The Sun.
London, England, 1852-02-13 00:00:00

MINORITY-NOES, 48.

Arkwright, George Gwyn, Ilowel Pakington, Sir J.
Baillie, H. J. Hallewell. E. G. Pechell, Sir G.
Brernridge, Richard Hamilton, G. A. Peel, Frederick
Chatterton, Colonel Hardinge, C. S. Itushout, Captain
Child, Smith Henley, J. W. Sandars, George
Collins, Thomas Herbert, 11. A. Sidney, Alderman
Collolly, ThomaS Hodgson, W. N. Spooner, It.
Deedes, W. Hughes, W. B. Stanley, Edward
Disraeli, B. Keogh, William Sullivan, Michael
Dodd, G. Knox, Colonel Tyler, Sir G.
Do Pre, C. G. Lygon, General Whiteside, James
Forester, G. C. Mackenzie, W. F. Willoughby, Sir 11.
FresWield, J. W. Mahon, Viscount Wodehouse, E.
FreWen, C. 11. Manners, Lord J. Wortley, J. S.
Fuller, A. E. Morgan, H. K. TELLBss.
Gallwey, Sir W. P. Naas, Lord Bateson, T.
Greenall, Gilbert Napier, Joseph Jones, Captain

COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL.
Yesterday a Court was held for the dispatch of pub-
lic business. There was a full meeting of the Members
in consequence of the notice of the report of the Fleet
Valley Improvement Committee.
Mr. LAMBE gave notice of motion for the next Court,
that the sum of 200/. be granted in aid of the fund for
the surviving sufferers by the late frightful inundation in
Yorkshire.—(Rear.)
Mr. BENNOCH suggested that the Court should sus-
pend the standing regulation, in order to come to an
immediate and unanimous decision upon the subject.
The majority, however, were of opinion that much
inconvenience might arise from an instantaneous decision
as to the appropriation of any part of the funds.
The TOWN CLERK read the following communication
from Mr. Professor Braude:—
" Royal Mint, 3d Feb., 1852.
" Sir—l beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter
of yesterday's date, inclosing a resolution of the Court
of Common Council appointing me to test the quality of
the gas supplied by the Great Central Gas Consumers'
Company. •
" I regret to say that I am obliged to decline the
acceptance of the appointment in consequence of my
other avocations.
" I have the honour to remain your faithful servant,

" WILLIAM THOS. BRANDE.
" Mr. Sergeant Merowether."
Mr. DAEIN hoped that the Court at their next meet-
mg would proceed to the appointment of a practical
chemist to test the gas, and an inspector of meters as
between the consumers and the company.—(flcar.)
The LORD MAYOR was understood to assent to the
suggestion.
Alderman Humphery and Mr. Deputy Watkins were
appointed governor and deputy-governor of the Irish
Society for the ensuing year.
THE COAL EXCHANGE.
Upon the motion of Mr. FREEMAN, the chairman of
the Cum!, Corn, and Finance Committee, tho report for
providing moneys for the improvements in Tower-street,
arid on other financial matters of the Corporation, was
taken into consideration.
Mr. Deputy HARRISON and Mr. R. L. JONES prcpesed
that the report should be sent back to the committee,
with instructions that more particular details should be
supplied of the apparently unaccountable expenditure in
rebuilding the Coal Exchange.
The CHAIRMAN said the details would sufficiently
prove the care and vigilance of the present committee,
and had no objection whatever to the reconsideration of
the report, which was accordingly recommitted.
BLACKFRIARS BRIDGE.
Mr. IL L. TAYLOR (the chairman of the Bridge-
house Committee) brought up a report for sanctioning
the Chamberlain's advances in respect of works autho-1
rised to be executed at Blackfriars-bridge.
Mr. BENNOCII called the attention of the Court to the
state of the bridge, which was continually sinking, and
causing a continual sinking of money by that dangerous
process.—(Elear, hear.) Although 4000/. had very
latety been expended iu repairs, no advantage had been
effected. On the contrary, while the Bridge House
Committee were tumbliug rocks round the piers to prop
them up, the Navigation Committee were at work to
clear the river of such impedimenta,—(Great laughter.)
It was quite evident to the public that the corporation
must very soon either build a new Blackfriars-bridge, or
build a new bridge somewhere else. As for repairs they
had beau worse than useless, for they prevented the al-
ternative
of a solid and permanent structure.
Mr. Low said the observations of Mr. Bennoch wore
calculated to excite unnessary public alarm, and were ob-
vieusly made to bear out that gentleman's new notions
about a new bridge.—(Hear, hear.) It was true that a
large expenditure of money had taken place in conse-
quence of the frequent dilapidations, but no committee
of the court was culpable. The fact was that a fow
years ago 100,0001. had been expended in repairs
under the management of Messrs. Walker and Burgess,
who asserted that they would last fifty years.—(A
laugh.) In opposition to that assurance was the now
existing fact that two of the piers wore sinking. It oc-
curred to him, when that defect was discovered, that the
most advisable course to be adopted would be to sink a
coffer dam to ascertain the cause.—(Hear, hear.) At all
events, the corporation had acted with due caution and
activity, and were not answerable for the conduct of the
contractors, who had engaged to accomplish an impor-
tant task, which they had failed to perform.—(Hear,
hear.) The statement of Mr. Bennoch was exaggerated,
but it could not be denied that a large sum of money had
been thrown away.
Mr. H. L. TAYLOR said the price of a coffer dam for
the ascertainment of tho defect would have amounted to
30,000/.—(llear, hear.) It appeared, however, from the
representations of those who were engaged in repairing
the bridge that the experiment would not be necessary.
The corporation was in the hands of the doctors, and
certainly Messrs. Walker and Burgess had no cause to
be dissatisfied with their patient.—(Laughter.) A large
sum bad been expended, and the corporation was in the
following position. It had acted under the advice of
Messrs. Walker and Burgess hitherto, and it would pro-
ceed no further without the additional advice of Sir
William Cubitt and Mr. Brunel.—(Hear, hear.) The
obligation to repair the bridge bad been saddled upon it
by Parliament, and piers would sink and bridges would
fail, and when they did fail new ones must be built for
the accommodation of the whole community.—(Hear.)
The report was then agreed to.
THE GREAT FLEET VALLEY IMPROVEMENT.
Mr. Deputy HARRISON rose to present the report of
the Fleet Valley Improvement Committee uponh
me-
morial of Mr. Charles Pearson. His present
e was
to have the report audits appendices, which consisted
of
the reports of the several engineers, and evidenceothetpeeeth e
of an important character, printed, and to p
consideration of the matter to a future day.—(
gdo r
Mr. H. L. TAYLOR wished to know wlha
appen-
dices (which presented a most formidaehe
to bulk) consisted of before he would
ex-
pense of printing them. The document en
consent appearance
t looked
ahnece a
more like a huge railway concern than
such else.—
a mass
altogethereeythieg
(Laughter.) He could not thinikihefraltlioo.wg
to get into print without duo deliberation.
Mr. RICHARD TAYLOR sa... the Court had to his know-
leclgo frequently ordered appendices
greater length to be printed before of considerably
dischuesrssiocno,uoltd knowherwise
it was quite impossible that the members
any of we contents.
Mr. Deputy HARRISON, is order to show the necessity
toted some sentences from
of printing tho appendices
quoted
with the estimate
the reports of the engineers,
undertaking.
of the probable cost of the_
Several members wished to near a statement of the
heads of the report, but
Mr. Deputy-Hannisoia hencled the report itself to Mr.
Woodthorpe, and moved that it should be read.
The motion being carried,
The CLERK read the report, which was in substance
as follows:—
That having met immediately to proceed in the con-
sideration of the reference, we, in the first instance, di-
rected Mr. Remembrances to prepare, the proper notices
to be inserted in the (gazette and newspapers—that we
were subsequently attended by Mr. Remembrancer, who
laid before us the draft of notice of an application to
parliament, which had been prepared by Messrs. Burchell
wad person, solicitors, and the draft of a notice proposed
to be given on the put of the City, which he bad pre-