The Sun.
London, England, 1857-06-22 00:00:00

THE ESTIMATES.

There really was but one principle of any public
importance brought before the house in all the dis-
cussions on the estimates ; the rest of the contro-
versy turned upon points of detail or questions of
amount. Four considerable votes were debated,
—one of some 40,0001. for the maintenance and
repair of Royal Palaces ; one of nearly thrice the
sum for the Royal parks and pleasure•grounds ;
one of 60,0001. fur the maintenance and repair of
public buildings ; and one of about half the amount
for the furniture of public offices, &c. In the ease
of the Royal palaces the question was' very simple
indeed. These edifices exist, and, unless it could
be proved expedient to pull them down—we speak
of those no longer in the occupation of royalty—
common sense advises that they should be kept up
properly and turned to the best account. Mr. Wil-
liams's selection of Hampton Court was a most un-
lucky one, for there could hardly be a palace more
truly appertainingto the people. It affords an honour-
able residence for the representatives of those who
have deserved well of their country, and is a source
of gratification and enjoyment to the whole metro-
politan population. Orr a tine Sunday nearly as
many personeas were brought together last week
by the stupendous Festivals in the Crystal Palace
pass with quiet pleasure and satisfaction through
the apartments and grounds of this ancient mansion,
and if a few thousands a-year are required to keep
the. place in the order in which we see it the money
is Unexceptionably spent. The great question of
principle to which we -alluded, though raised on
the application of public money to metropolitan
Parks, is involved also in the expenditure upon the
Palaces abovementioned. The argument is, that
places of amusement or recreation, such as the
Parks in the vicinity of the capital, should b 3
maintained, not out of the funds contributed by
the nation at large, but through local taxes raised
from the particular communities which enjoy the
advantage of the resort. Mr. Blackburn gene-
ralised the objections thus suggested, and moved
such a reduction of the vote for the Royal Parks
as would bring the amount to the average sum re-
quired during the five years preceding Sir B. Hall's
administration ; but the motion—the only one
carried to an actual division throughout the debate
on these matters—was negatived by more than 3
to 1. At this we are not suprised ; indeed, we
concur ontirelyin the opinions thus predominating.
As far as regards the cleansing of the lake in St.
James's Park, we might support our view by Mr.
Blabkburn's own admissions, for he acknowledged
that the Parks should be kept "in good order,"
and good order undoubtedly requires, that a piece
of ornamental water should be pure and healthful
rather than filthy and pestiferous. But we prefer
considering the question in a broader light.
Supposing such views asseveral members seemed
to entertain, and Mr. Bentirick more particularly
expressed, were to be recognised and established,
where, we beg to ask, would it be possible to
maintain anything national at all 1 A park,
a gallery, or any institution of any kind, with
whatever title it may be dignified, must needs
have a local habitation, and therefore contribute
more directly and largely to the advantages of that
locality than to those of the kingdom at large. A
national collection of paintings, for instance, is ac-
cessible to the immediate neighbourhood at all
times,—to the bulk of the population only now
and then, and at more or less cost and trouble ;
yet for all this it is surely a national institution,
and not a local one. The case is certainly not so
strong as regards a park, since a park or a pleasure-
ground may be found anywhere, while a gallery of
pictures is more out of the common way ; but, un-
less a "metropolis" is to be robbed of its distinc-
tive characteristics, the very idea implies that it is
the capital, not of a province, but of the whole
State. Not only do thousands visit it, but the
millions who dwell within its walls are entitled by
their very position to nattonal consideration. It
is because London is the seat of Government, and
because the affairs of the whole nation are there
administered, that a population of two millions
and a quarter is compressed into the district under
conditions deserving all the mitigation practicable.
Add, moreover, to these numbers the numbers at-
tracted to the metropolis by the casual allurements
of business of pleasure,—by such festivals, for in-
stance, as those celebrated last week, and the re-
sult will represent such a proportion of the whole
population as will render metropolitan interests
almost equivalent to Imperial interests. Who can
say, indeed, that Hampton Court is for the benefit
of Londoners only, when there is not a town in
England to some of whose inhabitants it has no
been a source of delight I—Times.