The Sun.
London, England, 1854-01-28 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, JANUARY 28, 1854.

CITY OF LONDON COMMISSION.

The Royal Commission sat again the Privy Council
Chamber, Downing-street ; Mr. Labouchere presiding.
The Right Hon. the Lord Mayor attended to give evi-
dence before the Commissioners, and was accommodated
with a seat within the bar.

The Lord Mayor, on being sworn stated—l have
been an alderman 'of the city of London for fourteen
years. I have perused the evidence which has been
taken before this commission, and I now wish to be al-
lowed to rebut several of the statements which have
been made. And first, I will begin with the evidence
of Mr. Acland. Mr. Acland was asked the following
question :—" You have stated that in the case of a con-
tested election of importance at common hall it is the
practice for the committees of the rival candidates, with-
out the least concealment, to give money to the electors
who vote for their respective candidates. Will you state
to the commission some recent instance in which that
system has been carried out in the city of London ?"
And his answer way—"l believe the most recent in-
stance of bribery has been in the election of the Lord
Mayor elect, Mr. Alderman Sidney. I believe it was
only to the extent of 2001. or 3001." The further ques-
tion was then asked—" There were but two candidates
proposed, were there ?" and the answer given was,
" Others would have been proposed, but that a sum of
money was given to a manager of the "long shore men"
not to execute his threat to put in nomination two
others. Mr. Alderman Sidney is generally considered
to be a corporate reformer. It was believed in the City
that it was not desirable that he should be Lord Mayor,
and it was declared by an agent that he should not be
Lord Mayor, for that two other persons would be
named and elected, so that either Alderman Sidney
would have been under the necessity of going to the
great expense of a poll to secure his succession to
the office, or two names, that of Alderman Sidney not
being one, would have been returned to the Court- of
Aldermen, from which to select the chief magistrate.
The party who made this threat received a bonus. Un-
der the inducement of that bonus he did not carry his
threat into execution, and Alderman Sidney was there-
fore elected to the office." Now, in reply to these alle-
gations, I wish distinctly to state that I know of no party
who received any such bonus as is here mentioned, and
I certainly never gave a fraction, either by promise or in
any other way, to secure my election to my present
office. I give the fullest contradiction to the first charge.
I never gave a single penny in bribes, and I assert that
the expenses of my election as Lord Mayor, so far from
being 2001. or 3001., amounted altogether to only 211.
9s. 3d., and consisted exclusively of the following items,
viz., 7 books, with a list of the livery, at 10s. each, 31.
10s. ; stamps, 10s. ; delivery of letters, 7s. 6d. ; hire of
room at Guildhall Coffeehouse, 31. 12s. 6d. ; dinner for
several gentlemen on my committee, 71. 3s. 9d. ; adver•
tising and circulars, 51. 15s. ; and incidental expenses,
lls. I wish also to contradict another of Mr. Acland's
atatements. When asked a question relative to the late
contest between Alderman Sir J. Key and Mr. Scott for
the Chaeaberlainship, Mr. Acland said, " that on that
occasion 19 of the aldermen, who imagine that the cham-
berlaincy is an heirloom to their court for decayed alder-
men, agreed to find 1001. a piece towards turning the
scale on the side of their brother alderman. Whether
they paid it (the 1001. a piece) is another question. Now
I beg to say on my own part, and I think I may answer
also for my brethren—l am sure I can answer for the
great majority of them, because I have heard them deny
it—l can distinctly state that no subscription of this
kind was ever entered into, and that there was no talk
of subscribing any money whatever for such a purpose.
Mr. C. Lewis—l believe a similar statement was made
by Mr. Sheriff Wallis, who says, " I was informed by a
candidate in an election that I once conducted, that the
sum of 1,9001. had been subscribed among the aldermen
at the .Mansion-house, in order to secure a brother
alderman's return."

The Lord Mayor—l beg leave to give the fullest de-
nial to that statement. No such sum was ever sub-
scribed, or engaged to be subscribed.
The Chairman—Have you conversed with your brother
Aldermen on the subject.
The Lord Mayor—l have.
The Chairman—And are you satisfied from that con-
versation that the rumour of this subscription was en-
tirely groundless ?
The Lord Mayor—lt is entirely erroneous. I also
wish to touch upon some portion of the evidence of Mr.
Dillon, Mr. Bennoch, Mr. Thomson Ila,nkey, and Mr.
Morley, relative to the Lord Mayor's day and the Lord
Mayor's show. Mr. Dillon says—" If you were to re-
form the City corporation, and to clear away all the
nonsense and foolery of the Lord Mayor's show, you
would not thereby, as I believe, create an inclination on
the part of the merchants of the city of London to take
part in the management of municipal affairs." And Mr.
Morley says that the Lord Mayor's show is really felt to
by a thing more in accordance with the dark ages than
the present day." And when asked, " You do not
think there is any class of the community which wishes
to retain it ?" Mr. Morley added, " Reference has
been made to nurserymaids and children, but I have no
idea that the citizens of London look at the thing with
any other feelings than those of repugnance. I should
imagine that the tradesmen living in the line of streets
through which it passes must be greatly inconvenienced
by it." Mr. Hankey's opinion is much to the same
effect, Now, in reply to these statements, I have to say
that prior to my becoming Lord Mayor, I, in conjunc-
tion with my colleague, Mr. Alderman and Sheriff
Wire, consulted my brother aldermen whether the show
should be continued, and they were unanimously of
opinion that it should. I then went into Lombard-street,
and obtained the opinion of sevexal important banking
firms on the subject, and exhibited to them the pro-
gramme of the intended procession, and, so far from its
being received with disfavour, Mr. Samuel Gurney was
highly pleased with it, said lie should bring his family to
see it, and offered, as there must be considerable expense
attending it, to give a subscriptiim towards it. The
show had to pass through Mincinglane ; and I also ob-
tained the opinions of persons connected with the colo-
❑ial markets, and they not only did not object, but they
regarded the day as a general holiday, and invited the
people from the country to see it, and gave them a ban-
quet. In fact, along the line of route the procession
was received with flags and banners, and greeted with
applause ; and not the least ill,feeling was displayed in
its progress through the streets. Instead of its being
considered as an idle pastime, or viewed with indigna-
tion, I can state from my own experience, that with my
neighbours, whose shop doors it passes every year, it is
very popular ; and they make the day the occasion for
a general holiday. It is witnessed with pleasure by at
least 500,000 persons, among whom are persons of the
highest distinction, and elegantly dressed females are
seen to greet it from the windows of the houses with
warmth and admiration. It is, in short, as popular now
as it ever was in its history.
The Chairman—lt has been said that the cost of the
show does not exceed 2001. a year.
The Lord Mayor—Last year it cost 500/., I believe.
It cost more than usual, because the me❑ in armour
were dispensed with, and the allegorical procession was
substituted, representing the miseries of war and the
blessings of peace. lam the only popularly-elected
magistrate in the kingdom, and it is my duty to con-
ciliate the feelings of the multitude as well as those of
any other class. The corporation makes no grant for
the expenses of the show, or for those of the banquet at
Guildhall, which are all paid by the Lord Mayor and
the sheriffs. Mr. Hankey has stated that the annual
dinner at Guildhall is noisy and useless. On that point
I feel that I cannot do better than read from an article
which appeared in the Times newspaper of Nov. 10,
1848, the high opinion which that journal then enter-
tained of the Guildhall banquet. [llls lordship then
read the article in question, which appeared to be very
laudatory of the time-honoured civic saturnalia.] He
then continued— I know that this pliblic journal has
very recently attacked the whole proceedings of the 9th
of November, but I have thought it best to let the press
answer itself in the quotations I have just made ; and
will only add that the feeling of the citizens generally
remains the same as it was five years ago. The expense
of the dinner is usually between 2,0001. and 2,2001.,
and the number of guests about 1,100.
The Chairman—You have told us that there was no
subscription entered into by the aldermen to promote
the return of Sir J. Key as chamberlain ; was nothing
ever said about such a subscription by any of the alder-
men ?

The Lord Mayor—An observation was made by Al-
derman Hunter to the effect that Alderman Wire at the
Mansion-house had simply said, " Well, we must sub-
scribe ;" but the remark was not responded to by any
other gentleman. The aldermen were naturally indig-
nant at the evidence of Mr. Wallis. Of course I do not
mean to admit that there would have been any moral
wrong
n• in my subscribing towards Sir J. Key's election
expenses ; but I say that, in fact, I did no such thing.
I wish to speak of the character and standing of the al-
dermen of London, after the various charges that have
been brought against them. I do not believe that there
is any public assembly of 26 gentlemen in this country
of more blameless general character, respectability, and
fortune, than the aldermen of London. The Court of
Aldermen possess among them between three and four
millions sterling ; they occupy distinguished positions
in other public bodies and associations, and many of
them have been the representatives of large constituencies
in the House of Commons ; and therefore I dismiss the
charge of their inferior social standing with a general
denial of its accuracy.
The Chairman—Without seeking to disparage the
Court of Aldermen, is it not a matter of fact that there
is now a wider separation between the corporation and
the great merchants of the City than there used to be
in the days of Sir Thomas Gresham ?
The Lord Mayor—Circumstances have greatly changed
since then. Formerly all persons trading in the City
were compelled to reside in it, or they lost their freedom.
Again, the desire of the great, merchants now a-days is
chiefly to enrich themselves by their callings, and to
avoid the performance of municipal duties which the
ancient charters imposed on all the citizens.
Mr. C. Lewis—May it not be that the duties of an
alderman have greatly increased within the last hun-
dred years ; and would that not account for the indis-
position of the merchants to take the office ?
The Lord Mayor—Of course, it is difficult to make a
comparison between the duties at the two periods ; but
I believe that the magisterial business and the duties of
prison visitation have either increased, or have cer-
tainly been more regularly performed than they were
in former days ; and that more time is now given to the
discharge of the duties of the office of alderman.
Mr. C. Lewis—Do many of the present aldermen
reside within the City ?
The Lord Mayor—l do not think there is one of them
at present who has more than a business connection with
the City. Passing from that subject, I would now beg
I eave to give my general opinion of the corporation of
London ; but, in the suggestions which I may make,

I wish it to be distinctly understood that I am only
expressing my own individual opinions, and do not
speak in any official capacity. lam quite willing then
to admit that there are some defects in the corporation,
and if this inquiry should do no more than effect an
elucidation and a consolidation of the charters of the
City, I think it will do a great good to the community.
I conceive that the Chamberlain should be elected by
the Court of Common Council, and not by the livery in
common hall. I see no necessity for the retention of
such useless and expensive officers as the two bridgemas-
ters, who receive, on an average, 8001. a year between
them. Their duties are generally of a very trifling
character, and they are put to great expense in contest-
ing their elections, which take place in common hall ;
and the two last bridgemasters, I believe, have not yet
been able to liquidate the cost of the contest. I would
also abolish the office of ale-conner, which is worse than
useless—it is mischievous. I would confine the elec-
tions in common hall strictly to the election of the Lord
Mayor and the sheriffs alone.
The Chairman—Do you see any advantage in having
a compound municipal constituency, instead of a simple
and uniform one ?

The Lord Mayor—l would have one constituent body
divided into wards for the election of common council-
men and the aldermen ' • but I would have the ancient
body to elect the Lord Mayor and the sheriffs. I am
in favour of reverting to the old system by which every
resident in the city of London had a right to be enrolled
as a citizen after residing there a twelvemonth and a
day; and I would abolish all questions as to freedom. I
reduce the number of the wards from 25 to 18, and
would give the 12 larger wards 6 members each, and
the 6 smaller 4 members each. Thus I would reduce the
members of the Court of Common Council, who are too
numerous, to 96 ; and I would, of course, likewise re-
duce the aldermen from 25 to 18. I would retain the
Court of Aldermen for the despatch of magisterial busi-
ness, and have them still elected for life. I think they
should also have the power of appointing two paid ma-
gistrates for the police courts of the City ; and I would
recommend that the Court of Aldermen should not have
the power to draw cash, except for the expenses con-
nected with their office as magistrates, the scale of pay-
ments to be settled by the corporation at large. lam of
opinion that the paid officers of the corporation are too
numerous, and I would recommend that the offices of
the steward of Southwark, the three common pleaders,
the secondary, the high bailiff of Southwark, the clerk
of the chamber, the two attorneys of the Mayor's Court,
the clerk to prepare the accounts for the auditors, and
the upper and the lower marshals of the City should all
be abolished. I would consolidate the offices of the
comptroller of the City and the comptroller of the
Bridge-house estate; I would also consolidate the
office of the City solicitor with the office of town clerk;
and would recommend the consolidation of the various
offices connected with the navigation and conservancy
committees, who are far too numerous, and their
duties very conflicting. There are also several
offices connected with the levying of the wine dues—
there is the collector, the comptroller, and the gauger ;
I doubt the necessity of all these offices. The establish-
ment at Newgate prison, where there are very few
prisoners, costs upwards of 4,0001. a-year for salaries
alone ; and the Bridewell prison has been condemned
by every report presented to Parliament, and by every
prison inspector for many years past. I would, there-
fore, suggest that Newgate and the Bridewell be con-
solidated with the New Prison at Holloway ; and that
on the site of Newgate there be erected new and conve-
nient courts of Justice, which are at present very much
needed. If these changes in the offices and this consoli-
dation of the prisons were carried out, the saving effected
would be at least 14,0001. per annum. The City comp-
troller, Mr. Saunders, I am very sorry to say, died yes-
terday ; and the late Mr. Gibb's situation as bridge-
master is also vacant.

Mr. C. Lewis—Of course we have no power or desire
to interfere with the administration of the affairs of the
City, but we might suggest to the corporation whether
it would not be better to kayo any existing vacancies
unfilled, up, or, if they are filled up, that the persons
appointed should take their offices on the distinct under-
standing that they may be made the subject of any
arrangement.

The Lord Mayor—No doubt the corporation will give
that matter their consideration. As Lord Mayor, I will
delay the summoning of a common hall for the purpose
of filling up the vacancy. The courts of law in the City
are, I think, too numerous ' • and the Court of Hustings,
the Mayor's Court, and the Sheriff's Court might with
advantage be consolidated into one court. The quarter
sessions at Guildhall, and the quarter sessions at South-
wark might also be consolidated. I believe a consider-
able portion of the inhabitants of Southwark desire to
be incorporated for municipal purposes with the city of
London; but that could not be accomplished without a
special act of Parliament. I think the entire severance
of Southwark from the City would be preferable, for the
interests of Southwark itself, to incorporation with the
City. I see great objection to the formation of very
large municipalities, and I think it is a defect in the pre-
sent constitution of country that all boroughs for
the election of members of Parliament are not also made
boroughs for municipal purposes. The charities con-
nected with the City prisons are very large ; and those
belonging to the debtors' prison amount to upwards of
1,600 Z. a year, and they are applied in the discharge of
prisoners who compound their debts with solicitors.
That course is, I think, open to very serious objection,
and I would suggest that power should be given to deal
with these prison charities in a more useful manner. I
am the governor of the fellowship of porters, the go-
vernorship of which body attaches, ex officio, to the person
holding the office of alderman of the ward. I have the
honour to represent the ward of Billingsgate. Ido not
think the City porters derive any very great benefit from
the privileges of the fellowship. If the constitution of
the body were revised and placed on a proper footing I
believe, however, that the porters would generally, and
even now in its decrepid state the fellowship is consi-
dered to be a great advantage to the great bulk of the
commercial community.
Mr. C. Lewis—ls it your opinion that, whatever ad-
vantage there is in the fellowship, that advantages ac-
crue to the trade and not to the porters themselves ?
The Lord Mayor—That is my decided opinion. The
question relating to the porters is so mixed up with that
relating to the metage dues, that they can both only be
placed on a proper footing by the intervention of Parlia-
ment. With regard to the conservancy of the river, my
opinion is that it would be more advantageous to the
commerce of the port if that duty were entrusted to a
permanent board instead of a fluctuating body like the
navigation committee. I certainly think that it would
be better to place members of the Trinity-house on that
board than members from the different dock companies.
I believe that such reforms are n-.)cessary for the corpo-
ration as those which I have mentioned ; but one great
stumbling block in the way of reform hitherto has been
the act of the 11th Geo. 1., which was passed against
the feelings of the citizens at large, and gave to the
livery alone the power of voting at the common-hall
elections, I would not abolish the franchise of the
livery, but I would throw in with their votes the votes
of every resident occupier for 12 months and a day.
The Chairman—Do you think that the coal-tax is a
good mode of raising revenue ?

The Lord Mayor---I certainly would net myself have
originated such a tax, but I do not believe it felt as a
grievance, I am opposed to centralisation, and think
the principles of municipal self-government require the
ratepayers to have the control of the police, lighting,
and water supply of their own localities. I would pre-
serve all the existing powers and privileges of the Court
of Aldermen, except their right of drawing upon the
City's cash, which, as I have said, I think requires limi-
tation. I consider that the private and secret manner
in which the consolidated committee conducts its busi-
ness, and carries on conferences with the Government
is opposed to the general spirit of municipal govern-
ment, and adverse to the welfare of the citizens at
large. I think the consolidated committee often
pledges the whole corporation to proceedings which
arc unwise.

His lordship then withdrew.
Mr. Alderman Farebrother examined : He said he at-
tended there that day in pursuance of a resolution of a
committee of the Court of Aldermen, for the purpose of
expressing their entire approbation of and concurrence
in the statement delivered to the commissioners by the
learned Recorder. He was also prepared to answer any
question which the commissioners might please to put to
him connected with the court of which he was a mem-
ber. He must take leave to state that he could not but
express his surprise that the right hon. the Lord Mayor
should have volunteered to offer the suggestions which
he had just made without any communication with his
colleagues and without their sanction. What his lord-
ship had recommended might or might not be very good
and very correct; but the resolution to which the corpo-
ration had come was to conclude their answer to all the
charges and accusations which had been brought against
them in the first place, reserving to a subsequent occa-
sion, when all the evidence which the commissioners
wished to take should have been closed, the task of sub-
mitting to the commissioners any scheme or any sug-
gestions for alterations in the corporation which a review
of the whole of the evidence taken might justify.

The Chairman stated that it was not the wish of the
commissioners to urge any member of the corporation to
make statements which he did not voluntarily and freely.
offer ; and they had distinctly understood that the sug-
gestions which had just been made for a reform of the
corporation by the Lord Mayor were simply the opinion
of his Lordship individually, and not as the representa-
tive of the corporation.
Alderman Farebrother might take the liberty of ob-
serving, in reference to the recommendation of his lord-
ship respecting the appointment by the aldermen of two
police magistrates for the City, that by the Police Act
passed in 1838 power was already given to the Court of
Aldermen to appoint a police magistrate when it was
rendered necessary by the inability of the aldermen to
attend to their magisterial duties. Some misapprehen-
sion appeared to prevail with regard to the Irish Society
That society did not interfere in the management of any
estates which were the property of different livery com-
panies. He might inform the commissioners that a
committee consisting of members of both courts of the cor-
poration was now sitting to watch the course of that in-
quiry, andlby whom the statement presented by the Recor-
der had been drawn up, whenever that inquiry was termi-
nated, and the witnesses on both sides had been fully heard,
the corporation would endeavour to submit to the com-
mission such a plan for effecting improvements in its
own constitution and practice, as in its judgment might
acceptable to the commission as well as to the citizens
at large. He could, therefore, in the meantime, only
assure the commission that the anxious desire of the
corporation was to consider every matter, not as a ques-
tion affecting that body individually, but as affecting
the interests of the public at large.
The Chairman said that it would be the duty of the
commissioners to receive with attention any suggestions
emanating in the manner indicated from the corporation I
itself. The commissioners only wished that the corpo•

ration would lay its scheme or plan before them as
speedily as possible.
Alderman Farebrother said that the corporation only
awaited the conclusion of the evidence in order to do so.

Mr. Sergeant Adams, assistant-judge of the Middlesex
Sessions, examined—l understand that the learned
Recorder has stated to the commission that the restora-
tion of the old jurisdiction of the Middlesex Sessions
has been injurious in its effects. Now, on the con-
trary, I believe that the public have been very much
benefitted by the change. My court sat 153 days
last year, and tried 2,653 cases, of which only 40, from
special causes, were not tried on the days on which
the bills were found. The cost of each trial at the ses-
sions of my court amounts on an average to 30s. ; while
the cost of trying a similar case in the Central Criminal
Court averages 5/. ; and the saving therefore yearly
effected to the public by my court is 8,000/. The
arrangements of my court are such that no counsel
takes a brief without knowing, when he takes it, the
day when the case will come on. The Recorder stated
in his evidence that the court of quarter sessions sits
at the same time as the Central Criminal Court,
but this is not quite correct. The Middlesex
sessions are held from thirty-six to forty weeks in
each year, and the Central Criminal Court but twelve.
If, therefore, the Central Criminal Court sat regularly
every fourth week, there would be no difficulty in
making arrangements for my court to sit the other three
weeks. The sittings of the Central Criminal Court are,
however, very irregular, and upon that account it is
extremely difficult to prevent the two courts occasionally
sitting simultaneously. The learned Recorder, I under-
stand, also recommended the concentration of the
criminal jurisdiction of the whole metropolis into one
court. Such an arrangement, I believe, might be advan-
tageously carried out ; and if a central court of that na-
ture were established, the Recorder, no doubt, would be
its head, than whom, I hope I hope I may be permitted
to say, a more efficient, more upright, or more excellent
man could not be found to occupy such a position.
Mr. F. Southgate, solicitor for the defendant in the
case of Simmonds and Lillystone, respecting the filling
up an inlet, or lay-by place, on the bank of the Thames,
near Gravesend, appeared before the commission, and
gave further evidence respecting the point in dispute.
He stated that the navigation committee of the corpora-
tion gave their consideration to the subject when placed
before them, but refused to interfere in a case of litiga-
tion between private individuals.
Mr. Tyrrell, the City Remembrancer, again attended
and read to the commissioners lengthened documents i
detailing the origin and history of the coal-tax.
Mr. John Wood examined—l am the chairman of the
consolidated committee of the corporation. The corpo-
ration are desirous that the commissioners should exa-
mine every one of their officers whom they may wish to
call before them. The commissioners have, it seems,
not required any members of the corporation to appear
before them ; but it has been thought only respectful
to the commission that certain members to tender them-
selves for examination on any point which the commis-
sioners thought they might be able to elucidate. After
the statement which the Lord Mayor has made to my
surprise to-day, respecting the proceedings of the conso-
lidated committee, I wish to state that, by a resolution
of the 22d of May, 1846, that committee was constituted
of the chairman of the several committees of the court
and other members, with full power to confer with the
Government and other bodies from time to time on such
matters as are specially referred to the several commit-
tees, and to report to the court as they think necessary.
The committee consisted of sixty members, and the ob-
ject of placing the chairman of every committee on the
consolidated committee was, that if any matter of im-
portance was the subject of conferences with the Go-
vernment or other bodies, it might be discussed in the
particular oommittee to whose department the matter
specially related.
The Chairman—ls not sixty a very large number of
members for a committee ?
Mr. Wood—When subjects of importance to the
public are being made. the subject of interviews with the
Government, the commissioners will see the convenience
of the corporation at large, through so numerous a com-
mittee, being made acquainted with the proceedings of a
committee like this, without the formality or necessity
in all cases of a report to the Court of Common Council ;
but in all cases of deputations to or communications
with the Government, the substance of the proceedings
is invariably reported to the court. The working of the
committee is exceedingly satisfactory. It has been said
that the committee has spent large sums in the purchase
of a projected newspaper ; and there seems to have been
an impression in the mind of Mr. Scott that the com-
mittee gave directions on that subject ; but the fact is,
the committee, as a committee, never gave any such
directions. Perhaps individuals may have thought the
matter one proper to be encouraged, but the committee
did not.

The Chairman—But did not the committee ultimately
sanction thestep?
__ _

Mr. Wood—they did ultimately, but they had no-
thing to do with the getting up of a newspaper.
The Chairman—Mr. Scott told us that this expendi-
ture, which may be almost called irregular expenditure,
was of very rare occurrence—that in fact this was almost
the only instance of it—is that so ?
Mr. Wood—lt is so. It has been said the committee
bribed the press with 1,0001. a-year, and I was at first
a little indignant at the statement. It has, however,
been explained. Pave and except the repayment to the
officers of the item of about 480/. on one occasion, the
average yearly expenditure in the purchase of news-
papers has not been more than 1601. or 180/.

- The Chairman—Ought there to be any concealment in
the expenditure of any committee of the corporation ?
Mr. Wood—l am not aware that there has been any
concealment ; it appears in the accounts.

The Chairman—From the manner in which the items
are lumped together, could any one tell that the money
had been spent in the attempt to establish a newspaper ?
Mr. Wood—There was no attempt ou the part of the
corporation to establish a newspaper.
The Chairman—l am not questioning the propriety
of the expenditure, but am speaking of it as a matter of
account. Ought there not to be a stricter manner of
rendering the accounts than by describing an item of
2,7001. as " miscellaneous expenditure." which was
spent in opposing the removal of Smithfield Market, but
which, for all that appears in the accounts, might be
equally taken to have been spent in any other manner ?
Ought not those who contribute the money to be made
aware on the face of the accounts of the precise manner
in which it has been expended ?

Mr. Wood-2,7001, does seem rather a large item ;
but it was expended under the authority of the com-
mittee. The item is stated generally in the accounts,
but the details are given to the committee and to any-
body who chooses to ask for them. The committee
have laborious duties to perform, but they receive no
allowance. The committee had been anxious to settle
the dispute with the Crown respecting the soil and bed
of the Thames, and large sums of money would have
been spent in improving the river before now, if such a
settlement had been obtained.

The inquiry was then adjourned till Wednesday next

THE BALTIC FLEET.

We have not seen any ships specifically mentioned as
intended to form this fleet. That there will be a Baltic
Fleet we have no doubt, and that it well very speedily
be organised. Among the ships and vessels available
and speedily to be made available for such an expedition
we are in possession of the following :
SCREW SHIPS.
Guns.
Duke of Wellington l3l
Royal George l2l
St. Jean d'Acre
Princess Royal
Cesar 9l
James Watt
Cressy
Blenheim
Hogue
BAILIN(
Guns. ;
Neptune
StaterWterloo
orge l2O Pique
Prince Regent
London
Cumberland 7O Frolic lO
All the foregoing ships, both screw and sailing, are in
ccimmisaion and on the home stations, except the Cum-
berland, which is ordered from the West Indies to form
one of the fleet.

Guns.
Ajax
Edinburgh 5B
Imperieuse 5l
Euryalus
Arrogant
Am phion
Tribune 3O
Dauntless
Desperate
SHIPS.

Guns.
70
40
40

LAW INTELLIGENCE.—Jan. 27.

BAIL COURT.
(Sittings in Banco—Before Mr. Justice Crompton.)
THE DERBY ELECTION.
THE QUEEN V. BERESFORD AND OTHERS.

Mr. Edwin James on the part of the prosecution,
showed cause against a rule which had been obtained
by Mr, Whately to allow a rule for a special jury, ob-
tained on the 9th of November last, on behalf of Colonel
Beresford, one of the defendants, to be superseded by a
subsequent rule for a special jury obtained on the part
of Mr. Cox, also one of the defendants. It appeared
that at the time when the first rule had been obtained
only two of the defendants had appeared, but since that
time seven other defendants had appeared, and therefore
the defendants had thought it necessary to obtain a rule
for another special jury. He (Mr. E. James) now con-
tended that the second rule could not be granted until
the former rule had been discharged. The prosecutors
had no objection to the rule, but they wished that no
question should arise after the trial as to the regularity
of the proceedings.
Sir Frederick Thesiger, in support of the rule, con-
tended that, as the first special jury was struck only to try
some of the issues in consequence of only two of the de.
fondants appearing, it was necessary that a new special
jury should be struck to try the whole of the issues in
consequence of the seven other defendan is appearing.
He, therefore, submitted that the rule ought to be made
absolute.

Mr. Justice Crompton said that the only question was
whether the first rule ought not to be discharged before
the subsequent rule could be made absolute. He
thought that the second rule ought to be amended, and
made to discharge the former rule.
On looking at the rule, the learned judge said that
it did discharge the former rule, and therefore it would
be made absolute as it stood.
Rule absolute.

THE LONDON GAZETTE OF LAST NIGHT.

WAR-OFFICE, JAN. 27.

4th Regiment of Dragoon Guards—Henry Ponatford,
Gent., to be Cornet, by purchase, vice Bankes, who retires,
Jan. 27.

3d Light Dragoons—Surgeon William Ord Mackenzie,
M.D., from the 82d Foot, to be Surgeon, vice Henderson,
who exchanges. Jan. 27.
9th Light Dragoons—Assistant-Surgeon John James
Clifford, M.D., from the 96th Foot, to be Assistant• Su-
rgeon, vice Jephson, who exchanges, Jan. 27.
10th Light Dragoons—Charles Hill Uniacke, Gent., to
be Cornet, by purchase, vice Hathway, promoted, without
purchase, in the 14th Light Dragoons, Jan. 27.
12th Light Dragoons- -Lieut. Arthur William Coape,
from the 84th Foot, to be Lieutenant, vice St. George,
appointed to the 80th Foot, Jan. 27.
14th Light Dragoons—Cornet Henry William Macallis-
ter Hathway, from the 10th Light Dragoons, to be Lieu-
tenant, without purchase, vice William Boyd, deceased,
Jan. 27.

7th Regiment of Foot—Lieutenant Thomas Uniacke,
from half-pay. Rifle Brigade, to be Lieutenant, vice P. S.
Young, promoted without purchase to an Unattached
Company; Ensign G. W. Wallace Carpenter, from the
41st Foot, .to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Uniacke,
who retires, Jan. 27.
9th Foot—Assistant-Surgeon John Coote Ovens, froin
the Staff, to be Assistant-Surgeon, Jan. 27.
14th Foot Surgeon William Denny, from the 34th
Foot, to be Surgeon, vice Batt, who exchanges, Jan. 27.
16th Foot—Lieutenant George Barehard, from the 44th
Foot, to be Lieutenant, vice Bailie, who exchanges,
Jan. 27.

27th Foot—Lieutenant George Glascott Newton, from
the 66th Foot, to be Lieutenant, vice Gore, who exchanges,
Jan. 27.

34th Foot—Surgeon Edgar Dumaresq Batt, from the
14th Foot, to be surgeon, vice Denny, who exchanges,
Jan. 27.

Foot—Ensign Richard Longfield Craster, to be
Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Digby, who retires ; Clif-
ford Waterman Chaplin, Gent., to be Ensign, by purchase,
vice Craster, Jan. 27.
41st Foot—James Alexander Hamilton, Gent., to be
Ensign, by purchase, vice Carpenter, promoted in the 7th
Foot, Jan. 27.
44th Foot—Lieutenant Robert Bailie, from the 16th
Foot, to be Lieutenant, vice Barchard, who exchanges,
Jan. 27.

49th Foot—Charles Fitzgerald, Gent., to be Ensign, by
purchase, vice Adams, who retire•, Jan. 27.
62d Foot—Ensign John Hart Dunne, to be Lieu-
tenant, by purchase, vice Becher, who retires ; Herrick
Augustus Palmer, Gent., to be Ensign by purchase, vice
Dunne; Assistant-Surgeon John Eldon Young, M.D.,
from the Staff, to be Assistant-Surgeon, Jan. 27.
66th Foot—Lieutenant Charles James Knox Gore, from
the 27th Foot, to be Lieutenant, vice Newton, who ex-
changes, Jan. 27.
80th Foot—Lieutenant Hamilton Charles Smith, to be
Captain, without purchase, vice Bowler, deceased; En-
sign and Adjutant Erasmtis Borrowes, to be Lieutenant,
without purchase, vice Smith, May 1; Lieutenant Thos.
Clement Belmore St. George, from the 12th Light Dra-
goons, to be Lieutenant, vice Wolseley, appointed to the
84th Foot, Jan. 27.
82d Foot—Surgeon James Henderson, M.D., from the
3d Light Dragoons, to be Surgeon, vice Mackenzie, who
exchanges, Jan. 27.
81th Foot—Lieutenant Garnet Joseph Wolseley, from
the 80th Foot, to be Lieutenant, vice Coape, appointed to
the 12th Dragoons, Jan. 27.
95th Foot—Lieutenant James Christopher Grant Kings-
ley, from the Cape Mounted Riflemen, to be Lieutenant,
vice Clerk, who exchanges, Jan. 27.
96th Foot—Assistant-Surgeon William Holmes Jephson,
M.D., from the 9th Light Dragoons, to be Assistant-Sur-
geon, vice Clifford, who exchanges, Jan. 27.
Cape Mounted Riflemen—Lieutenant Godfrey Clerk,
from the 95th Foot, to be Lieutenant, vice Kingsley, who
exchanges, Jan. 27.
ADMIRALTY, JAN. 21.

Admiral of the White James Carthew has boon ap-
pointed to receive a pension of 1501. a-year, as provided
for in her Majesty's Order in Council of the 25th of June,
1851, vacant by the decease of Vice-Admiral Robert
Elliot, and the name of Admiral Carthew has been re-
moved to the reserved half-pay list accordingly ; and, in
consequence of this removal the following promotions,
dated this day, have taken place :
Admiral of the Blue Sir Robert Howe Bromley, Bart.,
to be Admiral of the White.
Vice-Admiral of the Red Sir James Alexander Gordon,
K.C.8., to be Admiral of the Blue.
Vice-Admiral of the White the Hon. George Poulett, to
be Vice-Admiral of the Red.
Vice-Admiral of the Blue Hyde Parker, C. 8., to be
Vice• Admiral of the White.
Rear-Admiral of the Red Sir Phipps Hornby, K.C.8.,
to be Vice-Admiral of the Blue.
Rear-Admiral of the White Sir George Rose Sartorius,
to be Rear-Admiral of the Red.
Rear-Admiral of the Blue Armar Lowry Corry, to be
Rear-Admiral of the White.
Capt. Sir George Robert Lambert, K.C.8., to be Rear-
Admiral of the Blue. •
The following captains on the retired list have also been
promoted to be retired Rear-Admirals on the terms pro-
posed in the London Gazette of the Ist of September, 1846,
without increase of pay :
Captain John Gore.
Captain Charles Bowen.