LORD HENRY LENNOXsaid, he would; beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether Her Majesty's Government have had under their consideration any scheme for the improvement of the constitution and administration of the British Museum; and, if so, whether they will lay I upon the table of the House the Correspondence which has taken place on this subject between Her Majesty's Government and the Trustees of the British Museum; whether it has been decided to fill up the post of Secretary Librarian under the same conditions as it was recently held by Mr. Panizzi; and whether the Government will lay upon the table of the House any Correspondence that has passed between the Trustees of the British Museum and 731 the various Departments of the Government respecting the removal of the Ethnographical Collections to the east of London?
THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERSir, in reply to the hon. Member's question, I have to state that there is no correspondence between the Government and the Trustees of the British Museum, and no decision has been taken as to filling up the post of principal Librarian under the same conditions as it was recently held by Mr. Panizzi. There was some time ago certain communications with the Trustees, but they were not embodied in a correspondence; and although they might be made the subject of explanation when they came to deal practically with the case, they could not be presented separately to the House. In the view of the Government, the first step to be taken is to submit to that House the Vote which they have given notice of their intention to propose for the erection of a building at Kensington; and we can take no other step of a definite character until the House has decided on that. If there is any correspondence respecting the removal of the Ethnographical Collections to the east of London it will be produced.
LORD HENRY LENNOXThe right hon. Gentleman has not answered the Question with reference to the other correspondence.
THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERAll I can promise is that when the Government moves the Vote to which I have referred they will fully state their views with regard to the whole subject.