The Express.
London, England, 1848-04-14 00:00:00

COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL
Yesterday a Court was held.
PRESENTATION OF THB FREEDOM or THE CITY TO
Loan HARI/INCR.—Soon after 12 o'clock Lord Hardinge
was introduced to the court by Mr. R. L. Jones, the mover,
and Mr. John Wood, the sedonder of the resolution, amidst
great applause. The City Chamberlain then read the resolu-
tion, and swore in the noble lord is the usual form. The Cham-
berlain, having addressed his lordship in a laudat speech,
concluded by naming his lordship as citizen and merchant

tailor.
Lord HARDINOa then said—My lord, in receiving them
tokens of the approbation of this corporation representing the
freemen of the metropolitan city of this empire, am most
deeply sensible of the honour which you, my lord. and my
brother freemen have conferred upon me. I feel very grate •
fad for the obliging terms in which your address is worded,
I am happy to learn that my endeavours to use the authority
placed in my hands for the government of a large and dis-
tant empire should, in your lordship's opinion, and in that of
the freemen of the City of London, have been exercised for
the benefit of the Indian community and the security *1 her
Majesty's eastern possessions. (Cheers.) In obeying her
Majesty's summons, when "elected by the court of directors of
the East India Company to undertake the high and
responsible duties of the government of India, I hoped to
earn the approbation of my sovereign and my country by
maintaining peace, as the means of promoting the social in-
terests and welfare of the people of India. (Cheers.) When
war broke out, by the unprovoked aggression of a licentious
and warlike people, the Indian army, under the command of
its distinguished and experienced leader Lord Gough, nobly
sustained its former reputation for valour, discipline, and
fidelity. The successes of the army not only gave me the
power of obtaining an honourable and lasting peace, and
with it all those blaming' of en improved condition which
constitute a nation's happiness, but it enabled me RI, qtly to
relieve the population of the Puojaub itself from the anuchy
anal oppression under which It had so severely laboured.
(Cheers.) The moral influence of education and civilisation
under a just rule must have the effect of raising the native
population to a higher social position, and thus gradually to
achieve by peaceful means the increased preeperity of all classes
of the community. (Cheers.) In a commercial point of view,and
in proportion as the coalition of the population is improved,
India will offer a large outlet for British manufactures
and the employment of our shipping The principal staples
of Indian commerce are capable of great exsension, and, by a
reciprocity of benefits, will become each year more conducive
to the prosperity of both countries. These ameliorations de-
pend on the maintenance of peace, which, in my opinion,
will be preserved, inasmuch as a just and benevolent rule
will cause the elements of resistance to disappear, by the con-
tentment of all classes ; or if any refractory spirit should dis-
play itself, such is the irresistible force of the British para-
mount power, that our army on the frontier can have no
difficulty in enforcing order. It is most true, as the Cham-
berlain has stated in the address, that " we live in eventful
times;" but, in common with all England, I am
proud of the loyalty and good sense of my fellew-
citizens, and being well acquainted with the military serf ice
of her hlajcsty, in whine ranks I have been trained, I
know that our soldiers will ever be found as obedient to the
civil authorities, in guarding the throne and maintaining the
law of the land at home, as they have been ready to main-
tain our national honour abroad. (Cheers.) I say this,
my lord, beceuse I am convinced that our citizens and our
soldiers are determined to preserve unimpaired the glory
and strength of this unrivalled empire. (Chem.) I again
beg to thank your lordship and the corporation for the
honour which has this day been conferred upon me.—Lord
Hardinge then left the court amidst enthusiastic cheers.
Mr. R. L. Jottits moved and Mr. J. WOOD seconded the
motion, that the address of the Chamberlain and the an-
swer of Lord Hardinge be entered on the minutes of the
court —Carried unanimously.
THE PRESERVATION OF THE PEACE ON THE IOTII OP
APRIL—The LORD MAYOR said he had received a letter
from Sir G. Grey, thanking the citizens for their exertions
in keeping the peace en Monday last. The letter was or-
dered to be enter ed on the journals of the court.
Deputy CORNEY proposed a motion of thanks to her
Majesty's ministers for the prompt and energetic measures
they adopted for the preservation of the peace on Mon-
day last.
Objections were made to the motion by members
of the court, and several amendments were intro-
duced, and subsequently a portion of one of them
was engrafted upon the original motion, which then
read as follows ,—" That the thanks of this court be
given to her Majesty's government for the judicious and
energetic measures adopted en Monday last, the 10th inst.,
for the preservation of the pence and order of this great
metropolis."
Mr. GILPIN thought that the preparations to elaborately
made were not required by the circumstances of the case.—
The motion wan put and carried.
Mr. R. L. JONEs moved "that this court desire to record
their sense of the spirit and determination evinced by all
classes of their fellow-citizens to maintain peace and good
order against the late attempts to create confusion, and to
congratulate them on the successful result that has attended
their well-intended and well.directed efforts."—Mr. J. WOOD
seconded the resolution.
Mr. Wats then rose to move an amendment, " That the
resolutions should be advertised in the newspapers, and that
copies should be forwarded to Sir G. Grey." Though he
was net a chartist, he could not forget that there were many
and great grievances under which the public laboured. lie
hoped the time would come when these would all be removed
from the shoulders of the people. He trusted that be never
should be led into the error of giving as his opinion that it
was not right for the people to meet and ask for their privi-
leges as free-born Englishmen, as they had repeatedly done
on former occasions. (Hear, hear.) To say that, would be
to nullify repeated resolutions made in thatcourt, and to stop
the course of constitutional freedom; and while every one of
them must approve of the quiet which took place on Mon-
day last, it must not be forgotten that that formed an addi-
tional argument that the people should be permitted
without fear to exercise their political privileges.
He certainly disapproved of large and tumultuous meet.
logs of the people, but he hoped that he never should deny
the right of the people to express their unbiassed opinion'.
He would remind pantie* present that the propositions now
before the government had been made in the midst of a pe- I
tiod of great excitement ; nor could it be denied that the
people had been in a measure goaded on by the negleet of
past days.
Mr. /lota having seconded the amendment,
Mr. Nonnts rose to support the motion. As to the bodies
unrepresented, he was as anxious as any one could be that
they should have every constitutional privilege. But such
tunes must know that what they required must be obtained
instalments, and that the means used to accomplish such
& purpose must be of constitutional character. (Hear.)
The original motion was carried unanimously, as was
Mr. Wire's amendment introduced as a substantive motion.
Mr. It. L. JONES moved, and Mr. J. Woon seconded—
` That the Court respectfully suggest to their fellow-citizens
*at a general declaration should be made of their attach-
Went to the throne, &c., and their acknowledgment of the
measures taken by all classes to maintain peace and good
order."—Agreed to unanimously.
Several other resolutions, amongst which were some of thank
to the Lord Mayor and Aldermen for the zeal, activity, and
discretion evinced in the measures they adopted to assist in
maintaining and sawing the public peace : to Mr. D. W.
Harvey, the commissioner of the City police, for his judicious
and effective arrangements of the police force of the City,
to the superintendent and constables of that force, and to the
lieutenant-colonel, officer', and privates of the hon. artillery
company for the readiness with which they attended, &c.,
were then put aed carried unanimously, and amidst acclama-
tions. It was also resolved unanimously that the letter of
Sir G. Grey should be printed and circulated, and that a
coy should be given to each of the special constables.
HE WORKMEN EXPELLED FROM FRANCE.—Upon the
eviction of Mr. AN DERTON, it was resolved that the sum of
'2OOl. should be subscribed out of the City's cash towards the
relief of the British workmen and their families compelled to
leave France .—The court then adj. urned.

COURT OF SEWERS.
A court of sewers was held yesterday in Room
No. 22 in the New Houses of Parliament. Lord Morpeth
in the chair.
A letter was read from Sir John Hall, stating that all the I
sewers within the district of St. Katharine's were under the
superintendence of the dock company ever since the forma.
tien of the docks, and that the company would continue to
take the charge of and keep in repair all the sewers of that
district. On the receipt of this letter It was resolved that the
dock company had ne legal right to retain the superintend-
ence of the sewers in the St. Katherine's district, and that
'he commissioners could not sanction their continuing to do
so. This rca lotion bad been communicated to Sir John
Hall. but no reply had been received from him. The court
adopted the following resolutions:
That no person be retained in the service rf the commi”ione as a
salarird officer who is in private practice, OT whose whole time is not
si vlsble to the public serfior.—Thot the prOILOORT to be allowed for
lLe collection of the rates be in no one more than 6d. In the pound.
Tbe SECRETARY read a correspondence which had taken
pi :cc between the commission and the Sewage Manure Com-
p Liy, on the resolution of the court that the company would
n be permitted to proceed with their works until as ar-
rimeement was come to whereby the company would be
bound to pay a certain proportion of the rate in considera-
tlin of the company getting the profits arising from the
soil. The company denied the right of the commission to
•tep the provress of their works, which were sanctioned by
two acts of parliament, and they expressed their determina-
tion to proceed with them.—A resolution was passed by the
rourt directing that the works of the campany should not be
'emitted to be proceeded with.
Thanks were voted to the 250 men in the employ of the
t ourt, for having acted as special constables en the 10th inst.
Mr. STOLWAY, of Holhcrn, read a petition complaining of
me conduct and management of the old commissioners, who
had, during the whole of their period of office, expended the
sum of 13,3201. instavern bills. During the year 1847, they
lead expended 4131. at the Albion tavern, and they had given
.o the surveyor, who had a salary of 4501., a sum of 4001. for
the previous eight years, although during those years be had
been paid his salary regularly.
Lord Mostrvrit and other members of the court assured
the petitioner that the subject had already engaged the
Attention of the commissioners, and they had come tea reso-
lution not to allow any tavern bills to be charged against the
rates, and every precaution would be need to control the
xp
eenditure.
From the balance-sheet read by the secretary, it appeared
•hat at the last court the balance to hand was 16,3491.75, 3d. ;
expended since, 5,3761. 17s. 6d. ; balance now in band,
5,9761. 9s. Yd.
The court then adjourned to the 4th of May.

CABINET COUNCIL.—The Firequeen, steamer, is
ender orders to convey the cabinet ministers from Portamouth
to Osborne House on Saturday (to-morrow).