The Sun. — London, England, 1831-11-29 00:00:00

LAW OF DEBTOR AND CREDITOR IN FRANCE. A project of law relative to imprisonment has been recently submitted by the French Minister to the Chamber of Peers. This report branches out into the six following heads :- 1. Dispositions relative to imprisonment in matters of commerce. 2. in civil matters. as against strangers• 1. Dispositions common to the three precedings beads : 5. --- in criminal matters, correctional, and of police ; and transitory dispositions. .7• Article 1. It is declared that imprisonment shall be pronounced, with certain exceptions, against every one cast for commercial debts amounting the principal sum to '2OO francs and upwards; the exceptions are married "vomen and young girls not legally reputed public sales women, minors not carrying on business, and widows and heirs of persons izdjudged before the Tribunals of Commerce. Imprisonment cannot be adjudged to persons for signing promissory notes or bills of exchange, .unless in the actual operations of commerce, traffic, change, banking, or brokerage. Persons who have entered their 60th year are to be exempt from imprisonment fol. debt, unless adjudged as drawers, acceptors, subscribers, en dorsers, or passers of letters of change, or arising out of transactions in bills of exchange and promissory notes, in the operations of com merce, &c. ; and even in these, cases the debtor is exempt if he have entered his 72d year. A limitation is placed on the imprisonment after the following scale : If under 500 francs I year. VOM. 'OOO ' AI do. 3,000 3 do. 5,000 4 do. Above that aura. 5 do. And in all cases it cannot continue if the debtor reanh his 70th year, when he must be released. 2. In all rases of imprisonment in ordinary and civil matters, the term shall be at least two years, at most ten. In cases provided for by Art. 2,063 of the Civil Code (relative to rent of land) the imprisonment to be only half these periods, least and most. hi matters relating to the State, and the taxes direct and indirect, all persons in the employ ment of the Government, fur the amount of their deficiencies, as also their sureties, and all public contractors, in like manner, are subject to im prisonment for deficiencies in any respect. Und er this head females and those over 70 are included, exemption not being extended to them here, except that in regard to the latter, half the term of imprisonment only is to be borne. In this article the amount of debt required must be at least 300 francs. 3. Against strangers the sum required for im prisonment is 150 francs, whether the arrest be temporary or definitive. In case of temporary imprisonment of a stranger, the creditor must proceed to judgment in a fortnight, or he may claim his release. Strangers not domiciled iu France, and imprisoned for debt, are to be re leased as follows Where the debt is 500 francs, after 2 years. - 1000 4 do. - 3000 6 do. - 5000 8 do. Above that sum 10 do. The disposition alluded to above, relative to rent of land, applies to strangers, and the exemp tion of age is likewise applicable for commercial debts ; for all other debts the two first first para graphs of article 2,066 of the Civil Code re mains in force. 4. This article regulates that imprisonment shall not be pronounced in favour of the husband or wife, fathers, children descendans et ascendans, brothers, sisters, or the same degree by marriage. The right of appeal is given, but is not to be suspensive. Husband and wife not to be imprisoned at the same time for the same debt. To obtain his enlargement the debtor shall only be called on to pay the debt in ques tion with the expenses of signing judgment and executing the capture ; and on payment of one hied of the debt, with security for the remain der, accepted by the creditor of the Court, he obtains his release ; the remainder to be paid within a year, and the security accountable in the same respect as the original debtor. A debtor who has " se r v e d out his time" cannot be again arrested for any debts contracted pre viously to his imprisonment, unless they exceed in amount that required for the term of impri sonment, unless they exceed in amount that re quired for the term of imprisonment. The article also fixes the alimentary sums to be paid to debtors by creditors, at 30 francs for so many days, always in advance, in Paris, and 25 francs in the country ; in default of which payments the debtor t o be discharged, and not to be again im prisolied for the debt. - 5. This article relates to fines, &c. Five days' notice to be given before arrest, and the process to contain an extract of the judgment, with the names of the parties. Persons proving their insolvency after Article 420 of the Code of Criminal Instruction, to be discharged after a fortnight's imprisonment when the amount does not exceed 15 francs ; a month when not 50 francs ; two months, 100 francs ; and six months when above that sum : should he acquire means of paying it after, he may be re-imprisoned, and in all cases of detention for non-payment, it is not included in the amount of imprisonment where fine and imprisonment are the joint punishment. In all cases instituted by private individuals they are to pay expenses as mentioned before. The quantum of imprisonment under this head is thus regulated : Under 400 franca 500 10:43 3000 - 6 do. 5000 - 8 do. Above that sum lO do. Similar exemptions to those under Article 4 are made. _ • - 6. ^ Within a month of the promulgation of the present law its operation shall commence, as well with future cases as those now in impri sonment ; and in two months after its provi sions are applicable to all strangers now impri soned, where they have been so ten years. These are the general outlines of this im portant law ; the first step made in France to improve the laws regulating imprisonment for debt and police offences. A correspondent says , 4 Persons who buy ex cessively cheap writing-paper would do well to count their bargains before they count upon them. In many cases they will find a deficiency of four, five, six, or even seven sheets in a quire, which, deducted from the apparent price, leaves the real one any thing but cheap. DESCRIPTION OF HUNT IN THE M OUSE i or COMMONS.-He is rapidity itself,—never was th ere so miserable a twaddler. Yet, from the mere habit of making men laugh—from the mere habit of relieving a dry dis cussion, with a cock-and-bull story about the Times news paper, or his early life, or his wife's maid-servant, or his driving abort London Bridge in a one-horse chaise, he is looked upon as a sort of relief from wisdom; and what is despised as buffoonery, is welcomed as change.--Ncto Monthly. FRENCH PAPERS. (From the National of Sunday.) NEWS FROM LYONS. IntelligencefoWardeCitOtl;4O;eTriment by the same source as that of Yestxrday, and which arrived by the mail, having left Lyons on the 23d, at two o'clock, announces what we are most anxious to communicate—namely, that the fighting is over. General Roguct, who, after leaving the :olei de Ville, retired along the 'Quay of 7 4 ,t. Clair, as he WaS lent for on the 23d, at live in the morning, pro ceeded to take hiz station at the fortificaticn o 7 Montesny, with the General and stiefihr officers. and ail the troops of the garison. The Prefect re mained, with the r!uhicipality, at t}ie Hotel of the Prefecture. It appears that the efforts of the authori+iat were insufficient to prevent the pillage t:-.-hiCh took place at certain houses, patticY:larly at the house called " Oriel," 'was inhabited by a number of the silk-rnerenatits. This house was entirely destroyed, and the goods taken out of it were burnt on the quay. Other threats of pillage were uttered, par ticularly in the quarter where business is carried on. The mails from I/aris and Marseilles arrived on the 22d, It was hoped that the free despatching of couriers on the different routes would be resnired on the 24th. On the departure of tift., mail by which this letter was brought, *counts were received that the troops under General Roguet, and whose zeal and disci pline are worthy of the highest praise, had marched from Montesny upon Macon. This movement is fortunately in the direction of that tiler' by the Prince Royal and the Minister - of War, who have gone on the road to Burgundy, and who can concen trate in thtt point the corps of troops arriving from various points. it is sincerely hoped that the feelings excited in all the inhabitants by those deplorable scenes will open their eyes, and convince them of the wicked designs of those whom they have been led away, and whose atrocious attempts seem now to be ar resvert. The measures adopted by the Government will ensure the restoration of perfect tranquillity. The frankness of the communications made to day by the President of the Council to the two Chambers, and their eagerness to correspond with the confidence of the King, must show the enemies of order that they have nothing to expect from weak tress or hesitation on the part of Government. This sitting will cause a re-action amongst that portion of the inhabitants of Lyons which has been so shatrie fully led astray. Such excesses will, we have no doubt, exhibit to the eyes of all good citizens the true spirit of these disturbances, which terrify society, but of which the Government is not afraid. We therefore hope soon to have the pleasure of communicating more satis factory and decisive intelligence from the above quarter. It was stated this evening that the Moniteur of to•morrow would contain ordinances directing the removal of all the authorities of Lyons, and the dis banding of the Lyonnaise National Guard. CHAMBER OF PEERS. Baron Pasquier President. At twelve o'clock the Marquis of Dreux-Breze was the only member in his place. The Peers arrived slowly, and formed into a group, conversing not in a very lively style upon the events in Lyons. Ihe President took the Chair at one o'clock, and the proceedings commenced. The President—The Chamber has to receive M. le Comte de Cassini, who had been admitted yes terday. I shall, therefore, request the Duke of Caraman and the Marquis of Roche-Aymon to in troduce him to the Chamber. M. Cassini was then introduced, and took the necessary oaths. The President—Yesterday at the breaking up of the Secret Committee, which was to have concluded its labours, the President of the Council came to the Chamber to deliver a communicaton of the ut most importance. A great number of the Peers were absent, and were not informed of it. I, therefore, thought it advisable that the Chamber should be called together, and that all the Members should have an opportunity of hearing this commu nication, so that they might propose whatever they considered useful under the circumstances. No pro posal has as yet been submitted on this subject. The Marquis of Barbe-Marbois—The proposal is unanimous—namely, to vote an address, or reply, to the communication made in the name of the the King.—(" Yes, yes; seconded.") President—Then the proposal for an address is moved and seconded.--("Yes, yes.") I shall, there fore, put it to the vote. The Marquis de Dreux-Breze demanded leave to say a few words. It appeared to him that, before they engaged in votirg an address, they ought to know upon what grounds and fur what object they were to vote it. But what are we going to do by voting this address ? Is it to blame or praise the Ad ministration ? We approve of it every day, or at least this Chamber, as well as the other, do by their votes. An address is therefore unnecessary. He did not say that the address should contain any thing to justify those apprehensions, but this might be believed, and he would not expose himself to such a result : for it was his conviction that the Go vernment and the present Ministry would fall the very moment that they departed from the Charter of 1830. All parties were united under that banner, because it protected all rights and guaranteed all in terests. In the same hour that the Government shall have recourse to laws of exception the present Ministry will be overthrown.—(Confusion of a mixed character.) The Count de Saint-Priest (with energy)—l do not share in the fears of the last speaker, and I be lieve that no one suspects the Government of a penchant for the laws of exception; for it has in variably repelled them, and declared that it would never adopt any thing of the kind. As for this nice feeling of etiquette, according to which we ought not to do to-day what should have been done yester day, I am equally averse to such a feeling, and I shall therefore support the adoption of the address as far as my efforts will extend.—(Approbation. " Supported ! Supported !" from several voices.) The Marquis de Dreux-Breze intimated a wish to reply, but was interrupted by cries of " Question, question." Some cries of " Hear," were uttered. The Marquis de Dreux-Breze—l have not said that the Government required laws of exception; but I feared that an extraordinary measure might have the appearance of an approach to such mea sures.—(Murmurs.) The Count de Pontecoulant—(Hear, hear.) On arriving here I flattered myself that I should find the Chamber of Peers unanimous is accepting the pro posal for an address.—(" Very good.") M. BArbe-Marbois—lt is so with one exception. M. de Pontecoulant—This unanimity seems per fectly natural for the fulfilment of a duty. I think the Chamber ought to be unanimous at the present moment, in order to assure the Government of the support of the Chamber, of the assistance of all good citizens for the defence of the laws, the pre servation of order, public tranquillity, the mainte nance of the peace of Europe—for every thing lies in this question—every thing is compromised by the turn-out of the workmen against the manufac turers, and the liberty of commerce and business. There is no room here for etiquette or plausible pre cautions.—(llear.) I regret that the resolution of this Chamber is not unanimous. In England, where parties are more inveterate and at variance than I hope they will ever be in France, when there was a proposal relative to the mutiny among the sailors, or any measures for the preservation of public or der, all opimotis amalga mate d , an d, ga i n i ng streng th by this unanimity, tranquillity was instantly re stored, and the prosperity of the country secured. The President recommended that the following Members should be appointed to form a Committee upon this subject :—Count Portales, Count Caffa relli, Baron Monnicr, the Duke de Cazes, the Duke de Cullon, Count Ilaussonville, the Duke de Brog lie, Count Simeon, and Count Mole. The President—This Committee shall commence forthwith the duly which has been confided In it. Xs the hour is not too late, think 'that the Cham ber may as well wait for a short time time, and re ceive its report before they separate for the even in g.—'(!econded.) The proceedings we're accordingly , ttnpentleti. Not one of the MinilstrY was present at this dis cussion, , the sitting was resumed at 20 Minutes past tnree' M. de Portales, the repOrter of the /ionlrnittee, read the drift Of scratess to the King. Af-,er . lome explanations from Count Dejean and Baron Monnier on the part of the Committee, the Chamber agreed to the paragraph with a slight amendment, tending to plat:, tl'ie phrase in the con ditional,, and it was thus drawn up—" If, amongst b:hose who were armed to defend it, there should be found some to attack them," &c. The other paragraphs were adopted, and ti. Chamber proceeded to the scrutiny upon the entire propositions Votts • s Ayes lO4 Unanimously adopted. The President drew by lots the names of the :wenty members who along with him are to present :his address to the King. The sittings terminated at four o'clock. CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES—SITTING OF SATURDAY, (Continued from the Morning Herald of yesterday.) After the address proposed to be presented to the King ) touching the disturbances at Lyons, bad been read — MM. Pelet de la Lozere and Petou moved some vet bal amendments, which were adopted. At this moment the President of the Council en tered the hall. M. Mauguin rose in his place, and said, " I do riot wish to address any reproaches to the Ministry, but when we are called upon to acknowledge that their communications to u', with respect to the Lyons affair, have been frank and complete,' I must pause before I make such an admission. I move, there fore, the omission of the words 'franc/re: et com pletes' from the address." The President of the Council—This is a direct attack upon our candour—(Sensation—lively'agita don in the centres.) The President's bell after a considerable time re called the Chamber to order. M. Manguir:—(from the Tribune)—Gentlemen, it is impossible this Chamber can 'attest the facts stated from the mode of the communication. I ask if you are satisfied that the communication has been complete ?—(" Yes, yes," from the extremities— " No, no"—prolonged agitation.) Some of you, then, appear to think that the communication has been frank and complete. For my part, I think it is impossible. Let us examine the elements of your conviction—are they not the assurance of the Mini nister that he had communicated to you all that he knew ? But has he said a word of the origin of these disturbances, which we all deplore ? When the Minister comes down with a fair statement he will find us all ready to assist in the restoration of tran quillity. I JO not blame the Minister for holding a reserve on some points; but he ought to have told us that he was not telling the whole truth. The real cause of all these disturbances, if I am rightly in formed, is to be traced to certain acts of the local authorities of Lyons, to which the President of the Council has as yet made no allusion.—(Cries of " Yes, yes," " No, no.") For a long time the authorities have known that some troubles would certainly take place ; and I now hold in my hand a letter, which proves beyond controversy that troubles of so grave a nature were not making their way to an explosion without shbwing symptoms of their pro gress so manifest as to be obvious not only to the citizens, but even to the authorities. The Pre fect ought to have foreseen that the authority was in danger of being compromised, and he ought to have forewarned the Minister of the danger. I shall read ' a few extracts from this letter, for I have no ambi tion to excel the Minister by communicating all that I know on this subject. This letter affirms that the workmen have for a long time been crying out for— " What ?" by a number of voices. M. Mauguin—.lustice and bread !—(Confusion— the President of the Council is seen moving his lips as if he Were speaking and gesticulating vio lently.) " The President of the Council ought to be"—(Fresh interruption.) The President of the Chamber—Pray, gentlemen, do not interrupt. M. Cabet—Rebuke the Minister; he it was that interrupted. M. Mauguin—l say, Gentlemen, that the Presi dent of the Council ought to display more calmness in approaching the discussion of matters so im portant. If I read only partial extracts from this letter, the Chamber ought to understand and appre ciate my motives. The letter stated," that though the preparations of the workmen were known for eight days, yet the selfishness of a small knot of masters, and the carelessness of the police, allowed them to bring their plans to maturity." The Mi nistry turned a deaf ear to all the warnings given them. They were told that the real fomenters of the troubles were the Clergy and the Carlist party, but still rio steps were taken to inquire into the sufferings of the people. The last answer obtained from the Private Secretary of M. Prunelle himself, when told of the projected meeting on the Croix. Rousse, was, " Oh, we are prepared to repel force by force." There is no pretence, then, for saying that the Government had not been apprized of what was about to take place in Lyons. Let us confine ourselves then to what we know. Have we heard enough for our purpose ? I am inclined to think we have. But let us not go further, and say that the communication has been frank and complete. M. Dupin Aine opposed the motion of M. Mau guin, on the ground that without the excepted words the address would fail of,its effect.—(Criespf " hear," from the right and left). This, he said, was not a moment for captious criticism, and good citizens ought only to concern themselves as to the best means of applying a remedy to evils which have cast desolation over a great city. M. Mauguin—As I do not hold the authorities guiltless, so I will not grant them a Bill of Indem nity. Undoubtedly the Government may count upon us, as we do upon it,when public order is trou bled in society, and when persons and property are menaced; but the time will come when we shall call upon the Ministry to explain, why for several months blood has been flowing in different parts of France.— (Violent murmurs in the centre.) This shall be made the object of other explanations. The President of the Council—Gentlemen, it is painful to be incessantly accused of want of candour whenever we come to this place to give you an ac count of passing events. It is not that I wish to attack the liberty of this tribune, but I cannot for bear remarking that the individual who has just descended—(An explosion of murmurs from the right and left. A hundred Deputies started from their seats, and a hundred voices were beard ex claiming " the individual," " the individual 1"—" Is he not a Deputy ?" The tumult was at its height, and the President's bell, and cries of " Order," were alike ineffectual in restoring peace). Several voices now called from the right and left —"M. President, do your duty."—(Loud cries of " Order, order," bat great confusion.) The President of the Council—l meant to have said " Deputy."—(Bah, bah.) M. Demarcay—That single expression betrays the bent of your mind. The President of the Council—l assert that the Deputy who accuses us collectively is the same who accused us of having caused the ementes, who then declared that he spoke in a collective sense, and which was disavowed by those who sat near him. I hope that he will be treated in the same way on the present occasion. —(Various murmurs.) The President of the Council explained, and, in conclusion, sa'd he hoped the Chamber would lend him its support, and would not join in a system sub. versive of the Government. M. Mauguin regretted that the discussion had be some so warm, but he attributed the cause to the Minister•, who distorted his words: ‘that he said was not capable of creating clamour .and irritation. Would it be iMposiible in future to discuss matters in that place without giVing and receiving insults ? tt would be lowering the dignity of the tribune to reply to words which were probably uttered with impertinence.—(Much conftii;ion towards the centre, " Order, ordeC) President—Explain the words which you have used. M. Mauguin—l shall follow the example of the President of the Council, and say it wa3 through mistake.—(Murmurs in the centres.) M. Wilton Barrot ascended the tribune.—(Some opposition from a small portion of the centres. " Speak, speak !" from all parts.) M. Guizot—l claim a hearing for M. Odillon Barrot. M. Odillon Thirrot declared he should have wished that the address were unanimous. He had reason to complain that the President of the Council was constahtly trying to fix an individual opinion upon some portion of the Chamber. He protested in his name, and on the part of his friends, against all systematic opposition. As to the suppression of the words free and complete, required by M. Mauguin, at the risk of giving the Ministry the slight advan tage of showing a division in what it calls the Op position, he must confess himself, on that point, of an opinion quite contrary to that of M. Mauguin, and he thought that the communication was but " too complete." M. Guizot rushed towards the tribune—(Cries of " Question," and " Close the debate.") M. Guizot—l have only two words to say. The President—An explanation will bring it all to a close. No doubt 1 ought to consult the Chamber-- From a number of voices—Consult it then. Do your duty. President—As it is insisted on, I shall put the closing to the vote.—(" That's lucky.") The termination of the discussion was voted by a very large majority.—(" Ah, ah.") Immediately after the closing of the debate the President of the Council mounted the tribune and renewed the discussion. The scene caused by the obstinacy of the President of the Council, some months since, when advocating the pretended right to speak as Minister, even after the closing, was now acted over again. The right and left sides pro tested against any violation of the regulation. Nearly the entire of the right side rose en muse, and put several cross questions to the President of the Coun cil. M. Casimir Perier, although much agitated, persisted in claiming a right to speak. The most deafening and tumultuous noise and confusion ensued and lasted for some time, the President trying in vain to obtain a hearing for the President of the Council. At last the President of the Council exclaimed, with the utmost effort of his lungs, " You wish for the liberty of the Tribune, and still you will not allow me to speak." M. Sans—The discussion is closed, you cannot renew it. President of the Council—l am taking advantage of my right, and you wish to prevent me—you are not a lover of liberty. M. Sans—And you Monsieur, you hinder peace from dwel ing in this Assembly. President of the Council—No one can be more anxious for maintaining peace within these walls than I am ; and when I have finished speaking I am convinced that, with the exception of a single indi vidual—(at these words another indescribable scene of confusion arose; cr . es of " Order, order !" from all parts were kept up for more than ten minutes. It would be impossible to recollect the different ex pressions which were addressed, during this riotous interval, to the Resident of the Council, in the midst of a frightful mixture of sounds. As soon as a calm moment succeeded the President requested the Chamber to listen to the explanation of the President of the Council.) President of the Council—l beg pardon of the Chamber.—(Order, order.) I regret to have made use of an inadvertent expression in tile hurry of de bate—(Cries of " Order" were repeated louder than before, and the whole Assembly was in a state of the greatest confusion.) M. Mangum spoke for some time from his seat, but was almost inaudible from the noise which pre- vailed. He begged his friends to forget what had been said by the President of the Council. They ought to lay aside private interests, and apply them selves to the affairs of the country and its prosperity. The President of the Council again assured the Chamber that it was through inadvertency that he used an expression which hurt the feelings of a mem ber of that assembly—("Bah! bah !" interruption.) President of the Council—ls there any one who suspects my intentions ?—(Several voices, " Yes.") President of the Council—Explain. M. Dupin—lt is a pity that we cannot see and hear something from Lyons. A Member— -We are here on account of Lyons, and not for M. Perier. After some further stormy observations, and a good deal of confusion, . _ The Chamber proceeded to a scrutiny upon the ensemble of the address.—(A great number of the Deputies of the right and left did not vote.) White balls Black balls Number of votes Adopted by the Chamber. Allusions have more than once of late been made to negociations between Ministers and Tory Peers on the subject of the Reform Bill. We have heard, that some days before the division on the second reading, a number of Peers, more than sufficient to give a majority in favour of the measure, evinced a disposition to yield, and that a negeciation was in fact opened, though it was pre maturely and somewhat awkwardly interrupted. It might, perhaps, serve to guide us as to what we may ex pect from the same quarter, if we knew what were the points respecting which the parties were agreed, and the points respecting which they differed.—Morning Citron. The two new novels which have occasioned so much conversation in the Clubs, and in general society, are remarkable for taking, in the most earnest and decided form, the opposite sides in politics. " Cavendish" is heart and soul for the Whigs, while the hero of Alice Paulet" is as warm a Tory as the Duke of WELLINGTON or the Marchioness—themselves could desire. The authors are each young members of noble houses ; and, like men of high breeding, have not been unmindful of the entertainment of their fair readers, which they seem to have ranked as one of the chief features of a novel. " Alice Paulet" and " Cavendish" are especial favourites with the ladies. Inquiries, we understand, are being made in all quarters for the name of the author of " Cavendish, or the Patrician at Sea." The region of Purtman-square is in a ferment at some of the too palpable hits; clubs of young naval-officers are sitting in divers places to deter mine what steps are to be pursued in regard to the anony mous writer; the Admiralty, even, is roused by the caustic novelist out of its hitherto magnificent indifference to observation, and his MAJESTY is said to have e vinced some curiosity to see the book whose peculiar features have excited so much interest. The Term which has just expired is reported to have been the most unproductive one both to attorneys and Counsel which has occurred for many years. Are people poorer, or wiser, or both? CATECHISM OF HEALTH.- - This cheap and useful little volume exhibits in a clear ard distinct manner the various modes by which health and vigour of consti tution iniy be preserved, and points out the causes by which bsth are impaired, from early infancy, through childhood, youth, and manhood to old age. The practi cal remarks upon the management and care of children, in particular, will be found invaluable to mothers, resulting as they do from the experience of an eminent physician who has for many years made the diseases of children his peculiar study. As a proof of the mercenary character of the Dutch, they have been accused of selling gunpowder to their own invaders. The French and English people making cannon for Holland and Belgium, while the two Governments were employed in keeping peace between them, savours of tl►e same readiness to deal with any customers. CONDITION of the NEW LONDON BRIDGE. The following is the substance of the important report of the London Bridge Oottimittee. Thestate menta made by the engineers will be read with much interest, particularly by those Who hai , e been labour ing under the apprehension that this beautiful struc ture is insecure. The plan of the contemplated lines of approach will also be matter of great speculation among the citizens. The report, after stating that the Committee would, atan early period, lay before the Court of Common Council a detailed account of the state of their proceedings, goes on thus:— " Having, in the meantime, ascertained that the funds will be amply sufficient to carry into effect the several lines of approach provided for by the Acts, and not yet completed, and after having determined upon proceeding forthwith in the compietion of Iwo such street from the main approach into Upper Thames -street, and the widening of the Borough High-street as far as St. Margaret's-hill—we proceeded to consider the advantages that would he derived by the public from the formation of a new line of street direct from the bridge to the western extremity of Cotnhil!, opposite Prince's-street, in prefe rence to the street leading from the Monument to the Custom-house, which was only intended to be adopted in case it should have become absolutely necessary for the convenience of the traffic to the bridge from the eastern part of the metropolis ; and as the approach from Fish street-hill, through the new street opposite the Monument, together with the widening the west end of Little East cheap, will materially improve the eastern approach, it ap pears to us that a new street to the western extremity of Cornhill is a far more desirable object, and is a plan which the public convenience has so loudly called for, aed will evidently be of much greater public utility than the street to the Custom-house. It has been our anxious wish to carry this plan into effect if the means were affroded ; and we have great satisfaction in stating our conviction that the funds are amply sufficient for the accomplishment of that most desirable improvement. " We have further to report that, considering it to be of importance that we should be able to inform this Honour able Court how far such a plan would meet the sanction of the Lords Commissioners of his Majesty's Treasury, prior to any application being made to Parliament for the necessary powers to carry it into effect, we 'caused applica tion to be made for conference with their Lordships, and we have held such conference accordingly, when the Chan cellor of the Exchequer, on the part of their Lordships, expressed their approval of the proposed application to Parliament ; we are therefore of opinion, and beg leave to recommend, that this Honourable Court should autho rise the necessary notices being given of the intended ap plication to Parliament for powers to form the new line of street to the western extremity of Cornhill, and to widen the entrance of Little East-cheap, as before mentioned. " We beg leave further to report that, in consequence of a petition of Mr. Peter Jeffery having been presented to the Honourable the House of Commons relative to the state of the new bridge, we deemed it proper to take the opinion of engineers, unconnected with the work, upon the subject; we therefore directed Thomas Telford, James Walker, and William Tierney Clark, Esqrs. Civil En gineers, to be furnished with copies of the petition, and requested them to examine the bridge, and report their opinion upon so much of the petition as related to the state of the bridge, and also to report whether, from the construction of the bridge, and the materials and work manship thereof, there was any danger of its stability to be apprehended, either in its present state, or upon the removal of the old bridge ; and we have annexed hereto copies of the reports received from them upon the subject, and also a report from Sir John Rennie thereon. " Upon the question of the time and manner of remov ing the old bridge, we deemed it expedient that Mr. Tel ford, who advised the Committee for letting the Bridge house estates upon the subject in the year 1823, should be consulted in conjunction with Sir John Rennie, but Mr. Telford having, in consequence of his engagements, declined entering further into the subject, observing that Sir John Rennie, with whom he was to be joined, was quite sufficient to direct the business, we referred it to Sir John Rennie alone, and we have annexed hereto a copy of his Report thereon, whereby it will be seen he states that the earlier the removal is commenced the better.' " On the 14th instant we received a further Report from Mr. Telford and Mr. Walker, and on this day a fur ther Report from Mr. Clark, copies of which are also hereunto annexed • and as it appeared doubtful whether Messrs. Telford and Walker intended by their last Report to convey an idea that the immediate removal of the old bridge would endanger the stability of the new one, we caused application to be made to Mr. Telford for an ex planation upon that point, who stated that the suggestion of himself and Mr. Walker had no reference to any other point than the means of continuing a commodious pas sage to the public in case of any alarm, just or unjust, respecting the new bridge. " We have attentively considered the several reports above referred to, by which it will be seen that all the engineers whom we have consulted concur in opinion on the expediency of filling up the irregularities in the bed of the river at and near the new bridge, and of using a por tion of the materials of the old bridge for that purpose, which will save the great expense and loss of time of pro curing materials from a distance; and it appearing to us that the existence of the old bridge tends materially to in crease the irregularities in the bed of the river above adverted to, which must in some measure be injurious to the new bridge, we have made the requisite arrangements for the taking down the old bridge and filling up and regu lating the bed of the river at and about the new bridge, as speedily as may be practicable, and in the manner recom mended by Sir John Rennie. " All which we submit to the judgment of this Honour able Court. Dated this 17th day of November. " J. CARTER RICHD. L. JONES "JOHN BLAKET WM. RICHARDSON " EDWARD TICKNER JOSEPH DAW " JERE.CARTER ROBERT CARTER " WILLIAM DAY WM. KERL " JOHN 'l'. THORP WM. AUSTIN " P. LAURIE W. ROUTH "JOHN WALTER WM. RAWLINS." REPORT OF THE PRESENT STATE OF THE NEW LONDON BRIDGE, EY THOMAS TELFORD AND JAMES WALKER, CIVIL ENGINEERS. " Stit,—A copy of Mr. Peter Jeffery', petition to the Honourable House of Commons, relative to the state of New London Bridge, has been transmitted to us through you, by the direction of the Committee of the Corporation of London, appointed to carry into execution the Acts of Parliament fur the rebuilding of London Bridge, accompa nied by a request that we would examine the bridge, and report our opinion on so much of the petition as relates to the state of the bridge, and that we should also report whether, from the construction of the bridge, and materials and workmanship thereof, there is any danger of its sta bility to he apprehended, either in its present state, or on the removal of the old bridge. " Mr. Jeffery met us on the 21st September, ad the greater part of the day was occupied in hearing his state ments, and, in his presence, taking the first measurements of all the supposed defects which he pointed out to us. On the 22d, Sir John Rennie, and Sir Edward Banks, the contractors, attended us at the bridge, and we have since, during several weeks, taken their statements and those of the resident engineers, and such superintendents, agents, and workmen, as they (the engineer and contractor) thought proper to be examined. " The contract specification for building the bridge has also been laid before us, and plans, showing the mariner in which the works were executed, have been furnished for our examination. We ourselves accurately ascertained both at high and low water, and also by means of the spiral level, the levels and perpendiculars, and have minutely ex amined the various parts of the bridge, with a view to its quality, and to discover if any fracture had taken place. Accurate soundings of the river near the new bridge, and also below the old bridge, have been taken, to enable us to form our judgment as to the present and future stability of the work, and we have fixed permanent standing marks with which the levels of any part of the bridge may in future be compared. " Before proceeding to any detail, it may be proper to observe, generally, that although there is an irregularity in the levels, and in the face of the work, which we shall afterwards have to describe, the only pier in which we could discover the smallest appearance of fracture, was in a few stones of the third pier, and even that has no ap pearance of being recent, and is so small, that we were doubtful if it did not arise from natural defects, or joints in the stones themselves. So far as we can discover, no pains have been spared in regard to the materials and work manship. We observed only a few cracked arch-stones in the whole bridge, and even these may have been caused by imperfections in the particular stones, which are some times not discoverable until a pressure comes upon them. The parapet of the bridge is as perfect a specimen of gra nite work as we have ever seen." After minutely detailing the irregularities of the piers, the report proceeds : " Our next endeavour was to ascertain the cause of these irregularities ; and, in the first place, we would ob serve that, in a great work of this kind, some deviation from perfect accuracy is to be calculated upon, both in comparing the levels of different parts with each other, and with a fixed standard ; the former arising from the difference in the courses of stone and the unavoidable in- accuracies of workmen, and the latter from the sr sinking td which very large arches, upon comparati small fotindationg, arc necessarily subject. It can however, be denied that the differences and sinking' w 1 have been stated are greater than v re have been ao toured to in works of a similar kind. Banks, cof ti s:esi:Rt " Froni the statement of the principal engineer and ea r tractor, we should conclude that the present state of thing has been caused in some theasure by a settlement of t be foundation, but chirpy by inacdnracy in levelling and set tii , g out the work. The resident engineers and ait!o, tst and the aub-contractor, ascribe still less than their pro w ; pals do, to any sinkitag cf the piers, and state the Free° irregularity has been caused by the .rst Platform hart keen laid with a small fall to take the Water tosardt pumps, which were fixed at the lower or east end 01 tbt first pier, and that the other piers having I een set out from the first one, have the same inequality; that the stw ie* after having been dressed at the Isle of Dogs (a distaece of four miles from the bri3lSe7l, came up in pieces read)" /: be set, and so perfectly squared that the t"ariation froel,; level in the plitform was carried up to the top of the hridgici, " If we had the survey and our own observations cl i ' e to guide us, we should have concluded that nearly A ll t ij irregularities had been caused by settlements, which srcni, account for the effects we have described ; and there 7 be no doubt that the forming an uniformly good f oul) : bon to this bridge, from the great depth and other eau% must have been a. worts of inuCh difficulty, Which creased t.y the piling being drivgri into clay that l et stated to be several feet higher at the west Than at ik east end, and which the driving of the piles unavaidll'e; tended to disturb and loosen. Under such eircums tOc y although any settlement in such a work would be to lamented, there would have been nothing difficult to s c count for. /sit/ !! I ! tobitthtip°rnes:nest a tra t r: to the , ll 4 o h coiteei e b lit ay e mad !itt LE! atton h T'e two y, °Ti t alg poi (4 r ~ g • Telford, E• tl.; 4, 4, I II tItEN n t , ti .when tt sII age, th of , i t ) . 'ari the y re: piers b '44 , beli am ' C ° ,tssrs. Tell IRKING_ The other position, viz., that the plat on a slope, and that all the others, and all in all the piers, and up to the completiot should have been made to correspond witl would imply a difficulty of execution, which it is nut easy to account for. of the piers, the faces of the walls, al of stone-work through the piers are, option, in straight lines, battering, or sloping at the places where thi are, but all nearly corresponding—that is, of stone in the piers are out of level, piers and spandril walls to the top of nearly proportionally out of perpendicular, ciently straight, and it is not easy to suppose been built so. We do not think the statem being so square, as that the work, when an inclination, naturally continued to slot the end, without the superintendents or aware of it, sufficient to account for the the present extent. II we are correct there being a settlement in the foundati fracture in the work, can only be accow excellence of the masonry ; the work beini cemented together as to form one mass, any of the stone work of the piers, to resist a vertical direction, being greater than the foundation to yield under a pressure. It is also, that the parapet was set after the cent and perhaps atter any settlement had take is difficult, even with the above considerai the irregularities, to the extent we have d, taken place from settlements, and yet that crack or fracture should be visible: and - the evidence we have received, conclude tions were laid quite level. That the things has arisen in some degree from the having been laid quite level, but principal ment afterwards, has, therefore, upon greatest appearance of probability. " That there was every wish and inter of the engineer and contractors to make tl perfect as possible, we have good reasoi their character as well as from the ph and from the quality of the work which portunity of examining ; but the construe tions at the depth of forty feet under high ficient to create a desire for dispatch in part of the work. We have doubts whet into the hard clay would have been of any gineer appears to have been of the same timbering and planking of the foundatior have been done after the same p lan as of dasvitthhesorn old e L e o ; it t ti o a vv n b au t rt h e other, or wet and cTas ti l l a ir t ee e d r e l a‘ o vs o et - ake bridges, rd, not only by the e ngineer's evidence, but it was considered expedient to cut off , rows of the dam-piling at the east end an piers, while the dam-pile+ round the west t " The evidence that his been given t contractors, and every witness we have not only that every pier, and every part founded upon very hard solid clay, but. th, thickness of it was removed to get to the the foundations are laid ; this fact they de • been quite notorious, and we have men rows of the dam-piling were left in front east end of the piers for protecting the ft must, however, state, that from our sow lie of the centre arch, the bed of the is now about two fret six inches uncle , top of the platforms ; and also, that t' stated, as to the level of the clay, does boring taken under Mr. Telford's directi. the Bridge-house Committee, in 1823. These describe the rubbish and loose east end of the second pier from the Su; fourth or Middlesex pier, to be consi, level to which the tops of the bearing driven. If this were to be taken as cor feat the question as to the stability of t' vations made within coffer dams are borings in a river, and the evidence to w, qi t f'rred has been so decided, and from so many vol"" t td rff i I chit we are bound to admit its correctness. l\v„ " The irregularity of level in the stairs on the ", e'r# ti "'nen se side is stated to have been occasioned partly by an 0 ;0' tv ?ti er on to the width of the stairs having been made by tide lth eish after the foundations had been got in. Our op ini , ° I 'et tr i ue rO, that this would have accounted for a partial oinkl t bt rh fit the part that was added, in which case the end neare' bi ltic uttt wa abutment would have been the highest ; but the f jc 1 : 1 4 1 , It j, otherwise. of tl Qll o 4 ge " Although we have not been able to come to 8 13 /,,0 i ,tall "td determined conclusion as to the cruse of the prese°' e se! s e) (1 t of things, the levels we have taken will afford the rid.' of discovering if any future movement take place, oad t t he assist also in giving a solution as to the cause of the r i jge " Ira what we have already said of the state of the n r ;,te' " art' we have had to observe upon the good quality of th e :',oo; i ar e B A , rials and workmanship, which, under the present °', l ), 'tPierrehe stances, is the best security for its stability. On tb i ‘ s ;Je \\; ...4 i 1 we remark, that if the foundations w ere laid, and the ' f ee s , e hay built, with the present irregularities, as the ei d lte rt most of the witnesses would lead us to believe--and t t ber c we h: has been no movement in the foundation at all, the° l,o o th t : le s hi is no reason for apprehending danger now ; and ot l te 3 ' t ia‘ eA the present imperfections would still be to be r e fi re , ' hi s they would not affect the stability of the structure. t oo NI 1 ;4. It " Again, supposing a pa , tial settlement to hav e been kek. 4 te, place during the progress of the work, if there ba !des ce t ltt:t tri es no movement within the last two years (and the el e"bY eUsbel.l of the resident engineer on this point is strengt he° ,, 4 1; 1 6 44 ed, the appearance of the work generally, and pArticu;tr br 'hie( as tt 9j the parapet, which, we understand, was nearly al l tf l ; qp t „ ° ' fore Christmas last), then it is reasonable to conclou,eB 110 11, 4 7in g the whole has come to its proper bearing; but if t he ,: - tl o , t V Q ta p been a settlement to the extent which the evideoc; ioit/ Pe in h is refers to the original levels, compared with the i i r o co t high water, would denote; and if any of that se ti f r ae ce has taken place lately, of which there is no aPP e- j e cli t , th: r eas oh whatever, but of which we have no personal WI as°' east Vot-; having been entirely unacquainted with the w0r . ,,,0tl *4 called in on the present occasion, then we beg Are 4 1 , 14 dee t 4 that it would be only a ft er a repe titi on of o b se rvati" a ",cor e i,' t , //- levels that we could pronounce the work perfectly et / 11 kes e tn against further settleent, either in its present O P at* 1, 11; 4 " S • grati after the remov a l o f th e o ld bridge. F.nor since we rec e ived your instructions we have s Si r rejoie! no pains to ma k e ourse l ves mas t ers o f th e s ubject; g rea l 01 ' fa t h the whole of Messrs. Telford and Walker's, and a " .t. t rts 'ters part of Mr. Clark's time, having been devoted to t o e d ti. 44 u, Ai would h tve been very sat sfactory to us to have fi t t` t * f ault s decided and positive opinion on the questions s ubmit th / t,14 Y oe t us; but four weeks is too short an acquaintance al l " f ed ki a tOry „, bridge to enable us to do sn, particularly when the „ 7: 1 important interests that are involved, and the dik e e/ i ' T hat's tr reconciling the present state of the bridge with the io ' 1 t e " th dence, are taken into cons deration. coo I *lf " l ed 1 " The surface of the bed of the river being 0 /00131 Jo was some places, below the levels of the tops of the Pi d at o je° 111 4, n k itx of the new piers, it is evident that caution and iu , g ys k 4 th di , n 1 must be exercised in the removal of the bridge, bee f tl a Y h e preserve a uniform declivity of surface in the ri v a e ; t io:i 1 , , the curt and to form an effectual protection round the fon° • o p th k e4 he di of the new piers ; in performing which, a r rtl e oe' rn e r t he tri the materials of the old bridge may be advantog k, stet employed. -N tY's (Signed) " THOMAS TEL.' k ,5r e ,,,,, " London, Oct. 17. " J WALKER. 4 4 14 , .uor To Henry Woodthorpe, Esq." ds l ,, !Pirit E " P.S. Since our Report has been finished , ' l O `ship wi , received a letter from Sir John Rennie, and one ff° t::::ehtertriiner 11 ;4,,tehre u ci ll thew datform theVC35l je,'3.,;e, an l d vit t h he lit 1 the work nb c '' 4 4 : a C O lll in of the brie tp e i n :Nuare tt, the first err °f ' t to r i . " 4 °I att to say The pc', by e eight. 717; or °verbal:ll Nbt en (the c ae irregularlt.4l t . ,; ( 'on of I, if the c' , U rr : / in ed lad the ends of I ' 4 1! -(:', !elk" of the arch A ° ' N '-',, rna i ii , tr, but still siv it ; ' '4: 6 ). a co rose them to 1' 3. e0 li tl „, —n 'ent, 0 Ai r ept I tt a once beg'° t o 1 1 Of t ,' IrVit ope and battet.os (A 4C gto rse ma aent of the sto ° ."' Prec r workmen 116 0 l ' 4141 on V o irregUlarities,oli, kt i a6a n h ia 1 in our op i° a ,ii 4, 440 , s lion without s b , tory if 'are, unted for hf to r f.ar.e k t hey rig so bonde d it- 0 ~ tog • One and the streau ilt gtVes us tir 4, i rrei en t fracture O r t i , 1 „I p ,...t Inc resistance 00 ~, L ett , ,,, e rui is to be retio r l ti, tl k lf,, ' ,at ntres were Bul l 0 ii ,l'ecl i. (l : ll .ree , on place. S ti l c ot !it, iii t p u t: ln g ration, to sol'L ( t ‘lttivi ti l , 'e• described, to P ; ti f 1.4,0 f At ka at tt that scared, ( i tt 've lry aft , lith, th an n we cannot jv Tie the r that the feu ° i 4t Pro 0 t . 4,, p r state tol e "ebda present no t . th til e foundatioul4, tetuentano up ally from a P o l t qf t . f tl a the w hole , • 4 1v e ' h i ' th e , 00 1 4444 : " fel ention on the r ,1 ' l. the d r t " the foundatiang , r ti a pre reeti f r e 4,4 , "erv e in to believe, , 'Uring Mans and evideny tgl e Iv _ ti h we have the (4 0 : .iittap, rrommai ruction of f 0 ,1 ,14 1/ ,, 4 e tvitho t i h water, was , 5 1 ,11 it t "' of /ft n completing,a lit Nieri , e ore hether snore r eo , i k e ll ii the e ve r n y me, and the Ty , yl.tteu,, . t one was state d 4 ,di u' the )f the South ° ' 4 oti " I ort' 4 1 4 ' Per me opinion. , 0 , 4 , 4l ti kt V v itt !xtra etone- 0 " A , t ' 4 3° . IF Pt t ars '' ondon.bridger el 06 tool est end, is Pt°4 --`e (1 t by the fact , '0 8 1til t , and leave its fact , ' 'E . and in front of fs. Ar ,• Est e ends were .-.• . 0 e . , •Este a t by the ettgiP - 0 0 i 4 gre 1 1 3 :'ay e examined, st a n ,o tr ti l rbue t of each pier , 0 ti‘to c i 4 LLs , that a considertv) d them the he depth at (rip{ 0 the wa describe to h s pil ' 4 t ( l 3 , t ation entioned tbli t A 1 1 1 he ti ' i l l th E it of and rnt ow o noh the dif foundation'. ..,,ii' tb 4t rkrt u - river at that roi ~,1 ry Wag er the level ° f a t k „ nis h ,, 3 irri ,ridingsonoot4eagree i o tb e e :d.r '," ro gs tittil4t4ivttrilb.e„,;::ceti 11 the evidence 51 11/ P' 3 lr e ion with o l I t Y n etions, by or ue v 3 t ... 0 ,, h°ll . l • 01 il ith r me tnc irrey aide, s° /6 1 1 4 0 , 'n ea iiderably bel o vl 1 11 01, 4 " 41 hrabi c ig piles have o if '44% Whi, i , rrrect, if won''''s, Mi er ' bel t) the piers, but e el ha l t fou li " ,,g; more certain r e x, I , 41 4 „ ,m t which we I" h ,!'ich `' be ( —all ' 1 4,,,, the VI °