The National Register.
London, England, 1822-03-24 00:00:00

No. 1,961.—V0L. XV.]

COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL.

Ott Thursday a Court of Common Council was held,
for the despatch of a great deal of miscellaneous business.
QUESTION or PRIVILEGE.
Mr. FAVELL ruse upon a question of privilege, which
attached iu a very serious manner to an Hots. Baronet of
110 small size or lame. 1.11 stating the case to the Court,
be (Mr. F.) would " nothing extenuate, nor set down
aueht in looker." The duty of the Court was to take
Care of the property and the character of the citizens,
awl they had, in the performance of that duty, been
often insulted Le the tools of corruption. Basalt sraa re-'
*erred feu the lion. Baronet on the Ist of March to
- calumniate, according to the public journals, that Court,
• and a committee of it, in presenting a petition to the
House of Commons. The Hum 13atonet seemed to wish
to meet the.question openly. He had consulted the
payees as to Alderman Wood presenting the petition fer
Impairing into the affray at Knightsbridge, but that in-
'Awry was stifled, and on that occasion the lion. Hart.
was made to say, that the Sheriff had better have been
at home, and that the Court of Common Connell was
-• always interfering and meddling with questions into
which they had no right to inquire, and which were far
• above their wisdom and energy. (Hear, hear.)—lie was
c impelled ta complain of such expressions upon the part
of the Hon. Baronet, as applied to the Court. Foreigners
might think them nothing better elan swindlers. rhe
lion. Baronet had also charged the committee of that
• Court with hat ing no right to enter into an inquiry as
to au ammo on the life of their late Sheriff. It behoved
the Hon. Baronet, as senior Alderman, to explain this
conduct to the Court.
Mr. JAMRS said, he felt at a loss to know what the
motion before the Coon was.
Mr. FAYELL had a motion to make, hut not if the
lion. Baronet could skew that the reporters were wrong,
' or disavowed the words imputed to hon.
4-11derman C. SMITH thought tic matter irregular.
Zr.A OLDHAM said, that if the Hon. &toilet chose to
give any explanation, then it would not he irregular.
Alderman WAITHMAN said, the only irregularity was
in debating a thing before it was moved.
Sir W. Cu ells avowed the greatest part of what the
worthy ineniber had stated, but he could hot go to the
full length of the statemeut. He did not attertapt to slew
the folly of bringing such questions before the House of
Commons. Let any man examine that evidence, and
then say if it was not a disgrace to the Court. Was it a
breach of was ilegc, or had he not the freedom of speech
as well as the Hon. Member ? No man should shut his
mouth or fetter his tongue. Let any mail look at the
acts and language of that Court fur the last two years,
and say whether they did not libel the City of Loudon.
Read their address to the Crown, and it would not only
make them tremble, but ashamed of themselves. The
Court bad disgraced itself by being led by demagogues.
(Cries of Order.)--lie would not be called to order for
speaking his sentiments. The sentiments attributed to
him in the newspapers were his sentiments, thoogh his
words were altered. His wish was to uphold the honour
of the Court, but many members disgraced themselves
by not speaking or thinking for themselves. Let the
matter be worded as sluing against him as it could, he
coied not.
Mr. FAVELL said, the lion. Bart. had, in the ileuse
of Continuos, denied the right of that Court to inquire
into the subject, and lie now conies boldly to revile and
censure their proceedings. There was a time when the
Court supported every ministerial measure, but now the
Ministers were obliged to abandon the system which it
was the distinguished honour of the Court to have con-
demned l'or the lost four years; but the Hon. Baronet
thinks the honour of the Canna its disgrace.
It never was the iotention of the Court to treat the King
with disrespect, but to remind hint that Ilia Mitiisteie
were acting in a anomier inconsistent with the spirit of
the Constitution. lie complained, that when the Hon.
Baronet seconded the motion for inquiry in the House of
Commons, he should take that opportunity to impugn
weir proceedings. Tots, ito doubt, might be the best
road to ministerial favour at present, but if a change of
' administration ehould take place, the Hon. Bart. might
' then see things in a (Efferent light. (Hear, and tough-
ie. )—'fire hon. gent. then moved a very strong vote of
censure ~u Sir William Curtis.
Mr. PA'TTEN declared, that as a member of the com-
mittee, whose proceedings had been to unwarrantably
cenaured by the Iluu. Baronet, he must say, nothing
could be more impartial than their whole conduct, and
• although the members were of very different political
(+Moms, yet they all agreed in the report.
Alderman War-rhatAte said, he had abstained rimy,
git nu. evidence latiore the committee; although the
whole matter had passed heboe his eyes, yet he was
that tiro repon should stand out the evidence of
meta. When a sultjeet was relerred to a committee,
anti they made a report on it, it was a serious matt r to
queation that report, especially the motives of the coin;
inittee. How could guy ou,ouer of that committee,
after neglecting his duty by not attending its tueetitiAs,
Lid eller alio:Stag the report to receive the UpiffObJtiou
of the without nicking sin.ffe ot,...rvatiott, dare
• to aSbOfi,. felycCiilig at in another what was t.