The Express.
London, England, 1853-07-13 00:00:00

FOWER OF EXCUSING PERSONS ELECTED SHERIFFS.

Alderman FAILEISNOTIIIIII said he bad otsereed from •
paragraph in the newspapers, that a gentleman who had
been chosen sheriff by the Livery was released by the Court
of Common Council from the oblig►tion to serve. Nuw, he
did nut mean for • moment to question the privilege of ibe
Court of Common Council in such matters, but he bad
always been under the impression that gentlemen who
wished to be messed made their application to the Court
of Aldermen. It would surely be desirable to ol tain a astir
factory decision upon such a subject, and in order to accom-
plish that object he would move that a committee take it
into could. ratites, and report to the court upon the nature
and extent of the authority exercised as to releasirg per-
sons elected from the compulsion to act in the office.
The Towe CLina said the Court of Common Council
bail been guided by two precedents in releasing the gentle-
man who bad been chosen by the Livery from the obli-
gation to serve.
The motion, however, to which no objection was made by
any member, was at once carried.
ELECTION OF AN ALDIKNAN FOE CA.TLEEAYNAED

MARIE
The proper officer handed in the return of the election of
an alderman for the ward of Cutlebaynatd, in the r ono of
8 omuel Wilton, Esq., removed to the ward of Bridge
Without. It awed that Henry Muggeridge, E-q., woo
we. the only candidate, had beta unanimously elected
sid-eman tithe vacant ward.
Mr. Mut/guide° was taco formally introduced to the
court, and took the setts of allegiance, supremacy, and alo-
aeration.
ILITMITION AT CORTORATS tLECTIOie.
Alderman Wean (one of the sheriffs elect) gave band to
perform the &Wesel the office.
Mr. Ttrunt.nr was then called upon to go through the
same form as en-sheriff with Alderman Wire. The former
gentleman appeared at the bar of the court, and
Sir lons Itiusoaove rose and said that be had been
relocated by Mr. Turnley to present a petition to the court
complaining of the mode o' nomination and election to the
office. Ile apprehended that the presentation of such a
.petition would not have the effect of releasing Mr. Turnley
from the obligation to serve, or the heavy penalty attached
to the refusal, but it would at any rate give him en oppor-
tunity of confirming the extraordinary allegation in the
document, and thus lead to the correction of a very grievous
and disgraceful evil. (Ilear. hear.)
The petition was then read. It detailed the particulars
of a system which has been lona in practice at times of
election to corporation offices by the livery of London and
by means of which certain persons well known to the
rabble-voters are In the habit of extorting money from
honourable mzu, who, not being able to serve for various
rettom. found it necessary to compromise for exemption, I
and it concluded by representing •othe Court that the pe-
titioner had been elected to the office, not by the free Toie3
of the livery. hut by the tonopiracy of persons, as a punish-
Meat to him for not eubmituog to extortion ; and by pray-
bag that the fifes might be inquired Moo, and, if proved,
that he might be exonerated from the office of sheriff with-
out the payment of any tine. (lieu.)
Sir Joliti M voonovs said, he believed his brethren were
pretty well acquainted with the subject matter of com-
plaint, end moved that the petition be referred to the cons•
mittee of general purposes, ken the report of which might
sprint something upon which to found a plan of complete
relief, or, at soy rate, pertial mitigation.
Alderman YAatesotrxa seconded the proposition,
which was immediately and unanimously carried.
The Loao MAYOR told Mr. Turnley that the court were
mot able to interfere upon the question as to the obligation
upon him to give bond to Aerie as sheriff.
Mr. TWILNIAIT —My lord. I decline executing the bond.
Tlll COirilitATlON

The Town Informed the court that a letter had
been received from Mr. Coleridge, the secretary to tee COM-
-1136113012 eppeisted to 'squire into the corporation mitten of
the City of Loudon, stating that doe notice should be given
of the time at whichi the hominess of the commission would
emsraence.
Alderman Winn said he rejoiced to find that the inquiry
was to take place, as the result mast have the effect of re-
sieving moat erroneous impressions of the conduct of the
corporation of London and the spirit by which it was influ-
enced and conducted. (Hear, bear.) He could nor, how-
ever, help saying that the colamissionen were invested with
powers which appeared to him to be exorbitant. But he
did not object to the 'Rennes limns given by the act,
because he not only had reliance upon the hoeourable exer-
cise of the functions of the commissioners; but be knew
that the more strict and searching the investigation should'
be, the more highly would it redound to the character of
the corporation. (Hear, hear.)
Alderman FAIIIIIIOTIEZA said that whatever might be
the character of the act itself, the names of the commis-
Mousers were guarantees of fen play. (Hear, hear.)
The letter was *Wend to be entered on the journals.