The Sun.
London, England, 1847-04-13 00:00:00

WES rmiNs rER.

Mr. HUME moved for a return of the aggregate
amount already paid, or agreed to be paid, to contrac-
tors and other persons for the purchase of land and
houses for the erection of the Palace of Westminster
(or, Houses of Parliament); distinguishing, under se-
parate heads, 1. the cost of the purchases of the
lands and hereditaments ; 2. the cost of the whart-
ing, terrace, and foundations for the buildings ; 3.
the cost of the carcase or shell already executed ;
4. The coat of the principal alterations made
from time to time, stating the authority under which
they were severally sanctioned ; 5, the cost of the in-
tt.rior finishings ; 6, the cost of the internal decorations
of the Ilouie of Lords and its adjuncts, as far as they
have been completed ; 7, the amount of the commission
and other charges paid, or to be paid, to the architect ;
8, the amouut paid, or to be paid, to surveyors,
valuers, clerks of the works, and all other persons
who have been employed, and not included in
the architects or builder's charge—so as to exhibit the
whole amount of the expenditure of every description,
under these principal heads, for work done at the
Palace of Westminster and its appendages, up to the
31st tray of December 1846. Also, an estimate, under
the separate heads above stated, of the sums
which will be required to pay for such other
lands and hereditaments intended to be pur-
chased for the completion of the Palace and the ap-
proaches thereto ; of the sum required to finish the
Houses of Lords and Commons and their appendages ;
of the sum necessary for the Victoria Tower, and all
other works proposed to be executed to finish the Palace.
Also, a copy of the several contracts made with builders
or other persons for the construction of the said
works, stating the conditions and amount of each
original contract; and also a statement of every altera-
tion or deviation therefrom, and the amou❑t pa►d, or to
be paid, for each such contract and alteration, and under
what authority such alterations or deviations were seve-
rally made. Account of the sums paid each year since
the destruction of the Houses of Parliament by fire, for
temporary buildings, and repairs for the accommodation of
Parliament. Of all sums paid each year for the rent of
houses as offices, for transacting the business of Parlia-
ment. The amount paid each year as allowance for
rent in lieu of official residences or apartments, for the
officers of the two Houses ; also, statement of the
time when the accommodation intended for those
officers and offices %ill be ready for occupation.
Also an account of the aggregate amount of all snms
paid by the Treasury or Woods and Forests, on account
of the new Houses, including all allowances for house
rent for the use of officers, or for offices of the two
Houses, from 1834 to the present period.
Mr. BAILEY seconded the motion. He
thought that before the building was completed,
a sum of not less than two million pounds would
be expended, and he thought that it was high time for
Parliament to exercise some control over the expendi-
ture of so large a sum of money.
The motion was then agreed to.
QUAKERS' AND JEWS' MARRIAGES.
Mr. CHRISTIE asked for leave to bring in
a Bill
to remove the doubts as to the Quakers' and Jews mar-
riages, solemnized before the 2d of March, 18,7. He was
induced to bring in this Bill in consequence of the
opinion that had been expressed on this subject by the
judges and the Law Lords since the passing of the
Act of 1833. No doubt had been cast on the marriages
solennised before 1837, but u❑doubtedly some had been
thrown on those which had since taken place, and those
interested in the matter were anxious that a short Act
should be at once passed to confirm their marriages, and
he hoped no opposition would be offered to the intro
duction of the Bill.
Dr. BOWRING seconded the motion.
The motion having been put,
Sir G. GREY had much doubt as to the validity of
the documents to which the Honourable and Learned
Gentleman had referred, and he was assured by a high
authority that, in his opinion, those doubts had really
no existence. But as doubts had been expressed as to
the validity of these marriages in certain quarters, he
had no objection to the introduction of the Bill.
Leave was then given to introduce the Bill.
BENGAL CUSTOMS.

On the motion of Mr. HUNIE the following return
was agreed to :—Accounts of the gross and net amount
of the Customs at the Presidency of Bengal (for the last
year the accounts have been received) ; also, of the se-
veral articles imported free, and of the net amount
received on each separate article paying duty in the last
year for which the accounts have been received; and of
the aggregate amount of duty received on each class—
classing them under the following heads, viz.:-1, A list
of all articles producing a less net revenue of
Customs duty than 1,000 rupees each article;
2, a list of articles producing more than 1,000 rupees,
and less than 5,000; 3, a list of articles producing
5,000 rupees, and less than 10,000; 4, a list of
all articles producing 10000 rupees, and less than 100'000
5. A list of all articles producing more than 100,000
ropers, and less than 500,000. 6. A list of all articles
producing more than 500,000, so as to exhibit the
aggregate amount for each class, and the revenue of
these six clases. Also, a statement of any modifications
in the duties on imports since the return laid before
the House, in Parliamentary Paper, No. 116, of Session
1846. Similar account for the Presidency of Madras.
Similar account for the Presidency of Bombay. Similar
account for the North Western Provinces. Also, a simi-
lar return of the several articles exported from each of
the three Presidencies and North Western Provinces,
under similar eksses as to amounts. Also, a statement'
of any modifications in the duties on goods exported,
classed in the same manner as for the imports.
TAXAI lON OF COSTS.
Mr. HUME desired leave to bring in a Bill to esta-
blish a taxation of the bills of costs relative to
private Bills before the House of Commons.
The necessity of such a measure was cry necessary
for no Teas a sum than 82,331,0001. were expended upon
the promotion of Bills, having for their object the
public advantage. The Liverpool Dock Bill cost
31,0001. ; the Liverpool Waterworks cost 36,0181.
only instances of a vast number.
übjected to taxation before the 4

authorities, these extra charges could not have been
nude, and the Biii which he proposed to introduce
would furnish a remedy for the evil. The
Trustees of the River Clyde, for clearing, preserving,
and improving the navigation of that river,
barn put to an enormous expense, not in purchasing
land, but in forced litigation upon it. The expense
they had incurred since 1836, in law proceed-
itigg, was 56 0001., a sum considerably greater
than what was expended upon the river itself.
A trifling local Act, which was to last for twenty years,
having expired, a Bill was brought in to continue
it. The Committee sat only one hour, and yet the
attorney sent in his bill fur 1,985/. On being asked
the reason for this most enormous charge, he said,
that others made similar charges, and why should he
not do so. Re had that morning received information
from a committee at Bury. A Bill was introduced last
session called the Bury Improvement Bill. The object
of it v 4 as entirely sanatory, and yet the cost
VOI3 3,6961.—a greater sum than was actually required
to effect the purposes of the Bill. Ile thought it right
that he should state these facts in authority
of hi; measure. He would trust no man in

tlie:.e matters, as the Reform Corporations was quite as
bad as others. The Corporation o(aGlasgow was a
Reform Corporation, yet it had acted F 6 better than any
of the others to which he had alluded. As an ifinstra-
tion of the enormous costs of Railway Bill, he might
inentb.n the fact that last year the London and York Bill
cost 432,6201, Ile would now move for leave to bring in
the Bill.

Leave was then given to bring in the Bill.
EXCHEQUER BILLS BILL.
This Bill passed through Committee. The whole of
;he clauses were agreed to.