The Sun.
London, England, 1864-10-07 00:00:00

COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL,

A Court of Common Council was holden yesterday at
Guildhall. The Right Hon. the Lord Mayor presided, and
there was a full attendance of members of the Court of
Aldermen and Commoners, on account of the paper of busi-
ness containing a notification that the first proceeding would
be to formally present to Sir Moses Mentstiore the resolus
tion of thanks unanimously agiecd to by by the Court on
7th April last to that gentleman, for his distinguished and
unwearied exertions on behalf, not only of members of his
own religious prcfession, but of Christians, and to alleviate
the evils to which they were subjected in Morocco and other
parts.
Sir Moses Montefiore, who it is satisfactory to state ap-
peared to be in excellent health, was introduced to the Court,
amid loud and earnest cheering, by Mr Alderman Phillips
and Deputy Elliott, the proposer and seconder of the reso-
lution of thanks. He was accompanied by Joseph Sebag,
Esq., Sampson Samuel, Esq., Lewis Cohen, Fsq., Dr Hodg-
skin, H. Guedella, Esq., Dr Lowe, S. Lucas, Esq., J. M
Montefiore, Esq., Dr Mortimer, and G. F. Phillips, Esq:
There gentlemen took their seats on the Aldermen's bench,
and Sir Moses Montefiore was placed on the right hand of
the Lord Mayor.
The TOWN CLERK (F. Wood thorpe, Esq.) having read
the resolution, a copy of which, beautifully written and
emblazoned was placed in the court for inspection, and
greatly admired.
The LORD NIAYOR rose, and addressing Sir Moses Monte -
fiore, said :—Sir,—This Court as representing the citizens of
London, has from time immemorial voted the freedom of the
City to distinguished naval commanders and renowned sol-
diers, who have prized the honour exceedingly. It has done
the same to distinguished patriots and philanthropists, and
to others who have devoted their time and expended their
means in endeavouring to relieve the sufferings of humanity.
To you, Sir Moses Montefiore, a distinguished member of the
Jewish community, the Court has voted unanimously a reso-
lution of thanks expressing approval of the course which
you have so consistently pursued for a great many years,
sparing neither toilsome and weary journeys or any exertion
with a view to alleviate the sufferings, not only of your own
co-religionists in various parts of the world, but to alleviate
those of every other religious creed and denomination, and
to procure justice for them all. It. gives me great pleasure to
be the medium of presenting to you this resolution of thanks
and of congratulating you upon having your name enrolled
on the list of those distinguished men to whom a similar
honour has been accorded, and whom this City considered
entitled to such a tribute of respect and admiration. The
Uity of London has at all times been ever ready to evince
its sympathy with the sufferings of humanity, irrespective
of creed, colour, or country : and I have now the greatest
pleasure in taking you by the hand and presenting you with
the resolution of the Court.

The Lord Mayor at the conclusion of his speech shook
hands most cordially with Sir Moses Moutefioru, amid loud
cheers.

Sir MOSES MONTEPIORE, who appeared almost overcome
at his reception, then addressed the Court as follows :
My Lord Mt*, or and Gentleman of the Corporation,— I am
so deeply impressed by the high compliment which you have
been just pleased to offer me that I fear my emotion will
incapacitate me from conveying to you in adequate terms
my thanks and gratitude, Vividly recalling how many
distinguished by their brilliant achievements in war, in
science, in art, and by general service to mankind, have en-
joyed in your hall the et_ rdial reception with which you have
this day greeted me, my heart glows with feelings of delight
that you have estimated so favourably my humble endea-
vours in the cause of humanity. The Imperial edict which
through the Divine blessing I had the happiness to obtain
from his Sheriffian Majesty the Sultan of Morocco, securing
to the Jews and Christians of his dominions the same rights
and privileges which aro enjoyed by other classes of his sub-
jects, constitutes a bright epoch in the history of that em-
pire, and must naturally tend to advance its prosperity.
Permit me to psesent for your acceptance a copy of this
important edict, and to beg for it a record in the minutes
of your Court. Mindful of my long and valued association
with the Corporation of the City of London, and of the
high and responsible office to which I was elected by the
confidence of my fellow-citizens in the first year of the
reign of our beloved Queen, and remembering how nobly
and how successfully your ancient Corporation has toiled
for religious freedom, lam the more gratified by the dis-
tinguished honour I have this day received—an honour I
shall ever bear in grateful remembrance. My Lord Mayor
and gentlemen, I thank you most heartily for your kind •
ness, and I offer you my earnest wishes for the continued
prosperity of this great Corporation, and for your individual
welfare.

Sir Moses thereupon shook hands with the Lord Mayor,
and retired with hie friends amid the plaudits of the Court.
Mr R. J. CHAPLIN, the chairman of the City Lands
Committee, then moved that the address of the Lord Mayor
and the reply of Sir Moses Montefiore be entered upon the
journals of the Court.
Mr WHEELER seconded the motion, which was agreed to
unanimously, and the court then proceeded to the ordinary
business on the paper.
THE LORD MAYOR ELECT.
The LORD MAYOR announced that he had received a
letter from Alderman Hale, the Lord Mayor elect, formally
announcing his acceptance of the offfee of Lord Mayor for
the year ensuing.
TIIE COURT OF ALDERMEN.
Mr J. SYMONS then brought forward a motion, the effeot
of which was that in future the Court of Aldermen should
be required to give notice to this Court of the amount of
expenditure they proposed to incur during next quarter,
and obtain the sanction of the Court for such expenditure.
Deputy ELLIOTT expressed his opinion that the Court had
no power to pass such a resolut ion, and said that if they did
it appeared to him that it would be entirely inoperative. He
asked the opinion of the Recorder upon the point.
The RECORDER said he was of opinion that if the resolu .
tion was agreed to it could not have ally legal effect, as it
was not in the power of that Court to control the proceed-
ings of another independent Court. (Hear, hear.)
Mr SYMONS, however, persisted in his motion,and said he
considered the Court had a right to interfere with the mode
in which the aldermen disposed of the City cash ; and with
regard to what had been said by the Recorder, he said there
could be no doubt that the Court of Common Council had
the same power that was vested in the House of Commons
of refusing the supplies. (Oh, oh.)
Mr ROWE said there was no doubt that at present the
Aldermen had the power of dropping their hands into the
City purse when and to what extent they pleased. Whether
they had a right to do so he was not prepared to say, but
he could inform the Court that the Chamberlain told him
that when any amount for payment of money, signed by the

Aldermen, was presented to him, all he had to do was to
pay it . (Hear, hear.) Although he should second the
motion, therefore, he did not see what good could come
of it. (Laughter.)

After some further discussion, the motion was formally
Put to the Court, and, upon a division, negatived by a
majority of 47.
OPENING OP SOUTHWARK-BRIDGE.

Mr WEBBER., the chairman of the Bridge House Estates
Committee, next brought up a report from that committee,
which stated that the proprietors of Southwark-bridge were
willing to dispose of it to the Corporation for the sum of
£200,000, and that they had offered to allow it to be opened
free to the public for 12 months, upon the Corporation
guaranteeing them the sum of X 1,834 for the first 6 months,
and £2,750 for the second. Mr Webber moved that the re-
port be printed and circulated among the members of the
Court, and

Mr LAWLEY proposing as an amendment, which was se-
conded by Mr. RumuN, the previous question,
This led to a good deal of discussion, during which several
members of the Court expressed an opinion that it would be
extremely unadvisable to carry out the proposition of the
committee at the present moment. The objections princi-
pally urged were, that if once the bridge were opened to the
public it would be impossible ever to close it again to them,
and that it was very doubtful whether, from its construc-
tion, it would be capable of carrying the heavy traffic that
would have to pass over it, and if it were to fail, the Corpo-
ration would be compelled to build a new bridge, and pro-
ably incur an outlay of nearly £600,000.
Alderman SALoMONS strongly supported the proposition
for opening the bridge to the public upon the proposed
terms, and said that if the arrangement was not found to be
a satisfactory one, it could be put an end to at the time
specified ; and ho said that the requirements of the public
earnestly demanded that the Corporation should do some-
thing in such an important matter.
_ _

Eventua'ly the motion for the printing of the report and
its circulation among the members, with a view to its pub-
lic consideration, was agreed to.

BENEVOLENCE.

Several petitions for assistance to charitable institutions
were referred to the Coal, Corn, and Finance Committee.
Sore other business was transacted, and the Court then
adjourned.