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

LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, JANUARY 14, 1854.

EAST INDIA HOUSE, 11th JANTIARY,IBS4.
rP.H.E COURT of DIRECTORS of the EAST
11l INDIA COMPANY do hereby give Notice, that the Papers
relative to D scussions between the Marquis of Dalhousie and Lieut.-
General Sir Cherles James Napier, G.C.8., which were ordered by
the General Court on the 21st ult. to be printed, will be ready for
delivery to the proprietors on TUESDAY next, the 17th instant, on
their making application for the same at this House.
JAMES C. MELYILL, Secretary.

THE ROYAL BRITISH BANK have
OPENED a BRANCH at 1, Shaftesbury-terrace, Victoria-
street, for the accommodation of the Pimlico, Beigrave, and adjoin-
ing districts. Interest, reckoned from day to day, on the fluctuating
Pa!ances of drawing accounts, and on deposits, will be allowed agree-
ably to the Bank's terms of business, of which copies, and any fur-
ther necessary information, may be obtained at the Bank, Token-
house-yard, or at any of the Branches-429, Strand; 77, Bridge-
road, Lambeth; 97, Doswell-road, Islin3ton ; and 1, Shaftesbury-
terrace, Vietoria-street, Pimlico.
By order of the Court of Directors.
HUGH INNES CAMERON, General Manager.

ROYAL POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION.
PATRON—H.R.H. PRINCE ALBERT.
MAGNIFICENT PHOTOGRAPHIC PICTURES, prepared ex-
pressly for this Institution by Monsieur Ferriere of Paris, exhibited
en a surface of about a thousand square feet, with an ENTIRELY
NEW SERIES of DISSOLVING VIEWS, daily at a Quarter past
Four, and in the evenings at a Quarter-past Nine.

LECTURES by Dr. BACROFFICER on WILKINS'S NEW PATENT
UNIVERSAL ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.
LECTURE by J. H. PEPPER, Esq., on SPONTANEOUS COMBUS-
TION, with Brilliant Experiments.

- _
Open Mornings and Evenings. Admission, Is.; Schools and
Children under Ten years of age, Half-price.

CONVEYANCE OF HER MAJESTY'S MAILS BETWEEN
SCRABSTER PIER (THURSO) AND THE ORKNEY ISLANDS.
Department of the Comptroller for Victualling and Transport
Services, Somerset-place, 13th Jan.; 1854.
THE Commissioners for executing the Office of
Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom bf Great Britain
and Ireland, DO HEREBY GIVE NOTICE, that on TUESDAY,
tim 14th March next, at One o'clock, they will be ready to treat
for the Conveyance of her Majesty's MATLS between
SCRABSTER PIER, T BURSO, and
STROMNESS, in the ORKNEY ISLANDS.

All Tenders to be made in the Printed Form priivided for the pur-
pose, which, with the Conditions of the Contract, may be obtained
at the said Office. No Tender will be received after One o'clock on
the day of treaty, nor any noticed tinless the party attends, or an
agent for him duly authorised in writing.
Every tender must be addressed to the Secretary of the Admiralty,
and bear in the left-hand corner the words " Tender for Mails,"
and must also be delivered at Somerset-place, accompanied by
a Letter signed by two responsible persons, engaging to become bound
with the person tendering, in the sum of 5001. for the due perform-
ance of the Contract.

CUMBERLAND HEMATITE IRON ORE
• COMPANY.

50,0001. Shares of 11. each.—No deed to sign.

NOTICE.—The Scrip Certificates of Shares to " Bearer" in this Com-
pany will be ready to be exchanged for the Banker's Receipts on
and after the 21st day of January, 1854.

This Company is not formed for the purpose of manufacturing Bar
Iron under the "Joint Stock Act," bat for the express purpose of
working and selling the ore in its primitive state ; and is to be carried
on under the Cost-Book System, limiting the liability of the share-
holders to the amount of their shares taken and paid upon.
The ore is of the finest quality ; is absolutely necessary for making
the best sorts of iron ; and can be produced and shipped free on board
at the port, Whitehaven, at 7s. 6d. per ton. The selling price is now
13s. per ton. Contracts for the whole of the ore may be made at
this rate. An application is to be made by the Whitehaven and
Egremont Railway Company, next Session of Parliament, for an Act
to make that line of railway, and also a branch line of railway from
their main line to this Company's property, and when made will re
duce the present charge for carriage of ore Is. 6d. per ton.
The remainder of the shares not already subscribed for, are hereby
offered to the public at par. Applications, up to the 21st day f
January, 1854, may be addressed to the Committee of Management,
or Secretary, at the offices of the Company, where prospectusca aad
reports may be obtained, and samples of the ore inspected.
By order,
Offices, 9, Austin friars, H. HUNTER.
(Removed from 18, Carmen-street.)
December 21st, 1853.

SUBURBAN VILLA and VILLAGE
LyASSO-
CIATION. Shares 251. each, payable in full, or in five years,
by equal monthly or other payments. Entrance fee, Is. per share.
Under distinguished patronage.
_ _

Consulting Counsel—S. F. T. Wilde, Esq., Inner Temple ; J. W.

Williamsen, Esq., Lincoln's-inn.

Architect and Surveyor—W. B. koffatt, Esq., 2, Adelaide-place,
London-bridge.
Bankers—London and County Bank, Lombard-street.

Solicitor—James M. Dale, 9, WarnfOrd”court, Throgmorton-street.
Secretary (pro tem.)—Mr. John Green, 60, Murray-street, Hoxton.

Offices at Mr. Dale's, 9, Warriford-court.

Established to erect for its members freehold and leasehold villas,
and cottage residences, of various sizes, with garden, &c., near the
Crystal Palace, at a wholesale cost, to be allotted at cost price, by
ballot, and seniority to the members, as tenants, for letting or occu-
pation, at a low rent, for about five years, and thenceforth as abso-
lute owners ; and to afford a safe investment for large or small sums,
paid at convenience, at 51. per cent. and upwards. Four shares will
secure a seven-roomed villa, with garden and every convenience,
well worth 3501.. but costing the Society only about 2501., which will
be conveyed absolutely to the member when his four shares are paid
up, and the balace of the cost defrayed by the payment of a few
years' rental.
Two, three, and four share houses, and upwards, will be erected.
At the first public meeting, held on Wednesday, the 11th January
Inst., at Exeter-hall, Edward Augustus Lamb, Esq., J.P., in the
chair, a public Ballot, for rights to choose sites and dwellings on the
Society's estates, took place, when the following shares were drawn:
52, 87, 51, 80, 14, 94, 39, 24, 63, 26, 165, 149, 150, 175, 13 , 134, 125,
IRS, 152, 165, 214, 237, 235, 224, 253, 282, ',04, 274, 254, :85, 310,
375, 382, 320, 314, 308, 303, 368, 353, 315, 437, 485, 413, 412, 4841,
459, 440, 414, 479, 466, 515, 549, 513, 574, 565, 164, 586,580, 561, 504,
(54. 633, 618, 615, 636, 48, 634, 628, 613, 655, 611, 20, 2, 75, 12.
46, 32, 41, 28, 86, 117, 182, 121, 157, 139, 164, 102, 129;116, 186, 2.7,
2.18, 203, 258, 262, 248, 217, 290, 259, 2 0, 385, 321, 358, 3,9, 379,
300, 357, 311, 37°, 327, 493, 429, 44:', 4'14, 463. 486, 476, 408, 450,
457, 590, 591, 572, 517, 1523, 573, 583, 54, 544, 534.

The second public meeting, to enrol members and ballot for 100
rights to choose sites and houses, will be held at Crosby-hall, on
Wednesday, the Sth Fe•xuary neat, at 7 o'clock p.m. In the mean-
time shares may be immediately taken up, so as to secure an early
right of choice by seniority, on application to the Solicitor or Secre-
tary.

JOINT GREEN, Secretary.

mORISON and HYGEISM.
From our own knowledge of patent medicines, we may
safely assert that the consumption of them has increased tenfold in
this country since Mr. Mori,on promulgated his system. Pills, under
new names, are starting day after day. Can there be a stronger
proof of the truth of the Morisonian system than this fact, and like-
wise that the vendors, in order to popularise their pills, describe them
as being of a purgative quality, and embody in their advertisements
(with which the public press is now teeming) scraps from the " Mo-
risoniana !" A question then arises for the serious consideration of
the public, whether the vendors strictly adhere to the Morisonian
system in its integrity, and whether they are in possession of a me-
dicine which will effectually answer the main purpose, that of cleans-
ing the blood ?—BRITISII COLLEGE OF HEALTH, New road,
London.

CITY OF LONDON COMMISSION.

The commissioners met again on Thursday in the
Privy Council-chamber, Downing-street, Mr. Labou-
chere in the chair. The inquiry was resumed by the
re-examination of

Mr. Benjamin Scott, the Chamberlain's chief clerk, who
stated—There was one point on which I felt some diffi-
culty yesterday in giving the fullest information to the
commissioners. I felt that I had in some respect been
confidentially employed by the committee, and that per-
haps I could not answer the commissioners in the fullest
manner without first communicating with the committee,
and ascertaining whether I was at liberty to do so. I
refer to the questions which were put to me relating to
a secret service fund, and I stated that there was no
such fund, but that there had been an expenditure of a
conditional nature for the purpose of opposing bills in
Parliament where the City interests were materially
concerned. The reason why I felt any difficulty in an-
swering fully the questions that were put to me was in
consequence of my having been employed confidentially
in the matter of opposing the Government bill for the re-
moval of Smithfield Market, and of promoting the City's
measure for an improved and central market. On that
occasion the markets improvement committee of the cor-
poration, to forward the views of the corporation, con-
fided to me the trust of checking the expenditure of
the Parliamentary officer in this matter. I was, there-
fore, confidentially aware of this expenditure, and con-
sequently did not know whether I was at liberty to state
what was entrusted to me, not officially, but confiden-
tially. As chief clerk to the Chamberlain, I had nothing
to do with this matter, and simply acted as an indivi-
dual who possessed :the confidence of those who em-
ployed me. The expenditure to which I referred
amounted altogether to the sum of 2,7501., which ap-
pears in the City accounts for 1850 and 1851 as having
been paid to the Remembrancer for disbursements of
the markets improvement committee. The committee
instructed the Remembrancer in these words—they au-
thorised him to take measures for obtaining opinions and
expressions of public opinion which would be against the
Government measure to deprive the City of its market and
of its tolls, and in favour of a central market with im-
provements such as the corporation submitted to Par-
liament. In consequence of these directions the Re-
membrancer took steps and reported them to the com-
mittee. The committee having heard his report the
money was drawn by warrants in the usual form, signed
by seven members of the committee, and was paid in the
usual manner in the chamber. The only difference was
this, that instead of the expenditure coming before the
committee in detail, they directed me to check it, and it
was treated as a confidential matter. The sum of
2,7501. was the whole amount, and it Was expended in
this manner —viz., for canvassing, agency in procuring
numerous petitions from all parts of the country, and
printers' and law stationers' charges. Mr. Acland, who
at that time was secretary of what was called the Central
Markets Association, consisting of butchers and dealers
at Smithfield Market, and other parties interested, was
employed by the Remembrancer upon that occasion,
Mr. Acland being fully conversant with the scheme and
well qualified to get up petitions of this kind.
The Chairman--You mean on behalf of the corpora-
tion ?

Mr. Scott—Yes, and a large portion of the money
was paid to him. These expenses covered 2,6501. of the
whole 2,750, and were incurred exclusively: for pro-
moting petitions and getting up a memorial from 7,000
inhabitants of London to the City members, and for
ascertaining the validity of the signatures ; for there are
frauds committed in the signing of petitions, and the
whole of the names appended had, therefore, to be
tested by agents who waited on the parties. These ex-
penses ahsorbed the whole 2,6501. within a pound or
two, and the remaining 1001. was paid to gentlemen at
the bar for literary services.
The Chairman—What do you mean by literary ser-
vices ?

Mr. Scott—They had placed before them the reports
of committees of the House of Commons and other
Parliamentary documents, and they drew up papers
with the Remambrancer, and assisted him in a literary
way.
The Chairman—Do you mean that they wrote articles
for the newspapers ?
Mr. Scott—l am not aware that they wrote articles
for the newspapers, but I dare say some of them found
the;r way to the newspapers, although they were not
originally written with that view. These members were
retained, but it was not considered that their names
ought to be made public. The whole amount so ex-
pended did not exceed 1001.

Mr. Lewis— Were not the charges of the Remem-
brancer included in either of these amounts ?

Mr. Scott—No ; all the regular charges of the Re-
membrancer appear in the usual accounts. lam speak-
ing entirely of that expenditure which was considered
confidential. It was considered that petitions to be
presented to Parliament and measures for eliciting pub-
lic opinion would be regarded as being more powerful i f
the hand which moved in the matter was not made pub-
lic. This is the information which I have to give, and
the committee do not wish me to disguise anything.
The opponents of the corporation in regard to Smithfield
Market made exertions to procure petitions likewise.
These opponents had a committee, and employed Mr.
Brown as their Parliamentary agent, and they adver-
tised a subscription list to defray their expenses.
The Chairman—Was the oppositicn as you term it,
conducted by individuals, or by the Government?
Mr. Scott-1 am not speaking of individuals. The
coporation thought that as their market was to be
removed, and their tolls taken away without compensa-
tion, they were justified in making use of every means
in their power to prevent the passing of such an act of
Parliament.

The Chairman—When the accounts came to be
audited, did the auditors take no notice of this sum thus
lumped together ?

Scott--It was not lumped together in the ac-
counts laid before the auditors. The blue-book before
the commissioners contained an abstract ; but the audi-
tors had the warrants of the markets committee, autho•
rising the payments, before them.
The Chairman—Do not you think that the auditors
ought to takek care that the accounts are distinctly ren-
dered, and that the expenditure is made completely in-
telligible ?
Mr. Scott—As the law now stands, the auditors are
required to see that there is a competent authority for
drawing in the chamber on the face of every order, and
that the order is such as the committee has the power
to draw, but they have not the tower to control the
expenditure.
The Chairman—Admitting that the auditor ought not
to have the power of determining whether the expendi-
ture is a proper expenditure or not, yet in the perfor-
mance of his duty, which is to take care that the ac-
counts are intelligible and afford the means of testing
the expenditure, do not you think he should have the
power of pulling such sums as these to pieces, and put-
ting each item under its proper head ?
Mr. Scott—lt might be advisable to increase the
power of the auditor in this respect. I merely speak of
the system now existing, under which an auditor has no
power to question the propriety of the expenditure of
the corporation.
The Chairman—l do not speak of the right to ques-
tion the propriety of the expenditure, but simply of a
matter of account. Ought not the auditor to take care
that the accounts are published in such a form as will
enable the public to judge exactly of how the money has
been spent ?
Mr. Scott—l think it very desirable that the fullest
information should be given on the face of the accounts,
provided that the auditor is not made the controller of
the expenditure made by the large body who are elected
by the citizens.
The Chairman—But if so large a sum can be wrapped
up under one head, does it not open a door to abuse ?
Mr. Scott—l believe that it may open a door to
abuse, but I do not think that there has been abuse.
Mr. Scott then withdrew.

Mr. Sergeant Merewether, town.crerk of the City
corporation, was next examined. Ffe said that he bad
held his present office for eleven years, having before
that period occasionally acted as counsel for the corpo-
ration. The town-clerk's duty Was
to attend to the
whole business of the corporation, and be present at the
meetings of both courts, to see that the proceedings are
conducted with regularity. He had also to attend the
Lord Mayor when required, in order to give information
and advice. He attends every Court of Common Coun-
cil and every Court of Aldermen that is held. He has
to see that the minutes of the Common
Council are pro-
perly entered and printed for immediate circulation. He
has to attend courts of conservancy, and also, when
ne-
cessary, has to be present at the sittings of the naviga-
tion committee. His duties occupy the whole of his
time, and all that of the clerks in his office. Since I
have been in office I don't think I have done any pri-
vate professional duties except in one or two cases. I
devote myself exclusively to the corporation. The salary
has never exceeded 2,0001. a year, except on one occa-
sion. 900/. a year of this sum comes out of the City
cash, and the rest from other sources, The Common
Council are of opinion that the town clerk should have
a fixed salary in lieu of fees, and they have referred
that subject to a committee. The Lord Mayor's Court
is not open to all members of the bar, but the question
is now under consideration. I am nominally registrar
of the Lord Mayor's Court, but the duty is discharged
by a deputy, who is thoroughly acquainted with the
business. The fees for that office fluctuate consi-
derably. As far as I am personally concerned, I should
prefer a fixed money payment instead of fees. The
business of the Lord Mayor's Court has much increased
of late years, in consequence of arrangements carried
out under the direction of the Recorder ; but I have de-
clined to accept any portion of the increased fees in
excess of the salary which I was led to expect on taking
the office of town clerk. When I entered upon the
office I determined that it should not be a money matter
with me. I believe that the corporation are most willing
• to throw open the Mayor's Court to the members of the
bar, and also to solicitors ; and the only remaining im-
pediment is the question of compensation to those who
can establish a right to it. In point of fact, the court is
now open ; but an action has been brought by one of
the privileged attorneys against a solicitor who had
attended the court, and the suit is still pending. The
CSheriffs' courts are also privileged courts ; but when the
ounty court system was introduced a new court for the

city of London was obtained by act of Parliament, and
it is still called -the Sheriffs' Court, and in it some of the
officers of the old court are employed. Ido not inter-
fere with the legal business of the corporation, or with
the duties of the City Solicitor or the City Remem-
brancer ; and I am not responsible for the conduct 'of
the legal business, but both of the officers abovenamed
at times consult me, on matters connected with their
duties. The charters of the City are in my custody.
They are about 120 in number, and are not all translated.
I hold in my hand a volume containing all the charters
down to the reign of Edward 111. I have also the
charter of Charles, which includes almost all the other
charters. The charters have been published in print by
Luffman, but never under the authority of the City.
The book which I hold in my band contains the sub-
stance of all the charters of the City, and all it wants to
render it quite authentic is the official seal of the corpo-
ration. The complaint that persons cannot see the
charters of the City, in the event of litigation, is, in my
opinion, frivolous and unfounded. At the same time I
would not allow any person litigating with the City,
who is not a freeman, to inspect the charters.
The Chairman—ls a corporation like the city of Lon-
don, with a public trust committed to it, justified in
acting with regard to its charters in the same way as a
private proprietor of an estate with his title deeds ?
Mr. Merewether—l can see no difference ; and other
corporations, when they have been attacked, have shut
the doors of their muniment rooms against their as-
sailants.

Sir J. Patteson—But supposing the case to be that
the action is not brought against the corporation, but
that the corporation brings the action against thß other
parties, such as occurred in the case of Combe and De-
lafield, and that the defendants challenge the production
of the documents on which the City grounds its claim
against them—would you refuse to produce the charters
in that case likewise ?

Mr. Merewether—l know of no difference in law be-
tween the two cases. I have had nothing to do with
the suit with Messrs. Combe and Delafield.
The Chairman—But if the substance of the charters
is already published, what objection can there be to
their production by the corporation ?
Mr. Merewether— That is entirely a dry question of
law, and would depend on the course which the suit
may take. But lam confident that no step of this kind
is taken without the impartial and unprejudiced advice
and opinion of the first lawyers of the land being taken.
The 120 charters went as far back as the reign of Wil-
liam the Conqueror. Ido not think there is any charter
containing anything material which is not in print.
There is a book published by Mr. Norton containing
about 50 charters. More than half the 120 charters are
in print, and those that have not been published are
unimportant. The officers of the corporation are pre-
cluded from exhibiting or exposing the City records and
charters to any person not a member of the corporation
without the license of the court. I now produce these
charters under the sanction of the corporation, who de-
sire all the officers to afford the commissioners every
information, oral and documentary, in its power.
Mr. C. Lewis—lf an action like that against Messrs.
Combo and Delafield for metage is brought by the City,
is it not reasonable that the defendants should be allowed
to see the charters or muniments upon which the City
bases its claim against them ?

Mr. Merewether—lf any public right of the corpora-
tion is in question, I do not consider inys(4lf competent
to answer; but if it is a private right that is involved, I
think it would not be right to show its charters. With
regard to the case of Combe and Delafiold, as a member
of the legal proEssion I would rather refrain from giving
an opinion on a case which is still pending. As I have
said, all the proceedings in that case on the part of the
City were taken under the highest professional advice.
If the defendants wish to know the contents of the char-
ters, they have the little book I hold in my hand to
refer to ; but how far it would be advisable to give them
copies from the archieves of the corporation, I must be
excused from expressing an opinion. What has been
demanded of the Messrs. Combe hand Company has been
demanded of everybody else on the river Thames, from
a time as far back as there is any trace of. There is no
general charter describing the general constitution of the
city of London. The customs of the city of London are
constantly referred to in the charters. The corporation
is empowered to alter any customs which requires it,
and to make such provisions as shall be "good for the
king and the public." No plan has been attempted to
be frained foi• codifying the by-laws and charters of the
City. No confusion arises to the public from the charters'
of the City remaining as they now exist, and they gave
rise to no litigation ; at least the only cases are those
of Combe and Delafield with regard to the metage, and
the action involving the right to the soil of the river.
There is no charter constituting the governing body
of the city of London, and specifying the number
of aldermen and common councilmen, the ward divi-
sions, &c. The boundaries of the City are the City pro-
per, and the liberties without the walls. For a long
time the city of London was co-extensive with the me-
tropolis. The corpus of the City, if he might s• speak,
was, in early times, the whole of the metropolis. There
are no liberties where the City terminates at or abuts
upon the river, as the river was considered sufficient
protection. The total area of the City is about a mile.
The present boundaries appear to have been unaltered
since the earliest times, and I know of no attempt hav-
ing been made to extend the limits of the City in propor-
tion to the growth and extension of the metropolis, ex-
cept in the case of the borough of Southwark. The
present position of Southwark is very unsatisfactory. It
is not quite certain that the borough of Southwark is
legally a part of the county of Surrey ; because, on one
occasion, the officers of the corporation litigated a ques-
tion involving the jurisdiction of the sheriff of the county
of Surrey to issue writs in Southwark, and were suc-
cessful in their resistance. The City had abstained from
incorporating Southwark with itself, because the diffi-
culties in the way of such a measure were found to
render it impracticable. From what has passed in the
corporation, I think the incorporation of Southwark
with the City would not be distasteful to the corpora-
tion ; but beyond that I cannot speak. The meeting
recently held in Southwark was very small, and could
not be considered as a sufficient exponent of the feeling
of the inhabitants of that borough. The corporation of
the City had regard to the interests of the rest of the
metropolis in its administration, and did not confine
itself to the interests of the City proper alone. Its im-
provements were effected for the benefit of the other
part of London. It did not, however, presume to act in
a representative capacity for the whole metropolis—it
only interposed for the public good, and in the distribu-
tion of its charities the corporation went beyond its own
boundaries ?

Mr. C. Lewis—The document yesterday speaks of the
Lord Mayor as the first magistrate of the first city in
the world—does not that imply a kind of representative
capacity for the whole metropolis ?
Mr. Merewether—The document was drawn up in a
great hurry.
Mr. C. Lewis—Do you object to this expression ?
Mr. Merewether—No, I do not.
The witness was then examined with regard to the du-
ties and emoluments of the Lord Mayor. He said the
duties were very numerous and heavy ; and he had
known lord mayors to sink under the weight of their
labours. The expenses of the office pass through the
Chamberlain's-office. The Lord Mayor receives 5001. as
compensation for the loss of fees on coal metage. He
has also an allowance of 5,997/. Bs. 9d., also 300/. for
conservancy expenses ; allowance for wear and tear of
furniture, 1001.; income tax (paid for him), 228/. 7s. 6d.;
gown, 181.; cocket dues, 1,000/.; "benevolence' " 50/. ;
fees from the Old Bailey, 40/. ; other fees, 86/. 2s. 4d.,
making together 8,3191. 18s. 2d. On the demise of the
Crown the Lord Mayor has been usually summoned to
the Privy Council by -the Secretary of State.
Mr. C. Lewis—What do you think of the hospitality
of the Lord Mayor ?
Mr. Merewether—l have only to say that all the
officers of State, the judges, the Archbishop of Canter-
bury, and in fact almost all the higher ranks of English
society usually practice similar hospitality—it seems to
pervade the higher ranks.
The Chairman—The document read yesterday says
that the annual cost of the Lord Mayor's procession is
only 2001.—is that accurate ?
Mr. Merewether—l believe it is. The practice of
foreign attachment, which prevails in the City, is an
almost necessary consequence in a great commercial
town. But for this power there might be great difficulty
in giving or obtaining credit. It is desirable to retain
the custom as a beneficial one for all parties.
Mr. C. Lewis -But if it is good in Fleet-street, would
it not be equally good for the Strand ?
Mr. Merewether—lt would be a good practice, in my
opinion, to extend all over the metropolis. The nature
of foreign trade has much altered since there was a law
in the City prohibiting a foreign merchant from residing
in it for more than 40 days, or from taking a house
there ; bI think it desirable to retain the custom of
attachmet, as being a prompt and satisfactory mode of
recovering a debt. It enables a creditor to seize the
money of his debtor in the hands of a banker, and the
custom is frequently exercised.

Mr. C. Lewis—Then your opinion is favourable to
foreign attachment, and rather than abolish it you would
extend it to the rest of the metropolis, and even over the
whole of the country?
Mr. Merewether—lf it is proved to be a good system
in the City I do not see why it should not be extended
to the rest of the metropolis ; but of course the foreign
transactions in the City are more numerous than they
are anywhere else. The witness then stated that the
elections of the aldermen were conducted with great
fairness, and there was a cordial feeling between the
aldermen and their wards. The size of the wards was
unequal ; and this matter had often been considered by
the corporation. The aldermen were elected for life, but
they could be removed for a reasonable cause. They
could be removed by quo warrant°, or by order of the
Court of Common Council, of which there was a case
on record. If there was one privilege which was more
dear than another to the citizens,
it Was the power of
electing their own magistrates. It was one of their
favourite rights, and they would generally regard its
abolition with great disfavour. The aldermen were con-
sidered to be better acquainted with the transactions and
customs of the citizens than a mere stranger would be.
They were assisted by a paid clerk, who did not exactly
act like an assessor to them, but who advised them on
points of law ; but they followed their own judgment on