The Sun.
London, England, 1833-08-13 00:00:00

UNIPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, AUGUST 12.
The Howe resumed at a quarter past five o'clock.
Mr. LITTLETON said he had been intrusted with a
petition from a gentleman named Molyneux, a Magistrate,
of the counties of Stafford and Worcester, and carrying
on the business of a banker at Dudley. It alluded to a
hand hill which had been extensively circulated in the
town of Dudley, and which purported to contain a state-
ment which had been, on a former occasion, made by his
Hon. and Learned Friend the Solicitor-General. In the
course of that speech his Hon. and Learned Friend had
been made to impute improper conduct and strong party
zeal to the Magistrates of Dudley.
The SPEAKER asked if th,- petition referred to a
speech which had been delivered in that House, as if so, it
was contrary to rul•- to allow it to be received.
Mr. LITTLETON said the petition merely allude.l
to a handbill in which his Honourable and Learned
Friend was represented to have made a statement ;
but it did not say whether that statement had been
made in the House or not.—(Hear, hear.) He (Mr.
Littleton) begged leave to say, that upon an iutimatt,
knowledge of the four Magistrates of Dudley, lie knew
no men of greater honour and respectability than they
were. He had never heard that any of those gentlemen
had in their administration of the law given dissatisfac-
tion, and lie entertained a very high respect for them.
As to the charge of party spirit, his Hon. and Learned
Friend, in his address to his constituents, must have been
somewhat in error; because, at the last election, those gentle-
men afforded him great assistance; the charge therefore of
party spirit was necessarily done away with. He was sure
that his Hon. and Learned Friend did not intend to throw
any discredit on those gentlemen, either individually or as
a body, and he appehended his Hon. and Learned Friend
had not known them, or he would not have used the words.
The petition was then read ; after stating the substance
of the complaint made by the Solicitor-General, it corn
plained of the injury such statements were likely to pro-
duce upon their public characters, and prayed the House to
institute an inquiry, with a view of ascertaining whether
the conduct of the magistrates in the discharge of their
duties was in any degree reprehensible.
The SOLICITOR GENERAL said he would by no
means oppose the prayer of the petition for an investiga-
tion into the circumstances of the case, for he
was quite sure that the result would bear him
out in the assertion that he bad made, and which
did not go the length of imputing any intentional mis-
conduct. He was quite convinced that some change must
take place in the appointment of the magistracy, and
that he had already expressed ; but he was not
prepared to expect that the magistrates would have

sent such a petition to the House; after the explana,ion
which he had given to them on the subject of what he had
said in that House. The Hon. and Learned Gentleman
then read extracts from a lettter he had addressed to
the Magistrates, which stated that he considered their
conduct as public men as open to comm nt—to such cri-
ticism as he himself was constantly subjected to; that. he

had not imputed misconduct to them, but that they were
certainly active and zealous political partisans, and all
of one party ;—that they were respectable private
characters, chiefly engaged in trades, and from that c -
cunastance not fit to adjudicate upon particular statutes;
and that be had no intention of giving person .1 offence.
After such an explanation, continued the Honourable and
Learned Member, he did not expect that any appeal would
have been made to that House.—(Hear.) He had that
day received a petition which, in one day, had b,en signed
by SOO or 400 persons, on the subject of these magistrates,
which coinpl tined of the political power so long
enjoyed by magistrates of strong party politics,
and prayed that such provision might be made as would
vest the right of electing magistrates and other civil officers
in the community. He would repeat that some change
must take place in the system, and that without :ouch delay.
He was happy to hear from his Noble Friend, the
Chancellor of the Exchequer, that it was probable a
13.11 would be brought in next session to enable Dudley,
and towns like it, to elect their own inagi-trates.—(Hear. )
S r HENRY HARDINGE said that he had received
a petition to present respecting the magistrates of Dudley,
hut after the high eulugium which had been pass-d upan
them by the Right Hon. Gentleman opposite, he should
deem it unnecessary. He was extremely sorry the Ho-
nourable and Learned Solicitor-General had not at onc,

expressed his regret for having cast an imputation unon
the characters of the magistrates of Dudley; but certainly
at this late period of the session, after the testimony which
had been borne to their char .cter by the Right Hon.
Genceman opposite, he did not think it requisite to enter
into any inquiry a• to their conduct.
Sir 0. MOSLEY begged to hear witness to the re-
spectability of the magistracy of Dudley, the attack upon
whom by the Solicitor-General was only made worse by
his apology. He did not believe them to be the zealous
political partisans lie represented them to be.
Sir FRANCIS BURDETT said that no attack was
made upon the respectability of the Dudley Magistrates.
All that was said was, that like other men they entertained
strong political feelings which made them liable to
the suspicion of acting from motives not satisfactory
to the people.—(Hear, hear.) No one could doubt
that the ordinary administration of justice required
revision, especially those parts of it intrusted to maxis
trates, who did not appear to be in a situation so respon-
sible to the higher authorities of the law as couA be
wished. It was impossible to read the public newspapers
without being struck with the w tat of such
i revision of the law. This morning he had r.ad a
report of the trial of a shepherd at Lewes who had
been condemned to transportation for life for sheep-
stealing, when it appeared that lie had only taken
a twill lamb, according to a custom prevalent in
the county for shepherd+ to take one of every twin lamb
dropped. He trusted that this case would meet with the
attention of the proper authorities.
Mr. COBBETT thought there must be some mistake
in the report, for if a shepherd were to take one
of every twins dropped by the ewes, he would soon have
Inure than half the flock.—(A laugh.) He presumed
the Hon. Baronet alluded to a custom which prevailed in
some parts of the country of allowing the shep-
herds one of the lambs when an ewe dropp►d
three lambs. If the shepherd hail gone further, he had,
he should think, made himself amenable to the law.
About the beginning of the session of Parliament he had
presented two petitions from Dudley, complaining of the
great partiality of the Magistrates, and in some instances
of their almost denial of ju.tice. He hoped, therefore,
that their petition for an inquiry into their conduct
would he granted by the House ; and he saw no reason
why it should not take place immediately.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL begged leave to say
chat although he knew nothing of the Mag;strates in his
legal character, he knew from personal knowledge
that they were most active political partisan•.
At the same time he did not impute to them any per-
sonal misconduct.

Mr. LITTLETON observed that whatever the Hon.
and Learned Gentleman mi,iht believe on this point, the
fact was that one of them had been one of the most active
friends of the 11..forin Hear.)
Sir El. HARDINGE remarked that after the unex-
eptionable character given of these Magistrates by the
Chairman of the Quarter Sessions, the accusation of the
Hon. and Learned Gentleman did seem to him most mis-
applied. He hoped that the Hon. and Learned Gentle-
man would retract it.

The SOLICITOR. GENERAL repeated again, for the
satisfaction of the Right Hon. and Gallant Member, that
he did not impute personal misconduct to these gentlemen ;
but still he thought himself entitled to declare, that in his
opinion they were zealous and active political parris ins.
The Hon. and Learned Gentleman begged to be allowed,
now that the attention of the House hail been called to the
subject, to present the petition of the inhabitants of Dud-
ley. com6aining of the conduct of these Magistrates.
The SPEAKER, however, said, that this permission
could not be granted. The Hon. and Learned Member
could not present the petition till it came to his turn
to do so.

BOROUGH OF STAFFORD.
Sir OSWALD NIOSLEY presented a petition from
Stone. in Staffordshire, praying that that town might he
included in the enlarged limits of the borough of Staff
for they urged the Huuse not to think of disfranchising
that borough.

Sir J. WROTTESLEY supported the prayer of the
petition.

NATIONAL GAL LERY—BUCKINGHANI PALACE,
Mr. HUME wished to put a question to the
Lord olVosite of some importance. The burn of 50,0001
td been voted last session towards building a National
Gallery, and he wished to know whether anything hit
been done in the expenditure of the money? He had
understood that the estimate originally delivered was for
32 000/., that Then it was raised to 40,000/., and
.iutisequently to 50,000/. ; but that at present tlifficulttes
had been found in finishing it at 76,0001. He should be
glad to know whether Ministers had come to any and
what determination upon the sot ject ?
Lord DUNCANNON replied that the Hon. Member
was quite correct in his information. The sum of 50,0001.
hid been voted IT Parliament last, less on ; since vat
time, alterations had bera suggested which hat increased
the estimate. Complaints had been made against the
proposed line, interfering as it would with the view 01

At. Martin's Church, so that with the alterations the
Gallery would cost more by about ~i'l. than
the largest sum mentioned by the Hon. Uentleman.
As such was the case, a new, more convenient, and tror
practicable plan had been proposed for the reception aril
exhibition of the national pictures; it was that the:,,
should be placed in the Banquetting..house at Whitehall,
in that part of the building now employed as a chapel for
soldiers. It was a much finer room, and, at a compara-
tively small cast, would do full justice to the pictures,
while recompense could be made to the architect intended
to have been employed. To convert the chapel into a
gallery, with apartments for a keeper of the pictures, and
to erect a new chapel for the soldiers, would not cost
more than 25,000/. or 26,000/., and the saving to the
public would on the whole b little less than 100,0001.
by letting the proposed site for buil.iings which would in
no respect interfere with the front of St. Martin's chord:
Mr. HUME had observed a great deal of scaffolding
about Buckingham Palace; had any increased expense hem
incurred there, or was it intended to complete the whol
on the scale and plan already submitted to the House ?
Lord DUNCANNON could answer the }lon. Member
exactly on that subj-ct. He was aware, no doubt, that
75,0001 had been voted to complete the building under

the recommendation of a Committee. It had been stated
on that occasion that as soon as the building was finished,
it would he necessary to come to Parliament for a styli ICI
fit ings, fixtures, and decorations, and a very large amoun

had been named for the furniture and fixtures. He bad

the satisfaction to be able to state, that notwithstanding
some changes made in the finishing of the building, it
would be completed within the 75,0001. voted.—(Cheers.)
The Hon. Member had seen a good dell of scaffolding on
,he side of Pimlico—it arose from Government having
failed in purchasing at any price which could he justified
that part of Pimlico which was required. It had, there-
fore, been necessary to make offices on that aide of the
Palace; they were of stone in order that they might
have a handsome appearance, and they had been carried
farther in order to give the public the accomm,dation of
a wider turning than 114 ire existed. Perhaps the Hon.
Gentl-man meant to allude also to a scaffold in front
of the Palace; that was connected with what was
c,,lled the marble arch, and he was hippy to say that
it had been paid for before the repairs of the Paiace were
entered upon. Parliament would have to provide in cone
way for fixtures, furniture, and .'ecorations, and he (Lord
D.) thought that he shoul I be warranted in asking a
grant for the purpose even in the prt sent session ; if not,
between this date and the next meeting of the House tee
works must be susp-nded that would otherwise be entirely
finished. I' had been proposed that the sum required for
furniture, fittings, lixtuns, and decorations should be

'aken out of the land revenu,s of the Crown, and for that
purpose a Bill would be necessary. If it would be any
satisfaction to the House to hear his opinion as to the
amount, he had talon some trouble to be able to state that
50 0001. would probably be sufficient. It was the express
and erarious wish of his Alaj,siy that no more gilding
,nd decoration should be in,roduc. d than was necessary,
and he was also anxious that the furniture should not be
of the expensive and extravagant descriptio❑ originally
contemplated.

Sir 11. HARDINGE was desirous of hearing whether
the Nvional Glllery had been given up, or whether the
nia,ter was yet undec:d.•d ?

Lord ALTiIORP spoke very indistinctly, hut we un
derstood him to say that no new exp, nse would he in

rut red without the sanction of Parliament. Whatever
course was to be Wien with reeard to a National Gal-

lery, he strongly recommended that the estimatts
should be completed, and the entire SUFI' voted by Parlia-
ment before the building was commenced. Thi, mode of
proceeding might, perhaps, avoid the excess so frequently
complained of. Ministers had certainly not yet come to
any final decision regarding the N itional Gallery.
Sir H. HARDINGE objected to the introduction of
the subject when the House was necessarily so thin.
Lord DUNCANNON added, that it was necessary to
arrive at some conclusion without delay, as Government
was bound at an eat ly date to open a passage twenty fe,
wide between certain buildings to he erected and the
house where the national pictures were at present deposited.

Mr. E. G. STANLEY asked whether Nlinisrets were
pledged to any particular plan if the national gallery were
built?

Sir It. INGLIS reminded the House that the intended
eallery was for sculptures as well as for paintings.
Another point was whether at Whitehall a good light
could be obtained hie the pictures.
Lord DUNCANNON remarked, that a gallery for pic-
tures, without watues, was originally contemplated. As
to the second point of the Hon. Bironet, he coo d state
that the chapel in Whitehall had been examined by com-
petent persons, who had assured him that it was pecu-
liarly adapted for the reception of the national pictures.
the light would he extremely good, by pl ,cing them upeL
screens between the windows. It uas undoubtedly ten«
that the building had never been consecrated; and when
the project was mentioned to his Majesty, he was pleas.,
to express his entire approbation of it. As to the extent
to which Ministers were pledg-d, lie must say that he
thought they were p'edi;ed to the architect to the extent

of the grant, already made for this obj-et by Parliament.
That individual hof been direc,ed to prepare a plan upon
the scale of 50,0001., and tenders had been received fur
the contract.

To another quevion from Mr. E. G. STANLEY,

Lord DUNCANNON answered, that after the grant of
50,000/ had been made, two or three persons of science
were appointed to lo ,k over the plan, and some altera-
tions had been sueges ed by them, one of which was the
change of the line of the building, and another increasing
its elevation. Of course these alterations would increas,
the expense, and it wis supposed that if 62,000/. in
the whole could be procured from Parliament, tendeis
.nd contracts might be made, and the work be commenced.
Af!erwards, when it was found that not less than 75,000/.
would be sufficient, the work was at once stopped.
Mr. WARBURTON wished to impress upon Govern-
ment, that whatever site was selected, it ought to be cilia-
ble of extensi m ; and he ventured to doubt whether the
gallery at Whi,ehall would be capable of extension. It
might be suited for a temporary deposit of the pictures,
but not for a permanent g ,llery. Individuals might, ants
no doubt would, make valuable bequests and donations to
the gallery, and there ought to be room to add pictures as
they were obtained. He begg.d the N :ble Lord to state
what, from first to last, the marble arch at Buckingham
Palace had cost the country.

Lord DUN2ANNON said that the point whether the
gallery at Whitehall could not he extended, had been con-
sidered; snd it wus thought that it might. As to tht-
last question put by the lion. Gentleman, he (Lord D
doubted whether it would be any satisfaction to him to
know d:, whole cost of the marble arch. It had certainly
been very expensive, and a proposal had been made to poi
it down ; but it was thought that that would be a tresl,
source of charge, and that the best mode would be to
tini•li it merely as it stood at present. Oiiginally it had
b .en designed to make it toilet) higher, but it was con-
sidered that,in that case it would overbear the palace
He had the pleasure of assuring the 1-1,.n. Member and
the House tha, th- to rh!e arch had b ell entirely p tid I.
Mr. WARBURTON wished to hear, first, what
would cost ,0 finish it, and, next, what would be the ex•
pence ~f polling it down ?

DUNCANNON observed, that it hal already
cost 70,0001.

SINECURES.

Mr. HUME gave notice that on Thursday next he
would bring on his motion r•-grrding the sinecures held
by Lord Melville and Mr. Du alas, and on that cecasion
be would move an address to the Clown, praying an in •
quiry into all sio.•ewes.

Mr. YOUNG presented a petition from the Com-
mittee of the general Shiu-owners' Society, on the suhj,ct
of the East lorlir trade.—Laid upon the table.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL presented the petit on
respecting the Magistracy of Dudley, mentioned in
former part of the eveninz.