§ THE EARL OF DERBYsaid, he would put a Question to the noble Earl opposite (Earl Granville) which, perhaps, he would prefer to answer on Monday—whether Her Majesty's Government, as a Government, had any intention of bringing forward any scheme, or offering any suggestion, as to the application of the very large sums of money subscribed for the memorial to his late Royal Highness the Prince Consort? At present the subscriptions were entirely of a private character. No decision had yet been come to—he did not know, in fact, who could come to a decision—as to what was to be done with the money subscribed. It already amounted to £27,000, and many had not yet subscribed—he himself being of the number—to the memorial, in consequence of being in doubt as to the mode to be adopted in the appropriation of the money. What he wished to know was, whether Her Majesty's Government, as a Government, intended to take any steps in regard to the 89 appropriation of the subscriptions, or to indicate in any public manner, the way in which, according to their opinion, such memorial might be instituted, so as to be most gratifying to the feelings of their Sovereign? He was sure that if the public had any notion of what would be most gratifying to Her Majesty the direction thus indicated would be universally followed. In the mean while it would be well to know whether the Government intended to take any part in the matter or to leave it in the hands of irresponsible persons? Perhaps his right hon. Friend would prefer to postpone an answer to the Question till Monday.
§ EARL GRANVILLE:It would be more agreeable to me to make a reply on Monday.