The Sun.
London, England, 1854-01-26 00:00:00

LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, JANUARY 26 1854.

THE EASTERN QUESTION.

PRINCE ALBERT AND HIS ASSAILANTS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.

(From the Times.)
Whatever answer may be returned by England and
France to the last communication of the Russian Go-
vernment, it is satisfactory to know that the language
of the Cabinets of London and Paris will be identically
the same. There is, in fact, no distinction to be drawn
between the position of the two countries. We have
sent our fleets together to follow and defend a certain
line of policy in the Black Sea. The intimation con-
veyed to the Russian Government of this pur joint in-
tention was announced to the Ministers of the Emperor
in the same form and at the same time. The singular
and evasive reply which. Russia appears to have given
to that intimation has also been communicated in the
same terms in London and in Paris, and in the same
terms the two Governments will, no doubt, agree to
avow and uphold the resolution they have taken.
This agreement forms an essential part of the sys-
tem to which we are on both sides anxious to ad-
here, and although the result may be that some
slight delay will occur before Baron Brunow's
curiosity can be satisfied, yet, in taking this im-
portant step, it is desirable that the joint action of the
two Cabinets should be strictly preserved. The Russian
Government has asked for a further explanation of the
intentions with which our fleets have entered the Black
Sea. The Emperor of Russia appears even to have gone
so far as to admit their undoubted right to be there in a
position of armed neutrality. But the future conduct
of the Russian Envoys will be regulated by the answer
given to this demand. We cannot anticipate the terms
of that answer, but, as to its spirit, there can, we ap,
prehend, be no doubt on the mind of any man who has
watched the steady progress of events. England and
France have nothing to explain, for there is nothing
clandestine or obscure in the act now under considera-
tion. They have, on the contrary, everything to avow,
and, the more precise and public their avowal can be
made, the better will it serve the cause they have adopted.
The instructions given to the Admirals and executed by
the fleets at this very time are the answer of the allied
Governments. It would be disingenuous and unworthy
of two great nations to pretend that their fleets have
entered the Black Sea for purposes compatible with
strict neutrality, or even to impose a naval armistice on
the belligerents by restrictions equally affecting both
sides alike. The fleets have entered the Euxine because
the maritime Powers had long since promised to the
Porte their moral and material assistance in case of
necessity. The disaster of Sinope proved that without
that support even the coasts of Asia Minor were inse-
cure, and no reinforcements could be sent by sea to the
Turkish forces in Armenia. We therefore interfere to
protect these coasts, and to convoy the necessary rein-
forcements ; and, although no positive attack is contem-
plated at this time on the territories of the Russian Em-
pire, the admirals are empowered and directed to prevent
the maritime communications of the Russian arsenals.
Such is the avowed policy of the British and French Go-
vernments, and in that policy they will persevere, with-
out unnecessary violence or provocation, but also with.
out hesitation or weakness. Nothing is secret, nothing
is new, in the facts we are describing, and the expres-
sions we are using. They were perfectly well known to
the Emperor Nicholas and the Russian Cabinet before
the doubts which Baron Brunow has been instructed to
express could have occurred to any one. No conceal-
ment has been practised, no evasion resorted to ; in
three successive forms—from London, from Paris, and
from Sebastopol—the Emperor received the notice. If,
after this, he chooses to affect ignorance of our object,
such simplicity can be no more than a feint. We are
therefore led more strongly to the conclusion that his
only object has been to gain a little more time, or else
to give to the rupture which he has provoked a turn ap-
parently less unfavourable to the character of the ori-
ginal assailant.
We learn at the same time from our correspondent
at Berlin that another step of considerable interest has
been taken by the Emperor Nicholas. When the
last advices left St. Petersburg it was just ascertained
that Count Orloff bad been commanded to proceed
to Vienna on a special mission, and that this Envoy
would be empowered to state on what terms the
Russian Government would be prepared to enter
into negotiations fur peace. This move is evidently
intended to anticipate the effect of the ultimatum ad-
dressed to. the Emperor by the Four Powers, and to
shift once more the basis of the negotiation—perhaps,
also, to-endeavour to shake, as far as possible, the union
which has happily thus far prevailed between the Four
Powers. Count Orloff is a nobleman of the highest rank
in the Russian empire, enjoying the unbounded confi-
dence of the Emperor, and powerful enough to withstand
that sovereign even in his moments of excitement. It is
believed by those who are most conversant with the in-
ternal springs and agencies of the Russian Court, that,
upon the whole, Count Orloff's influence throughout
these transactions has been moderate and pacific, and
that, in conjunction with Count Nesselrode, he has dis-
suaded the Emperor from adopting the more violent
courses which have been urged from other quarters.
The choice of such an Envoy Extraordinary to Vienna
at this time is a circumstance of considerable interest,
and it might be regarded as evincing less indisposition
on the part of Russia to treat than was attributed to her
a short time ago. But this mission is a continuation of
the evasive policy of which Baron Brunokv's last com-
munication gave the first sign. The time is past, how-
ever, when such expedients as these can be practised
with success or tolerated with impunity. If the Empe-
ror of Russia is disposed to treat for peace, the prelimi-
naries accepted by Turkey and recommended by the Four
Powers are before him. It is in his power by a word to
stop the effusion of blood, and to remove the impending
evils of war ; but if while he rejects these proposals be
endeavours to amuse us or to divide us by other diplo-
matic artifices, he is only attempting to make us the dupes
and victims of a palpable trick. Another negotiation, ano-
ther reference to Constantinople, to be followed in all
probability by no result, would waste six weeks more of
the year, and the month of March would see the Rus-
sian Generals on the Danube at the head of overwhelm-

Sir,—However disgraceful, weak, and spiteful
may be the attacks on Prince Albert, they are only
so much additional proof of the real value of great
popularity. Toadied, be-statued me' day, pelted
with all manner of . moral filth the next, what is
this but the ordinary course of things in the case
of any to whom birth, wealth, power—any combi-
nation of circumstance—may have given a high
position above their fellow-men ?
Is Hudson forgottett, now he has again settled into
his own natural sphere ? Wherein was he to blame
that as a successful speculator men worshipped him,
lifted him, all vulgar as he was, on to a shrine be-
fore which the highest in rank and the most dis-
tinguished in refinement were too willing to bow ?
They made his language, his vulgatisms, the stock
jokes of the hour ; but yet they counted him, drank
his wine, ate his dinners, filled Mr. Hudson's
rooms, and acted, at the court of the mere cun-
ning money dealer, all the false folly which forms
so much the staple of every-day life in the (' first
society." _ _ _

Had not the bubble burst, I can conceive it pos-
sible that the
_frequenters of Capel Court would,
ere this, have moved the City to call for a statue
to their great God of Gain, and the opening of the
Exhibition would have been voted a failure had not
the Railway King joined the more ordinary court.
Louis Napoleon might have sought his private
esteem, and Russia been tryinc; to
be-Cossack Europe through some malachite doors
hung on gold hinges in the palace of the Railway
Sovereign.
Say—though there is no proof otit--that Prince
Albert has done some intrusive acts at the Horse
Guards, or some imprudent acts in the manner of
interference in foreign affairs. Are these the real
grounds of all this sudden outpouring of rancorous
reproof, determined depreciation of his character ?
Is it only just now known that he has not lived a
Sovereigns Consort in these troublous times, and
been devoid of all political predilections ? Did the
world really believe that this prince—the so-called
" soul of commerce and scientific progress"—was a
mere dressed doll in all those matters which must,
of all matters, most engage his wife's attention—
must bear so intimately on every hour of his and
her daily life ? If he has done one or a dozen im-
prudent acts in the many years he has now been
the husband of our Queen, let them meet that re-
proval from which such acts, in relation to public
policy, are, thank God, never sacred ; let the
Englishman's birthright—to speak his mind—have
its free course ; but let us be careful that, in vin-
dicating a public principle, we do not use weapons
sharpened by private, unrelenting pique.
It is said he has German notions—wishes to
Germanise the whole tone of our domestic and
foreign policy. That the Prince should be biassed
by the education of his fatherland—that he should
esteem the advice of those of the country of his
birth, when they aro men of world-wide reputation,
is surely not unnatural. That he may have what
we call "foreign prejudices" is very likely. Youmay
naturalise a man, but I will defy any humn
a power
to make an Englishman by any Act whatever. He
is sui generis, and it is a genus the characteristics
of which will' graft, to grow, on no foreign stock.
Let the country at least know what he has done.
I am no idolater ; but really it does try one's
patience to see the idol of any body of men assailed
with all manner of abuse on mere report. Albertism
was—and I believe, with much justice—a very
prevalent social creed. The generality of us looked
on him as one who had shown no common pru-
dence under no common trial. We were content
to Punch the task of dealing with any such little
temporary departures from common sense as all
great men are liable to. We heard of him at all
manner of charitable inaugurations. When he
spoke in public he spoke so well that men who
did not hear him even questioned the reports of
his speeches. Scientific professors brought in con-
tact with him were won by his tact, as they were
astonished at his knowledge. Agricultural autho-
rities declare he is not only nearly first in pigs,
but that he has well nigh mastered all the modern
theory and practice of agriculture. One might fill
columns with tributes to his character. And now
it is told from cottage to cottage, "heis in the
Tower fur treason t" say, the quidnunu., of
country-town libraries know "he will be im-
peached !"
My belief is that, with a certain class of men,
he has never had any real popularity. The common
sense of the nation has appreciated him—not so
the men of that school which holds common sense
only to be the sense of vulgar, common people.
He has not been wicked enough. There, sir, is
the whole truth. We have had, at last, a moral
Court. Principle has been upheld, and the un-
principled feel it cannot forgive it. They talk of
prudery,—in their dictionary it means opposition
to licentiousness. They say he is slow,—i.e., he
does not bet, gamble, talk indecency, or find lodg-
ings for an opera dancer. He inclines towards
" progress" and the interest of the " many ;" a
deadly sin that in the eyes of those who only value
a Court for its glitter, and esteem the chief duty of
the high in rank to be supporting the privileges and
flattering the idle pleasures of the higher classes.
It is not until private weaknesses or follies be-
come the cause of public hurt or annoyance that
public censure should venture to deal with them.
The worst that has been whispered or printed of the
Prince, on authority which could convict a pick-
pocket, has not amounted to anything more than a
criticism of the character of a foreigner, in a most
trying position, in matters none would venture to
censure in the case of any private nobleman. A
man may be, to casual acquaintances, so reserved
in manner as to even hurt the feelings of the very
sensitive, and yet all the while have a very warm
heart, and be capable of winning from intimate
friends the deepest affection. Those who only knew
Queen Adelaide by her mere external every-day
manner were for over talking of her un-English
reserve ; those who knew her well only did so to
love her more and more. Had that so-called " true
English gentleman, George IV., at any time of
his life, such real friends as Prince Albert is known
to have ? Even the clubs will allow that he has
about him those in constant intercourse with him
whose respect and admiration he has justly won.
The worst feature of these attacks, in a public
point of view, is that, while theyare aided by private
malevolence, which in society clothes every news-
paper hint with the inventions no newspaper dare
publish, it is more than suspected that the whole
movement is a "party one. It is sought to sow
division in the Cabinet by this system of attack upon
the Prince in connexion with it. The effort will re-
coil on the actors. John Bull is not yet so cravenish
as to see the domestic peace of his Queen rashly
invaded to • further the interests of any section
of men. The Prince will now have gained some
experience of what a desire to gratify private
malice, vulgar curiosity, and party jealousy may
lead to in this country. His flatterers, I trust,
will also have seen the danger of pushing hero-
worship into a too premature development of its
moral issue—a figure in marble or bronze, labelled
for posterity, with a great weight of the inventive
flattery of the age of its date.
For my own part, were all that I have heard or
read about him these last six weeks true, I should
esteem the character he has hitherto won from
all thinking men, as the husband of our Queen,
quite sufficient in itself to make me feel utter
disgust at the baseness of his present assailants.
He may yet live to see these patriotic (?) censors of
his actions among the most cringing of those who
would seek his or the Queen's favour. His best
revenge would be to grant them their wishes, that
their cowardice may appear all the clearer.
A LOYAL SUBJECT, BUT NO FLATTERER.

ing armies, ready to laugh at the credulity of the
Western Powers. Peace is offered to the Emperor of
Russia on fair and honourable terms ; let him accept
them if he desires peace. If not, the evils of a prolonged
state of suspense, during which Russia is accumulating
all her forces for the struggle, are more to be deprecated
than the evils of war. The purpose of Russia in endea-
vouring to gain a few weeks more time is obvious, but it
is our interest and our duty to oppose a more frank and
vigorous policy to her schemes, and no doubt the an-
swer of the Allied Powers to Baron Brunow and M. de
Kisseleff will be sufficiently firm and precise to put an
end to all uncertainty on our relative positions.

WIT ai? LONDON COMMISSION.

The Commissio ale rs sat again yesterday, at the Privy
Council Chamber,„ D,owning-street. Present—The Right
Hon. H. Labotieler, e (chairman),' Sir John Patteson,
and Mx-. Cornrwitll Lewis. At the opening of the sit-
ting, _ _ _

Merewet her, town-clerk, attended to plit in vari-
ous documents, among which was a copy of the will of
Sir Thos. Gresh. am, for the erection of the Royal Ex-
change .by the corporation, in conjunction with the
Mercers' kr.lornpa my. This will, he said, had been car-
ried out fu• st 133 ► the purchase of the Gresham College ;
next by the bull ding of the old Exchange, and afterwards
by the erection of the new Exchange, which tad: place
under the joi.t,t super vision of the corporation and the
committee of, the Mercers' Company.
The Chairma n--The site of Sir Thomas Gresham's
residence has been recently sold by the Government,
who had previo•asty bought it from the City for the Ex-
cise-office---do you know how much purchase money it
has fetched to -the Government ?

Mr. Merewet her—l do not, as it was not sold by the
corporation. Ili :1767 the corporation sold it to the
Government under act of Parliament, for a rent of 5001.
a year. _ _

The Chairma) s--And I believed the Government re-
ceived in 1852 t lie sum of 108,0001. purchase money for
it, besides the a .nnual rent of 500/. Judging from the
sum at which tl to property was originally sold to the
Government by the City. and the greatly enhanced price
which the Gove raiment has recently obtained for it, do
you think the Ci Ity made an improvident bargain when it
made the sale to the Government ?
Mr. Merewet her—The answer to that, I apprehend,
would be, that the transaction received the sanction of
Parliament.

The Chairmtui--Oh ! but many bills may pass through
Parliament for effecting arrangements of this kind for
which Parliame.ut is not reponsible ; and Parliament is
not bound to pro tect the interests of the City in any bar-
gain it may make like this, if the City does not protect
them itself.

Mr. Merewetl ten—Theprinza facie presumption would
rather be that, if Parliament passed the bill, it contained
nothing that wan improvident. Besides, the value of
property in the 'City has greatly increased since the year
1767, and I sh•Duld think the great difference in the
terms of the sale at the two periods would be quite ac.
counted for by the general rise in value.
The Chairman—But this property must have been
very valuable whim the corporation sold it, as it is situ-
ated in the very heart and centre of the City.

Mr. Merewether•—True ; and I think the fair inference
therefore is, that the corporation, in disposing of the
property so long ago, endeavoured to obtain as large a
sum for it as it coui'd, especially as it was dealing with
the Government. With regard to the lectures delivered
at the Gresham Institution, several of them are given
first in Latin and afterwards in English.

The Chairman—Am) the Latin lectures much attended?
Mr. Merewether—l think not. There is a rule that no
Latin lecture shall be delivered unless five persons are
present ; and. that number are very rarely present. I
was present myself many years ago at a Latin lecture
given in the old Royal Exchange, when I was
the only auditor who attended. The City's por-
tion cost of the Gresham College, including the
building and the site, was 6,955/. 155., and
the City's moiety towards the building of the Royal
Exchange was 8 4,2671. Mr. Merewether then said
that he had previously stated that the corn trade were
desirous of having the body of sworn meters continued in
existence, and that their measurement should be madea
compulsory, except under peculiar circumstances. He
now held in his hand a report presented last year to the
House of Lords by commissioners who were appointed
to inquire into the markets in Ireland, and this report
recommended that- meters should be generally esta-
blished throughout Ireland, and particularly in Dublin
He understood that Liverpool and other large towns in
England had applied to have the benefit of a similar ar-
rangement. The general purposes committee of the
corporation, who were now investigating the propriety
of remodelling the system of levying the metage dues in
the port of London, had engaged a gentleman of experi-
ence to visit the different outports of the country to
ascertain the practice there, and the result of his inquiry
was that the dues levied in the port of London were as
low as, If not lower than, the dium levied at most of the
outports. With respect to the management of the
prisons of the City, h e (Mr. Merewether) did not kno w
that he need say much, as Captain Williams's evidence
on that point was generally very favourable to the City.
It was true that Captain Williams stated that the remu-
neration of the officers of Newgate Prison was very
large, and he seemed to think that the corporation was
in the habit of amply remunerating all the officers it em-
ployed ; but this allegation the corporation regarded
rather as a matter of pride to them than otherwise.
Prima facie the better pay they offered the more likely
they were to secure a higher class of officers. The cost
of the prisons in the City did not fall upon the ratepay-
ers, like the cost of prisons in other localities, where they
were maintained out of the county rates. The City
prisons, on the contrary, were supported solely from the
corporatelunds. The jurisdiction of the chamberlain
over apprentices was very ancient, and he (witness) had
always considered its operation to be most beneficial.
The witness then handed in a list of the paid officers of
the corporation, who are 262 in number.

The Chairman—Are there any of these officers who
have bought their offices ?

Mr. Merewether—Yes ; a number of them purchased

their offices with the power of alienation ; but the policy
of the corporation, for a very considerable period, has
been gradually to buy up the power of alienation, and
the present number of officers who have that power has
been greatly reduced. A list of those who still retain
that power will, however, be made out and produced to ,
the commission. Mr. Merewether also adduced the
following statistics, to afford an idea of the sum which
the corporation has been in the habit of contributing
out of its own funds for charitable and public purposes.
The figures apply to a period of 25 years, ending 1852.
During that period it has applied to public improve-
ments, 560,0641. ; in donations to charitable purposes,
65,0231. lls. 10d. ; expended on public purposes,
25,8691. 7s. 10d. ; and for the new Holloway prison,
136,0891. 9s. 3d. ; making together a total of 787,0451.
Bs. 11d. He said the corporation devoted its attention
to the promotion of education. By the munificence of
a former town clerk the City of London School had been
established, and it was supported partly by bequests and
partly by contributions made out of the funds of the
City. _ _

The Chairman—What sum does the corporation vote
from its own funds annually for purposes of education ?
Mr. Merewether said that he was not prepared to

[PRICE SD.

householders in the City. In 1844 they amounted to
13,958, and in 1849 they were 13,915. He would also
mention the fact, to which he‘thought too much weight
could not be attached, that since this commission of in-

quiry had been opeeed, and all these complaints had
been made of the misconduct of the corporation, the an-
nual elections at the various wardmotes of the City bad
taken place, and yet, after allowing for one or two
deaths, and the resignation of Mr. Bennoch, the very
same representatives had been returned to the Common
Council as sat in it the previous year, with one or two
single exceptions.
Mr. Merewether then withdrew.
Dr. Mortimer was the next witness examined. He
said—l am head master of the City of London School,
and have held that office nearly 14 years. The school
is a boys' school, and is mainly intended for the citizens
of London ; that is to say, the act of Parliament recog-
nises the right of all liverymen and freemen to send their

children there, and gives permission likewise to the
Court of Cdmmon Council to make such alterations as
are necessary from time to time ; and an alteration has
been so made, enabling scholars to be received from dis-
tricts beyond the limits of the City, after the claims of
the liverymen and freemen have been satisfied. At the
close of the last half year the number of boys in the
school was 568, and the present number is • about 580.

The school is capable of receiving GOO boys. It is partly
endowed and partly self-supporting. Mr. John Car-
penter, a former town clerk pf the City, left to the school
a bequest of property which yields an income of 900/. a
year. The corporation built the school, and charged the
permanent maintenance of the structure on the funds of
the institution. Each boy pays Si. ss. per annum for
his education. A boy is admitted on obtaining the no-

urination of <z =Luber of ata Condof Common Council.

The education given is classical and mathematical. The
institution is divided into the upper and the lower school.

The lower school is divided into four classes, averaging
altogether about 240 boys. In the lower division of this
part'of the school, English grammar, writing, and arith-
metic are taught ; and in the upper division of the same
department, French, physical geography, and general
English are taught. The boys, after receiving this train-
ing, pass into the upper school, where there are nearly
360 boys. There they are necessarily taught the classics,

French, arithmetic, and mathematics ; but there is a third
section constituted of those who are taught Greek (the
class below them being only taught Latin), besides which
instruction in German and in choral singing is made
optional without any additional charge ; and with an
additional charge, instruction is given in chemistry and

drawing.
The Chairman—ln fact, then, when boys leave your
school, they are fit to go to one of the universities ?

Dr. Mortimer—Yes ; and our mathematical standard
hihger than that of any other school in the kingdom.

The bulk of the boys who leave our school take situa-
tions in commercial houses in the City ; but there are
seventeen scholarships which have been connected with
the school through the munificence of wealthy freemen
and liverymen of London, and a very considerable num-
ber of boys in the head class of all are tempted by the
scholarships to go to the University.
The Chairman—Do you impose any restrictions with
regard to religion in admitting boys ?
Dr. Mortimer—No, and I believe ours is the only
school in the country where a Jewish boy can obtain a
scholarship. The authorised version of the Scriptures is
read daily, and a form of prayer offered up which is
abridged from the Liturgy of the Church of England,
but we allow the Jewish scholars to withdraw during
the reading of the prayers. Their parents do not object,
however, to their being present at the reading of the
Scriptures.

The Chairman—But what is the case with the chil
dren of Roman Catholics ?

Dr. Mortimer—We have many English Roman Catho-
ic children in the school, but we never hear any com-

plaint against the religious instruction from teeir parents.

The Protestant Dissenters are equally satisfied, and the
only objection made comes from the Irish Roman
Catholics, whose children are consequently allowed the
same right to withdraw during the reading of the prayers
as the Jewish scholars. The boys are all day schola rs
with the exception of about twenty, who are taken as
boarders by some of the masters. I have a perfect un•
derstanding with the committee of the corporation which
has the supervision of the affairs of the City schools, and
nothing could be more harmonious or more satisfactory
than their management. The corporation are now
erecting a new school for the orphans of freemen and
liverymen, and I am appointed one of the referees to
select the candidates for the head mastership.

Mr. W. Payne was next examined. He said—l am
coroner of the city of London and the borough of South-
wark, and am appointed by the Court of Common Coun-

cil. The appointment is called an annual one, but the
corporation has no power to discharge me without rea-

sonable cause. The Court of Queen's Bench has decided
that the office of coroner is a freehold office. My emolu-
ments are paid out of the City's cash, and they average
about 500/. a year, fluctuating with the number of in-
quests that have to be held.
Mr. E. Woodthorpe, examined—l am a district sur-
veyor of the city of London, and am appointed by the
Court of Aldermen. There are three other district sur-
veyors in the City besides myself. My district includes
a part of the county of Middlesex. It is in reference to
that portion of it that I wish to speak. My duty is to
survey and report upon all ruinous buildings. My re-
ports are always attended to promptly by the Court of
Aldermen, and dilapidated buildings in the City are
immediately pulled down, repaired, or otherwise put
into a state of security ; but the case is different as to
my reports of ruinous buildings in the county of Mid-
dlesex, which I make to the overseers of the poor of
the different parishes. The overseers of the poor. how-
ever, do not attend to these matters, and the conse-
quence is that buildings sometimes remain in a very
dangerous state for many years. I get from 10 to 12
dilapidated buildings condemned and removed in the
city of London in a single year, where I cannot get one
condemned in the county.
Mr. Nathaniel Saunders, water-bailiff of the port of
London, examined—l have held my office for thirty
years. Am appointed by the Court of Common Coun-
cil, and have been re-elected annually. My salary is
500/. a-year. My duties on the river are to survey it

from time to time, and to observe what encroachments
and projections are made on its banks without the autho-
rity of the corporation, and report them to the naviga-

on committee.

Mr. C. H. James examined—l am one of the four
harbour masters of the port of London. The superin-
tending harbour master is ill at present, and cannot
attend this commission. The junior harbour master
receives 300/. a-year, the next receives 3501., the next
400/., and the highest 5001. I have held my present
office nearly fourteen years. A harbour master cannot
be appointed without undergoing an examination as to
his fitness, before the Trinity masters. I take my direc-
tions from the superintendent harbour master. I do
not think it would be advisable to remove the shoals in
the river. The removal of old London-bridge has caused
the tide to ebb much lower and to rise much higher than
it did before ; and the effect of the removal of the old
bridge would be nothing in comparison with the result
which the removal of the shoals would produce upon the
• tides There are a good many shoals in the river now,
but none of them are of any consequence. There are the
Whiting-shoal, the Barking-shoal, the Coal-harbour-
shoal, and the Erith-shoal. I superintend the mooring
and unmooring of all vessels, and take soundings when
required. I do not think it would be at all expedient to
have representatives from the dock companies upon the
navigation committee of the corporation. The shipping
which enters the various docks is only about one-fifth of
the whole that arrives in the port of London. I have
here a statement showing the number of vessels, and
their tonnage, which entered the port of London from
foreign ports, from Ireland, and coastwise, in the year
1853. The total number of such vessels in that year
was 30,076, and their tonnage was 6,229,898 tons. Of
those ship, 6,796, with a tonnage of 1,571,205, entered
the docks, leaving about 23,000 vessels, with a tonnage
of 4,658,693 tons, to be accommodated in the river. This
statement does not include coasters ; but in 1851 the
coasters numbered 9,253 vessels, with a tonnage of
1.386,450 tons.
Mr. Wilkinson, chief clerk of the City Small. Debts
Courts, examined—l am an attorney, and my income as
clerk of the City Small Debts Court amounts to 4001.
per annum, subject to deductions, which reduce it to
371/. I carry on no private practice as an attorney,
although I am not prohibited by the act from doing so.
I was a member of the Court of Common Council before
I received my present office ; but an interval of several
years occurred between my retirement from that court
and the date of my present appointment. I can affirm
Mr. Russell Gurney's evidence as to the satisfactory

state at the present moment. Besides the City of Lon-
don School, the corporation had also under its charge
Christ's Hospital School, St. Paul's School, Merchant
Tailors' School, and an Orphan School. The Lord
Mayor, all the aldermen, and a proportion of common
councillors, were always governors of Christ's Hospital.
Before concluding his statement, Mr. Merewether said
that, in the evidence he had given, his object had simply
been to state facts connected with the corporation rather
than to enter into enter into an elaborate defence of that
body. He did, however, beg permission to say a word
or two with regard to the extent of the unfriendly feeling
towards the corporation which was alleged to exist
among the citizens. The members of the City of Lon-
don Municipal Reform Association, according to the
statement of their secretary (Mr. Acland), numbered
1,200 members, who had each paid a registration fee of
ls. This society appeared to be in an unfortunate po-
sition with regard to the state of its finances ; for Mr.
Acland, as the secretary, had recently issued a circular
to the members, stating that the liabilities which had
been incurred by the secretary amounted to 2391., whilst
the amount received in registration fees and voluntary
contributions was only 1431. 19s, ; leaving the balance
against the society about 951. In his circular Mr. Acland
stated that he was personally responsible for the whole
amount of the balance, but that, as the object for which
the expenditure had been incurred was a public one, he
hoped that the members would come forward with sub.
scriptions to aid in liquidating the debt, and not leave
the burden to be borne entirely by a single individual.
Mr. Acland (who was present) here stated that his
circular had been issued among the members of the asso-
ciation exclusively.
Mr. Merewether continued—Now, he would call at-
tention to the proportion which the members of this so-
ciety bore to the entire body of the citizens. Mr. Acland
himself stated the number of registered members at 1,200,
and the population of the City was 125,000.
The Chairman—But Mr. Acland said that the mem•
bers of the society were all householders.
Mr. Merewether, then, would give the number

///
---.7
...- --4,--- e----4-‘4.... e1e.0.-- ..f
working the City Small Debts Court. Thrblysiness of
4
the court has considerably increased since its establish-
-4.' ) :,, ."
,‘ll, A ,4. .
ien ' e summonses issued in it in the year 1848
-- r iff
I
amou • . o 7,886, and in 1853 they amounted to
Ot
'.f-4.,-
10,272. About one-half of the summonses came on for
`-• _,.1 \ ;-' -` trial, the other half being either settled between the
parties or dropped. The number of oases in which juries
are asked for by the litigants is very few. In 1852
there were only fifteen jury cases, and in 1853 there
were thirty-six. The decisions of the judge may be ap-
pealed against in all cases between 201. and 501. ; but no
case of appeal has occurred. Last year the fees of the
court were diminished, and it is calculated that J,OOO/.
a year has been remitted to the suitors-by this arrange-
ment. The fees of the court are paid into the Chamber-

lain's office.
The proceedings were then adjourned till this day.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE:

NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE.
The half-yearly meeting of this company was held at
Stoke-upon-Trent yesterday. • Mr. Ricardo, M.P., oc-
cupied the chair. . _

The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report,
which appeared in the The Sun of yesterday, said, an ar-
rangement had been made with the London and North-
Western Company, and they had, as they conceived,
nothing further to do but to carry out that arrangement.
At the same time it was only fair and reasonable that

the proprietors of the Noith.---Sta.ffordshireßailway
should understand clearly the position in which they
stood, with a view to making it easier than it was at
present. (Hear,) They must, however, abide by the
agreements made by the directors, who acted as trustees
for the shareholders—as trustees for the administration
of their property. He remarked that Messrs. Hope and
Stephenson, the arbitrators appointed between the Lon-
don and North-Western and North Staffordshire Co-
mpanies, had, he thought, the power to revise the adjudi-
cation which they made between the two companies.
Those adjudications had been in many instances made
upon mere contracts, and subject to revision. There
VMS one he might specially mention—that of Mr. Brassey
which was estimated at 10,000/. below that which it
actually came to. There were other contracts, of a
larger or smaller amount, which it was impossible for
the directors to foresee, and they would therefore protest
against the amount of capital fixed upon their going
into Parliament (Hear, hear.) Those questions there-
fore remained open, and were to be decided hereafter.
He bad thought it necessary to enter upon these
matters, but there were se'vel at other questions Which
had not been decided Upon' between the companies,
and in accordance with, as he contended, their 7 actual
interests. He expressed a hope that the whole would
be settled amicably between the two companies. He
then advocated the proposed line between-Biddulp., and
Congleton (18 miles in length, including GI miles
branches), and contended that it would pay the com-
pany. He could not do better than refer them ti) the
present high price of coals, by which the trade o:f the
district must be greatly impeded, if not entirely destroyed.
The directors had received a memorial from the chief
manufacturers of the Potteries, stating that they be-
lieved that the projected line to Congleton would be not
only of great benefit to the neighbourhood, but -profit-
able to the railway proprietors. (Cheers.) The actual
cost would be 45,000/. He then referred to the Ash-
bourne and Sandbach lines, and stated that the latter
since its opening had realised at the rate of 7 per cent.
upon the entire charge. He believed that the proposed
extension would pay as large a per tentage, and he must
say, in conclusion, that he recommended the adoption
of the proposed line as one of the best guarantees for
the welfare and prosperity of the whole undertaking.
He concluded by moving the adoption of the report.
Mr. DICEY seconded the motion.

Mr. WILLIAMSON called the attention of the meeting
to the want of waggons on the line. The consequence
of this neglect was that manufacturers and others were
put to great inconvenience and annoyance by want of
fuel, and at the same time the company lost a great
opportunity of profit. (Cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN replied that it was not only the com-
plaint of the North Staffordshire, but of all other com-
panies, that they were unable to obtain a sufficient sup-
ply of waggons for the conveyance of goods. They (the
North Staffordshire Company) had done all they oould
for the purpose of supply the district with coals, and
other articles required for trade and domestic purposes,
but they could not be obtained. He believed that Mr.
Wright, of the Saltley works, had received an order, but
would not accept it, for 1,000 waggons. The company
by whom the order was given could not get them. The
London and North-Western were in the same predica-
ment as themselves. (Hear )
Mr. HAYWARD wished to know why the amount of
the traffic on the North Staffordshire Railway did not,
like that of all other companies, appear in the columns
of the public newspapers.
The CHAIRMAN replied that with regard to traffic re-
turns they could have no objection ; but on the one
hand, the North Western shareholders might consider
the guarantee too high and the North Staffordshire
shareholders too low. (Hear, hear.)
The report was afterwards unanimously adopted, and
a dividend at the rate of ss. 3d. per share, or 2 per cent.,
declared.
The meeting then broke up.

4 ccf44, , •
7.*
Z:71) ' 1Z