The Sun.
London, England, 1869-03-25 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY' EVENING, MARCH 25, 1869.

trast than there is between Sir John Lawrence and Lord
Mayo, The late Viceroy was plain, and disliked state
and ceremony ; the new Viceroy is determined to do the
grand seigneur. He goes to the Opera in Calcutta in full
fig, silk stockings, knee-breeches and all. Those who have
conversed with him speak highly of his pleasant manners
and powers of conversation. Anglo-Indians generally are
rather glad to have a governor who has not very decided
views of his own, but who will be open to receive impres-

sions from people in the country. They think that Sir
John Lawrence knew too much and interfered too
frequently in details. At the same time they admit that
he has made an admirable ruler, and they especially praise
his self-control in refusing to do " brilliant" things for
the mere sake of brilliancy when there was no room for
them. Lord Mayo made one rather unfortunate mistake
on his arrival, which has excited a good deal of laughter,
and given occasion to the not over scrupulous Indian press
to be sarcastic at his expense. He telegraphed from
Madras to Calcutta, " Secure an interpreter for my
French cook." This shewed forethought, no doubt; but
that the vice-regal mind should be occupied about such
matters on being first brought into contact with a new
country—a country which he has to govern—is thought
sufficiently ridiculous. Prince Frederick of Schleswig
Holstein has been visiting the Punjab, and tells some
amusing stories of his adventures in India. On one occa-
sion he was attacked by a Brahmin bull. With a natural
impulse of self-defence, he lifted his stick to strike the
animal. Whereupon the owners of the shop in which the
Prince had taken refuge rushed out indignant at seeing
his Highness, who was only a German prince, strike one
of their sacred beasts. The Prince found that he had
changed the fryingpan for the fire, and, being sore pressed
by the infuriated bull and the infuriated Hindoos, he took
to flight. The Bishop of Calcutta is a great favourite,
and is as active as ever. He, too, had a amusing inci-
dent the other day. Sitting one day in the verandah of
a friend, he was laughing heartily, when he suddenly
heard his laugh repeated behind him in exactly the same
tone. Turning, he found a cockatoo perched just above him.
The bird had been meditating an attack upon his buckles,
but had revealed himself by this irreverent mockery.
It is becoming every year more and more the custom for
picture dealers to open picture galleries on their own
account. They bring together a certain number of works
by well-known artists, and others by artists who have yet
to make their name, and sell these either nn commission or
after previous purchase. The business is not a little
speculative, for artists of standing will not part with their
pictures unless paid for them at once, and a good round
sum into the bargain. For instance, Mr. Cox who has
lately opened a gallery in a place where no one would sus-
pect the possibility of such an establishment—Change-
alley—had to pay by no means one of our chief artists,
though a rising one, nearly £6OO for a picture that I should
be very loth to purchase at that sum. In the same gallery
are pictures by Landseer, Cooper, Sant, Etty, Goodall,
Callcott, Millais (" The Tribe of Benjamin Seizing the
Daughters of Shiloh," which obtained the Royal Academy
gold medal), F, Danby, David Roberts, Turner, Collins,
Nicol, Boxall, Mulready, Lee, Egg, Leslie, Hering, Stan-
field and Ward—a goodly list; but of course a fluctuating
one, inasmuch as the pictures are all removed as fast as
they are sold, Another picture at the same gallery, very
large, and displaying much cleverness, is Jerry Barrett's
picture of the last Drawing-room at St. James's Palace
in which the Prince Consort took part. Nearly all
the prominent figures are really excellent likenesses.
Another collection of much interest is that of the late
Wehnert's pictures. There are 150 of these, which
nearly cover the walls of the Water-Colour Institute
gallery. The collection shews great versatility on the
part of the artist, and is the more worth visiting because
the sketches of his principal pictures are placed by the
side of the pictures themselves. Wehnert, a German by
descent, was born in London in 1813, was educated in
Hanover, and returning to England at 17, studied
in the British Museum, and then studied in Paris, In
1837 he was elected a member of the New Society of
Painters in Water Colours, now called the Institute, and
remained one of its most valuable contributors until his
death last September. His pictures include one very large
drawing for a fresco, a few oils, in which he did not excel,
and a great many water colours, by which he earned his
reputation. Most of the works are for sale, and range
from £5OO downwards.
In literature, the chief announcement is that Viscountess
Strangford is about to publish a selection of her husband's
writings on Eastern Europe and Central Asia, subjects o
which he had a special and extensive knowledge. Later
in the year a further volume by the same editor will
appear, prefaced by a short memoir, and containing
Lord Strangford's contributions to philology, and
a selection from his correspondence. The volume
of Essays on Congfegationalism, mentioned in
a former letter, will be out to-morrow morning. It is
a work of 278 pages, is entitled " Religious Repub-
lics," and is written by three barristers—Mr. W. M.
Fawcett, Mr. E. G. Herbert, and Mr. James Anstie ;
two Independent ministers, Mr. Herbert, of Cheadle, and
Mr. Pattison, of Newcastle-on-Tyne; and one M.D., Dr.
P. 11. Pye-Smith.
One more game only remains to be played to terminate
the very successful meeting of the British Chess Associa-
tion. Th.,srcburne wins the challenge cup, Mr.
""nu err Stenitz takes
De Vere taking
the first Handicap Prize, Mr. Wisker the seconu ; ii
Rev. G. A. Macdonnell wins the first Glowworm
prize, and Mr. Wisker the second ; whilst the single
Mongredien award lies between Mr. Blackburne
and the Rev. G. A. Macdonnell. The decision of this last
contest will finish all the four tournaments, and terminate
a meeting which has brought together more British
chessplayers than any previous gathering of the kind.
A match is being arragned between Messrs.
Blackburne and De Vere, and the contest will
probably commence in a week or two. I also hear
that an endeavour is being made to bring about an en-
counter during the summer between twelve chess represen-
tatives of the North and a like number of the South. Lords
Ravensworth and Benholme, Mr. Wyvill, formerly M.P.
for Richmond, and .probably Sir John Trelawny, M.P.,
will take part in this interesting contest.
Opera-goers are
.sorely vexed at the thought of losing
Mdlle. Nilsson during the coming season. The Swedish
Nightingale is now negotiating an engagement at the New
York Opera.
Mr. Cole is detetmined that his pet institution shall not
hide its light under a bushel. He is now putting the
South Kensington Museum in handbills, distributed to all
the world, which would do discredit to Moses and Son.
To such a pass of indignity has a Government institution
been brought.

MISCL bLANEOUS NEWS.

OWL'S •WISDOM.

The Owl says with regard to the Irish Church Bill
that an attempt will be made in committee to
modify the clause relating to the compulsory purchase
of tithe rent-charge by the proprietors of estates in
Ireland ; also that Mr. Aytoun's intended instruction
to the committee, having for its object the dissolu-
tion of Maynooth Corporation, and the cessation of
all money payments, except moderate compensation
to the professors and the students, meets with favour
from some of the Scotch and the Nonconformist
members, and will probably give rise to a spirited
debate after Easter. The opinion gains ground
among the more advanced of the Liberal party that
those who may suffer by the withdrawal of the
Maynooth Grant should be dealt with no more
favourably than the incumbents of the Anglican
Church and the recipients of the Regium Donum.
The same paper confirms the statement, we have
already published as to the probability of the bishops
abstaining from taking part in the division on the
dill in the Upper House.
The Owl gives the following miscellaneous items :
sir John Lawrence has decided to preserve his name
in his peerage, and will be known as Lord Lawrence ;
concerning which we may add that the only reason
against this selection is that there is already a Lord
St. Lawrence, M.P. for Galway city. However this
is not so close an approximation as that of the last
Indian peer, Lord Napier of Magdala, to Lord
Napier, the Governor of Madras.—The Government
contemplates increasing its debating power in the
Upper House by raising a distinguished judge
to the peerage. No name is given ; but, looking down
the list of judges, we find none likely to receive this
honour except Sir Alexander Cocaburn, who is
known to have refused it repeatedly, and as lately as
at the formation of the present Ministry —Earl Grey
contemplates the introduction of a bill for amending
and considerably modifying the existing law which
regulates the election of Irish and Scotch representa-
tive peers.—Lord Monck, believing that the efficiency
of the British army can be materially improved, its cost
diminished, more complete organisation established
between the active and reserved forces, and the
militia better educated from a•" musketry point of
view, intends early next month bringing the entire
question before Parliament.—The Conservatives are
following the example of the Liberals, who some
months ago presented a testimonial to Mr. Brand,
and are getting up one for Colonel Taylor, who a
little while ago resigned the office of \V ip. a j or-
G en. Simmons,
.E. is ely to be the new Lieutenant
Governor of the Royal Military Academy, Wool-
wich.—Colonel Mire will probably succeed Lord
Glasgow as Lord-Lieutenant of I enf re a: sh ire ; 110
doubt as a reward for giving way to Mr. Bruce when
• the representation of that county beca,ne vacant some
weeks ago by the death of Captain Speirs.—Lord
Glasgow has left V 5,000 to Mr. George Payne,
£B,OOO to Colonel the Hon. James Macdonald, £5,e00
to Colonel the Hon. H. Forester, and has made
General Peel his residuary legatee. His stud is to
be divided between Gener: Peel and Mr. Payne.
It is not stated why his heir and half-brother has
received nothing.

THE ENDOWED SCHOOLS I3ILL.

- The City of London Corporations are in arms
against Mr. Forster's Endowed Schools Bill. Posses-
sing plenty of money, these companies maintain

schools noted for the curious uniform which the
children wear, and the inferiority of the education in
most cases imparted ; they are chiefly upheld because
they afford redoubtable citizens the power of cheap
charity. They are nearly all provided for by
heavy endowments, and those who make presenta-
tions generally do so in the shape of children to educate.
Thus the sons of an old and valued clerk or a faith-
ful porter may be provided for with little trouble
and no expense. That the funds do not do all they
might do, that in many cases they are wasted and
squandered, no one doubts, except the wardens,
masters, and clerlfs of the companies with whom they
are connected. But these look upon them as very
models of excellence, and are fairly startled with the
proposition that the foundation shall be relaid. A
meeting of those interested was held on Tuesday, and
Mr. Forster's itching palm made the subject of a great
many growls of denunciation. Ultimately it was
determined to appoint a sub-committee to prepare
evidence to be laid before the select committee to
which the Endowed Schools Bill is referred, with a
view to obtain such amendments therein as will
preserve to the Livery Companies of the city of
London the administration of their educational and
charitable endowments.