The Express.
London, England, 1854-01-12 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY EVENING, JANUARY 12, 1854.

tars es *Mewl ruled *amts. hi. t. /..Id. re &Oat ;
• ledleall rupees re 100 dollars. The arnval el t.
Sidi./ faroolier Mail subsequently, wit► &beet 201 re of
dollen side Nies easier for the @ellen this isaiL
OPIUM liassarr.—Closiai Rates, Now. S.—Pates, 390
dels. ; Berns, 400 leis.; Males, 390 dele. ; Turkey, 310
&IL

CITY CORPORATION

The Royal Commimioaere met yesterday is the
Privy Council Chamber, Doweitipstreet, for the purpose of
eonunalag the inquiry into the Corporatism of Imathea, Mr.
Lemosomaate la the chair.

It Wag known dud tie reeparatien wadi mmassnee
drab answer to the ebarepes dived simime three, Itermal
ambers *tibiae body ware wrest *Mae elos Eq. Meat
Omsk mem Mr. 8. Wortley, tam Rwaser t; Yr Hegira
Morriwothor, Tana Clerk; Mr. Tymell, the Sher.
*anon; Mr./Broad, CempMellar et the Bridge Reran
Estella ; Sir J. Key, the Cbeimirdiala ; Mr. B. Batt;
Mr. C. Psalms, the City Selialtar ; sad Alderman
Wilson, b.

The Chairman stated that the Cammiedea new pre-
sed to take the *videos* of the diem af the eserperatiso.
They thought the meet advisable seam to take, in the Ant
imam*, the evidease of paella she had develed at-
tention to City elan, and woo dammed M memmead
imps meat alterations in the mealgemeot di Hasa Wain.
At the setae time, whilst they timed that void is the
most **deal sad best mesas he all poetise le pease,
they did set minis themselves hem takiagfurtisr aci-
dities is rellemme te piste whisk they might think had
met been sedleleolly 41•Nektenid.
llegleant lierviwether said, it certainly had been
the apprehension or the corporation that their ease and
their witnesses Meld be beard last ; but amine they did
I met thereby abilemlend that there should not be an °poor.
MCI pitiphid, of examining or re-examining
farther winters ea the adverse side.

The Choi:lass said that is aU their communications
with the City, they stated that thsegh they were desirous of
=he wane be had pointed ant, they still reserved to
as lost tahaasrad ghost's. ss to hearing fur-
them evidonesa all paints whisk Hwy thought not sail-
oisstly swain or which might suggest themselves to
them. Far laee, os one vont, the 'immanent of the
property of tbe Irish flielory—se evideass bad beta given,
sad they would ostreins seam schisms ma that matter. He
wished to slate the: is ester to obviate say misapprehen-
aim In the "vest of sag row strides." being like., the
mirporatioa would acme. hare an opportunity of reply ing
to it.
Mr. Squirt Wortley, the Recorder of the
was then said, awl said that he appeared boll= =-
Mimi= as the *hid officer of the corporation—la no ems as
es agreed*, but in his official capacity, sad es sash Its
asked permission to read a written statement which had
been drawn up es a general refutation of the male charges
brought against the corporation, and in vindication of its
general administration. It was thought right to sow
esstrate in this form in the first instance all that
might otherwise be dispersed at greater l=
in the evidence of the various witness's.
that statement should have been read, they voila snip
have to addiss• facts in support of that statement. Bow
effort had bass made to reduce it within the smallest pee.
slide sompass. It was drawn up by the committee, who
had the sunsgement of the evidence to be predated en the
part of the sorporation. Whilst, therefore, hi" did not
shrink front say part of the responsibility of it, bi did not
mod has his own address, but as the address of the whole
4117:181at honourable gentleman thea read .a data.
meat of great length, of which the following 4 se litsbrest
—" The statement was prepared by the toneslidatod ow
minor, to whom it was referred by a moots*. of the tor.
to assist the inquiry, and to afford the fullest is
in that power both oral and dostamna_latl, to
"—volition'''. and was liaised on their behalf by the

ae:-.-
Town Clerk. After some preliminary obsentatleni, in
which they say that soma of the parties, who appeared to
be sembeelag the ease against the Corporation, had consti-
tuted tbemselves at once accusers, witnesiee, and projectors,
and had In their evidence on oath mixed offensive misre-
presentations and exaggeration, of sunned fans, with
swims apemen, geonadlese opinions, and speculative
IV. they premed to answer seriatim the several charges
easiest them tainthe 8 distinct heads of asonsation.
F Oa mime to the charge, that the unease a the
conteraffen is esesesive, we say that, considering the spe-
cial ehenmetanese which affect the City, this is not the nee.
Tl&krepor Weems of the corporation averages about
per WWII, of which a little less than ashen is
Ina freehold and leasehold rents, and a little more
then the ether half is Arrived from tolls, offices, and casual
MEM a renew. This sum represents the gross receipts
of the reparation is respect of its corporate property.
Beelike the primer tweam of the corporation, the Police
Commingles of the Comma Council and the Commissionen
of Sewers, consisting of members of that body, have the
raising and expenditure of an average amount of about
111,0001 per annum by. rates upon property in the City,
namely, 84,0001. far paving, lighting, and sewers, and about
27,0001. for police. Secondly. It is said that the 11011M11 of
the corporate income are objectionable. We will examine
them separately. The rental, amounting to nearly 100,0001.
per annum, is chiefly derived from houses in the City,
from the perpetuity leases and occasional fine, of
the Conduit Mead Estate, and from the rents of
the Finsbury property, which is held upon lease.
The entire amount of rental derived from embankments
made, not for the sake of revenue, but for the improve-
ment of the river and the convenience of commerce, did
met exceed 1,1001. per annum. The statement then referred
te She MOP taken by the corporation in reference to the
eseseneney of the river, and justified the resistance they
glint to the proceedings of the crown in respect to the
bed of the river--proceedings which they were advised by
Osumi were unusual in themselves, and ought to be
assisted at every step. With respect te that portion of
their revenue which is derived from tont, offices,
sad dues, the corporation, while contending that they
were derived from prescriptive or recognised legal
title, :were willing to maks those modification whath
tlnt interests of trade and commerce required. The
Mesa of time revenues to which objection had been
mad* was the charm upon the admissions, to freedom. This
diary whisk lentil within the last 20 yean,was 271.85. 85.,
sad medusa some thousands a year, is now reduced to the
mesiset he affil. Be. Bd., and yielded now very little more
kw wreak of its previous amount; and was obviously
tee earl le deserve a angle comment, except from the =ia-
argrembi& had been 11111416 IS to the proceedings
ldialast few years to compel peons to become
hie, est is, the purpose et Increasing the smonat of the
hods etthe summation, but to increase the number of the
enniekel seestimeney. The action brought a net the
mershaats of the City was commenced sad carried on in a
spirit of frankness and fairness on all sides, without the
slightest reference to pecuniary objects, solely to determine
the question whether the franchise of the City was to be con-
fined to retail dealemor whether the obligation of citizenship
could be enforced upon the merchant and wholesale dealer.
That action having been decided adversely te the -
tioe, the Common Council, in 1832, promoted a"bire for
extending the elective franchise to the ratepayers ' • but it
was rejected, in consequence of the opposition of the livery
escapades. They denied that the proceedings to compel
the retail traders to take se their freedom were conducted
in a harsh and vexations sprit ; and in all the cases bat one
the eats of the proceedings were remitted to the recusant
parties. With respect to the coal duties, the annual
amount of which was 70,0001.
by whisk the amount ea_
_per they my, that if pub-
lie improvements are to be samea,lif to es difficult
devise means se be raised
in a manner so little *Kim le the and Ailing so
equally upon the pewee he whim me skim *Annum%
are rotated. TM ammo of the City of Linke me mil-
eimat he the imimbilemle are City of Imielem I will the
near* tee their imprememmit end iiimarlies
M the LEMNOS sweemme et kiln
City frees mike seemh. era be
men equitable them that Mk moms lab-
ia twenty mike mama as saleseelle sem
tribute to the impeemassis mipadra he lest sur
tart sad ceseesissee ? With respect te the
extension of the area et the limits et temilles by
set lea and litli Inst.. esp. la, the 'pinks if the kw
Misses if the mews is meeksim that the area a Maass
was met easeded by that ash The next mune at anima
it Melva toss the melees stars. It easumte le skint
WAIL • yew, soak* is theme* of malaise sod memispe.
meat. Is esaremee er this, they say as Fp s hoe
fee mesa mere been is with thethat the
time weneppeachlas wham as interests the commerce
et the pest weld make a eamidentile smithies'= et the
smsiemi eatems of lacks, es boon beat maw coma pm-
wee maesreed. but theme amealestiess mail met
be without an act el perilemeat. Thirdly. We
masa to answer the third charp, that the apemditare of
the eeepoeation is excessive la meow* mad Ullll4lll In its
objects 1. To support thiejeatement. it is rid that the
emu of the mayoralty are use rive, and that the inaugara-
tics hairset art its market pecemiery me ==
mama. lima awed. To this we mtg. thst the
le lee Lord Nape to malaria as Wee mil legitelity a
his slam (Includieg his peeperaim at We kerma sad
) does are enema
a
ems between MOW. and
nkillia.reir annum The seem' seams of lame, such as
the Imes for the sibekke a Jew broken, greats of free-
d= ac., Nebula te y some of the witnesses,
were formerly perquiaita of slam, have
bless lar some ran shed W siiiimalisi tie
mosey payments in this am. We sem
tend that the Imememestism beeenet is ma petals
.I.ls he its ohmmeter er wt, mil tat it is emedmmul es
beemess • state Yuma ghee to the madam a the
mews. the neesemetedves se to
rest Pewee, the silts a
the Lama and Um gnat esameriki sad sew
emery eetabliaYmmnle di the cite, by the eseiosenelmt el the
Ant city of the Ira wintry In as world. Them mm West
1,100 masts sateen'—the memo delayed by the Lord
Mayor owl by the Sheri& le weal malaisee esteumle lege-
thee le shear of Wish sem the met et the repeat
sad erseerkm LW sad by war lees met. es es ave-
rage, mused lissides this sum, the stweeetien d
fray the met et *Wing mad 1 the hal. We like- I
wise matia4l that th:erast ilthert:ra oratisaatioa of an I
sadist sot; to, be abolished without l
steamer Tellall yet bees sielipted is, its Wa-
des. Puniest le the lest Slit if Illemmke She Lard
Liam, teat the lOW* a the beams iii
of the keheme he -leae, and of *a market.
Wises k Themmetrest. did net tea that it
I wail osaraiia, .asy seek isorevaimit to their
pirodlo on dwelt mils it &VIM be as per
, OMNI= to p:ossauS lien Ng" fa PeamaisgariCENlL
, Gnat essasityllo
ran
otthe
Wheat orir the MOWN _ daigava,2
1 century. eme kir ilea Ma Wee M
e• .r
the berm armaiftillih With lent.prot to the roliwira,
the ow mesesiletemers Mad *ash Wet
were
framed se • liberal male the stash =sea Welk
be wilsllll6 le • CMG leiliel; Tim
Was et the others had gooey WIT dams Mw, In
I Of tItO inseam et the Oily property; not-
whisk *sir .et imam wee
Lae( sow
•
• than it ear at the puled et Iltill at
With ropet to the sit, situ it vas hrgorriarlwitt
. ...

v •gf v.

I. . '

the simeges that have hoes made against itenthishead, that
the /anal interests of the metropolis could not is any de-
gree law Mee the independent *zenith of Iwo co-opera-
tive fesees; Mai se they did is hammy with each other
for all peeress, when co-operation was required, and act-
Lag silent* say la the instances where special carom-
atances trequise a epeslel triennial. The objective to as
ledepeadleue esmmirioe foe the 'liking, paving, and
seesseap silk" Oft, is headed upon the suns arguments,
end is te he than by the suns reply se to the use of the
peaks fore.. Fillidy. le was and that the accosats of the
corpuscles were iateeikaally kept is an usintelligible 1
fetus. Thy deny bilk the asserted feet sad the motive
imputed. The kept tim sequisite set of books
for the scathe* ef the bodes. of hies say, in which the
general treseemiess of all the weeks' fends in his depart-
meet were deig pmt il end baleaseeiL He kept in addition
I• separate •ft a maw for he
et the distinct accounts or
Vasa in retrain et whisk he was tremurer, the entries of
Whisk wise belansed with the peen] eash books.
' Thus fluids (without which inextricable
Mendes would melt) was provided for at the same time
I that sesdisiest flask was furnished by the reduplication of
Weiss. Timm amounts were again arranged for audit,
uteardinate the system known as " Charge and Discharge
whisk MI boa is operation more than a century. This
system sank wee of tenancy, and has called
forth expresime se Widmann from all who
bad mate themselves esquainted with its working.
This breach of administreeka would not be found unworthy
! of comparison with that *tether public departments, mint.
eipal or even imperial, and was undeserving of the censure
bestowed upon it. Sixthly. It was said that the Lord
Mayor, aldermen, sad ecommon council, dating the present
I century, had bees sad are shopkeepers ; that they are
greatly inferior to the emporatons of former times in rank,
respectability, intelligence, and public spirit ; that they are
I unfit for their positions, and were regarded with disrespect
by the citizens. In reply to this, it was stated that of the
existing Court of Aldermen eleven of its members gra-
duated to their present position through the Common
Omni. The personal honour and respectability of the
aldermen, and the perfect honesty and independence with
which they discharged the duties of their office, had not
bees Damned by any witness. There existed amongst
the citizens of London a very strong prepossession in f
el the retention of aldermen as magistrates, instead of having
juodel administered in the City by stipendiaries, and in their
epistles then existed well-founded mum for tile impulse
stn. Of the 16, eight of this were, or had boss, members of
the Hesse of Common., fit. of them ibrhuge metropolitan
constitusaiss. Fifteen of the aldermen, u well se several',
mumbles de the Common Council. were county magic I
teats, enema them for two or three counties. One of the
alderman was and had bees for many years a Bank direr-
tor; and was the chairman Of the Society of Merchants
to the Contieent; ohs of them is chairman of the
of the Joist Stock Banks of London; two of
theth wow directing( the London and Westminster Bank ; '
'WC of than were directors of the London Joint Stock
Beak, sad two of thus of the Union Bank, and most of
them who have Ware and inclination, like many of the
I Congeal OsemelL were directors of insurance companies,
E: seespeathe, easel and *Mar companies connected with The witnesses against the corporation have
Wit salt' at to establish, but they have almost abstained
'MU clinking any tangible charge leggiest their conduct as
=Men, m if they hoped by casting imputations upon
respectability, mid by instituting instil.
"ow eftipirieM with former times to justify
their sclae. upon the corporation itself. Two of the ,
principal witnesses having painted out the beginning
let the present century as the point at which the
respectability of the corporation was said to turn, the
statement proceeded to examine the condition and character
of the corporation during the 18th and 19th atheueilei, very
much to the advantage of the latter in every ampeet. They
had no desire to east censure epos the membies of the cor-
poration who lived in evil times. Is those those officers of
every grade—judges, ministers of state, the thereit, and the
Crown iteelf—were wont to all their mangey Mei lea.
pose of places in their. giftois well in poesseeka se in no ,
that
. version. In conclusion they say:—Renewing, however,'
all has been abated before this commission against tat
corporation, and the slasesos of all imputation of moral tun
piled* or persewel eseraption against any of its wow
members, sad_ imporned . with. tha contrast above drawn
between the adminislratienaf its affairs is the late and the
puma anatssiss; we lupe and believe that much of the
which our body his been exposed is attributable
;abler to
tradition of ancient abuses, for which the present
=are not responsible, and to the errors of our pre-
which it his been our constant endeavour to correct.
under this belief, and strong in conscious rectitude of purpose
is the performance of our duties, the corporation has courted
latairy, and relies with coofidetce on the result ; they be-
lieve it will relieve them from a load of undeserved and un-
just reproach. Having nothing to • conceal, and acknow-
ledging the weighty trusts reposed in them, the Corporation
and all its members appeal from prejudice and uninformed
abuse to the impartiality and judicial wisdom of this mi.
buns!, and while they seek the means of improved and
more effective nation an extending the bans of popular con-
fidence on which alone their institutions can safely stand,
they challenge the severest seratiny, and contending for
the maintenance of their jut rights, they trust to the truth
for their andiestica.

Mr. B. Sea, kte Chief Clerk in the Chamberlain's
office, wu dos , and proceeded to give the following
evidence, in to which, at apteared from • state-
ment of the skainua, an account of the City roceipts and
'expenditure bad been sent to the commissioners, which
they thought it desirable to have more time to consider
before they went into that part of the subject. Mr. Scott
said—l have been in the Chamberlain's office for more than
24 years, and have been chief clerk for 12. The salary of
the office is 8501. a year. The Chamberlain hu the power
of removal; but since 1842 the approval of the Court of
Aldermen must be given. The gratuities amount to pro-
bably 601. a year, in addition to the salary of 8501. That is
the whole. I hold another office under the corporation
besides that of chief clerk—it is the office of preparing an
atmonst for the auditors. I receive 1001. a year for that.
It Gan account of charges and discharges.

The Chairman—lt has been represented to us that the
accounts ars kept in a cumbrous and confused m

Mr. Scott—Thers is no foundation for that. The accounts
are well drawn up, and these statements have been made
by person' who are unacquainted with the subject. The
accouats were drawn up according to a form approved of
by a committee moved for by Mr. Anderton in 1839. They
recommended that the &000111101 should be kept Lin the net
system—that was to say, the gross amounts given, and the
expenses deducted, leaving the net receipts apparent. That
was followed, but It did not give satisfaction; and the
matter was again referred to the committee in February,
MO. On the 17th of Dee., 1840, they recommended the
r- now in au, and in Jan., 1841, that was adopted.
Aelaasi stated, in answer to question 664, that there
mes•gisempeney of 9,0004 between the accounts of the
eemptrellor and the Chamberlain. This is a matter of great
I imperteneh sad therefore I wish to .zplain it to the com-
missism. The two mounts refer to two distinct things, and
tlierielee the proper inference, if they agreed on any one
bead, would be that there wee collusion, and that the ac.
101001 were lammed. The comptroller's account is an
aaaaaat a Mama re be repaired, and that of the Chamber.
Mu is so soma of money actually received, the dif-
ference be the MN= at the commencement of the
peeving year nod these at the close of the next year.
My warrant forpayim out mew requires to be signed by
seven (Mama stes. The Court of Aldermen also
draw mosey, but oily for eartaiu spode purposes, seek
as the odministraties sijustko and ether mitten semseted
with their own body. It Me bees MOM that Magnet is
whims& by the dimes et the seepsistion. I Ism to
oratendlet that seelemeut. TM Moms only have the books
and wesehers hefts the auditors. The auditors are a,-
by the Comma Hall. If the officers in the Cham-
ber net men of the highest character, I think the
Omit if Oseamea Hall ought to appoint auditors who
meld walk a sempleta cheek against misappropriation.
I think the Milaitisa at present is, that the appointment of
auditors ,sees Melt Me Argo a body of persons who do not
always tabs gellisiset Werra is the matter to select the
bet proms. It tho seepesslies sent their accounts to
seem seek beard es lbe osemsbissen for auditing public
it would rearms •ea *est and undeserved degree
of from the resporatien. I think it would be
eatiehelery to the Oltemberlain and to the corporation to do
ma. The
ermatentressrfe= the accounts has been highly
•Plidapersons in the City, who have
imideeed byton misnesly, and I understand that these
poem have milieu se the commission, approving highly
1 0 Me arms and mode of keeping the City accounts. In
Mk this subject was under the consideration of parlia-
meat, when Um City asked for 1,000,0004 for public im-
and the Duke of Wellington on that occasion
engemenal fa eammittee his satisfaction at the mode of
Tham 01. amounts.
ehalmawa—There Is a point on which I wish to ask
you a question. It is in reference to a sum of money given
to the Consolidated Committee, of the expenditure of which
you are said to be ong.niunt.
Mr. Scott—There is no twilit sum of messy: placed at
the dismal gibe Clamelidated Committee, as secret service
wimey. Aims frer yez.zr the seawalls wishing to
have taw and mare ell their proceedings
publihed, they applied s mm 2141seetry fa the purchase of
▪ nowspapen as samised the bed reports of their pro-
emial.. la seeidsdoi the subject three remedies
wen neggemed._ ._ The tint was Se have official
reporters amisyed, and with this view applica-
tion wee mole to Mr. Gurney. It was found that
this plan would not answer—first, bemuse it would involve
a considerable expense ; and, secondly, because the short-
hand writers so employed did not condense their reports,
but gave everything that was said. The second plan was
that of encouraging reporters more generally to come to the
table, by circulating a aumber of the papers which con-
' lined good »porta ; and the third plan was that of having
I a weekly wgsa of their own, to be supported by the oorpo-
-1 ration. Ia htrthemm of the last plan, the Citizen news-
papersqeew d in January 1849. It was commenced
at dratjive of the earpereabo or their oaken; but
in masomarre of Meanies, Mr. Touirain Smith became
the sees liar sad proprister et the paper. I assisted Mr.
Smith Sat 'Mist by an mimeses el money, but I did not
a jot.l progeider. It we see certainly my
htlesties ie beam • peep_..., sad the paper was sold
Wm, my hsewledem es essoarresee. The matter was
user tee eessidesellas el the suspends.,aml whilst is
that. dile of empire melds elms el the eeeperetha
ealsoribed messy free their ma feuds' is support of the
paper Ile asap it elisat till NMI dislike was ems to by the
eammudes. It was so kept up As fear weeks, hat differ-
eases of *Ms between Mr. troth and some a&
me of lie the Atter ltiy geld
:ttd
kr * semled semiderMits. Ms. ffenith •• • dohs
WINO Ilhe Moperatles for the messed be ad His
petides was Muted to tbe Oomelidated but
be did set appear belies thee. The mosey by
1 the MMus of the eseponttes, amounting to le. 9d.,

was paid bask, as well a the sea of UM advanced by me.
The eorporation paid me that money volantarily, consider-
ing, no doubt, that placed that money in jeopardy for the
good of the corporation. The money was paid out of the
corporation feeds. The matter being referred to the Con-
solidated Committee, they drew on the City Chamber for
the purpose oinsattiag tins payment. This being considered
• private and confideetial matter it was not stated in detail
in the amounts, but was pat down generally under the
Wade( raiseelleasone." The sums expended for news-
Mrwere 441.4 i. 6d. in 1849; 1951. lle. 3d. In 18.50;
s 1861; 1561. 16a. is 1862 ; being an average expect-
Sitars of 1891. 12s. 10d. fur circulating reports of the pro-
endings of the corporation. There wu no sum of 1,0001.
a-year set apart for that purpose; bat there was some
foundation for making this statement on the part of the
witnesses who made it, became at the time this matter

was under discussion it was in contemplatioa to abolish
the payment of 8001. a year paid for the Old Bailey reports,
and to apply that sum, with an addition of 2001, a year
more, to the publication of the proceedings of the corpora-
tion. This would give about 201. a week, which it was
thought would be enough to set apart for the publication of
the reports. The two witnesses vim g►ve evidence on this
subject were in negotiation for obtaining this stun of 201. a
week, and furnishing the reports ; and this is the reason
why they said that 1,0001. a year was set apart for this
purpose. There was no sum of mousy voted by the cor-
perstion as west service money in any way like the annual
sum voted by parliament, but there were sums of money
ezpeedsd for purposes of a confidential nature, which it
might not be desirable that the world at large should be
made aware of.
__ _ _

The Chairsan—What clue of objects could they be ?
What could be the nature of an expenditure which a pub-
lic body like a corporation would not think it desirable
to avow with the greatest detail, and to publish to all the
world ? _ _

Mr. Scott—Such a one as that which I have just referred
to. There are also expenses of a confidential nature, which
the legal officers who have the confidence of the corporation
must be responsible for. There us expenses connected
with the passing of and opposition to bills before parlia-
ment. I know of no expenditure of this kind which cannot
be stated and fully justified. 1 am not aware of any money
being expended which has not been brought into
the accounts. There are many entries where the
totale are stated, but no details given. For instance,
the details of the expenditure connected with parliamentary
proceedings were not published. It was not thought de-
sirable that matters of that kind should be published to the
world. I have been requested by Mr. Sewell, a clerk in
the Chamber, to correct the statement made to the com-
mission that he took 21. 6d. for granting time to poor per-
sons for taking up. their freedom. He took not 2s. 6d., but
ls., not fora fortnight's time, as stated, but for two months,
and that fee be was authorised to take. With regard to
the salary and expenses of the office of Lord Mayor, it has
been stated that he receives 7,1571. from the coal tax. I
have to correct that statement, by saying that he receives
only 6001. from that tax. Mr. Williams stated that the ex-
penses of the Lord Mayor were 25,0341. In answer to
that I put in the report of a committee appointed
in 1836, by which it will be seen that reductions were
made to the amount of 10,7821. 21. 3d., leaving 14,3501.
4.. 10d. The Lord Mayor's own receipts were 8,3191.
18s. 2d., and the expenses of the Mansion House were
2,1261. The corporation did not recognise the re-
port of the committee of which Mr. Williams was a
member, and they refused to print it. Mr. Williams also
stated that there was a discrepancy between the amounts of
salaries sent by the officers to him and those which ap-
peared in the Chamberlain's accounts, This arose from
the fact that the gross amounts were sent to Mr. Williams's
committee and the net amounts to the Chamberlain. It
was said that the Borough Compter was sold, and
that the transaction did not appear in the accounts.
The fact was the prison was not sold at all. Mr. Fenno&
made a statement reflecting on the corporation for not
building lodging-houses for the poor; but the fact was the
approprtated43,oool. for thispurpose, and expended 19,1601.
in the purchase of land for lodging houses; but they did
not proceed with the buildings because they received notices
that the ground would be required for railway purposes,
and those notices were continued up to the present time, so
that they could not go any further in the matter.
Mr. Lewis—What is the duty of the Chamberlain ?—The
duty of the Chamberlain is to act as treasurer and banker
for several trait fonds. The Chamberlain comes every
day to the office, and he exercises a supreme control over
the department. He exercises a moral control, and takes
such part in the supervision of the accounts as he may
think fit. The Bridge-house accounts are not kept in the
Chamberlain's office, nor are the Irish Society's accounts.
I am net aware of any other accounts which arc not kept
in the Chamberlain's office. I see no reason why the
Bridge-house accounts should not be kept in the Chamber-
lain's office. But for this purpose an act of parliament must
be obtained. There are a great many feee which do not
par through the Chamberlaia's accounts. These fees are
received by persons as being officers of the corporation.
These fees are regarded as the property of the officer and
not of the corporation.

Mr. Lewis—lt wu stated by Mr. Williams that the
amount of fees, in addition to salaries, wu 70,0001. Do
you think that is correct ?

Mr. Scott—l should receive anything which appeared in
the report of that committee, of which Mr. Williams was
a member, with great caution, because it has been found
to be incorrect wh it was tested. The commission hu
asked for t►e amount of those fees, and the committee of
the corporation are now engaged in making them out. I
am not at all able to say what the amount of ices is, but I
am sure it is nothing like the amount stated by Mr. Wil-
liams. It has been invariably the practice of the corpora-
tion to abolish those fees as the offices fall in,
and to substitute payment by salary. In the office
with which I was connected, which is that of
which I can speak with most confidence, great improve-
ments and reductions have been effected since 1842.
The Chamberlain's salary Was reduced from 3,6001. to 2,6001.
The Chamberlain has now no interest in the balances. He
is obliged to lay his books monthly before the finance com-
mittee, and if they object to the class of securities In which
ha has invested the City money, he is bound by his deed to
sell out. Formerly there was great risk run, because the
i City money was under the control of one person. For in-
stance, there was no limit at one time to the amount of
money I might draw. I felt that was • responsibility which
ought not to be placed in one person's hands, and en im-
provement was so far made that the signatures of the Cham-
berlain and the two senior clerks are now required on tke
cheques for drawing money. There are always large
balances in the hands of the Chamberlain, and they are in-
' vested with • view rather to security than to profit.
I don't believe that the placing of these balances in the
hands of a private banker would offer so much security as
the system now adopted, and the Bank of England would
not allow any interest if the balances were placed with
them. On the subject of the coal duties, Mr. Scott stated
they were levied at the coal market. The 4d. duty war a
perpetual charge. It was at first 4d. per chaldron. It was
commuted to 4d. per ton till 1862, when it would to
4d. per chaldron. The 4d. duty was levied by prescrip-
tion, confirmed by the charter of James the First,
and the act of the Ist and 2nd of William the Fourth.

The produce of the 4d. duty was 60,0001, • -;;;;;
which went to pay the interest on 600,0001. Of that prin-
cipal sum 10,0001. had been paid off, and 40,0001. would be
due next month, for which provision was already made.
There was no sinking fund to meet the rest of the principal.
Of the Bd. duty, 6.lotlts would expire in 1862, and the re-
maining 4-10ths would continue after that. At the close of
1862, the sum of 961,9271. 7s. Ild. was chargel upon that
fund, besides 88,0001. for the improvements in Clerkenwell ;
making together 1,049,9271. Is. 11d. The proceeds of that
tax were 113,6001.; and there could be no doubt that
this sum would extinguish the debt by 1802. The
net produce of the penny duty was 13,0001, and
his opinion was that it would cease in 1862.
The accounts of this last duty were kept by the Office of
Works. The expenditure for improvements in the city out
of this fund was 1,190,8211. ; without the city, 987,9001.:
and for the improvements of a mixed character, in which
the city and adjoining districts participated, the expenditure
was 1,818,2211.; making a total of 3,996,5131. lls. 3d.
With regard to the contest for the office of chamberlain, his
expenses were about 3,0001. Of this sum probably 1,0001.
was eaten up in refreshments and tavern expenses. Ile
had no personal knowledge that any of the money was ex-
pended in bribery, and be gave directions to his
agents to keep as clear as they could of bri-
bery at the last election. Many persons received
money for loss of time, which possibly might be
considered as money given for votes. The livery of London
were a respectable body of men, but in point of fact the
election was not in their bands, but in the hands of a poor
class of voters, who sold their votes, and in the hands of
persons who were not electors at all, but who personated
electors, and whom in the present state of the law it was
difficult to punish. It was mast desirable that the system
of election in Common Hall should be reformed, and if not
capable of reform should be abolished.
The Commission then adjourned to this day.

DEPARTURE OP THE CROESUS FOR AUSTRALIA.—
Yesterday afternoon the General Screw Steam Ship Com.
pang's steamer Cronus, left Southampton for Australia.
She took out 140 passengers, 800 tons of cargo, and about
10,000 letters and newspapers. She is to call at Lisbon for
the Australian mails, which left this country on the 4th o
December last, and which are now on board an Australian
liner, disabled at Lisbon. With this exception she is not to
call at any port before she reaches blelbourse. She has en
board 1,400 tons of coal, which it is expected will be suffi.
dent for her passage out and for part of her homeward
voyage. The officers, crew, and servants number about
120 persons. She has an immense quantity of live stock
and stores sufficient for her extended voyage. The Cucuta
is a new ship, 2,600 tons burden, and is the finest steamer
that has ever left England for Australia. She did not
start before the arrival of the London day mail yesterday.
She had a fair wind, sad went down Southampton water
with immense speed. Captain Hall, the comm•.dore of the
General Screw Company's fleet, commands the Creme

THE PRESTON STRIKE AND THE LONDON COM-
Poarrona.—Lest evening, at a coati ag of the Loudon
Society of Compositon, the society c,,,ted tha gulp of 2001. to
the Preston Operatives Defenos committee, to be spread
Over tea weette- Ia the event'of the straggle lasting longer
than that timei, the waist! "will consider the propriety of
grinds, a farther sus, Natty mezaben of the society, also,
pay a voluntary eshaeription of 2d. per week to the Prestos
/had&

!7.11

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