The Sun.
London, England, 1862-10-17 00:00:00

COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL.

The members of the Court of Common Council of
the City of London held a meeting yesterday in the
Council Chamber, Guildhall.
THE LORD MAYOR.

The LORD MAYOR, before the proceedings com-
menced, rose and addressed the Court as follows :
As this is the last Calender Court and the last time
that I shall have the honour of presiding in this
chair, I should be wanting in the duty I owe to the
Court, and I should also fail in giving expression to
my feelings, if I did not take the present opportu-
nity of expressing my deep sense of the manner in
which the Court has been pleased to assist me dur-
ing the two years I have had the honour of filling my
present office. The kindness with which the Court
has listened to me, and their unfeigned toleration
of my presidency has made an impression upon my
mind which, during the short remainder of my life,
I shall never forget, and I shall always carry with
me a grateful sense of your kindness.
his lordship upon resuming his seat was loudly
cheered.

THE FINSBURY ESTATE SURPLUS FUND.
Mr. S. WATERLOW gave notice of a motion for the
next Court in reference to the Finsbury Estate Sur-
plus Fund, amounting to £42,000, with a view to
consider whether it can be applied to the purposes
originally intended, of providing additional accom-
modation for the poor and labouring classes.
THE OFFICE OF CITY SOLICITOR.
Deputy HARRISON withdrew the motion he had
placed upon the paper with reference to provision
being made for Mrs. Pearson, the widow of Mr.
Charles Pearson, the late City Solicitor. In doing
so, he observed that it was clear from what took
place at the last Court, that the members were
anxious to obtain further information in reference to
the subject, and he therefore felt that until this in-
formation was obtained it would not be advisable to
proceed with his motion. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. H. L. TAYLOR next brought forward his mo-
tion, that the standing order which precluded any
member of the Court from being a candidate for any
office in the gift of the Court should remain intact,
and not be suspended at the fortheoming appoint-
ment of City Solicitor. The hon. member, in the
o-
course of a very able speech in support of the m
tion, expressed his satisfaction at seeing so full an
attendance of members, and he assured them that in
the proceeding he had adopted he was actuated by
no private feeling, but solely by a pure sense of
public duty. (Hear.) He then proceeded to refer
to the circumstances which led to the present mo-
tion, and said it could not be denied that there
were as good men out of the Corporation as there
were in it, and he could not help expressing his
opinion that the Court would be guilty of a viola-
tion of principle if they did not carry out their
standing orders on the present occasion. (Hear.)
It was true that upon some occasions this standing
order had been rescinded, but it had never been done
in reference to such a high and important office as
that of City Solicitor. Upon one occasion, when
Alderman Ainslie was a candidate for the office of
High Bailiff, the Court, probably with a view to
please the bench of Aldermen—(laughter)—
rescinded the standing order, but upon that oc-
casion the worthy alderman was in a miserable mi-
nority. (Hear, and laughter.) In another case, hav-
ing reference to the office of collector of brokers'
rents, the standing orders had also been rescinded,
but in many other instances attempts to rescind the
standing order had been signally defeated, and Mr.
Charles Pearson, their late lamented friend, was
one of the most strenuous opponents of the proposi-
tion. (Hear.) Mr. Taylor then referred to the
amendment that had been placed upon the paper by
Mr. Bloomfield Burnell, and said that he really
could not understand the object of it, and he was
quite sure that Mr. Burnell was not the author of it.
(Hear, hear, and laughter.) It appeared to him that
the amendment was entirely inoperative, and would
only tend to defeat the object of the standing order.
In conclusion he called upon the Court to protect
itself from ill-natured remarks out of doors, and
from unnecessary scandal, by agreeing to his mo-
tion, and thus not allowing an opportunity for any
one to say that they profeissed that which they did
not practise, and that they would come to a resolu-
tion which they would be able to stand by for years
to come. (Cheers.)
Mr. C. YOUNG said the subject had been so ably
and fully argued by his friend Mr. Taylor that he
should content himself with merely seconding the
motion he had made-
Mr. BURNELL then moved the following amend-
ment, that the second standing order of the
Court shall be altered by omitting the words
" unless the office or place has become vacant
since such person ceased to be a member of the
Court," and the following words substituted, "bat
the same shall not apply to any person who on St.
Thomas's Day, previous to such election shall not
offer himself to be re-elected a member of the
Court." He said he could assure his hon. friend
Mr. Taylor that he was quite wrong when he sup-
posed that any other person than himself was the
author of this amendment, and that he alone was
responsible for it; and he could only say that it ap-
peared.to him that the Court would not lose any of
its dignity or its character in the estimation of the
public, by agreeing to this amendment. (Hear,
hear.) The question, as it appeared to him, was
not whether they should adhere rigidly to the old
law—(hear)—but whether they should alter these
regulations, and render them more consistent with
the requirements of the age. The only effect of the
amendment he proposed was to enable gentlemen
who might please to retire from the Court taking its
opinion as to their eligibility for the vacant office, and
he really could not see that any reasonable objection
could be made to such a proposition. (Hear, hear.)
After some further remarks, Mr. Burnell concluded
by formally proposing his amendment to the court.
Dr. ABRAHAM supported the amendment, and he
argued that they were perfectly justified in making
any alteration in their own standing orders which
they considered advisable. No one had more re-
spect for the standing orders of the court than him-
self, but still he would never attempt to say that
they were so everlastingly wise and perfect that
they were never to be altered under any circum-
stances whatever. (Hear, hear.) If they were
satisfied that some of their members with whose
character and acquirements they had for many
years been well acquainted, were most eligible
to fill a particular office, was it to be said that
they could not make such an alteration in their
standing orders as would enable them to be-
come candidates for that office without almost com-
mitting a dishonourable act or forfeiting their
character with the public ? (Hear, hear.) Why
should a member be required to undergo a three
months purification before he could be a candidate
for any office in the sift of the Corporation P
(Laughter.) The object of the admendment was to
do away with this purification
and enable a member to become a candidate the moment he resigned his
office, and the amendment
41(1
tnot
rence to the suspension of make any refe-
(Hear.) For these reasons
he ,
and thus '
Standing order.
support that amendment 'therefore, he should
eligible the Same
bers of that Court who were T•ve the mem-
chance of obtaining the office that they gave to
others. (Hear.)
opinion that
Deputy HARRISON expressed his
Dr. Abraham in his speech had shown the neces-
sity for the Court agreeing to the originahnotien.
He said that the Court were only endeavouring to
exhibit an excess of purity. It was true that the
Court were desirous of protecting their honour, and
to prevent the " jobbing " that too frequently took
place in such cases as the present. (Hear, hear.) The
Corporation of London had preserved its credit and
had saved itself front being included in the muni-
cipal:Corporations Act, which had swept off all the
other corporations in the kingdom. (Hear, hear.)
The standing order whiet was now sought to be
assailed had most materially assisted to produce this
satisfactory state of afflirs and he
earnestly urged
them not to interfere with it, tor if they did so on
the present occasion, anotherwould very soon arise
and they would have to abolish
thestanding orders
altogether, and thus hold out to the world that the
members of the Court were ready to accept any
good thing that offered iself. (Cries of No, no, and
Bear, hear.)
Alderman BESLEY said he had-voted against the

suspension of a standing order on the first occasion
of his taking his seat in that Court, and he intended
to do so on the present occasion. (Hear.) If
the standing order was suspended on the present
occasion, it was his opinion that no our'ide candi-
date would have the slightest chance, nd no emi-
nent man, such as ought to fill such an important
office, would offer himself ; and he hoped, there-
fore, the court would agree with the motion of Mr.
Taylor. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. ROWE also supported the motion.
Deputy LOTT took the same course, and said that
he quite agreed with Alderman Besley that if the
standing order was suspended no eminent man not
con nected with the court would offer himself to fill
the office. (Hear.) He had not always the honour
of supporting his friend Mr. Taylor, but he always
did so when he was right. (Laughter.) He con-
sidered he was right on the present occasion, and
he should therefore support the motion. (Hem'.)
Hear.)
Deputy REED also supported Mr. Taylor's
mo-
tion, and said that, although the mover of the
amendment had talked of certain members of the
court being candidates for the important office that
was vacant, he (Deputy Reed) knew of no such can-
didature. (Hear.) He had heard no grounds
for suspending the standing order, and the only
object of the amendment, as it appeared to him, was
to create' a delay until it would be convenient for
some particular gentleman to come forward as a
candidate for the office. (Hear, hear.)
After a few words from Mr.. HAINES in support
of the motion,
Mr. TAYLOR made a few observations in reply,
the effect of which were that it appeared to him the
argument was all on one side, and if he were to de-
tain the Court he should be " slaying the slain."
(Hear.)
The question was then put, when a very few
hands were held up in support of the amendment,
which was declared to be lost. A division was,
however, demanded, when there appeared—
For the amendment
Against it
Majority against the amendment . .--79

The whole of the aldermen present voted in the
majority, and the result was received with loud
cheers.

The original motion was then put, and declared
;o be carried.

Mr. B. BURNELL gave notice, that at the next
Court he should move that the 47th standing order,
which declared the son of any member of the
Court to be ineligible for any office in the gift or
appointment of the Court, should be amended by
the substitution of the word "brother" for that of
" son." (A laugh.)

This was supposed to apply to Mr. Rose, the
brother of the Lord Mayor Elect, who is a candi-
date for the office of City Solicitor.

THE TRAFFIC IN THE CITY.

Deputy LOTT, the Chairman of the Police Com-
mittee, brought up a report from that committee,
and also the draft of a proposed bill giving the
Commissioner of Police and the City magistrates
power to make bye-laws for regulating the traffic
in the City, and fixing the routes of emnibuses and
other public conveyances, with a view to effect that
object. He asked at the same time for the sanction
of the Court for the necessary notices to be given,
in order that a bill might be introduced into Parlia-
ment next session, but said that it would be per-
fectly understood that the Court by consenting to
this would not be at all pledged to agree to the
present bill, but might make any alterations they
pleased in it.

I Alderman W. LAWRENCE said ha should not op-
pose the motion of the hon. deputy, but at the same
ti me felt himself called upon to express his opinion
that many of the provisions of the bill would require
consideration and alteration, particularly those
portions of it giving a power of imprisonment.
The motion was then agreed to.
Mr. J. KELDAY, the Chairman of the City
Lands Committee, then rose and said, that before
the Court adjourned, he thought it right to say a
few words in reference to the communication
made to the Court by the Lord Mayor at the com-
mencement of the sitting. (Hear, hear.) He under-
stood that it was not usual to propose a resolution,
but he was certain he was only expressing the una-
nimous feeling of the Court when he stated that
they all entertained the highest respect for his
lordship for the able and dignified manner in which
he had presided over their deliberations for a period
two years—(hear, hear)—also to express their
sense of the ready attention he had paid to every
representation that had been made to him, and
the attention he had bestowed to the business
and the interest of the Corporation. As this was
the last opportunity that would be afforded for
sueh a purpose, he also begged to be allowed to
state what he knew was the unanimous feeling of
the court, the pleasure they had had in submitting
to his governance, and also a hope that his health
would be speedily entirely restored, and that he
would, in his position as an alderman of the City of
London, continue for many years to come that career
of usefulness which had hitherto redounded so much
to his honour and to the advantage of the great Cor-
poration of which he had the honour to be the chief
magistrate. (Cheers.)
The Court then adjourned, after a protracted
sitting.