MR. BENTINCKsaid, he wished to ask the First Commissioner of Works, Whether the Sketch of the new design for the "Courts of Justice Building," now in the Library, and bearing the name of Mr. Street, has been approved 1210 by her Majesty's Government for erection on the Thames Embankment; whether he adheres to his recommendation, made in this House on the 10th of May last, that the style of the new building should be the "Gothic employed by the Italians in the early part of the 15th century;" and whether he was of opinion that the new design fulfils that condition; whether the three towers connected with the new design are intended for the preservation of documents, or to serve any useful purpose besides that of ventilation, and what is their probable cost; and, whether he will exhibit in the Library the elevation of the "River front" and "Park front" of the Westminster Palace, designed by lingo Jones, and engraved in the works of Inigo Jones, published by Lord Burlington and Kent?
§ MR. LAYARDsaid, in reply, that when his hon. Friend asked him if he approved of the sketch of the new design referred to for the Courts of Justice building, he would say that it was never his fortune to see a more beautiful and artistic piece of work; but he would remind his hon. Friend that the elevation was a more sketch, and is so called by Mr. Street. If the House should approve of the erection of the Law Courts on the Embankment he should think it his duty to have a model placed in the Library, or some other part of the House to which Members might have access, and so be able to form an opinion. As to the second part of the Question of his hon. Friend, he begged to say that he did not recommend that the style of the now building should be the "Gothic employed by the Italians in the early part of the 15th century." What he did say was, that he thought Gothic was the most appropriate style for the English Law Courts, but he did not advocate ecclesiastical Gothic, but said that the Italians had made use of Gothic for a similar purpose in the 15th century, and that such a building might be erected without having recourse to ecclesiastical Gothic. As regarded the three towers, as the design is a mere sketch, he could not answer the Question of his hon. Friend. With respect to the fourth part of the Question, the elevation of the River front and Park front of Inigo Jones had been exhibited for some days in the Library, whore it might be seen by his hon. Friend.