§ MR. HUMEbegged to ask the noble Lord at the head of Her Majesty's Government, whether the Government had considered, or was willing to consider, the expediency of retaining the Vernon collection of paintings in the National Gallery, and accommodating the Royal Academy with rooms in Marlborough House? He did so in consequence of the Committee which had been appointed to report respecting the Vernon pictures of which the right hon. Baronet the Member for Tamworth was a Member, having recommended that the Vernon collection should be placed in the National Gallery, and that the Royal Academy should be allowed to remain there until it could obtain premises suitable to them elsewhere; but the course stated by the noble Lord the other evening appeared to be directly contrary to this.
§ LORD J. RUSSELLreplied, that it was the intention of the Government to act in conformity with the report of the Committee. It was intended that the Vernon collection should occupy a portion of the National Gallery, and accommodation should be provided for the Royal Academy elsewhere. This was in conformity with the report of the Committee, and it was certainly the intention of the Government. The question then was, what should be done at the present moment. It appeared far more easy, and better for the Vernon pictures, which were originally in the private house of Mr. Vernon, to be placed for the present in a house like Marl-borough-house, than to attempt to fit up that place for the exhibition of the Royal Academy. It would cause a great deal more expenditure to fit up that place for temporary accommodation of the Royal Academy than for the Vernon collection. 167 It must be recollected that this was only a temporary arrangement, as Marlborough-house was destined to be the future residence of the Prince of Wales.
§ MR. HUMEobserved, that if the Vernon collection was removed to Marlborough-house it would require an additional number of persons to look after them.
§ Subject dropped.