§ LORD ST. LEONARDSsaid, that owing to the absence, through indisposition, of a noble Marquess (the Marquess of Lansdowne) who took a deep interest in the subject, he wished to postpone the Motion of which he had given notice relative to the establishment of a Gallery in which to exhibit the pictures bequeathed 687 to the nation by the late Mr. Turner. As he thought it desirable that their Lordships should have before them the materials by which to form a judgment upon his Resolutions, he begged to move—
Copies of the Will and Codicils of the late Mr. Turner, R.A., and of the Decree of Vice Chancellor Kindersley, establishing the Right of the Nation to the Pictures of Mr. Turner given by him to the Public and also of the Representations lately made by the Trustees of the National Gallery to the Treasury upon the Subject of Mr. Turner's Gift of his Picture to the Nation.
§ LORD OVERSTONEregretted that it should be found necessary to postpone the discussion, because he thought the matter was one of pressing importance; but he was glad that the noble and learned Lord had moved for the production of further papers. He hoped the subject would receive the careful consideration of their Lordships, for he felt the more the question was looked into the more would it be acknowledged that the present arrangement for the display of these pictures was utterly improper and unsatisfactory, and that their continuance in their present position was inconsistent with good faith to the testamentary directions of the man who had devoted to the use of his country so noble a bequest.
§ EARL GRANVILLEsaid, the indisposition of the noble Marquess was one of a merely slight character, and gave no cause for alarm. There would be no objection to the production of the papers now moved for.
§ After a few words from Lord MONTEAGLE,
§ Motion agreed to.