THE METROPOLITAN SCHOOLS OF DESIGN.
THERE I9 a rivalry between the two Schools of Designs, that, so for from being injurious to either, will be beneficial to both, and at any rate must be advantageous to the public. The Government School, held at Somerset House, has lowered its terms from four shillings to one shil- ling per week, for day students, who practise in colours ; the evening class being sixpenee a week only. This was not merely a politic step,but absolutely necessary to carry into effect the purpose of the institution: four shillings a week was too mneh for a mechanic to pay out of his earnings for learning to draw, (especially as the country defrays the expenses of the establishment,) and the consequence was, there were but few pupils : some payment was requisite to secure regular at- tendance and make the value of the instruction duly appreciated, and the lowest rate was therefore fixed upon. The injurious regulation precluding the study of the human figure, that from the that we pro- tested agaiest. and the pernicious effect of which became evident, has been also rescinded, in spite ol the Acadenty,—at the instance of Mr. Dves:, the zealous and enlightened Director under whose superin- tendence the sehool promises to become all that it should be. The technical part of the art of designing patterns for silk is also taught by a French workman, who has a loom fitted up for the purpose. A cor- respondent of the Timcs, who calls this " quackery " must be utterly ignorant of the process of pattern. drawing, or he would know that a thorough acquaintance with the manufacture of' the material is essential to enable the designer to produce patterns adapted to the particular fabric, both as regards form and colour. These new arrangements at the Government School seem to be re- garded by the Society for Promoting Practical Design as intended to draw away pupils from their school : such, at least, was the impression left by the speeches at the anniversary meeting of the Society, on Saturday last. lie this as it may, they are good and proper, though the Society many fairly say that time Government School has taken a leaf out of their book. The Society inay justly exult, too, in the superior success that has attended their efforts, in so flir as they can boast of a much greater number of pupils; and when it is remembered that their school is self- supported, and was established and is maintained without any other aid than the donations and subscriptions of its founders, and the gratuitous services of teachers and lecturers, great credit is due to the managers of the institution. This Society is en' inent ly entitled to the assistance of Govern- ment, upon the principle contended for by Mr. EWART, of" aid without interference :" no petty feeling of jealousy ought to actuate Munsters, who are the stewards of a public trust, in this instance, and as such are bound to use the funds placed by Parliament at their disposal in fur- therance of every institution of popular utility having the same objects in view. There are more mechanics in the Metropolis requiring instruction in drawing than these two schools could accommodate, to say nothing of Younger pupils whom their establishment would draw forth. The pro-
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po rtion of adults in the Society's school is about half, the total number of students is seventy, and the average nightly attendance is forty. Messrs. EwART, HUME, WYSE, ASHTON YATES, VIGORS, and other M,P.s attended, and addressed the meeting ; at which we noticed seve- ral eminent architects, artists, and manufacturers. The pupils' perform- ances exhibited, were promising, and the report read by the Secretary was very satisfactory. The appeal for contributions in aid of the funds, and of the collection of casts, books, and drawings, was responded to by the company present ; but there is still abundant room for the exercise of liberality. It should not be forgotten, that to Mr. EWAI1T'S indefa- tigable exertions the public are indebted for both these institutions.
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