The Sun.
London, England, 1846-09-29 00:00:00

.._._________.,..........e
SIXTH REPORT OF THE COMMIS-
SIONERS ON THE FINE ARTS.
TO THE QUEEN'S MOST EXCELLENT
MAJESTY.
We, the Commissioners appointed by your Majesty
for the purpose of inquiring whether advantage might
not be taken of the rebuilding of your Majesty's palace
at Westminster, wherein your Majesty's Parliament is
wont to assemble, for the purpose of promoting and en-
couraging the fine arts in your Majesty's United King-
dom, and in what manner an object of so much import-
ance might be most effectually promoted, humbly report
to your Majesty that, having on a former occasion, viz.,
in our report of the 7th August, 1845, recommended
that six arched compartments in the House of Lords
should be decorated with fresco paintings ; having, at
the same time expressed our opinion that it would be de-
sirable to proceed gradually with the execution of such
fresco paintings, and that, in order to judge of the effect
of the work in the locality aforesaid, one fresco should
be completed before others should be commenced ; we,
accordingly, and with the sanction of your Majesty, com-
mitted the execution of such first fresco painting to
William Dyce, A.R.A., the subject being that of the
cartoon exhibited by him, viz., the Baptism of Ethelbert.
We have now humbly to report to your Majesty that
the said fresco painting was completed in the month of
July last, in the centre compartment of the south wall
of the House of Lords, and that we have inspected the
same.
The design having been before approved by us, our
attention was chiefly directed to the work as an example
of fresco painting, a method in a great measure new in
this country, and in which we deem it probable that
some defects, arising from want of experience, might be
apparent ; defects which time and practice might in
future efforts have removed. We have, however, the
satisfaction to state that the work in question presents
no evidence of such imperfections; that, on the contrary,
it evinces great knowledge of the process of the fresco
painting and great skill in its application; that, further,
as regards the effect of fresco painting in the locality,
we consider that it promises to agree well with the ar-
chitectural and other decorations therein adopted or to
be adopted. We therefore beg leave to confirm our
former recommendation' and to propose that the remain-
ing five compartments should be decorated with fresco
paintings, when the several designs for the same shall
have been approved. And being also of opinion that
the satisfactory effect of Mr. Dyoe's fresco is io be
referred in a great degree to the style of design
and colouring which he has adopted, and considering it
desirable that a certain conformity of style and execu-
tion should pervade paintings employed in the decoration
of architecture, and which must be seen together ; we
deem it important, without wishing to impose undue re-
strictions on the invention or taste of the other artists
commissioned or to be commissioned to execute the re-
maining frescos in the House of Lords, that such artists
should be recommended to adapt the size of their prin-
cipal figures, their style of colouring, and the d-gree of
completeness in the execution of their works, so as to
make them agree sufficiently with each other, and with
the specimen already executed.
We have further humbly to report to your Majesty
that having, from time to time, been furnished with
drawings by the architect showing the possible extent
to which compartments in the various localities of the
Palace at 'Westminster might be decorated with works of
art, we are of opinion that it would not be expedient,
with reference to the encouragement of British art or
with reference to the claims which may hereafter be
urged for the commemoration of great events, to com-
plete the series of paintings on the walls of the said
palace at the present period ; that, nevertheless, in ac-
cordance with the principles which have already guided
us in deciding on the plan of decoration in the House
of Lords, viz., with reference to fresco paintings,
stained windows, and statues, proposed for that locality;
and also in the selection of statues proposed for St.
Stephen's Porch, St. Stephen's Hall, and the royal ap-
proaches; we conceive it to be the duty of this commis-
sion, for the better guidance of present and future artists,
and in order to maintain a character of harmony and
unity worthy of such a building, to determine a complete
scheme for the future decoration of the Palace. We are
of opinion that in determining such scheme, the especial
destination of each portion of the building should be at-
tended to that, in the selection of subjects, the chief ob-
ject to be regarded should be the expression of some
specific idea; and the second, its illustration by means of
some well-known historic or poetic incident adapted for
representation in painting.
We humbly subjoin as an appendix to this report some
papers treating in detail various matters connected with
the subject of our inquiry.
ALBERT. LYNDHURST.
SUTIIERLAND. ASHBURTON.
LANSDOWNE. COLBORNE.
LINCOLN. C. S. LEFEVRE.
J. RUSSELL. ROBERT PEEL.
PALMERSTON. J. R. J. GRAHAM.
MELBOURNE. T. B. MACAULEY.
CANNING. ROB. HARRY INGLIS.
MAIION. B. HAWES.
ABERDEEN. SAMUEL ROGERS.
WILLOUGHBY THOMAS WYSE.
D'ERESBY.
Whitehall, August 4, 1846
N

AV AL INTELLIGENCE.
PORTSMOUTH, SUNDAY.—The remains of the late Earl
of Yarborough were removed from Cowes on board the
Kestrel, which left about one o'clock for Grimsby or the
Humber, whence the corpse will be conveyed to the fa-
mily seat at Brocklesbury for interment. The Royal
Yacht Squadron battery and the yachts at and about the
station fired minute-guns as the Kestrel got under way
and left the port, her colours half-mast, accompanied by
the Myrtle steam-vessel, Master-Commander Balliston,
also with her ensign dipped ; the Myrtle attended as far
as the Nab light, when the breeze freshened, causing the
yacht to head her steam attendant, which then returned
to port. The Lightning steamer, Petley, master, will
meet the Kestrel in the Downs and conduct her to
Grimsby. Every vessel which passed the Kestrel, men-
of-war included, lowered their colours as a mark of
respect. Captain the Hon. D. Pelham, R.N., second sort
of the deceased Nobleman, accompanied by his cousin,
Captain Tennant, R.N., proceeded in the Kestrel, and
the Earl of Yarborough, accompanied by Sir J. Copley,
Bart., proceeded to Brocklesbury by land to meet the
remains, which will be committed to the earth in the
most private and unostentatious manner, in compliance
with the wish of the deceased.

The Fairy tender was undocked yesterday morning,
and at noon the Champion, 18, and the Serpent, 16, were
taken into the Fame dock.

The Avenger steam•frigate, Captain W. J. Williams,
arrived at Devonport on Friday from Egypt, whither
she had conveyed his Highness Ibrahim Pacha from
Spithead. She has many defects to repair before she can
perform any further efficient service.
The Prometheus steam sloop, Commander Hay, put
in Ascension on the 25th of July, and left on the 31st
for a cruise.

The Dido, 20, Captain Maxwell, arrived at Madeira,
from Devonport on the 27th of August, and sailed on
the same day for Rio.
The Hecate steam sloop, Commander West, captured
a saver on the Bth of July off Point Padron, having 500
slaves on board. The prize was sent into St. Helena in
charge of First-Lieutenant Hancock. She was a brig,
named the Relampigo.
The Lame, 18, Commander Brisbane, made prize of a
fine slave schooner, named the Segunda Concarce de
Maria, off Loando on the 6th of July. She was sent
into St. Helena for adjudication in charge of Lieutenant
Whyte.

The Maria Somes transport arrived at Algoa Bay from
the Me.urititts on the Bth of July, and sailed on the 11th
for Simon's Bay.
The Naiad coal depot was undocked on Friday after-
noon, to make room for the Hastings. 72, one of the ad-
vanced ships, which latter was doebed for overhauling
yesterday morning.

APPOINTMENTO.
H. S. Hawker, Lieutenant (Grappler).
%V. H. O'Bree, Master's Assistant (Rattlesnake).
P. C. Moss, Master's Assistant (Tartarus).
J. G. Messum, Clerk (Rattlesnake).
John Powell, Gunner (Rattlesnake).
Lieutenant Thomas Strover, Agent for Mails.
Lieutenant William Still, Agent (Mariner transp

The rectories of Hinton St. George, near Crew-
kerne, and Searington St. Michael, with Donnington,
Dorsetshire, have become vacant by the death of the
Rev. Robert Albion Cox, M.A. Both benefices are in
the gift of Earl Powlett.

LIVERPOOL, ORXISKIRK, AND PRESTON RAILWAY
COMPANY.—The shareholders in this company are about
to hold a meeting, as the line will soon be commenced.

It is a most important undertaking, as it supplies a link
much wanted in Lancashire railway communication, end
which is entirely due to the talent and exertions of Mr.
John Holmes, who projected the line in 1844, and who
will doubtless reap the fruit of his labour.
THE CANADAS IN 1846.—Under this title the
public will be glad to observe that Sir Richard Bonny-
castle, who has long resided in North America, ind the
nature of whose official duties afford him unusual facili-
ties for the purpose, has been induced to resume his pen,
in order to lay before his countrymen further informa-
tion relative to these, the most important of our colonial
possessions. It has been stated by the author that there
is no class of people so grossly deceived in their notions
of the new world as the English, and more particularly
the Irish emigrants to Canada. True and faithful ac-
counts, therefore, of these important colonies in their
actual present state are most desirable and valuable,
and the high character of Sir Richard Bonnycastle, and
his superior attainments, must therefore render any
new work from his pen extremely acceptable in this
country.
MECHANICS' INSTITUTION.—Mr. Sherer delivered
his second lecture on Scottish minstrelsy on Friday night,
at the above institution, to a crowded and respectable
audience, and selected for his subject " The Rebellion of
1745," commencing by an illustration of the state of
Highland society, the landing of Prince Charles, his
meetings with the brave Lochiel, and the enthusiasm
with which the chivalrous Highlanders rallied round the
standard of the unfortunate Prince, interspersing them
with interesting anecdotes of the most prominent actors
of that eventful period, and introducing some of the
choicest songs that were written for the occasion, which
he sung with great taste and skill—the audience testify-
ing their delight by frequent applause. Such entertain-
ments we have always commended, and the directors of
this institution deserve credit for their attention in
encouraging and prcmotin lectures of so instructive
and agreeable a nature. Mr. Sherer was encored in
several of his songs; he also deserves patronage.
BRISTOL SUGAR MARKET, SEPT. 25.—The quan-
tity of sugar sold here this week is upwards of 1,000
Mids. of West India, a portion of which, however, is
from other markets—the supply
of good working sugars
on show not being adequate to the wants of the trade.
The refined market continues firm, with a large business
doing,—Bristol Mercury.