The Sun.
London, England, 1851-10-31 00:00:00

FitIDAY

COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL
Yesterday a Court was held.

THE CONSERVANCY OF THE 'IRAMES.

Upon the motion of Mr. John Wood (the chairman
of the consolidated committee) a report, recommend-
ing that notice be given of an application to Parlia-
ment in the next session for a Bill relating to the
conservancy, was agreed to.

THE METROPOLITAN COMMISSION OF SEWERS.

The following gentlemen were re-appointed as corn-
missioners on the Metropolitan Commission of Sewers:
—Mr. Alderman Lawrence, Mr. Deputy Peacock,
and Mr. Henry Lowman Taylor.

COAL DUTIES.
The Chamberlain handed in a return in confor-
mity with the following order of the Court :—" That
a return be made to this Court of an account of all the
moneys which have been raised for public works exe-
cuted, buildings erected, or street improvements
effected, out of the coal duties receivable by the Cor-
poration of London is the character of trustees for
administration or otherwise, since the same were made
chargeable by Parliament for such purposes in the
year 11T66, distinguishing such works, &c., as are
situated in Cthe city of London, such as are altogether
without the City, and such as partake of a mixed cha-
racter being for the benefit of the City as well as of
the adjoining districts ; stating also the public bodies
or the persons entrusted by Parliament with the ex-
ecution of such works and improvements, and for
what period the dues are mortgaged for such purposes."
Mr. DAYIN said—The return which has just been
presented in accordance with the order of the Court,

I intend to move be printed and a copy sent to every
member, if the Court will allow me now to bring on
a motion which stands upon the paper of business—
namely, " That it be referred to the improvement
committee to direct the City's architect to prepare a
plan of London on such scale as shall be most conve-
nient, showing the respective public works, buildings,
or improvements effected out of the coal duties, as
stated in a return to this Honourable Court, ordered
23d October, 1851, and that the same be lithographed,
and a copy accompanied by such return be sent to
every member of this Court," and agree therewith.
The two documents which I think so very useful for
the information of the Court are calculated to remove
much misapprehension which exists in the public
mind as to the expenditure of the coal duties which
have been received by the Corporation of London in
the character of trustees. It has been stated in the
House of Commons that if no other reason could be
given for interfering with the functions of this
Court, a sufficient one would be found in the
mode in which the large revenue derived from the
coal duties had been employed, and more recently
we have been charged with the misuse of the
large sum of 172,0001. per annum, without any
adequate public improvements to show for it ;
and an inference has been drawn that jobbery and
corruption exist amongst us. I have been a member of
this Court for some years, and I know how carefully
the rules and orders are drawn which completely pre-
vent any member from deriving any the slighest ad-
vantage from his position, supposing he had the de-
sire.—(hear, hear.) I know, too, that highly paid
as are some of our officers, considering the important
and onerous duties they have to perform, their emo-
lument does not exceed that which first-class men in
their various professions earn.—(Hear, hear.) In-
deed, in the case of the officer who is mainly con-
cerned in the duties to which this return refers, I be-
lieve that, taking into account the great talent he
brings to bear upon the business committed to him,
and the large amount of that business, he is very im-
perfectly remunerated, and I trust some steps will be
taken to make his recompense more commensurate
with his labour.—(Hear, hear.) If no waste of large
funds accrues from these causes, I was led to inquire
into the precise state of facts, and I think the return
which will be put into your hands will show that a
principal portion of these large sums has been dis-
bursed—not for the City only and by the Corpora-
tion, but by the Woods and Forests and other public
bodies, for metropolitan improvements.—(Cheers.)
The entire amount of disbursements from these coal
duties is 3,738,0661., which may be divided as
_fol-
lows :
Improvements within the City .... £1,117,345
without the City
of a mixed character

£3,738,066
Showing the sum apportioned for improvements
without the City, and those of a mixed character, to
be no less a sum than 2,620,7211. As examples of
their improvements without the City, executed out of
these duties, you will find—
Clerkenwell Sessions House (by justices of the
£ll,OOO
peace)
Court House of Westminster (by Dean of
Westminster and Commissioners)
Paving Southwark and Goswell-street
Making Now Oxford-street, Cranbourno street,
approaches of Waterloo-bridge, Victoria-
strcet, Westminster-road, from London
Docks to Spitalfields (by Commissioners of
Woods and Forests)
As examples of the expenditure for improvements of
a mixed character, you will find—
Blaekfriars-bridge 230,000
County Gaol London and Middlesex 50,000
Sessions House ditto 40,000
Debtors' Prison London and Middlesex 95,000
General Post-office (site) BO,OOO
Now, my Lord Mayor, it has been said that the
charge of corruption sits uneasily upon us, and that
we are perhaps better than we were. What says the
report of the Committee of the House of Commons
which, in 1812, sat in revision of the expenditure
of the Corporation ?--(Hear, hear.) It says this—
" They (the Committee) were nevertheless satisfied,
from the documents laid before them, that every ju-
dicious attention and every principle of economy bad
been applied by the Corporation of London that was
consistent with the attainment of great public objects
with the execution of which they were entrusted.
They also think it incumbent upon them to declare,
that having bad occasion to inspect the various and
complicated accounts which the management of so
extensive a concern indispensably requires, and which
were produced with a laudable readiness, it appears,
after full investigation, that all the details both of the
receipt and the expenditure are kept with an accuracy
and checked with a vigilance which reflects honour
upon all who have any part in the; superintendence
of this fund." What was the result of the inquiry
by Committees of both Houses of Parliament in 1829,
when the expenditure of these duties was examined into,
the Duke of Wellington presiding in the House of
Lords' Committee ? Notwithstanding the most stenuous
opposition of the late Lord Durham and the coalowners,
a further charge of 1,000,0001. was made upon the
coal duties, and the Corporation of London entrusted
Cityhasoutownrevenues, your
et-books will show, since 1780, for public im-
provements, 1,064,690/. 2s. 7d., deducting about
100,000/., which is included in the coal duties return,
besides a sum for charitable purposes since that time
of 118,0541. 14s. 11d., and a sum for public purposes of
54,256/. 2s. sd.—(Hear.) I know the excitement
which is felt in the court in anticipation of the more
spirit-stirring business of this day, and, with the ex-
pectation that these returns will prevent the unjust
aspersions which are sometimes cast upon us, I beg to
move that they be printed, and a copy sent to every
member of the Court.—(Cheers.)
(Kossuth having retired from the court, the mem-
bers did not appear to be inclined to finish the busi-
ness, notice of which was given in the paper of
business.)
The LORD MAYOR said, he could not leave the chair
without thanking them most cordially for the very
received from them collectively
and his mayoralty:(Cheers.)
individually during
felt great pride in the
lie assured them that he fe
man-
ner in which the business had been conducted during
and that he considered the whole course
great assistance he had
the past year,
oration s .—(Chee rs.)
The Court thento

5,500
9,000

inquest was
an inquest
Clerkenwell,
■•-•'--- ___
heldA ALLEGED EthGenDp!
upon the body of Mrs. Elizabeth Deborah Davies, aged 32,
whose death it was alleged had been caused by the violence
;JRrnllts.,teear
predracyy.
of her husband, Thomas Davies, who stands remanded on
the charge of murder at the Clerkenwell Police-court. Ur.
Wakeling was retained for the accused. Mr. Henry Har-
dinge, surgeon, of 24, Sackville-street, St. James's, proved
that the injury on the hand of the deceased was, the cause
of her death. Henry Lewis, errand-boy in the employ of
the accused, said that, on his return home on Friday last,
he heard Mrs. Davies say that his master had beaten her
with a shovel. He novr said that about a fortnight ago he
saw his master beating his 'mistress. Mr. Wakley said it was
shocking that a man who stood accused of so serious an
offence should not be allowed to be present to hear such
evidence. The coroner said he had exerted all his power for
years to reform the practice • the public ought to interfere,
and the jury might memorialise the Secretary of State upon
the subject. The jury unanimously
. concurred in the coro-
ner's remarks, upon which the inquiry was postponed until
Thursday next.
OMNIBUS MONOPOLY.—The determination on the
part of the proprietors of the numerous omnibuses paasing
over the Blackfriars, Waterloo, and Westminster bridges to
and from the Surrey side of thew ater. to uphold the " Ex-
hibition" fares of 4d. for no matter how short, and
running all cheap opposition off these roads, has given way,
for yesterday the figure 3 WAS visible on all these vehicles,
and 3d. instead of 4d. was the fare. The fact is, the pro-
prietors have got alarmed, as well they may be, at the de-
termination on the part of the public to patronise and have
cheap fares ; and, therefore, the act of reducing the fares was
one of policy and not of favour ; and it would be a matter of
greater policy on their parts to lower the fares to still more,
say 2d. They may rest assured that the numerous associa-
tions at present forming for conveying the public from place
to place at moderate fares will feel satisfied with a twopenny
fare, or more likely a penny fare, where the present proprie-
tors were charging 4d. and now charge 3d. Horse proven-
der hasnot been so cheap during " the memory of the oldest
inhabitant" as it is at present, and the charge for travelling
should
be proportionate.
We understand that the Earl of Laneabor h .
oug is
shortly to be united to Lady Hunter, of Dunlanv House,
near Arunde
daysl,
His Lordship arrived at the Bedford Hotel a
few
. ago, but has since left on a visit to Lady Enter.
mvaton Gazette.