25 JUNE 1859, Page 14

The Earl of Shaftesbury, as president of the Young Men's

Christian As- sociation, supports the application to the Trustees of the National Gallery, for the public to be admitted to the several collections of paintings during suitable hours in the evening. The Marquis-of Salisbury has appointed a committee of inquiry into the influence of gas-light upon the pictures and works of art in the South Kensington Museum, and it is believed that the decision of the committee will go far to remove the obstacles offered against throwing open the public galleries during the leisure hours of the majority of the inhabitants of the metroplis.

Portraits of the poet Cowley, Selden, Marquis of Ormond, Lord Hood, and the "Seven Bishops" of English history, have been added to the National Portrait Gallery. The first two have alone been exhibited : that of Cowley is a bust portrait, three-quarter view of the face, taken in the prime of life ; Selden is also a bust and a three-quarter view of the face, taken in advanced years.