The Express.
London, England, 1853-11-18 00:00:00

bets of commerce or tribusais of commerce, I think they I
would be rather injurious than otherwise m London. I was 4
surprioed that two of my fell rw-merelante gave • different ,
opinion on this abject ; the more so as the merchants of
London with whom I have come in contact (and they are
very anemia's) agree with me in opinion. There are
chambers of commerce in Liverpool and Manchester, but I
have observed that they have a aniency to Wanes poli-
' tical bodies. A. the towns increase I think chambers of
commerce would lies their character of collecting useful
commercial information, and would become political bodies.
In London trade and commerce is so subdivided, that
the general commercial body have scarcely any
interest to promotetin common. I am engaged in
the West Lida trade, and have scarcely anything
in common with the Baltic trade. We have our own
chamber of commerce, which meets in the West India
Coffee-house, and the Baltic merchants have their chamber
of commerce which meets in the Baltic Coffee-house. With
respect to communications with the government, I eau
only say that I have had any difficulty In communi-
cating with any manlier of the government. In Liverpool
the merchants have not the some opportunity of communi-
eating with the members of the government, but even in ,
Liverpool I find that the tendency is to separate into die-
tinet associatioes. They have a chamber of commerce in
Liverpool, bat I do not know how it works.
Mr. G. Alcock, a gold refiner, raiding in Little Britain,
gave evidence on the subject of the constituency of London.
He aid, I think the constituency is too confined at present.
I would give the fraticbite to every howebolder in the City
who pays Not and hears lot, and oczustiers far six months.
I would have the corporate offices elected by this
' body. I reside in Alderegate ward. If the change I propose
were made it would increase the constituency from 200 to
900. I think you would get better officers under this
system. The Deals on which the aldermen are elected is
quite faulty. They are new in many leaguers elected by a
few voters. An election [hue conducted cannot be mid to
r give
a representation of the City of London. I would re-
, duce and equalise the wards, and have the aldermen
•• elected for a definite term instead of for life. I think there
oucht to be paid professional magistrates in the two City
police courts. I would not keep up the aldermen as a die-
I tinct body in the corporation, but would merge them In the
general body. I think the Chamberlain and Bridge-masters
ought to be elected by the enlarged constituency I proposo.
I would have the Lord Mayor elected by the general body
I of citizens.
- The commissioth then adjourned to this day.

ALLEGED MISCONDUCT OF THE

POLICE.
ST. JAMES'S VESTRY.

At the St. James's vestry held yesterday,
Mr. BIDGOOD called attention to a case of assault which
had been tried before Mr. Bioghant, at Marlborough-street,
and in which a man named Clarke had been fined for bang
drunk, on the testimony of the police. lie said that this
was a cue of great hardship, the man baying been assaulted
while performing a duty to which he had been appointed
by the Paving Bowl. A depteation had waited upon
Lord Palmerston to complain of the decision of the lodge.

Tbey were received vier y politely by his lordship, who
caused inquiry to be made, but ultimately informed them
that he was quite satisfied the police had done
their duty. The Paving &tad, however, took a dif-
ferent view from Lord, I'slmerston, and considered that

their conduct had been moat tyrannical and oppressire—

a thing the more to be deplored, as for that small parish
the rate was upwards of 10,0001. a year. The facts of the
case were these. A man of respectable standing and sound
moral character was appointed by the Paving Board to take

an account of the number of public-houses open in Berwick-
street on Sunday morning. He did his duty very properly,
but M so doing became known to the police, who save him
frequently with his book and pencil in his hand. Another
part of kis duty was to note down the number of prostitutes,
or females presumed to be such, frequenting the public
streets, it beieg well known that the police bad the right of
removing them if they chose. He went oat for that pur-
pose on last Tuesday evening, taking his round from the
Comity Firemffice, down Waterloo-place, and back
again oa the other side of Regent-street. Having taken
his rounds about five times, and noted down the
number of these women assembMd at given placer, to
walked up Sherard street, and coming to a light proceeded
to put down the number of bad eharatten he bad seen on
his last round. But it so happened that just opposite there
. .

.
stood a policeman to whom his attentin was called as the
man was talking to a French prostitute. Clarke said that
he distinctly saw the woman take eut her purse and give
the policeman money. Clarke walked up Shemrd.street,
when two policemen laid hold of him, one on either aide,
and saying "Yon are drunk enough for us to night,"
kicked up his heels, dragging him along, and kicking his
heels every lime he 'dipped. They took him to the station.
home, the one who stood on his left side doing all he could
to knock hie head against the door poet as he went in.
They all went in, and Clarke was examined
by the inspector, who took from him his penknife,
looked at his papers, and locked him up. The next morning,
on being marched through the streets like s felon, he saw
one of his companions, and told him to go and inform Mr.
Yorke he had been locked up all night. It happened that
the Paving Board was sitting when the messenger arrived,
and three of the commissioners at once went off to Marl.

borough-street, and found the case under investig►tion.
lie (Mr. Bidgood) being ono of the three, did all he could
for Clarke. Mr. Bingham said, it had been sworn by three
persons that Clarke was drunk, but that if they brought
six persons to swear that he was sober he would not inflict
the penalty. Was it come to this, then, tbat it took two
ordinary persons to swear against one policeman ?
(Hear, hear.) He (Mr. Bidgood) said to Mr. Bingham,
the thing is impassible; bow an you get any one
to swear a man is sober wham three policemen have sworn
. .

he is druak, cad credit is to be given aoeordistg to number.
I submit that the object in which be was engaged proves
that he is a respectable man, as cans other would have done
for the purpose. However, the magistrate said that the
fact had been sworn to by three polieenne, whose veracity
he had never had reason to doubt, and that, therefore,
Clarke must pay the drunkard's fine, five shillings. The
fine was paid by the board. He (Mr. Bidgood) would ask
then, were they to stand timidly by and see a man thus de-
nied common justice, and the pollee riding down everything
by brute fora? True, Mr. Bingham asked the police-
men had they any other testimony. One answered, "Oh,
yes, we have a civilian (implying that he himself
was military) who will torroboeate all we have stated, but
he cannot be here till one o'clock." Who did the vestry
suppose this civilian wsa ? An idle man who was loitering
about the station-house door at 12 o'clock at night, and
who Daly sew Clarke brought in. He believed that that
man loitered about the don for the pupae of being a wit-
nem fee the polka He would oak what they were to do in
seek a ean ? If they went to the nomnimionen of police
the eemistiesiortne would say, " Mr. plash= has heard the
case, sad we have every mailfienee in his judgment."
If they west to Mr. Bias/ban that gentleman would say, "I
can do nothing more in the matter. If you have any complaint
go to the commiasioners." If they went to Lord Palmer-
ston they were remind very courteously, but referred back
to Scotland-yard. Since the assault on Clarke they had
put another man on the duty, who bore out his statistics in
every particular. Again he asked the vestry what were
they to do under such circumstances ; whether it would
ail be as well to make Clarke summon the policeman to
filo County Court for damage*, and get a jury of English-
sies to decide on his case ? He believed that the Queen's
lam* and Common Pleas frequently granted protection
and redrew is similar cases. He thought that some way or
allether the vestry ought to protect him.
M. Snows asked Mr. Bidgood whether he bad reason
W believe that Clarke was a sober man?
ILL BIDOOOD said that fur the last twelve years he bad
sever been seen the worse for liquor.
Mr. Bsowx thought the public were deeply indebted to
Mr. Bidgood for bringing forward this case, but still the
magistrate was placed in difficult circumstances. It seemed
OM three respectable policemen had sworn that Clarke
war amok, and the magistrate seeing no reason to doubt
their oaths, could hardly do otherwise than inflict the 11
penalty. It was rather unfortunate however that he did
not wait for the civilian, as in that case the six men re- '
quired as counter testimony might have been brought
forward. Oa the whole he was grateful to Mr. Bidgood
for bringing the case forward. The police had great and
irresponsible power, and in proportion as their power was
great and irnsponaible should it be carefully watched.
Ile therefore trusted that Mr. Bidgood would not let the
matter rest where it was, but that he would make the
fullest inquiry. He was glad to see the representatives of
the public press there, as the ease was one of interest ;
not to Westminster alone, but to the entire kingdom.
They knew how corrupt had been the old parish constables,
and he believed that many of the present police were little
better.
Mr. BIDOOOD then read a statement prepared by Clark*,
and which that person was prepared to swear to. It was
substantially the same as that which had been made by Mr.
Bidgood himself, the only additional facts being that Clarke
solemoly declared that he had not taken any sort of intosi-
asting liquor during the whole evenly upon which he was
remelted by the police, and that they tore his coat, wounded
We heels, bruised his hat, and that he had lest a new pocket
Itendlineblef.
Biesnota. thought a copy of this statement should be
tent to Lerd Palmerston, although from his lordship's re-
esption of the deputation, he had not much hopes km