Lord Brougham, pursuant to notice, rose to move that an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying that She would be graciously pleased to give the necessary directions for having the New House of Parliament ready for the reception of this House at the beginning of the next Session. Nothing could exceed the suffering they endured in the morning sittings, sometimes from the heat, and at other times from the cold. Two or three thousand pounds expended in temporary fittings would enable their Lordships to occupy their new House by next Session.
Lord Wharncliffesaid, that there would be great inconvenience in acceding to the Motion of his noble and learned Friend. It was impossible that the ventilation of the new House could be completed by the next Session; added to which workmen would be employed all around them, and the noise from the chipping of stones and other operations would be very great. He doubted, therefore, whether the new House, with the proposed temporary fittings, would be as convenient as the present.
Lord Campbellthought if they waited the convenience of Mr. Barry, he would put off till the Greek kalends the day of their assembling in the new chamber. He had suffered severely in his health from the unwholesomeness of the present house. He would beg to remind their Lordships of what they suffered during the three nights of the Maynooth debate. It was quite unnecessary that they should suffer so much inconvenience, as it appeared, from the evidence given before the Committee, that the House might be easily got ready by next Session.
§ The Duke of Wellingtonwas sorry that the noble and learned Lords, for whose services they were so greatly indebted, suffered so much inconvenience in consequence of the new House not being completed; but he would beg their Lordships to recollect that the House of Lords was not the only consideration, but it was the 1034 chamber of Parliament, and there must be easy access for Her Majesty, and convenient communication between the existing House of Commons and the new building.
Lord Campbellsaid, Mr. Barry had told him that there would be no difficulty in getting the temporary fittings ready for the accommodation of Her Majesty by the next Session.
§ Lord Sudeleywas aware of the inconvenience experienced in the morning sittings; but he did not think they would be better off if they were placed in the new building before it was sufficiently finished and warmed. It would be injurious, in his opinion, to press the matter for one year, if in the course of the following year they could get in with comfort for a permanency.
The Earl of Wicklowsupported the Motion. He thought they would not get into the new House for the nest five years unless it was adopted. The objection as to the noise of the workmen was of little moment, as they must leave work in the winter months before their Lordships would commence their sittings, and in the summer they ceased working at six o'clock.
Lord Brougham, in reply, said there was no probability that the law Lords who had occasion to sit in the early part of the day would attend to the masons when they were hearing counsel; the walls of the new House would, in fact, be so thick that they would not hear anything which took place outside. If there was any question about the accommodation for Her Majesty being complete, he had no doubt that illustrious lady would be pleased to open and prorogue Parliament by Commission for one year. He could not understand why the noble Lord (Lord Wharncliffe) objected to the Motion, unless there was something behind which they could not comprehend—unless it was contemplated in some high quarter to make the Houses of Parliament subservient, not only to legislative, but pictorial purposes. Now, ornament was an excellent thing, but business was of greater importance. He should certainly divide the House upon his Motion.
§ On Question, House divided:—Contents 16; Non-contents 40: Majority 24.
§ Resolved in the Negative.