THE EARL OF SANDWICHrose to ask a Question respecting the village of Leighton, in the county of Hunts, the property of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. The noble Earl having read a letter from the Chairman of the Board of Guardians, describing the imperfect sanitary condition of the place, and the injurious effects of overcrowding in the cottages of the poor, said, he contended that the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, on whose property the village was situated, ought to take immediate steps to remedy the state of things of which he complained.
§ EARL STANHOPE,on behalf of the Church Commissioners, said, that when the village was bought by them it had a population of 450 persons, and contained 45 cottages and 22 poor cottages. Their object had been from the first to improve the condition of the village, and, with that object, nine of the worst cottages had been pulled down; while the others were being gradually rebuilt in such a manner as to compare favourably with the new cottages on other estates. In the course of last summer certain complaints were made by the rural sanitary authority respecting the state of some drains, but the defects pointed out had been speedily and satisfactorily remedied, and at a very trifling cost. He hoped that his noble Friend would be satisfied with the answer he had made. He should be happy to furnish him with any correspondence that he might desire, as well as a list of the cottage occupiers.