The Express.
London, England, 1853-11-26 00:00:00

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CITY CORPORATIO9 COMMISNIO.V.
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'f to
OM at the chair.
t apS.llll taums
examined—l am an Jupiter of pri-
Ks, The City prisons come ander my jurisdiction.
1 lemma. yly them. The City prisons see Nonage,
which is • county gaol for Middlesex and the City
of London; the New City Prison, at Holloway, which
Y • House of Correction for the City of Loudon ; the City
&Woven ; the Debtors' Prison, in Whits Cross-street; the
pereagh Precis, which is rot used now ; and the Compter,
is Olimpur.street, which is also unused. All of these pH-
", are within the City, except the Holloway prison. A
eery eitraordiaary power is Riven to the City authorities
by the Set of the 4th George IV., chap. 64, see. 13. By that
act the Court of Aldermen is constituted a Court of Quarter
Sensiou., at all times for prison purposes. They excluded
s nrs from their court, which is not the case
at Courts of Quarter Semions. This power ought
veer to have been given to the City of Loudon. This order
for the *echoic' of strangers is enforced when the court is
young us. ney for the officers. I was excluded myself
There i. a tabit of voting compensation allowances to the
prison others ; but I am not able to speak of any case in
which they have due so. In the case of the late superin-
tendent of the Hiltspur.street Prison the prnvisions of the
so of parliament were not, I know, adhered to. lie was
awarded .40/. a year. I cannot say if the decision in that
sus Cu come t, with cloud doors. The system is for the
prison committee to report to the Court of Aldermen. But
the prison committee is composed of the Lord Mayor and
the aldermen, and the Court of Aldermen is composed Of
the sum persons. Ido not know what can be the object of
ells ionsuittee. The aldermen visit the prisons in rotation,
and the visitation is well kept up. The system of visits-
tioa and prison discipline reflects great credit on the City.
The new Holloway Prison is managed in • way that eta it
to be a model prima for the whole country. Newgate
is 13 ill.constructed a prison that, however well
regulated, nothing can be mid. of it. It was con-
structed alter the riots in 1780. It has en imposing
'Mario', and possibly it may do good in that way by terri-
fying, but its interior arrangements are so bad that it is
impossible to create anything like order inside. The new
prison at Holloway has been opened about a year and a
halt'. I don't know from what funds it has been built. I
inquire t, but could get no satisfactory answer. Its sites-
sue is good, and its plan reams the greatest credit on the
City architect. There are from 150 to 200 cells vacant in
the prison. I cannot say why that should be so.
I suggcned the removal of the Newgate prisoners
to Holloway. This would give room for the building
of new courts on the site of Newgate. The salaries in New-
gate prison are exceedingly high. I think you will be
astonished when I tell you that the salaries in Newgate
amount to 9,1331. a year, besides emoluments and fees.
The keeper receives 7001. • year, besides 331. 14s.
in emoluments; the chaplain 5001., he receives be-
sides, from the Chamberlain, 61., an old bequest
from Lady Barnarchston ; 31. Ids. from the sheriffs
foe a suit of black clothes and 10!. as a visitor of Newgate.
The salaries are too high, but I must say that the duties
were heavier when they we'll fixed. In other prisons the
prisoner. piy for their Own support previous to trial. That
is mot the case in Newgate as regards the City prisoners.
The annual expense of • prisoner in Newgate is 381. 3.. 2d.
For untried prisoners I think the eapense ought not to be
more than 201. or 181. The difference arises from the large
amount of the melon's and the small number of prisoners.
The cooditem of the prisoners in Newgate is not better
than ia other prisons. There are very ancient charities
Measeted with Newgate. There are 8,100/. in the Three
per Cents., 2,000!. in the Three-rod.a.Quarter per Coats.,
sad 1,0001. Reduced, applicable to charitable purposes.
These charities have been very beneficially employed fin
prisoners before and after trial. Latterly the money has
hem • good deal used in assisting prisoners to emigrate.
These charities were created by bequest and by subscription.
Each sheriff annually contributed a sum of money to the
fund. The City Bridewell in Bridge-street, Blackfriars,
is one of the most inconvenient and useless prisons that
mold well be built. Apprentices and persons taken up
under the Vagrant Act were sent there. They were sent
by the Chamberlain and the Comptroller of the City Lands.
thatl knew the Chamberlain had jurisdiction over appren-
tices, but it is mew to me that the Comptroller could mem '
vise as; such power. I made inqiiiry, but could not Wink
soder what authority he acted. The commitments are
about ten in the year, and it would be better to send these
persons to Holloway. The prison acts most miseldecously
GS the vagrant', who are chiefly boys. Therejs a heves of
occupation for boys eoenected with Bethlehem Hospleml—a
usetal Institution—but the boys refuse to go there, besets'
they my it is only' a removal from one prises M INAUNIC
There is • disposition to allow the jurisdiction of sanding
venom to the City Bridewell to fall into therms,. The met
of 'maintenance is about 50!. a year. The earperiaties main-
tain the prison because they say they are hawed by shorter
to do re. I think the legislature shed& give them
the power of discontinuing it. It is a meet useless and
absurd institution, and I believe acknowledged to be to by
the offieers themselves. Mr. Johnsen, the mesa gover-
nor, did everything he could to snake It useful, bat without
avail. The Compter is abandoned es a plum. I don't
know that they have come to any ressiedien as to the use it
is to be applied to. The Borough Compeer is mew disused
ass prison. The debtors' pima ems einstrusted in 1812,
and there is not a prison in the hiring so isediyeemstmscted
or so ill adapted to its purpose. am net eletekee to this
opinion, because even before it was finished a eimmittise of
the Home of Commons altogether esmieemed its plan.
This prison has four prisons within itself. Shore were foss
prisons formerly for debton—LedgMe, Poultry, the
Compter, and Gilspur-street prisons. • potion of the
present prison is appropriated to sompowas Men each
of these districts. The bequests to this prison
amount to 1,6001. • year-2821. 17s. is received
from the ball-keeper of Guildhall, and from se-
coral of the ceemsedes and Cartis's Charity to the
amount of 1,4001. se 1,600!. They also receive charity in
kind. One of theme dimities is a donation from Nell
Gwynn@ of 30 !women, loves on the last day of the
month. This is eselinued to this day. The governor is a
very humane and IMISIIISS lam I attribute the faults of
the prime to its eimentetion sad arrangement. These
charities do evil is this way, On law practitioaen make
use of them for the purpose of raft their costs paid.
I think no keeper of a pries ought to be entrusted with
the distribution of so large a sum m 1,1/111.
The Chairme.--liow do you papa to deal with the
quake ?
Witnees.—l think sine witheetty like parliament ought
to interfere to regulate the bequests.
The Chairman.—Do yea thin these dtazilles alga to
be dose away_ with sheathe" ?
Captain William—l sat motrsoll lose the
of saying that, b t
u OW asses to bail to
think that underMk
it is a goal mode dinky. I MllltiOddhe
well to realm the thin% sod he Mend the ens of this
disathalisath a wad number of pdass. Most Mama
beguile edeneM is masa Math There is • ma of
111. N. thiert2: semis is Ciders Hospital, with
Midi ins tbe is enessithilOn Mater day. It
hes est bees Ike dense esthal years, sad aq do
set knew now bow to distethate the army. les ad
swamat the elision
a ler. rizeintrothks =
Apllem dile had has bees
mai~ir eat eipsellossent, to WNW et the w cars
Swim Hove 11,0001. wee Med is. yeas" 'violin
gliPsad 60001. to the tweak& ef GeMith
aCiese. sr. f thin it would he me dthe blow
lb ensnared en the City of Leaden le wigwam
negillOOSS *sot ; sae inagistrate perlally esr
apothem the duties. Bet than he mad{ Mar
ali edit*. It would lead M uniformity. • boy
moth melon day be sentenced to • igiit's isagelther
Path sad smother boy to a month' 1!s- r seamilar MASS
the men day. The appointment of memielenges
ISM etkeinthly in the menufacturing
If& Mazda Pratt esandisod-1 in to the
Gems' Slam Navigation Coma,. I Ws k ld that'
*miles bur years, and was mileat thardery fee sight
=l. I lave to complain slate of ne dim between
and Brith Is eissequemo of Mhethe. TIN
him liderlidedrw water, vessels me deg* l. ameagethee
of thin shoals. That is the *Ms of MOM, ma.
Ciageoln Washington gave edam ea this ealfset behre
theOmmieden on Tidal Barbsers. The dole ef the river
bast prides woree—it remain pally nosh as it was.
On of thisitheale is apposite limairass. Injury is he-
lusty dm to meek fres dm.
The Chohneth—llave the alloadisa say thing to do
with the lights to be serried by seem= P
Wltnees—Yes ; there is • mime ea that point between
• empsestien sod the Athakelig. The Admiralty re-
gibe_ is ones light to be ea the pandas, and a
on ROI ea the ether. The essperalisa relies a Wit to
le maid at the masthead, sad weber at the bowapeit As
sea an tasidog male we dieregen the aim of the
arporoden. The eat of pediment under whisk the Admi-
ralty sea saves the rights et Obesity ef Irsotha,
they have the right ofeederhe what lights are to be
The river Nemeth empty with the regulations of the ew-
position, bat they miner have die wt. The m
of the river is by ao amens pad. The dose es eerges.=
as metsge, lases.% end toed'.,sheensand triable-
some These duos- is esmos sense mann to ate-third of the
height.
Th. Chairman—Have yes mg ethensthas to asks with
"Trcoals /
u to
sses-14 the I and 2 Vie. • drawback of the elitist
cool duty of 121. was granted when the quantity
was over 26 !um I bat by the 14 sad 15 Vas, sap.l7::
duty wet maned to Is., whereby we lose Id. per Nth
The Chabeam—Do you wish to my anything respell
the empooke
Witem—Tho seamy of Waterman have the szebseM
MA the Woes Gni weft ea the elver ; the
comeemsemes is tint them are set modest to de Ite week
le • peeper wq. They are sitagethee gam, sad
ta maim, we Int the in
the. leaded sod is mum,
tleiiimthes SO 'MMus illimoss Is go, Pa we would la
Mb le mho miss Vella* 069 i.e If we mend get the
meek dee UMW. A lIMIS *sag was a threat.
NM Mike of thejeutheythes en the river ; if
it tea Wwhile Wads on the river would be pat

lissioners met yesterday, Mr. Laboa-

a stop to. The only remedy for this is the natural one of
throwing the business open.
Mr. John Mathews said—l sm a solicitor. For the last'
twenty yews I base bad communications with the City
authorities on the suiijut of the conservancy of the Themes.
In my experience during teat time I found either want of
authority or incompetency on the part of those authorities.
I say this from the desire of the navigation committee to
come to some compromise or arusrment in every case. I
have hunt in personal c immenication with the navigation

committee—with the sub-committee and grand committee.
The sub-committee is composed of about twenty persons.
If I exclude the water bailiff and harbour master, there
ars no persons who understand the subject beyond what
they may acquire in the course of their duty as committee
men. In order to show how the conservators of the river
do their duty, I will state the followiog ease. Mr. George
Siounonde, • client of mine, carried on be-lace as • mast
and block maker in Gravesend: his predecessors oc-
cupied the premises in the same way for sixty
years. There is • email bay or harbour just near
which is very convenient for fishermen. A gentleman of
influence, living in the neighbourhood, applied in 1850 to
the navigation committee for power to enclose this bay, in
order to add it to his property. My client and 330 of the
fishermen petitioned against the application, and on the
3rd of April, 18.51, the committee came to this determina-
tion, atter having gone down to Gravesend to see the
locality, that they would not grant the application; but
they added that it would be of advantage to the neighbour-
hood to fill in the place, and would not injure the naviga-
tion. Upon this hint the party began to pull down some
houses and to fill in the bay in the month of August, when
the courts were not sitting. My client applied for and ob-
tained en injunction from the Court of Chancery. The
case was tried between the parties on the 23rd December,
1852, and a verdict given for my client ; and he thereupon
obtained a perpetual injunction against the party. At the
close of the proceedings I called on the water bailiff to re-
move the obstruction, but the reply of the committee, to
whom the water bailiff referred the matter, was that they
were of opinion that it was not desirable for the water bailiff
to interfere. The consequence is that the obstruc-
tion still continues, and that my client is in-
jured thereby. I think my client might himself
proceed to remove it, but it would cost him 301. or 401. to
do so. Again, in the use of the Town-pier at Gravesend,
a large sum of money was laid oat on that work, but the
navigation committee allowed other piers to he run into
tho river in the immediate neighbourhood. The very same
thing happened at Greenwich, a few years ago, and a client
of mine lost 8,0001. in consequence.
The Chairman—But I suppose the committee male no
agreement that they would not allow other erections to be
made ?

Witness—My objection is, that they have allowed these
erections to bet made without any Menace to the public
good. The City do prevent in some cases; but, if • person
sets them at defiance, it appears that they have not the
power to prevent him, or are incompetent in the discharge
of their duty. The navigation committee, in a report to
the Common Council in 1842, state that several complaints
having been made with regard to obstructions in the
Thames, they wish the court to consider how their autho-
rity may be enforced. This showed that they think they
have a defective title. I am not aware of any case in which,
an obstruction having been made, the City has removed it.
I think the conservancy of the Thames should be entrusted
to a permanent and competent board. The present com-
mittee are not such a body, if the officers be excluded. And
the officers won't act without instructions from the com-
_

mitt's). With regard to the corporation of London, I beg
to say as a citizen that whilst I would correct all abuses
and anomalies, 1 would keep the City intact. I think the
Citizens have earned toeir rights and privileges, and that
any interference with them or amalgamation with other
parts of the metropolis would lead to great confusion. I
would not allow any interference with the property of the
City.
Mr. W. M. Chr;sty, a member of the Society of Friends,
made the usual affirmation. He said lam connected with
the City of London. I cwry on no busiaeu then at pre-
sent. lam a liveryman. I come here to speak of defects
sad abases in the City management. The City should do
many things which they left undone. I think they should
have houses of destitution for the destitute of all ages.
Mr. Lewis—ll not what you suggest rather the duty of
the City I.laioos ?
Witness—l think the City might and ought to do a great
deal without reference to the City unions. There are a
great many destitute persons in the City. The courts and
alleys of the City an in a very bad state. I think a larger
portion of the City funds should be applied to the worst
improvement of a portion of the population of the City and
to improving the streets.
Mr. Philitus Richardson said—l am a solicitor, and was
professionally employed in the purchase of the Citizen
newspaper in the latter end of 1848 or beginning of 1849.
I purchased the paper from a person named Peet for Mr.
Benjamin Scott and Mr. Toalmin Smith. 1 cannot say
with whom the idea of pnrehasing the paper originated, but
I think with Mr. Scott. I thin a portion of the funds
necessary to carry on the newspaper was furnished by
officers of the corporation. The funds were furnished by
individuals in the first instance, but whether they were
recouped their outlay partially or wholly I do not know. Mr.
Scott, as a member of the corporation, was anzione that
there should be a more efficient report of the proftedinp
of the Common Conseil. Some papers gave inefficient
reports, and some wholly suppressed the proceedings of the
court from one circumstance ur another. It was thought
desirable In consequence that the corporation should have
an organ of its own.
The Chairman—Were leading articles peodsned in it ?
Witness—lt was not confined to the publication of
reports, but that seemed to be the chief object. What
occurred was this. A representation was made to the Lord
Mayor of this supposed want of a good report of the pro-
ceedings of the corporation. The matter was referred to
the consolidated committee, bat what decision they came
to I don't know. Ido know that the Solicitor of the City,
and Mr. Scott did, I believe by authority, wait upon W.
Timings Smith with a view of retaining his services as
editor of the paper. Mr. C. Pearsen was the solicitor.
Mr. Lewis—You said that some persons subscribed
mosey. Wore they City finds?
Witnem—What I mean is this, that the officers of the
corporation subscribed to support the paper, but whether
these subscriptions were recouped I don't know. I know
what officers subscribed. I believed Mr. Tyrrell, the City
Remembrance', did subscribe, and I think Mr. Scott also.
The paper was under the superintendence of Mr. Smith,
bat only eight numbers were published after the purchase.
The paps was to advocate the general views of Mr. Smith
and Mr. Scott.
The Chairman—Why was it discontinued so soon ?
Witness—l think because Mr. Smith's views in the
management of the paper were not in 'mediae, with those
of the corporation officers who took part in its establish-
ment.
The Chairman—Have you any °Nation to state what
wee the amount of the money ?
Wilson—lf you me I would prefer referring that
%sesames Mr Scott, who is desirous of giving information
in doe
llit, gsWaterlow said—l am a liveryman of the
Shame' pony. I have Come here to eirapiala of the
mused by the animal =gond of the
ra.= immth of Dammam miliTioll
as whitest, the dada having legesdi=lbellesee of the
segeentis V. see led to salerehe delis wadi
mt sees shoed le, eel are net aspeoted le Shad se.
line lades were the seseenatis of the China's peen,
the hogeedes of welhs
_aid sesswan, sad onset ease
4ellek shish en podium' by epeeist ,fees owieted he
lit Mr TN iwZleti seswiedrietureapttelfzieltarrl
Key sonnt=iseellhei as slash es 4001. is hi eam, awl
they have the dhalbullia el the fend. The essishallies
ere est ,
vaminskiy , bet pests do pay them wider a kind
of beans then a a spirit ef be the
ca thine an se duties to be then
.is a Mae OMhe eat Mee lee bees
.
shooed, hies\ there isartio pewee et Wades it.
Then is se assesity whatever for then inquest sea, sad
ihigir.eSta. as
illest desa aillis wthithe int witness ezenzinod, but
se sew wen dished.
The Comaelseas Sea adjourned tall Tuesday, whey
they will meet la the SIAS resides* of the Prime Minis-
ter, is Downieralroot.

SOUTHWARK MEETING TO PROMOTE
CORPORATE REFORM.

At one o'clock yesterday, a public meeting of the
inhabitants of the borough of Southwark, convened in
mummies of a requisition numerously signed, was held at
the Town Hall, St. Margaret's Hill, for the purpose of
taking tato consideration the question of corporate reform,
with a view to laying 'Masses before the royal co mmiusion.
of inquiry, now sitting, sod adopting ISISMAIS to obtain
not only the rights and privileges withheld from the
borough by the City of London, but also a just share la the
advantages of the sorporete institutions.
The Blow BAILIFF Win. Pritchard, Esq., having
taken the chair, and ;Melly stated the object of the
mooting,
Dr. CIIALLICF read a letter from Sir Wm. Molosworth,
in which be expressed kb regret that haying to attend a
meeting of the Privy Osuasa.be was unable to be present,
but he ezprobal kin mild egpookatba of their desire to
obtain the whaategas of orposalba ream

Mr. J. Vickers, lir. Thesi;s Pas* Dr. Challis:, Mr.
Vomits% and other iallasathil patinae addressed the
:=lnewhea it wee rushed that dm anises 'serrate
Si the meaty me la iftemehes met vehiable,
ame=le be sestabsd, with seek imprenments sad
se see suitable Is the eaigeasiss of the present
*mooed te the sdnassmet Si the ego ; sad further.
net immesh es In af the sight lollies a j ri, =
besesiO of Ilmithwank use imam the
of of et Lunde% sad ferry iso et its wards, sad are
midst ever by a high bailiff ohms by the City as the
Dimly, an excluded bee the advantages of
the 31= Ompentisa Act ; bet yet the meeting con-
sidered resat a favourable opportunity for obtaining a
fell sad pardelpsties la all the municipal rights of
the city Leedom
A ressiatise having bees agreed to to give effect to the
gen sessielins, a vole of thanks was passed to the chair,
pad the midge separated.

A Mon PRICE Ptcruan.—At the recent ale of
Earl Du pistares, a Mabeady, " Tho Interior of a
Barber's Shop," bought by his lordship for 70 guineas,
realised Mt