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Leader (1850-1860), 21st January 1854, Edition 1 of 1, Page 56, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      CITY MATTKBa The witnesses examined during the current week before the City Commission have t > een all officers of the Corporation ; namely , Mr . Merewether , Town Clerk ; Mr . Tyrrell , Bemembraneer ; Mr . Stuart Wortley , Kecorder ; Mr . Charles Pearson , City Solicitor , &c . Generally speaking their evidence is not of general interest . Mr . Merewether put in an accurate list of charters , and the sums paid for them to the Kings of England . IJpth he and Mr . Wortley condemned the course taken by the Crown in the suit regarding the bed and soil of the river ; and averred that , instead of calling on the Corporation to prove their right , the Crown should have proceeded to establish its right by a writ of intrusion . They implied that access to the charter was refused on that ground .

      " Had the Crown , * ' said Mr . Merewether , " began in the ordinary way with a writ of intrusion , the city would have afforded every information and have willingly given every facility for trying the question ; but they do object to the new mode : of proceeding ; adopted by the Crown , and the extraordinary allegation with which it sets oat . The claim on the part of the Grown to the soil between high and low water markis , 'I believe , a perfectly new one- —Was it not raised in the 8 th . Charles I ., witn respect to some premises at Wapping?—Yes ; but that was not a general claim , like this , but a claim to the soil of a particular spot . —Was the decision in that case in favour of the Crown ?—I am not aware ; bat even if itr were , I am prepared to contend that that was a wrong decision . —la there any charter conveying the right to the soil and bed of the river to the corporation . —No ; there is no charter . " . ! stood

      Bllr ^^ y rrejl -frery stanchly hy the privileges of the city against legislation : Wnataro the maxima which the city follow in deciding to oppose-either ^ ublic or private bills?—The general principle would'be to oppose any bill which proposed to take fromthem what they possess . * ' Do ^ not they go a good deal further than that?—I thick not . - * , .... ¦ :- ..-. - ¦ . ¦ ¦ . Would they not oppose a bill , for instance , which made an-alteration in any custom of London wbich was not in the

      nature of a . possession?— -Not unless they thought that th Mpea £ j ( £ that custom would be injurious to the inhabitants 01 U > e city of London . , .. Take , for example , any bill that interfered with the custom of ^ foreign attachment ? - —I think they would oppose that , and that they would do so with justice . It is a very valuable ^ law for the citizens of London , and it is one which many of the merchants and bankers . would be very sorry to m abolished , j . , > * Are not the corporation in the habit of procuring the insertion of clauses exempting them from the operation of general acts of Parliament?—I believe that the cases in which they have done so are very few .

      During ten years the city had only procured exemptioafrom five acts ; and of two of these because they'had already more Btringent powers . " " The charge , therefore , that the city procures exemption from Weliy general aict is , wholly without foundation . Clauses have ^ been inserted in railway acts , arid dock acts , 8 avipg therights ' andprivileges of the city / What the corploi&tiqri lias done has been to endeavour to preserve to themselves those things of -which , with advantage to the public , th « y have had the management for a great number of years ; and there is no desire on the part of the city for separate or exceptional legislation . I assert that positively from my knowledge of the corporation and of the proceedings of the Court of Aldermen . " Mr . Pearson's evidence was mainly technical and historical .

      Several other city officials were examined on Thursday . Among them was Sir Johu Key , the Chamberlain . He denied that his election had cost liim 700 ©/ ., as had been stated . The cost was 50 O 0 / . He combated the idea that his office was a sinecure . He was employed from ten till fire , and frequently later . There had been no subscription among the aldermen to defray the expenses of his election .

      Untitled Article

      BEMOVAL OF THE COURTS FROM WESTMINSTER . It is probable that in a few years Westminster Hall will cease to be the British Forum . The Lord Chancellor has sanctioned the projected removal of the Courts to the neighbourhood of Chancery-lane ; and on Monday a deputation waited on Lord Aberdeen to submit a grand plan for the building of new courts . They were commissioned to wait on the Prime Minister by the Incorporated Law Society , and consisted pf its President , Mr . Kinderley , its Vice-President , Mr . Sudlow , and three other gentlemen . Their statement of what they want done , and why they want it done , is of substantial interest . " The insufficiency of the present courts had long been felt by the public and the members of the legal profession . There were now at Westminster Hall only five rooms of moderate size and two smaller on «« whilst not less than fifteen or sixteen wer « requisite , including courts for the Lords Justices , the Master of the Holla , and the new Vice-Chancellors , with several Courts of Nisi Prius and Appeal . The application winch the deputation had now to make was not merely for the removal of the present courts , which were ill-constructed and without sufficient accommodation for the judges the bar , or for jurors , witnesses , suitors , and attorneys ; but [ for the construction of not lcea than eight new

      courts , with convenient rooms and offices . The courts at Westminster were a mile and a half distant from the centre of . law business , the daily resort of professional men , as well as ' of a large proportion of the public . The aggregate of expense and loss arising from these hindrances in the way of justice and of the general business of the law showed that the erection of new conrts in what might properly be termed the * Law district' would be a measure of public economy , besides being calculated to lea < i to increased facilities and expedition in the practice of the courts far beyond what could be hoped for under existing circumstances . The deputation submitted that there were no adequate courts for the equity judges recently appointed , that the Queen ' s Bench did not afford to the suitors and their "witnessses

      snfficient space , to the attorneys convenient access to counsel , or to the public that accommodation which it was essential to the administration of justice they should possess ; that the Common Pleas had no soluble court for tho trial of causes during term ; that the practice court of the Queen ' s Bench and the inner court of Exchequer are used for trials at nisi prius , but are much too small ; that consultations involving important interests are frequently held in the passag _ e and avenues of the courts ; tliat the only places of waiting for jurymen , witnesses , and parties in attendance are the great hall and the passages of the courts ; that attorneys are obliged to Lire rooms for tlieir witnesses at the neighbouring coffee-houses , or to walk about the hall without a

      seat or the means of refreshment ; that the attorneys have no room to which they can retire to prepare any document requisite at'the moment , or to answer letters , and that in numerous instances daily appointments before the common law judges at chambers and before the masters and registrars in Chancery , and other engagements of an urgent nature , are rendered ineffectual through the absence of professional men , who , at the very moment , were probably waiting unoccupied at Westminster . The proposed site for the new courts was between the Temple ' and Lincoln ' s-inn , in the centre of the metropolis and of the law district . It would consist of a quadrangle about 700 feet by 480 , in the centre of which the new courts and offices would be erected . The

      effect of clearing away the laces and alleys within that area would be to widen the Strand and Fleet-street by 100 feet , Carey-street by 60 feet , and to unite them with the new street into the city of London from the Record-office nov / tn course of erection on the Rolls' estate in Chancery-lane . The estimated cost of the building and site was , l , 197 , 074 A , viz ., the cost of th « site ( about eigbt acres ) , 675 , 074 / . ; banding for Common Law and Equity courts , 300 , 000 / . ; approaches , foundations , sewerage , warming , ventilating , gas , furniture , fittings , decorations , &c ., 180 , 000 / . ; contingent and

      incidental charges , 42 , 000 / . From this there was to be deducted 523 , 500 / . for the vajue of ground rent for chambers on the proposed site ; for the sale of the various offices of the Masters record and writ clerks , registrars , accountantgeneral , value of the present s ; le at Westminster , and of the Roll-offices , & « ., leaving the ultimate cost of the site and building 673 , 574 / . It was also urged that a favourable opportunity had now occurred for clearing the site of the present insufficient courts , and appropriating it to the completion and improvement of the Houses of Parliament . "

      Lord Aberdeen observed that the proposed undertaking was entitled to favourable consideration , not only on account of the inconvenience and insufficiency of the present courts , but also on account of the great ,. publip . . improvement which would be effected by their removal to the neighbourhood of the Inns of Court . He had already communicated with the Lord Chancellor on the subject , and the proposition had met with the noble and learned lord ' s sanction . The undertaking , however , was one of such great magnitude and public importance , that it would require much consideration , more particularly with respect to the means of defraying the necessary expenditure .

      The deputation explained how it is proposed to raise the requisite funds . There were the accumulation of surplus interest arising from stock purchased with the suitors" money not directed to be invested ( and to which interest they have no legal claim ) , amounting to 1 , 241 , 188 / . stock ; the sum of 201 , 028 / . stock , the accumulated surplus of the suitors' fee fund since 1833 , after paying all the charges thereon ; the surplus fees paid into the Treasury to the consolidated fund since the 1 st of January , 1838 . It was submitted that , although out of these receipts the pensions and . compensations allowed to tlie holders of abolished offices have been paid , that pensions or compensations granted on effecting alterations in the law for the benefit of the community a , t large , should be paid out of the consolidated fund , and not by the suitors of the court .

      Lord Aberdeen remarked that the appropriation of part of the " suitors' surplus fund" to the removal of the old courts , and the erection of new buildings on an improved site , would require mature consideration . He would , however , investigate tho subject , ' and have an early interview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer . He would in all probability see the Chancellor of the Exchequer that day . The deputation afterwards waited upon Sir "William Molesworth , Chief Commissioner of Public Works , and submitted to him the i plans and estimates for the proposed buildings .

      Sir W . Molesworth examined tho plans and estimates submitted , and inquired into the sources from which the expense was proposed to be defrayed . Ho intimated that it had long been his opinion that the courts of law should be removed to the place proposed , and promised to give his favourable attention to the subject .

      Untitled Article

      OCEAN PENNY POSTAGE . The Boston folks seem to have taken up the subject iu earnest . A correspondent of a contemporary furnishes an account of a recent meeting there : — " The interest manifested in the postal project is assuming a new form in the United States . On the 22 nd of December a great meeting was held in the Fanueil Mall , Boston , to consider the proposition . The Mayor presided on the occasion , and many of the most influential men of the city occupied the platform . Among these were the Hon . Josiah Quincey and Professor H . W . Longfellow . After a short speech from the Mayor , Elihu Burritt addressed the meeting at considerable length , demonstrating the feasibility , and necessity of an ocean pentay postage , and urging the duty of the United States to co-operate with Great Britain in

      establishing this reduced rate between North America and Europe , as the first instalment of tins world-wide postal reform . Animated speeches were afterwards made by B . F . Halletr , Otis Clapp , and other prominent citizens of Boston , in favour of the measure . The Mayor closed the proceedings with a forcible and feeling address , in which he dwelt upon the hardships and privations which the present high rates entail upon the poor emigrants and their friends in the Old World . A spirited letter from the Hon . Chrs . Stunner , U . S . senator at Washington , was read to the meting , in which he strongly commended the measure l roposed , and introduced a letter

      of inquiry in the U . S . Senate in reference to the feasibility of reducing the "present rates of ocean ' postage , a resolution which was admitted with complete unanimity . Meetings are to be held in New York , Philadel p hia , and other large towns in behalf of the project ; and petitions are pouring in upon Congress from various parts of the country . Inns there is good reason to believe that the U . S . Government will be prepared to co-operate cordially with that of Great Britain in establishing an ocean penny postage across the Atlantic , as soon as the latter shall be disposed to adopt th « system . "

      Untitled Article

      STRIKES . A strike of fancy weavers in the worsted trade , after a duration of 20 weeks , has closed at Keighley . The parties in question were in the employ of Mr . Lund , and they asked for an advance of wages . The master refused to concede the demand , as being unreasonable . The hands struck , and by dint of perseverance have got some support from other operatives'for 20 wee \ s . From a falling off in the supplies , they have decided by a majority of two to one to resume work at their old wages . A larger number of the linen bleachers at Barnsley have demanded both an increase of wages and an abridgment of the

      hours of labour . The masters have expressed a willingness to concede the latter , hut not the former ; and the consequence is that the men have determined to throw themselves out of work after the 17 th inst . A strike of colliers has occurred in the neighbourhood of Wakefield . About 100 of the men in the service of Messrs . Broughton and Co ., of the Crigglestone Cliffe colliery , have been off work since the . day before Christmas-day . They are able to earn from 24 s . to 28 s . a-week , but ' ask for an advance of from 6 s . to 8 s . a-week . The masters refuse to give the increase , and the men refuse to work . The working colliers , as is well known , are a strong body of

      unionists . . . The position of the strike question in Lancashire is not materially altered . The Preston men still receive support from the trades , but there must be great misery among them . At Bury the locked-out hands are suffering still more than at Preston . They only get two meals a day , lying a-bed until dinnertime ; they are prepared to lie a-bed until tea-time , and do with one meal rather than give way . But the Keighley men have given in . la Glasgow the strike continues .

      Untitled Article

      HEALTH OF LONDON . ( From the Registrar . General ' a Jietvrn . ') The Registrar-General ' s report states that although ' the extreme rigour of the weather which ushered inthe year with its frost and snow has abated , its effects continue to be manifested , and even increase , in the bills of mortality . In the week that ended ! last Saturday , the number of deaths in London rose to 1492 ; in the previous week it had been 1444 . In the ten corresponding weeks of 1844-53 , the average number was 1147 , which , with a correction for increase of population , becomes 1262 . The preeenfc excess above the calculated amount is 230 .

      llie number of cases attributed to diseases of the respiratory organs is 365 , while the estimated number is 296 . These are distributed thus : 13 belong to laryngitis and laryngismus atridulus , 184 to bronchitis , 114 to pneumonia , 54 to asthma and other diseases of this class . Besides these , hooping cough destroyed 73 lives , phthisis 161 . 12 fatal cases are enumerated of small-pox , which seems again to be spreading . Two cases of cholera arc recorded , neither apparently of the malignant type . Last week the births of 893 boys and 875 girls , in nil 17 G 8 children , were registered in London . In the nine corresponding weeks of the yenrs 1845-53 , the average number was 141 1 .

      At the Royal Observatory , Greenwich , tho mean height of the barometer in the week was 29 . 426 in . The reading of the barometer decreased from 29 . 8 J . in . at the beginning of the week to 28 . 78 in . by 9 h . p . m .

      Untitled Article

      56 THE LEADER . [ Saturday , I — ¦ ¦¦ ¦ .. . ,. ,. ! . ' ¦ . . _ _ . . ¦ J _^ L _ - : r-

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Jan. 21, 1854, page 56, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2022/page/8/