The Sun.
London, England, 1850-05-22 00:00:00

MAY 22, 1850.

THE FISHMONGERS' COMPANY.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sia,—A few days since my attention was drawn
to a letter that eppeared in your. journal, the writer
of which suggested where I would find all the infor-
metion required on the subject of The fishmongers'',
Compeny. ' Ae I was not before aware that there
was such a hook extant as Herbert's " History
of the Livery Camparnes of London," and that
the Fishmongers' was one of them, I have since
dune myself the pleasure to look over their his-
tory. The account in the book occupying many pages,
it being a sununary from various authorities, is of
course far too long for newspaper columns. I will,
therefore, only show a few of the most important
parts, which will be sufficient to give the general
reader en idea of• what the Fishmongers' Com-
pany once were, and what they now are. In
vol. 2, page 3, at the commencement it say s
—"Tne fishmongers were at first two com-
panies, namely, stock fishmongers and salt fishmon-
gers." A little farther on it says, that in the year
153 G, " the said companies were united into one.
After the union of the two companies they went by
the appellation of The Wardens and Commonalty
of the Mystery of Fishmongers of the City
of London. 'nig corporation consists of a
prime and five other wardens, twenty-eight
assistants, and one hundred and forty liverymen, who
when admitted pay each a fine of thirteen pounds,
six shillings, and eightpence. They have a very
stately and magnificent hall in Thames-street to
transact their business, and pay to charitable uses about
eight hundred pounds per annum." (Herbert's History
of the Livery Companies was published in 1836.)
It is next said:—" There are at present six wardens,
the first whereof is called tlle prime warden, twenty-
eight assistants, and one hundred and twenty-two on
the livery. Tneir livery fine is about fourteen pounds,
but not always certain. They are the fourth of the
twelve companies, and there have been Lord Mayors
of this company forty-one." Next follows a long ac-
count of the origin and history of the Fishmongers'
Companies, with dates as far back as 1260. Follow-
ing comes an account of their constitution and govern-
ment, and at page 30, I find the following paragraph :
—" Tne governments, as to the trade of fishmonger-
ing, is stated in the placita dc• quo warranto, 14
Edward 11, to have been • originally subject to the
oversight of the sheriffs of LOndon, who had' irnme-
tnorially held in person, or by their bailiffs, two great
courts of halmote yearly, where presentments of
offences were made by a jury of the trade, and heard
and determined by those officers." The courts
mentioned are described to have been composed of
" all the fishmongers in London." N ext in order comes
an account of dress. and observances of the livery tnen
then an account-of the ancient, and the now modern
built hall. " Trust Estates and Charities" follow in
arrangement, and many are the splendid donations
that have been left to the Fishmongers' Coinpany.
At page 77. under the head of " Offices," it is said—
" Tne.Court has the appointment of two persons free
of the company to be the company's Tackle Porters,
at the water side, for shipping and unshipping
goods. And the Court has likewise the appoint-
ment of two persons free of the company to
be the company's fish-meters, to prevent
the landing and disposing of unwholesome fish
within the jurisdiction of London and the suburbs ;
salary, 101. per annum each. The almshouses at the dis-
posal of the court are in the whole 94." Winding up
the history is a copy of the company's charter. To
such as are particularly interested in fishery and
fishmarketing improvements, a perusal of Herbert's
" History of the Livery Companies of London " will
repay their trouble. Cleanliness, regularity, and
promptitude for sales, appear to have been a predomi-
nant feature in ages past, by all rulers and inspectors
over London fish-markets.—l am, Sir. &c.,

H. DES;
[All further communications on this subject mus
be paid for as advertisements.—En. Sun.]

NEGRO EDUCATION.
On Monday the annual meeting of the Ladies' So-
ciety for Promoting the early Education and 'tn.
provement of the Children of Negroes and of People
of Colour in the British West Indies was held in
Willis's Rooms. The Marquis of Cholmondeley pre-
sided.

The Noble CHAIRMAN, in introducing the business
of the meeting, said the society was established in
1825, and since that period many thousands of negro
children had been instructed in a knowledge of the
truths of Christianity. The schools in which, these
poor children were taught had peculiar claims upon
their sympathy and support, as the children were the
descendants of those who were the victims of cupidity
and avarice.

The SECRETARY having read several letters of
apology for non-attendance, proceeded to read the
report of the committee for the past year, which com-
menced by observing that the Colonial Legislature
had been compelled to curtail, and in many instances
altogether to withdraw, the supplies heretofore voted
for the support of the schools in their respective
islands. As an immediate consequence, many large
and long-established schools had been broken up, the
teachers dispersed, and the children left to %sander
in idleness and ignorance. The clergy, who had ever
been ready to second the efforts of the society, suffered
under the universal pressure—the stipends of some
were altogether withdrawn or left in long arrears.
The rector of a large parish stated that he had as yet
received only ten pounds of his year's income. Not-
withstanding the discouraging aspect of affairs at home
and abroad, the committee of the Ladies Society per-
severed in their efforts, and they were happy to be
able to record that the state of the West Indies was
somewhat less gloomy and disheartening than it had
been, and there was now a prospect of an improved
cultivation of the soil, and a larger return of pro-
duce, "by the arrival of numerous bodies of free
African labourers. In some places schools had been
revived, and the attendance had not diminished since
the last report. At home, also, there had been a gra-
tifying re-action in favour of negro education,
the annual meetings and sermons having greatly
tended to bring about this increased feeling of
interest and' additional support. The report then
alluded to the formation 'of the North-West London
Branch Asspciation, and to the aid which it had
enabled the committee to airord, Three new schools
had been established, one at Bahamas, the second at
Nevis, and the third at Antigua. The subscriptions
received since the last report amounted to 1,100/. Toe
number of schools now receiving aid from the society
were in all 110. Thirtt•seven schools were sup-
ported, fir the most part, by grants from the colo-
nial treasury ;• but that aid could not be expected to
last much longer. The schools were to be conducted
on the principle of the Irish national schools.
The report having been adopted, resolutions in.sup-
port of the society were agreed to,, and the. meeting
separated.

FROM THE LONDON GAZETTE

OF 717-7;SPAY

AIZ-OFFI,',E, 'l4v 21

7th u Wi!!!4:n 1) f
the 64th Fo..t, to b, ute:i. n!,
to the 26th .‘1.4 21
21.4 5..0 .t
be fir.; it
tite Mays 21,
23d Foot—Second Lieutenant Francis Martr.aduke
Hall Dare to ha First Lieutenant, by purchase, vice
Brady, who retires, May 21.
26th Foot—Lieutenant William Edward Wallace, from
the 7th Foot, to Lieutenant, vice Liinchliff, appointed to
the 64th Foot, Nfar 21.

11

35th Foot—Ensign Wemyss Thomas Cockburn, from
the 79th Foot, to be Ensign, vice Adderley, who ex-
changeq, Say 21.

52.1 Font-Brevet Colonel George Gawler, from halt-
pay Unattached, to be Lieutenant Colonel, vice Richard
French, who .exchanges; Major Henry Samuel Davis
to be Lieutenant-Colonel, by purchase, vice Gawlee, who
retite; Captain George Campbell to be Major, by pur-
chase, vice Davis; Lieutenant Maxwell Du Pie Stronge
to ba Captain, by purchase, vice Campbell ; Ensign
Charles Pye Blatlivvayt to be Lieutenant, by purchase,
vice Strongo; Ensign Paulyn Reginald Serlo Marquis of
Hastings, from the 631 Foot, to be Ensign, vice 131kth-
way, May 2i.
56th Foot—Lieutenant and Adjutant Fox i\laule
Rainsay has been permitted to resign his commission of
Adjutant only,. May 21.
60h Foot—Surgeon Thomas Alexander, from half-
ply, Rifle Brigade, to he Surgeon, vice Coweu, ap-
pointed to the 7th Light Dragoons, May 21.
64th Foot—Lieutenant Chamberlain Henry Hinchliff,
from the 26th Foot, to be Lieutenant, vice Shipley, ap-
pointed to the 7th Foot. May 21.
67. h Foot—Afajor Thomas James Adair to be Lieut-
enant-Colonel,' by purchase, vice Orange, who retires;
Captain Samuel Hood Murray to be Major, by purchase,
vice Adair; Lieutenant Francis Richard Taylor to be
Captain, by purchase, vice Murray, May 21. •
79th Foot—Ensika Randolph Ralph Adderley, from
the 35th Foot, to be 'Ensign, vice Cockburn, who ex.
changes, May 21.

91st Foot—Surgeon Daniel Armstrong, from the 44th
Foot, to be Surgeon, vice Forrest, promoted on the Stall,
May 21,

Cape Mounted Riflemen—Lieutenant Rmhard Jennings
Bramly to be Captain by purchase. vice Fraser, who re-
tires; Lieutenant John Sandhans Warren to be Captain,
by purchase, vice Somerset, promoted; Ensign William
Benjamin Croft Goodison to he Lieutenant, by purchase,
vice Bramley; Ensign George Stoddart Whitmore to
be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Warren, May 21.
HOSPITAL STAFF—Surgeon John Forrest, M.D., from
the 94,t Foot, to be Stall-Surgeon of the First Class,
vice Millar, deceased; May 21.
MEMORANDUM—The christisn names of Ensign
Murphy, Ist West India Regiment, are "
William
Lawrence," not William St. Lawrence," as previously