The Sun.
London, England, 1865-10-20 00:00:00

Court of Common Council.

Yesterday a Court of Common Council was held at the
Guildhall for the despatch of business which had stood ad-
journed from the last meeting of the court. The Right
Hon. the Lord Mayor (Mr. Alderman Hale) presided, and
the court was very fully attended, both by the members of
the Court of Aldermen and by members of the Court of
Common Council.

The minutes of the last Court, having been read by Mr.
Catty, the acting town clerk, were confirmed.

TILE DEATH OF LORD PALMERSTON.

Mr. MAYNARD said the court would readily anticipate the
words he was about to use with reference to the melancholy
loss which the nation had sustained by the death of the
late Prime Minister of England, Viscount Palmerston. The
loss of that great statesman could not be regarded otherwise
than as a national calamity. After the memoirs of the his-
tory and career of the departed which had appeared in all
the papers of that morning, and which no doubt all the
members of the court had read (and in those statements the
history and career of the noble departed had been carefully
and accurately narrated), he felt a diffidence in urging a
resolution which he believed would receive general sanction.
It could not be forgotten that in every position which the
late Lord Palmerston held in the Uovernment of this coun-
try, even when an underling, or he would rather say as a
subordinate, or as chief of the Administration, the noble
viscount had equally distinguished himself by his great
ability, his earnest zeal, and his active vigilance, and had
conducted his career with the greatest honour to himself,
to his country, and to the world at large. (Applause.) It
was not for a humble individual member of the court like
himself to enlarge upon this interesting topic, to attempt to
exalt the character of a great statesman, and he should
therefore content himself with moving the resolution with
which he should conclude, and if carried, as he did not
doubt it would be, he should suggest that the resolution
should be forwarded, without the intervention of a com-
mittee, to Lady Palmerston by the Lord Mayor. (Hear.) Tho
resolution he had to propose was in the following terms :
" That this court has received with the deepest feelings of
sorrow and regret the mournful intelligence of the death of
the Right Hon. Lord Viscount Palmerston, her Majesty's
Prime Minister. That this court regards the decease of
this eminent statesman as a severe loss to this nation, and
to the world at large, and in expressing its admiration of
his talents, his manly bearing, and his great administra-
tive capacity, which had materially tended to increase the
prosperity, to uphold the honour and dignity of this coun-
try, desires to convey its heartfelt and sincere sympathy
with Lady Palmerston in the irreparable loss she has sus-
tained." (Hear, hear.)
Mr. Alderman SALOMONS rose, and said that it was with a
mournful satisfaction that he came forward to second the
resolution which had just been moved with so much feel-
ing and propriety. He rejoiced that as a member of the
Court of Alderman it should be permitted to him to second
the motion, and ho rejoiced that this great corporation
should be the first to take action in the expression of regret
upon the groat calamity which had befallen the nation, and
in the expression of their sincere regret at the loss the
country had sustained. He (Mr. Alderman Salomons) was
sure that many individuals in this great metropolis must
have noticed the news of the alarming state of health from
day to day of the great statesman whose loss they all de-
plored, and he felt that the intelligence of his death had
been received by all with a feeling of the deepest sadness
and regret. (Hear, hear.) For the last six or seven years
the late Lord Palmerston had not only enjoyed the confi-
dence of the community, but had held and maintained the
balance of party in this country ; and when the court
looked back to the position the lamented nobleman had
occupied, and to the many great events in which within
the last few years he had taken part, he felt convinced it
would not hesitate for a moment in the adoption of the
motion which had been so appropriately made.
Mr. R. N. PHILIPPS supported the motion in a few brief
observations, and it was carried unanimously.
On the motion of Mr. MAYNARD, seconded by Mr. Alder-
man SALOMONS, it was resolved that the Lord Mayor be
requested to communicate the resolution to Lady Pal-
merston.

It was further moved that the resolution be published in
the usual morning and evening newspapers.

Mr. J. E. SANDERS intimated to the court that he hal a
matter of a private nature to bring forward, which might
lead to a discussion, and he should therefore move that
strangers should withdraw.
Mr. Rows moved as an amendment that, in consequence
of the death of the Premier, the court, after disposing of
the necessary routine business, should adjourn.
The amendment was put and negatived, and the motion
of Mr. Sanders was agreed to ; and the court remained in
deliberation with closed doors for upwards of an hour. On
the re-admission of strangers the public business was pro-
ceeded with.

Mr. R. N. PHILIPPS, in the absence of Mr. Jas. Anderton,
presented a petition from Mr. Henry Pottor, of 65, Far-
ringdon-street, relative to the assembling of betting men on
the land in Farringdon-road, and praying that the court
will take such, measures as will prevent a continuance
thereof.

Aftcr a br;of oonvormntiony in whioli Mr. Devity
and other members of the court took part, it was resolved
that the petition b 3 set aside on thoground that the subject
had been taken up, not only by the committee, but also by
the interference of Sir Richard Mayne, Chief Commissioner
of the Metropolitan Police.