The Sun.
London, England, 1856-03-05 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS-(YEsTERDiY)•

The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack
at five o'clock.
The Archbishop of CANTERBURY presented peti-
tions against opening the Crystal Palace and other places
of amusement on Sundays.
CONSOLIDATED FUND BILL.

Lord STANLEY of ALDERLEY gave notice that on
the second reading he would move the suspension of the
standing orders, with a view of passing the measure,
which was of very pressing importance.
CHURCH DISCIPLINE ACT AMENDMENT
BILL.

Lord SHAFTESBURY gave notice that, on the
second reading of the Church Discipline Act Amend-
ment Bill, he should move that the bill be read a second
time that day six months.

CLARKE THORNHILL'S ESTATE BILL.
On the motion of Lord REDESDALE, Clarke Thorn-
hill's Estate Bill was read a second time.
THE ECCLESIASTICAL COURTS.
Lord BROUGHAM presented a petition from the
mayor, aldermen, and burgesses of Sheffield, in which
they 'prayed that a uniform mode of proceeding through.
out England, Ireland, and Scotland be adopted.
The LORD CHANCELLOR said that a bill
bad been prepared on this subject. He was to
meet his hon. friend the Solicitor-General in a few
days to consider the Testamentary Jurisdiction Bill.
The Church Discipline Bill and the Divorce Bill were
already framed.
Lord BROUGHAM felt exceedingly gratified at the
announcement made by the noble and learned lord.
TURNPIKE TRUSTS ARRANGEMENTS BILL.
The Earl of HARROWBY in moving the committee
upon this bill, said that be had withdrawn the clause to
which so mach objection had been taken the other night.
The Earl of DERBY expressed his satisfaction at the
course adopted by the noble lord.
The bill then passed through committee.
The Commons Enclosure Bill was read a third time
and passed.
GALLERY OF ORIGINAL PORTRAITS.
Earl STANHOPE then rose to move that an
bumble address be presented to her Majesty, that her
Majesty would be graciously pleased to take into her
Royal consideration, in connection with the site of
the present NatiOnal Gallery, the practicability and
expediency of forming by degrees a gallery of
original portraits, such portraits to consist as far as
possible of those persons who are most honourably com-
memorated in British history as warriors or as states-
men, or in arts, in literature, or in science. The noble
lord proceeded to urge the importance of such a public
institution, and quoted the opinion of Mr. Carlyle and
Mr. Ward, Sir C. Eastlake, and other authorities, in
favour of such a work. Such an institution
would not only be a most important element in the edu•
cation of the people in the history of the country, but
he believed it would prove a great incitement to all per-
sons to distinguish themselves in the arts, sciences, and
literature of the country. He knew that the formation
of such a gallery as he proposed would be a work of
time, and, even if the gallery was already erected, the
few portraits that could be hung up at the present mo-
ment would be very unsightly. What he, therefore,
proposed was that two or three rooms in Mari-
borough-house, or even in th 3 Palace at Westminster
should be set apart for the reception of the portraits
until a proper and fitting place was provided. Of course
the money for the formation of such a gallery
of portraits as he proposed would have to be
voted by the House of Commons, and the
Bum that would be required would not be so large
as to meet with any objection. He thought that if
1,0002. were voted to begin with, 5001. annually would
be quite sufficient to fully carry .out the object he had in
view. Portraits .of great men could often be purchased
on very reasonable terms. For instance, a portrait of
William Pitt was sold the other day for 100 guineas,
and another of the Earl of Chatham, which was pur
chased by Sir Robert Peel for 80 guineas. A genuine
portrait of Sir William Blackstone sold lately for 80/ ,
and one of Percival was purchased by Sir Robert In-
glis for 40 guineas. But, independent of purchases,
there would no doubt be many presents made to the na-
tional collec ion. In fact many noble lords had already
intimated their readiness to present portraits as soon as
a proper national building was procured for their re-
•ception. Most of their lordships were descended from
the great men of ancient times, and when they possessed
'only one portrait of course it could not be expected they
should let that one go out of their possession. !But
Where, as In many cases, they possessed four or eve,
one of them ctuld be very welt spared. He would be
Very careful, however, not to place in the gallery of
the nation the portraits of any living characters. Let
them bat establish a grant of 1,0001., and the thing
would be done, for then popular feeling would insure the
scheme. There were two collections of portraits in this
country, one at Hampton-court, and the other at the Bri-
. 'tieh Museum. With regard to the former, he would be
sorry to diminish its attractions; and with regard to the
latter, there were many portraits of value, and others of
no value. They were, however, ill-placed; and he propose 1
to transfer the whole of the portraits from these two col-
lections to the National Gallery. He would, however,
make a selection of the best of the portraits, rejecting
the bad. The proposal that was now immediately before
their lordship, was irrespective of those two institutions.
In the Palace of Holyrood there was a collection of im-
aginary portraits. Of course, they would find no place in
the eollection which he proposed. He prupesed this
collection in the interest of the arts in this country;
and seeing the struggles which genius had to go
through, he thought the Government of the
country ought to stretch out a helping hand to the
assistance of those who were the ornaments of social
life. Believing that thia•was a step in the right direc-
tion, he now with confidence left his resolutions in the
bands of their lordships.
The Marquis of LANDSDOWNE said that this pro-
position could not come from any one with greater grace
than from his, noble friend, whose historic researches
were acknowledged by the nation at large. He agreed
with his noble friend that the proposition would be of
the most essential service in elevating the taste and
supporting the arts of the country. He did not think
that in the establishmeut of such a collection as that
proposed-they ought to trench upon those funds which
were most properly set apart for the purees°. of the
highest works of art for the National Gallery. There
could be no doubt that his noble friend's proposition
would be of national advantage, and, therefore, it should
have his cordial support. He would, however, suggest
to his noble friend to make his resolution a little more
general.
The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH approved of the
propositions entirely. It would be gratifying to aill
e !fleeted persons to view the lineaments in a nations
gallery of those who had made themselves illustrious in
the history of the country. With a stringent rule for
excluding all who were not worthy to have a place in
snob a gallery, at place in that gallery would be the
highest peasible honour. He agreed with the noble
marquis that the resolutions ought to be made more
general, otherwise it would exclude judges who were not
statesmen, or literary men. Why, it would exclude the
late Archbishop of Canterbury—a man that approached
nearer to perfection as a Christian bishop than any man
he had ever known. It would exclude Wolsey, Crom-
well, and many of the greatest names in our history. He
would therefore suggest that the resolutions should ex-
tend to all who had rendered themselves illustrious in
our annals. Every man should be excluded who had
not the highest claim to be placed in that temple of
fame. His noble friend proposed that the selections
should be in the fine arts commission. It must he
remembered, however, that the selections were not
of great pictures, but of great men. In his opirmon the
commission should be a Parliamentary commission, com-
prised of members of both houses, to decide whose por-
traits should be placed in the gallery. If, however, they
began with a paltry 5001. a year, the scheme would
never be carried out. It was either worth nothing, or
it was worth doing well. Time's sieve was constantly
shaking the names of celebrated men into oblivion. He
had lately been reading in RID Janson a list of men who
were celebrated iii his time, and be came upon sixteen
names. Now nine of them be (the Earl of Elleaborough)
had never beard of before. 11.3 mentioned this to show

that it wat necessary to have a proper selection made by
competent authorities. Ben Jenson said that the poetry
of the elder Sir Thos. Wyatt was superior to that of Dante
and Tetrarch. Now he (the Earl of Ellen borough) had
mover had the good furtuue to meet with the p retry of
Sir Thomas Wyatt. This showed they were liable to
exaggerate the pea ers of contemporaries of eminence.
This gallery, as he bad said, must be a gallery of great
men, and not of great pictures. Those who went of
themselves to portrait painters to have their likeaessea
take" were generally alderm)n or railway directors, suc-
cessful speculators, rich grocers; and others. The quiet,
but great literary men seldom went to the portra t
painter. How were the portraits of ,these men to be ob-
tained 1 He Thought if the Government would under-
take the measure of his noble friend, and make this
really a gallery of portraits of those whe of all ages had
done beat
advantage on for
the nati on their country, they would confer a great
.
The Duke of ARGYLL said ehis would be a his-
torioal gallery, and in such cases as the Duke of Wel-
lington be thought the portraits should be surrounded
by those who were his companions in his deeds. Tne
portrait of Wellington should be surrounded boyugthlitot-eio
of Piston, Murray, and others. Nelson, too,
be associated with Collingwood, Hardy, and others of
his captains. They must not, therefore, lay down too
stringent a rule as to admission to this gallery.
The Earl ofCARNAL VON said this motion had, as
had been truly observed by the noble marquis, pro-
ceeded with peculiar grace from his noble friend. Such a
gallery as this would indeed have a character of conser•
vative stability. Ile motion of his noble friend was no
unmeaning conclusion to the resolutions to which their
lordships had. come with regard to hereditary peerages.
He believed that the contemplation of a gallery like this
would strengthen the interest and deepen the reverence
of all Englishmen for those who hart deserved well of the
nation. This was another point of stability to the institu-

tions and constitution of the country.
The Earl of HA Rll,O IV BY would have such a gallery
open to all who had contributed to the advantage of the
country. He should like to see around those Houses of
Parliament not only the statues of the statesmen who
had adorned our history, but also a selection of men who
bad conferred glory and dignity on the country.
Lord DUNGANNON said the contemplation of the
portraits of great men always produced emulation in
those who looked upon them.
Lord REDESDALE reminded the house that the
House of Commons had the night before come to a resolu-
tion, upon a divii ion of 72 to 64, to appropriate the site
of the National Gallery to a national hotel.
After a few words from Lord COLCHEBTEB,
Earl STANHOPE replied—He said it did not seem