The Express.
London, England, 1853-01-12 00:00:00

B/LNKLNG INSTITUTE.

The ordinary monthly meeting of this institution
took place Mat evening at the Had of Commerce, Thread-
needle-street. B. Oeiveine, Esq., M.P. in the chair.
Mr. LLON i Lan read a paper on the state of the mer-
cantile, maritime, and bankruptcy laws of the United King-
dom, in which, after dilatine upon the present uncertain
stets of our mercantile law, its diffusion over numerous
statutes, its dependence on various and oaten conflicting
decisions, its consequent complications, and the different
practice and customs in different parts of the United King-
dom as contrasted with the broad, cettain, and well-under-
stood principles on which in some foreign countries it was
based—he proceeded to explain the advautages of " limited
liability " partnership, by a reference to the law of Franco
(which, however, in mauy respects, coped/illy in the inter-
ference of government, was tar worse thou that of this
country), America, and other mercantile nations. He
spoke also of the difficulty in settling partnership dif-
ferences, the expense and delay consequent upon a reference
to the Court of Chancery, instead of, as in France, by
• reference to a court of arbitration constituted for the pur-
pose, the went of a power in all partnership Sims to sue
and be sued in the name of one of the partners, as in Scot-
land, the essential difference in the mercantile law of the
two countries generally, and the desirability of making it
ma'am. In the law of bankruptcy the systems of England
and Scotland were directly opposed, the mere fact of the
bankrupt crossing an imagivarygeogmphical boundary ren-
dering it necessary for the creditor to enter upon a new pro-
cess with which he was wholly unacquainted. That branch
of mercantile law which most especially required amendment
and consolidation was that relating to shipping and marine
insurance, which, as it steed, appeared really intended to
confuse those whom it was meant to govern. In the cola-
nice, too, there was equal diversity and consequent uncer-
tainty, some being subjected to French law, as Canada,
others to the Spanish law, as some of the West India
Islands ; others, again, to the Moslem or Hindoo law, as
the East Indies ; others to the English law, C 6 Australia.
The object of the mercantile community should be to make
the law uniform in all countries over which the crown of
England had jurisdiction. He advocated the establishment
of Chambers of Commerce for the cheap and expeditious
determinatiot of mercantile questions, but admitted that
it was doubtful how far they could be brought into
operation in the absence of a codification of mer-
cantile law, which was the first thing necessary
He suggested, however, the. until such codification was
effected much good would be done by a judicious selection
of juries in all such questions—that woe, that they should
be composed of persons whose education and occupations
would enable them to decide in accordance with law and
custom, so far as it was generally understood by mercantile
men. If this country led the way in establishing a clearly
defined mercantile code, he had reason to believe that con-
, tinental countries, especially Austria and Prussia, would be
ready to follow our example ; and that in the end the mer-
cantele community in all parts of the world, which formed
in point of fact one family, would carry on their operations
under one universally understood and admitted principle of
r international commerce.
Mr. GILMOUIt (a barrister) remarked upon the difficulty
of assimilating the mercantile law of Scotland with that of
England while a complete separation of law and equity
existed in the one country and not in the other.
; Mr. GILBART stated that the great number of statutes and
. difference in our laws might he accounted for in some Inca-
; sure by the great number and variety of our mercantile
transactions. He admitted, however, that it would be a
great advantage if the same system prevailed in all parts of
the United Kingdom.
Atter some remarks from other members, the thanks of
the meeting were accorded to Mr. Levi and the chairman,
and the business terminated.

CITY OF LONDON HOSPITAL FOR DISEASES

OF THE CHEST.

Yesterday the annual meeting of the governors of
this charity was held at the London Tavern, the Lord
Mayor in the chair. The retort stated that there was
every cause for satisfaction and thankfulness as regarded
the progress of the inatitution. The donations and subscrip-
tions received during the year amounted to 5,5731., making,
with 3,1111. in hand at the close of the last year, the sum of
8,6861.; of this amount 1,7311. had been laid out in defray-
ing the current expenditure ; 5,850/. had been paid on as
of the new building, leaving a balance of 1,081/. in
favour of the institution. There was an increase of 1421.
in the current expenditure, as compared with last year, but
there was more than a commensurate amount of benefit
conferred. The number of patients admitted during the
year amounted to 3,626, being an average weekly attend-
ance of 633, brine an increase of G 5 in the weekly attend-
ance over last year. It was expected that the hasping
would be ready fur the reception of patients by next slid-
summer. Up to the present time there hail been expended
on the erection of the building the sum of 9,0111., and the
committee had been able to meet all demands as they be-
came due without withdrawing the sum of 500/. invested
in the funds after the first festival in 1819. 6,000/. snore
would be required to complete and tit the build-
ing fur the reception of patients, whe.ll, it was
hoped, would be provided by the same generous
sympathy which had heretofore been extended to the cha-
rity. The committee could not take upon them the respon-
sibility of increasing the current expenditure by the recep-
tion of in-patients without having a larger income from
annual subscriptions, which amounted to SW. The com-
mittee acknowl_dged their obligation to Earl Granville and
Mr. S. Gurney, who contributed 5001. to the hospital, and
to the various officers of the Charity.
The CIIAIUMAN impressed on the meeting the necessity
of supporting an institution which had done so much good.
lie should be ready at all times to contribute his effo-tts to
promote so valuable an object ; and he was sure that at the
present time, when there was such general prosperity, the
public, and the City of Loudon in particular, would come
forward and relieve the committee of all responsibility as
to the means that would be placed at their &spud to com-
plete the good work. He begged to inform them that Lord
J. Russell would preside at the next anniversary festival.
The report was then adopted on the motion of Mr. Lambert
Jones, and the various officers re-appointed.
A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded Cie ba.si-
nets.