The Sun.
London, England, 1838-12-19 00:00:00

COURT OFCoMMON COUNCIL.

Yesterday a Court was held for the despatch of business.
THE NEW CITY POLICE FORCE.
The LORD MAYOR, in answer to questions put and ob-
servations made by soma of the members relative to the
usual appointment of constables on St. Thomas's Day, said
it was desirable that it should be publicly known that, al-
though he had issued his precept for the election of the
usual ward officers, it was cot intended that the constables
so elected should be sworn in. There could be no objection
to the gentlemen (elected in turn) who might wish to serre
by substitute, presenting the names of those who they were
desirous should represent them, in order that the wardmotes
might approve of such substitutes ; but it was wished by the
Court of Aldermen that a gentleman should not be called
upon to pay ten pounds for a substitute, when his services
were not likely to be called into action. The ❑ew police
not yet having come into operation, it was not thought right
by the Magistrates to abolish the old constitutional force
until the efficiency of the new City police should be
tested ; and the propriety of such resolution was already
apparent, as there existed doubts whether the new force
would be ready by the 25th, the day appointed for com-
mencing under the new Bill. He (the Lord Mayor) did
not entertain any doubt at all upon the subject, and the
citizens ought not to be alarmed, for, provided the new
police were found to be efficient, the old ward officers
would not be called out ; but supposing such a necessity to
arise, it oould only be by his (the Lord Mayor's) precept ;
and he should take care that the persons elected should
have sufficient notice to enable them to have their substi-
tutes sworn in. A question having been asked in relation
to a circular sent to each ward from the Police Committee,
to consider the propriety of applying to the Court of Alder-
men to reduce the ward constables to one, such circular
could not have been legally considered at a ward meeting,
the Act requiring that it should undergo consideration at a
wardmote. St. Thomas's Day would, therefore, supply a
very fit and proper opportunity for entertaining the question.
after which application might be made to the Court of Al-
dermen according to the form prescribed by the Act, when
the subject, which was one of great importance, might be
considerd in all its bearings.
From a conversation which took place it appeared that
there is no truth whatever in a statement which appeared
in a Morning Contemporary a few days ago, to the effect
that Irishmen were to be rejected from the new City police
force.

A petition of some of the ancient City watchmen, solicit.
ing small pensions now that they are ineligible on account
of age was referred to a Committee.
Mr. JONES presented a petition from Mr. Ross, of Cha-
tham-place, Blackfriars, praying that the Corporation would
not oppose itself to the contemplated improvement of Hol-
born Hill, by making a viaduct, &c., there.
The petition was finally referred to the London Bridge
Committee.
Mr. BAYLIS moved—" That any measure having for its
object the opening of the Post-office for business on the
Sunday would be productive of serious inconvenience,
hardship, and deprivation to many of the citizens and in-
habitants of London, as well as to the officers of the
establishment, and would be offensive to the religious and
moral feelings, and adverse to the social comforts and
order, of a large portion of the metropolitan community,
and, therefore, would not be consistent with a just, wise,
or liberal policy." It would be well for the Corporation
to express a strong opinion on the subject, which might
materially assist in preventing any future proceedings of the
kind that had been so generally apprehended.--( Hear.)
Mr. ANDERTON said that he considered it quite unne-
cessary to persevere with the motion, and moved the pre-
vious question.
Several members of the Court having deprecated in
strong terms the proposed change, Mr. Anderton withdrew
his amendment, and the motion of Mr. Baylis was carried.