The Royal Academy has done itself the honour, and two
distin- guished painters the justice. of electing INIessrs. BRIGGS and NEWTON ACiWiellliCiallS, ill the room vf the late Messrs. JACKSON and NonTucort. It is especially gratifying to us to make this announcement, as we have always advocated the claims of these artists to this distinction, on the high ground of their merits. We have also the satisfaction of recording another instance of a better spirit in the proceedings of the Royal Academy, in the circumstance of Sir JOHN SOANE having recommenced his Lectures on Architecture, after a secession from his duties as a Professor during fifteen years. The age and infirmity of the venerable architect incapacitate him for delivering his lectures vivel voce; and therefore Mr. HOWARD, the Se- cretary, reads them for him. We have been waiting with some anxiety the issue of the election, before putting forth our proposed "Anatomy" of this body. The head is enlightened; and the body itself shows signs of life; we there- fore withhold the knife for the present. But the corrupted paiti must be excised, and the cautery applied, if needful. Moreover, there • needed an infusion of young_ and healthful blood into the system, to renovate its constitution. The improving symptoms which we have noted, augur favourably of a more extended reform. We may now contemplate the removal of the patient into a new abode, without thinking of the "whited sepulchres" of Scripture. When are we to have a National Gallery ? We have got the pic- tures. The gems are ours; can we not as a nation afford the price of
setting them ? A correspondent of the Times gives a broad hint to Sir
Join; SOANE, whose liberality to artists is well known, to build one at his own cost. We wish he would, because we should be sure of a building at any rate ; which is by no means the case just now. It would be a monument of the munificence and peculiar style of the architect. NORTRCOTE, DAWE, and NOLLEKENS, all died immensely
rich, and childless. Could neither of them find it in his heart to leave
some of that wealth, aequired by the practice of his profession, towards an :establishment for its study, or for the preservation of its great works ? Perhaps they thought they had left names great enough without this sacrifice to fame. If so, they were mistaken. But most likely they never thought about it. The public should, how-ever; and as, in these days of economy, a politic reason is worth ten sentimental appeals, we will only hint, that if a grand gallery were erected, collections Of pictures might be bequeathed to the nation, which would otherwise pass under the hammer.
The Elgin Marbles are being placed in a new and magnificent g- al- lery, built purposely for their reception, and which forms the east wing of the British Museum. The several collections will be arranged chro- nologically, beginning with the Egyptian, and ending with the Roman sculptures. This is as it should be,—it is probable that the new Gal- lery will be open to the public soon after Easter.
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