The Sun.
London, England, 1854-01-14 00:00:00

[1)1110E SD.

, the facts, and justice was therefore substantially admi
nistered by them.
Mr. C. Lewis— Then the aldermen are like a petty
jury who are assisted by the judge ?
Mr. Merewether—The assistance I would rather say
is like that which a judge receives from the clerk at Nisi
Prius, or from the clerk of the arraigns. The Court of
Aldermen consists of the Lord Mayor and aldermen,
and the two sheriffs. The sheriffs cannot vote as sheriffs,
but one of the two is frequently an alderman as well as
sheriff. The Court of Aldermen sits about twice a
month, and their duties are various and important. The
aldermen have the management of the prisons, and they
consider all presentments made by the wardmotes. The
Court of Aldermen meet usually on Tuesdays, and the
Court of Common Council on Thursdays. Sometimes
business is initiated in the one court, and sometimes in
the other ; but the feeling of each court is not to inter-
fere with the business of the other. Both courts have
the power of drawing upon the City cash, but the alder-
men practically confine their control over the City cash
to matters connected with the prisons, the ;magistracy,
the police, and the conservancy. They also grant pen-
sions, but very rarely, and with full notice, to decayed
members of their own body, or their widows and chil-
dren. Both courts have unlimited power of drawing
money for objects within their own jurisdiction, but the
general feeling is in favour of a proper economy. With
regard to the proceedings of the Court of Common
Council, every subject is watched with the greatest
jealousy ; and although in the discussions there was an
occasional warmth of feeling displayed, as would some-
times happen in all popular bodies, the result generally
arrived at was one in accordance with good sense and
propriety. The Court of Common Council was the
supreme representative body of the commonality ; and
the division between the functions of the two bodies
could not be legally disturbed by either, being, as they
are, fixed by law. The present system of the corpora.
tion works exceedingly well, and I could not suggest
anything likely to make it,work better. I have consi-
dered the matter fully, and asked myielf`what is tEniivll,-
but I could detect none. The manner in which the
business of the committees of the corporation is con-
ducted is highly satisfactory. Indeed, I cannot imagine
the possibility of its being conducted better: The com-
mittees carry their feeling against every thing like job-
bing to the most scrupulous extent. and to an extent
even which is often prejudicial to individuals.
At the close of the sitting, the Commissioners ad-
journed the inquiry till the next day.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

DEATH OF REAR ADMIRAL FALCON.

This gallant officer died on the 11th inst., at his re-
sidence. Westbourne-terrace, Hyde-park. By the
admiral's decease Captain the Right Hon. Earl of Hard-
wicke (1825) attains his flag rank ; but his lordship, not
having served his full sea time within four months, he
will, therefore, be placed on the reserved half-pay list.
Captain Chads, C.B. (1825), of the Excellent, the next
qualified on the active list, will, therefore become rear
admiral of the blue. Retired Captains John Shekel and
George 0. Lempriere, being seniors to Lord Hardwicke
and Captain Chads, also obtain their promotion to flag
rank, but without increase of pay. Rear Admiral Falcon
has served on full pay for 32 years. He entered the
navy in 1794, as A. 8., on board the Sheerne,s, Captain
Win. George Fairfax, flag-ship, in the Channel, of
Rear Admiral Henry Harvey, but soon attained the
rating of midshipman, and accompanied the former officer
into the Repulse and Venerable, 74's, the latter
bearing the flag of Admiral Duncan, whom, after par-
ticipating in the battle off Camperdown, Oct. 11, 1797,
he followed into the Kent, 74 ; during his attachment to
which ship, he appears to have been lent, for three
mouths, in 1798, as acting lieutenant to the Champion,
20, Captain Henry Raper. In May and September,
1799, he successfully joined, in the same capacity, the
Busy, 18, and Hymna, frigate, Captains John Acworth
Ornmaney and David Lloyd ; and on May 15, 1800, he
was confirmed into the Wright, armed-ship, Captain
Thomas Campbell. His subsequent appointments as
lieutenant were on the West India, North America,
and Lisbon stations-August 23, 1800, to the Andro-
meda, 32, Captain James Bradby and Edw. Durnford
King ; June 9, 1802, aria July 21, 1803, to the Cam-
brian, 40, and Leander, 50, flag-ships ,of Sir An-
drew Mitchell ; and in 1806-8-9, to the Leopard,
50, Barfleur, 98, Ganges, 78, and Barfleur again, bear-
ing each the flag of Hon. George Cranfield Berkeley.
While in the Leander Mr. Falcon assisted, under Cap-
tain John Talbot, at the capture, Feb. 23, 1805, of La
Ville de Milan, French frigate of 46 guns, and the si-
multaneous re-capture of her prize, the Cleopatra, 32 ;
and when with Captain Salusbury Pryce Humphreys,
in the Leopard, lie was one of the officers sent to search
the United States frigate Chesapeake for deserters, after
that vessel had struck her colours, March 22, 1807. On
March 8, 1811, while acting as captain of the Macedo
than, 38, he was made commander into the Meloomene,-
troop.ship. Attaining post rank, October 29, 1813, he
soon afterwards joined the Leander, 50, and on March
14, 1814, obtained command of the Cyane, of 32 guns
and 171 men. After a furious action off Madeira, in
which, besides being much cut to pieces, she sustained a
loss of 6 men killed and 13 wounded, the latter vessel,
together with her consort, the Levant, of 20 guns and
131 men, was unfortunately captured by the American
ship Constitution, of 54 guns and 469 men, Feb. 20,
1815. Captain Falcon subsequently became a prisoner
of war, but, peace soon restoring him to liberty, he re-
turned home, and was afterwards appointed, June 24,
1817, to the Tyne, 26, in which vessel, in October, 1820,
he brought from South America to England specie to
the amout of nearly 700,0001. ; March 1, 1823, to the
Isis, 50, lying at Chatham ; June 28, 1823, and August
21, 1825, to the Spartiate, 76; and Wellesley, 75, flag-
ships of Sir George Eyre, on the South American sta-
tion ; and May 1, 1833, and Sept. 5, 1835, to the San
Josef, 110, and Royal Adelaide, 104, bearing each the
flag of Sir Wm. Hargood, commandar-in-Chief at Ply-
mouth, where he continued until paid off, April 30,
1836. On Feb. 17, 1845, he was employed as captain
of the Royal Sovereign yacht, and superintendent of the
dockyard at Pembroke. Captain Falcon married, Oct.
7, 1834, Louisa, widow of the late Captain Cursham,
and daughter of the late Richard Meyrick, Esq., of
Runkton, county of Sussex, by whom he had issue.

PORTSMOUTH, JAN. 13.
The Vulcan steam troop frigate, Commander Von
Donop, arrived at Spithead this morning from the West
India and North American lstation. She sailed from
Halifax on the 14th ult. and., Bermuda on the 25th,
from which latter place she has brought a mail. Four-
teen officers, six ladies, 232 rank and file of the_Royal
Artillery, 59 women, and 129 children, have come home
in the Vulcan ; also Lieutenant M'Donnald, of the 36th
Regiment, on sick leave. Among the party are Mr.
Inglis, Assistant-Surgeon, from Bermuda ; Dr. and
Mrs. Hall and daughter ; Mrs. Callam ; Captains Tur-
ner and Dixon, R.A., in command of companies, Svc.
The Vulcan is ordered to Woolwich.

The Sprighili,—;teaM-vessel, Master-Commander
Allen, proceeded to-day to the eastward with supernu-
meraries.

The Manceuvrer navy lighter was got off the Woolsner
shoal this morning, and towed into the harbour by the
Pigmy tug, having apparently sustained no damage
beyond losing her rudder and false keel.

WOOLWICH, JAN 13.
APPOINTMENTS.

Li eutenants—TliomasDaviesib)(lB44), to the Hogue,
60, screw steam guard-ship at Devonport, vice Stevens,
promoted ; Charles T. Dench (1844), to the Dauntless,
24, screw steam-frigate, at Portsmouth ; Charles M.
Luckralt (1845), to the Euryalus, 50, screw steam-frigate
at Chatham ; Charles F. F. Boughey (1846), to the
Trafalgar, 120, flag-ship
_of Vice-Admiral J. W. D.
Dundas, C. 8., on the Mediterranean station, and at
present in the Black Sea, vice Mends, promoted; Frank
K. Hawkins (1845), from the Impregnable, flag ship at
Devonport, to the Leander, 50, on the Mediterranean
station, vice May, promoted ; William T. F. Jackson
(1846), to the Impregnable, flag-ship at Devonport.
Chaplain—The Rev. Joseph W. Dickson (1843), to
the Euryalus; 50, screw steam-frigate, at Chatham.
Clerks-in-Charge—H. E. L. P. Bailey (1846), to the
Caradoc mail steam-packet, on the Mediterranean sta-
tion, vice Tucker, promoted ; Charles William Tuke
(1848), serving as clerk of the Plumper steam-sloop, on
the West Coast of Africa station, to be clerk-in-charge
of the Antelope steam-sloop, on the same station, vice
Bowman, promoted.
Master's-Assistant George H. Downing, to the Race-
horse, 14, sloop, at Devonport.

PROMOTIONS.
Mates—Richard Peachey Gresham (1850), serving in
the Tartarus paddle-wheel steam-vessel, on particular
service • James Hennessy Coxon (1850),. serving in the
Furious,' 16, paddle-wheel steam-frigate, on the Medi-
tgervexnu,station ; William Clark (1850), First Mate of
Vixen, 6, paddle-wheel steam-sloop, on the. south-
east coast of America station ; Hamilton Edward George
Earle (1850), serving in the Sharpshooter, 8, iron screw
steam gun vessel, on the south-east coast of America sta-
tion ; Walter Lidney de Kantzow (1850), First Mate of
the Electra, 14, sloop, on the Australian station ; Edward
Bone Harrison Franklin (1850), Acting Lieutenant in
the Amphitrite, on the Pacific station ; Wm. Dawson
(1850), First Mate of the Excellent gunnery ship. at
Portsmouth ; William Fred. Blunt Edwardes (1851),
First Mate of the Sinioom iron screw steam troop-ship, at
Portsmouth; Claude Aue-eustus Champion de Crespigny
(1851), First Mate of the St. Jean D'Acre, 101, screw
steam-ship on the Mediterranean station ; Wm.Weymouth
(1851), First Mate of the Sanspareil, 70, screw steam-ship.
on the Mediterranean station ; Thomas Sherlock Gooch
(1851), Acting Lieutenant in the Fox, 42, on the East
India station ; James Blair Grove (1851), serving in the
Assistance discovery ship in the Arctic Seas ; Cecil
William Buckley (1851), First Mate of the Royal George,
120, screw steam-ship, at Devonport ; William George
Hope Johnstone (1851), First Mate of the Arrogant,
47, screw steam-frigate, Rear-Admiral Corry's western
squadron ; Charles George Grey Perceval (1851), serving
in the Fury, 6, paddle-wheel steam-sloop, on the Medi-
terranean station ; Charles Edward Somerville Wood-
man (1851), serving in the Princess Royal, 90, screw,
steam-ship, at Portsmouth ; Edward Thomas Nett
(1851), First Mate of the Queen, 116, on the Mediter-
Pranean station; James Bower Balfour (1851), serving in