The Sun.
London, England, 1841-04-07 00:00:00

COUNTY FINANCES.

Mr. SMALLPIECE, the county treasurer, made his Report,
from which it appeared that at the last quarter he had in
hand a balance of 11,2671. Is. 2d, which had been in-
creased by various sums since received to 11,579/. 83. 9d.
Ho had disbursed, on account of the county, 11,208/. 121. 3d.
leaving a balance of 3701. 16s. ld. ; but this would be re-
duced by payments now to be made to 1281. 16s. td.,
and there were outstanding accounts due to the amount
of upwards of 4,0001., and a new rate was now under col-
lection.

The Report was received and confirmed.
Mr. SuALLPIECE then reported that under an Act of the
633 George 111., he had received from the different coun-
ties in England and Wales the sum of 9001., to be applied
tt) the maintenance of pour prisoners in the Queen's Bench,
Fic.t, and Marshal3ea prisons. He bad paid over 4001.,
and a 6alsince of 500/. remained in his bands.

• The CLERK of the PEACE said this would perhaps be
the best times to mention that he had received an application
from Mr. Hope, the gentleman appointed by the Magis-
trates to disburse the money to the poor prisoners, for 100/.
for that purpose,
Mr. JOHNSTO.NE said he should oppose the grant of the
money. The, Act of Parliament in question had, no doubt,
formerly worked very well ; but the Court should consider
the altered,'state of tha law as regarded debtors; in his
opinion tlvere were now very few persons in gaol who
vitro legally entitled to the provision derived from this
Act; and he thought, at all events, that, before they al.
lowed.. 100/. to be handed over, they should have some
n.lot)e information as to how it was to be expended.
41r. SMALLPIECX said that the respective counties were
4;ound to pay over their quota, but of course the Magistrate
bad the power to fee that the money was properly ex-
pended. Mr. Hope was an officer appointed by the Court
to superintend the disbursement of the money, and he
ought to .11 etre sent in an account to the Court of the
money be had expended.
The CLasuc of the PEACE expressed his opinion that
Mr. Hope ought to have been present, to have made his
application in person.
Mr. JOHNSTONE Said that, according to the Act, the money
should be disbursed by Mr. Hope under an order from 4
Magistrate; but. be would ♦enture to say that no Magis-
ttate in the country was aware of the manner in which
the money was experdei. He did not think the Court
ought to grant 1001. upon a mere application, without
knowing something about the way in which i: was to be
expended. If the Court did grant anything, he thought
one-tourth of 100/. would be sufficient, for he was awe
that from the altered state of the law, there must be very
few persons legally entitled to the allowance.
Lord MONSON thought it would have been better, at
all events, if Mr. Hope bad been present to give the
Court some explanation. He was bound to do so by the
Act of P.irliament, and to make a Report.
Mr. Sam.triacE explained, that owing to the altera-
tion that had been made in the period of bolding the
Quarter Session, there was a doubt whether the Report
should be male at this or the Midsummer Session. He
suggested that if the Court were to withhold an allowance
altogether it might cause a deal of inconvenience and
suffering to some poor debtors who might be entitled to the
allowance.

After some further conversation, the Court declined to
make any order. . _

The Committee appointed for the purpose of taking into
oaors a in Kingston
and
consideration the treatment of the prisoners
gaol, while awaiting their trial at the Assizes
the hardship of which were brought before the Sessions,co
elbsocrttrteaort the Michelmas Session, reported that they had mad
accommodation for the prisoners in future. They a
ported, that having taken into consideration some other
matters in reference to a proposed abandonment of the
gaol altogether, they found, that to make the other county
pri=ss available for the number of prisoners uow confined
at Kingston, would entail an expense of from 4 to 5,000/.
upon the county, and after stating these facts, they left it
to the Court to decide upon the propriety of abandoning
this vol.
The Report was confirmed, without any motion being
made upon the subject.
After disposing of some other routine business, the
Court adjourned.