been, and future battles would be, chiefly | a ship, while 8-inch guns would not. In decided by that arm, and that our strength this country we had been introducing in that respect must be made proportionate 56-pounders in the land service, which had to such requirements.

the result which was arrived at by those has taken place in other countries, and who upon that occasion exercised the office of the convictions which arose, not only of jurors, and examined with impartiality in those of philosophic mind, but also of the productions of all countries in compe- men with practical views, was, that the tition with our own-they arrived at the time had come when it was necessary that result, which it was unnecessary then os- a great effort should be made by which an tentatiously to announce, that if we wished industrial education should be secured in to maintain our superiority in the arts of this country, and the influences of science production, we must consider that the in- and art upon productions be more systetellectual element in production must be matically brought to bear. The subject at more studied and cultivated than hereto- that time attracted the attention of the fore. They found that in many countries Royal Commissioners of the Great Exhithere was a superiority in design; that bition, at the head of whom it is unnecesfrom scientific agencies there was a power sary for me to observe is the illustrious of competition with us, which countervail- Prince, of whom I may say that while he ed that superior command of the raw is probably more qualified than any man material which had hitherto supported our in this country to elevate, to refine, and industry; and that, in short, the time had to form the tastes of the people; so there arrived when we must seriously consider of is no one who has addressed more indefatincreasing the means by which we were to igable hours, or more unceasing thoughts, maintain our superiority. Now, Sir, in all to this high purpose. Well, Sir, the the countries of Europe this great want Royal Commissioners found themselves in has long been recognised. There is not a the possession of a considerable surplus town of any eminence on the Continent in after the termination of that remarkable which there is not a school where the in- Exhibition, which will always form one of fluences of science and art are brought to the most interesting chapters in the hisbear upon human production, and there is tory of man. That available surplus was not a capital in Europe in which there is not less than 150,000l. Besides that, not an Industrial University. There has they had, as contributions from exhibitors been no deficiency either of the means or and from foreign States, the foundation of feeling on this subject in this country of an extraordinary muscum of industry, for many years past; and it is a curious which probably in value itself amounts to fact, though we have not succeeded in not less than 9,0007. The Royal Combringing to bear the influences of art and missioners, therefore, who were more conscience upon the manufacturing skill of scious than any body of men in this counthis country, that there are in this metro- try of our great deficiency, and of the abpolis alone not less than 100 institutions solute necessity which now exists for makdevoted to the cultivation of art and ing such efforts, took into consideration science. There is an annual sum raised whether, with those funds in their posseson their behalf by voluntary contributions sion, an opportunity had not arrived when amounting to 160,000l., and the nation they might possibly give some great imcontributes nearly 100,000l. more in sup- pulse to the national feeling, and perhaps port of such considerable institutions as the lay the foundation of that complete indusBritish Museum, the National Gallery, and trial education which is essentially neothers-making together about 250,000l.cessary for the interests of this country. expended annually for the very purposes Well, now, Sir, they had to consider what which, unfortunately, have never been at- was the reason that in this country, where tained; and the question has naturally we should have supposed that there existed arisen, why, while there was such evidence every cause which should have developed of an anxious wish on the part of the peo-education of such a description, hitherto ple of this country to cultivate the arts we had been so unsuccessful in any general and sciences, shown by their willingness and satisfactory measure; and they found, to expend so large a sum of money, and after a full consideration of the question, while the State contributed in the same that it was to be attributed mainly to two spirit, has any systematic attempt to bring causes-the want of system, and the want the influence of science and art upon manu- of space. I think it may truly be said, facturing industry never to any extent that to the latter cause the first may be been brought to a satisfactory issue? attributed. We have a number of instituThe result of our evidence at the Great tions scattered over this great metropolis, Exhibition, of our observation of what in none of which can the object of them

be sufficiently or satisfactorily developed, | ment the pictures of our national galleries owing to the scanty space at their com- are absolutely stowed in different buildings; mand. At the same time, while they can- and, instead of their being under the same not satisfactorily fulfil the objects for which roof, and forming a complete school of art they have been instituted, the same want -a collection which, presenting the styles of space, the same necessity of being scat- of different ages and of different schools, tered in different places, by preventing might form the taste of the present agejuxtaposition, prevents any united effort by you must walk from one street to another which their concentrated energies can be before you can be aware of the treasures brought to bear upon the great ends in which we actually possess. Well, Sir, the view. If you examine some of the prin- Royal Commissioners, feeling that the time cipal institutions, both those founded by had come when some effort should be made individuals and those supported by the na- to concentrate all our scattered energies tion, you find always one complaint. If for the great object of the industrial adyou go to the Royal Society, for example, vancement of the nation, were conscious you find that there has been for many that before they could establish that nayears a constant appeal for more accom- tional arrangement in which we have been modation, and additional means of develop- all along so deficient, it was absolutely neing the objects which they were instituted cessary that they should overcome one to fulfil. If you go to the Royal Academy, great difficulty-that they should obtain it is a fact that during the four summer sufficient space for their object—and they months the time most favourable to the have with this view purchased, in a spot student, the very months most suited to which I myself think eminently adapted painting and drawing-the schools are for their object, a considerable portion of obliged to be closed, because they must land. They have made considerable purthen prepare for our annual exhibition of chases very near that spot where the national art. I need not remind you of the Crystal Palace originally rose, and in a state of the British Museum at this mo- place where it is not impossible that they ment. I had the honour to-day of attend- may be able even materially to increase ing my noble Friend the First Minister of the the amount of land. They have expended Crown, and receiving a deputation on the for this purpose money which remained as subject, which laid before us facts which the surplus of the contributions to the Exare probably notorious to many Gentlemen hibition, and they applied to Her Majesty's in this House, although, perhaps, they are Government to ascertain whether we would not so much interested in them as I, who recommend to Parliament that the State have recently listened to the narrative. should contribute an equal sum to that The fact is, that at this moment there which they themselves expended for this is not accommodation in the British Mu- object. The Committee will recollect that seum, which is a mass of collections on all this was the last and the only opportunity subjects, for any one single branch of litera- of obtaining that, a want of which had ture, of science, or of art. The library in hitherto rendered all our attempts to bring the British Museum is now increasing at art and science to bear upon public educathe rate of 16,000 volumes a year, and in tion unavailing-I mean adequate space. less than thirty years a collection which If we lose the opportunity of purchasing now nearly amounts to 500,000 volumes this land, no other similar opportunity will will be doubled. The accommodation is again occur. In this rapidly increasing exceedingly deficient, but, if we once city there is no other spot where so large cease in the increase of our national a space of land could be obtained. Well, library, links will be wanting in the chain if the House of Comnions will consent to which can never be supplied. We have the proposition which the Government is collections of art and of science at this about to make, and will agree to contribute moment stowed in cellars. It was neces- an equal sum to that contributed by the sary to establish the Schools of Design Commissioners of the Great Exhibitionthat were founded in this country in dif- the joint contributions making 300,0007. ferent places and under different roofs. -we shall then be in possession of a If you look to our National Gallery, our space of land which will allow us at last collection of pictures is not nearly as rich to bring to bear that united influence as it might have been, because there is no of science and art, in all their forms proper receptacle for the contributions that and combinations, which we believe will would be voluntarily made. At this mo- afford to the people of this country a com

plete industrial education, which will raise | nating with their accumulated radiance not our productions in the scale of invention, only the metropolis but every part of the and which will, more perhaps than other United Kingdom. We are not attempting causes, tend to promote the improvement to do this by any compulsory means. All we of the humbler classes. Unquestionably, recommend is, that space shall be afforded if the Committee assent to this proposition, and secured, because upon space system it will be expedient that we should use entirely depends. When space is afforded, part of this spot for the erection of a Na- we shall allow the natural feeling of the tional Gallery on a great and complete country and the bent of these societies scale; but that is not by any means the fairly to develop themselves. By no forced only object which the Commissioners have means whatever, but by what we contemset before them, if Parliament will assist plate as a natural process and as a consethem. They wish that there should be quence of irresistible circumstances, we what I may style a great commercial mu- shall find in one spot all that can form, all seum, in which may be found specimens that can enlighten, and all that can elevate of all the raw produce of the world. the intellect of man, and from this focus They wish that that should be followed we shall give to this country a stimulus by a repertory in which every machine that which, acting upon the intelligence of the the ingenuity of man has devised, or can people, shall elevate their ideas, enlighten devise the machinery which is to act upon their minds, and give to their inventions a that raw produce-may be studied by the much higher and purer aim than they have people, and that they may find in that study yet achieved. I do not know that I need a stimulus to their invention. Next, when say more. Perhaps, indeed, I have said this machinery has acted upon the raw pro- too much. I shall only be glad if I have duce, we wish to show the results in some not said it in vain. But I wish to make museum, in which every possible manu- the Committee clearly understand what is facture of man may be witnessed. The the Vote to which I ask them to agree. It National Gallery, and the galleries of art is not merely a gross sum of money which and sculpture in every form, will afford we are asking the Committee to vote for a fourth division, where in the study of some particular object, but we ask you to the appropriate and the beautiful, the unite with those who are prepared to act sources of ornament and decoration may with you, and to display equal liberality. be furnished. If the Committee will as- I have no doubt many hon. Gentlemen sent to this proposition, we hope we may have read those Reports which, by comdo even more than that which I have so mand of Her Majesty, have been laid upon slightly and so feebly sketched. Besides the table of this House. To me I confess these four great divisions of raw material, there is something touching in the shilof the machinery which man invents, of lings of the million being the foundation the manufacture which he creates, and of in this country of a great movement which the art which inspires him, we hope we I cannot myself doubt will raise the charshall overcome a difficulty which has al-acter of the country and the education of ways been experienced in this country, and of which all our learned societies complain -I allude to the inability of those societies to confer together, and their want of juxtaposition. When we find a society like the Royal Society, so long a light of science in this country from the days of Newton, complaining that it has no means of fairly developing the uses of which it is susceptible when we find that complaint not confined to the Royal Society, but proceeding from all the learned and scientific societies in the Kingdom-we feel that the opportunity may now be afforded to those societies of assembling together in the same spot, and we may look forward to the time when you will find the learning, the science, and the art of the country collected together in one place, and illumiVOL. CXXIII. [THIRD SERIES.]

the people. I think it is a legitimate appeal which I am making to the Committee, and I trust they will agree to the vote I am now about to place in the hands of Mr. Wilson Patten.

The CHAIRMAN then read the Resolution, which was handed to him by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and which was to the following effect:

"That a sum not exceeding 150,000l. shall be granted towards defraying in 1852-3 the purchase of land at Kensington Gore for a new National Gallery and institutions connected with science, in aid of the sum already contributed thereto by

the Commissioners for the Exhibition of 1851."

LORD SEYMOUR said, he believed that the people of this country had been imagining that they were superior to those of all other countries in manufacturing art;

2 L

The House was now asked, however, to pay 150,000l. for certain property, and he wished to know in whom it was to be vested, and who were to superintend the erection of buildings? Were the Royal Commissioners to have the sole management, or was it to be confided to a responsible Minister of the Crown? He had no objection to the general scheme if it could be properly carried out, but he thought some information ought to be afforded to the Committee upon the points he had mentioned.

but as they had lately had the advantage | chased as a place of public recreation in of collecting the productions of art and the the name of the Crown, and managed by manufactures of other nations, he doubted a responsible Minister; or, if bought for not they had seen that, unless they took care, purposes of public improvement, it had they would soon be left behind in the race. been purchased by Commissioners who, He fully admitted, therefore, that it was when they had carried out the improvemost important that something should be ments, sold the ground that was not wantdone for promoting the industrial educa- ed, and then laid the accounts before Partion of the people, and he thought so farliament. they ought to be grateful to the Commissioners for their generous gift, and also for the plan they had sketched out; but that plan would require a great deal of consideration before it could be entirely adopted. One of the main proposals, as he understood, was, that all the scientific institutions, which now spent about 160,000l. a year for the maintenance of their different societies, should be brought together on this one spot. Now, the Report of the Commissioners, though it referred to the matter, did not show that these societies LORD JOHN RUSSELL said, that as were in favour of this plan. He believed, one of the Royal Commissioners, he might indeed, that the societies themselves strong-perhaps be allowed to say a few words upon ly objected to being removed to Kensing- this subject, though the information he ton. They met together for discussion on could give would be very imperfect. The various scientific subjects, and it would be further carrying out of this plan must devery inconvenient to them if they were to pend very much upon the Government, be carried such a distance from town. If upon whose aid the Commissioners had rethe House undertook this plan on the sup- lied in order to bring it to the perfection position that it would be supported by the which he hoped it might attain. The Commoney of the scientific societies, he thought missioners had been anxious, when they they would find themselves greatly mis- found the large sums in their hands, that taken. As to the commercial museums some institution should be established which and repertories of manufactures and art, might commemorate the Great Exhibition he thought they would have to be built of 1851. It was thought it would be unwith public money, for it would be neces- wise to allow the benefits of that Exhibition sary not only to buy the ground, but after- to be merely transitory, and that some atwards to build the museums. The Com-tempt should be made to perpetuate the mittee was therefore asked to enter upon advantages which were derived from it. a very large undertaking, and he was anx- Nothing appeared more likely to effect that ious that they should not be misled upon object than an institution for extending the this subject, but that they should be fully advantages of science and art in the indusaware of the expense of the scheme. Now, try of the country. He thought no one with regard to the ground, no plans or could have inspected the Great Exhibition maps had been laid upon the table to show without being convinced of the truth of an whether it was intersected by any other observation in one of the Reports of the property, because, if that were the case, Commissioners, that in future there would and if there were any rights of way, it be great and severe competition in the inmight be necessary to expend large sums dustry of the world, which would assume in addition to the purchase-money, in buy- a more intellectual character. Now that ing those rights. He had asked the other House had been exceedingly willing to day that a plan might be laid before the vote very large sums for scientific instituHouse, in order that they might possess infor- tions, and more especially for the British mation on this subject. Then, if the House Museum. He thought any one who had of Commons granted the money that was considered the large sums-he believed, on required, in whom was the property to be an average, about 40,000l. a year—which vested? In the case of all purchases made had been voted for the British Museum, by Parliament, one of two courses had been must be satisfied that many years could not followed either the ground had been pur-clapse without some decision being come to