§ Mr. Agar Ellispresented a Petition from Samuel James Arnold, the proprietor of the late English Opera-house, in favour of a New Street from Waterloo-bridge to the northern part of the Metropolis. The hon. Member took that opportunity to inquire of the noble Lord (Lowther) what were the views of Government with regard to the subject. In doing so, he did not mean to impute any blame to the noble Lord, who was himself a great improver, for being reluctant to take up the matter. At the same time he was strongly in favour of opening a New Street, to commence at Waterloo-bridge, and extend towards the northern part of the town. The feeling of the public generally, but particularly of the immediate inhabitants of the metropolis, was decidedly in favour of such an undertaking. 1349 He begged to suggest to the noble Lord, that the proposed improvement would correspond well with other improvements which were now carrying on under his auspices. The great proprietors in the immediate neighbourhood of the proposed opening, were anxious to further the plan. He might mention that the Duke of Bedford was ready to make a considerable sacrifice, in order to facilitate it, and the Marquis of Exeter was equally anxious on the subject. Those were the proprietors whose properties lay more immediately in contact with the opening from Waterloo-bridge, and he believed that other proprietors of ground nearer to the British Museum were alike desirous of having the object effected. He hoped that Government would look at the undertaking with a favourable eye. Every body must see, if the opportunity now presented by the destruction of the English Opera-house were lost, and if the theatre were re-built upon the old site, that there would be no chance of opening the new street. In conclusion, the hon. Member asked the noble Lord, whether Government had it in contemplation to lend its assistance in the construction of a new street from Waterloo-bridge to the northern part of the metropolis.
Lord Lowthersaid, he was sensible of the advantage of making the proposed opening, and felt strongly the beauty and convenience that would result from it. However, there were reasons which induced Government to hesitate as to aiding the undertaking in the manner required. The first principle on which Government had acted with respect to improvements in the metropolis was, as far as possible, to confine its exertions to the property and estates of the Crown. This had been the case with regard to Regent-street. An application was made to him in reference to a new street from Waterloo-bridge northward, and he had been induced to represent the matter to the Board which possessed the superior control in such affairs. The members of it conceived, that the only mode in which they could properly lend their assistance would be, with regard to that part of the proposed improvement which might be contiguous to Crown property; and he thought that he might have ventured to propose to the House to advance a sum of 25,000l., to be employed for the improvement of the Crown property, and in aid of the under- 1350 taking. He feared that beyond that they would be unable to go. If the great proprietors of the adjoining districts, whose interests would be promoted by a new street, were willing to adopt a similar course, and make a correspondent exertion; if other parties (the Waterloo-bridge Company for instance) exerted themselves, the point might be attained. Or the matter could be effected in a different manner, if a general rate were imposed on the public, or on the adjoining parishes.
Mr. Hobhouse, having already presented a Petition from the parish of St. Paul Covent Garden in support of the project, could not but express his regret, that it had not received more encouragement from the noble Lord. The noble Lord must be aware, that unless Government came forward with assistance, partial even though it might be, the undertaking could never be effected, and that if it were not accomplished now, it never could. In consequence of the English Opera-house having been consumed, an opportunity was afforded of making an opening which would be equally useful and ornamental to the metropolis; but if the theatre were allowed to be rebuilt on the original site, the object would be defeated. He must object to his constituents being rated as proposed by the noble Lord; they were taxed quite enough already; the extra rates to which parishes in the metropolis had been subjected amounted to very large sums—too large to admit of any addition, even for the accomplishment of an object so useful as that now proposed. The establishment of the metropolitan police (an exceedingly useful object, he admitted) had added heavily to the parochial rates. The parish of St. George, Hanover-square, in addition to a rate of 76,000l. for parochial expenditure, would have to raise 12,000l. for the purpose of defraying the expense of the police alone. He therefore left it to the noble Lord to judge, with how bad a grace a proposition for an additional rate for the construction of a new street would be received. As to the Waterloo-bridge Company, the House had too perfect a knowledge of their condition, from what had been formerly stated by a gallant Admiral opposite, to believe that they were willing, or able, to put their hands into their pockets, for the promotion of a merely national object. If a new street were ever to be opened, it should be attempted now, but the attempt could not 1351 be made successfully without the assistance of the noble Lord and the Government.
§ Mr. J. Woodbelieved that the noble Lord mistook the feeling of the public upon the subject, if he thought that they would not willingly devote a part of their revenues to so beneficial an undertaking. They looked with great anxiety to the commencement of the work, which would be most useful as well as ornamental.
Mr. Warburtonhoped, that Government would feel disposed to consider the sum small that would be required to effect the object, and the public convenience great, that must result from it when accomplished; and that such being the case, it would lend its assistance to the undertaking. He was peculiarly and personally interested, but he thought that being so did not bias his opinion in declaring that the measure would be very advantageous.
Sir R. Inglistrusted, that at least there would be no objection to the appointment of a committee to consider the conditions and security upon which Government might advance a certain sum for the completion of the plan. At the same time he admitted that Government was justified in pausing and weighing the matter well previous to taking any step.
§ The Petition to be printed.