The Sun.
London, England, 1834-10-18 00:00:00

COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL.

Yesterday a Court was held for the despatch of business.

OFFICE OF CITY SOLICITOR.

A discussion— took_ place upon the Report of the Corn-
mittee in relation to Offices and Clerks. The Report
states as follows, as to the pecuniary remuneration of the
Solicitor : _ _

" With regard to the profits and emoluments of the
office, we find that the mode of remunerating the Solicitor
has been by bill and charges for the business which has been
from time to time required to transact ; and having laid
before us the several bills of the late Solicitor for a period
of eleven years, viz., from 1820 to Lady-day 1831 (since
which period there has not been any final settlement of
many of the bills of the Solicitor), we have had the same
examined, with a view of ascertaining, as nearly as pos-
sible, the annual profits of the office, and it appears to
us, that after deducting the expenses of his office in sta-
tionery, clerks, &c., the net profits may be estimated to
amount, on an average, to nearly 3,0001. per annum ; and
having attentively considered this part of the reference to
us, we are of opinion that it is desirable and expedient
that in future a fixed salary should be paid to the Solicitor
for all business to be done by him chargeable to, the City's
cash, and that he should not be allowed any bill or other
charge in respect thereof, excepting for his usual dis-
bursements, (for which he should be required to produce
proper and sufficient vouchers) ; and that such salary should
be at and after the rate of 2,0001. per annum, to exclude
the expenses of his office for clerks, stationery, or other-
wise ; and with respect to the business required to be trans-
acted by a solicitor, under any Act or Acts of Parliament,
with the execution of which the Corporation, or any Com-
mittee appointed by them, are or may from time to time
be instructed, we are of opinion that all such business should
be transacted by the City's solicitor, who should be remu-
nerated for the same by bills payable out of the funds created
by the said Acts ; but that his charges should not in any
case exceed those which would be allowed in the settlement
of an account between attorney and client ; and in order to
insure a proper attention to the various and important du-
ties of the office, we are of opinion who may be appointed
thereto should not be allowed to engage in the transaction
of professional business for or on behalf of any other parties
than the Corporation, but that his time and attention
should at all times be exclusively devoted to the business
of this city."
Mr. PEACOCK (the Chairman of the Committee) moved
that the Court should agree with the report.
Mr. Deputy WOOD moved as an amendment, that the
City Solicitor should be paid by fees, and not by salary.
Mr. BECKWITH seconded the amendment.
After a discussion the amendment was rejected by a large
majority, and the report was adopted by the Court.

POOR LAWS AMENDMENT BILL.

ST. MARYLEBONE BOARD OF GUARDIANS

AND DIRECTORS.

The above Board held a meeting yesterday morning at
the Workhouse, to take into consideration a notice of mo-
tion, that the officers be instructed to comply with the re-
quest of the Poor Law Commissioners in furnishing answers
to the questions forwarded to the parish by Mr. Chadwick.
Mr. LARGE brought forward the motion.
Mr. WADMORE seconded it.

Mr. REDWOOD supported the motion.
Mr. MARE wished the questions to be answered. He
was fearful if the Board refused they would be summoned
before the Commissioners, and the consequence would be a
great loss of time to the Guardians.
Mr. KENsErr moved an amendment, " That a deputa-
tion of Vestry be requested to meet a deputation of Guar-
dians on the subject."
Mr. MILLS seconded the amendment.

Mr. SODEN was in favour of the amendment.
Mr. POTTER said if he could believe that the Govern-
ment who fran.-ed this obnoxious Bill was actuated by a
purity of intention, and that the Commissioners whom they
had selected were operated upon by disinterested motives,
and desired to ameliorate the condition of the poor, and
remedy the abuses existing in the poor laws, he would then
be disposed to qualify his opposition ; but when he found,
from a statement of Ministers themselves, that their object
was not to altogether ameliorate the condition of the poor,
but to preserve the estates of the great landlords, at the
expense, as he (Mr. Potter) believed, of the comforts of
the poor, he felt himself justified, and he might say bound,
to offer every opposition to it in his power.
Mr. LARGE replied—
When the resolution was put and carried, by a majority
of three.