§ *THE EARL of WEMYSS: Before your Lordships adjourn, I desire to mention an urgent matter of which I was unable to give notice. I wish to draw the attention of the noble Marquess the Prime Minister to a sale of pictures and objects of art which commences on Saturday next. Among those works of art are some pictures or studies of game, live and dead, and of other animals by Sir Edwin Landseer. They were done when he was at his best, some 40 years ago, when he was a great friend of, and lived so much with, Mr. Wells of that period. I venture to say, my Lords, that these works are unequal ed in their beauty; there has been nothing like them at any former time, and I do not think there will be anything superior to them at any time to come. They have all the minuteness and accuracy of photographs, but having infused into the photography the living genius of that great artist. The coloring is seen as through his poetical eye—the coloring of nature. My Lords, I do not propose to discourse on the merits of Sir Edwin Lanseer; 438 but I will only say that in 1885, when J had the honour of being sent to the Paris International Exhibition as one of the British Jurors, the gold medal was on that occasion unanimously given to Sir Edwin Landseer as representing the highest form, as the judges considered, of British art. I think it would be a thousand pities if these pictures should not be purchased for the British nation. They are 18 in number, and it might not be thought necessary to buy them all perhaps. The pictures in the National Gallery consist, at present, of what are called the "Old Masters." It is, perhaps, rash of me to give an opinion; but having seen many of the great Picture Galleries of Europe, I believe that the collection of Old Masters in the National Gallery of Great Britain is already the finest anywhere. I think we might now very well stop purchasing Old Masters, and that when the occasion arises we might endeavour to add what is so much wanting in our National Collection, examples of the British School of past art. I venture to think this is so favourable an opportunity for doing so that I would call the attention of the Prime Minister to that matter; and I am perfectly certain, from what I have heard stated of these pictures, that their purchase would give immense satisfaction to all who are interested in art in this country. I would urge any of your Lordships who may be able to take the opportunity presented to you before the sale to go and see these beautiful works of Landseer, which are now being exhibited with other objects of art.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY: This is rather an unusual subject of deliberation for your Lordships. My noble Friend only gave me an intimation of his intention to bring forward this matter as I entered the House. I have not, therefore, been able to obtain from the Chancellor of the Exchequer any statement as to those considerations of a more vulgar and prosaic character which, unfortunately, must be taken into account in deciding upon this question. Twill, however, bring the matter before my right hon. Friend, and the Government will form such decision as the circumstances seem to direct. But I hope the effect of my noble Friend's passionate and striking eulogy, uttered in the presence of several 439 people who are quite competent to buy these pictures themselves, will be to ensure a large attendance at the sale for the purchase of all the pictures for the purpose of being presented to the nation.