The Sun.
London, England, 1836-01-20 00:00:00

COURT OF ALDERMEN.

Yesterday a Court was held fur the transaction of a great
deal of public business.

STEWARD OF THE BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK.

The LORD MAYOR stated that the office of Steward to
the Borough had become vacant by the death of Newman
Knowlvs,'Esq., the late Recorder of the City of London,
and, proposed that the Hon. Mr. Law be elected in his
place. The motion was unanimously agreed to.

CITY OF LONDON MUNICIPAL CORPORATION BILL.

Alderman VENABLES rose to move for the appointment
of a Committee empowered to confer with his Majesty's
Government, with the Commissioners of Municipal Inquiry,
and with any Committee appointed by the Court of Corn-
mon Council, with reference to any proposed reformin the
Municipal Corporation of the city of London.
The RECORDER said that hitherto the Court of Alder-
men had not recognized the Commissioners of Municipal
Inquiry at all, and suggested the propriety of altering the
proposition so as to meet that fact.
Alderman VENABLES had no objection to sanction such
change in the terms of his motion.
Alderman WINCHESTER said that the proposition as it
stood involved a great principle. He had no objection, if
any necessity should arise, to act, and he trusted most reso-
lutely too, in defence of the rights of every branch of the
Corporation ; but he could not bind himself to confer with
the Court of Common Council without knowing the exact
question upon which the conference was to be held. He
was disposed to treat the Court of Common Council with
every due respect, but he had no notion of tying himself to
the chariot-wheels of a body not at all willing to recognise
the privileges of the Court of Aldermen. If the Aldermen
consented to confer about their own rights with that Court,
he certainly should not he one of those who would yield to
such a proposition. They were as yet ignorant of any
measure of municipal reform, suggetted at least by his
Majesty's Ministers ; and as to any idea of conferring with
the Court of Common Council upon the principles laid.
down by them for the total subversion of the Court of
Aldermen, that was too absurd to be for a moment con-
templated.--(Hear, hear.) He hoped the Court of Alder-
men would consult with good and reasonable men, and if

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that Court could be made better thathr".;;, ' 4):- 7-.
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the improvement would be adopted as 144011-'
(A. laugh, and cry of " Hear.")
Alderman FAREBROTHER said that Aldslc•man Win-
chester seemed to have mistaken the meaning o f the pro-
position. What appeared to be its true meaningthat
the Court of Aldermen should confer with the Courrof
Common Council about such rights as were possess,.'d by
both Courts conjointly.—(Hear, hear.)
Alderman ATKINS said the powers possessed by tht
Court of Aldermen were quite distinct from those of the -
Court of Common Connell, and he apprehended that the
act of conferring would I.le an avowal of the right of the
latter to interfere with the privileges of the former. He
thought it would be most advisable in the Court of Al-
, dermen to form themselves into a Committee to resist any
attempt that might be made to invade their rights.
Alderman THOMAS Woon hoped that a Committee
would be formed without further discussion, as had beers
agreed upon at a private meeting of the Aldermen at the
Mansion House.
The motion was then so modified as to omit " the Com-
missioners of Municipal Reform and the Court of Common
Coun•fl," and was then unanimously adopted.
Upon the question that a list of the Aldermen, handed
in by Alderman Yenables, to join the Committee, should
be agreed to,
Alderman THOMPSON proposed that the Committee
should be a Committee of the whole Court. It would
then be competent for any member of the Court to attend
in the event of any proceedings of the Government.
Alderman FAREBROTHER seconded this proposition. •
The LORD MAYOR suggested the inexpediency of the
Court of Aldermen, who ected to the authority of a
Committee of the whole Court elsewhere, agreeing to ap-
point a Committee of the whole Court of their own body.
Alderman THOMAS WOOD 'objected to the appointment
of a Committee of the whole Court.
After a few observations from other members, a Coin-
mittee of the whole Court was appointed, and it was or-
dered that the members should be specially summoned for
Friday next.

MR. ROTCH'S CHALLENGE TO THE LATE LORD MAYOR.
Alderman WINCHESTER rose to address the Court on a
question of privilege, and commenced by asking the City
Solicitor whether the process against Mr. Rotch had beat
continued, or in what state the matter stood. The subject
was one both of a personal and a public nature, and con-
cerned himself as well as every other member of the Court.
The CITY SOLICITOR stated that Mr. Rotch having suf-
fered judgment to go by default, he (the City Solicitor) had
given directions to apply for judgment on Monday last. He
had, however, received directions from the Lord Mayor to
continue it until Monday next.
The RECORDER said that, as Counsel for Alderman Win-
chester on the occasion, he had advised that the process
should be continued upon the faith of what had appeared
in.the public papers at the meeting of the Middlesex Ma-
gistrates, and of what had been stated before sixteen or se-
venteen Aldermen by Sir Peter Laurie. He considered
that it would be necessary to consult Alderman Winches-
ter on the subject ; for it appeared to him that enough had
been done if Mr. Rotch would make a proper apology, and
that it would become the dignity of the Court and of Al-
derman Winchester to let the matter terminate ; but if the
Middlesex Magistrates thought that enough bad been done
without an apology from Mr. Rotch, the proceedings could
not be dropped consistently with the honour and dignity of
the Court and of Alderman Winchester.—(Hear.)
Alderman WlLsoN—What did you judge from ?
The RECORDER—From the statement in the newspapers,
and the representations of Sir Peter Laurie.
Sir PETER LAURIE—I made no official representation
from the Middlesex Magistrates.
Alderman FAREBROTHER—You forget the representation
you made on Saturday last.
Sir PETER LAURIE—That was not made to the Court of
Aldermen ; and I never said it was official.
Alderman FAREBROTHER—It was the representation
upon which the process was continued, and it was made
before sixteen or seventeen Aldermen. I know perfectly
well that a vindictive feeling never entered 'the breast of
Alderman Winchester, and that he would accept of such
apology as the Recorder has spoken of.
Sir PETER LAURIE then repeated what he had said at
the meetink of the Middlesex Magistrates. It was his opi-
nion that the resignation of Mr. .Rotch, and the allowing
of judgment to go by default, constituted sufficient punish-
ment ; th. t what Mr. Rotch had said could not in the
slightest degree harm the Court of Aldermen ; and that
Alderman Winchester had thrown himself upon that Court.
Alderman WINCHESTER—That is not the fact.
Sir P. LAURIE—I ask the City Solicitor who is to pay
him for carrying on those proceedings?
Alderman TuomrsoN—Of course they were instituted
upon an order from this Court.
Sir P. LAURIE stated that he had said he stood there as
one of the prosecutors of Mr. Rotch, but he had also said
that the, Court of Aldermen would consult their own dig-
nity and honour by not pursuing the matter further. it
was his intention to move that Mr. Rotch should not be
brought up for judgment.
Alderman THOMPSON wished to know whether Alder-
man Winchester had received any apology from Mr. Rotch?
He considered this matter personal to Aldermen Winches-
ter. The imputation cast upon the Aldermen was of not
the slightest importance, but Mr. Rotch was bound to
make reparation to Alderman Winchester for the offence by
apology.—( Hear, hear.) It appeared that Mr. Rotch had
apologised to the Middlesex Magistrates for sending the
challenge to the then Chief Magistrate of the City of London,
but he (Alderman Thompson) had not heard that this or-
dinary courtesy of one gentleman to another had been paid
by Mr. Rotch to the individual whom he had insulted.
The subsequent conduct of Mr. Rotch was calculated to ag-
gravate rather than conciliate the impressions of indignation
against him. Sir Peter Laurie, however, said that Mr.
Rotch had done enough. (He Alderman Thomson) de-
nied it. -He had done nothing that he had not been
obliged to do, but had resisted, to the utmost of his power,
and would, when brought up for judgment, endeavour,
by affidavits and by other means, to get as little punish-
ment as possible. The Court were, in fact, censurable in
granting a week more to him to consider whether he should
or should not apologise. Painful as it was to his ( Ald.
Thomson's feelings, he would propose that the law should
take its course.—( Hear.)
Alderman T. WOOD also condemned the conduct of Mr.
Rotch, and approved of the conciliatory spirit of Alderman
Winchester. He observed that Mr. Rotch had tried to
justify his conduct ,in libelling the Court of Aldermen by
referring to the evidence of the Governor of Newgate,
which evidence for the purpose of accusation wag materi-
ally suppressed by him. So far, too, from making amends
for the offence he had given, he had justified it by the pre-
cedents of Sir Robert Peel and the Duke of Wellington.
And the Middlesex Magistrates had given him a vote of
thanks for the conduct he had thought proper to adopt.
Alderman T. Wood concluded by hoping that the Court
would in future steer clear of unauthorised communications.
Sir P. LAURIE declared that in all he (Sir P. Laurie)
had done he was completely justified. All he wanted was
that the matter should lie over till that Court assembled.
The LORD MAYOR admitted that he had agreed to di-
rect the City Solicitor to continue the process upon the re-
presentation of Sir Peter Laurie ; but he did not consider
that representation to have been an official one. He had, how-
ever, acted with the concurrence of all his brother Alder-
men, who had attended the meeting on Saturday, and also
with the concurrence of the Recorder.
Alderman THOMPSON-Did your Lordship understand
Sir Peter Laurie to make the statement from himself, or
from his brother Magistrates of Middlesex.
The LORD MAYoß—Most distinctly from himself.
After some further observations from other Aldermen,
Alderman WINCHESTER expressed his readiness still to
accept an apology from Mr. Rotch, and the following reso-
lution was agreed to unanimously : •
" That it is the opinion of this Court that the dignity of the
Chief Magistrate and of this Court will be sufficiently main-
tained by Mr. Rotch making a satisfactory apology to Alder-
man Winchester for letters sent to him ; and, in the event of
his making such apology, that no further proceeding be taken
on the criminal information filed against him."
Alderman WINCHESTER declared that he perfectly ac-
quiesced in the resolutions, and would give a piece of ad-
vice to Sir Peter Laurie, not to be fond of imputing vindic-
tive feelings to those who could not be justly accused of
feelings of the kind.
Sir P. LAURIE said he bad no doubt there would be no
vindictive conduct to complain of, but admitted that in
speaking on the subject of proceeding further he had used
the word " vindictive" most emphatically.
Alderman THOMPSON then moved the following resolu-

tion :
" That Alderman Winchester, having expressed his perfect
readiness to adopt the suggestions of the Court, the thanks of
the Court be presented to him for the several steps he had
taken in relation to the hostile message received by him from
Mr. Rotch, whereby he has supported the honour and dignity
of the Chief iMagistrate and of this Court ; and for the con-
ciliatory spirit he has evinced by adopting the suggestion this
day made to him."
Sir P. LAURIE seconded the motion, which was carried
unanimously.
The Court, after having proccreded to the consideration
of some matters of mere local interest, broke up.

EXPORTATION OF THE PRECIOUS METALS.-
The usual returns made by the Customs of the exportation
of the precious metals from the port of London for the
week, from the 12th to the 19th inst. inclusive, is—
Destination. Ounces.
British West Indies--Gold Coin 2,393

Silver Coin
The former equal in value to about 9,5721., and the latter
to about 10,454/., according to the present Mint regulation
for the price of standard gold and silver.

SPMIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

'the number of the Edinburgh Review for January,
1836, contains several able articles ; but only one de-
voted to politics, " On the Origin, Nature, and Ten-
dencies, of Orange Associations." The writer ex-
poses, in a masterly manner, the mischiefs of Orangeism,
availing himself freely of the mass of information
contained in the late Parliamentary Reports. Towards
the conclusion of his article, he draws attention to the
predicament in which the Duke of Cumberland has
recently placed Lord. Hill. After adverting to the
order issued on the very day that the last Grand
Lodge met in Portman-square—which declares that
any officers, non-commissioned officers, or soldiers,
who shall hereafter institute or countenance an Orange
Lodge, or any other meeting or society whatsoever for
party purposes, in barracks, quarters, or camp, shall be
'brought to trial before a general court-maitial, and pe-
remptorily forbids the attendance of either officer or
soldier at Orange Lodges, by whomsoever, or whereso-
ever held—the writer proceeds to remark,
We anxiously want to see what course will be pursued
by or regarding Field-Marshal the Duke of Cumberland,
General-the Duke of Gordon, Colonel Verner, Colonol
Perceval, and other Orange officers. If a reply to an ad-
dress from an Irish Orange Lodge which appeared in the
daily papers on the 19th of December last, and which bore
the signature of Ernest, Grand Master,' be correct, then
we presume his Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland
nas made his election, and prefers the absolute power and
dignity of the Grand Mastership of an illegal or forbidden
association, to the honour of being a Field-Marshal in the
British Army."
Alluding to the necessity for freeing the general ad-
ministration of the law from party taint, the writer ob-
serves, he cannot doubt—

" That Parliament will express so strong an opinion in
favour of purging justice from all party taint as will support
the Government in issuing and enforcing an order similar
to Lord Hill's. Lord Mulgrave has already manfully placed
his foot on that path by resolutely withstanding all
Orange accessions to office. But he has as wisely
waited for the expression of the opinion of Parlia-
ment upon the Orange misdemeanours now revealed, be-
fore proceeding to the further but equally necessaay mea-
sure of declaring that no man should hold a commission of
the peace or any place under the Crown who is an Orange-
man. This would bring the matter to issue between the
leaders of Orangeism and the Government. At all events,
until measures be taken whereby the rulers and chiefs of
Orangeism may be checked, the prosecution of the mis•
guided tenants and followers for riots and processions, is a
mockery and an injustice."

The present Number contains an able article on the
progress and present state of agriculture, in which it
is successfully shown that the improvements in agri-
culture have kept pace with the improvements in ma-
nufactures. The writer combats the delusion that we
owe our agricultural improvements to the high prices
of the late war. The greatest improvements were in
progress between 1760 and 1797, while from 1760
down to 1795, prices continued almost stationary.
But during that period the towns and villages were ra-
pidly increasing, and, consequently, affording a stimulus
to agriculture :
" Notwithstanding the sinister auguries of the Committee
of 1833, and notwithstanding the greatly increased demand
for corn evinced by the rapid increase of population, the
supply has been increased in a still greater ratio. This is
evident from the decline of prices, which have sunk from
.58s. Bd. in 1832,- to less than 38s. at present."
The Reviewer thinks that this result, though earth
a consequence of the unusually productive harvests of
the last two years, is ascribable in a far greater degree
to, the influence of improvements. The illustrations
with which this article abounds are extremely curious
and interesting.—Morning Chronicle.
After reading over the report of the Birmingham
mob-meeting contained in yesterday's Times, we have
been compelled to give up as hopeless the attempt to
find, in the onfiguration of that enlightened assem-
bly, or in the compositions of the orators on whom de-
x:olved the superfluous office_gf instructing it, a single'
circumstance, sentiment, or characteristic, worthy of
any particle of notice, beyond that with which our re-
porter had already, in .the amplitude of his liberality,
favoured ourselves and our readers. The Chairman,
indeed, was in a marvellous " flustration" against the
Tories, and no wonder, since it was their accustomed
" spirit of viciousness" which had, in a manner, forced.
the Political Union to meet on that inauspicious occa-
sion, and to discover to the whole world the wretched,
fallen, attenuated, tatterdemalion state which—in
numbers and respectability it bad, since the palmy
days of 1832, been reduced ,:to. The distinguished
Chairman—who rejoices in the name of Muntz—
improved upon the felicity of Mr. Daniel O'Con-
nell, in his application of the phrase " stunted corpo-
ral" to the most renowned Englishman of the 19th cen-
tury ; for he, the eloquent Chairman, in describing
the operations of Sir R. Peel last session, informed his
hearers, that the Right Hon. Baronet " went off again
to Tamworth, ass as he was," acknowledging that he
had been completely deceived. However, as some in-
demnification to Sir Robert Peel for being an ass, the
excellent gentleman "gave the Times full liberty to
call him a goose if it pleased "—a privilege of which
the generous grantor would doubtless be delighted to
make us the sole patentee; but we fear its value
might be somewhat impaired by the eagerness of our
envious neighbours to infringl upon it. On Mr.
Attwood, who seemed to regard this promising exhi-
bition of "moral grandeur and intellectual dignity
and power" as in the nature of a canvass for his own
ensuing election, whenever that might be, we have no
remark to make ; but that the worthy paper-monger
seemed, even beyond any of the examples furnished
out of his own previous history, magnificent and pug-
nacious in his'politics ; nothing would serve him but
raising 100,000 men to fight the Tories, which he
would undertake to do in one little week ; but that in
the exercise of extraordinary moderation he would not
do so, unless the sere w were going to be applied once
more to the people—" a calamity" which he thOught
it but fair to state they were soon again likely to ex-
perience, in which case- Manchester, Glasgow, and
20,000,000 men would place themselves under the
guidance of Birmingham (that is, under the guidance
of Messrs. "Goose" Muntz, and " Kite" Attwood),
so remarkable had been the " prudence and discretion
of its Political Union," to which would be hereafter
added the attribute of unconquerable military prowess.
An Address to the King was then agreed to, for a
general sweep of our monarchical institutions, and of
such a nature as will necessarily draw from Lord John
Russell, in his Majesty's name, the most cordial as-
surances of his Royal assent and approbation.—Times.,
The allies. of his Majesty's Ministers at Birming-
ham, as our readers will perceive by an abridged report
of their proceedings in another part of our paper, have
been making an attempt, fortunately an abortive one,
to revive the Political Union in that town, for the con-
genial and harmonious purposes of maintaining the pre-
sent Administration in power, and of carrying forward
the work of revolution. The muster was an insignifi-
cant one, as Mr. Attwood very frankly intimated in the
course of his speech. The Birmingham workmen are
now well employed in their laborious and useful occu-
pations, and will not waste their time by listening to
such orators as at Birmingham and elsewhere attempt
to extol and perpetuate the Melbourne-O'Connell
Government, and, with a consistency above all im-
peachment, to cry down, and abolish if they can, the
British Constitution. But there will be a period, Mr.
Attwood confidently hopes, when his orations and
those of his fellow-labourers in the cause of the present
Ministry and of revolution will be thought worthy of
more attention than at present. And that period will
be whenever a temporary stagnation in commerce and
manufactures shall have produced temporary privation
and distress among the labouring population. Then
it is that the seed, which he and his good friends in
the more immediate councils of the Sovereign are now
"'Wing with so much industry and care, will produce
its appropriate fruits. It is plain that Mr. Attwood
thoroughly understands the 'culture of sedition, and
that he is every way worthy to be an ally of the pre-
sent Government, except in one little particular, viz.,
that the pride which he takes in his art leads him to
explain with somewhat too little reserve to the world at
large the process by which its most important results
are accomplished. The country ought to be obliged
to Mr. Attwood for explaining so fully and clearly as
he has done the 'nature and degree of the obligation
which it owes to the present Ministers of the Crown.
It is to them that we are indebted for the certainty i
(Mr. Attwood, in this particular at least, is not likely :

Ito prove a false prophet) that on the next unfavourable
change in .the condition of the manufacturers of hard-
ware, the Birmingham Political Union, " the child
and champion" of Whiggery, will be prepared to wage
a deadly war against the House of Lord.—Morning
Post.