The Sun.
London, England, 1869-04-30 00:00:00

lIPLEAYS GALLRRY, HA YMARKE7I

The gems of art which at present adorn the
splendid gallery of pictures now on view at Mr.
M'Lean's, in the Haymarket, has been rendered
still more rich by the addition of Mr. Church's last
grand picture, entitled " Damascus." As a work
it is perhaps one of the most extraordinary
efforts ever accomplished by any artist, and
an inspection of it will certainly delight
and enchant every true lover of painting.
The spectator, with his back to the setting sun,
stands upon the rocky slope of a spur of Anti
Lebanon. At the left is a gorge in which—but
not visible—lies the Diligence road to Damas-
cus frc,m Beyrout. Through the same ravine
flows the river Barada—the ancient Abana—
also invisible—although just efore the gorge opens
into the valley, a portion of the water of the river
may be teen diverted into an artificial channel for
the purposes of irrigation. This canal perforates
the rocky slope of the left hand mountain, flowing
through a tunnel of ancient construction. On the
sunlit portion of this mountain stands a wely
or tomb, which is the celebrate 1 stand-point
chosen by travellers for viewing the valley and city.
The mountains sweep down to the valley, thtir
barren flanks contrasting strongly with the rich
verdure of the plan, which is bountifully watered
by thousands of little canals, distributing the waters
of the Barada in all directions. The city lies in the
midst of this verdure, and catches the last rays of
the setting sun. It would be superfluous to add
another word in praise in aid of the great work,
beyond saying how deeply indebted the public are
to Mr. M'Lean for his exertions in procuring for
their delight and pleasurable inspection the
most celebrated pictures ever painted by
the hand of man. There is another very in-
teresting addition, viz., the perfected chromo
copies of Bierstadt's extraordinary pictures, "'The
Rocky Mountains" and " The Storm in the Reeky
Mountains," which we must pronounce as the finest
specimens of colour printing yet produced. The
announcement that these splendid chromos are
ready for delivery to subscribers will be received
with great pleasure by a very large number of
persons.

LIFE PEERS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sin,—ln the year 1830, a pamphlet upon this
subject was printed for private circulation, bearing
the title of a " Letter to the Duke of Wellington,
on the Propriety and Legality of Creating Peers
for Life, with Precedtnts." A copy of it was for-
warded to the Editor of the Gentleman's Magazine,
who reviewed it at length. See vol. 100, part 2,
p.p. 109-112. The anonymous author argued in
favour of the propriety and legality of the measure,
in order " that the House of Lords may profit by
individual talent, and in particular be supplied
with those various degcriptians of legal talents and
acquirements which it so much requires." The edi-
tor highly favoured the proposition, and observed
that " the commencement of a new reign is a proper
era for its adoption ;" but it seems to have been re-
served for Earl Russell in the evening of his useful
life to be the chief instrument in actually causing
this desirable improvement in the Upper Chamber
to be adopted.
I am, Sir, yours obediently,
Clin. COOKE.
London, April 30, 1869.