THE DANUBIAN PROVINCES- QUESTION, lant Friend has referred, a document regulating the responsibility and authority of the Secretary of State for War and of the Commander-in-Chief. That document was, I believe, signed by the Queen, and it re- MR. DARBY GRIFFITH, in rising to mains in force until it shall be revoked, ask whether the Danubian Provinces of whatever changes in the individuals at the Roumania would be allowed to arrange head of the Office may take place. I am their own institutions without interference perfectly willing to lay, if my hon. and from either the protecting Powers or the gallant Friend wishes me to do so, a copy Porte, said, that those Provinces had, by of that document on the table of the the simple expedient of electing the same House, and I think that if he compares it Prince, defeated the arrangement to keep with the Report of the Committee on Mili- them separate. Since the election of Prince tary Organization he will no longer regard Couza the Provinces had gone through the it with surprise, but will perceive that it various difficulties attending young and is of the nature corresponding to the re-rising States, and at length, a revolution commendation of the Committee. From taking place, Prince Couza was obliged to this Report it will be at once seen that resign. It was to be presumed that the the Committee thought some document of parties who were originally opposed to the this description was needed, for they say-union of the Provinces remained of the "It may be questioned whether these supplementary patents are at all needed. They only indicate the pleasure of the Crown, under seal, which, notwithstanding the patent, may always be conveyed in the ordinary manner through the Secretary of State; and they do not absolve the Secretary of State from his constitutional responsibility in regard to all matters where he is the Minister by whom and through whom the commands of the Queen are received and given." Further on they call attention to a document, signed by the Prince of Wales, and countersigned by Lord Liverpool in 1812, defining the respective duties of Commander-in-Chief and Secretary for War, and they say same opinion still, and that the Turkish Government would willingly upset any arrangement by which they might be united. Now the Provisional Government had issued an address to the Diet, and one of the arrangements come to was the election of a foreign Prince, who, however, declined to place himself in the difficult position to which he had been chosen; but the desire of the people to maintain the choice of a foreign Prince remained the same. The presidency of the right hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer over the councils of this country inaugurated a new policy; and it was to be hoped that in respect to this matter what in diplomatic language was called the necessity of pro"Your Committee are of opinion that this tecting the integrity of Turkey would not document points out the best and most satisfac- be urged, because as regards those Protory form for regulating the authority of the Sevinces the sovereignty of Turkey was a cretary of State, and for defining the extent of the departmental functions of the Commander-inChief." It is quite clear, therefore, that the Committee contemplated that the respective powers of Commander-in-Chief and Secretary of State should be defined by some document, and Sir George Lewis thought this view of the case so evident that he at once prepared a document embodying their recommendations. I think my hon. and gallant Friend did well not to raise on this occasion the important subject of the respective duties of the Secretary of State and the Commander-in-Chief; and it would also perhaps be better that I should follow his example, and should not now make any remarks on the general question, but wait until the document to which I have referred is in the hands of the House. mere name and myth. He trusted that, considering the declarations of the right hon. Gentleman in 1858, the Government would see their way to allow the people of the Danubian Provinces of Roumania to make their own arrangements. He was also anxious that the Government should consider the state of the neighbouring Province of Servia. There hostile fortresses, dominating over the country, were preserved, and three years ago there occurred a bombardment which was condemned and stigmatized by the united voice of Europe. Such a circumstance was likely to occur again at any time while a suzerain Power like Turkey kept possession of these fortresses without having any hold on the country. If Servia were placed in the same position as the Danubian Provinces, where the fortresses had been demolished, a source of irritation would be removed. The existing arrangement was not of the slightest value to the Porte, while it involved an annual expenditure on the part of that Power of half a million sterling. The answer of the right hon. Gentleman on this subject might now be more reserved than the declarations he formerly made when occupying a different seat, but Members of Parliament could not with safety change their opinions according to the locality in which they might happen to be placed. It was not creditable that Members of that House should come forward as champions of the freedom of populations, and then, when in an official position, adopt a different style of language. The right hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer made a speech in 1858 which powerfully contributed to the settlement of the condition of those Provinces, and he (Mr. Darby Griffith) had the honour of recording his vote in favour of the Motion which he then made. There was quite as good a chance now as then that they would be able to arrange their own affairs, and much better than if they were again divided into two Provinces. He would therefore beg to ask, Whether the Danubian Provinces of Roumania will be allowed to arrange their own institutions without interference from the protecting Powers, or the Porte; and, whether the Government of Servia has lately applied to the Porte for the withdrawal of Turkish troops from the fortress in Servia, and with what probable result? declaration on our part on that subject. WORKS IN NEW PALACE YARD. OBSERVATIONS. THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER: This is a question of foreign policy, and as misapprehensions might arise if I made no reply to the questions of the hon. Gentleman I must say a few words, although I will not enter into a general discussion of the two important subjects which have been combined in a single Question. I remember very well the occasion in 1858 to which the hon. Member has referred, when I had the pleasure of MR. POWELL rose, pursuant to notice, voting with him-a pleasure which I hope to call attention to the building operaI may enjoy hereafter. I think on that tions in progress at New Palace Yard, occasion the head of the present Govern- and to ask the First Commissioner as to ment was also in the same lobby. Never- the nature of the works and the quality theless, I am not here to declare any depar- of the stone employed. The condition of ture from the policy which the British Go- the building in which the business of legisvernment has heretofore pursued with re-lation was conducted must be a subject of gard to the Eastern question. With respect to the present position of the Provinces of Roumania, the hon. Member will at once perceive that circumstances are not in a state which would admit of any definite Mr. Darby Griffith great interest to the country. For several years past the progress of the works connected with the Palace of Westminster had been almost wholly suspended. The houses along the south side of Bridge Street had been pulled down, and New harmonize with that which already exists. A Palace Yard had become an open space. handsome railing of iron, gilt and richly moulded, They had been informed by the right and be perforated by gates, having within, as well will extend along the whole side of Bridge Street, hon. Gentleman the First Commissioner of as on the west side also, a series of shrubberies." Works, that a resolution had been arrived at that New Palace Yard should not be occupied by a quadrangle, according to the original plan of Sir Charles Barry, but that it should be left as now, an open space, and that the magnificent view of the Abbey which had now been opened, should thus be secured to ourselves and to future generations. In the course of last Session a Vote of £15,000 had been taken for works in New Palace Yard, and on that occasion the right hon. Gentleman (Mr. Cowper) said He was glad to find that Mr. Barry was engaged to complete these works, as he inherited the great architectural talents of his father; but it was impossible not to entertain some doubts as to the complete harmony of the design as laid down by him with that of the old building. No doubt, many of the works erected by Mr. Barry had shown his great ability; but Mr. Barry did not entirely represent the same class of ideas as his late father, and therefore it was necessary to ask for some explanation with regard to the harmony of the new designs with those of the late Sir Charles Barry. With regard to the subway, he wished to ask under whose control it would be, and whether the soil would belong to the Government? There was one remaining branch of the Question upon which he desired some information "The sum proposed for completing the Clock Tower and New Palace Yard is intended to be spent in this way-the side of the Clock Tower which was now imperfect, would have the same front as the sides towards Westminster Bridge and towards the river. It was proposed to take advantage of the higher level of the ground in Bridge Street, to make a subway by which Members proceeding from Palace Yard might escape the danger of the present passage, and reach the other side without crossing the road."-3 Han--namely, the quality of the stone emsard, clxxix. 248.] And then the right hon. Gentleman proceeded to give his plan for laying out New Palace Yard, which was partly to be occupied by a cab-stand and partly by shrubberies and a plantation. But there was reason to suppose that there was some change of plan. In the Vote laid upon the table this year it was proposed to take £28,000 for completion of the Clock Tower, for ornamental railings, and other work. He had seen in a public journal, which was supposed to have accurate information of the intentions of the GovernThe Globe ment on minor matters that "New works are now in hand for the erection of an arcade in Palace Yard in harmony with the Parliament House, from the designs of Mr. E. M. Barry." ployed. He need hardly refer in passing to the sad history of the masonry of the Houses of Parliament. It was well known how long and costly scientific inquiries were made; how they ended in the selection of a certain species of stone; how the stone so chosen was not used in the building; and how many of the stones which were employed were such as an ordinary clerk of the works who was fitted for his duties would have rejected. MR. LOWE: Before my right hon. Friend rises to reply I wish to present an humble petition, to which I beg his favour able consideration. The Members of this House are required to come here on the public business. Some of us are not very young nor so active as we have been, some of us are short-sighted, and none wish to come to a sudden end under the wheels of No such arcade was spoken of last year- cabs or omnibuses. Well, I do not think "This will extend along the east side of Palace there is a more dangerous crossing in all Yard, forming a new base to the building, and London than that which leads to the Houses rising somewhat higher than the level of the road. of Parliament; and I think, in addition to way near Westminster Bridge. The centre of this the labour of working day after day and arcade is open as a porch, having a statue on each night after night, it is rather hard that we side, to that portion of the palace; at the same should two or three times a day have to run time the arcade will supply a covered way for those who approach the new railway station the risk of our lives. The Lord Advocate, which is to be erected close to the north-west for instance, sustained a serious injury two angle of the bridge. A subway beneath the road-years ago in his endeavours to avoid being way will render communication easy and safe. run over by a Hansom cab. We often come This will be commenced as soon as the railway here in a hurry when we are “whipped works will admit. It is also proposed to finish the west side of the Clock Tower by panelling; up" for a division or under other press. the appearance of the new work will be made to ing circumstances. This being the point of conveyance of the traffic from Birdcage | good view of Westminster Abbey from the Walk, from Parliament Street towards the Bridge. This large open space surrounded Victoria Station, and to and from West- by noble architecture would become the minster Bridge, the dangers which are in- chief feature of London, and supply its curred in crosing to the House of Com- greatest need. The houses on the north mons are already great, but they will be side of Bridge Street had been scheduled still further increased when the Thames by the Metropolitan District Railway ComEmbankment and the new railway station pany, and would shortly be pulled down; are opened. If something be not done we but as that site was the property of the shall add a considerable quota to the al-office of Works, he (Mr. Cowper) had ready too-numerous list of accidents which every year occur in the streets of London. I hope the right hon. Gentleman will take this matter into his consideration, and will do something to enable a Member to pass in safety from Bridge Street to the House of Commons. I think it is a subject well worthy of the attention of the right hon. Gentleman; scarcely a day elapses that some Member or other does not incur serious danger in endeavouring to reach the House of Commons. MR. TITE asked the right hon. Gentleman (Mr. Cowper) whether the able chemist appointed by the Committee had been able to suggest any expedient by which the stone used in the erection of the House of Commons could be preserved from decay? When the matter was inquired into by a Committee some years ago, a hope was expressed that the decay would, after a time, cease of itself. However, these hopes proved fallacious, and the stone, which had during the long summer ceased to decay, had, since the commencement of the recent wet weather, again began to decay. He did not think the Government were to blame for the decay of the stone; the decay was caused not by carelessness in selection, but by the London atmosphere. MR. COWPER said, he was glad the subject had been brought on by the hon. Gentleman opposite (Mr. Powell), who had shown a sound and artistic taste in his suggestions for the improvement of the metropolis. In reply to his first Question he begged to state that no alteration had been made in the designs for which money was voted last Session, although a good deal of time had been given to considering how the details of the plan should be carried out. The hon. Member had alluded to the fact that Sir Charles Barry had designed that New Palace Yard should form an inner quadrangle; and he was glad to find the hon. Gentleman was of opinion that the Government had exercised a wise discretion in not building upon the south side of Bridge Street and in leaving the space open in order that there might be a Mr. Lowe stipulated that the buildings to be there erected should be in harmony with the architecture of the surrounding buildings. The proposal now was to put an ornamental railing along the north of Palace Yard of a light character, so as not to intercept the view. The lamps, at intervals, would naturally contribute to the decorations; and niches would be provided in which statues of statesmen might hereafter be placed. That of Sir Robert Peel would be placed near the present carriage entrance into New Palace Yard. It was proposed to make a porch and arcade at the foot of the Clock Tower, so as to give more dignity and massiveness to its base. This would answer for an approach to the subway about to be made from the Clock Tower to the opposite side of Bridge Street. That street being higher than the level of Palace Yard, the subway would not require to be much below that level. This subway would enable hon. Members to reach the House without incurring the risk of crossing a crowded thoroughfare. The property belonged to the Government. [Mr. POWELL: And the road?] Yes the roadway is vested in the Commissioners of Westminster Bridge, who are also the Commissioners of Works, and Palace Yard was a part of the Royal Palace. The subway would take people to the other side of Bridge Street. There would be a flight of steps which would enable persons to ascend to Bridge Street, and thus reach Parliament Street without crossing. With regard to the stone it would be necessary that the facing of the Clock Tower should be of the same sort as that with which it would have to be united, so as to avoid the appearance of patchwork, and every care had been taken to select the best parts of the quarry. The other portions of the work would be executed in Portland stone, which experience had shown was the most capable of resisting the London atmosphere. As to the question of the decay of the stone of which the Houses were built, he did not take quite as hopeless a view of the matter as the hon. Member | could not go back upon any particular for Bath. The decay was only in parti- Vote, although they might raise any quescular places where moisture collected. tion upon the Report. He would also reUnder Mr. Abel many solutions for ex- mind them that they could not propose cluding moisture and hardening the stone any addition to a Vote, although they were being tested, and some promised to might move to reduce it as much as they be successful. The eminent chemist en- pleased. gaged by the Committee had already tried several experiments with a view of check-tirely concurred, but would suggest that it ing the decay of the stone on the west front of the building. MR. CAVE asked where the entrance to the passage from Bridge Street to the House would be? MR. COWPER said, that the entrance to the House would be in New Palace Yard. MR. CAVE wished to know if the use of the passage would be reserved for Members only? MR. COWPER said, that the passage would remain in the hands of the Government; but it would be premature to say whether or not the public would, under certain restrictions, be allowed to use it. SIR LAWRENCE PALK: Would the plans of the buildings now proposed for New Palace Yard be laid on the table of the House? MR. GREGORY asked if the right hon. Gentleman had considered the propriety of giving hon. Members an access to the subway without exposing them to the inclemency of the weather? MR. COWPER said, that he intended to propose in the Estimates of this year a Vote for an arcade from the Members' private entrance to the Clock Tower; and it would greatly improve the architecture of the lower block of building, which was rather bare at present. The MARQUESS of HARTINGTON en would be desirable that hon. Members SUPPLY-ARMY ESTIMATES. (In the Committee.) Ranks to be employed with the Depôts in the (1.) 138,117 Land Forces (including 8,983 all United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland of Regiments serving in Her Majesty's Indian Possessions.) THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON: Sir, I hope that in moving the Vote which it is now my duty to bring under the consideration of the Committee, it will be possible for me to trespass for a shorter time upon the patience of the House than has been necessary on some previous occasions. I entertain this hope because, in the first place, there are not many subjects on which any change has been made in the Estimates of the present year; neither have any great changes been made in the administration of the army. As the right hon. and gallant Gentleman has just observed, there are many new Members who take an interest in the administration of the army, and I have no doubt we shall have on many subsequent Votes full discussions which will render it necessary for me to enter in any great detail into this Vote. I will therefore proceed at once to the consideration of the Estimates which I have to move, and more particularly the first Vote-namely, the number of men. GENERAL PEEL said, that before the Speaker left the chair he wished the House to come to a distinct understanding as to the course to be pursued. The noble Marquess (the Marquess of Hartington) would now make his general statement with regard to the Estimates, and would conclude by proposing Vote 1. As there were many military Gentlemen who were The Estimates which we have laid upon now in the House for the first time, and the table this year show a reduction of who would desire to take part in the dis-over £250,000, as compared with the Escussion, it might be well to remind them that before the first Vote was taken they would be at liberty to make any general observations upon any military matters, but that after the first Vote they must confine themselves to the subject of the particular Vote before the Committee, and timates of last year. There are, I am quite aware, many hon. Members who think that a reduction of a quarter of a million on a sum of about £14,000,000 is a very trifling reduction. But I think they ought to remember that the reduction is made in a year succeeding four or five years in |