Mr. Ayrton had another opportunity yesterday week of trying the
nerves of the House, of which we need hardly say that he so availed himself that " fiddlestrings was weakness," as a celebrated character of Mr. Dickens's observes, to express their irritability. The subject of debate was the extension of the National Gallery, which Mr. Ayrton wants to delay, and of course he thought it his duty to suggest the most unpleasant possible reasons for delay. He spoke of the space occupied by the works of one artist (Turner) with an unpleasant sneer, and reflected generally on the motives of persons who bequeathe pictures to the national collection. "Experience had shown that people had a great fancy for giving pictures to commemorate themselves, but did not offer to contri- bute pictures which would promote the art of the country." Clearly Mr. Ayrton is not anxious to encourage gifts to the nation. He also spoke of the Trustees of the National Gallery, in a way which brought up Mr. Baring in a very angry protest. Lord John Manners was very hot, and Mr. Gladstone was warm in his reply, and altogether Mr. Ayrton had the credit of making the House as petulant as if be had sent a twinge of gout right through it. It was indeed something of the kind,— convulsive inability to swallow Mr. Ayrton,—Ayrtonphobia.
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