The Sun.
London, England, 1856-05-24 00:00:00

(LON DON , SAT U R DAY EVEN

I UPER,IAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS-(YESTERDAY).

The LORD CILINCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack
at five o'clock.

Lord RA.VENSWORTFT presented a petition in
favour of an alteration in thc, County Courts Act.
Lord. DUNGANNON presented a petition against
the Maynooth Grant ; also one against the Oath pf Ab•
juratio❑ Bill.

Lord BERNERS presented a petition from Leicester
in favour of the bid for the amendment of the County
CJurts.

The Bishop of-LICEIFIELD presented several peti-
tions against the ebelitien of Church rates, and also
Petitions against the opening of places of amusement on
Sundays.
ST. JAMES'S PARK AND ITS APPROACHES.
Lord RAVENSWORTH rose to call attention to
certain circumstances hi connection with the projected
approaches from Pall-mall to St. Jaares's-park, and the
defects of the east front of St. James's Palace. The
noble lord objected to the contemplated removal of the
Garman Chapel, believing that it was not calcu-
lated to confer the advantages of relieving
the traffic at Charing-cross, which it was supposed
it would do. He thought that the abolishing of the toll at
Waterloo-bridge would be far more likely to relieve that
crowded thoroughfare than the proposed alterations in
St. James's-park. The noble lord then went on to say
that he thought the time had arrived when some im-
provement ought to be made to the east front of St.
James's Palace. It had an appearance at present highly
discreditable. He thought that an attempt to follow Out
the style of building in the new hall lately erected in
Lineetil'eeinn could he male, anVat the same time, it
would greatly improve the appeararitrof the royal pa-
lace. At present it was a building utterly unworthy of
this great country. The interior arrangethents
were also highly objeetionable, the confusion created
in the lobbies and staircase on the occasion of her Ma-
jesty kidding a drawing-room was such that the safety
of the ladies attending alone ought to be of itself
sufficient to cause some alteration to be immediately
made. It was a proper time, when it was contem-
plated to improve the approaches of the park, to
consider whether the court-yards attached to
that building might not he dedicated to better
and more advantageous purposes, and whether the
palace might not be rendered worthy of the mete°.
polis, both to its internal embellishments and external
accommodation. The noble lord then proceeded to take
objection to the position of the statues that at present ex-
isted in the metropolis. The statue of Pitt in
Hanover-square, he said, was exceedingly bad, as was
the case with the statue of the Duke of Kent in Port-
land-place. It looked like a small black man hiding
himself behind some trees. He thought that it
would be paying a compliment to her Majesty if the
statue of her royal father was removed from its present
position, and placed in a more appropriate site near
Buckingham Palace. The noble lord next alluded to
the pictures bequeathed to the nation by Mr. Tur-
ner. The pictures were at present stowed away
in a cellar, although they were worth their weight in
gold. He had lately seen three pictures by that eminent
artist sold for 5,000 guineas.

The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said the pictures
alluded to were in a place of safety until a building
worthy of the arts could be erected for their reception.
Lord REDESDALE denounced the plan recom-
mended by the committee for the proposed road through
St. James's-park; Whether for beauty or convenience it
was about the 'worst that could have been suggested.
He did not see why the road should not be taken straight
into Pall-mall. The truth was, the plan had been de-
signed on the assumption that it was necessary to make
a road through the park. He (Lord Redesdale) did not
see any such necessity; but, on the contrary, he thought
it would be for the interests of the public that the pri-
vacy of the park should be preserved.
Tne Marquis of LA.NRICADE saidthat St. James's-
palace had in it some excellent rooms. All that was
wanted was an improvement in the exits and entrances.
Lord ST. LEONARDS complained of the unsightly
rows of chimner;s on Somerset-house. He quite concurred
in thinking It. 'desirable to erect a noble pile of buildings
to receive all the public offices; for he objected to the
plan of taking palaces, houses fit for the most opulent
noblemen, for the offices of the different commissions. At
the sometime, before the Government embarked on any
new building operations he hoped they would finish
what they had in hand. The dispute with Sir Charles
Barry was most unseemly ; and though he must say that
ke thought the Government were right, it was one that
ought not to be allowed to continue for 12 hours. The
proposed plan was to inclose New Palace-yard; and
really the Government might have created eyesores for
the purpose of making Parliament willing to acquiesce
in their scheme. The west face of the clock tower ob.
viously co_uld not be left in its present state ; and in
order to afford shelter for members' horkes the Govern-
ment bad put up an erection like a c.,al-house. It was
a sort of thing that none of their lordships would give
101. to have put up for any purphse, or if they did they
would be glad immediately to give 201. to have it pulled
down. (Laughter.)

The Earl of MALMESBURY wished to know what
chance there was of the Government commencing the re-
building of the Government offices in Downing-street.
The residence of the Foreign Minister was in such
a condition that he could not give a party without hav-
ing his house shored up, and people were then in peril
of their lives. In fact, the mieister who, from his offi-
cial relations, was obliged to give some receptions, had
no house in which he c )uld receive the public. Gene-
rally speaking, the office was held by persons who had
an adequate fortune ; but still one might be appointed
who was without large private means ; and he (Lord
Malmesbury) could only say that the salary was not
equal to the necessary outlay which the acceptance of
the office entailed. It was not every one that was able,
like the noble marquis opposite (Lord Lansdowne), to
receive distinguished guests accredited to them from fo-
reign sovereigns—such as he was himself obliged to re-
ceive on the occasion of the Dake of Wellington's fune-
ral. Formerly the official residence of the foreign mi-
nister, though it never was very handsome, was fit for
an official residence. It had, at least, kitchens and bed-
rooms, which the present had not—(a laugb)—and when
a person was appointed to the office, the first thing he
must now do would be to hire a house, at an expense to
him of not less than a thousand a year. Re agreed with
the noble and learned lord in what ho had said with re-
spect to the engaging of extraneous buildings for the
public service ; but it was not always possible to get
suitable premises at the moment they were required.
Still it was no doubt a great pity to see Pembroke-house,
for instance, with its staircase and ceilings which money
could scarcely buy, occupied by clerks and scriveners.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said that a plan for
the rebuilding of the Government offi,ies had been sub-
mitted to the other house, and it rested with them to say
how far it should be adopted. If that plan were carried
out it would not only be a great public improvement, but
he believed it would also be conducive to economy, by
rendering it unnecessary to hire houses for the public
offices. (floor.)

Earl STA.NHOPE thought it would be desirable to
adopt the Continental syAera of placing suitable in-
scriptions on statues erected to distinguished men, in-
stead of a bare record of the date of their birth and of
their death. (Hear.)
The subject then dropped.
TRANSPORTATION.

On the motion of Earl STANHOPZ a select committee
to inquire into the present system of secondary punish-
ment was appointed.
Drainage ((Private Advances) Act Amendment Bill
was read a second time.
Smoke Nuisance Abatement Amendment Bill was
read a third time and passed.
Procedure Before Justices (Scotland) Bill passed
through committee.
COUNTY COURTS AMENDMENT BILL.

Lord STANLEY of ALDERLEYpresented a petition
from Manchester, praying that the record court of that
city should not be exempted from the operation of this
bill.
The Lord CHANCELLOR said there had been peti-
tions from Liverpool and other places praying that:other
courts might be exempted, and it was his intention to
withdraw the clause.
Their lordships then adjqurned.