§ MR. GREGORYsaid, he wished to ask, Whether, in the case of any new appointment that may be made in the Department of Prints and Drawings in the British Museum, it will be distinctly understood by the gentleman appointed to the place that there is a probability that the Drawings of the Old Masters will be removed to the National Gallery?
§ MR. WALPOLESir, I will state, according to my recollection, what took place at the last meeting of the Trustees with reference to the lamented death of Mr. Carpenter. When the vacancy occasioned by his death was communicated to the principal Trustees, in whom is vested the appointment of a successor, nothing, if I recollect rightly, was said with reference to the possible separation of the principal drawings from the rest of the collection. But I take it for granted that anybody who succeeds to that office would accept it subject to the condition that if those prints and drawings are removed something will have to be done with reference to the keeper. If the hon. Gentleman wishes for a more specific answer, he can put the Question on the paper.