The Sun.
London, England, 1836-01-27 00:00:00

11-1 E SUN, LO UN, WEJiNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 183 g.

LITERATURE.

„i• hi I, ji_
A Pigo,crr_efiL, Ake” nn the Wqf
Mrrior.;.:TAL ,Otc.IJURATIOI\IB,

By WILLIAM GLOVES, Esq. M.A.
Of the Middle Temple, Barrister-at-Law.
London: Sweet; and Steeeps; old Cti. 183 d.
The Battit,i.itt3 Voliiicillots of the Reformed
03fpoiltions will find the fullest information as to the
laWs which hate been eridetM, and- the eases which
have been cideided) fespectitig their powefs3 libefties,
end property; in Mr. Glover's recent wotk; entitled " A
Practical Treatise Hui the Lain, tit Municipal.
iitiatited to the Recent Reforms," &e. The
learned Author's Preface briefly, but explicitly,
states that---,.
" ob,ket of that id Aiipri4 the Pr9fession
i
and Public in general, with such pratical nforniatioti
io-
specting the constitution, principles, and powers of Municipal
Corporations, as must be desirable at the present important
crisis. The Author has compressed a succinct account of the
ancient and modern Corporate system, together with a precise
statement of the Reforms recently effected by the Legislature,
for amending the Municipal institutions of Great Britain.
The legal portion of the work comprises different chapters,
explanatory of the law, with regard to the creation, internal
constitution, elections, rights, records, bye-laws, property,
public acts, and dissolution of Municipal Corporations ; with
the proceedings in Mandamus and Quo Warrant°. Besides
the collection of cases relative to these topics, the Author has
endeavoured to state the nature and effect of various legisla-
tive provisions of practical importance, in a more familiar mode
than is usually communicated by the technical phraseology of
the Legislature."
Mr. Glover appropriates the preliminary pages of
his work to an historical summary of the Corporate
' Institutions, wherein the learned Author proves that
among many abuses which existed under the late system,
the profligate squandering of Municipal property, and
the monopolising spirit which influenced the selection of
Corporate officers, were indubitably manifest. The
slightest effectual redress from civic misgovernment
was utterly hopeless, whilst the power of nomination
was not exercised by bodies which the charters re-
cognised. Such men were selected for discharging
official duties, as neither medicated to the wants, nor
complied with the interests, of the people. Cities and
boroughs were generally governed in such an impo-
litic manner, as to prevent the upright and patriotic from
seeking any participation in their Municipal privileges.
No substantial alteration could be effected, whilst
every individual previous to obtaining any situation
of Corporate honour or emolument, was obliged to
crouch and fawn upon certain irresponsible usurpers.
Their devices and machinations could not be sur-
mounted, if Parliament had not co-operated with the
people, and secured the freedom of every borough, by
removing various obstacles, and duly reforming all
Municipal Corporations.
The learned Author, who is a practising barrister,
of considerable research and experience, clearly shows
that nothing could be more preposterous than the pro-
ceedings of self-elected Councils, which were uniformly
repugnant with the spirit and letter of various char-
ters,!besides inconsistent with every principle of equity,
justice, and common sense. But, Parliament wisely
enabled every rate-paying inhabitant to establish his
right and title to different important offices. Mr.
Glover very properly observes that the Act which abo-
lishes Corporate abuses, also provides salutary and
efficacious regulations for eradicating many iniquities
and corruptions, which had nearly paralysed and
ruined all our Municipal institutions. In order to
make the improvements work practically for the be-
nefit of the respective cornmunities, it entrusted to the
population and property of towns, suitable controul
over the persons who might be elected as managers of
their affairs. The recent Reforms have emancipated
the nation from an oppression " worse than Egyptian
bondage," especially since the refractory parties have
been dispossessed of any controul or management over
places which they illegally seized, and unrighteously
retained. Great public benefits must thence be de-
rived, particularly since the operation of the new
measure has ejected from the Councils all those who
connived at the degradation of the people.
The late Municipal elections have indubitably de-
monstrated the policy of admitting as burgesses all
duly qualified inhabitants of the incorporated districts,
and such individuals have been empowered to elect
the Councillors who possess supreme municipal
power. The local administration of justice has been
likewise much improved by the appointment of suitable
professional judges, and the jurisdiction of Borough
Courts has been considerably extended. But, this
valuable Act not only concerns the administration of
justice, for it also regards the application of public
funds ; gives the people important duties to perform ;
opens to them a new career of public usefulness ; and
entrusts to them the superintendence of their loci
affairs.

Mr. Glover demonstrates that these Reforms and
other improvements recently effected in the Corpora-
tions of England, Wales, and Scotland, were consi-
dered with assiduous attention before their final adop-
tion by Parliament. Since these Institutions were
originally framed at a most remote period, it was
obviously necessary that they should be adapted to the
increased intelligence, wealth, and numbers of the
people, by introducing therein popular election, se-
curing popular controul, and obtaining for the public
service those persons best qualified to discharge various
municipal duties. Besides establishing an effective
system of local police, and providing for the due ad-
ministration of justice, regulations were also enacted
for maintaining order and enforcing economy—mea-
sures evidently calculated to allay discontent, promote
peace, and procure for those communities the advantages
of responsible government.
Similar pertinent remarks are likewise made through-
out this important Practical Treatise, wherein the
learned Author adduces numerous cases bearing on the
law of Municipal Corporations, and suitably adapts
their construction to the recent reforms which are fully
and dispassionately detailed. But, from all the cases
and statutes to which Mr. Glover refers, be clearly
demonstrates that " Municipal Corporations exist for

the public good, in order to protect and advance the
local government of cities and boroughs ; besides ren-
dering substantial services to the citizens and burgesses.
These individuals or societies have been invested by
law with a political character and personality wholly dis-
tinct from their natural capacity.; and chiefly intended
as the means of perpetuating their rights and their
duties. Such Institutions must be viewed as public
trusts, not conferred upon individual members for their
own emolument, but for the benefit of that community
over which they preside."
We' find in Mr. Glover's work some suitable obser-
vations respecting the reform of Irish Municipal Cor-
porations, which is likely to engage the immediate
consideration of Parliament. The learned Author states
that Henry 11. first introduced the laws and institu-
tions of England into that kingdom. Corporate pri-
vileges were conferred on the principle of residence or
occupancy, and burgage tenure. But, having already
exceeded the usual limits, we shall conclude our ex-
tracts by the following observations with respect to the
Irish Corporations
" In reference to their constitution and structure, the ex-
isting Municipal Corporations in Ireland may be divided into
two classes, namely :—first, those in which the commonalty or
"freemen have, directly or indirectly, a voice in, or controul
over, the election of the corporate officers, or the management
of some of the corporate business; and secondly, those in
which no class of freemen is, in practice, recognized ; or in
which, if admitted, they arc, from the defective constitution of
the corporate body or by usurpation, practically excluded from
all interference in the administration of the corporate affairs,
and in the election of the municipal authorities.
" No rational doubt can be entertained respecting the neces-
sity which exists for reforming the Municipal Corporate Institu.

1
tion3 of Ireland. The righ'iS Arittril4ileomf oriiinally conferred on
the residenpiihOjtantS pf:N',4l!rionS clife. ,'s ' kliti..,cfkmltt&otTlis,
shotildibe,reS, 91.0 i:), thpir.PriOith.e. ti'SeS, besideg etficrifOot3
alteigliA! erth,:, 1
04, fai i4tudvoic ie4oliAbile• goitintrittit of
the respectiVe, districts. Amm6se e:fidie4 n iten,&,•, revenues,
and tolls, with power of taxation over different eltic.4!il totns'
and horoUghi; we,rtie anciently granted to the Mayor, Sheriff's,
and eiti,;eYs, 81r, the Said.. in 4 hers who strictly and legally
composed the Corporation. but, iiiike4iYeni Corruptions and
usurpations infringed upon and nullified the eipte§o erants of
many charters, while certain detached bodies assumed absolute
dominion over incomes originally devoted to public uses, but
which iitete afterifi'ards this-Appropriated to sinister private pur-
jicige§.
The tiegigiatilie Ought td sdnetion a iteaStire Or Corpora-
tion Reform for Ireland, eoidany eftensiVe with the Act re-
cently adopted for this kingdoni.. the ancient grants of the
Crottri W thE bofotiAl of Ireland were'ooinfarttially similar to
those of England ; '..nil ifid Municipal docultients prove, that
the practices and usages in hoth tniinifieg ‘,,e're founded on the
same common law principles. Kings of tot larici granted and
confirmed to the inhabitants resident in differ6lli eottnivinities
of iteldfidi their heirs and successors, various charterg, tVliiell
were in precise dOtifefinit tith the rovisions of Saxon lawg
and customs. Let the ancient Cdtrt+rnte Institutions be,
therefore, adapted to the increased intelligencti of t people,
in order to secure the services of those persons most use in
the management of local affairs, as well as to promote the due
administration of justice. Since Acts of Parliament, amend-
ing the: existent Corporations, besides conferring new rights
and privileges upon various cities, towns, and boroughs of
England, Scotland, and Wales, hare been recently passed, the
Legislature ought, likewise, to enact a similar measure of
Irish Corporation Reform, for the purpose of assimilating the
relative positions of every quarter of the United Kingdom."
Several very able works have recently appeared on
the subject of Corporation Reform ; some of them are
written by men highly distinguished in the profession
of the law ; but with every disposition to do ample •
justice to their respective merits, we know of no single
production comparable, in point either of utility or re-
search with Mr. Glover's Treatise on the present state
of the Municipal Institutions of the United Kingdom.

MUSIC.

CRUSE'S PSALMS; BEING A CONTINUA
TION OF THE PSALMS OF THE CHURCH.

BY EDWARD CRUSE.
London. Published by D'Almaine and Co.
This work, which the clever composer whose name
it bears, assures us has bee❑ prepared under the imme-
diate sanction and protection of her Most Gracious
Majesty the Queen, posiesses the rare advantage,
over almost every other collection of church music, of
being adapted to the religious forms of every sect of
Christians, apart from the professors of Catholicism.
We thank Mr. Cruse for having bethought him of
some neutral ground upon which all Reformers might
meet in harmony, and in the true spirit of Christian
charity unite in thanksgiving to their common Father
who is in Heaven. The music of these Psalm!, is
adapted for one, two, four, or more voices ; accom-
panied with an excellent condensation of the arrange-
ment necessary for the introduction of instrumental
performers. Prefixed to the work is an Essay on the
Rudiments of Music ; followed by clear and concise
instructions in singing, privately and congregationally ;
with several very suitable observations on the duties of
an organist. The music is well arranged, and is,
moreover, enriched with some of the choicest melodies
of the most eminent composers of every nation. The
religious of every reformed creed will be happy in the
opportunity thus afforded them of patronizing this
work.