§ MR. C. BERKELEYwished to put a question to the noble Lord the Chief Commissioner of Woods and Forests. He had received a communication from his noble Friend, asking him to postpone his Notice of Motion on this subject, which stood on the Paper to-day. He was quite ready to consult the convenience of his noble Friend, if good and valid reasons for the postponement of the Motion were given; but certainly, unless good reasons were assigned for its postponement, he should not feel justified in acting on the suggestion of his noble Friend. He understood his noble Friend had been in communication with Her Majesty the Queen, respecting the erection of the statue of the Duke of Wellington upon the arch at Hyde Park Corner; and he wished to ask his noble Friend whether Her Majesty's own free and unbiassed opinion was, that She could not retract the consent She had been advised to give by the noble Lord who was formerly Chief Commissioner of Woods and Forests to the erection of the statue in that position, or whether his noble Friend had advised Her Majesty not to do so? If Her Majesty's own feelings had been acted upon in relation to this subject, he would have nothing more to do with the matter; but if his noble Friend had again advised Her Majesty as to the course which should be taken, he (Mr. C. Berkeley) would call upon the House to give Her Majesty what he conceived would be much better advice, and much more in accordance with real taste.
§ VISCOUNT MORPETHwould state precisely how the case stood; and he hoped his hon. Friend would consider there was sufficient reason for postponing his Motion, at least for not bringing it on that night. After what occurred in the House the other day, he (Lord Morpeth) made a communication to the sub-committee of the Wellington testimonial, to which he received a reply on Tuesday afternoon. On Wednesday morning he waited upon Her Majesty; and in the evening he sent a reply to the communication of the sub-committee. Yesterday he received from the sub committee the following note acknowledging the receipt of his letter:—
The sub-committee of the Wellington memorial beg to acquaint Lord Morpeth that they have 373 to make, in reply to his letter to the Duke of Rutland, a very important communication; but, in consequence of his Grace being obliged by his indispensable engagements to leave town this morning, they are compelled to postpone it for two or three days. Under these circumstances, they hope that Lord Morpeth will not think it necessary to make any public declaration until he shall have an opportunity of considering their communication.He had begged that the communication to which this letter referred might not be delayed beyond to-morrow; and he hoped that any unnecessary delay would be avoided.