The Common Council met on Thursday, and passed resolutions in
favour of abolishing the fines imposed by the Livery Companies on persons taking up their freedom in the city of London, and to petition to Parliament to repeal the declaration relative to the Church, which the 0th of George the Fourth required to be taken by Corporate Officers. It was also carried, that the City Lands Committee should report upon the present supply of water within the City.
A meeting of Middlesex Magistrates was held on Thursday, at the Sessions-house, Clerkenwell, when Mr. Botch was reelected Chair- man, with the concurrence of all the Magistrates, except that of Mr. 11I' William, who objected to Mr. Botch's reappointment on account of the number of " mistakes" committed by that gentleman. In an- swer to a question from one of the Magistrates, the Governor of the House of Correction said it was not true that the " silent system" had injured the health and morals of the prisoners. Some conversation took place with respect to the allowance made to the Justices for attending the Sessions, and Sir P. Laurie gave notice, that, on the next Court-day, he should move that the appropriation of the money granted for the purpose should be taken into consideration.
The London Adjourned Sessions, which commenced on Thursday, were delayed, as usual, because three Aldermen are required to consti- tute a Court, and a third Alderman did not make his appearance. The Jury complained of this waste of time ; and, being abstracted from their business for the public service, might with great propriety com- plain. At length a third Alderman dropped in by accident, or, hear. lug of the delay, volunteered his services, and the business of the Court proceeded. Such an occurrence justifies, to a great extent, the demand made at Guildhall for a reform of the Corporation of London, and justifies the objection then made to having Aldermen for life. To see the judicial business of a 'great city like London continually de- layed by the neglect of the Aldermen, supplies a proof of the appoint- ment for life being most injudicious. If they desired to hold the situa- tion, and depended on their being elected by their fellow citizens, in- cluding the very men and their connexions who constitute the juries, there would be a motive for assiduity which now can have no existence. The Aldermen of London being secure in their office for life, stop public business for their convenience, and treat their fellow citizens as if the time of no man were of any value compared to the pleasure of an Alderman. The lives of others are not to be balanced against the smallest convenience of such important persons as Aldermen for life.— Courier.
In the Old Court, on Monday, John Grose was found guilty of em- bezzling 5101., the property of his employers, Messrs Masterman and Co., the bankers.
On Tuesday, sentences were passed on the prisoners. Thirteen were ordered to be transported for life ; nine for fourteen years ; and thirty-one for seven years. The late trial of the omnibus proprietors at the Central Criminal Court, and the large amount in which the twenty defendants were mulcted, appears to have engendered strife rather than abated the pre- vious spirit of excitement which existed between the rival parties. During the period of the trial it appears that one of the omnibuses be- longing to a late defendant ran foul of and injured the "bus" of Bray, the prosecutor, and, in order to reparation, judicial proceedings are already laid in train. It appears also that arties will bep roCeeded against by Bray, in order to recover damages for injuries which he has personally sustained, in consequence of the individual acts of some of the late defendants. On the other hand, the Paddington proprietors consider that Bray commenced the opposition with the view of extorting money, so that they seem determined to have recourse to legal proceed. ings by way of retaliation. The late defence, including the fine, is e said to have cost the defendants 20001. There were twelve gentlemen of the long robe employed, and some came into court with a ,, special fee," and each of them received a daily " refresher" of at least five guineas. A new company is about to be formed to run in opposition to the old Paddington proprietors, so that the dangerous practice of racing through the public streets is likely to be perpetuated..--Morning Herakl. At the Queen Square Office, on Monday, William Barrett, a cab- driver, was charged with stealing a cashbox, containing nearly 7001. in notes and gold, from Mr. Isaac Maurice, whom he had driven oil the lath of August from the Bull and Mouth to Newington. As soon as Mr. Maurice had got out of the cab and paid his fare, the dd. ver galloped off with the box. Mr. Maurice pursued him in another cab, but could not overtake him ; and nothing was heard of the pri- soner till a few days ago, when he was secured. He admitted the rob- bery, and said that the hard cash, which was to the amount of 300/, he had shared with another cab-driver ; but the bank-notes and other docu- ments were thrown into the fire and burnt, and the box afterwards had a stone put into it and was thrown into the Thames. He was com- mitted to Newgate to take his trial.
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