The Sun.
London, England, 1823-12-12 00:00:00

COMMON COUNCIL.

Yesteiday a ,Court of Common Council was
held in Guildhall, for 'the consideration of a
variety of business.
The Lour MAYOR took the Chair at twelve o'clock pre-
cisely, and immediately addressed the Court. He said, that
having the honour of being placed, by the unanimous voice of
his fellow-citizens, in the high and important office of Chief
31agistrate of the first commercial city in the world, he felt
himself called upon to devote his whole exertions to the dia.
charge of the arduous and responsible duties which had in con.
sequence devolved upon him. One among those duties was to
preside over the 'deliberations of that Court: in doing so, he
could assure them his best efforts should be directed to the
preservation of that temper and order which were essential for
the security and freedom of debate ; and he thought he could
venture to promise himself their warm support in the dig.
charge of this part of his official duty.—(Bear!)—tie also
thought they would believe him, when he promised that his
ellbrts should be guided by the strictest impartiality. Should
it be necessary to call any Member to order, he would pro:
mice that lie would execute the duty without any distinction
of political feeling. It would be in vain for him to express
the feelings which actuated him on this important occasion ;
and more particularly when the circumstances under which
he was called to office were fairly understood. He had not
attained the station which he now occupied, by the force of
mere accident—he had reached it, as it were, by some
share of right, by long and laborious, and disinterested at.
tention to all the duties and fatigues of other civic offices ;
he would venture to say, with reference to what had gone
by, that there were more documents connected with his ser-
vices in the archives of that Court,. than could be found of
any other individual 'Member of the Corporation. Under
these cireumstances, it was only natural for him to feel Kane-
what of greater anxiety than others, for the maintenance of the
rights the dignity, and honour of the corporation of London.
When, many, many years ago, lie entered the walls of that
Court, their deliberations were carried on with closed doors ;
and for years atter his entrance, their constituents were shut
out from a knowledge of their proceedings, anti the Members
themselves lost the salutary influence of the controul of their
constituents; and the voice also of public opinion. It was Ids
fortune to have been the humble instrument of throwing their J

doors Open to the public, and front that moment the Ctirpora-
. tion had yr, adually risen in the estimation of their fellow-citi-
zens and the kingdom at large, for talents, independence,and
British feeling.--(lfear, hear 1j—And he was persuaded din
no small degree were they indebted to that publicity, for be-
coming, as they undoubtedly were, the great means of calling
the attention of the country, whenever the liberty of the subject
was invaded, and of standing forward as the best prop and sup--
port of Boot g,
On all occasions when a similar
support were wanted, Ile trusted their conduct and spirit would
be always ready, to maintain the dignity and honour of the Cor-
oration, as being the best security for the well-being of all
lawful government, and the terror only of all
(Bear, bear !).—fle had only again to solicit their support for'
all his endeavours to preserve order in the regulation of their
debate's, than which there could be nothing more essential for
the dignity and indeed eilicaiy.of their measures. At the
perfectly convinced, that any interposition
osaftrttlel.e ante
natu:le waseheal alluded to to would alwaYs.be nxed up with a
fair share of indulgence for the intentions of a speaker, when
hurried away in the heat of debate.—(llear, bear !)

TUANKS TO TUE LATE LORD ASAYS2It.
On the motion of Mr. West, seconded by Mr. Walker, a
Note or thanks CM passed to the late Lord Mayor, for the num-
ner in which he had discharged the ditties 'of ins office.
purse of fifty guineas was theordered to be presented to o
Rev. 111 r. Griffiths, sp Chplain, as a testimony of
the esteem and approbation of the qirt.
MARINE 80OJETV-
The Committee for omen!.
.Purposes.presented a report, re-
commending a grant of 500/. to be made to the Marine Society,