New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-07-03
GREAT BRITAIN.
NOTES FROM LONDON.


ON AMERICANS BY CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY.
lvRou rHK REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRIBUSE.l
LONDON. June ls.-Mr. Ruskin, having freed his
mind ON the subject Of lectures. has now come out
against medals. OR perhaps not against medals IN
general but only the particular medal offered MN DIV
The Roval Institution of British Architects AT the
meeting last night Of that respectable society, the
Vice President announced MIR. Ruskin's refusal
with the deepest concern he. the Nice-Presl-
dent said. Ii appears that this is gold medal
which her Majesty gives yearly. upon the nomiha-
ton of the Institute. For "a years, as the wee
President remarked IN tone OF subdued horror,
the medal has been awarded, aud nobody before
Ar. Ruskin declined it, which find no difficulty
IN believing The number of persons who refuse
gold medals OF garters. trinkets of any kind is
small Whv does Mr.. Ruskn refuse That, alas.
~ what we are not yet permitted 10 know The
Architects refused to hear his letter read tor the
curious reason, urged by one of them, that
1t was an ex parte statement Sir Gilbert
Scott had written Mr.. Ruskin, but Mr.
Ruskin had made no answer TO Sir I'LL
bert Scott. Then, as last step, the
President had written 10 the Queens Secretary,
stating these distressing facts and asking the royal
pleasure about the rejected medal-whether they
should give it TO anybody else, suppose. But the
Queens Secretary no more answers than did Mr.
tects in a position of painful embarrassment, and
even dismay. as the Yice-Presdent said The
Queen has given them a medal TO give TO Mr..
Ruskin and Mr.. Ruskin will not have it, and the
Queen apparently will not have 10 back nor yet tell
her loyal aTchictects what they may do with IT.
The Council expressed told, III the strongest
manner their deep regret at " the most unprece-
dented occurrence in the annals of this any other
British institution They are in fact so ire
menduously solemn about it that the public has
no choice but to laugh. 1 advise them to publish
Mr. Ruslins letter. If they do not, he will. and he
is a man capable of writing another, likely to
produce still more laughter; not on the side Of the
Royal architects.
The Government of Mr. Disraeli, which came into
power partly by help of denunciatons Of the parsi-
mouy of its predecessor Is going to propose to Par
lament ~ give the enormous sum of $4,000 TO the
family of Dr.. Livingstone You need not suppose
the compositor mas left out a cipler The sum TO be
granted is fifteen Thousand dO.lars-less than one
eighth of the sum bestowed Sir Garnet Wolseley
for thrashing the Ashantees Surely it pays better
TO XIII few negroes than to discover a continent.
Mr. Disrae will not withdraw the munifcent pen
SION Of 81 900 year on account of the present gift
The Geographical Society, which more or less cold
ShOuldered poor Livingstone in his lifetime has ap-
parently done what II could TO make amends after
ms death. A deputation from the Society had
recommended that the sum given should be $4,000
but the Government SAYS the report, taking all the
circumstances INTO consideration thought that JUS
tice' would be done by giving $1,000, and paying
the due followers and servants
suppose Justice was done equally when this same
Government hagged about the bringing of the dead
body of the great traveller home to England, and
when they suffered him to be buried without one
representative of the Ministry follow him TO his
grave You see he was not in official relation with
any departnent.-Mr. Disraelis own words IN Par
lament. Did ever quote the remark of Mr.. Car
lyle -tbat If Christ should reaDpear on earth and
come 20 London he did not think anybody here
would paw him much attention. Then. checking
himself, Yes" said Mr. Carlyle, Il think Lord
Houghton would give Christ a breakfast"
The question about the Piero della Francesca PIC
ture, bought at the Barker sale, was only asked IN
the House last night. II happened that Mr. Disrael,
IN the absence OF the Chancellor of the EXchequer,
answered the question. and ms answer may be quoted
n one of the best known examples OF that valuable
Parliamentary quality known check He had
read Mr. Roblnsons letter stating that the picture
ia a wreck and w0rthless and would make some
marks ON it when the vote taken for the money.
Meantime. added Mr. Disraeh, Will merely say
that 1t Is quite true that painting by Piero della
Francesca has been purchased for the nation at the
late sale of the Barker collection for E24l5, and as
the subject has been referred TO- Will say that
congratulate the country on having acquired, aftera
very severe competition with some of the first gal
leries aud collections at present in existence pic
ture of the most and interesting character and
which. think viii add to the beauty and value of
the national collection ICheers.l The plain En-
glish OF that lis that great blunder has probably
been made but the Prime Minister VIII rely on his
majority 70 carry it through. There will be a Tory
whip and the money viii be voted with the help of
"the finest brute votes in Europe" plus a re-
enforcement Of retired soap-bOIlers the opposite
benches who neither know nor care anything about
art.
The six-nights' debate between Mr. Bradlaugh and
n Rev Mr. Grant on the relative merits Of Secular
Ism according TO Bradlaugh and Christianity came
last week 20 an uutimely end. The proprietor of
the Bow and Bromley Institute the fifth night
refused the further of the hall 1t does not
strike me that either Secularism Christianity will
lose much by the disappointment. The discussion
was conducted with great violence on both sides,
and the end of the report III Mr. Bradlaugh's paper
Is occupied with an explanation of the why
p. --ould be immoral for Mr. Bradlaugh TO thrash
Mr. Grant. $50
am afraid that The States. the new American
paper published in London about which l lately
wrote hopeful paragraph. is ne more. IL has lived
rather less than three months and it had the prom
ise of 40 respectable a career before II that am
disposed 70 regret it's failure. What it wanted. of
course was money for Of enterprIsing spirit there
was no lack. There remains The AagLO-Ameriodn
Tnes long since firmly established, and lately much
improved geographically. In thoroughness, fair