The Sun.
London, England, 1827-05-12 00:00:00

THE COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY,

Mr. BANKES (Dorset) moved that the sum of 9,8771.
be granted for the improvements now completed as the
British Museum, without any deduction whatever.

Mr. R. COLBORNE wished to know whether it was
the intention of the trustees of the British Museum to fix
upon a more convenient place than that now selected for the
exhibition of the antique statues, and other works of art,
bequeathed to that institution. With all respect for the
trustees of the British Museum, in whom he was disposed
to place every confidence, he thought that a more conve-
nient and eligible situation might be fixed upon for exhi-
biting the statues, than the places assigned to them in the
British Museum.

Mr. BANKES was not prepared to say that it was the
intention of the trustees of the British Museum to act upon
the suggestion of the Hon. Gentleman, He conceived

that it would be an act of the greatest impropriety to at-
tempt the removal of the statues from the places which
they at present occupied, becaase the donors, among whom
was the late Mr. Payne Knight, and others, expressed in
their wills that they should remain in the British Museum.
Mr. HUME objected to the increase of the Officers'
salaries. It appeared that the sum of 7,7681. was assigned
for the payment of the officers and other official persons
connected with the British Museum. On looking to the
grants of former years, it would be found that a very great
increase had taken place in this particular item ; and he
was therefore desirous of suggesting to his Majesty's Go-
vernment the necessity of curtailing the growing expendi-
ture of this establishment.

Mr. BANKES explained the cause of the increase in
the expenditure of the British Museum, which was owing,
he said, to the necessity of appointing additional officers, in
consequence of the increased number of visitors.
Mr. MABERLY was of opinion that his Hon. Friend
. _

(Mr. Hume) ought to defer his objections for the present,
in consequence of the intimation which the Right Hon.
Gentleman (Mr. Canning) had given a few evenings ago,
to recommend the appointment, next year, of a Committee
to examine into the state of the finances.

Mr. HERRIES explained the reason of the additional
appointments, by showing the great increase which had
taken place, of late years, in the business of the British

M asetm.

Mr. HUME could assure his Hon. Friend (Mr. Ma-
berly) and the Right Hon. Gentleman opposite, that he
felt no desire whatever to offer any unnecessary opposition
to the passing of these votes. He did not mean to say
that the Right Hon. Gentleman did not mean to keep his
word with reference to the promise of reviving the finance
committee : but suppoie it should happen that the Right
Hon. Gentleman should be succeeded in his office by another

Right Hon. Gentleman before he could redeem his pledge,
would not the present opportunity be lost?—(A laugh.)—
The Right Hon. Gentleman was now in power, and there
was an old saying, that there was nothing like a friend at
court. For this reason he felt inclined to urge the neces-
sity of examining these votes in detail, with a view to their
reduction. ,At the same time he should feel loth to press
his objections in opposition to the feeling of the House.

After a few words from Mr. H. Guiimtv, which were
wholly inaudible, the vote was passed.
Mr. HERRIES moved that the sum of 91,0001. be
granted on account of the civil contingencies for the year
187.

Mr. HUME was not disposed to place any confidence in
the measures of the Right Hon. Gentleman Mr. Canning,
or in the measures of any Ministers who could sanction the
appropriation of so large a sum as 340,0001. for Ambassa-
dors, and 100,0001. for Consuls. Unless the Right Hon.
the Chancellor of the Exchequer was prepared to commence
his career by the reduction of those enormous expences, he
(Mr. Hume) should feel very little confidence in his future
measures. What was the country to think when 30 or
40,000/. were set down as the expences incurred by only

one Ambassador ; and this, too, at a time when the coun-
try was suffering the greatest misery ? There was an item
of 1,9611. expended in purchasing a snuff-box for the Co-
lombian Minister ; he (Mr. Hume) objected most strongly
to the public money being thus appropriated. He had
taken the trouble to refer to a document by which these
matters were regulated in the United States, and he found
that no Ambassador, of those States ever took a present of a
snuff-box, nor could he do so without leave of the Presi-
dent. Now, he asked, was it proper that the simple Mi-
nister of an infant State should be bribed by such costly pre-
sents. as those which the Right Hon. Gentleman was in the
habit of making ? It was nothing short of downright
bribery, and he should therefore feel it his duty to object to
this vote altogether.
Mr. CANNING only rose to assure the Hon. Gentle-
man (Mr. Hume) that there had been no actual attempt at
bribery practised by the British Government with respect
to Colombia or any other state.—(A laugh.)—The Hon.
Member might, at all events, be assured that he (Mr.
Canning) had no personal interest whatever in the pre-
senting. of snuff-boxes to the Ambassadors of Foreign pow-
ers. He was not aware of the document to which the
Hon. Gentleman had referred.

Me. HUME said he would send the Right Hon. Gen-
tleman a copy of it.
Mr. CANNING, in thanking the Hon. Gentleman for
his obliging offer, assured him that he wished it were pos-
sible to get back the many snuff-boxes disposed of in the
way which the Hon. Gentleman had condemned.—(A
laugh.)
Mr. HUME, in allusion to another item, said that
many years ago, an attempt bad been made to make the
slaves of Berbice earn their own livelihood, the conse-
quence of which was; that a large sum of money was
voted for their support- This he conceived to be the 78C
p/uf ultra of extravagance. The Hon. Gient.,then refer-
to an item included in these contingencies; of 439/. for
sending Sir George Nayler to Paris, to invest some person
there with an order. Such a sum he considered was most
enormous for the mere conveyance of a rilland. There was
also the sum of 1,2661. for the use of Sir Robert Chester
in lieu of per centage on presents. This he considered a
monstrous charge. There was also a considerable sum
charged for building a house for the Bishop of Jamaica.
Really it would appear, that the Government were so flush
of money, that they had nothing to do but scatter it about
them.—(A laugh.)--Why should not this Bishop build a
house at his own expense, or at least why should not Ja-
maica bear the burden, and not this country? The Hon.
Member then alluded to some services of plate given as
presents ; and observed, that it was time to put a stop to
such a waste of the public money.
Mr. HERRIES observed, that the allowance to Sir R.
Chester could not be considered as an additional charge,
as it was in lieu of a per ceutage on presents to Foreign
Sovereigns, and it was considered more decorous to give a
fixed sum than to continue that per centage. The charge
for Mr. Walker was perfectly justifiable; for though -the
estate over which he presided was not productive, it did
not follow that the steward was to be without the reward
of his labours. The charge for Sir George Nayler was
justifiable by long-established usage.
Sir J. NEWPORT thought that as the whole of these
matters were to be referred to a Committee next Session,
it would be better to let them go before such Committee,
where they could be discussed with snore effect. At the
same time he trusted the whole of the Irish miscellaneous
expences would also be placed under the same control.
The Irish Government would, he thought, be relieved from
a very painful task if the whole of the miscellaneous ex-
penditure of that country were placed under the control of
the Treasury here.
After a few words from Mr. HUME as to the expences
incurred in the conveyance of clergy and their families to
the West Indies, and an observation from Mr. W. Hort-
TON, in reply, the motion was agreed to.
PURCHASE OF YORK HOUSE.

The next resolution moved by Mr. HERRIES was,
not exceeding 27,000/., be granted for the expenses and
repairs of public buildings for the year 1827.
After a few words from Mr. &trams, which were not
audible in the gallery,
Mr. HUME said, he understood there was a treaty now
on foot for the purchase, by Government, of the house in
the park, intended for the late Duke of York ; and he
wished to know how far that treaty had proceeded, and
what amount the public were to pay for the house should
it be purchased? He should object to an increase of the
number of public buildings, for the expense to the public
was not in the mere purchase, but in the continued one of
expences and repairs which the country was called to pay
from year to year.
Mr. HERRIES sail, that the Government had at pre-
sent secured to itself only the right of pre-emption. A
treaty was going on for the purchase, and the value of the
house was to be ascertained by valuation, made by surveyors
appointed by each party; but the amount was not yet
known.

Sir J. YORXE, Mr. BARING, Mr. CANNING and Mr.
HomE, severally addressed a few observations to the com-
mittee on this subject, but their import could not be col-
lected, owing to a temporary interruption caused by the
entrance of several strangers into the gallery. As soon as
the noise had subsided, _ _

Mr. CANNING (adverting, as we understood, to some-
thing which had fallen from Mr. Hume) observed, that it
was only that morning he had examined the paper, and
that some doubts having arisen an to the legal course to be
taken, it was referred to the law-officers of the Crown.
Mr. HUME repeated his objection to the purchase of
the House, as an uncalled-for expence to the country.
Mr. CANNING said, that the House, if not purchased
by government, might be purchased by private indivi-
duals. It might perhaps be converted into an hotel and
tavern, and perhaps a gaming-house, which would be
found extremely inconvenient in the middle of the Park.
Mr. HUME observed, that the Right Hon. Gentleman
would find on inquiry, that such an event was particularly
guarded against in the lease.
Mr. BANKES objected to the purchase of the house, as
too expensive. The Hon. Member (Mr. Hume) had, he
thought given a perfectly satisfactory answer to the pre-
tence of the Right Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Canning.)
Mr. HERRIES defended the purchase.
Mr. W. WHITMORE thought the country was not in
a condition at present to make so expensive a purchase.
It had been examined by a Committee of the " Royal
Society," who declared it unfit for a National Gallery.
Mr. Alderman WOOD said, that the present was a case

in which he could not support the Right Honor"'
Gentleman.
Mr. HUME said, that in the early part of the Wet
an Hon. and Learned Gentleman (Mr. Brougham)/
at that time sat on his (the opposition) side of the Hon,'
but who had since taken his seat on the Ministerial van
had called the attention of the House to the intended PI:
chase of York-house by Government, to which he strong'
objected. The circumstance would be in the recollectO
of most Members, from the words used by the Right 1-1;
Gentleman (Mr. Canning), who stated in his reply,!
the Learned Gentleman had thrown much good nide
tion away on the occasion, as no such purchase wen
tended by Government. Now it appeared that the wvto
Hon. Gentleman had in some measure misled the Hot!,
that occasion, for it now appeared that the purchase
in the contemplation of Government.
Mr. CANNING recollected the circumstance, but ;1;18
Learned Gentleman spoke on that occasion of an intenno
purchase of the house as a palace for a prince, and it nf
to that his (Mr. Canning's denial referred.
Mr. BROUGHAM said it would be doing injustice
the Right Hon. Gentleman on the lower bench, and to tb-,
Hon. Member opposite, if he did not state what Irani;
opinion he gave on the occasion alluded to, and sneb
_,.
that opinion Was then, such it still existed; without aln,
tion. His objection en that occasion was, that this hen,.
ing, the architecture of which he much admired for
beauty, and would have admired much more if the 04'3_42
plan, which he had seen, and which was sketched by a yr"
ingenious Member of that House, had been adhered In
should be purchased as a Royal Palace. He spoke bialys
nantly at the idea of such a purchase, because he
there were already a sufficient number of palaces.
Right Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Canning) had given a codri
plete answer to his objection, and therefore might hare
that he had thrown his indignation away, because it
peered, that there was no intention of purchasing the bnil
ing for a palace. His objection was to that, but nos Or
stat that it might not be purchased for some other pall
Now as to the purchase at all, his approbation or disappNed
would depend on the purpose to which it was to be aPPIi
Mr. HUME had understood the Learned Gentleman,
have adverted to it as a house for the Duke of Clarence. t,
Mr. CANNING said that the Hon. and Learned Gen
spoke only of a palace.
Mr. BROUGHAM had expressly used the word pad
After a few words from Mr. BARING, which were 0°
audible in the gallery,
Lord ALTHORP objected to the purchase of '(0
house, as unnecessary.
Lord MILTON said, the sum required for the parch let
would he too great, for a building which afterwards nligni
v.
net he - found useful for the object for .h,c.1.1 it 'nf
intended. felt tboo

Mr. WOOD (of Preston) objected to the purchase.
0,
Mr. BERRIES was informed,. by the very highest 8
thority, that, with a little alteration; it would be very
for a gallery of pictures.
After a few words from Mr. H. GURNEY, the COle
was agreed to.
Two sums, the first of '7,000L, the second of 8--
nnOt
were voted to defray the expenses of works carrying 0°
Portpatrick and Donaghadee, for the current year. de
The next resolution was for a grant of 20,0001., t°
fray the expense of the works now carrying on in the 140 c
harbour of King's-town, near Dublin, for the current Ye;., :
On this item a conversation took place between .71
Hums, Mr. HERMES, Sir J. YOREE, Sir J. Nswilie
Mr. V. FITZGERALD, who argued strongly in favour d
new harbour, and Mr. H. GRATTAN.

The resolution was then agreed to.
The sum of 12,0001. was voted to defray the ex10:,7,
for the current year, of buildings nowerecting at the Brit'
Museum.
The next resolution was for the sum of 26,2501., to tle;
fray the expense, for the current year,
building of offices for the Privy Council, Treasury, Ste' a
Mr. BANKES regretted mach to see such ionnell-
sums laid out on public buildings, the design of whichil
duced so indifferent an effect. A pile of building, the ItIA
of which he did not approve, was now being erected{
incidental to P.
almost opposite to that chaste and beautiful specirneo.;".
architecture, the Banquetting-house. [We understood
Honourable Member to have alluded to the new buildioige,
in and ilea" Downing-street; but as he spoke from ttinubv
the gallery, his observations were very imperfectly heaPieb'e
us.] Two stories, he observed, had been raised over the
main building, which appeared sufficient to sink it to
earth. The Honourable Member then adverted to the 005
stitution of the Boaid of Works, and contended that it Gal

fur revision and alteration. -
hich
Colonel DAVIES also complained of the taste in W
many of the modern public buildings were conceived-
looked upon the new palace (Buckingham House, we 6'll'
pose) to be a-disgrace to the country.
Sir J. YORKE said, that if there were any fault to bt
found with the building to which the Hon. Member re
Dorsetshire had alluded, it could not fairly be placed O its
account of the architect. The plans had been laid befo,_re
,„,
Lords of the Treasury, and had been approved of by gni
The Hon. Member for Dorsetshire had criticised the bll2.ch
ing now ereeting by Mr. Soane, and yet the taste ill°
that Hon. Member had shown in the plan of his own bll
h,°o
was, beyond all doubt, the very worst that had ever
seen.—(Much laughter.)—lf an objection had been IDbaj
to the balustrade, or if the First Lord of the Treasury
told Mr. Smile, that the body of the building should hs;
been raised higher, Mr. Soane would have made a lOW 19°
and would have immediately taxed his well-known geti
to inset the intimation thus given. He repeated, thtt,-ecl
Mr. Scans been informed that his plan was not aPP`,riv't
of, he would cheerfully, and without delay, have altered
Mr. HERRIES observed, that the plan had certainly
beau approved of by the proper authorities.
After a few words from Mr. BANXES and Sir C. 13611"
BELL, the resolution was agreed to. , de'
The next resolution was for the sum of 100,0001. the
fray the expence of the repairs at Windsor Castle, for

current year.
Mr. BANKES, in the course of his observations on the
item, took occasion to make some remarks on the It.
palace in St. James's Park. The Hon. Gentleman his
pressed his astonishment, that any person with eyes in se
head could think of placing a palace in that situation.
Ns'
expected that the expense would be vastly larger than
inter. ded. e it
P. ST. J. MILDMAY wished to know whet
could have been better placed?
Mr. BANKES—In Hyde Park.
thought Mr.
MtlhaL MILDMAY—What, 3wlhAeYn
individuals‘Vhat, i n theha
dmiedvsitd
evidently
tLI
yonbdeoenn
R tilting the wishes of the people, they ought not to be

down. - re'
Mr. HERRIES said, that the whole expense of ‘,..e
pairs of Windsor Castle were estimated at not more tb
300,0001. The estimate of the expenses of Bucking;
house had had been laid before Parliament, and would 11°`
exceedd.
Mr.e HUME expected that it would be at least ht4,f
milli n. The Hon. Member complained that 250,0000
had been taken from the woods and forests, which
application of public money without the sanction 0
liament.
tia
Mr. HUSKISSON said, that the office of the wOl3. A
__„u6
forests was created by Act of Parliament at the writ:
mendation of a Committee, and the accounts were isiuot $
fore Parliament, as required, every three years; orl
shilling of the revenues was expended without the /3312n0
ledge of Parliament. The income had increased
6,000, to 120,000/. ; and the appropriations fora
fund would be shown in the triennial account next yegro,
After a few further remarks from Mr. Huttg and
GORDON, the resolution was agreed to. or
The next resolution was, that 26,160/. be gra07.,11
defraying the expence of works for the accommodeo°lo°
both Houses of Parliament, which, after some observaP°
from Mr. Iluntx, Mr. BERRIES, and Mr. Ratitogst
agreed to.
On the resolution for granting 8,000/. in aid of
in.- churches and providing residences for the Bisbee
the
Mr. West Indies, Dric
HUME observed, that the revenue of the 13i5.%0
of Durham might haie been reduced to 20,0001. Per -:
num, and the surplus applied to this object. Thereljo
peared to be a disposition to add to the expence bt
church, and none to retrench. The British public 014
not to be fleeced year after year in this manner. 40
Mr. WILMOT HORTON said that the revenues of *
Bishops were secured by Act of Parliament.
Mr. BERRIES, Mr. GORDON, aud •
Mr. BlllOgt
few words, and the resolution was agreed to. 140/
18,612/. was then vote dtowards completing the
Courts at Westminster.
17,979/. towards defraying the expenses of the &'l'
mill of the Holyhed-roads.
,000/. for the salariaes of the Officers of the Houses °1

Lords and Commons. a.
16,0001. for the expences of the Houses of Lurd°,
Commons. r
101,1801. to ' ;he fee 19-

make good the deficiency in tL „A of
a the offices of the Treasury, Secretaries of State,
Council, &c. , ia
73,853/. for contingent expenses of messengers,
the departments of the Secretaries of State and DI
Council.
7,0001. as a compensation for the commissionetv of
in
quiry into the state of Education in Ireland. ity
6,000/. as a compensation for the commitasioners of

quiry into the collection of the revenue in Ireland and
Great Britain.
5,700/. for the calories of commissioners of the Exche-
quer.
9581. 51. for the Ral aries of certaic Professors of the
Universities of Oxford and Cambridge.
14,51.0/, for the Insolvent Debtors' Court.
4,932/. for the salaries and contingent expenses of the
office for the superintendence of allowances.
20,000/, for the Penitentiary at Milbank.
The House then resumed, and the Report was mderad
to he received on Monday.
The other Orders of the Day being disposed of, the House
adjourned at a quarter past 12 o'clock.
C.

!ANIBRIDGE UNIVERSITY ELECTION,

CLOSE OF THE POLL.
The polling yesterday was decidedly in favour of the
Rolicitor-General, whose return is now deemed certain.
At two o'clock the numbers were stated as follow :—The
Solicitor-General, 435 ; Mr. Bankes, 353.
EXPRESS.-At half-past four, the numbers were—
The Solicitor-General 475
Mr. Eankes '367
The polling terminated at five o'clock, when the Soli-
eitor•General was declared duly elected.