CLASS IV. (Hansard, 13 August 1890)

§ *(7.26.) SIR G. CAMPBELL
I wish to ask a question with regard to the lighting of the Natural History part of the British Museum at South Kensington. It was proposed to light the rooms by electricity. I understand it has been done on the occasion of some private parties, but that the electric light is not used when the rooms are open to the public. Is it not intended to give the general public the benefit of the light at night in the same way as in the Museum at Bloomsbury?

§ MR. JACKSON
It was, of course, necessary, before finally lighting the rooms with electricity, to experiment and see if the system would answer.

§ SIR G. CAMPBELL
But there have been repeated private entertainments given there, at which the electric light has been used. I know people who have attended these gatherings, and have assured me that the light has been used.

§ MR. JACKSON
Yes; experimentally.

§ (7.28.) MR. SEXTON
I wish to know whether the experts of the British Museum are still allowed to employ their leisure time in tracing forged letters?

§ MR. JACKSON
I do not know how they employ their spare time.

*(7.29.) MR. CAVENDISH BENTINCK
I feel it my duty to make a few observations on this Vote, and those will be in the form of a protest. I shall not even delay the Committee by giving reasons at length, but I wish to protest against the practice which I am sorry to see is still continued, according to which the Director of the National Gallery goes to Italy and other places and purchases pictures on behalf of the country, at a price a great deal higher than that which would be paid by private individuals. I was informed by a gentleman well skilled in such matters that not very long ago he offered 400 francs for the picture attributed to Ghirlandajo, which had been sold to the National Gallery for £1,000. I wish also to protest against the practice of purchasing pictures under one name and having them placed in the National Gallery under another. About a fortnight ago a picture sold as by Carlo Dolce has since been re-baptised as by Giovanni Bellini. I am told by the Secretary to the Treasury that this change has been made on the sole responsibility of the Director of the National Gallery, but all the experts whom I have consulted disagree with the opinion of the Director. It is not desirable that doubtful pictures should be bought for the National Gallery. It would be better that the money should be saved for the purchase of some well-known work of a great master. But the principal object with which I have risen is to protest against the extravagant sum to be paid to Lord Radnor for three pictures. There are few pictures in the world which would fetch more than £25,000, and to suppose that the Holbein is 898 worth more than £25,000 is absurd. As for the Velasquez, I do not think there was ever one which would bring more than £4,000 or £5,000, and I am sure that any Member of this House who possesses a Morone would be glad to get £1,000. for it. I must protest against giving £40,000 or £45,000 for a Holbein. Then we have looming in the distance another purchase, as to which the Chancellor of the Exchequer told me that the charge would not come into the Supplementary Estimates this Session, but we are to hear of it in the course of next year. The right hon. Gentleman, however, does not mention the price to be paid to Lord Darnley.

§ (7.32.) SIR G. CAMPBELL
I am glad to find myself in sympathy with the right hon. Gentleman opposite, and I hope the Committee will disallow the extravagant sums it is proposed to pay for certain pictures. I object to this, not only because of its extravagance, but because it is a breach of an agreement made between the National Gallery Directors and the taxpayers. I further object on the ground of the bad precedent thus set. A few years ago extravagant purchases of this kind were made, but only on condition that the enormous sum then paid would be recouped from the annual allowance. I do not know anything about the value of these pictures, but I do know the course taken when it is desired to force pictures to an extravagant price. A clique is got up, and the newspapers are induced to protest against the idea that certain valuable pictures shall be allowed to go to Germany or to America, the result being that extravagant prices are given to retain them here. I have not heard anything said as to these pictures being of a popular character such as would gratify the masses of the people. I went to the National Gallery in order to ascertain what sort of opinion was formed by the public as to the Madonna for which £60,000 was paid, and I certainly saw no evidence of public appreciation.

§ (7.36.) MR. CONYBEARE
I hope my hon. Friends will no longer lend themselves to the farce of discussing these matters. It is compromising to the dignity of this House to maintain a discussion as to the 899 expenditure on these pictures, as to which nobody cares 2½. whether they are in the National Gallery or not. I simply rise to say that this sort of expenditure is incurred, not to gratify the picture fanciers, but to enrich a few noble Lords who want to marry their eldest sons and get as much money from the taxpayers as possible. This is what it all comes to, and I hope the public will understand that at the fag-end of a long Session it is sought to force this kind of thing upon the taxpayers. It is a scandal and a disgrace to the country, and, for my part, I will have nothing to do with it.