The Sun.
London, England, 1835-02-18 00:00:00

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PRICE 7D.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

MANSION-HO USE.

Yesterday some of the principal members of the Court
of Assistants of the Founders' Company waited upon the
LORD MAYOR for the purpose of asking his Lordship's
assistance in a case which at the same time that it was
calculated to be injurious to the Company's interest was
likely to lead to public mischief if the practice which it
illustrated did not receive a check. It had been ascertained
that a person at Islington was in the habit of selling brass
weights, or rather weights appearing to be all brass, but
really being lumps of lead covered with plates of brass,
and the complainants considered it to be their duty to
apply in the first instance to the Lord Mayor on the sub-
ject, although his Lordship's jurisdiction did not extend
beyond the City limits.
Mr. Grey, the clerk of the Founders° Company, stated
that by virtue of the charter granted to the Founders'
Company by King James 1., and the powers therein con-
tained, which were specially reserved to the Company by
the 28th section of the 4th and sth of William IV., cap.
49, all brass weights sized and stamped by the Founders'
Company were good and legal weights for use throughout
the realm. As the matter was of much importance to the
public he had made extracts from the charter in confirma-
tion.of the. asserted right of the Company.
~,The LORD MAYOR immediately sent for the City Soli-
citor to advise with him on the subject. -
The Clerk of the Company produced the extracts from
the charter, which the Lord Mayor read.
The Clerk of the Company stated that the 28th clause
of the 4th and sth of William IV., cap. 49, reserved the
rights of the Founders' Company, ‘,‘ Provided always and
be it enacted, that nothing in this Act contained shall ex-
tend to prohibit, defeat, injure, or lessen the rights
granted by charter to the Master, Wardens, and Com-
monalty of the Mystery of Founders of the city of Lon-
don." He produced a weight, which he said had been
purchased in the Lower-road, Islington, by a medical gen-
tleman, and which had no mark whatever upon it. It was
also charged with lead instead of being all brass, so that if
it happened to be of true weight at first, use would render '
it otherwise.

The LORD MAYOR—Why do you not proceed against
the seller upon the statute ? One of the Court—We
thought that perhaps your Lordship might assist us by re-
sorting to a more summary process. We are aware that
we have a right of action, and we are determined to exer-
cise that right. But we are anxious to check this evil at
once, and we think that no subject can come more properly
before your Lordship.

The LORD MAYOR—This false weight was not sold in
the City, neither can you prove that it was made in the
City. If you could show me anything that would supply
me with a fair pretext for interfering you might depend
upon my assistance, but the probability is that these loaded
weights are made and disposed of at Birmingham.
The City Solicitor said he had no doubt that the weights
alluded to were made in Birmingham. He recommended
the applicants to proceed at once against the offending
party upon the Act of Parliament, according to the Lord
Mayor's suggestion. There could be no shorter road to a
penalty than that Act, and if the offence had been com-
mitted in the City the penalty'would very soon be inflicted.
The LORD MAYOR--I am very sorry the case does not
come under my cognizance, but I am convinced that if you
charge the offender before a county Magistrate a check
will soon be put to the practice. If you find any persons
within the city of London violating your charter in this
manner I shall be extremely glad to adjudicate. This ap-
plication will have one good effect at any rate. Most
people are ignorant of the rights of the Company, and ig-
norance cannot after to-morrow be pleaded in excuse for
the violation of your charter.
The applicants were very thankful to the Lord Mayor
for the disposition he manifested to do them justice, and
then retired from the justice room, apparently determined
to vindicate their privileges.