The Sun.
London, England, 1852-02-07 00:00:00

of it. In the old House no gas lamp would be permitted
until ir he gave an opinion. In the present Ho,e his
opinion was overruled. These were the main points;
but, as he had said, there were others which he would
not enter upon at thiqt moment.
The Host. MEMBER having asked Dr. Reid whether
he hid any remedy to propose for these evils, and if so
what remedy?

Dr. Reid stated that he would provide, in the first place,
a means for excluding the outward atmosphere, as was
done by double doors at the Bank of England and in
other establishments. In the second he would provide
for the exclusion of the products of combustion from the
various chimneys of the House. In the third he would
instantly build a brick wall round the drains which now
contaminated the House with their effluvia. He would
next give the House protection against the smell of the
kitchen, which was quite perceptible at the bar, where
he then stood. In two days he would put the ouse in
a condition for the Members to sit comfortably in it, if
he was permitted. For fifteen years he bed done what
he could to have a pierced floor, but he had tailed in this
House. The floor was contaminated with a thick oil,
most offensive and oxydating, and injuring everything.
He had spoken to Mr. Barry on the subject; and Mr.
Barry's enswer was, that it was used by the Admiralty.
It was therefire impossible to work the effectual venti-
lation of the House with the means at his disposal. At
presenr, in the galleries, there was a vast mass of heat on
the brows of the itlembers from the lamps, and it was
most dangerous.
Asked how long it would take him to remedy these
deft cts?

Dr. Reid said the greatest and worst defects he would
undertake to remedy in two days, without in any way
interfering with the architectural plan or arrangements
of the House.

To the inquiry of how much he thought it would coso ?
Dr. Reid could not say exactly, but he thought, per-
haps, about 2001. or 3001. In continuation, he stated
that he could refer to one hundred places at least, in
England, Scotland, and Ireland, where his plans were in
successful operation; but he would select St. George's
Hall, in Liverpool, where the ventilation was based upon
the plus of 1846. He had worked those plans for a
week betofe 3,000 persons, and they were perfectly suc-
cessful. They were the same he would have worked in
that House if be had not been prevented.
Asked whether he had proposed his plans in time for
the architect to act on them?

Dr. Reid replied that he had, and that they had been
(as was understood in the gallery) so acted on. They
were proposed by bim in 1834.
In reply to further questions ho said that in two days
he would, if supported as he bad be, n by Lord Besbo-
rough, undi,r,,Alre to render the atmosphere of the House
supportable; and that he was quite ready to put on paper
all Endt was required on the subject.
In reply tonir. macrar,

Dr. Reid said that the lighting had been taken•out of
his hands, and that he, therefore, could not eater into
detail on the subject ; but he did not consider that the
waste-tubes for carrying off the air destroyed by com-
bustion in these lamps sufficiently large. The conse-
quence was that steam was evaporated and water con-
densed. He should most certainly make an alteratioe
in the ventilation of the lamps—similar to that which he
had made is Buckingham Palace, when the lamps bad
burned badly for want of ventilation. He was ready to
submit his plan before Monday—indeed ho was ready
to submit it on the moment, as ho had always been pre-
pared for an emergency like the present.
In reply to Mr. SANDFORD,
Dr. Reid said that we ventilation of the lumps in the
corridor would effect a great improvement in the at-
mosphere of the House. There were eight doors in the
passage, and the products of combustion were continually
pouring into the House.
I❑ reply to Lord H. VANE,
Dr. Reid stated that his present plan was the same
as that which he had been stopped from carrying out in
1846. There was nothing to prevent him from carry-
ing it into execution if the House ordered it and he
was adequately supported. He bad accumulated re-
sources all along to carry it into effect in contemplatio❑
of being called on, as he was that night. One of the
principal points was the equalisation of the temperature
in the House and in the passages.
To questions put by Sir B. HALL,
Dr. Reid replied, that he could put the House into a
state of better ventilation, if he received the power to do
so, before Monday.
To questions put by Mr. BROWNE,
Dr. Reid answered, that he could not put the lighting
into the same position in the same space of time, but he
could palliate the present evils arising from it.
In reply to Alderman HUMPHERY,
Dr. Reid said he had had between 4,000/. and 5,000/.
for the ventilation of the House of Commons since 1845.
For an expense of some 7,0001. he could build, warm,
and ventilate a room, in which the House could sit with
comfort and all the Members see one another. He could
not, of course, decorate it for that sum.
In answer to Lord SEYMOUR,

Dr. Reid said he proposed to put the gas lights on a
with the galleries; to put all
pouring torrents of smoke
the bettor
chimneys footing,
a beginning gi
werenni ng
now
into the House on a better footing; to build a portion of
the vaults under the !Luse where there was a drainage
smell, and to consolidate his materials for ventilation in
a chamber with a concrete Thor beneath the slates, not
as at present, with nothing beneath it.
tie was then ordered to withdraw, and he withdrew
accordingly.

Mr. HUME, after what he had heard, proposed that
Dr. Reid should be requestea to place on paper bis
specific refuted), :Ind the cost of the same, to the end
teat those Members who were not present should be
made acquainted with the plan.
Sir B. HALL sugg.st,d that, under the circum-
stances, the wish of the House being known, it would
be be, ter to leave the mAtter in the hands of the Noble

Lord (Se) mour), whu was the responsible officer in the
esue to Pa., !lament.. The Noble Lord was aware of
what was de,irkd; and au expendicure of 2001. or 3001
c,,tild not he a ques,ion for comod,ration when the üb-
j,:er, wa.; to Hothe com•orr.able.
Lurd SEYMOUR was ut opinion that it would be
best to print the minutes of evidence from the short-
writer's notes in the first instance. As regarded the
responsibility ho would rather not undertake it, as he
doubttd when the 30(,l. was expended, if the House would
be satisfied.

Mr. HUME thought it would not be fair to cast the
responsibility on the Noble Lord in the matter.
Alderman COPELAND was understood to complain
of the ventilation of the dining-room of the ll,use.
Sir G. S CRICKLAND agreed that as Dr. Reid had
been perfectly successful in ventilating the old House of
Commons they should at once give him the powers he
sought, and allow him until Wednesday to carry his plan
into execution. He rhould, therefore, propose a motion
to that effect.
Sir G. GREY thought it better that the evidence of
Dr. Reid should be printed before the House came to
any decision on the question.
Mr. B. OSBORNE was afraid that would get rid of
the whole question, as the difficulty would be in being
able to bring the subject again before the House. Having
the advantage, then, he was desirous of keeping it.—
(Laughter.) Mr. Barry had been intrusted with a very
large sum for the purposes of ventilation, and he could
Dr. Reid should not therefore be trusted
w
noi
tt
hserbe why Dr.
of 3001. for the same purpose.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said
that Mr. Barry was responsible for the building; but it
was now proposed to direct Dr. Reid to do that which he
thought fit at a cost of 3001. 'The House did not know
what Dr. Reid proposed to do. It might possibly inter-
fere with the plans of the architect. It was therefore
better to make some inquiry before they proceeded fin-
ther in the matter.
Mr. E. B. ROCHE complained of the offensive and
injurious atmosphere breathed in the House, and said, as
Dr. Reid had proposed to remedy the ventilation without
interfering with the architectural arrangements of the
building, they should not, as rational men, hesitate to
empower him to do so. He should, therefore, propose
a motion to that effect.
never
Mr. HASTIE seconded the motion. He
bad
Barry
had in such a cold house in his life. Last year/ otryhad authority to spend 10,0001. to
decora-
tions. Why should they hesitate to
au-
thority to spend 3001. on ventilationunslnwerss,
they should
Mr. HUME said that, as men of.ab
the first instance.
have Dr. Reid's plan before them
15,0
watt 0001. on
then..ltHeld
e
in the
the Hem,
rt.heNregfowreD,
EasGkeAdTtEhe
of the eh• Member fur
adoption of the suggestion
Mr. Ewart, Mr. Ilindley,
Montrose.
ouso
After a conversation which Tre-
-1 lc
$s
son
Heould Mr. f
part,
laanwdneAyi,dAerlmdearnmcaonpHelaunmdphtoeorky,
Mr. NE WDEGATE, in order to give Dr. Reid an op-
portunity of testing the practicability of his plan, moved
as an amendment, " That the First Commissioner of
Woods and Forests should be instructed by the House
to get from Dr. Reid his plan for they improvement of the
ventilation of the House, and to report the same to the
House
COPELAND seconded the amendment.
o n
Aldermanot th
Mr. LIUNIE thought that this would not afford the
means of judging to those Members who were nut then
present.
Mr. BROWNE said that the lighting and the venti-
lation should go together.
s.hirip(osiiit io
N n
Mr, HUME hoped the Nr,ble, Lord would wtthdraw
hise p
ctlEitLthoe
aminourtetsh:f evidence
EXCHEQUERb printed.
i t e
od
b.
The
-
r
breche a bad atmosphere than other Hon. Members, but
that Alonsteis were not any more anxious to
he tnougnt it was for the House of Commons to go to
work iu a business-like manlier. It was impossible that
every thing could have been got in order in a brief
period. He edmitted there was much that was wrong
that required setting right, but if Hon. Gentleman would
exerei.,,, a little patience, those inconveniences iosepa-
reble from getting into a new House would disappear. It
was the duty as well as she interest of the Goso-rnes,.et
to make the House as comfertable 55 possible, and the
subject should certainly not be lost sight of.
After same more discussion,
Mr. B. OSBORNE said he was perfectly satisfied with
the result of his motion. They had gut much informa-
tion Reid, and had brought the question into a
B 0 wished the evidence just heard to be printed,
re:II:Ty to act with firmness on this question, and
focus.w a nfand thee would renew the subject next Wednesday. It
to take the bull by the horns, for the House ought to re-
collect that the new Houses were to be finished in two
years, and they had already been sixteen years under-
goll,g that process, and were still unfinished.
Mr. NEWDEGATE was reluctant to withdraw his
amendment.

The amendment was then put and agreed to.
The Suitors in Chancery Relief Bill was read a first
time.

The Water and Drainage Metropolis Bill was read a
first time.
The Homo gdjournesl of Niue o'clock.