Lords Sitting of 13 March 1804

BOYDELL'S LOTTERY.—
On the motion for the first reading of Boydell's Lottery Bill,
The Earl of Suffolkrose, not, he said, to oppose the bill, but he could not pass by the opportunity which it afforded him of warning the artists of this country of the great injury which they were doing, both to their own character and interest, and to the interests of the country, by the slovenly manner in which most of the works of art in this country were now executed. He stated it to be a fact, that in consequence of the very superior execution of the print of the death of Captain Cook, by Woollett, and of the Battle, of La Hogue, English engravings had risen to a high reputation on the Continent; So much was this the case, that for the former of these engravings, Woollet received between 6,000l. and 7,000l. and the revenue coming into this country from this branch of art, at one time exceeded 200,000l. per annum. By the slovenly manner, however, in which works of this kind were now executed, both the individual and public advantages had ceased to operate. He did not mean to apply the doctrine which he had now laid to the gentlemen concerned in the present bill. Their conduct and exertions, he was ready to confess, had been highly meritorious.
The Lord Chancellorsaid, that however much he might disapprove of the practice of granting privileges similar to those contained in the present bill, for the disposal of private property, he, for one, and he was convinced every man who heard him, would agree in thinking that the conferring such a privilege on the Messrs. Boydell's, was no more than a tribute justly due to them from their country, in which they had been the principal instruments of improving, if not of establishing the arts of painting and engraving. He was not prepared to say, that the noble earl was not unfounded in his ge-
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neral observations. He thought, however, that part of the falling off in the demand for British works of art on the Continent, might be ascribed, without injustice, to that spirit which characterised a particular country, of wishing to lay their hands on every valuable piece of art gratis, rather than for payment.—The bill was then read a first time.