§ LORD LLANOVERpresented a Petition of Vestry of Parish of St. Leonard, Shoreditch, in favour of the Construction of Thames Embankment, ? and said he would take that opportunity of asking the Government a question on the subject. It would be remembered that in 1855 the Metropolitan Board of Works was created, and was entrusted with the main drainage of the Metropolis. The plan they adopted to carry out that drainage was by means of a high level, a middle level, and a low level sewer; the low level to proceed by way of the Strand and St. Paul's, and other of the great thoroughfares, which would be at such a depth, and the excavations would be so extensive, that it was plain the traffic would be stopped for many months, to say the least. This scheme was, however, adhered to until last year, when a Select Committee of the House of Commons, that had been appointed to consider the whole subject of the embankment of the Thames, unanimously recommended that the Thames should be embanked, and that the low level sewer should run under the embankment. They further recommended that the dues of 8d. and of 1d. on coal, the Acts for which were about to expire, should be continued for some time longer, in order to defray the expense. What he wished to ask the Government was, Whether any steps were about to be taken to carry out this plan, and whether they intended to bring in a Bill to continue the coal dues for the purpose? He had heard that it was the intention of the Government to appoint a Royal Commission to inquire further into this subject; if so, he hoped the Commission would be speedily issued, that they might be in a position to report early this Session; so that some decisive steps might be at once taken in a matter which, if carried out, would be one of the greatest improvements of the Metropolis.
§ EARL GRANVILLEsaid, it was the intention of the Government to issue a Royal Commission; but the question of 546 the continuance of the coal dues was still under the consideration of the Government.