Colonel Woodwished to put to the right hon. Baronet the Secretary for the Home Department a question connected with the fire which took place in Dover-street, and the evidence given before the coroner's inquest. He understood that some of it related to fire escapes, and the propriety of hotels being provided with ladders and other facilities for escape. He wished to know whether this evidence had been reported to the right hon. Gentleman, and if any measure of precaution was in contemplation?
§ Sir J. Grahamsaid, the evidence at the late inquest had not yet been officially reported to him. With reference to the policy of taking any precaution against fire in the police arrangements of this metropolis, that matter had been carefully considered by him some time ago, and, at his request, his noble Friend at the head of the Woods and Forests had endeavoured to obtain from several foreign countries—from Paris, Vienna, and the United States—information as to the precautions taken in those countries. He confessed he had a strong impression that it would not be advisable to connect those precautions with the police, but that, as in Paris, a separate establishment should be created, the duty of which it should be to take precautions against fire. His noble Friend had not obtained all the information he desired; but when he should have obtained that information, it would be his duty, in conjunction with his Colleagues, to consider of a substantive measure on the subject, and to present it to Parliament.