§ MR. W. LOWTHERasked the First Commissioner of Works, Whether his attention has been called to the manner in which the decoration within the altar-rails of the "Crypt" has suffered from the smoke of the lamps placed at too great a height within the rails; and whether he will cause steps to be taken which will put an end to the progress of this destruction of the decoration?
§ MR. AYRTON,in reply, said, it was true that the lamps had been put up to make the darkness of this vault rather more visible, and that smoke had been emitted from these lamps, which had somewhat marked a part of the vault. Perhaps the best thing would be to remove the lamps, and then the cause would be removed. In that case, however, the place would not be as much seen as it was.
§ MR. W. LOWTHERasked, Whether the right hon. Gentleman would not direct that the lamps should be lowered?
§ MR. AYRTONreplied that to lower the lamps would be to diffuse the smoke more generally over the ceiling of the vault.