The Sun.
London, England, 1854-02-04 00:00:00

CITY •OF LONDON COMMISSION.

The commissioners assembled on Thursday at Abing-
don-street. Present, the Right Hon. Henry Labou-
chere, Sir John Patteson, and Mr. C. Lewis.
Mr. Dakin examined—l am a chemist and druggist,
and extensively engaged with the trade with China. I
have been for 10 or 11 years a member of the Common
Council. I have been chairman of the Gresham Com-
mittee. Mr. Bennoch and Mr. Waddilove, who were
examined yesterday, appeared anxious to arrive at a
knowledge of the state of the Gresham Estate funds,
and I have now a brief statement of the income and
expenditure of the moiety of the estate received by the
City, and I find that the accounts nearly balance each
other. As trustees of the will of Sir Thomas Gresham,
the corporation has advanced a very large sum of money
to carry out the objects which the testator bad in view.
The Mercers' Company have also male large advances
in respect of their moiety of the estate ; and had it not
been for this assistance the trust might almost be called
insolvent. lam anxious to state that there is a strong
feeling in the City in favour of adapting the Gresham
trust to the requirements of the day.
The Chairman—Then, have the Gresham trustees any
surplus after payment of the professors and other charges
incidental to the trust ?
Witness—They have no surplus. On the 10th of
October, 1852, they had only 529/,. 7s. 2d., although
they had received large advances from the City and
the Mercers' Company.
The Chairman—Then the trust is virtnally insolvent ?
Witness—That, perLape, is a strong term to use; the
difference between inco ae and expenditure is so
small. I heard the evidence yesterday with respect
to City improvements, and it appeared to me that
provements come from the
the suggestions for im
best source—namely. the inhabitants of the districts,
who would naturally be the first to appreciate
their necessity. As far as my exvience goes I
think the corporation has adopted towards other
trusts very much the same course which they have taken
with reference to Gresham trust—that is, that they
have advanced very large sums of money in their capa-
city of trustees which have not been returned. With
regard to the navigation trust, I do not think the cor-
poration derive any advantage from it, but that, on the
contrary, if they were relieved of the trust, they would
get'rid of a responsible duty for which they receive no
return. It is not my opinion that the officers of the
corporation are too highly paid. In the case of the City
architect and the City solicitor, I am of opinion that
their emoluments are much lower than their professional
charges would have amounted to ; and I have reason to
know that the City solicitor expects that whenever the
corporation are in good humour and in funds, they will
make him some compensation, as he considers they owe
him' some thousands of pounds. A statement has been
before the commissioners by Mr. Travers, that the ma-
jority of the members of the common council are retail
traders. Now, if Mr. Travers had described them as
Mr: Macaulay h:is done in the History of England, I
could take no exception to his evidence ; but I cannot
agree in the description given by him, as my own know-
ledge of the facts aesures me that the vast majority of
the common council are not of the " small shopkeeper
class," but are persons like Mr. Travers himself, largely
engaged in mercantile pursuits.
The Chairman—But as a matter of fact, is not the
representation correct that the great mass of persons
largely engaged in mercantile and banking houses stand
aloof from the corporation ? Witness--Ic is true that
many of the leading merchants and bankers are not
connected with the corporation. At the same time it
is necessary to state that many very leading merchants
are connected with the corporation. Many of the
members of the firms to which you allude cannot
find time to discharge public duties, but they have
time to discharge the duties of private bodies in cases
where their services are remunerated.

The Chairman : I presume you think it would be de-
sirable that all traders of standing and eminence,whether
wholesale or retail, should take a part in municipalaffairs.

Witness : This would he a consumation devoutly to
be wished for ; but however desirable it, may be in theory,
I fear that, with the present constitution of the corpora-
tion, it could not be carried out in practice. I believe
the first-class merchants do not join the corporation be-
cause they will not give their time without being paid
for it. Extraordinary aptitude for business is far from
being a disqualification for office in the corporation has
quite a contrary effect. I have been a member of the
Bridge-house Estate committee, and I was one of a de-
putation appointed to wait upon the directors of the
Southwark-bridge Company, with the view of opening
negotiations for the purchase of the bridge, The sum re-
quired by the directors was 300,0001., and although we
urged upon their attention the very small profit which
the bridge yielded, they did not appear disposed to abate
their terms, but told us that when we applied again the
price might be higher. I believe, if the corporation were
met by the company in a spirit of fairness, they could,
with the assistance of Government, throw the bridge
open. The corporation was also ii.formcd by competent
persons that a large sure would be required (about
115,500) for making the approaches necessary for the
accommodation of the traffic that would have to pass
over the bridge ; and under these circumstances I
do not think they can be fairly chargeable with
delay in not having purchased the structure sooner. I
do vat think the mere question of whether 300,000
should be paid for the bridge or 230;0001. has been
the obstacle to opening it to the public. With regard to
the entertainments at the Mansion House, I believe they
have been conducted with all requisite economy, and that
they have a higher aim and purpose then mere city feasts.
It seems to me that they have afforded a favourable op•
portunitv to the Sovereign and the nobles of the land to
meet the middle classes, and thus to cement and
strengthen the whole fabric of society. The cost of the
entertainment given to her Majesty in 1851 was met by
a vote of 5,000 guineas, and some hundreds of pounds
out of that sum were paid back to the City chamber.
This contrasts favourably with the expenditure in 1817,
when the allied Sovereigns were entertained in the
Guildhall. The expenditure on that occasion amounted
to ,more than 25,0001., although the corporation was
then in debt.

Mr. John Simon, officer of health to the City, de-
scribed the nature of his duties, and said that the system
of inspection carried out in the City was excellent, and
better than in the other portions of the metropolis. The
population of the City proper had increased within the
last ten years from 125,000 to 130,000.
Mr. Dakin was recalled and examined on the subject
of the Irish estates of the corporation. The Irish So-
ciety was originated in the reign of James I. when a
portion of the province of Ulster was given to the citizens
of London, being Protestants, upon condition that they
would erect forts and otherwise protect the property.
The London companies lent money at the time to the
Crown, and they had parts of the province apportioned
to them in consideration, In the course of time the
companies and the corporation became less identified.
Other portions of the estates, which were not divisible,
were afterwards given to the Irish Society in trust. The
Irish Society did not recognise any control by the cor-
poration other than one of supervision. The funds of
the Irish Society were returned to the country in the
shape of charitable gifts.
The Chairman—What becomes of the surplus revenue ?
Mr. Dakin—When I was deputy-governor of the
Irish Society there was no surplus, for the society was
in debt. The average income of the society is about
9,0001. a-year, and the principal expenditure is for the
maintenance of public schools.
The Chairman—Has the Irish Society any political
influence in the boroughs 'of Coleraine and London-
derry ?
Mr. Dakin—None, except as owners of property.
The Chairman—Then the Irish Society has, in fact,
no beneficial interest in the estates ?
Mr. Dakin—None whatever.

The Chairman—Do you know whether any applica-
tion has ever been made to the society to sell their
estates ?

Mr. Dakin—No 'application of the kind was ever
made to the society during the period when I was con-
nected with it ; neither do I think any such would have
been entertained, as the society take great pride in
their management of the property. The Irish Society
has nothing whatever to do with the property of the
London companies in Ireland.
The Chairman—To whom is the Irish Society respon-
sible, in the use of the neglect of duty ?
Mr. Dakin—l apprehend to he corporation of Lon-
don, which has a visitorial control over them.
The Chairman—Do you think the estates are econo-
mically managed, or that there are more officars than
are required ?

Mr.Dakin—l think the estates are managed with
prudence and economy, and that there is no tendency to
multiply offices. The corporation has no interest in the
proceeds of the Irish estates. The accounts of the Irish
Society are carefully audited by a sub-committee ap-
pointed for the purpose.
Mr. Blake examined--Was chairman of the freedom
committee and a member of the Common Council. He
was anxious to contradict the assertion that extreme se-
verity was used towards persons who declined or were
unable to take up their freedom. He considered it was
most unfair on the part of Mr. Travers to animadvert
upon the conduct of the Common Council, although he
admitted that he was not acquainted with the manner in
which they conducted their proceedings.
The Chairman said this was mere matter of opinion,
on which the commissioners would form their own con-
clusions, and it was desirable that the witness should
confine himself simply to a contradiction of facts which
had been deposed to.
Mr. Leach, engineer to the navigation committee,
who gave evidence a few days
ago with respect -to the
state of the metropolitan bridges,
quested to state upon what was recalled and re-
grounds he had come to the
conclusion that the fiundations of Waterloo bridge were
not secure ?
Mr. Leach stated that the alterations which were con-
stantly going forward in the bed of the river rendered
the foundations unsafe ; but that, as yet, no settlement
had taken place similar to that in Blackfriars or
sWest-
minster Bridge.
Mr. George Powell, surveyor of Waterloo-bridge since
it was opened, was next examined. He stated that the
foundations of the bridge were as sound as the Rock of
Gibraltar, and that nothing but the injudicious inter-
ference of the navigation committee in removing shoals
could injure them. The navigation committee knew
nothing about the removal of shoal. Their habit was to
remove the bed of the river for ballast and concrete,
both of which were valuable, and not to fill up the holes
untillbeir attention was called to the consequences.
He repeated that the bridge was as safe as when first
built, that it would stand for ages, and that it would
continue to be an crnament to the metropolis when the
corporation and all its officers had passed away and were
forgotten. (Laughter.)
A. gentleman named Leigh attended, and represented
that, in his opinion, the administration of justice in the
City was sometimes open to abuse, in consequence of the

jurisdiction of aldermen as magistrates. The witness,
in support of his views, called the atteritron'of the com-
missioners to a case which had been brought before Mr.
Alderman Wire at the Mansion House, and in which a
person was charged with defrauding the Monarch In-
surance Office of 1181. In that case, Mr. Alderman
Wire, the presiding magistrate was solicitor to the in-
surance office, and the prisoner was prosecuted by Mr.
Child, his partner.
The inquiry was then further adjourned until Tuesday
next.

THE CORPORATION AND THE ROYAL
COMMISSION.

The Consolidated Committee of the Corporation of
the City of London, having determined, at the request
of the Royal Commissioners, to make an effort to pre-
pare a plan of corporate reform suitable to the require.
ments of the present day, have agreed to meet in general
committee, on Saturday next, for that purpose. The
main object upon that occasion, as our reporter has
privately learnt, will be to take into consideration the
propriety of proposing the abolition of the present sepa-
rate Court of Aldermen, and the substitution of one
Court of Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Commoners, for
the tran,action of all the general municipal business.
The uleeting is expected to be a very strong one, as
much difference of opinion prevails upon the subject.—
Morning Advertiser.

COWES, ISLE OF WIGEIT.—Feb. 3.

(FROII OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

DARING BURGLARY.—Considerable alarm was created
in our town, on Sunday last, by the announcement that
Mr. John Hewett's house had been broken into during
the night, and a large amount of money and a quantity
of goods stolen. Quite a panic had seized numbers of the
inhabitants all, the occurrence was so unheard of. Half
the houses were without window shutters, and many of
the doors had no fastenings. Had the Russians been
on the point of landing on the Wight, people could not
have been more frightened. Nothing of the kind had
happened in Cowes before, and all were certain that it
had been done by London thieves, or some men
from White's docks, or from the new villas build-
ing on the Parade, or from the buildings at Sconce,
or some of the men at work on the National
Freehold Land Society's new roads at Mill Hill.
Sunday night passed off without any other house
being broken into, and the inhabitants began to breathe
more freely during Monday. The police had their at-
tention in a different direction, and had gone after and
captured two boys, Nobbs and Woodford, but had not
succeeded in finding anything on them—yet feeling con-
fident that they had captured the right parties they held
their men. Tuesday morning brought fresh troubles—
Mr. Sparge's house had been entered by a back window
(left open). The thieves or the cat had capsized a metal
pestle and mortar, and frightened the whole family; an-
other gentleman had heard burglars trying his shutters,
and be felt confident that they intended to steal his notes.
Meetings took place in all parts of the town, carpenters
were emyloyed on numberless doors and windows, and
all sort 3 of fire arms were cleaned and primed. The
local board met and telegraphed the High Constable
of the Hants Constabulary at Winchester, pray-
ing him to send men and advice. The Gas
Company were called upon to burn the public
lamps till daylight. Wednesday, the Globe Inn was
entered by the parlour window, a pane of glass being
cut out and the chairs taken out and placed on the
quay. To mend the matter the public lights were ex-
tinguished soon after midnight ; but a light having been
thrown on the doers of this evil work, and the boys
having confessed that they alone had been guilty of the
robbery at Hewett's, the inhabitants have been relieved
from their terrors. The amount taken from Hewett's
was 65/., 301. in cheques, and 351. in notes, which being
country notes (Newport Branch of the National Pro-
vincial Bank of England), the boys were afraid to
attempt to pa-is them, and they hid 401. in Mr. Hewett's
store, as also the desk in which they found it, and the
missionary box, and several other articles. The cash,
about 51. in the missionary box being all that was avail-
able, the notes it is supposed they burnt to prevent de-
tection.

UNITY FIRE INSURANCE ASSOCIATION.—A petition
promoted by the numerous shareholders and insurers in
the above company in this town has been very nume-
rously sinned, praying. the repeal of the present Govern-
ment duty of 3s. per cent., or that it be reduced to 6d. per
cent. It will be presented to the House of Commons
early this month.