The Sun.
London, England, 1855-10-30 00:00:00

to them what he could spare from his scanty income,
how seldom did the bishop take him by the hand and
reward him for it ! One clergyman in his (Sir C.
Napier's) own neighbourhood had done that, and had as
much chance of promotion as be (Sir C. Napier) had of
becoming Archbishop of Canterbury. (Cheers and
laughter.) In going into Parliament he would give his
general support to Lord Palmerston, but he wished it at
the same time to be clearly understood that he would com-
mit himself to no man breathing. (Great cheering.) He
had nothing to ask for himself ; his only wish to get into
Parliament was for the good of his country, and, if
he got there, he was in no position to receive any
favour from the Government. They all knew that he
was not the man to sacrifice his principles or indepen-
dence. He had lately rejected an honour proffered to
him ; in doing so he meant no offence to his Queen, as
he was ready to sacrifice his life for her, but he could
not receive the honour offered to him after the manner in
which he bad been treated. He had been independent
all his life, and he hoped that he should be so until his
dying day. The present question for the electors of
Southwark to consider was who should be the best repre-
sentative of the masses ; and if the masses considered
him to be the proper person, he hoped they would all
come up to the poll early and give him their votes. The
Parliament would be a short one, and it was believed
would not last six months, so that if he did not satisfy
them they would soon have the opportunity of turning
him out. (Cheers.)
Mr. LEGG said, Sir C. Napier was just the man they
ought to send to Parliament. His opponent was a very
respectable man ; but it was mean on the part of Mr.
Scovell to seek to represent a constituency for the sake
of that constituency only. He ought to represent the
country generally. Sir C. Napier had more energy than
he ever saw before in a matt of his age • and, in addition
to this, the gallant Admiral was an 'honest man, and
would truckle to no one. They had already paid
100,000,0001. for the war, and if it went on much longer
they would have to pay 400,000,0001. or 500,000,0001.
more, so that they particularly required a man to see
that the money was properly expended. He hoped that
when the time came they would all be found voting for
Sir C. Napier, and concluded by moving the following
resolution :
"That, having heard the able,' manly, and straight-
forward exposition of political principles given by Sir C.
Napier, we are of opinion that it is the bounden duty of
the electors of Southwark to afford the gallant Admiral
an opportunity of gibing effect to those principles in the
British Legislature ; and we therefore pledge ourselves
to use every legitimate means to return him triumphantly
to the Commons' House of Parliament."
The Scovellites were quaking in their shoes, and he was
quite confident that Sir Charles would have a majority
of 3,000 on the day of election.
Mr. T. SMITH seconded the resolution.
Mr. S. MURRAY, in a long speech, denounced the at-
tempt to support the election of Mr. Scovell by bringing
in the name of Sir J. Graham, who had broken open let-
ters and made himself the tool of Austria. He hoped,
however, that in the coming struggle each man would
consider himself as the centre of a circle, and as such
would do his best to establish the national honour and
integrity. _

The
resolution wag then put and carried unanimously,
amid great cheering.
A vota of thanks was passed to the chairman, and the
meeting separated.

CO-OPERATION WITH- THE GOVERN-
MEET IN MUNICIPAL IZEFORM.

COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL.

Yesterday, pursuant to adjournment, the Court assem-
bled for the purpose of proceeding in the debate on the
following motion :—" That it is desirable to co-operate
with her Majesty's Government in passing through Par-
liament a bill for the reform of the corporation, founded
upon the resolutions agreed to by this Court on the 24th
of February, 1854 ; that the Remembrancer be directed
to prepare the draught of a bill in conformity with the
above resolution to be submitted for the approval of this
Court ; and that a conference be held thereon with her
Majesty's Government."
Mr. THOMAS H. FRY said—l introduce the subject as
an independent member, having no personal or private
interest to serve, no ambition to gratify, no favour to
ask. All I own is to having connected myself with
this important municipal institution. Having seen that
it is capable of much improvement, I have a desire to
become the instrument of making it what it has
been in times gone by—respected from without and
a centre of power and influence in accomplishing
great and permanent good. They had not to
discuss whether they would reform themselves, but what
would be the reform made there. (Hear.) He had not
been long a member of that court before he bad heard
his friend Mr. Anderton say that " the corporation
would never reform itself." (Hear.) He held i❑ his
hand a statement made by the Consolidated Committee,
and of which his friend Mr. Anderton was a distin-
guished member, at page 28 of which that committee,
in comparing the state and condition of the last century
with the present, showed that in 14 particulars the cor-
poration had reformed itself. They happily lived in days
of great advancement and progress, when men's feelings,
thoughts, and opinions were changing, and he hoped all
for the better. It was for the advancement of tne pro-
gress of this human institution that it became necessary
they should conscientiously alter and reform that cor-
poration. (Hear.) He thought, further, they might
take as a test that the advancement and progress they
had made was of that class of progress they required.
The work before them was a labour of love, and not of
fear ; and he thought it would he a disgrace and a shame
if they did not try to bring about such reform and hn-
proveaaents. He concluded by submitting the following
resolutions :
" That it is desirable to co-operate with her Majesty's
Government in passing through Parliament a bill for the
reform of the corporation founded upon the resolutions
agreed to at this Court on the 24th of February, 1854.
" That Mr. Remembrancer be directed to prepare the
draught of a bill, in conformity with the above resolu-
tion, for the approval of this Court, and that a conference
be held thereon with her Majesty's Government."
Mr. Ross seconded the motion, which he considered to
be more calculated to show their sincerity in the cause
of reforming themselves than the annual tournament
which took place in the court before St. Themas's•day.
Mr. ANDERTON said he at present entertained the
opinion be bad so frequently expressed, that the corpora-
tion would never reform itself. Too great a variety of
opinions existed among the members to be capable of
being reduced to an effective plan. (Hear.) He had
agreed to some changes which had been proposed, as
calculated to improve their institutions, because he was
determined never to oppose anything which appeared to
him to be likely to lead to a desirable reform ; but be
really thought it a waste of time to send to Parliament
a bill founded upon these resolutions.
Mr. Cox moved as an amendment that "The various
resolutions of the Court of the 24th of February, 1854,
be taken into consideration seriatim," and added that he
wished for a reform the result of the co-operation of the
Court with the members of her Majesty's Government.
Mr. BARELY seconded the amendment.

Deputy CORNEY wished to know from the Lord -Mayor
whether a bill for the reform of the corporation was not
already in existence. I.le.had been given to understand
that the Lord Mayor had a copy of one in his pocket.
(Laughter.)

-
The LORD MAYOR—A rough draught of a bill was con-
fidentially lent to myself. I only had it in my possession
for a few hours, and that is all I. know about it.
Mr. BEaLEY said he believed that the welfare of the
corporation very much depended upon the steps they
were now taking. The resolutions of 1854 appeared to
be no surrender of the privileges of the corporation, but
had nevertheless been adopted by them. The question
was whether the Remembrancer should at once be in-
structed to prepare a bill in conformity with those reso-
lutions, which bill must be evidently antagonistic to the
report of the commissioners. He was very anxious that
no further notice should be taken of the question of re-
form until the bill proposed by the Government was be-
fore the corporation, who would then be in a condition
to deal with it. (Hear, hear.)
Alderman EAGLETON thought the Court would act
wisely in postponing all further discussion on the subject
until the bill was before the Court.
_ _

Mr. Cox—lf it be the desire of the Court, under the
altered state of circumstances, a bill being now in pre-
paration, that my amendment should be withdrawn, I
shall be most happy, with the consent of the seconder,
to withdraw it.

Mr. BARKLY—I agree to its being withdrawn.
Withdrawn.

Mr. BEZLET then moved, as an amendment, " Tbat
no farther discussion take place* until the Court had the
Government bill before them."
Mr. BLAKE seconded the amendment.

Mr. W. JONES said that on the occasion of the late
visit of the Emperor of the French to Guildhall one of
the leading members had told him (Mr. Jones) that they
had no wish to interfere with the corporation if they
would prepare a bill of their own.
Deputy BOWER said if the amendment had been car-
ried as originally proposed, in all probability the Court
would have approved of the first eight resolutions, but
it was upon resolution No. 9 that the argument turned.
It was known that the Court of Aldermen would never
be allowed to continue as it was. If the corporation let
matters remain in statu quo, then the bill to which allu-
sion had been made would be introduced into the House
of Commons, and all chance of successfully defeating its
provisions would be at an end.
Mr. GRESHAM thought the time had arrived when the
Court might, with advantage to themselves, say that
they were willing to co-operate with the Government for
the reform of the corporation.
Mr. BELL strongly recommended the Court to resist
the reduction of the number—a measure which, if car-
ried, would have the effect of excluding a good deal of
ability and talent. In his judgment, it would be an
act of folly to elect aldermen periodically, and nothing
would be more derogatory to justice than that an alder-
man, at the end of seven years, should be seen canvass-
ing for re-election.
Mr. T. PARKER said that the Commissioners of In-
quiry had investigated the subject of reform of the cor-
poration, and the Consolidated Committee had
made a report, against which he (Mr. Parker) Lad voted
32
with Mr. Fry. The commissioners recommended
things to be done. Of this number the Consolidated
Committee had conceded eighteen, many of the re-
mainder being inconsiderable and unimportant ; but to
some of these—such as the conservancy of the Thames,
takingand the away of the Chamberlain's accounts, and
a few things of that kind—they could not possibly agree
under any circumstances. It now p
the corporationpeared that the Go-
vernmeut bill had been prepared a ,
and
might depend upon it that.
_the gentlemen who made
these recommendations would support their opinion to
the last. The Court would stultify thoultielvQB by agreeing