The Express.
London, England, 1853-11-02 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY EVENING. NOVEMBER 2, 1853.

desired and desirable. But it appeared that this was not
the case in the City of London. From the year 1800 to
1834 the fine of admission to the freedom of the City was
30/. 12s. 6d. Tne annual average of admissions during that
period was 1,000. Between 1835 and 1847 the redemption
fine was reduced to 101. 12,. 6d., to.lo/., to 81. 11.. led., and
subsequently to 81. 6. 4d., but in the last period
the annual admissions were only 887. whereas when the
redemption fine was 301. the annual admissions were 1,090.
' In the five years between 1847 and 18-52, the fine was
reduced to 31.65. Bd., and the annual admissions decreased
to 650. He attributed this falling off to the natural re-
pugnance which an Englishman felt at any compulsion on
his feelings or wishes. Last year the corporation went to
London ;with a liberal bill, the object of which was to
exempt resident non-freemen from the payment of this
fine. This bill was approved of by the Court of Common
Houma, and it was not opposed by the Court of Aldermen,
as it did not affect to reform their own constitution. It
was thrown out, however, by the committee of the House
of Commons, in cmsequence of the opposition of the
livery. But in the menthe of March and April of the pre-
sent year, although they admitted that the requirement of
the tine from resident non-freemen was not right, this same
corporation issued 4.032 proceedings against so many occu-
piers, to compel them to take up their freedom. Of these,
414 took up their freedom, at 31. ss. 61., which amounted
to 1,3521. 764 required time, and time was given them,
but they were charged 2s. 6.1. for the accommodation, which
amounted to 761. be. • 164 occupied privileged ~laces in the
city. 196 were declared to be dead, to have removed, or
to be contumacious, and 698 claimed exemption. One of
the charges which he brought against the corporation was
that they did not knew their own freemen. Ile bad a list
of freemen who were actually on the ward lists ant were
et summoned to take up their freedom. On the 14 of
November the aldermen of the several wards sent in a list
of the municipal electors in their respective wards, and the
mode in which this list was made out was by tae beadle
sending round a circular asking the occupiers whether they
were free or not. Mr. Alderman Finois was ao dissatisfied
with this mode of ascertaining who ought to be on the
municipal list that he preferred sending in the whole list of
parliamentary electors for the ward of Tower, amounting
to 600, leaving it to others to pick out those who wen not
duly qualified to be on the municipal list. All this might
be easily remedied if the corporation set about it properly.
Mr. Lewis—Do you think it desirable that the municipal
franchise should be connected in any way with the trading
companies ?
Mr. Ackland—Certainly not. As trading companies
the lost all their naetulnem.
The Chairman—Would it not be objectionable to have
the municipal franchise less extensive than the parlia-

mentary ?
Mr. Ackland—Yes, but as liverymen can't live for ever,
it would be better to put up with an anomaly for a few
years, than put up with injustice. The whole system, as at
present conducted, was an anomaly. The last commission
stated in their report that there were two classes of free.
men ; but there were seven classes in point of hict, and
great confusion and difficulty was the consequence. The
tendency of a prosperous state of commerce was to dimi-
nish the municipal electors in the more commercial parts
of the city, because land became more valuable and ware-
houses became more necessary, whilst in the larger wards—
the outlying wards—there was an increase of population.
In the ward of Queenhithe for instance every twelve omit-
piers sent a member to the Court of Common Council ;
every thirteen in the ward of Ventry ; every thirteen in
the ward of Bread-street, whereas in the ward of Bishops-
gate every common councilman represented thirty-four
municipal electors, and in Farringdon every common
councilman represented 51 electors. In Bread-street ward
there was a contest for the office of alderman between Mr.
Hughes Hughes and Mr. Alderman Lawrence, and 6,000 i.
was expended in the scrutiny. The votes were reduced to
11 on one side, and 10 on the other, and they would have
been reduced by 5 or 6 more, if the contest bad not
been at last decided more by chance than on its merits, in
consequence of the expense attending it. Such •
system could not last, and was breaking down every day in
consequence of the bad feeling which it engendered
between the resident note free men and the resident
freemen, who were • miserable minority as compared with
the others.
The Chairman—Do you think it desirable to diminish
the number of common councilmen ?
Mr. Ackland thought it would be very desirable to
diminish the number of the representative body, call it by
what name they might. Bat he was not sure that there
should be common councilmen at all, in the present accep-
tation of the term. The corporation, as at present coned-
toted, were anti-commercial in the large sense of the term.
The aldermen and common council were of the shopkeeping
elms, and the pursuit of small gains had not a tendency to
give men large views, or to promote those great interests
which they were not qualified to promote.
The Chairman—Can you suggest any mode of connecting
the class of great merchants with the corporation ?
Mr. Ackland—Not at present. What he looked to as the
result of the present inquiry was that the corporation of
the City of London would be proved to be so bad that it
cos irremediable as at present constituted. And if the
wemlnielies arrived at that conclusion, it might then ask
he the assistance of gentlemen of experience in this matter
te suggest the best means of adopting • better system. As
Instances in which the corporation of London showed as
anti commercial spirit, the witness stated their op-
position to the Blackwell Railway, which cost
7,0001. ; their opposition to the Dock Companies, and
their resistance to a central railway terminus, although
at the Instance of Mr. Wire and Mr. Asharst, both mem-
' bees of the corporation, they came to a resolution to give •
terminus in the City to the direct Manchester line. In fact,
being a parliament of shopkeepers, they could be made to
tarn to the east one day, to the west the next, to the north,
and then to the south. The corporation represented not
eslja small proportion of the area and population of the me-
tropolis but a small proportion of the area, population, and
rateability of the City of London itself; and the great body
et the citizens had reason to complain of the manner in
which they were treated at the time of the Municipal
Reheat Bill. The cora metage of the City of London
sheented last year to 9,5961. They claimed to measure
every man's corn by their own bushel, whether be
wished it or no. The Messrs. Combe, Delafield and
Co. matted their barley in the country, and sent it to
Louisa in their own barges. But the corporation claimed
he right of measuring their, malt, and legal proceedings
W been going on for the last 14 years on the subject.
The Clempany of Free Porters brought another action
against them for 10,0001., all that they did being to watch
from the door of some public-house how many bags Messrs.
Combo and Delafield's men cleared out.
The Chairman—Did they represent the case to the
Common Council?
Mr. Ackland should think not. There would be little
nee in doing so, for they directed the officers of the corpora-
tion to conduct the proceedings, for which purpose thou-
sands of pounds were expended. He had known instances
where the sort of metage would make such a difference
that cargoes had been taken from the Thames to Liverpool
to be unloaded. It was not surprising if, under these or-
cutuslances, the port of Liverpool was advancing beyond
that of London. The corporation also charged 2d. on
every cart which was not free of the City.
They farmed this tax, for which they received a rent
of 5,8101. in 1852, and the public must pay doable that
amount at least. There were great complaints made of the
blocking up of the streets of London by carts, that there
was the corporation causing 200,000 carts to be stopped in
the streets during the year, in order to get the payment of
2d. The commission would be able from this to form some
idea of the amount of inconvenience in this part of London.
The average constituency of each common councilman was
29, it being as low as 12, and the average rateable property
represented was 9431., being as low as 7001. in some of the
wards.
The Chairman—Will you now direct your observations to
the third head, that of the governing body.
Mr. Ackland—The governing body of the corporation
consists of the Court of Aldermen, the Court of Common
Council, and the Court of Common Hall. The Court of
Aldermen was composed of tradeemen, and were 26 in
number. He begged to be understood that he did not wish
to my a word invidiously against the members of that
teem Two of the aldermen were auctionsae. two who*
leer., two stockbrokers, two builders, one heamostar, oho
saddler, One china manufacturer, one Woolley, ow
silk manufacturer, see retired lotteessalhos keeper,
one wine merchant, one coal mertiont, sae Ma easeehant, a
printeeller, a solicitor, • elainaber, s du-.a, and
banker, aced so on. They wore magistraen W virtue of
their office, and were elected for life. They ileslinl an
the validity of corporate elections and even in the &Min
of their own body. They had the disposal of Imp snail of
money. Their patronage and influence was thins very
great in the City of London, and the offios osesseuently
became one of great desire. A great deal of money was
expended in obtaining the office. He believed that seven
at least owed their election to pecuniary inducements.
lie believed that the money invariably came out of their
own pockets. He believed that more than seven owed
their election to pecuniary inducements, but seven at least
had their election conducted through one, agency. That
was the practice for many years, but there were fewer re-
cently than formerly. Money influence was more easily
exerted in a small ward than in a large one—was satisfied
of that. Was not prepared to name the aldermen who
exerted this influence.
Mr. Lewis—Have you any evidence to support your
statement in this respect ?
Mr. Ackland—Yes, I can procure witnesses who will
state it. I have no doubt they will name the individuals.
Mr. Lewis—ls there treating as in the case of some par-
liamentary elections ?
Mr. Ackland—The publicans are all prominent agents
on these occasions, because the local politicians of the ward
were • good deal in the habit of going to public-houses.
The publican, therefore, seemed naturally to present him-
self as an agent of corruption. Ido not think politics have
had much to do with these elections recently.
The Chairman—Can you suggest any remedy for the 1.•
moval or diminution of the sources of corruption which yes
have named ?
Mr. Ackland—A court of aldermen may not be amsonety
at all, but I would make all the offices in the Corporatioa
of London worthy of the ambition of the higher class of
persons, and I would give such a constituency, with such
checks on the exercise of the franchise, as might together
with such better class of men, prevent the probability, if
not the possibility, of such occurrences.
The Chairman—Do you think it would be passible to in-
duce the higher class of merchants to accept the ogles of
alderman ?
Mr. Ackland—The name of Alderman has got into such
bad odour, that I think no high elan of merchants in the
City of London: would like to accept the office. But I
think if the municipal government of the city were so
altered that the particular odium now attaching to that
body should no longer, in the opinion of their fellow.

citizens, affect them, the higher class of merchants would
give the time and labour which must neeesearily be bestowed
on the office. _

flare you any further obaervations to make on this
head ?

Mr. Ackland—l think the Court of Aldermen, &log an
irresponsible body, should not bare the power of voting
away money without the consent of the Common Council.
The Court of Aldermen voted away annuities to the broken
down members of their own body. That is not right. The
Court of Common Council also voted away money. The
Court of Commou Council is too large for the management
of accounts.

The Chairman—How do you propose to arrange that ?
Mr. Ackland—The question is troublesome, for there is as
much corruption in the Court of Common Council as in the
Court of Alderm'n. But whatever mnnici.al body be
given to the City of Loudon, it was clear they ought to be
responsible to their constituents for the administration of
the funds. With regard' to the management of monetary
details, that must either be let to a small committee ur to a
paid officer duly qualified.
It being four o'clock the commission adjourned till twelve
o'clock this day, when it was intimated that the evidence of
Mr. Travers would be first taken, the remainder of Hr.
Ackland's evidence to be afterwards proceeded with.

COURT OF ALDERMEN.

—.—
Yesterday, a Court was held for the despatch of
Easiness.

FLAGRANT CONDUCT OF A SWORN BROKER.

The court was attended by a large number of the mem-
bers, the summons having contained notice of the intention
of the court to consider the petition of Henry Earle
Lovell, of 8, Clarence-street, Old Kent-road, house-
decorator, complaining of the conduct of William Le
Grand, a broker who lately failed on the Stock Exchange,
and disappeared after having appropriated to his own uses
various sums of money with which he had been entrusted
for the rnrchase of stock, shares, &c.
Mr. Le Grand did not appear, and his sureties (his fatht
in-law, Mr. Thomas Dunman, of 8, Avenue-terrace, Bew
and Ma brother, Mr. 0.11. Le Grand) stated that they had
not seen him for several months, aad could not tell where
he was. Mr. Dunman said that his Bon-in-law owed hint
6911., for which he bad obtained a judgment, and sold the
household furniture under a bill of sale fur 1171.

Mr. Lovell's petition was then read, and stated that
" llaving received a distributive share of a legacy in right
of his wife he wished to invest it in the funds, and on let
of September last he went, with his brother, Mr. John
Lovell, to the office of Mr. Le Grand, No. 9, Tokenhouse-
yard, Lotkbury, and told him he wished to purchase 40W.
Three-and-a-Quarter per Cent. Stock. Mr. Le Grand
said that the price would be 405/. 10s., and the petitioner
handed over the deals to the clerk that sum in bank notes
and gold, and received an acknowledgment for the money.
Mr. Le Grand then stated that he would send on to him
the stock receipt; but not having done so, in about a week
afterwards the petitioner called at Tokenhouse-yard to
require his transfer ticket to be given to ham, but the clerk
stated that Mr. Le Grand was out of town. The petitioner
called again some days after, and the clerk then stated that
the purchase had not been made, and that as the books were
closed the purchase could not then be made, but that when
the stocks re-opened Mr. Ls Grand would purchase the
same, and allow the petitioner interest in the meantime-
The petitioner, having called several times at Tokenhouse-
yard without seeing Mr. Le Grand, or obtaining any
satisfactory result, wrote Mr. Le Grand a letter, request-
log the matey to be returned, but he received no reply.
On calling at the office on Tuesday morning last the peti-
tioner saw the clerk, who stated that the office was no
longer Mr. Le Grand's, that • Mr. Le Mark had taken it,
and that he, the clerk, was no longer Mr. Le Grand's clerk,
but Mr. Ls Mark's clerk. The petitioner then made in-
quiries at the Bank of England, and found that the money
had not been invested; and he had been informed that
Le Grand bad been declared a defaulter at the Stock Ex-
change, and was absent from this country. The petitioner
concluded by praying for such relief as the court might
see fit."

--- ---
The petitioner was then examined, and declared all the
statements set forth in the petition to be true.
Alderman SAIOIIOII6 said, as the petition showed, be-
hond the possibility of doubt, that a gross breach of trust
ad been committed by the broker, he thought the court
would not be doing its duty if it did not instruct the City
Solicitor to take steps, for the purpose of compelling Mr.
Le Grand to restore the 4051. 10e. to Mr. Lovell, and in the
event of failure in this quarter, to proceed against the two
sureties for tho amount. (Hear, bear.) He moved, there-
fore, that the City Solicitor be instructed to take lame-
' diets steps for the recovery of the money. (Rear, hear.)
The motion having been seconded by Alderman Corn-
LAND, was carried unanimously.
Three other petitions were also put in, and dealt with in
a similar manner.
Tote amounts to which the two sureties are liable are
5001., each having entered into bond for Le Grand to the
extent of 2601.

METROPOLITAN COMMISSION OF
SEWERS.

Yesterday a special court was held at the office,
Greek-stzeet, Soho. The commissioners present were—Mr.
Jane, in the chair, Sir J. Burgoyne, Mr. Baker, Mr. G. L.
Smith, Mr. Gibson, Mr. Gordon and Mr. Redhead.

TIM FOLIILIII DISTRICT.

An important deputation attended from the sanitary cou
mittes of the pariah of Fulham on the subject of the drain-
age. It consisted of the Bishop of London, the Right lion.
L. Salina, the Rev. R. G. Baker (vicar of the parish),
Major M'Lean, Messrs. Roe, Shepherd, Res, Wing, John-
son, Bell, Nelson, and Panter.
The Bishop of LONDON said he desired to represent, on
behalf of the memorialists, the very defective state of the
sewerage of the large parish of Fulham, and to request the
immediate attention of the board to that particular district.
Mr. Woouarcli, the secretary, then read the memorial.
It set forth that the present sewage of the parish, contain-
ing by admeasurement 1,648 acres, with a population in
1851 of 11,886 persons, which had sinew been largely in-
creased, and comprising a property amused to the poor-
est* at 48,0001., was in a moat defective state, utterly
inadequate to provide for the wants, the convenience, and
the health of the inhabitants, and prejudicial to the value
of a large extent of property which it was impossible for
the owners or occupiers thereof, however imperfectly, to
drain ; that scarcely any of the houses had any drainage
whatever beyond that of ceupools ; that during the pre-
valence of cholera in the autumn of 1849 the mortality in
the parish during nine successive weeks exceeded four-fold
the average mortality of the same season during the five
preceding years, nearly one half of the deaths having
arisen from actual cholera, ia many instances of the most
malignant character ; that very few of the gully holes and
gratings of the sewers and drains throughout the parish
were trapped, and that almost all the drains in the parish
(the whole of which were enumerated) were nuisances of
such a positive character, that in the opinion of the memo-
rialists they would in the present state of the law be liable
to a summary process of correction if they affected the
estate of any individual owner or occupier. The memorial
was signed by about 100 psrishionen, representing an
aggregate asseassment of nearly 17,000/.
The report of the engineer of the court, Mr. Levick, was
also read. It concluded with the following remedial sug-
gestions .
1. The trapping of such of the various gully holes and
gratings of the sewers and drains throughout the parish
se admit of being so dealt with.
2. The construction of about 1,250 feet of 18-inch half-
brick sewer, in lieu of the present defective drain from
the Pond at Parsons-green, at an estimated cost of 2501.
3. The diversion of the drainage from, and the filling up
an open ditch at Sands-end. This work, as one of gnat
emergency, I have ordered to be dime.
4. The covering ever the open Relbrook sewer behind the
premises of the Swan Brewery, at Walham-green, and of
those portions of this sewer from near Peterborough Villas
to Sand's-end, a length of about 1,700 feet, at an estimated
cost of 4001. " With respect to the open Kensington
Canal," continued the engineer "two miles in extent,
which, together with the open ditcher connected with it,
are stated to require a vigilstit and efficient control of the
nuisances which it has created," there seems to be some
ambiguity in the requirement of the memorial as to whether
it may point to the necessity for covering over this serial, a
suggestion of a deputation from this locality, or only to its
periodic cleansing. This canal is certainly an open sewer,
but at the same time it is a navigable and navigated creek.
Although it may be possible to free this canal from sewage
impurities by comprehensive works, it is impracticable to
mitigate the evil by covering it over. The question, how-
eves, of the cleansing. of this canal is a fitting one to enter-
tain, but oaths commissioners are aware, this work involves
certain considerations irrespective of the necessity for it,
however great that may be ; and whieb may, indeed, some-
what operate, as they have operated, to the exclusion of
that vigorous control deemed so essential."
This report was signed " Thomas Lovick, Engineer," and
dated " October 24, 18E4."
The CHAIRMAN said that a sixpenny rate, after the neces-
sary deductions had been made for agricultural lands and
gardens, produced about 1,0001. a year ; rather more than half
of which was unearned on what were termed the ordinary
expenses of the parish. These ordinary expenses consisted
of the maintenance of existing sewers, which was • small
item, and the cleansing of sewers, open ditches, and so on,
which was a heavy item. There remained a net balance of
6001. • year towards making new sewers; and if that were
converted into an annuity for 36 years, reckoning money
worth more than four per cent., it would not produce
much more than 8,0001. It would coat 160,0001. to render
the sewerage of the parish complete. The half of that
would still leave 80,0001., which was ten times the amount
that would be produced by a sixpenny rate. This might be
an unpalatable truth, but he considered it best to look
the truth in the face boldly. Ten shillings in the pound
annually would not supply all that was malted ; and