§ MR. CAVENDISH BENTINCKsaid, he wished to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether a portrait of Arch- 1624 bishop Laud, attributed to Vandyke, has been lately purchased by the Trustees of the Portrait Gallery for the sum of £75; and, if so, whether as an original work or as copy after the master; and, whether it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to remove the Portrait Gallery to any other and what locality?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERsaid, in reply, that the portrait of Archbishop Laud referred to had been purchased by the Trustees of the National Portrait Gallery for the sum of 72 guineas. It had not been purchased upon the ground of its being ascribed to Vandyke. There were two views taken of that question by gentlemen who were most competent to form a judgment—one view being that it was an original picture of the school of Vandyke, and the other that it was a copy of an original by Vandyke. The Trustees, however, were not ashamed of their purchase, as they believed it to be a valuable picture which had been obtained at a cheap rate. There was some difference of opinion as to what would be the value of the picture if it were an original Vandyke, some excellent authorities putting it at £1,000, while no estimate was under £300. With respect to the removal of the National Portrait Gallery, he had at present no announcement to make; but the Government would declare their intentions at or before the time when they invited the attention of the House to the subject of buildings and the arrangements connected with buildings of that class contained in the Miscellaneous Estimates.