The Sun.
London, England, 1853-05-21 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, MAY 21, 1853.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF COMMONS—(YESTERDAY. )
The SPEAKER took the chair at a few minutes to four
o'clock.

PRIVATE BUSINESS.

Tho following bills were read a third time and passed :
—Allendale Road ; Ballymena, Ballymoney, Coleraine,
and Portrush Junction Railway ; Edinburgh Water-
works (No. 2) ; Haslingden and Rawtenstall Water-
works ; Limerick Corporation • Londonderry, Cole-
raine, and Belfast Junction Railway ; Waveney Valley
Railway.

The reports upon the following bills were brought up
and agreed to, and ordered to be read a third time :
Caledonian Railway (Connecting Branch with Edinburgh
and Glasgow Railway, &c.) ; Great Western Railway
(Henley) ; Portsmouth Railway ; Poulnasherry Inclo-
sure ; Scottish Midland Junction Railway ; South-
Eastern Railway (Reading Extension, &c.) ; South
Shields Improvement ; Tralee and Killarney Railway ;
and Bedale and Leyburn Railway.
Nash's Estate Bill was read a second time.
PETITIONS.
Mr. MIALL presented several petitions in favour of
the ocean penny postage.
Mr. FAGAN presented a petition from Cork, praying
for the total abolition of Ministers' money.
Sir W. CLAY presented a petition from the Tower
Hamlets against the advertisement duty • also two peti-
tions from Hackney, in favour of the ballot.
Mr. M. CHAMBERS presented a petition from
Woolwich against the proposed bill for disfranchising
electors in dockyards, and praying that their votes may
be taken by ballot.

Mr. FITZROY presented two petitions from the
metropolis, in favour of the Hackney Carriages Bill.
Sir F..KELLY presented two petitions from Suffolk
against the opening of the Crystal Palace on Sundays.
Mr. COBDEN presented a petition from Lancashire,
in favour of the ocean penny postage.
IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDE PARK.

Mr. OLIVEIRA asked the First Commissioner of
Works, whether it was intended to remove the old dila-
pidated shops which deface Hyde-park from Albert-gate
eastward ; what the tenure of the present occupants of
these shops might be ; and whether parties might not be
found ready to undertake the removal of these objec-
tionable buildings, and to improve the locality with-
out entailing any expense upon the government ;
also, whether a carriage drive should not be constructed
through Hyde-park from or near Victoria,-gate, to
Rotten-row, near Prince's-gate ; and whether the re-
moval of the cavalry barracks from Knightsbridge was
under consideration, by which the public enjoyment of
that portion of Hyde-park would be much enhanced,
and a great benefit conferred upon the residents in that
locality ?

Sir W. MOLESWORTH said he had to state in
reply to the first question, that the old, dilapidated houses
near Albert-gate were held under a lease from the Dean
and Chapter of Westminster, the term of which would
expire in about 56 years from the present time. The
Dean and Chapter had refused to renew the lease ; it
being their intention, if they could obtain the property
at a reasonable price, to make certain improvements
upon the spot. With regard to the second question—
whether a carriage drive should not be constructed
through Hyde-park, from or near Victoria-gate to
Rotten-row, near Prince's-gate—he had to state that
he answered that question last night. He then stated
that he doubted very much the expediency of making
such a carriage drive, because though it might be very
advantageous to persons going in carriages, it would be
very disadvantageous to the many persons who walked
in the park. As to the last question, his reply was that
the removal of the cavalry barracks at Knightsbridge
was not under the consideration of the Government.

ALLEGED IMPROPER SEIZURE BY THE
CUSTOMS.

Mr. M. CHAMBERS gave notice of his intention on
an early day to move the appointment of a select com-
mittee to inquire into the circumstances connected with
an unlawful seizure by two officers of the customs, on
the 10th of February, 1852, of foreign and English
watches, of the value of upwards of 50,0001., and books,
letters, papers, and bills of exchange, the property of
Lucian Marchand, and to ascertain what steps had been
taken by the Commissioners of Customs to investigate
into the conduct of the officers, and to make restitution
of such property.