The Sun.
London, England, 1835-08-05 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON', WEDNESDAY, AtYGtSP 5, 1835.

CORPORATION OF WORCESTER.

Mr. Sidebottom, town.clerk of the Corporation of Worcester was
next called, and examined by Mr. KNIGHT.
lVitness—l am a barrister at law.

Mr. KNIGHT—Were you appointed during life ? Witness—l was
appointed during pleasure, but that is generally understood to be for life.
How long have you held office T—Five years.
Are you acquainted with the titles and customs of the corporation
of Worcester ?—I am. The title of the Corporation, is the mayors,
aldermen, and citizens of the city of Worcester.
In whom does the Municipal Corporation consist P—ln two bodies ;
the Freemen and the Members of the Corporation. The Cummon
Council consist of 48, who transact the Corporation business.
From what body ?—From the body of freemen.
Then the qualification of each of these 48 is, that he roust be a free-
man

How is the freedom obtained P—By servitude or birth.
What is the servitude ?—Seven years• apprenticeship within the city.
What is the nature of the birth right ?—The eldest son of every free.
man born after he becomes free. The son is then a freeman for life, and
his son in the same way, which has been the custom from generation to
generation.

How long has this title existed f—The records extend as far back as
504, aral there I find it.

Then the freemen claim this as their inheritance through the revolu.
tions of centuries ?—Yes.

They comprise persons in all the various classes of society I—yee ; but
principally the trading classes. _

Is it considered an object of value and importance amongst tradesmen
of the town to have their freedom P—l think it is considered a benefit.
If young men, through misconduct, have their indentures cancelled,
do they lose that benefit P—They do so.
Is there any property, such as rights of common, under the Charter
or regulations of the Corporation, in the enjoyment of freemen ?—.There
are rights of common belonging to the freemen.
Is it valuable common land P—lt is extremely valuable.

What is the superficial extent •f the land ?—I think about 50 acres.
Are there any other rights ?—They have rights to certain alms-houses
and other charities, for which freemen are exclusively eligible.
Do those gifts lie open to any other than freemen ?—They do not.
In the event, therefore, of no freemen existing, according to the inten.
tion of the donors, there would be no objects or persons to participate in
the donors' benefits ?—None.

Are these charitable funds considerable ?—I cqnceive they are.
Some of them, besides alms.houres, allow 3s. and 3s. 6d. per week, and
exhibitions for young men at the Universities.
there exist within the city of Worcester a Board of Trustees for
letting the Corporation lands, and so on ?—Yes.
Is there any qualification required to be a member of th,:t Board ?
yes. i believe tileY UAW poses 1 ,040 01,, or 401. or 601, a year in 14114.

Supposing that a provision were made to enable a majority of this
Board to give up their functions to the Corporation, do you consider
that that would be beneficial ?—I consider that it would be beneficial
to the town.

Has the Corporation considerable charitable funds to adrninster ?
They have.
Are the Charities' funds, which the Corporation have to administer,
justly, honestly, and discreetly administered 7-4 believe they are.
From residence and office have you the means of knowledge of that
fact P—l have.
As to the expenditure of their surplus funds : in what manner are
they applied ?—They are applied for all county purposes, the keeping in
repair of the streets; but the greater portion of their funds are laid out
in charity.
' I suppose that a portion of these funds are applied for dinners ?
Yee, according to the custom of the Corporation, there is annually a
dinner, at which all the influential men of the county assemble. The
sum allowed for that by the Corporation is 1504: that sum, however,
is totally inadequate to the expense. It generally costs twice that sum.
Mr. KNIGHT—Who generally attended at these dinners 7—Persons of
all parties.
All politics arc excluded 7—Yes.
Persons of all politics attend ?—Yes ; always.
It is considered as a compliment to the Mayor and Corporation 7—Yes.
All classes are invited ?—Yes.

Subject to that their surplus income is divided among charities, and
to the improvement of the town I—Yes, after the payment of the ex.
penses of the Corporation.

Are the accounts of the expenditure of the Corporation carefully
kept ?—Yes ; audited every year by persons appointed.
Of what class of men do the 72 of the governing body consist?—
Mostly of respectable tradesmen of the town, and some few gentry.

Are they men of substance 2—Yes.
Men who have something to loose P—Yes.

Men who have an interest in the local burthens of the town ?—Yea.
That is, a just and general description of the whole body of 72 ?
It is.

Did you ever hear a complaint that that number was insufficient to
do the business of the town f—l never did.
In your opinion is that number sufficient for the useful administration
ofthe Corporation f—l think is is—l think if any change was made it
would be for the worse, and not for the better.
Is the city of Worcester a county of itself?—lt is. .

Do you think the Corporation could be better managed than it is at
present?—Certainly not.
Are you aware of the number of householders rated under 101. in
that city 10—I am not.
The witness was then ordered to withdraw.