The Sun.
London, England, 1856-04-08 00:00:00

a large number of works of art. He agreed with the noble
lord that it would be wise to buy specimens of the con-
temporaneous art of foreign countries, so as to enable
our own artists to widen their idea; and impart to them
an European character. Sir Chas. Eastlake, though nut
r-- well qualified to be the head of such au institution, de-
. served credit for having adopted readily suggestions for
the public benefit, such as that of affixing inscriptions to
the pictures and other works of art, naming the subjects
and the artists.
Mr. T. BARING observed that the trustees were only a
counselling body, and not an executive body ; they sup-
ported with their opinion the representations made by the
director to the Treasury, either about a purchase or any
other matter; but he was sure the trustees would be ready
to resign if it were thought, that they interfered at all
with the good management of the gallery. As for what
had been done, there was but one opinion among the trus-
tees ; that Sir C. Eastlake's management had been most
satisfactory; that he was a man of knowledge, taste, and
discretion, on whom reliance mi,ht be placed ; and that
the purceases had been made with great judgment.
Lord ELCHO replied that if the trustees had not power
. to control the director they could withhold- their sanction
from a purchase proposed by him, and they were autho-
rised in such a case to enter their dissent on tho proceed-
ings to be submitted to Parliament ; and the director must
be a bold man indeed if he wool 1 act contrary to their will
' in the face of such a protest. He (Lord Elcho) intended
next year to move that that the salary of the secretary should
be rederced from 750/. to 3001., and that the travelling
agent should be abolished altogether. (Hear, bear.)
Lord GODERICH remarked that the Secretary to the
Treasvry had failed to give any reasons for paying a tra-
velling agent, though he had s aid that a foreigner was the
most fit person to be so employe ; -in reference td which
he (Lord Goderich) must say that he did not see Why a
1. German should bo thought more likely to be well ac-
' quainted with the pictures and with the language of Italy
than an Englishman. (Hear, hear.)
' Mr. GLADSTONE could not support the motion for a
reduction of the grant, though be did not think that the
present provision for the establishment of the National
Gallery was altogether satisfactory. He understood his
hon. friend the Secretary for the Treasury to say that the
appointment of Sir Charles. Eastlake was made in confor-
mity with the judgment ofeLord Aberdeen; but his bon.
friend knew that that appointment• was not made by Lord
Aberdeen, but that it was an appointment Lord Aberdeen
found standing over when.he took office. He (Mr. Glad-
stone) did got. for a moment mean to question the pro-
priety of that appointment, nor to offer any opinion upon
it ; but with regard to the ability of Sir Charles Eastlake
no testimony of his was necessary, nor was he of opinion
that the committee of 185•1 was not warranted in recom-
mending that a salary of 1,0001. a-year shoul t be given to
a gentleman of great capacity and skill in art to direct the
gallery, always acting upon the supposition that his whole
time, or the greater portion of it, would be devoted to his
duties in connection with the National Gallery. At the
same time, whatever were the duties connected with the
transition state of the gallery and in the information of
the catalogue, he thought 3,'1001. a-year for salaries for the
management of a gallery of se limited an extent was rather
heavy, and deserved consideration. When he was in
office he made some inquiries as to the expenses of ma-
nagement. of foreign galleries, and he was bound to say
that the cost at which they were generally managed and
kept up was not such as quite to -justify the scale of sa-
laries adopted here. (Haar.) He did not speak of the salary
of Sir C. Eastlake, but of the 3,000/. which formed the
aggregate of the salaries connected with management,
which he thought-by some prudent arrangement on the
part of the Government might be reduced. And though
the House el Commons would never grudge any charge
which might be necessary for the extension of the National
Gallery, and to make it worthy its object, still, for any-
thing like needless or unnecessary expentliturc,:there could
bo no apology.
Mr. T. BARING remarked that most of the galleries
abroad were galleries already formed • but he understood
the object was to make additions to ;he National Gallery
from time to time, and that could not be done without
additional expense.
Mr. STIRLING believed the expenses connected with
the foreign galleries were Much greater than was sup-
posed, and in some instances double that of our own. The
director-general of the Louvre had a salary of 40,000 f.
Neither was the management of the foreign galleries free
from complaints. With regard to Mr. Otto Mundler, he
was a man of high reputation among the artists of Paris, as
he (Mr. Stirling) happened to know, and that he had made
a mistake about one picture was an accident which might,
happen to any man. He wished to know from the hon.
Secretary to the Treasnry how it was that the pictures the
purchase-money of which was included in the present esti-
mate had not yet appeared in the gallery, except one, upon
which the criticisms were anything but favourable.
Mr. WILSON replied that the picture alluded to as
being alreadyin the gallery had been purchased in London,
having been previously brought from Vienna at the ex-
panse of the seller, whereas the others had been purchased
abroad, and had not, some of theirs, arrived in this coun-
try, and those which had were not yet unpacked and
framed. (" Hear, hear," and laughter.)
Mr. GLADSTONE suggested that the scale of the estab-
lishments of the foreign galleries should be laid upon the
table before the vote was proposed next year.
Viscount PALMERSTON observed that when the ar-
rangement was proposed Lord Aberdeen was aware of what
was about to be done; and upon the whole he (Lord Pal-
moreton) thought it was the best that could be adopted.
He did not think the establishment too great for theduties
to be perfermed,' and he considered considerable advan-
tage must. arise from having, a travelling gentleman ac-
quainted with art, competent to give a judgment as to the
merits of pictures, and to ascertain the price at which
such as he thought worthy of a place in the National Gal-
lery might be procured. It was impossible to ascertain
what pictures were in tlia,market which it might be de-
sirable to purchase unless some competent person wore
employed to ascertain, and it would be equally impossible
that such a person could go from town to town, examining
the various cellections, and inquiring about prices, with-
out its being known who he was, and what was his object.
The objection, therefore, that his inquiries tended to en-
hance the price-of pictures was inherent in any arrange-
ment that might bo rmidelor such a purpose. With re-
gard to Sir C. Eastlake, his knowledge of art and groat
professional ability pointed him out as a fit and proper
parson to fill the office of director of the gallery. The boo.
gentleman bad referred to the attacks made upon Sir C.
Eastlake by persons in the same profession, but let the
hon. gentleman point out 'any artist of eminence who
would not be liable to similar attacks from disappointed
men. Whatever might be the relative merits of particular
professions, they knew that there were some in which pro-
fessional-rivalry and professional resentment prevailed to
a greater extent nee in others; but in the present case he
was quite sure that no person who enjoyed Sir C. East-
leke's friendship, and knew his merits, would have their
judgment altered in the slightest degree by the calumnies
that had been cast upon him ; and he was equally sure
that Sir C. Eastlake had too much goof 'sense to allow the
serenity of his Mind to be disturbed by them. (Hear.)
After a few words froM Mr. VERNON and Mr. OTWAY,
the committee divided—
For the amendment
A6inst it
The vote was then agreed to
A sum of 4,000/e was than proposed for scientific work
abroad, and agreed to.
500/. was voted to the Royal Geographical Society.
A sum of 2,0001. was proposed for the Royal Society to
carry on certain scientific experiments.
Lord PALMERSTON defended the vote, and said that
it was to enable a committee of the Royal Society to carry
on certain scientific experiments which were of the greatest
possible public utility.
Mr. MACGREGOR regretted that science had such
miserable votes from Parliament. Let them look what had
been done for science in Prance, Austria, Prase* and even
in Russia., The assistance given by the Government to
science in this country WAS beggarly in its amount.
The vote, after a sLort conversation, was agreed to.
The house then resumed, the Chairman reported pro
gross, and obtained leave to sit again this day.
On the bringing up the report,
Mr. FLOYER called attention to the subject of crimina
lunatics, and wished to know whether the Government

72
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intended to make additional provision for them.
Sir G. GREY said he bad been in communication with
the commissioners of criminal lunacy. Ho had not been
able to frame an estimate on the subject, but probably a
supplemental estimate would be submitted in the course
of the session.

DRAFTS ON BANKERS BILL.
The house went into Committee on this bill.
Clause I. was agreed to.
On clause 2,
Mr. PELLATT proposed to introduce certain amend
ments.

Mr. J. WILSON thought it better that the amendments
should bo printed, and iu the meantime the committee
could be taken pro forma.
The committee accordingly reported to the house, with-
out proceeding further with the clauses.
FACTORIES BILL. -
This bill went through committee pro forma. The
amendments to be printed.