The Sun.
London, England, 1853-12-01 00:00:00

LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 1, 1853.

PRIZE CATTLE SHOW of the SMITHFIELD
CLUB.--The ANNUAL EXHIBITION of Prize Cattle, Seeds
Roots, Implements, Scc., commences on TUESDAY Morning and
closes on Friday Evening, 6th, 7th, Bth, and 9th Deeember—Bazaar
King-street and Baler-street Open from daylight till nine hi the
evening, 4.amittance, One Shilling.

yrn. ALBERT SMITH'S MONT BLANC
WILL OMIT for the SEASON on MONDAY EVENING,
December 5. Stalls can now be secured (without any extra charge)
at the Box-Office, Egyptian Hall, every day between Eleven and
Four.

ATKINSON and COMPANY, CABINET
MA. SVFACTURERS, UPHOLSTERERS, and CARPET
WAREHOOsEME N. 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, and 75, Westminster-
bridge-road, Lambeth, London.

ATKINSON and COMPANY, DRAPERS,
SILK MERCERS, LACEMEN, &e., 69, 70, 71, 72, 73,. 74,
and 75, Westminster-bridge-road, Lambeth, London.—Shawls, Furs,
Mantles, Family Mourning. &c.

BELLOT TESTIMONIAL FUND.
NAMES OF SUBSCRIBERS.
(Receivei at the apartments of the Royal Geographical Society,
Waterloo-place, up to Nov. 21.)

Sir Roderick I. Murchi-
son, D.C.L., M.A.,
F.R.S., V.P.R.G.S.,
Chairman •• £25 0 0
Aberdeen, the Earl of,
K.T., M.A., F.R.S.,
F.R.G.S. .. 25 0 0
Acland, Sir Thomas D.,
Bart., M.P., F.R.S.,
F.R.G.S. •• 5 0 0
Addington, H. U., Esq. 5 0 0
Aitchison, Captain .. 3 3 0
Alston, Mr. A. H.
(Placenli) .• ••
Angerinein,,Col.4,4.
Anonytnoui,
per `•The Times" news•
paper .. • . 1 0 0
Archer, H.M.S., Com-
mander Strange and
the Gun-room officers,
one day's pay .. 3 16 6
Arrowemith, John, Esq.,
F.R.G.S. .. 3 0 0
A ustin, Captain Horatio
T., C.B. .. 2 2 0
Bacon, Thomas, Esq. .. 1 0 0
Baillie, Alex., Esq. .. 5 0 0
Baillie, David, Esq.,
F.R.S., F.R.G.S. .. 5 0 0
Baker, Capt. Thomas,
H.C.S. 1 1 0
Barnett, Capt. Edward,
R. N F.R.G.S. .. 1 0 0
Barrow, Sir Geo., Bart. 5 0 0
Barrow, Henry, Esq. .. 1 1 0
Barrow, John, Esq.,
F.R.S., F.R.G.S. .. 20 0 0
Beaufort, Rear-Admiral
Sir F., K.O 8., F.R.S.,
F.R.G.S. .. 10 0 0
Becher, Captain A. 8.,
R.N., F.R.G.S. .. 1 1 0
Beechy, Captain W. P.,
R.N., F.R.S., F.R.G.S. 1 1 0
Bell, J. D., Esq. .. 1 1 0
[lest, Capt. Ron. Thos. 1 1 0
Biggs, J , Esq. .. .. 2 2 0
Bird, Wrn, Wilberforce,
Esq., F.R.G.S. .. 5 0 0
Blair, Lieut.-Col. W. H.
S. .. 5 0 0

2 00
5 0 0

Hughes, H. W., Esq. • . XI 0 0
Hurry, Edward, Esq. .. 1 1 0
Hutchinson, Col. H. .. 1 0 0
Hutchinson, Hon. R. H. 1 0 0
Ick, Rev. W. R., Sygles-
thorpe 1 0 0
Inglefield, Capt. E. A.,
R.N., F.R.S., F.R.G.S. 5 0 0
Inglis, Sir R. H., Bart.,
M.P.,F.R.5., F.R.G.S. 5 0 0
Irving, Dr. E. G., R.N ,
F.R.G.S. 0 5 0
Irving, Thomas, Esq.,
F.R.G.S. 0 5 0

Borland, Dr., Inspector-
Gen. ofA nny Hospitals 1 1 0
Bowles, Vice-Admiral
Wm., C. 8., F.R.G.S. 5 0 0
Bourdin, M. .. 1 1 0
Boyd, Mark, Esq. .. 2 2 0
Bracebridge, C. R., Esq
F.lt G.S. 1 I 0
Bread al bane, Marquis of,
K.T , F.R.S., F.R.G.S. 20 0 0
Brent, Geo. S. Esq., De-
puty Coroner tor Mid •
dlesex, .. 0 5 0
Brisbane, General Sir
Thos M.,8art.,G.C.8.,
G.R.G.S. • • .. 5 0 0
Brock, Capt. Thcs., R.N. 0 10 0
Brockedon, Wm., Esq.,
1.R.5., .. 5 0 0
Brooking, T. H., Esq.,
F.R.G.S. .. 5 0 0
Brown, John, Esq.,
F.R.G.S. .. 5 5 0
Brown, R , Esq., D.C.L.,
F.R.S., F.R.G.S. .. 5 0 0
Browne, Major• General
Sir Henry, K.C.H. . 2 0 0
Buckingham, J. Silk,
Esq., F.R G.S. • 1 1 0
Buckley, Lady Catherine 2 0 0
Calder, Alexander, Esq. 2 2 0
Campbell, Captain, F.A.,
R.N. .. • • .. I I 0
Campbell, Lieut.-Colonel
N., F.R,G.S. .• .. 2 2 0
Campbell, Major-Gene-
ral P., R.A. • • .. 2 0 0
Carr, Commr, Washing-
ton, R.N., F.R.G.S. - 1 0 0
Carr, A., Esq , of Paris 1 0 0
C. C., per Hoare and Co. 5 0 0
Chamberlain, Commr... 1 1 0
Charlewood, Capt. .. 1 1 0
Chermsicle, Capt., R.A. 1 1 0
Clarendon, the Earl of,
E.G., F.R.G.S. .. 25 0 0
Clerk, W., Esq... .. 1 1 0
Clive, Hon. Robert,M.P.,
F.R.G.S. .. 20 0 0
Coffin. Capt. Crawford.. 1 0 0
Colchester, the Right
Hon Lord, Capt.R.N.,
D.C.L., F.R•G S. .. 5 0 0
Collier, C., E.g... .. 2 2 0
Combe, Harvey, Esq. .. 5 0 0
Commerill, Lieut., R.N. 10 0 0
Cooke, Commr. J., R.N. 1 1 0
Coote, C. Chidley, Esq.,
F.R.G.S. 1 1 0
Copley, Sir J. W., Bart.,
F.R.G.S. • • .. 25 0 0
Cotton, Capt. H. E., R.N. 2 0 0
Cracroft, Miss Sophia .. 2 0 0
Cracroft, Capt. R.N.,
F.R.G.S. •• .. 1 0 0
Cracroft, Mrs. Peter .. 2 0 0
Craigie, Capt Robert 1 0 0
Cresswell, Lieut., R.N... 2 0 0
Cumming IL, Esq. .. 0 5 0
Davis, Sir J. F., Bart.,
F.R.S., F.R.G.S. .. 5 0 0
Delafield, W., Esq. 5 0 0
Denman, Capt. the Hon.
J., R.N, F.R.G.S. 2 0 0
Devonshire, Duke of .. 25 0 0
Dickinson, F. H., Esq.,
F.R.G.S. • • • • 1 0 0
Dilke, C. Wentworth,
Esq., F.R.G.S. .. 5 5 0
Dilke, C. W., Esq.,
F.lt GS. • • • • 3 3 0
Dobinson, Wm., Esq. •• 1 1 0
Douglas, J. Stoddart,
.• . 10 10 0
Esq.
Douglas, Col. Monteith,
C.B. .• • • 20 0 0
Dover, J. W., Esq,,
F.R.G.S. • • • • 50 0i
Downe, The Vis:ount
F.R.G.S. lO 0 0
I)rake, Capt. John, R.N 1 0 0
Drummond, Mr. (Plica-
nix) .. 010 0
Duff Cordon and Co 2 2 0
Duncombe, Hon. Ar.,
R.N. .. 5 0 0
Dundas, the Right Hon
Sir David,F.R.G.S. 0 0
Durkin, H., Esq., 1 1 0
Edgell, Capt., R.N. 1 1 0
11 Edwards, Capt. H. 2 2 0
Eliott, Capt. Geo. Angs,
R.N. .. • . 1 0 0
Ellesmere, the Earl of
D.C.L., Pres. Royal
Geographical Society 25 0 0
Elliott, Lieut., R.N.
(Phcenix) 2 0 0
Evans, D. M., Esq. 1 1 0
Evans, Capt. G., R.N. • • 1 0 0
Fax ley & Boyes, Messrs. 2 2 0
Farley, Wm., Esq., Mas-
ter, R.N., Newton
Abbott .• • • 1 0 0
Faraday, M., Esq ,
F.R.S. 2 0 0
Fairer, Jas. Win., Esq , 2 0 0
Fawckner, Mr. (Phoenix) 0 10 0
Fayrer, Com. Robt. R.N.
F R.G.S. • • 1 0 0
Ferguson, R., Esq. 1 0 0
Fitzroy, Capt. R., R.N ,
F.R.S., F R.G.S 2 e 0
Forster, John, Esq., M.P. 5 5 0
Fowler, R N , Esq., M.A.
F.R.G.S. .. •• • •
Franklin, Lady 25 0 0
Gage, Admiral Sir Wm.
IT., G.C.11., K.C.8.,
F.R.G.S.• 5 0 0
Gassiott, J. P., Esq ,
Gell, Mrs 1 1 0
Glocester and Bristol,
Bishop .•.. • ..... 0 0
Glyn, G.C., Esq., M.P.. 10 0 0
Gordon, Capt. G. T., R.N. 1 1 00
Gordon, 11. G., Esq. •• .. 2 2 0
Gore, Rev. George.. .... 1 1 0
Gowen, J. R., Esq ,
Graham, Right Hon. Sir
James, Bart, M.P.,
F. R.S., F R.G.S• ••• .. 25 0 01
Graham, Prof., F.R.S.• • 3 3 0
Grattan, T. C., E5q..... 101 1 0
102
00 00
G Gurney,
r iroffissto, 3e 11Cimr. .Dißs
s Anna, of
N. ltepps •••••• • • • • • • 5 0
Oi
Haden, F.S., Esq... •• . • 2 20 ,
Hakin, Commander, C.L. 1 00!
Halford, Rev. Thomas,
M , F R.G.S. • • .... 5 0 0
Hallett, P.A.,Esq., R.N. 20 0 0
Hal,, Capt. W. H., R.N.,
KR S., Fit G.S ••• • .. 1 1 0
Hamilton, Capt. W. A.
B:, R.N., F.R.G.S. .. 5 0 0
Hancock, E. T., Esq. .. 2 2 0
Hand, Capt. G.. R.N.,
F.R S. 1 1 0
Harker, Rev. G. • . .. 1 1 0
Harposel, F. R., Esq. 1 1 0
Harris, Mr. (Phoenix) .. 0 10 0
Harris. G. F., Esq., _ _ _

BIRMINGHAM WATER WORKS.
NOTICE Ts HEREBY Grant, That a Special General Meeting
of the Proprietors of the Birmingham Water Works will be holden
at the Offices of the Company, Paradise.street, Birmingham, on
FRIDAY, the 23d day of December next, at Eleven o'Clocit in the
forenoon, when the Bill, for leave to bring which into Parliament
apelication is intended to be made in the ensuing session, will be
submitted to the Proprietors for their approval.
By order of the Directors.
ARNOLD & WELCII,
Solicitors to the Company,
Birmingham,•Nov. 30, 1.853.

WINE and BRANDY, of a genuine and excellent character.
MESSRS. BULLOCK are directed to include
In their PERIODIC L FURNITURE SALE, NEXT
SATURDAY, at their Rooms, 211, High Holborn. about 120 dozen
of various WlNES—viz., crusted Port, some years in bottle, gold-
colour and pale Sherry, West India Madeira, Claret, and Lachrymaz
Christi ; also a few cases of pale French Brandy.
Sample bottles (on payment) and catalogues (gratis) may be had
two days prior.

'TO LOVERS of FISEL---100 REAL YAR-
i_ MOUTH BLOATERS for 65., package ineluded. The above
forwarded to all parts on receipt of penny postage stamps, or Post-
office order (preferred), for the amount.—Address, THOMAS
LETTIS, Jun., Fish Carer, Great Yarmouth.

THE HOME COUNTIES AND METRO-
POLITAN FREEHOLD LAKD SOCIETY.
Office-14. Chatham-place, lacktriars.
Members enrolled Daily. Office hours 10 to 4—and on Thursday
eveninge from 7 to 9.

PRESIDENT.
Lord Dudley Ceutta Stuart, M.P.
VICE-PRESIDENTS.
Apsley Pellatt, Esq., M.P. William Ex art, Esq., M.P.
TRUSTEES.

Apsley Pellatt, Esq., M.P. William Ewart, Esq., M.P.
John Williams, Esq,

Shares, £3O each. Entrance Fie lat,.4obscriptlon, One Shilling
per Share Weekly- .
The Directors call special attention to the class of estates that are
purchased for allotment amongst the members of this society. The
one at Wood-green (now almost allotted) is acknowledged to be one
of the most eligible for building purposes yet distributed by any Land
Society; and a further purchase in Wimbledon-park has Just been
effected, fully equal, if not superior, to the one at Wood-green, ad-
mirably adapted for first class villas.

There is now an opportunity, either by paying up Shares, or taking
them, to get Ballot-rights of acquiring plots on this highly eligible
and profitable estate.
Ballots take place Monthly.

HENRY KNIGHT, Secretary.
Office-14. Chatham-place, Blackfriars.

THOMAS SALT and CO.,
EAST INDIA PALE ALE BREWERS,
BURTON-ON-TRENT,
STORES.
London.... •.....•... 22, Ilmigerford-wharf.
Liverpool 52, Henry-street,
Manchester .......... 37, Brown-street.
Birmingham ..... 26%, Bull-street.
Bristol -street.
Nottingham 14, Milton-street.
Dublin 4, Crown-alley.
Edinburgh ..... 17, Downie-place.
Dundee 13, New Inn Entry, High-street.

they ought to be fined if they refused to serve.
hTehaev y caonnds o
el ixdeaetseacilv e
.r a
at en, sd goefnertahlley, Ciatyg,reater
which a
o n toeapplied for the purposes of the sewers, are very
over the finances of 'the City is necessary. This object
would be accomplished by doing away with the freedom,
and by bringing into the council gentlemen who have
hitherto tool aloof from it. In the city of London, and
crrl
1 speak from positive knowledge, we have not water suffi-
cient. The supply is, however, good enough in quality,
and is from the New River. It is a disgrace to the city of
London that we have not better markets. Liverpool and
Manchester have far outdone the City in this respect.
Leadenhall and Newgate markets especially are in a very
shameful condition. The livery companies should under-
go great alterations.
The Chairman—We are not authorised to enter into
that subject.
Mr. Thomas Rogers was the next witness examined. He
stated, I am a solicitor, practising in the city of London,
and have been so for thirty years. I was once a common
councilman, but do not hold that office now. I am a livery-
man of the Spectacle-makers' Company. With regard to
the working of the corporation, I may say that its pro-
ceedings are conducted very much in the t•ame manner as
those of the House of Commons. It is presided over by
the Lord Mayor, who takes the votes in the divisions, and
acts of the council are passed from time to time, when
such legislation is necessary. Some time ago such an act
was passed, reducing the number of the members of the
common council from 240 to 206 or 203, I served on two
committees myself when I was a member of the corpora-
tion. Those committees were the corn, coal, and finance
committee, and the committee for general purposes. The
committees can call any paid officer of the corporation be-
fore:them to assist their deliberations. The navigation
committee, although they have no merchants among them,
are assisted by the harbour-masters. The committees are
also advised on legal questions by the town-clerk, the City
solicitor, and the City conveyancer. Their meetings are
held with closed doors, and their divisions are not pub-
lished, but their -naiads acre. The ruiesOf the court re-
quire a member to have served two years on a committee
before he can be elected as its chairman. I myself re-
ceived no allowance while I served on the committees.
2001. was, however, voted to the general purposes commit-
tee, and another 2001. to the corn, coal, and finance com-
mittee. The chairman allows five minutes after the
hour of meeting to elapse for the members to arrive, and
after that time all members coming in late are excluded
from the monthly dinners. There is only one dinner a
month, and the committee meet four or five times between
each dinner.

Mr. C. Lewis—Do you think the dinner system a good
one for these committees ?

Mr. Rogers—l do. It tends to bring men of various
kinds to act on the committee who otherwise would not
do so. Many persons who are engaged in business leave
their private concerns to attend the committees, where
they remain long after their dinner hour has passed. The
chairman of a committee has a right 'to invite two friends
to these dinners of the committee.

Mr. C. Lewis—ls the attendance at the committees
greater than usual on the day when there are dinners?
Mr. Rogers—No doubt of it. The committees produce
blue-books which would not disgrace Parliament. The
aldermen have the conduct of the various wards, where
they set an admirable example of public charity. In my
own ward, if Alderman Copeland has given away 1/., I
believe he has given away 10,000/.
The Chairman—You mean that these are private chari-
ties ?

Mr. Rogers—Yes. The magisterial duties of the alder-
men are satisfactorily performed. They are assisted on
the bench by professional assessors, and they attend for
three months in the year a very good school, sitting as
they do on the bench with the Queen's judges at the Cen-
tral Criminal Court. They have greater opportunities
than country magistrates for qualifying themselves for
the proper discharge of their judicial duties. The ability
displayed by Alderman Gibbs, when he presided at the
Mansion-house was most admirable, and it was delight-
ful to see the rapid manner in which lie seized at a
glance on the salient points of the case. I believe that
the aldermen cannot legally be superseded in their ma-
gisterial functions. By a charter of Edward IV., the
Lord Mayor and aldermen are constituted judges of
Oyer and Terminer. During Lord Melbourne's ad-
ministration, the Government of the day brought in
a bill for the purpose of incorporating the City police
in the general metropolitan police system. The City
objected to the measure, petitioned against it, and set
themselves strenously to oppose it. With this view they
stationed the town clerk in Palace-yard, gave him a large
body of their assistants, and instructed him to commu-
nicate with every corporation in the kingdom. The con-
sequence was that by the influence of the country corpo-
rations the Minister of the day found his support fall
away like a rope of sand, and the measure was therefore
abandoned.

Mr. C. Lewis—What was the representation that was
made to the country magistrates by the town clerk ?
Mr. Rogers—That an attempt was being made to strip
them of part of their functions as justices of the peace.
Mr. C. Lewis—How did the country corporations in-
fluence the Government ? _

Mr. Rogers—lt is not for me to say how it was done,
but it was done. We all know how country corporations
influence members of Parliament. There is a sort of free-
masonry that goes on.
The Chairman—ls there anything in point of principle
which'otgbt ti) deter the Legislature, if it thinks it would
be for the public advantage, from dealing with the city of
London, as regards the magistracy and the police, in the
same manner as with the rest of the metropolis ?
Mr. Rogers—l can only say that there are charters
which forbid it.
The Chairman—But were there not also charters in the
case of the country corporations when they were dealt
with by the Municipal Reform Act ?
Mr. Rogers—No ; or at least there were none going
further back than the reign of Charles.
The Chairman—Well, but do you mean to say that a
charter of King Edward is more to be respected than one
of King Charles ?
Mr. Rogers—Yes, because there is longer usage.
The Chairman—We will not discuss the point. That
will do.
The next witness examined was

Mr. W. E. Hickson, who stated that he was the author of
various articles in the Westminster Review (which had been
reprinted and published as pamphlets) treating of the sub-
ject of the corporation of the city of London and municipal
institutions for the metropolis generally—a question to
which he had devoted great attention. He had been once
commercially connected with the City, but he was not now
and had not been for nearly 15 years. He was, however,
still a ratepayer of the parish of St. Dunstan's, Fleet-street,
the heavy local rates connected with which painfully re-
minded him every year of the necessity for such a commis-
sion as he was now addressing.
The Chairman—State to us generally what you conceive
to be the defects of the present system.
Mr. Hickson—The object I have always had in view has
not been so much to make out a case against the corpora-
tion of London as to demonstrate the necessity for a bet-
ter system of local government for the city of London, and
for the City in its relation to the whole metropolitan con-
stituency. Ido not believe that any general charge of
personal corruption can apply to the members of either the
Court of Common Council or the Court of Aldermen,
which may be regarded as a fair average of the middle
class of Great Britain and Ireland. The real gist of the
matter is that we are eaten up in the City with establish-
ment expenses. The system of divided management and
conflicting jurisdictions has been carried out in the City to
the redzkt io ad absurdum and the remedy does not lie in
the reform of individual cases of corruption and abuse,
but in a consolidation of useless expenses and a general
simplification. The case is like that of a man who, having
a large property left to him, should call in all his neigh-
bours to assist him in the management of it, and at the
end of the year he finds very little remaining for himself
as the proprietor, and even perhaps a heavy bill for ex-
penses brought in against him. Ido not believe there is a
single city in the world, except the city of London, where
the local burdens ought to be so light, but where they are
so overwhelming as they are at the present moment. I
say this with reference to the direct taxation, in the shape
of local rates, and also in reference to the indirect taxa-
tion, and to the immense trust estates, which ought to be
available for municipal objects. In the mode of keeping the
accounts the same system of divided management exhi-
bits itself. No persons who have not studied the subject
for years can at all get a comprehensive view of the
financial affairs of the corporation of the city of London,
such as can be easily obtained by devoting a few moments'
attention to the accounts of any large municipality on the
Continent, or in this country since the passing of the Mu-
nicipal Reform Act. The account of the City estates re-
lates principaliy to rents collected from real property in
possession of the corporation, and to the proceeds of the 4d
coal duty, and of the market dues ' • which together come
this year to about 200,0001. When the royal commission
was last sitting, the officers of the corporation said the in-
come fur which the City was answerable in a corporate
capacity was 150,000/. ; and they drew a distinction (re-
specting which the commissioners were not sufficiently on
their guard) between what they called the corporate
estates, for which they were responsible as a corporate
body, and the funds which they administer under acts of
Parliament. This view of the case made a great impression
on the minds of the last commissioners, who therefore
passed very lightly over the management of that portion
of the City's funds for which specific acts of Parliament
had been passed, and reported that the income of the cor-
poration was only 148,000/. At that time it was perfectly
known to the officers of the corporation and others who
took an active part in the former inquiry that the corpora-
tion of London ought to be considered financially
respon-
sible for an income, from all sources, of something
600,0001. per annum, instead of 148,0001. When Lord
Brougham stated the income of the City at 600,0001. in the
e se eitl
taei
tavmeres,nadesodwnli
lvteh
nothing
rdyielded shoutsw
oafs He f o
iuns
ner
eodf n
to
yr d, s ,
and
nt the e
that
enme(nioeer
pnthotloledrwa
eata
that
a( received
uponarlitethla
tth
theaf te rkwi
na rdd,s
150,000/. a year. The consequence was that the City
reformers have since that time lain under the stigma of
having grossly exaggerated the receipts of the cor-
poration ; whereas the misapprehension arises from the
minute subdivision of the accounts, owing to which even
the members of the corporation themselves know nothing
of the matter. 'Upwards of sixty different accounts pass
through the Chamberlain's office, and this is the cause of
the immense discrepancy between the statements of the
corporate income made out of doors and those made by the
corporate officers. In the City estate accounts there is
scarcely an item which is not calculated to mislead. Be-
ginning with the legal and establishment expenses, there
is, for instance, the Lord Mayor, who it appears, is paid
out Qf the City cash 6,0001. a year, and persons taking a
superficial view would conclude that that was all the Lord
Mayor's income. But in addition to that ho receives
e o
2,0001. in fees at the Mansion-house, making the real
salary 8,0001; but this 2,0001. does not at all appear
ffice in the
accounts of the City estate. Then, again, th
City tradesman is worth about 1,0001. a year ; but there
is no account of this sum, and it only appears that he re-
ceives first 61., then Si., then 14/., then 25/., and several
such like sums. s. The report of the officers' and clerks' com-
mittee, presented to the corpoption in March last, gave
the total amount of fixed salaries and emoluments, as re-
turned by the different officers themselves, at 55,000/. a
year. Now, this statement is in every respect incomplete.
It contains neither the salary nor emoluments of the Lord
Mayor. Tke another branch of the expenditure.
City commissioner of police receives 1,000/ a year, but