§ MR. HUMEsaid, he would beg to ask the First Commissioner of Public Works whether there are any grounds for the rumours that serious decay has taken place in the foundation stone of this House, causing the structure to give way in several places.
§ LORD JOHN MANNERSreplied, that he had called the attention of Sir Charles Barry and of the gentlemen in the Office of Works having charge of that Department to the subject, and their Report did not confirm the accuracy of the rumours in question. Sir Charles Barry reported that there was not any ground for the rumours, and that though the stones of the building, like all stones in London subject to atmospheric influence, had suffered decomposition on the surface to some degree, yet the stability of the structure was not affected, and there was no real ground for apprehension. The Report of the other gentleman was to the same effect.