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\ "During the 18 th century , -members of both courts were ^ eligible to corporate offices and employments in the gift of the corporation , and such offices-and employments were held by them to a large amount . 41 In the 19 th century none of these offices can be held by a member of either court ; by standing orders of the Common Council every office is closed against every member , and ? very employment * nd every contract is closed . against , not only every member , but his partners also . The self-denying regulations of the Court of Common Council in this respect have perhaps extended beyond those of any other popular assembly , for they render all its members ineligible for office unless they have for three months before the election ceased to toe members : of the conrfc . The sons' of members of the court are likewise rendered ineligible for office by * recent resolution .
* ' During the 18 th century bankrupts and insolvents might remain corporators ; the Court of Aldermen "thence became & very mixed body . ^ Bankers and bankrupts remained seated together , the vicissitudes of commerce that swept the merchant from his place left the magistrate m his seat , and many men continued to retain office long after the power to discharge its duties had ceased . •' In the 19 th century this anomalous state of circumstances no longer exists . The Lord Mayor , Alclernien , and Commons obtained au act of Parliament , by which not only were the seats of corporators vacated by bankruptcy and insolvency , but absence from duty for six months worked a forfeiture of office .
In the 18 th century , and even at the commencement of the 29 th , the corporation , with an income of 8 O , O 0 ( U a-year , remunerated their four standing committees with cash allowances to the annual amount of 1 , 100 ? . and tavern expenses ad libitum , amounting , upon an average of seven years , to upwards of 4 , 000 / . per annum . " But in the 19 th century , by a series of resolutions , the same four committees , administering a revenue of 210 , 000 / . a-year , discbarge their , duties without any money allowance , and with tavern-bills restricted to 120 QI . a-year among them all .
. '" La . the 18 th century it -appears to have been the policy of the corporation to avoid publicity in the conduct of its affairs . The Common ' Council frequently , and the Court of Aldermen and Commissioners of Sewers constantly , deliberated with closed doors . They did not publish accounts or minutes ,-and gacve no facilities for the reporters of the public press . " In the . 19 th century a totally opposite policy prevails . The corporation publish their animal accounts , the minutes of their proceedings , and the reports of their committees , and to insure-a full attendance , and a knowledge of the voting of each member , ljsts of members present at the courts , and the names on divisions , are printed in the minutes . The
Court of Aldermen and the Commissioners of Sewers , as well as the Common Council , hold their meetings in public , they give every encouragement in their power to promote the publication of their proceedings , and afford the most ample and convenient accommodation to the reporters of the public press . " In conclusion they say : — "Reviewing , however , all that has been alleged before this Commission against the corporation , and the absence of all imputation of moral turpitude , or personal corruption against any of its present members , And impressed with the contrast above drawn between the-administration of its affairs in the late aud the present centuries , -we thope and believe that much of the obloquy to which our body has been exposed is attributable to the tradition of ancient abuses , for which th « present generation are . not responsible , and to the errors of our
predecessors , which it has been our constant endeavour to correct . Under this belief , and strong in conscious rectitude of purpose in the performance of our duties , the corporation has courted inquiry , and relies with confidence on the result ; they believe it will relieve them from a load of undeserved and unjust reproach . Having'nothing to conceal , and acknowledging the weighty trusts reposed in them , the corporation and all its members appeal from prejudice and uninformed abuse to the impartiality' and judicial wisdom of this tribunal , and while they seek the means of improved and more effective action in extending the basis of popular confidence on which alone then : institutions can safely stand , they challenge the severest scrutiny , and contending for the maintenance of then * just righis , they trust to the truth for then : vindication . "
The examination of Mr . B . Scott , late cliief clerk in the Chamberlain ' s office , followed the reading of this document . Mr . Scott said that there is no foundation for the assertion tliat the accounts are uniatelligibly kept ; he also asserted that they are duly audited . Mr . Scott was examined as to tbe Citizen newspaper . He said he advanced 250 / . out of his own pocket to sustain that journal , so that the Consolidated Committee might adopt it as their organ if tjaey ^ chose . He was repaid out of the funds of the corporation and the sum set down under the head
" Miscellaneous Estimates . " He was then asked questions respecting confidential expenditure : — " Has there been any expenditure in Parliamentary matters or in any other things oy the city , except the transaction to which you have referred , which may be called of a confidential nature , and of which . a full account has not been given?—I am not aware of any sums of money respecting which a perfect knowledge has not existed in the minds of thos 6 who administered the funds , although the mattter may have been sufficiently confidential to bo referred to a subcommittee of a few persons , iustead of to a largo number .
•* Is there any system of expending money for what you call ' private and confidential' purposes of which no detailed account is rendered ?—There aio very many entries in the accounts of which , the totals are given ; but the details are not rendered . The details of Parliamentary expenditure could not bo given . " Is that because there is anything in that expenditure which requires to bo kept accret?—It is not desirable in ¦ mattera of that kind to publuh to (/> worid the precise nature of the wnpenditure .
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SOCIAL . REFOKM IN SCOTLAND . A good work lias begun in Scotland . A meeting was held on Tuesday , in the Hopetoun-roomg , Edinburgh , for the purpose of promoting the improvement of the dwellings , and by this means the social condition , of agricultural labourers . Hjb Grace the Duke oxBuccleuchwas voted to the chair , on the motion of his Grace the Duke of Hamilton . Among the gentlemen present were Xord Kin tore , Lord Morton , Sir A . Hay , Sir Ralph Anstruther , General Lindsay , Sir J . Ogilvy , Sir J . S . Forbes , Sir Archibald I . Cuinpbell , Sir J . D . Elphfcnstone , Sir Ilobert Arbuthnot , the I > ean of Faculty , Mr . Campbell Swinton , Professor Alison , Mr , Balfour ( of Whft-
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" Why not ?—It has been so considered . " Why has it been so considered ?—Because iHs thought , probably , that the opposition would be more « fiectual by mot publishing to the world the precise me&PA by whicb the- bill is opposed or public opinion elicited . " In his evidence , on Thursday , Mr . Scott Admitted a further secret expenditure—that of 27502 . to oppose the removal of Stnitbfieid-msrket . ft had beea expended in getting up petitions , and furnishing the Remembrancerwith literary assistance .
The Town-clerk , Mr . Merewether , waB examined ; but his evidence , except as relates to the charters , is without interest . Tliere are 120 charters in his keeping . He had copies of them for the Commissioners . The substance of all of them "had been printed . He thought the corporation justified in shutting its muniment room against persons Jn litigation with it . The Chairman—Do you not think that the fact « f a great corporationjike the city , with a long purse at its command , acting in such a manner , is likely to operate oppressively towards private individuals who contend against them?—My own individual opinion WonJd be , that there is no crest in thatIf called
hardship . I were -upon to advise a person , or even a corporation , under such circumstances , I ' should say , " Keep your charters to yourself . " Sir J . Patteson—I understand you to Bay , that if any person brings an action -against the city , you would say that there were reasons why the city should not show its charters ; but , supposing that the corporation themselves brought an action against a private person , as they have done in the case of Messrs . Combe and Delafield , and the -defendants asked to see the charters upon which the action proceeded , would you regard the two cases as similar?—There would ; only be -a difference in morality , or feeling , or *« raity ; buti in law I see none . : The Chairman—If , in reality , the substance of those charters is , as you say , published and known to aE the world , what reason can there be for the city preventing any person
from seeing them ?—I really imagine that that resolves itself into a pure question of law and legal proceeding . I think that there is no reason ; but whether there is or not must depend upon the progress of the cause and the circumstances dependent upon it . I am confident , however , tiat no step of that -land has been taken without the impartial-and un-j prejudiced advice and opinion of the first lawyers of thei land taken as in the progress of the suit . __ Does the present state of the charters give rise to -considerable doubt and litigation?—I am not aware of it ; "but I cannot conceive anything more easy than to raise a doubt upon every charter that was ever granted . The moment they are exposed to investigation the imperfections of the language , toe alteration of tbe circumstances of the times since they were granted , and other matters , would lay any charter open at least to argument and discussion .
You are , no- doubt , aware of the 'course taken by the "Legislature in the Municipal Reform Bill with regard to -the charters of other corporations ?—Yes ; I would almost rather not express any-opinion unon that subject . T-lobk upon'it as one of the most unconstitutional acts that w * as ever done in this country . In point of fact , the other corporations now bold what rights they have under statute , and not tinder charter , tb they not?—I do not think that I could agree exactly to that proposition . My opinion is , that that act Tepeaht all charters < so far as they are inconsistent -with that act , mid no urther .
Mr . Lewis—How many charters are there $ » 'flre books which you produce?—The total number of charters , I think , is l 20 , which includes the whole series , from the -charter of William the Conqueror down to the present time . How many of those 120 are in print in a form accessible to the public ?—The greater portion of them . How many?—There are 49 in Norton ' s boob , which are all the substantial charters . I believe that th « re are none which are important which are aot printed . Ail application was made to the Court of Common Council some years ago by Mr . Pulling , who has written a book containing a good deal of information , certainly ,. but which is not oprte accurate , for leaveto publish all the city charters . In -the enfi the Court decided not to concette his application , Observing that , in their opinion , if the charters wer * published at all it should be by one of then * own officers .
Do you think that any evil would " ¦ arise from , fheir publication ? Is there anything which appears to you to be objectionable in it?—I have no ^ ldea of any thing objectionable in it . I should think if ttfey were published and proclaimed at Charing-cross that'they would do no injury to anybody . In giving this opinion , I speak divested of my official capacity . A great many of the charters of London are confirmed by act of Parliament , and there are very 'many charters in the Tower which , of course , are in ao way in my custody .
In describing the duties of vthe Lord Mayor , Mr . Merewether said they were very onerous ; in fact , there were instances of Lord Mayors sinking under them . ' ^
Social. Reform "En Scotlia^Nd »-≫V/V^.* V W Ik «A. « W*X^»_L
a"S ltothiMi * ften * »<»« i » ffiiS j ^ . ^^ i S ^^ saLrK-ss S ^ T &'TS&rSfi ^ A-. SaB a person coming in such a position , audlwith such a ptrrtwie ought at least to come with clean lianas . I confera-for-uW own parfr-and I am ashamed to say it—that I beHere I can show as bad specimens of cottages—for I hate been into
them and have seen them—I believe , also , in some cases , « s bad specimens of bothies—as can be Found in any part « f Scotland . I say that to my shame . How , I know there is great difference of opinion generally with regard to toow a remedy for this state of things is to be effected . In some parts of the country there is a custom—which I think a very vicious custom , and a very wrong custom—viz of letting every cottage on the estate with the farm on whkh it is situated . These .. are not only « ottases which aai&ixecpured for the farm servants living en the farm and engaged in the ordinary occupation of the farm , persons to whom a free house is . given as a . part « nd parcel of the payment of their wages , but they are . given to person * who labour not xiiac
upon one particular farm , or another partiealar farm , but who labour in different parts * of 4 he country . I know what has beenvthecaae upon myxwn . estate . On one part of it there wen three slinky jshaps , two dignified by the name of inns , * od * the * tb « r . a ^ roe « stop . Now , surely at was aot nectBsmry that these shmild be Jet with the farm . How , tfae-prmctioe which £ & £ re ( adopted , following the practice / which . I tarorfonnd to / ke universal in England , is that of taking * verystagfe rattagQ aw _ ayirom the farm altogether , except iibose that : itfaSr opinion are necessary for the due cultivation of tthefiuoi . ( Cheers . ) But I know that there iss ^ ceatideal'oficUnlbidty about that ; and I know that there is-atgreat dtstnfaliaatfeti
toadoptit . The proprietors willdislikeitatfirst , foritunU give them a great deal of trouble . TJwy will fin&tlnt ttofo cottages when-let ^ upoa the farm ai »> nipposed to be kep £$ n repair by the persons engaged on the tann ; yetuny •» - rienceJs that they-ufo > not kept inrepatr—iodeed , iti **» ry well known that nothing but a minimum of repair is ^ var put upon them . These tpersons June ;» o feeling fertile owners of the soil , though they Jive uponit . Andtbajimwv that too often the proprietor lhas the same want of fteltn £ towards them . The proprietors say , * We know nothing *« f y « u—^ you are sub-teuanU ^ ' -and the . tenants say , - * % ?© > ave nothing to do with you > - ^ yoti axe not our . masters . ' The moment these cottages come . into the ncoDrietoiSs Jianfe .
iiere willbea demand lor repurs ; . « nd no wonder . HiuA hft& ^ happened to me . There is ; a demand ( for repaksinxBie lately . I have examined a great many of tfaese ; cottag « 3 myself , and Ifound « ne of them not 'fit to i » iBaai ; 4 tTWte impossible to patch it up When I took the ^ partxes outtif the house , I ^ ot the box-bed removed , and down came , the roof . ( Hear , near . ) Now , this is a specimen of a great 43 uany cases ; and we must not blink , the question . If any gentleman will take the trouble oT going into the cottages of Scotland , they will £ nd these things : jiot veryTmeonimon . "We must consider the effect tliie has . on * h&moral ? e « W-€ ifion of our peasantry . Many off them 4 w » y « y hjghW educated , and some of them have considerable natural T « nn © tnent of mind . But reall y when a man has that feelujc of refinement , and Is well « oucated .. if lie lives Sn ahonse thtft
« ny -person miglrt hesitate tt > put hisjpgs in , yon canudt esrr ject that be oan be otherwise than ^( SscontentediTita his lot . He will lie a discontsnted man , mstcad of ^ emg fea » py « nd contented . Then , - with regard to the moral c 6 HQU « t-6 f' our people ; how can you expect morsKt ^ rtoibe at 4 ihat' 6 taiida ( fl « t which we boast ib to be , and of which 1 at ta-dutanoeimm « lways willing to boast , though Reeling that it is ma empty "boast , with this state ofjuatters ? For I fear I cannot say that our morality is dmjproved . I wish w © were making a . step in advance—^ but now can it be so ? 1 am-not speaking thus df things which do not come un'der my own observation . I appeal to any landlord , facto ? , 4 > x tenant , if'what I am stating is trot the case . How : ca 3 i you expect that where men , ^ wornen , anil children « n tiB
huddled together in one apartment , or in two apartments , it should be otherwise than that all self-respect is lost , and that delicacy oi feeling is destroyed . J have : beanrto&l «» by the people themselves . I havxfiiesrd it from tbenualves . Then I know that there is great disinclination also on tb * part of many of the tenantry to what I have been referring they don't luce it : and they say , We have no command « v « r our labourers if they are not entirely under our control ; we must have them occupying cottages in our own bands 4 Uid under our own control , or else we can have no authority over them . That is all very well ; it is very well where rthvf apply to household servants for their own farms , offlccs , « ntt cattle , and things of that sort . But it does not st all folhnr that it is absolutely necessary that the same thing < ahoatld apply to agricultural labourers . ( Applause . ) Jt ts * a' * MPy great advantage to . an agricultural labourer to tw ^ aAflettO
carry his labour to the best market , and not i to be PMUd down to work for < tny one man . In Bome cases I ^ Jmo wothtt they are treated with the ; greatest lrindness ^ in'ofbemttliirf are . treated with anything but kiminess . ThiiyajMajiiini cases where the sane labourers neU ^^^ & ^^ fff ^ lSSSMait many years togother . On othad ^^ s ^ kMMi | £ M the labourer chang . s every y ^ MaW w And that is another of I li n iliflfeujSprfffltti rfifpfit UfMi toad with . But the remedy fomt ^ m b ^ w ^^ rttfiM , viz ., let , the i | i lull llj ^ y ijtfi iill Tl ^ liiji ^ l > ij > r ? lll l their own handa ; and the pcnraWMgyf ^^^ t ^ a ^ fcpiit from such a course ore tho ^ || a ^^ he- «^«^ ptt I believo the true object and \ inm ]^ tol t ^' iiuWr 4 * b « the expense . That , . however , 1 ^!^^ desjto oO «» j | Wercome , aa every other difficulty h o ^^^^ PMnii ^ f » W «« had money advanced -for dnun ^ geSbaa imany ouer ' uuup ) I Tiopo Bomo motdo oT extending the same system to * Ebo
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jA ^ tJARY 14 , 1854 . ] THE LEADER . 27
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Leader (1850-1860), Jan. 14, 1854, page 27, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2021/page/3/
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