charges of towing Ships, and opening and shutting Flood-gates: and lastly, all the residue or overplus, is to be applied in creating a Fund, in aid of the said Transit Rates, in order that they may in due time be lowered.

For the transacting of all the Corporation business respecting this Act, the Common Council are authorised to appoint Committees; on which, persons interested in any Contracts, are not eligible. These Committees are empowered to contract with proper persons, (whether Freemen of London or not,) for performing the Works to be done by the Corporation: Previously to the making such Contracts, notice is to be given in the Public Papers, and all Contracts are to be signed on behalf of the Committee by their Clerk, and entered in a proper book. Finally, the Common Council and their Committees, are authorised to appoint Clerks, Collectors, Treasurers, and other Officers; with Salaries, to be paid out of the money to be received by the Corporation under the Act, and who are to give security to fulfil their respective Trusts. See the Act, § 164-168.

SUCH, on the whole, may be stated to be the Old and New Functions, (for they cannot be called privileges,) incumbent on the Lord-Mayor as Conservator of the River, and the Corporation of the City of London, to exercise and perform.

In addition to these, the Ancient Charters have placed under the saine management and control, certain classes of Labourers in specific branches of Commerce, who, by the appointment of the City of London, possess exclusive privileges, so far as relate to the measurement of Coals, Grain, Salt, Fruits, Vegetables, &c. water-borne on the Thames.

Certain other privileges also attach to the Garbling of Merchandise Imported, (except Tobacco,) and to the Package, Scavage, Balliage, and Portage of Goods, and the Package of Cloth.

420 privileged Carts, belonging to the Fellowship of Carmen, (u) are also regulated by the City of London, who give security, and have the exclusive privilege of acting for hire in the City. They are also compellable to do the Cartage business of the Port when called on, and are responsible for the safety of their Load, and the conduct of their Servants. They pay annually 17s. 4d. to the Governors of Christ's-Hospital for their Licence, and 23s. 6d. for every Transfer, which is generally sold for about £.100.

Tackle-house Porters, (who have about 1,500 Ticket-Porters (x) under them,) are also regulated by the City of London. They have the privilege of performing the labour of Unshipping, Landing, Carry

(u) These are stated in the Minutes of the Dock Committee of the House of Commons, May 30, 1797, to support 600 families. This Society was instituted in 1665.

(x) It is stated in the same Minutes, that there are 1500 TicketPorters in all, who work under the Tackle-house Porters, of which, about 500 are employed in the business of the Water-side.

ing, and Housing the Goods of the South-Sea Company, the East-India Company, and all other Goods, except from the East-Country, the produce of the British Plantations, and Ireland, and Goods Coastwise. They give Bond for ₤.500, to make restitution in case of loss or damage, and are limited to Rates settled by the City of London. In performing the labour of the Port, if Ticket-Porters are not at hand, they may employ any that offer.

The Ticket-Porters are persons appointed by the City of London, and have granted to them the exclusive privilege of unshipping, landing, and housing Pitch, Tar, Soap-Ashes, Wainscot Fir, Poles, Masts, Deals, Oars, Chests, Tables, Flax and Hemp, brought to England from the East Country; also Iron, Cordage, and Timber, and all Goods of the produce of Ireland, and the British Plantations, and all Goods Coastwise (except Lead.) They give Security in 1001. for Fidelity, and have their Names and Numbers on a Metal Badge.

Besides these different classes of Labourers, who enjoy exclusive privileges in the general System of Police in the River Thames, the City of London has under its Control and Regulation, the Company of Watermen, who compose a Body of about 12,000 men, about one-half of whom are employed in Lighters, Barges, Punts, Wherries, and other Boats, in assisting the Commerce as Water Carriers, or accommodating the Inhabitants at large.

An

An endeavour has thus been made to develope the nature and extent of the Functions of the City of London, as they relate to the Police Regulations, applicable to the Port of London and the River Thames. As they are exceedingly extended it may be useful to bring the whole under the review of the Reader, by the following

RECAPITULATION,

ENUMERATING THE DIFFERENT PRIVILEGES AND FUNCTIONS EXERCISED BY THE CITY OF LONDON, IN RESPECT TO THE RIVER THAMES AND PORT OF LONDON.

I. Conservatorial Functions.

1st. To regulate the Fisheries in the Thames and Medway, and to make Bye-Laws.

2d. To preserve the River from injurious Encroach

ments.

3d. To cleanse the River, and to preserve its Depth by the removal of Mud and Filth.

4th. To prevent and remove Nuisances and Obstructions of every kind.

5th. To repair Banks and Breaches in the River.

6th. To erect Posts for the Conveniency of Ship

ping.

7th. To maintain and keep in repair certain Public

:

Sth. To grant Licences to erect Wharfs, Stairs, Causeways, and other innocent Projections.

9th. To take up and lay down Mooring-Chains for the Conveniency of Shipping.

10th. To appoint a Water-Bailiff to superintend the Fisheries, and to prevent Encroachments, Obstructions and other Nuisances in the River.

11th. To make Bye-Laws for the Regulation and the proper Birthing of Ships, Vessels, and Craft in the River Thames, and also, Rules for Harbour-Masters..

12th. To manage and direct all matters relative to the Canal across the Isle of Dogs, and to collect the Rates thereon.

13th. To appoint one or more Harbour-Masters to attend to the Birthing of Ships, and to the wellordering of the Port.

14th. To hold Courts of Conservancy, for the Punishment of Offences.

II. Functions applicable to the Trade of the Port, in • Lading, Unlading, and Storing of Merchandise.

1st. To regulate and control Lightermen and Watermen in the River, amounting to, from 6 to 8,000 usually employed.

2d. To regulate and control Tackle-House Porters, 22 in number.

3d. To appoint, regulate, and control Ticket Porters, for the lading and discharging of Goods, about 1500 in all.

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