The Sun.
London, England, 1835-08-07 00:00:00

MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS.

The Earl of FALMOUTH presented a petition from the
borough of Evesham against the Municipal Corporation Bill,
which the petitioners complained had passed the other House
of Parliament by a majority composed of Papist Members.
The petitioners trusted in the wisdom of their Lordships, and
prayed that they would reject this Bill.
Lord MELBOURNE rose to oppose the reception of the
petition. He put it to their Lordships whether they would
receive a petition so improperly worded. The petitioners
had no right to designate the majority of the other House as
one of any party.
The Earl of FALMOUTH had no connexion with the
borough of Evesham, and could not be answerable for the
statements made by the petitioners. If their Lordships were
against the reception of the petition he should, with their
leave, withdraw it.

Their Lordships then adjourned till six o'clock.

The VICE- CHANCELLOR took hil seat on the Woolsack at a
quarter past A o'clock.

The Marquis of BRE AD ALB ANE presented several pe-
titions from different parts of Perthshire, in favour of the intro-
duction of some measure to improve the Scotch Church.
CORPORATION BILL.

Counsel were then called in, and proceeded with the exami.
nation of witnesses on the Corporation Bill.
The House proceeded to examine further witnesses in the
Norwich case.

Mr. Jay stated that he was an Alderman at Norwich, and
had been so not quite three years. Knew something of the
powers of the Corporation, and he approved of them. Wit-
ness attended the Municipal Commissioners in their in-
quiries. Made a remonstrance to the Commissioners with
respect to the course they pursued. Served that remonstrance
on Mr. Long. The Mayor, the Aldermen, and thirty of the
Common Council signed that remonstrance. Witness objected
to the course of the Commissioners in examining witnesses—
examining only those who were likely to injure the Corpora-
tion. Did not make the objection for any party motive.
ROCHESTER.
_ _ _

Mr. Le*is, town clerk of Rochester—Had been two years
and a half town clerk. Had been resident fifty years. Was
a solicitor. Practised in Rochester twenty years. Described
the constitution of the corporation. The resident freemen
were 400 in number within the limits of the city. Between
500 and 600 in the Parliamentary boundaries. The aldermen
were respectable from station and wealth. Temporary free-
dom was purchaseable. It had been 31., and afterwards re-
duced to 30s. This was a penalty paid annually. Actual
freedom for life cost 201. ; had been raised to 401., reduced to
201., and subsequently to 10/. Accounts of the corporation
were audited yearly, by appointment of auditors at the Court
Lea Jury. The charity property was extensive. One insti-
tution had freehold estates producing 2,000/. a year. At-
tended all the sittings of the Corporatitin Commissioners.
They sat seven days. Their exami.:attion of witnesses was
conducted in open Court. The 1,-;ommissioners administered
oaths. Witness protested f-gainst the evidence received, as
not being judicial. The evidence was much of it hearsay.
There was exasperation, rancour, calumny, and ex-
pressed against ',,ne Corporation. The Corporation expressed
themselves as men, but not violently or with rancour. The
Corpor-ation consisted of persons of all politics. If the Cor-
Por:cion was made more open, w;tness would wonder much if
?cers and others would feel a wish to join the body. At pre-
sent the Corporation included persons of the highest rank.
The administration of justice was pure. An analysis of the
Chamberlain's accounts was sent in, verified by oath, to the
Commissioners. In the report the Commissioners professed to
set forth that analysis, but it was not by any means so fllll as
the original document. Several columns were omitted. The
coroner was chosen by the resident freemen at large. He was
elected annually. It was not the practice to re-elect him as a
matter of course. The recorder was elected for life. His sa-
lary was 501. a-year. The Corporatin had Admiralty jiirit.
diction granted to them by charter prior in point of date to
the charter of Edward 111. In the parishes of St. Edward's
and St. Martin's, 1,065 houses, rated under 101., paid one-
fifth of the rates ; and 4U, rated at 101. and upwards, the re.
maining four-fifths. The Corporation had no right to make a
rate for the improvement of the city ; and the majority of the
inhabitants would be much displeased that they should have
such a power. A Mr. Snebley, a Common Council-man, was
examined before the Commissioners ; but although his views
were favourable to those of the Commissioners, and although
be was in hostility to the Corporation, be gave evidence very
favourable to its management. His concluding sentence was,
" Although I am much opposed to the Corporation, I must
admit it is honest." Strange to say, however, this evidence
was omitted from the Report. Ile supposed the views of the
Commissioners were the same as those of the Government
who appointed them, and he spoke of them in such a light.
The Commissioners were extremely affable and approachable,
but, he was bound to say, they were not impartial. If they
had been so, they would not have listened to some of the state-
ments made to them. They listened to statements which no
Court of Law would have admitted as evidence, and by doing
so they gave a colouring to their Report which otherwise it
would not have had.

HENLEY-UPOIT-THAAIES.
Mr. Cooper, the town-clerk of Henley-upon-Thames, was
next examined. The only material point in his evidence re.
lated to the satisfaction very generally expressed by the resi-
dents towards the system in which the magisterial duties were
performed by the borough officers. He had never heard a
complaint,. and he believed no cause for complaint existed.
HAVERING-ATTE-BOWER.
Mr. Fitzgerald, agent to Mr. Mackintosh, the Lord of the
Manor of. Havering-atte- Bower, was next examined-72,0004
was given for the property, with its rights, privileges, and
immunities, which latter were considered worth the purchase-
money. The Lord of the Manor had the privilege of ar,
pointing magistrates for the liberty, and of that privilge .11e
would be deprived in the event of the Bill passing that limge.