The National Register.
London, England, 1820-09-24 00:00:00

I
COURT OF,COMMON COUNCIL.

••••••• •
Yesterday a Court of Common Council was held for the
dispatch ot a great deal of important business. It was
rather numerously attended.
Mr. Ckaussa said, he bad observed in the newspapers,
that ootwithstanding the notice taken in that Court of the
delay 'of the courts of justice in the Justices/loom, Guild-
ball, Alderman Annesley was represented as having ne-
glected his public duties for • whole week, and that
Alderman Heygate,
.who was appointed to attend, as
the deputy of Sir Claude Hunter, had not attended the
Justice-Room until nearly ball past two o'clock. The
Sheriff bad upon a former occasion stated, in contradiction
to him, (Mr. Oldham), that no neglect existed on the part
of the Aldermen. He wished to ask the Lord Mayor whe-
ther the Court of Aldermen had taken any steps to render
the administration of justice more punctual and regular
than it now was. He wished an answer to this question
before be adopted any proceedings upon this subject.
The Loan MAYOR said be was not aware that Alderman
Heygate absented himself, and as to Alderman Annesley,
the Sheriff was present, and could probably explain. His
Lordship observed, that the duties of Aldermen had in-
creased so much, as toarnder it very diSicult to procure
Magistrates to perform them with the required effect.
Sheriff ROTSWFLL said be was not aware that Alderman
Annesley bad neglected his duties.
Alderman Harmers came in in the course of the day, and
staled, that the delay *scribed to him arose from a defect in
his memory. He generally performed more than Ist was
bound to do and be wished those who bad complained
would take Into consideration the very hard duties which
the Aldermen had to perform. Delays of this kind were
certainly preferable in the opinion of the City to the em-
ployment of Police Magistrates.
Mr. OLDHAM Mid the City could not afford to have their
Aldermen about the country in militias. If Gentlemen
could not do their duty, they ought to resign their gowns,
and not be the means of causing confusion and incense-
ahem amongst tboa who had to apply to them in their
official capacity.
Alderman Sir WM. Corers said there was no place in
which justice was better administered than in the City. Ile
did his duty, and he despised the opii.,-Ar. of the crowd.
PRADSOM said it was the observation of a Lady, that a
Mee who began by despising the opinion of the Publile.
ended by deserving their contempt.—( Loud laughter.)
COPRIUMICATION note INC COMM.
Alderman WAITRICION said, he bad • communication to
leste to the Court ham her Majesty. lie had received a
letter from a Magistrate, • Member of that Court, who was
mow absent, enclosing a paper, signed "Matthew Wood."
lle then reed the letter, which was to the following eSket:—
N I am evenhanded by her Majesty the Queen, to request
rrtthe Corporation of the City of London will accept bee
it, as a testimony of the gratitude she feels towards
tbeffrat City in the world, for the sincere and zealous loyalty
they have ever manifested in the cause bf the Queen."—
(Cries of hear,
___ bear.)
Alderman WAITSMAN DOkl.tbat be bad waited on the Lord
Mayor to make the communication, but his Lordship not
being at home, he left a vote enclosing it, and requesting i
that his Lordship would disclose the circumstance to the
Court. In answer to this be received a letter from the Lord

Nagar, which be should now read. It was as follows :
" The Lord Mayor presents his compliments to Alderman
Waithman, and returns the Paper,signed " Matthew Wood."
The Lord Mayor declines presenting the paper to the Court,
because, wider existing circumstances, he think« it incon-
sistent with his duty to intermeddle with affairs of such ions
potence."
Now, whether the Lord Mayor was right or wrong in re-
feting to make the communication, was nut for him to say,
but his Lordship having given the refusal, helAlderrnali
Widthwise) should move, that the offer of the Portrait of
berMajesty be most gratefully accepted, and that the thauks
of the Court be returned to her Majesty, fox so condescend-
lag and gracious a mark of regard to the Corporatiun. The
worthy Alderman assured the Court, that nothing was more
near to the heart of her Majesty than the welfate of the City
of Leedom Nothing, in Ms opinion, was a stronger proof
of it than this way of allowing bee regard. It was the only
mods in her power,
Mr. OLDHAM seconded the motion. The offer of the por-
trait must at once be teceived. The Court must, however,
feel, at this period of the investigation, some dlffieulty in
acting. He hoped that her Majesty would come out pure
and unsullied. The Court sould rejoice at that event • but
it was their misfortunethat they could not now go so far int
they could wish. He was glad the motion of the sorthy
Alderman had stepped where it did stop. lie certainly
would be one of the first to reject it, if it had proceeded
further.

Mr. &eau, did not wish to promote a debate, bat for the
character of the Corporation be wished that the offer should
be received with the greatest respect. The present urotion
was consistent with what had been formerly dooc by the
Court, who had twice expressed their feelings to her Ma-
jeep, and had been twice received in the handsomest manure.
The Lord Mayor; in his magisterial situation, should here
communicated the paper to thu Court. It could nut have
degraded him; •eitber would it have pledged him to the
support of any particular opinions.
Mr. Dixon hoped her Majesty would appear after the
investigation pure and unsullied. No mart would be more
ready than himself to testify upon such an occa►ion. He
was one of those who held the opinion that the Court had
formerly acted unwisely in meddling with the subject, and
be thought they ought not to interfere now. If she came
pure from the inquiry, it would be the duty of the Court
to request her portrait. He should not hold up his hand
against the proposition, but he should nut support it.
Mr. F. N. Wit LIMAS wished to pay every' tribute of re-
spect to her Majesty, lon he thought it too much, ',ending
the investigation, to ask the Corporation to accept her 'tor-
trait.—( Laughter. )—The nation would say the Court had '
accepted the prracut with gratitude and satisfaction; that
they had accepted it after they bad heard the charge and 1
the evidence in support of that charge, without hearing th.
evidence on the other bide, (Ikar, brat.)-:-so convinced
were the.. of her innocence.—(Chews and infighter.) Would
they OA such an impression to go forth. If the Qitcen
should be degraded after her portrait ass accepted, what a
lamentable situation would the Court be in!
Mr. °Risen PO said he should be glad to know upon what
grounds the portrait could be refused.
Alderman WA 17 'MAN said, the Corporation had supported
her Majesty against seta of u great oppression as ever es.
Lilted. She slow made au idler of a mark of gratitude and
affection. The Corporation, so far from being degraded,