The Sun.
London, England, 1865-07-07 00:00:00

Court of Common Council,

A Court of Common Council was held yesterday
at Guildhall. The Lord Mayor presided.
THE ADDRESS TO THE QUEEN.

The LORD MAYOR announced to the Court that
he had accompanied the deputation to present the
Address of Congratulation to her Majesty, and that
they had been received in the most gracious man-
ner. (Hear, hetr.)

Mr. F. MAYNARD, the Chairman of the City
Lands Committee, moved that the Address and her
Majesty's answer be entered on the minutes, and
printed in the journals of the Court, which was
agreed to.

BREACH OF' PRIVILEGE.

Mr. J. FINLAY, in reference to the late election
for sheriffs, said that notwithstanding the order to
the contrary persons who were not liverymen were
allowed to be upon the hustings, and one gentleman,
who stood in that position, appeared to have been
made a liveryman upon the spot for the express pur-
pose of his being proposed as one of the candidates.
(Hear, hear.) He considered that this was a most
improper proceeding, and that no man should be
made a liveryman at a moment's notice for political
purposes. Upon the occasion of a common hall
being held all the City offices were closed, and no
business could be transacted; but Mr. Sewell, one
of the Corporation officers, had taken upon himself
to make a gentleman a liveryman of one of the com-
panies for the purpose he had mentioned. He con-
sidered that the subject was one that ought to be
inquired into, and he moved that the question be
referred to the Law and Parliamentary Committee
for them to consider and report.
Mr. BENGOUGH seconded the motion.
Mr. BENNETT said 'that, as he was the person re-
ferred to, he thought it right to explain that he had
done nothing more than had been done by other
gentlemen on many similar occasions. He applied
to Mr. Sewell, and was told that it was a customary
proceeding, and one that was perfectly in accord-
ance with ordinary practice. With regard to the
election, he said that on his part it had been con-
ducted in a perfectly honourable and straightfor-
ward manner ; and, although defeated, he was
certainly not dishonoured, (Hear, hear.)
Mr. MEDWIN said he believed it was pretty well
known by what means Mr. Bennett had been de-
feated. (Hear, hear.) He considered that the pro-
ceedings which had taken place were most disgrace-
ful, and he should move the committee be instruct-
ed to inquire how certain votes might have been
purchased, and the names of the parties who acted
as the agents in those transactions. He considered
that the character of the Corporation was at stake,
and that for their own sakes an inquiry such as he
suggested ought to be entered into. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. BENNETT said that so far as he was con-
cerned what he should say was, " Peace, peace, and
let bygones be bygones."
Mr. RICHARDSON said he should support the pro-
position of Mr. Medwin, and he hoped that the effect
would be to break down the system of excluding the
public from the hall, and that they would not, as on
the last occasion, see only a few half-starved look-
ing men in front of the hustings. (Laughter.) Mr.
Bennett certainly, although defeated, was not
dis-
graced, for he was at the head of the poll until the
fourth day, when the money was forthcoming.
(Hear.) The Corporation' was constantly talking
about its rights and privileges, but such proceedings
as those that took place at this election were calcu-
lated to destroy all confidence in them, and no inde-
pendent man would ever have a chance of being
elected to the office of sheriff unless he had a long
purse. (Hear, hear.) He believed that at the last
election 200 votes were paid for. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. STEWART said that although in his opinion it
was most unadvisable to have brought the subject
forward, he could not help saying that it was most
improper for any of the Corporation officers to create
liverymen in this manner. With regard to the
terms of the motion of Mr. Finlay, it appeared to
him they were not the proper ones to be used. The
question was not what might have been paid for
votes, but what was actually paid. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. LAWLEY said it appeared to him that if the
motion was carried it would have no effect. The
,charge of corruption only applied to a particular
section of the Livery, and if they had sold their
votes they were liable to punishment, and it was not
likely that they would convict themselves, and the
committee would have no power to compel them to
give information. (Hear, hear.) If the Livery
was corrupt, their privilege to vote ought to be
taken away, but he did not think that this Court
was called upon to interfere in the way suggested.
Deputy DR JERSEY took the same view of the
subject, and reminded the Court that, with regard
to the first portion of the question, which alleged
that Mr. Bennett had been improperly made a
liveryman, this had nothing to do with his eligibility
for the office of sheriff, as he was equally eligible
without being in that position. (Hear, hear.) He
did not think that the Court was justified, as it was
called upon to do, in assuming that votes had been
purchased, without any evidence of the fact ; and,
as it was clear the committee could do nothing if
the matter was referred to them, he suggested the
propriety of the motion being withdrawn.
Mr. FINLAY said he felt it his duty to bring the
subject before the Court, but after what had taken
place he should withdraw his motion, and the same
course was taken by Mr. MEDWIN.
CITY IMPROVEMENTS.

Mr. STEWART moved that it be referred to the
Improvement Committee to consider whether any
steps can be taken in reference to the present con-
dition of the property on the north side of the
Poultry to widen' and improve that important

thoroughfare.
Mr. R. N. PHILLIPS seconded the motion.
Deputy DE JERSEY, the Chairman of the Sewers
Committee, said that the attention of that body had
been directed to this important question on several
occasions, but they found that it would take such an

enormous amount of money to purchase the pro
perty that would be required to carry out the im

provement that the commissioners could not ven-
ture to tax the ratepayers to such an extent. He
did not, however, see any objection to the motion ;
and if the committee could devise any plan for car-
rying out the improvement he should be happy to
hear it, and the Commissioners of Sewers would do
all in their power to assist in so desirable an object.
(Hear, hear.)

Mr. H. LOWMAN TAYLOR said that the question
had been mooted at the Metropolitan •Board of
Works a considerable time back, and the great diffi-
culty then was the enormous amount that would
have to be paid for the property that would be re-
quired on the north side of the Poultry to carry out
the proposed improvement. He believed that several
of the houses that had been pulled down were now
in the course of re-election, and he was afraid that
they were too late to take any steps in the matter ;
but he believed he might state that the Metropolitan
Board were fully sensible of the great importance
of the proposed improvement, and that if any plan
could be devised for carrying it out .they would
contribute liberally towards the expenditure.
(Hear, hear.)
The motion was then agreed to.
Mr. DE JERSEY next brought forward a motion
having reference to certain improvements that had
been effected by the Commissioners of Sewers, by
setting back several of the houses in Newgate-street,
and with a view to obtain a contribution from the
Corporation funds in aid of these improvements.
This gave rise to some discussion ; the motion
being opposed by Mr. Rudkin, Mr. Lawley, and
other honourable members, principally, as it ap-
peared, upon the ground that the improvement had.
_ _

been carried out under the sole responsibility of the
Commissioners, of sewers without consulting the
Improvement Committee, which it was alleged was
in contravention of a resolution of the court under
which the present application was made.

In the result the motion of Deputy de Jersey was
agreed to by a large majority upon a division.
The Court shortly afterwards adjourned.

THE CUNARDSTEAMERS.--Tuesday was the 25th
anniversary of the running of the first steamer belonging
to the British and North American Steampacket Company,
and during these 25 years Mr. M'lver enjoys the proud•
satisfaction of being able to state that not a life or letter
has keen lost by this great line of mail-boats.—Liverpool
Daily Post.