The Sun.
London, England, 1853-05-26 00:00:00

BUSINESS OF THE COURT.

Lord Campbell announced that to-morrow, and the
subsequent paper days, after the cases in the paper had
been exhausted, they would proceed with the new trials.

MARLBOROUGH-STREET--(THIS DAY.)

ELECTION OF CHAMBERLAIN.

STATE .OF THE POLL, THIRD DAY (MAY 23).
For Mr. Benjamin Scott 1695
For Sir John Key 1632

Majority for Mr. Scott 63
The poll this day opened at nine o'clock in the
morning, and up to ten o'clock Mr. Scott had made
one in addition to his former majority. Some changes,
however, occurred during the day, proving the man-
ner in which electioneering matters fluctuate. Every
possible exertion was evidently made in the early
part of the day to reduce Mr. Scott's majority,
and once or twice that majority was considerably af-
fected through the laudable and incessant exertions of
the worthy alderman's agents and friends. Owing, how-
ever, to the counteracting influence of a comparatively
small force, most vigorously working on the side of Mr.
Scott, an evident check was put upon the numbers given
for Sir John Key, the result proving that throughout
the day a loss of. 16 votes only was sustained, a plus of
63 still remaining in favour of Mr. Scott on the gross
poll.
At three o'clock the numbers, as above given, were
exhibited. Loud cheering followed the announcement ;
after which there were loud calls for Sir John Key, and
others still more vociferous for Mr. Scott. That gentle-
man implored the livery to permit the worthy alderman
to be heard, but this was not permitted by the popular
voice. Therefore, in obedience to the call,
Mr. SCOTT said that he should adhere to the rule laid
down, and from which nothing should induce him to
depart, namely, not to utter one word of a personal
character with reference to his family or relations.
(Hear, hear.) The question was not a personal one, it
was one of principle. (Hear, hear.) He begged again
to draw their attention to the importance of that prin-
ciple. It was nothing less than this :—Should anything,
or any body of men interfere with the unrestricted choice
of the livery for the important office of Chamberlain ?
Eighty years ago they selected that officer from their
own body, or from the Court of Common Council, or
from the Court of Aldermen, according as they found a
man in their judgment fitting for and deserving of the
office—(cheers) ; and if they assisted him (Mr. Scott),
he would, 'in his own humble person, establish their
right to do so again. (Hear, hear.) The last Cham-
berlain who was not an alderman was a member of the
Court of Common Council—one Mr. Deputy Harrison ;
and he was sure that on the list of candidates which
might be submitted to them to select there were very
many members of the Court of Common Council who
would be well qualified to stand as candidates. (Hear,
hear.) So much for the principle. One word about a
remark he had made at the nomination on the value of
' his father's service, upon which his honourable opponent

had commented. Ite (Mr. Scott) bad said that no
amount of money by way of salary would have repre-
sented the value of the services his father had rendered to
the corporation. Upon his advent to office the credit of
the City was so low, that the City bakers would not supply
the daily bread to the prisoners without the personal
guarantee of the Chamberlain— (hear, hear and oh, oh)—
while by that officer's prudent administration of the cor-
porate funds, the finances of the corporation were now
flourishing, and public improvements to a vast amount
had been effected. (Hear, hear.) He had proposed the
re-purchase of the profits of the City markets from the
officers of the Lord Mayor's household, to whom they
had been sold. By this arrangement the City were now
in the receipt of a clear income of 19,0001. per annum.
(Hear, hear.) He had pointed out that by purchasing
of the Lord Mayor for the time being the right to sell
coal meters' places, a large revenue might be realised,
and 5,000/. a-year had been the result of this reform.
(Loud cheers.) He had, in 1829, in a committee of the
House of Lords, opposed a combination of coal owners,
and had established the City's right to levy a duty of
Bd. a ton on coals, for the purpose of improving the
public thoroughfares, and such improvements had con-
sequently taken place. The Duke of Wellington had
again and again applied to his father to take some office
under Government, but his father preferred to serve his
fellow-citizens ; but assumining that he (Mr. B. Scott)
had overrated his father's services, let him put it to them
as fathers, many of them, whether they would not ra-
ther that their sons, after their decease, should over
than under estimate their worth. (Loud cheers.) A re-
ference
to the Union Bank being here made, Mr. Scott
replied, as he had before done, evidently to the satifac-
tion of the livery. Having thanked them for placing
him at the head of the poll that day, and urged
upon them ;the necessity for their early attendance
the next day to complete the triumph, he (Mr. Scott)
retired amidst loud cheers.
Sir JOHN KEY then rose. He observed that Mr.
Scott might well congratulate his friends upon the
'• proud position" he occupied upon the poll. (Laugh.
ter.) That gentleman must have known that the false
statementslmade by some members of his committee had
tended in a great degree to give him that position.
(Clamour.) In his address he (Mr. Scott) had reviewed
the municipal occurrences of the last 80 years, and he bad
also spoken of his late father, of whom, indeed, no one
could speak too highly. (Hear.) But with reference to
improvements connected with the City, in some part of
that period at least, they had been in the habit of as-
sociating with them not only the name of Mr. Scott,
but also that of Mr. R. L. Jones—(cheers)—and not only
that gentleman, but the City solicitor. Mr. Scott had
said that if his father had been paid ten times the
amount he had received, he would not have been over-
paid. (Hear, and oh.) But had not that gentleman
(Mr. Scott, sen.) received a permanent reward from the
corporation for his services in the shape of a pension ?
(Hear, hear, and shame.) As to himself, he (Sir John
Key) could say that if they were to give him at that
moment 25,0001., it would not repay him for the amount
he had dispensed in the shape of public charity. (Hear,
and oh.) Sir John then read a long list of the contri-
butions he had so made, and concluded with thanking
his friends for their support upon that occasion.
The proceedings were then adjourned until this morn-
ing at nine o'clock.

STATE OF THE POLL THIS DAY.
HALF-PAST ON& O'CLOOH.

Mr. Benjamin Scott
Sir John Key

Majority for Mr. Scott...

1959
1956

NATIONAL PROVINCIAL BANK OF IRELAND,

The eighteenth annual general meeting of the proprie-
eters in this company was held at the offices, No. 13,
Old Broad-street, yesterday, for the purpose of receiving
the report and statement of accounts, and upon other
business. The chairman, Mr. Fowler Newsam, presided.
The report stated that during the past year new
branches had been opened at Mountmellick and Lismore.
The business of the bank had been increased nearly half
a million during the same period ; and in consequence
of the increased prosperity of the country the directors
felt justified in announcing their intention of resuming a
51. per cent. dividend in July next. The profit and loss
accounts showed undivided profits at December, 1852,
3,0551. 16s. 11d. ; reserve fund, 5,386/. 11s. 4d. ; net
profits for the year 1852, 32,2201. Os. 6d. ; deduct
dividends for 1852; 18,0001. ; doubtful debts, 14,587/.
13s. Bd. ; leaving a balance to credit of reserve fund, of
8,074/. 15s. id.
The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report,
said the principal subject remarked upon was the great
and increased prosperity of Ireland. In the west of Ire-
land land had increased in value 40 per cent., war prices
were attainable for provisions, and the cattle were so
enhanced in value that they now fetched higher prices
there than in England. (Hear.) The dark cloud which
had for so long a period hung over Ireland now ap-
peared to be dispersed, and he was happy to state that
the bank had in consequence benefitted considerably,
and gained the general estimation of the public at
large. He would now allude to the returns of the
issues of the banks in Ireland, and he found that while
their great rivals were considerably below the sum which
they were authorised to issue, this bank was 20,0001.
above what it was in 1845. (Hear, hear.) He did not
wish by that statement to prejudice the other banks, for
they acted with them in the most candid and cordial
manner. The affairs of this company had been con-
ducted with the greatest economy, and 67,0001. of bad
debts had been cleared off, while they would shortly
have a reserve fund of 12,9491. 6s. Bd. All the doubtful
debts were provided for, and it was the intention of the
directors in July next to again raise the dividend to 51.
per cent. (Hear, hear.) After referring to the reduc-
tions which had been made, in which he stated that the
directors' allowances formed no considerable item, and
to the fact that an available reserve fund was to be
established, he concluded by moving that the directors'
report now read be received and adopted. (Cheers.)
Mr. GARTLAND seconded the motion.

Dr. MAGEE moved that a committee of three share-
holders be appointed to consider the conduct of the paid
officers of the bank in soliciting proxies for the election
of one of the retiring d►rectors, in place of himself:
Mr. RAE seconded the motion.

After a long and desultory debate of a personal cha-
racter, the motion was withdrawn, and the resolution
for the adoption of the reporb was carried amidst loud
cheers. •

The Earl of HARRINGTON proposed, and Mr. D.
O'CoNNELL seconded, Dr. Magee as a fit and proper per-
son for director.

This proposition gave rise to another angry discussion.
At its conclusion the meeting proceeded to the ballot,
which ended in the election of Major James Oliphant
and James Bogle Smith, Esq., as new directors : Jere-
miah Dunne, Esq., Robert Rundell Guinness, Esq.,
and Rowan Ronald, Esq., being re-elected.

We have recently seen some lavender-water of a very
superior quality, prepared by S. Perks, chemist and
distiller of lavender. The flowers from which it is ex-
tracted are grown by the proprietor. It possesses great
fragrance, and may be obtained at Howell and James's,
Regen t- street.

IMPROPER USE OF THE HALFPENNY NEWSPAPER
STAMP.—Some of the London and 'country newspaper
offices have been in the habit of printing the posting bills
advertising the contents of their papers on halfpenny
supplement stamps, and forwarding them through the
post-offices to their various agents in other towns. The
post-office officials have either winked at the practice or
been wholly asleep, and the system has answered the
purpose of publishers for souls time ; for whilst it was a
cheap way of transmitting the posters, the. newspapers
had a credit, through the stamp returns, of a fictitious
circulation. The frauds (for there could be no pretence
for calling these posters supplements) has at length been
discovered however, and the agents at Manchester were
astonished yesterday by having a demand of eightpence
postage on each copy demanded by the letter-camera.