§ MR. CAVENDISH BENTINCKasked the First Commissioner of Works, Whether Her Majesty's Government have approved any design for the exterior architectural elevation of the proposed Natural History Museum at South Kensington; whether the approved design is a modification of that by the late Captain Fowke which was selected after the competition instituted by the Right honourable Member for South Hants when First Commissioner of Works, and which Mr. Waterhouse was appointed to execute; whether the approved design is in architectural harmony with the adjacent new buildings of the South Kensington Museum; and, whether he will, as early as possible, exhibit drawings and a model of the approved design within the precincts of this House, for the inspection of Members?
§ MR. AYRTON, in reply, said, considerable progress had been made in the preparation of the plans and designs for the New Museum of Natural History proposed to be erected at South Kensington; but it would be some time before they were perfected. Until that was done it would, of course, be impossible to exhibit them, nor had they at present received the sanction of the Government.