The Sun.
London, England, 1856-04-01 00:00:00

for the law courts in Covent-garden, and thus a consider-

able difficulty which bail hitt;_tt been felt had been ob-

Mated.

Sir B. Tl.l LL replied that the 280,872/. would only
suffice for the works in nc ui.l progress. At the bfTin-
ning of the session tfr. Spooner had asked him if ho (the
right hon. baronet) had given any sanction to the fur-
ther plans of Sir C. Barry ! His reply to that question
was that he had not, and that he should not until the
works which had been commenced were compietAd. The

new plans were of a very elaborate character ; aid it
would cost 500,0001. or 800,0001. to ca,ry them into

eff- et. (Cheers )
Mr. M. WILLIAMS remarked that the oharge for re-
plirs was 5,2001. for the very small portion of the buildings
which had been delivered over to the office of Works.'

Last year it was 5,4001. ; and it was really frightful to
think what this item would amount to when the whole
had been deli, ered up. Surely there must be same fault
in the construction of the building. He was glad to hear
the statement of the right hun. baronet with regard to
undertaking new plans ; bat he cautioned him against
being led away by Sir Charles Barry's sc'e.ernes.
Mr. WILSON explained the proposals which had been
made to Sir Charles Barry for the settlement of his coin-
mission claim. Sir Charles had been offervd 1 per cent.

on the measurement of all passed works ie additiim to 1.1:s
commission; but Sir Charles had not yet intimated his
acceptance of the offer.
Mr. H. DRUMMOND insisted that Sir Charles hail a
right to 5 per cent. upon the money expended on the
wo, ks, aad these overtures to compromise oa the pact
the Traa ury were neither more nor leas than attempts to
filch from what was Sir Charles Barry's just due.
Mr. WILSON repudiated all idea of overreaching Sir
Charles. The Treasury had made him a liberal offer, and
one which he had accepted in respect of a portion of the
works.

Mr. W. WILLIAMS thought Sir Charles had no came
for complaint, as the offer of the Treasury was a large and
a liberal one.

Mr. SPOONER also took the same view of the matter,
and expreAed his belief that the house and the country
would take the side of the Government.

Mr. WILSON repeated that the practical effeet of the
offer would be this, to extend to a much larger sum the
same proportion of percentage that Sir Charles had already
consented to accept in respect to a smaller sum.
Mr. M.A.LINS observed that Sir Charles was placed in
this position ; he could not sue the Government, but he
had ordered to refer his claims to a. bitration, and he put it
to the committee whether it would not be better to adopt
that course than he continually reverting to these disputes.
Iu the matter of Sir Charles's claims for building the Re-
form Club, the question was referred to the arbitretnent of
a gentleman at the bar, and having been his counsel on
that occasion, he happened to know that the whole dispute
was settled in one morning sitting. Now, why could not
the same course be taken in the present case?
Mr. WILLIAMS said the hon. and learned gentleman
o-posite had referred to the Reform Club, for which Sir
dharles Barry had put in a plan. He was to receive a
certain such for this work, anti he then made some altera-
tions which were not cartied out, and he male his demand
for commission. The Reform Club proposed to refer it to
arbitration, but he did not agree. The club then proposed
that it should select three persons, of whom he was to
name one, by whom the matter was to be decided. He re-
fused that, and ultimately it was referred to a barrister.
and it was decided in the way the hon. and learned gentle-
man had stated.
Mr. L. DAVIES hoped her Majesty's Government would
not accept the proposition of the hon. and learned gentle-
man (Mr. 4talins), but would stand upon the high grounds
of justice in Ois matter.
Mr: WILSON was bound to say that Sir C. Barry had
frequently attempted to refer the question to arbitration,
but the proposition had been decliued. If the Govern-
ment treated Sir C. Barry unfairly, he had that house to
appeal to.
Mr. MALINS thought it would be useless for an indi-
vi f fuel t ► appeal to that house in opposition to the influence
c.f the Government. (Hear.)
Mr. MALINS again advised that a friendly power should
be called in to settle the question at issue. That was the
principle on which they settled all their affairs. The peace
which had just been concluded was settled by means of
calling in a friendly power. Ho did not believe that these
woul,i be any difficulty in arbitrating upon the question.
In the case of the Reform Club, Sir C. Barry claimed for
furnishieg the house. It. wail said that he had not the
arrangement of the furniture, but he stated over and over
again that that was one of the most troublesome of his
c nties. The whole matter was brought under the notice of
the arbitrator, Mr. hale—now Mr. Justice Erle—and he
save a decision which perfectly satisfied all patties.
Mr. SPOONER. said there was a charge for embank-
ment. Was that a continuation of the charge already made
on account of the embankment? _ _ .

Sir J 3. HALL said it was a continuation of the embank-
ment account of 1854.
Mr. M. CHAMBERS said that men of eminent ability
were invited to smut in plans. Many plans were sent in,
one of which, that of Mr. Feirbairn, excited general
attention. It was pretty generally known that these
gentlemen had been deceived, and the result was that the
nation, instead of having to pay 750,0001 , would have to
pay many millions. He did not agree iu the principle
which had been laid down, that architects had a legal right
to make any specific charge for services rendered; for it
was proved every day in our courts of law that great dif-
ferences existed upon the sus jest. The Institute of Ar-
chitects might I ,y 0 .wn rules of honour for their own guid-
ance, but they e mid not set up any lege), right. It was tee
former pr Idiots of architects not to agree to erect a buil.ling
for ary given sum ; a practice free) which they hail de-
parted. He was of. opinion th it if Sir C Barry was des,-
one of keeping up the repntetion of the institute, he would
accept the oiler of the Government. He believed there
would be some difficulty about the clock, which was like
Farmer Flamborouglfa picture, which was expressly
painted for him, and could not then be got into his house.
Sir B. HALL said the clock was finished, and wasgoing
remarkably well. He believed that the clock and the belle
would be got up without furthet difficulty.
Mr. WISE asked what would be the cost of the clock ?
Sir B. HALL said the cost would be 1,961)1., of which
1,6001. ha l been paid on account. The remainder would
be pail on delive, y.
Mr. BOWYER wished to ask a question in reference to
the lest item, 4,0031. for works of art in connection with
the Palace of Westminster. He wished to know whether,
in those weeks of art, persons other than subjects of her
Majesty had been employed. He thought that in times like
the present their choice of artists should not be contine,l
within any particular geographical limits. Some of the
frescoes were below ineeiocrity, and one was particularly
distgreeable to him. It represented the baptism of King
Ethelred, who had a crown on his head awl w.ts stare
naked. (Laughter.) He was sure that there was no his-
torical authority foe that. In one of the principal figures
representing the ceremony of conis, ring the Oreer of the
Garter the legs were left out, as they were supposed to be
below the framework. In such a subject he thought the
appearance of the legs was a very important item. (Laugh-
ter.) In other figures there was a sad want of proper dress
and clothing. These, however, were matters of taste, and
some gentlemen might suppose that the pictures were very
good. He maintained that this country would never ob-
tain any deserved reputation unless it took a broad view of
art, and considered the republic of art as extending over
the whole of Europe. In sculpture, for instance, he found
that the ranee of B Aron Maroehetti, one of the most emi-
nent of our sculptors, was omitted from the list of those
who had been invited to compete.
The vote was then agreed to.
On the vote of 207,e05/. for works connected with the
packet harbour of Holyhead,
Mr. WILLIAMS inquired whether this was to complete
the expenses in connection with the harbour ?
Sir C. WOOD would answer the question from the esti-
mates themselves. he total amount req ni roe was C 1,0001.,
of which it was pr, posed to take 207,0001. this year.
Agreed to.
233,0 .01. was voted for harbours of refuge.
381/. was voted for Port-Patrick Harbour,
On the vote of 41 OA/. for public works iu Ireland,
Mr. BLACKBURN complained of the increase over the
estimates of previous years.
Mr. WILLIA eIS objected to the expenses incurred in
respect to Kilinainham Hospital, which he thought was
useless for the put poses for which it was designed.
Mr. WILSON explained in reference to many of the
items that they were lergei than usual in consequence of
no vote being taken last year.
Mr. WISE objected to the charges which were made for
the Lord-Lieuteu int of Ireland, and which entailed an ex-
pense of 50,030 e a-year on this country.
Mr. SPOON Elt objected to the support of a Roman
Catholic chaplain in connection with Kilineinhain Hospi-
tal, which he found provided for in the votes.
The vote was agree Ito.
A vote of 19,3501., for the purpose of Kingstown Har-
bour. was ~greed to.
A vote of 83,6801. for allowances and payments to offi-
e, re of Par'iement was agree," to, after some remarks from
I'ELLATT and Mr. HADFIELD on the propriety of
allowing persons to defend their rights, in opposing bills
before committees of the house, without incurring such
heavy exeeuees as they were now subjected to. In the
course of his remarks, Mr. Hadfield said the railway com-
panies had been put to an expense of a million of money
in obtaining their acts, although railways were thegreatest
improvements of modern times.
Mr. M. CHA.I BELLS %eked a question in reference to
the eharge of 4,0001. for shoil-hand writers. He wished to
know whethe-, since the death of Mr. Gurney, any now
arrangement had been males. lie understood that Mr.
Gurney. who was the short-hand writer to both houses,
took half the amount, while the prams who did the work
received the other half. That was a most inequitable ar-
rangement.
Mr. WILSON said that when Mr. Gurney died anew
arrangement was made with Mr. Gurney, jun., by the
Speaker. He could not engage wLh Mr. Gurney as to the
atnonets he paid the persons he employed, which must be
a private arrangement between them.
Mr. M. CHAMBERS was most anxious that the matter
should be well considered. He had had the matter repre-
sented to hint by several short-hand writers of great abi-
lity, but who would not render service- to the house unless
they were placed upon a proper footing.
The following votes were agreed to :-
52,095/. for the various departments of the Treasury.
24,20 it. for the Home Department.
68,e411. for the Foreign-office.
28,4521. for the Colonial Department.
61,1671. for the Board of Trade..
2,700/. for the offices of the Lord Privy Seal.
24,5e41. for the offiee of the Paymaster-General.
6,1'43/. for the office of the Comptroller-General of the
Excheqtier.
23,:51e/. for the office of Works anti Public7Buildings.
21,6e41. for the Woods and Forests and Land Revenues.
16,1471. for the Public Record-office.
`2.03,e931. for tho Poor-law Board.
Upon this last-named vote a slight discussion took place.
Mr. S. FITZGERALD looked upon the vote as ex-
tremely large. There had. beau a great reduction in the
amount of the poor-law charges in Ireland, and he trusted
that would be the prelude to reductions le England.
Mr..IIOReMAN went through some statistics with a
view to show that the decrease in Ireland during the last
few years bad been of a highly satisfactory character.
Mr. S. FITZGERALD admitted that, but still consi-
dered the expenses to be unduly large.
Mr. MACARTNEY believed that a commission upon
the subject had been appointed, and wished to knew when
the repo, t would be laid upon the table ?
Mr. WILSON said that no commission had been issued.
On the vote of 48,8231. for the Mint, some discussion
arose as to the probability of an increase in the geld coin-
age during the next year.
Hr. WILSON said that the Master of the Mint had had
some communication with the Bank, and ha,l come to the
conclusion that there would be a considerable increase in
the gold coinage. It bad been decreased lately, a large
quantity of coined gold having been sent out to the East.
The vote wax agreed to.
A vote of 23,1451. for inspectors of factories and mines
was as tc.
en Um TOIII of NM fa the tigAtigth Bahocipna