Star.
London, England, 1827-06-08 00:00:00

to encroach upon the Park at all. He begged leave
also to ask Use Hon. Secretary, whether it was intended
to cut down certain trees iu St. James's Park ? and he
could not help adding, that no measure connected
' with those improvements was so jusly complained
of by the public, as that of cutting down the trees
in question. He hoped that the comfort, conve-
nience, and even the health of the citizens, would
not thus be sacrificed to any plan which Mr. Nash
might think proper to propose for the purpose of
beautifying the park. When he (Mr. Hobhouse) ap-
plied to the Treasury on the subject, Mr. Arbuthnot
was kind enough to assure him that no steps would be
taken by which the rights of the petitioners could be
affected, without an intimation either to his Hon. Col-
league (Sir F. Burdett) or himself. While he placed
the fullest reliance on this promise, he could not help
observing, that if the House adjourned before an ar-
rangement with the Petitioners could be effected, it
might be too late when Parliament met again to arrest
the progress of those improvements, and remedy the
grievance of which the Petitioners complained. An
assurance had been given to the House, that no trees
should be cut down on • the Carlton House side of the
Park, and also that whatever improvements should take
place in that direction, the rights of the Petitioners should
not be invaded. If, however, the improvements went on
without the power to check them. it was obvious that it
would be a task of considerable difficulty to repair the
mischief; and if those trees were to be cutdown according
to report, be need not say that it would be no easy
matter te raise them up again. With respect to the
contemplated improvements in the Strand, be begged
also to ask the Hon. Secretary what was intended to be
done, and when ? In consequence of the rumoured
provernents in that quarter, a great deal of mischief
was occasioned, and several of the inhabitants of the
Strand were losing from 201. to 301. per week, owing
to the unsettled state into which they were thrown,
arising from their being unable to determine when
the improvements should commence.

Mr. HERRIES said, he should answer the last
question of the Hon. Gentleman first. The Hon. Gen-
tleman asked what progress was snaking in the
provements in the Strand ? On a former occasion, when
the Hon. Gentleman proposed the same question, he
(Mr. Herries) answered generally, that the commis-
sioners had not been idle, and that they were proceeding
with due care. Such was the general answer which
the Hon. Gentleman received on that occasion ; but be
(Mr. Herries) was now enabled to state more partite.
larly the progress of the commissioners, by referring is
detail to what they had done. He was enabled to stale
that 339 houses bad been purchased, which led to a
correspondence embracing no less than 1,000 lettere.
He mentioned this to shew the attention which must
have been bestowed upon the different cases that came
before the commissioners, and also to account for any
delay which might have occurred. It was an import-
ant fact that spoke highly to the zeal and diligence
of the commissioners, that upwards of seventy-five

houses had been under arbitration; fifty-three houses
of that number were as yet undecided; and the claims
set up by the owners of 182 houses were now under
the consideration of the commissioners. He left the
House to judge from this statement, that the business
in which the commissioners were engaged was of no
small magnitude. Although he believed that meet.
lindividuals bad ground of complaint that their ie.
terms had so long been kept in suspense, yet on
the other hand there might be other persons whose
claims, perhaps, were not so justly founded, who would
endeavour to press the Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Hobhouse)
to bring the subject forward, in order to profit by any
undue speed with which the purchases might be effected
—(Hear). The commissioners were doing all in their
power to ,expedite the improvements, and they hoped
that early in the ensuing Spring the work of demolition
would be commenced. With respect to another part of
the Hon. Member's inq uir y—na tuel y, the enev.--.

on &Jame:7s Park,-- Henries) was sure that
when the plan of the intended improvements should be
submitted to the House, the Hon. Member (Mr. Hob-
house) would at once perceive what little ground there
was for such a rumour. The House must be aware that
several improvements had lately taken place in the
Park, and he was quite sure that in all the alterations
that bad taken place nothing had been done to take
away from the just rights of the public—(Hear, hear).
All he would now ask was, that the present Commis-
sioners should be judged by their acts; and he felt per-
suaded that in all the changei which they might think
proper to unction, they would feel a just regard for
the interests of the public. With respect to St. James's
Park, he had to communicate to the House that his
Majesty had been graciously pleased to allow a road to
be coostructect in the Green Park, so as to connect an
improving part of the town with the City of Westminster
—(Hen. hear). He had also to state, that his Majesty
had further been graclinisly pleased to intimate that
the interior area in St. James's Park, where the grass
now grew, and which was confined by a paling, should
be thrown open to the public—(Hear). When he stated
that such improvements were in comtemplation, he was
sure that the House would at once see the spirit in which
they were undertaken. With respect to another part of the
Hon. Member's inquiry,it was certainly intended to build
a line of houses at the back of theßird-cage•walt but he
(Mr. Henries) could not see that the petitioners were at all
affected by that measure. Certainly every pains had
been taken not to injure their property; and so far from
the intended improvements having an injurious effect,
he was sure that the contrary would be the result, and
that the houses in question would be benefitted rather
than injured. With respect to the plan of the improve-
ments, an order had been issued from the Treasury,
that billy such parts of it as no one could object to
should be proceeded with ; so that parties who might
be dissatisfied would have ample time to forward their
complaints to the proper quarter, and obtain the redress
which they sought, in case their claims were founded
in justice. There was one mote topic to which the
Hon. Gentleman had alluded--lamely, the trees, which
he seemed to suppose it was the intention of the com-
missioners to,clemolish. It was no part of the plan to
cot down the toes in qu4stion; and be was not aware
that any such intention existed at the Treasury.

Lord MILTON etnested a Lope that any alterations
whiei might be nade.rn the parli would nut be such as
to interfere with the advantages enjoyed by the public
in that quaff ter. He did not know what was intended
to be done with the site of Carlton Palace and Gardens ;
but he j.rusted chat any build nAs to be erected on them,
would nothe eztencled beyon4 hq line orthe gar den'wall.

After a few words Irom Mr. HUM!, Mr. HERMES.
and Mr. 1-lontotistc, the Petition wai brought up, read,
Asd.ordered to lie on the table.

- -
Mr. HEATfICOTS, prescnt4d a, fetitlyik front the Ptotestaug
Dissenters of gummy, for a repeal atlas Corporation and Tett AA,.