The Sun.
London, England, 1853-03-23 00:00:00

COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL.

Buslnes +
this day.

CORPORATION REPORk.
Yesterday, a numerously attended meeting of the gen-
tlemen connected with the above-named body, in Com-
mon Council assembled," was held in their chamber al
the Guildhall. The Right Hon. the Lord Mayor pre.
sided.

The three motions upon the subject placed upon the
paper of business were as follows :
"By Mr. Henry Blake.—That it be referred to the free-
dom committee, to prepare a bill for extending the franchise
for the wardmote elections in the city of London to all per-
sons occupying premises rated at 10/. per annum ; and to
confer with her Majesty's Government thereon."
" By Mr. Deputy Pewtress.—To take into consideration
the propriety of introducing into Parliament a bill to effect
suitable alterations in the Corporation of London, and to
obtain the support of Government to the measure."
" By Mr. Henry Lowman Taylor.—That it be referred
to a committee of the whole Court to consider what suit-
able reforms are required in the Court of Aldermen and
Common Council, for the purpose of introducing a bill into
Parliament, and to obtain the support of Government to
the measure."
Mr. BLAKE, in introducing his motion, remarked that
the question of the freedom was intimately connected
with the franchise of the City. Many of the by-laws
and ancient customs of the Corporation had become
obsolete, but there were others which still lingered
amongst them. One of these was, the practice of requir-
ing all parties who wished to vote for their municipal
representatives to purchase the freedom of the City. The
principle was recognised some centuries ago in Magna
Charta, that no man should be taxed who had not the
right of voting for the party qualified to make the taxes.
Parliament, also, in later days, had carried out the same
principle in the 14th clause of municipal Bill, which
provided, that the powers given to ancient corporations
in this respect should be altogether abolished. This had
been done in all cases except in the city of London.
(Hear.) He knew that some parties had hugged to
themselves the delusion that the Corporation of that
great city was so pure that such a stringent measure was
not required. This was not the fact, indeed it was quite
the reverse. If one party was compelled to take up the
freedom, no doubt all ought to be so compelled. (Hear.)
The public out of doors were anxious for this reform of
the Corporation as a first measure ; and he being satis-
fied of its necessity, and that if they did not reforni
themselves, the Government would soon do so, most
willingly submitted his motion. (Cheers.)
Mr. ABRAHAM, in seconding the resolution, said he
felt confident that, if they did not reform themselves;
the Government would do so by legislative enactment
before long.
Mr. H. L. TAYLOR remarked, that any one who had
heard the two previous speakers, would suppose that
that was the first time the subject had been mooted in
that Court. The Court had repudiated the idea ofgoing
to Parliament for an isolated part of a necessary whole.
Such a proposition again renewed, therefore, he could
not but regard as an insult to the Court. What use was
it for them to attempt to go to Parliament for that which
never would be granted by the Government—namely,
merely an extension of the municipal franchise ? (Hear.)
All of them were agreed, that this was essential, but
was that all ? No ; they must go also for a Reform of
the Court of Aldermen. (Hear.) He for one would not
be a party to their entertaining any such an abstract
question, nor would he agree to go to Parliament for any
such a farce as this mere extension of the franchise.
Such a proposition would neither satisfy the city, the
public nor the Parliament. (Hear.) Besides the motion
was impracticable. They would not go to the house
this session without the sanction of the Government,
and they might depend upon it that such sanction never
would be obtained unless they desire much more exten-
sively to reform the Corporation. (Hear.) Believing
that it would be far better, therefore, to propose a plan
of reform upon a much larger scale, he would move the
"precious question."
Mr. BARKLEY seconded the amendment.
Mr. WM. JONES supported the enlarged proposition,
and hoped that a well-matured measure of reform would
be introduced, such as would be worthy of the Corpora-
tion and the time in which they lived. (Hear.)
Mr. ANDERTON reiterated his opinion that the Court
of Common Council would never reform itself. (Laughter.)
Upon many occasions they had attempted to do so, but
what had been the result ? Why the matter had turned
out to be nothing less than a bubble, which had soon
burst. (Hear, and laughter.) Every one of the propo-
sitions had been negatived. The Court would never re-
form itself. This " mushroom reform" was nonsense,
and Government, he was certain, would have to do the
necessary business. He should like to know, that day,
what the Court of Aldermen intended to do in the matter
of reform. What did they propose ? Did they desire to
give up the practice of putting their hands into the privy
purse of the Corporation, and recognise the right of the
whole of that body to deal with the funds ? Applications
had been made in past years by the Ward of Cripple-
gate, by Lord Brougham, by the Ecclesiastical Commis-
sioners, and others, for the reform of the Court of Al-
dermen, as well as the extension of the franchise. The
propositions in the Municipal Act were good for Liver-
pool, Manchester, Hull, and other places, why then
should they not work well in the city of London ?
(Hear.)
Sir JAMES DUKE suggested the amalgamation of the
motions on the paper.
Mr. NORRIS congratulated the Court upon the unani-
mity exhibited amongst its members upon the subject of
the extension of the franchise. So long as the prescrip-
tive rights of the corporation could be preserved, they
might defy either Sir B. Hall, or any other person, but
it would be ruin to them to resist something like a full
and effective, but at the same time gradual reform. To
pursue men as they were now pursuing them under an
ancient bye-law, was to obtain money under false pre-
tences. (Hear, and "No.") Men ought to be encou-
raged to trade in the City rather than be driven away
from it. It was the fact that they as a corporation were
compelled to turn common informers in order to effect
the object. (Hear, hear.) In this state they would be
perpetually kept if they did not reform themselves. He
knew that when the charter of Richard 11. was given,
in the consideration of the valour Qf Sir Wm. Walworth
for the defeat of Wat Tyler, as depicted on the wall
above him, they had the right to make certain regula-
tions against aggression of foreigners. Some year ago
this might be necessary for such a purpose, but the prac-
tice ought not now to be followed. The operation of
this principle had destroyed one corporation, and over-
thrown the Church, and insulted the Throne, and if they.
(the corporation) continued in their course of persecu-
tion, they would be overthrown also. (Cheers.) From
a return he had obtained from the Chamberlain's office,
it was clear that their fellow-citizens were against the
system. They had sent 1,240 summonses, 156 had paid
the fine, 293 had begged for mercy. (No.) Those who said
" no" might go, as he had done to the Chamberlain's-
offiee and inquire. 492 had taken no notice of the sum-
monses. These were gallant men, and he hoped they
would succeed. (Hear.) 299 had pleaded that they
were wholesale dealers, but surely they would not permit
these men to escape while the poor were thus persecuted
and driven to destitution. (Hear.) It had been said by
some of the antiquated men in the corporation, that if
they went to Parliament, they would be ruined. No such
thing. So it was said as to the building of Putney-
bridge in 1671, when a bill was promoted for that pur-
pose in the House of Commons. He could not help
saying that if they had determined to carry out these
matters, they ought to do so against all parties, not
merely those who are poor and destitute. He was pre-
pared to vote for periodical election of aldermen, and
many other extensive reforms, but he thought the first
and honest mode of dealing with the subject was, to ob-
tain the sanction of Parliament to a bill largely increasing
the municipal franchise of the city of London. (Loud
cheers.)

x d
x d
x d
x 11

Mr. T. H. HALL thought it very inexpedient for the
court to go into one question only. If they were to go
to Parliament for one thing only, might not Sir B. Hall
obtain more power than he could if it was a larger mea-
sure ? No doubt of it. Sir Benjamin would say, "This
meagre measure will not do ;Vs all nonsense."
Alderman SIDNEY considered that the reference of the
subject again to a committee to report what were suita-
ble reforms, would be to lose a golden opportunity of
doing themselves what, if they failed or hesitated to do,
would be attempted by other and less experienced hands.
(Hear, hear.) The time thus consumed would prevent
_ _
the

court from approaching Parliament during the pre-
sent session, and afford to the opponents of the munici-
pal institutions of the City the opportunity of dealing
with the question in a manner the least beneficial to the
citizens generally, while it must be admitted by all that
preliminary to all other reforms must be the extension
of the constituency. Hence he regretted that the mo-
tion of Mr. Blake should be met by an amendment of
the previous question. He trusted the court would nega-
tive that amendment, and thus allow his friend, Sir
James Duke, to bring in, as a substantive amendment,
a resolution which should meet with the unanimous con-
currence of those around him. He strenuously advised
the corporation not to encumber their bill to Parliament
by asking the Legislature to do that which they could
better do themselves. He must remind the court that
before Parliament itself was in existence, the representa-
tive principle was acted upon in the city of London. The
corporation had existed for centuries, and for centuries
had represented, and properly so, public opinion. It was
not until the year 1725, that an act obtained in the
reign of George I. interfered with the properly consti-
tuted representative principle, which for ages had worked
most advantageously ; and it was the fact, that the in-
terference of Parliament by the Act of the 2d George 1.,
and the further tinkering of that statute within the last
few years, made it necessary now to apply, in the first
place, for a repeal of those obnoxious acts. (Hear, hear.)
Now, those statutes limited the extension of the tranehise •
and if they were repealed, and a measure founded upon a
residency of a year and a day—the old andmh
aavpneoypmeuael
made
re.
franchise,tunies—th eanndsuerchwohtihchertrheefocrmitys
afisoutirimseheindigfhort
But, i t
il
vl necessarybee n
saidw ou would
that follow
Parliament
would n
aurae matter of coot utoleraters an ap-
plication of so limited a nature. He could only reply
that the Government of Lord John Russell sanctioned
such a bill, which received the approval of the House of
Commons, by being had a second time ; and there could
be no doubt that if such a bill were again introduced, it
would be again approved of. (Hear.) But there had
escaped the lips of several speakers a charge that the
Court of Aldermen had hitherto stood in the way of all
reform, and that the crying evil of the day was the want
of aldermanic reform. (Laughter.) Much fallacy prevailed
upon that subject. It was perfectly clear that any extended
constituency mnst necessarily affeet both the Court of Al-
dermen and the Court of Common Council. Each member
of of either court must, in the event ofhis cont.iencutiionng memberoafthenew
of the corporate body, be subject to the
upond the body
constituency ; but there had been
of which he was an unworthy nt
e inferredera that the Court of
calumny, and it was left_to b heaped
a great amount of
Cinotrepiliorgaetniocen:
failing to represent.t
undoubtedly ?toed in need
Aanlddetrinhate,n must be the corrupt Ptharte wefeate,
and population, of the City,

ABSCONDING DEBTORS.— Yesterday a bill before Par-
liament was printed to • facilitate the more speedy arrest
of absconding debtors from Ireland. The bill is similar
to the act now in force in England. It is declared that
frauds are perpetrated on creditors residing at a distance
from Dublin by debtors embarking for distant countries
from various towns and seaports in Ireland.
THE SUICIDE AT BETHNAL-GREEN.—Yesterday after-
noon the body of the person found on Sunday morning
last in the garden attached to the White-house Lunatic
Asylum, Cambridge-heath-road, Bethnal-green, was iden-
tified by his relatives, and was proved to be Mr. Andrew
Bennett Matirder, aged 68 years, a man of independent
property, residing at 30, Cannon-street-road, St. George's-
in-the-East. He bad formerly held a lucrative appoint-
ment in the revenue department of the Excise-office.
Mr. William Baker. the coroner for Middlesex, has is-
sued his warrant for the inquest, which will be held to-
morrow. The relatives of the deceased are completely
at a loss to account for the rash act, as he was in affluent
circumstances and of good intellect.
RESPITE OF THE CONVICT SAUNDERS.—The convict
Charles Saunders, who was convicted in February last
of the wilful murder of Thomas Samuel Toiler, and sent
to the county gaol of Essex for execution, was respited
yesterday evening for the space of a week, the do-
cument being brought from the Home-office by Mr.
Gipps, the under-sheriff. Since his condemnation the
relatives of the criminal have exerted every endeavour to
obtain a commutation of his sentence, and in the course
of last week they presented a petition to the Home
Secretarr, setting forth in strong terms their conviction
that he was not in a frame of mind to enable him to dis-
tinguish right from wrong, and giving many passages in
his life which seemed to indicate a deranged intellect.
Lord Palmerston, with a view of ascertaining the truth
of these allegations, caused inquiries to be made, the re-
sult of which induced him to send yesterday for Mr.
thei ne
criminald by
Gipps, the under:sheriff of the county of Essex. After
a lengthened interview his lordship decided upon respit-
ing the convict for a week, desiring at the same time
that no hopes of an ultimate commutation should be held
has competent
out. In the meantime, further inquiries will be set on
medical authority.
audtthhTy. Since hiseornvictwillb exaln
trial
pre-
served a sullen and reserved demeanour,rarely
even to the. Rev. J. B. Hamilton, the chaplain
prison, who has been almost constantly with him. He
admits his crime, but maintains an indifference of man-
ner when it is referred to, although he has expressed
regret for it.

WRECK OF THE
SIR POWELL BuxToN.r—The follow-
Feb. 12, 185
of our ill-fa,.—youte4l
all the ship,
3 have ing particulars relative
of South America, to the wreck, on the coast
of this vessel, while on her
voyage to Portl.
con-
tamedletter from one of the sufferers ._" Paraiba,
hill with emigrants, are
in a p
no doubt heard of the wreck
passengersthe Sir Powellwere
Buxton.e Inbed,
when a
bu
O n th elo6t h
December -t
two o'clock in the morning, we were dreadfully alarmed
by the ship running aground. The alarm and confusion
you may better imagine than I can describe to you. In
a short time we found we had run upon a sandbank,
about three miles from the shore, and it was fortunate
for us it was a sandbank, for had: we been a few miles
farther down the coast, the probability is you would
never have had these lines from me. At length
morning came, and our anxieties were in some
measure allayed: by assurances that we were not in
danger. When, at last, we were landed, we encamped
for several days (200 in number), and the natives col-
lected bushes to shield us from the heat of the sun. I had
collected two or three boxes together that we might have
a few things to wear, but they were sodden with salt
water, as the water had risen up to my cabin before we
left the ship. My other necessaries were in the hold,
and are all lost. We were put on board a small craft,
and sent' round the coast, casting anchor ‘very night,
and one time for a whole day. Her,s, r* are, 300 miles
from the place where we were wreclr'%; The inhabitants
,intoantoare cuoonvae‘nt.
iNnVeabeoxuptectthareselawp
weeks.
are about 500, and they behave kindly to us. Many of
.edt;ra' 1 of Notre-D went,
on
pusernaraemlibvitinego
briistiwon of' the
Pstrionvciiadyenmtioarllnyinnao, litovesthwPro
SAbecitnEedDießtiEoniacors.—,
~Th,
.ds, )anisdhotpheofexhPai
the Dame, for
relics connected the Passion of our Saviour.
These !relics are c .ced, to be a large piece
eyes' of the crown of thorn; and to of'flab nails used
of the true
at the crucifixion, all which will be ,publicly exhibited at
Notre-Dame to-morrow and Good Friday.