The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-23 00:00:00

CORN-LAWS.

Lord MONTEAGLE presented several petitions from
Bridport, Portsmouth, the Isle of Wight, and other places, in
favour of the Government measure.
ART UNIONS.

The Duke of CAMBiUDGE presented a petition from the
members of the Art- Union of London, praying for the legalisa-
tion of art-unions.
Lord MONTEAGLE wished to call the attention of her
Majesty's Government to this petitio2, which was the first of
a series that would be presented on the subject, representing
the f.elings or not only the artists of the country, but the
great body of those who were interested in the tine arts The
Committee of the House of Commons, appointed in 1t.35, had
made inquiries which showed that art-unions had been attended
with the most beneficial consequences wherever carried out.
The amount of capital which had been devoted to the pur-
poses of art by the art-unions exceeded all the votes which
Parliament had ever given fur that purpose. They had done
more for the promotion of art than the Legislature ever had
done. They had applied their encouragement to every branch
of art,—they had given prizes, as Government had done, for
the best designs,—they gave prizes also for the best
productions in stone and marble. They had extended,
too, their association over the greater portion of the earth.
and a letter had been received that very day from China, giv-
ing an account of the establishment of a branch of the art..
union in that empire. It was scarcely to be believed that, in
defiance of all the experience which they had had on this sub-
ject, any doubt should exist as to the desirableness of le-
galising art-unions. A Committee had been appointed
by Parliament, who had laboured sedulously for
two sessions, and they reported in the most unqualified
manner that these associations should be legalised. It
appeared that the art-unions were as anxious as
any other society to prevent abuse, and they prayed their Lord-
ships to give their sanction to a Bill authorising the Crown to
grant a charter, subject to such conditions as might be pro-
posed. That was the utmost extent of their request, and when
their Lordships considered that they had released parties from
debts contracted at race-courses and gambling-houses; and
when they considered that they had in the course of last year
interposed to protect a great bodylof the people—those con-
nected with the newspaper press—the artists of this country
were not asking their Lordships too much to afford them a
similar protection.
Lord BROUGHAM said he was exceedingly rejoiced that
this subject had been brought forward as it had by the illus-
trious Duke who had introduced it, and the Noble Lord who
had supported it. His own opinion in favour of those soci-
eties was very strong, and therefore he would give this petition
his humble but warm support. And let him say that there
never was a greater delusion than that which people laboured
under who opposed art-unions on the ground that they came
under the class of lotteries. Other trades contended that they
would have as good a right as art-unions to have their lotteries;
but he denied that trades required such aid; but pictures and
articles of ta,te did require some such encouragement as art-
unions afforded, and therefore he would cordially support the
prayer of this petition.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE presented a petition, nu-
merously signed by perons of great eminence in their profes-
sion as artists--among the names attached to the petition he
saw those of Eastlake, Ross, Barry, NV estmacott, and others—
praying their Lordships to adopt some measure for placing Art-
Unions on a more permanent footing.
Lord BR, )UGHAM would ask, in connexion with the name
of Barry, who, it appears, had signed the petition of the
Noble Marquis, w hether there was any hope, if there was hops
at all remaining, when the report of the commission on the
new Houses of Parliament would be laid upon their Lord•
ships' table. •

Vi.count CANNING was informed by one of the gentlemen
forming one of the commission, that the inquiry had been of a
more complicated nature than was expected. The report
would therefore take some time before it was completed.
Lord CAMPBELL thought this inquiry must surely be
carried on in the Court of Chancery. He thought it would
not be of so protracted and seriuus a nature as this case of
Barry v. Reid.
The Marquis of NORTIIA minciN and Lord MoNTEAaLE pre-
sented petitions in favour of Art Unions.
ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE.

The Duke of WELLINGTON, after presenting a potitir•n
from the Chamber of Commerce of Manchester, in favour of
the Corn Bill, stated that he should on Thursday next move
that the liou-e do adjourn for tide Whitsuntide holidays to the
Thursday following.