Another “liberal” clause repeals any charter or grant which prevents the holding any new market within seven miles of the city.  The framers of the Bill appear to have overlooked, or laughed to scorn, the ancient common law of the land which prohibits the establishment of any fair or market within “a third part of twenty miles” from one already in existence.  This common-law right has been further specially confirmed, so far as the City of London is concerned, by an Act of Parliament in the reign of the third Edward.  But considerations of mere law cannot be expected to have much weight with those who have resolved upon setting at naught the eternal principles of justice and equity.  Little did the wolf care which way the stream ran, when once he had made up his mind to dine upon lamb.

Yet one other proof of “liberality” before we close these desultory observations.  At present the Corporation exercises a watchful surveillance over all persons acting as brokers within the City of London.  No one, indeed, is permitted to carry on that highly responsible business without the previous sanction of the Court of Aldermen.  This restriction is admitted to have been most beneficial to the public, and the brokers themselves are fully sensible of its advantage to themselves by inspiring a reasonable confidence in their honour and respectability.  All this, however, is to be done away with.  Government care for none of these things.  They prefer punishment to prevention.  Let every man do as seemeth good in his own eyes, provided only that he escape conviction for evildoing.  In that case the “majesty of the law” will be vindicated by the house of correction or the gallows.  Why then take any thought to check the downward step?  That is the province of parents, masters, and pastors.  The wisdom of the Legislature cannot stoop to such elemental questions.  It is unworthy of the wise and illustrious senators of this great empire to take heed of such a vulgar consideration as commercial morality.  This is a free country, wherein every man may freely live, providing for himself, and warring upon his kind.  Such throughout is the tone and the spirit of the proposed measure for the “better regulation” of the City of London.  If this is better, it is devoutly to be hoped that no future ministry will bring forward a Bill for the “best regulation.”  Every additional step in this direction can only be worse than its predecessor, for the goal to be attained is not only the ruin of civic influence, but the subversion of self-government throughout the realm.

For the present, indeed, this precious Bill has been withdrawn; but let not a suspension of hostilities be construed into a conclusion of peace.  The question will certainly be brought before Parliament under a modified form in the ensuing Session, and it is then that the fate of the Corporation will be decided.