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

HER MAJESTY'S DRAWING-ROOM.

On the mutton 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 Pa'ace,
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 insigniacant and mean, and ho descanted
in a most feeling manner on the sufferings of ladies
who had to submit to crushing, and other inconveniences
arising from want of space and better arrangements at
her Majesty's Drawing Rooms. The hon. gentleman
gave several illustrations from the suffering of that bril-
liant Court and assemblage of beauty, which no other
nation in Europe could boast of, that took place at Eler
Majesty's Drawing room on Saturday lest.
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 ben. friend,
I believe that it is impossible to exaggerate the great in-
convenience experienced by ladies who attended the
drawing room on Saturday. (Cheers) It must be
recollected that the drawing•rooms are now held in the
same apartments 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 wl.ich 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 in former times was
large, yet I believe at the present moment they as.
cupy very nearly the same space. (A. laugh.) It is
therefore utterly impossible that any comfort shoul I be
experienced by those who attend tier Majesty's draw.
ing-room', and lam happy to inform the hon. gentle-
rnan and the house that I have received instructions
from the Government to prepare plans for the enlarge-
ment of the ace fitumodati.in of Sr. James's Palace (loud
cries of "No ! ❑o l" •e Oh I oh !") and I hope I shalt
be able to lay such plane upon the table at an early
period. (Murmurs.)
Lard J. MANNERS asked if the Government in-
tended making the necessary alterations without
coming to the house for a vote of money. (Hear, hear,)
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-
ment was agreed to.
SUPPLY.

On the motio' for the house going into committee of
Supply on the Civil Service esmirnates.
Mr. COBBETT called the attention of the bouse to
the circumstances under which an order to build a work-
house was addressed by the Poor Law Board to the
guardian- of the Preston Union, Lanchashire. The
grievance complained of was of a purely local character.
Mr. BOUVERIE, at some kingth, explained the
course he bad taken in reference to the Preston Union,
which he said was according to law, and the same as
had been adopted in other similar ca-es.
After some remarks from Sir G. PZCHELL, on what he
called tee illegal conduct of the Poor-law Thard, in call-
ing upon ex officio
Union guardians who rarely attended the
meetings, to sign a requisition to the Poor-law
Board, prayh g for the erection of a new workhouse,
against the wish of the elected guardians and the rate-
payers,
Mr. H. DRUMMOND said le 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.

T6e'subject then dropped.
EXPENDITURE IN ST. JAMES'S PARE.
Sir F. BARING rose, pursuant to notice, to call the
attention of the house to the expenditure in St. James's
Park. He did not intend on this occasion to discuss the
propriety of any vote contained in the estimates. Such 11
course indeed, would be irregular it would 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 biro of more importance than the actual mosey spent,
he tne4pt that relating to the privileges of the house and
toe course pursued by the Government. About a months
ago, finding that some expenditure was going on in the
parks not depending on any vote of Parliament, he
moved for certain papers on tho subject. He did not at
all complain of their not being forthcoming before, bu
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
ca,e he apprehended there would be no great difficulty.
Everybody knew tbat certain works had been going on
in St James's Park ; that the lake, as it was called,
had been cleaned our, that the bed had been cemented
and that conEiderabla expense had been incurred. Thor