artists. Should his Motion for a Committee be not granted, he would entreat, for the sake of the public good, that, at all events, the right hon. Gentleman would dismiss the Council, and, instead of having twenty-four members, assemble a smaller body who would attend. He attached great importance to the subject. Owing so much as he did to manufactures, he felt the greatest possible interest in their advancement in every way. The hon. Gentleman concluded by moving that "A Select Committee be appointed, to inquire into the allegations contained in the Petition of the Senior Students of the School of Design in Somerset House, and into the general management and present state of that School." Sir G. Clerk was unable, upon the part of the Government, to comply with the proposition of the hon. Member, as he thought that nothing could be more calculated to destroy the prospect of public benefit arising from the School of Design, than for the House to accede to the prayer of a small number of students for a Committee of Inquiry into their allegations. The hon. Member's complaints seemed to resolve themselves into two classes, the one founded upon gross partiality alleged to have been shown to Mr. Wilson, the other on gross injustice alleged to have been perpetrated towards Mr. Herbert. Mr. Wilson was chosen by the directors to succeed to Mr. Dyce, upon that gentleman's withdrawal from the establishment. He was an artist of very high talent, and one for whose works considerable prices had been given by the best judges. Besides his qualifications as an artist, Mr. Wilson was a man of fine taste and extensive knowledge of the history of the fine arts. Now, the duties of director of the School of Design were different from those of a mere teacher of painting. He did not wish to say a word in disparagement of Mr. Herbert; but he was employed in the school merely to teach drawing from the figure-not a primary or principal object of the School of Design, but one of an entirely subsidiary nature. Mr. Herbert was not a teacher of ornamental design; but unfortunately, because the pursuit of drawing from the figure was one more likely to be attractive to young men of artistic talent, than the mechanical work of designing patterns, there was a tendency on the part of many VOL. LXXXII. {Series} Third of the young persons frequenting the School of Design, to go there with the view rather of studying in order to become artists, than mere designers of patterns for manufactures. To this fact, might be traced the late unfortunate disturbances in the school. By far the larger numbers of the alleged "senior students" were under nineteen years of age; four of them were only fifteen, another four were only sixteen, and only five or six were above the age of twenty. An unfortunate difference, in which the petitioners had taken part, had arisen between Mr. Herbert and Mr. Wilson, the former having applied disparaging epithets to the latter, for which there could be no justification. According to the rules of the school, notices had been affixed to the doors of the class rooms, stating that certain students had incurred punishments for inattention. One of them had been attached to the door of Mr. Herbert's class room, and he and his pupils took up the matter as a personal insult. An unseemly altercation took place in the class room, Mr. Herbert appealing to the students against the character of Mr. Wilson. It was then found necessary, in order to preserve discipline, to suspend the class. Let them examine some of the statements of the students implicated; and then let them say whether such representations, coming from boys, many of them under fifteen years of age, to the effect that Mr. Wilson was incapable of giving them instruction, could be for a moment entertained by the House. The grievances of the students had been put into a printed shape, under the title of their "depositions." Now, among the students, there was one person, twenty-nine years of age, named Hearn; and in order to show the animus by which these lads were inspired, he would direct attention to some of his statements. This gentleman then stated, that Mr. Wilson took him into his private room to show him some of his (Mr. Wilson's) original drawings; and that on being left to copy one of these, he discovered in a corner of the canvass the name of an Italian artist. The inference was obvious. Now, the fact was this, Mr. Wilson had given this young man to copy some characteristic drawings of his own early Italian architecture, upon which he had written in the corner the name of the place at which the several drawings were made, and which this learned critic 2 P mistook-never having heard of the town | being of opinion that the recent attack on of Orvieto-for the name of some great Mr. Wilson had been dictated by a bad unknown and unappreciated Italian ar- heart, he trusted that he had said enough tist. After this specimen of the talents to show the House the propriety of reand acquirements of the leader of the fusing the Committee moved for by the dissatisfied students, he put it to the hon. Member. House whether, on the ground of such Mr. Ewart thought the time of the complaints, the hon. Member had made House ought not to be taken up by mere out his case for inquiry? However, personal disputes; but on that portion of if the hon. Member was right in his the question which was not personal a statement that the School of Design Member was justified in making a few was making no progress, that would remarks. What was the aspect of the case be an important point in his favour. before them? Did the hon. Baronet deny He hoped that he would go to the exhi- that the school was disorganized? Thirtybition now open at Somerset-house, and seven of the senior pupils had seceded; perhaps he would there see what would he called the school disorganized, for it make him change his opinion. That ex- was thus torn and rent asunder. Mr. hibition was one of the best which had yet Herbert, the master, had left; the combeen opened to the public, and it had plaints were general; the manufacturers been got up without any particular osten- complained that they could not get good tation or straining after effect. But the designs; Mr. Pugin, one of the most emibest proof of the excellence of the patterns nent judges of art in the country, declared consisted in the fact that no sooner were the state of the school to be highly they exhibited than the greater number unsatisfactory, and said he was obliged to were purchased at high prices by eminent seek out artists to work his ornaments on manufacturers. There was a test of the the Continent. Had they not a right then progress which the school had made. He to ask for inquiry? For what purpose was believed, too, that applications had been the school originally established? It was made by various manufacturers to the established by Lord Sydenham, in conse Council to recommend them to young men quence of the Report of a Committee of as designers in various branches of indus- which the hon. Member for Lambeth (Mr. trial production. Many persons, too, who Hawes) and other hon. Gentlemen were had formerly received their patterns from Members. He was asked by Lord SydenFrance, found it unnecessary now to do ham to be a member of the Council, but, so, as they were enabled to get patterns disapproving of the constitution of the here drawn with just as much skill and school, he refused; the school, he believed, taste as any received from abroad. An- would have gone on well had it been other proof of the success of the school properly conducted, and he believed it would be found in the progressive increase would hereafter produce excellent effects. of the students. Considering, indeed, the But the hon. Baronet (Sir G. Clerk) shortness of the time during which the seemed to consider that the object of the school had been founded, it was surprising school was to make workmen, not artists. how so much had been effected by it; and That was the fatal error; in that consisted although these students had complained the error of the whole system. A school of Mr. Wilson not being able to impart of design ought to rest upon two thingsinstruction to them, yet that gentleman the study of the human figure, and copyhad received the most flattering testimo-ing from nature. This was the course of nials from those who were really the senior students of the school, thanking him for the instruction and information which he had communicated to them, both as regarded the history and the style of art in all ages and all countries. Under these circumstances, looking to the progress which the school had made, to the satisfactory nature of the present exhibition, knowing that the situation of Mr. Herbert had been filled up by an artist of quite as great reputation; kuowing all this, and study pursued by the most eminent artists, like Raffaelle, or those who had wrought practically in the art of ornament, like Benvenuto Cellini. The great school of Napoleon at Lyons was based on the study of the figure; and the school at Somerset-house would attain greater eminence, if the same course of study were adopted. In Paris, in the Ecole Royale de Dessein and the Ecole Communale, study from nature and life was rigidly enforced. In the school at Manchester the study of the figure was introduced | cil to the House of Commons passed over under Mr. Bell; a dispute arose with the differences in silence; only the slightest Lord Sydenham on the subject; the study reference was made to them in a portion was discontinued, and to that might be of one paragraph. There was not a word attributed the decline of the school. As about the dismission of Mr. Herbert; the to the constitution of the school at Somer- Report was an attempt to deceive and set-house, he agreed with the hon. Member practise a delusion on the House. The for Coventry that it was doubtful whether facts most material to the utility of the its government should be intrusted to a establishment were entirely concealed. board. He had no faith in the divided Mr. Herbert's dismissal was an insult to government that existed under boards, that gentleman, and an injustice to the and he believed the right hon. Baronet the students; a gentleman of higher attainHome Secretary would incline to the same ments and capability could not be found opinion. He would rather see some one in the country-he was universally reperson responsible to that House. In a spected in the school, and was dismissed council of many members there would be on account of a difference with the direcsure to be parties, or, the greater number tor. He thought there ought to be a fair absenting themselves from idleness, the inquiry. He understood, out of the twentyreal authority fell into the hands of five or four members of the Council, only four six. He had no wish to use such a word were present when Mr. Herbert was disas "job" but in this case things had a missed; and, besides this, he had heard tendency to become such in the hands of that when a reconciliation was talked of a junta. He thought there ought to be between Mr. Herbert and the director, one an inquiry, and if the hon. Member di- of the four said, they must put a stop to vided, he should support him. this! The students merely complained of Mr. Wilson's incompetency, and he thought they would not have risked such a complaint without cause. The Council never inquired into the justice of their complaint, but dismissed them at once: was it to go forth to all the schools in the country, that the students must not complain of their masters, under pain of dismissal? The constitution of the school was generally defective. It was governed by a sort of piebald board; and with such a board it was perfectly impossible that the school would ever be well governed, neither would it ever be well conducted, while the favoured director was continued in an office to which he was incompetent. His incompetency laid the foundation of the insubordination of the pupils, and the influence of intellect, as a controlling power, was necessarily lost, or at least weakened. Mr. Wakley had hoped that one of the Council would have offered his opinion to the House, and was surprised the hon. Member for Lambeth had not done so. No answer had been given to the statement of the hon. Member for Coventry; the hon. Baronet (Sir G. Clerk) had undertaken the task, but the hon. Baronet must feel he had not discharged it to his own satisfaction. He could scarcely have weighed the case duly when he told the House it was a trumpery one. The public money was asked for to be expended on the school, and it was alleged to be in a state of disorganization; he was also informed, by persons fully competent to judge, that it was conferring little or no benefit on the community. Was this state of things to last? The Committee was asked for at a late period of the Session, and it was almost impossible then to go into an inquiry; but, would the Government grant a Committee at the commencement of the next Session? Were the allegations made by the students to be passed over unregarded? Where was their insubordination, or allegations of misconduct on their part? Was any charge ever made against them till they complained to the Council? For making that complaint they were expelled the establishment, and all their expectations and prospects blasted. Was the institution made for the masters or the students? The Report made by the Coun Mr. Hawes said, the hon. Member for Coventry had received most incorrect information on this subject. He had also made use of language as regarded the Council of which they had a just right to complain. The conduct of the Council by no means laid them open to the charge of jobbing, or of being a clique, or of having "cooked up" their Report. The Council laid their Report upon the Table of the House, but they had not dared even to allude to the fact that they had dismissed Mr. Herbert, nor would the House have been aware of the fact had it not Mr. Wyse could also bear testimony to the fulness and fairuess of the inquiry instituted by the Council into what he must designate as this unfortunate quarrel. He should feel it his duty to oppose the Motion as it then stood. Mr. Hume would advise his hon. Friend not to press his Motion. The fact of the dismissal of a man of so much talent as Mr. Herbert, indicated that there was something wrong in the present system. There must be in the Report, he thought, a suppression of some important facts, and he trusted that Her Majesty's Government would consent to lay additional information on the Table, in order to enable the House to form a correct judgment. Amendment negatived. POLICE (IRELAND).] Viscount Clements moved been for the Motion of his hon. Friend. | of jobbers, he (Mr. Hawes) would not conHe said it was not dealing fairly with the sent to an inquiry on such terms. House. He trusted that the right hon. Baronet would take the whole case into his serious attention before the next Session; because, in regard to the fine arts and the position of the working classes in respect of them, there could be no more important question. He understood that from Manchester alone upwards of 20,000l. was sent abroad for designs. It was true that the Report did not allude to the dismissal of Mr. Herbert, and he thought the Council would not have well discharged their duty to the public, had they filled it with a detailed account of the unfortunate squabbling which had broken out in the school. The Council deeply regretted the fact; but Mr. Wilson and Mr. Herbert could not agree-the Council failed in effecting a reconciliation between them; and as both gentlemen could not remain in the school, the Council, after deep and very anxious consideration, determined that it would be for the interests of the school that Mr. Wilson should remain director; consequently Mr. Herbert was compelled to retire. Mr. Wilson was well known to be an eminent artist. He had been sent abroad to report on works of ancient art; he made his Report, which was laid on the Table of that House, and it was one which had never been surpassed. The hon. Member passed a high eulogium on the talents and fitness of Mr. Wilson for his situation as director, and observed that that gentleman had furnished a Report on ancient art which was confessedly the best that had been made, and which had been considered sufficiently good to be printed by order of that House. The hon. Member for Coventry said the school had declined; but the amount of fees received in each year showed that it had gone on progressively. In 1838, the fees received amounted to 1837.; in 1839, to 1677.; in 1840, to 1037.; in 1841, to 1337.; in 1842, to 1647. in 1843, to 2381.; and in 1844, to 3261. The increase in the number of students was, of course, in the same proportion. The manufacturers regarded this school with so much interest, that they applied for and received several of the students as apprentices to ornamental work. There was not one of the directors that would not be glad to see any alteration made that could promote the interest of the school; but when inquiry was sought on the ground that they were a set "The consideration of the petitions of John Connif, E. Kirwan, Robert Clegg, and Joseph Boyd, formerly in the Irish police; and further, to recommend some change being made in the regulations of that body." The noble Lord complained of the system of quartering whole families on the public, by putting them into the police force, and also of the mode in which the pensions and superannuation fund were managed. The stipendiary magistrates received the largest sums as superannuation allowances in proportion to what they paid to the latter fund, whilst the privates who paid most, received the least. He thought it was altogether improper to mix up the magistracy and the police, and he could not understand the principle on which the superannuation allowances to the magistrates were regulated. The Government had been much abused for the appointment of Major Priestly as Deputy Inspector of Police; but he (Lord Clements) was happy to compliment them on that step, which he believed to be a wise one. Sir T. Fremantle said, the charge was not of such a serious nature as to need a minute defence, and therefore, he should not enter on the question at any length. He reminded the noble Lord that it was the practice of the army for superior officers to try inferior, and it was sanctioned in the police by Act of Parliament. It was creditable to the management of Colonel M'Gregor, that the noble Lord could bring no stronger charges against COMMITTEE OF SUPPI.Y.] The first the police than those he had made on Question was, that the sum of 3,4102., be this occasion. He (Sir T. Fremantle) re- granted to defray the charges of the Civil gretted the dismissal of some of these Establishment of the Bahama Islands. persons, because he knew that three of Mr. C. Buller wished to make some them were men of good character; but observations on this Vote. The popula. with respect to Boyd's case, that individ- tion of the Bahamas was 25,000, and the ual had stated, that he had applied to local revenue was 21,943. He thought, Lord Clements, because he understood that with such a revenue they ought not that he could procure bim a pension. to come to this country for any more. Boyd, however, had had the full gratuity The great principle of these Colonies allowed by law previously, and so like ought to be that they should cut their wise had the others in question. The coat according to their cloth. He found noble Lord had complained, that the sons in these Votes 5,6701. for judicial officers. of officers were appointed to situations in Then there was an income of 3,2271. for the constabulary; but he (Sir T. Freman- clergymen. Could these Colonies provide tle) thought that was a fact for which the nothing for clergymen? He did not Government should be praised rather than mean to divide the House; but he hoped blamed, as they thus rewarded old and that next Session these Estimates would deserving men, who had served their be brought forward at a better time, and country. With respect to the non-receipt that those who objected to these charges of rewards for the apprehension of offen- on this country would take the opportuders, it arose from the great difficulty in nity of recording their sentiments on the determining the right claimant. The subject. noble Lord had referred to the evidence Vote agreed to. of Colonel M.Gregor; but he was bound On the Question that a sum of 4,0491. to say, that Colonel M'Gregor had the be granted for the Civil Establishment of confidence of his superiors, and that he the Bermudas, eminently deserved it . In regard to the Mr. C. Buller said, that this was on a military character of the police in Ireland, different footing, as the Bermudas were a he should be very glad that they could penal settlement, but considering that the go about without arms; but the state of population was only 10,000, and the the country rendered it impossible. Un revenue 15,0001., and that this year there der these circumstances he could not agree was a surplus of 1,9071., they ought not to the Motion. to come and ask of this country a sum of Mr. Sheil wished to ask a question re- 4,0491. specting the distribution of the patronage Mr. G. W. Hope said, that the Berover this force. Under the late Govern- mudas were a great military station, in ment, Colonel M Gregor had appointed, consequence of their being a penal sethe believed, two in three of the vacancies tlement, and that increased the charge. in the chief constables. This relief had always been given to the Sir T. Fremantle : No, one in three. Colony, for though in some years there Mr. Sheil wished to ask what was the was a surplus, in others there was a decourse now pursued, and whether the ficiency. recommendation of Colonel M Gregor was Vote agreed to. not considered almost conclusive ? On the Question that the sum of 3,0701. Sir T. Fremantle said, that no change be granted, to defray the charges of the had been made by the present Govern Civil Establishment at Prince Edward's ment with reference to those appoint- Island, ments. All the inferior posts were placed Mr. C. Buller said, that this was about at Colonel M Gregor's disposal, and of the worst case he knew. The population the superior officers iwo out of Ihree be- of this Colony was nearly 50,000 ; the longed to the Lord Lieutenant, and a revenue was 10,5001.; the island posgreat many were given to the sons of sessed a very rich soil, and an admirofficers. The third belonged to Colonel able climate, and yes we were charged M'Gregor, to promote such officers as be with this additional Estimate. He did considered entitled to promotion. not object to the payment by this country Motion negatived. of the salary of the Lieutenant Governor, House in Committee. for he thought the most prudent course |