The Sun.
London, England, 1856-03-10 00:00:00

HAAIP,S'TBAD HEATH.

(Front the rimes of this cloy.)
That it would be a pity to destroy liarnpste,ad•heath
any one who has ever been there will at once admit.
With the finest parks iu the world, Londou is still far
too much of a city and breathes too little of the country.
It is a city, not of palaces, like Paris, nor of temples,
like Rouse, but of cities like itself alone—a number of
townships that on the continent would each make a very
respectable capital going to form the great metropolis.
But, though it is every day spreading further and fur-
ther, we are now and then threatened with the loss of
the few scraps of field and garden that are left to us in
this wilderness of brick and mortar. St. James's-park
has just been saved from an encroachment that would
virtually have destroyed it. Hampstead-heath is now,
by the spread of buildings all around, eqrally endan-
gered, although not in the same manner. The heath
consists of about 200 acres of land, and is overlooked by
eminences in the adjoining fields which are admirably
adapted as sites for houses, which contractors would
gladly occupy, and which the possessor would gladly
dispose of. But by the erection of houses on these emi-
nences the beauty of the heath would be very much
destroyed. It is, indeed, not the fault of the present
proprietor that a single acre remains free from bricks
and mortar. By the will of his father, however, be has
no power to grant building leases over thil portion of
his estates, and the property is available only for agri-
celtural purposes. It is, therefore, in the mean-
time of less value than if it were held without
that prohibition. Sir Thomas Wilson, it is true,
has several times applied to Parliament for a
private bill to remove the prohibition, although hitherto
without success ; but if the more general measure which I
has in this se,sion been introduced into the House of
Lords in relation to the leases and sales of settled estates
should become law, he may effect his purpose by obtain-
ing an order from the Court of Chance;ry. At all events,
Sir Thomas Wilson cannot live for ever; on his decease
the entail is liable to be cut off; all impediment to the
erection of buildings will then be at an end, the property
will rise in value, and the Heath will run a great risk of
being spoiled. That the inhabitants of the neighbour-
hood should be solicitous for the safety of their suburL;an
park can excite no surprise, and that they should se-
riously propose to Lily up the Heath, together with the
adjoining grounds, now that it can be obtained at a coal•
paratlvely cheap rate, is a step the wisdom of which no
one will impugn. In all about 300 acres, it is supposed
that this space of ground can be purchlved for about
100,000/. ; and as its natural beauty requires little arti-
ficial aid, there will be no necessity, as in the case of the
Victoria and other parks, for any considerable outlay
beyond that of the actual purchase.
The inhabitants of Hampstead have made a very wise
proposition, but unfortunately they have not addressed
it to the proper quarter. The question is, who is to pay
for this park, and the vestry of St. John, Hampstead,
supported by various other vestries and deputations, re-
' quest the Metropolitan Board of Works to undertake

the buiinesi, anl to do it it: once, While it can be done
I cheaply. - It seeing not yet dicavered that the Metro-
politan Board of Works eintibt'dn' everything at once,
and that there are some things Which it cannot do at
all. It is at present beset with schemes of every descrip-
tion and magsitu,ie•—all urgent,.and all within its sphere.
"Two' or three dozen streets are to be knocked down and
built up, sewers innumerable rare to be constructed,
and,. above oll,thines, the ThirneS; itself is to be purified.
With all thi4,- the Board of Wokes has enough to do in
the metropolis without ,driving; away to Hampstead to
purchase a suburban park. Tee people of Hampstead,
who are most interested in this matter, are a very
wealthy community ; and if, instead of requesting tha
Board of Works—whose business it is to make streets
and rewer,, and not suburban parks—to rate the whole
[metropolis for the purchase-money of the Heath, they
would rate themselves, or subscribe among themselves,
they might easily do not a little towards effecting a per-
'chase, and could then, wits some ,shOw of reason, ask
Parliament for a grant. And• it is not merely their own
pleasure that they would coilealt in so doing. but also
their own interest. :We are all interested as Londoners
in preservingHarepstead-heatb, hut not so much as
those who have houses and property' in the immediate
neighbenrhood, the value of which would be pr qtly im-
proved by the formation of a park. It is blt fair that
those who-will gain most should pay most ; and, if they
really show Horne ptiblie spirit in endeavouring to obtain
this park, .we are pretty confident. that the House of
Comtnons will meet them in the same liberal spirit.
Atneng thoie who will vote thesa a supplementary grant
we may, with some confidence, place the name of every
member who lately voted against Sir. Joshua Walmsley's
motion. If the house will not consent to open Museums,
it will certainly not consent to shut the parks. St.
James's-park has been saved throsgh its instrumentality,
and we are sure it will make any reasonable effort to
save Hampstead-heath.

LA W INTELLIGENCF.—Mareh 8.

COURT OF BANKRUPTCY.
(Before Mr. Commissioner Goulburn.)

IN BE MARK BOYD, STOCK AND SHABEBROKEU, OF BANK

BUILDINGS.

The inquiry into this bankrupt's case Wag resumed
this morning.

Mr. Roxburgh (instructed by Mr. Henry Harris) ap-
peared for the assignees; Mr.Lawrance for the bankrupt.
At the last meeting it was arranged that the assignees
should address certain requisitions in writing to the
bankrupt.

Mr..Lawrance said the requisitions were only received
two days agn, and he proposed to take the opinion of
the Court whether the bankrupt should be compelled to
answer them.

The requisition®, six in number, were then read over
seriatim. The first required a statement of th 3 account
between B. and M. 13,,yd and 13. Boyd, showing the ac-
count due to B. Boyd in respect to his share of the
profits, and charging him with all payments on his
acciunt.
His Honour disallowed this requisition.
. .

The second requisition, which asked the bankrupt for
a list of the debts provable against his estate by the cre-
ditors of the Royal Bank of Australia, was allowed.
The third requisitior, asked for the particulars of items,
13,000/, and 9,0001., charged as shipments from Mark
Boyd to Benjamin, between the years 1843 and 1843.
His Honour disallowed this requisition.
Some discussion took place upon the fourth question.
It appeared that in 1849 a Mr. Borthwick, accountant,
of Edinburgh, had been sent up by the Scotch creditors
and shareholders to inquire into the effAirs of the Royal
Bank of Australia and of the Boyds. Mr. Borthwick
alleged that he had then seen a book in the possession
of the bankrupt, in which the account of Benjamin Boyd
showed a balance of 25,000/. as owing to the bankrupt..
No operations had taken place on that account since
849, yet it now appeared that, so far from B. Boyd
being indebted to the bankrupt, the latter was indebted
to B. Boyd to the arn,unt of 63,0001. The assignees
now required the product on of the book.
The bankrupt said that Mr. Brownhorr, who atttended
his brother's business in L-onion, had' left in 1849,
taking teary books with him. The other books were in
the hands of Mr. Wryghte, the a,signee.
• Two of Mr. Wryghte's clerks swore that, as late as
January, 1855, they saw in Mr. Boyd'a office a book
with a white cover, which is now missing, and which
contained an account headed "Benjamin Boyd, Sydney."
The Scotch accountant having described the book as a
ledger, his Honour doubted whether he referred to the
`• book" mentioned by the witnesses, Which was more in
the nature of a jotter's. He disallowed the requisition.

After some discussion,
Mr. Roxburgh asked the bankrupt to explain how he
arrived at the balance of 63,0001. due to B. Boyd 2
His Honour—l shall not requira him to answer that
question.
Mr. Lawrance—They only want a peg to hang an
appeal upon.
His Honour—How can he answer that ? This is the
examination of the Commissioner, and the bankrupt ie
net bound to answer a question which I think should not
be put. _ _

Mr. Roxburgh—Can you explain, then the 71,2891.
profits, and show where they appear in your books?
His Honour—You need not answer that question.
Mr. Roxburgh—There 37,0001. odd allege,no be
due by the Royal Bank of Australia, can you explain
that ?

His Honour—You need not answer that question.
Mr. Roxburgh—l find there is an item of 17,945/. for
office expenses—explain that, and point them out in
your books?
His Honour—You need not answer that question.
Mr. Roxburgh—Explain the item 46,4761. private
expenses 1
His Honour—Yon need not answer that question.

Mr. Roxburgh—Explxin the item 49,0001., eet down
as lossrs ?

His Honour—You need not answer that question.
His Honour, after F onie discussion, sanctioned the
fifth and sixth requisitions, the former requiring the
bankrupt to vouch his expenditure (2,C00/. per annum)
during the last three years, and the other to explain
where he charged himself with 13,500/. paid for Benja-
min Boyd.
This rarnarkable inquiry was adjourned for the bank-
rupt to give in the answom