The Express.
London, England, 1853-11-16 00:00:00

m hirtiatovi thou 'tat which is sow being dose
is I,ettitt. Eves t w Newspapers, although far from
ospartial in Imre, condemn the act* of our employer,
ming, a thoueanda do, all strikes. What a anis
stun` n 'hat eo few point the I rictimible road to avoid
We have asked so more then we thought jut, sot
wl
,t we think rumble. If our easp:oyen my they cannot
stford cior late wove, let them allow it : if they ens, and do
a.g. oho to is the wrong? If they do sot show us, it ie
meta prod that they coo. Is modulo's, let us elertioe
Mt we: r nein*, sad caution—refraining from imitating
c. int winsome, inhibited by our employers.
TUNS Wiwi's.
What do they want ?—Wealth, power, and ease,
Ili others toil to live sad thrive ;
nave the weolth-prodeMog liege
W,thoet a iweit bit in the hive.
Can you see aught of reason I
ooze.

Wi.st di we want ?—Our daily bread;
A 46e return for ilbat we give.
thilaren clothed, and schooled, and fed,
live and work, and work and has.
CAn you see aught of treason ?"

part of this report 'sten to a charge that has
pan made admit the leaden of the working men that
t.ey have embateed mints of money collected from the
peatte to warrant the strike. Two tradesmen offend theme
selves to t amine the accounts on behalf of the contributors I
sod sporting people, at an hour on Saturday that had been
tamed to the eateutive, but on presenting themselves
were t.TI that the books were not ready.
.tt li.cup the operatives have been peaceable. Some
or, wire thrown through the windows of the mill of
Me.srs Mann and Co., on Saturday night, but the
amount of damage is trifling, and it is supposed to have
hien an act of private malice in which only some few of the
people were c interned. No overtone have been made by
the people to induce the employers to re-open their mills,
which there is a talk of keeping closed fur three months
unless Wide should very much improve. The stocks
of goods on band in that neighbourhood are very
lave. and if the operatives and their employers were
reconciled to-morrow, it is supposed that the manufacturers
would not be induced to run their machinery more than
three Jays per week. None of the funds subscribed to the
turnoate are shored either by the people at Bacup or
Burnley, and the Working Men's Committee, en whom the
responsibility devolves of causing the strike at Bump, have
literally nothing to distrit:ute awing the workpeople.
Since the strike, they have only been able to divide le.
per head, awl that dividend eabauste I their funds. Some
of them go oat 'liming in neighbouring towns, aid
ballads, and derive a miserable pittance by begging from
door to slier.
At Bury, there is no change since Friday. The opera-
tives have had open air mtetiege every day, and yesterday
morning about 6,000 of them mustered in Union-square,
and after forming in procession, proceeded in the direction
et Heywood and Rochdale. No interview Ina been sought
with their employers sine* the eloping of the mills.

MURDER NE-4R LUSTER, SOMERSET-

SHIRE.

A shocking minder hasbeen committed at a place
called Lype, in the parie`i of Cutcombe, about six miles
from Disaster, on the old MineLead•road. The victim of
the outrage was a fine girl, about 11 yegn of age, named
Lliso Coles, who lived with her mother, • widow, and her
brother, a youth of about 18, in • lonely house, part of
which was also occuvied by a• aged woman tanned Norman.
In the neighbourhood was a barn, which had not been used
for many years, and consequently it is in a very dilapidated
state, the wooden floor beirg gone, and only some stone

sleepers- remaining.
The mother of the poor girl left her house on the morning
of the Bth inst., to go to work, and shortly afterwards the
son also went to his work at a neighbouring quarry, the
deceased basing left at home to attend to the again of the
house. About tun o'clock the old woman, Mary Norman,
who as als years of age, saw the deceased ' •ng on one side
of the fireplace, whim a man named James Bailey, who
lived at Luaborough, was seated on the other. The

deceased was not keen alive after that time.
About ►lean o'clock a man named fiedgbeer, who was
working opposite the entrance to Lype, saw Bailey advenc-
ing towards the place at which he (Sedgbeer) was, in a har-
ried manner ; and oa arriving at the spot where he stood he
observed that Bailey was labouring under some excite-
ment. Bailey then proceeded to the quarry at whieb the
deceased's brother was working, and remained there,
occasionally working, for a short time, during which
be partook of Colet's dinner. At four o'clock Bailey
left the quarry, sad soon afterwards he caUed at the cot.
tages at Lype, and inquired if " the old woman (Coles) or
any of them " had returned ? Mrs. Norman replied in the
negative, and he then went away. About seven o'clock
the boy Coles returned, and, missing his sister, ho went to
meet his mother, who returned with him and made inqui.
nes for the poor girl at some neighbouring cottages. Fail-
tag to obtain any information respecting her they searched
their own premises, end ultimately the barn, the door of
which they found closed. Tee mother went in, and on
going to a dark pat of the barn she discovered the lifeless
busty of her child,whoire clothe* had been thrown up over her
person as far as the stays would admit. She carried the
body to her house, cad then it wee seen that her throat had
been cut in a most horrible manner.
Information of the circuantiances having been given to
the constable, be immediately proceeded to the home of
Bailey's father, w►o lives at a short distaste from the
cottages, but whose hoops is in the parish of Luzboroogh.
They found the son in bed, sad having stated that they
were come to take him into custody es a charge of murder,
the primmer ems/aimed, "I didn't murder her ;" but he
admitted that be had bees at the home as his way from
work, and stated that es his leaviag she accompanied him a
abort disuses and then retarsed. Oa him wee found a knife,
which was of course taken from him.
Oa examining the barn, blood was found on some ashes
near the due, and also part of a buckle strap, which was
identified se Winging to the prisoner ; the other put was
found upon him. Near Me barn is a stream of water, and
a little beyond this, from the bun, was discovered a foot-
print, which corresponded with one of the prisoner's boots
Thi• mark was in a place which a person would pan over
in proceeding from the barn to the spot at which the man
&tighter was when the prisoner went towards him. Oa
examining the prisoner's clothes, blood was found in
different parts, and there was a line of blood over them
from left to right, which bad been partially washed out.
Oa Friday Mr. Hole, surgeon, made an examination
of the bcdy of the deceased, being accompanied by the
coroner, Mr. Moulton ; and marks of two severe blows
were found on the top of the Lead, and also a mark of a
violent blow over the left eye. There were two stabs in
the neck, one on each side, and these correspond with the
blade of tie knife found on the prisoner. There woes
horrid gash right across the neck, from left to right, which
divided all the principal parts, down to the bone, and at the
bottom of this cut was the mark of another stab, between
two of the vital vertebra) or neck bones. From the
appearances these could be no doubt that the murderer first
stunned his victim by striking hoe on the head, and then
dragged her to a darker part of the barn, where placing the
back part of her neck oh one of the stone sleepers, he com-
pleted the horrid crime.
On Friday the prisoner was taken before the the Rev. G.
F. Luttrell and Mr. Hole, at Donner, magistrates of the
district, and an investigation into the circumstances took
place. During the proceedings he remained in a sullen
mood, and detlined to say anything. Hu mother, who
was present, appeared to be in a state little abort of insa-
nity, from anguish and excitement. After ■ long investi-
gation the pnsoner was fully committed for trial on the
charge of wilful murder. On the same evening the coroner
opened his court at the Rest and be Thankful Inn, in
Cutcombe ; but as the witnesses were at Donator, it was
adjourned till Saturday, when the jury returned a verdict
to the same effect as the decision of the magistrate,.
The position in which the deceased sou found induced a
suspicion that another crime had preceded that of the
murder; but we understand that the examination by the
'unseen fully showed that no such crime had been com-
mitted. It is said that the prisoner has often taken inde-
cent liberties with females, and that on their resistance he
has evinced greet anger, gad on one occasion be went so far
as to pursue • young woman whom he had thus treated
with a pick axe, threatening to take her life, because she
refused to submit to his brutal desire. It is also said that
he is somewhat unsound in intellect, and we understand
that h• has shown some peculiarities of disposition since
confinement in Wilton gaol, where he now is. These, how-
ever, may be only maimed, and no doubt the question will
be properly answered at his trial. To judge from his op-
pearaace oak would not suppose him to be labouring under
sanity, nor anything bordering upon it.—Sornerset County
Gazette.

TESTIMONIAL TO LORD °MARIO' AND MR. CLAY.
—On Holiday evening lut the working men of Hull pre-
view' tankards to their late members, Lord Ooderich and
Mr. Clay, who were unseated lut session. The ez-Mayor
(Mr. Blundell) presided on the occasion, over a large and
respectable meeting, in the public rooms is Jarrett-street
The noble lord and Mr. Clay both delivered very long ad-
drum in ackaowledglag the 90nipinnent.

CITY CORPORATION COMMISSION. 1
.—..---
The Commissioners met yesterday in the Privy ,
Council Chamber, Mr. Labouchere is the chair.
The first mimess called was Mr. J. R. Mille. Ile said,
I have been a freeman and humps** of the city for several
pers. 1 carried on business as a silk manufacturer for
several years. I retired free busisese in 1840. I wish to
speak of the abuse in the election of the sheriffs by the
limy. In 1846 Mr. Alderman Gibbs aonsinated me for
the elle* of sheriff, without my knowledge or consent. I
did sem pay the 4001. penalty foe act serving, because I
how that others were entices* to accept it. In June, 1848,
I Meelered information from Mr. Biddam that I was elected,
afees4ll I had removed beyond the distance of *even miles
boa the city. At the election for sheriff in 1848 the livery-
IMMI present scarcely held up a hind till my name and that
of Mr. Busfield were pieced on the board. We were elected
amidst cheers and laughter. according to the report of the
proceedings. I was thus elected without any consent of my
ewe. and, as it sums to me, by previous concert. There
were two aldermen put up, but they were excused, which
I think war not right. Mr. Busfield and myself paid the
Has on that occasion ; and Alderman Finals and Mr.
o.lllllllaft, who ought to have been elected be-
llies see by the liverymen, were appointed sheriffs.
I believe that people pay the fine of 4001., rather thin have
anything to do with the corporation. The interference with
domestic comfort, and the expense of the office of sheriff,
may also induce persons to refuse. I believe that peewits
en mused to the shrievalty merely fur the purpose of get-
ties them to pay the fines. The under-sheriff's office is
lons of emolument, and his efforts are directed to get one of
his fi iends elected. That is proved by the fact, that the
same person has been under sheriff for several years. Of
I late years the practice of putting up men, for the purpose of
, making them pay 11l Joey, has been discontinued. But it
hes been renewed since ISM. For instance, Mr. Pete, the
member for Norwich, was elected against his will. lie did
set pay the fine, because be pleaded his right as a member
lof the Rouse of Commons. They were very sorry at not
getting his money. By an act of the Common Coueeil, the
party who served the office of sheriff was eutitled to 1001.
nut of the fine. Alderman Finals, by playing his cards
well, eat entitled to 1001. of my fine. In 1814 and 181.5 the
fines amounted to 14,0001. or 15,0001., and it was said
that the money was wanted towards the expense
of the City, en the occasion of the visit of
the Emperor of Russia and the allied sovereigns.
With regard to the appropriation of the fines, they were
paid up to 1830 to the funds of the City. But in that year
they were to accumulate in the hawk of the Chamberlain
for the purpose of carrying out objects of general utility.
But the line of Sir C. Price, in 1840, was not carried to that
fund till 1818, after the investigation of the House of Com-
mons. I think that liverymen should have the power of
appeal to the courts to be relieved from this fine.
Mr. J. D. Pewits, general merchant, and secretary of the
L-indon Dock Company, examined—The chief point on
which the corporation exercise power of the merchants ot
the City, is in respect to the navigation of the river, and I
have no comi•laint to make as to their performance of that
duty. But the parties who terra that committee are not
qualifi.•ll by previews business for that duty. The business
is well done, because they have a good harbour master.
'The corporation had a bill on the subject in the House of
Commons, and there was a clause attached to the bill giving
the appointment of a member of the committee to the dock
companies, and as soon as that was done the bill was with-
drawn. The committee coulees of 40 common•councilmen.
The evil is that the merchants, who have no time to attend to
corporation affairs themselves, are wholly dependent on
men who know nothing of the business. Practically, 1 have
not experienced any impediments myself. This is owing to
there being a good harbour-master. The whole business
devolves on him. I would not take this business out of the
bands of the oommon.ciuncilmen, but I wool I compel them
to admit persons elected by the Dock Companies or the
Trinity House. lam not aware that there is any jealousy
of the great merchants on the part of the corporation.
They are, however, jealous of retaining. all the municipal
business in their own heeds. I think it is unreasonable
that the corporation should have the power of compelling
merchants to do certain things for them—such as metage or
porterage, whether the merchants wish it or no. lam not
able to say what the difference in price is between the pri-
vileged companies of porters and that of private pent es.
The Chairman—ls there any other remark which you
wish to make?
Mr. Powles—We want a Chamber of Commerce in the
City of London, where perscns could obtain information,
and through which representations could be made to the
government. I think such a chamber connected wi h the
•iorittion would be of great use. It has been asked, how
*tad the corporation be made useful to the mercantile
classes. I think that by connecting a representative body
like a chamber of commerce with the corporation, you
would utilise the latter. I would give this body no legal
authority. I think the Bank and other great establish-
ments would unite for this purpose with the corporation.
It would not be accessory then to become members of the
corporation. The general feeling of mercantile men in
the City is that they have not time to attend to the business
; af tbseorporation.
MG. J. IL Elliott examined.—l have been a member of the
Common Council for five pan, and previously to that time I
cook an interest in its affairs. I am • wholesale warehouse-
man in the City, and I reside there. The corporation of
the City is an ancient institution, which is nut fitted for
modern wants. It is too confined. If the corporation be
good, it should be extended ;if bad, it ought not to be left
ite it is. The corporation has a great variety of important
and difficult business to transact which the persons who
Lave to manage it are not fitted to perform. In London the
most influential and intelligent men reside within the City
saly for a few hours in the day. They take no interest in
the besieges of the corporation. My objection is t i the ge-
neral system of management, but these shone in detail also.
The first abuse is in the magistrates o' the City, who consist
of 28 men, devoted to business, and unfitted, therefore, for
magisterial functions. Those magistrates, after their elec-
tion, continue to be men of business, and the consequence
is that they often keep the business of the courts at • stand-
still whilst they are attending to their business, sometimes
for half an hour, sometimes for a quarter of an hour. Be-
sides that they have other official bailees to attend to,
which must interfere with their magisterial functions. The
most crying evil of the corporation of London is the Court
of Aldermen. I would replace them by a few paid ma-
gistrates, by which we would have &uniform system. We
would then have paid and responsible and educated men,
instead of, as now, unpaid and irresponsible and prolee-
slenally-easilesat4 men. The sans observation applies to
the Quartet Ilassiens and Central Criminal Courts. The
eldeemee Me frequeutly absent, and therefore cause delays
Is as edabiblietion of jostle*. I would give the memo
tbeeggelagaisat of the magistrates. I will give this ilks-
truism et the evil I mentioned. A magistrate bus Item
his seat M adjudicate on a ease where his own pillow was
a party, either as plaintiff or defendant. This simnel be
I • police court. In another case I have teems es
, alderman go to take his twat in the
' of Southwark when he was himself in custody, and
dispensing justice, he left the court in custody also. Ns
as** wee taken of this in the Common Conseil. Thus
diegilleserred, and may occur again, when public npliden
Is sot on watchful as it is now. The cost of the owl'
system is 45,0001. I believe that under a peid velem et
magistrates, the expense would be less. The
Police colts 400,0001. The City Pulse fedi InPlitas
citizens of London have lost Mimi MAUL la
cif this separate jurisdiction, sad tiseredise. the
pan that it has been in existence, it humid 130,0001. te
the slams. I would therefore amalgamate the police force
of the whole metropolis.
The Chairman—Will you go to the next point ?
Witaess—l think we should retain the management of
the esmers, which are fifty miles in extent. I Would bring
Load= soder the operation of the general Municipal Act.
I see no reason for making a distinction between London
sad the other municipal towns of the kingdom.
Mr. Lewis—The magistrates of the municipal borough
are paid, I think, sot from the municipal funds, but from
some getters' fund.
Witness—However that may be, there are ample funds
for that purpose in the corporation. The cost of the office
of Lord Maser alone, according to a report of a committee
of the Coreoratios in 1836, is 25,0001. The two police courts
of the City cost 2,3001. each, whilst those of the metropolis
cost but 2,0001. each. A return has been laid before the
Common Council, from which it appears that there are 151
offices which cost 46,0001. a year. This is an average of
about 3001. for each. The expenditure of London for muni-
cipal purposes amounted, in 1832, to 6ld. in the pound, cal-
culating the rental of the City at 1,000,0001. The expendi-
ture of 1852 was equal to • tae ot 171. per house.
Mr. Lewis—How much of this is derived from sources of
taxation, and how much from property ?
Witness—About 146,0001. is derived from City tolls, and
various sources of City taxation, and about 120,1. is de-
rived from direct taxation—that is to say rates. It is about
280,0001. in all. The Yates in Marylebone for 1852, for
paving, lighting, sewen,and pollee. was 2e3d. in the pound,
in London they amounted to something more than 2s. 3d ,
notwithstanding that they had funds derived from property
which Marylebone had not. There are some schools in the
City of London which impart • good education to the middle
clan of citizens in the City of London. The corporation
has lately brought into operation • Freeman's Orphan
School. The fines for not performing the office of sheriff
are applied to the support of this school. Whatever • tax
in the City becomes obnoxious, the corporation apply it to
some ;Duel purpose, which takes away some of the objec-
tion to it, and they have the other taxes for ordinary and
extraordinary purposes. Great evil arises from the inter-
ference of the corporation with bills before parliament. It
was the special duty of the City Itemembrancer to look to
this matter. lie did not regard the interests of the metro-
polis in general, bet the exclusive privileges of the City.
They got the area of the coal tax ex (ider" in this way with-
out any one knowieg it till the bill pegged. The coal tax is
13el. in the ton, of which the corporation gets but 4d. • the
rest goes to the office of Woods and Forests for detro-
politan Improvements. I would retain the coal tax
for ten years, and apply the proceeds to purposes of
improvement, as at present. The coal tax is easily collected
and does not peen hard, and I don't know how you could
collect so large • revenue by any other means. I think the
cheapening of coals in London would lead to an extrava-
gant consumption of them, and that the smoke thence
arising would be a great nuisance. The tax on coals is for
great metropolitan perilous: it is for sanitary as well as for
ornamental purposes, sad I think such • source of revenue
need not be disturbed. The produce of the coil tax in 18.52
wag 63,0001. The corn metage wee 10,0001. Of tnis sum
of 73,0004, there were 20,0001. spent on City improvements.
The remainder was merged in the enteral expenditure of
the City. Latterly the corporation spirit considerable sums
of money on pumper of improvement, They gave 68,0001.
for the metropolitancattle market, and they also spent
several thousand minds en lodging halm.

The Chairman—ls New any ether point so which you
wish to speak ?
Witness—There are at present 26 wards within the City.
I think this number too large. I would divide the City in
12 ward., wbieh would elect 180 common councilmen.
Mr. iennoch, wholesale warehouseman in Wood-street,
Cheepside, ezaniined : 1 have beta a member of the Com-
moo Council since 1846. I have taken a very active part is
the business of the corporation. I come her a quite impar-
tial I
witness; not to accuse or to excuse the corporation.'
bet to state facts which have come under my own observe-'
tem. I was elected to the Common Council for the express
purpose of imposing some of the abuses of the corporation.
ehere was a question whether the class of persons to which
1 belong were persons in the wholesale or retail trade. The
corporation tried to tax as as retail traders. We opposed
the corporation, and defeated them. Within the last two
years the corporation most recklessly proceeded against all
classes to compel them to take up their freedom. I believe
they leased 4,000 summonses fur this purpose. In some
cases persons were sold up, and others petitioned. The
higher classes opposed the corporation formerly, on the
ground that they were wholesale inercheate, and they de-
feated them before the recorder, who decided that tee Core
poration bad no case. But quite recently the corporation
renewed the attempt to force wholesale traders to purchase
their freedom. In 1836 a series of resolutions was agreed
to by the corporation for a reform of the body, hat every
attempt to carry it out failed. A committee was app tinted
on this subject some time ago, but it broke up when
it was beard that a royal commission was appointed. That
committee consisted of twenty six common councilmen
and the aldermen present. They agreed to a report. One
of the points insisted on was that the aldermen should be
elected every seven years, but the aldermen came down to
the committee in great numbers and detested that resolu-
tion against the better judgment of the committee. My
opinion is that it would be absurd to apply the general
municipal act to the metropolis. It might be applied to
the City of London with some modifications which the
peculiarities of the City would require. I have a rough
plan for the municipal government of the metropolis which
I will gladly lay before the commission. The City of Lon-
don whilst it has always advocated the liberties of the
country always exhibited the greatest illiberality and ex-
clusiveness in reference to their own privileges and institu.
[ions. They gave no assistance to the erection of docks,
they opposed the erection of bridges, end the removal of
Stnithtiell market. They were so mismanaging the new
market that it was likely to fulfil their own prediction that
it would
performed any great work of general utility. Their greatest
work was that of the new street in Cannon street, but that
also was mismansged, for it led nowhere, and whilst
it relieved Cheapside it caused Ludgate-bill to be
continually blocked up. The corporation purchased 78
scree for the new market at 68.0001. I would not say that
the did wrong in purchasing so much ground. The
mode in which the committees of the Common Council are
appointed is very faulty. There are about 16 of these paid
committees in the year : they are paid about 2,9001. The
money is disposed of for the purpose of conviviality. If •
balance should remain over it is sometime a applied to the
presenting the chairmen with a piece of plate. I have been
member of more unpaid than paid committees, end I
believe that the former have been attended by more iotelh-
gent men. I believe the committee men might appropriate
the moneo themselves if they pleased. If a man ap-
peared to he au fail on a particular subject it would be a
reason rather for his exclusion then appointment, be-
came the corporation were very suspicious of others who
showed any special knowledge sod interest on a subject. 1
don'fthink if some of the mercantile body were united with
the members of the Common Council in the navigation com-
mittee, that they would work a week together; their moues
of thought and hebio of business are eo very different.
Besides, this committee would have to report to
the Common Council as a body, and they might
reject any suggestions that would be offered in
that report. The conservancy of the Themes is a mat-
ter of great importance to the metropolis generally, and
the Common Council is an exclusively City body. I would
give the entire management of the river and bridges to a
general central committee. The comity for the committees
was placed in the hands of the chamberlain, and the chair-
man of the committees gave an order to the had-keeper to
draw it. I would suggest to the commission to call on the
hall-keeper to give an account of every item for which he
paid money ; also on Mr. Scott, the deputy chamberlain,
for the purpose of ascertaining the money so paid into the
hands of the hall-keeper for each committee; and also on
each committee for an account of the money received and
expended by them for the last ten years, otherwise it will
be impossible to account for the expenditure of the corpora-
tion. I have gone over the account. with one of the most
intelligent men in the City, and we have discovered things
that will, I think, startle and astonish the commission and
the world. Sometimes a loose resolution wee passed, and
under that resolution • great deal of money was spent. There
is au instance in the case of the Smithfield Market Removal I
committee. Large awns of money were give& for newspapers
when they contained articles favourable to Smithfield market,
and these newspapers were distributed freely; but when as
article appeared against the corporation, not one copy of
that newspaper was purchased. When the returns to which
I I alluded are made, 1 believe you will find that large sums
I of money were expended in various ways: some on dinners
to which member, of parliament were invited. You will
find that several members attended those dinners. I have
heard it said that 1,0001. was appropriated to conducting
the opposition to the Smithfield Cattle Removal Bill. Arti-
cles have been sent to newspapers with sums of money.
These articles were to appear as paragraphs and not as ad-
vertisements. I believe that this is the case, and that I will
beside to prove it, but I was not on the committee myself.
lb. Lewis—lies this been done through a committee ?
witness—Through a committee I have no doubt, or its
Mien.
The Chairman—You are aware that a statement has been
made in the corporation to the effect that only 1501. was
OW
on the purchase of newspapers. Do you believe
ihat ?
Witness—l believe that t• be perfectly true. What I
▪ speaking of is quite a distinct thing. I called for an
essount of the expenditure, but could not get it. I believe
that in 99 cases out of 100 there is no disposition to with-
hold information; but, in certain came, you cannot get the
information. This is an anomalous state of things, which
empires to be altered. I have no doubt that money has
been spent in getting up petitions against the removal of
Smithfield market ; but Mr. Acland knows more about
fiat than I do, as he wee professionally engaged at that
Ytae in oily 'lion to the government, and the generally
views of the public on the subject. I have no
knowledge en the subject myself, and you can only obtain
the requisite information by the returns which I have
anggested.
The Chairman—What is the next point on which yea
see give information to the public ?
The Witness—With regard to elections, I believe that
the elections of common eouncilmec and aldermen are ease
sheeted fairly and honestly. The common councilmen are
*Meted annually, therefore there is no reason why they
shield practise corruption. Corruption has sometimes
illeffed in the election of aldermen, who are elected for
aft Bat is recent times I don't think any bribery has'
totem place. The common hall, I think, ought to be abe_ I
Hiked altogether. I think there ought to be inquiry into I
the City companies, because for every abuse in the corpo-
ration there are at least ten in the companies. These corn
lc
;es are no longer needed for the protection of trade, but
a great deal of moot/ for the purpose of
"M4.4►lbemselves comfortable." This phrase is so well
nsiegebeed that a member of one of the companies who
died recently left a sum of money to his company by his
will for the purpose of "making them comfortable. ' With
lewd to the electors, I would get rid of all existing privi-
=mid have one uniform constituency for the City of
. I think that all exclusive privileges within the
City should be abolished. The metage and porterage pd.
Mite' are very injurious to the City of London. Vessels
serried round to the Severn to be unloaded, because
abet men be done there for 171. coats 601. or 601. in the port
Lesita. The corporation in former times sold some of
their privileges. If the corporation were abolished it
would be necessary to make compensation in these cases.
In latter times, however, the corporation has not sold any
rights or privileges to individuals.
Mr. Bennoch's evidence had not concluded when the
enunission adjourned.

MUSIC.

-

MISS DOLBY'S SOIREES MUSICALES
Mime Dolby hen commenced the eerie. of Soirees
which she is in the custom of giving at this period of the
season, and which, Irons their elegant and attractive cha-
racter, are always in high favour with the musical public.
The first of the series, given last evening at her residence in
Hinde-street, was as usual a very tasteful and agreeable
mixture of vocal and instrumental music. Mozart's floe
quintet, " Sento, oh Di o," sung by Miss Birch, Miss Cicely
Nott, Mr. Land, Mr. Walter Bolton, and Mr. Frank Bodda,
began the performanoe. Mr. Bolton, whom we bad not
heard before, is a young man possessed of an excellent bass
voice and a pure style. Miss Dolby sang the recitative and
romance from the Huguenots, " Parmi les fieurs," with
great beauty and admirable dramatic expression. Mr.
Bodes, in Handel's very striking air, " Si tm i ceppi,"
from his Italian opera of Berenice, exhibited vigour and
energy, though he would do well, in drawing-room singing,
to keep his powerful voice a little more subdued. Miss Birch
sang Mr.Waley's song, " Sing on, ye little birds" (a composi_
tion which does great honour to this accomplished amateur)
very charmingly, accompanying herself on the pianoforte
with great taste and brilliancy. Several other agreeable
vocal pieces were sung by Miss Dolby, Miss Nott, and Mr.
Land. The instrumental performances were, Heller's piano-
' forte solo, "La truite," played by Mrs. Thompson (late
Miss Kate Loder) with the exquisite clearness and finish
of execution fur which this admirable attirt is so highly
distinguished; Beethoven's superb trio in D major, for the
piano, violin, and violoncello, most effectively performed
by Mrs. Thompson, Mr. Blagrove, and Mr. Lucas ; and a
' violin fantasia of Vieurtemps, in which Mr. Blegrove dis-
played the beauty of his tune and the delicacy of his style.
The concert altogether afforded a great treat to a none-
' row and fashionable audience.

GLASGOW AND SOUTH-WESTERN RAILWAY.
Traffic for the week ending Nov. 12,1853, 4,6241. 13s. 6d.
Corresponding week, 1862, 4,2461. 71. 4d. Increase in
1863, 3781.8 x. Id.