The Express.
London, England, 1862-07-04 00:00:00

HIGHWAYS BILL.

Their lordships went into committee on this bill.
Clauses 1 to 4 were agreed to.
On clause 5,
The Earl of CARNARVON moved the omission of that
part of the .ilause which rendered the wont of the Secre-
tary of State a necessary preliminary to the formation of
a district under the act.

of ILDIREST and the Duke of NEWCARTLI
supported the clause, but ultimately, after a oonvereation in
which the Marquis of Salisbury, Lord Egerton. Earl Grey,
Lord Lyveden, the Earl of lineebury, the Duke of Rich-
mond, and other noble lords took part, the government gave
way, and consented to the amendment, and the clause as
amended was agreed to.
The different clauses were agreed to, after some discus-
dos, and the house resumed.

The 81;1hur;t Vesting and the Portadown Discontinu-
a•ee Fair Bills pared through committee.
The Unlawful Oaths (Ireland) Bill wee read a third time
and passed.
SALE OF SPIRITS BILL.
This bill was rend a second time.
GAME LAWS AMENDMENT (No. 2) BILL.
Laid BERNER% in movie( the second reading of this
said he had received communications from places in
Norfolk, Suffolk, Cumberland, and other counties, express-
ing gratification at the introduction of a measure of this
description for remedying the evils of night poaching, which
had become unbearable. He stated that the bill had been
altered in accordance with the suggestion of the noble and
learned lord on the woolsack, and that the principal clause,
which was almost identical with one in the Metropolitan
Police Act, empowered constables between sunset and
eight in the morning to apprehend and search persons
suspected of having io their possession game which had
►een unlawfully obtained, or guns, nets, and other instru-
ments for the purpose of poaching, and to take them before
• justice of the penes, who should have power, upon con-
etetioo, of subjecting them to a penalty of 54
Earl GRANVILLE said that, without pledging himself to
any part of the bill, he would nut oppose the second
reading, but on the understanding that it should be referred
to &select committee who should carefully consider its pro-
visions.

After a few words from Lord Polwarth, the Berl of
Stradbroke, and Lord Envensworth, the bill was read a
second time.

GARDENS IN TOWNS PROTECTION BILL.
This bill was reported with smoothnost&
LUNACY (SCOTLAND) BILL.
. .

. .
This bill paned through committee.
CONSOLIDATED FUND (E 10,000,000) Brix.
This bill pored through committee.

COURTS OF THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND BILL.
The house went into committee on this bill.
The Discharged Prisoners Aid Bill, with amendments,
was reed a third time and pared.
Their lordships adjourned at 10 minutes past 8.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—THURLIDAY, JULY 3.
PABOCHI&L ASSEMMENT BILL.
After our report left yesterday,
The house divided :

For going into committee 94
Against
The house accordingly vent into committee oa the bill,
Yr. !groats in the chair.

On clause 1,
On the motion of Mr. VILLIISB, a provision was added
to the effect that the act be termed "The Union Awes-
went Committee Act, 1862."
The clause as amended was agreed to.
On clause 2,
Mr. THOMPSON moved an amendment to the effect
that instead of one-third of the committee of asseesment
consisting of ex.ofliciogitardiana, as,proposed, the proportion
should be left to the decision of the several boards of
gwirdians.
The ►mendment was, after some discussion, negatived
without a division, and the clause was ordered to stand part
of the Lill.

Clauses 3 to 5 inclusive were agreed to.
Oo clause 6, ao amendment moved by Mr. A. TUNNY.", to
the effect that in all municipal boroughs the corporate body
should have the appointment of the committee of assess-
went, was negatived w.ithout a division.

The clause -was speed to, and at tea minutes to 4 o'clock
the sitting was easpeaded.
The Louse requeernbled ►t six o'clock.
THE CIVIL WAR IN CHINA.
.. —...--

Mr. WHITE gave notice that on the Bth July be would
move :—" That in the opinion of this house her Majesty's
ministers ought to give instructions to the commanders of
our naval and military forces in: China to avoid any inter-
vention in reference to the civil war in China, except for the
protection of British interests in that country."

ROMAN CATHOLIC INSPECTORS OF SCHOOLS.
Mr. HALIBURTON salted the Vice-President of the
Committee of Council on Educatioa whether it was true
that one or more Roman catholic inspectors of schools fur-
nished the priest superintending Roman catholic schools
with the examination papers previously to the examination
at such schools ; and, if so, what steps had been taken by
the govertmeot with respect to such inspector or inspectors?
Mr. LOWE said he was sorry to say that a charge was
some time ago made against an inspector of having given
copies of the examination papers to a priest. The charge
was investigated, and the inspector immediately relived.

- -
THE SLOOP ENTERPRISE AT DEPTFORD.
Mr. C. BERKELEY asked the Secretary to the Admi-
ralty if there was any objection to giving further informa-
tion relative to the alterations published in the Navy List,
with regard to the sloop Enterprise, budding at Deptford.
Was she to be wholly cased with iron platen of an uniform
thickness; and, if so, how thick would those plates be?
Was she intended for sea-going purporiee, or for harbour
service only? Was the stated increase of her tonnage caused
by adding to her length or to her breadth? When would
she be launched, ►nd how soon afterwards would she be
ready for trial? What would her armament be, and would
ler guns be protected by the cupola? In the event of the
experiment being sucze,idul, bow many sloops or corvettes
were there which could be converted in a similar manner?
Lord C. PAOET said the vessel was originally called
the Cimmerian. The Admiralty thought Enterprise a
better name, but the alteration of name was not because the
vessel was salaried or proposed to be enlarged. The En-
terprise was to be partially iron-plated, and would be a
sea-going ship. Aa to the other details be could not give
them at present.
WORKS ON THE SERPENTINE.

Mr. LEWIS asked the Chief Commissioner of Works
when the work. in Kensiogton-gardens, at the head of the
Serpentine. would be completed.
Mr. COWPER said an unexpected delay bad arisen in
reference, to the sinking of the well at the bead of the
Serpentine. He hoped the well would soon be in order, and
that the water in it would be available.
THE THAMES EMBANKMENT BILL.

In the evening. before the business upon the paper com-
menced, a diacumion arose, in which Sir J. SHELLEY made
a statement, the effect of which was that a resolution of
the Thames Embankment committee had been taken away
by the chairman, instead of being left with the committee
*lark, and altered in its terms. This charge was mot
by Mr. COWPER with an explanation, in which,
with some warmth, he accused Sir J. Shelley
et giving an erroneous colouring to the facts. After
the resolution had been drawn up there was a short discus-
sion in the committee as to whether it would not be right to
limit the reference from the works of the whole embank-
ment to the works of that particular portion of it about which
there was a dispute, and be remembered saying to two
memhe:a of the committee at least, " You do
not want the correspondence as to the whole of the
embankment, but only as to that portico of it
between Fife-house, or Whitehallatairs, and Wedmiester-
bridge." Some of the rnernben agreed with him, and said.
" Yes, put in Whitehallatairs, or Fife-hones, and West-
rainster-bridge." He could not my whether the whole was
produced or not, but the committee agreed with him that
the resolution should be so altered, and not knowing the
character—not knowing what the bon. barooet would do,
he was rash enough to write the alteration with his own
band—(bear, hear)—though bad he known them m much as
he knew now, he would have taken are to leave the bon.
baronet to make the alteration himself, and then ha would
sot have been open to this false accusation. (" Oh, ob."
and " Order.") He did not mean anything uncivil. (Load
laughter.) All he wished to !ay was, that the
atatemeet of the bon. member for Westminster was sot
founded in fact and sot correct. (" Hear, hear," cheers,
and laughter.)

Lord IL MONTAGU remembered that the right hem
gentleman did suggest the alteration be described after the
resolution .as posed, and that the committee assented to
it. (Hear, bear.)
Lord H. VANE also recollected the circumstance.
The subject then dropped.
-

On the motion for going into committee,
Sir W. JOLLIFFIC also spoke to having heard the conver-
sance about the alteration of the resolution, and defended
the course taken by the committee, who, he said, had been
most unjustly assailed by the Tines.
Mr. DOULTON thought it must be • matter of great
regret that the question of a Thames embankment, which
was purely. a public question should have been invested with
consideration@ of so purely personal • character as to
prevent the house givmg to it that calm deliberation which
Its importance Perhaps, in these days, when
there were rival professors of economy on both sides of the
house, the committee might have come to their decision
upon economical grounds, but the embankment which
they recommended to Westminster, though only a footway,
was to be 80 feet wide, and such a footway would be
scarcely less expensive than a roadway. (Hear, hear.) It
was said that the crown lessees would pay the expense, but
there was nothing of the kind in the bell, and he trusted
that the house would not coolant to give up the land to the
lessees on their paying merely • rental for it. What did
Mr. Pennethorne say when he expresecd an opinion in
favour of his own plan—" Provided always that you widen
Parliament-street so se to admit the traffic brought from
the eastward." And when that patleman was asked the
expense, he replied that it might be 200,0001., but it since
appeared that the amount would be u large as 300,000/., so
that if the bill were adopted we should get • minimum of
convenience at the maximum of cost. The committee had
brought up a plan leaving both suds of the scheme referred
to them untouched. He traded the house would not
think that he desired to delay the work. The course which
he had pursued dumber, would negative any such supped.
tion. He did not make his motion for the purpose of
delay, but he must emphatically say that if the only shams-
tire before the house were • plan such as that embodied
in the bill or further delay in reference to the matter, then ;
be certainly should prefer delay rather than the adoption of
a bill which sacrificed every principle which thou bestac-
quainted with the matter thought ought to be at the basis
,of an embankment —(laughteri—and w hich would be •
perpetual memorial of those who in high places trampled
over public rights. The hon. member °occluded by moving
as an amendment "That the bill be re-committed to the
former committee; and that it be an instruction to the
committee on the bill to make provision therein for the con-
struction of • continuous line of roadway from Blackfriars
to Westminster-bridge."

Mr. KER SEYMER said he could hardly conceive it pce-
Bible that the house would agree to this ameodment. 'A hen
• committee bedsit for • month and listened to examine.
tion,cross-atainioation, and re-examination of witnessesit was
net to be expected that they would order the committee to
again upstairs to reverse their decision. However,
rrhemlit ouse should take such • course, he trusted be would
be relieved from his duties as one of the committee. The
attendance of members at the committee had been quite as
regular es if it were a private bill, the witnesses had been
examined by counsel, and although the evidence was not
taken under the obligation of an oath, the committee had
the fullest opportunity of arriving at the truth.
Lord H. VANE would venture to state that no select
committee could be formed that would have a more fixed
determination to come toe sound opinion upon this question
' than the our presided over by the right hoe. geJtleman.
He believed the decision of that committee was founded on
the evidence taken before them, and, therefore, the charge
made against the members of haring come to • decision in
blue subserviency to the Duke of Buccleuch was utterly
groundless.
Mr. TITE said tbe hon. member for Lambeth bad only
done him strict justice in saying that his opinion was un-
biassed. He knew nothing whatever of the Duke of &m-
-eiotic+, and be wished that the Thames embankment might
go on because it would be neemeary in the formation of the
great sewer. But the Victoria sewer passed along Parlia-
ment-street and Whitehall, and emptied itself at the point
where it was proposed the road-way should terminate.
(Hear, hear.) He certainly considered that it would be
better for the public convenience that the roadway Amid
stop at Whitehall. It always appeared to him there could
be no question that it would be a much better
thing to turn the traffic into Parliament-etreet, which must
be widened, than to bring it on to Westminster-bridge.
Mr. LOCKE said that it was not until the Doke of
Buccleuch's opposition came before the committee that
any objection to the thoroughfare opening at right
angles on Westminster-bridge was discovered. It was not
for him to my that any undue influence operated
with the committee ; but the public, no doubt, would put
their own construction upon the coincidence. No doubt
the motives of the members of the committee were perfectly
pure ; but then they became such strong advocates of the
duke, that the hon. baronet the member for Westminster
actually put things into the duke', mind, which the
duke never would have thought of. ("Hear,"
and a laugh.) Pot instance, the hoe. baronet
asked the Doke of Bucclench " Won't this be
very uncomfortable to you; won't it be so very dis-

agreeable to you, those cerrisges coming in front of your
house, that you will be obliged to plant trees, and thus block
out the view of that beautiful structure from the river!"
(A laugh.) If the noble duke were to plant trees there
and block out the view of the beautiful structure, he (Mr.
Locke), es one of the public, should be pleased rather than
otherwise. It was not the style of architecture he ad-
mired. (Hear, bear.) It would be well if it were
concealed, so far as our reputation with foreigners
was concerned, and so far as our own amour
propre was concerned, for it leaded, as he thought,
rather to confirm the statement which was sometimes made of
us, that we Englishmen were after all only western
Chinese, who produced nothing original, but copied the
oldest, the most wormout and abandoned styles we we'd
find. (A laugh.) With regard to Mr. Penuithorne's plan,
that was not before the committee. The poin. they bad to
decide was as to the roadway along the proposed ombank-
meet W Westminster•bridge. That no doubt would be a
peat public convenience, and therefore he said, let them
have that, whatever might hereafter be done in regard to
widening Parliament-street and the other improvemcnta
oontemplatad by that gentleman. (Hear.)

Mr. P. URQUHART, as one of the four members of
the committee who differed from the decision of the majo-
rity. expressed his regret at the personal tone which the
debate bad assumed, and at the imputations of flunkeyism
which had been cast upon those bon. gentlemen from whom
in the committee be nofortunetly differed. There was no
evidence to show that Mr. Pennithorne's plan would be
of greater advantage than the plan submitted to the com-
mittee. It would not have relieved the traffic so much as
a roadway running up to the foot of Westminster•bridge.
With regard to its coming upon the bridge at right angles,
at the Place de la Concorde in Paris, at Florence, at
Vienna, and many other continental towns, the prin-
cipal thoroughfares opened at right angles upon
bridges, yet no inconvenience resulted. As to the defence
of the right hon. member (Mr. Cowper) to the charge
brought against him by the boo. baronet the member for
Westminster, he (Mr. Urquhart) had a perfect recollection
of the conversation that occurred in the committee in re-
ference to the alteration of the resolution, and could confirm
every word the right hon. gentleman bad uttered in re-
ference to that point. (Hear, hear.)
Sir J. SHELLEY, after denouncing in bitter terms the
attacks made epos a noble duke in relation to this question,
said the committee badarrived at theildecision distinctly
upon public grounds; and, as a member of the committee,
he had never come to a conclusion which, upon mature con•
sideration, he more believed to be right, than the one
adopted in favour of the alternative line of Mr. Pennethorne.
He read portions of the evidence of the Duke of Buccleuch,
and concurred with his grace that no necessity or public
convenience called for a roadway op to Westminster-bridge.
He hoped the house would not listen to the proposition
made by Mr. Doulton.
Mr. HORSMAN observed that charges had been brought
against the Duke of Buccleuch of appearing before the com-
mittee in opposition to the public interests, and of over-
riding the committee, and the house was bound to inquire
whether these charges were true. If it turned out, as the
fact was, that they were not only untrue, but tbe very
reverse of the truth, the house should support its commit-
tee and windiest* them from the aspersions with which
they had been attacked. In reviewing the history of the pro-
, jest of an embankment, he took exception to the nomina-
tion of the royal commission of 1861, anal to the mode of
inquiry, contending that the commiisioriers had entered
upon it with a foregone conclusion. He then examined
the course taken by the government upon the
subject of the embankment, adverting to the an-
tagonism of different departments, before the ap-
pointment of the select committee upon the
and justified the conduct of the mown lessees in
the inquiry, observing that it was not true that they
had put themselves voluntarily forward. In conclusion, be
appealed to the house in what respect the Duke of Bum
clench had committed any offence against the public in.
tenets. He had used no political influence—he had
appeered before the committee, like any humble petitioner,
asking only for justice, vet a cry had been got up against
ducal influence, as if this bad been a question of public
right against aristocratic power, in order to inflame popular
prejudice and irritate the public mind ageinst a nobleman
who, he believed, was an honour and an ornament to his
country.
Mr. COWPER did not think the booze would require of
him that he should follow the right hon. gentleman into the
strain of personalities in which he had indulged. (Hear,
bear.) He declined to enter into a diectusion of the cha-
racter of the Duke of Buccleuch, for whom although he
could not follow the right bon. member in his flights of
fancy, be had the sincerest respect, and who had given his
evidence before the committee in the most open and manly
manner. Thowbole question turned upon thealternative plan.
The view of what was called the alternative road was a
mere device to draw away the committee from the point at
issue, and the device had 90 far succeeded. (Neer, bear.)
Two lines*? road were proposed as alternative reeds to the
embankment as originally projected. The 00113Milleieellell,
however, declined to consider them u an alternative, but
thought that one or other of them was worthy of acceptance
as an addition to the original scheme. The promoters of
those roads were, however, more successful before the com-
mittee, for they induced them, as be (Mr. Cowper) thought
meet erroneously, to adopt one of these projected lines as
an alternative. Now what did this alternative roans
It meant that they were to shut up the roadway is hoot
of the Duke of Bueeleuch's
mansion, and of the other crown lamas' residuals in Whitehall-gardeos, is order to concen-
trate all the Iris is Parlament-ft:NIL Now it wanted an

pest power of argument to prove that two roads were better
thanes& What would the alternative line do to diminish
the trifle ? Nothing at all. (Hear, heir.) On the con-
trary, it would bring to that fatal corner of Bridge-street a
still larger amount of traffic than at present existed. On
certain days about 2,000 carriages pinged through Parlia.
Meni•street and over Westrninster-bndge. If the embsak•
mint were made • large proportion of them would
pass along it, and thus relieve Perliamentetreet
, and the other thoroughfares in that dimities.
But if the alternative road were adopted those carriage.
would be compelled to pan along by Parliament-street as at
present, and would occasionally block up the passage near
Bridge-street. The plan of widening Parliament-street was
no doubt worthy of attention as an addition to the scheme,
but certainly not as an alternative. He did not believe
there was any essineering difficulty in continuing the Ara-
i bankment along the front of the house. of parliament. The
hoc. member for Bath was • high authority against it, but
there was • higher authority in favour of it, sod that was
the authority of common sense. (Laughter.) He had also
the authority of eminent engineers. There were before the
committee Muse courses open to take. The first was the
plan which be had proposed by his bill, viz., that the
public should have the unconditional use of the embankment
both for carriage. and footway, and that view was sup-
ported by four menthols of the committee. Another plan
was that pointed out by the kisses of the crown, viz., that
the publio should be conditionally excluded from the em-
bankment, and fifteen member of the committee were in
favour of it; and the third view wea,that the decision of the
question of the roadway should be suspended until there had
been further time for the consideration of the matter.
Now be felt sesmad that the more inquiry and
considenition they gave to the subject the more certain
would it appear that there was no sufficient reason for ex-
cluding the public from the full enjoyment of the embank-
ment. He had no intention of withdrawing the bill,
at the mime time he had DO intention of giving to the
Duke of Bumbeich and the other lemma any right over
the proposed embankment. The public would have the
clear use of the footway until parliament should decide that
they ought to ham the additional use of a carriage road.
Be wouM not comsat to any other arraegement. (Hear.)
Lord J. MANNERS sincerely trusted they should hear no
more of this schema of motioning the embankment is front
of the Howe. of Parliament. (Hear.) Whether it should
be extended further down the river or not wee Lineation
as which need not be discussed then ; but the! • t boo.
gentleman had based his support of the bill os feasi-
bility of extending the embankment in front of the water
line before the houses of parliament, he (Lord J. Manners)
bad thought it right to enter his protest against any such
scheme. (Hest, ear.)

Lord PALMERSTON said be hoped his hon. friend the
member for Lambeth, who bad made the motion they were
discussing, would not take the sense of the house upon the
motion, because he must see that it was not applicable to the
bill now under consideration. In the stage in which the
bill was, to refer it back to the same committee would be
an objectless and useless proceeding. Any alteration which
he thought the select committee might make, it would be
perfectly competent to his hon. friend to move in a oom-
mines of the beep,. As to the real question which the
house had been discussing, it wee remarkable that being of
the simplest possible kind—namely, whether the roadway
upon the embankment should dap at Whitehall-ening
or go on to Westminster.bridge—the house had
been led into • complicated discussion into the
acts of past commissions, which sat heaven knew
when—(a laugh)—as to the constitution of those com-
missions, whether their rasiabsre sat upon other commis.
dons, and whether they were fit to sit upon them —(a
laugb)—into a defence of the peraceal character of the Duke
of Buccleuch, whom nobody who knew anything of his
character would wish to attack—(beir, hear) —and into an
attack upon his right hon. friend, whom nobody would with
to attack aho properly appreciated his character. (Hear,
hear.) Everything had bean said that was possible to draw
the attention of the house from the real issue, ss
Horner's heroes were sometimes conveniently envelo
in • cloud, that lane being the defence of•ped •
darling object—namely, the preservation of the gardens
which skirted the baoks of the river. Now it did seem to
him the clearest of all propositions, that if the Thames was
to be embanked from bridge to bridge, and the expense were
to fall upon the inhabitants of the metropolis, then that
the whole metropolis ought to have the whole benefit of the
embankment. That did seem to him to be one of the plainest
propositions ever submitted. If, indeed, the scheme had
been to stop the embankment at Whitehalletairs, and then
it had been found incompatible with • due consideration for
the turns in the river, and the object of getting rid of the
existing mudbanks, it might have been otherwise.
But there was no proposition of that kind.
Everyone agreed that the embankment would be
a great improvement. The noble lord who decried the
scheme, and taxed the government with having proposed it,
did not deny this. Nobody that he (Lord Palmerston) had
ever heard of had said that it was Dot desirable there should
be ex embankment, and that upon the embankment there
should be • broad road, and the sole question was whether
that road should be extended to Westminster-bridge. But
it was proposed that nobody should be allowed to go along
that road except upon his own feet. (A laugh.) Now,
let the house determine the bill as they dices, let them
restrict it as they would, that restriction would
not and could not be maintained. (Loud cheers.)
His right hon. friend the member for Stroud, who had shi-
valrously broken a lance on behalf of the Duke of Bac-
cleuch, ended his speech by saying that the question was
one between the duke and the public. That was his owe
confession of the state of the matter. (Cheers.) Did any
man think that the country would not believe that was
really the question? (Cries of " No, no," and cheers.) He
did Dot mesa the Duke of Buccleuch singly, but the duke
and the right bon. gentleman. (A laugh.) When the
right bon. gentleman made that eloquent defence of his
neighbour he bad some little regard, not only for
the Duke of Buccleuch, but for himself. (laughter.)
What were the arguments against the plan of continuing
the road to Westminster-bridge? One was • very absurd
one indeed. It wee said that in order to distribute the
London traffic they were to shut up an additional avenue,
and drive it all into the narrow gorge of Farliamentatreet.
Then it was said that for a sum of 300,000 i. they could get
rid of one side of Parliament-street. Well, if by an doing
they could Nave the expense of an embankment, that
might be a reason. But no one said that an embankment
was not to he made. They only said that the
lessees of the crown were to have this addition
to the gardens they occupied ; and that they were ready to
furnish the money to make the embankment. But if so,
they might go along the whole river, and allow each pro-
prietor to buy up that portion of the embankment which
ran before his own house. Then it was said, could anything
be more absurd thee to run a road at right angles to •
bridge. But was there any town in the kingdom where
there were quays along a river shere this did not take place?
In Dublin, Paris, Florence, and he believed in Dresden sod
Berlin, the quays were at right angles with the bridges.
But they need not go so far from home. Had any boo.
gentlemen who opposed this bill been to the cattle show ?
Well, they would have noticed there was an embankment
at the foot of Chelserr.bridge, which necessarily crossed the
river at right angles to it. (Hear, hear.) It was therefore
quite childish to say that they were not to make the road
way up to Westminster-bridge because there would be a
sharp angle in turning off the road on to the bridge.
(Cheers.) With regard to clause 9, it was eke/ that it
could cot be affirmed as it stood i benumb while the
preamble of it contemplated • further inquiry, the evicting
part of it positively declared that no roadway should be
made between Whitehall and Westminster-bridge. He (the
noble lord)Ned therefore given notice of an addition pro-
viding that that should only be the case till parliament
should otherwise determine. (Hear, bear.) He hoped that
his hon. friend would not press his amendment. (Cheers.)
Mr. DOULTON said that as the members of the win-
mittee had only defended their misdeeds, he agreed with
the noble lord that it would answer no practical end to
refer the question tack again to them, and he would there-
fore withdraw his amendment. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. SCULLY, amidst some impatience, said that the
proceedings of parliament bad of late demented into a
species of English rowdyism, of which Irish members
greatly disapproved. (Laughter.) The Irish members had
in fact bad to interfere, and act as a sort of parliamentary
buffers. (Laughter.) He hoped that English gentlemen
would follow the Irish example, and try to infuse iota
their rows a little fun and good humour. (laughter.)
The SPEAK= then left the chair.

Mr. AYRTON hoped the house would not go on with
the bill at that late hour. The measure did not in the least
conform with the amount the noble lord bad given of it.
The noble lord said that the people of the metropolis ought
to have the land which they paid for reclaiming from the
river ; but when the house came to examine the clauses
which the patriotic First Commissioner of Works had framed,
they would see how much of the embankment he had given
the people of the metropolis, and how much he bad frittered
away for other purposes. They would also ask him bow it
was that in dealing with the crown lessees he had proposed to
charge them for the land according to the number of cab-
bages it would grow in a year, and the value of those cab-
bages? (Hear, boss.)
Lord PALMERSTON said he would consent to stop
when the committee came to any clause a hich really re-
quired discussion.
Accordingly, at clause 6 Mr. AYITON moved to report
progress, which was seed to.

FORTIFICATIONS BILL.
In answer to Mr. BUTINCIC.
Sir G. LEWIS said the Thames Embankment Bill would
be fixed for today (Friday). it was concluded today, the
Forttlkatione Bill would 130 taken the first thing on Mon-
day ; otherwise it would be the second order.

Mr. OSBORNE—Yes ; but the house ought to bays a
more definite answer; and unless one was given he would
divide the house on the question that the bill should be
absolutely fixed for Monday.

Lord PALMERSTON—Let its do one thief( at a time
We haws got one bill before us ; let us finish that. If there
is time os Monday for the hon. gentleman to make a long
speech we will go ea with the bill ; if not, I will agree to
postpone the order.
Mr. OSBORNE—I wish that there may be time Woofer
the noble lord to make a long speech in reply. (A laugh.)
The order was fixed as the right hon. gentleman had
stated.

AFRICAN SLAVE TRADE TREATY BILL.
This hill was raid • Skirl Inns and pared.