272 Mr Wilson's Observations on some of the 



of coloured glass, and cuts it to the shapes. This process re- 

 quires much practice ; many of the pieces are very small and 

 of somewhat complicated shapes ; he must also allow for the 

 leading, or uniting by means of strips of lead, as you see in 

 this example. 



An ingenious instrument is used for cutting large portions 

 of circles, of which I exhibit a drawing. 



The coloured and white pieces being now united with lead 

 in the usual way, pass into the hands of the artist, and are 

 painted. A mystery is made of the preparation of the colours, 

 and I was not allowed to make any inquiries ; but this mecha- 

 nical part of the art is, I believe, well understood amongst our- 

 selves. After the painting is completed, the lead is taken out, 

 and the pieces of painted glass are put into the stove, of which 

 1 have made a sketch from memory. An old man from Nu- 

 remberg superintends this department, and is the only person 

 in the establishment who has the requisite experience. 



The encouragement given to the art which I have just de- 

 scribed, has led to great improvements in the manufacture of 

 glass, and the optical instruments of Munich have now a high 

 reputation. 



In France, I was also chiefly occupied inquiring into processes 

 of painting, and I had little time to see to other matters. I * 

 cannot venture to offer you more than a few very general ob- 

 servations on the arts of this great and interesting country, 

 but I shall bring under your notice a few facts which bear upon 

 the subject which I have been attempting to illustrate. 



Art is extensively patronized in France, and frequently with 

 political views. The patronage, however, is not always judi- 

 cious, and the very frequent changes of government which 

 have taken place of late years in France has led to this. The 

 patronage of the throne, which is very extensive, has been 

 more steady and has produced great results, whilst that of the 

 ministry has never been on any well-organized plan, and to this 

 most of the faults that have been committed are to be attri- 

 buted. 



. Whatever may be the objections to some details of the sys- 

 tem, art is extensively patronized in France by the throne, the 

 ministry, and the municipalities, and great has been the pro- 

 gress that has been made. 



