The Sun.
London, England, 1858-03-23 00:00:00

•
CHELSEA NEW BRIDGE.-DEPUTATION
TO THE EARL OF DERBY.

Yesterday a deputation from the districts of
Westminster, Pimlico, Chelsea, Brompton, &c.,
waited upon the First Lord of the Treasury, for the
purpose of pointing out to him the impropriety of
imposing a toll on.foot-passengers
passing along the
new Chelsea-bridge.
Th-3 deputation comprised members of the yes-
tries of the parishes more immediately inteiested
in the ma ter. It consisted of Sir J. 'V. sbene,
Bart , M.P. ; Sir De Lacy Evans, M. ; the Hon.
George Byog, M.P. ; Mr. R. Banbury, M,p..
Mr. J. &lcock, M.P. ; Mr. Slaney, M.P. ;
Wynne, M.P. ; Mr. Brady, M.P. ; Mr. Tites
M.P. ; Mr. Miller, M. P. There were also present,
as connected with the respective parishes repre-
sented by the deputation, Captain Lambert, B.
Belcher, J. Jenkinson, J. Hamilton, Dr. Lewis,
Dr. Aldis, Mr. Taylor, Mr. W. Jones, Mr. Mitchell,
Mr. E. Jones, Mr. Burgess, Mr. Gooch, Mr.
Clarke, Mr. Howell, Mr. Bertolacci, Mr. Engle-
field, Mr. Leete, Mr. Bradley, Mr. Hutchins, &c.
Sir J. V. Shelley, Bart., M.P., together with
Mr. Bertolacci, one of the vestrymen of St.
G.forge'e, Hanover-square, presented a memorial
from the vestry of that parish, against the impo-
sition of a toll on foot passengers on the bridge ;
and a similar memorial was presented by the Hon.
George Byng, M.P., and Mr. W. Tite, M.P., who
appeared as the representatives of the vestry of
Chelsea.
Sir JOHN SHELLEY, in introducing the deputa-
tion, said he had no doubt the present Plitne
Minister was aware of the facts connected with this
case. A similar deputation had waited upon Lord
Palmerston last year as regarded the same sub-
ject ; and that noble lord had given that deputa-
tion to understand that an arrangement on the
subject would be made. The object of the Govern-
ment was to make a park for.the public; but that
was not
.a public park for the entrance to which
the public had to pay ; and it was in consequence
of this that he came forward on the present
occasion. If they viewed the matter in a pecu- .
niary point of view, there was 104 acres of land
in the market on the other side of the bridge,.and. .
if they sold this at the advanced rate which the re-
-1 mission of these tolls would permit of their doing,
they would be insuring a great benefit to the com-
munity. The hon. baronet then went on to state
tie proceedings which had taken place respecting
the matter since it had been brought before puke-
men t. It was well known that a petition had be
presented to
:Parliament for the opening -of thits
blidge to the public, and he might say that such
petitit n had the favour of the general body of the
public. It had, however, been disregarded by the
late Government, and they now came to the Go-
vernment now in power, in order to see whether
they could get that justice out of them which they
considered due to the public. (Hear, hear.)
Sir DE LACY EVANS said lie had also been sent
there as one of a depntAtion and he could most
sincerely state the feelings of working classes
residing in the locality on the subj. cf. He had at-
tended several meetings of these parties, and he
found that the spirit that actuated them was for
having the toll put off this bridge. So far as his
own opinion was concerned, he thoudit it was
ab to cl that Government should form, what they
called a park for the benefit of the people, and that
they should put an embargo on the entrrnce to that
park, so far as the people are concerned.
Mr. BYNG, M.P., said he had attended several
public meetings on the subject, and the opinion he
had heard expressed at all of them was, that the
toll en this bridge should be remitted.
Mr. TITE, M.P., abet Aated, that he, being aware
of the °piteous of the community respecting the
matter, could ewe that the general feeling of the
public was agaiuht the imposition of any such toll as
that which would be levied under the present
measure.
Lord DERBY said he had listened with the greatest
attention to the representations whi h had been
made to him by the deputation which appeared be •
fore him. In respect of this else, it was laid down
by act of Parliament. So far as he was aware, the
act provided that a toll should be levied on the
bridge in order to make up for the sum of money
expended upon it in its erection. If it was found
that the expense could be made up in any other
shape, no doubt it would he done ; but under pre-
sent circumstance, he could give no further inti-
mation on the matter. Ile looked at the question
in this way—there was a lare'a suw of money which
the country had laid out on the formation and erec-
tion of these works ; the public credit was pledged
in a manlier iu respect of them, and they were, xow
called upon to implement the coutra3t which. had
been entered into respecting them. Ho therefore
looked at this question as one in respect to which
Parliament was pledged, but at the same time he
could not help saying that there was subject' for
considerAtiou, whether the'sum to be derived from
the increase of value which the land to be_sold
would bring would not compensate fur what might
be 10-t on the remission of toll upon foot pasaquagers
passing over the bridge. If it can he proved:, 'that
the increased value of the property by the opening
of the bridge toll-free would cover the expenditure
which had been laid out upon the formation of this
park, and for which the public credit is pledged, he,
for one, would not have the least objection. All
he could say on the present occasion WAS, that ho
would take the subjeet into consideration, and that
if he found he could, consistent with the duty he
owed to the public, remit the impost complained
of, ho would at once dose. (Hear.)
Mr. SLANEY, M.P., als) urged upon his lordship
the propriety of rewitting this toll, and stetted that
it would be a great advantage to the commamity.
Sir DE LACY EVANS likewise said the pub2ic out
of doors were locking for a measure such as was
demanded by the present deputation which had
waited upon his lordship, and he hoped that they
would not be disappointed.
The Earl of DERBY—WeII, all I can say is, that
we are bound to see that the amount be made up
which it has cost the country for the formation of
this bridge, and if we find that we can remit the
toll, as a means of making up that amount, we will
do s'. In the meantime we have faith to keep
with the country. The expense was laid out oal
the faith of this toll, and until we see that by the,
remission of it the surplus can be made up by the
advanc d price which the property in the vicinity
of the park may yield us, we do not consider our-
selves in a position to remit the impost.. At the
same time, we will take the matter into our anai-
e

us consideration, and if we find that we can, con-
si,t ntly witti our duty to the public service,
remit the t we will at once do so.

Tho deputtion, after adinowledf;ing the courte-
ous mariner in which they had been received by
the noble earl at the head of the Government and
the noble lord the First Commissioner of Works,
then withdrew.

POLICE INTRT.T.TGENCE.— (This Day.)

MARLBOROUG fl-STREET.
SHOPLIFTING IN REGENT STREET.—Robert E iwarde,
a rempectably-dressed young mao, was charged before
Mr. Bead,,n with stealing 17 corahe, value 31. 13e. 6d.,
the property of William James Sweare, ho,ier, No. 192,
Rrgeut•etrtet.

Toe prosecutor said on coming down int) bis shop
that morning he saw his assistant, named Walker,
serving the prisoner and another man with some bawl-
kercbiets. Atter they bad left be asked his assistant
whether they hal purchased any. He said they bad
purchased one. Su.p-sting, from what be observed,
that they had stolen something, be went in pursuit, and
came up with them at the end of New Burlingtont-hstreet,
.
w
On his saying to the prisoners that he wanted to speak
to them, the prisoner's companion said to the prisoner
"Jack," upon which the prisoner started off, while the
other tried to keep him in conversation. He immedi.
atenleyr pursued
stopped.suedhim, crying out "Stop thief
The prisoner was remanded till Friday next.