§ MR. STANFORDsaid, he wished to ask the right hon. Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the augmentation of the metropolitan police force, made in consequence of the National Exhibition, would be paid for out of the receipts of the Exhibition; and whether the Secretary of State for the Home Department had thought it necessary to convey any intimation to foreign Powers, through the proper channel, of the inconvenience that might arise of large bodies of foreigners visiting this country during the Exhibition in military uniforms, and wearing side-arms, &c and whether additional provision had been made for the safe custody of persons charged with police offences during the Exhibition?
§ SIR G. GREYsaid, that in answer to the first part of the question, with regard to the increase of the police force, he had to state that it was thought necessary that there should be an increase of the metropolitan police in consequence of the large number of visitors who were expected in the metropolis during the summer. That increase would only be limited by the necessities of the case. With regard to the mode of meeting the expense which would consequently be incurred, he had to state that the Royal Commissioners of the Exhibition would be required to agree to pay the cost of that portion of the police force which would be necessary for the custody of the articles exhibited and contained within the building in which the Exhibition would take place; and they would also have to meet the charge which would be created by the formation of a police force at the approaches to the Park, and in the immediately adjoining streets and avenues. The arrangements upon that subject would, in fact, be founded upon the same principle which was adopted in the cases of the exhibitions of the Royal Agricultural Society, and of other bodies. The additional force that might be required for maintaining order throughout the metropolis generally would be paid out of the general fund for the payment of the metropolitan police. No intimation had been made to foreign Powers, or at least no intimation certainly had been made by himself, with respect to any large bodies of persons who might come into this country in military uniform; and as he had no reason to think that there was any danger to be apprehended from that cause, he had taken no precaution upon that subject. In answer to the last question of the hon. Gentleman, he had to state that it had not yet been thought necessary to make additional provision for the safe custody of persons charged with police offences during the Exhibition; but if any such necessity should hereafter be found to arise, it would as speedily as possible be supplied.