HC Deb 06 May 1889 vol 335 cc1225-6
MR. DIXON-HARTLAND (Middlesex, Uxbridge)

asked the First Commissioner of Works if he was now prepared to propose to make proper provision for the National Portrait Gallery in accordance with its importance and its value to the Nation?

MR. AIRD

also asked if the Government contemplated the erection of a suitable building for the National Portrait Gallery.

*THE FIRST COMMISSIONER OF WORKS (Mr. PLUNKET,) University of Dublin

Early last week I received a letter from a gentleman freely offering to build at his own expense a National Portrait Gallery if the Government could procure a suitable site not more than a mile and a half from St. James's Street. I answered thanking him for his handsome offer and asking him to favour me with an interview in order that we might discuss the subject. He was good enough to come to see me last Saturday. I then suggested to him a scheme for providing a National Portrait Gallery which I had, just before I received his letter, submitted to the Government, and I am glad to say that this scheme met with his entire approval. There the matter rests at present, but I expect that within a few days I may be able to give further information, and that, if our plan should be, as I hope it will be, at once taken in hand, this most valuable collection of National portraits may within a couple of years be permanently housed in a manner suitable to its wants and in every way convenient to the public. I must add that when, at the conclusion of my interview on Saturday, I asked this gentleman whether I might make his offer public he told me that I might du so on condition that I did not mention his name; but I must be allowed to say that the absence of ostentation and the straightforwardness with which this gentleman has acted is worthy of the greatness of his openhanded generosity and of his public spirit.

MR. MUNDELLA (Sheffield, Brightside)

Arising out of the question, may I ask whether, as the Government will now be relieved of the cost of erecting a gallery for the National portraits, they will consider the propriety of finishing the South Kensington Museum?

*MR. PLUNKET

That is not a matter which arises out of the question.