Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-09-01
Treasures of Art and Science in
London.


In a graphic article published some
years ago Mr.. Henry Cole described
(what it is almost impossible for the
Londoner to realize) the condition of this
metropolis at the beginning of the CEN
tury. The only institution which then
existed for preserving any object of art
or science was the British Museum,
which was founded in 1853, in which
year a sum of 100000 was raised by
lottery to purchase certain collections
as that of Sir Hans Sloane, aud the Cot
ton MSS-over the drawing OF which
lottery 100000 tickets at G3 each), at
Guildhall, the Lord Chancellor, the
Speaker of the House of Commons, and
the Archbishop of Canterbury presided
But this sole institution excited the very
smallest interest in the country, and so
late as forty years ago Crooker jeered in
Parliament at Bloomsbury, as a terra
incognita, and Csrlyle's brilliant friend
and pupil, Charles Butler, wrote an
article describing voyage of ex-
ploration he had made to that region,
with some account of the curious man
ners and customs Of the inhabitants
"About hundred visitors q day on an
average" says Mr.. Henry Cole There
were nearly 100000 visitors to the
British Museum in 1874, lin parties Of
Eve persons only, were admitted to cape
at the unlabeled 'rarities and curiosities'
deposited in Montague House. The
state of things outside the British
Museum was analogous. Westminster
Abbey was closed except for divine
service, and to show a closet of wax
work. Admittance to the public monu-
ment in St. Paups and other churches
was irksome to obtain, and costly; even
the Tower of London could not be seen
for less than six shilIings. The private
picture-galleries were most difficult of
access, and for those not belonging to
the upper ten thousand, it might be
work Of years to get sight of the
Grosvenor and and Stafford collections.
No national gallery existed, and Lord
Liverpools government refused to &C.
cept the pictures offered by Sir Francis
Bourgeois, now at Dulwich, even on con-
dition of merely housing them.
The National Portrait Gallery, the
South Kensington Museum, and the
Geological Museum were not even con-
ceived. Kew Gardens were shabby and
neglected, and possessed no museum.
Hampton Court Palace was shown, by a
fee to the housekeeper, one day in the
week. No public schools OF art or SCI
ence existed in the metropolis or the
seats Of manufacture. The Royal Aead-
emy had its annual exhibition on the
first and second floors of Somerset House,
in rooms now used by the Registrar
General, whose functions then had no
existence. 1t was only at the British
Institution or at Christie's auction rooms
that a youthful artist like Mulkeady
could chance to see the work of an old
master, as he has often told us. DR..
Birckback had not founded the present
Mechanics Institute in Southampton
Buildings, and the frat stone of the Lon.
don University, in Cover street. was not
laid. Not penny Of the public taxes
was devoted TO national education. Hard
drinking was as much qualification for
membership Of the Dilettanti Society as
the nominal one of tour in Italy.
Mems minds were more anxiously en-
gagged with bread riots and corn laws,
Thistlewoed's conspiracy and Peterloo
msssacres, Catholic emancipation and
rotton boroughs, than with the arls aud
sciences, for the advancement Of which,
in truth, there was hardly any liking
thought, or opportunity"
This being the condition Of London,
the state Of things in other parts of tho
United Kingdom may easilyb inferred.
There are now fifteen importansl public