§ MR. WILSONhaving moved that the House at its rising do adjourn to Monday,
MR. STAFFORDsaid, he would beg to ask why the gates between St. James's Palace and the German Chapel were not open for the free passage of carriages; also, why free passage was not permitted to hackney carriages by day through the Stable-yard gate? He considered that it was incumbent on those who kept the two first-named gates shut to state the reasons for doing so. As to the Stable-yard gate, it was open to hackney cabs during the whole period of the Exhibition without inconvenience, and he wished to know what the owners of or riders in cabs had done since the Exhibition to require that inconsistent regulation? He did not put the question to any individual Member of the Government, because any individual might state that it was a matter not in his particular department; and he should not be surprised if he received no answer at all, because the noble Lord the Member for Marylebone (Viscount Ebrington) had been put off when he asked a similar question. There were, perhaps, about eight or nine Fridays more before the end of the Session, and he should feel it his duty to knock at these gates again, the restriction upon opening which ought not to continue.
THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERsaid, a Vote in Committee of Supply that night would give full opportunity for the discussion to be raised. He believed the hon. Gentleman was incorrect in his statement as to the passage of cabs during the Exhibition.