§ MR. HARVEY LEWISsaid, he would beg to ask the right hon. Member for the University of Cambridge, Whether an order has been issued (to take effect from the 1st of September next) prohibiting the attendants at the British Museum from leaving the Museum during the ordinary dinner hour, or at any time between the hours of nine o'clock in the morning and six o'clock in the evening; and, if so, why has such order been issued; and whether any and what provision has been made to enable the attendants to procure their dinner on the premises at a moderate charge?
§ MR. WALPOLEsaid, in reply, that the order to which the hon. Gentleman referred had been issued. In 1838 the rule was that the attendants should continue in the Museum from ten to seven in summer, and ten to four in winter, and during that time they had only half an hour to go out for luncheon or dinner. The Trustees consented to alter that arrangement by giving them an hour for their dinner. The regulations had since been altered. The 1195 time of attendance had been reduced, and I was made from ten to six in summer, ten to five in spring, and ten to four in winter. The absence, however, of the assistants at the dinner hour had occasioned great loss of time and great inconvenience to those who frequented the Museum, and accordingly the Trustees, with the consent of the Treasury, had issued the rule referred to, but at the same time had made provision for enabling the attendants to take a comfortable meal. He knew that the assistants had sent in an address thanking the Trustees for the arrangements that had been made, and he hoped everybody would be benefited by them.