The Sun.
London, England, 1847-03-15 00:00:00

CITY cf LONDON CORPORATION
REFOR 11.

The committee of the whole Court upon the Corpora-
tion privileges assembled on Friday. The proceedings
testified a firm determination in the majority of the
members who constitute ci the meeting to apply to Par-
liament for a limited interference in reconstructing the
civic government. Mr. Richard Taylor was called to
the chair.
After the minutes of the proceedings of the last
meeting were read,
The CITY SOLICITOR reported to the committee that
he had submitted the various questions propounded by
it to the law officers of the Corporation, together with
briefs ; that a general wish was expressed by them for
an enlargement of the time given for consideration, on
account of their various engagements ; and that the
Recorder mentioned his judicial obligations as likely to
prevent him from deciding, when he should be able to
give his opinion.
Some of the members said the Recorder's "when"
meant " whether."
Sir PETER LAURIE stated his impression to be that
the Recorder was not incined to answer at all.
The CITY SOLICITOR said that all the other Learned
Gentlemen had expressed their intention to answer the
questions fully. He suggested that the time should be
enlarged to the 12th of April, so that the other avoca-
tions of the officers might not interfere with the consi-
deration of the question.
Mr. ASRURST did not object to grant further time,
but he suspected that there might be in view the object
of carrying the matter of reforming the Corporation
over the session of Parliament.—(Cries of " No, no.")
They were bound, in his opinion, to instruct a sub com-
mit tee to prepare a Bill, while the officers were preparing
their answers, for the opinions of counsel as to whe her
the necessity of going to Parliament were not required.
That was a question of policy, not of law. Those who
thought with him thought it would be necessary to go
to Parliament, whatever rniehe he the opinion of the
law officers, and it would be inexpedient to dt.l ly the
preliminary steps, as the session of Parliament was
rapidly passing, and a great deal of time had already
been occupied in ineffectual efforts to advance the ques-
tion of reform. The proceedings of the other court
strengthened the argument for decisive conduct. The
Court of Aldermen agreed to appoint a committee with
a view to reform—agreed unanimously. But the mo-
ment they saw their speeches in the newspapers they
were frightened, and so complete was their repentance
that they ridiculed tied jeered at the very proposition
which they had all advocated.—(Laughter )
Sir PETER LAURIE assured the committee that there
was not one member in the Court of Aldermen who
wished to appeal to Parliament, whatever credit the
committee might be disposed to give to the mover of the
question alluded to, for sincerity.—(Laughter.)
Mr. ASHURST said he was not mistaken in suspecting
that he had given the Court credit for too much.—
(Laughter.) That it was essential to eo to Parliament
for the repeal of the 11th of George the First, there
could be no doubt, as a preliminary step in improve-
ment. How monstrous was it that the Aldermen could
get rid of any question that was unpalatable to them, by
just popping out at the side door ; and that the Lord
Mayor should have the power of disposing of the result
of the deliberation of the great mass of the Corporation,
by refusing to put, the questions.—(flear, hear.) It was
incumbent upon the committee to lose as little time as
posioble. If they allowed the 9th of November to piss
without reform, they might have a Lord Mayor who
would be disposed to act more in consonance with the
Corporate body, than the present Chief Magistrate ;
and the question might then pass away with the ap-
parent necessity, as was unfortunately the case after
the Winchester Mayoralty.—(llear, hear ) Mr. Ash-
urst then moved that the application of the law officers,
for an extension of time, be granted, the limit to be the
12th of April
Mr. HALL seconded the motion, and wished it to be
understood at the same time, that he by no means sup-
posed the law officers had any notion of causing delay,
for the purpose of postponing the question.
The motion was unanimously agreed to.
Mr. HOLT—Iu the meantime let us prepare a Bill for
Parliament.—(Cries of " No, no ")
Mr. BURN believed they should be obliged to apply to
Parliament, but they ought to apply with re,:ularity and
consistency, and hand in hand with the Ceurt of Alder-
men.—(Elear, hear.) There was as yet no reference
eade to get the authority to go to Parliament, but he
hosed the Lord Mayor would call a Court to give the
nithority to prepare a B
Mr. W. JONES said it would be prejudicial to the in-
terests of the Corporation to prepare a Bill at the pre-
sent time.

Sir PETER LAURIE Slid be was altogether against
going to Parliament. lie was wit prepared for encoun-
tering such a danger. Lord Brougham said to him
yesterday, " Whit! are you coming to us?"— (Laughter.)
No, thank God," said he (Sir Peter), for he was of
Palsgrave's opinion, that by going to Parliament the
City would incur the guilt of suicide _ _

Mr. HALE said there wss a time when he concurred in
the opinion just expressed, but he was nuw decidedly for
going to Parliament.

Mr. ASHURST then moved, " That the Committee pre-
sent a report to the Cou:t of Common Council that the
Corporation requires reform which can only be effected
by the aid of Parliament."
Mr. HUMPHREYS a,sured the Committee the Corpora-
tion would get but little by going to Parliament, and
they did not know what they might not lose.—(liitar.)
They would certainly 1,),e the magistracy of the City.
Stipendiaries wcu!d be the sulyltitutes or the Aldermen.
:And every Government, whether Whig, Tory, or Radical,
would be always ready to put their hands into the City
purse.
Mr. BowEn supported the motion, and hoped that the
s-ssion of Parli:lment would not be allowed to pass with-
out bearing evidence to the sincerity of their long-ex-
pregs, d feelit gs.

Mr. HALL was convinced that the Court of Common

Council ought tn,t to decide upon going to Parliament
wAtil the opinions of counlel were kn'.wn, end he should
argue in the Court upon the expediency of not making
my application to Parliament at all.—(Hear, hear.) It
had ben said that the Court of Aldermen intended to
triply to that authority themselves. That was an error.
['he Aldermen could not go to Parliament except as
part and parcel of the Corporation, for they had in
themselves a corporate capacity.—(llar, hear.)
Mr. ANDEitTON was surprised at tho bugaboo lack a
lantern mention of Parliament.—(Laughter.) It was
like the big words used to frighten babies, and produced
a corresponding eff.ct upon the great babies of the Cor-
poration. He did not believe that Government consi-

tiered it to be their interest to do the Corporation of
London any mischief, or that they even contemplated
any imperious interference with the privileges of the
body. If the Corporation carried union with them, no
Government would make the experiment of taking away
privtlezes which had been handed down to the citizens
from time immemorial. He certainly apprehended dim
ger from not going to Parliament, although he consi-
lered it perfectly safe to seek the aid of the L..gislature,
snd he rej.iicei that Sir Peter Laurie's ward differed
from their Alderman on the subject, and manifested so
becoming a spirit.
Sir PETER LAURIE—The wan] showed the utmost in-

diff,rence. There were only 16 present.
Alderman SIDNEY agreed in ti inking that some reform
was re cossiry, but they ought to settle upon the points
which ri quired remedy be'ore they proceeJed to I'arlia
trent, and they ought to avail themselves of the expe-
rience en:l judgment of the Court of Aldermen in dis
cussing the matters for consideration.
Mr. HARTLEY contended that the Act of Edward 111..
confirtnatory of the Corporation, was conclusive of the
power of the Corporation to wake all necessary reforms
in itself, and rendered any application to Parliament
worse than useless.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. ASHURST in reply, said he had not heard a word
of argument against an application to Parliament. Could
any condition be worse than that in which the Corpora-
tion was at that moment placed?—([tear, heir.) lie
wished to test the sincerity of those who had expressed
their disapprobation of the control to which they were
'ubjected. As to the points which required remedy,
it was ridiculous to specify them, lc-lawn as they were to
anybody in and out of the Corporation. Look at the
Lord Mayor; look at the Aldermen; 1. ok at the constitu-
envy consisting of publicans. who were unjustly com-
pelled to take up their freedom before they announced
their trade. Look at our long shore men, a set off always
at command for a few hundreds to influence any elec-
tion.—(Hear, hear.) Was that a state of things to be
longer endured?—(Loud cries of No, no.") It was for
Parliament to give its powerful aid to rend in pieces so
disgusting a system.—(Cheers.)
The resolution was then carried.
The next resolution, which went to restrain the Cham-
berlain for paying every sum of money by order of the
Lord Mayor, &c., &c., was, after some discussion, nega-
tived evidently from respect to the Chamberlain, whose
conduct since his appointment hail given the most com-
plete security that it would be absurd to doubt the judi-
cious and in4ependi.nt performance of his duties under
any circumstances of doubt or difficulty in which he
might be placed.
The last resolution was, " That it is the right of this
Court of Common Council, in Common Council assem-
bled, to regulate and control the business and proceed-
ings of that Court, and the order and course of its pro-
ceedings, and to regulate its paper of business."
To this resolution, which was moved by Mr. Ashurst,
the Committee agreed unanimously.—Adjourned.

MARY LEBONE VESTRY.
A POOR-LAW FOR IRELAND.
On Saturday, at a very numerously-attended meeting
of the Marylebone Vestry (the Rev. Dr. Spry in the
chair),
Mr. 11. C. Wilson, Mr. G. Daniell, and Mr. Potter, as
a deputation on the part of the parochial committee,
brought up the following petition to Parliament, pray-
ing the Legislature to pass a poor-law fur Ireland,
signed by upwards of 5,000 ra•epayers—
" To the Right Honourable the Lords Spiritual and
Temporal taid Commons of the United Kingdom in
Parliament assembled :
`• The humble petition of the parishioners of St.
Marylebone in public meeting assembled, the rector of
the pirish in the chair,
'‘ Sheweth—That your petitioners consider the rights
of property, however sacred, to be secondary to the
right of existence and to the law of self defence ; that
the right of existencn and of subsistence constitutes an
essential and indefeasible portion of the social and reli-
gious compact which unites man to man ; that this corn-
' most inhumanly hasl7.stthesoil ii been grossly violated by some of the possessors
Ireland,denied
to who,
theiri
nt
fellow
absence of otfhelarwir;
right
tavtoe
live - , and that this monstrous and cryingevil
he remedied by giving
and eifeetive too that unhappy country a per-
manentproperty of Ireland liable, Ir-which will make the
is liable, to the supportas the property of England
and maintenance
and destitute. of the poor
" Thatyour petitioners view with feelings of indignation
Bnd abhorrence Vae heartless conduct of those It

in Ireland, who, at a period of such dire privation, desti-
tution, and death from absolute starvation, passed reso-
lutions for the closing of the union workhouses, and re •
fused, from motives of self interest, to collect and expend
the rates designed for the maintenance of the poor,
which, if properly applied, would have gone far to
diminish the awful calamity with which the nation has
been visited, and that they also view with feelings of in-
dignation the conduct of those in England, who, during
a period of great and increasing misery, have sought to
defeat the humane intentions of the Legislature, by de-
claring it to be inexpedient to grant temporary relief
through the assistant overseer, and that out-door relief
was injurious to the able-bodied labourer, even when
exposed to the imminent risk of starvation and disease,
that the exemption from taxation, hitherto enjoyed by
the landholders of Ireland has been most unjust and bur-
thensome to the empire at large, and most injurious to
our suffering fellow-subjects in Leland in particular, in-
asmuch as it has prevented both the levying and distri-
bution of those ftuals which ought, according to every
principle of humanity and justice, to have been raised for
their relief ; that in the opinion of your petitioners,
the necessary expenses of State incurred in conducting
the business of the nation, should be raised
by the taxation of real property, without reference to
rank or station; that the burthen of taxation should be
equally borne by all and every portion of the empire:
and that the inhabitants of this parish are especially
called upon to give utterance to this opinion, inasmuch
as they have to provide, not only for the maintenance of
their own destitute poor, but also for a large number of
their poor Irish fellow subjects in adlition. Your peti-
tioners, therefore, humbly pray your Right Honourable
House that such humane and efficient measures may be
passed es an Irish Poor-hiav, as will permanently relieve
our suffering tellow-suhje'ets in Ireland, and your peti-
tioners will ever pray," &(.
Mr. H. C. WILSON, in moving that the petition be re-
ceived, observed that it embodied the sentiments, he be-
lieved, not only of the people of Marylebone, but of every
English constituency, and :hat he was delighted to find
that her Majesty's Government were desirous of carrying
out an efficient poor law for Ireland.—( Hear, hear.)
He trusted that the measure brought forward by
the Noble Lord at the head of the Ministry would be a
poor law for Ireland based on the 43d of Elizabeth, every
attempt to amend which excellent measure in this coun-
try had signally failed.—(Hear, hear.) At the present
moment the emanation of such opinions as those expressed
in the petition, coming from a great metropolitan pa-
rish like Marylebone, would be of immense service and
support to the Government in carrying out their mea-
sure ; and he hoped to see every parish in the kingdom
following the example.—(Hear, hear) In bringing
this document before the vestry, he had great pleasure
in bearing his willing testimony to the zeal and ability
with which the Hon. Baronet (Sir B. Hall) had, par-
ticularly in the question regarding Ireland, represented
the feelings and wishes of his constituents.—(Hear.)
Mr. GEORGE DANIELL, in seconding the proposition,
expressed his gratification at the extraordinary unity of
feeling which the signatures to the petition exhibited
amongst all classes of politicians in Marylebone.
Amongst the minus were to be found those of Peers,
Members of Parliament, and other parishioners, who
although they differed not only in political, but parochial
subjects, were yet united in demanding of the Legisla-
ture justice to Ireland in the shape of an Irish Poor-
law, which would compel the Irish landlords to support
the poor on their own estates.—(Hear, hear.) He al-
ways viewed Irelanct as the little sister of England—
(Laughter)—as an integral portion of the British empire
—(Cheers)—and it was indeed gratifying to find the
unanimity of feeling which the signatures to the Mary-
lebone petition displayed in a determination to rescue
the poor of Ireland from the grasp of their oppressors.
He sincerely hoped and believed that out of the evil and
calamity which had befallen Ireland would come good,
and he felt that the unanimous feeling of all parties in
England augured a better state of things for that unfor
tunate and unhappy country.
Mr. JOHN WILLIAMS concurred in the belief that the
presentation of such petitions as this to Farhat:lie t
would materially assist Lord John Russell in his me e
i
sures for Ireland, but he differed with Mr. Wilson, w o
seemed to imply that Sir B. Hall was entitled to a vote
of thanks for his conduct recently. He (Mr. Williams)
thought the Hon. Baronet was not entitled to thanks for
merely doing his duty to those whom he represented.
Sw-h a berough as Marylebone ought not to be repre-
sented in P ..rliarnent by a mere automaton.—(Laughter.)
The CHAIRMAN remarked, that if a man was rot
thanked for doing his duty, he would never be thanked
at all,—(Hear, hear.) _ 1

Mr. If. C. IV'mos explained, that he only made the
rernarki. in re erenct- to Sr B. Hall, as his own feelings,
he having taken a prominent part in condemning huts
some time back.

The resolution was put from the chair, and carried
nem. con , and the Rev. Chairman having appended his
signature. _ _

Mr. POTTER moved that the petition be placed in the
hands of Sir B. Hall, for presentation to the House of
Commons, on Monday (this) evening.
This was also seconded, and ..arried unanimously.
STATE OF PAUPERISM IN THE PARISH.
Sir JAMES Hamrsirox expressed his gratification that
during the past week there had been a great decrease of
pauperism. The number of new applications for rel.ef
on the sth of March were 620, and on the 12th of March
399. In the housc, last week there were I,6s7.persons,
corresponding week last year 1,677 ; decrease 20.
( Loud cheers.)

SiT WALTER STIRLING wit% sure the Vestry were much
indebted to Sir James Hamilton for the trouble he had
taken, but there was one most important point altogether
omitted, and which was na,,st satisfactory, namely, that
there was a decrease of Itish paupers.—(Hear.) A
week or two back, out of every eleven applicants for
relief, there was only one English. Out of 2,000 pau-
rrs 1,700 were Irish ; and out of 2,500 no less than
2 000 were Ii islt. fie was hippy to say the ratio of
Irish was diminishing, for had it increased, not only
would the authorities be compelled to raise the rates, bit
the pestilence, disease, and starvation, existing in Ire.
land, must inevitably have extended itself to this
c ,untry.

HAMBURGH MAIL.

BRM.SFA.S, Marton 9. —The average price of wheat during
lie preceding week ending on the 6th inst. was— wheat,
36.94, rye, 26.03, being an advance of 4f. 12c. on wheat, and
of rye, lt. 99c.
At the opening of the sitting, the Chamber of Representa-
tives voted the project of law presented yesterday by the
Minister of Finance, and which was seconded by Mr. Bra-
bant. This project of law exempts from the right of ton-
nage all vessels importing grain, and interdicts the distilling
of potatoes and the feculee of the potato. The Minister who
spite on this subject argued that it would be the best to
:tajourn the discussion on the measures relative to subsistence
which the Government has taken. The Minister of Finance
stated that the Government was the best judge
of the appropriation of the funds intrusted to
it for subsidies, tee. M. Melon, in reply to a ques-
tion from Mr. Villeges, stated that notwithstanding the
most active surveillance the exportations of provisions in our
southern frontiers, which had been fraudulently made, could
not be less than from 12,000 to 14,000 hectolitres. The
Minister of Finance declared that the infringements of the
Lire of custom on exportation of provisions are punished
with all possible rigoar.
The. g neral discussion of the project relative to the alte-
rations in the selections of the the number of members for
the Chamber was resumed. Mr. Lehon, the Minister of the
Interior, and M. de Broackere successively addressed the
Chamber, and the latter member declared that it there were
ens body unconstitutional in what they proposed it was not,
as sl. de Theaux said, the lion. Member M. Castian, but M.
de Theaux himself. He then entered into a rapid political discus-
sion k.tainst the Minister, and denied that any member of the
opposition could be accused of having entered the assembly
with an imperative mandate since the electors had no means
whatever of being assured of the execution of the orders
which they might give to a deputy.
M. Durnotier resumed the discussion. After a few words
exchanged between M. Rogier and M. de Theaux on electoral
reform, the discussion was terminated.
The Minister of the Interior, in reply to M. Bronchere, de-
clared that, according to his own showing, the amendment of
SI. Castian was unconstitutional, because contrary to the re-
gulations of the Constitution; lie had regard to another
object than the census alone to confer the name of elector.
At the close of the sitting, M. amay spoke in favour of
the amendment proposed by M. Cless, which tended to in-
clude the districts of Furnes, of Dixmunde, and Ostend, in the
privilege of sending two members.
M. de Breyne opposed this amendment, which was replied
to by the Minister of the Interior.
The communal elections which are taking place this clay
at Brussels have presented a very remarkable fact. Two
political associations have been formed; the success of either
the one or the other will have a decisive result; the victory
depends on the preponderance which the two associations
dispute. Both have made great efforts, and have called
forth all their resources and all their influence. What will be
the result of this double agitation in the midst of an electoral
party in our capital ? 2,000 electors were called together to
take part in the voting ; 1,004 electors only replied
to the call, and of these 1,004 electors 60 re-
fused to pass under the standard of either one
or the other association. They proposed either to give no
vote at all or to waste their votes on those candidates who
had no chance whatever of success. 994 electors only obeyed
the word of command which had been given them. Thus in
the very heart of the meat populous section of our city, it
is very evident that above half of the electoral body (1,066
out of 2,000) have held back from this contest, and by their
silence have protested against the yoke which those associa-
tions wished to lay upon them. This result is a decided
evidence which ought not to remain without its effects.
We are assured by a person who is well informed that the
Belgian Gavernment has given orders that a large quantity
of grain shall be immediately purchased in London,
to be carried to Belgium, and there sold at very
reduced prices. The Government has thought to
adopt this plan while waiting the arrival of 102
vessels which the merchants of Antwerp are expecting from
the Black Sea, and which have been tinder sail three months.
A good east wind will enable them to conic up in a few days
with this considerable supply of provisions. and will cause an
immediate fall in the price of provisions of every kind.
A letter from Government, dated March 8, states :—Already,
yesterday afternoon, a report was circulated in the town that
the market en the following day would be the theatre of the
most serious disturbances, and that the people Would seize
and steal the wheat and potatoes. This morning, besides the
buyers and sellers, a large concourse of people assembled at
an early hour. Upon the exerbitant demands of the
sellers, who asked as much as 62 sous for a qu irter
of wheat (rather more than the seventh part of a
hectolitre), and 24 sous for a quarter of potatoes,
the murmurs rose very high. and notwithstanding the
presence of the police and gend'armes, a basket of potatoes
was scattered on the ground, and the whole, in an instant,
gathered up by the crowd. A sack containing two or three
quarters of wheat was seized, and carried off, without an at-
tempt to stop the depredator. Several country people who
had come to sell, left the market with their goods, but at last
the sale went on with less disturbance, and wheat was sold in
small quantities at sf. 27c. the quarter. and rye at 43. A
great fermentation was, however, remarked among the people,
and serious apprehensions for the future were entertained.
Menaces were thrown out against certain individuals who are
suspected of purchasing grain on the account of monopolists,
and it is asserted that even in this town there are several
magazines amply stocked with grain, while there is a great
want in the market.

Dispatches from the Governor of New South Wales wen
received at the celestial Office.