The National Register.
London, England, 1808-12-11 00:00:00

TA6

CITY.

Thursday the Lord Mayor went in state to anildball,and held
the fire Court of Common Council iu his Mayoralty, which
was numerously attended.
THE LATE LORD MAYOR.

Mr Deputy Dallier, after a short introductory speech, moved'
the Thanks of the Court to the late Lord Mayor, enumerating,
among other things, the zeal, ability, and integrity with which
Ice had a! ways discharged the duties of his high office, his hospi-
talities, and the ready access which he gave to those who visited
him on business connected with his office.
Mr. Quin could not agree in the vote of thanks which had
been proposed. When votes of thanks were given to other Lord
Mayors, it had always been on the ground of their having main-
tained with proper spirit the rights and privileges of the City of
London. There was a remarkable instance, however, in whirls
!helot!! Lord Mayor had suftred those privileges to he invaded.
It was in the case of Christie, a Liveryman, who had been ha-
pressed, and to whom the late Lord Mayor had not only refused
to give the protection to which he had a claim, but had even
been assisting to invade those privileges to which he was entitled
as a free Citizen of London. The person, hewever, to whom
he alluded, obtained his liberation by the laws of the country,
after having been obliged to contract expenses at law to the
amount of 501. This case had been referred to a Committee of
the Court, and their report had been hardly short of a vote of
censure against the late Lord Mayor. They had recommended
to tht. late Lord Mayor to pay the damages; but he, although
CunTe,sing that he was mistaken, and had been guilty of an
error, will refused to pay a farthing; and the expense which
bad been incurred by his mistaking his duty, was obliged to he
Paid out of the funds of the City. Although he (Mr. Quin) was
obliged to the Jute Lord Mayor for personal civilities, his sense
of public duty would not allow him to say that such conduct
was worthy of praise for zeal, abilities, or integrity. lie d;d
not isle to move a vote of censure, and therefore preferred mov-
tog the previons question.
M. Jacks thought that votes of thanks were of no value. ua-
less they were conferred with some oiscrimination. They would
be wort:, little, if they were pa-sed in the way that thanks
were given to the Lard Masor's Chaplain for a sermon that
very few of the Members had heard. lie had been informed
that the late Lord Mayor had often been absent for days together
from Ins resileuer, and that persons who had business before
!1:1,1 been delayed much beyond the usual time for trans-
artrag suet, business. As to facilities of access, he had called
eosin him mice, and had b"en received with almost as much hau-
teur, as if he had presented himself in ferrite puttperia.
Mr. Vatidercoma excused the late Lord Mayor, on thegrnund
that his decision in the Court alluded to, proceeded purely
from an error of judgment, and might nit to be visited by so
severe a punishment.
Mr. Alderman Birch thought the Court would he acting iucon-
aistemly now, to censure the proceedings °Ellie late Lord Mayor
rni this eireinnsoinee, when it bad been generally understood at
the time toe City paid the money, that tier business was filially
settled. lie conceived that it would have been more fair and
manly to have brought forward such a motion in the presence of
tie late Lord Mayor than in his absence.
Mr. Waithman declared that he was perfectly sensible of the
persoual civilities he had received from the late Lord Mayor,
and upon tiro account it was painful to him to be obliged, by his
public duty, to oppose the vote of thanks. lie could not think
error in jwlginent was so trifling an offence in ewe who aspired
to the high ana arduous situation of Chief Magistrate of this
great City. lie thought that the candidates for such an office,
otrAht to he Men of understanding and ability, and that their
errors ofjudguient should not invade the liberty of their fellow-
citizens. It was true that lie had known other Lord Mayors
guilty of still greater faults. Some of them had been guilty of
Cie capital error in judgment of setting up their own prisate
opinion against the opinion of the Livery, and even preventing
piddle meetings being convened on occasions when it was of the
utmost ileportance to the country that they should be convened.
Some. Lord Mayors had lent themselves to Ministers, to devise
the means of imposing taxes upon the City of London; and he
believed the oppression iv Lich was felt in the Income Tax, was
in a great degree owing to this cause. It was he who first
brought the case of Christie before the Court, and he could not,
consistently with the feelings which he always entertained upon
that ca-e, vote for thanks to the late Chief Magistrate.

Mr. Quip agreed to withdraw his Motion for the previous

DEC. 11.

question, and said he should meet the vote of thanks with a
direct ntlative. .

The qtwstion was then put, and the shew of hands wag deslar-
ed by the Lord Mayor to be In favour of the Vote of Thank,.
A division, however, was called for, and it appeared that the
Tote was the other way. The numbers were :--

For the Vote of Thanks, 9 Aldermen, 36 Commonen, 2 Tellers 41
Against it, b Commoners, 2 Tellers

Majority agaiust the Vote of Thanks 14

SUBSCRIPTION TO ASSIST THE SPANIARDS.

A numerous au! respectable Meeting of the Merchants and
Traders of London, teas yesterday held at the City of London
Tavern, for the purpose of instituting a subscription in aid of
the L'ati iotic Armies in Spain.
The Lord Mayor was called to the Chair, who, on taking it
observed, that the cause for which they had met together, was
of so glorious and meritorious a nature, and spoke so powerfully
for itself to the hearts of all present, that little or nothing was
left for him to say, further than to express the pride he felt in
presiding over so highly respectable a Meeting, and the interest
which, he was persuaded, every true Englishman took in its
success.

Sir Robert Wigrain did not think it necessary to make use of
any arguments, and should therefore submit to the generous feel-
ings of the Meeting his first resolution, " That a subscription be
entered into, to aid the Exertions of Spain."
This motion having been seconded,
Mr. Rowcroft thought it necessary to inform the Meeting of
some circumstances which had occurred relative to it. Those
who had proposed to call it had, in the first place, considered
the popular feeling which prevails so strongly in favour of
Spain, and which would, he trusted, be made manifest by the
measure which was now recommended. They had also ascer-
tained that Government would see with pleasure such a mani.
festation of the public mind respecting the Spanish cause,
and that such a measure would he very pleasing to the Spanish
Deputy in this country, Admiral Apodaca, who would thank.
fully receive and speedily transmit to his own country whatever
sums should be subscribed for its use. Due notice was then
given of the Meeting, which had drawn the attention of Minis-
ters, who were anxious that every appearance should be avoided
which would seem like a reflection cast upon them, for omitting
any exertion that it was in their power to snake in aid of she
Spanish cause, This feeling had induced Mr. Peres :I, the
Chancellor of the lixchequer, to write a letter to the Lord
Mayor (which had been received only a few hours) explanatory
of the aids which Government had already furnished, or were
now furnishing. He then read the letter, which was to the fol.
lowing effect :
" M In av,—Understanding that a Meeting is to he con-
vened under the sanction of your Lordship, for the purpose of
promoting a subscription for the purchase of shoes, clothes, and
other nesessaries for the Spanish army, I feel it necessary to fur-
nish you with the fullest information of what has been already
done, and what is now doing by Government for those sikieets,
I hope I shall not be so far misunderstood, as to he suppose,' de-
sirous of repressing any proof which the City of Luodon may
he disposed to give, of that sentiment which is felt so generally
in this country ; but I feel apprehensive, that unless great eau
ion he used, some injury might he done to that cause which it
is the object of the Meeting to promote. I therefore think it
necessary to inform you, that as to the purchase of shoes, which
is stated as the first object of the subscription, Government hata
taken every means of procuring an abundant supply. ruin the
orders they had given, not only in England, but in Ireland and
Scotland, they expect to he furnished with 40 or 60,000 pair a
i
month, for the British and Spanish armies. If the zeal of n -
dividuals were to go farther, there would be great danger that it
he would create a eompkition, Which would raise tpritT, and
be otherwise injurious. The sante observation would also apply to
a Subscription for the purpose of busing uniforms or Clothing.
With regard to arms, ammunition, and field equipage, it is unneces-
sary for me to make any remark, as 1 understand that such arm!' s
are not within the contemplation of those Gentlemen who are
about to promote the Subscription in view. T
ever, which may he subscribed, might be applied 50 the pur-
he mono, how -
chase of other articles which could not interfere with those
tlot,
which Government are occupied, and which would base
e
advantage of manifesting unequivocally
the Government of this country, she has with her the strung e
and gereral feeling of the people. to Spam, that hist.