The Sun.
London, England, 1856-05-14 00:00:00

" GIUS. DAN. BeEHM,
" Direttore dell' Ateademia degli Incisori di &coo,
ed I. R. Inc/sore di Camera.

Mr. Morris Moore."

A fifth attempt was less unsuccessful. After fourteen
months, in May, 1855, through the interest of another act-
quaintance, and, I believe, the influence of the English
Consul at Venice, a feeble copy by hand of the " Apollo
and Marsyas" drawing was extorted from the Venetian
Director; I say extorted, for he had pushed opposition to
the very verge of suppression. Farther he durst not von-
ture. Too many eyes had seen the drawing before it had
grown to its present importance. Yet the photograph was
still withheld, because that alone could give the lines of
Raphael, and these alone I wanted. But falsehood was
now enlisted to maintain the pact with our Presidential
Secretary for the Promotion of Art and National Gallery
Director. ...Vow, the drawing was " too indistinct for the
operation ;" " too indistinct" to allow the convicter of a
Garman nominee the means of vindicating, by Raphael',
own handwriting, the accuracy of his judgment and the
Art-criticism of England, bit not " too indistinct" for
the photograph which had already in the autumn of 1854
been taken for the private use, as it is asserted, of Sir C.
Eastlake and Buckingham Palace. I made this state-
ment respecting Sir C. Eastlake and the "Apollo and
Marsyas" drawing on the 27th of August and on the
Ist and Bth of September, last, in the Morning Adver-
tiser and Bell's Ifreekly Messenger. I forwarded Sir
C. Eastlake a copy of the papers. A fow words more,
and I quit this humiliating episode, and with it the
Vernon " man above all sordid considerations ;" the MA*
" most estimable,• amiable, and thorough gentleman,"
whose " acquaintance is a pleasure ;* the Baring " Direc-
tor, of knowledge, taste, and discretion, upon whops
perfect reliance can be placed."—the Gladstone-cum-Stir-
ling man " whose name requires no testimony tha
the first could render," and who, to believe the
other, has been " sufficiently defended" the Otway
" honourable man," and Palmerston's "friend," " tbe di-
rector of high character, undoubtedly fit to hold the office
-entrusted to him." Of all meorl am the one whom Sir
C. Eastlake is most deeply interested in thwarting; the
man whose good name he has most reason to dread. Twice
have I been instrumental in driving him from the National
Gallery, once from the Keepership, for his Vandalisms in
184 G, and again from the ex-officio Trusteeship, for their
revival in 1852. Success to me is defeat to him. Under such
circumstances, who can doubt that could the "Apollo and
Marsyas" drawing have served any other purpose than to
confirm my judgment, the Secretary for the Promotion of
Art, instead of so carefully taking means to prevent its
publication, would have stretched a point "in the in.
terests of truth and for the welfare of the community" to
have made even a prodigal distribution of the photograph?
It is notorious that on my account, and on my so-
count alone, did the Government for nearly two years sub-
sequent to the publication of the Report of the Committee
of 1853, hesitate to " Reconstitute the Establishment of the
National Gallery.". It is equally notorious that on my
account alone did the Palmerston Government, on the 22d.
of April, and again on the 23d of June, 1855, uncondition-
ally deny the appointments, they had made on the 27th o f
March. Mark how our servants justify our confidence !
In June, 1854, Lord Elcho, then a Lerd of the Treasury
in the Aberdeen-Palmerston Ministry, said to Mr. Hurl-
stone, the President of the Society of British Artists—
"We know that Mr. Morris Moore is the man for the
Directorship of the National Gallery, but we will not ap-
point him because he has given us so much offence." They
have their convictions, then, as to who is competent, but
slaves to their own passions and to a vicious influence, they
crown the most incompetent. Yet these are the men who
denounce me as "personal !" Lord Elcho owes it to the
public to explain that offence. I will meet him on
that ground.r One thing I have earned by my plain speaking
on the 17th. The calumny of " disappointed competitor-
ship" has at Limes made me pause. A fitting occasion to
answer it appeared never to arrive. Uttered by the Prime
Minister, for his position, if not for the man, it was at
length worthy of my notice. I met the calumny and
strangled it. He must be a bold man who would now de-
nounce me as one with whom self-interest has greater
weight than truth or the welfare of the community.
MORRIS MOORE.
27, Soho-square, April 30.