The Sun.
London, England, 1841-09-22 00:00:00

EVENING SUN

creations of bathing in, and skating on, the ornamental
waters of Hyde Park, St. James's, and the Regent's •
Park, by filling up the deep and dangerous places,
so as to leave not exceeding four feet depth of water
in any of the above-mentioned Parks. When he gave
notice of his motion on Thursday last it was re-
ceived with merriment, but as he was anxious only
to put an end to the deplorable sacrifice of life which an-
nually took place in the Royal Parks, he trusted there-was
too maeli humanity in the House to turn the question into
laughter. As it involved no interests but those of hu-
manity, he trusted that that indulgence so usually bestow-
ed on a young Member would not be withheld from him.
At a meeting called to consider the propriety of his re-
sol n tions, it was resolved that upon a careful consideration
of the dangers to which:the public were exposed, both in the
skidting season and the bathing season, it was the opinion
of the 'Committee that the suggestions should be adopted.
The Hon. Member then referred to a return of the num-
ber of persons drowned and recovered in the Regent's,
Hyde, and St. James's Parks for the year 1835 to
the present year, from which it appeared that 35 persons
had been di:owned, and 355 persons had been recovered.
He would :tele the House if this state of things ought 0)
continue when a remedial measure could be adopted?
He would just state that the number of suicides com-
mitted in Hyde Park during the period referred to,
ainoueted to twenty-one. For that he did not propose
any reratedy.—Loud laughter.) The Royal Humane
Society had incurred an expense annually amounting to
3,3371. for the purpose of endeavouring to prevent these
disastrous occurrences, but all their exertions had proved
inadequate. He thought he had shown this was a mat-
ter of nu very trivial nature, and he would ask Hon.
Members if the: could consider themselves exonerated,
if they refused ro adopt remedial measures for the pur-
pose of saving hunnan life? The Royal Humane Society
had stated that they believed the measure he
;,a about to propose was both remedial and
practicable. No fatal accident had occurred in the
Regent's Park, and this was in consequence of
the ehallowness of the water. In Hyde Park

and t. James's Park, the ornamental waters
were in some few places thirteen feet deep, an:l
he proposed to reduce that depth to four feet, so as
to make them safe. The materials sufficient to do this
would.rn,t, be more than those required to make a third-
rote rai:road embankmet, an he was convinced that if
a depot fur materials were opened at each end of the
lakes. materials sufficient would soon be accumulated,
without any expense except that attending the conveying
them in boats to those parts of the lake, and of the Ser-
pentine, where they were to be thrown overboard. The
work was practicable, and the expense would be inconsi-
Ai:hougl it mig:lt inr,erf

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lhat the Hon. Gentleman

G.) was inimical to his
-
humane intenti,gr.:, if tai poied the motion' which he
had ma di. He the one ail n- ,t regret that the motion
was made, b?,cawie it farnislied an opporanity of bear-
ing testimony to the 'exertions of the Humane Society,
which it was extremely satisfactory to witness. But he
thoitght he could state some coniiderations which would
initt.,..! the Gentleman to admit that, whatever ad-
vantages might be derivable fro:n his plan being carried
into execution, it would, on the other hand, be attended
with circumstances which Ivoul,l not make it so desirable.

()'()Si 1.,0',11(1

was made to any demands that were coasi-
nuri alorn he thought

ooposi
d,rL4l minecessar:

anti on that

.
he might oppose it. But he was old enough to
remember that formerly great efforts were made
to have those very sheets of water deepened,
which the Honeurable Gentleman now desired to
reader shallow. Flom ten twenty thou,eand pounds were
granted. for the purpose of rendering the water deeper
in these places. Now, the Hon. 'Member wished not only to
tiodo ad that was on that ocen-:ion performed, but to put
a:) additional accumulation of earth in those basins, so
that the water would be only four feet deep. He con-
fessed he was not able at once to calculate the expense
of that measure ; but even taking the expense to be what
the Hon. Gentleman stated it likely to amount to—
ennely, drat of making an embankment on a railway—
though he confessed he thought it would amount to
mach more ; but even taking that estimate, would the
proat to be derived from the alteration compensate for
the expenditure ? He remembered when the Serpen-
tine was so shallow that it became extremely offen-
sive, from time to time, in consequence of the mud
and offal from buildings in the neighbourhood, that
accumulated in it ; and one of the grounds
urged for deepening the water was the abating of that
annoyance, to which not only those who bathed in the
water, but also the persons who went for recreation in
the Park, were exposed, and who were thus deprived, in
a great measure, of the pleasure which the Parks were
calculated to afford. He was aware that no man went
into the water without risking his life ; but, at the same
time, this was a manly and invigorating exercise ; and
he should be sorry to debar those classes of society from
it, by whom it was desirable such advantages should be
enjoyed.—(Hear, hear.) He would also ask whether
the proposition of the lion. Member would be practi-
cable, with any enjoyment, to the parties using the
water for their recreation.—(Hear, hear.) He was also
quite certain that it would not provide a remedy for the
evil they desired to remove. Its effect would be to
drive the population to other pieces of water, and they
would have them bathing in the Thames or other places,
where there was tenfold danger to life, and where, he
believed, the loss of life would be far greater. He hoped,
therefore, the Hon. Gentleman would withdraw his mo-
tion.—(Hear.)
Mr. replied. The accumulation of mud
which formerly took place in the Serpentine, was occa-
sioned by a sewer that had been recently removed, and
shallow water would not become putrid, provided there
was a constant fresh supply. However, seeing that the
majority of the House would be against him, he should
not press his motion, but he hoped that Government
would take the matter into consideration at a future
time.—(Hear, hear.)
POOR•LAW COMMISSION.

Sir R. PEEL said that he had given notice of a Bill
to continue certain Acts that would expire within a
limited time. Upon consideration, he thought he should
best consult the opinions of the House by bringing in
two Bills—(Hear, hear)—one to continue the Poor-law
Commission, and the other to continue the remaining
Acts. He also thought it right to mention, that those
who might wish to make any motion on the subject
should do so by moving an instruction to the Committee
on the Bill to receive the proposition they wished to
make. He therefore moved for leave to bring in a Bill
to continue the Poor-law. Commission until the 31st of
July, 1842 ; also for leave to bring in a Bill to continue
such laws as woidd expire within a- limited period.

Leave gran' d.
THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHE4II.6II moved
that the following Members be appointed the Select Com-
mittee on Ventilation of the New Houses orParliament :
Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Lord John Russell,
Lard Stanley, Sir John Hobhouse, Sir James Graham,
lord Vis.count ralmerston, Lord Francis• Egerton, Sir
Richard Vyvvan, Mr. O'Connell, Sir Robert Harry
Mr. Wynn, Mr. Francis Thornhill Baring, Sir
George Clerk, Mr. Hawes, Sir Charles Burrell, Mr. T-uf-
noll, Lord Viscount Sandon, Sir John Guest, and Mr.
Vernon Smith.

MAYNOOTH COLLEGE.
On the motion for bringing up the Report of the Com-
mittee of Supply,
Colonel ACTON said he wished to say a few words
to the House on a ;latter personal to himself. He was
most anxious to explain that it was his intention to
have-voted against the grant to the Collega of Maynooth,
and he communicated to several of his friends about
him in the House his fixed determination so to do, but
having inadvertently gone into the old lobby he did not
Tacover his mistake until the door was shut.—
(Laughter.) As soon as he was aware of his mistake he
remonstrated in the strongest manner against being
obliged to record his vote against his principles, and
contrary to his recently expressed opinions, but he was
incOrrned that having gone into the lobby his vote had,
in f„ut, been given, and could not be recalled.—(Hear,
hear, and laughter.) It was most painful to him to vote
against her Majesty'spresent Government, from which he '
had reason to expect such inestimable benefits to the
nation, but lie never could conscientiously vote for the.
laynooth College. He never intended. to do
grant to
so and never would.—(Hear, hear.) He trusted the
House would pardon his intrusion. He felt it due to his
own character, and that of the constituency he had the
honor to represent, thus to explain the appaiamt incon-
sistency
of his conduct —(Hear, hear.)
Mr. PLUMPTR
E said the Gallant Colonel shortly
before the division intimated to him his intention to
vote against the grant, which he woul I doubtless have
done, but that in following
utlnieforHtoonna.teNlylemwebnetr
into
(thxe-
he
ford (Sir R. H. Inglis)
wrong lobby.—(Laughter.)
up.
The Report was then brought
On the vote for the National Gallery being put,
Sir CHARLES BURRELL said her hadbeenuitnformed
by good judges that the Perugino, which haapdieterne lately
of purchased for the National Gallery, was
e
e-
inferior description, and by no means calculated to r
fleet credit on those who hid beenconcerne3r. Bekfi)rd
diinietspur
by
chase. It had originally been bought
for 50/., and had been purchased for the National Gallery
at the enormous price of 8001.
It had been ncalled scribbled all over, that was, repainted—and tesdv_haatndwaas
i
bandeau, which had formerly been round the head of one
f the principal figures, had been removed. He trusted
',lto Right Hon. Gentleman at the head of the Govern-
Inuit, in whose skill r.lnd taste he had the greatest eon-
ildi-aice, would endeavour that some right understanding
:thonld ba Come to regarding that picture.
The Report was then agreed to.
WAYS AND MEANS.
Sir GEORGE CLERK moved that the House do to-
ni..crow resolve isself into a Committee of the whole
i ouse to consider the Ways and Means.
Agreed to.

FOREIGN BISHOPS
The amended Report on the Foreign Bishops Bill was
then brought up and azreed to.

NAVY PAY BILL,

Oa the Order of the 13;lbeingmOvN1 for the th.rd
reaiing of the Navy Bill.
Captain BERKELEY said that he reg-retted Aceing• no
Member of the Government connected with the Admi-
ralty present, as he wished to direct the a:,:eation or tne
•alembers of that Board tcpa grievance tx,
which
siamch
on foreign stations were subje.cted. He would relate
what had happened on board his awn ship
as an iilustra-
tion. The men had received their pay at Gibraltar, and
in consequence of the rate of Pxnitange, had
peen subjekted to a loss of fourpence on every
dollar they received. He had drawn the attention of the
former Secretary of the Admiralty to the subject, and- he
trusted the present Secretary would adopt measures to