The Express.
London, England, 1849-11-23 00:00:00

COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL

Yesterday a court Mae had foe the despatch of
public business. It was the fast of the present mayoralty.
The LORD MAYOR, upon taking his seat, intimated to
the wort that he hoped, wale the assistance of the members,
Is perform the duties of his aim in mule a manner as would
meet the approbation of his fellow den= and the public.
1111 TRLISIII OP Till 00011 T TO TIM LATE LOAD IL&TOZ.
Mr. Deputy BEDFORD said he had to perforce the
;dewing duty deeming &vote of thanks to Sir Junes Duke,
the late Lord Mayor. (Cheers.) He entertained no doubt
se es the unanimity which that preposition would be
carried, for during his long experience no man had sea-
dusted himself in the high office of Lord Mayor in a asemer
mere entitled to public approbation. The deputy coededed
*highly complimentary speech by moving the following vote
of thanks :
" Resolved,—That the cordial and sincere thaaks of this
court are hereby presented to Sir James Duke, Knight and
Baronet, M.P., late Lord Mayor, for the admirable manner
in which he has sustained the dignity and upheld the cha-
racter of the high and responsible of of chief magistrate of
this ancient City, fulfilling all its duties with credit to him-
self and satisfaction to the public ; for the munificent hospi-
tality displayed by him, not only to his fellow-
citizens, but also to the representatives of foreign
courts, as well as to the distinguished public
men of this country, without regard to political patty or
religious opinion, while at the same time he has not been
unmindful of that proper consideration so eminently due to
art, science, and literature ; for his liberal patronage and
advocacy of the many noble charities and public institutions
which adorn this metropolis, more especially for his prompt
exertion in aiding by hie official authority the measures
adopted to arrest the ravages of the recent fatal visitation of
cholera; for the able, impartial, and dignified manner in
which he has presided over the deliberations of this court, and
for the courtesy exhibited at all times to its members—That
this court congratulates him upon the honours awarded to
him during he mayoralty, entertaining • confident hope
that he will long retain the approbation of this court and of
his tellow-einzens, by the fsitaful discharge of his public
duties, watching over their important shipping and com-
mercial interests, and upholding their rights and privileges,
as one of the representatives of this City in the great council
of the asthma." (Cheers.)
Mr. Deputy OIIBARD wooded the resolution.
Mr. It. L. JONES could not think of agreeing with the
vote without being supplied with the written communica-
tions wheel Sir James Duke had received relates to her
Maj esty's intended visit to the Coal Exchange. The late
Lord Mayor bad admitted, upon being questioned on a for-
mer occasion, that he had received a letter intimating that
the Queen was indisposed. It appeared that the letter
to that elect had reached his lordship while presiding in that
court, but nothing was said by him upon the subject. On the
evening of the same day, however, a paragraph appeared in
an castanet paper announcing the tact of the illness of her
Majesty ; and on &subsequent day his lordship acknowledged
the receipt of letters on the subject, sad promised to commu-
nicate their contents to the court. Not a word had since been
discloted; and he apprehended that by the very fact of the con-
cealment the citizen* had been deprived of the honour of her
Majesty's presence. (Loud cries of " No.") Upon • strict
inquiry it would be touud that such was actually the me.
It there ore became the duty of the court to insist upon the
production of the letters, and he wished to know from Mr.
Wood, the chairman of the committee, whither Sir James
Duke had placed in his hands the communications alluded
to ? and of arch were the case, he wished the chairman of the
committee to read them to the court. (Cries of "hem,
hear," and " no, no.")
lir. ANDERTON said he hoped the chairman would de
nothing of the kind. (Loud cheers.) If Bic James Duke
had, upon the receipt of the information that her Majesty
was indisposed, communicated that intelligence to the
court, his oonduot would indeed have deserved blame. Could
they not see the effect which such a statement would have
had upon the whole country? The report would have been
immediately circulated that the Queen's health was in a
dangerous state. (" No, no," and loud cries of " yes.")
Would not such • report be used for certain purposes on the
Stock Exchange ? (dear, hear.) He altogether disapproved
of any allusion to the subject, especially as it was a matter
which had been entertained within closed doors.
After some farther discussion,
The resolution weal put sad carried, the only hand held
no against it being that of Mr. Lott.
Upon the motion of Mr. Deputy BPDPORD, seconded by
Mr. Depute OBEARD, a copy of the r. solution of thanks to
Sir James Duke was ordered to be written on vellum, and
emblazoned and framed and glued, and presented to the
hon. baronet.

T+•e LORD MAYOR sail he had just received a neap
from fiir James Duke intimating that the hon. baronet
wished to make a confidential communication to the court.
The court was then cleared of strangers, and Sir James en-
tered, amidst cheers. The communication related, we under-
stand, to Smithfield market.
Some other bu•inen having been dispatched,
The court proceeded to appoint four commissionen upon
the Metropolitan Commission of Sewers, in accordance with
the mt. The following gentlemen were appointed:—Mr.
Aldermen Lawrence, Mr. Deputy Peacock, Mr. Deputy
Harrison and Mr. H. L. Tailor.
Several rs porta were brought up from the Coal, Corn, and
Finance Committee, recommending that sums of money
should be granted to charities.
The court agreed to the reports, and the Chamberlain was
ordered to pay the amounta.—Adjourned.