MR. OTWAYsaid, he would beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether it is true that the Government have announced their intention of withdrawing the small grant of five hundred pounds which has for some years been made to the Royal Academy of Music; and, whether the Government contemplates the creation of any institution for musical education, to be supported from the public funds?
§ MR. DISRAELISir, it is not the intention of Her Majesty's Government to withdraw the grant referred to by the hon. Gentleman, it having been withdrawn already. There was no provision for the £500 in the Estimates of this year; and notice being taken of the omission an explanation was given at the time. The discontinuance of the £500 had not been fatal to the institution, for the aid which it required was much larger: and the Government, after investigating the matter, were of opinion that they would not be authorized in recommending any enlargement of the grant, the results of the institution not being, in fact, of a satisfactory character. They were of opinion that provision for a cheap musical education should form part of our national system; but, although the subject had engaged not a little of their 1754 attention, he was not prepared to say any-thing further upon it at present.