Mr. Bankes, after a few prefatory remarks on the necessity of parliamentary interference on this subject, moved, "that the account of the expense incurred, and an estimate of the expense remaining to be 1284 incurred, in the building of the Courts of Justice in St. Margaret's Street and Palace Yard accompanied with a plan thereof, be referred to a Select Committee to examine the same and report their observations thereupon to the House."
The Chancellor of the Exchequersaid, he was not aware that it was the intention of his hon. friend to move for the appointment of a committee on the subject. He was not at present prepared to say whether there appeared to be ground for the appointment of such a Committee; and he wished, therefore, that his hon. friend would have the kindness to withdraw his motion until he had informed himself better respecting it.
Mr. Bankessaid, he had not the slightest objection to comply with his hon. friend's wishes; but the fact was, that in the erection of the buildings in question, they were at that moment hastening the completion of those very parts which were the most contrary to every principle of sound and legitimate taste. If he consented to withdraw his motion, measures ought to be adopted to prevent that part of the works from proceeding. He had lost no time in bringing the matter under the consideration of the House. When the estimates were originally moved, he had freely spoken his mind upon them. He had then moved for the papers which were necessary to throw a light on the subject. Those papers had been presented only yesterday, and he had immediately given notice of the motion which he had just made.
The Chancellor of the Exchequersaid, he was far from imputing any blame to his hon. friend. He could assure his hon. friend, that no particular instructions had been given to accelerate the completion of the parts of the building to which his hon. friend had adverted. The fact was, that the want of these courts occasioned a very grave inconvenience to all persons, whether administering or desiring justice, interested in them. There had therefore been, in the first instance, a general order to expedite them as much as possible; but there had been no recent order to accelerate their completion. If his hon. friend would postpone his motion, he would give directions that the proceeding with the building should be suspended for two or three days. If his hon. friend pressed his motion at present, he must vote against it; because, whatever objections he might have to the building, he was 1285 not aware that there were grounds for the appointment of a Committee, by which it Slight be recommended to pull it down.
Mr. Bankescoincided in the proposition of his right hon. friend. The part to which he objected consisted of two Venetian windows; the one small, and the other put on a cut-off corner, like the table of the House. As to expedition, he would engage to find a place on the other side, where, with the workmen which London was competent to furnish, he would build a Court of King's Bench as speedily as the one now building could be completed.
§ The motion was withdrawn.