Mr. Layard on Monday gave a " personal explanation." His
-department, Mr. E. Barry being the actual offender, had given S. Salviati, the Venetian glass manufacturer,—artist who has revived and improved the old Venetian processes,—an order for £5,000 worth of mosaics, without a previous vote of the House of Com- mons. It was a stupid blunder, and " people," with their usual good-nature, said Mr. Layard had given the order because he was interested in the works. It turned out, of course, that he was not interested. He had, out of admiration for S. Salviati and his art, and Italy in general, taken shares when it seemed the attempt to revive the manufacture must fail ; but had transferred them, on taking office, to a buyer who was no relative or connection of his. `The explanation was pronounced perfectly satisfactory, and it is, though we do not understand why Mr. Layard was so anxious to :show that, even out of office, he looked to art, and not to dividend. Why should he not have a dividend, if he can get one, like any- body else? We believe one will be got, after all, by others, the Murano Company having, we see, resolved to make common glass things which pay, as well as miracles of art which don't.
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