§ MR. C. BERKELEYwished to ask the noble Lord the Chief Commissioner of Woods and Forests, first, whether he had withdrawn the consent of the Crown to the continuance of the Wellington Statue on the arch at Hyde Park Corner; secondly, whether he had signified the determination of Her Majesty on that subject to the Committee of the Wellington testimonial; and, lastly, how long it was the intention of Her Majesty's Government that the statue should remain where it was, and whether the noble Lord was aware if the Committee had the funds necessary to enable them to carry out that part of their engagement by which they were bound, if required, to remove the statue from its present site?
§ VISCOUNT MORPETHIn reply to my hon. Friend's three categorical questions, I have to answer, first, that the Government have advised Her Majesty to give authority for the removal of the statue from the arch; secondly, that the Government have signified that decision to the Committee. The Committee replied that they did not think a sufficient portion of the scaffolding had been removed. But they now state that a sufficient portion has been removed. The Government, however, regret that 126 they are still under the necessity of adhering to the opinion, that the effect is unfavourable, both for the statue and the arch, and is not such as to do credit to a memorial in honour of the Duke of Wellington. With regard to the third question, as to what are the views of the Committee, and whether they have sufficient funds for the removal, I beg to profess entire ignorance of the state of their funds. All I know is that they are willing to remove the statue, and they have now intimated their intention of doing so. The artist has been requested to prepare a pedestal; a site has not been found; but as soon as the pedestal is completed, the Government will see the removal effected. Further, Her Majesty has signified Her pleasure that, when the House shall be pleased to vote the sum necessary for the completion of the arch, any decorations which may still have to be added should be illustrative of the achievements of the Duke of Wellington, and should be such as may serve to mark the sense which the country entertains of his exploits and his deserts.
§ LORD J. MANNERS,with reference to the recent answer of the noble Lord, begged to inquire whether the Government would order the artist to proceed to the execution of the decorations of the arch before a vote for that purpose was agreed to by the House? and secondly, whether the Wellington Statue would be removed before the fresh site was positively fixed upon?
§ VISCOUNT MORPETHsaid, that the first thing for the Government to do would be, to require the sculptor to prepare a plan and estimate. If that plan and estimate were ready before the conclusion of the Session, they would certainly take a vote before the execution of the works. As to the statue, it would not be removed until the site was positively fixed on.