The Sun.
London, England, 1857-06-13 00:00:00

ELECTORS, &c. (METROPOLIS.)

Mr. WILLIA 11 NVILLIAMS moved for. a return
of the number of the electors in each of the Metropolitan
boroughs and city of Westminster on the regi-ter of
1856, and the number of all houses rated to the relief of
the poor, stating the number in each parish of the F aid
boroughs and city, and the population thereof at the
last census.

Agreed to,
HER MAJESTY'S DRAWING-ROOM.
On the motion for the adjournment of the house until
Monday,
Mr. G. DUNDAS called the attention of the Govern-
ment to the inconvenience experienced by ladies attending
her Majesty's drawing room at St. James's Palace,
owing to the want of proper arrangements
for their reception and departure. The faulty
arrangements of which he complained bad
been repeatedly brought before the public, and what
should be a pleasing and cheerful duty was thus made
a painful and distressing task. The hon. member
contrasted the difference between the time of the
Stuarts and the present age, remarking that
what was ample in those days was now too
small, and apartments then considered lofty and spa-
cious were now insignificant and mean, and he descanted
in a most feeling manner on the sufferings of ladies
who had to submit to crushinw„ and other inconveniences
arising from want of space and better arrangements at
her Majesty's Drawing Rooms. The hon. gentleman
gave several illustrations frnm the suffering of that bril-
liant Court and assemblage of beauty, which no other
nation in Europe could boast of, that took place at Her
Majesty's Drawing room on Saturday last.
Sir B. HALL rose, but was for some moments un-
able to obtain a hearing from the continued cries of
"Bruce." The right hon. baronet said,—l have much
pleasure in answering the appeal of my hon. friend.
I believe that it is impossible to exaggerate the great in-
convenience experienced by ladies who attended the
drawing•roorn on Saturday. (Cheers.) It must be
recollected that the drawing•rooms are now held in the
same apartmentc in which they were held many years
ago, when there were only 100 or 200 assembled to pay
their respects to the queen ; and it is perhaps known
also that when these drawing-rooms were held the
Queen was in the habit of going round the apartment,
for which there was plenty of space, and noticing those
whom she desired to honour. But instead of 100 or
200 persons, there are now upwards of 1,000 and some-
times 1,400 persons at many of the drawing-rooms, and
although the dress of the ladies i❑ former times was
large, yet I believe at the present moment they oc-
cupy very nearly the same space. (A. laugh.) It is
therefore utterly impossible that any comfort shoul I be
experienced by those who attend her Majesty's draw-
ing-rooms, and I am happy to inform the hon. gentle•
man and the house that I have received instructions
from the Government to prepare plans for the enlarge-
ment of the accirnrnod,tion of ST. James's Palace (loud
cries of "No ! no !" "Oh I oh !") and I hope I shall
be able to lay such plans upon the table at an early
period. (alurnmrs.)
Lord J. MANNERS asked if the Government in.
tchtiel making the necessary alterations without
coming to the house for a vote of money. (Hear, bear,)
Sir B. HALL said the plans were not' yet ready,
and that no money would be expended without first
applying to the house. (Hear.)
The subject then dropped and the motion for adjourn.
meat was agreed to.

SUPPLY.
On the motion for the house going into committee of
Supply on the Civil Service esruiinat!3s.
Mr. COBBETT called the attention of t e house to
the circumstances under which an order to build a works
house was addressed by the Poor Law Board to the
guardians of the Preston Union, Lanchashire. The
grievance complained of was of a purely local character.
Mr. BOUYERIE, at some length, explained the
course he bad taken in reference to the Preston Union,
which he said was according to law, and the earns All
bad been adopted in other similar cases.
After some remarks from Sir G. PECHELL' 3n what he
called the illegal conduct of the Poor-law B)ard, in call.
ing upon ar officio guardians who rarely attended the
Union meetings, to sign a recoisition to the Poor-lave
Board, praying for the erection of a new workhouse,
against the wish of the elected guardians and the rates
pay ere,
Mr. H. DRUMMOND said he hoped the Poor Law
Board would not be frightened at the complaints made
against them, and he expressed an opinion that more
power should be given them to interfere between the
ratepayers and the necessary wants of the .poor.
The subject then dropped.
EXPENDITURE IN ST. JAMES'S PARK.
Sir F. BARING rose, pursuant to notice, to call the
attention of the house to the expenditure in St. James'm
Park. He did not intend on this occasion to discuss the
propriety of any vote contained in the estimates. Such re
Course indeed, would be irregular ; it w ould have been
his duty to do this, if at all, in committee. His object
was to bring before the house a question which appeared
to him of more importance than the actual money spent,
he meant that relating to the privileges of the house and
the course pursued by the Government. About a month.
ago, finding that some expenditure was going on in the
parks not depending on any vote of Parliament, he
moved for certain papers on the subject. He did not at
all complain of their not being forthcoming before, ha
they had only been presented within a few days, and h
was forced to bring the matter before the house now
because the vote itself would be considered early in
committee to-night. With regard to the facts of the
case he apprehended there would be no great difficulty.
Everybody knew that certain works bad been going on
in Sc. James's Park ; that the lake, as it was called,
had been cleaned cut, that the bed had been cemented
and that considerable expense had been incurred. Ther