180 
plained to Mr. West more circumstantially the 
extensive views entertained by the French 
government with respect to the arts, mentioning 
several of the superb schemes which were 
formed by the First Consul for the decoration of 
the capital. 
impression 
This information made a very deep 
on the mind 0fM1'. West, 
and he felt extremely 
sorrowful when 
he 
reflected, 
that 
hitherto 
the 
British government had done nothing decidedly 
with fa. view to promote the cultivation of those 
tarts, which may justly be said to constitute the 
olive_ wreath on the brows of every great nation. 
Mr. Fox 
and 
Sir 
Francis Baring, 
who 
were 
3,11 
this 
same 
time 
in 
Paris, 
happened 
S0011 
after 
the departure of Monsieur Denon 
t0 
call, 
and 
they went with Mr. Vvest to the Louvre, where, 
as they were walking in the gallery, he explained 
to them what he had heard. An interesting 
discussion 
took 
place 
in 
consequence ; 
and 
West 
endeavoured 
to 
explain 
in 
what 
manner 
he 
considered. 
the 
cultivation 
of 
the 
fine 
arts 
the 
of 
utmost 
importance 
GVCH 
in 
3 
commercial point of view to England.