MR. GOLDSMIDasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether he can state to the House what progress has been made with the Wellington Monument, and especially with the sculptural as distinguished from the architectural portion of it; and, whether there is reasonable ground for believing that it will be completed within the contract time?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERSir, the Wellington Monument has passed out of my hands. A contract has been made with Mr. Collman for the completion of the Monument, and he has employed Mr. Stevens, the gentleman who designed and has hitherto executed the work. The arrangement is, that £250 shall be paid monthly on the certificate of two gentlemen, Mr. Fergusson and Captain Galton. Several payments have been made under this arrangement; but at the present moment Mr. Stevens is ill, and the work is consequently impeded, but it has been going on, and, I am told, satisfactorily. As to the latter part of the Question, the progress made is rather architectural than sculptural. If Mr. Stevens's health is good, I have every reason to believe that the Monument will be completed within the contract time.