Nature and Art, July 1, 1836. 
THE EAST. 
53 
gives fresh interest to the exhibition just at that middle 
period when attention might otherwise begin to flag. 
In addition to the ordinary medals, of the uniform value 
of four hundred francs, of which sixty-nine are awarded ; 
namely, forty in painting ; fifteen in sculpture, seal-engrav- 
ing, and die-sinking- ; six in architecture ; and eight in the 
sections of engraving and lithography. Two medals of 
honour are likewise bestowed when any works are deemed 
of sufficient merit to call for such distinction. New regu- 
lations respecting these prizes have been established on the 
present occasion. The prizes, or medals, are of the value 
of four thousand francs each, and may be given in any of 
the sections, and even both in one section. These are now 
to be awarded by the direct vote of all the exhibiting artists 
who have received a medal upon a previous occasion. The 
number of artists entitled to vote this year is 506, and 
the vote will be considered null unless one-third of these 
take part in the ballot. If the majority of the voters insert 
a blank ticket in the urn, no prix d’honneur can be awarded ; 
but should this not be the case, and yet no artist, or only 
one, should have a majority of votes, a second ballot must 
take place in the following week in favour of the ten artists 
who obtained the largest number of votes on the first occa- 
sion. Finally, should the second ballot be indecisive in its 
results, a third must take place, when the three artists at 
the head of the last list become the sole candidates, and 
the one or two to whom a majority of votes have been given 
receive th e prix d’honneur. 
In addition to all these pi-izes, the Emperor has created 
a still higher distinction, a quinquennial prize of a hundred 
thousand francs, to be provided for out of the civil list, and 
to be called the Emperor’s grand prize. This is to be first 
awarded in the year 1869, provided the special commissioner 
appointed for the purpose should deem any work in painting, 
sculpture, or architecture deserving of such high reward. 
It is scarcely necessai-y to add, that the nomination of artists 
to the Legion of Honour is another mode which the Emperor 
possesses of rewarding and encouraging artistic merit ; most 
of the eminent artists are Chevaliers, several are Officers 
and Commanders, and M. Ingres is Grand Officier of the 
Order. Mademoiselle Bosa Bonheur received the Cross from 
the hands of the Empress not long since. 
There is still another and highly attractive form of recom- 
pense, namely, the purchase of works exhibited in the salon 
for the public galleries. The entire amount received from 
the public at the doors of the Exhibition is devoted to this 
object, and an additional sum has been recently voted. The 
most impor-tant acquisitions are placed in the gallery of the 
Luxembourg, and the rest are distributed amongst the 
numerous museums in the provinces. 
The list of artists now living who have received medals 
of all classes and decorations includes at least thirteen hun- 
dred names, the oldest being M. Ingres, who won the Grand 
Prix de Eome in the year 1801, and was created Senator 
in 1862. 
THE 
T HE great interest felt by Englishmen in matters 
connected with the East, not only from an 
antiquarian, but also from a political and com- 
mercial point of. view, will render the following- 
notes, j ust received from a valued correspondent in 
that quarter of the world acceptable to many of 
our readers : — 
Constantinople. — The great lire fortunately did 
not destx-oy any monument of architectural or 
archaeological importance. The Government is 
prosecuting its designs of architectural improve- 
ment so long conducted by H. E. Edhem Pasha, 
Minister of Public Works. The new streets will 
be connected with those already laid out under his 
auspices on the sites of former fires, so that in a 
few years’ time Constantinople will be a city of fine 
streets as well as of remarkable monuments — a 
change which could scarcely have been brought 
about without some such calamity. The grand 
street leading from the strand to the Porte, and the 
heart of the city, already shows the nature of these 
improvements ; it has been planted with trees in 
the manner of the Paris boulevards. The new 
palatial front of the Seraskierat comes out with 
good effect ; the kiosks at the corners, constructed 
in variegated marbles, and in a mixed style com- 
posed of Saracenic and modern Italian, are really 
magnificent ; but they are said not to satisfy the 
expectations of the Sultan. The practical cha- 
racter of the Turkish mind exhibits itself in these 
improvements, for, wherever practicable, rows of 
shops have been formed in the basements of the 
new buildings. The coppersmiths’ street has been 
transferred to the Seraskierat, and the dealers look 
infinitely more consequential in their new abodes. 
EAST. 
The most remarkable improvements made in other 
quarters are those at Tophaneh, but the whole line 
of the suburbs on the Bosphorus is being gradually 
opened out. 
At Pera, fine new villas continue to spring up, 
and one of the most remarkable from an artistic 
point of view is that built by Colonel Messoud 
Bey, the Director of the Statistical Department. 
A new French theatre has been opened this season, 
but, except as regards the large size of the interior, 
presents no remarkable features. The English 
Memorial Church is now assuming considerable 
proportions. 
Edhem Pasha has determined that the new 
buildings shall be constructed of stone ; he has 
abolished local duties on building materials, and is 
taking measures to encourage the regular supply of 
stone, bricks, and lime. Ban some’s company is 
applying for a privilege from the Turkish Govern- 
ment for the manufacture and supply of artificial 
stone. 
Improvements are being made at the Sublime 
Porte, but nothing of a monumental character. 
The public offices in the Tijaret have been re- 
paired and rearranged, but the complete demolition 
of the ancient and ruinous buildings is only a ques- 
tion of time and money. 
The University building remains in statu quo, 
and nothing is known respecting Edhem Pasha’s 
Museum, the materials of which are accumulating 
in the basement of the new building. 
The Treasury is suffering from a bad fit of its 
chronic embarrassment, but the general prosperity 
of the country is clearly shown in the rapid increase 
of superior buildings. 
