§ ME. GREGORYsaid, he would beg to ask the hon. Member for Huntingdon (Mr. Thomas Baring), as Trustee to the National Gallery, Whether a Picture belonging to the Nation has been sent to Australia, whether the person who sent that Picture had a right to do so; and, if not, what steps the Trustees of the National Gallery are about to take?
MR. THOMAS BARING,in reply, said, his hon. Friend had no doubt seen in The Times newspaper an explanation of this matter by Mr. Gambart. With regard to the Trustees of the National Gallery the simple fact was, Mr. Jacob Bell, who died in 1859, very generously bequeathed certain pictures to the nation, and among them was the "Derby Day" painted by the celebrated artist, Mr. Frith. Before his death, Mr. Bell made an arrangement with Mr. Gambart by which this picture should remain in his possession for a certain term of years for the purpose of exhibition and engraving. At the end of that term in June, 1864, the Trustees of the National Gallery wrote to the executors of the late Mr. Bell, asking them why the picture was not delivered, and the reply was, that Mr. Gambart had said that he had a right to the picture for another year for exhibition, and he had sent it to Australia, but had promised it should return in August. It was very clear that the Trustees of the National Gallery could have no control over the picture until it was delivered to them by the executors, who were the only people with whom the Trustees could communicate. About six weeks ago the whole circumstances of the case were sent to the Treasury and sub- 1239 mitted to the Law Officers of the Crown to ascertain what proceedings, if any, should be adopted.