The Marquess of Westminsterwished to put a question to the noble Duke, on the subject of the new Houses of Parliament. There was a rumour which had no doubt reached their Lordships' ears, as to what had been done by the Committee of both Houses, on the subject of the rebuilding of the Houses of Parliament. In his opinion, in a great national undertaking like this, all the architects of the country should be allowed to bring forward their plans. It had, however, been rumoured that the plan of one architect alone had been received, and that that plan was made under the direction of the Government. If that was the case, on what principle was it that their Lordships had appointed a Committee to examine plans? Such a Committee was of no use if only the plan of one architect was to be received.
§ The Duke of Wellingtonsaid, that it was true a plan had been sent in to the Committees, and had been laid before them; but he did not believe that the Committees had yet decided on the plan, nor did he know whether they were or were not satisfied with it, or whether they intended to call for any other plan. He believed that nothing had been decided, and that it was not yet known, except to the Committees themselves, whether the plan now sent in would be adopted or another called for.
§ The Marquess of Lansdownesaid, so far from the matter being decided, the 308 Committees had told the architect who sent in the plan now referred to, that they received it only subject to consideration, and to their preference to any other plan that might be sent in.