The Sun.
London, England, 1863-12-31 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 31, 1863,

THE LONDON COMMISSIONAIRES.

(From tke London Review.)

On the conclusion of the Crimean war, Captain Edward
Walter, formerly an officer in the army, set his wits to work
to devise some means by which the evils from which we had
previously suffered might be avoided. It was not, however,
until the worst of the Indian revolt was over that a practi-
cal commencement was made. In February, 1859, the cap-
tain, after much preliminary labour, and not a little diffi-
culty, formed the small band of men which has since grown
into a corps of very respectable sin and great usefulness,
and the streets of London began to show the unwonted sight
of a body of Commissionaires similar to those of various
Continental cities. The number was originally only seven;
but it rapidly Increased, as people became aware that for a
very small cost they could secare the services of messengers
of good character, responsible to a gentleman of honour and
Social position, and accustomed to the restraints of military
discipline. The scheme was so quietly inaugurated that for
some time many persons did not know what to make of the
smart soldiery-looking men in uniform, many of them
maimed, and some wearing a number of medals, on their
breasts, who were suddenly beheld hurrying to and fro
with parcels in their hands, or leather pouches strapped
about their persons; and we believe that even now the
public are not sufficiently informed of the existence of
the corps, or at least of the objects for which it is de-
signed. The institution, nevertheless, has expanded a
good deal since its commencement. During the Great
Exhibition of 1862, when of course there was an extra de-
mand for such services, and when London was filled with
foreigners who would be particularly alive to the accommo-
dation offered them in this way, our English Commission-
aires ranged from 300 to 400. It will not be forgotten that
they officiated as money-takers and dear-keepers at the vast
building—posts which they still fill at various places of en-
tertainment. At present the muster is only about 200; but
taking the sum-total of men who have joined the corps
from first to last, we find an aggregate of more than GOO.
Of these, some of course have died, some have voluntarily
left the service, and some have been discharged for insu-
bordinate conduct, for drunkenness, or for dishonesty. The
discharged have set up for themselves, and, adopting a
uniform similar to that of Captain Walter's men, have en-
deavoured to sail under false colours. To guard against
these very questionable traders, the public are officially re-
quested to demand, before engaging the services of any man
in uniform, the production of the ticket-book, in order that
they may ascertain whether or not the ticket bears the sig-
nature of Charles Handford, the sergeant of the corps. It
is certainly the duty of employers, both to themselves and
to the genuine commissionaires, to adopt this slight and
easy precaution. An imposter is not a likely man to respect
the property which is confided to his care; and the reputa-
tion of the honest may be imperilled among persons of hasty
judgment by the misconduct of a set of rascals who copy
the external appearance of the body from which they have
been expelled.
The Commissionaires consist for the most part of soldiers
who have seen active service; but there are also some sailors
and marines, and a few Volunteers and ex-policemen. The
majority have been wounded, and many empty sleeves and
wooden legs are to be seen among the men ; but injuries are
not a sine qua non, though they aro considered as giving a
greater claim to engagement. Some of the messengers are
quite whole and sound, and all are fine martial-looking fel-
lows in the vigour of life, generally bearded or moustached,
neatly clad, scrupulously clean, and with a firm, erect
bearing. Divisions are stationed at Brighton, Liverpool,
Manchester, and Birmingham. The London head-
quarters are at the barracks—a large range of buildings up
Exchange-court, Strand, close to Bedford-street. Here
the West-end men aro paraded at half-past eight in the
morning during the summer, and at nine in the winter, pre-
vious to going to their posts; the City men muster in frcnt
of the Royal Exchange, and are thence told off. Perma-
nent men, however--that is to say, men who, in conse-
quence of specially exemplary conduct or superior educa-
tion, have obtained permanent situations —are only required
to report themselves once a week. The corps is divided
into first and second class men, distinguished by separate
badges; and there are also corporals and sergeants, who
respectively bear the chevrons of their rank, similar to those
in the army. An adjutant and some orderly officers assist
Captain Walter in the command of the corps. Promotion
is made according to good conduct and ability, and fines
are imposed for any remissness, or breach of discipline,
or disregard of tidiness. Having been inspected at
the parade-ground, the men go to their several sta-
tions, and wait for engagements, These stations are at
the chief places of public resort in the city, the west central
district, the south western, and the western, The men so
posted are chiegy second class men, equivalent to privates
in the array or censtables in the police. If it should come
on to rain while they are yet unengaged, they must seek
" any port in a storm," and soldiers and sailors are gene-
rally handy enough at improvising mer sures against sudden
emergencies; besides, they are well protected against wet
weather by an oilskin cape, and against cold weather by a
stout, regimental great-coat. As a rule, they are to remain
in the immediate vicinity of their posts until engaged, or
until the time arrives for leaving; but they must occasion-
ally look in at the neighbouring depots, to see if any orders
for theta have arrived. The depots aro shops at which mes-
sages and parcels are received for the men, and handed to
them when they call—nmeh as passages are received for
the London Delivery Company. Should a messenger be
absent from his post owing to illness, his place is at once
filled by another men ; and employers are requested, if they
require a man for the whole day, or for a period exceeding
three hours, to send to the head-quarters, as the prolonged
abseece of a Commissionaire from his poet injures the eys-
non. Captain Walter guarantees the safe delivery of all
property to the value of £lO with the ordinary men, and
£2O in the case of men wearing chevrons. The rate of pay
ie--by distance, 2d. for half a mile or under, aed 31 for
each mile or more than half a mile; by time, Gd. per hour,
or 2d. for a quartet' of an hour. When taken by distance,
the Cornmiseionaire is to go at the rate of three miles and
a half an hour, if walking; when taken by time, he is only
expected to do two miles and a half an hour, because the
distance in that case is generally longer. For carrying
parcels, ho may charge ld. per mile extra for every 7lbs,
exceeding one stone; but he is strictly forbidden to demand
anything more than the tariff entitles him to take, and is
specially enjoined in the rules to receive his pay in a proper
manner. The tariff for engagements per diens of ten hours
is 314,, and for the half day 2s. On being engaged, whether
for a short or long period, the Commissionaire most &ve a
ticket to the person employing him, and ho must execute
his work without delay or loitering. Each man takes what
he himself earns, subject to certain drawbacks in the na-
ture of subscriptions. If, for instance, he does not, on
joining the corps, already belong to a sick or benefit fund,
he must subscribe to the one established by Captain
Walter, of which the entrance fee is 55., with a weekly
payment of 3d., entitling the subscriber, in the event of
illness, to an allowance of 7s. a week for four months, and
half that amount for the next two months; after which all
payments cease. Illness resulting from drunkenness or
immorality does not entitle the sufferer to relief. The
medical superintendence of the corps has been undertaken
by the King's College Hospital, and an honorary physician
is attached to the body. In case of death £3los, is paid for
the funeral, which is conducted according to military usage.
There is also a general fund, for the payment of all expenses
incidental to the working of the system, including the sala-
ries of the non-commissioned officers ; to which fund each
Commissionaire pays eis. on joining the corps, and a monthly
subscription of Is. All the Eaton moreover, go to this col-
lection, and every man wno obtains a permanent situation
contributes 10s. to the smile. To these payments must be
added another, of Is. s .. a week, for the uniform and equip-
ments; yet these are not regarded as the property of the
individual, but of the body, and whenever a commissionaire
leave the service ho must deliver in the whole of his equip-
ment, the 'value of which is estimated, according to a fixed
scale, 17 a committee of the general fund. On joining,
moreover, every man bas to deposit a sovereign as a guaran-
tee of eeaad condition and proper subordination: in case of
die sal, the sum is forfeited, lent is returned, minus the
d tion of any sums fairly chargeable against the man,
A the depositor voluntarily resigns. Every commis-
alto, also, on joining the corps, must be provided with
4 it, consisting of a decent supply of clothing, or, if he
does not possess this, it will bo provided for him, and the
cost debited to his account; and he must pay not less than
a shilling a week Into a saVinga bank or toilet approved
instinitiorti thn principal not to be withdrawn while the
noon remains a commissionaire. It will be seen from this
that the drawbacks from each individual's earnings are
rather serious, and the earnings themselves mast ba good
to reader employment rotitablet
The ftent-elass men are often engaged by the week (at a
salary of froth 15s. to 205.) in Olnie'S, public office's, and
houses of business., And ala extremely useful in a
variety of mays, Visiting and complimentary cards, books,
nev.,saeers, or circulars aro delivered, at a special tate of
pay. by these useful servants of the public; and to this
end the metropolis has been parcelled out into separate
blocks, of about 500 housess distinguished by a nartie or
number. Some of the inch Bette as priVate watchmen;
some as drill sergeants in schools; some as copying clerks
in commercial establishments. From 70 to 80 are now em-
ployed in these capacities. The harrarks Ate open at al
hours of the 24, and a reserve is appointed for night duty.
The delivery of handbills having reference to robbery or
serious casualties is said to be remarkably quick ; and
once i 1 quarter the management distributes 30,000 copies
of a circular containing the rules and regulations,
and general advertisements. All the commissionaires
must attend Divine worship on Sundays and special
days, each being at liberty to go to the church or chapel of
his own religious body, but the whole parading at the ap-
pointed spot in the mornings except under very special cir-
cumstances. The barracks are places of residence, as well
as the official head-quarters. About 34 single men live
there at a low rental, and some eight families,
pieTashaenbtlayndcoonfstphiecuCoourns.iniaslt i
nowo nai rceostihsai
sst recentlyumt
men
itself
,
38
wu nhdoe rr thev
el es a
boysde r leadership laps
of
apprentices,Sergea liteo bo taught
tthauegbhatnmd-umsiacs,tears,
well as to receive a plain general education. The number
of performers was at ono time larger than it is now ; but
entertained
we hope it will again augment as the men acquire greater
mastery by long working together. Daring the last sum-
mer or two, the menaclers
by in
theS t.peJrafatn:errs:AsnePosarkof havethe
been agreeably

Commissionaires' band stationed in the pretty green space
near Spring-garden-gate, called the Cambridge Enclosure.
Though the music could of course be heard as well outside
as inside, many were found to pay 3d. admission (for the
sake of the greater seclusion, as well as for the benefit of
the corps), and Id. for the programme; and in some weeks
as much as £lOO has been earned, and divided among the
musicians according to proficiency.