The Sun.
London, England, 1859-03-04 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL GALLERY.

Lord LYNDHURST called the attention of the house
to the proposal to remove the Royal Academy from the
National Gallery to a new situation, and the conditions of
such removal. The noble and learned lord said it would
be in the recollection of their lordships that he presented a
petition on the subject, and he hoped they would
not think he was outstepping t his duty in bringing
the subject under their attention for the second time.
There was a marked difference between the Royal Academy
of England and other countries, because it was self-sup-
porting, while those of foreign countries looked for assis-
tance from the State. The Royal Academy was not to be
regarded as an association of private gentlemen, although
it was originally such, as it had been instituted
under the superintendence of the Crown, and the
laws by which it was governed were drawn up under the
eye of Geo. 111., and no member could belong to it without
the express permission of the Crown. The Royal Academi-
cians formerly held apartments in Somerset House, and
when they removed to the premises in Trafalgar-square,
they did so under the same rights and same tenure as they
formerly posssessed, and the keys were delivered to the then
president, Sir Martin Shee, by order of the King. It was
perfectly true they did not hold the apartments by the will
of the country, but they did so by assent of the Crown. He
had already said that the academy was self-supporting.
The expenses were entirely defrayed out of the annual
receipts of the exhibition, by which means a sum
of about £7,000 per annum: was realised. It was
generally believed that it -larger part of the money was
divided among the academicians, but such a notion was
entirely false, as they had no power to appropriate the
smallest sum to their own use ; and, after paying the
expenses, the surplus was devoted to the support of
schools of art. It was owing entirely to this ar-
rangement that two-thirds of the present Royal
Academicians had received their professional educa-
tion. Another purpose to which the money was applied
was the defraying the expenses of promising young artists
who wished, but were prevented, by want of becoming
means, to visit and study in the different schools of art on
the continent, and large sums were also annually voted to
the relatives of deceased artists, It was also a fact that no
eminent artist, for the last 50 years, willing to become a
member, had been prevented from joining it. There had
been two or three exceptions, for reasons which
he should not then occupy the house in detail.
ing. It afforded him pleasure to mention the
fact that he had done so, because it would go forth to the
public, and would remove many very false impressions.
Before he resumed his seat he wished to allude to the pro •
posed change of site. A proposal had been made for grant-
ing to the Academy a portion of Burlington-house, and
what the Academicians wished, if they accepted the pro-
posal, was to devote a certain sum to the erection of addi-
tional buildings. The removal would not affect the
standing of the Royal Academy, as it would be subjected
to the same supervision and control as hitherto, and he felt
sure that management had, and would always, redound to
the credit of the body.
The Earl of DERBY said it afforded him pleasure to
state the exact position in which the Royal Academy stood
with regard to the Crown. It was well known that the
premises in Trafalgar-square had for a considerable time
been eonsidered insufacien tboth for a National Gallery
and the Royal Academy, and it had been proposed to give
them a portion of Burlington House. There had for some
time been applications from various learned and scientific
societies for portions of the building, and the Government
felt justified in passing over the claims of the others in order
to give the whole to the Royal Academy. Negotiations
were then entered into with the academy as to the accom-
modation they required, but in their answer he thought
they asked for too much.
[LEFT SPEAKING.)

HOUSE OF COMMONS—(rms EVENING).
The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock.
NEW MEMBER.
Mr. HARDY took the oaths and his seat for Midhurst.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.

Mr. FORSTER moved that the order, that the Man-
chester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Railway (Sale or
Lease) Bill be committed, be read, and discharged,
and that the bill be withdrawn ; also that the
order, that the Breconshire Railway and Canal (No.
1) Bill be committed, be read, and discharged,
and that the bill be withdrawn ; also that the Chichester
Harbour Embankment Bill be re-committed to the former
committee, with leave to the committee to sit and proceed
on Tuesday next, if they think fit ; and for the withdrawal
of the West London and Pimlico Railway Bill.—Agreed to.