.,--If that be the ease., my Lords, and I
urn not disposed to doubt the Noble Earl's assertiOn,- I cannot
conceive 'Why he wishes my Noble Friend (Lord King) net to
speak.- (•A laugh.)
Lord ROLLE they presented a petition of the same cbarac-
terfrom the inhabitants of Ashburton, in Devonshire. -"He
added that the petition he had presented from Honiton Win
signed by from 400 to 500 persons of respectability., and would.
more than counterbalance the counter petition which the Noble
Lord (King) had hinted at. '
c ion rt
he 1,1;
The :Archbishop of CANTERBURY presented -a similar
pd
ieotei teisoen, fwtohni lit the
ee
Deanr
;m m nniedn t(1 eda- tpot Chapter
rheo of
e'rs
attentioni
The Duke of MONTROSE presented 'petitions to the
same effect. from the Borough -of Sterling, tram' the Rakers
of Glasgow, from the Fleshers of Glasgow, from the Masons
of Glasgow, and front the Haunnermen and Carpenters of
• .

in aboveth the
eireTebt'efTroilinshtchpe oinfhEaXbiEtaTntEs Rof
tphreesepanrteisthl aotpFetuitanortcow.gtlible..
county of-Devon. • - . -
The Bishop of NORWINI said, that he held in his hand
a petition front the Archdeacon and Clergy of the Arclideaconry
of Norwich, and that he felt great pleasure-in presenting it to
their Lordships, not on account of the pray(r of the petition,
but from the temperate language in Which it was worded. The
of of the petitioners was to. pray against the concession of
those rights, which ought to be enjoyed in common-with all
British subjects. So far, therefore, he difDred with them; fOr
as to the question of purity of faith, whether it, were tObe
rcided bere;'Or • hereafter, he had not the slightest doubt. *The
Right Rev; Prelate then presented another petition to the sane
effect, from the Achdeaconry of Sudbury, in the diocese- of
NOrwich.

lenigi°thrd, 'suchCALt'ermi-IpOeißarelip;
asaitiiodn,,, that
ilitehewlslegrliza)d
otio ;.telee,
Elia.;
tat-Ai:died' Church as at present. He would not interpose thee
slightest obstacle to the petitions of the Clergy',—( Warchear 1 •
from the Episcopal Bench:) Ile could wit .help r'einlititing,
in saying- this, that the -petitions of the Clergy '-** 'tot.:
backed or . fortified by those bodies of men who Ought-to
conituand• the -attention of the . Louse upon so iniptiltarit a'
Subject.' Ir was the province Of their Lordships,'i it was pe-
culiarly so,. as not holding their seats from the People, ;aria;
ift.o.rhorenwre4atrOee
.itanit,ozicoltg4tlor.st:l;(autseybilleioadit,7l..,:b:
oyb.tpyhiwra)
Into:
gl.alie.et . 1
zwiwrni Tie, :
isl
mat t ci
ceco r net
tprapr rural ibtor:leanitiiyonlincias.ntlit;ilt:oibie:trie! :
opinion,- to dernionstrate the independent. spirit 'by whieb
.they . were actuated_ at such a crisis as this. _lt \vas evkieht,..
el"vvii liar :' :bir 7:: ' then,, ii Id ,7tIT e
theytn°; werethe.
1, ge.. Ci.:ll(ee..nr::iwYfYyirtnaig:tt:ea..tn.romtivs3eln:::.thslewi
rni:toetiwdpoePo tei;
ih i
i. tliv ga:tiinti;e(iirat
itl,h,
rieb:uortttthe
ooeni
ctorplaiir6r,yiti. to
3h
nnt.
Pmeecai"
fraak
smtiN:oe,wiwYci.,;eihecustorneti to moire-
gtsttt thhtietile'etennp't.sSrtiv6:i.rotir‘ri.taint.r:ti:lt 'I;3:1, üb::::iit;i'l:,:„rt::u:eneriP;cri:fibye)::up:"en.
tttliritt;ii
effect,
it: ce et
..n
or
presented
fil.4.4l.tlittl.btotei:e't:tl;:a6rigntiith theft
tfatfintir°:.,:m.
et:.ilrdtiihene-I.
Pe- .W"4 there 4 ,iagle.pt;tition from any of
the t.:rht:ptiStelis::: :radfrbore:r:ni:t:ehtlii:iie,..9.clioln,it'sio:rErlitirf,etillact::iTiierojelsa.t,,
latter of trobc?rii,. he I)elievetl, were growing tar abo.ve all:
other classes in inform ation_anne:.
tltlltirerrearmlite.y.
V: i 1 d
ititg 1 *3:
,n;::::eetEitt'ithteliterri' 'l4'nsigs ':si.3(lelel England d::eyial;ciel_ai.°:,('. i:nfirtf:::tui,il'l'fol'aincti:ie:/uPc::et:r°on3C)lebn tilae.:n),Et,:en'Yc;:;3l:4et• °I
'Yvorcie'l'eete_nrYehe;tli.;:itt;;:ilbinig:Ef;_t
yl4: t;.
ii:ttiCf_seh:::;:ifilrlialflnrtr!te tilltb:lit.)::(ll:3l7ll:llolPtc:l...ei.b:r:eci
qr!:re:3,:.l,Tridin:;oici6:::!'
:,°:::loe.glrrliT};:eibsneth:wl,:e.tt
(church
it:vit:it:l‘..;wi: I.'rli:liet:ar°denarfil'etif°6ll:::)yr.on,sttP, t,t(''ilua:tritt:t..r:l°Dci;:i .11,tri;irt'lr'''ci::sli :len4'!:''ci:t:t:e.t74Y:', ti'4l°::ltly;leeril,tli
et' f4‘i;ti3l::e'll::::::::‘l4l:iizetritingirnc;;lYAisio:nniin6;deli
e
al signed
on)it.!El:oCrtisfac.,titt.)l4));Ai.,l::lt:
pat 1, , •
further ncessions tn.g-t .. ._
0. .e 1 . athotics, kf e
by seven thousand of the in Hants, who .praved t3t no
i'l,llt;..;it.thEec?teyß- :74-I",fa)bnl.l.7ter,tie v . . ,
ei.,,,,d to tall' tle attentiol oi 3 . o!
, Ard (Klngl to th'...4
-' b-. siohle Lord r9rnPI4IDA4 c)-t the 1, • . . •
i•rtc..on,• as •:....--.. .
3ngoct of
..

.• ,