The Sun.
London, England, 1866-07-18 00:00:00

Court of Aldermen:

Yesterday a Court of Aldermen was held in their
council chamber, at Guildhall, for the despatch of
business, the Lord Mayor presiding.
The Sheriffs presented their reports of the state of
the City prisons, from which it appeared that in
Newgate there were 68; in Whitecross-street, 94 ;
and in the House of Correction, Holloway, 376 pri-

soners.
The City Chamberlain and the Bridge Master
were sworn into office for another year, on their re-
eljlction on the 24th ult.
The precept for the election of Lord Mayor for
the year ensuing, and for the other business on
Michaelmas-day, was ordered to be issued.
The Sheriffs elect (Mr. Alderman Waterlow and
F. Lycett, Esq.) were called upon to enter into the
usual bonds for the due performance of their office,
when Alderman Xaterlow presented himself, and
duly executed the instrument ; the absence of Mr.
Sheriff-elect Lycett being explained to be unavoid-
able, in a letter addressed by him to the Town Clerk.
CHAPLAIN TO THE DEBTORS' PRISON.
Mr. Alderman WlLsorr reminded the Court that
the temporary appointment of the Rev. Thomas
Pugh, curate of St. .Sepulchre's, to the chaplaincy
of the Debtors' Prison would expire before its next
meeting, and he would, therefore, move that the rev.
gentleman, who had discharged his duties in the
most satisfactory and exemplary manner, be reap-
pointed for a. further term of six months.
Mr. Alderman SIDNEY remarked that it was a
disgrace to the Corporation that so small a remune-
ration was paid to the rev. gentleman. He urged
that an increase should be made now at the time o.
his reappointment.

Mr. Alderman LAWRENCE, M.P., said the in-
crease of stipend could not be made without due

notice.

Mr. Alderman and Sheriff GIBBONS reminded the
Court that six months ago the matter of the chap-
laincy had been referred to the Gaol Committee,
who made the temporary appointment of the Rev.
Mr. Pugh, and no doubt the committee would pro-
vide for his reappointment within the next ten or
twelve days ; and lie thought the matter had best be
left in the hands of the Gaol Committee, as, if this
Court should interfere in the meantime, it might
lead to some difficulty.
This suggestion was adopted, and Mr. Alderman
Wilson withdrew his motion.

THE COMMON COUNCIL AND MR. COMMISSIONER KERR

Mr. Alderman COPELA.ND said he wished to draw
the attention of the Court to a proceeding of the
Common Council with respect to the Commissioner
of the Sheriffs' Court, who was also one of the
judges attending at the Central, Criminal Court, as
into his conduct in his judicial capacity the Common
Council had referred an inquiry to one of its com-
mittees. He should very much wish to know from
the learned Recorder (if he had been present)
whether the Common Council had any power thus
to interfere with the provisions of the Act of Par-
liament under which the Central Criminal Court

--- -
had been constituted. If any complaint was to be

entertained against any of the judges of the Central
Criminal Court, it ought to be inquired into by the
whole body of the Commissioners of the Court,

comprising the Lord Chancellor, the judges of the
Admiralty Court, and other distinguished and ex-

perienced law authorities, who were constituted

judges of the Central Criminal Court under the act

introduced by Lord Broughem when Lord Chan-
cellor. He (Mr. Alderman Copeland) contended
that neither the Common Council nor this Court
could institute an inquiry into a matter of this
kind. He should, therefore, move a resolution to
this effect, and request the Lord Mayor to commu-
nicate it to the Common Council at its next meet-
ing, urging that the inquiry should not be proceeded

with. -
Mr. Alderman GABRIEL said he believed the in-

PRICF 4d.
STAMPED sd.

quiry had commenced on Friday last, and was going
on again to-day. The Town Clerk could perhaps
state whether this was not the case.

The TOWN CLERK replied that it was so. The
committee met on Friday, and were sitting again
to-day.

Mr. Alderman SIDNEY was of opinion the Com-
mon Council were wrong in instituting an inquiry
without stating the nature of the charges on which
they sought an investigation. What was the
latices attributed to thejlearned commissioner ?
Mr. Alderman BESLEY thought the inquiry had
properly been referred to the Law and Parliamen-
tary Committee, when the commissioner had sought
at their bands au increase of his salary, and the
Common Council naturally inquired from him how
be discharge(' his duties.

Mr. Alderman COPELAND considered that he had
done his duty by bringing the subject before this
Court, and he should certainly bring the motion
before the Judges when they met on the 2d No-
vember to fix the sessions for the ensuing year.
The conversation then dropped.
THE CORONER'S SALARY.
The report of the General Quarter Sessions re-
commending that the salary of Mr. Sergeant Payne,
as Coroner for London and Southwark, be increased
from £750 to £BB5 per annum from the Ist January
last, was brought up, and on the motion of Mr.
Alderman Wilson was confirmed and adopted.
The other business on the paper having been dis-
posed of the Court adjourned.
Railway and Other Companies.