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have made an offer for the Coldbath Fields Prison Site, for the pur-
pose of erecting Artizans' Dwellings thereon, and if so, whether
before accepting this or any other offer for the entire site, he will give
the Metropolitan Board of Works, or the Clerkenwell Vestry, time to
consider the advisability of tendering for a portion of the site, to be
retained as an open space, in accordance with the resolutions of those
Boards as to the necessity for such a space, in this densely populated
neighbourhood ? "
The Secretary of State replied :—"I have stated more than once in
this House that it is my desire to dispose of the Prison Sites in. the
way recommended by the Royal Commission on the Housing of the
Working Classes. I have received an offer for the site of Coldbath
Fields Prison from a Society whose purpose it is to provide cheap and
healthy homes for the working classes. This offer is now under consideration.
I have received no offer from the Peabody Trustees.
Any proposal either from the Metropolitan Board of Works or from
the Clerkenwell Vestry for the retention of a portion of the site as an
open space will receive my careful attention. I must add that both
these Bodies have had ample time to consider the question."
Shortly after this, having heard on very good authority, that the
delay on the part of the Metropolitan Board of Works arose from the
uncertainty as to the renewal of the Coal and Wine Dues, and that
whether or not that Body should acquire the site in question, depends
entirely on the renewal of those Dues, I had another interview with
the Secretary of State for the Home Department and asked him, in
the first place, whether he had any objection to divulging the name
of the " Society" from which he has received an offer ? and secondly,
whether he would pledge himself not to accept finally any offer until
the question of the renewal of the Coal and Wine Dues had been
decided.
He replied that he could not give the name of the "Society," because
that might have a detrimental effect on the negotiations in progress—
neither could he pledge himself to wait until Parliament has decided
the question of the Coal and Wine Dues—but, he added " the expression
of such a wish will have due weight with me." Ho further expressed
a wish to receive a direct communication from the Vestry
stating explicitly what their wishes are in regard to this site. I may
mention that he did not hold out any hope of the whole space being
left open—and appeared to think that the best use to which a portion
of it, at all events, could be put, would be to build a very good class
of artizans dwellings, which could be let out at a very cheap rate.
I may further mention that nearly a month back I forwarded
through Colonel Duncan, who also supported the scheme, a letter