'Of those seven boroughs five received the right of returning members to Parliament under the Reform Act of 1832, and we concur in the opinion expressed by the Lord Mayor, in his evidence given before our Commission, that "as the Legislature has already decided to enfranchise other portions of the metropolis as Parliamentary boroughs, the Legislature ought to complete the work by enfranchising them for municipal purposes also." (Question 7,196). We think, indeed, that if an attempt were made to give a municipal organization to the entire metropolis, by a wider extension of the present boundaries of the City, the utility of the present Corporation, as an institution suited to its present limited area, would be destroyed; while, at the same time, a municipal administration of an excessive magnitude, and therefore ill adapted to the wants of the other parts of the metropolis, would be created. But we see no reason why the benefit of municipal institutions should not be extended to the rest of the metropolis, by its division into municipal districts, each possessing a municipal government of its own. What the form of this government should be, and what should be the number or extent of the districts, are questions not lying within the scope of our Commission, and upon which we are not competent to express any opinion. We recommend, at the same time, that the slight municipal connexion which now subsists between Southwark and the City of London be dissevered; and that some small spaces included within the external boundaries of the City, but not forming a part of it, be annexed to it.

We may be permitted here to remark, that the power of petition to the Crown for the grant of a municipal corporation, given to Parliamentary boroughs by the Municipal Corporations Act, and by the Act of 1 Vict. c. 78, does not appear to us to be practically applicable to the metropolis. In order that a proper division of the metropolis into municipal districts should be effected, it would be necessary to take a connected view of its different parts, and to arrange the boundaries and size of each district with reference to the other districts. Without such mutual adjustments, a proper combination of districts would be impossible; and such adjustments could not be made, if charters were granted singly to Parliamentary boroughs. If a distribution of the metropolis into municipal districts is to be made, it ought, as it seems to us, to be made simultaneously, and with a due consideration of the manner in which the interests of each part are affected by the general plan.

'In the event of a division of the entire metropolis, such as we have ventured to indicate, being hereafter made by the authority of Parliament, we suggest the creation of a Metropolitan Board of Works, to be composed of a very limited number of members deputed to it from the council of each metropolitan municipal body, including the Corporation of the City. propose that the management of public works, in which the metropolis has a common interest, should be conducted by this body. At present works of this sort can only be undertaken either by the Corporation of London from its own peculiar funds, or under powers created for the purpose by special legislation, or by the executive Government out of Parliamentary grants. The only fund arising from metropolitan taxation is the coal-tax, a large part of which is, as we have already seen, devoted to metropolitan improvements, under the control either of the Commissioners of Works, or the Corporation of London. We have already explained the origin and nature of that tax, and we pointed out the objections to which its present application is liable; but we reserved our recommendation respecting it for a subsequent part of our Report. We now recommend in the event of a Metropolitan Board of Works being created, that the entire proceeds of the coal-tax, including the 4d. tax now payable to the City, be transferred

to its administration, at the earliest period which may be found practicable; and that they remain under that control after the year 1862, in case the coal tax should be prolonged. When that year has arrived, the London Bridge Approaches fund would be broken up; and we think that the fees on freedoms and apprentices payable to this fund ought to be abolished; and that the small duty on wine which now forms a portion of it should, if continued, be added to the fund for maintaining the port of London. We would add, that in the event of a transfer of the 4d. coal duty being made in the manner indicated, the compensation for the sea coal meters, and the loan for the Cannon-street improvement, ought to be a continuing charge upon that tax. It is, however, we think, incumbent on the Corporation to provide a sinking fund for the annual discharge of a portion of the loan borrowed for that improvement.

'We propose further, that the Metropolitan Board of Works should be empowered to levy a rate upon the entire metropolis, for any improvement of general utility, within a certain poundage, to be fixed by Act of Parliament. The present poor-rate assessment of the metropolis (according to the limits of the Registrar-General), is nearly 10,000,000/.; and a penny rate upon this amount would produce 41,6667. Looking to the unequal incidence of the coal-tax, and to the dissatisfaction which it creates in the district over which it is levied, we strongly incline to the opinion that, even if it should not be thought expedient to disturb the existing arrangement before 1862, yet that it will be held advisable to abolish it from that period, and to substitute for it a rate levied upon the whole metropolis, and payable either by the owner or the occupier, or by both in some fixed proportion. If it should not then be thought expedient to renew the coaltax, as we think probable, we take for granted that the 4d. duty now levied on behalf of the City would cease at the same time.

'It is manifest that a power of executing public works of general metropolitan importance, such as the construction of bridges over the Thames, or the opening or widening of main lines of street, accompanied by a power of metropolitan taxation, would, though founded on a basis of popular election, require efficient safeguards for its prudent and useful exercise. We therefore think that the plans for the works to be executed should be submitted to a Committee of the Privy Council, and its consent obtained before they are carried into effect. We may add, that cases may arise where public works may be executed in the metropolis, partly out of the metropolitan fund, and partly from Parliamentary grants, and that in these cases a control of the executive Government such as we have proposed would be indispensable.'

We are almost inclined to regret that the Commissioners did not proceed to more detailed suggestions, and copy more closely, with certain obvious limitations, the system of municipal administration which is found to work so well in Paris. There the Prefect of the Seine, who is the municipal and general administrator of the commune of Paris in all things which have no direct political bearing; the Prefect of Police, who is in fact the executive officer of the Minister of the Interior, and might have great political power; the Municipal Council, who discuss all plans and find the money for them by levying local taxes; and the Mayors of the twelve districts of Paris, who are subject to the Prefect of the Seine; are all appointed directly by the Government, and removable by the Government at pleasure. This would

be objectionable in this country, and by no means required, except that the Metropolitan Police should clearly be in the hands of the Executive. But there really seems no reason why the whole of the architecture, the sewerage, the water-service, the gas, the paving, the markets, bridges, and all cognate matters within the metropolis, should not, as at Paris, be subject to the control of a single municipal Council. In Paris it is appointed by the Government, in London, it might be appointed by the people, and being appointed by them, might be safely trusted with their comforts and their funds. In Paris the Government has the initiative in all propositions, the Council having only a veto, probably under the present Emperor not even that; in London the Council might initiate, the Government retaining the power of veto, to be used whenever they saw occasion. So only we are convinced will combined and comprehensive improvements ever be effected, so only will the interests of all claims of the population of this great city be properly consulted. The minister who should really initiate and carry a plan for the effectual social government of London might improve upon the boast of Augustus, that he found Rome brick and left it marble; for he might say with truth that he had found London a confused and amorphous agglomeration of hamlets, and that he had left it a vast organized and harmonious city.

We have wandered far away from the Lord Mayor, Aldermen and Common Council, and have already transgressed the bounds of an article, and far exceeded the limits of our reader's patience; but we will say in conclusion, that the Corporation will not have existed in vain, nor will even their shortcomings be without their use, if they have given occasion to the first rudiments of a system which may end in making the external splendours of London in some degree answerable to its inexhaustible wealth, and in rendering it not only the largest, the most populous and the richest, but also the most magnificent and beautiful of the capitals of the world.

NO. LXXXV.-N. S.

NOTICES.

Mr. E. G. BRUTON has already published a 'Paper read before the Oxford Architectural Society, on Private Halls,' (J. H. Parker.) This certainly looks like working the Oxford Reform Bill. Mr. Bruton calculates that a Hall for forty students might be built for 6,000l.; and in the present scheme he furnishes ground plans: his suggestions are sensible enough.

Mr. Meyrick has printed in an Italian translation his careful excerpts from Cosin and other accredited writers, on the true character, ritual and discipline of the Church of England: its title is 'Della Religione Disciplina e Riti Sacri della Chiesa Anglicana,' &c. Parker is the Oxford and London publisher; and it may be had of Bossange, in Paris, and Biava in Turin. We recommend it to continental tourists, as the work to be placed in the hands of those who are ignorant of the Church of England: on the whole, we should say that it may, in certain quarters, profitably displace Miss Cunningham's kind offices.

Mr. Smyttan has published some verses much more euphonious than his surname 'Florum Sacra,' (J. H. Parker,) which are much above the average. The subject is the delightful one of the ecclesiastical symbolism and associations of the lilies of the field.'

The Channel Islands are stepping-stones towards France, in position and in language alike. They might become a medium through which France might learn a little more than she knows at present of England and the English. We are glad to see that a Magazine, simple, sound, and cheap- L'Ami de la Religion'—has sprung up in Jersey, printed in the French language, and conducted on English Church principles. It will, we hope, fall in with other efforts which are being made to dissipate the dense ignorance which exists abroad relative to Anglican Church claims, while its immediate use will be to supply wholesome reading to the natives of Jersey. It will doubtless command a limited circulation in England likewise.

Dr. Waddington, Dean of Durham, has reprinted (Murray) some lucubrations on the Greek Church,' which might have slept in the silence where they have reposed since 1829. The Dean thinks highly of his political sagacity in the suggestion that the Danubian provinces should have been committed to the tutelage of Austria. Some interesting and nicely written letters on the Strophades are the best part of this little volume.

The Bishop of Exeter's Pastoral Letter' (Murray) is among the author's most important contributions to theology. Though occasional in form, it will outlive the melancholy cause which made it necessary:

Rising with the gravity of his subject, the writer throws off, with a proud disdain, an ignoble subject of controversy; and if we miss some of the point of previous publications, the serenity and dignity of the composition more than atone for it. Like the great poet's Ulysses, the Bishop of Exeter• Though

He is not now, that strength which in old days

Moved earth and heaven-that which he is, he is:
The equal temper of the heroic heart,

Weaker by time and fate, but strong in will

To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.'

Mr. Chenevix Trench's well-known work on Words, which we have already welcomed in these pages, showed him a thinker eminently qualified for discussing the nicer inflections of language. His 'Synonyms of the New Testament' (Macmillan) reach us in the form of a set of King's College Lectures; and both in scholarship and spirit they are creditable alike to the lecturer and his class.

Mr. Maurice's Ecclesiastical Lectures,' delivered to the same body, (Macmillan,) reach us so late in the quarter that we can only announce their publication.

There is nothing very novel in Mr. West's Figures and Types of the Old Testament,' (Masters,) but there is much that is amiable, sober, and reverential.

'Poor Paddy's Cabin,' (Wertheim,) is the production of an Irishman, who thinks that after the parables of Holy Scripture, comes first Bunyan, and then Mrs. Stowe. He only affects the third place. We do not propose to dispute his claims.

'Vestiges of Divine Vengeance,' (Wertheim,) is a succinct and comprehensive epitome of all that is known of the Dead Sea and its shores. The main object of Mr. W. E. Tyler's compilation was to make M. de Saulcy's discoveries more widely known, discoveries which we think are somewhat exaggerated. M. de Saulcy does not give the slightest archæological data for identifying the style or age of what he vaguely calls the ruins' of Gomorrha.

We find in Quelques Mots par un Chrétien Orthodoxe sur les Communions Orientales,' (Paris: Meyrueis,) a pamphlet which affects to be written by a Member of the Russian Church. If it be so, it is the first work which we remember emanating from the Oriental Communion which treats the schism between East and West, and the relations of the Reformed Communions together, in language and spirit departing from the old stereotyped antiquarian style. A Russian Montalembert or Du Maistre is a phenomenon.

Among Mr. Van Voorst's many beautiful books, none exceeds, we know not if any equals, the delicate beauty of Mr. Gosse's, 'The Aquarium.' The