The Sun.
London, England, 1846-04-13 00:00:00

193 18 5

105 5 4
47 9 6

£1,716 19 4

Leaving for orcllnary- expenditure ... 7,887 7 3
The gcses thneraalnfixnpelnBs4e4s)2,2oo 00,
m
in-
curred in con xicn with the Caith-
ness District Roads, have been (51/.
i
The total amounts recoverable from the countiei by as-
sessment during the last four ye ors hove been as
follows, viz. : £ s.
1842 4,302 0 0
1843 ... 4,640 0 0
1844 ... 4,402 0 0
1845 ... 4,566 0 0
The whole of the assessments for the year 1844 have
been paid to the cashier of the Commissioners.
The Appendix to this report contains (No. I.) the
Account of the Monies Received and I)ishursed by the
Commissioners in the year 1845 (except for the Caith-
ness District Roads) ; (No. II.) the Account of the
Sums Payable by the Counties for the same year ;
(No. III.) a Statement of the Sums Received and Dis-
bursed by the Commissioners in respect of the Caithness
Di, trict Roads, in the year ending Dec. 31, 1845.
By order of the Commissioners,
SAMUEL SMITH,
Secretary to the Commissioners.

March 20, 1846.

IS CHALK MANURO—This
question, one of groat im-
portance to the agricultural body, was brought to an issue
before the Court of Quarter Sessions at Dorchester, on Wed-
nesday last, when was heard an appeal against the decision
of two magistrate; who had conricted a toll-keeper in the
penalty of 455., for charging toll on a waggon load of that
artickt. Mr. Ffooks, in support of the conviction, showed by
two old agricultural works, published in 1718 and 1727, that
chalk was used as a manure in those days, and that it was
mentioned in that quality so long ago as the time of Julius
Cmsar. As a manure it would be exempted from toll by the
5 and 6 'Witham IV., cap. 18. For the appellant, Mr. Stock
quoted Johnson's definition of manure, and contended that
although chalk might be classed as a component of manure,
it was not manure by itself, and had not been so contem-
plated by the Legislature. The Court at once and unani-
mously confirmed the conviction, deciding that chalk is
manure, and, on the application of counsel, granted the re-
spondent's costs.

COURT OF ALDERMEN.

THE CITY PRISONS.
A Court of Aldermen was held at two o'clock on
Saturday.
The Remembrancer informed the Court that Lnrd
Sandon had given notice in the House of Commons that
it was his intention "to call the attention of the House
to the state of the prisons under the jurisdiction of th,
city of London."
Aid: rman COPELAND said, he felt no hesitation in de-
claring that it was his intention to second the motion of
Lord Sandia), who, he supposed, contemplated the ap-
pointment of a committee to inquire into the state of
the gaols. He, at the same time, should take particular
care to suggest that the report of the inspectors of prisons
appointed by Govvrtiment be referred to the committee.
Anything so grossly erroneous and absurd never issued
from the lips or the pen of man as the representation,
in that notorious report. It was impossible to conceive
any composition which contained falsehoods more
glaring than those which abounded in the desetip-
tion of her Majesty's gaol of Newgate.—(Hear, hear.)
He had already stated his opinion of the report he
alluded to, and of the spirit by which it had l et n dic-
tated, and those who visited the prison saw that there
was no t xsggtration in his censure. The prejudices of
the inspectors were, in fact, altogether frightful, and it
happened that their judgment was so blinded by the force
of those prejudices, that they involved themselves in the
difficulty of contrasting the mavaLYernesit and arrange-
ments of Newgate with those of Reading Gaol, one of
their favourite specimens of what a gaol ought to be.—
(Hear, hear.) It was impossible to let such a notice as
the City Remembrancer had just given to the court pass
without urging the Government on to an inquiry, which
must have the effect of completely stultifying the specu-
lations of the inspectors ; and if the Court were of
opinion that he sh:arld adopt the course, which struck
him as most reasonable, w hen the motion of Lord
Sandon should come b)rward he would certainly
take care that the injurious representations of the
gentlemen appointed to inquire into the condition
of the city prisons should undergo a strict investigation.
The inspectors had never ceased to declare the gaol of
Newgate was in every respect an utter abomination—
and what was the opinion expressed by disinterested
people who visited it ? The grand jury, who had been
just discharged, tad visited Newgate, and expressed
their surprise and satisfaction at the state of the prisoa.
—(hear, hear.) lie was in the prison at-the time of
their visit, and he entered in the hook the opinion they
had expressed. Mr. Cobden had visited Newgate in the
apprehension of finding it a complete Augean stable, and
he also expressed unaffected surprise at the difference
between the character given and character deserved.—
(Hear, hear.) It was in fact quite impossible not to
feel the strongest indignation at the calumnious matter
contained in the voluminous reports made by the inspec
tors, and he trusted the Lord Mayor would appoint a
day for the consideration .of the question, of which Lord
Sandon had given notice, in order that every facility
might be afforded to the committee, which would no
doubt be appointed.—(Hear, hear.)
The LORD MAYOR said he should feel great pleasure
in appointing a day for the consideration of a subject of
so much importance.
A day will be appointed for the discussion in the
course of next week.
THE CORPORATION AND THE GOVERNOR 07 CHRIST'S

HOSPITAL.
The Lord Mayor laid before the Court a corre-
spondence upon the suhject of the dispute between the
Lord Mayor and the Governors of Christ's Hospital,
from which it appeared that the latter have made ample
concessions on the point of the Spital sermons at Christ's
Hospital. His Lordship had determined, in consequence
of the refusal of the Governors of Christ's Hospital to
recognise his authority in the appointment of a preacher
of the Spital sermons on Easter Monday and Easter
Tuesday, at that institution, to cause the Spital sermons
to be preached at the parish church of St. Bride's, and
had issued summonses accordingly. Such a proceeding
upon the part of the chief magistrate, who mani:ested
throughout the whole affair a disposition not to abate
one jot of the privileges or dignity of the mayo: alty, had,
it would appear, a very consid,rable effect upon the
Governors of Christ's Hospital, for it was announced in
the Court that, in all probability, all differences of
opinion between the corp ration aid Christ's Hospital
were at an end.
A letter from the Archbishop of Canterbury was read.
It expressed much regret that any opposition of senti-
ments should exist between the Corporation and the in-
stitution of Christ's Hospital, and very plainly indicated
the venerable Prelate's opinion that the course pursued
by the Lord Mayor was sanctioned by custom.
The Court ultimately came to the resolution of making;
the following arrangement, in consequence of the com-
munications received since the last day of meeting from
the ordmary authorities of Christ's Hospital, viz.:—
' that the first Spital sermon should be preached on
Easter Monday at St. Bride's Church, and that the second
Spital sermon should be preached on Tuesday at Christ
Church,
Thus the extraor&nary scene which was anticipated
of a decid, d authority as to the preaching of the sermons
has been avoided.
The Bishop of Sr. David's is to pr,ach the morning
sermons in the two churches, and toe Rev. Charles Fare •
brother, the chaplain to the Lord Mayor, is to preach
the evsning sermons. It is necessary to state that a
respectful form in the hospital's report, which was
meant to have been omitted when the dispute was at its
height, is to be introduced, and app ar in its accustomed
terms.

The Court expressed much gratification at the very
firm and resolute manner in which hi 3 lurdship asserted
the privileges of his fellow-citizens, and the Cuurt ad-
joarned.