The Express.
London, England, 1853-03-23 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY EVENING MARCH 23, 1853

Whims of the City the opportunity of dealing with the I
(Lotion in a manner the least beneficial to the citizens
tens rally, while it must be admitted by all that prolinii-
tory to all other reform, must be the extension of the con-
ditucney. Hence he regretted that tho 'nation of Mr.
Wake should be met by an amendment of the previous'
question. He trusted the court would negative that amend-
ment, and thus allow his Mud (Sir James Duke) to bring
is • ulut intive amendment a resolution which should meet
•ith the unanimous concurrecce of those around him. He
strenuously advised the corporation not to incumber their
aid to parliament Shy asking the legislature to do that
which they could better do themselves. lie must remind
the court that before parliament itself was in existence the
repr sentative principle was acted upon in the City of
London. The corporation had existed for centuries, and
for centuries had represented,and proper:, so, pubic opinion.
It was not until the year 1725 that an set, obtained iu the
reign of George 1., interfered with the properly eonitituted
representative principle, which for ages had worked must ad-
vantageously, and it was the fact that the interference of par-
liament by the act of the 2nd of George 1., and the further
tinkering of that statute within the last few years, made it
necessary now to apply in the first place for a repeal of those
obnoxious acts. (Hear, hear.) Now those statutes limited
the extension of the franchise, and if they were r,pealed
and a m asure founded on a residency of a year and a day,
the old and popular franchise, under which the city
flourished for many centuries, then such other reforms
as time might have made necessary would follow as a
matter of course. But It had been said that parliament
would not tolerate an application of so limited a nature. lie
could only reply that the government of Lord John
Russell sanctioned such a bill, which received
tlo, approval of the House of Commons by being read a
second time, and there could be no doubt that if such •
bill wero again introduced it would be again approved of.
(Hear, hear.) But there had escaped the lips of several
speakers a charge that the Court of Aldermen had hitherto
stood in the way of all reform, and that the crying evil of
th day was tile want of aldermanic reform. (Laughter.)
Much f .llacy prevailed upon that subject. (Hear, hear.)
It was perfectly clear that any extended constituency must
necessarily affect both the Court of Aldermen and the
Court of Common Council. Each member of either court
nowt, in the event of his continuing a member of the cor-
porate lody, be subject to the re-election of the new con-
stituency ; hut there had been heaped upon the body of
which he was an unworthy member • great am•unt of
calumny, and it was left to be inferred that the Court
of Aldermen must be the most corrupt part of the corpora.
lion ; and that, failing to represent the wealth, intelligence
sod population of the City, it undoubtedly stool in need
of a scrupulous reform. But did such a charge of corrup-
tion come with a good grace from members of the Common
Council. for who were the member, of the Court of Alder-
men ? (Hear, hear.) Why, during the last ten years fifteen
elections for aldermen had taken place, and out of the
fifteen so elected, nine had been chosen from the Court of
Common Council. Again, it had been urged, in dispa-
ragement of the Aldermanic body, that they die not ind-
olently represent the upper classes of the citizens, but not-
withstanding such a charge, the present court numbered no
leas than 12, who either were or had been members of par-
liament ; but putting aside such imputation, no body of
men were more more desirous of truly representing their
feliuw citizens than the Aldermen themselves, and as they
were desirous to stand well with their fellow citizens, they
were unanimously of opinion that the time had fully ar-
rived when the Corporation of London should be extended
on the widest bogie suitable to the age. (Hear, hear.)
Alderman Copeland advised the Court to refer the con-
sideration of the question to a select committee, as a coin- ,
mittee of the whole court might prove exceedingly incon-
venient. (Hear.)
After a few words by Mr. Town,
Mr. T. HALL did not intend to be drawn into any exten-1
' sive discussion upon the question of general reform, but still,
he did think it was not expedient fo: the court to go into I
one question only. He thought that to go to parliament
with so bare a bill would give to Sir Benjamin Hall or other
parties • larger amount of power than if they applied for'
• larger measure. (Hear, hear.) Sir Benjamin might say,
" This meagre measure will not do: it's all nonsense."
(Hear.) He hoped the amendment would be agreed to.
Mr. BAINED defended the corporation from the inuendoes
which had been cut upon its members. He was in favour'
of extensive reforms. He would oppose Mr. Blake's motion
because it was not sufficiently comprehensive.
Mr. Puts reminded the court of the prosecutions of non-
freemen
which had taken place at the instance cf the Chem-'
'serials. He alluded to the case of a poor tradesman of the
name of Gentry, who resided in Bow-lane, whose goods bad'
been seized and sold to pay the fine.
Kr. Cox rose to order.

The Loan lfarou said that the matter had no reference
to the question before the court.
Mr. Cox was of opinion that the apathy of the public in
the matter was such that throe was no ground for an appli-
cation to parliament.
Deputy Coaxer defended the corporation as to the fines.
The court had agreed to lower the fines on freedoms to
63.8 d. if thegovernment nould take off the 31. for the
stamp; but the Chancellor of the Exchequer had said that
he could not afford to do so. (Laughtrr.)
Deputy &ray's!' supported Mr. Biake's motion on the
ground that it was the foundation of the others placed on
we business paper.
Mr. Roan advocated a consolidation of the three motions,
and he hoped that the whole matter would be referred to a
special committee for consideration and immediate report.
(Hear, hear.)
Alderman LAwstancn advocated the principle of reform
contained in the motion of Mr. Blake, while he was agree-
able to the reference of the whole of them to a special com-
mittee. He concluded with stating that if they obtained a
new constituency he did not believe that the Court of
C 312211011 Council would be better than at present, nor
did he think, as some did, that bankers, merchants, or
others of that clam, would ever then be found in the corpo-
ration.

After some further discussion took place, and a variety of
suggestions ware made, with the view f arriving at an
uhanimetts determination,
Mr. Deputy Pswgaiss rose to move the incorporation of
Mr. Blake's motion with that of which he had himself
given notice, to the following effect: " That it be referred
to a committee to prepare and present to this court a bill
for extending the franchise for the vrardmote elections in
the City of London to all persons occupying premises within
the City and rated to the amount of 101. rer annum ; the bill
to include such other suitable alterations in the corporation as
may be deemed advisable, and the committee to obtain the
support of the government to the measure, and to report
forthwith."

Mt. BLAII 1111 d Mr. H L. TAYLOR at onee consented to
withdraw the motion and the amendment, and the court
unanimously agreed to Mr. Pewtrese's proposition amidst
acclamations.
It wu then resolved that the committee should be a ward
committee, consisting of five of the aldermen present, and one
member of the Court of Common Council fur each ward.
The court then adjourned.

IRELAND.

MAIICIL 22.
There is no longer any uncertainty about the pre-
cise time at which the Great Industrial Exhibition,
of 1853 will be prepared for opening. It was feared
that the many interruptions which the progress of
the works encountered from the boisterous and in-
clement season we have passzd through, would have
prevented the building front being ready, and the
subsequent arrangement of the goods from being
effected in time for the day (the sth of May) origi-
nally fixed for the opening; but it now appears that
the further delay will be a very short one indeed,
and that everything will mast positively be in readi-
ness to have the exhibition opened to the public on
May 12, that is, in one week later than the day first
chosen. The following particulars of the present
state of the works my be interesting:
Twelve nut of the fourteen great arches of the roof of the
central hall are now raised, and the remaining two will be
in their pl ices in the course of the next couple of days. The
minor details of the framework of the roof are in rapid pro-
gress; and at the upper end of toe hall the process of
covering in has actually commenced. The southern hell is
now nearly completed, even in its decorations. These are
of a graceful and appropriate character. The slender pillars
which support the roof, fourteen on either hand, are painted
in a deep and vivid blue, with the exception of their capi•
tals, which are of the purest white. The roof is of a pale
azure, relieved by tints of yellow, white, and red, in which
the light framework over which it is extended is p laud.
The azure colour selected f the roof harmonies with
peculiar effect with the tiut of the sky, as seen through
the skylight of fluted glass, which extends continuously
the entire length of the hall. Blue of a similar tint
is used in the other decorations of this immense interior.
A remarkably pleasing effect is produced by the n-
troduction of large medallions u ornaments of the lower
portion of the roof, containing the arms of the various cities
of Ireland richly emblazoned in geld and vivid colours. In
the southern gallery of the hall iu question,the counters upon
which the articles arc to be exhibited are in rapid progress
of erection ; these occupy the centre of the gallery, and
free space is left on either si le for the current of visitors.
The northern ball is also in a great state of forwardness,
indeed, except in the point of decorations, which have not
yet commenced there—in ucarly as forward a state as the
southern one. Besides these three great halls two smaller
ones have, as most of cur readers aro aware, been added to
the design—one on the south for fine arts, and one on the
north for machinery. These are now nearly completed.
I We have the pleasing task to chronicle the introduction
under the roof of the built:log itself of an article intended
for exhibition—a sumptuous mirror, contributed by Mr.
Sibthorp, the contractor for the glazing of the works —it
measures seventeen feet by thirteen, and is pronounced by
competent authorities to be the finest mirror ever introduced
into this kingdom.
The committee of the liberal constituency of the
county of Alonaghan have just presented a compli-
mentary address, accompanied by a tea-service of
silver, to Dr. Gray, of the Freeman's Journal, who
contested that county at the late election.
It is stated to be the intention of the Board of
Ordnance to place a battery of guns of six inch bore
at the extremity of the western pier of Kingstown
harbour, and same works which have been lately
commenced there arc supposed to be intended for
that purpose. Such a battery, with that of the Pi-
geon-house in the centre of the bay, would undoubt-
edly present a formidable defence of the entrance by
sea to the Irish capital.