Mr. Wallacepresented a Petition from the Waterloo Bridge Company, praying that a street may be made from Waterloo Bridge to Tottenham-court-road, &c.
§ Sir J. Yorkeobserved, that when on a former evening he wished to present a similar petition, he was prevented from making some observations in consequence of the long discussion that took place on another petition, which embraced four different points,—community, unity, navigation and trade,—which were ably discussed by the hon. Alderman, one of the members for London, by the hon. member for Newark, and the hon. member for Yorkshire. The consequence was, that he could not edge in a single word on that occasion. Now he contended that this was a Petition well worthy of the attention of the House. A street from Tottenham-court-road to Waterloo-bridge would, in conjunction with the improvements at Charing-cross, be a great convenience. Various reasons might be adduced in favour of such an opening. One of them was, that it would facilitate the approach to Somerset-house, and various other public establishments. At present there was no outlet to the northern parts of the metropolis, except those very narrow and extraordinary streets through which gentlemen were obliged to drive at present. He thought that a sum of money might, with great advantage, be laid out in carrying a plan of this kind into effect—and he was sure that it would ultimately pay the public. He could see no reason why money should be voted for im- 503 proving the streets of Dublin, and that a similar provision should he refused with respect to those of London. He thought that Ministers ought to be anxious to form new streets as one way of perpetuating their names. As they had a Waterloo-bridge and a Wellington-place, why should they not have a Murray-square—a Goulburn-place—and a Dawson-alley? In their nautical discoveries this course had already been adopted. They had Melville Island—Barrow's Straits—Croker's Mountains—and even Warrender's Head. Me thought that such an example ought to be followed, and he hoped the Chancellor of the Exchequer would, this evening, in moving the Miscellaneous Estimates, make a beginning.
§ The Petition was laid on the Table.