The Sun.
London, England, 1841-06-25 00:00:00

CATALOGUES.

Your Committee refer to the evidence concerning ca-
talogues, and are of opinion that, where the collections
will allow it, cheap catalogues, divided into distinct por-
tions for each class or department, should be provided at
our national collections, as a valuable mode of dissemi-
nating knowledge, and rendering those collections more
generally useful. It is also recommended, that a small
tablet should be attached to each object in the collection,
containing the name or subject ; and also, to works of
art, .the artist's name and the date.
CATHEDRALS AND PUBLIC MONUMENTS.

Tour Committee do not apprehend that any danger
to the monuments in Westminster Abbey or SL Paul's
would result from giving to the public, under proper re-
gulations, the same freedom of admission to those cathe-
drals which is allowed in the case of the exhibitions
referred to. The Committee are aware that serious
injury has in times past been done to the monuments in
Westminster Abbey, but their inquiries lead them to
believe that those injuries have not been the result of
any want of attention on the part of those who have
ordinarily charge of the cathedral, still less of a mis-
chievous disposition on the part of the people at large,
but have, for the most part, arisen from the necessity of
erecting on certain public occasions galleries and rooms
within the Abbey. and from want of due care or of power
on the part of those engaged in the conduct of such
extensive works, within a limited space, to protect so
many objects of art from injury.
That your Committee strongly deprecate any course
which could create an impression that churches were at
any time to be considered merely in the light of
.places
for the exhibition of works of art. But it is their opi-
nion, that as by increased facilities of admission to the
inspection of mere works of art, civilisation has been
encouraged and public taste improved, so a more free
admission to religious edifices, under proper regulation,
may be made conducive not merely to the gratification
of curiosity and the acquirement of historical knowledge,
but to the growth and progress of religious impressions,
by leading the mind of the spectator from the contem-
plation of the building to a consideration of the-views
with which, and the purposes for which, it vas originally
erected and is still maintained.

Your Committee beg to refer to the evidence of
John Britton, the toil-known author of " British
Cathedrals,"_ for forty-five years, has devoted
his talehts to the study of our national edi-
fif;es and Monuments, as showing the improvement
of the people, thrOugh the increased opportunities
afforded them of studying those subjects, and the confi-
dence which of late years has been placed in their dis-
cretion; his long and extensive experience in these mat-
ters have led him to the following conclusions :
What is the result of your observations upon the con-
duct of the public generally in public places since you
were in the habit of 'visiting them?—onsiderably im-
proved, immensely improved ; you would scarcely sup-
pose it ; supposinc, I had been from my own country, at
a distant part of the world, for the last fifty years, I
should not have supposed it the same nation or class of
people.
Have you not seen the number so great as to be de-
nominated " mob," but yet conducting themselves with
perfect decorum ?—I have seen them crowding through
the British Museum in immense masses, and have seen
them in all instances orderly; nothing has occurred, in
my own experience, to the contrary; but I have seen
them conduct themselves tvith strict propriety and with
laudable curiosity, and to be moving on in their re-
searches through the various rooms.
What effects arc produced on the minds of the poorer
classes, in your opinion, from the experience that you
have had in meeting them in those (ecclesiastical) edi-
fices?—l have noticed, upon many occasions, a great
number and variety of persons of the middling and
lower classes visiting cathedrals, examining diTerentparts
of them, examining the monuments, passing through
with great order and decorum, and apparently going
away highly satisfied and delighted; and the only draw-
back that I have seen or known upon such occasions,
has been the conduct and rather heavy charges de-
manded by the vergers and their servants.
Your Committee also refer to the evidence of Mr.
Allan Cunningham, the author of the " Lives of British
Artists," and other works of general interest, on the im-
portance of public exhibitions; and the beneficial effects
on the minds and minners of the workinc, classes :
You think that frequent access to sculpture and other
works of art is the best means of making the public care-
ful of them?—Decidedly; I think that question is solved
by the National Gallery being opened; you see a great
number of poor mechanics there, sitting wondering and
marvelling over those fine works, and having no other
feeling but that of pleasure or astonishment; they have
no notion of destroying them; I was very much de-
lighted to see them.
Then it is your opinion that facility should be afforded
by every possible means to collections of sculpture and
painting?—Unquestionably, under proper protection.
What class of people do you say you have seen there?
Men who are usually called " mob;" but they cease to
become mob when they get a taste.
You think that now they are more attentive? Deci-
dedly; I saw no attempt to hurt anything; I saw a great
deal of wonder and pleasure; there were what appeared
to me to be shoemakers, masons, and joiners.
Do you consider that there would be any danger to
the monuments in Westminster Abbey if the public were
admitted two or three hours a day, there being proper
attendants in waiting to observe and look after their con-
duct ?—I think, under proper restrictions and regula-
tions, with a sensible and able and active man to take
care of them, a man of sense and taste, that there would
be no danger.
The evidence of Mr. Edward Wedlake Brayley, the
historian of Westminster Abbey, is also deserving of at-
tentive consideration. He expresses a strong opinion,
that Westminster Abbey and other religious edifices, and
the monuments of national interest which they contain,
ought to be freely seen by all classes, with as little impe-
diment and restriction as their safety requires; and
states, in the following answers, what the advantages to
the public would be.
Is it your opinion that they ought to be freely seen by
all classes, with as little impediment and restriction as
their safety requires ?—Certainly, it is my opinion that
it would be useful in many points.
Will. ou state to the Committee the advantages that
occur to you as likely to arise from their being freely
seen?—That of causing an improved taste for art, gene-
rally, in the public; also, of conveying historical inf,Jr-
naation to those who, from the mere sight of them, might
be induced to make inquiry as to their origin and
intention.

Several of the witnesses are of opinion that free admis-
sion,ger of injury to r regulations, tends to diminish the dan-
under
In your visits tii.ilasth
Bray leg's
opinioolln.onuments and collections; and Mr.
the
clear
Abbey,upon thathave
y ou
far opportunitiesobserved how
as they havevilbeneen afforded to individuals, ad-
mittedand to parties moving upon the payment of money,
inclination to pilfer any about with a guide, if there was an
Z
tes of the tombs?—Certainly,
there have been eonside
par-
ties of ten or twelve persons movingepportunities; because
another cannot be overlooked from one chapel to
were disposed to pilfer; and even the supposing they
monument would conceal them from •sitrrference of the
Do you think that if a greater number were
were admitted
to those monuments, there would be better
protection
their being overlooked one by another?—l
Should
think
by
it would be so; still I have not seen any disposition
in any
pert of the public to cause destruction to any of
the
mo-
numents.
Your Committee have inquired into the state of the
monuments in the Cathedral of St. Paul's and in West-
minster Abbey; and beg to refer generally to the evi-
dence ther3on, which shows how desirable it would be
that means should 133 adopted for preserving and repair-
ing, if necessary, those national monuments. The public
monuments in Westminster Abbey may be divided into
several classes; viz., royal monuments, monuments to
noble and distinguished personages, some of which have
been erected by Votes of Parliament; also monuments to
public men by subscription, and monuments to private
individuals.
But your Committee have not had time to follow out
the investigation of that subject to the extent they could
have wished, or which its importance would have required.
Your Committee are of opinion, that increased atten-
tion.should be paid to the preservation of the ecclesias-
tical edifices, and of the Royal and other monuments
contained therein; and they entertain a hope that ar-
rangements may be made by the Cathedral authorities to
allow the larger portions of Westminster Abbey, and
St. Paul's and other Cathedrals throughout the country,
to be open freely to the public daily, and especially on
Sundays, reconciling such free admission with the due.
and - undisturbed performance of religious services,
though it • may be required to continue a small reduced
fee, or other sufficient. restriction, in re and to the
chapels, and s.naller.or _ moraintricate.portion' s of those
edifices. ..