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MONTAGU HOUSE.
Mr. Disraeli's memory greatly failed him when he censured the pre- sent Government for renewing, the lease-of Montagu House, Privy Gar- dens, to the Deka of Buccleuch, instead of reserving the building for public offices. On discovering that the blame lay with Lord Derby's Government, Mr. Disraeli made the amende honorable; but the circum-
stances were so peculiar as to induce Mr. Hadfield' to move for copies of the correspondence which preceded the renewal, and for a statement of the data which regulated the terms. The return so moved for has been issued.
Montagu. House was built about the year 1735, by John Duke of Mon.. tagu, an ancestor of the present Duke of Buccleuch. In 1810 a renewed lease was granted for sixty-two years, to be computed from January 1806, at a rental of 5921. 6s. per annum. Attempts were made in 1837 'and 1840 to get a further renewal for the purpose of allowing_the build- ing to be enlarged and improved; but without suceees, for reasons arising out of the projected embankment of the Thames. Subsequent applications were also set aside ; the uncertainty which existed as to the line of the new Westminster Bridge rendering it unadvisable to extend the current lease.
On the 7th October 1850, Lord Seymour, then at the head of the Woods and Forests, addressed the Lords of the Treasury on the subject ; mention- ing that additional applications bad been made on behalf of the Duke of Buccleuch for a renewal; and suggesting, that although the site of Mon- tagu House would not interfere with the line of the new Bridge as Sane. tioned by Committees of the House of Common; its proximity "to the various public offices, and the possible exigencies of the public service in reference to accommodation of that character, render it inexpedient that we should enter into treaty for a renewal of the lease, until we shall have brought the subject under your consideration." Lord. Seymour added, that in so far as the interests of the Land Revenues were concerned, it would be of advantage to entertain the Duke of Bucelench's. application.
Mr. Hayter, on the part of the Lords of the Treasury, makes answer, on the 14th October 1850-
" My Lords, taking into consideration the number of years (eighteen) still remaining unexpired of the existing lease of the premises let to the Duke of Buccleuch, and the possible future exigencies of the public service, and the still existing uncertainty as to the actual site of the proposed new Westtains star Bridge, together with the absence of any special grounds-calling for im- mediate consideration of the matter, are not at the present moment prepared to sanction any negotiation for an extension of the existing term,"
The Derby Government succeeded to office in February 1852, and in June of that year another application was made on the Duke's behalf. Mr. George Alexander Hamilton had taken the place of Mr; Haytex; but he writes in the same strain, on the 8th September 1852-
" I am commanded to acquaint you, that if the question regarding the selection of a site for Westminster Bridge had been the only obstacle to a re- newal of the Duke of Buecleuch's lease, my Lords would not have been dis- posed to refuse their authority for the proposed arrangement ; but, adverting to the other point raised in the report of the Commissioners of Woo& of the 7th October 1850, viz. the possible exigencies of the public service in regard to the accommodation required for public offices, my Lords are of opinion that it would be inexpedient to deprive her Majesty's Government of the opportunity of considering that important question, when the site atpresent occupied by Montagu House will be available on the expiration of the pre- sent km ; and they must therefore decline to sanction the proposed exten- sion of the term." The new Parliament assembled in the beginning of November 1852; and at the close of that month, when the prospect of being able to con- tinue the Government was dreary enough, the subject was again. con- sidered, and with different results. Mr. Hamilton, on the 8th December, communicates to Mr. Gore, of the Woods, &c., the decision. came to by the Treasury on the 30th November- " I am directed by the Lords Commissioners of her Majesty's Treasury to acquaint you, that since the subject of the proposed extension of the term of the lease held by the Duke of Buccleuch of Montagu. House was under the consideration of this Board, my Lords have obtained information re- garding the terms of the leases of the houses on Richmond Terrace, and other residences in the neighbourhood of Montagu House ; and they are disposed to think, that not only would the existence of these leases, none of which will expire for many years to come, interfere with, any general plan for the erection of public offices on the site of Montagu House, but that, adverting to the general interest of the Crown property in the neigh- bourhood, such an appropriation of the site would be attended with greater cost to the public than the object would justify. " Their Lordships, therefore, on a reconsideration of the subject, are of opinion, that the object which they had in view is too remote to justify them in withholding their sanction to such an arrangement as a due regard to the reasonable expectations of an old tenant of the Crown and to the immediate interests of the Land Revenue would warrant ; and they are therefore pleased to authorize you to enter into a treaty with the Duke of Buccleuch for an extension of his lease on equitable terms, founded on the present and pro- spective value of the property." This was deemed binding by the present Ministry : the transaction was completed in October last year ; the current lease being surrendered, and a renewal granted for ninety-nine years from January 1855, at an in- creased rental of 8501., with an obligation to expend 20,0001. upon alter- ations and additions.
It will not be disputed that Mr. Hamilton's Lords of the Treasury were in a better position for deciding in September 1852 What should be done with Montagu House than they were at the close of Novem- ber. In September there was some chance of the accommodation. being needed for themselves or their own party ; in November there could be none. The state of the Treasury mind at the respective periods may be judged of by the fact that Mr. Disraeli's recollection of what oc- curred in September was vivid, but all was blank as regarded the im- portant resolution of November. With regard to what is stated' about " my Lords" having obtained information regarding the terms of the leases of the houses on Richmond Terrace, and other residences in the neighbourhood of Montagu House, which led to their change of opinion, that information-was accessible when refusal was given in September; for Lord Seymour caused the periods at which the leases of houses in Richmond Terrace and Whitehall Gardens would expire to be inserted in. a plan which accompanied his representation of October 1850 ; andit is scarcely to be believed that Mr. Hamilton's friends did not see that plan, and peruse what was written upon it, when the question was in-the first instance brought under their notice.
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