The Sun.
London, England, 1856-04-12 00:00:00

SA.LOMONS, Mayor.—A. COMMON
COUNCIL, holden in the Chamber of the
Guildhall of the City of London, on Thursday, the 11th day
April, 1856,
Resolved,—That the measure brought into Parliament by
' Sir George Grey, though called a Bill for the " Better Regu-
lation of the Corporation of the City of London," is, in fact,
a Bill of pains and penalties. It takes from the citizens,
without an equivalent, various important privileges, and'pro-
.perties purchased for valuable consideration, and secured to
them by prescription, by charter, and by ancient and modern
• Acts of Parliament, thus treating the Corporation as if they
had been found guilty of acts warranting a forfeiture—whereas
Sir Geo. Grey, in his introductory speech, bore testimony to
• . their honour and usefulness, and quoted the proceedings of
• .two Crown Commissions, appointed in 1834 and 1853, to in-
vestigate the conduct of the Corporation, who not only
acquitted .both members and officers of all charges-of corrup-
tion in the administration of their affairs, but also bestowed
high commendations upon them for the frankness and can-
dour they manifested in their examination before both Com-
' missions.
Although the preamble of this Bill is so worded as to nun-
'. elate no principle upon which issue can be raised at the
second reading, yet there are various clauses which afford
- abundant evidence that the foregoing objects do in fact con-
stitute the main principle of the Bill, and render it neces-
sary for this Court to oppose it on the second reading.
In 1831 the Corporation were induced by Lord Chancellor
Brougham and his colleagues to promote the passing of the
Central Criminal Court t, by which the Corporation took
upon themselves the charges of an increased number of ses-
sions, an increased number of courts and an increased prison
accommodation; for extending the criminal jurisdiction of the
• City Judges to the populous districts of Essex, Surrey, and
Kent, in addition to the county of Midlesex, which had be-
. - come devolved upon them by an arrangement in ancient times.
It was an especial provision in .the Central Criminal Court
. Act that the chief magistrate of the principal city in the em-
pire should be, as he always had been, at the head, and that
hisbrethren the aldermen should be members of the commis-
sion ; yet the filth section of the proposed Bill repea's that
portion of the Act ; it summarily deposes both the Lord Mayor
, and the aldermen from the position assigned to them by the
compact with the Government, which Government is now re-
, presented.by Sir George Grey, yet the Bill leay.s the Corpora-
tion to bear the charge of the extended jurisdiction.
Notwithstanding the Commissioners of 1853 reported that
"the City of London has for many centuries elected its own
magistrates, and, of late years at least, the privilege appears
to have been well exercised," and they recommended that

the magisterial functions should be continued to the alder-
men, yet the Bill deprives the citizens of their ancient right,
. and vests it iu Crown-appointed stipendiaries, whose courts
are, however, to be attended by the City police, to be paid
- by the inhabitants.
The Bill proposes to change entirely the composition and
construction of the Court of Common Council, although the
Commissioners' Report, speaking of that Court, says—" W e
believe that the history of no other corporation furnishes such
honourable testimonials of the vigilance, good sense, and jus-
tice of its legislative body."
- Notwithstanding the obvious fact that the increased and
increasing education of all classes of the community will bet-
ter qualify them to exercise the duties and privileges of local
self-government, whether as constituents or representatives,
yet this Bill proposes to take the election of tile Lord Mayor
and Sheriffs from a body composed of several thousands, and
to vest it iu the Common Council, to consist of 96 persons.
The Bill will take from the Corporation the honourable office
of Conservator of the Thames, to vest it iu eminent public
functionaries, whose other important avocations will prevent
them from personally attending to its duties, while it ignores
a Bill laid before Parliament by the Corporation to consoli-
date their prescriptive rights, and give increased efficiency to
the discharge of their conservatorial duties. _
The Bill interferes with the chartered rights of the Corpo-
ration to Metropolitan Markets, although the Commissioners
report, " that the superintendence of the wholesale provision
markets exercised by the Corporation seems to be vigilant,
and to be attended with very beneficial results ;" and
although the Corporation have waived their exclusive right
under their charter in favour of the formation of other mar-
' kets where public convenience might require them.
The Corporation possess a large revenue, arising from a
metage of 4d. per ton upon coals, under an immemorial title,
which was established by the judgment of the Court of Ex-
chequer in a suit with the Crown in the reign of James I , and
- has been confirmed to the Corporation by subsequent charters
and acts of Parliament. These metage dues, which constitute
a large portion of the Corporation revenues, the Bill will take
from them, although, in the belief that no attempt would be
repeated in our days to confiscate these dues, the Corporation
have constructed noble streets, at a cost of many hundreds of
thousands of pounds, and have laid out nearly half a million
in erecting the Metropolitan Cattle Market, by means of money
borrowed on the faith of these revenues, and they have like-
wise raised nearly 100,0001. to erect the new prison at Hol-
loway, which the Government inspector represented to the
commissioners as " the best-arranged and best-managed
prison within his knowledge."
This Court are of opinion that the honours, privileges, and
properties of corporations ought to be as inviolable and secure
under the protection of the law as the rights of peasant or
peer, or even of the Crown itself. And if it be once admitted,
as a principle of legislation, that without proved misconduct
and proved necessity, the purchased privileges and properties
of corporations, upon the plea of " expediency," which the
preamble of this Bill sets up, can be wrested from them with-
out compromise aid consent, the pillars upon which the rights
of property stand will be shaken to the foundation, and it will
wait only until the word expediency may receive a more lati-
tudinarian interpretation, to serve as a precedent for bring-
ing all other species of property within the range of a similar
principle of legislation.
This Court feel themselves entitled to appeal to the evidence
and reports of the commissioners, and to Sir George Grey's
speech, to prove that they have, during the present century,
effected large measures of reform and improvement in the con-
stitution and administration of their affairs ; and that the
Common Council have, from time to time, applied to Parlia-
ment for extended powers to improve the management of their
sewers and their police, of their conservancy and navigation
jarisdiction, and the pert and harbour services, and also to
effect other objects, which it 'was beyond their corporate
powers, without the aid of Parliament, to accomplish.
The Corporation, by the surrender of the street tolls, by
the relaxation or abolition of many charges upon trade,
have: likewise manifested their anxiety to promote sound and
necessary changes in harmony with the spirit of the times
and this Court are of opinion that if they had been privileged
with a knowledge of the contemplated measure whilo in pro-
gress of preparation, many of the objections, both in prin.
ciple and detail, which they are now impelled to urge against
the entire bill, might by negotiation have been removed.
MERE WETHER.

ARGYLL ROOMS.-LAURENT'S CASINO
NOW OPEN for the winter season. Principal Cornet
a Piston, M. Boulcourt.—Doors open at S. Admission One Shilling.
IL Laurent's new Varsoviana and St. Patrick Quadrille every night.

MR. W. S. WOODIN'S OLIO of ODDITIES.
Fifty instantaneous Metamorphoses of Voice, Character,
and Costume, concluding with an impersonation of Mlle. Rachel, as
Camille, in "Les Horaces," TO-N IGnr and every evening, at 8.
Private boxes and stalls may be secured in advance, without extra
charge. Polygraphic-hall, King William-street, Charing-cross. A
Performance every Saturday Morning at 2 o'clock, and night at 8.

DR. KAHN begs to announce to the Medidal
Profession and th e public that his celebrated ANATOMICAL
USEUM has been enriched by a large number of original objects
and models of interest, including a magnificent full-length figure of
a Venus, from one of the most renowned of the old masters. Tho
new series of specimens and models embrace some most curious and
Important features, illustrative of the anatomy of the human struc-
ture, and rendering the collection wholly unrivalled 'n the world.
The Museum has been re-decorated, and arrangements have been
Made to promote the comfort and accommodation of the visitors.
The Museum is open daily from 10 till 10 (for Gentlemen only).
Lectures are delivered at 12, 2,4, and half-past 7. by Dr. SEXTON;
and a new and highly interesting series of Lectures is now in
course of delivery by Dr. KAHN, at half-past 8 every evening.—
Admission, One Shilling.-4, Coventry-street, Leicester-square.

Valuable Freehold Estates and Ground Rents.—Bermends2y and
Croydon.

TO BE SOLD by Auction, pursuant to an Order
of the High Court of Chancery, in a cause, Mal by and
others v. Grey and others, with the approbation of Vice-Chancellor
Sir Richard Torin Kindersley, the Judge to whose Court the said
cause is attached, by Mr. Thomas John Barnes, the auctioneer
appointed for the purpose, at the Auction Mart, Bartholomew-lane, '
near the Bank of England, on WEL/NESDA Y, the 16th day of
1856, in 6 Lots, tha following capital FREEHOLD PROPBR-
TlEs, chiefly let at Ground Rents. viz.:-1 Freehold Ground Rent
of 1201. a-year, secured upon and arising from an extensive Freehold
Estate, Great Russell-street, Bermondsey, comprising a large site of
ground, upon which are built upwards of 40 Dwelling-houses, stacks
of Warehouses, Manufactories, and other Business Premises and
Yards, of the presumed value of 1,4001. per annum. A freehold
Rental 0(351. a-year, from 3 houses. 47, 48, and 49, in Great Russell-
street, and ground in the rear. A Freehold Residence and extensive
range of Workshops, Warehouses, and other Business Premises, "cis.
45 and 46, Great Russell street, let to and occupied by Mr. Paxton, on
lease, at the rent of 951. a-year. A commodious Family Residence
and Offices, with large Garden, situate at North End, Croydon, near
the Railway Station, let to Mr. Dunkin; also, the two adjolni .g
houses and premises, occupied by Mr. Doughney and Mrs. Penson.
Ti e whole freehold and capable of improvement. The premises
may be viewed by permission of the tenants. Printed particulars
and conditions of sale may be obtained of Messieurs Symes, Teesdale,
and Sandilands, solicitors, 33, Fenchurch-street ; Messieurs Garrard
an 1 James, 13, Suffolk-street, Pall-mall ; at Blue Anchor, Russell •
street, Bermondsey; and at the Greyhound, Croydon; and or the
Auctioneer, Mr. T. J. Barnes, 19, Birchin-lane, Lombard-street.

SCHWEPP'S MALVERN SELTZER
WATER.—flaying leesed the Holy Well Spring at Malvern,
renowned for its purity. J. S. and Co. can now produce a SELTZER
WATER with all the Chemical and Medicinal Properties which have
rendered the Nassau Spring so celebrated. They continue manufac-
turing SODA, MAGNEsIA, ant PO PAS.; WATERS and LEMON-
ADE, at London, Liverpool, Bristol, and Derby.
Every Bottle is protected by a Red Label bearing their signatures.

FLAGS OF ALL NATIONS.—PEACE and
PLE NTY.

BENJAMIN EDllNGTONieWncifully informs the public that
they can be supplied with any quantity of flags, either in Silk ca-
Etuntin, to celebrate the Peace.
Rick Cloths, with Poles, Pulleys, and Lines, complete, at reduced
prict. s.

_
Orders by post daly attended to t address, Benjamin Edgington, 2,
Duke-street, Southwark. A warehouse 32, Charing-cros+.

AIR DESTROYER, 1, Little Queen-street,
High Holborn —ALEX. ROSS'S DEPILATORY, for remov-
ing eirectually Superfluous Hair from the Face, Neck, Arms, and
Hinds, without the slightest injury to the skin. A. It. will warrant
it not to irritate the flesh in the smallest degree, and the hair to be
entirely destroyed.—Sold in bottles, at 3s. Gd., ss. Gd., ant 10s. Gd. ;
or applied at the Hair-dyeing Establishment, as above. Forwarded
for stamps, tree by post, eight exsa.