LORD CAMPBELLinquired of Her Majesty's Government, What Steps it is proposed to take with a View to replace on a fitting Site the Statue of Mr. Canning, in accordance with the general Opinion expressed last Session in the House against that on which it stands at present? The removal of the statue last year was condemned as an unwarranted though unintended diminution of the honour which had been paid to Mr. Canning. He had since heard ascribed to the Public Works Department the opinion that though the statue could not be replaced upon the site it had previously occupied, it would probably be placed in the centre of the open space and a few yards behind where it formerly stood.
§ THE EARL OF MALMESBURYsaid, that none of their Lordships could have the slightest doubt of the disposition of the present or of any Government to comply as much as possible with the public taste in reference to such a matter s that to which the noble Lord's Question related; but the difficulty was to ascertain what that taste was. They all remembered the old proverb, De gustibus non est disputandum; and it was extremely difficult for any Government to ascertain precisely, amid the discordant opinions prevalent in such cases, what would really be the best course to follow. But, as to the facts, he could inform the noble Lord that, after the conversation with respect to the statue of Mr. Canning last year, the subject was again discussed in the House of Commons, which decided by a large majority that the present site was the one most desirable. The noble Lord seemed not to agree in this; but that was the information he derived from the best authority—the Office of Public Works. Subsequently to that, in a conversation 1461 with Lord John Manners, Mr. Westmacott also approved the present site. When Lord John Manners asked this year for a sum of £1,000 for the arrangement of the ground in front of which the statue stood, no objection was taken to the present position of the statue, although Lord John Manners referred to the matter. The Government, therefore, concluded that the present site was agreeable to the public; nor had they received any remonstrances on the subject from the family or admirers of the late Mr. Canning, which would certainly be attended to and treated with respect. There was a great difference between the circumstances of the case now and last year, when the conversation to which he had alluded took place. Then all the space which was now very handsomely enclosed was a sort of wilderness, and the statue looked as if it had been disrespectfully put out of view. But now the aspect of the place was quite changed; and, considering the general appearance of the ground, he could not agree with the noble Lord that there was anything in the position of the statue of which complaint could justly be made.
§ VISCOUNT STRATFORD DE REDCLIFFEadmitted that an improvement had been effected in the appearance of the ground since last year, but still thought the position of the statue not satisfactory. In these matters there was something to be considered which was far beyond mere family feeling; for the memory of its departed great men was the heirloom of the nation. He hoped, therefore, that the expression of the opinion of the House in regard to this statue last year would receive due attention.