The Sun.
London, England, 1859-02-09 00:00:00

GALLERY OF PICTURES.

Sir H. WILLOUGHBY asked the Chief Commissioner
of Works if a gallery for pictures was building, and in what
locality ? If so, what would be the expence, and out of
what moneys voted by Parliament would such expence be
defrayed ?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that
the question referred to a matter of greater importance than
at first sight seemed to be implied. It referred, really, to
the National Gallery. The house would recollect how
they had been wearied by the constant unsettlement of this
question. The Government, having no confidence that
any further inquiry by committees of the house er by royal
commissions would produce a satisfactory result, and acting
upon what they believed to be the general feeling of the
house, had cut the Gordian knot, and endeavoured to bring
the question of the National Gallery to a satisfactory
settlement. The whole of the buildings in Trafalgar-
square would ultimately be devoted, and speedily he hoped,
to the National Gallery. (Loud cries of " Hear, hear.")
Anxious that this long-vexed question should bo brought
to a satisfactory settlement, the Government had offered
'to the Royal Academy terms which they thought
were conceived in a liberal spirit. They were pre-
pared to offer a site, and were- prepared now to recommend
the house to grant a vote for the purposes of the build-
ing. But the Royal Academy, animated 'by a spirit
which he felt sure the house would appreciate, resolved to
act independently of the public funds. They announced
their readiness to raise a building for themselves, and de-
clined any public contribution. (Hear, hear.) That being
the state of the case, and it being settled that the building
in Trafalgar-square should be devoted to its original pur-
poses alone—for as to Marlborough House, the Prince of
Wales announced his desire that it should be made suitable
for his residence at all convenient despatch, and he thought
it would be ready for him next November—it was all the
more desirable that a final decision should be come to on the
subject. He understood that Marlborough House would not
be in a proper state to receive his Royal Highness in less
than eight months. The house was aware that, through the
great kindness of her Majesty, this building had for a consi-
derable time been in the service of the public. It was neces-
sary for him to fulfil the pledge which he had given to the
trustees of the National Gallery, that the Turner and Ver-
non collections should be placed in proper reception cham-
bers until they could be removed to Trafalgar-square, and
also that wherever they should ba deposited no question
could be permitted to arise as to whom they belonged, and
that the Government should have control and custody
over them. Their first idea was to prepare the building
known as Carlton Ride for their reception, but it was found
that the expense would be very considerable—that it would
not be less than £3,000, and that, after all, the building
was not fireproof. It was almost impossible to find any
building which was suitable for the purpose. Under these
circumstances, it ws.s suggested to the Government that
they might, on that part of the land at Kensington-gore
rented by the Royal Commissioners, erect a gallery which
would be adequate to the exhibition of the collection granted
by Mr. Sheepshanks, until the building at Trafalgar-square
was ready for their reception. As Parliament was not sit-
ting the Government could not consult it, and the Govern-
ment, therefore, took upon themselves the responsibility as
far as the expense was concerned. The first estimate
made for this building at Kensington was not as great
as the expense which would be incurred by the tem-
porary fitting up of the house at Carlton Ride. The
whole of the sum which it was contemplated would be spent
upon this temporary gallery at Kensington would not be
equal to the annual rent of the premises which they once
had designed for this purpose; and he trusted, therefore,
that the hon. baronet would see that every care had been
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taken. He hoped that the buildings at Trafalgar-square
would bo devoted to the Turner and Vernon collections,
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terests suffered injury in consequence. Ho trusted that this
explanation, which he thought due to the house, would
prove satisfactory. (Hear.)
Mr. KINNAIRD asked where the site granted to the
Royal Academy was situated ?
The CHANCELLOR of. the EXCHEQUER replied
that it was the area around Burlington House, but that it
would be connected with other public buildings. The in-
terior of the academy would be left to the academy, but the
exterior would be subordinate to the designs of the Govern
ment.

MANNING THE NAVY.
Six G, Namil asked the Yirzt ford of the Admiralty