Text of the Commission

COMMISSION.

Victoria R.

Victoria, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen, Defender of the Faith:

Co Our right trusty and right well-beloved Cousin and Councillor, Edward Henry, Earl of Derby; Our right trusty and right entirely beloved Cousin, Francis Charles Hastings, Duke of Bedford; Our right trusty and well-beloved Cousin and Councillor Robert, Viscount Sherbrooke; Our right trusty and well-beloved Councillor, John Duke, Baron Coleridge, Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas Division of Our High Court of Justice; Our right trusty and well-beloved Councillor Sir Richard Assheton Cross, Knight Grand Cross of Our Most Honourable Order of the Bath; Our trusty and well-beloved Sir Nathaniel Mayer de Rothschild, Baronet; Our trusty and wellbeloved Sir Sydney Hedley Waterlow, Baronet; Our trusty and well-beloved William James Richmond Cotton, Esquire; Our trusty and well-beloved Albert Pell, Esquire; Our trusty and well-beloved Walter Henry James, Esquire; Our trusty and wellbeloved Joseph Firth Bottomley Firth, Esquire; and Our trusty and well-beloved Thomas Burt, Esquire, Greeting.

Whereas We have thought it expedient that inquiries should be made into the several matters herein-after mentioned.

Now know ye, that We, reposing great trust and confidence in your zeal, discretion, and ability, have authorised and appointed, and do by these presents authorise and appoint you, the said Edward Henry, Earl of Derby; Francis Charles Hastings, Duke of Bedford; Robert Viscount Sherbrooke; John Duke, Baron Coleridge; Sir Richard Assheton Cross; Sir Nathaniel Mayer de Rothschild; Sir Sydney Hedley Waterlow; William James Richmond Cotton; Albert Pell; Walter Henry James; Joseph Firth Bottomley Firth; and Thomas Burt to be our Commissioners for the purposes of these Presents.

And We do hereby require and command you, or any three or more of you, to inquire into all the Companies to which these Presents apply, and into the circumstances and dates of their foundation, and the objects for which they were founded, and how far those objects are now being carried into effect, and into any Acts of Parliament, charters, trust deeds, decrees of Court, or other documents founding, regulating, or affecting the said Companies, or any of them.

And We do hereby require and command you, or any three or more of you, to inquire into and ascertain the constitution and powers of the governing bodies of the said Companies, and the mode of admission of freemen, livery, and other members of the said Companies, and the number of freemen, livery, or other persons constituting the said Companies, and the gains, privileges, or emoluments to which all or any of such persons are entitled by reason of their being members of such Companies.

And We do hereby require and command you, or any three or more of you, to inquire into and ascertain the officers and servants of such Companies, and the salaries or other emoluments to which such officers and servants are entitled, and the mode of appointment of such officers and servants, and the duties which they perform.

And We do hereby require and command you, or any three or more of you, to inquire into and ascertain the property of, or held in trust for or by, such Companies, both real and personal, and where the same is situate, and of what it is composed, and the capital value of the several descriptions of such property, and the annual income of such property, and the mode in which the property is managed and the income is expended.

And We do hereby require and command you, or any three or more of you, to report to us, under your hand and seal, what you shall find touching or concerning the premises upon such inquiry as aforesaid, and also to consider and report what measures (if any) are, in the judgment of you, or any three or more of you, expedient and necessary for improving or altering the constitution of such Companies, or the appropriation or administration of the property or revenues thereof.

And We do hereby empower you to make separate reports in relation to any matter concerning the premises at such time and in such manner as you, or any three or more of you, may think expedient.

And We do hereby declare that the Companies to which these Presents apply, are all the Companies named in the Second Report of the Commissioners appointed to inquire into Municipal Corporations in England and Wales.

And for the better enabling you to form a sound judgment on the premises, We do hereby authorise and empower you, to call before you, or any three or more of you, all such persons as you may judge most competent by reason of their situation, knowledge and experience, to afford you correct information on the subjects of the inquiry; also to cause all persons to bring and produce before you, or any three or more of you, all and singular records, books, papers, and other documents touching the premises which may be in the custody or under the control of them or any of them; also to inquire of the premises, and every part thereof, by all lawful ways and means whatsoever.

And We will, and command that, this Our Commission shall be in full force and virtue, and that you Our Commissioners, or any three or more of you, may from time to time proceed to the execution thereof, although the same be not continued from time to time by adjournment;

And for your assistance in the due execution of this Our Commission, We do hereby appoint our trusty and well beloved Henry Denny Warr, Esquire, Barrister-at-Law, to be your Secretary, whose services and assistance we require you to use from time to time as occasion may require.

Given at Our Court at Saint James's the Twenty-ninth day of July One thousand eight hundred and eighty, in the Forty-fourth year of Our Reign.

By Her Majesty's Command.

W. V. Harcourt.