§ SIR JOHN SHELLEYsaid, he wished to ask Mr. Attorney General what he proposes to do with the surplus arising out of the cause The Attorney General v. the Craven Hill Estate?
THE ATTORNEY GENERALsaid, that many years ago, Lord Craven gave a piece of land for the purpose of establishing 841 pesthouses for the benefit of five of the parishes of London. In the course of time that land became very valuable, and was afterwards sold and other land bought with the proceeds at Paddington. That site was selected from the notion that the population of London would never extend so far. However, that had not been the case. The land there had become very valuable, and a decree of the Court of Chancery had been taken. It produced very nearly £400 a year, but in the next century, when certain leases fell in, it would bring in a very large amount indeed. It was his (the Attorney General's) desire to apply the money for the benefit of the different parishes, but to divide it among them would not answer any useful purpose of the charity. He, therefore, had proposed to give it to St. Mary's Hospital, Paddington, being the nearest hospital, provided the trustees would build an additional wing for the accommodation of persons affected by contagious disorders in those five parishes. They had taken a considerable time to deliberate on the proposal, but a fortnight ago he (the Attorney General received a letter stating that they declined the offer. He was now desirous of finding some other hospital which would undertake on receiving the income to provide sufficient accommodation for patients who might be sent from the five parishes. He regretted that so much time should have been lost, but it was unavoidable. He would endeavour to have a scheme for the application of the money ready as soon as possible.