The Express.
London, England, 1868-02-11 00:00:00

COURT OP COMMON COUNCIL.

A special Court of Common Council was held
yesterday at Guildhall, the Lord Mayor presiding. Deputy
De Jersey called the attention of the court to areport of
proceedings at the Metropolitan Board of Works on
Friday, and to a statement made by Mr. Doelton on that
occasion, to the effect that • leading member of this court
had written • letter to Mr. Ellis, a gentleman with whom
the Metropolitan Board was represented to be in " tierce
antagonism," urging him to take advantage of the pro-
ceedings in bankruptcy against Mr. Furness to obtain in-
formation relative to the proceedings of certain members
of the board, and alleging that this tad firstly led to the
charge that had been made against him (Mr. Doulton). Mr.
Mutton had refused to give the name of the writer of the
letter, and therefore it could only, under any circum-
stances, be treated as an anonymous communication ; but
he (Deputy De Jersey) did not believe that any such
letter as that referred to bad ever been written by any
member of this court. Mr. Richardson said be thought
the town clerk ought to be instructed to write to Mr. Doul-
ton and inquire the name of the writer of the letter. Mr.
Medwin said it would perhaps save the time of the court
if he at once stated that he had written a letter upon the
subject referred to to Mr. Ellis, and he was quite prepared
to justify tie course he had taken. He would observe, in
the first instance, that the letter in question was a strictly
private one, and he bad yet to learn that because he was a
member of this court he was to be precluded from exprese-
ing the prirste opinion he entertained upon any question
of public importance. He regarded the Metropolitan
Board of Works as an incubus preening heavily upon the
ratepayers of the metropolis, and he believed that if all the
jobberles that had been committed by the board and by
individual members of it were to be made known, that it
would not be allowed to exist. He was a large ratepayer
in the parish of St. James's, and he considered he bad •
a perfect right to protect his own interests, and, foaling
that the bankruptcy of Mr. Furness offered an
opportunity for obtaining information relative to
the proceedings in which he had been connected
with the Metropolitan Board, ha wrote the letter in ques-
tion, suggesting that when Mr. Furness seine to be ex-
amined in the Bankruptcy Court, this information
should be obtained from him. He thought there could be
no doubt that Mr. Furness bad been ruined by the im-
positions that bad been practised upon him, and be (Mr.
Medwin) believed that if all the proceedings of the Metro-
politan Board in reference to similar matters were to be
made public it would not survive for an hour. The Lord
Mayor here interposed, and observed that although the
discussion might be interesting to some honourable mem-
bers, it was entirely out of order, as there was no motion
before the court, and the subject dropped. Some dis-
cussion took place on the subject of an alteration in the
seal of the Sheriffs' Court, made by order of the judge.
Mr. Kerr. That court has, under a recent statute, become
the City of London Small Debts Court, and Mr. Kerr has,
it appears, authorised the substitution in the seal of the
royal arms for those of the City. Thin was looked upon by
some members of the Court of Common Council as an un-
warrantable proceeding, and the matter was referred to •
committee for consideration. A claim by Mr. Kerr for •
proportion of the fees of the court gave rise to • warm
discussion, and was also referred to a committee.
Mr. W. Lawley, the chairman of the Local Government
and Taxation Committee, brought up • report from that
committee, having reference to the proposed annexation of
the parishes of Bt. Luke's and Clerkenwell with the East
and Wert London Unions. He said the committee had
been in communication with the government, and the Earl
of Devon, the President of the Poor Law Board,and had ex-
pressed their views in opposition to the proposed annex-
ation of portions of the City of Loudon with the districts
alluded to, and he believed be might state that the pro-
posed annexation would be abandoned. (Hear, bear.) At
the same time he thought it right to inform the court that
the government were determined upon making some
and • proposition would probably be brought forwardebiar;
the amaivonatice of all the three City unions. Hs did met
think they ought to object to this proposition, bat thecae*.
make would oontinue their attention to the subject, sad
the corporation would, no doubt, readily co-operate with
the government in carrying out any scheme that waslikaly
to work beneficially. After the transaction of some other
business the court adjourned.

Ten Ramat[ Act AND RATIL—A largo number
of weekly terusis hare bees ranunceed before Yr. Minds,
at Woolwich, who are celled on, far the first to pay
rates, under the provisions of the Reform Act plea
they made was that the landlords would mot &duet the
rates from the rest. Mr. Mande said there weld, me
doubt, be &groat deal of hardship felt for some thee to seese,
until the new law went as omeothly. If the landlord erili-
naUy agreed to pay the rate he Ws red be wee sell BONN
as do se, theses the tenant wee made respiusible to the
pariah.
A Glasgow oontemposary states that a Roman
eatholls hierarchy is sheet to 1. established in fliothad.
The archbishop or cardinal is to be Bishop Lpsolasfo
aw
residing al Carelairs ; aid Father Parkinson, am
*ewer.," will bs Wisp of Gleagow.