may
take a fresh view of the bust, and not become reconciled to its
imperfections by continually looking at it. It may give the Prince
some idea of the national feeling which prevails here, when he is told
that Lord Melbourne upon asking Sir F. Chantrey what ought to be done
if foreign artists were employed to paint the Houses of Parliament,
received from him the following answer: "Why, their heads ought to be
broke and they driven out of the country, and, old as I am, I should
like to lend a hand for that purpose."

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

SOUTH STREET, _5th October 1841._

... Lord Melbourne, by telling your Majesty what Sir Francis Chantrey
said respecting foreign artists, and by requesting your Majesty to
repeat it to the Prince, by no means intended to imply that there was
any disposition on the part of His Royal Highness to recommend the
employment of foreigners. He only meant to convey the idea of the
strength of the prejudice which is felt by enlightened and able men
upon the subject. Lord Melbourne has been sitting this morning to
Hayter for the picture of the marriage, and he (Hayter) held an
entirely contrary language. His tone is: "If foreign artists are more
capable than English, let them be employed. All I require is that the
work should be done as well as it can be." The English are certainly
very jealous of foreigners, and so, Lord Melbourne apprehends, are
the rest of mankind, but not knowing himself any nation except the
English, he cannot venture to make positively that assertion. Lord
Melbourne has been reading the evidence given before the committee of
the House of Commons upon this subject. It is well worth attention,
particularly Mr Eastlake's,[112] which appears to Lord Melbourne to be
very enlightened, dispassionate, and just....

[Footnote 112: Afterwards Sir Charles Eastlake, Keeper of the
National Gallery, 1843-1847, President of the Royal Academy,
1850-1865.]

[Pageheading: THE PRINCE'S GRANT]

_Memorandum by Mr Anson._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _6th October 1841._

Sat by Her Majesty last night at dinner.

The Queen had written to Lord Melbourne about coming to the Castle,
but in his answer he had made no allusion to it; she did not know
whether this was accidental or intentional, for he very often gave no
answer to questions which were put.

I told Her Majesty that I feared he had raised an obstacle to his
visit by making a strong speech aga