The Sun.
London, England, 1854-07-08 00:00:00

SUPPLY-CIVIL SERVICE.

all probability no further outlay, for a considerable num-
ber of years to come, would be necessary, either on ac-
count of the building or the furniture.
Mr. WILSON said the Treasury had the power by act
of Parliament of granting sums for providing Protestant
chapels and burying-grounds abroad, provided half the
sum required was raised by private subscription. This
was the origin of the items in their annual vote.
The vote was then agreed to.
The next vote was a sum of 10,9001. for erecting and
maintaining certain light-bouses abroad.
any dues
mlnr.rewplyntosoa
Nquessatiidon from
hewaaMr. notW awaren siLras,
that
were received from these light-houses.
Vote agreed to.
The next vote was a sum of 2,5001. for a museum upon
the premises of the Royal Dublin Society.—Agreed to.
The next vote proposed was a sum of 27,5001. for the
purchase by the commissioners of the Great Exhibition of
1851 of additional land at Kensington Gore for the erec-
tion
of a National Gallery and other purposes in connec- I
tion with art.
Mr. WILLIAMS asked for some explanation from the
Government with respect to this large vote.
Mr. SPOONER objected to the vote. The sum of
150,0001. bad already been paid for land at Kensington
Gore, and no information of any kind had been given to
the country as to the details of its expenditure, or the
further intentions of the Government. Vote after vote of
this kind was asked for, and he should really like to know
when they were to stop.
After a few words from Sir C. BURRELL, which did
not reach the gallery,
Mr. CARDWELL said that in 1852 the Government ob-
tained a vote of 150,0001., which, together with another
150,0u0/. the surplus funds from the Great Exhibition, were
applied to the purchase of a magnificent and very eligible
,prlhoet
bo f land, a
rg
ain wasabout 90 a
exceedingly
cres in
taabt
lKe Kensington gL
in Gore.many
private individuals would like to take it off their hands at
the terms they gave for it. But there was a small wedge-
shaped piece of ground running from the Hammersmith-
road to the centre of the property, and upon which a very
bad description of tenements were situated, which greatly
diminished the value of the whole of the land. An act had
therefore been obtained by the commissioners to buy this
small piece of land and these miserable tenements, and
appropriate a sum as compensation to the owners. A com-
mittee of that house last year decided that the National
Gallery should be removed to this spot, and he hoped that
decision would be inflexibly adhered to ; but, at all events,
it was manifest that this small additional outlay of 27,5001.
would be more than counterbalanced by the enhanced
value it would give to the whole of the rest of the property.
Mr. DANBY SEYMOUR said that the removal of the
National Gallery to Kensington Gore was not decided, but
rather recommended by the committee to which the Presi-
dent of the Board of Trade had referred. The constitution
of that committee had also been unfair, because it
Ken-
sington members who were opposed to the remove
and
Gore was not in the maps of the metropolis,Asuc
was the
it would be a very inconvenient site
ing was finally determined on, a special. committee Then. Govern-
mentbe appointed to inquire into the question. general feeling out of doors. Before snc;haan greatundsehretankld-
their plan ; and there need be no hurry
subprojectject
for on the
ought fully to explain to the houseinthdeeedidetnagilseonf
carrying it out. Sir C. Barry had a
.yw;hthoutlhde
haveß r British i
times M
to
gfourinceonanndecnttinhgerthinesNtitantitoiennael,GaanT
tryhe
consider the scheme of so eminent an individual. Let them
wait a year or two, and see also what results attended the
new Crystal Palace at Sydenham, which professed to accom-
plish most of the objects the Government had in view at
Kensington Gore, and not injure the Crystal Palace by a
rival State establishment. He objected to Government pa-
tronage of art, which was only calculated to injure the object
it sought to foster; and he should take the sense of the house
upon the latter part of this vote. In conclusion he begged
to move that the vote should be negatived.
Lord J. RUSSELL said the motion of the hon. gentle-
man was not consistent with his argument. (A laugh.) He
said he had no objection to complete the purchase, and what
he did object to was that the house should be pledged to
apply this ground to the erection of a national gallery; but
the house would not be at all pledged by this vote to do
any such thing. According to the views of the Government,
the ground should be bought and the National Gallery
should be erected on the ground, but all the Government
now asked was that the purchase made by the late Govern-
ment should be improved, by the additional purchase of a
piece of land which would make what had already been
bought far more valuable. (Hear, hear.) By next year the
Government would consider the subject very maturely, and
if they should continue of the opinion that the National
Gallery should be built ou the ground the matter would be
submitted to the house. But the Government certainly
agreed with the commission appointed three years ago, and
with the committee that sat last year, that there are reasons
against maintaining the National Gallery in its present po-
sition. In the first place, it was very difficult to obtain
space for additional pictures that might be expected to ar-
rive from time to time; and in the next place, the pictures
were exposed there to great injury ; but if they were re-
moved to Kensington Gore, and to a more spacious build-
ing erected there, they would not be thus liable to injury.
The honourable gentleman said it would be impossible to
expect people to go so far as Kensington Gore to see the
pictures, but it was well known that persons went a great
deal further than that for a similar object. (Hear.) As
many as 11,000 persons attended on one day at Sydenham,
which was a greater distance from London than Kensington
Gore. There were other proposals made by the Royal Com-
missioners with respect to the disposal of this ground, one
for the benefit of learned societies who might or might not
be inclined to adopt any proposal of the kind, and another
for education and arts connected with manufactures,
which he thought would be of very essential use to this
country. There was also at present a large collection at
Marlborough House, and that was another reason why the
ground should be devoted to the purpose proposed. At all
events the purchase was not an unwise purchase, for the
ground in itself was very valuable, and provided the house
was of opinion that the land was unfit for any of the pur-
poses to which the Government proposed to devote it, the
ground might be sold at probably a much advanced price.
They could then repay the 150,0001. contributed by the
royal commissioners, and they would be able to apply that
150,0001. to any other purpose they might think conducive
to the ends of the Exhibition of 1851. The hon. gentle-
man would see that by refusing this grant he woud not
at all attain his object. All he would attain was, that the
inconvenient piece of ground running into the land already
purchased would be kept out of the purchase, and that I
thereby the land that was bought would be made less
valuable than otherwise it might be. Whatever might be
the ultimate decision, it was desirable to make the pur-
chase of this ground ; and he begged to state at the same
time that it was the opinion of the Government that a
plan should be proposed to the house for a national gal-
lery on that site. But no plan was yet settled, the house
was not called upon to vote a single shilling for it, and the
wish of the hon. gentleman, that the question should be
deferred to next year, was therefore completely fulfilled.
Mr. HEY WOOD said the house was called upon to vote
money for a purpose that could not be carried out.
Mr. CROSSLEY did not think the public would go to
Kensington to see pictures, whatever they might do with
respect to Sydenham Palace ; and he thought the present
gallery in Trafalgar-square was far more convenient than
the proposed gallery at Kensington. He did not think the
commissioners were very good judges of taste, fora pattern
exhibited at Marlborough House as a specimen of defective
taste had become so popular that the manufacturers had
sold 40,0001. worth of the pattern. (Hear.)
Mr. PETO said the land had been purchased by Govern-
ment, and were it sold to-morrow it would bring a profit
of at least 100,0001. He hoped the vote would be agreed
to, as the bargain was a good speculation.
Mr. SPOONER observed that if hereafter they should
object to the removal of the National Gallery, they would
be reminded that they had voted this money, and would
be asked how they could therefore object to the removal.
He would therefore vote against the vote if the hon.
gentleman should divide, and thought there must be a
pressure outside the house upon the Government, which
indaced them to make this proposal. (Hear.) It was the
duty of the house to stand between Ministers and that
pressure, because he was sure, if they could act indepen-
dently on the question, they would not have brought for-
ward this motion. (Hear.)
Mr. DISRAELI agreed with his hon. friend that there
was some pressure out of doors that (lid act upon the Go-
vernment, and he hoped they would be bound by that ac-
tion, and that was—the generally diffused idea that they
should elevate the taste of the people of this country; and
this was one of the first steps to attain that important ob-
ject.the honour,twhe
aoet osnatp, r erirvi
oncaponnomte
advancement
eebni:dyt t
ht oto
hef
etsthhrhoieelyl
iahaalorg
sutssoeaf
nw commissionerst
dhh ees
cn eetnohcpl ee
This was really an addition to the vote which ho had
1
sash:. oemft
htdheoeyef.
osouot
enoodt r
having applied at the same time to the Government to know
whether they would recommend to Parliament to contribute
an equal sum in order to accomplish that object. It was
generally believed that that object would be best accom-
plished by buying a considerable piece of ground, which
would be the future theatre of their operations ; and when
he had the honour of proposing that the house should
vote an equal sum to that which was contributed by
the royal commissioners as the residue of the accumulation
of the receipts received from the Exhibition of 1851, it was
at that time well known, both to himself and to all those
acquainted with the circumstances, that there would be a
future necessity for asking fur a supplementary vote of this
description. It was not concealed; and if they did not
dwell upon it, it was only because they were of opinion
that if it was stated that there was this small segment of
land which they were desirous of obtaining, those in pos-
session would be ready to take advantage of their anxiety
to get it. (Hear.) If they dwelt upon the necessity of
obtaining that small segment or wedge of land, of course
the price would be increased, and that was the only reason
why they had not placed the point ostentatiously before
the public. He begged to call attention to the evidence of
the secretary of the royal commission, who was examined
on the subject, and who stated that it was scarcely advis-
able to enter into particulars with reference to this piece
of ground. If they had entered into great detail as to the
extreme necessity and advantage of obtaining this wedge
of ground, or entered into any narrative of that kind, there
was no doubt, if it could be obtained at all, it would be
only obtained at a greater cost, and that was the only rea-
son why the supplementary vote had been postponed.
(Hear.) The Government were asking the committee to
sanction an arrangement to which a year and a half ago
they had given their assent without a division, and so far
as this vote was concerned the committee should feel they
were acting on a pledge previously made, and in a prudent
manner, by giving their assent to it. By doing so they
would not pledge themselves to erect the Nation ,1 Gallery
at Kensington-gore. The plan for doing so must be offered
in detail to th;house, and the house would have an oppor-
tunity of discussing the propriety of the proposition when
brought forward for their consideration. (Hear, hear.)
They might have great difficulties to encounter before all
the objects which they contemplated were achieved, but
he should be quite satisfied if the committee would then
agree to a vote to which they must see there was no fair
objection. (Hear, hear.)
After a few words from Mr. D. SEYMOUR,
Mr. SPOONER said he intended to divide, and to
record his vote against a plan that would involve a most
dangerous principle and an enormous expenditure.
Mr. LOCKE thought the house ought to insist on a
sPeeitia plan and estimate before embarking in such an
undertaking. They had the example of the House of Par-
liament before. them. He felt certain that the institutions
for whose benefit they were about to erect these buildings
of Lord J. Would not take advantage of them. He should vote for
tehneabsleejetchteiniontoofbtuhieldvaot.neautinolnesasl tghaelylerhyad a distinct under-
standing of the ultimate object and amount of the grant.
in any part of the
land. If th
and an estimate,
eltneUtvS:hSteeELL said that the present vote did not
year be
this line is now equal to anything in England, fifty miles
CANADA GRAND TRUNK.—The running condition of
After a few re
with a plan. With regard to the Houses
prepared were agreed to Government would next
per hour being accomplished with the most perfect ease
in the matter, as it not both onsible at Government was p
have increased from 1,5001. to 4,5001. per week, and
and safety. During the ast four months the receipt,.
Mr. LOCKE had been entrusted to a committee.
Itagrlti fermo a r h
V.
t hseer
ue
LwLays
azain
sat ptl
the
ne
vote. m r. .
II with a prospect of this weekly income being brought up
asked Nvh,ther, if the assent of the house to at least 7,000/. The other works in construction are
were given to the Fete
linger tildr mace, the noble lord ?toga/min rapidly,

The house resolved itself into a committee of supply.
The first vote taken was 7,5511. for statute law commis.
sion.

Mr. M`MAHON urged upon the committee the expedi
ency of assimilating the statute laws of England and Ire
land.

The vote was then agreed to.
9001. for the publication of the ancient laws and insti-
tutes of Ireland.--Agreed to.
nftdoomr
Law
I2n AWm
1 replye. compensations under the Patent
Isen
.t salaries;
nA.dm
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said that the reduction
of the fees on patents had caused a great diminution in the
sum received by the law officers and their clerks. Last
year there had been a great influx of patents, but the in-
crease was of a temporary character, and in future he did
not apprehend that the number would be greater than
formerly. The sum received last year by each of the law
officers was 4,0001., but there was no reason to suppose
that it would increase.

Mr• WILLIAMS was of opinion that if the fees of the
law officers of the Crown were paid in the shape of a regu-
lar fixed salary, then there would be no necessity for
guessing with respect to what would be the probable
expenditure.
Lord J. RUSSELL said that the question of paying
fixed salaries to the Attorney and Solicitor Generals had
been considered by the Government, but that they had
come to the conclusion that it was not advisable to alter
the present system.
The vote was then agreed to, as was also a sum of
78,8151. to defray the charges for pensions to masters and
seamen of the merchant service, and to their widuws and
children.

BATTERSEA-.
The next vote was for the sum of 255,,5001. towards Bat-
tersea-park.
Lord R. GROSVENOR said he did not intend to oppose
the present vote, and although the scheme had proved a
most disastrous one, he approved of the policy which had
led to the necessity of its beicg asked for. He was, how-
ever, of opinion that he was only making a legitimate use
of the opportunity by bringing before the committee the
whole question of metropolitan improvements. (Hear,
w with
of h
hth et principle
metropolis
rn ci ett its ho was notuld he
fairhear .t)hatHethcieniteagreedimprovements
carried nby means
othe t gheenteirma le taxation
house
steh
he
7 stcountry.ating
He wouldnot
the necessity which existed for metropolitanimprove-
ments,trespass but he wished most particularly to direct the at-
tention of his noble friend the President of the Council to
the fact that, whilst Government refused to undertake
any metropolitan improvements, the hands of the metropolis
itself were tied. The metropolis had no authority itself,
and it could find no one who had the power to make the im-
provements which were so much required; so that, at the
present moment, large works for the improvement of the
metropolis were at a stand-still. Through the conduct of
the corporation of the city of London, the public had lost
a most healthful and interesting high road, which by right
belonged to it, alcng the banks of the Thames. Through
the conduct of the conservators of the river, the public
were entirely shut out from its banks. For five miles in
a direct line from London-bridge, the banks of the Thames
were entirely occupied by wharves, and there was no open
space left for the use of the public. This was a state of
things highly dangerous to the health of the metropolis,
and to that portion of it which was most densely inhabited
by persons who could not, from their occupations, go into
the country for relaxation. He did not object to the votes
for Kensington-gardens or for the recent purchase of Bur-
lington-house, with the objects of which he quite agreed,
but he desired that all parts of the metropolis should be
treated exactly alike. He therefore wished to know how
the metropolitan improvements were to go on, if Govern-
ment threw off the responsibility, and would not let any
one else take it up? Under the present circumstances, he
thought they ought to say how these works were to be
carried on. The questions of the Board of Sewers, of the
supply of water, and several other matters, were equally
pressing, but there was no authority whatever which could
settle them. He therefore trusted that his noble friend
would state without any delay what project Government
had in view on this subject, and that not a day would be
lost in placing it in such a state of forwardness that it
could be submitted to the metropolis.
Mr. A. HASTIE objected altogether to the system of
compelling people at large to pay taxes for the purpose of
carrying out improvements in the metropolis. He moved
that the vote be rejected
Sir W. MOLES WORTH said he hoped the committee
wouid not agree to the motion of the hon. gentleman. He
would briefly refer to the facts of the case. In the year
1846, an act had been passed authorising the Commission-
ers of Woods and Forests to form Battersea-park, and to
borrow for that purpose 200,0001. from the Exchequer-
loan Commissioners. Tim total estimated cost of the under-
taking was 308,0001.; of that sum 236,0001. bad already
been expended ; so that there would be required only
72,0001. more to complete the park ; and of this 72,0001. a
SUM of 25,5001. would be wanted in the present year. He
had every reason to believe that in the year 1862-63, or
within a period of about 6 years after the completion of the
park, a sum of 326,0101. would be received for ground-rents
or, in other words, a sum nearly equal to the principal and
the interest of the entire expenditure. But if the motion
of the hon. gentleman were adopted, and if the park were
to be left unfinished, there would be a positive and a very
considerable loss to the public. The whole of the area
which the park was to occupy, with the exception of about
one acre, had already baen purchased, and there was to be
paid for that land a sum of 23,000/., of which 17,030/.
should be paid out of the vote then under the consideration
of the committee, under a contract entered into upon the
faith of Parliament. Another point to which he would
advert was the assistance which the Government were pre-
pared to afford for the construction of a park in Finsbury.
The estimated cost of such a park was 250,0001., and the
Government had last year intimated their readiness to
apply to Parliament for 50,000/. of that amount if the in-
habitants of the borough and the surrounding districts
should raise the remaining 200,0001. That offer, however,
had not been accepted, and no steps had since been taken
in the matter.
Lord R. GROSVENOR said ho wished to know whether
the Government meant to allow metropolitan improve-
ments to be carried at hap-hazard, or whether they pro-
posed to introduce any fixed and comprehensive scheme
under which those improvements should be conducted?
Lord J. RUSSELL said that the Government would
have to consider that subject next session, when they
should have to deal with the report of the commissioners
who had recently inquired into the state of the City cor-
porazion.
Mr. SPOONER would warn the right hon. baronet op-
posite (Sir W. Moleawurth) that if he were to offer to ad-
vance on the part of the Government a portion of the funds
required fcr the construction of Finsbury Park, he would
receive applications for similar aid from Birmingham and
other large towns.
Mr. W. WILLIAMS said that the construction of Bat-
teraea-park would be productive of the immense advan-
tage of providing a place of healthy recreation for not less
than half a million of human beings, while the whole of the
BUM expended on the work would be repaid in the course
of a few years. He would, under similar circumstances,
support a measure for the construction of a park in Fins-
bury, or in any other district.
Mr. GEORGE DUNCAN had been instrumental in ob-
taining the grant for Scotland from Sir R. Peel; it was only
given on condition that a larger sum would bo provided by
the locality.
Mr. CHEETHAM thought the time was come for the
members of large constituencies to set themselves against
such votes.

Mr. JAMES MACGREGOR begged to remind the right
hon. baronet the Commissioner of Public Works, that a
large sum of money had been set aside for the formation of
a road from London to Westminster-bridge on the Surrey
side; if some steps were not soon taken the money would
be lost, for it was given on condition that the road should
be made within five years.
Sir W. MOLES WORTH said it was true that a sum of
80,0001. had been set aside for the improvement of the
borough of Southwark, not for this road alone. He was
informed that it would cost four or five times that sum,
and, therefore, he was not prepared to recommend its con-
struction.

. 169
. 48
.-121

..The vote was then agreed to.
The vote of 25,000/. for the registry of 'the High Court
of Admiralty was postponed, and the CHAIRMAN reported
progress.
In reply to Lord D. STUART,
Lord J. RUSSELL said he should go on with the com-
mittee of supply on Thursday next.
COMMONS INCLOSURE (No. 2) BILL.
This bill was read a second time.
SHERIFF AND SHERIFF CLERK OF CHANCERY
(SCOTLAND) BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed.
The Registration of Births, &c. (Scotland) Bill passed
through committee.

Mr. BRADY opposed the vote. The locality of the pro.
posed park was a mere swamp ; if it were not, some of the
capital ,that was being so largely invested in building in
the environs of London would have
Sines the opening of the Crystal Palace .found its way there.
laceo the traffic through
tho bcrough had much increased, and something ought to
ba done to improve it.
to be d
--"P"le3 Wasproposed the metropolitan members. would
bnlir,,s2 -V. SCULLY hoped that when any vote for Irish
displayneed m rosiy as they did when anything was
onstituents.
The vote Was beenegfieleir c
g ed to without a division.
On the n then agreed
the formation of an em-
bankment and vete,
of
35,"""
Public tersea bridges,
Dr. MICHELL roadway between Vauxhall and Bat-
was about to b
~.13 e.rp c trated for the benefit of Messrs.
e condemned this scheme as a job which
Cubitt, the 31
Cornwall. ----13u8 of Westminster, and the Duchy of
Captain SCOBELL co d.
for such improvements and,
the principle of voting
were the last it would he these, and hoped that these
of public money. Pr°Posed should be paid for out
3,1 r. HILDYARD hoped his h
y ila.
would take the sense of the home, °an- friend (Dr. Michell)
wa to put a stop to such votes as thist
part of the
Sir W. MOLESWORTII said that th'st
TVdiscussed in
b ad been Banc-
: the only
Battersea-park scheme, which had bee:: the house on many previous occasions,
tioned both by acts of Parliament and
alitouirdprcoevrteaminenlyt.cLivide the committee
therefore, hoped the house would not • y v°tee- Re, reject the vote for
theD rc.ommprleetlioEnLofLths
against the vote.
After a short discussion, Dr. MICHELE, withdrew his
opposition, and the vote was agreed to without a division.
On the next vote of 3,3931. for works and repairs at the British Ambassador's house in Paris,
Mr. WYSE, after commenting upon the disgraceful
condition into which, according to the report of Mr. Alba-
no, this house had been allowed to get, inquired what por-
tion of the furniture of the house belonged to the nation
and also whether the Government had given any, and what,, encouragement to the building of a new English church
in Paris, for which he understood Lord Cowley had re-
quested a grant of money or land.
Sir W. MOLES WORTH said that the greater portion of
the furniture at the English embassy in Paris belonged to
the Government ' - and that a clerk of the works had been
appoiatod to control the expeaditure for the repairs, In

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, JULY 8, 1854

the President of the Council would be ;prepared, before a.
further vote was required for the remo ,val of the institr,
tions in question, to appoint a select con imittee to inquire
into the expediency of such removal?
Lord J. RUSSELL was understood to say that he could
give no pledge upon the subject.
The house then divided—
For the vote
Against it
Majority
The vote was accordingly agreed to
A sum of 5,0001. for carrying out, under Government
superintendence, the expedition proje,oted by the Royal
Geographical Society for the exploration of Australia,
having been proposed,
Mr. PHILIPPS said he feared that the whole of that
sum would be expended before the meta bers of the expe-
dition could have taken more than the preliminary steps
in connection with their object.
Mr. LOWE said that Dr. Leichardt had occupied two
years in exploring Australia, and that a grant of only
2,0001. had been made for the purpose of his expedition.
The vote was then agreed to.
A sum of 2,8001. to defray expenses incurred in connec-
tion with the medical staff despatched to Jamaica and
other West India islands, and for the relief of distress
arising from cholera, and yellow fever in those islands,
having been proposed,
Mr. GOULBURN took occasion to ask whether her
Majesty's Ministers were aware that cholera had broken
out in the island of Jamaica, and whether any steps had
been taken to furnish additional medical assistance to the
inhabitants of that island?
Sir G. GREY said that he had been informed of the
fact that cholera had broken out in Jamaica. No repre-
sentations had been made to the Government with respect
to any deficiency in the medical staff in that island, but he
should observe that the governor had expressed his deep
regret that the assembly had refused to provide the funds
necessary to meet the present emergency.
Sir J. PASINGTON said the right hon. the Secretary
for the Colonies had not miTectly stated the purport of his
remarks. All he wished was, that the Government should
again send out medical inspectors in the same manner as
was done by Earl Grey when this epidemic last visited the
West Indies.