The Sun.
London, England, 1851-11-07 00:00:00

.--'—'7
c• '' . -
_ 0
.\(ll„bvs,:tatN,
:-...k",'i".,./4"-'74,01,---
\:-..'"i :-''''''T Cf ' 5-t
-j ::-
. s#y or what purpose. Witness,
. . . . • . , r
fi
. .
V,A,_ Zt, . ....,,,w,r,..,,,,1f
,s:c° 1,-,..-z,,tiftl
_
, ( , ,„ ..70...„,--1/7,7,AF 0
~,: 1 Airt .II '
~.. v , , A
. '
„7/.4z, , it a
.trltO PdUrehhadaSeitilf'
...
lA-',..,\V ') ' ‘....' ,', '''ii. CO "*". I " -'
A 'f' _
V• .1.-•%' ~ ',,,w.i.t, r. ;,,,,,,
.. , -4
, vabee_oey be would lose his elee
-;- - -•-'. , A ,
~,;,...t.
..,,,,1
.„,. --:!.:,,,,,-, : :., .:77:7 4 .
i.,-- t'oti_ ;,_
.--:::„
~,, , ir,..y. 44, /4, -47_ .7:z..• 41,7 1 , ''' _ _
" tlt' .
C-
-1.
• • - • - - i about thirty or forty promises cam
.._ . .
..,----____ -- .:., e..
.ft 11.".",-..v.-....kLa's t ''-40-7-4, JET 1D
-k ,it r. I• 5-5 <034 f ' - "DR oi Tl' • 46 • 811
.
eixr------, v.:2,1 ' , 41:0-, vl3 +' 1,,,.,,,<5,, 9, ..*; ~V- .
o),geitl
~ DI- i..' ''! ‘U.'r'' 4, ;
74.,..4 ,
31'...'„.
) % t: 4,- • -`-. .4.

/ i/I- '

money, but did cof
however, supposed
ilks told him that
Lat if he did not ad.
'lion. After that'
in.
IThe inquiry was adjourned at three o'clock till
half-past ten-to-day. (Friday).

_
1 SIZE of the NATIONAL GALLERY
NEAR HYDE-PARK.
TO- 'THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES. • r,
Sir,---Your proposal to remove the nuisance of, the •
Knightsbridge barracks, and substitute a national
gallery for them, appears to be the keystone to a-I
series of great metropolitan improvements, urgently ,
wanted in that locality. Our finest park along its
whole south line is debased by the meanest of build-
ings,
broken palings, open drains, Ste., and I hope
your article may prove to be the first thrust which'',
will make the borders of Hyde-park creditable. The
public and the whole neighbourhood, with the Chief
Justice at their bead, will support both your sugges-
tion as well as the removal of all the wretched houses
which abut on the Park from the barraoks to Albert-
gate, if not as far as Park-side towards Apsley-
house. Mr. Thomas Cubits once made a proposition
to remove 'this latter row of petty structures, and
build in its place suitable terraces fronting Hyde-
park, and my Lord Lincoln and Sir Robert Peel
were nearly giving effect to it, when a change of
Ministry put an end to Mr. Cubitt's scheme. But, if
we are to consider the removal of the barracks, with
the erection of a 13 ational gallery, now is the time for the
public to demand a,thorough improvement. Besides,
Belgravia now has risen to strengthen the proposal,
and, if Government should lag behind, a public cons-
pangmay,Psri3aPs, find it profitable to undertake
some portion of the work. Away with the barracks
to: some spot adjacent to a metropolitan 'railway, and
perhaps Rutland-gate will be reconciled to keeping, the Crystal Palace as a promenade and winter glircim
The National Gallery, with ample Space to expand;
would make a suitable structure at the west of
Crystal Pgane, whits' a building tor, thW-flebiWrtg—
Design might properly be placed at the east of it, and
the Crystal Palace would be a sheltered orange grove
between them. Indeed, the whole of the road to
Kensington, at intervals only, as far as Kensington -
Palace, might be applied to ornamental public struc-
tures, having an instructional destination. Every
one would be benefited by the erection of buildings
more suitable to the decoration of a park than the
Life Guards barracks at Knightsbridge, and the
Lancers .barracks at Kensington-gore, and the Foot
Guards' barracks near Kensington Palace, and would
recognise those handsame terraces and gardens to be
great improvements over the little trunk shops and
menageries and singing public-houses which at pre-
sent fringe the Park. Belgravia and Kensington
should at once organise themselves to help the 2,11..
nisters to bring forward this series of improvements in
the next session of Parliament.
Your obedient servant,

F. S.

(From the Times.)
Our suggestion of a site for the proposed National
Gallery has met with unexpected, and almost uni-
versal concurrence. We believe we may say that the
Royal Commissioners for the Exhibition, and even
the Woods and Forests, are disposed to take it up; the
only opposition hitherto being from an illustrious ob-
jector, always the last to surrender any post in his
keeping. It may readily be conceded that Knights-
bridge Barracks are a very convenient military posi-
tion, commanding the park and the road as well as
the various main thoroughfares converging at the
point. It may be conceded that it is necessary there
should be barracks somewhere in that neighbourhood,
and communicating readily with the park and the
western roads. But it does not follow that any posi-
tion possessing these advantages in this peaceful
metropolis should be forthwith added to the dominion
of the Horse Guards, or always retained in that do-
minion. It unfortunately happens that the qualifica-
tions for the site of a national gallery, as described in
the report of the Commissioners, are precisely those for
the site of cavalry barracks, viz., the combinations of a
park, a good tho'oughfare, a dry soil, and a pure air.
Several such sites, however, can be found, equOy
adapted for cavalry, but not equally adapted for *-
tures. A national gallery ought to be a conspicuous
building ; cavalry barracks ought to be the very con-
trary. One of the best military positions in the me-
tropolis is Apsley-house, and if revolutions and
emeutes were ordinary occurrences here it would cer-
tainly be advisable to place a large section of the
household 'troops under the Commander-in-Chief's
domestic superintendence. But the contingency of
civil preference over war in the choice of localities,
and we are quite content to see a private mansion on
the one side and a large hospital on the other occupy-
ing the commanding position of Hyde•park-corner.
Then, why should not Knightsbridge barracks be
removed from a site they are so utterly unworthy to
fill, and give place to a better ?
The whole of the long sad narrow strip between
Hyde-park and Kensington-road is so well adapted
for public buildings of an ornamental character that
it is a matter of great regret it should have been cut
in two by the twin giants at Albert-gate. But west
of these singular edifices there is still a large area
which at no very extravagant cost could be obtained
for a gallery equil to that famous one joining the
Louvre and the Tuileries. The basement, of cotirse,
would be appropriated to sculpture, and the gallery
above would be lighted, like that of the Louvre, by
skylights, some sixty or seventy feet above the
dust and noise of the road. There are not many
sites, especially in this metropolis, where so
long a building would be either possible or even de-
sirable; but it so happens that an ornamental screen
is the very thing that is wanted in this instance.
Strangers are not a little surprised—not to say dis-
gusted—when, after entering the park from Picca-
dilly, and surveying the splendid panorama of Hyde-
park-corner, they suddenly come on the back of a
long row of fifth-rate houses, all presenting their un-
seemly backs, slovenly gardens, and disagreeable
offices to Hyde-park. The first wonder is how they
ever came there ; and the next, why they are per-
mitted to stand in the midst of so much splendour.
If they were rural structures—if they were even
shabby genteel, or respectably homely, they would be '
tolerable; as it is they are simply vulgar and offen.
sive. They ought to be hidden, if not removed ; but
the more natural course is to remove them, together
with the barracks. " Halfway-house," so dear to the
memory, has long since given way way to the genius
of improvement, and it is high time that Knights-
bridge itself should be reformed. As for the bar-
racks, we have already said enough, if it is possible
to say enough, of their unsightly and even scan-
dalous aspect. We never pass them without congratu-
lating ourselves that the Kensington-road is not now
the route of a long passenger traffic. The foreigner
or the provincial visitor from the south-western ports
and counties is not now greeted with the sight of
soldiers lounging at open windows in their shirt
sleeves, trousers hung out to dry, belts under the pro-
cess of pipeclaying, questionable-looking women, and
other invariable signs of barrack life, as his first ape-
citnen of the great metropolis. He has something
more decent, if not more picturesque to look at, as
he rolls by the villas of Paddington or over the roofs
of Lambeth. But a nuisance is a nuisance whether

it is seen by many or by few, and whether it is strange
or familiar.

Economy itself suggests the desirableness of having
a really handsome and capacious gallery, in the best
situation that can be found for it. All the authorities
have stated it as a uniform rule that a good receptacle
fills itself where public collections are concerned.
Find a proper gallery for pictures, or any other objects
of interest, and private collections will begin to flow
into it; for collectors are apt to care more for their
collections than for their relatives. As, however,
waiting for testamentary benevolence is rather a slow
process, we beg to suggest a mode of appeal to public
spirit which promises speedier results. Let all the
owners of picture galleries be invited to lend a few
chosen specimens, Os many have done to the gallery
in Pall-mall. The names of the lenders attachfedtht°e
their contributions would constitute a
' aristocracy far more striking than any
methis appeal
the peerage or gentry. But, putting aside.
our
collectors,
recroerdbook of
to what might be called the pride of
Id be almost im-
plicitly simple suggestion of the rule w
selfish considerations.
plicitly obeyed, without
houses
sl
to
onotbhlee
public indicates how readily
As we read of the Mus-
,%:ll:lemavaniil t
ett
yhf oy,
gentry
we theiietoruy country
throwingtry cannon
w would
ul jewels and plate into
proprietors
rsipeitroirt s whicho
f g galleries
l ihear
lireesa latelydt ei
l yaenptypehrnecint gileirdl l full
lb the casting of the great
and noble come forward
the metal prepared
ene
time of siege or other ca-
bell ; and as the. .
with their offerings in
publicwealthytheir
doubt that the magnates of this
rd
gladly lend at least one
painting a•piece to the formation of a gallery at
Knightsbridge, or wherever else it may be placed.
With the question of a National Gallery comes
also that other of a School of Design. Our itaders
are not probably aware that it has been proposed to
the Royal Commissioners of the Exhibition to con-
tribute 150,0001. of the surplus to meet a like sum
from the Treasury towards the purchase of Gore-
houie, and thirty acres around i',:, and the construction
therin of a gallery and schools of design. Besides
other objections, a wholesome regard f6r appeafance
has, we believe, led the Commission to decide againol
this r o.l3etne, eIA the surplus remains to hef disposed-Ns the
as well us a site to be chosen. Ina few
disposition of the surplus. This will,
affair, as there are not a
1 Cciosimeemaisesitoentehrse will eiicleavo,ur to arr • aetwa final(y de •
however, not be a very easy d
of more or less sum-
few suggestions to be dispoese
to spend 150,000/. of
by one magnificent
msrily. When we instance that it has been prop
osed
isocrurSsti.v ePaul's,
eietn will
e
ni h little has it been tied
range of suggestion, Rn-
rtheaedily surplusbe iunn gildingd
ei togoedn the
h.
odwoomwde