The Sun.
London, England, 1853-11-24 00:00:00

THE SUN, LON'D-ON, THURSDAY ETENINIG, NOVEMBER `24, 1853.

The Chairman—Was no part of this fund applied to
keeping the Monument in repair, or for lighting it ?
Mr. Bennoch—l believe not. The cost of the lighting
must be merely nominal. The witness then proceed to
state, with regard to the Irish Society of the corporation
that the accounts of that society were not included among
the chamberlain's returns. That society regarded itself as
an independent body, and it kept its own accounts. He
had also omitted to mention that the detail which he gave
yestefday of the saving of 50,0001. per annum, which he
thought might be effected in the salaries of the corporation
without impairing the efficiency of any of the offices, was
entirely based upon the supposition that the existing cor-
poration should be allowed to continue only in an improved
form. Now, he wished to explain that if the scheme of re-
form which he had submitted at the previous sitting were
to be carried out, he believed that instead of a saving of
only 50,0001., a saving of from 80,0001. to 00,0001. might
easily be effected in the annual expenditure of the corpora-
tion, which would leave 20,0001. for the cost of the reduced
establishments. These were the whole of the explanations
and additions which he wished to make.
Mr. Samuel Morley, wholesale warehouseman. city, was
the next witness examined. He said—l appear here on
invitation, less in the hope that I shall be able to add any-
thing to the information which has already been given to
the commissioners, than to add my testimony to the
opinion expressed by the previous witnesses, to the effect
that the feeling in the city is, that an extensive reform in
the constitution of the corporation is demanded.
The Chairman—What are the alterations which you
think would be desirable to make in the present consti-
tution ?
Mr. Morley—l believe the system is thoroughly out of
harmony with the general wants and feelings of the city.
I believe there are many merchants and large traders who
would be ready to devote the requisite time to tho dis-
charge of the ordinary and legitimate functions of the
corporation ; and for myself, I can say, as one who has
never been a member of the corporation, although I have I
occupied the position of an interested looker-on, that under
an altered system I should be willing to co-operate.
The Chairman—Then you have never been a member of
the present corporation?
Mr. Morley—l have never had any connection with it,
although I have been repeatedly requested to become a
member. I could not afford the time necessary for the
purpose, and many of the duties of the office would
be distateful to me. The Lord Mayor's show is a relic of
the dark ages, and offensive and inconvenient to everybody
but children, nurserymaids, and idlers. I consider also
that the habit of connecting dinners and entertainments
with the duties of the corporation deters many gentlemen
from accepting offices which they would otherwise be dis-
posed to undertake. The Court of Common Council con-
sists of 206 members, and the Court of Aldermen of 26
members snore, making altogether 232. If this number
were reduced to 50, and one or two members were elected
from each ward, instead of seven or eight, as at present,
more interest would be taken in the elections, more care
would be taken to elect the right men, and the corpora-
tion would find more favour with the mercantile classes.
The mode of electing sheriffs is very objectionable and
unjust. For the purpose of exacting a fine, a gentle-
man is nut up as a candidate without his consent, and
in order to ensure his election the 'long-shoremen and
voters of that class are drummed up from the river banks
to thrust the office upon a reluctant individual. The ne-
cessity under which a newly-elected sheriff lies to pay
6001. or 7001. •in thane for the dinner at Guildhall is very
onerous and intolerable ; and so, also, is the burden of the
dinners at the Old Bailey, which, although they may be
very proper, ought not to be paid for out of the pocket of
a private individual. lam in favour of the system of a
paid magistracy ; and I would abolish the judicial func-
tions of the aldermen. I do not consider the present
system of unpaid magistracy in the City as by any means
economical. I have carefully perused the scheme sub-
mitted to the co nmissioners by Mr. Acland, and although
I have not communicated in any way with that gentle-
man, I am bound to say that there is much in his plan
which appears to be very desirable. There is a simplicity
of arrangement about the proposition which meets with
general approbation in the City.
The Chairman—Do you approve of the entire abolition
of the corporation of the City ?
Mr. Morley—No ; I do not think it would be desirable
to abolish it altogether ; but I would confine the City cor-
poration to purely municipal functions.
' Mr. C. Lewis—Would you have the City corporation
placed under the provisions of the Municipal Corporation
Act, like the other boroughs and cities of the country ?
Mr. Morley—l would not object to the application of
that act to the City, with certain modifications suitable to
the peculiar circumstances of London. I am opposed
to the extension of the corporation of the City to the whole
metropolis. I would prefer a healthy system of local self-
government, and the giving of separato municipal institu-
tions to the various metropolitan boroughs, with the pro-
vision at the same time of some common centre, means of
which the different local municipalities could combine for
joint action on ;matters affecting the common interest of
all, such as the sewers, paving, lighting, clic.
Mr. C. Lewis—Would you maintain the existing con-
nection between the livery companies and the City cor-
poration ?
Mr. Morley—l would not. I would have the municipal
constituency composed entirely of householders, and the
peculiar mode of admitting freemen I would abolish.
The Chairman—What is your opinion with regard to a
chamber of commerce ?
Mr. Morley-1 think a chamber of commerce is very
desirable for the metropolis, but I consider it ought to be
allowed to grow out of the felt wants of the trading com-
munity, and not be established by the corporation. I can,
however, see many uses for a chamber of commerce. There
is, for instance, the question of the new receipt stamp,
which is at present causing doubt and difficulty in the
City ; and there are also the bearings of the Post-office
arrangements on the interests of trade ; which are both
questions that could be advantageously dealt with by a
chamber of commerce.
The Chairman—Do yon not think that a portion of the
revenue arising from the property of the corporation might
fairly be applied in affording facilities to commerce?
Mr. Morley—No ; I consider if traders like myself de-
sire any accommodation or convenience in our business,
that they ought to be, and that they really would be wil-
ling to pay for it. Sanitary improvement is a subject to
which I think the corporation should have directed more
attention than they have done. I consider the coal-tax a
very objectionable impost, and a general improvement rate
on all householders throughout the metropolis would be a
preferable mode of raising revenue for metropolitan im-
provements. I hold the practice of exacting a payment
for permission ;to trade in the City as very unjust, and
acts very partially in favour of wholesale dealers ; and with
regard to the exclusive trade privileges of the City, I don't
know one of them that I would retain. I would sweep
them all away. I wish to cast no reflection on the mem-
bers of the corporation, who, I think, are better than the
system; but I am bound to say that their conduct has not
been such as, in my opinion, it ought to have been.
The Chairman—Has not greater care been displayed of
late years in the election of corporate officers ?
Mr. Morley—l believe the corporation has acted of late
years under the knowledge that things were approaching
the crisis which has at length arrived, and that that feel-
ing has operated to some extent as a, check upon it.
The next witness examined was Mr. George Richard
Corner, vestry-clerk of St. Olave's, Southwark, who said—
I am connected with the borough of Southwark, where I
have been a practising solicitor since 1824. A large portion
of the inhabitants of the borough of Southwark have for
the last sixty or seventy years been strenuously endeavour.
ing to have Southwark fully incorporated with the city of
London, and to have conceded to it the same privileges as
the other wards of the City. This they claimed under a
charter of Edward VI., which declares that Southwark
shall be governed in the same manner as the City itself.
In 1660, the people of Southwark applied to Parliament
for separate municipal institutions ; but the city of
London opposed them, and the application failed. Since
which period Southwark has remained under the anoma-
lous and imperfect jurisdiction of the City.
Sir J. Patteson—lf Southwark were to be completely
incorporated with the City, and constituted a separate
ward, would it not be necessary that it should be taken out
of the county of Surrey?
Mr. Corner—That is precisely our difficulty ; but I ap-
prehend that Southwark would, as a matter of course, be
dissevered from the county of Surrey if it were regularly
incorporated with and assimilated to the city of London.
Sir J. Patteson—But I apprehend that the charter of
Edward VI. does not provide for the separation of South-
wark from the county of Surrey ?
Mr. Corner—lt does not ; and Southwark's peculiar
hardship is, that it is subject to the double jurisdictions
and double duties, viz., to those of the county-of surrey
and those of the city of London.
Mr. C. Lewis—ln what respect does the City interfere
with the borough of Southwark?
Mr. Corner—Our grievance is, that the City does not in-
terfere with Southwark enough.
Mr. C. Lewis—We wish to know the practical mode in
which the City interferes with Southwark.
Mr. Corner--They hold three courts a year in Southwark.
These courts are the ancient court beets of the manor. The
steward of Southwark, who presides in them, is appointed
by the Court of Aldermen. The City also holds quarter
sessions in Southwark, but these sessions are merely formal,
no actual business being done at them, and the grand jury
is summoned only in order to be discharged immediately.
The City has also the metage of corn and fruit in South-
wark, as well as in other parts of the metropolis. They ap-
point the coroner of Southwark. There is a borough court,
of which Mr. Payne is judge. lam the prothonotary of
that court. It can try cases of trespass and debt to any
amount, and solicitors of the superior courts may practise
My salary, as its prothonotary, is 501. a year; ;
in it. This court is a very excellent one, and I would pre-
serve it.
but that circumstance does not influence my opinion in re-
commending its retention. The Court of Common Council
appoints the high bailiff of Southwark.
Mr. C. Lewis—What is the feeling of the people of South-
wark with respect to complete incorporation of the City ?
Mr. Corner—l believe they are in favour of such a mea-
sure ; but as a meeting of the inhabitants of Southwark is
to be held in the Town-hall on Friday next on that very
subject, I would rather defer stating what is the feeling of
the inhabitants of the borough until I have seen the result
of that meeting.
The Chairman—lf Southwark were to be added to the
city of London, would not the addition thus made to it
be larger than the original jurisdiction of the City itself !
Mr. Corner—Yes ; but both the City and Southwark com-
bined would not be so large as the Tower Hamlets alone.
The population of the City is 127,000, and that of South-
wark is 155,000, making together 182,000 ; whereas the
population of the borough of the Tower Hamlets alone
numbers 400,000 souls. In the years 1787, 1814, 1827,
1835, and again in 1852, the inhabitants of Southwark had
successively assembled in public meeting, and agreed to
memorials to the corporation of London, praying for the
restoration of their ancient rights and privileges, secured
to them under the charter of Edward VI. The witness
was about to enter into historical details, when
The Chairman said—We do not wish to accumulate anti-
quarian evidence as to the borough of Southwark ; the pre-
vious commissioners collected all the information that was
necessary on that head. We wish rather to ascertain facts
of a practical charactes. Do you not think that if Southwark
were incorporated with the city} of London, the City would
lose much of its peculiar character ?
Mr. Corner- -No, Ido not. I believe that Southwark
has a large trading and mercantile community as well as
the City.
The Chairman—Then yon think that the general charac-
ter of the community of Southwark has ac lose resemblance
to the general character of the city of London ?
prison is the City prison, which
Mr. Corner—l do.
The Chairman—Does the City have a jurisdiction over
the prisons in Southwark ?
0. smallerthe
parishes a wards in
intoin tut the City,tativ
on
nr de
is never used, and is on the point of being pulled down.
The
i odTraht
seep
loitnthtl only
n
The Town-hall of Southwark is the property of the City.l .
divide Southwark into several wards, creating one and
in
ward where they are veryelarge.
Mr. Corner's evidence having been concluded,
The Chairman, at half-past one o'clock, declared the
inquiry to stand adjourned to 12 this day.
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