§ LORD ROBERT GROSVENORsaid, he wished to inquire of the right hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Government was prepared to give effect to the recommendation of the Smithfield Committee; namely—
That the best appropriation for the general benefit of so much of the site of Smithfield as reverts to the Crown would be to adapt it for the enjoyment and recreation of the public.
THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERIn answer, Sir, to my noble Friend's question, I will state the course which has been taken by the Government with reference to this matter. On the 26th of July, 1856, the Report of the Committee was sent to the City Remembrancer for observations, with an intimation that it would be the duty of Government to consider before the meeting of Parliament the propriety of introducing a Bill for the appropriation of Smithfield. On the 3rd of December the City authorities replied that they dissented from the opinion of the Committee, and that they could not recognize the claim of the Crown to the site, and submitted that such right must be substantiated by law before any legislative proceedings could be taken. In order, however, to avoid such proceedings, they requested the Treasury to assent to their plan for a dead-meat market. On the 20th of December the Treasury replied that they could not consent to the proposed appropriation of the site. But, before taking measures to establish the right of the Crown, they requested to be informed "whether the Corporation could propose any destination of the site to a public object, in which Her Majesty's Government may be able to concur." On the 27th of July last the City Remembrancer replied that the Corn and Markets Committee hoped at an early period to lay some proposition before Her Majesty's Government. That proposition has not yet 2214 been received, but a letter has been addressed to the City authorities, calling their attention to the state of the question, and asking for information as to their intentions concerning it.