The Sun.
London, England, 1859-07-21 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF TEE SUN.

SlR,—Passing by the National Gallery, a few days since,
I was witness of a scene from which the suggestion I havo
to offer through your widely-circulating and influential
columns took its origin. A foreign gentleman was engaged
in a fierce pantomimic contest with a member of the police
force. The foreign gentleman sought, with the most pain-
ful eagerness, to extract some particular information from
the municipal mute, who could not respond to, or even un-
derstand, a syllable of what was being said to him. Nods,
shrugs, and rapid jabbering were of no avail ; frequent
reference by the foreigner to a street map was equally
futile—the policeman was equally at a loss how to en-
lighten the questioner, or even to tell him that he could
not supply the required information.
I have frequently seen a puzzled Frenchman or German
consulting a map at the corner of a street, who, after half-
an-hour's microscopic researches, has turned about with
the most bewildered air, evidently as much at a loss what
course to steer as before his investigation.
Now, sir, I think all this might be obviated if we had
stationed at the Bank, the National Gallery, Somerset
House, &c., and in fact at all our public buildings, a police-
man who had at least one language besides his own at his
tongue's end. The language should, as a matter of course,
be French, as being the only one most generally under-
stood by our Continental visitors. That " the force" are
capable'of linguistic attainments to the extent I ask has
been proved from the fact of a sergeant of police having
attended some French debating clubs, and reporting their pro-
ceedings, during a recent notorious trial,.in a very efficient
mariner. My suggestion does not demand that every police-
man should be set to the study of 011endorff's Grammar
forthwith. The purpose would, I surmise, be perfectly
fulfilled if merely a select few of the force were to become
linguists to the extent of a conversational knowledge of the
French language. All that is wanted is, that a man capa-
ble of communicating some few simple directions as to
route, &c., in French, should constantly be found at the
portals of all our great buildings ; and as the policeman is
always there, I have to suggest that he be utilised for the
purpose.

Sir Richard Mayne would thus also be enabled to hold
out an additional inducement for the entrance of a superior
class of men into his brigade, and another chance of ad-
vancement and larger salary would be created for an order
whose emoluments, considering. the nature and amount of
work they perform, are at present sufficiently scant.
remein yousr obediently,

R. RADCLIFF POND

ARGYLL ROOMS.—After a season of unexampled
prosperity the Argyll rooms will close for the purpose of
re-decoration on Saturday next. For about a month or so,
therefore, in place of the music and dancing-, the brush and
hammer will be in full operation ; but when all the im-
provements and embellishments have been effected, the
Argyll will present one of the most superb and noble apart..
ments in the metropolis. That everything will be done in
the best manner possible, the past exertions of the spirited
proprietor is sufficient guarantee.
MR. MILNE'S ENTERTAINMENT.—Mr'. Milne gave
an entertainment on the ballads and songs of Scotland last
evening at the Queen's Concert-rooms, Hanover-square.
The programme consisted chiefly of a selection of songs
illustrative of Scottish domestic and national feeling,
which were severally presented to the audience by appro-
priate introductory remarks, enlivened occasionally by in-
teresting anecdotes. It is an arduous task for any vocalist,
however great his powers, to undertake the labour of an
entire evening's entertainment ; but notwithstanding this
drawback, upon the whole it was national and agreeable,
and seemed to give much satisfaction. His singing was
very characteristic and tasteful, and his voice is of consi-
derable power, and of a very sweet and flexible quality.
Several of his songs were encored, and at the conclusion he
was greeted with loud plaudits.