The Sun.
London, England, 1842-01-19 00:00:00

COURT OF ALDERMEN.

Yesterday a Court of Aldermen was held for the des-
patch of business.
The Court affixed the seal to the presentation by the
Governors of St. Bartholomew Hospital, of the living of
Christ Church, Newgate-street, and St. Leonard's,Finch-
lane, upon the Rev. Michael Gibbs, M.A., Fellow of
Caius College, Cambridge.

THE VACANCY OF THE BENCH•IN THE SHERIFF COURT.

Mr. R. Taylor, Mr. Hardwick, Mr. Wood, and Mr.
Wire, a deputation from the Secondaries' Committee, at-
tended the Court on the subject of the vacancy occa-
sioned by the death of Sergeant Arabin. The Com-
mittee had it in view to make such arrangements with
respect to the filling up of that situation, as might be
considered to be conducive to the interest of the citizen,
and a better opportunity could be taken than that which
at the present moment offered itself. A Report had been
drawn up by the City Solicitor, and the Committee was
desirous of having a conference with the Court, or a
Committee of Aldermen, to ~,ascertain to what extent
they might agree in the suggestion contained in that
document. _ _

The RECORDER said that the document was one of
much importance, and involved matters of law and of
fact requiring grave consideration. He was desirous
that it might be read and referred, if the Court should
think proper to make the reference.
Mr. R. TAYLOR read the resolution of the Secondaries'
Committee, which related to the suggested alterations
and improvements, one of which was the holding of a
weekly session for the trial of juvenile offenders.
Here a conversation took place on the question of
reading the Report. The Recorder pressed the Court
to adopt speedy means to up the vacant situation, in-
asmuch as the public, and especially the Judges, were
likely to suffer serious incbnvenience from delay. There
were points in the Report which he thought could not
be touched by the Court of Aldermen, and the suggested
weekly session was one ,of them. That was a matter
over which :the Commissioners of the Central Criminal
Court alone had authority.
Alderman FAREBROTHER thought it would be ad-
visable to refer the Report to the law officers of the Cor-
poration, with directions to take into consideration every
part of it. They could decide whether it might be neces-
sary to hold a consultation with the Judges of the land
on the subject. Perhaps, if a weekly session were held,
the Aldermen might be deprived of the power of sitting
as Commissioners altogether.
Sir PETER LAURIE said that he and Mr. Clark, the
clerk of the arraign, had waited upon the Secretary of
State some time ago, and were informed by that Minis-
ter that without an Act of Parliament a weekly session
could not be held.

Alderman GIBBS recommended the reference of the
Report to a:Committee of the whole Court at once.
Alderman COPELAND was not aware that any great
evil could arise from such a delay in filling up the va-
cancy, as might enable the Corporation to fill it up well.
The City Solicitor's Report was finally referred to a
Committee of the whole Court, with the understanding
that the deputation would subsequently confer with
them on the various matters embraced in it.

THE CONDUCT OF BROKERS AND PRETENDED BROKERS.

Alderman COPELAND called the attention of the
Court to a subject which was daily becoming of greater
and greater importance. It would be a matter of no
difficulty to him to prove that the most injurious abuses
were practised by persons not qualified to act as
brokers, but constantly acting as such. It was time
to look actively after the responsibility of those who
acted in such an important capacity. The Corporation
took about 4,000/. a year in the shape of rent from the
brokers of the City, and the Corporation were bound to
see that in every instance security was given for the pro-
tection of the merchant. Now the system as regarded
the government of brokers was so loose, that the mer.
chants were greatly dissatisfied with it, and the fact was,
that the Court must either give up the privilege they
possessed, or insist upon receiving proper securities in
order to maintain a check upon a very formidable dan-
ger.—(Hear.) He felt convinced that applications would
be made to the Legislature on the subject, if the Court,
which possessed the power, declingd to exercise it. Under
all the circumstances, he should move that the laws re-
lating to the brokers of the City of London be referred
to a:Select Committee, with instructions to report thereon.
Alderman WILSON seconded the motion. He bad
worked for several years with Alderman Copeland to
improve the system, and most heartily would co-operate
to effect so great a public advantage as was suggested.
The case in which widows and orphans suffered by the
villainous conduct of brokers in making transfers of stock
were innumerable, and the securities were always found
to be of no avail. The late City Solicitor had in some
instances prosecuted, and so had the present, but prose-
cutions were found to be inadequate protection.
The motion was unanimously agreed to.

THE THIEVES INFESTING WHARVES IN THE CITY

The ward of Dowgate made a presentment to the effect
that a very serious nuisance arose from the multitude of
thieves who attended one of the wharfs on the Thames,
and suggested the propriety of removing the nuisance as
speedily as possible through the means of the police.
Alderman HUMPHERY said that the owners of wharfs
at which steamers landed profited immensely by the
traffic, and were bound to protect the public against the
thieves by employing officers of their own.—(Hear, hear.)
Alderman COPELAND was quite of the same opinion.
The petition was refered to the Police Committee.
REGULATIONS FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE CITY