§ MR. HOWORTH (Salford, S.)asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether, in view of the continuous and deplorable destruction of the ancient monuments of Egypt by travellers and others, and of their incomparable value and interest, it would be possible to appoint some engineer officer to make a survey of these monuments and to have custody of them in future?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir JAMES FERGUSSON) (Manchester, N.E.)The question has not been lost sight of by Her Majesty's Government; but it rests, of course, with the Egyptian Government to take the necessary measures. They have been considering the subject for some time past, but have had great difficulties of different kinds to contend with. A Special Committee has now been appointed to consider what further steps can be taken; and it has been decided to levy a small fee for seeing the antiquities, which will, to some extent, increase the sum which it is possible to devote to the preservation of ancient monuments. Sir Francis Grenfell, the Sirdar of the Egyptian Army, takes great interest in the subject, and is a Member of this Committee.