The Express.
London, England, 1851-11-21 00:00:00

COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL

Yesterday a court was held for the despatch of
public business.
TOT[ UP TITANIA TO TAR LAM LORD MAYOR.
Mr. Deputy CORN BY—My Lord Mayor,—l feel it my I,
duty to bring under the notice of the court the services of
the late Lord Mayor, and I hope the court will allow
me to state that during his tenure of office as president
here (and I believe I shall be borne out by every member
present) the business was never more punctually or more
faithfully administered. (Hear, hear.) I have, in the
vote which I now propose, steered clear of any questions
that might beget a rentreiveray, from a conviction that a
unanimous vote of thanks is a compliment that every
public man duly appreciates. That vote is alloyed if
there are any objectors. (Hear, hear.) I am unwilling
to advert to what passed in the Court of Alder-
men on Tuesday last, but my impression is that
that court not having carried out its motto,
wadi &reruns pattern, has excluded such explanations as
I am satisfied would have ►verted a good deal of what
there took place. (ILiar, hear.) My motion is, " That the
thanks of this court be presented to the Right lion. Sit
John Musgrove., Bart, the late Lord Mayor of the City, for
the very able and efficient manner in which he discharged
the important duties of chief magistrate during the past
year—a period eminently distinguished for the cultivation
of the arts and sciences, and the extension of friendly in-'
tereourse with all the nations of the habitable globe—for
the upright administration of justice; for the punctuality
and attention which distinguished him on all occasions; for
the liberal support he cheerfully extended to the numerous
charitable institutions which adorn the metropolis of the
British empire ; for his promptitude in convening the meet-
ings of this court, and the grim. impartiality he displayed
in presiding over its deliiierations." (Hear, hear.)
Mr. JOHN DIXON 'a:cooled the motion.

Mr. BARKLY—If a vote of thanks is to he passed, as
a matter of form, I, perhaps, should have no objection to
vote in its faireur, but when I consider that a vote of this
description is one of the highest honours that this court has
it in its power to bestow, it is one that we ought to be very
chary indeed in agreeing to, unless fully satisfied in our
own mind, that the late Lord Mayor fully deserves the com-
pliment that is now sought to he paid him. (Hear.) I think
it is the bounden duty of every member of this court first
to ascertain whether his lordship fully sustained the dignity
of the office in the manner which the citizens of London
expect at the hands of their chief magistrate. A very large
sum of money :a granted to this court fur the purpose of
enabling the Lord Mayor to maintain the dignity and honor
of the office, and in my humble opinion, Sir John Musgrove
failed in carryii.g out the object for which this money is
granted. (Hear, hear.) No metuher of the court is in the
habit of dining less frequently at the Mansion House than
I am. (Oh, uh.) I certainly received an invitation from
his lordship to dine there. ("Oh, oh," and loud cries of
"Shame.") I accepted the invitation—but when I after-
wards found that his lordship bad deviated from the prac-
tice of his predeceseors, in the mode in which the invitation
was conveyed, I considered it my duty not to dine upon
that OCCASIUU. (Loud laughter.) When his lordship
was remonstrated with for the impropriety of the course he
had pursued, he &maimed a reason which I think was an
insult to the member+ of this court. (Laughter.)
Mr. DE JERSEY—My Lord Mayor, the gentleman
who proposed this resolution seemed to think—indeed he
said—he stood on very tender ground, and ho therefore
drew that resolution in a very mild form. lam nut here to
canvas, its terms. I am perfectly free to admit the cour-
tesy. the urbanity, and even the hospitality of the late Lord
Mayor. I know not whether the late Lord Mayor has de•
voted from any rule or custom of other Lord Mayors.
(Oh, oh.) I go upon higher ground. I stand upon
principle, and I intend to move an amendment, and to
diva!, the court upon it, even if I stand alone. The
only opportuilay which this court has of canvassing the
character and conduct of a lord mayor is when a gentleman
comes down with a resolution, and asks you to approve of
his conduct. The objections in the other court were all of
a personal character. (hear, hear.) The Lord Mayor last
year gave occasion for • great gathering together of
foreigners in title ronntry, who not only had an opportunity
of witnessing one of the grandest displays ever executed,
but likewise had an opportunity of seeing the character and
constitution of the British people; and if I am not very
much inist .ki a, they found this re country where the Sab-
bath is considered a divine institution—an institution up-
held by the Queen on her throne—au institution
upheld by 'gelid-dive enactment—an institution up-
held and respected in the strongest way by the
rebrious community, which is not a small body,
but one representing great and vital interest', and which
the mini...hr, of the country do not disdain to consult when
question. of great initsortanee come before them. Every-
body in this court will agree with me that here the observ-
ance of the Sabbath is the rule, the breach of it the excep-
tion (Hear, hear.) Not so in other countries. Whether
right or wrung it a question which it is not material to dis-
ease at this 11110111C1Ii. A man holding a high and responsi-
ble position, holding the office of Lord Mayor in the first
city of the world, is bound to see that he carries out the
principles, the feelings, and the character of the British
nation. The late taint Mayor has violated this obligation.
(Oh, oh.) lie has done that in a foreign country which he
dare not do here. (" Oh, oh," and laughter.) In this
country we never hear of public festivals being held on the
Sabbath, the idea of such a thing is repugnant to the feel-
ings of the British natien, and would not ba tolerated
for a moment. Formerly the ministers of the day used to
give their public dinners on a Sunday, but the practice has
of recent year. been abolished. So also with the Lord
Mayor. When foreigners ducked here a few months ago,
they found the Exhibition closed to the public on Sun-
day., but when the Lord Mayor went to Paris, he was
content to enjoy the festivities of that city on that day.
He, therefore, was guilty of a violation of principle,
which, as an Englishman, he would, and should hold good
in the city of London. I apprehend that every Chris-
tian gentleman who supports the Sabbath, as a great num-
ber in this court do, will feel it to be a principle existing in
his mind to endeavour to carry out the amendment which I
propose. I see a friend opposite (Mr. Analerton) taking
notes. I hope I shall have his vote.
Mr. ANDERTON-1 am not a Pantiler or a Mawworm..
(Laughter.)
Mr. DE JERSEY—A week or two ago my friend pre-
sented a petition to this court, and we will now try his
principle by his practice. That petition was on behalf of
the axial, physical, mural, and spiritual welfare of the
street onlerlices ; that arrangements should be nude for their
rivulet' attendance at divine worship on the Sabbath, and
for supplying each of them with a Bible and Prayer-book ;
so that while the street orderlies are to have these neces-
sary means of religious instruction supplied to them, the
Lord Mayor is to be countenanced in desecrating the Sib-
bath in • foreign city ! Now I look round again, and ask
who will support me ?
Mr. ANDERTON—Why, nobody. (Laughter.)
Mr. DE JERSHY—I have no objection to the "evolution
of the hon. deputy, but I wish to add as an amendment the
following worth
"Yet this court cannot but express its regret that, on the
occasion when the municipal authorities of l'aris offered a
series of magnificent fetes to the Lord Mayor and other
distinguished Englishmen, the chief magistrate of the city
of London permitted himself to forget the obligations of the
Christian Sabbath, and to sanction by his presence at Ver.
sallies the desecration of that day. The court with pain
declares its opposition to the course taken by one we
public conduct has generally been so deservedly esteemed ;
but, looking to the character of Oreat Britain, in which
Sabbath day is honoured by the outward conduct of official
men, and by the example of the Sovereign of these realm*,
this court cannot but regret that the late Lord Mayor failed
to bold that day sacred in a foreign knd. The world-famed
courtesy of our French neighbours woad undoubtedly have
promptly provided for a conscientious objection, while they
would have honoured the eamailiati di the Lord Mayor in
the maintenance of principle alike la imam as in Eng
Mr. ANDERTON—NoboIig will mooed that, I am sore.
(Laughter.)
Mr. Deputy LOTT mid t Ida set rise to wend the
amendment, but te the Mewl rendation. I had in-
deed hoped that a of as Impersts a metre as
that which is before the mart wadi have pealed =mei-
mouldy, and I regret very much that any oppositise what-
ever should be made to it. Oar hired lit. Derkly
opposed it, and I maned make out his osseous.
According to his own statement he was halted
to a dinner at the IlLakra-losee.
n(ttetragr,
_end
erica of "hear.") He did, net dims Mgrs.
,) Whether
he anticipated taking enytlthig widek_u7diseinee with
him or not I cannot MU. (Steamed Mulder.) Mr. De
Jersey has taken objections to the easduct of the late Lord
Mayor in l'aris. The objectioa takes by the Court of Al-
dermen was hosed upon a veep tillboset ground. It appears
that the late Lord Mayor had le • Amigo country, a cues.
try professing a different relights, chosen, on his own Sab-
bath, to worship his Maker la a place of worship dedicated
to his own religion. (Hear, boor.) This conduct caused
considerable delay in the Mommoceas ef sum of the gentle-
men there, and brought dews sappeesa the Lord Mayor •
great deal of censure and The remarks of my ,
friend (De Jersey) are those of an anode. (Laughter.) I
most cordially agree with the maim peopeted. I say mat
distinctly that the la's Lord Meyer asied with the most
praiseworthy courtesy to the members of this mart, and
that he performed all hit dudes with semi end ability.
(Cheers.) It seem dent there wee k die ether smart an
Rafortunate disagreement epee gated= milk whisk the
Coen et Commas Camel had maim to de, lint that die-
%errt could have as lailemme ere Ma Mike to
e shall arrive. (Hear_ bere.)
Mr. DEDMOCH—My Ler* Mayor, Ism neither the
ear the eulogist of aldermen, whether sitting on
re teeth sr in Use dole chair. At the mem time it
become me sad sweep member of the coact Se amiataia
the dignitAif
se men sem of regoemibillig eel power.
=a). ef obswesdess mob Sedgy ge far to
the Mid to be le WINIIMION mil which
gentlemen who ppssmmeemmee to Mtn* Mid le weeeration
—Omar, hear)— ho ma sessheigtairr civi-
lities hem the Me UM Mos Gam member at the
111111 W, but I never saw dm occupied with mere dignity
*es when occupied by blue. and I never hoed any man &-
dem that he did net perierm Ms whets duties la • moreer
wesiby et the eliagasrat eels trod megierate of Meaty et
Loden. ressoLim w
Are w le
bemet6o: gemilemes smite et a dinner.
we ash give • set of thanks
oft MB lard Iderper, became he did eel entertain a
merrobee of this men at his labia in • =MS 'seedy
miledthe taste of the gestimme (liter, des mie
ha end drinking to 1110111dbge tite Mist ellee ma Perlis
lir a Lord Mayer? They are emeidered by melds
ports of the men to be so, sad with good 111111111111'
is*, when you fbd me hemeneside /oedemata get
up and gravely team Met en someem of some
slight 'Literalism he dm wee of intlieliee he will
epee*. • vote of thanks? (Haw, Mgr.) I imam that
what Mr. Dv Jersey has said is • pion memieleiteable,

unmitigated cant. (Loud laughter, and min of " Hear.")
That gentleman op the vote of thanks on account of
the visit of the Lord Mayor to the waterworks at Versailles
on Sunday. Now I ask him whether he himself or other
honourable gentlemen connected with the corporation never
visited Hyde-park or any other place of recreation on a
Sunday ? (Hear, hear.)
After some further discussion,
The question was put, and there appeared upon the
division, which Mr. Anderton insisted upon causing to be
taken— - -

In favour of the vote of thanks.... 118

Against it

Majority in favour of the vote .. 110 (Cheers.)
Mr. De Jersey's amendment not having been seconded, of
tome fell to the ground.

Upon the motion of Mr. Deputy HARRISON, the
court proceeded to the adjourned consideration of the
proposed bill for regulating elections within the City of
Loudon, and for conferring, under certain restrictions,
the rights and privileges of freemen and eitirens of the
said City upon persons occupying and rated to premises
therein.

Clause 1, repealing the 11 Geo. 1., c. 18, and the 12 and
13 Viet., c. 91, was peed to without alteration.
Upon the second being proposed, which provided, " That
every male person of full age, and not subject to any legal
capacity, who shall have occupied within the said City, or
the liberties thereof, for a period of • year and a day,
either solely orjoiatly with any other person or persons, any
house, counting-house, warehouse, office, chambers' or
shop, and shall, in the case of a sole occupation, be rated in
respect of such premises in his own name, on or to an
amount of not less than ten pounds per annum, or in the
case ofa joint occupation, be rated in the names of the occu- I
piers on or to an amount which, when divided by the num-
her of occupiers, shall give a sum of not less than ten pounds
per annum for each and every such occupier to any
municipal, parliamentary, or parochial rates, in respect of
such premises, and shall bear lot—shall, whilst continuing
to occupy the same, be entitled to all the benefits and pri-
vileges of a freeman and citizen, and subject to all the du-
ties thereof, and shall be entitled to vote as such in any
election for alderman or common councilman, or ward ()M-
-eer, in the ward for which such premises shall be situate,
and also at any election for mayor, sheriff, chamberlain,
bridge-masters, auditors of chamberlain's and bridge-mas-
ters' accounts, and for any and every other officer to be
chosen in and for the sail city by the liverymen thereof,"
Deputy CORNEY proposed as au amendment—
" That so much of the proceedings of that court for
the proposed bill for amending the City of London Election
Acts, as rekted to elections in Common•hall, should be
rescinded, and the notice to parliament altered accoud-
ingly."
Alderman SIDNEY hoped that the court would not stultify
itself by the adoption of Deputy Corney's amendment. Re
was quite sure if they adopted the clause as it stood, there
was no necessity for them to be at all frightened by the idea
of imposition from the companies, for he doubted whether
there would be any such opposition manifi sted. If it were,
however, ho felt satisfied that it would be puerile and
ineffectual.

After bum conversation, the amendment was declared to
be lost, and upon a division being called for, toe numbers
ware declared to be:
For the clause
For the omission of the words'l7-8

Clause, 3,4, and.") were then agreed to, verbal amend-
ment, only being introduced ; upon 6 being proposed Mr.
Norris urged that there was in it matter of much import-

ante ; whet a menther observing that 40 persons were not
present, the court was counted out.

MR. LABOUCIIERE, M.P., ON MECHANICS'
INSTITUTIONS.

On Wednesday evening the anniversary dinner
of the Slough :Mechanics' Institution.was held in the lecture-
room, which had been very tastefully fitted up for the occa-
sion. The rhair was taken by the Right Hon. Henry La-
boucherc, MX., of Stoke-park ; Major Bent, of Wexham-
house, occupied the chair; and there were also present
affieral of the local magistrates, three or four of the Eton
masters, three of the parochial clergy, and about
a hundred of the members and their friends. For the
small town of Slough, which dates its present importance
from the formation of the Great Western Railway, it
was alto.:ether • most creditable demonstration. After
the usual loyal and patriotic toasts had been duly ho-
noured, the chairman called upon the secretary (Mr. Brum-
men Smith) to read the report of the committee. From
this document it appeared that the institution was esta-
blished in 1817, and that it now numbers nearly 100 mem•
ben. The estimated income for the present year was
721. 3s. 10d.; the estimated expenditure, 601. 12s. 6d. ; but
the institution is in debt to the amount of 40/. ; and the se-
cretary announced, amid considerable cheering, that the
chairman had presented them with 10/. towards the "debt
fund." Several gentlemen present followed the liberal ex-
ample, and the debt was nearly extinguished almost as soon
as the cloth was drawn.
Mr. LABOUCHERE, who was most enthusiastically Tt•
ceived, said :—Gentlenum,-1 was anxious that you should
hear the report which has just been read by the secre-
tary, because I felt that it would be the very best
preface to the toast I am abed to propose—" Pro-
sperity to the Slough Mechanics' Institution." (Cheers.")
I have not expended much time in asking you to give the
toast, because I presume I may consider your preemie* here
this evening a sufficient proof of the interest you take in all
that belongs to the welfare of the institution. The object of
the institution has been well stated by the secretary in the
document he has just laid before you. It is the promotion
of general and useful knowledge in the various branches of
science, by providing for its members a reading-room, circu-
lating library, and classes. The attempt to establish such
an iostitutiou was highly creditable to the inhabitants of
Slough; and I do not hesitate to say that it is the duty
of all connected with the town and neighbourhood to co-
operate with the committee in promoting so desirable and
praiseworthy an object. The time has gone by for the neces-
sity of entenng into any lengthened detail to show the harm-
lessneas of mechanics' institutions, and to prove that the pro-
motion of popular education and the improvement of the
intellectual condition of the people are perfectly consistent
with the welfare of the state. (Hear, hear, and cheers.)
There may hare been such times; indeed, I can myself re-
collect the period when institutions like the one we are now
assembled to support were spoken of in a very apologetic
strain—when it was mentioned n 9 a doubtful point whether
such institutions really conduced to the good conduct of
the working men u citizens, as Christians, and as res-
hectable members of society. Those times have now,
appily, gone by. (Cheers.) At the present moment the
opinion of Englishmen, of all classes, is, that to promote
the education and intellectual improvement of the people is
one of the greatest and noblest objecta in which any man,
be his station and society what it may, can possibly engage.
(Cheers.) Without meaning to attach any undue or ex-
aggerated importance to mechanics' institutions, I cannot
help dunk.ing that they are very useful in the opportunity
Wei Mind all classes of carrying out that object. (Cheers.)
wayeet to the little town of Slough, numbering its
4.llllllshobinats, that those should be a number of young
mw mosNlnci together Sw the purpose of reading good
Mika. mooing to discuss the merits of these books, &adieu-
/nadir than minds by idasional lectures, is a promising
islorome sign of She times. It would be an utter
INN IS elm In me to dud& spoil all the objects to be &t-
-ads* theinsitffise way of mechanics' institutions, bat
the inn In 011ie I Mg= to attach the most import-
ant, is As genbrd of a geed library. (Cheers.)
I dealt ergia eilessieges to be derived from lectures,
bat lam Moises* volt rr eaavlelsa that the greatest
advaninips w to'bo admit from in agosManity afforded
to the weeldig men of yezmiog spud IS by their own
fireside,. (Cheers.) I believe dal EMI men who have
risen from obscurity, and attained the honours in
this country. may dote than impwameti and their rise
in society to OM 111.111110111111 losing of good books
by their own lemides. The library of this
institaties ima hyge,trilire des Sims when a very
small ea% amoully directed tore porDose, will soon
penis= trod library. Is wry pamper days the works of
mut anadlnni authors were so oe as almost to condo*
that um end possession to the classes. Now the
best vein esey be obtained eta eeatively imionliksat
.alley, ea 1 hope you mobs a dooming* assellin to
ersomeat these walls with • mamboed liberal of stand-
ard and wmpfal works. With mini to the gnamoola elfin
institutive, I ma glad to eft the dos aas fi-
nances is, on the whale, on misibeteey. Within She last
ten minutes Mayhinebtanmegorially improved. (Lanelhter.)
I never Nail aq iyeedlim Hilt I liked better than those
brief but banditti e.lllllllll-meats of donations isrds
the " debt fociL" PO= and laughter.) Such Apra of
unthreads gas vsoidi the figures of speech in the world.
(Cheers.) Tour inentiskl may say, are now in a tolerably
satisfactory ortadition Tee went through two or three years
• of deficit, semi sow you have a surplus on the current expen-
diture. I ham, is the affairs of government, it is some-
times rather mere &Gault to deal with • surplus than it is
with a Melt (leers of laughter.) Here, however, the
surplus is net et oodleiest extent to create any such dal-
eulty. The support gives to your iostitatiou by the mien
bowing pony as valuable to yes and creditable to them;
bet. Wall the sapper% that most to be valued, is the ]
sup-
Sof the modwolas themselves (Hear, hear.) It is the
Urethan to odd yes. bee depend upon it self-rebus@
• oellwaseelea ewe the best mesas at omen. (Cheers.)
I bop the landomma end zonhaaito of Slough will give
this fralliallota tbsir beet womicat. As a neigldsom, if by
basalie mews la my power I can render you a senile,
I shed way We Me happy. (Cheer.) Lou Misled that
I aced art AMA' yes my amend I will et lam eon-
taste by et hag per he with ad the lemurs,
rformity to the so* hwatatig.." ((heat
Thasigrev. W. G. Coelmisy, of RIR College ,• Mr. H.
Derain. of Wiediser. ; 11r. Li. amnia. XL A. B. Haney,
sad Mbar geollmseetc
_Waimea. aileemed esaysay,
sad tie preseethep me lersetheee meth mithlikt

MONMOUTHSHIRE CANAL AND MAMMAL—Yes-
terday the half-yearly meeting of this company was held at
the Bill Hotel, us Gloucester ; Mr. Haywood in the chair,
in the abeam* of Mr. Makemore, M.P. The report of the
duectors, which has already been published, was taken as
read. The chairman entered into explanations respecting
the position of the company's affairs, and moved the adop-
tion of the report. A motion, upon whkh a most protracted
discussion took place, was subsequently carried to the
effect that a dividend should be declared, but not paid un-
til the affairs of the company were in a position to justify
the payment.