The Sun.
London, England, 1854-03-22 00:00:00

pURSSELL' S.—BALL SUPPERS and
WEDDING BREAKFASTS SUPPLIED in .the first style;
public breakfasts, dinners, and promenade suppers supplied by con •
tract ; a large stock of bride cakes for immediate use, from one to
twenty guineas each; a handsome cake for five guineas, packed and
sent to any part of the country if required, and warranted to keep 12
months.—Joni R. PuassELL, 162, Regent-street, and 20, Ludgate-
bill, only.

COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL

CHRIST'S HOSPITAL.

On Monday a special court was held in consequence of
a requisition numerously signed, for the purpose of con-
sidering what steps should be taken by the court in re-
ference to the office of President of Christ's Hospital,
now vacant.

The LORD MAYOR assured the court that he was no
party to the requisition, but that, on the contrary, he
had declined to give any opinion as to the propriety of
summoning the members upon the occasion. He hoped,
however, as he was a candidate for the office, that they
would allow him to make a few observations on the sub-
ject of the approaching election for the office. (Hear,
hear.) He considered that if he hesitated to stand for
the presidency of the hospital, he would cast a reflection
upon himself as Lord Mayor. He had consulted the
City Solicitor and the Town Clerk, and he had asked
the opinion of several grave and experienced men, all of
whom concurred in believing that he had no alternative.
(Hear, hear.) Hisdordship then proceeded to quote
from the records of the corporation from the commence-
ment of the institution to the death of Alderman Thomp-
son, the unbroken chain of instances in which the office
had been held by members of the Court of Aldermen,
and declared that upon public grounds alone, and in de-
fence of the rights and privileges of the corporation, he
had determined in the most vigorous manner to resist the
attempt at interference. (Cheers.)
• Deputy BOWER rose to move " that the office of ;pre-
sident of Christ's Hospital having for a great many years
been uniformly filled by a member of the Court of Alder-
men, this court is of opinion that no reason exists for a
departure from that precedent, and that the appoint-
ment of any other person, however exalted, to that
honourable office, would be an infringement of the an-
cient privileges of this corporation, and prejudicial to
the independence and interests of the citizens of Lon-
don." He thought the court was bound to make a show
if opposition, when such an attempt was made to take
from the citizens of London a privilege which had existed
for so many years. How it was, he would ask, that
commercial men whp had hitherto so admirably headed
the institution, were to be interrupted as to their right
of succession to the office ? Why had those who con-
ducted the antagonistic movement looked for a candidate
elsewhere ? (Hear, hear.) Because they were anxious
to monopolise the power of the president themselves, and
knew that their candidate would not prevent their exer-
cise of that authority. But he thought that if the Duke
of Cambridge saw, by a fair statement of the claims of
the corporation, that his Royal Highness was made the
instrument of an unfair invasion of their privileges, he
would withdraw from so unseemly an exhibition. (Hear,
hear.)
Deputy LOTT seconded the motion. He agreed with
the mover that the almoners, in conjunction with the
treasurer, were seeking to have everything in their own
way, and the election of the Duke of Cambridge would,
he had no reason to doubt, effect that object by throw-
ing the duties of the office into their hands A glance at
the list of the names of the committee of his royal high-
ness was a sufficient test•of the motives by which it was
,ought to influence the election. The governors who
were governors by privilege were in fact mere ciphers in
the Christ Hospital transactions. The donation gover-
nors exercised all the power. He did' not consider the
present a personal movement at all. (Hear, hear.) It
was the commencement of a series of innovations, and
he hoped it would be met by a resistance proportioned
to the force of the mischievous object of the enemies of
the corporation. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. ABRAHAM rose in no unfriendly spirit to move an
amendment. He concurred in the opinions expressed by
the mover and seconder, but the resolution in his opinion
contained controversial matter which it might not be ju-
dicious to adopt under the circumstances. He could not
subscribe to the doctrine that the election of the Duke
of Cambridge would be subversive of the ancient pri-
vileges of the corporation. The corporation could
claim no exclusive privilege in an election of the
kind. (Hear, hear.) He would be sorry to see
any person except the Lord Mayor in the chair at
Christ's Hospital, but he believed the best thing the
court could do would be to engage in an immediate and
active canvass for his lordship, and under that impres-
sion he proposed as an amendment, That this court
sees no reason for a departure from the long existing
custom of appointing a member of the Court of Alder-
men to the presidential chair of Christ's Hospital, and
pledges itself to assist the Lord Mayor in obtaining that
office."
Deputy CORNEY thought the question ought to be re•
ferred to the consideration of the Court of Aldermen,
who were well able to judge whether their privileges
were invaded by the act of bringing forward the Duke
of Cambridge.
Alderman SALOMONS said the court ought to give
utterance to their opinion of what they had reason to
consider to be an innovation upon their privileges. He
was against any wanton or unnecessary change, and he
spoke as a donation governor as well as a governor by
corporate privilege.
Mr. W. JONES approved of the amendment, as a mode
of avoiding personal matter and satisfactorily accom-
plishing the object the court had at heart.
Deputy DARIN and other members strongly supported
the original motion, and Mr. ABRAHAM withdrew his
amendment.

The previous question was then put, as was the
amendment, but was soon after withdrawn, the court
having shown convincing proofs of their approval of the
motion of Deputy Bower—which, upon being put by the
Town Clerk, was unanimously and amidst acclamations
agreed to.
The court then adjourned.

COMPARATIVE REWARDS OP MR. COBDEN
AND COLONEL THOMPSON.

While freely acknowledging the great and important
services rendered by Mr. Richard Cobden—now of Rus-
sian alliance notoriety—to the Anti-Corn-Law League,
we cannot forget that the veteran reformer, Colonel Per-
ronet Thompson, was really and truly the prime mover,
the prompter, and master-spirit of that movement.
Colonel Thompson was a staunch repealer before Mr.
Cobden commenced the agitation. He embodied the
spirit of the League before the League existed. His
Anti-Corn-Law catechism, tracts, and other publications,
furnished the arguments from which Mr. Cobden and
others drew their irresistible appeals to the reason and
common-sense of the country. Colonel Thompson was
a platform speaker also. He took an active and public
share in the movement, and was everywhere one of the
most popular advocates of the cause. But, though pos-
sessing the principal merit, he left to Mr. Cobden the
lion's share of the glory.
Posterity "will do Colonel Thompson justice ;
but has he received justice at the hands of the pre-
sent generation ? So far is this from being the case,
that we find Mr. Cobden at this moment in posses-
sion of an ample fortune, as the acknowledged re-
ward of his anti-corn law labours, while, on the
other hand, the veteran Colonel Thompson has not
only never been rewarded, but has been subjected to a
species of persecution on account of the active and im-
portan't part which he took in the same and nimilar move-
ments. His name has been omitted in the promotions,
and he has been expressly declared disqualified from ap-
pearing "in any future brevet." The gallant colonel
has in vain applied for restoration. No moral offence—
no dishonourable conduct—no seditious practices are
laid to his charge. He never followed the Chartist
banner of any agitating demagogue. Yet, as the
reward of his public services, instead of receiving a
public donation of sixty or seventy thousand pounds, he
has been degraded from the army list, and declared dis-
qualified from appearing in any future brevet. Of course
the real mottves are not assigned. His disqualification
is attributed to some disputed matter of form. Yet there
can be no mistake in the case. The motives that ani-
mate the authorities in the Horse Guards are too appa-
rent. An indignant protest which the Colonel has
recently published, concludes thus—
" Not to leave anything uncertain, I wind up with say-
ing that my claim is for restoration to my place in the
Army List, from which I conceive I have been unjustly
removed in revenge for my public conduct on the Corn
Laws and the Queen's succession."
And again, in another letter, showing " How public
services aro rewarded "

" There is something very disaffreeable in being supposed
to deal in hints and insinuations. (therefore state distinctly
my belief, that I have been degraded by the military authori-
ties on false pretences, in vengeance for having supported
in Parliament the cause of Reform and Legitimate Succes-
sion to the Throne, the only preventive for which in future
will be to bring the Government of the Army under a con-
stitutional minister, removable as other ministers, includ-
ing the governors of the Navy, aro, by majorities of the
House of Commons."
The nation ought to take up this matter. It is a dig'
grace to the country that Colonel Perronet Thompson
should suffer persecution and injustice for fighting the
battles of the people, while Richard Cobden, his disciple
and copyist, and who has done nothing but blunder in
everything he undertook himself, should not only pilfer
the glory but run away with thQ prize.—Scoeck Reforlur'B
QOPOtc.