§ SIR ROBERT INGLISwished to ask a question of his noble Friend the First Commissioner of Woods and Forests. He had been one of the Commissioners, and took considerable interest in the prosecution of the improvements for making Batter-sea Park, and the embankment of the river at Chelsea. The Commissioners made a report in July, 1845, the consent of the Government was granted to this measure, the necessary notices were given, and the Bill was brought in and received the Royal Assent on the 3rd August, 1846. Knowing that the longer delay, the greater would be the cost of making these improvements, demands being made to a most enormous extent, he wished to know from his noble Friend whether he was prepared to state to the House that any measure would be brought forward by Government to hasten 698 the progress of the works to which their assent had previously been given?
§ VISCOUNT MORPETHsaid, that subsequent to the passing of the Battersea Bill, several claims had been sent in of so exorbitant a character that it was necessary to bring them before a jury, and some time was necessarily expended in collecting evidence and ascertaining the rights of parties. The first of these cases had been brought before a jury on Friday last; and he was happy to say, that so far the result had not been discouraging to his department, or to the hon. gentleman who acted as surveyor; for inasmuch as the claim put forward was 10,212l., the verdict of the jury was for 750l. After this result he had only to state his hope and expectation that the rest of the claims would be disposed of at a greatly accelerated pace.