The Express.
London, England, 1846-10-30 00:00:00

COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL.

YesterclaN7,; Cotu-t--was held for the despatch of
public business.
TILE SURVEY OP THE WESTERN DISTRICT OP TAE
TRAMES.—The following report, which caused a good deal
of interest, was read to the court.
lure names are hereunto subretibed, your eurnmittee at.
pointed on the 22nd day of October, to meet the Court of Aldermen,
or a committee thereof, upon an order of the Court of Aldermen of
the 37th of September last, and to report thereon to this court, do
certir that, haring had a lengthened inteniew with a committee of
the Court of Aldermen appointed to meet us, we end that the Kona

view of the western district of the river Thamm by the Lord Mayor
and aldermen, was made by them under a resolution of the Court of
Aldermen of the 27th of June, nearly a month prior to the standing
order of the court of the 20th of July ; and upon referring to the eme-
nd acts of parliament of the 24th Ceo. IL, the 11th, 15th. 28th, and
35th Cm. 111., far the better rinsing on and regulating the naviga-
tion of the rivers Thames and Des, from the City of London westward
to the town of Cricklade, whereby the mayor end aldermen of the
City of London are, with other persons, made sommiesonses, and
whereby powers are given to the sommissioners to view and sdperin-
tend the towing locks, weirs, and floodgates on those rivers, end to
inquire into the rates and tolls paid u the same, the regulation of
the water and the navigation, as well es the cleansing and clearing
those rivers, 6o lag also given to them, the rights of the Corporation
of London being nevertheless reeerved, and under one of which acts
certain works are prohibited, without the consent of the Coqioration
of London—powers material for the interests of this Cite and neces-
sary for the due protection of river and navigation. That, after due
inquiry and consideration of these act's, your committee are of opinion
that benefits have been derived to this City from the recent survey.
That, on the 15th of September, the Lord Mayor laid before the Court
of Aldermen a report of the proceedings on the survey, in which he
stated that he felt it to be his duty to draw their particular attention
to the various acta of parliament which have been passed, from time to
time, for the improvement of the navigation of the rivers Thames and
Isis, In the upper districts, and feeling fully confident that unless the
navigation In those districts is properly attended to, the locks and other
works kept In good order and repair, and suitable reductions made in the
tolls and lock charges, it will be impossible for the barge-owners suc-
cessfully to compete with the motive of goods and merchandise by
means of railways, and that, consequently, all interests connected
with the above portion of the river, must be most seriously affected if
not ultimately destroyed. And when the importance of the trade by
intend navigation, between the cities of London and Bristol and the
adjoining counties and districts is duly considered, and how essential
it is to the interests of all parties concerned that every facility should
be afforded to retain, and, if possible, to increase the same, which
can only be done by maintaining the line in the most efilAent state,
and by suitable modifications and reduction ef tolls, where the same
presses heavily on the public, it becomes obvious that surveys of a
similar =tare to the present, baying for its view those desirable
objects, are both requisite and important, as well as tending to keep
up a friendly emnmunicat ion and Intercourse between the local corn-
masioners and the magistrates of the Corporation of London, who,
by. virtue of their Aim under the authority of parliament, are like-
wise oommiseioners of the upper districts of the river Thous s. The
chairman ef the upper districts informed the Lord Mayor that when-
ever any of the private locks came into the market for disposal, the
commissioners endeavoured to purchase them for the benefit of the
public. His lordship cannot refrain from alluding to the subject ef
tolls, and particularly to the statement of the chairman of the commis-
sioners, as to the necessity of reducing them upon the whole line, and
his hope that the private lock.owners would unanimously assent to a
reduced toll throughout the entire extent of the navigation- The
laird Mayor also expressed his approbation of the state of the locks
itt;Terhaall4,,mand of
Intion t improvement being tarri
district, and ed
attoihn fohr. thelfbeanefithtt
*opportunity to convey to his brethren of the Court of Aldermen the
assurance of the commimioners, as expressed by their chairman, of
their satisfaction at visits like the present materially tending to keep
up that mutual good understanding and friendship so essential to
exist between all the authorities connected with the navigation of the
river Thames. That on the 20th day of September the Lord Mayor
laid before the Court of Aldermen an account of the expenses of the
view, amounting to the sum of 6931.55. 9d., and the Court, in pur-
suance thereof, ordered the payment by the Chamberlain of that sum
to the water bailiff. That on the Ist of October the order for pay-
ment was presented to the Chamberlain, but which he refused to pay,
giving the following reasons in writing, viz. •. —The payment of the
sum of 6931. ss. Al., mentioned in the order of the Court of Aldermen
of the 29th September, 1816, hereunto annexed, and marked with my
initials, without the previous authority of the Common Council,
upon motion for that puenose, would be in contravention of a resolution
and order of a Court of L rd Mayor, Aldermen, and Commons of the
City of London, in Common Council assembled, held on the Nth day
Jule, 1546. I am therefore constrained to decline payment of the sum
above mentioned without such previous authority of the Common
Council as is above referred to.—Dated Oct. I. A. RaowN, Chamber-
lain.
That as it appears to Your committee that the standing order of the
20th day of July last led to the refusal by the Chamberlain, we have
considered such standing order, and particularly with reference to the
report of the committee on the City and Bridge-house accounts of the
18th day of December, 1845, and the proceeding of this court thereon
of the 19th of March of this year. And under all the circumstances
confining this inquiry solely to the matter referred to us, we recom-
mend that the standing order of the 20th day of July lust he suspended,
so far as relates to the order of the Court of Aldermen of the 19th day
of September last. All wads we submit to the judgment of this
honourable court—Dated Oct. 29. Thrums CONWAY, T. li. Usti,
Joni( Dims, HENRY BURN, EDW. 11Alamx.
Deputy CORNEY, in moving that the Court should agree
to the report, said it would be neceasary to have a bill
prepared and brought in, establishing the right of the Court,
and so framed as to unile the powers of the two Courts as
to the expenditure of the lOrperation funds. By that means
future differences between the two Courts would be cola-

pletely avoided.
Mr. ANDERTON said he should always wish to sec the
rights and privileges of the two Courts untouched. The
chamberlain had acted with admirable independence and
judgment, and certainly deserved the marked thanks of the
Court. It would be necessary to pass an act, and he should
wish to have the question fully discussed when the bill was
ready.
Mr. ASHURRT moved as an amendment that the amount
of the expenses should be forthwith paid, and that the City
Solicitor should be directed to prepare a bill.
THE Suva OP TIIE FLEET I'HISON.—Mr. Low (Chair-
man of the City Lauds Committee), brought up the report
of the committee, setting forth a letter received from Mr.
Charles Fowler, architect, requesting to be informed, for the
information of the Lord Chancellor, whether the corporation
of London would he disposed to sell the site of ground lately
occupied by the Fleet prison, or any portion of the same, for
the purpose of erecting thereon the new Courts of Bank-
ruptcy. The letter stated that the present Courts could be
given up to the City if it were considered expedient. The
Chairman moved that this letter be referred to the
committee to examine and report, with power to confer with
the Improvement Committee and the Lord Chancellor's sur-
veyor in relation thereto. The only reason for applying at
the present moment was, to enable the Lord Chancellor to
have the necessary Parliamentary notice given, which he
was unwilling to effect unless under an arrangement with
the City.
Mr. T. H. HALL hoped the committee would be careful
in their communications upon the etibjeet to guard against
giving any. reason to believe that the City would willingly
acquiesce in the removal of any of their courts from a cen-
tral position to one beyond, or at the extremity of, the City.
He spoke of the great inconvenience to which merchants and
men of business would be subjected by attending or sending
their clerks to distant courts, with which they would neces-
sarily have much to do.
Mr. R. L. JONES expressed a similar opinion, adding, that
when upon the last occasion he had given evidence before a
committee of the legislature upon the subject he had ex-
pressly stated that he felt assured the greatest objections
would be entertained by mercantile men and the citizens
generally, to any other than a central position in the City,
for the courts of law and bankruptcy.
The motion was then aimed re.
ROYAL SEA BATHING INFIRMARY.—The fifty-first
anniversary dinner of this charity was held at the London Cof-
fee-house, Ludgate-bill, yesterday evening. The lit. Hon. the
Lord Mayor presided.beingsupported by Mr. Alderman Challis
and Mr. R. NV. Kennard, Sheriffs of London gni Middle-
sex, and other active friends of the institution. The enter-
tainment itself was highly creditable to the Messrs. Love-
grove. After the cloth had been drawn, and the usual loyal
and national toasts had received due honour, the Lord
Mayor proposed the leading toast of the evening, viz., " Pros-
penty to the Royal Sea-Bathing Infirmary ;" and, in order
to show the increased prosperity and usefulness of the insti-
tution, stated that the number of patients admitted, which
was, in the first year (1796), only 16, had increased in each
succeeding: year, until, during the past season, 716 persons
had been received either as in-door or as out-door patients ;
a statement which elicited loud applause. It was further
remarked, that although the bulk of the subscriptions had
hitherto come from the metropolis, there was the
greatest desire, on the part of the managing body,
to derive support from the provinces, as well as to extend
the benefits of the institution to persons living in distant
parts of the country. Amongst the toasts was that of " Mr.
B. B. Cabbell and the Vice-Presidents of the Institution."
In acknowledging the compliment, Mr. Cabbell observed,
that one great impediment to the beneficial operation of the
institution was the charge now thrown upon the patients of
defraying the expenses of their board. Mr. Ald. Gibbs, the
treasurer, expressed his desire to see this burden removed
from the recipieata of the benefits of the charity,
remarking, at the same time, that, in order to effect this
object, it would be necessary that about 30,0001. should be
invested in the 3 per cents. The toasts of the evening
included " the Chairman," " Mr. Coulson and the Medical
Board," "Mr. Alderman Gibbs, the treasurer," "The
Sheriffs," &c. Mr. J. Paul, the secretary, announced
several subscriptions, the aggregate amount of which was
5961. les.
WHITTINGTON CLUB AND METROPOLITAN ATTIE-
Km:sc.—The first general meeting of the members of this
infant institution took place last evening at the Hall
of Commerce, Threadneedle-street. The enrolment of mem-
bers, which has gone on rapidly since the public meeting
three weeks ago, was continued until the business of that
meeting commenced, nearly 100 having been enrolled ; and
there were then about 2.50 members present, including
several ladies. The chair was taken, at about half-past
seven o'clock, by Mr. William Hewitt, amidst the most
loud and general applause. Mr. G. W. Yapp read a report
from the provisional committee, which acknowledged the
obligations of the institution to the press generally, for their
favourable notices. Upwards of 600 members, it was stated,
had been proposed for enrolment, and many others had ex-
pressed their determination to become members when a site
was chosen for the institution. Appended to the report was
a series of resolutions, defining the objects, settling the
rules of the institution, and appointing a committee of up-
wards of 70 ladies sad gentlemen to manage the affairs of
the club, until the annual meeting in May next. The sixth
resolution authorised the committee to take steps for open-
lair, as early as might be, two institutions,—one as sear
as possible to the Royal Exchange, and the other to Temple-
bar. The report being received, the resolutions were moved
and seconded seriatim, and, after considerable discussion on
some of them, unanimously adopted.
AUSTRALIAN MINING COMPANY.—An extraordi-
nary general meeting of the proprietors in this undertaking
was held yesterday at the company's offices, Mr. S. G. Cap-
per in the chair. After the usual preliminaries the secretary
read the report, which stated that the directors felt much
pleasure in being able to state that the expectations held out
at the last annual general meeting had been realised.
Advices had been received from the committee of manage-
ment in Australia, announcing that they had last March
selected, and on behalf of the company claimed, a special sur-
vey of 20,000 acres, situated at a place called Reedy Creek,
about forty miles from Adelaide, and ten miles from the
river Murray. These advices, which were dated March 28,
represented that good copper existed in several places on the
surface of the land in question, at points about three miles
apart from each other; that the roads from thence to the
town and port Adelaide were very good; that excellent springs
of water and grass were very abundant; and that the selec-
tion made was altogether of the most promising character. it
appeared that in other points the undertaking was in a very
prosperous condition. The report was agreed to, and the
meeting separated.
BUTCHERB' CHARITABLE INSTITUTION.—A meeting
of the members of this institution, which has fur its object
the affording of relief to decayed master butchers, their
widows and orphans, was held yesterday at the Freemasons'
Tavern, Great Queen-street, for the purpose of electing eight