§ Lord Monteaglemoved, that the House resolve itself into a Committee on this Bill.
§ The Duke of Cambridgesaid, I have great pleasure in seconding the Motion of the noble Lord, and I trust your Lordships will forgive me if I take this opportunity of saying a very few words on the subject to which this Bill relates, having had the honour of presiding over more than one association of the kind to which the Bill now before your Lordship refers. The extraordinary interest which I feel for the welfare of the Arts prompts me to address 1068 a very few observations to your Lordships, although I feel that it will be needless for me to occupy your time at any length after the clear and able speech delivered last night by the noble Lord. About four years ago I was requested to take the chair at a meeting convened for the purpose of establishing a society for the encouragement of the Arts, it being known that five or six years previously I had interested myself in the formation of a similar association in the country where I then resided. I have reason to know from experience the advantages conferred by such institutions in diffusing a taste for the Arts, for although at the time when that institution was first projected no one in the town—I may almost say no one in the country where I then lived—cared anything about the Arts, the number of subscribers there is now nearly 4,000; and when I four years ago took the chair for the first time at the meeting of the Art Union Society in London, their number was about 6,000, but the last time I presided it was not less than 13,000. At this moment, as your Lordships are aware, there is above 20,000l. in their hands in consequence of the legal difficulties which have intervened to prevent that money from being expended in promoting the objects of the Society. My Lords, every one at all acquainted with the proceedings of these Art Unions knows, that these bodies are not actuated by any desire of lucre or paltry gain, but that they seek nothing but the advancement of art. I trust, therefore, that every effort will be made to pass this Bill without delay, for, as the matter now stands, your Lordships, and all who have subscribed to these Associations, will be, like myself, liable to be imprisoned. The only comfort I have is, that I shall be in very good company. My Lords, I have great pleasure in seconding the Motion for the Committee on the Bill, and I sincerely hope that your Lordships will pass the Bill as soon as possible, for it would confer a great boon on artists if advantage could be taken by the Art Unions of the exhibitions of works of Art which now remain open.
The Marquess of Northamptonsaid, the question was one of life and death to artists. The objection raised against Art Unions was, that they had not brought forward any talent of the first order; but in art, as in everything else, time was required before eminence could be attained 1069 and even Michael Angelo and Rembrandt had their beginnings.
§ The Marquess of Lansdowneacquiesced in the necessity of passing the Bill during the present Session, and suggested that the exhibitions should be kept open somewhat longer than usual, in order to allow selections to be made from the pictures there collected.
§ Lord Colbornethought these Associations calculated to encourage mediocrity of talent, but, nevertheless, taking into consideration the number of individuals interested, he was anxious that the Bill should pass during the present Session, and then, if it should be found inadequate for the objects contemplated, it might serve as the skeleton of a more comprehensive measure next year.
§ After a few words from Lord Monteagle, Bill went through Committee, and the House resumed.