§ VISCOUNT TEMPLETOWNasked the President of the Council, with respect to the Northumberland Avenue, Whether, in the view of not disappointing the public, the upper end of that Avenue could not be spread out wider than is now the intention to make it, judging from the fencing on both sides, so as to afford a better view of Charing Cross and the southern side of Trafalgar Square?
THE DUKE OF RICHMOND AND GORDONreplied that it was at first intended that the centre of the Avenue should have been in a straight line from the Nelson Column; but after the inquiry by the Select Committee of 1873, and in deference to the views of Mr. Barry and the President of the Society of Architects, it was decided to make it in a straight line from Cockspur Street. The land on each side within the fences had been laid out for building on, and to widen the upper end would involve a great sacrifice to the ratepayers, who would, to a certain extent be benefited by the erection of buildings on that land, if it were not used for that purpose.
§ House adjourned at Seven o'clock, to Thursday, the 27th instant, a quarter before Four o'clock.