The Express.
London, England, 1853-01-21 00:00:00

COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL.

Yesterday a Court seas held, the LORD MAYOR in
the chair.
This being the first meeting of the newly-elected mem-
bers of the commons sines St. Thomas's Day, the proceed-
ings were interesting, especially to the councilmen, of whom
there were a large number present.
The minutes of the last court having been allowed to be
correctly entered in the journals, an unusually large num-
ber of applicants were admitted to the freedom of the City.
CITY AND CLIIIKINWILL 1111410 8888 NTS.
Mr. T. H. HALL, the chairman of the improvement
committee, brought up the following reports :—On the pro-
ceedings of the said committee during the last year as to
improvements within the City, together with the accounts
connected therewith ; and the like respecting the Clerken-
well improvements, and the accounts connected therewith.
Mr. HALL remarked that it was not his intention to say
a single word likely to excite discussion upon the proposi-
tion he intended just then to submit to the court—namely,
" that the proceedings of the committee he then held in his
hand should be printed and circulated amongst the mem-
bers of that court." During the year the committee had
worked very hard, and that the voluminous schedules at-
tached to the report would show. With reference to the two
reports to which he had alluded as to printing the accounts,
itc., he would say. no more than simply move that they be
printed, and furnished as early as possible to the members
of the court.—Agreed to.
Mr. HALL then said it became his duty to bring up a
further report, in addition to the previous one of the 18th
of January in the last year. Their attention had been
called to the state of the funds, and he wished to inform
the court that out of the amount they had already re-
ceived, they had paid away for claims of various kinds not
less than 40,000/. ; so that, after disposing of some further
pending liabilities of a similar kind, they would not have
more than 24,0001. remaining. Without his making the
slightest reference to the circumstance of the probability of
a railway being brought into the vicinity of the proposed
line of street, he might say that the committee had not the
slightest reason to presume but that a considerable return
would arise to the corporation from their proposed outlay
en the purchase of property. They had long desired to see
• good road from King's Cross, because they were of
opinion, and had been for years, that such a project
would prove beneficial, not only to the City, but to the
metropolis at large. (Hear.) The question was, how
they were to raise the money, and it was that question
which he wished the court to deal with as they thought
proper. In the case of this latter report, he would move,
therefore, that it be referred back to the commiZtee to re-
consider, and to adopt such measures with reference to pro-
viding additional funds as might be deemed desirable.
The motion having been seconded,
Deputy Low said he wished to ask a question. He found
it had been stated in the public papers that the corporation
of the City of London were clearing away the ground at
the north end of the new street, for Mr. Pearson's railway
terminus. He wiskel to know whether that was so, or
whether the ground had been cleared for the Clerkenwell

improvements.
Mr. HALL replied that the committee had contemplated
nothing but the faithful discharge of the duties involved in
the carrying out of the trust Imposed upon them, and as
they had no instructions in the terra* of that trust as to pro-
viding for a railway in the vicinity, of course the ground
had not been cleared by them for any such a purpose.
Deputy Lorr.—Then the statement which has appeared
in the Times to that effect is not true ? (Laughter.)
The motion was then carried.
TIER PROJECTED CITY RAILWAY TERMINUS.
Mr. H. L. Taxima, observing that this w is the day for
re-appointing committees, movcd—'. That it be an instruc-
tion to the Fleet Valley Improvement Committee forthwith
to make a final report of their proceedings to the court,
giving a detailed statement of the amount expended by
them ; also, to consider and report how this city's funds
may be reimbursed for the outlay that has been incurred,
and that the committee be thereupon dissolved." (Bear.)
Mr. Taylor referred to the terms in which Mr. Pearson 's
project had been introduced, and the understanding upon
which the committee was appointed, and compared them
with the measures now before parliament, for the purpose
of chewing that the promoters had entirely gone away
from their original plan. The continuance of the com-
mittee would, under these circumstances, be most unwise,

improper, and absurd.
Mr. Deputy Lorr seconded the motion.
Mr. ANDIUTON moved, and Mr. GRESHAM seconded, a
motion for leaving out tho words " and that the committee
be thereupon dissolved," which was carried.
Mr. PHILLIPS moved, and Mr. DALIN seconded, a
motion for leaving out that part of the resolution which re-
lated to reimbursement of funds. This was lost on a

sion by a majority of 18.
It was then resolved that the committal be instructed to
make no new engagements.

Deputy Lorr preiesle 1 a petition from Joseph Schlesin-
ger, for the re-payment of the amount of 3201., recogni-
emcee alleged to hare been forfeited.
Agreed that the memorial be referred to a committee to
examine and report,with another petition, by Solomon Bray,
Town Clerk, of Birmingham, of a similar import.

THE CITY MUNCH SOUP KITCHEN ♦ND HOSPICE.
Mr. DALIN presented a petition from the President,
Vice-Presidents, Chairman and Committee of the City
Branch Soup Kitchen and hospice, Victoria-street, for a
grant in aid of the funds.
From an informality in tle drawing up of the memorial,
however, which was fatal because it was not in accordance
with the standing orders of the court, the petition was, by
permission, withdrawn.

11,LHC110N 01' ALDRII.

DIOTIC3 OP YOTION.-1
• KIN.
Mr. ANNISTON gave notice of the following motion :
.. That it is the opinion of this Court that one fifth of the
number of Aldermen should go out of office annually, with
power to be immediately re-elected, and that in the event
of any alderman not being re-elected, he may, neverthe-
less, continue to be a masistrate upon the appointment of
the Court of Common Council,. and that application be
made to parliament accordingly.'
Some other business of no public importance wee then
transacted, after which the Court was adjourned.