The Sun.
London, England, 1853-11-26 00:00:00

COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL.

On Thursday the first court in the present mayoralty
was held.

The new LORD MAYOR addressed the court on taking
the chair, after which thanks were voted to his prede-
ce,;sor in office, Alderman Challis.

PRESENT TO THE CHAPLAIN OF THE LATE LORD MAYOR.

Deputy MEADWAY moved that—" That Mr. Cham-
berlain do present to the Rev. Dr. Mortimer, late chap-
lain to the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor, a purse of fifty
guineas, as a testimony of the esteem and approbation
of this court."

The motion was seconded and carried unanimously.

LODGING-HOUSES AND WASH-HOUSES FOR THE POOR

Mr. DAVIS said that, seeing the chairman of the im-
provement committee (Mr. T. H. Hall) in his place, he
wished to ask him a question which concerned the char-
a-ter of the corporation, and of that court in particular.
He would not mention any names. Two years since
the court had most munificently voted a sum amount-
ing to nearly 50,0001. for the purpose of erecting model
lodging-houses and wash-houses for the benefit and coin-
the fort of the poor of City, and he found it stated in

evidence of gentleman before the commission now sit-
ting, that not a single farthing had been laid out by the
Improvement Committee for the purpose in question.
(Hear.) Not a stone of any building had yet been laid,
as he was informed, and as a considerable time had
elapsed since the money was voted, he wished to know
what the facts of the case really were.
Mr. YOUNG thought it excessively inconvenient that
questions of this description should be put, as they
injured and prejudiced the court very much in the eyes
of the public. He advised the court to wait calmly and
quietly till the termination of the inquiry before the
commissioners, when there would be ample opportunities
for explanation.
Deputy BEDFORD—I think the question a very proper
one to be answered. (Loud cries of "No, no.")
The LORD MAYOR—Any member of the court has a
right to put a question. Whether the chairman of the
committee is empowered to answer it without the con-
sent of that committee must remain for himself to deter-
mine. It is in the province of Mr. Hall either to
answer it or to decline. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. HALL said he had upon every occasion been ex-
tremely ready to answer every question connected with
the duties of the Improvement Committee, and only
hesitated now from the fear that if a reply were given to
one question, some member would rise and try to get
out something else, not only in reference to the acts of
the Improvement Committee, but of every committee of
the corporation, arising from observations made in an-
other place ; in point of fact, it would be getting out
irregularly and in detail that which had better be brought
forward in a proper manner hereafter. He put himself
in the hands of the court, and would answer the question
if they desired him to do so. (Cries of "No, no.")
Deputy CORNEY moved that the court proceed to the
business of the day. The motion was seconded and
carried almost unanimously.
Mr. DAVIS said he had always been under the im-
pression that a member was entitled to ask a question
at any time—(cries of " No, no")—and was perfectly
astonished at the manner in which it had been dealt
with. (Cries of "Sit down," and great confusion.)
Deputy CORNET rose to order. The Court had parti-
cular business to transact, and the question of Mr. Davis
nitg.. (Hear, hear.)
agains
rose, and unsuccessfully attempted
to aTI
hanrieon ibpa
oaliritaosr if
uxoßb—e
consulting his own convenience,
as shall
gentle-
manwhether
r tt
hmbei
reg might
o I ruled just now that the k
proceeded
unanimously aq question,
on ,
tlhbauttt
htheheree
fhoarse businessno w
appeal
ohf etathored the
tu
as well as that of the court, best by allowing the sub-
ject'
to drop. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. DAVIS—I would rather appeal to your lordship
whether I am in order or out of order. (Cries of "Ques-
tion.") lam only desirous of knowing. (Great con-
fusion, and cries of " Sit down.")
The LORD MAYOR—I must declare that you are quite
out of order, and have no right to put more than one
question. (Cheers.)
CLOCKS, BELLS, AND CHIMES OF THE ROYAL EXCHANGE.
Mr. WOODTHORPE read the following return of the
13,761/5.1!
expense up to the present time of the clock, bells and
chimes. " 1843
alterations, 2241. 18s. 6d.
01 •
to 1853•
d lebeeklls(Maild. Dchel
2,605/. Os. Bd.
17s. 4d. (contract) ; alterations, 29 . , recasting, 6501.•
refitting, 1241. 4s. 101 Total,
Deputy HARRISON (on whose motion the above return
had been ordered), said that some since the court
time
had had read to them with some degree of ostentation a
in question were the most beautiful specimen of paper by Professor Airey to the effect that the articles
work-
manship ever seen in this country. The fact
was
to all the world that ten years had elapsed sincepatent
the
work had been contracted for, and up to the pmoment the bells and the clock were not connected, an
resendt
the public had derived no benefit whatever from
the enormous outlay of nearly 1,7001. for the bells and
chimes. (Hear, hear.) Altogether 2,6001. had been
expended ; and seeing a member of the Gresham com-
mittee present, he (Deputy Harrison) wished to know,
first, when there was a probability of the work being
completed, and secondly, whether any contract had been
entered into with a gentleman of the name of Taylor
again entirely to recast the bells !
Deputy HOLT replied that the expense alluded to had
been incurred before he joined the Gresham Trust, and
he was therefore not responsible for it. Great difficulty
had been experienced in carrying the work into effect,
inasmuch as the bells were made to be dependent upon
the clock, which was formed by the celebrated Mr.
ne utt,wbo had died before the completion of the contract,
andrresponsibility
se
b ipersonityh i w whoo
h succeeded
in
hisownhim person,ha d
had
shrunk fnrcoumrr theed.
A contract for recasting
could
until some person the bells was in motion, aid
clock, the bells
be found Ito take the responsi-
bility of the late Mr. withregardto
verywo u
rkingutshae.
tisfactory state.must remainnt in their present
Alderman WIRE was very
anxious the public should
consisted of a
i
understand that the Gresham committee
twofold body, partly of mercera
appointed by the court. The contractoliTtetiltteorfhLerdsonnees

their duty or had not, and he thought the matter ought
to be referred back to the committee to report upon it.
Referred to the joint Gresham committee accordingly.

LABOURS OF THE CORPORATION.

ALDERMANCOPELAND moved for a "Return of the num-
ber of courts of common council from the 9th of Novem-
ber, 1852, to the Bth of Norember, 1853, inclusive ; of
the number of committees of the corporation, specifying
the name of each, and showing the number of meetings
of the number of sub-committees of each committee ;
the like of the Navigation Committee and the sub-com-
mittees, especially notifying the days of views ; the like
of the Commissioners of Sewers ; and the like of the
Irish Society." He (Alderman Copeland) was only anx-
ious that the corporation, when the fitting time arrived,
should be in a position to show to the world the onerous
duties they were in the habit of performing.
Mr. H. L. TAYLOR said it was a great question with
him whether notice of the motion ought not to be given,
in order that it might appear on the paper of business.
The motion was seconded and carried.
Mr. ELLIOTT rose, and was met with loud shouts of
laughter. He said he objected very much to the court
being taken by surprise by the sudden carrying of the
motion. He wanted to see such a return as that moved
for laid before the court, but should like to see it more
perfect, and it could only be made so by proper notice
being given, when members. of the court would have an
opportunity of fully considering its terms. There ap-
peared to him a very serious omission in the return asked
for, and if the motion was now persevered with, he
would move, as an amendment, that a return be also
made of the number of dinners.

Deputy LoTT—With the name of each party dining.
Mr. ELLIOTT—The number of dinners eaten by com-
mittees and by sub-committees, and the number of per-
sons attending each dinner. He conceived a return of
this nature an important document,as it might turn out
that the work done was very small, and that every
member was abundantly paid for his labour, by eating a
dinner at the public expense. (Laughter.)
The matter then dropped.

Mr. HAWKINS moved "That it be referred to the
Improvement Committee to consider and report to this
court what line of street would, in their opinion, best
tend to relieve the present pressure of traffic on Lud-
gate-hill ; and the cost thereof."