§ MR. B. OSBORNEwished to put a question to the hon. Gentleman the Member for Lancaster, in his capacity as one of the commissioners connected with "the new Palace at Westminster." A Committee of that House sat in the year 1846; and they reported their conviction that so long as the squabbles between Mr. Barry, the architect, and Dr. Reid, the ventilator, were permitted to go on, the New House of Commons would never be finished. He wished to ask the hon. Member, whether he had succeeded in adjusting these squabbles, 891 and whether he was aware that an action for defamation had been commenced by the architect against the ventilator, which was about to be tried next week. Unless the hon. Gentleman could adjust the squabbling between the two, he (Mr. Osborne) was justified in saying the House would never get into the new building.
§ MR. T. GREENEIn reply to the inquiry of the hon. Gentleman, I have to say that I am aware there is an action pending between Mr. Barry and Dr. Reid; but happily that subject does not come within the power of the commissioners. Our best endeavours have been applied to reconcile the differences that exist between the architect and the ventilator; but I cannot say those efforts have been successful. At the present moment there is a considerable degree of difference between those two gentlemen; and we are obliged to carry on the work as well as we possibly can, by endeavouring to arrange matters to the best of our power; but certainly it is not a very pleasing task.
§ MR. B. OSBORNEI give notice that I shall draw the attention of the House to this subject, with the view of getting rid of both Mr. Barry and Dr. Reid.