§ Order for Second Reading read.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read a second time."—(Mr. Dodds).
§ SIR JOHN LUBBOCKsaid, that he had placed upon the Paper a Notice for the rejection of this Bill; but he was always very reluctant to oppose the second reading of a Private Bill. The circumstances of this case, however, were very exceptional; and if the Bill had remained in its original position, it would have been most desirable that the House, as a whole, should have pronounced an opinion upon it. The Bill, as presented to Parliament, proposed to go on a high embankment very near 1718 Stonehenge, cutting diagonally across both the Avenue and the Cursus. He need hardly say that these ancient remains were of a peculiar character and quite unique. Stonehenge and Avebury were the two grandest monuments of their kind in the world. He was not sure that the vibration of the trains might not have shaken down the trilithons; but, at any rate, the Avenue and the Cursus would be destroyed, and the whole aspect of this solemn and mysterious scene irreparably destroyed. Moreover, it was quite unnecessary. It was quite as easy to carry the line a little to the north. It would be as direct, and presented no engineering or other difficulties. The fact was that the engineers had not given a thought to the matter. When one of the promoters was remonstrated with on this act of Vandalism, he replied that they did not propose to take down Stonehenge itself; that the Avenue was merely a bank and a ditch; and, as for the Cursus, that "though it might once have served as an ancient British racecourse, all he could say was that it was quite out of repair, and of no use whatever now." However, the promoters had now agreed to abandon that particular piece of their line, and to go a little further to the north. They therefore proposed to ask Parliament to sanction another line, which, while it would be quite as direct, and would present no engineering difficulties, would spare both the Avenue and the Cursus. It would be a mile from Stonehenge, and only visible at one point which the Company had agreed to plant, so that it would interfere as little as might be with the general features of the spot. Under these circumstances, he did not feel justified in opposing the second reading, although he confessed that he could not but regret the construction of a line through that particular district. He was assured that the vibration could not, at the distance now proposed, endanger Stonehenge; but he hoped that the Committee would satisfy themselves on that point. He had no doubt that the promoters would honourably carry out the undertaking which they had given him; but, of course, if there should be any objection to the Bill when it came back from Committee, although he did not for a moment anticipate that there would be, he trusted the House would 1719 permit him to call its attention to the matter again, and to oppose the Bill on the third reading.
MR. KENNAEDsaid, that, as his name also appeared on the Paper in opposition to the Bill, he desired to say that his sole motive in the course he had taken was that which had been stated by the hon. Member for the University of London (Sir John Lubbock). But after the undertaking which had been given to the hon. Member that the line would be so deviated as to preserve the integrity of these ancient monuments, he did not feel inclined to ask the House to dissent from the second reading of the Bill, and he would therefore withdraw his opposition.
§ Motion agreed to.
§ Bill read a second time and committed.