On Tuesday in the Lords the Government introduced a Bill
for the preservation of ancient monuments. Lord Beauchamp explained that it was proposed to give compulsory powers to the Commissioners of Works, if advised by the Ancient Monuments Board (to be constituted under the Bill) that any monument was in danger, to place the monument under their own protection. This proceeding would be by a " Pre- servation Order," which would require confirmation by Parlia- ment, and would therefore, in the event of opposition, be con- sidered by a Select Committee in either House, One effect of
a Preservation Order would be to give the Commissioners a right of pre-emption should the owner of a monument propose to sell it. The Bill was criticised from certain points of view, but it received strong general support, and together with another Bill on the same subject was referred to a joint Committee. We are certain that the Bill is framed on the right lines and that minor defects can be remedied in Com- mittee. It establishes the principle that great historic monu- ments are inherited by the whole nation and that no private persons have a right to spoil them.
