8T# Mr Wilson's Observations on some of the 



pated, and I believe that very few of the travelling students 

 have attained to any eminence ; whilst, on the other side, 

 many of the most distinguished of the French artists were stu- 

 dents in this Roman establishment. 



I was assured by the Directors of the Museums in Paris, by 

 M. Ingres, late Director of the French Academy, and by M. 

 Couder, that they considered the French Academy in Rome 

 as one of the most valuable and useful of their national insti- 

 tutions for the benefit of art. 



I have contrasted the French system with ours, and this is 

 one of those unpleasant contrasts that we are forced to make ; 

 but still, be it observed, we have in our plan another instance 

 of artists doing what they can for the benefit of art, unaided 

 either by the public or the government of the country. 



I am unable, as I have said, to give you any detailed ac- 

 count of the arts and manufactures of France ; to do so would 

 also be beside my subject. We have, however, much need to 

 be up and doing. We have admitted the superiority, in point 

 of taste, of many of the French manufactures, but we have 

 claimed for ours great superiority of fabric. This, Sir, in 

 many respects, is fast becoming a fallacy ; and as the French 

 have greatly excelled us in taste, they are now, in many cases, 

 equalling us in fabric. 



I found in the Italian ports our fine woollen cloths and 

 printed goods comparatively unsaleable, because the French 

 goods were much superior. I was informed, that, in America, 

 their glass manufacture, because of its superior beauty, has 

 the advantage of ours in the market ; and I have particularly 

 to mention their astonishing progress in cutlery, in which only 

 a short time ago they were, almost to a proverb, deficient. 

 They now produce various articles, which, in appearance, at 

 any rate, are equal to our own. We ought to take these 

 things into our serious consideration. 



But to return to my more immediate subject. 



Great additions have lately been made to the Hotel de Ville 

 of Paris ; and the public apartments of the Lord Mayor, if I 

 may so call him, have been painted by some of the most dis- 

 tinguished of the French artists, amongst whom I may men- 



