The Sun.
London, England, 1859-08-05 00:00:00

THE GAS BILL.

Mr. W. WILLIAMS presented a petition from the in-
habitants of Southwark, in London, in favour of this bill.

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE.
Mr. LANG suggested, as the most convenient course,
that hon. members who had motions on the paper should
postpone them until the evening.
M-r. LINDSAY, who had a motion for calling the atten-
tion of the house to the present state of the shipping inte-
rest, stated that he would comply with the suggestion of
the hon. gentleman. His only object at the present stage
of the session was to elicit the opinion of Government on
the subject.

SUPPLY

The house then went into committee of supply.
£6,000 was voted for class-rooms, library, and other ac-
commodation. at Queen's College, Aberdeen.
On the vote of £11,500 for an embankment of the wall at
one side of Windsor Castle, the removal of the dilapidated
portions of the edifice and the hundred steps leading to the
north terrace, some discussion arose, but it was ultimately
agreed to.

—On the vote of £482,000 for erecting the new bridge at
Westminster and the approaches thereto,
Sir 11. WILLOUGHBY said that the vote provided
only for the approach at one side of the river, and he did
not see why such wealthy counties as Middlesex and
Surrey should not be required specially to contribute
towards the work by which they would be specially bene-
fited. He wished to know if the sum in question would be
all that was likely to be required for the undertaking._ .

Mr. FITZROY said that if any dependence could be
placed on the statements of engineers, he had their testi-
mony that the sum specified would be sufficient for the
completion of the bridge and approaches. With regard to
Middlesex and Surrey contributing specially to the
construction of the bridge, he referred hon. members to the
report drawn up-under the auspices of Sir William Moles -
worth, from which they would perceive that according to
act of Parliament, Westminster bridge was taken
out of the category of other bridges. The act
stated that this bridge was to be considered a
national and not a local work, and that any expenses
attendant on it should be defrayed out of the Consolidated
Fund.

Mr. AYR.TON considered that Government would have
acted more wisely if they did not interfere in the construc-
tion of works like the present, bat leave them in the hands
of a municipal body, as was the case in Liverpool and other
large towns.

After some discussion the vote was agreed to, as well as
an additional sum of £40,000 solely for the approaches.
NEW FOREIGN OFFICE.
On the vote of £130,000 for the purchase of a portion of
the site, and towards defraying the cost of the erection of
the New Foreign Office,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that
the principal portion of the vote was required for the pre-
paration of the ground for the new building, which was
stated to be afloat on a basis of peat. 'With regard to the
expense of the building, the Government was for the first
time in a position to state what would be the actual cost of
these
works. Heretofore the course adopted was to pre-
sent to the house a moderate estimate, and as works pro-
ceeded the country found itself involved in enormous ex-
pense. The sum required for these offices might startle
them by its large amount, but the figures might be relied
on. Mr. Hunt, the surveyor, stated that the cost for the
erection of the building, according to the design of Mr. Scott,
would be £230,000, and a responsible builder had undertaken
to construct the work for a sum of £232,000. That included
everything comprised in the plan of Mr. Scott, but did not
provide for those contingencies which occurred during the
n
°Tess of a large building. Mr. Hunt estimated. the
ho'le cost for erecting the building at £310,000, and the
amount for the site at £190,000; making atotal of £430,000.
That total did not provide for furniture and other expenses.
With respect to the plans,, as had been stated on a previous
occasion, it v,-as not intended to alter them before the re-
assembling of Parliament.
Lord ELCHO reviewed the proceedings already adopted
office. He did not agree with
otedthteo
de-
partments in reference to the Forel
those who considered tho 2Grir.)lthicas.;tyaipe,:w.oapsriuintesuti
new offices, for he thought will,
pg..
With regard to its
partnients required in such a Jt ji
than un-
being incongruous he considered rather an advantage,
as nothing to his mind was more
The disagreeablenoble lord referred
broken monotony in architecture.
to Paris and other cities in support of his opinion.
Mr. tl' at had inquired
TITE defended the committee
into the subject, and contended that the Italian style of
architecture was more suited to public
Gothic. lie denied that the latter style ;Idie4gs than the
national, or
that it would be congruous with a large mass
of building
that would be permitted to remain undisturbed in the
neighbourhood of the new offices.
Sir J. SHELLEY said one of the largest items of expen-
diture would be for the residence of the Foreign Minister,
and he strongly objected to any such residence, which he
thought unnecessary.
After a few remarks from Mr. Blackburn, Mr. Bruce,
Mr. Coningham, Sir E. Colebroke, Mr. Cross, Mr. Stir-
ling, and Mr. Buxton,
Lord PALMERSTON said there was nothing in' the
present vote that committed the house to any particular

style of architecture. Whatever his (Lord Palmerston's)
opinion might be with regard to the respective merit of
Italian and Gothic architecture, nothing would be done in
the selection of the style until next session, and then
another vote would be required. He totally dissented
from the doctrine that bad been laid down, that be-
cause they had already incurred some expense with
reference to one plan that therefore they should adopt that
plan, and he took that opportunity of condemning the
course adopted by the noble lord opposite (Lord J. Manners)
in reference to this. He repeated what he had said on
another occasion, namely, that he considered the plan in
the Gothic style suited to a monastery, but quite unfitted for
a public office, both internally and externally. He denied
that there was anything national in the Gothic style, which
was introduced from Belgium, or some other part of the
continent. Here the noble lord went through a list of pub-
lic buildings in this country and Ireland to show that a
number of the public edifices were not built in the Gothic
style. With regard to the propriety of this style in the
new building, the opinion of those who were to inhabit it
was against its adoption, and to show that the general
feeling of those who sent in plans was against the suita-
bility to the building of the Gothic style to the building, he
mentioned that 200 were in different styles, and 30 only
were in the style in question.
Lord J. MANNERS vindicated himself from the accu-
sation of the noble lord (Palmerston). With reference to
the Colonial-office, instead of having a new Colonial-office
he thought the requirements of that office were adequately
provided for by the accommodation afforded by Pembroke
House. He referred to Manchester, where the Gothic style
was preferred, as shown by the first prize being awarded
for a Gothic plan for a building for civil business.. He
called on the house to reject the noble lord's (Palmerston)
views, and not to erect him into a sort of pope in this
matter. (Laughter.)
Sir J. PAXTON said that having investigated the plan
of Mr. Scott in detail, he thought it fully carried out the
intention of the house in the first instance. The system
of ventilation which Mr. Scott proposed was prepared to
carry out, was as perfect as anything of the kind could be,
and as regarded light, so far from there being any defi-
ciency, Mr. Scott had actually overdone his work in pro-
viding against any such defect. Mr. Scott had presented
them with a beautiful design, and he trusted it would not
be rejected until there had been some stronger expression
of the house against its adoption.
After some remarks from Mr. Liddel, Lord Elcho, Mr.
Conin_gham, and Lord J. Manners, the vote was agreed to,