The Sun.
London, England, 1824-01-29 00:00:00

COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL.

Common Council was
helYdefsotrertdhaeydiasp:Caoctilirt of
of
business.

THE GU.UtDI.4N SOCIETY.

Mr. Alderman KEY presented a petition from the Secretary
would be pleased to grant some pecuniary assistance for the
and Managers of the Guardian Society, praying that the Court
support of the society. The worthy Alderman observed, that
the society in question was most worthy of the assistance of
the Court. Its object was to provide a temporary asylum, with
metropolis. abandoned females who crowded
the streets of the met
suitable employment, for those.
resulted from the society, it was stated to him, that out of
eight hundred females who had entered the institution since its
establishment in 1812, the majority.
paths of virtue. The had been restored to the
plan upon which the society was con-
ducted was much -better than that on which the Committee,
which had been appointed by the Corporation, proceeded.
That Committee had limited their exertions to the throwing
into prison numbers of unfortunate females to be again set at
liberty "to wallow like sows in the mire." He moved that
the petition be referred to the Committee of General Purposes.
After a few words from the LORD ALAI ox, Alderman
Woon, and Mr. FAY ELL, in commendation of the society,
the motion was agreed to.
TIDE COAL TRADE.

Mr. SOUTHGATE brought up a report from the Corn and
Coal Committee, to whom it had been referred to inquire into
the mode of delivering coals in the river, and the cause of the
high price of that article. The report, upon the motion of the
Worthy Deputy, was. reairi. It set forth that the Committee
had received a memorial from 103 coal merchants, complain-
ing that the number of coal-meters had not been increased
in proportion to the increase. which had taken pace of late
years in the consumption of coal, whereby the public generally,
as well as themselves (the memorialists) were considerable losers.
They stated, that in consequence of the number of meters being
insufficient, it frequently happened that ships were compelled to
wait 10, and in some instances 12 days, before they were discharg-
ed. The committee had called before them and examined several
coal-meters, who denied that the present number of their body
was insufficient and asserted that the delay which wascomplained
of in the discharge of ships was caused by the want of a suf-
ficient number of craft to carry the coals, from the vessels—
Another set of witnesses attributed the high prig of coals to
the duty which was paid on their importation into Lon-
don, and the high charge for labour in the river. The
Cononnf Committee
el7mfietalteilsy were of. opinion, that the present num-
ber was not insufficient, although they recom-
mended that, for the sake of experiment, and to remove all
doubt on the subject, the number should be augmented to 130,
by filling up the vacancies now existing, and appointing 12 new
meters. The Committee were also of opinion, that the duty of
3s. 4d. per chaldron which was paid on the arrival of coals in
the port of London, and not elsewhere, was exceedin,,ly bur-
densome and oppressive ; and they recommended that the duties
upon coal should be equalized all over the country.
The above we believe to be a correct description of the sub-
/ stance of the report ilmt if there he an error, it Must be att4i
buted ' tb^ itch rxestalf TlTOWCteri,l

ttl• -tr6E,l6- .irch—pl At ui
whilst the document was being read.]
Mr. SOUTHGATE observed, that from the extreme length of
the report, he conceived it must have been very difficult for the
Members of the Court to catch the leading points, and he would
therefore very briefly re-state them. In the first place the
Committee had formed an opinion that the present number of
coal-meters was finally adequate to the discharge of all ships
laden with coalovhich arrived in the port of London ; as a proof
of which it appeared that in the last year the meters had mea-
sured 100,009 chaldrons more than at any former period.—
Since the appointment of the Committee, the meters' list con-
tained the names of the ships waiting to be discharged, but at the
present moment there was actually a considerable number of
meters waiting for employment. It was also important that it
should be known, that the present price, so far from being exces-
sive, as compared with that of former periods, was really reduced
in the proportion of 25 per cent. below the war prices. The
Committee felt bound in honour to state that there had been a
reduction to that extent. It ought also to be stated, that during
the last two years the coal-merchants had reduced their charges
on coals in the pool from 12s. to 10s. As it had happened, how-
ever, that this circumstance had been kept quite secret, rio per-
son having felt the benefit otit within.his own family, the Com-
mittee thought it right that it should not be allowed to remain
any longer unknown, but that the public at large might derive
advantage from it. Another important fact had come to the
knowledge of the Committee, and had been alluded to in their
report—namely, that one of the Gas Companies had. suffered

their stock of coals to be so exhausted, that a considerable dis.
trict of London must have been left in total darkness if a coal.
merchant, on the spur of the moment, had not been able to
supply them with a large quantity of coals. It was to be hoped
that the Gas Companies would be less negligent in future, fo
in London, in which, as in all large cities, a great number of
bad characters congregated, the consequences which would re-
sult from a deprivation of light at night would be most incon-
venient. He felt it his duty to state, that the Ship-owners,
Factors, and Merchants, who attended the Committee, gave
every kind of information which was required, and that he be-
lieved them to be as honourable a body of men as was connected
with any trade whatever. The worthy Deputy then moved
that the Report he printed, and that a copy be given to every
member of the Court.--(Hear !)
Mr. lIURCOMBE seconded the motion. He said, that he
intended to reserve his observations on the question until the
report should be printed. He would content himself at present
with drawing the attention of the Court to the fact that lighter-
men charged a guinea for the delivery of any quantity of coals,
however small. He thought that the practice was one which
required correction.
Mr. Alderman Wool) said, that he knew the subject to
which the report referred would be discussed in Parliament
shortly after the commencement of the Session, and he hoped,
for the honour of the Corporation, that before that period every
thing that could possibly be done to reduce the price of coals
would be effected. Notwithstanding the conclusion to which
the Committee had come, it appeared to him to be absolutely
necessary that there should be a greater number of meters than
at present. During his Mayoralty, a great many complaints
were constantly made to him of the want of meters, and he had
no doubt that his Lordship, if he had been requested to attend
the Committee, could have stated that the same circumstances
had occurred to him. Under these circumstances, he felt it to
be his duty to move as an amendment, that the following words
be annexed to the ofizinal motion :—" and that, in the mean
time, the Coal Committee be directed to appoint 12 additional
meters."

The Loun MArou, in reference to what had fallen from
the last speaker, observed that he certainly was rather surprised
that he had not been called before the Committee : if he had,
he would have been able to communicate some information
respecting certain improper practices which existed.
111 r. Rouzit seconded the amendment. He observed, that
it had been stated by some witnesses who were examined be-
fore the Committee, that ships had frequently to wait in the
river 12 days before they were discharged. Now he knew that
the ships thus detained must incur an expence of 4/. or 5/. a-day,
which would create an additional charge of about five shillings
a chaldron to the consumer.
Mr. JAMES thought that the Court ought to take no step on
the subject until the report was printed.
lUr. Dixow concurred in the opinion expressed by the last
speaker.
Mr. SOUTHGATE said a few words in explanation, after
which a division took place. The numbers were—
For the amendment,

Aldermen, 4 I Common Councilmen, 62 I Tellers, 2 - - 63

. . .
Against it,
Aldermen, 6 j Common Councilmen, 122 I Tellers, 2 - - 134

,
Majority against the amendment, 62
Mr. ROUTIL presented a Report from a Committee to whom
it had been referred, to inquire into the nature, duties, and
emoluments of the office of principal Land Sea-coal Meters.—
He moved that the Report be agreed to.
Mr. DixoN objected to that part of the Report which recom-
mended that the salary of the two principal meters should be
350/. a year each. He moved, as an amendment, that the sa-
lary of the senior meter should be 4001., and of the other 300/.
The amendment was carried by a show of hands.
TITUES IN LONDON.

said, that he held in his hand a report from
which had. been made to them by a person
the assistance of the legal officers of the
theMTritiliieuCitoemnmiinttEee, which had been drawn up in consequence
u rri
e r, for
Corporation, g cause between him and the lay impropriator of
tithes in the parish of St. Helen, respecting a claim for tithes, at
o f
namedan applicationi'
2s. 9d. in the pOund. He (Mr. Hurcomb9 was extremely sorry
to find that any clergyman or lay impropriator should again put
forth a claim to tithes at the high rate referred. He had hoped
that the question would not have been agitated again. lie
moved that the report be read.
The report, stated—" That an application having been made
to the Committee by Mr. John Vincent Purrier, of St. Helen's-
place, a citizen of London, for the aid and assistance of certain
officers of the Corporation, in a cause between bins and the
lay impropriator of the parish of St. Helen, in the city of Lon-
don, respecting a claim for tithes at the rate of 2s. 9d. in the
pound, which cause was speedily to be heard before his Ho-
nour the Vice-Chancellor ; and the Committee having consi-
dered the said application, and investigated the circumstances
attending. the same, and feeling that it would generally assist
the question relating to tithes as regards the several parishes
not included in the Fire Act, and acting up to the intent of the
Court of Common Councilin the appointment of the Commit-
tee, they had complied with the said application of Mr.Purrier,
for the assistance of the Recorder, Common Serjeant, Town
Clerk, and Solicitor, subject to the approbation of the Court,
and had given to the Solicitor instructions accordingly.
The Court unanimously agreed with the Committee in the
steps they had taken, and referred it back to them to superin-
tend the same.