§ MR. INGRAMsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has been called to the notice of a public auction for the immediate letting of certain Toll Gates in the Metropolis, and also, whether he intends to take steps to prevent such auction, and to introduce to the House a measure to abolish the Turnpike Gates within the Metropolis? He was induced to ask the question, because that House had some two or three years ago agreed to an Address to the Crown for the issuing of a Royal Commission, with the view to the abolition of those gates.
SIR GEORGE LEWISsaid, he was aware that notice had been given accord- 219 ing to the usual practice for the letting of the toll gates by public auction. There was nothing in the circular to call for animadversion from any public authority. With regard to the latter part of the question of the hon. Member, he coincided with the Report of the Commissioners, that it would be desirable to abolish some of the toll gates immediately adjoining the metropolis. He had been in communication with the Metropolitan Commissioners to effect that object, but he had not as yet been able to arrange with them any practical measure; and even if he had, in the present state of the business of the House he did not think there would be any use of introducing a Bill on the subject.