The Sun.
London, England, 1863-04-15 00:00:00

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COURT OF ALDERMEN.

Court of Aldermen was held yesterday in the•.Aldor-
man's chanil,er, Guildhall—the Right Hon. the Lord

Mayor presided.
The LORD MAYOR laid before the Court the communica-
tion which he had received from Sir G. Grey, informing
him of the confinement of her Royal Highness the Princess
of Hesse, on the morning of the s'h inst., and it was ordered
to be entered upon the Journals of the Court.
The SHERIFFS presented their reports of the state of the
prisons, from which it appeared that the number of pri-
soners in Newgatc wr.s 117, in the Debtors' 91, and in the

City Prison at Holloway 436.
Mr. Alderman COPELAND asked if the number of pri-
soners at Holoway was not much larger than usual.
Mr. Alderman CuALLts, one of the visiting magistrates
to the prisons, said it was very much larger, and they

were consequently obliged to keep some of the prisoners in
association, as they had not sufficient mom to keep them
separate, as was desired. • •

PAUPER LUNATICS.
A report was brought up from the General Purposes
C •=dike, "Cu the reference to uire relative to the
amount chargeable uva the City cash for the support of
auper lunatics, with a return of the number of lunatics',
and the amount paid for the last ten years, and the opinion
of the law oilkeis as to the liability of the Corporation,"
stating that the committee bad din et, d the return to be
made, and it had been sent in ; and it appeared that in 1852
—the year in which the act of Parliament 16 and 17 Vic.,
cap. 97, came into operation, the number of paupers sup-
ported at the expense of the Corporation of London was 13,
at a cost of £l4l 14s, The number for the past year up to
Sept. 29 was 42,
that period to which the return was made the number had
at an expense of £1,479 95. ld., and since
been still further increased. The committee, in order to as-
certain the liability of the Corporation under the 97th cap.
of the 16th and 17th Vic., in respect to these expenses,
directed that the opinion of the law officers should be taken
thereon, and they also requested that they would advise
rateth
e
necessary course to be pursued, there being no county
for the city of London. The solicitor hadreported to them
the following opinion of the law officers, which was signed
by Russell Gurney, Thomas Chambers, Ferdinand Brand,
Edward Tyrrell, and T. G. Nelson, Esqs. That they
are of opinion that, the Corporation is not liable under the
16th and 17th Vie., cap. 97, for the support of pauper lune7._ _
tics. The cost of supporting pauper lunatics is by law to be
defrayed out of the county rate, and if no other fund were
available for that purpose, the magistrates would doubtless
be compelled by mandamus to impose a county rate on the
City."
The report was adopted, and was referred back to the
committee to take what steps they thought advisable.
THE ACCIDENTS ON THE NIGHT OF THE ILLUMINATIONS.
The LORD MAYOR addressed the Court, as it was about
to break up, and said that he found himself placed in consi-
derable difficulty. Her Majesty the Queen and his Royal
Highness the Prince of Wales had sent to him the sum of
£125 to be distributed amongst those persons who met with
accidents upon the occasion of the illuminations in the City
on the 10th March. That fact having got abroad, the num-
ber of accidents that had been recorded was fabulous, not
in the City alone, but also in the metropolis, and the num-
ber was quite beyond belief. What he was to do with the
£125 under these circumstances, he was at a loss to con-
ceive ; and he hoped the Court m ould allow him to place the
matter in the hands of the General Purposes Committee,
that they might adopt such a mode of distribution as they
might think best.
Mr. Aldermen COPELAND said he hoped no allowances
would be made to persons who had received such trivial in-
juries as a black eye, as applications by such persons were
so numerous before the committee that the whole considera-
tion was adjourned.
Mr. Alderman SIDNEY thought his lordship could deal
with it muchbetter himself, and he was sure that if he did
so he would give satisfaction to the whole court. If it went
to a committee there would undoubtedly be a large number
of elaims such as were mentioned by A`derman Copeland,
and the returns would show a large number. If Sir G. Grey
wanted anything to carry out the object he had in hand, ho
could not have anything better, as no doubt there would be
a large number with trifling injuries come for a donation
from the fund.
Sir J. MUSGROVE said the money had not been sent to
them as a Court of Aldermen, but to his lordship as Lord
Mayor. It seemed to him that if the Court took it up it
would make it a public matter, which would lead them into
considerable difficulties, and he hoped his lordship would
excuse; the Court from taking it upon themselves. If his
lordship would take the distribution of it at the Mansion-
house, where there was a staff well calculated to perform
the task, he was sure the court would be well pleased with
any mode which his lordship might adopt, and he hoped
the Court would not deal with it.
Mr. MECIII said, notwithstanding the difficulties which
might present themselves, the Court could not but respect
the kindly feeling which prompted the donation.
The LORD MAYOR said, by way of illustration of the
kind of applications to which he had to listen, that a woman
had been imprudent enough to go out to sec the illumina-
tions, although she expected every day to be confined.
She was confined the neat day, and she sent to say that it
would be very convenient if she could have a portion of the
fund; showing that unless the return was made with a
great deal of care it would have a great effect in the House
of Commons as regarded a proposal which was about to be
considered. It was within the knowledge of all the Court
that the Secretary of State had called upon him for a return
of all the accidents in the City and out of the City, and
this advertising the £125 would be likely to bring forward
a great many trivial accidents both in and out of the City.
Mr. Alderman GABRIEL said the distribution of the re-
turns ought both to be limited to the official reports, and
those accidents known to the police.
Mr. WOODTHORPE, the Town Clerk, said the inquiry
was being directed by the Police Committee, and the re-
port would be before the Common Council shortly.
It was finally arranged that his lordship should take the
distribution of the money.
The Court then adjourned.