The Sun.
London, England, 1847-02-09 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'clock.
REGENT'S CANAL COMPANY (PADDINGTON
AND LIMEHOUSE RAILWAY AND BRANCH).
Sir WILLIAM CLAY moved the second reading of
this Bill.
Mr. WARBLTRTON said the present Bill was under the
consideration of the Woods and Forests, and he thought
the opponents of the Bill were entitled to ask, before it
was read a second time, what was the decision of the
Commissioners upon it—was it to be sanctioned by the
Crown, or must the opponents come up and resist
the Bill at an enormous expense ? If the Crown
refused to sanction the measure there would
be no necessity to oppose the Bill ; and he should, there-
fore, be glad to hear from the Noble Lord at the head
of the Woods and Forests what he intended to do in
the matter. The Crown had conceded certain rights to
Mr. Greenhaugh, who had built a villa in the Regent's-
park, at an expense of 20,0001., under the pro-
tection of the Government, who covenanted that
this property should not be interfered with, without his
consent, and therefore if the Crown sanctioned this
scheme it would commit a direct breach of good faith.—
(Hear, hear.) Mr. Grcenhaugh's villa would be within
thirty feet of the railway, and as that gentleman had
invested his money, relying on the honour of the Crown,
he should propose that the second reading of the Bill
should be postponed until such time as the Woods and
Forests came to a decision upon the subject.
Lord MORETTI' said a matter of good faith between
a subject and the Crown ought not to be trifled with.
He had received many deputations, both of the sup-
porters and the opponents of the Bill, and although he
might not have said anything upon the second reading,
he certainly should have asked for a postponement of
the committal of the Bill till the Government had had
an opportunity of consulting their engineers and law
advisers on the subject.
Sir B. HALL moved that the Bill be read a second
time that day six months.
Colonel SIBTUORP supported the motion of the
Hon. Member for Marylebone. This was another at•
tempted inroad upon private property by speculators,
and he would oppose it to the utmost. It was his duty,
and he hoped he should always fearlessly perform his
duty, to raise his humble voice against all aggression
upon private property. He would always oppose what
he considered an unjust interference with the rights of
British subjects. It was all very well to say that it was
for the public good—no such thing. It was nothing more
than aggrandisement that was sought by a gang of specu-
lators, to encourage the grossest kind of gambling. This
country was once called " the land of freedom," but if
the Government went on in this manner, encouraging
these speculators, the country would be nothing more
nor
.less than a land of oppression and tyranny.
Sir W. CLAY thought the better course would be to
allow the Bill to be read a second time, and reserve any
future proceedings upon the Bill until the Government
had had the opportunity of consulting with the authori-
ties and their legal advisers upon the subject of the rela-
tions existing between the Crown and the tenants.
Mr. HUME thought the House should be decided by
the speech of the Noble Lord connected with the Woods
and Forests. He apprehended the railroad could not be
legally made through the park, and he hoped that ample
time would be given for the further consideration of the
Bill.

Mr. WILLIAMS said that the parties opposed to the
Bill were the ground tenants and the public at large.
These tenants apprehended that they were justly entitled
to the quiet possession of the park, and that they were
entitled to the protection of the Crown ; for if this were
not afforded the greatest apprehension would be ex-
cited among all Crown tenants. The company was a
pure speculative affair, and the House should not coun-
tenance it in inflicting an injury on the tenant of the
Crown. The Regent's Park was one of the principal
lungs of the metropolis ; but if they made a railway on
the banks of the canal the most favourite parts would
be deserted. That part of the park was now frequented
by carriages, and ladies and gentlemen on horse-
back, but they could not then frequent it, owing to the
danger to which their lives would be exposed, in con-
sequence of the horses taking fright at the noise of the
engines.
Sir C. NAPIER. said the Hon. Gentleman had stated
the objections to the Bill so fully and so ably, that it
would be unnecessary for him to say anything on that
subject. He had had the honour that day to be
a member of a deputation which had waited upon
the First Commissioner of the Woods and
Forests upon the subject. The Noble Lord showed them
a plan of the railway, which he (Sir C. Napier) admitted
was certainly very beautifully drawn, but it struck him
very forcibly that the canal was to be sunk considerably,
and the parts round it considerably raised, and that the
towing path was only to be raised one foot above the
canal, whereas, in the original plan, the height of the
path was to be six feet above the canal. The gentleman
mentioned was not the only one who had complained.
He wanted to know how long it would take to train
all the high-spirited horses to the noise of the
engines? But the greatest objection of all was
this. By a map which lie held in his baud
it appeared that the railway would run between the
north and south banks, where there were no less than
forty houses, many of which were double, the gardens
attached to which sloped down to the banks of the canal,
and in fact looked out upon a very pretty river.
The towing path was not largo enough fur
a railway, so that additional ground would have
to be taken by which the carriages • would
be brought much nearer the windows of the houses. If
the line was made in the way proposed what a pleasant
accompaniment the cnrriages and the engines, snorting
and whizzing along, would be a lady playing on a piano-
forte in one of the houses.—(Laughter.) He thought
the parties ought to come towards Euston -square by
some other route. No doubt if the Government would
etate that they would compel the parties not to
injure those houses, that the amendment would be with-
drawn.—(Hear.)
Sir H. INGLIS commented upon the proceedings
which had taken place with respect to the Bill, and sug-
gested that the original motion and the amendment
should be withdrawn, and the Bill postponed until the
Government could make the necessary inquiries.
Lord MORPETH said that his Hon. Friend stated
that he gave his consent to the second reading of the
Bill. Now he did not wish that he should
be mistaken. What he said was this,that until answers to certain inquires
:the
v
made he did not feel himself authorised to preven
progress of the Bill. He would not vote himself for the
to
second reading, but until he received the answer
which he alluded he would not oppose it.---(leaanrs,wheerara.)t
Mr. SHUTT said that he had no sufficienthis
llen. Friend,
present to make to the observations of
He considered that the question ought to be postponed
for a limited time.
Sir B. HALL then withdrew his amendment, that the
Bill be read that day
six
Sir W. CLAY immediately
month;i.thdrew the motion that
the Bill be read a sec end
time
that night, on the under-
standing that it was to stand over umnitsisliosnomeres coofmwmonondis-
cation was received from the coni
and Forests.
q CANAL RAILWAY.
REGENT'S
Mr. T. S. DUNCOMBE preseFntinedsbuy
arr in favourtitionfromof
certain graders in the borough of
the Regent's Canal Railway.
DUTIES ON COPPER ORE.
D 1 r• HUME gave notice that to-morrow orrow ho
move 'for a copy of all memorials and petitions prayiug
forr
ihe rel:unl of the duty on copper ore.
COIXORAL PL
Mr. TIUME also moved for a copy of the returns of
corporal and other punishments on board each of her