The Sun.
London, England, 1840-10-30 00:00:00

to trees, and beat them with the greatest cruelty,
reproaching them with having harboured his
wife. Their next act of desperation was to set fire
to the house, cut the throats of the cattle, and
carry off whatever they could lay their hands
upon. They then carried off Lubomla into the moun-
tains after making her the eye witness of these atroci-
ties ; and subsequently, on their arrival at Tserniry,
beat her in so dreadful a manner that she died.
These dreadful crimes, up to the present time, remain
unpunished, but the Government are taking measures to
sath ustice.

isfy j

COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL.

Yesterday a Court was held for the purpose, amongst
other business, of receiving several Reports of great
public importance.

_
CITY IMPROTEMENTS.
Mr. HUNTER was anxious to know whether the
Chairman of the City Lands intended shortly to bring
up a Report relative to the vacant space of ground at
the west-end of Cheapside, or whether anything was in
contemplation with respect to the occupation of that
portion of ground ? He thought it necessary to caution
the Committee as to any directions they might give upon
the subject, as the interests cif individuals were deeply con-
cerned in any alterations which should take place there.
Mr. KING said that a Report would soon be forth-
coming of a satisfactory nature.

PULE ESCAPES.
Alderman THOMAS WOOD brought up the following
Report from the Police Committee :
" We, whose names are hereunto subscribed, your
Committee, appointed in relation to the police of this
City, to whom it was referred on the 2d of July last,
to examine the allegations contained in the petition of
Mr. B. Steel, of Paternoster-row, relative to fire es-
capes, and on the 13th and 30th of July last respec-
tively, to consider the letters of Mr. Messenger, of
Wigton, and Mr. Graham, the Secretary of the Society
of Arts and Sciences, upon the same subject, do certify
that we have duly proceeded in the consideration
of the said several references, and have been at-
tended by Mr. Steel, who was heard in respect
of his petition ; but we were of opinion that
in promoting a subject of such vast importance as
the preservation of life from fire, our inquiries should not
be restricted to the examination of the plans or models
at present before the public, and therefore determined
to consider any further means which might be afforded
us in attaining an end so desirable as the production of
a safe and expeditious mode of escape. In these in-
quiries we were materially assisted by the Commis-
sioner of the City Police, and Mr. Braidwood, the super-
intendent of the London Fire Brigade, and also by Mr.
Thomas Lott, a member of this Honourable Court, who
has for some time past warmly interested himself in this
humane inquiry, and from whom we obtained informa-
tion of the designs of several parties, whom we accord-
ingly requested to attend upon us, and explain the same.
We were subsequently attended by these parties, who
submitted their respective models and designs for our
inspection and consideration ; and it has become evi-
dent that no public notice of the object of our inquiry
was needed to induce the attention of parties thereto, as,

in consequence of several recent melancholy losses of
life from fire, the public mind was so anxiously alive
to the subject, that no less than 44 designs for a fire-
escape have been submitted to us since the com-
mencement of our inquiry, on the 17th September.
That your Committee, being of opinion that it would be
highly desirable for the Commissioner of Police and Mr.
Braidwood to assist us with their observations in treat-

ing upon the several designs laid before us, inasmuch as
upon the Police and the Fire Brigade must eventually
depend the carrying into execution the necessary regu-
lations for the speedy and efficient, use of the
escapes, we requested those gentlemen to lay before us a
joint report, and they having acceded to our request,
we have caused a copy of the said report to be hers-
unto annexed for the information of this Honourable
Court. By which report it appears they recommend
twenty sets of brigade-ladders, on fitting carriages, and
and apparatus attached, to be provided, estimated at an
outlay of between 3001. and 400/. ; and also ten of Mr.
Gregory's ladders, with carriages and apparatus at-
tached, to be assigned to appropriate localities, and
committed during the night to the charge of ten pollee
constables to be appointed for the express duty, the
expense thereof is estimated at between the sums of
3001. or 400/., exclusive of the wages or pay of such
police constables ; and we your Committee agreeing with
the principle of the said report, beg to recommend to
your Honourable Court to refer it back to your Com-
mittee to carry into effect as much thereof as may from
time to time be found necessary.
Thomas Wood. Wm. Muddell.
Richard Hicks. John. P. Hayward.
Thomas Mitchell. Win. H. Pitcher.
R. Westwood. W. A. Peacock.
John Burn. J. Renshaw.
James Powell. Thomas Price.
J. Hartley. John Blaket.
Edward Harrison. Joseph Bowman.
The Report of the Commissioner of the City Police
and of dir. Braidwood (which we published a few days
ago), was annexed.
Alderman THOMAS WOOD moved that the Report
should be agreed to.
The Loup MAYOR begged that the Court would re-
collect that they had agreed to abide by the suggestions
of the Society of Arts, after that Society should have
given due consideration to the subject.
Mr. HICKS was not aware that any thing of the
kind had been agreed to, a deputation had by appoint-
, merit waited upon the Society, and been received with
great kindness by the authorities, who exhibited the
escape models of which they were in possession, and
explained them, admitting, however, at the same tim,
that they were obsolete and not adapted to the circum-
stances of the present day.—(Hear, hear.) The sub-
ject was left wholly in the hands of tke Committee, and
attention, corresponding with its importance, had been
given to it. He seconded the motion.
Mr. LOTT said it would be recollected that he had
objected to the proposition to wait for the Society, from
his apprehension, that the body would not assemble till
November, and the matter submitted to the Court
was of the most vital nature, and could not brook delay,
—(Hear, hear.) He thought that the Committee were
deserving of the warmest thanks of the Court for the
patience and labour of the investigation in which they
had so zealously engaged. Their conduct had been
excellent throughout.—( Hear, hear.)
Mr. KING said that any sum of money would be well
bestowed in the endeavour to establish protection or

CSCalif!.
Mr. TAYLOR admitted the propriety o what J „ ut. 1
King said, but he did not see why a larger sum than
was necessary should be expended. In cases of this
kind, which appealed to all hearts, it was no difficult
matter for selfish people to leave out what would answer
their own purpose.—( Hear, hear.) He did not know
that there would be occasion for such a number a 3 ten
of the machines, nor did he know that there would be
occasion for the appointment of new policemen to act at
fires. It was not likely that ten fires should take place
at one time.
Mr. LAWRENCE thoue,t it would be wise to leave it
to the Committee who had examined and well knew the
properties of the models, to decide upon the details.—
(Cheers.) He had no doubt of their caution,
Mr. R. L. JONES said that a great deal of credit was
due to the Committee. He thought it would be proper
to call their attention to the necessity there would be for
Some place in which to keep the machines.—(Hear,
hear.) Now, in h's ward, a great difficulty had occur-
red as to the parish ladders. They were first kept in
the church-yard, but the moment a fire broke out they
were not to be had. They were afterwards placed
against the wall of \Vhitecross-street prison for safe and
convenient custody, but the keeper of the prison com-
plained that the inmates of the prison would find some
use for them. They were, in fact, like a parish pump ;
all the neighbours delighted in the acquisition, but not
one wished it to be at his own door.—(A laugh.) He
trusted that such a difficulty would be looked to.
Alderman 'FflomAs WOOD said that the difficul-
ties which must necessarily attend the measures recom-
mended by the Committee had not escaped their con-
sideration. They had, therefore, resolved to forward
them step by step.—(Hear, hear.) It appeared to
them advisable to place the machines in the custody of
a person regularly appointed, and it was their intention
to commence operations with three or four machines,
as the Report intimated ; and perhaps it would be
found, when the arrangements were complete, that
half a dozen would be sufficient. The Committee
would take care to guard against the possibility of a
profuse or unnecessary expenditure, by not allowing a
shilling of the money out of their own hands.—(Cheers.)
As the Society of Arts had been alluded to, he thought
it proper to notice the very great kindness with which
the deputation had been received, and the pains taken
by the authorities there to exhibit the models they had
received. These models, however, were complicated,
and indeed impracticable, compared with those of recent
invention ; and even the latter the Committee would
have to improve by combinations of different excellen-
ces perceived in the designs exhibited in detail.— 1
Hear, hear.) After nll the thing was merely experi-
mental, and the Committee would act with all desir-
able caution.—(Cheers.)
The Report was unanimously agreed to. I
Mr. WELLS asked whether a proper place had yet
been found for the City Police Commissioner to trans-
act business in. The place in which that gentleman
mwaasttoebrs"g ofecl to receive communicants and applicants on
the greatest importance, was extremely in-
appropriate.
Alderman T. Wool) said the subject was one which
th
thee yCommitteeare
it wouldevery notda y
7b e
Theylikely
hadto to forget.co nln i
a difficulty as to situation, but they trusted trusted vertyensdhowratictlyth,
to be able to give adequate accommodation to the Com-
missioner.—(
TAYLORHe
saida r , h
hear.)
i‘was sorry to observe that the
City Police had fallen into remarkablestanee laxity
ofthat
of
laxity, l
ate ;
nd
Fleet-street, was, he believed, an in
Alderman 'F. WOOD said that the Police were u
the exclusive management of the Commispioner He i
nad put hoard of ally laxity wilattiver. 1