Sitting of 3 August 1850

MINUTES.
PUBLIC BILLS.—1a Consolidated Fund.
3a Grand Jury Cess (Ireland); Fees (Court of Common Pleas) (No. 2).

SUPPLY—THE MONUMENTA HISTORICA BRITANNICA.
The Resolutions of the Committee of Supply were brought up.
MR. HUTTtook the opportunity of calling attention to the want of liberality in the publication and distribution of the historical work called Monumenta Historica Britannica, urging that as the country had paid 10,000 l. towards such publication, the price of 21. 2s. per volume now charged was far too high. The charge originally had been 51. 5s. a volume, but that high price had acted almost as a prohibition to the circulation of the book, only six copies having been sold of it; and at the reduced price, out of an edition of 600, only forty-six copies had been disposed of. He thought, under the circumstances, the book should be sold for the cost of the paper and printing.
MR. CORNEWALL LEWIShoped that the 21. 2s. would be found sufficiently low to place the work in the hands of the public at large; if not, the subject should be taken into consideration.
MR. HUMEthought the price should be so reduced as to bring the work within the reach of the bulk of the people. He suggested that a copy of the work should be sent to every public library.
Resolutions agreed to.

WAYS AND MEANS—CROWN PROPERTY.
Resolutions brought up.
MR. HUMEsaid, that in lieu of the 385,000 l. granted to Her Majesty to cover necessary expenses, the Crown property was handed over to Parliament to be managed to the best advantage, and the ill management of that property for the last fifty years was notorious. He thought there ought to be an annual balance sheet presented to Parliament, setting forth the whole of the items connected with that property. He wished to give notice that next Session he would not agree to any vote of money after twelve o'clock at night. No matter what the pressure might be, he would oppose any and every grant proposed after that hour. If the Government wanted money, they must submit the votes in time. He admitted that out of deference to political friends he had hitherto neglected his duty in this respect, but he would change his tactics next Session; he would be constantly at his post, not on Committees, but in the House, and he would take especial good care to exercise an efficient check on the
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expenditure of the public money. He complained that twelve enormously heavy votes had been passed after twelve o'clock last night, and he also complained of the haste with which the public money was voted this Session, as in former Sessions, for the defences of the country at Dovor, and in the Channel Islands.
MR. BROTHERTONalso promised to turn over a fresh leaf next Session. He would propose at the commencement of it that at twelve o'clock every night Mr. Speaker leave the chair, and thus he would effectually aid the views of the hon. Member for Montrose. The late hours this Session had injured the health of many old Members, and therefore it was high time to improve the present system.
MR. COBDENexpressed a hope that the works of defence already begun would be reviewed, with a view to diminished expenditure. He believed that many of the works begun in a time of panic, when there was a species of engineering madness in the country, might with great propriety be discontinued. Why should the immense sum of 513,000 l. be expended on the completion of harbours of refuge at the little island of Alderney? or why waste large sums of the public money in guarding against imaginary dangers?
MR. HENLEYsuggested that there should be a proper provision made for the inspection of works of this description from time to time.
Resolutions agreed to.
Bill ordered to be brought in by Mr. Bernal, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Mr. Cornewall Lewis.
The House adjourned at Two o'clock.

MINUTES.
PUBLIC BILL.—1a County Court Extension Act Amendment.
Their Lordships met, and having gone through the business on the Paper,
House adjourned to Monday next.