The Sun.
London, England, 1836-03-16 00:00:00

Sir JOHN HOB HOUSE laid upon the table the Report
of the Committee, and deemed it unnecessary to make any
lengthened observations in moving that an humble address be
presented to his Majesty, praying that he would be graciously
pleased to institute such enquiry as was recommended by the
Report of the Committee.--( Hear.) The Committee had so
far adopted the plan of Mr. Barry as to recommend an in-
quiry into the probable expense, and it was judged proper
to leave this enquiry entirely in the hands of his Majesty's
Government. The Hon. Gentleman concluded by moving
that an humble address be presented to his Majesty, in con-
formity with the recommendation of the Committee.
Mr. HAWES thought that the motion being one of great
importance ought not to come before them without previous
notice, and he could not help thinking that the House was
taken by surprise. No plan, it appeared, was agreed
upon, and it was proposed that ,an estimate should be taken of
the probable expense of that which was selected only as the
basis of the plan to be adopted. He wished to know if the
Committee had taken evidence, and if so, he would be glad
that it was laid on the table of the House. It was his
wish also to know if the four plans selected by the Commis-
sioners were to be exhibited before a final conclusion were
come to. He felt, however, that that of Mr. Barry would be
finally agreed upon.
Sir J. HOBHOUSE, as chairman of the Committee, felt
bound to give an answer to the question of the Hon. Gentle-
man. Evidence had been taken, and the Commissioners ex-
amined, before any report was made to the House. With
respect to the complaint of no notice having been given, he had
only to repeat, as the Committee had proposed no important
step, they only wished to inform the House of what they had
done before any final selection of the plan, number 64,
was made. If his Honourable Friend wished, or if it
was the opinion of the House, the Committee would have no
objection that the evidence would be in the hands of Members
'of the House.
Sir ROBERT PEEL thought the course pursued by
the Committee was the best, viz., to lay before the House
the earliest possible information that might be essential
before a decision was come to. The House of Commons should
naturally be acquainted what one of the plans, that sup-
posed by the Commissioners to be the best, would cost,
before any final step was taken in the measure. The Com-
missioners appointed by the Crown had devoted a considera-
ble portion of their time and attention to the consideration
of the 80 or 90 plans submitted to theca. 'They weighed
the merits of each, and they selected the four which,
in their opinion, were entitled to a preference .both for
the beauty of the interior, and the solidity of the exterior
building. It was to be considered what the expense would
be, and they would not be justified in adopting any particular
one, until they had ascertained what was the estimate of the
expenses. The Committee considercd that the most advisable
course to pursue was to address the Crown on the subject, and
they thought that his Majesty's Ministers were the persons
best qualified to make the inquiries necessary.—(Hear.) A
prima facie case had been made in the opinion of the Com-
mittee and of the Commissioners in favour of Mr. Barry's
plan ; but they would not be justified in finally selecting it,
land only as the basis for further enquiry. Much would
depend on the kind of stone which was to be used in
the buildings, and upon the durability of the materials used.
He could not FCC that the House was taken by surprise, be-
cause, before a single stone was laid, the House of Commons
being put into possession of the best means of forming a judg-
ment, would then deliberately pronounce its opinion upon the
best plan to be adopted.
Mr. B. HALL wished to know whether it was the intention
of the Government to give a public exhibition of Mr. Barry's
plan ?

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER believed
there would be no difficulty in giving to the public a full view
a Mr. Baku's plan, before the time at which the House of
Commons !Quid be called upon to decide upon the plan they
would adopt.: He begged also to state, in answer to a ques-
tion which had been put to him upon a former occasion by
the Hon. Member for Middlesex, when he was unprepared to
give an answer, about there having been a communication of
Mr. Barry's plan to the Commissioners before tilt), decided on
it, he begged to state that he had taken pains to ascertain
the fact ; and he was now enabled to state, in the most dis-
tinct and precise manner, that up to the period when the seals
were broken, there was not one of the Commissioners who was
at all aware of the nature or arrangements of the plan.
Mr. H E said, that, of course, the evidence taken before
the Committee would be laid before the House. The House
must belo..prrfect possession of hoe it was intended to lay out
the public money before they could be or, to agree to
any resolution upoh the subject.
The motion was then agreed to.
MUTINY IN INDIA.

, Mr: .BARLOW HO Y wished to know whether the Right
Hon. Baronet opposite ' had received any official inter,
mittion -relative 'to" the - mutiny in India of the 44th
Regiment, among the Sepoys, and whether such
a mutiny had arisen in consequence of some alteration made
in the allowance ?
Sir J. HOBIIOUSE could only say in answer, that lie
had heard the rumour, but he had received no official intelli-
gence.