§ SIR R. H. INGLIS asked the First Commissioner of Woods and Forests in what state were the several improvements recommended by Her Majesty's Commissioners of Metropolitan Improvements in their successive reports, and reminded the House that the embankment of the river from Westminster-bridge to Blackfriars, and from Vauxhall to Chelsea, an improved communication between Pimlico and the west front of Westminster Abbey, besides improvements in the sewerage and drainage in the neighbourhood of Her Majesty's palace, were recommended in five different reports of the Commissioners; but, though the recommendations were approved by the Government, and the Commission was continued, the improvements were not carried out. It was a serious evil to many persons who had property in the places proposed to be altered. He (Sir R. H. Inglis) could not omit the opportunity, even in the presence of the noble Lord (Lord J. Russell), of acknowledging the munificent offer of the Duke of Bedford to expend no less than 13,000l. for the improvement of a portion of the metropolis.
932§ VISCOUNT M0RPETH regretted that the proceedings in regard to these metropolitan improvements must be reported as almost wholly stationary, not in consequence of any want of confidence in the Commission, but solely owing to the conclusive reason of want of money. The money required to carry the recommendations into effect must be raised in the first instance by mortgage of the land revenues; and all that could be fairly relied upon from this source had been anticipated for the four main lines from the Docks to Spitalfields, Coventry-street, Oxford-street East, and Endell-street.