The Sun.
London, England, 1859-07-12 00:00:00

having regard to the objectionable nature of the monopoly,
as soon as the period duriir, which they were pro-
tected by their charter expired the Government would
feel it their duty to exercise the rights of the Crown in the
matter in such a manner as the public interests might seem
to require.
THE INCOME-TAX.

Mr. BUTLER asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer
whether it was the intention of her Majesty's Government
to introduce any measure during the present session by
which the mode of assessment and collection of the income
tax by local unpaid commissioners would be altered ; and,
if so, in what manner it would be proposed to make such
assessment and collection.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—There
neither is nor has been such an intention. ,
NAVAL PENSIONERS.

Sir G. B. PECHELL asked the Secretary to the Admi-
ralty if it was intended to enforce the re-entry into the ser-
vice of all naval pensioners, or whether special, cases would
be considered of persons in receipt of very small pensions,
or whom under certain circumstances it might be expedient
to relieve from such compulsory service.
Lord C. PAGET said that about 600 pensioners were
called out, and that there were about a dozen who asked
for an exemption, As a general rule, the Admiralty, when
a special case for exemption was made out, were always
disposed tp take a favourable view of the application. At
the present moment there were four or five who had been
exempted.
THE ARMISTICE IN ITALY.

Mr. DISRAELI—The country heard last Friday with
gratification that an armistice. had been entered into be-
tween the Allies and the Emperor of Austria. I wish now
to inquire of her Majesty's Government whether they
have received official information of the event from the
Government of France, and whether the armistice is a mere
military convention, or whether, on the other hand, the
Government can hold out to the house any prospect that
negotiations for peace will be prosecuted in consequence.

Lord J. RUSSELL—What I stated was that an official
intimation of an armistice had been received by me from
the French Ambassador, but that this official information
did not go beyond that contained in the lifoniteter. I have
nothing farther to say at present, for on the face of the
armistice it appears to be only for military purposes. At
the same time the house well knows that the armistice
which was signed on the Bth inst. will extend to five weeks.
I cannot but hope that this duration of five weeks implies
that the belligerent Powers will be ready to receive sugges-
tions, or will of themselves propose some terms, by which
hostilities may be put an end to. (Hear, hear.) This is
at preient, however, mere conjecture, since there is nothing
on the face of the armistice which declares that, either on
the part of the Emperor of the French or the Emperor of
Austria, there is any agreement to enter into any negotia-
tions for peace. There is a meeting to-day of the two Em-
perors at Villafranca, and I trust that we shall soon have
sonie intelligence on the subject of their interview.
Mr. DISRAELI—I am afraid I have very imperfectly
expressed my meaning. What I wanted to know from her
Majesty's Government was whether any further informa-
tion except the formal communication of the armistice
which the noble lord anxounced on Friday has been offici-
ally communicated by the Government of France.

Lord J. RUSSELL—I have no further official informa-
tion, except a telegram from her Majesty's ambassador at
Paris.

CONTRACTS COMMITTEE.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER gave no-
tice that he should postpone until to-morrow (this day) the
nomination of this committee, when he should propose that
it consist of 19 members.
SUPPLY.,—REPORT.

The report of the votes agreed to on Friday night was
brought iu and received. . _ _

ENTRANCE TO ST. JAMES'S PARK

On the motion for going into committee of supply,
Mr. KINNAIRD called the attention of the house to the
advisability of ti.king advantage of the present opportunity
of Berkeley-house having been pulled down to secure a
road for the passage of carriages and horses from Charing-
cross through Spring-gardens into St. James's-park. The
house would recollect that a great effort was made to open
a communication between Beslgrave-square and St. James's,
and the utmost difficulties were encountered. A committee
of that house had suggested that an ornamental gate
Should be made near the German chapel ; instead of that
the Govertunent, or those who had the authority, had
built up two huge ugly walls, as though to disgust the
public as much as possible. There had been an undrstand-
ing that Carlton-house terrace should be completed ; the
only obstacle was the lease of Berkeley-house ' • but the
owner having great Parliamentaryinfluence, some five or six
votes, got his lease renewed, and that opportunity was lost.
Now the Rouse was pulled dswn by the Metropolitan Board,
and he had hoped that the late Government would have taken
care to secure a public carriage road into St. James's-park.
That corner of the park, new a perfect disgrace, might be
made one of the most ornamental parts of the groUnd. A
committee of that house had longago recommended an open-
ing to the park from Trafalgar-square ; and Mr. Pennithorne
had made a plan for it so long as 15 years ago. The pro-
posed opening would be a great advantage to her Majesty
herself on her way to the National Gallery, and places east-
ward of Charing-cross. Hei hoped to hear from the Clief
Com Missioner of Works that they were prepared to carry
out this inunyvement:

Lord DeNC AN said there was now a great difference be-
tween the Board of Works and the Boar of Woods. (A
laugh.) The former expended money for public improve-
ments ; the latter was an office of receipt ; last year its
receipts were £420,000, and the civil list, as was well known,
was only £380,000. He denied that the property referred
to was the property of the country; it had belonged to the
Crown from before the Norman Conquest. (Hear, hear.)
If any Crown property was taken for improvements it must.
he paid for, and the crown ought, also to receive compen-
sation, the same as a private proprietor. The metropolis
was the wealthiest community in the world, and could well
afford to pay for improvements. Let the Metropolitan
Board apply their money, to constructing this passage,
instead of spending £50,000 over Berkeley-house. He
believed that for £4,000 they might render the building in
Greek-street perfectly fit for their purpose.
Lord J. MAN NEB,S said he agreed in almost everything
that had fallen from the noble lord.
Mr. TITE said he did not mean to be the apologist of the
Metropolitan Beard of Works, but he thought they made a
wise and prudent bargainsn the part of the public in making
this purchase. .Berkeley-house was non-being pulled down,
and when it Was rebuilt it. would give a light airy foot pass-
age into the park of 21ft. wide and 100 ft. long. What his
hon. friend wanted was that there should be a carria,te way as
well as a foot passage into the park. He thought that would
boa great convenience, particularly as a large terminus was
about to come into the neighbourhood. No great expense
would be necessary, particularly as the land belonged to the
Crown, and they would have to pay for one house only, the
lease of which would soon expire. The Board of Works were
at present making enormous improvements in the metro-
polis. They were making a street from the borough through
Stamford-street, which would cost £190,000 ; another to
Covent-garden, which would cost £70,000; and others in
the east end of the metropolis, which would cost £120,000.
All this expendiiure would fall on the ratepayers, and if
the house was of opinion that the expense of this improve-
ment should also be borne by them, it ought to be tho-
roughly understood that the roadway was to be 45 feet wide.
Mr. FITZROY said that the question raised by the hon.
gentleman resolved itself into one of finance. The hon. gen-
tleman said that this would be a great public improvement,
and that it could be effected at a small cost. He was at issue
with him on both points. There was now a new opening at
Marlborough-house, and this road, together with the Bird-
cage-walk road, would make the proposed carriage way a
mere infinitesimal gain to an infinitesimal number of the
population, whilst it would interfere with that solitary nook
where so .many children were in 'the habit of enjoying
themselves, in .peace and. quiet. (Hear.) If the road.
way was . to.
.be, iikade
..is it should be they must take
half the garden on which Sir J. S. Lefevro's house
stood and three houses. He understood, that the cost
would be '153,000, and the question was whether the hOuse
was prepared to throw so great a burden on the country.
He -was of
.opinion they ought not to lay out any 'of
the public money on metropolitan improvements, except
where the health and comfort of the people were concerned.
He was not inclined to take any steps in the matter now,
but should. make farther inquiry as to the expense, which,
however, -he did not think would bemuch reduced below the
amount he had mentioned. -