The Statesman. — London, England, 1823-06-21 00:00:00

41t ~_- T►e LORD MAYOR moved, as an amendment, that the BM be read that day three months, pursuant to the instruc tions of the Corporation. Mr. Ald. THOMPSON seconded the amendment. Mr. T. WILSON said he would not oppose the Bill, but he thought further time ought to be showed. After a few words from Mr. C. SMITH, the gallery was cleared fora division. The numbers were—For the amend ment, 4—Against it, 71—Majority. 67. Oa our return to the Gallery, we found Mr. HOLME SUMNER preparing a clause to prevent the Corporation from appointing any engineer, architect, or contractor, without the consent of the Lords of the Treasury. The LORD MAYOR opposed the clause. The CHINCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said. that it was not unreasonable, when Government gave 130,000/. to- Wards bulidieg the bridge, that they should have a voice in the appointment of those persons whom it might be neces sary to employ. Mr. DENMAN said he felt it his duty to oppose the clause, as imposing a great hardship on the City of London. Sir I. COFFIN said that the reputation of Mr. Renniewas as high as any man. Mr. T. WILSON contended that the Corporation was not under any obligation to the Gov eonment, and there fore opposed the clause, as casting a reflection on the City of London. The House then divided on the clause, when the numbers were—For the clause, 7S—Against it, I6—Majority, 132. The clause was then carried, and the Bill was passed. Sir T. BARING brought up the Report of the Committee on the petition of Mr.l . 4'Adatn, relative to Roads.—Ordered to be printed. COMBINATION TAWS. Mr. M I.XWELL—" The petition I hold in my hand is from I,SUU Mechanics and Artisans of Sutton. in Notts. — It prays for the passing of a Bill to repeal the Combination Laws. Being one of the Committee who framed that Bills end feeling strongly the injustice of a law which deprive, only It. , poor of combination, I must make a few remarks on the prayer it contains. In the first place, Sir, it prays that not only the masters may be heard, but the servants, in case the Bill should not pass ; and that wages should he paid in money, and that, too, without any delay. In support of the petition I beg to say, that the power of combining is the protecting duty of the workman, and that he has as abso lute a right to that power, as his employer has to those du ties which exclude foreign manufactures. The decision to eacure the farmer and the planter a remunerating price for his industry, under the burdens of the State, warrants me in asserting that they ought to be protected from the conse quences of combination and machinery now enjoyed by t-eir employers. The anomaly of loyal employer and se ditious workman is to be explained by the unequal provi sions which the law affords for the security from want of the latter. Loyalty is not the property' of rank or wealth; it proceeds from the absence of pain and want, and conviction of security from misery and degradation. Let us not diminish it, by giving its sources no circulation but among the powerful and wealthy." After a few words from Mr. DENMAN, the petition was brontit up sad ordered to be printed. SLAVERY. Mr. WILBERFORCE presented a petition from the borough of Bridgenorth, praying for the abolition of SI tvery,—A similar petition was presented from Lanark. —Both ordered to be printed. Mr. WILBERFORCE presented a similar petition from Beecon.—Ordered to be printed. Mr. IVILBERFORCE moved that a humble Address be presented to his Majesty, praying that his Majesty be pleased to order a return of the Correspondence between his Majesty's Uovernrnent and Foreign Powers, relative to the execution of the several treaties relating to the il legal traffic in Slaves.—Agreed to. Mr J. WILLIAMS moved that there be laid before the House returns, stating the time when petitions and appeals of rehearing were presented to the other House. —Agreed to. Mr. HUME presen.ed a petition from K. Gourlay. re lat:re to the Poor Laws.—Ordered to be present. Mr. CURIV EN presented a petition from the dealers in spirits in Carlisle, against the restriction on the im portation of Scotch spirits into England.—Ordered to be printed. Sir F. OMMANEY rose to correct a misrepresenta tion which had gone forth in the newspapers of what be had stated last night. What he had said of the Wall. ritt.O. to whom he then alluded was merely hypothetical. 'He diseirimed the intention of saying any thing disre spectful to that individual. The Hon. Member haring cet?ected . the statement, said lie had no intention of press the matter further. lie then moved for a return of the number of private vessels takcn, from the 31st Jan. 1 t'2.l to 16 . 21 Mr. Secretary CANNING requested the Hoo. Member to give notice on the subject. Sir FRANCIS OMMANEY consented, and gave no tice for Monday next. IRISH POOR. Mr. S. RICE moved that a Select Committee be op. po'ntrd to inquire into the present condition of the Poor o! Ireland.—Motion agreed to. HOLY ALLIANCE. THE STATESMAN. Mr. BROUGHAM seeing the Right Hon. Secretary (Mr. Canning) in his place, wished to ask him whether there was any truth in the report which he hail seen in the newlisrers, respecting the Sovereigns of the Holy Alliance haying withdrawn their Ministers from Stut gard ? This removal had originated, it was understood, in the refusal of the King to suppress certain Newspa pers, awl make certain alterations in the Constitution. — There was a'so another reason, namely—the Protest of the Wurteruberg Ambassador against the invasion of Spain. Mr. CANNING said that his Majesty's Government could have no knowledge of proceedings to which they were not parties, either one way or the other. Some ac counts had reached them similar to those stated by the I l i Hon. and Learned Member in some respects, but dissimie lar in others. They had, however, received no positive communication on the subject. Mr. BROUGHAM took the old principle to be that nothing Gould happen among foreign powers in which this country was not more or less interested. Mr. CANNING said that there were certainly some transactions among foreign powers in which tbis coun try was in some degree a party, and others in which it WO in no degree a party. He declined to answer the Hon. and Learned Gentleman more circumstantially, for jibe made the attempt, he must either go into a great va riety of detail, some parts of which rested on a very un certain foundation, or take tha t course which was fair to all parties. Mr. BROUGHspectatorAM protested against this cou ntr y re- ainin a m g of acts so nous to liberty as those tame which the All were rui determined to genera en -1 force. Mr. CANNING said, it ought to be observed tbat the Hon. and Learned Gentleman was assuming the truth of the facts stated in the foreign papers. The conversation then dropped. SCOTCH JURIES. Mr. KENNEDY moved the second reading of the Scotch Juries Bill, and commented at some length on the details of the measure. He contended that from the manner in which Juries were now empanelled, it was quite impossible a fair Jury could be had in Scotland. The adoption of the law of last Session rendered this measure almost imperative from the power it gave to the prisoner and the prosecutor. Another objection to the present system was, that it brought the Judges into an unseemly contest with the parties.—After a few more observations be moved the Order of the Day for the se cond reading of the Scotch Juries BilL The LORD ADVOCATE defended the existing sys tem, and said that in all bis experience be did not know one instance of a packed Jury in Scotland. He con tended that the manner in which the Juries were consti tuted by the different Sheriffs, secured them from el su , picion of corruption: Being of opinion that no al teration was requited in the present laws, he moved as an amendment that the Bill be read a second time that day six months. Mr. 1 P. (WANT supported the original motion. Mr. PEEL supported the amendment. Sir JAMES MACINTOSH warmly supported the -Ordeinal motion. , The House then divided, when there appeared—For the Bill, 47 ; Against it, 42... Majority, 5. The Bill was then read a second tune, add commit ted fur Monday next. THE LATE KING'S LIBRARY. The CHA'NCELLOII of the EXCHEQUER rose to submit a motion relatise to the disposition of the valu able library which had been given to the public by hi Majesty. The House were aware that e suggestion a to a particular mode had been made by the Committee which sat upon this subject. It seemed to be agreed upon all bands, th it it was desirable to provide snit able accommodation for so valuable a collection of books. No place seemed so proper for the purpose as the British Museum. lie (the Chancellor) had not been a constant attendant at the Committee, but be understood the prin cipal cause fur removing the library, was the inconve nience of its present situation at Buckingham House. But it was impossible that in the present conditi on of the British. Museum, accommodation could be made out for this new library, and it was necessary to come to Parliament for a grant, for the erection of a new budd ing. Of course it would be but doing due honour to so great a treasure to keep it distinct from the other collections. The proposition then was, to erect such a building as would be in character with the future structure, which was to be raised on the site of the pre. sent Museum, and that its splendour should be consis tent with sound taste; ornamental to this great metro. polis, and worthy of the nation. — ( Hear. ) Its p lan was therefore to be governed, less with reference to the pre sent building, which would some time or other be pul led down, than to the future and more splendid struc ture which was to be erected in its stead. The sum ne cessary for currying this plan into execution was 4000/. at least; if that did not suffice for its completion, it-was as much as Parliament would at present be called upon to advance. The Right Hon. Gentleman concluded by moving, that a sum of 49,000/. be pl iced at the dispo sal of his Majesty, for the erection of additional build ings to the British Museum. Mr. 110 !MOUSE said that he had conceived an ob jection to the transfer of the late King's library from Buckingham House to the British Museum, from the moment that a suggestion to that effect was first made.— He now rose for the purpose of recording his objections, bat he did so with all deference to the judgment and taste of the Right Hon. Gentleman who composed the Committee. He wished it to be understood, however, that he did not oppose the scheme from views of economy, for he was sore that the public would be rather munifi cent than otherwise in providing suitable accommoda tion for so splendid a collection of books.—(Hear.) The Report to which the Bight Hon. Gentleman alluded had made no particular allusions to the characters of the 'works; and it might not therefore be amiss here to state that the books in question were fraught with interest to the Statesman, Politician, and those who made the Eng lish Constitution their study, hiing geographical and to pographical essays, surveys 'of Scotland, and orilnawe surveys of England. An equally valuable collection in that respect was no where else to be found. No phis bad been spared in selecting the books ; and it appoared that his late Majesty hail expended upon it 130,0001. and '2,000/. a year for fifty years. He was sure that 200,0001.1 would not purchase such a library now. This under standing reflected the highest honour on the late King, who thus rescued his Court from the reflection which had laid upon it, of being up to that time the only Court 10 Europe which bad nut a Royal libra r y . And the mode. in which be caused the volumes to be disposed of was quite worthy of the collection, Nobody could see with out pleasure the octagon and other splendid rooms which were appropriated to the purpose at Buckingham House. Viewing the place altogether, and how worthy the habi tation was of the goes', he should say, that he thought it a pity that Buckingham House should be stripped of so valuable an ornament. He was therefore for one, ready to forego his share to his Alsjesty's generous be quest. Besides, the House should not forget the desecra tion, if be might say so, to which these apartments might be converted after having been so long the abode of this valuable stock of literature. These rooms would, of course, be appropriated to purposes of state ceremony, and it tea; rather humiliating to think that the refection of the mind should be preferred to the medicine of the mind The octagon was certainly intended for a chapel origi nally, but the use to which it was subsequently put was scarcely less holy. In future, however, we might ex pect to see the work of Omar revived, d that any stray pamphlet, or book which was found arraying about, would be applied to heat a stove or warm a bath, as was the fate of valuable books before now at Constantinople. But before coming to discuss the expediency or inexpe diency of sending this library to the Museum, it might •be well to ask whether or not the King had a right to dispose of it. He (Mr. II.) w ould contend, that unless his Majesty could, by law, sell the books, he could not give them away to the public. Blackstone had described an heir-loom of the Crown to be that " which was necessary to the support of the state and dignity of the Crown." — This library appeared to he necessary for that purpose, and therefore, as the King could not sell the library, so he could not dispose of it. • Mr. BANKES.—He could sell them. Mr. HOBHOUSE said he was still disposed to hold a different opinion. The le.a King had made no will, there was nothing to manifest his intentions in this respect ; in deed, the presumption was that his Majesty intended the library should be stationary at some of the Royal palaces. His Majesty. had before given to the British Museum some valuable manuscripts, and if he intended to bestow these books, he would have done so at the time. His not giving them was a presumption, that he did not intend they should be given. But a mode might be suggested, by which the present King's wish to give the library to the public, could be reconciled to the late King's wish to make it an appurtenance to one of the Royal Palaces. If it would not be unreasonable to ask his Majesty to add another favour to the one which he had already granted, and to leave Buckingham-house for this library to the public. The other uses to which that building would be concerted *ere not very important, as with the exception of one or two drawing-rooms which were held there during the year, he could see no other great need of it. The si uation would be at once desirable, and the late King's intentions would be totalled. But he would ask what had Westminster done, that this library should not be left I there. He knew of no fault it had committed, except in the choice which it had made of its representatives. — (Laughing.) Why should that which was called the Court-end of the town be left without a library, and all hurried to Great Russell-street? The only reason assigned for the transfer was, that - a collection of works, tree Henry the Seventh down to •George the Second, had been transferred by that Monarch to the British Museum.— But these works, by being confounded with other books, had lost all their value. These books would shuts the same fate, for they would be only left in boxes, probably put about when in the way .of the work men. The British Museum was already Incapable of containing Sir Joseph Bankes's Library, which was now waiting to be put into it, and it would seem that the way in which the inconvenience was to be reme died, was by stowing in more books. The greatest ob jections to the plan, however, arose from the number of duplicates. Out of 65,000 volumes, 21,000 were said to be duplicates ; but he contended that there were 29,000. He thought it preposterous that a library should be added at a great expense, containing as It did so many duplicates. But it was said that dnt of the superfluities of this, and that of the Museum, a third library might be made out and completed at an expense of 6,000 or 9,00/. He had no doubt, however, that this new libra ry would be also eventually transferred to the British Museum. The Report stated that there were only 12,000 duplirates,inasmuch as those which were of differ ent editions were not accounted duplicates ; but he (Mr. H.), was of opinion that the number was under rated. But if there was an. objection to give tip Buck ingham House, the Banyietting loose, at Whitehall, might be fitted up for the purpose. He had ascertained that its dimensions were extensive enough for containing all the books, and it might be fitted np for about 5,11001. —(Hear, hear, hear.) Its situation, contiguous to the public Offices, the Law Courts, and both Houses of Par- Dement, was most convenient ; and it was,.besi les, part of a Royal Palace, which woud obviate all scruples on that head. He was aware that the soldiers in the metro polis were there marched to Divine Service, but another place might be made out for that purpose, and it would be no desecration of the building to apply it to this use ; for, in tact, this chapel had never been consecrated. I t was unnecessary :o speak of its architecture, for it Oras, in fact, one of the greatest ornaments of the metropolis. Another convenient situation would be the King's M• w 4, where there was space enough for raising *proper strac tare at the same expense that the contemplated one would cost. It would be finite as Constitutional an use to make of these buildings as to make them barracks for soldiers. Besides, it was an important consideration to provide a place of safety for the Records of the Kingdom, which were now spread over twelve different depositories. Some s.f the most valuable portions of Constitutional history Mere thus left to chance, and in Doctors'-Commons some Tecords were deposited close to a sugar baker's, and ex posed to all the consequences of any accident by fire, might arise on these preMises.. If a building was raised at the King's Mews, accommodation might be provided for those Records. For all these reasons, therefore, the Hon. Gentleman hoped his Majesty's Ministers would reconsider this case, before they called upon the House for this vo'e. Sir CHARLES LONG thought the greatest possible advantage would arise from having his Majesty's gift connected with another great public library, width con sisted of 150,000 volumes. The Paris library consisted of 450,000 volumes, so that ours was a small library compared with those on the Continent; and it did not partake of the character of a general library. But the King's library . was complete, and would supply the defi- I ciency of that in the British Museum, particularly with regard to biography. The greatest advantages then would arise Irons having those two libraries under one roof. It was intended to keep this library separate and distinct from the other books in the British Museum, there to be designated as the gift of George IV., without ever adding to or taking away from it. He believed were his late Majesty now living, it would be his wish to have this library in the British Museum. It was said that the library in the British Museum would be out of the way; but a public library might be too much in the way ; it-might be made a place of public lounge, and in his opinion, a retired place was the best for a public library. If the Chapel at Whitehall were to be applied to the purpose, It would be necessary to build another Chapel in the garden of Whitehall. Therefore there would be an increase instead of a saving of expence. Ile was sure that, by the proposed plan, the intentions of his present Majesty would be best carried into effect. Sir J. MACINTOSH said the British Museum was a building whit h must be entirely rebuilt. It was not on the score of expence that his Hon. Friend objected to that place. For his own part, be would not recommend the placing of the library in a Palace. With respect to the legal part of the question, and the right of the King to give away the library, it was quite clear that the King was the manager of it, and had the power of placing it in such a situation as would be most condu cive to the instruction of his subjects. It was his opi nion that a great national library should be kept toge ther in one place, not so much for the use of the general readers as for the accommodation of studious persons, who should have occasion to make references to several books at one and the same time. Ile did not see any force in the argument of his Honourable Friend that all the books might be destroyed by one accident. That was an argument for the architect ; for it would be ne cessary, at some future time, to pull down the British Museum, and erect a building that would be for ever incombustible. The library at Paris was twice grester than that of the British Museum, and was this great lettered nation to be without a great public library, cor responding to its situation iu the world ? IVe had long rivalled France in almost every thing, and surely we should try to equal her in a great national establishment like this. He had an insuperable objection to a separate library; to found a library without a constant endowment would be nothing, and he was sorry to say that Parlia ment had stinted and starved the establishment of the British Museum, by the smallness of the sums voted for keeping up the necessary . stock of literature. The Hon. Member for the University of Oxford had stated before a Committee of that House, that it would require 5001. a year to keep up the stock of a private library, while only 3001. a year was allowed to the British Museum. He hoped then that the House would in (more be more generous to this great establishment. He lamented the determination of the Committee to rebuild this edifice on the present site: that building was to contain a national library, and be a depository for works of art. A library ought to be as secluded as •possible, while works of art ought to be open to the inspection of all, even of the idle. For the latter object, he thought Great Russell street the worst place that could be selected. He thought such an establishment ought not only to be distinguished for its architectural splendour, but also to be in the most conspicuous situation. London was the greatest, and at the same time the least magnificent ca. pital in the world. Its great monuments of art did not strike the eye of strangers, and bore no proportion to the wealth and population of the, kingdom. It would, be found that private patronage, so far from being ser viceable to the arts, absolutely corrupted them. In this country, where the art of painting was patronized, not by the Government, but by private individuals, that art was degraded. To be sure, a Reynolds and a Lawrence, in condescending to follow the branch of portrait paint ing, might exhibit those traits of genius which it was to be lamented were not applied to higher subjects; yet, in thus applying themselves, they might be considered, as exiles from that pursuit to which the dire' Este of their minds urged them. Architecture could never flourish in this or any country, except by the patronage of the State. It was peculiarly a political art, as it were, which could only exist by the encouragement of the Government. Ile did not know whether his fancy was too aspiring, but he was daring enough to hope that his Majesty would add to his munificent gift by a grant of site for a Royal library between Hyde Park Corner and Buckingham-House. Mr. LENNARD concurred entirely with the Report. Mr. R. COLBORNE said lie concurred also in the Report; but be viewed with particular satisfaction that part of it which recommended the erection of a uniform building. He was also delighted to find that when that building was begun, the foundation stone of a national gallery of pictures would be laid. This was the only country which did not contain such an institution. Mr. CROKER must say that he could never agree in any proposition for erecting a national gallery in such a place as the British Museum. He owned he was union. fur one library only, but he was also anxious that afi and proper place should be chosen, wortbv of being a re ce peaele of so splendid a collection of boas. Be wont :rase the choke, however, of a site to those persons who would he, from their situations, responsible for the state of the arts. Hs would state to the Committee why hs was indisposed to place any confidence in the persons who had the superintendence of the British Museum He begged to state, that he entertained the greatest re spect for the private ch mutters of those gentlemen. The Hou. Member, after noticing the origin of the British Museum, said, that with the exception of an old house in Chancerydane, once inhabited by the celebrated Isaac Walton, there was not . in the metropolis a more com bustible edifice than the British Museum. No in• surance office in the county wottld be bold mush • to insure it from fire at arty inducement. Vet under the roof of that urinous building were lodged the most magnificent and most valuable collection of ma. nosmipts which this country could boast of. Any ' o y who visited the British Museum, and surveyed It: co"- • struction, would no doubt be remi tide I of the savinie of Lord Ness's under very auxioos circumstance:. H s Lordship landed at Copenhagen at the moment of a ye 'yr heavy engagement, for the purpose of effectino a.l maids. tier. On being shown up s'Airs its a Insti.e in l ie ci lie turned about to Captain Bury, who accompanied and said, significantly, " Berry, tlisse stairs will hum ' He who set foot in the British Museum, must likewi e • say to himself when lie came to the stairs, " these stairs will burn." However (multipart! the lion. Seete'ars), they do at last set about building an incombsstible wino ti the Museum. But what do you think they put tuts t —the valuable manuscripts? No; they Must be ma - bles.—(A laugh) Su that it was .atisfactory to knaw that whatever dangers attended the r utographs of Eliz beth, of Janes, of Bacon, of Clarendon, t Iraq we co..'d be cretain that the Townly Venus was in security.— (1 a ighter.) But this was not all. resting. as these Gentlemen did, that the pros trvation of the Townlv Ve nus was of all importance, they build a sort of a thing not unlike the shape of the Speaker's chair, which they, in their scientific language, denominate, I believe, a ves• tibule. but which, I am sure, people of oithisiry capaci tes will call—a closet.--(Lasgliter.) But, usfortunatsly. this closet is not spacious enough, and what do they do ? They build another—(a laugh)—and deposit there a piping faun. The second closet is found too sultan, and to mend matters, they build another. I very much fear, however, that after all, this is but a fair specimen of our national has e. 1 remember in an old satirical poem, in tended to exhibit our notions of luxury and refitted liv ing, the author thus procetds— " So when some cit his dull invention racks, To rival Boodle's dinners, or Almaek's"— (for Gentlemen should remark, that in those days people dined at Almaels's) "Three smoking legs of mutton str:k t your eyes. Three smokiug geese—ll ree buttered aside pies." (A laugh.) So that the gentleinen of the Museum fur nished us with their receipt fur magnificence in three closets—three closets—three closets.—(A laugh.) But this being their idea of magnificence, where do you think they got their taste. All mankind would think of Greece or Route. The Museum people have recourse to Egypt.—(Laughter.) Inspired by the work of Ilerodo tus, they erase not until they hare at length obtained the head of Memnon. But, alas! the head of Memnon is too large for the three clo:ets.—(Laugliter.) Well, they build a cube—asd they cube a cube until they base a double cube in succession after the clo-ets.—(Laughter ) Here, then, between closets and cubes, the student has exhibited to him, in regular series, a course of niatbes maties—first a square—next a parallelogram —then au octagon—and, lastly, a cube.—(Laughter.) Now 3lens non, as I said before, being too large for the closets of the cube, the Gentlemen of the Museum raise the roof for the esi ecial purpose of accommodating it. They then build a gallery, which, lest it might be convenient for its length and width, they must divide into compartments. In short, you are surprised at seeing one part until you come to inspect the other— Each seem quite monstrous till his fellow comes To match it. The effect was too ludicrous, the total absence of taste and arragement too striking in every apartment — Room nods to room, each fault reflects his brother, And half the blunder just looks out in to'othere (Loud laughter.)-1 think, Sir, said the Honourable Gentleman, that a great doubt should be entertained of the architect in the employment of these Gentlemen. if there bc any of these Gestlemsn olio are of opinion that this Pill-box style of architecture should be continued, it is an additional reason why yon should rot leave this property under their controul. These are my reasons for not placing any confidence in the Gentlemen of the Bri tish Museum. 'The Honourable Member suggested that there should he omitted in the Bill the mention of the place. Mr. BANKES said tLat the Hon. Gent. had not been very scrupulous in his statement of facts. It must have been a long time since the Hon. Gentleman visited the Museum, for his description of that building did not at all answer to its actual state. Now, the staircase to which the lion. Gentle_ man applied the anecdote of Lord Nelson to Captain Berry, happened to be of atone instead of wood, seas extremely handsome, and of singular architecture, being supported on half an arch. With regard to the site of the library, he thought it ought be central, and he therefore disapproted of Whitehall and the Green park. One was too nenr the river, and the other was at the extreme end of the town. If the lion. Gentleman thought the present site of the library in Great Russell-street was not central, it was rather strange that no less than 2,000 persons now sisited it in one day. He would have no objection to consent to the proposed change in the hours of sisiting the library. The lion. Gen tleman said the library was combustible; but the regula tions against tire were so good; that there was not the slight est danger. On the whole, he thought a better site could not selected. Ile wished the librar es should be on ted, though not mixed, because In a great capital like London, there should he one national library Its complete as possible. Sir C. LONG, as Chairman of the Committee, defended its conduct, and said his Hon. Friend must have been misin formed upon what occured in it. Mr. CROKER, in explanntion, disclaimed the intention of any personal attack on the lion. Member for Curie Cestie, Mr. GE BENNET said that, whatever difference existed as to tastes, he hoped the plan of the library would not be left to those architects who built the palace at Brighton--a building which was entirely out of character with the taste of the age. Who could look at the white-washed walis et the House of Lords. and think of leaving the plan of any national building to Government? Ile could also instance the Courts of Law, which were so small, that none could sit there but those who wore black gloves ; and the glass edi fices in that street called Regent street. As in Paris, we should have more than one library. There should be s li brary for Members of Parliament and what was called the Court end of the town. He would recommend that the du plicates should be purchased, and a library made of them It this end of the town. Mr. HENRY GURNEY said he cordially concurred io the vote. Mr. MABERLY said, if the money was left at the disposal of the trustees, he did not think a building wousl be erected of that kind which would do credit to the nation. Mr. HOBBOUSE said he consented to withdraw the amendment, and would cote for the proposition of the Hoy. Member opposite. Mr. W ILBERFORCE said he hoped there would be now no difference of opinion on the grant, and that more use might be allowed for the consideration of the plan. Mr. CItOKER then moved as an amendment, "That a sum, not exceeding 40,0001. be granted towards deflyie! the expences of erecting a suitable building fora national library, to he the depository of his Majesty's donation. Mr. HUNIE said be thought the proposition of the Boa. Member for Abingdon was the best ; a n ew building shoold be erected, or the money would.be wasted. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER ezPlailled* I , l