The Express.
London, England, 1867-11-22 00:00:00

COURT OP COMMON COUNCIL.

A Court of Common Council was held yesterday
at Guildhall, at which the Loin) Maros presided for the
first time since his appointment to the office of chief
magistrate of the City of London. He was received in a
most cordial and friendly manner. Upon the motion of
Deputy Gammon, seconded by Mr. Burke, • cordial and
unanimous resolution of thanks wee awarded to the late
Lord Mayor (Sir T. Gabriel), for the very able and satis-
factory manner in which be had performed the duties of
that office during the past year. Deputy Fry asked the
chairman of the Entertainment Committee who had the
making of the arrangementefor the guests in Guildhall on
Lord Mayor's day, by whose authority the bar had been
placed across the ball which separated the members of
that court and a great many other visitors from the die-
tinguished guests at the upper table. (Hear, hear.) ~The
court bad already expressed • strong opinion as
to the impropriety of this proceeding, and '
he considered it a gross insult. Alderman Phil-
lips, with regard to the general arrangements last
Lord Mayor's day, said there appeared to be a cold-
ness
about the whole affair whiel he had never before
witnessed. (Cries of " Hear, hear," and " No, no.") It
was not to his mind anything like the Lord Mayor's feasts
of old. They had reduced the number of visitors to 800, but
he had seen 1,200 cheerful, happy citizens sitting down to
the dinner, and they all seemed pleased and contented.
In the course of the discussion it was stated that the Ow-
ing the bar in question rested with the committee of the
Court of Aldermen, and that it was in accordance with
ancient custom. All desire that such a distinction
should have been drawn between the guests was repu-
diated by the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs. A report was
brought up giving a detail of the works that were going on
at the new bridge at Bhickfriars which it appeared were
progressing satisfactorily. Mr. Ben Slowman called the
attention of the court to the great danger that was likely
to arise from the close proximity of the new bridge to the
railway bridge. The noise of the trains was most likely to
frighten horses, and at night, when accompanied by
glaring lights close to the thoroughfare for horses and
vehicles, he was satisfied from experience, that unless
precautions were taken serious accidents must inevitably
take place. The Town Clerk then read two letters that
had been received by the Lord Mayor from the Privy
Council-office, announcing the intention of the govern.
ment to propose a bill in the next session of parliament
authorising the erection of • market for the express pur-
pow of slaughtering and disposing of foreign cattle.
The next business was the consideration of • petition by
Mr. John Walker, jeweller, of Threadneedle-street, who
was robbed of property the cost price of which was 4,0001.
by the Cawley gang of burglars, praying that the court
would order him to receive some portion of the money
found in the possession of the prisoners at the time of
their apprehension, and which had been taken possession
of by the then Sheriffs of London, by virtue of their office.
Mr. Cox moved that the petition be referred to the Law
and Parliamentary Committee, which was seconded by Mr.
Banister, and • very warm discussion took place, the majo-
rity of the speakers expressing • strong opinion that it was
a most improper proceeding for the corporation of London
to be in any way concerned in the appropriation of the
property of felons. It transpired that the corporation
had originally purchased the right from the crown many
centuries ago, and that they paid 300 f. for that right, and
still continued to do so. In the course of the discussion
it was announced that only one alderman was present, two
being required, and there being thus no court the matter
was brought to an abrupt termination, and an adjourn-
ment took place.