The Sun.
London, England, 1838-03-01 00:00:00

ELECTION COMMITTEES.
(THIS DAY.)

CITY OF LONDON.
Mr. Cunam, Chairman.

This Committee met this morning at 11 o'clock, when

Mr. Tit ESSIGER opened the case for the petitioners. He said his first
duty was to state the reason the petitioners had thought it proper
to dispute the whole of the return made for the City of Lou-

don at the last election. The case, as being a metropolitan ouc,
was of much importance, it was also important from its cir-
cumstances, but he relied with the utmost confidence upon the
wisdom, the firmness, and the impartiality of the Committee.
Ile felt perfectly satisfied that if the facts, as they had been laid before
him, were substantiated, the result of the proceedings would be fatal to
the seats of the whole four Members for London, for the practices which
he was instructed would be moved were of so pernicious a character,
they tended so to corrupt the electors, that the Committee would seize
with avidity an opportunity of punishing those who had been guilty
of them, as well as those who profited by them, and in such
a case their 'decision must be favourable to the petitioners.
Much prejudice had been attempted to be excited against the petitioners
because, having had only one candidate at the election, they attempted
to unseat the whole four Members. Putting these practices, of which
they complained, out of view for a moment, he would prove to the Com-
mittee that they were compelled by necessity to have recourse to such
a proceeding. If a candidate presented himself to the notice of electors on
his own individual interest, of course lie could only be affected by matters
relating to himself or his own individual agent. But if candidates chose to
make common cause together—if they came in a body before the electors
and told them, " You must take us all, or have none of us"—if they em-
ployed the same agents—if they canvassed each fur one another, and for
all—if their common object could not be attained without having
recourse to such practices as lie had alluded to, and their com-
mon agent were found to be the guilty party, then
surely, morally as well as legally, each and all were answerable for the
faults of each other. His case was, that the four sitting Members for
London, at the late election, made common came ; that corrupt prac-
tices were resorted to; and that each and all of the Members are
liable for the consequences. For the purpose of conducting the
election, two persons were engaged of the name of Croucher
—a name now well known in election matters ; they seemed to
be persons who were much more anxious about the end, than scru-
pulous about the means. They were the agents—they employed the
whole machinery—and they were' the persons engaged: to perform
the somewhat delicate task of soliciting unwilling voters. The head-
quarters of the formidable gang were fixed in Guildhall Coffee-
house. The lower floor was Mr. Croucher's—for his clerks, &c.
On the first was the General Committee-room ; and on the
second floor was the private or secret Committee room of Mr. Tijou,
the secretary. The secret Committee consisted of Mr. Travers, the

Chairman of the united Committee, Mr. Tijou, Mr. Joseph Crouchre,
and the four candidates. Croucher issued placards soliciting votes, nol

for any one candidate, but for all—the canvassing was in the same
mode—all the four candidates had only one committee and one
Committee-room, he expected to be able to prove that a sum of money
was lodged in the bank of Rogers, Twogood, :and Co. on behalf of the
four candidates, which money was reached by checks signed by Mr.
Travers, the Chairman of the United Committee, and that they in all
matters acted in concert. There were a number of District Com-
mittee: formed, to all of which Committees were attached one
of Mr. Croucher's clever clerks, one who was well acquainted with his
ways, and who knew the particular meaning to be attached to the pe-
culiar expression he was in the habit of using. All these Committees
were actively engaged in canvassing, and sent in a Report to Mr.
Croucher every night, and the clerk, in his little red book, made certain
little marks with red ink, which were well understood by Mr. C. They
were placed against the names of those voters who would not vote for the
Reformers unless they were solicited in a very peculiar manner. When
the election began, it was easily and at once seen, that the Messrs.
Crouchers, were determined to carry it by all means, either fair or foul.
There was a district in Bermondsey which contained a considerable
number of ♦otes, who were called the Long Shore men, they were
mostly watermen and others of that class, and it was important
that they:should be secured for the four Reformers. Accordingly
a Mr. Thomson was instructed to negociate with them. On the
19th of July, he received instructions from Mr. Tijon to accompany
him and a Mr. Young, to open the delicate negociation. They went to
the Black Bull in Rotlierhithe, which was kept by a Mr. Everitt. ;hey
there opened a District Committee, and Mr. Thomson was put under
the orders of Mr. Young, and they proceeded to canvass these long.
shore men. If they were found favourable, they were sent to the Black
Bull, where such arrangements were made for securing their votes,
as at first sight afforded some colour, or shelter, for the con.
trivances which were resorted to. The voters were named as
a Committee, or were made messengers, with nothing to do;
and they were to get one pound each upon promising their vote,
and another after they had polled. It would have been too barefaced
to have done it openly, and accordingly they were all made something
of by the clever Mr. Croucher. They assembled at the Black
Bull, where they received refreshments of all kinds. On the Friday
became clamourous for their money, and declared that they would not
vote if they did not get it. Mr. Guthrie went to Mr. Sturmy, who
was the legal adviser for the four candidates, and, on his
return he promised them the 1/. each next morning, and he would
prove that they received it to the number of 33 ; he would also prove
they polled for the Members, and that they again received their reward
of I/. Mr. Sturmy's bill amounted to 3451., only 50 guineas of which
was charged for services ; the rest must have been expended for illegal
purposes, and no doubt the 661. formed one of the items. He would
prove that the same vicious practices were carried on in almost
all the other districts. When the election was on, and when
it begun to pinch, he would prove that Mr. Croucher

in the presence of Tijon and Mr. Grote, sent out word to the districts,
that voters must be sent up at all hazards—a phrase well known to those
clerks at the various Committees, who were well aware of its meaning—
and it would be proved, that to one of the messengers he said, valets
must be sent up, even if he paid for them. One voter refused to vote
without being paid two sovereigns, which were given him. A
Mr. Deans refused to vote unless he received a presentation for his
son for Christ's Hospital. He would prove that, at all events, he got a
promise of one. One man, with a wonderful name—a Mr. Wonderful
Chertsey—would not vote unless he got a place under the Government.
He would prove that, after allowing the Members no rest. he had an in-
terview with Mr. Pattison, who gave him a letter to Mr. Stanley of the
Treasury—from thence to' a Commissioner of Excise, and, wonderful
to relate, the next day saw Mr. Chertsey a Custom-house watchman. He
would prove many other cases of bribery, the parties being what was called
taken on. They were taken on, but it was only to vote. He would prove
very extensive treating, which of itself would make void the election ;
he would prove that after the testing of the writ, there were
various houses kept open for the voters, where they obtained
both meat and liquor, and h• was instructed that scenes of
great intoxication were the consequence. If he proved these
cases to the satisfaction of the: Committee, then their duty
would be plain—they must unseat the four Members, and then it
would be his duty to go into a scrutiny, fur the purpose of seating Mr,
Palmer, which would be a matter of no difficulty. Ile then called the
Under-Sherifl's to produce the poll-books.

COAL MONOPOLY OF THE PORT

OF LONDON.

" In consequence of a complaint made by our employers,
the coal-ownurs and ship-owners, in 1834, a meeting of the
factors took place, when a resolution was passed that certain
quantities of coals should only be offered for sale, to support a
fair remunerating price."—Evidence of Mr. U. Clarke trt
Parliament, June 3, 1836.
On reading this candid and extraordinary declaration,
we are naturally driven to ask by what right can a few
private individuals form and carry into execution a resolu-
tion prejudicial to the community ? The use of the
Thames is free to all vessels which pay the light dues, and
belongs to the nation, not to the coal factors. If the owners
or the consigners of the 25,000 merchant vessels which an-
nually come up the Thames were to assume the right of
unloading them only in the river, 100,000 barges would
scarcely be sufficient to recive their cargoes, and carry them
to the storehouses. Let us see, then, what is the effect of
unloading coals in the river, and what injury it causes to
til; navigation of the river. After a Collier has authority
to unload, she can:only put out 50 tons of coals each day.
There must, therefore, be on the average 150 vessels un-
loading, and 400 barges occupied in carrying their cargoes
on shore. Six hundred boats probably arc required to carry
the meters and whippers backwards and forwards, and the
crew of the Colliers lying in the river continually go back-
wards and forwards.

In.lependently of the number of colliers actually un-
loading, the number detained by the factors in the Thames
between Limehouse and Bugsby's Hole, during the winter,
was as follows :-
1837. Colliers detained.
Days a
the
Month

Oct. Nov. Dec.

1 191 137 168
2 176 143 161
3 150 138 147
4 140 131 180
5 148 150 172
6 109 176 170
7 97 185 160
8 78 180 163
9 66 166 143
10 80 158 135
11 149 140 130
12 154 180 168
13 120 191 186
14 130 204 193
15 137 225 198
16 140 195 205
Average ,

1837. Colliers detained.
Days of
the Oct. Nov. Dec.
Month.

17 128 170 200
18 143 175 198
19 135 178 203
20 130 1.72 191
21 128 159 188
22 118 142 180
23 80 128 165
24 62 141 175
25 100 147 188
26 110 150 182
27 121 163 207
28 115 142 223
29 150 148 196
30 155 174 206
31 110 218

... 125

In a very long winter the measures adopted by the
Factors _ must cause gr-mt injury to London ; for the

accumulation of ice, preventing the barges from moving,
the vessels cannot discharge their cargoes, the manu-

facturers must stop their ivork, and the population
must be exposed to cruel deprivations. From the

returns of the coal market it appears in fact that only
the following very small number of colliers were unloaded
on seven market-days.

To apply for on
Market Days. Sold. Sold for the condition at Sale
Country. when in a'
Jan. 24, 1838 Working Berth.
1 2 24
26 1 1 27
29 1 0 26
31 1 0 31
Feb. 2 1 0 38
5 . 3 1 37
7 0 0 34

8 4 217
In fourteen days these 217 vessels must have expended
a sum of 10,623/., or 3s. 3d. per ton on their cargoes.
Only twelve Colliers while they were lying idle, were
unloaded, of which eight were to supply London, and four
to supply the country.
During this period several Colliers suffered considerable
damage, and the crews being cut off from communication
'with the shore suffered some severe privations.
How came, then, the coal-owners and the ship-owners to
give their consent to regulations imposed on their trade by
the factors ?

We showed in our former article, that a vessel of 220
registered tons, carrying 350 tons, costs for a voyage of 33
days, 20 of which she lies idle, the sum of 115/. ; butchers,
bakers, brewers, ballast, pilotage, &c., 49/. ; wages of the
crew, 35/. ; commission, &c., 6/. ; deterioration of the
vessel, insurance, &c., 251.—total, 115/. For her cargo,
at an average of eight shillings a ton, she nets 1401. ;
profit, 25/.
The inquiries by. the Committees of the House °f
Commons have, however, established the fact unanswer-
ably that the Colliers remain four, five, and six weeks for their
turn to unload, st an average expense of 3/. 10s. per day.
If the expense of a vessel making a voyage in thirty. three
days, twenty of which she remains idle, be 1151., Low much
will a vessel expend each voyage if she remain four, five, or
six weeks, waiting her turn to unload ?
Four weeks inactive, the expense is £157, or 9s. per ton.
Five
Six
Voyage of fifteen days
But if the shipowner receive only 140/. for the freight of
350 tons, how can he carry on a trade in which he expends,
180/. per voyage ?
The answer to this question will demonstrate that the
factors, contrary to the law, have formed in conjunction
with the factors of Newcastle—a conspiracy to make the
coal-owners pay the difference.
The registered tonnage is
The vessel carries 340
Difference l3O
The ship-owner selling his cargo at 105. the ton, receives
for the 130 tons 65/., equivalent to the time which he loses
in the river.

The shipowner receives for freight 1401., and he receives
for the price of 130 tons, for which he has not paid 651,
netting 2051. each voyage, while his expence is 1801. le
consequence he makes a profit of 25/., notwithstanding the
four or five weeks his vessel remains idle.
The coalowners therefore are obliged to sell their coals
at 25 per cent. more than they would require, if they
were
paid for the coals which are now taken from them by the
false method of estimating the tonnage of ships. In that
case they might sell coals for which they now receive 9s•
per ton at 6s. per ton.
The ship-owners not obliged to await the pleasure of the
factors, might perform the voyage as follows :—Four days
to xo to the mine, one day to load, four to return, and two
Ape Toad in the dock, making a total of eleven days. TheY
therefore, easily make two voyages per month,
'and the vessels being built on correct principles, instead of
being constructed to profit by a fraudulent measure of
capacity, would make their voyage with greater celerity. Thlf'
crews might then be better paid; the river would 11°4
longer be encumbered ; the coal-owners would receive the
price for the coals, and coals of the first quality would he
delivered in London, as we have stated, at the price of
from 18s. to 20s. per ton.
The West India, East India, and London Dacks, have
for 20 years been of great utility to commerce, and have
enabled the Government to collect a considerable revenue
with ease and regularity. The Collier Dock at Roarer-
hithe, situated at the entrance of the Surrey Canal, and
not far from the Regent's Canal, will enable the
Government—and perhaps it alone can answer the
purpose—to free one of the more important branches of in-
dustry from the devastating effect of the monopoly and
control of the factors. By their mischievous operation they
prevent the increasing consumption of the article, and dimi-
nish the comforts of the people. They levy moreover an
exorbitant sum on the coal-owners, on the ship-owners, and
on the inhabitants of the metropolis.