The Express.
London, England, 1863-02-24 00:00:00

PETITIONS PROISNTMI

Lord FEVERSHAM pigmented several matins from the
eguaty of York praying that public-hooves might be ordered
to be closed between the hour■ of eleven o'clock on Satur-
day misfits mai six o'clock on Monday mornings.

OOKRFAFON DERCK BETWEEN MR. MASON AM)
HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT.
Lord STRATHEDEN, who had given notice that he
would move foe copies of all despatches or letters from the
hoe. Mr. Mastic to her Majesty's government on the
claim of the Southern Confederacy to be acknowledged
as an independent power by Great Britain, said
he bad received a letter from the noble earl the Secretary
for Foreign Affairs to the effect that he would not be aide
to attend in hia place that evening, and requesting him
(Lord Stratbedeo) to postpone the motion of which be bad
green notice. In accordance with that request he begged
leave to postpone the motion until Monday, the 9th of
March.

THE IMPROVEMENT OF GARDENS IN TOWNS

BILL.

_ .
On the motion of Lord RIDZSDALE this bill. which was
stated to 1.0 the same that received the sanction of their
lcrdshire last session, was read s first time•
THE Id_ETROPOLITAN RAILWAYS.—FINSBURY

CIRCUS.

Lord REDESDALE presented a petition from persons
connected with the Roman Catholic Chapel, in Moodields,
and the schools in the neighbourhood, praying, that Ras-
bury-square might not be allowed to be turned into a sta-
tion for the Great Eastern Railway. The noble lord said
that although the parties bad not prayed to be beard by
counsel against the bill, yet, as the matter was one of vsy
gave iniportance, be would move that they be allowed
that privilege.
The Earl of DERBY said he had several petitions against
the scheme of the same railway company, and which he
thought deserved the serious attention of bar Majesty's go-
vernment and of their lordships. The bill referred to pro-
posW to take for a central terminus in London the whole of
Finsbury-circus. The petitions which be maid present
were from the owners, lessees, and occupiers of the pro-
perty in the circus—the owners and occupiers of the wo-
rdy io the neighbourhood—from a Mr. Jackson, a reddest
in the oeighbourhood, and from the Loudon Institution
for the Advancement of Literature and Useful Know-
ledge. He would venture to mggest to the govern.
ment that there should be an alteration in their
lordahips standing orders, and be earnestly hoped that
the Board of Trade would be called upon for a special
report —not merely as to the merits of the ahem—
tut as it regarded the outwork of the railways projected, and
as to their eonvenieme for the public. (ilm, beer.)
Be would oleo ask whether it would not be Isis-
'Role to group the railways which were 00111/etPd,
and seed them before the same committee, so that they
right be able to form a sound judgment on the whole
scheme. He confessed he felt spry strongly spinet the
scheme of the Great Eastern Termini", and on the is;oe
of taking possession of Finsbury-circus under the cuenm-
steam which he had narrated, and also inclined to ask their
lordships to reject the bill on the second reading. He had
not heard a word in favour of the bill, but on the other
land he bad been overwhelmed with applications from
_ .

parties who would be great sufferers if it were phased into
law. He thought the least that their loidahipa ought to do
would be to postpone the secure for the period of ten
days, is order so suable the Board of Trade to fully ounaider
the lustier, and to make a report to that house. (Hear.)
Earl ORA NVILLII said it was no doubt true that, if the
bill received the approval of parliament and was carried
out, a number of persona would be inconvenienced; bat
their case was similar to that of all persona from whom
private property was taken for such a work. With respect
to the standing order of the Hones of Commas, by which
the Belropelitau Board of Works obtained a locus standi
Were a ementittee of that Maas, on the part of the public,
be would be glad to seem& a standing order adopted hero.
It would be attended with great *threatens if the dell
'ram of the two houses were oompletely 11111iMal
(Hear, hear.) With respect to the present bill, be did hot
think their lordships would at that stage be disposed to
reject it. The sable earl opposite admitted that he had
mot heard the arguments is favour of it, and the promoter,
of the bill were *stilled to have it considered. He
agreed with the noble earl that it would be desirable to
have • report suck as that which be suggested from the
Board of Trade. It would be unfair to the promoters, and
possibly to the public, who might derive peat advantage
from the line, to reject the bill, but on the other heed, be
would not object to the second reading being postponed for
• short time to admit of farther inquiry. (Hear, hear.)
Earl GREY concurred with the noble earl that it would
be more satisfactory to postpone the second reading than
summarily to come to a conclusion adverse to the bill.
Lord REDESDALE said be had more than 01108 urged
upon their lordships the importance of constructing an
efficient railway board. It was impossible that the enormous
expense &them:Ting the prosecution of railway bills could be
reduced, or the interests of the oompanies or of the public
adequately protected, without the existence of some such
tribunal.

The Earl of HARDWICK E approved of the construction
of underground always, ma they did sot interfere with the
traffic which crowded the streets. The Metiepedifien Rail-
way was, he coosidared, owe at the least that was ever
formed ; they had both the braid and IaITO, gauge, and
excellent stations, and the hoe being ensued in from the
effects of the climate, was likely to he very durable. In his
opinion parliament ought to lutist that all railways in the
metropolis should be ooristructisl usdargroand. (Laughter.)
The questions raised during this discussion were of the
utmost importance, and be trusted that such measures
would be adopted as would secure that a fixed polity in
the disposal of railway business would be pursued. lb did
sot, however, agree with the suggestion that had bees
thrown out at to the construction of a new rail way tribunal,
as it would create the necessity for a court sad a alit of
offieialt Re did sot see why railway business should not
be referred to a branch of the Board of Trade, under
the imuisiiiits *bergs aid diuretics of the board Heed.
Lord RRDESDALE said that as these lines must inter-
fere with lines of drainage and other matters they ought to
be made upon a general plan and system, and not upon such
*mud schemes as might be proposed from time to time.

The Earl of DiRBT mid that though he bed • eirong
opirion on the subject, he eras not disposed to pone the
question, but would cement to postoose the consideration of
the mooed reading of the bill for a fortnight, and is the
mean time the government might obtain from
the Board of Trade a report which would enable
them to form a definite opinion upon the
merits of the milk The Board of Trade a =skim
their report, might consider the subject in 000611i00 with
the general scheme for the metropolis. Perhaps during the
fortsight they might be able to devise some tribunal which
would act as a check on the variety of project,, and inter-
pose their deliberate lodgment between the different per-
tier, thereby giving a more effective guidance and assistance
to parliament than they could now get. Perhapi by xt
meson of parliament the government would be able to
arrive ate decision as to the possibility of creating inch •
tribunal

The second reeding of the bill woo then postponed for •
fortnight. . .

lihottas adjovamad at a quarter-part mix.

BOJSE OF COMMONS. -MONDAY, Fn. 23.
The Sexam took the chair at tow o'clock.
Several private bills were admired a siste.
NEW UMBR.

Mr. J. A. SMITH took the oaths and his seat u number
for Chichester.

-14B8ONAL KRPLANATION.

Lord C. PAGET—I have to apologise to the house for
alluding to a matter personal to myself, and I will do so
in a very few words. I have likewise to apologies for having
spokes with regard to this affair on Friday night, when the
noble lad to whom lam about to allude was absent. I was
informed oa Friday feet by several gentlemen whom I met
in the street, that a very personal attack had been made on
my nubile character by the noble lord the member for Hun-
tiogdon (Lord B. Montagu). I went home and read the
paragraph in the. paper, and it certainly appeared
to me to require ruin, answer. Them was
not only an attack upon the lord lieutenant of the county,
but an attack upon me in my public capacity as Secretary to
the Admiralty. I thought it my dot... at the request of
the lord lieutenant, to come downs to the house at four
o'clock on Friday. Unfortunately the noble lord was not in
his plum bat I thought it my duty to deny altogether the
stater:pante the noble lord had made with refereoce to the
appointmeat of Mr. Badding to • captaincy of volunteers.
Therefore I will my no more about that sow. But on the
mme °endow. lam given to understand that the noble
lord impreseed to the home that I, as holding au important
official appointmest, had on more then one occasion attended
political mistime at Chatham, with a view to induce the
electors of Chatham to vote fora brother-M.lm, of mine,
Mr. Otway. I was informed by several gentlemen
that that was the tone and Mixer of the noble lord's
observations. If that is not so I shall be extremely glad to
hear it. I eras also informed that upon an occasion on which
I went to Chatham the noble lord had alluded to the fact
of my having taken a special Main to go down to Chatham,
hinting at the same time that I had charged that special train
to the government account. I will state in a very few
words what did take place. Is the month (I think)) of No-
vember last I was invited by the high constable of Chatham
to meet • large party of naval and military officers,
amongst whom was my gallant friend the member for Chat-
ham (Sir F. Smith). I took a return ticket and went down
to Chatham, and attended the dinner—and a very good
dinner it was. (Laughter.) It fell to my lot, se being the
senior naval officer present, to return thetas for the
navy. In doing so I expatiated upon the agreeable nature
of the company. remarking that there no politics happily
had been introduced or were to be introduced, aed I like-
wise congratulated them spew the feet that ease day or
other Chatham would he the fineet arsenal is the world.
That was the whole of the speech. My gallant friend the
member for Chatham returned thanks on that oeca.
Mon for the army, and did me the honour to pay roe a
much higher oompliment than I deserve. The evening
wore on, and that part of the company that had to re.
turn to Inn-ion were about to return by the latest train,
when this worthy and magnideeot mayor informed tie that
• special train was at our disposal, and we took advantage'
oft he cam. I west down with Sir H. D. Wolf, Mr. Ohm ,