The curious inclination of the British Court to prefer foreign
to English sculptors caused a small debate on Monday. It was recently decided to pull down the statue of the Duke of Wel- lington at Hyde Park Corner, and put up a new one in its place. As the Prince of Wales had interested himself in the matter, and even intended to raise money for it, the First Commissioner of Works felt obliged to allow him to select the sculptor to be entrusted with the work. The Prince accordingly selected Mr. Boehm, without seeing any other designs. Mr. Rylands, to bring the matter forward, moved the rejection of the Vote in Supply ; and though it was carried by 54 to 51, the subject is to be again brought up on the Report. The Prince of Wales, under the circumstances, had a right to a voice in the selection ; and in ordinary cases we would as soon trust the taste of Princes as the taste of a First Commissioner, and sooner than the taste of a Committee which always favours compromises inadmissible in art. But it is a misfortune that the Royal Family should in the case of a depressed art like sculpture in England deepen the depression by persistent preference for foreigners. We like the regular "competition " for art work as little as the Duke of Wellington does ; but surely an English artist equal to Mr. Boehm could be found P Nothing but the most genuine love for the special art can now tempt an Englishman of genius to tarn sculptor. He had much better, as far as his own interests are concerned, draw designs for carpets, or model for the gold- smiths.
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