The Sun.
London, England, 1846-10-30 00:00:00

THAMES.

The following report was brought up, which csus ed
a good deal of interest in the Court:—
"We whose names are hereunto subscribed, your
Committee appointed oa the 22d day of October to meet
the Court of Aldermen or a Committee thereof, upon an
order of the Court of Aldermen of the 29th September
last, and to report to this Court, do certify that, having
had a lengthened interview with a Committee of the
Court of Aldermen appointed to meet us, we find that
the recent view of the western district of the river
Thames by the Lord Mayor and Aldermen was made by
them under a resolution of the Court of Aldermen of the
27th of June, nearly a month prior to the standing order
of the Court of the 20th of July, and upon referring to
the several Acts of Parliament of the 24th George 11.,
the 11th, 15th, 28th, and 35th George 111., for the better
carrying on and regulating the navigation of the river
Thames and Isis, from the City of London westward to
the town of Crichlade, whereby the Mayor and Alder-
men of the City of London are, with other persons, made
Commissioners, and whereby powers are given to the
Commissioners to view and superintend the sewing,
locks, weirs, and flood-gates, in the river, and to in-
quire icto the rates and tolls paid upon the same, the
regulation of the water, and the navigation, as well as
the cleansing and clearing those rivers, being also given
to them ; the rights of the Corporation of London being
nevertheless reserved, and under one of which Acts cer-
tain works are prohibited without the consent of the
Corporation of London—powers material for the inte-
rests of the city, and necessary for the due protection of
the river and navigation.
"That after due inquiry and consideration of these
Acts, your Committee are of opinion that benefits have
been derived to this city from the recent survey.
"That on the 15th of September the Lord Mayor laid
before the Court of Aldermen a report of the proceedings
on the survey, in which he stated that he felt it to be
his duty to draw their particular attention to the various
Acts of Parliament which have been passed from time to
time for the improvement of the navigation of the river
Thames, and Isis in the upper districts, and feeling fully
confident that unless the navigation in those districts
is properly attended to, the locks and other works
kept in good order and repair, and suitable reductions
made in the tolls and lock charges, it will be impossible
for the barge-owners successfully to compete with the
carriage of goods and merchandise by means of railways,
and that consequently all interest connected with the
above portion of the river must be most seriously affected,
if not ultimately destroyed. And when the importance
of the trade by inland navigation between the cities of
London and Bristol, and the adjoining counties and dis-
tricts, is duly considered, and how essential it is to the
interests of all parties concerned that every facility
should be afforded to retain and, if possible, to increase
the same, which can only be done by maintaining the
line in the most efficient state, and by suitable modi-
fications and reduction of tolls where the same presses
heavily on the public, it becomes obvious that surveys of
a similar nature to the present, having for its view
those desirehle objects, are both requisite and important,
as well as tending to keep up a friendly communication
and intercourse between the local commissioners and
magistrates of the Corporation of London, who, by virtue
of their office, under the authority of Parliament, are
likewise commissioners of the upper districts of the
river Thames.
" The Chairman of the Upper Districts informed the
Lord Mayor that whenever any of the private locks
came into the market for disposal, the Commissioners
endeavoured to purchase them for the benefit of the
public.
" His Lordship cannot refrain from alluding to the
subject of toll., and particularly to the statement of the
Chairman of the Commissioners, as to the necessity of
reducing them upon the whole line, and his hope that
the private lockowners would unanimously assent to a
reduced toll throughout the entire extent of the navi-
gation.
" The Lord Mayor also expressed his approbation of
the state of the works generally, and of the improve•
ment being carried on fur the benefit of the navigation
in both districts ; and he avails himself of this oppor-
tunity to convey to his brethren of the Court of Alder-
men the assurance of the Commissioners, as expressed
by their Chairman, of their satisfaction at visits like the
the present, materially tending to keep up that mutual
good understanding and friendship so essential to exist
between all the authorities connected with the naviga-
tion of the river Thames.
" That, on the 29th day of September, the Lord
Mayor laid before the Court of Aldermen an account of
the expenses of the view, amounting to the sum of
693/. ss. 9d., and the Court, in pursuance, thereof; ordered
the payment, by the Chamberlain, of that sum to the
Waterbailiff.
" That on the Ist of October the order for payment
was presented to the Chamberlain, but which he re-
fused to pay, giving the following reasons in writing,
viz.:—
" The payment of the sum of 6931. ss. 9d. mentioned
in the order of the Court of Aldermen, of the 29th of
September, 1846, hereunto annexed, and marked with
my initials, without the previous authority of the Com-
mon Council, upon motion for that purpose, would have
been in contradiction of a resolution and order of a
Court of Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Commons of the
City of London, in Common Council assembled, held
on the 20th day of July, 1846. I am, therefore, con-
strained to decline payment of the sum above mentioned
without such previous authority of the Common Council
as is above referred to.
" Dated this Ist day of October. 1846.
" A. BROWN, Chamberlain.'
" That as it appears to your Committee, that the stand-
ing orders of the 20th day of July last, lead to the re-
fusal by the Chamberlain, we have considered such
standing order, and particularly with reference to the
report of the Committee on the City and Bridge-house
accounts, of the 18th day of December, 1845, and the
proceeding of this Court thereon, on the 19th of March
of this year. And under all the circumstances, confirming;
this inquiry solely to the matter referred to us, we re-
commend that the standing order of the 20th day of
July last be suspended, so far as relates to the order of
the Court of Aldermen of the 29th day of September
la,t.

"All which we submit to the judgment of this Honour-
able Court. Dated this 29th day of October, 1846.
"THOMAS CORNEY, HENRY BURN,
"T. 11. HALL. EDWARD HARRISON."
" JOHN DIXON,
Deputy CORNET, in moving that the Court should
agree to the report, slid it would be necessary to have a
Bill prepared, and brought in, establishing the right of
the Court, and so framed as to unite the powers of the
two Courts as to the expenditure of the Corporation
funds. By that means future differences between the
two Courts would be completely avoided.
Mr. ANDERTON said he should always wish to see the
rights and privileg. aof the two Courts untouched. The
Chlmberlain harl acted with admirable independence
and judgment, and certainly deserved the marked thanks
of the Court. It would be necessary to pass an Act, and
he would wish to have the question fully disdussed when
the Bill was ready.
Mr. ASUURST moved as an amendment that the amount
of the expenses should be forths ith paid, and that the
City Solicitor should be directed to prepare a Bill.
Mr. Low (Chairman of the City Lauds Committee)
brought up the report of the committee, setting forth a
letter received from Mr. Charles Fowlr, architect, re-
questing to be informed, for the information of the Lord
Chancellor, whether the Corporation of London would
be disposed to sell the site of ground lately occupied by
the Fleet Prison, or any portion of the lease, for the
purpose of erecting thereon the new Courts of Bank-
ruptcy. The letter stated that the present courts could
be given up to the City if it were considered expedient.
The Chairman moved that the letter be referred to the
Committee to examine and report, with power to confer
with the Improvement Committee, and with the Lord
Chancellor's surveyor in relation thereto. 'The only
reason for applying at the present moment was to enable
the Lord Chancellor to have the necessary Parliamen•
tary notices given, which he was unwilling to effect
unless under an arrangement with the City.
Mr. T. H. HALL hoped the Committee would be care-
ful, in their communications upon the subject, to guard
against giving any reason to believe that the City would
willingly acquiesce in the removal of any of the Courts
from a central position to one beyond or at the extremity
of the city. He spoke of the great inconvenience to
which merchants and men of business would be sub-
jected by attending, or sending their clerks to distant
courts, with which they necessarily had so much to do.
Mr. R. L. JONES expressed a similar opinion, adding
that when upon a late occasion he had given evidence
before a Committee of the Legislature upon the subject,
he had expressly stated that he felt assured the
greatest objections would be entertained by mercantile
men and citizens generally, to any other than a centra
position in the city for the courts of law and bank.
ruptcy.
The motion was then agreed to.

BENEVOLENT SOCIETY OF BLUES.—Wednesday even-
ing the half- yearlygeneral meeting of the members of this
society, which is composed of gentlemen who received
their education at Christ's Hospital, was held at the
London Tavern ; J. Perkins, Esq., in the chair. The
report stated that the receipts for the half-year amounted
to 4281. 18s. 6d., including a previous balance of 107/.
subscriptions, 1641. 17s. interest on stock (amounting to
6,100/0, &c., and deducting the disbursements, a balance
of 115/. remained. There are at present 14 pensioners
on the funds. The report stated that his Royal High-
ncss the Duke of Cambridge had consented to preside at
the next annul festival.