The Sun.
London, England, 1852-04-30 00:00:00

centrate all entertainment in one spot. The metion before
the House was not opposed in any prejudiced spirit. Ile
would ra her say that any facilities which her Majesty's Go-
vernment could give towards the erection of the Crystal Pa
lace in some such site es that indicated would be most
cheerfully and readily offered. Ile had been Warmed, on
what he called first-rate authority, that the building had al-
ready been purchased, that the purchese- money had already
, been deposited in the bank, that agreements were-drawn up,
and that the purchasers were now anxious to communicate
with Government as to the site on which it might be erected,
the conditions under which it was to:be opened, and the pur-
poses to which it was to be devoted. He could only sly that
the Government would be most happy to afford every per-
manence and encouragement to that endeavour, and he hoped
that the building erected on a happier site, and not tarnished
with the stigma of broken faith and violated public honour,
would become the means of fulfilling useful purposes, and
affording innocent recreation to the people. He hoped then
that the H aise would reject the motion of the Hon. Gentle-
man, as a motion unnecessary in itself, and inasmuch as the
subject which it was proposed to refer to .a Committee had
already been most fully icvestigated, inasmuch as hie_obj
could only be granted by a violation of public faith, and in-
asmuch as he believed that every good object which the
Hon. Mover had in view would be ,better promoted .by the
cordial and friendly co-operation of the new possessors of the
building in llvde-park with her Majesty's Government.,
Mr. D'EYSCOURT rose amidst cries of " Divide. ' He
said that if the Government would agres to the motion, the
promoters were prepared to take all trouble and responei.
bilitv off their hands. He alleged that the evidence of Sir
J. Paxton had not been fairly dealt with. He thought the
names of such men as the Duke of Devonshire, the Duke
of Argyll, and the Earl of Carlisle afforded a sufficient
guarantee for the success of the undertaking. The Right
Hon. Member, who was interrupted by loud cries of " Di-
' 'vide 'concluded by expressing his intention to support the
motion.
Mr. LABOUCH ERE said he must encounter whatever
unpopularity might attach to opposing the
motion. He
looked upon the question merely as one of good faith.—
(Hear.) The Government had pledged themselves that the
' building was to be only a temporary erection fir a temporary
object, and that object having been attained the pledge naust
be redeemed.—(Hear, hear.) He was one of the parties
who had given the pledge, and he was bound to redeem it
by resisting the present proposition.—(Hear, hear.) - If the
House ands the public had been unanimous in favour of
the retention of the building, there would not of course have
been the same reason for redeeming a pledge with which
those to whom it was given would thus have been willing
, to dispense. But judging from the usual organs of informa-
' tion, he did not believe there was anything like such a
unanimity of feeling upon the subject.—( Hear, hear.) He
• protested against the question being treated as if it were
'merely one as to the propriety of promoting the recreation
or instruction of the people—the importance of which he did
not at all undervalue.—( Hear, hear.) And he begged the
House to recollect that the Government had shown no indis-
position to give that subject the fairest consideration. The
Commissioners had arrived at the conclusion that the-build-
ing ought not to be retained; and the House were in posses-
sion of the reasons by which they had reached that conclu-
sion. In that conclusion be entirely concurred, and he should
certainly vote against the present motion, the fate of which
be hoped would finally decide the question.—(Hear.)
Mr. G. CAVENDISH said if any pledge had been given it
was given to the public; and he contended that the vast
number of petitions in favour of the retention of the building
proved that the people were ready to dispense with the per-
formance of the promise.
Mr. MACGREGOR rose amid loud cries of " Oh, oh," and
• " Divide." Whatever might be the opinion of that House,
the opinion out of doors was that the building should not
be taken down.--(0h; oh, and Divide.) if the building
were pulled down without the consent of the people, a tres-
pass would be committed oa the right of the public.—
(Laughter, and Oh, oh.) If the House should decide on re--
moving the Crystal Palace it would prove itself guilty of
barbaric Vandalism.—(Laughter, and Divide.)
Viscount PALMERSTON said—l am anxious to state
the reasons why I will give my vote infavour of the motion
"of my Hon. Fr.entl.—(Cheers ) Sir, I think no man who
went to see the Exhibition of last year could fail to be
struck, that, however wonderful and worthy of admiration
were the multitude of objects of industry and art contained
in that Exhibition, there was nothing within the building
compared with it as an object of admiration.—(Cheers.)
And I could not help regretting that a building so extra-
' ordinary—for there is nothing like it in the world to
compare with it—should be pulled down. I think that
sentiment must also have inspired every man - who,
since the close of that-Exhibition, passed by that won-
derful structure. I fancy that every man must have felt
a wish that some purposes could be found which could be
safely applied for its permanent endurance.—(Hear, bear, )
Now I must say that many of the purposes which have been
stated appear to show that the building might be converted
into a`place which would benefit the community at large.
Hundreds and thousands of our countrymen enjoyed amuse-
, meat end instruction trom the inspection of the articles ex-
hibited in that building, and I cannot myself see the reason
why it is not possible to make it the scene of future exhibi-
tions, not so extensive, but calculated to yield the means of
'instruction to the various classes of society. Ido not con-
fine myself to the humbler classes; but I think it might
afford amusement and instruction to all classes, high and low.
There may be difficulties on this question, and one of them
arises from a pledge given that the building should be pulled
down. Now, the Noble Lord admitted that if the demand
upon the part of the public were strong, that objection would
not have weight. Whether public feeling was unanimous or
not is a matter of doubt. Other persons thought that an-
other site would be better adapted for the erection of the
building. 'That is a matter for inquiry. Therefore it
ap-
Pear 3 to me that not only those who spoke in favour of this
• • enotion, bat those who spoke against it, all tend to the same
• conclusion, viz.—that the subject is of sufficient interest to
Justify
inquiry, and therefore that the proper course would
to refer it to a Select Committee, so that the House might
have fuller and more ample grounds for its discussion.
Lord SEYMOUR could assure the House that with regard
to this building he had no other feeling in the matter than
"81re fairly to fulfil the engagement into which as a mem-
-4r of the late Government he had entered.—(Hear, hear.)
would not refer to the speeches made in 1830, but if he
"1") they would show that unless a promise were given to
remove this building after the Exhibition closed, the building
The never have been allowed to be erected.--( near, hear.)
• e Position he (Lord Seymour) then occupied necessarily
iMplicated him more than any other individual. He had an
aPplication made to him by a body of gentlemen who had in-
• Vested a large amount in house property In that locality;
and when they told him they feared an excitement would be
gnt 11P—petitions being easily manufactured—and every
means used to retain the building, he (Lord Seymour) re-
plied, that they bad the strongest pledge they could have—
' LinnelYs the character of the nobility, that such should not
"' the case; therefore the nobility were pledged to the re-
moval of the building. The case of these gentlemen was
stood,
;—Some years since, the House might remember, there
reel' a low range of buildings where Prince's Gate
them,
atOOde The Government was anxious to remove
seen', but the cost was very great. A number
• of gentleman joined with Government, and the
rrc'PertY was finally purchased. Now he asked the House
Nan it fair, after these gentlemen had subscribed some
and expended it in building and improving the
that that House should turn round and block up
• '-vee very houses?—(Hear, hear.) Such a transaction
;3111(1 be decidedly dishonest, and such as no individual
4"
‘• ember of that House would be guilty of on his own private
property.—(Hear, hear.) He (Lord Seymour) could not
understand the consistency of the Earl of Carlisle in doing
Indireetly what he did not wish to do openly.—(Hear,
ahear.) Though the Commissioners were well affected towards
the retention of the building, he yet should say they were
te_tich compromised by their architect and secretary.—( Hear,
'ear.) Sir Joseph Paxton had sent round the entire
• Country a note of alarm, in order to defeat the object of -
t
• Paxton
Commissioners' obligation.—(Hear, hear.) Sir Joseph
rfaton complained that his evidence before the Corn-
Illgoners was not sent to him as in the case of others:
Now what he (Lord Seymour) saw that statement bein •
-
quired of the secretary what foundation there was foe
It, and the secretary replied that "he could make a deals
ration of his having sent a copy of his own evidence to Sir
. Joseph Paxton."— (Cries of" Hear, hear.") Sir Joseph
Futon subsequently admitted that, instead of 12,000/. per
Year, it would cost 20,000/. to maintain the building.. He
ntitlerstood now that the building was to be self-supporting.
He had made inquiry, and had learned from Mr. Cole that if
' the building were to be self-sustaining it should be open at
bight'as a place of recreation.—(Laughter, and Hear bear.)
It was talked of putting it under the management Of
• tees; but were these
fer, with theTo !se trustees, of Sir Joseph Paxton to inter-
, of,the people hi,YsalhePearks?—(Flear, hear.) The edification
anxione to pm:natant:sicken of. He (Lord Seymour) was
people, and the House bad always
and education of the
oceeeions, b always evinced a similar disposi-
tion on proper
at present that did not apply.
--Jim, hear.) They ildt
admirably adapted for been told the building was
tgiorneoat
weretrad e
apt collectionte;
but, then. these tract;
wchoes'icits,
M ar.
museumC()le.ileB mt
e
generate into bazaars
' fered with .sliopkeepers and sr, in their turn, inter-
n.—cHineagr,wahseanrol
It had been admitted by
warehouse orbs lecture' hall, but
suited for the purpose of
Seymour
something better -
could 'that it would' answer as a
warefiouse2 (ajected to filling
could be found. Now he (Lord
21:f acres of the park with a
e.ar, boon—and
he trusted the House would Persevere in r
t and tints settle the question fore eieeting the motion
a once,
Mr..WAKLEY said the Noble Lord who had ' ar, )
aPpearell to be
actuated by very &Jong Just sat down
feelings MI this
• Galled. A glass house, at atl events, did not appear to be
a fit place for the Whigs.—(A laugh.) He could not Under
}stand why the Crystal Palace should be immoral in _Hyde:
--
Park and moral in Battersea.-( Hear, and laughter). He
could not conceive, indeed, how such a building could lead
to immorality anywhere. The Great Exhibition had done
• much to bring into harmony the various peoples of the
Vorld who had congregated there, and he altogether depre-
* 'eated the destruction of the building, to which they all owed
Muth.
Mr. GEACII, amidst loud cries for a division, supported
the motion. rd J. MAN-
' After a few words in explanation from Lo
NERs,
Sir G. PECWILL and Mr. J. EVANS supported the motion.
fiet a few words from Lord SEYMOUR, also in explana-
s; 4
'ens in which he said that the inquiry to which he was ,a
Party only had reference to the applicability of the building
-0 varism_purposes, and did not at all touch the question of
good faith,
Mr. ALCOCK moved the adjournment of the debate until
that day' week.
Sir R. retention
babe. PEEL said that his opinions ainst the
building had undergone a change.—(A laugh.) He
not think the edifice was of that lasting character which
entidinst'f its retention, views Ily
Op y permanent but his genera
. this subject bad become modified. He trusted that the
slighted faith
-. faith of the Noble Lord (Seymour) would not prove-
• serious
, • u obstacle to the retention of this edttice.—( A laugh.)
nPalatable as might be the admission, Parliamentary
Pledges need
not form any vary formidable obstacle to a
},na:.lD3 of opinion.—(Laughter.) Pledges, indeed, might
'es formed and fashioned • Meeraccording to the caprice of the mo-
s• To show how faith easilywas changed he need
_Point to the conduct of the Noble Lord the Mem-
berfor London, who one day voted forandanother
against the • • •
Militia EilL—(Hear, hear, and laughter.) He
L'_3oetermined on supporting the motion for the Committee,
i'7.4_,ase he believed that by the maintenance of that build-
iar"drY should be promoting the interest of the people, and
Whichn them a'means of social and physical imrovement
.161 they onght, as far as possible, to endeavour to secure.
tee r* WYLDs who rose amidst loud derisive cheers, laugh-
, , and crie
"13' the • 3 for a divisive, said he believed no one could
ets__o,it'sst • was desirabto that there should exist in this,
of awl a large edifice devoted to the reception of objects
that, .i.aa° et models of our mechanical skill. He hoped.
I even that •
motion were rejected,
the erection of such
an edifice weal
not be lost sight of.'
it w irel WOOD relied. He thought that the pledgewbich
its contended had been • •matter had been
very` fairly. dealt given in that
y with by the Earl of Carlisle, who bad
tacknowledged the pledge, but had added that it would be
Ines unwis
Il eon the Pen of the aristocracy to insist on
• e ( Mr. Ile w
ulteresta of Y °gad) should further observe, that if the
dep ranY Parties could
Cheepb iejusiously by a
we nom that pie
-gel roposed mitrecomlVOllld