The Sun.
London, England, 1832-10-13 00:00:00

COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL.

THE NETV STREET from BLACKFRIARS
TO THE NORTH ROAD.
The Report of the Committee upon the New
Street Bill was brought up yesterday. It stated
that the Committee had communicated with the
Middlesex Magistrates on the subject of the im-
provements contemplated, and that the Magistrates
had expressed a willingness to take the subject into
consideration. The cost of the improvements was
estimated at 110,0001., of which 69,0001. would he
gained by leases, rents, &c., leaving 49,0001. to be
provided for. The Report concluded with expressing
a hope that the county of Middlesex, and the pa-
rishes through which the line might pass, would do
all they could to diminish the expenses to the city
of London.
Mr. BLEADEN moved that the Report should lie
on the table.
Mr. Deputy WESTWOOD moved that the Court
should agree with the Report.
A MEMBER asked whether the nuisance of Hol-
born-hill would be removed by the improvement ?
Mr. RICHARD TAYLOR said, that one of the con-
templated improvements was the removal of that
nuisance.—(Hear, hear.) By law, the city invested
its money in freehold property, and money could not
be invested better than in the nem line of Black-
friars-bridge.
Mr. ASIIHRST was opposed to the passing of any
Act of Parliament until the line of road should be
determined upon. The Committee showed by their
Report, that they had not much reliance upon the
c .unty of Middlesex as to a share of the expenses.
It was also to be recollected, that the first parish
through which the line of road must break was very
poor, and it would be cruel to turn them out of their
habitations without compensation.—(Hear.)
Mr. PEWTRESS approved very much of the prin-
ciple, but said that the Court was not prepared to
ewer into the details. It was a delicate matter to
inter fere with property without making provision
for the security of the tenants. Lord Prudhoe let
his property with two years' notice to quit, and the
houses were as secure to the inhabitants as if leases
were granted. He was for giving to all parties the
privilege pf laying their claims before a Jury, for he
knew of many cases in which, although what was
called remuneration was granted, the parties remu-
nerated sunk under the hardship.—(Hear, hear.)
The poor ought not to he sacrificed, and the plans
ought to be stated beforehand, as any change of plan
would render property insecure in the line of road.
Mr. BIEADEN said he did r►ot expect that the
conference with the Middlesex Magistrates would
be productive of any thing.
Mr. DRINKALD said that no great reliance could
be placed upon estimates in an extensive case of
public improvement. The amount of the Post-
office improvement had been estimated at 101,000/.,
but it reached 400,000/.
Mr. CHARLES PEARSON objected to the proceed-
ing altogether, and would never, while he had a
seat in that Court, give his countenance to the prac-
tice which had often prevailed of getting an Act of
Parliament for public improvements first, and sitting
down to count the cost afterwards.—(Cheers.)
Competition and free trade were the prevailing
principles by which all the business of life was con-
ducted, except public business and public improve-
ments, and the principle must be extended to them
also.—(Cheers.) From the end of Farringdon-
street to the northern outlet of the metropolis there
were three distinct lines of road,which it was said by
competent surveyors, might, with but small prefe-
rence for either, be adopted, and the value of the pro-
perty upon each was about the same. If an opening
were necessary in that part of the city, arid he believed
it was, it ought not to be made in favour of this or
that particular line of road, but should be left to
public competition. The complaints of the bad-
ness of trade were universal; but no sooner was
an Act of Parliament passed for pulling down
houses, than people found that their trade had been
particularly flourishing, and large compensation was
demdnded.—(Laughter.) By the plan he proposed,
every man living in either of the lines of road
pointed out would be stimulated by asking a rea-
sonable price to obtain a customer for his house
and trade. Competition would be exerted, job-
bing would be prevented, and discontent avoided.
He moved that plans of various lines of road should
be submitted by the Committee to the Court, with
a view of trying the experiment of public compe-
`Won.

Mr. Pearson's motion was then agreed to.—
Adjourned.

THE SUICIDE AT HAMMERSMITH.

An inquest was held yesterday morning at the
Cross Keys, Hammersmith, before Mr. STIRLING,
touching the death, on Wednesday last, of Mr.
Thomas Fowler.

The deceased resided at No. 3, St. Peter's-place,
Hammersmith, in the house of Mrs. Winfield, the
widow of a victualler in the Strand, who died
about eleven months since. The deceased had
been for many yews principal cellarman to the
Wirifields, and on Mrs. -Winfield's retirement from
business had accompanied her, and, as ►was reported,
was lately married to her. That lady died on Mon-
day last, from an attack of apoplexy, and Mr.
Fowler had since appeared almost distracted at her
death; and though by no means addicted to drink-
ing, had called in at the Cross Keys on Monday
and Tuesday twenty or thirty times, taking at
each visit a glass of wine or spirits. To the land-
lord, Mr. Bray, he had expressed the utmost degree
of affliction at the loss he had sustained, and re
peat edly said that he could not long endure it, and
alluded to the pistol he had at home, as a friend who
would serve him to the last. On the Wednesday
occurred the melancholy event which gave rise to
the present inquest.
Mr. Betts deposed to the death of Mrs. Winfield
on Monday last, by apoplexy. She was a thin
spare woman, but he should think had formerly
been quite stout. Apoplexy, he understood, to be
in her family.
Mr. Perfect, surgeon, on Wednesday morning
last was sent fur to 3, St. Peter's-place. On
entering Mr. Fowler's room, he found him lying on
his back on the bed quite dead. There was a very
large horse pistol, recently discharged, in one
corner, arid on the table he found a paper, the ink
on which was not yet dry, to the following effect
(The hand-writing was tolerably firm and legible):—
„ Will some kind friend peruse my last will? I cannot
bear the shuck any longer. I have lost my dear Char-
lotte. Charlotte, I am coining. Give my watch and
seals to James 'Winfield (one of Mrs. W,'s sons) ; my
watch-chain to Charlotte Winfield ; my watch to Eliza-
beth Winfield ; my ',coaches and ring to Sarah Winfield ;
my dressing-case to William Winfield ; the rest of my
things to my son in 'l'etbury, Gloucestershire.
" The last will of Joseph Fowler.
" Pray for my soul. God bless you all—Amen."
The son here mentioned is one by his wife, from

MR. HUME AT STAINES.

Yesterday Mr. Hume paid a visit to Staines on
his progress through the county. A little opposi-
tion was anticipated here, which was realized by the
appearance of a party, which, though miserably
deficient in point of numbers, was numerous and
determined enough to create considerable confusion.
A dinner was got up on the occasion, which took
place at two in the afternoon, at the Bush Inn,
Staines; - Seymour, Esq. took the Chair, and
Mr. Hume, who was very warmly received on his
entrance, sat on his right hand. About 150 gm
men sat down to dinner.
The CHAIRMAN proposed " The health of
Mr. Hume, and may he be returned as representa-
tive for this county."
The toast was drunk with the greatest enthusiasm.
After which

Sir JOHN GIBBONS and Mr. HUME rose together,
but the latter giving way, the former gentleman
said, that he and some gentlemen around him had
not drunk the last toast. He had no objection to
drink the health of Mr. Hume, as a private indivi-
dual, but as to drinking success to his next election,
he would protest against it, if he stood alone.—
(Loud hisses and great confusion.) He believed
there was a large number of electors then
in the room, who were not friends to Mr. Flume's
return—(Confusion)—and he would do everything
in his po►rer to prevent Mr. Hume's re-election.—
(Hisses and renewed disturbance.) He and many
of his friends turned down their glasses.—(Hisses.)
Mr. HUME then rose, amidst great cheers, and
went over at great length all those various particu-
lars, which, though novel to the meeting, are not so
to those of our readers who have read the reports
of the previous meetings which have appeared in
our columns. As to pensions and sinecures, unless
for meritorious services, he ever had, and ever
would, raise his voice against them. There were
mothers of Dukes, sisters of Dukes, daughters of
Dukes, receiving public alms, for no earthly reason
but that their own extravagance or family profligacy
had reduced them to the want of it, and they at the
same time having near relations in the enjoyment of
annual thousands. Let a poor man apply for pa-
rochial relief to a Magistrate, and what was one of
the questions he would ask him ? He would ask
whether he had no relations who were competent
to maintain him ? and if he answered that his fa-
ttier, his brothers, and all his relations were
wealthy, would he not call upon them to afford the
poor man a maintenance ? Why, then, should so
odious a distinction be made between the paupers
of the poor and the paupers of the rich ? Mr.
Hume then touched on the Currency queltion, and
the necessity of Reform in the Church Establish,
ment. In addition to abolishing all pluralities, he
would turn the Bishops out of the House of Lords—
' (Immense cheering),—and confine them to their re-
ligious duties. He would do away with all clerical
Magistrates.—(Tremendous applause.)
Sir JOHN GIBBONS moved the adjournment of
the meeting.
The question, on being put, was most indignantly
negatived, only four or five holding up their hands
for it. _ _ _

Mr. GIBBONS (as we were informed Sir John's
son) addressed the meeting, but so much tumult
prevailed throughout the latter part of the meeting,
that we can give only a very imperfect sketch. He
thought he was not a fit man to be their representa-
tive for several reasons-Ist, his vote on the Rus-
sian-Dutch Loan—(A laugh, and hear.) His speech
on the cholera question was another reason.—
(Shouts of laughter and hisses.) The last
charge was, that Mr. Hume, at the dinner of the
National Political Union, refused to drink the King's
health.
Mr. HumE replied that this was a specimen of
the misrepresentation of the Journals that opposed
him. He was glad the Hon. Gentleman had given
him the opportunity of giving the lie direct to his
statement.—(Here some confusion took place, Mr.
Gibbons leaping across the table, and offering an
exchange of cards, or some similar proposition). The
Hon. Member reprobated the haste of the young
gentleman. He did not say that he would give him
the lie direct, but that he should be enabled to give
the lie direct to his last calumny. Mr. llume then
entered into a statement of the proceedings at the
dinner of the National Political Union, and stated
his refusal to preside at that dinner without the
health of the King was drunk—that he actually pro-
posed the health, and that it was drunk by a large
number of the persons present. The cause of the
themi
.falmvoouos
D Frankfort
th e n
put Ea dqi cutes
s.
feeling which then existed against the King was the
recent. discovery of the fact of the King's signature to
to whether he was not a membetrioonfatpolitical o
UumnieOna?s
Mr. Huai: said he was a member nine.—
(GreatH cheering, and cheers for‘
the tnioons
defended the Political Unions at some length,.
and
thought they had been the salvation of the country.
—(Bravo ! Hume, Hume, for ever !")
Mr. Cox moved, and Mr. SMITII seconded, a Re-
solution of thanks to Mr. Hume for his past con-
duct, and pledging the meeting to exert themselves
to return him free of expense.
The resolution was carried almost unanimously,
only eleven hands being held up against it.

QUID PRO Quo.—A very orthodox Divine,
near the sea-coast, took upon himself to enter every house
in his vicinity, and examine them from the cellar to the
garret, to ascertain if all was sweet and clean. Amongst
others, he ventured into one belonging to a smuggler,
during his absence. The wife was afraid to refuse ad-
mittance, and as, fortunately, there were no run goods at
the time in the house, he was permitted to poke his nose
into every corner. " Really, pretty well, my good woman,"
said the clerical gentleman, atter a most deliberate exami-
nation ; " a little paint here, a little whitewash in the
garrets, and the yard better swept, and, on the whole, it
does you much credit." So saying, he departed. The
smuggler returned, and was duly informed of this inquisi-
torial visit. " This will never do," observed he ; "if he
come again he may spy more than I wish, so I'll put a
atop to it." The next morning the smuggler c tiled at the
parsonage; the door was opened by a maid servant, he
brushed by her, and ascending the staircase, walked into
the bed-room of the clergyman's lady. The maid, horror-
struck and alarmed at such sacrilege, ran in haste to her
master, informing him of what had occurred, and express-
ing her opinion that the man had come to rob the house.
The Reverend Gentleman, who was rather choleric,
hastened up stairs in great wrath, when he discovered the
smuggler surveying the furniture of his bed. " What do
you mean, you impudent scoundrel, by coming up into
Mrs. B-'s room ; do you come to rob the house ?
"By no means, Sir ; only to return your visit. I have
examined this room, and will now,
if you please, go into
all the others. As far as I have seen, you are veryclean;
a little paint here, and a little whitewash on the ceiling,
may improve it ; but on the whole it is creditable both to
you and Mrs. P." As the Reverend Gentleman bad
.no
intention that people should return his calls, the practice
was dibontinued...Atetropolitan.

..... -•- - _
His MAJESTY held a Privy Council at which Parlia-
ment was further prorogued from the 16th inst. to Tues-
day the 11th of December. The Hon. W. BATHURST
attended as Clerk of the Council.
The KING held an investiture of the lonian Order of
St. Michael and Sr. George. Sir H. NICOLAS, the Chan-
cellor of the Order, and Mr. CIIAItLES DOUGLAS, the
King at Arm', having been robed by Mr. HUNTER with
the mantle of Saxon blue, lined with scarlet, Mr. DOUGLAS
was presented to his MAJESTY by Sir HARRIS, on being
appointed the King at Arms of the Order of St. Michael
and St. George.
His MAJESTY having been pleased to command that
Vice-Admiral Sir PULTENEY MALCOII3I, K•C.B., who,
pursuant to former Statutes of the Order, had resigned the
ensigns of a Knight Grand Cross on quitting the com-
mand of the naval force in the Mediterranean, should he
reinvested, Sir PULTENEY, preceded by the Chancellor
and the King at Arms, the latter hearing on a velvet
cushion the Badge and Riband of the Order, was presented
to the KING, and was reinvested with the insignia of a
Knight Grand Cross.
Lord DURHAM had an audience of the KING, on his
return from his mission to the Emperor of RUSSIA.
His MAJESTY also gave audiences to the LORD CHAN-
CELLOR, Earl GREY, Viscount PALMERSTON, Lord HILL,
Sir JAMES GRAHAM, Earl of ALBEMARLE, and Mr.

STANLEY.
Viscount Asuuftoox and Admiral Sir HENRY 13LACK-
WOOD were the Lord and Groom in Waiting.

The Court broke up about 6 o'clock.
The Duke Of CUMBERLAND visited his MAJESTY soon
after his arrival in town yesterday afternoon.
His MAJESTY left town in the evening on his return to
the Palace at Windsor.