§ MR. ROBERT WALLACE (Edinburgh, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland how long the office of Curator of the Scottish National Gallery has been vacant; and when the necessary steps will be taken for making a new appointment?
§ * SIR G. TREVELYANMr. Gourlay Steell, the late Curator, died on the 31st of January last, and the vacancy was reported to the Board of Manufacturers at their first subsequent meeting, held on the 1st of March. The Curator has to be appointed by the Board of Manufacturers, subject to the approval of the Secretary for Scotland. An appointment has been postponed pending consideration of a Report by a Committee of the Board, which will be brought up on the 31st instant, and the question of making a new appointment will be considered at the Board's ordinary meeting on the 7th of June.