The Sun.
London, England, 1839-07-19 00:00:00

COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL

Yesterday a Court was held for the dispatch of busi-
ness. The most important notice of motion was the
following :—" That this Court do petition both Houses
of Parliament, against the Bill now pending in the
House of Commons, intituled A Bill to amend the
laws relating to the assessment and collection of rates
for the relief of the poor, and to the collection of county,
borough, and police rates.'"

THE QUEEN'S FICTURE.
The LORD MAYOR informed the Court that he had
received the following communications, on the subject of
the portrait painted by Mr. Hayter, which her Majesty
was graciously pleased to present to the Corporation of
London :

The Lord Chamberlain presents his compliments
to the Lord Mayor, and has the pleasure to inform his
Lordship that he has been honoured with her Majesty's
gracious commands to present to the City of London
the portrait of her Majesty, seated on the Throne in
the House of Lords.
" Mr. Hayter, her Majesty's painter, will wait on the
Lord Mayor, if necessary, to assist in placing the
picture.

" Bruton-street, July 16, 1839."
" TO THE RIGHT HON. THE LORD MAYOR, &C., &C.
" 9, Hatfield-place, July 17, 1839.
"MY LORD,—Having had the high honour (as
painter of portraits and history to her Majesty) to be
commanded, soon after the accession, to paint the por-
trait of her Majesty, to be presented to the City of
London, your Lordship will, I trust, pardon my
desiring to impress on the minds of all whom it may
concern, that the portrait is intended to represent the
Queen (as I had the honour to sea her Majesty) in the
Par:iamentary State robes, seated on the Throne in the
House of Lords, on Monday, the 9.oth of Novem-
ber, 1837, when her Majesty met the Peers of the
United Kingdom for the first time, and took the oaths
to maintain the constitution, &c., &c.
" Her Majesty, on that august occasion, was not seen
with the gracious smile which is now so frequently be-
held by her subjects is public places, but it was an ex-
pression almost inconceivable in so young a personage ;
it was Minerva-like, and the high, serious dignity of
Majesty perhaps never became so youthful and so
beautiful a countenance as well.

" I have ventured to say thus much to inform your
Lordship why I have by choice avoided an expression
sometimes more desirable in a portrait, by making this
attempt to represent an historical fact, which should
be borne in mind by those looking at the picture.
" I regret that the great length of time necessary
for engraving this portrait should have so long delayed
its being sent to its honourable destination ; and I feel
highly complimented by your Lordship's kindness in
proposing that I should assist in placing it.
I have the honour to be your Lordship's bumble
And obedient servant,

" GEORGE HATTER.''
Mr. llayter's letter, which was read without any
close observance of punctuation, caused some laughter
in the Court.
Mr. HUNTER moved that the letters should be en-
tered or. the minutes, as our reporter understood him. •
Sir PETER LAURIE thought it would be quite unne-
cessary to incumber the minutes with Mr. Hayter's
letter.

Mr. RODGERS could not help expressing an opinion
that the letter was rather nonsensical in some parts,
more especially in the illusion to Minerva.
Alderman VENABLES thought that the Court were
bound, as an act of respect, to return their grateful
thanks for the gracious present of her Majesty.—( Hear.)
Mr. ANDERTON entertained a similar opinion, and the
Court unanimously agreed to a resolution expressive of
their gratitude for the favour.

The usual forms adopted on such occasions were then
ordered ta► be observed, and the Lord Mayor was re-
quested to convey the respectful thanks of the Court
to the Queen, in such manner as his Lordship might
think most fitting.
A Committee was then appointed to select a place
in Guildhall, best adapted for exhibiting the portrait to
ad vcatage.

FOOR. ASSESSMENT AND COLLECTION BILL.

Mr. Hall, the vestry clerk of the parish of St. Alban,
Wood-street, in the city of London, appeared at the
bar, the following petition having been presented to the
Court by Mr. Becton, a member of the Court.
"To the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and
Common C,-.uncil aisembled,
_

" The humble petition of the undersigned petitioners of
the parish of St. Alban, Wood-street, in the city of London,
" Humbly showeth,
_ _ _

" That your petitioners view with much apprehension a
measure introduced into the House of Commons by the
Right Hon. Lord John Russell and Mr. Fox Maule, inti-
tuled A Bill to amend the laws relating to the Assess-
ment and Collection of Rates for the Relief of the Poor,
and to the Collection of County, Borough, and Police-
rates.'

That amongst other things already provided for by
the powers given to Guardians under the New Poor-law
Act, and the recent New Assessment Act, it is intended to
introduce and create salaried officers under the name of
Revisors of Rates,' who are to form the only tribunal
in place of the unpaid Magistrates, for healing and de-
termining all appeals against poor-ratec, and who are to
be removable only by the Poor-law Commissioners.

" That whilst they consider the whole of the clauses of
the said Bill uncalled for, they view with much alarm that
clause of the Bill referring to ' Revisors of Rates; as
being both arbitrary and unconstitutional, a direct en
croachmcnt on the ancient rights of the parishioners, and
calculated to entail increased expmses upon them, in
support of the machinery of the New Poor-law Act.
" That your petitioners, therefore, pray your Honour-
able Court to use your powerful influence in preventing the
said Bill from passing into a law.
" And your petitioners, &c. &c."
_ _

Mr. HALL, upon being asked whether he had anything
to add to the prayer of the petition said that it was alto-
gether free from political character, and signed by gen-
tlemen of every description of feeling- upon public
matters, who looked upon the measure as one of a highly
arbitrary and unconstitutional tendency,. and calculated
to interfere vitally with the principle of local control,
which constituted so essential a part of the priVileges
of the citizens of London.—(Hear, hear.) He ex-
pressed his conviction that the Bill was not sufficiently
looked into by those who are capable of appreciating its
nature, and brought the Court to exercise all their en-1
ergies in opposition to it.
The petition was ordered to lie on the table unti
Mr. Rodgers' motion should be taken into consideration.

THE MARKETS OP THE CITY.

Deputy Hicks, the Chairman of the Markets' Com-
mittee, brought up reports on the references to consider
the petitions of several inhabitants of Aldgate, &c.
respecting the driving of cattle.—" On completion
of the alteration of the interior of Smithfield
market and for payment of the rate or expenses
incurred therein." "On completion of new buildings in
Newgate-market, and payment of rates and expenses
incurred therein." " For payment of a moiety of the ex-
pense of constructing a covering over the avenue on the
west side of Newgate-market." The Reports were all
agreed to.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN SAILORS' SOCIETY.

The Rev. Mr. CLAYTON and other Directors of the
British and Foreign Sailors' Society appeared at the
bar, with a petition for aid in carrying out the objects
of the Society more extensively. Mr. Clayton stated
that the persons whose benefit the petition contemplated
consisted of a class of society most wretchedly neg-
lected as to their moral and religious interests. The
Court were aware of the obligations all were under to
sai!ors; of their valour and enterprising industry ; of
their exposure to imminent dangers ; of the temptations
to which they were subjected ; and of the fact, that be-
cause of their want of moral and religious instruction,
they became in many instances a curse instead of being
a blessing on them.
Upon the motion that the petition be referred to the
Coal, Corn, and Finance Committee,
Sir PETER LAURIE called upon the Court to exer-
cise caution in disposing of the funds of the Corpora-
tion. If they yielded to every application of the kind,
they would soon be overwhelmed. New societies,
which were starting up every day, and abounding in
sub-secretaries and treasurers, would, upon finding that
an eloquent speech at the bar introduced a petition with
flying colours into the Court, take care to employ
similar means.—(Hear.)
Mr. WIRE said it seemed that Sir Peter Laurie had
altered his mind on the subject of the present charity,
for in his Mayoralty he had presided at the anniversary
of the establishment of the institution, and recommended
it most powerfully to the notice and support of the com-
pany.(Hear, hear, and a laugh.)
Sir PETER LAURIE said that he contributed on the
occasion alluded to out of his own pocket, and he re-
commended other individuals to do the same thing,
That he considered to be very different from an appli-
cation to the Court.—(Hear, hear.) He never had
upon any occasion applied to the Court for pecuniary
aid but once, and that was in the pressing case of the
distressed Scotch.—(Hear, hear.)
The petition was then referred to the Coal, Corn,
and Finance Committee.
PUBLIC CHARITIES.
Mr. RICHARD JOHNSON, the Chairman of the Coal,
Corn, and Finance Committee, brought up several Re-
ports, which wore disposed of in the following manner:
The first Report recommended the grant of 2001. to
the King's College Hospital. After some discussion the
Report was negatived by 26 to 22.
'the second Report, recommending the grant of 1001.
to the Spitalfields and Bethnal- Green British School So-
ciety, was agreed to.
To the third Report, recommending the grant nfl

The Fourth Retort recommended the grant of 5001.
to the Watermen and Lightermen's Company, towards
the erection of almshouses. Upon this report a very
long discussion took place.
Alderman LUCAS pleaded strongly and zealously for
the poor watermen, who were, he said, so completely
ruined by the combination of docks, bridges, steam-
vessels, and railroads, that it was almost a miracle to
see a wherry on the Thames. The appeal of the Al-
slerman was conclusive with the Court, which was
wavering for some time between a small grant and no
grant at all, and the whole amount was voted.
POOR ASSESSMENT AND COLLECTIVE BILL.
Mr. RODGERS then, at a late hour, brought on his
resolutions on the Poor Assessment Bill, but on the
motion of Mr. Norris, the Court was counted out.

METROPOLITAN POLITICAL
SUMMARY.

The Courier of last evening thus expresses itself on
the subject of the Ci:artist movements The news from
Manchester, Newcastle, &c., furious as the speakers at the
Chartist meetings arc, will not go far to shake the conviction
which in spite of all exaggerators and alarmists the public
mind entertains, that the danger is only upon the surface,
and that it will disappear if prompt and decisive measures
be persevered in. One of the Manchester ruffians asserts
that Scotland is up,' and that they have ten thou-
sand men ready armed en the border.' The braggart we
hope will affright nobody—but neither 7e hope will he be
permitted to continue his attempt to incite a few to blood-
shed by a lying promise of the support and sympathy of
many. All meetings, such as that at Manchester, must
be prevented—and if the police, who are threatened with
extermination by the armed hest under .Butterworth, are
insufficient to secure the inhabitants of Manchester from
all risk of such outrages as Birmingham has suffered from,
then the military must do the work of the civil force."
The Globe makes the following comments on the discus-
sions in both Houses of Parliament, on the subject of the
late Birmingham riots r—" The two Houses of Parliament
would seem to have changed characters; and the more de-
liberative temper sometimes ascribed to the Lords to have
shifted to the Commons. It is-impossible that a stronger
contrast could be exhibited than the tone of last night's
discussion in the latter assembly presented to that cf
the night before in the Lords on the same subject. We
refer of course to the recent disgraceful riots at Birming-
ham. What we view with most regret in the debate in the
Lords is the evidence afforded by the hasty observations of the
Duke of Wellington of want of that self- command and dispo-
sition to supply that want in others, which the Noble Duke
has on many occasions so usefully manifested in moderating
the former factious outbrcakings of hie party in that
House. It may well he expected that the Duke's advanced
period of life should render him somewhat less accurate in
attending to and in apprehending the right bearings of the
points immediately under discussion ; and when the fact is
so, it is not unusual that some degree of irritability should
attend the feeling of diminished vigour in the play of the
intellectual faculties."

The Standa,d, alluding to the Birmingham riots, draws
an argument from them against the Irish Municipal Reform
Bill, as will be seen by the following passage :—." There
has nothing been said of the occurrences at Birmingham
which does not deserve to be weighed R ith the most
anxious care by the Members of the House of Lords before
they consent to inflict Birmingham corporations on Ireland.
The elections under the New Poor-law demonstrate that
a ten pound, or Even a higher qualification will not ensure
a class of Magi,trates one jot more independent of
popular censure' than Mr. Schol7field and MI
fellows ; and then how much more instant is the
danger of insurrection in Ireland—how immeasurably more
atrocious are the crimes of Irish than of English insurrec-
tion ? We have a hope, however, that the Lords may be
disposed to throw over the Irish Municipal Bill, not from
the lesson afforded by Birmingham alone, but from another
consideration also. Lord Melbourne has not yet been able
to say whether the Bill as sent up from the Commons con.
tains any clauses for the compensation of the officers of the
existing corporations. Now, if the Bill does not contain
such clauses, the House of Lords must reject it at once."
The Morning Chronicle of this day, alluding to Lord
Brougham's statement last night in the Lords respecting
the indignities to which the two Chartists, Lovett and Col-
lins, have been subjected in Warwick gaol, says The
whole English system of punishment is grossly unequal,
because it supposes equality of means. A rich man and a
poor man incur, for instance, a pecuniary penalty. To the
rich man the penalty is nothing—to the poor man it may
he a ruinous imprisonment in the House of Correction. In
no country in the world is the whole system of criminal
law so much a mockery, where rich men are concerned, as
in England." In another leading article, the text of which
is furnished by the Birmingham riots, our Contemporary
observes as follows :—" Tue eagerness of the Tories in
this affair is simply an outbreak of their hatred of five insti-
tutions. There have been worse riots in Birmingham ;
and for every quarter of an hour, an entire day lost in the
repression, without_ any such clamour as stow resounds.
There have been corporations at Liverpool, Norwich, and
other places, infinitely more apathetic than that of Birming.
ham."

The Times says, with reference to the Birmingham
riots, and the recent discussions on them in the Lords--
" The real gravamen of the case is this, namely, that the
Birmingham outrage is part and parcel of a system—a
system which, if not encouraged, having never bi..en dis-
countenanced by the Queen's Ministers, and which has
for its collective object, the ruin of all our monarchical
institutions, and the total subversion of the State. The
Chartists were the spawn of political unionists. They
were never effectually checked by the Queen's Ministers."
The Morning Post condemns Ministers for not having
put down the Chartists before this, iu the following terms :
Ministers, had they possessed the ordinary measure of
ability and honesty, would not have permitted the Chartists
to proceed unchastised and unchecked so far as they have
done. But the political unionists, who had grown into
Chartists, were the ancient allies of Ministers, and repres-
sive measures against them at an early stage of their
criminal proceedings would have been injurious to the
Ministerial interest. It was fit to wait, therefore, until a
few houses had been burned down and other outrages
committed."

The Morning Herald contains the following remarks
suggested by the recent Chartist exceses at Birmingham ;--
" Ministers have granted a Commission of Inquiry into:the
conduct of the Birmingham Magistrates. Such a step is,
undoubtedly necessary ; but not less necessary, assuredly, is
a Corom's:on of Liquiry into the conduct of her Majesty's
advisers. The Chartists have, at length, come into colli-
sion with the law. Such collision, however, was openly
recommended to them by men who now discharge the duty
of Magistrates in Birmingham ; whilst the Magistrates in
question were selected to discharge their duties, for no
other reason, apparently, than that they had offered such
advice. If, therefore, the Birmingham Chartists be guilty,
some of the Birmingham Magistrates, must be deemed
sharers in that guilt ; nor can the Ministers of the Crown
be considered in any other light than that of instigators to
rebellion."

The Honorary Secretary of the Animal's
Friend Society, last week caused Thomas Sells to be fined
10s. and costs, by Mr. Jeremy, for having ill-treated the
dog of _Mrs. Percy, who proved that the defendant had first
thrown a brick at the poor animal, and then a knife, by
which the sinews of its leg were completely divided. He
was committed to prison in default of payment. Gibbing,
the Society's officer, also caused a boy named Lloyd to be
fined by Mr. Jeremy for cruelty to a dog ; and Benjamin
Speir, a drover, 10s. by Mr. Traill for cruelty to a sheep.
A butcher who had attempted to rescue the last prisoner
was also fined in costs. And at Bristol the Society has
been warmly applauded by the Magistrates its officer,
Yewen, last week caused William Allpass to be fined 10s.
and costs by the Mayor, for having ill-treated a horse.
It is expected that the Shoreham branch of the
London and Brighton Railway will be completed in about
another month.

STATE OF MANCHESTER.--We learn from
concurrent statements, made to us by parties residing in
different parts of the neighbourhood, that, within the last
few days, the agitators, who are misleading the working-
classQs, have been displaying unwonted activity in their
mischievous calling : and that a number of assemblages—not
meetings regularly and publicly convened, but assemblages
of a more secret cbaracu r, and for no specified purpose—
have been held in ‘arious place!, at which language of the
most illegal character has been uttered ; and intentions of
proceeding to acts of violence openly avowed. Meetings
of this description have, we understand, been held In
Hulme, in Salford, and in several other places in the im-
mediate neighbourhood of this town, as well as in the
neighbourhood of many other towns and villages in the
hundred,of Salford ; and at several of them arms have
been openly displayed. We understand also that near
Burnley, on Sunday last, there were assemblages of a very
threatening character, which caused so much alarm that the
Magistrates directed the military to be kept under arms, and
they themselves remained assembled to a very late hour at
night. We learn also that the fabrication of pikes and
other weapons is proceeding with great activity on all
sides. We received, yesterday, a letter from a correspon-
dent at Bolton, who states that several blacksmiths in that
openly
anemdployed in this work, and are actually
labour
ainre g eight day. Our correspondent, who had
town
seen them at work, forging and grinding the pikes, states
that upwards of 500 were manufactured in Bolton last
week. ave have received information to the same effect
from another source ; and we believe the Magistrates have
been taking evidence upon the subject. Similar state-
ments, with respect to several other ncighbsurhoods, have
reached us ; and there are indications not to be mistaken
of the intention cf the designing men who have unfortu-
nately acquired influence amongst the working classes, to
urge on thei: misguided followers to acts of violence, which,
if resorted to, they will have occasion bitterly to deplore.
We still trust, however, that the good sense of the people,
and a knowledge of the arrangements made to put down
disturbance, will have the effect of preventing any out-
break in thi !neighbourhood —.Manchester Guardian.
The Rev. James Pearson, son of James Pear-
ron, Esq., of Rochester, has been instituted to the Vicarage
of Stoke, in the county of Kent, upon the presentation of
Baldwin Duppa Deppa, Esq., of Hollingbourne, in the
same county.

CAUTION TO RAILWAY TRAVELLERS.—It
appears to be not generally known that all passengers tra-
velling by the " Great Western Railway," with luggage,
are required to book it, to ensure its safety ; a very serious
loss has been sustained by a lady this week from her not
having taken this precaution.—Reading Mercury.
It is a remarkable fact that this last outbreak
was on the anniversary of the riots in that town forty. eight
years ago. On turning to our file for 1791,we find that
on the 15!h of July, the day succeeding that on which a
meeting was held at the hotel to celebrate the French Re.
volution and the destruction of the Bastille, the mob com•
menced their work of demolition. They pulled down
several houses, among which was Dr. Priestley's, the fur.
niture of the whole o f which they removed and burnt.--
wows 10,10Urnal.

-~ S

E VPN't/sTO- Lrab IT lON.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.

HOUSE OF LORDS-JULY I.

Their Lordships sat to-day to hear Scotch appeals.
The Peers present were the Lord Chancellor, the Mar.
quis of Londonderry, and the Ent of Airlie.