Crry BUSINESS.—A Court of Common Council was held on Thursday.
As the Lord Mayor was confined by indisposition, Mr. Alderman Wood presided. Mr. Scales presented a petition from the butchers who attend Smithfield Market, praying that that market might be eularged. The petition was ordered to lie upon the table. Mr. Alderman Venables then moved—" That it be referred to the Watch Committee to consider the present state of the Ward Constables and Street-kc,epere of this City, the manner in which they perform their duty, and to report whether any and what alteration and improvement can be made in respect thereof." This was finally agreed to. It led, however, to a long discussion of the comparative merits of the old and new police. Mr. Alderman Wood remarked, that with a police of 1100 in all, costing some of them three and four pounds a week, when, in reality, many of them were not worth above one, he thought the inhabitants of the City had a right to complain that their persons and property were not better protected. To produce an example from the experience of the present day—there was, as they knew, a great public funeral, and from his own experience and per- sonal observation, he could assure them, that from Whitehall to Temple Bar, there was not to be found the slightest obstruction or impediment;'but the moment he got inside Temple Bar, the scene was changed—there all was confusion and diffi- culty—not one of the day or night police was to be seen, and it was with the ut- most difficulty lie got to the Mansionhouse. He inquired of the Marshal how matters stood ; and he was informed that seventy extra constables had been appointed at a great expense to the City, making altogether an amount of one hundred and twenty, without any adequate benefit.
There was a full bench of Magistrates at the Middlesex Sessions on Thursday. The county expenditure was the first subject of discussion. An attachment had
been issued against Mr. Stirling, to compel him to render his accounts and de- liver up the county papers. It was agreed to allow him a month for that purpose. ResOlutions were then passed, recommending to the notice of Government the bad effects that flow from the present use of ardent spirits. There was a meeting, on Monday evening, at the Theatre of the Mechanics' Institute, for the purpose of taking into consideration the means by which amore equitable appropriation of the Church revenues might be effected. The Chair- man, Mr. J. Hibbert, stated that the distresses of the country were greatly aggra- vated by the necessity of supporting such an enormous Church establishment. The clergymen of the Established Church, he contended, ought, like the Dis- senters, to depend on the voluntary contributions of their hearers ; and the tithes ought to be applied to the support of the poor. The Church of England, Mr. Hetherington stated, _cost the country more than eight millions a year; a larger sum than all other Christian churches besides cost the rest of Christendom.
The vestrymen of the parish of St. Leonard's, Shoreditch, met on Tuesday, to consider the best means of providing the necessary funds for repairing those parts of the highways within the parish Aich have been relinquished by the Commis- sioners under the Metropolis Roads' Acts. It was agreed to request the Poor-rate Board to make the best arrangement in their power; and to report at a public vestry in Septeniber next, the expenses incurred. The inhabitants of St. Saviour's, Southwark, met on Tuesday, for the purpose of considering whether it would be more expedient to repair the present Church, or erect a new one. It was finally:resolved to adopt the more economical course of repairing the present building.
There was a meeting, on Monday evening, of, the united parishes of St. Giles and St. George, Bloomsbury, for the purpose of taking further steps in opposition to the conduct of the Select Vestry. The outline of an act of Parliament, fur which the Select Vestry meant to apply, was submitted to the meeting, and con- demned in the most unqualified manner. Resolutions expressive of the disgust
which the meeting entertained for the conduct of their self-elected parish-rulers were then moved, and carried by acclamation. A Special Court of the Governors of the Scottish Hospital was held on Wed- nesday. It had been stated at a former meeting, that the salary enjoyed by the Treasurer of the Binloch Charity was too large. After the transaction of certain routine business, a motion having been made " that the Court do adjourn," Mr. Hume moved as an amendment, " that the Court do now proceed to ballot for the Committee of Inquiry into the funds of the Society;" but the original motion was carried.
The greatest alarm is now prevailing amongst the officers employed in the Long Room of the Customhouse. It is reported that the system by which these gentlemen were hitherto allowed to receive certain pretty extensive fees and per- quisites is to be for ever abolished on the 5th of July next. This reform, it is said, will materially affect the income of from forty to fifty individuals, especially the cocket-writers, some of whom have only 601. salary, but whose fees amount to from 3,0001. to 4,0001. each. Upon this modes acquirendi, which has been tolerated for ages, they look as their freehold, as an act of Parliament allows them to receive 5s. for each socket, and they consider the hardship of their case still greater, as no complaint on the part of the public has been made to call for such a measure. If common report is to be believed, Mr. Dean, the Chairman of the Board of Commissioners, has all the credit of the suggestion ; that gentleman, who is at the head of the Customs, has a salary of only 2,000/, and is, therefore, sup- posed to feel some jealousy at his inferiors, men in infinitely less responsible situ- ations, enjoying double his income—Daily Paper.
Travelling appears to be greatly impeded by the weather in the West of Eng- land. Six mails from that part of the country were due at the Post-Office on Friday at noon. The Bristol mail lost five hours in the short journey of 120 miles. The Dover mail has been conveyed on horseback for some day's past.
A dinner to commemorate the commencement of the new building for the Law Institution took place on Thursday at the Freemason's Tavern. This insti- tution, which was projected in 1825, is limited to attorneys, solicitors, and proc- tors, in England and 'retold, and writers to the signet, and solicitors of the courts, in Scotland. Its object is to increase the respectability of the profession, and promote the general convenience and advantage of its members. With that view, it is proposed to provide a building, to consist of a hall, open at all hours of the day, and furnished with desks or enclosed tables, like Lloyd's Coffee- house, with newspapers and other publications ; an ante-room for clerks and others, in which is to be kept an account of business connected with the pro- fession ; a library, which it is designed shall contain a complete collection of law books, an office of registry, a club-room, &c. Lectures on the different branches of law are also contemplated. The new building is to be in Chancery Lane ; the site is now cleared ; its front will consist of a plain but handsome Ionic portico. The total expense of it is estimated at 25,0001; To carry these arrangements into effect, a capital of 50,0001. has been raised, in 2,000 shares of 26/. each.
The half-yearly meeting of the St. Catharine Docks Company took place at the Dock-house on Tuesday, for the purpose of hearing the report of the Direc- tors, and agreeing to a dividend. Mr. Tooke was Chairman. Mr. Hall read the report of the Directors. A dividend of one and a half per cent. was declared ; and it was carried, after some discussion, that the report should be printed.
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