HC Deb 22 May 1884 vol 288 cc1007-9
SIR ROBERT PEEL

asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether, since giving his reply to the question with regard to the subject of the Chan trey bequest, he is aware that the subject of the administration of the Chantrey bequest is much discussed by artists; whether, inasmuch as charitable donations and bequests by will are subject to supervision by Parliament, and by Commissioners appointed by Parliament, the Government acquiesces, in the view of the President of the Royal Academy, that the trust in question is of such an exclusive character as not to allow of any interference whatever from without; whether it is a fact that the bulk of the fund is now absorbed by members of the Royal Academy buying the works of their own body; and, whether, privileges having been granted by Parliament to the Academy, with a local habitation, at the expense of the nation, inquiry will be made, in the interest of art, into a matter affecting an institution so important in its public influence and character as the Royal Academy?

MR. GLADSTONE

As to what the right hon. Baronet has embodied in the first portion of his Question, I am not possessed of that information in detail, and I have not felt justified as a Minister of the Crown in asking for it. The essential point in the case, which I am afraid I have not fully stated before, is that we have absolutely no power of instituting an inquiry in this matter. The Royal Academy, no doubt, stands in a certain relation to the Crown or to the State. It may be a little difficult to say which originally; but, whatever that relation may be, it does not invest the Executive Government with any sort of discretionary authority in regard to their proceedings.

SIR ROBERT PEEL

reminded the right hon. Gentleman, as to the statement that the Government had no power, that a Commission in 1863 inquired into the position of the Royal Academy. In further enlarging on the subject of the administration of the Chantrey Trust, and while quoting from the Report of this Commission—

MR. SPEAKER

said, the right hon. Baronet would not be in Order unless he intended to found a Question on the quotation.

SIR ROBERT PEEL

said, he intended to do so. He would ask the Prime Minister, whether the President and Council of the Royal Academy were, in fact, trustees for the public of the works of Art purchased out of the funds at their disposal as the property of the nation; and, whether the Government, as in the case of charitable donations and bequests by will, could not interfere? If the right hon. Gentleman gave him an unsatisfactory answer, he would call attention on the first opportunity to the position of the Royal Academy.

MR. GLADSTONE

I have every disposition to give as satisfactory an answer as I can; and if I do not do so it is not really my will, but my poverty, that is in question. I am absolutely correct in saying that the Government have no power whatever, although the nation, no doubt, has a great interest in the good administration of those trusts and of many others. No doubt a Royal Commission was instituted to inquire into the condition and management of the Royal Academy; but I am correct in saying that that Commission was instituted with the good will and assent of the Academy itself. Unless it had been so instituted, it would have had no power of producing any result.

SIR ROBERT PEEL

gave Notice that he would call attention to the matter on an early day.