The Sun.
London, England, 1844-01-18 00:00:00

FRANCE.

CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES.—SITTING OE JAN. 15.
IitEREYER'S DEFENCE OF TUE OLD ROYALISTS.
The President took the chair at a Quarter to Two
o'Clock.
The attendance of Deputies was unusually great,
and the appearance of the Chamber was particularly
animated. M. Thiers, M. Odillon 13arrot, and M.
Berryer were present. After some preliminary busi-
ness, silence was called, and amidst marks of general
interest,

M. Berryer s*cended the tribune. He had, he
said, asked for permission to address the Chamber first,
because he felt it necessary to speak on the journey.
to London, previously to the discussion on the Ad-
dress.
He could remain present for one single mo-
ment at the discussion ---
A voice from the seat reserved to the Peers (said
to be General Excelmans) here cried out, " Oh, that's
evident." _ - - - -

Great confusion arose, loud cries of " Order. order,"
proceeding from all parts of the Chamber;
The President, after some minutes confusion,
called on the Chamber, on so important a conjuncture,
to hear all persons with calmness and attention.
M. Berryer proceeded to say that it was not gene-
rous or fair towards them, to brand the party to
which he belonged by such a paragraph as appeared
in the address. What was their conduct for the last
few years ? Was it not well known that he, and
the other gentlemen of his way of thinking, were •
the representatives of the legitimist party ? Their
sincerity was well known to their political opponents;
but their loyalty and honour had never been called
in question before the present time. In 1830 a treat
struggle had come to an end, after it had continued
for a great length of time. Men strongly imbued
with particular ideas opposed to the Government
then existing had prevailed. He and the persons
thinking with him had not on that account thought
it necessary to quit France—they had thought that,
though in a minority, which might even remain one
eternally, they ought to remain in the midst of their
country and watch over her interests. They had
done this, with the full knowledge of the whole
world as to their opinions—they had discussed laws
since then in the Chamber, fulfilled- their duties as
legislators and citizens, and all this with honour and
loyalty. They had trusted to the spread of intelligence
to have the country come round to better opinions.
With that idea had they remained faithful to their
oaths, and with that idea only had they gone to
England. It was because those sentiments were
generally appreciated that so many persons had gone
to London. M. Berryer then referred to what had
taken place in London, and declared that it was ridi-
culous to suppose that any attempt had been made to
treat the princely visitor there as a sovereign. The
Legitimists had gone to pay their respects to the Duke
de Bordeaux as the representative of their ancient re-
membrances, but for no other purpose whatever. Was
France, so powerful a nation, to be alarmed at the
proceedings of a few loyal gentlemen ? He pro-
tested strongly against the paragraph, and declared
formally that there was no conspiracy— no intention
to act against the existing Government in France—
nothing beyond the natural desire of the Legitimist
party to pay honour to the head of their opinions.—
(Loud marks of dissent arose here, and continued for
some time. In the midst of the noise the Hon. Deputy
made two or three attempts to speak, but ineffecta-
ally.) When order was restored, he declared that u
the Chamber would not give him a hearing, he felt
himself obliged to desist.—(He then descended from
the tribune, amidst very general marks of disap•
pointment.)
The Minister of Foreign Affairs remarked that he
regretted that the Hon. Gentleman had ceased speak-
ing. The Chamber had listened to him, if not pa-
tiently at least attentively, and he called on him to
continue his discourse, as he might be assured that he
should be fairly attended to.—(Hear, hear.)
M. Berryer then resumed, and, with great anima-
tion, declared that the only conspiracy of London
was a wish, on the part of the Legitimist party, to be
useful to their country in every possible way. No
Deputy had betrayed his loyalty and faith in England
more than any person then listening to him. Their
principles might be opposed or rejected, but he could
guarantee the good faith and loyalty of every Member
of the Chamber who had visited London. Referring
to the sanctity of the oaths, which had been frequently
alluded to, the Hon. Deputy declared that he—and ha
could also say the other Legitimists of the Chamber
—had never done any thing to lead any one to sup-
pose that they had been or ever would be violated.—
(Loud cheers from the Legitimist party.)
The Minister of Foreign Affairs rose to address the
Chamber. He was well pleased that M. Berryer had
spoken with full liberty, were it only for the honour
and character of the Chamber. With respect to the
paragraph of the address, the facts that had taken

.
place were abetter reason for its insertion than anything
he could say. The meetings at London had been held
with the utmost seriousness and pomp, and it was even
deemed requisite to have the three orders of the king-
dom present.—(Hear, hear.) The parties thus meet-
ing had been actuated by very different motives from
those which had set in movement the various Cabinets
since 1830. The watchword of the men of the Revo-
lution was liberty and public order; whilst that of
the Legitimists was a tight which they-said was
greater than all others--the divine right of Kings.
The Hon. Member then drew a striking picture of the
difference which was always perceptible i• the conduct
of the present and former dynasties. He referred briefly
to the shock given to the nation and the Government
by the death of the heir to the throne, and the mea-
sures taken to obviate all inconveniences from
that event. He then observed that in order to attack
a Government some grievances ought to be observable.
What one could the Legitimists find under the present
order of things ? All was transacted with moderation;
and unless a decided intention was felt to act against
the Government, the conduct of the party that as-
sembled at London was inexplicable. The Govern.
ment had always acted graciously towards the Le-
gitimists, though well assured that such conduct
would not be attended with much effect. But that

party need not deceive themselves—their designs were
known ; and it was the duty of the Chamber to brand
them, in the commencement, with the seal of national
dishonour.—(Loud applause followed this phrase.)
Such was the intention of the Committee : and he
could declare that ho considered their insertion of the
paragraph was fully called for.—(Loud cries of
" llear, hear," and applause from the Centre.)
M. Berryer again ascended the tribune, but it was
some minutes before silence could be restored. He
knew, he said, that when he addressed the Chamber
his position was a difficult one. Ho was aware of the
situation of the minority. He had no intention of
endeavouring to place his principles in opposition to
those of others. lie merely wanted, as a member of
the Chamber, to maintain his honour and dignity. He
should never have spoken, had he not been of opinion
that the Chamber was not bound to follow blindly in
the path pointed out by the Committee. lie had al-
ready elected—both he and all who thought with him—
that they should always proceed in the career sug-
gested by national sentiments. The accusation made
against his party was unworthy and unjust.—(Cries
of " No, no.") He and his friends protested against
the sentiments attributed to them. They had gone
over to London to pay their personal respects. What-
ever else was alleged against them, he there declared,
in the most unreserved and formal manner, to be
false. He and his friends would never act in any
way against the honour, the institutions, or liberty of
France.—(Loud marks of disbelief from the Ministe-
rial ranks followed this declaration, with applause
from the extreme right.)
M. Dupin followed. lie declared that the Legiti-
mist party was still what it had always been, impru-
dent and headstrong. From 1789 to 1830 it had al-
ways been tending towards the same point, and no
warnings or examples had been sufficient to turn them
from the faults that seemed inherent in its constitution.
The Hon. Member then spoke for some time against the
late manifestation in London, and concluded by main-
taining the necessity of inserting the paragraph in
the address which referred to the Legitimist party.
The Duke of Valmy next addressed the Chamber.
He felt convinced, he observed, that in what he was
about to say he should speak the sentiments of the na-
tion.—(Strong marks of dissent.) He denied
that the legitimacy was near its termination, as
was alleged. The Minister of Foreign Af-
fairs had spoken of the Government having been ge-
nerous towards the Legitimate party. They dis-
dained such generosity.—(Oh, oh.) lie maintained
that it was a mere farce to propose to the Chaml ers to
brand a minority with reprobation. The majority
only abused its strength in acting so. He rejected
with indignation the allegations of disloyalty, and
protested against the insertion of the paragraph.
M. Bethmont, an opposition deputy, then ad-
dressed the Chamber, and entered into explanations
relative to his share in inserting the paragraph. He
denied that the address, in its totality, met with his
approbation.
M. de Saint-Marc Girardin, the reporter of the
Committee and drawer of the address, declared that
there had been the utmost unanimity amongst the
members of the Committee on every point that might
seem to refer to the question at issue. M. Beth-
moat had not made the slightest objection to the pa-
ragraph which he then seemed inclined to oppoee.
Every care had been taken to obtain information on
the journey to London, and it was only after consider-
' ing the Legitimists as culpable in their proceedings
that they had determined to insert thepnier:
They could not undoubtedly say how tho
would look on the matter,
but they had thought it
that the con-
safer to insert the paragraph,
de"Ttog the principles
duct of the Legitimists was oppose
of the revolution of 1 dp.
Legitimist deputy, entered enoatetrhedtiareon anin ex-
aminationth
Chamber, and declared that he considered himself to
A itrog
act correctly and faithfully as far as it was conceived,
if he obeyed Ow laws of the country.

M. Hebert, the Procureur-General, gave some ac-
count of the views of the committee, of which he
formed part, relative to the drawing up of the address.
M. Laroche Javelin spoke of the j inrney to Lon-
don, and then, breaking off, touched on the execution
of Marshal Nvy, which he prcceeded to defend.
The discussion on this subject terminated at half-
past four. The evident feeling of the Chamber was,
that the Legitimists had offered no justification to
warrant the rejection of the paragraph.
M. Thiers was expected to speak.

THE CAUSES OF THE DIFFICUL-
TIES OF THE COUNTRY BRIEFLY AND
PLAINLY STATED.

The country having contracted, chiefly in a paper
money at a high rate of interest, and with corn realiz-
ing in it 103. per bushel, and labour 5s. per day, a
debt of the fearful amount of 800,000,0001., the
Legislature decided, in 1819, that all money and all
past as well as future monetary engagements, should
be declared to mean, or be kept in subordination to
the part of maintaining for, a certain very scarce
article of foreign produce termed " Gold," the "fixed,"
or " standard,' or " monopoly " price of 31.17s. 100.
per ounce.
The effects of this have been :-
1. To increase the fixed burdens and annual taxa-
tion of the country 66 per cent.
2. This increase, taking the said fixed taxation at
50,000,000/., amounts to no less than 33,000,0001., or
a total taxation of 83,000,0001. in paper money.
These positions I thus prove :—
In this country, where there are no gold mines,
corn and labour form the true standard of all value.
This is a truth so universally acknowledged, that it
were almost unnecessary to repeat it. AppIT it to the
case under consideration, and a few minutes calcula-
tion will suffice to show that the following is a correct
account of the different amounts of corn and labour
required under the two currencies to provide for
the said fixed burdens and annual taxation of
50,000,0001.:—
vrio1819. • is 1543.
With corn at 10s. per bushey With corn at 61. per bushel,
100 millions of bushels were 166 millions and upwards of
required,
(bushels are exacted.
UT TO 1819. In 1543.
With labour at is. per day,. With labour at 3e. per day,
200 rnilliops of days were re- 333 millions and upwards of
juired. days are exacted.
Being a clear increase of upwards of 66, instead of
upwards of 66k per cent., both in corn and labour—
the standards of all value. There cannot be any argu-
ment advanced against this position that will bear a
moment's test ; for, the agriculturist must take to
market and sell, and pay over to the tax-collector the
proceeds of ten bushels at 6s., in place of six bushels
at 10s., to discharge the same amount of taxation, and
in like manner must the working man give in the
ratio of twenty days' labour at 3s. instead of twelve
dap at 5s.
this virtual, actual, and appalling in&ease of
33,000,000/. per year in the amount of the taxation
of the country, together with the corresponding in-
crease in the calla of the mortgagee and annuitant
of every other public, as well as private, description,
has thus operated :-
1. Tens of thousands of persons have had their in-
comes so immensely augmented in value, as to be led
to pass their lives in idleness, and in merely con-
suming wealth, who would otherwise have been use-
fully occupied in producing wealth.
2.- Hundreds of thousands of the productive classes
have had to endure both the increased taxation, and
the increased privations, toils, and anxieties neces-
sary to support the system, and, at the same time,
to sustain a competition with the labour of compara-
tively untaxed countries.
This state of things, in due course, wrought a
fearful increase of misery and degradation and crime.
Additional police and gaols, and, with them, addi-
tional rates, became necessary. The productive
classes, finding trade unprofitable and their capital
disappearing, ceased to employ labour. Then came
loud cries of " Reform reform"—" The poor will eat
up the land." The Ministers were indignantly ex-
pelled from office. New ones were chosen.
Disregarding the cause, and essaying to remove
the effect only by an aggravation of the cause, the
new Ministers determined that they would prevent
" the poor eating up the land," by making them work
at whatever price for their labour they could get, or
to be subjected to the alternative of confinement in a
workhouse. _ _ _ .

Not perceiving how both their tenantry and their poor
labourers, and all the other suffering productive classes,
were being wronged ; nor, that it was a widely dif-
ferent class than the poor who were " eating up the
land," the short-sighted landed proprietors assisted
the Ministers to pass their "New Poor-law Bill."
This Bill rendered necessary still more gaols, in ad-
dition to hundreds of huge buildings that very much
resemble them, called " union workhouses," where
married people are separated and kept in idleness.
More and more police, even a " Rural" one, and more
and more criminals, and county and other local rates
followed, as naturally as midnight succeeds the twi-
light. The poor-rates, which in 1741 were 750,0001.,
became, in 1841, 7,500,0001. The taxes, which had
been only 2,000,0001. before a Bank of England mo-
nopoly was permitted, and which were only
20,000,000/. in 1797, were inadequate even at
50.000,0001.
This horrid state of things drove the Whig Minis-
ters from office in 1841, in like manner that the
blighting and strangling effects of the measure of
1819 had been the real cause of the expulsion of tke
Tory Ministers in 1831.
The Conservative Ministers, profiting not by the
lessons of the past, began to enforce even a still
further carrying out of the principles of 1819, by in-
troducing a measure to effect another reduction of the
value of every description of produce (and conse-
quently of labour, too), unless the farmer or manu-
facturer sacrificed the difference, not forgetting also
to add thereto another " touch of taxation."
Scarcely had this taken full effect, than a general
rising took place throughout the populous and labour-
ing districts of the country ; and although this was
suppressed, and kas since been providentially allayed
by the sudden and unexpected rise of a trade with
China, it has been only to give place to another of
still more alarming character. With the value of
their produce reduced to the extent of 30s. per acre,
although all the rent and tithe put together payable
to their landlord and clergy did not previously
amount to 253. per acre, the yeomanry and peasantry of
Ireland and Wales have been so far tempted or driven
to welcome and abet the instigations of sedition, that
the presence of an army of 30,000 men in Ireland,
and of a body of London as well as of rural police in
Wales, have been deemed necessary.
This again entails further expense. To the esta-
blishment of Poor-law Commissioners were subse-
quently added (very probably and naturally needed
too) Bankruptcy Commissioners. 'These are followed
by Commissioners to inquire into the state of the laws
of• landlord and tenant in Ireland, and others to in-
quire into the laws respecting turnpikes in Wales—
commissions, in short, to inquire into every cause but
the cause itself!
From what has been said, it must be pretty appa-
rent that the 33,000,0001. per year, or 825,000,0001. in
25 years, exclusive of interest, forms but a very small
portion of the loss that has accrued to the productive
classes and tax-payers of the country, from the
memorable Bill of 1819.

In another communication I shall endeavour to
show, with the same brevity and plainness, the gene-
ral effects of what I hesitate not to term the present
barbarous and confiscating standard of value, and
Bank Charter; and I entertain no doubt whatever
but I shall succeed in showing, as clearly as I have
now done, the wrong of 825,000,0001., that the entire
loss that they have occasioned the productive classes
and the country generally, cannot be less than
2,000,000,0001.
A CONSERVATIVE WHO THINKS WE MAY PAY TOO
DEAR FOR THE GOLD WHISTLE.
Chelsea, Jan. 15, 1844.

FULFILMENT or A DREAM.—A young man named
John Gray, residing at Cinderford, who for some years
Past, since the death of his father, has been the support of
bes sister and widowed mother, before he went to his
usual work, at the Crump Meadow Coal pits, on Monday
morning last, told his mother that he had dreamed he
was at his work, and that a large stone fell upon him and
killed him ; and though his mother made rather light of
it, it was with reluctance he went to his work, and that
not before he had twice returned to wish her good-by,
for fear his dream Mould come to pass. He then went to
Liu employment, but had not been is the pit many hours
before an immense block of stone, as much as four or
five men could move, fell upon him. On the removal of
the stone his body presented a shocking e, spectacl being
crushed in the most frightful manner, lie lingered
somewhat less than an hour in the mast indescribable
agony, when death released him from his
Coroner's inquest has been held this morning,neerin and vers. -
dict of " Accidental death" returned. Thus
aged
mother been deprived of her only surviving son, al
bad another killed in a similar manner about four having
years
since.—Bath Journal.
STATE OF TIRADE IN NEWCASTLE.—It is gratifying
to know that the duties received at the Newcastle -Cus-
tom-house during the last year have amounted to the
unusually large sum of 494,5241., being an actual in-
crease of 61,737L above the receipt of 1842. Could any
circumstance more strongly proclaim the growing pros-
perity of this important district ? It is also interesting
to learn that the quantity of coal exported in 1843 ex-
ceeded that in 1841 (the year previous to the duty being
levied) by 50,000 tons, the quantity in 1841 being
737,388, and that in 1843 787,379 tons respectively. In
the intermediate year, 1842, the quantity exported
reached to 848,971 tons, but it is right to bear in mind
that during the first six months of that year the demand
was excessive in anticipation of the new duty ; so that
we now fairly hope the depression in our local commerce
has seen its worst, and that the steady improvement
already so visible in the manufacturing districts will be
speedily followed by corresponding effects on the banks
M the Tyne and Wear.—Newcastle Journal.

COURT OF ALDERMEN.
Tuesday a Court was 1,AI for the dispatch of a great
; deal of public business.
The petition of Mr. Samuel Wells against the r2turn
of Messrs. R. Taylor, Obbard, liodgsor, and Gresham, as
Common Councilmen for the ward of Farringdon \ i t h-
out having been sent from the Court of Grand Me ardinote
to the Court of Aldermen, the petitioner was called, and
immediately attended at the bar.
After some conversation amongst the members, the se-
veral cases in which Mr. Wells had petitioned were post-
poned for a fortnight, some of the gentlemen whose re-
turn has been impugned having at the same time ex-
pressed a hope that the Court would endeavour to decide
on that day, and save them the additional expense of
producing counsel and witnesses on subsequent days.
Alderman COPELAND, in bringing up the Report of
the inspectors of weights and measures, said it was with
great satisfaction he called the attention of ,the Court to
the exertions of the inspectors for the last twelve months.
— (Hear.) When the Court considered that the labours
of these two excellent officers were calculated to render
benefit to those who needed protection and assistance
most, in consequence of their limited means, he was sure
it was unnecessary for him to say more to prove the
value of the new appointments.—(Hear, hear.) The
services already rendered in the poor and populous neigh-
bourhoods of the City of London, in every district of
which the inspectors gave evidence of remarkable impar-
tiality as well as vigilance and activity, were most sen-
sibly felt, and he trusted that their unabated zeal and
exertions would further increase the advantages derived
from their appointment.
The report specified that 90 publicans had been, in the
year 1843, summoned and convicted ; that 40 butchers
had been summoned and convicted ; that 10 bakers had
been summoned and convicted ; that 46 coal-dealers and
general shopkeepers had been summoned and convicted ;
that 17 greengrocers, cheesemongers, and tallow-chand-
lers had been summoned and convicted ; that 3 oil and
colourmen had been summoned and convicted ; that 10
greengrocers had been summoned and convicted ; that 4
marine-store owners bad been summoned and convicted ;
that 4 tobacconists had been summoned and convicted ;
that 3 metal dealers had been summoned and convicted;
that 15 provision merchants had been summoned and
convicted ; and that 5 wharfiugers had been summoned
and convicted. The total number of deficient weights
and measures was stated to be 379. The total z umber
of unstamped weights and measures, 1,396 ; the total
number of false balances, 163 ; the total number sum-
moned, 247 ; the total number convicted, 247 ; and the
number appointed to be heard, 30.
The leport, which was signed by Mr. Knott and Mr.
Harvard, the City inspectors, was ordered to be entered
on the journals of the Court.
At a former Court, upon the motion of Alderman
Fairbrother, the sum of 4002 per annum was added to
the salary of Mr. Bullock, to whose high talents and
merits every one in the assembly bore the most ready
testimony.
Alderman Baows at the present Court rose to move
the following resolution :—" That the Court, appreciat-
ing as they do most highly the zeal and abilities of Ed-
ward Bullock, Esq., as manifested in the discharge of
his duties as one of the Commissioners of the Central
Criminal Court, and recognising his first claim to an
increase of salary, deem it to be nevertheless their duty
to rescind their regulation of the 5th of December last,
viz., ' That the sum of 4001. be added to the salary of
Edward Bullock, Esq., in respect of his duties at the
Central Criminal Court,' from a full conviction that his
claim to an additional salary will be duly recognised by
the Court of Common Council, by whom he was elected."
The resolution was agreed to, after some conversa-
tion amongst the members.
The Court of Aldermen has the undoubted power to
vote the addition, but the former resolution was re-
scinded, from respect to the Court of Common Council,
from whom the Learned Gentleman received his appoint-
ment.

Upon the motion of Sir PETER LAURIE, it was re-
solved " That no addition be made by the Court to the
salary of any officer, unless previous notice on the sum-
mons for the Court, stating the addition proposed to be
made to the salary."
Alderman FAREBROTHER rose to move that the elec-
tion of a deputy governor to the gaol of Newgate be
postponed until the duties to be performed by such de-
puty are settled ; and that a committee be appointed
to consider such duties, and to report the same to the
Court. . .

—___
The motion having been seconded,
Alderman Wu.som rose to move, as an amendment,
that the nomination of a deputy-governor be made at the
next Court.

Alderman T. WOOD seconded the amendment.

After considerable discussion,
Alderman BROWN submitted the following, which
Alderman Wilson consented to substitute for that which
he had proposed :—" That the Court do, at its next
meeting, proceed to nominate a fit and proper person to
be by them recommended to the Governor of Newgate,
to be by him appointed as turnkey of the prison, and
afterwards appointed deputy governor thereof, subject to
the approbation of the visiting magistrates."
Alderman Brown's amendment was then carried.

Sir PETER LAURIE moved that so much of the pre-
sentments of the Wardmote Inquests as regards parties
carrying on trades within the city, either by wholesale or
retail, be referred to a Committee of the whole court, to
consider the best course to be adopted thereon ; and to
report. He should not enter upon the important matters
connected with the subject which had excited so much
interest in the City, but he should briefly advert to the
conduct of one of the wards, which had at the grand
wardmote accused the Court of neglect, and maintained
at the same time that the authorities of the ward ad-
mitted there were nearly one hundred persons in it who
refused to take up their freedom, and yet not one of
these individuals had been returned to the Court in the
presentment.—(Hear, hear.)
Alderman COPELAND said he looked upon the subject
of obliging poor retailers to take op their freedoms and
allowing rich wholesale dealers to conduct all kinds of
commercial pursuits without requiring them to perform
the duties of citizens, as a very serious grievance. It was
his determination to have all parties in his ward who
were not free presented, and to ascertain by an appeal to
the law whether merchants and wholesale dealers were
not compellable to be free.
The RECORDER said that retail dealers were proceeded
against under a bye-law, which did not apply to whole-
sale dealers. The point, then, was not whether whole-
sale dealers could not be reached by that bye-law, but
whether the Corporation could not make a bye-law which
would reach them ?—(Hear, hear.)
Alderman HUGHES HUGHES deprecated all argument
upon such a subject in Court at that time. When the
subject was submitted to a Committee, he should take
care to attend it, and give and receive all the informa-
tion that could be collected on a matter which the Court
well knew very particularly interested him.
The motion was then agreed to.
Alderman WILSON presented a petition from the In-
quest of Castle Baynard Ward, calling attention to the
state of Puddle Dock.

—
The petition was referred to the City Solicitor.—Ad•
journed.

COURT OF SEWERS.

A special meeting of the Court of Sewers for the City
and Liberty of Westminster, and parts of the county of
Middlesex, was held on Tuesday at the offices of the Court
in Greek-street, Soho, for the purpose of proceeding
with the examination of applicants for the contemplated
appointments of new Assistant-Surveyor and Fourth
Clerk of the Works, and other business.
Mr. WILLOUGHBY took the chair at twelve o'clock,
and the examination of the different applicants for the
office of the new Assistant•Surveyor (of which there
were no less than 32) having been concluded, it appeared
that the Court had selected only six gentlemen out of
that number to be put in nomination as candidates at a
future day It was afterwards proposed, and after some
little discussion carried, that only three of that number
should be put in nomination, and that the election should
take place the first Court day after Friday. next. Every
Commissioner present, with the exception of Mr. Leslie
(who protested against the whole proceeding), having
sent in to the Chairman the names of the three gentlemen
they thought most efficient to fill the office,
The CHAIRMAN announced that the choice of the
Court bad fallen upon Mr. Fowle, Mr. Hawkins, and
Mr. Hughes, to stand as candidates for the office of the
new Assistant Surveyor.
These gentlemen were then called in, and informed of
the decision of the Court ; as were also the other three
gentlemen who had been omitted; the latter of whom with-
drew, after a high eulogium had been passed upon them
by the Chairman for the talent they had displayed in the
answers given by them to the questions put by the Court.
The Court then proceeded to examine the candidates,
and their testimonials, for the office of Fourth Clerk of
the Works. Six individuals applied for this office, and
out of that number only one—a person named Phillips—
proved himself at all competent to fill the office. After
some discussion as to whether another advertisement
should be put in the papers calling for further applica-
tions, it was determined that that step should not be
adopted. Mr. Phillips was then called in, and received
no doubt, to him, the gratifying intelligence of the pro-
bability of the Court electing him to the office on the
next court-day after Friday next. It was then inti-
mated to him that he must attend on that day, but the
Court, doubtless thinking it unnecessary, issued no sum-
mons, warrant, or decree, for the purpose of compelling
him to do so. _

The CHAIRMAN having officially announced that the
election would take place on the first Court day after
Friday next,
Mr. LESLIE suggested that it would be but decent
that the election should not take place till the Court had
decided upon his motion, the effect of which was, that
neither of these officers should be appointed.
The CHAIRMAN said that the Court could not specu-
late upon the result of a motion to be proposed by any
Honourable Commissioner. He then called upon Mr.
Leslie to proceed with the motion of which he had given
notice, with respect to the appointment of Chairman.
Mr. LESLIE then, in an able and unanswerable speech,
which we are unable to give at any length in consequence
of the lateness of the hour at which it was brought for-
ward, and the bad arrangements of the Court to dispel
artificially the declining light of day, brought forward
his motion for the repeal of the 17th Bye-law, under
wlithiachlostshetoykenleeowtedunr ut
adechwaihrmataanahnonriutay they madelly.Hew suchtot a
totally
election. The Court was constituted under the authority
aci gn Theun d e Corfo
justice,
a Court,
bye-
law, in
of the statute of Henry the Eighth, bat that statute gave
ethleecmcinngo
aauchttimrtyan annually,toelecta chairman.as
w
which was at variance with the principlest
law, and common sense. The statutes of Henry the
Eighth and Elizabeth had been found defective, and to
remedy those defects the Act of the 3d and 4th of Wil-
liam the Fourth, chap. 22, had been passed ; and that
Act had been further improved by an Act passed in the
present reign. Now, what did the Act of the 3d and
4th of William the Fourth provide ? Why, that the
chairman should be elected daily. He knew bow. be
should be Wet on this point, and that WO by staling

that that Act did not apply to that Court ; he mserted
fearlessly that it did, after having lia:1 conversation6 with
some of the most eminent legal men of the present day.
It Wai true they had the opinions of Sir Y; m. Horne and
Sir J. CAmpbell, when Attorney and Solicitor-Generals,
that i6 did not atiect them ; but it must be remembered
that ;hose opinions were founded on cases got up
by some of the mysterious proceedings which had
for years surrounded that Court, and which he
wished to put :an end to. It was not his
desire to hold any threats over the Court ; all
that he was anxious for was the public interest, and
the public good ; they all sat as Commissioners there
for that purpose, and that alone, and nothing on earth
should induce him to swerve from the line he had
chalked out for himself, which was to make the Court
as serviceable as possible to the public. As he had said
before, he wished to hold out no threats, but if his pre-
sent motion was negatived it was his determination to-
morrow to direct his solicitor (of course at his own ex-
pense), to apply to the Court of Queen's Bench, that the
order made by that Court (the Sewers) should be en-
tered on the files of the Court of Queen's Bench. The
Hon. Commissioner concluded by moving that the 17th
Bye-law should be rescinded, as contrary to the Statute
of Sewers, particularly the 3d and 4th of William IV.
Some considerable discussion then took place, in which
Mr. White, the Chairman, and several other Commis-
sioners, joined, which ended in a show of hands being
taken, when there appeared—
For Mr. Leslie's motion 6
Against it 8
Majority against Mr. Leslie's motion —2
Mr. LESLIE submitted that two Commissioners pre-
sent not having voted there was no legal majority against
his motion ; but the worthy Commissioner's observations
were totally unheeded amid the noise of the Commis-
sioners leaving the Court, no doubt anxious to get home,
fearing their dinners might be cold.
The Court adjourned at half-past six o'clock.

THE STATE OF THE STREETS.
On Tuesday the foreman of Mr. Gore, the contractor
for cleansing the streets of the city of London, appeared
on a summons before the Commissioners of Sewers, at
Guildhall, to answer the complaint of police constable
Davies, No. 431, for not cleansing Mansion-house-street.
The patentee of the new sweeping machines was in at-
tendance, and, upon being called in, he was at great
length questioned by the Court as to the efficiency of the
machines, which he declared to be most admirably
adapted to the cleansing of the streets, provided the men
who had them under their control worked them properly.
It was, however, to be regretted that the men considered
them an innovation, and did all to impede their utility.
In proof of their excellency, the patentee referred the
Court to the satisfaction which the machines gave to the
inhabitants of Regent-street. There no dirt was to be
found, and the same result would be produced in the
City, if the men in the employ of the contractor did
their duty.
The foreman of Mr. Gore was then called in, and in
answer to some of the members of the Court, he said
that Mr. Gore was confined to his bed, and unable to
attend.
Mr. Deputy Westwood, the- Chairman, wished to
know whether the new machines were suitable to the
streets of the city ?
The foreman replied that they were not : they were
a complete failure. In fact, no contractor, however
anxious he might be to keep the streets free from mud,
could do it while using the machines. The construction
of the machines was such, that they spill as much mud as
they take up ; for instance, if one of them is employed
in Cornhill, and is there loaded, by the time it arrives at
Puddle-dock it is found not to be more than one-fourth
full. The vibration is so great that the mud is shaken
out ; besides, the brushes are not adapted for the streets.
A Commissioner—You do not put good horses into
them. The foreman—The horses are excellent when
first put in, but from their constru.tion and weight they
are sufficient to kill any horse. The machines them-
selves weigh nearly two tots, and that is too much for
the h.,rses.

A Commissioner—How many horses have been killed
since you have used the machines ? The foreman—
Only two.
A Commissioner—The horses which you use are re-
duced to skin and bone, and how is it to be expected that
they can draw the machines ? The foreman—The
horses, when first used, are as good cattle as can be seen.
The Chairman—The contractor, it is stated, has left
off the use of the machines ; is that the case ? The
foreman—Yes ; they are found to be totally unfit for the
work ; and on Monday 40 men were put on ; and if the
state of the streets required, his employer was made to
put on 50 more. Mr. Gore pays the patentee 1,600/. a
year for their use, besides keeping them in repair.
A Commissioner—Is it your opinion that the men will
keep the streets cleaner than the machines ? The fore-
man—Yes ; there is nothing better than manual labour.
The Court at some length discussed the merits of the
two systems, when it was agreed to adjourn giving an
opinion for a week, for the purpose of enabling the Com-
missioners to have practical proof of de effect of manual
labour in opposition to machinery.