The Sun.
London, England, 1854-07-27 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY. EVENING, JULY 27, 1854,

SUPPLY.

The vote of 25,0001., to supply the deficiency in the
Admiralty Fee and Rentes Funds, occasioned by the de-
falcation of the late Registrar of the Court, gave rise to
considerable discussion, but it was ultimately agreed to
without a division.

A .vote of 45,000/, to defray the expenses of claims
arising out of the abandonment of the Orange River
Territory was agreed to, after a short conversation.
On the vote of 2,9001. for the Lawson Oobaervatory
at Nottingham,
Lord SEYMOUR objected to vote money for a local
purpose of this kind. This Observatory might prove a
benefit to Nottingham, but it would confer no national
advantage, and rather than call upon the State to con-
tribute this money, the locality should raise it. (Hear,
hear.) Besides, the value of the instruments in this
Observatory had been considerably overrated. (Hear.)
Mr. E. DENISON was bound to admit that the
Astronomer-Royal had given an opinion that this obser-
vatory would not contribute to the advancement of
science generally, while a discredit had been 4:hrown
upon the estimated value of the instruments ; and feeling
that if the local subscriptions -were to be asked over
again they would not be granted until the latter point was
cleared up. he should be glad to know if the Government
could furnish him with any information upon the point. He
believed the instruments were not worth the sum they had
been valued at, but he understood the Government had
instituted an inquiry into the matter, and he should be
glad to know what was the result of that inquiry ?
Mr. WILSON entered into an explanation of the
circumstances which had induced the Goverment to
propose this vote. They were toll that while the instru-
ments were worth 10,0001. the locality was prepared to
subscribe towards the establishment of the observatory,
and as upon inquiry it was found that the observatory
would confer great public advantage in promoting agri-
cultural science the Treasury consented to propose this
grant. Of course, however, that undertaking vvas given up
on the understanding that the instruments were worth
10,0001. ; but it now appeared that they were not of
that value and he must 'therefore withdraw the vote;
On the vote of 140,0001. for the purchase of Burlington
House,
Mr. WILLIAMS called for some explanation of this
vote.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER was
ready to give every exphtt,ation. The committee
was aware that the Excise-office had been removed from
Bread-street to Somerset House, and this had rendered
necessary the removal of their officers. Now, nothing
could be more economical than the concentration
of public offices, and the rite of Burlington House had
been pnrchased for the purpose of concentrating and ac-
commodating those departments, literary, artistic,
scientific, and otherwise, which would have to be dis-
turbed of removed from Somerset House and other
places, in consequences of the changes which had been
made in the exercise in the Inland Revenue department
of the Government. (Hear.)
Mr. V. SHITH, Sir W. MOLESWORTH, and Mr.
SPOONER, contributed to the discussion, which was
continued up to a quarter to six o'clock, when the
chairman quitted the chair.

The house then resumed, and leave was given to the
committee to sit again to-morrow.
The other orders were then disposed of, and the house
adjourned shortly before six o'clock.