The Sun.
London, England, 1866-08-16 00:00:00

LONDON, T.HUI?SDAI7, AUGUST 16, 1866.

We are at length in a fair way of having the two
great artistic problems of the day satisfactorily
solved. The National Gallery and the Royal Aca-
demy have both been for some time in the undigni-
fied
position of poor puss in the children's game.
" Corners" enough have been forthcoming, but
there has always been some objection or other, and
I certainly the change is not one to be made every
year. Both the National Gallery and the
Academy ought to fix their new habitations
with a view to permanent settlement. The
House of Commons is willing by a liberal vote
to construct a building really worthy of a
national object, but it is with the intention of
settling the question for many generations. In the
same way the Academy, rich enough for all ordinary
purposes, cannot afford the expensive amusement
of building very often, so that the movement is a
final one. The manner in which it has been finally
arranged will, we think, give general satisfaction.
The House, after prolonged opposition on the part
of some obstinate adherents of the Kensington
scheme, has determined that Trafalgar-square, in
every way the most suitable locality, shall remain
the site of the National Gallery ; and as this reso-
lution displaced the Royal Academy, it was indis-
pensable that the Academicians should fix upon
some other local habitation. Two sites were offered
them, the one at Kensington, the other at Burling-
ton House. Kensington, however fashionable or
delightful as a place of residence, is altogether un-
suited for the site of a public exhibition to which
persons are expected to come not only from all parts
of London proper, but from all the suburbs, east,
north, and south. The Royal Academy Exhibition
in Trafalgar-square can always boast of crowded

rooms from sunrise to sunset ; but it is very much
to be questioned whether such would be the case
were the scene to be changed to the extreme west
from the central position now occupied. Burlington
House has no such objection. The situation is ex-
cellent, and easy of access from all parts, and the
ground being public property there are no trouble-
some occupants to be got rid of.
The Academy were not offered the whole of the
site, which of course would be superfluous. They
were to have one of the frontages, and they chose
the southern one, but the conditions which the late
Government thought it necessary to attach to the
gift interfered so much with their requirements that

be site was abandoned, and it remained a matter of

great perplexity whether they should betake them-
selves, when the recent vote of Parliament finally
settled the position of the National Gallery.
Fortunately some one has suggested a way
out of the difficulty, which has every ad-
vantage to recommend it. The Royal Academy
will have ample space without any encumbering con-
ditions. The handsome and harmonious buildings
to front Piccadilly will be secured, while full accom-
modation will be given to the London University
and the scientific bodies at present sheltering them-
selves under the wings of Burlington House. All
these desirable ends are secured by very simple
arrangements. The grounds of Burlington House
are very large, and afford plenty of room in the rear 1
of the existing building for the construction of a
new Picture Gallery, to which the present house
will serve as a vestibule, thus securing the good
effect from Piccadilly so much desired. So large is
the space in the rear, indeed, that there will be room
beyond the new buildings of the Academy for the
promised frontage for the London University,
while the body of Burlington House itself will be
placed, as we have said, at the service of
the Academy. The wings and the colonnade,
which are neither of use nor ornament, are to
be pulled down and larger wings constructed for
the accommodation of any learned societies that
may require it. There will be also for their recep-
tion the additional space occupied at present by the
University, while the removal of all impediments
from the frontage will give the passers-by in Picca-

dilly the view of a really handsome and consistent

building. It is not surprising that the members of

the Academy have readily accepted this proposal,
by which they will have more than double the space
they now possess, besides the use of Burlington
House itself, while the outlay required for the new
building—which will be hidden between Burlington
House and the London University—will be. very
much less than the cost of a handsome gallery
standing by itself. The arrangements for the library,
the permanent galleries of sculpture and painting
for the annual exhibitions and for the schools, are
all excellent, and we heartily congratulate the
Academy on having obtained so gratifying a con-
clusion to their prolonged uncertainty.

According to the last accounts it seems as if there
was to be no war, at least for the present, between
France and Prussia. The EMPEROR has received
in private audience the Prussian Ambassador at
Paris, and the latter delivered the reply of the
Prussian Cabinet to the French Note, which ex-
pressed a wish that the French frontier might be
rectified. The Prussian Government has declared
any such rectification to be inadmissible. It is said
that in reply to this his MAJESTY stated that he had
expressed that wish in order to satisfy the public
opinion of France. He considered such a wish to
be just, but acknowledged the fairness of the argu-
ment brought forward by the Prussian Cabinet,
and added that the good relations between Prussia
and France should not be disturbed. All we can
say is that it is not much in accordance with the
usual course pursued by the EMPEROR thus to
agree with every one, right and left, and to have no
opinion of his own. If the report here mentioned
convey a strictly true account of what passed the
French EMPEROR must have some ulterior motive,
and not being preparede orhadsispmosaedde a
just now to
cope with Prussia, h
which
nt. caTnhearfeterwoaarnds
bbee tnuornedethteor gosoedletaiec-
n
tt
wo
et
ehmysterious
ne
France
an
dPrussia affair
appears communication
bAe
As
for the declaration of the semi-official Provincial
Correspondence, that the EMPEROR hasrotc
always
shown himself opposed to steps calculated to dis-
turb friendly relations with Prussia, it is quite ridi-
culous, and the notion of the EMPEROR being deter-
mined not to interfere with the national development
of Germany is equally untrue. What difference
can it make to the EMPEROR whether Prussia is
able to carry out all her extreme views of annexa-
tion except so far as he thinks it interferes with the
interests of France? It is quite out of character to
make such a fuss about the claims of Berlin and to
expect that all the world is to bow to its behests.
We admit that just now by a fortuitous combina-
tion of circumstances the advantages of the game
seem to be on the side of Prussia, and that the star of
BIS3IARCK is in the ascendant,but we have not yet seen
the end of the game, and are not therefore justified
in deciding on the winner, It is not at all likely

may not desire.
We hear that Prussia will take steps for the in-
corporation of the conquered North German States
without delay ; so much for the tirades we have all
heard so much of concerning German unity. The
unity seems to consist pretty much in all power
being monopolised by one State to the detriment of
the others. Had it been possible to form the minor
States into a compact body, it might, no doubt, have
proved an advantageous arrangement in the long run,
but the same thing cannot be said of the present
policy that is being pursued of putting so many
under the dominion of Prussia. There is an end of
all real independence whenever that mischievous
Power is in the ascendant, and we regard the pre-
sent change that has so rapidly taken place in
Germany as a most unfortunate one for the cause
of progress, and as most inimical to real indepen -
deuce and advancement in liberty. In conse-
quence of Austria having given cause for offence
by her arbitrary proceedings in Italy and Hungary
some persons have got so confused in their
judgment as to consider this success of Prussia
as a circumstance to rejoice at, and have
even declared that the Liberals of England and
other countries would find in it a triumph of their
cause. This is about as false an estimate as can
possibly be taken of the affair, and we are surprised
that any one who has studied the course of German
politics of late years can be so egregiously deceived.
What has there been to take note of in the acts of
the Berlin Government for some time past but a
systematic course of oppression and a determined
resistance to all desires of independence. By a
series of skilful manoeuvres, and a most unscru-

pulous adaptation of all the means in
their power, the Prussian Government has
contrived to crush out the aspirations of liberty in
many parts of the country, and to divert the at-
tention of the people from home troubles by en-

gaging them in foreign wars, the protest against

such a course being lauded and magnified in Eng•
land ; and those who set reason and justice ai

defiance by so doing are much to blame. It is in-
deed after all but a question of time, and the
events of the future will speedily show them their
mistake. If they think that Prussia, flushed with
victory, and rendered intolerant by the success of

her schemes, will prove more maguanimous, more
high-spirited, and more alive to the requirements of

her position than the Prussians of old, they w

now see their end. The course of events will have

tended to deepen and interest the arbitrary disposi

tion we formerly noticed, and the system previously
pursued with so much determination will still be
carried on. After some time, no doubt, a reaction

will take place ; and when the power of BISMARCK

is on the wane people will begin to inquire what they
have gained by all these changes and transforma-

tions. A still more effectual change than even a

revolution in Germany may take place if the French

interfere ; and, notwithstanding the apparen'

quiscence of affairs at present, it may not be long
before such an event takes place. BISMARCK is

playing a dangerous game in thus setting the
Emperor NAPOLEON at defiance, and he may yet

find himself in the unenviable position of the strong
man who boasted of his success until a stronger

than he appeared on the scene to despoil him of his
possessions, and to teach him his insignificance

after all.

Thanks to the mismanagement of the late Go-
vernment the captives in Abyssinia have not yet all
been released, but hopes are entertained that the
remainder will shortly be set at liberty. Lord
STANLEY on Tuesday presented to her MAJESTY the
Rev. JOHN FLADD, who was lately detained in
Abyssinia. The rev. gentleman is about to return
to that country, and it is expected that the instruc-
tions he takes out will effect the desired object, and
the rest of the prisoners will be set at liberty.
If so, there will be a feeling of great satis-
faction experienced in this country, for the
sufferings of those unfortunate captives have given
rise to universal regret and sympathy. Mingled
with these sentiments there has been a strong feel-
ing of indignation at the course pursued by the late
Government. Earl RUSSELL has, indeed, left no
pleasant memories of his career at the Foreign
Office, but instead of that the record of a long
series of mistakes owing to the mischievous effects
of his " meddle and muddle" policy. The unfor-
tunate prisoners in Abyssinia have had as
much cause as any one to regret his tame demean-

It would seem as if the greatest mismanage-
ment had prevailed throughout the whole course of
the proceedings in Abyssinia. First of all the
EMPEROR was insulted, and then he was allowed to
take his own way in ill-treating the victims of his
fury. It was a mean and unworthy trick on his
part to visit the sins of the Foreign-office upon the
unoffending Englishmen out there, but nothing can
justify the way in which our authorities acted. No
doubt the affair will now be brought to a speedy
and satisfactory conclusion, but it is another of
those legacies of misfortune and mismanagement
which the late Cabinet have so plentifully be-
queathed to their successors, despite the boasts they
made of their success.

our.

IX. AND NAPOLEON In
butes, on the authority The Temps attri-
f priva.te information from
' Pius Dc
world in a solemn encyclical, his
correspondentatalolf the Times, a plan of
side
intenevtients, the merit of
uelineesne tio
to address
Catholic
conduct to the Pope which h
originality.s
home,
says
the After Paris
announcing o
deliver a
letter to the Emperor Napoleon, Proposing to d
to him as Grand Vicar the States of the Church, co raiPris-
over
ing the provinces which Italy annexed pursuant to Royal
decrees, and which annexation the French Government
originally disavowed. Tho motives of the Holy Father
for taking that step are the danger menacing the temporal
power and his unwillingness, in spite of his weakness, to
abandon the "patrimony of St. Peter" to the Revolution.
And, as it cannot defend by itself the possessions secured
to it by the two founders of the Carlovingian Dynasty,
the Papacy has no alternative but to leave them in the
hands of the successor of Pepin—of the Catholic Prince
par excellence—namely, His Most Christian Majesty the
Sovereign of France. The original giver would thus re-
sume until better days come the guardianship of those
possessions, and as the Pope is the spiritual Vicar of Christ,
so the Emperor Napoleon would become the temporal vicar
of the Pope. 1

THE EMPEROR is said by the 7iines to have suffered
much pain since his return from Vichy; but the latest
resort is that he is a good deal better.

that the Berlin Government will be able to keep all
that they have acquired by force and fraud ; and so
' unworthy have been their tactics, and so arbitrary
their conduct, that it seems surprising how any one
can think of upholding their acts and praising their
policy. Whether it is successful or not does not
diminish from the injustice of the attempt, and the
whole tenour of the course pursued by Count BIS-
MARCK has been entirely at variance with those
principles which find favour with Englishmen.
The manner in which the late Government conducted
themselves with respect to Prussia has done incal-
culable mischief, and indeed materially contributed
to the present disastrous state of things on the Con-
tinent.
had the Schleswig-Holstein affair not been
allowed to assume such proportions, it is no exag-
geration to say that this last war might have been
avoided. In order not to offend Prussia all possible
latitude was given, and the honour of England was
sacrificed in the violation that was permitted to take
place in the Danish Treaty. All has been for no end
except to foster the pride and increase the pretensions
of that unscrupulous Power. It is difficult to say what
will be the next thing that the avarice of BISMARCK