The Sun.
London, England, 1845-07-29 00:00:00

nn SUN, LONDO

gations eontitined in the petition of the senior students of
the School of Design in Somerset-house, rt into the
general management and present state of ithat School—
but stated his willingness to withdraw his motion in case
the Government would accede to its requirements.
Sir R. PEEL made a few remarks across the table,
not one word of which reached the gallery, but it is to
be concluded that he refused to concur in the proposi-

tion, as
Mr. WILLIAMS immediately proceeded, and attri-
buted the ill-success which had attended the Institution,
ever since its first formation, to the bad government
___

under which it had systematically labotred: Twenty-
four gentlemen bad been appointed to conduct the
entire management of the establishment, and like
every other department entrusted to the charge
of such a limited council, it be l been neg-
lected. Every thing he affirmed, he was prepared to
prove before a Committee of the House. He challenged
inquiry, as he wanted to know whether the statements
that had been made to him were true or not. The

---
successor of the previous Master, Mr. Dyce, was Mr.
Wilson, who was neither a workman nor a scholar, and
the latter had under him a Mr. Herbert, a very skil-

ful person, and a royal academician, yet Mr. Herbert,
so eminently qualified for the situation he held,
was removed by a meeting of the council, at
which there were only four present— (Hear)—
while the other was retained. In consequence of this
state of things, the arrangements were such as to afford
no efficient means of instruction. Thirty-seven of the

students addressed the council on the subject, setting
forth the incapacity of the master of their class, and the
director, to fill the situations which they held, to which
an answer was returned as offensive as it could be well

expressed, ordering their expulsion. The Hon. Member
here said, the order of the council for the expulsion of
the scholars, and deciding that they should not be re-
admitted unless through the director, respecting whose
incapacity they had addressed the council, he
looked upon as a highly arbitrary proceeding, as the
remonstrants were not boys, but many of them young
men who had given evidence of considerable ability, and
who had shown no refractory spirit, but merely a lauda-
ble desire of being properly instructed. He was told
that many of the complaining parties were
miserably deficient of talent. His answer to
this was, that many of them had competed
for prizes, and had been successful. One, a native of
Scotland, after being a few months there, btained two
prizes, and another had gained three prizes, in competi-
tions. These were facts which, with many others, he
could prove in committee, were it granted. Under such
a management, what was the result ? In April, 1844,
there were 196 scholars ; in July, the same year, 189 ;
being a falling off of 7. In April, this year, there were
186 ; in July, 111 ; showiag a falling off of 75. What
was the occasion of this ? The dismissal of 37 of their
best scholars, and such a circumstance deterring others
from attending at this seminary. The testimony of Mr.
Pugin, whose fame was European, bore evidence to the
poverty of our talent in the decorative arts. That gen-
tleman stated that he had only three persons in his em-
ployment who were Englishmen; and out of those three,
there were two who had been dismissed from the School
of Design. Surely these circumstances called aloud for
inquiry. If his motion was not granted, great dissatisfac-
tion would be the result. Owing himself much to manufac-
tures, he was anxious that proper instruction should be
afforded to those who had to obtain their livelihood
through their means, and he should therefore use every
exertion in his power to promote their efficiency. The
Hon. Gentleman concluded by moving that an inquiry
be instituted into the School of. Design.
Sir GEORGE CLERK opposed the motion, and
held that the House wenld compromise its dignity if
they acceded to it, when it was well known that it
emanated from a number of students who had been
suspended from the School of Design, on account of
gross insubordination. With respect to Mr. Tyas, it
could not have been expected that an artist of con-
siderable eminence could have given up all his time to
the institution, even when his salary was increased
from 400/. to 5001. a year. Mr. Wilson was also
an artist of great eminence, and certainly a
person more qualified could not have been
selected to fill the office to which he was appointed.
Mr. Herbert was also well qualified to instruct those in
his department—the drawing of the human figure.
Those under his tuition were under 20 years of age,
there being some as young as fourteen. Certainly Mr.
Herbert was to blame for the disparaging way in which
he spoke of Mr. Wilson in the hearing of his pupils.
Now he would ask the House whether these gentlemen—
mere lads—were competent to judge of the character of
their tutors. It was true that there was one 22 years
of age. Mr. Wilson took this young man into his pri-
vate room, and showed him some drawings, some of
which he lent him to copy. He found the name of an
Italian written in the corner, and thus he brought the
charge against Mr. Wilson of foisting off other persons
designs as his own. Now, it appeared that the name in
the corner of the drawing was that of a town—Onego—
which the drawing represented l The shawl-worker
mentioned by Mr. Nugent had takes lessons, and left
the school ; but after some time he returned,
and took lessons under Mr. Wilson. He designed some
beautiful patterns, which were eagerly purchased by
some of the largest manufacturers in that town. Many
of those who were in the habit of receiving patterns
from France now obtained them from those who had
been educated at the School of Design. This showed
that the school was not in the inefficient state which the
Hon. Member made out—considering the short time it
had been established, it bad made wonderful progress
Looking at the satiditittery statiN' the exhibition last
year he did-not think that the Sehool of Design patronised
by Government was in the state described by the lion.
Member, and having, as he thought, answered all the
arguments and all the facts of that Hon. Member, there
seemed no necessity for the Committee. He should oppose
his motion.
Mr. EWART said that, without taking up the time
of the House, it was clear enough that the school in
Somerset House was in a state of disorganisation. Mr.
Pugin had stated that he was unable to find there ar-
tists to supply designs for the new Houses of Parliament,
and he was therefore obliged to search over the Conti-
nent for them. Their manufactures were also behind
those of France, because pattern designing was not suffi-
ciently encouraged ;, and_therefore, under these circum-
stances, he should siippert tb motion of his Hon. Friend
the Member for Coventry.'
Mr. WAKLEY said that, finding the Hon. Member
for Lambeth, who had been taking notes that evening,
did not rise to speak on the subject, he must as a matter
of duty do so, for he could not understand why they
should vote away public money for a school actually of no
public benefit. It had been said by the lion. Gentleman
opposite that it would be an encouragement of insubor
dination if they granted this Committee. But was an
inquiry into evils, an encouragement of insubordination?
and many young men—young men rising in the world—
whose prospects possibly would be destroyed, were ex-
pelled from this school, and would the House then call
this a factious measure—a measure likely to encourage
insubordination ? The students complained that their
teacher was an incompetent man, and could it be sup-
posed that the young men would have risked this asser-
tion if they had not believed it ? But what was the
course pursued ? The council, instead of irquiring into
the qualifications of Mr. Wilson, suspended the com-
plaining scholars. That is as the reward which the
students received for the discharge of their duties to one
another, and their zeal for their own improvement. They
discovered that the person who was appointed to the
task was wholly incapable of instructing them. But the
council concealed from the House all the facts of the
case as related to Mr. Herbert. No doubt the
council would say that they abstained from
stating the facts, through delicacy to Mr. Roberts, who
asked no delicacy at thAr hands. ' He hoped the First
Lord of the Treasury would inquire into the case him-
self.—(Hcar, hear.) There was no public institution
that could have a more beneficial effect upon the promo-
tion of the fine arts and the interests of commerce than
the School of Design, if properly worked.—(Hear, hear.)
It was well known that the manufacturers of this coun-
try sent annually upwards of 30,0001. a year to France
for designs. If the Right Hon. Gentleman would inter-
fere, to see that the school was properly conducted,
it would be a great benefit to the country. It
was right to place at the head of such an institu-
tion a director who was a clever, active man of busi-
ness ; but he ought not to be a teacher, or to be
allowed to interfere with the teachers.—(Hear, hear.)
He did not wish to say anything painful to the feelings
of Mr. Wilson, but he hoped the Government would
take some steps before the next session of Parliament
to place the school upon a proper foundation.—(Hear.)
Mr. HAWES objected to the assertion made by his
Hon. Friend the Member for Coventry, that the council
consisted of jobbers. —(Elear, hear.) His Hon. Friend's
statement was made upon facts which were reported by
persons not well informed.—(Hear, hear.) The facts of
the case were simply these :—A quarrel arose between
the two masters, in the course of which Mr. Herbert
appealed to the pupils, who responded by loud cheers.
The council took great pains to investigate
the circumstances, and having behaved with
great consideration to Mr. Herbert were obliged
to come to the resolution of discontinuing his
services. The details were not of that important
nature to be embodied in a report to Parliament, and he
(Mr. Hawes) and his colleagues thought that no more
was necessary than to state the principal facts. But he
would pledge his honour to the House, that he and every
other member of the council had the highest respect for
Mr. Herbert, and were actuated only by a sincere desire
for the advancement of the school.—(Hear, hear.) It
had been said by his Hon. Friend that the school had
declined, but the fact was to the contrary. The school
had greatly advanced, and the manufacturers had shown
their sense of its value by their extended employment
of the students male and female.—(Herr.) He would
venture to say for every member of the council
from the highest to the lowest, that they bad no objec-
tion to see the school remodeled, if it could be done on a
better basis. He would not object to the motion for in-
quiry, if it were made on the simple ground of improve-
ment to the institute. But he would resist it, if it
were brought forward upon a charge that the council
was composed of jobbers.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. WYSE defended the reputation of the school and
the conduct of the council. He appreciated the talents
and acquirements of Mr. Herbert, but after all the con-
sideration which he, as a member of the council, could
give to the subject, he thought that no other course
could have been taken than to dispense with the services
of that gentleman; and to mark with disapprobation the
insubordination of the students. He could not give his
vote for a motion which implied censure upon the
council. But he would support any inquiry which might
have for its object the improvement of the school itself,
and the
a fewexte words from Mr. HtiEs,
extension itsutility.ex-
r- • -
After - • - -
Mr. WILLIAMS declined to divide the House, and
the motion was negatived without a division.
IRISH POLICE FORCE.

Lord CLEMENTS then rose, according to notice, to
move the considention of the petitions of John Conniff,