Mr. Bankesexpressed his regret, that a site had not been chosen on which a palace might be built more accordant with the opulence of the country and the dignity of the sovereign. He thought 1206 that Hyde-park or the Regent's-park would be much more eligible.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer,admitted, that it would be desirable to have a palace in which the dignity of the Crown and the personal comforts of the sovereign might be consulted; but it was not the wish of his majesty, in the arrangements now in contemplation, to infringe on the conveniences of the public, by any encroachments on the parks. It would, no doubt, be desirable to have a site for a palace, in which accommodation might be afforded, not only for his majesty, but for the different branches of the royal family, the ambassadors, and the great officers of state. He had seen the splendid plans of Inigo Jones, for a royal palace, which he could wish to see erected; but it could not be accomplished in any of the royal parks, without infringing materially on the comforts of the public. Hyde-park would therefore be an injudicious selection, as far as the public was concerned, and as respected the sovereign himself; for though it might be desirable to have the residence of the king public, to a certain degree, it was also necessary that it should afford the means of privacy. If the palace were built in Hyde-park, it would be necessary to have enclosures round it, and if plantations were now made, it would take some twenty years before they were of sufficient growth to secure that degree of privacy which would be desirable; and even this, if it could be acquired, would be a great encroachment on the accommodation of the public, whether it was in Hyde-park or Kensington-gardens. It would be found, also, that the Regent's-park would be at an inconvenient distance for the despatch of public business. With respect to Buckingham-house, there might be inconveniences, but there were advantages belonging to it which could not be found elsewhere. As to the abandonment of Carlton-house, it did not arise from any capricious taste on the part of his majesty. It might be said rather, that instead of his majesty wishing to leave that house, the house seemed disposed to leave his majesty. The lower part of the house consisted originally of offices, but was now changed to apartments where his majesty resided; and when his majesty had company in the upper, they were obliged to be propped up. The house had not been furnished for these thirty years, and was quite unfit in many other respects for a royal residence. He did not give any 1207 opinion, on the question of expending a million, oramillion and a half, on a suitable palace for his majesty; but, supposing such a measure to be adopted, what was to become of his majesty in the interim? And, supposing a royal palace to be afterwards erected, the present buildings would not be lost to the country. It was not an improbable thing that we might have a queen dowager, or an heir apparent, each of whom would require a residence. As to Carlton-house, by its removal an open view would be obtained from Regent's-street to the Park and the Horse-guards; and, on that supposition, buildings might be erected which would be highly ornamental to the metropolis; and at the same time government might so dispose of part of the ground situate in that neighbourhood, as to produce an income sufficient to defray the expense of some of the projected improvements. Part of the site of Carlton-house might be advantageously applied in the erection of buildings for the accommodation of the Royal Academy and the National Gallery. For the former, the Strand was most inconvenient; and for the latter, the British Museum was not the most proper place. With respect to Buckingham-house, it was absolutely necessary, for the comfort of the sovereign, that some improvements should take place. It was in its present state, desperate dirty. The expense, he would admit, might not be less than 200,000l.; but even if it were not to be the permanent residence of the sovereign, it would still be an ornament to the metropolis, and highly desirable for the accommodation of other branches of the royal family.
The bill was read a second time.