The Sun.
London, England, 1855-05-04 00:00:00

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.

On the motion of Mr. WILSON, leave was given to
bring in a bill for legalising and preserving the restored
standards of weights and measures.
The house adjourned at 20 minutes past one o'clock.

DEFICIENCY BILLS.—A Parliamentary paper issued
yest.rday shows that the amount of deficiency bills bear-
ing interest on the 27th of April was 2,470,0001., and
the amount received in respect of the new loan of
16 000.0001., and lying unemployed at the same date,
1,600 0001.

NEWSPAPER STAMP DUTIES BILL.—Two clauses have
been added in committee to this bill. One enacts that
periodical publications must be posted within 15 days
after publication, and the other refers all questions which
may arise whether a printed paper is entitled to the pri-
vilege of postage to the decision of the Postmaster-
General, whose determination, with the consent of the
Treasury, will he final.
THE OXFORD PETITION AGAINST THE SUNDAT PEER
BILL.—The petition from the city of Oxford, to both
houses of Parliament, in favour of a .repeal of the new
beer bill of last session, restricting the opening of puidic-
houses on Sunday, has been signed by 3.348 male adults,
including the name of the mayor, the late sheriff, two
aldermen, the coroner, and a majority of members of the
town council. The Karl of Abingdon has kindly con-
sented to present it to the House of Lords ; and Mr.
Langston, member for Oxford, to the House of Com-
mons. ' The petition is now in their hands for presenta-
tion.

MARCH OF sruE Wesr.—Vast additions and improvements aro
silently yet rapidly proceeding dt the west end of the metro-
polis, and, iu spite of war and the comparative scarcity of
tial character. The large open space of
money, capital is there asserting its supremacy in the shape of
magnificent squares and rows of mansions of an almost Pala-
designs of Mr. Francis,
bridge-road, opposite the Kensington-gardens, has been taken
by Mr. Austin for a further extension of his grand and utili-
' tarian habitations; and a church of some magnitude, from
ground in the Ux-
just and correct proportions. But it is behind this plot, and
over a space of some extent, to which we would direct the
attention of those to whom the remarkable increase of this
the architect, ia already exhibiting its
1 neighbourhood is new. The principal feature of this area is
' Cleveland-square, bounded on one side by the Queen's-garden,
and but a few minutes' walk from the Westbourne-terraces
and that chef d'ceurre of railway termini, the Great Western
and its noble hotel. In entei'ing this square from the south-
east we find its earners rounded off,
which gives a novel effect
to this approach, and will be, appreciated by those "'who in
easy carriage ride." Tho houses in the square aro some
,sixty in number, With a uniform exterior of a pleasing
and elegant, yet unpretentious character. The interiors
are models of their kind,
and the mechanism of comp()
sition appears to have been thoroughly unclersrooe.
Distribution, decoration and construction have been
well considered, and convenience and economy very com-
mendably kept in view. To use the happy medium of size for
a family of position and substance appears to have been at-
tained, and the quaint old Dr. Fuller's notion that "houses
had better be too little for a day than too big for a year" seems
to have been borne in mind. Mantels of scarce marble and
serpentine, and stoves of approVed construction, are found in
tho principal rooms and conservatories ; and libraries, or
studies lighted from above,pecial requirements of the period.
mark the attention of the builder
to the more elevated and s
The drawingrooms of several of these houses, particularly
that of the Swedish Ambassador, aro decorated in a light and
cheerful manner in the French style, and others in the Ger-
inan school, by Mr. Kuckuck, of Pall Mall, the successor to
Mr. Sang—and they display an advanced and correct know-
ledge of chromatic art, giving a life and animation to apart-
ments which might perchance have become grave and , ppres-
sive, or meretricious and offensive, under other influences.
Upon inquiry we fonmPthat, as is the case in this locality, the
meter possesses great
is perhaps no less purity,rkabl and
in-
dicates dryness end salubrity.
remarkable The altitude of the position
;thethkeitscoliilenbseinogf gtii•laevseellhyo,usesbeing upon a level, if not above, the upper floors of Bucking-
ham Palace. The whole extent is private ground, and will be
protected from the intrusion of objectionable traffic, much
after the manner of the Marquis of Westminster's and other
exclusive property. It may be added that the houses appear
-to be let almost as fast as they are ready for the reception of
inhabitants, and next to the wonder of the neighbourhood
itself is that of where all these families of evident wealth and
position some from —Morning Pose.
,