The Express.
London, England, 1847-03-02 00:00:00

LONOON CORPORATION REFORM.

Yesterday, the committee of the whole court an-
aembled in the conned chamber, Deputy Peacock in the
chair.

Mr. ASHVitat particularly celled the attention of those
who were determined that the rights of the citizens should
not be lost to the matter which he had to bring before the
assembly. In the confusion and hurry of the last committee
they had fade I in agreeing to a r solution involving the
essential principle fur which they contended. There would,
he believed, be an unanimous acquiescence in the sugges-
tion that, if anything was to be done in the way of reform,
the time had arrived for an attempt to effect that object, now
that the Lord Mayor openly declared and proved that he
would not put any question in the Court of Common Council
of which he did not approve. Let them look to
what had marred with respect to tee long•con-
tested subject of the freedoms. The Court of Com-
mon Council had given instructions to the chamberlain
not to prosecute any retail trader until a certain question
should be disposed of. That question had been decided on a
certain day under the guidance of the Recorder, himself the
officer of the corporation ; and it was quite evident that a
reconeruction of the corporation must follow, so that the
constituency might embrace the most respectable portion of
the community of the city, instead of being influenced by
publicans and fellowship porters, in whose hands lay so mon-
strous' an authority. It was him intention, if the committee
agreed to the resolution, to follow it up with an instruction
to the Chamberlain not to pay any sum upon the order of
the Court of Aldermen, which that body were not legally en-
titled to draw ; and with other motions calculated to show
the citizens of London that the intentions of their represen-
tatives a ere not vague or capable of misconstruction. (Hear,
bear.) Mr. Ashore% then moved—
That the committee agree with the sub-committee in their opinion
es reported to the committee on the 2Sth February last, that the cm-
potation requiem reform, which can only be done by the Mel of parlia-
ment, and for that purpose it be referent to the sulacommittee to
prepue such a bill for such reform and alterations am they shall see
at, the same, when prepared, to be submitted to the committee for
comideratims.
Mr. ANDEKTON seecnded the motion.
Mr. EAGLISTON, after a few words, moved as as amend-
ment :

_Thai before the committee seek the aid of parliament. the centers-
plated Worms he printed to the comideration of the member', that
they may pagewhether or not it be mammary to p to parliament.
Mr. HA aTIJIT seconded the amendment, u he considered
that without the opinion of the law officers, the committee
were all at sea. _ _

Mr. R. TAYLOR and Mr. ASHURST said the opinions of the
law officers had been all in print long ago. and were
every one to the effect that nothing could be done without
the aid of parliament.
DIMITY Stevens said it was the conduct of the Lord
Mayor that induced them to think of going to parliament
at all. They had supposed that they possessed the power
to bring forward a bill for their own reform. The Lord
Mayor said they had no each power, and refused to put the
question. What alternative then had they. but to go to
parliament to ascertain the extent of their privileges?
After wine discussion, Mr. Eagleton's amendment was
negatived, as was an amendment by Mr. Low.
Mr. ASNURST then moved resolutions to the effect that
notice be given to the Chamberlain, and that it be recom-
mended to the Court of Common Council to give similar
notice to the Chamberlain of the 22nd standing order, and
that he do not pay any sums of money by order of the Lord
Mayor, or Court of Aldermen, or Committees of Aldermen,
to whirl they were not entitled by some act without the
order of the Court of Common Council. That the Town
Clerk be instructed to apply to the Court of Aldermen for •
copy of the case and opinion lately prepared by their direc-
tion; and that it is the right of the Court of Common
Council, in common council assembled, to regulate and con-
trol the business and proceedings of that court, and the
order and course of its proceedings, and to emulate its paper
of business. These resolutions were carried, and the last
was agreed to unanimously amidst cheers.
Mr. AIIk(URST then wee, and said, the sub-committee,
during his unavoidable absence, had agreed to certain ques-
tions, which they recommended should be submitted to the
several officers of the corporation. In the propriety of
putting some of those questions he entirely concurred.
With respect to others of them, be did not concur. He
should therefore move that the first on the list should be
adopted.
Mr. BURN contended that the committee needed informa-
tion upon the important matters in controversy between the
two courts, and that the law of oers of the corporation were
the proper persons to advise them. He should therefore
propose such of the questions as Mr. Ashunt might not think
proper to adept.
Alderman Snorer said that the course now proposed was
a highly judicious measure, and he should cheerfully sup-
port the proposal for submitting all the questions to the
deliberate consideration of all the legal staff of the corpora-
tion. He hoped the result of their opinions might lead to •
better state of feeling then for some time pest had appeared
to exist.
_ . . .

Some of the members opposed, and others approved of
patting the whole of the questions.
The Ca AMMAN a-id that Sr the questions had been pro-
posed by the city solicitor it would be perhaps expedient to
call upon that officer for an explanation of the reasons why
he thought thei-e questions ought to be put. The city soli-
citor had no objection to afford the committee any explana-
tion they might require if it was their pleasure to call upon '
him. (Hear, hear.) A resolution was then pissed to that
effect.

Mr. ASHURST moved the adoption of all the questions.
The questions were then unanimously adopted, and the
following officers were then requested to give their opinions
upon all the que.tions The Recorder, the Common-Ser-
geant, the Town—deck, the Comptroller, the Remembrancer,
the Solicitor, the Pleaders, Messrs. Ryland, Randolph,
Laurie, and Lock.
The committee then separated.

REPRESENTATION OF WESTMINSTER.
A meeting of electors of Westminster—friends to
Mr. Charles Lushington—was held last evening at the
Crown and Anchor Tavern, to give that gentleman an op-
portunity of declaring his political principles, as candidate
for their suffrages at the next election—in the place of Mr.
Leader, who has announced his intention of retiring. The
Hon. E. P. Bouverie, M.P., in the chair.

Mr. LUMINGTON commenced by explaining the circum-
stances which bad led him to offer himself as a candidate.
He had received a communication from the Westminster

Reform Society promising their suffrages if h; agreed
to certain principles which they laid down. To this
he returned an answer in the affirmative, provided the libe-
ral interest was concentrated. The name of Mr. George
Thompson was the only one then proposed besides his own,
but Mr. Thompson withdrew and generously lent his in-
fluence towards his (Mr. Lushington's) election. Mr. Page
Wood, who had been also proposed, had acted in a
similar manner. He (Mr. Lushington) accordingly stood
there as a candidate unanimously recommended by the
Westminster Reform Society; and would without further pre-
face proceed to a detail of his general principles. Thera had
been ten propositions submitted to him by the Reform So-
ciety. The first had reference to vote by ballot; the
second was as to the extension of the suffrage.
The third was the repeal of the 7th clause of the
Reform Act. The fourth and fifth propositions were
for triennial parliaments and the reform of all corpora-
tion abuses in the United Kingdom. The sixth was the
repeal of the window and con tales. He (Mr. Lushington)
suspected that the latter proposition was of somewhat ancient
date, and that those who put the paper into his hands had
not expected the repeal of the corn-laws.
The CMAIRMAY suggested that they were not quite
repealed.
Mr. I.I7BIIINOTON hoped, however, that they were in
their last agonies. The seventh proposition related to the
abolition of all pension which were not for public services.
The eighth
m was for the removal of all impediments to
knowledge and and in particular for the repeal of the
stamp duty on newspapers. The ninth proposition
was for a reform in the church establishment.
The last subject was that of national education. To all
them propositions he accorded his unqualified concurrence.
Mr. Lushington, after enlarging on the above subjects, con-
eluded amidst continuous and enthusiastic cheering.
An ELECTOR wished to know the candidate's opinion
with regard to military flogging.
Mr. LUSHINGTON had no in avowing his opinion
to be on the side of humanity. (Cheers.) With regard to
another question, on the subject of the Ten Hours Sill, he
observed that that question would doubtless be disposed of
before he entered parliament. He had, after a long delibe-
ration, on one occasion voted with Sir Fowell Buxton on the
subject. He would now avow himself of opinion that the
hours of labour should be left to the discretion of the em-
ployed, and be very much doubted if he could vote for any
restriction on the subject. (Cheers.)
Mr. PAGE WOOD then proposed
That the opinions !elated by Mr. Lushington as thine on which be
will act If elected a member of the Commons' House of Partianient,
entitle him to the support of this meeting ; and we pledge ourselves
Individually and consetieely to use our best endminsurs to promote
his election as a represeatatlee for the city and liberties of West-
°Litter:-

Mr. Groans THOMPSON baring seconded the resolution:
Mr. Sa ELTON proposed an amendment—
That the mvoatke• pet fanned by the Westminster Reform
Association are not nosuorta whit ma lead to the mammal mama.
alinement of the people.
Mr. Skelton was received with ooneiderable eppodtion,
and his amendment eventaslly lost, having but one sup-
porter. The original motion was then carried with acclama-
tion, and the proceedings terminated in a vote of thanks to
the chairman.

TIIE SOCIETY Off ANCIENT BRITONS.—The one
hundred and thirty-third anniversary of this society was
celebrated last evening by a public dinner at the Freemasons'
Tavern ; president of the day, the Right Hon. Lord Robert
Grosvenor, M.P. The fint toast was the health of the
Dowager Duchess of Northumberland, whose name stands I
st the heed of the list of lady patronesses. The amount of
subscriptions announced during. the evening was 8691. is.
There was some professional singing, many of the
being encored ; but by far the meet successful piece oft
evening was an ode sung by some of the children of the
school, which was beautafelly executed, and was deservedly
encored.

---
OFFICIAL CHARGES tN BANKRUPECT.—Sir,—As
improvements in the law of bankruptey and insolvency are
again " talked of," I beg leave to draw your attention to the

great injustice of robbing the creditors under small estates,
of the sums paid to the secretary of bankrupts and the com-
pensation fund. I rend you the following list of deductions
out of an estate that yielded about 3001., viz..—
To the reeretai7 of bankrupt on tessenk sod the eat £lo 0 0
To the eompesetion toad lO 0 0
To lothetary of bookrupth 29 0 0
To otheith eththsee 22 0 0
Rent 02 warthog's for books (about but) 1 10 0

L 73 10 0

This is a pretty good amount to take out of a small estate.
The creditors not being sufficiently losers, the law steps in
and punishes them still further. The rent of warehouse
charged by the official assignee for a few books kept by the
bankrupt, appears perfectly ludicrous.-11. Souceroa.—
Feb. 27, 1847.
SHIPS' REPORTS.—IMPORTANT CHANGE IN THE
LAW.—By the 10th section of the 9 and 10 Viet., passed In
the latter part of the last se-glen of parliament, cap. 102, an
important change is made in the law with respect to the im-
portation of silks, and other merchandise of value, and levi-
able with high rates of duty, which coons into oprration this
day ; and as it is of very great importance to the importers
of the valuable description of goods mentioned that the altera-
tion should not be disregarded, and thus cause the detention
of their property, we give the section of the act alluded to,
which is as follows:—" And be it enacted, that so much of
the said act (before mentioned) as enacts that the master of
every ship arriving from any foreign place in Europe at
any port in the United Kingdom, shall report the general
denomination of the contents of every package containing
cambric& or lawns, leather gloves, manufactures of silk
tobacco, cigars, or snuff, shall, from and after the lit day of
March, 1847, be extended to ships arriving from any place '
whatever at any port in the United Kingdom ; and that all
suit burtmeitioned goods not so reported accordingly to the
beat of the knowledge of such master, shall be forfeited ; and
that the master 01 every such ship falling to make such
report shell forfeit the sum of 1001."
POST-OFFICE DIRECFORY.—Sir : Many of your
readers are delighted with the expose of the above ill-
managed and imperfect publication, which, instead of being
an useful source of reference is considered as an incumbrance
on the table. Streets, terraces, and places by numbers are
omitted therefrom, although trey have existed for several
years, and that there may be no question of such a fact I
will refer to all those streets, rows, terraces, and places north-
ward of Portland-place, Regent's-park, a perfect district of
itself. There are many who do not covet the " popularity ?"
of having their name and residence published at the cost of
purchasing a copy of this lumbering book ,_• but if it be con-
tinued under the protection of the post-office authorities it
should be a correct inventory of the inhabitants, and not
omit the names, etc., of hundreds of persons who have been
resident in the houses they now occupy for several years
past. Perhaps by giving this subject further publicity you
will be rendering your readers a still further service,—l am,
your's obediently, lOTA.
COLLISION NEAR GRAVESEND.—A SCHOONER RUN
Dowie.—A collision, involving, it is supposed, the loss of
seven lives, happeeed on Sunday morning in the river off
Old Haven, ten miles below Tilbury Fort, on the east side,
a schooner being run down by • powerful steam-ship. The
vessel which is lost, appears to have been the Rose, of Exeter,
Mr.Webber,master. Shetookherdepartureon Fridayeeening
from London-bridge, end reached Old Haven Bay on the
following evening, where she brought up for the night She
was, it u said, moored well in the bay on the Essex side, and
remained quite safe until about a quarter to four
eels& on the following morning, (Sunday) when
a• three-muted steamer was seen bearing down at a
of about 12 or 14 miles an hour, having the ebb tide
with her. She exhibited the usual lights at her bow and
masthead. Whether the ordinary lookout was kept on
board it is difficult u yet to state. Certain it is, however,
that she continued her course, and on nearing the anchored
schooner the usual cries were raised on board the steamer
M " poet," " ease tier," " stop her," " turn her astern,"
hat -before those orders could be complied with she
OW in contact with the vessel with tremendous force, the
steamer's bow carrying away the schooner's foremast, and
cutting her bulwarks and hull down to the water's edge.
It being evident a few seconds after the collision, that the
schooner was rapidly filling, all hands on board the steamer
ran aft in order to save the crew of the ill-fated craft, ropes
and other means of rescue wens thrown out, but only one
man was seen, and him they succeeded in preserving, and
he proved to be the master, Mr. Webber. They had barely
got him on board before the vessel went down, with the
remainder of the crew, five in number, and it is supposed
two passengers, who all perished. The ;rash was distinctly
heard in all parts of the bay and by the officers on duty at
the coastguard station at Old Haven. Boats were put off in
the direction from whence the cries proceeded, but
their aid was of trifling avail. The steamer remained
near the spot where the Rose went down for
some time, with a view of picking up what might
be cast from the wreck. Little appearing, however,
she proceeded on her voyage, the damage she sus-
tained, not being so serious as to prevent her completing
the run. Mr. Webber having lost all his attire, remained
on board until suck time u he was properly clothed end
more composed, when the first vessel for London would be
spoken with, and he would return by her. The Coast Guard
have ascertained that the wreck lies in 6 fathoms at low
water, leaving many doubts as to whether she will be raised,
or the bodies got out. The unfortunate fellows being asleep
in the forecastle at the time of the cannon, there is every
likelihood of their having been crusoed by the bows of the
steamer. The occurrence has excited much sensation in the
vicinity of Old Haven, it being alleged that the steamer was
not in her proper course. Her cargo was valued at several
thousand pounds. The Trinity have placed a buoy over
the wreck, and application will be made to the dock-yard
authorities for the use of chain lighters to raise her. The
steamer's name has not been satisfactorily ascertained. It
is said that she is engaged in the Lefth trade.
FIRE AT THE LONDON FEVER HOSPITAL.—
Yesterday afternoon, between the hours of two and three,
an alarm was raised near Bettie bridge, in consequence of
the outbreak of a fire in the London Fever Hospital, St.
Paneras-road. The flames first appeared at the northern
end of the building. Owing to the precautions taken by the
heads of the institution, not one of the patients woe hurt in
being removed. As soon as the information was received at
the fire statioas, the superintendents started to the scene
with six or seven brigade engines. When the first engine
arrived, the flames were mounting most fearfully, and it
was the general opinion that the entire range of premises
was doomed to destruction. The firemen, however, by
carrying the hose to the top of the building, prevented the
conflagration from travelling further; but it was not
entirely extinguished until the roof of the nurses' ward was
burned off.

-•
INQUEST, YESTERDAY.—CHILD MURDER.—By
adjournment, before Mr. Carter, at the Bull Inn, Limps-
field, near °oilstone, respecting the death of a child named
William Hatfield, aged nine months. The mother, who
was present at the inquest, is apparently about 20 years of
age. Sarah Berke, living at Limpsfield, was first examined,
and said she knew the deceased, who had been placed by
his grandmother with her to nurse, so that the mother,
Caroline Hatfield, might retain her place. On Monday, the
Bth of February, the mother saw her child, and then
went out to get some Godfrey's cordial, which she gave to
the child. After that he appeared very sleepy, and the
mother said she would go to the union-house, as she and the
child had no borne to go to. The child appeared perfectly
well when she left. On the Friday following, the 12th,
she again came to witeetes house with the child,
who was then very ill, and in a dying state. The next
afternoon some medicine was ordered by a medical
gentleman, who considered the food had not agreed with it.
Some paupers from the unien-house were called, who stated
that the child was very unwell, but the mother would not
remain. The coroner questioned them as to whether the
mother had made any observations, and it was found that
on one occasion she had said, alluding to the child, " I
wish the breath was out of his body," and, at another time,
" If it was not for the child, I should have a good place to
go to." Mr. Atkinson proved that ow the morning of the
9th of February the mother purchased of him a pennyworth
of laudanum, saying she had had the toothache all night. She
bad two drachms, bat was told it was poison, and to be care-
ful of it. Mr. Tomlinson, surgeon, was called, and said he
found the child in a dying state, and apparently labouring
under the effects of some narcotic poison. On the post
merlon examination of the body, the viscera of the chest
and abdomen were perfectly healthy, but the vessels of the
brain and dura meter were excessively congested. The
coroner: What shoold you say was the cause of death ? Mr.
Tomlinson: From the absence of all other disease, and
the great congestion of the brain, I should say that it bad
been cowed by a narcotic poison. The jury consulted for
about twenty minutes, and then returned with a verdict of
" Wilful murder against Caroline Hatfield, the mother."
The mother, who denied having given the laudanum, was
then taken under the coroners warrant to Honemooger-
lane Gaol, to take her trial at the next anima.