HL Deb 05 April 1870 vol 200 cc1280-2

EARL CADOGAN moved for— Copies of any correspondence which may have recently taken place between Her Majesty's Chief Commissioner of Works and the surveyor of St. Paul's Cathedral, with reference to the monument to the late Duke of Wellington in course of erection in that church: Return of copy of agreement entered into between the Board of Works and Mr. Stevens, the artist selected to execute the work: Payments made to Mr. Stevens on account of the work itself, or to others for purposes in connexion with it: Dates of payment: Sum originally voted by Parliament for the erection of the monument: Balance remaining available for the completion of it.—(The Earl Cadogan.)

THE MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNE

said, the Government would not object to the Return, if the noble Earl pressed for it; but it being expected that the work would be completed within a year, and it being probable that the original terms would not be adhered to, it would be better to await its completion before entering on an inquiry into the mode in which it had been carried out.

EARL CADOGAN

said, he had been informed, that unless a further sum was voted by Parliament, the work could not not be completed this year; for of the £14,000 originally voted, all but about £1,000 had been expended, and of this a considerable portion would be absorbed by expenses other than those of the monument itself. Four years ago on his calling attention to this matter, an assurance was given that the work was in a forward state, but he feared there was no more prospect of the work being completed this year than there was four years ago. The commission was first given to the artist in 1858—one condition being that a complete model should be produced and placed in the cathedral in a very short time; but this condition was modified by Lord John Manners, when First Commissioner of Works, who, in view of the gigantic size of it, proposed that only a portion of it should be so produced; and even this had never been done. It was not till 1867 that the model was completed.

THE MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNE

said, he did not object to give the Returns; but he only wished to point out that it would be well to allow Mr. Stevens to complete the work before they inquired into the manner in which the work had been done.

EARL CADOGAN

said, he had every reason to believe that, in his report to the Board of Works, the artist distinctly stated that he had no idea of completing the work this year.

EARL STANHOPE

said, he had heard with satisfaction that the works were to be completed within a year; but he wished to know whether the noble Marquess had given that assurance on any positive ground. The real question as he apprehended was, whether there was sufficient money in hand for that purpose, or whether it would be necessary to apply to Parliament for a further grant?

EARL GRANVILLE

said, his noble Friend (the Marquess of Lansdowne) had stated that it was not desirable to produce the Return at present, though, if their Lordships pressed for it, it would be produced. He had also informed them that the First Commissioner believed it would be finished by the end of this year. As regards the funds, about £1,000, part of the original Vote for the work, was still in hand, and £900 additional would be asked for in the Estimates for this year for the same purpose.

THE DUKE OF RICHMOND

said, it was quite clear that if the Returns were published it would clear up the doubts which were entertained upon the subject. The noble Marquess had stated, on the authority of the Chief Commissioner of Works, that the monument would be completed within the year, and the correspondence would show if more money would be required. It was desirable the Papers should be supplied.

EARL STANHOPE

asked, whether the Return would show the available balance?

EARL CADOGAN

believed it would, and would also satisfy their Lordships of its insufficiency.

Motion agreed to.

House adjourned at Six o'clock, to Thursday next, half past Ten o'clock.