Notes

Abstract

WE read in the Daily News:—“Mr. Henry Cole, C.B., presided at the annual meeting of the Hanley School of Art, on Monday evening, and after speaking of the results of the South Kensington Museum, said it was his painful duty to announce that this organisation, which had borne such great fruits, and which was so highly prized by the nation, and was so indispensable to the commercial and social progress of this country, was in jeopardy. The Government contemplated changes which were directly opposed to the further development of the Science and Art Department. It had hitherto flourished under a management which ensured individual Parliamentary responsibility, but it was now proposed to hand over South Kensington to the Trustees of the British Museum, who were already fully occupied in their own departments. The management of the British Museum was not such as to make them desirous of seeing it extended to South Kensington, nor were fifty trustees the proper administrators of public money to the amount of hundreds of thousands a year granted to science and art, He appealed to art students throughout the country not to allow the work of the Prince Consort to be destroyed, and the means of their own instruction to be taken away or muddled with old decaying notions. He urged them to call upon their representatives in Parliament—and an election was not far off—to protect their interests and rights from unprincipled invasion; and he offered his humble services, if he could assist them, to preserve the institution which the Prince Consort founded from the hands of the ignorant spoiler. Mr. Melly, M.P., in proposing a vote of thanks to Mr. Cole, spoke in terms of praise of his efforts to spread art and science, and said it would be far more sensible to transfer the British Museum to South Kensington than to place the latter under the management of the British Museum. It was not by following antiquated notions that the work of education was to be carried on, but by adopting the freetrade principle which Mr. Cole had carried out at South Kensington. He was the Cobden and Bright in the education of art and science, He had been in this matter a true free-trader, and in following the public he had served it. Mr. Cole, in responding, offered 50l. towards the establishment of a local museum.” Surely it is monstrous that while a Royal Commission is sitting to inquire into these matters the Government should thus attempt to make the Commissioners look ridiculous by taking such a step without waiting for their report. This is another instance of the ignorant action of Government in all matters appertaining to Science.