The Press.
London, England, 1857-07-04 00:00:00

PUBLIC OFFICES.

Mr. HOPE called attention to the award of the
judges of the competition for the Public Offices, and
embraced the opportunity thus offered to develop at
considerable length his views in regard to the loca-
tion of the offices and their combination in one
design, with certain improvements, including the

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throwing of the Thames open to the park. If,
however, these offices were built where the Govern
went proposed, they would " cut off everything from
everything for ever" :

The Parks would never reach the waterside, the new
National Gallery would be intercepted from the Houses of
Parliament, the public offices would be crowded in, and
the proposed quay of the Thames would be deprived of
what would be its noblest embellishment. Hon. members
should remember that this was an opportunity which, once
neglected, would never again present itself. It was a
question of di> architectural future of London—whether
our parks should be made the marvel of the world, the
most magnificent specimens of landscape gardening ever
known, or whether they should remain patchy and blotchy,
cut off from the noble river which on one side might
bound them. Cul bono ? Why such a sacrifice? Merely
to carry out a crude plan too hastily determined upon. A
little consideration, a little pause, and he was satisfied

that all the good results naturally to be anticipated by the
competition—which was a noble idea in itself—might be
realised.

Sir B. HALL stated that the judges had been
unanimous in tl eir award, and that he proposed not
to come to any conclusion respecting the three
selected designs until the public had an opportunity
of looking at them. He quite agreed with Mr.
Hope that if his plans were carried out we should
obtain one of the finest 'kites in Europe; but the cost
would add a million and a half to the present
estimates. During the recess the approved plans for
a new War and Foreign Office would be carefully
revised and elaborated as to their details, and the
completed designs laid before the house early next
session.

A conversation ensued, in which various topics in
connection with the subject were touched upon—
including Westminster-bridge, the state of the
Thames, the intolerable stench of which Mr.
MANGLES represented as seriously affecting the
health or steamboat passengers, and the un,ightly
buildings on the Surrey side of the river. Lord
ELCHO recommended the Government to buy them
up, believing that, when the new bridge was built,
it would prove a good speculation, to which Sir B.
HALL replied that he should be very glad to know
" where the purchase money was to come from."

The hou,:e then went into committee of supply on
the Civil Service Estimates.

Lord JOHN RUSSELL, after a brief explanatory
statements moved the vote of 40,400/. for the British
Museum.

The vote was agreed to, as were some following
votes, after a miscellaneous discussion, which chiefly
occupied the remainder of the night's sitting.
The vote for the Nstional Gallery underwent con-
siderable criticism, Mr. COSI:WHAM attacking the
conduct of Sir C. Eastlake, and Lard ELCHO giving
some curious details respecting the purchase of
pictures for the gallery, with special reference to the
Pisani Paul Veronese, for which the enormous sum
of 13,0001. had been given :

It appeared that a great portion of the sum paid for this
picture went in payments to different persons in the
service of Count Pisani, in order to induce that nobleman
to sell the picture. Sa careful were the purchasers to
overlook no one, that gratuities to the chambermaid and
to the cook were in the list. Str C. Eats'lake, in reference
to this picture, stated that it was said that when the
master gave it to the ancestor of the present owner, he
stated that he had given him a fortune. He little thought
how truly he spoke. In truth, however, the fortune came
not from the painter, but from the British nation.
While upon the subject of this picture, he would mention
that he had been informed that the count had another
copy of this very picture at a villa cf his, the Villa d'Este,
of the existence of which he had been unaware until the
transaction was completed. Whether that picture at the
villa was the original, and our purchase a copy, he was not
aware.

Two divisions were taken. One on a motion by
Lord ELCHO reducing the grant to the same amount
as last year, which was negatived by a majority of
194 to 80-105. The se,:ond amendment, retrench-
ing 2501. from the secretary's salary, and 350/.
charged as expenses of the travelling agent, was
also negatived by 161 to 123-38.
Several votes having been agreed to, the Chair-
man was ordered to report progress.
The Attorneys and Solicitors (Colonial Courts)
Bill, the Summary Proceedings before Justices of the
Peace Bill, and the Municipal Corporations Bill were
r, ad a second time.

The Constabulary Force (Ireland) Bill passed
through committee.
Other bills were forwarded a stage.
On the motion of Mr. LABOUCHERE, a select com-
mittee was appointed to inquire into the expedi-
ency of guaranteeing by Act of Parliament the
liquidation of a loan to be contracted in pursuance
of an act passed by the Legislature of New Zealand,
for defraying the debt of the colony to the New Zea-
land company, towards extinguishing the native title
to lands in certain portions of the colony, and for
other purposes.
The house adjourned at a few minutes befora one