§ MR. TREEBYsaid, he would beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works, Whether there is any objection to increase the time for Students to study in the National Gallery from two (as at present allowed) to four days in the week; should it be considered that the students studying on days when the Exhibition is open to the public that it would interfere with the convenience of the public, whether he would object to request the architects for the new National Gallery to provide accommodation for the students during the time the establishment was open to the public?
§ MR. COWPERsaid, in reply, that one of the important purposes for which the National Gallery had been established was to afford an opportunity to art students to copy pictures. They were allowed to do so when the public was excluded, and when, consequently, they might paint without interruption; but he thought the convenience of the public would be too much sacrificed if the suggestion of the hon. Gentleman were adopted. At present the rooms were not large enough to enable students to copy pictures on open days without interfering with the public; but the new rooms would be much larger, and when they were opened probably some arrangement might be made to enable artists 964 to copy pictures even on the days when the Gallery was open to the public.