The Sun.
London, England, 1850-07-13 00:00:00

EXHIBITION OF 1851.

Colonel SIBTHORY then proceeded, pursuant to no-
tice. to call the attention of the House to a copy of a
letter from the Commissioners cf Woods, &c., to the
Lords of the Treasury, on the subject of the ground ap-
propriated for the site of the exhibition of 1851. lie
said that very great excitement existed in the public
mind with regard to the kite of the proposed exhibition,
and there appeared to be a general feeling of dislike—he
would almost go so far as to use the term " disgust"—
with respect to the proceedings of the Government on
the subject. Many peiple in the country concurred with
him in thinking that there never was a greater humbug,
fraud, and injustice than the contemplated exhibition of
1851. The Commissioners scarcely knew what was to
be done to provide funds for paying the expenses of the
exhibition. When he bad complained that trees were
about to be cut down in Hyde-park, preparatory to the
erection of a building, the Government and the Attor-
ney-General gave very evasive replies to the questions
put to them on the subject by himself and other Hon.
Members. The letter to which his notice referred stated
that the Queen bad given her consent that the Commis-
sioners should be allowed to take possession of the ground
in the park required for the building. Now, that letter was
dated the 15th of June, and some ten days ago they were
told by the Attorney-General that he believed her Ma-
jesty would give her consent to the occupation of that
site. It appeared, then, from this letter that when that
answer was given by the Attorney-General, the Queen
had already signified her consent. His (Colonel Sib-
thorp's) belief was, however, that her Majesty had never
w aa3r
wouldc h
ti toe architect been consulted on the subject. The proceeding of the
Commissioners was a gross attack upon the rights of
public property. It was said that 60,000/. would be
pay
yeacidu
reteocil de
forx pheitnmhsee
raised by subscriptions to meet the expense; but an
eminentooo/re not
moval?
eenmsds than
whobuilding;thofa ti
ts The foreigners pcoultd
no
money, and as to the matet'l for they had no
ing for it, that was outria
'ofs being sold and pay-
had been told that the poor the question. They
labourers •in the country
were saving up their shillings, s
be able to come up and see the ex
that they might
would take take care of their fa%nx7liison. But who
during their absence? What would becomee—
(Aor
th laugh)—
tity and modesty of the unsuspecting vioa
maoef ch a!-
this.
great metropolis?—(Laughter.) Perhaps the Cmum"
sioners would look after it.—(Great laughter.) What er.) What,
too, would become of our mechanics? They would suc-
cumb to the foreigner, for foreign goods "cheap and
nasty " would be brought over, and, because they were
foreign, would be bought.--(Hear, and laughter.) God
grant that something would happen to prevent that
which he believed would be prejudicial to the best in-
terests of the country taking place; and he felt confi-
dent the people of England would rejoice at it. He
therefore called upon the people to unite either in an ad-
dress to her Majesty or in a petition, before it was too
late, to prevent such a subversion as be believed the ex.
hibition would be of the best iutercti of the country.
The subject then dropped.