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

CITY of Ti'ON,rON C01?140MA TTON
REFORM.
The committee of the a hole Court upon the Corpera-
tiall privileges assembled on Friday. The proceedings
testified a firm determinatim in the majority of the
;members who constitute a 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 StLICITOR reported to the committee that
he had 'submitted the various questions propounded by
brief tc,
the law officers Of the Corporation, together Faith
s ; that a general wish was expressed by them for
en enlargement of the time given for consideration, on
Paelleunt of their various engagemen,s ; and that the
e order mentioned his judicial obligations as likely to
tallt him from deciding, when he should be able to
give his opinion.
Some of the mesabers said the Recorder's "when"
team " whether."
Sir PETER LAURIE stated his impression to be that
the Recorder was not inclined 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
Vllarged to the 12th of April, so that the other avoca-
Pne cf t
ofhe
t offihe quecers
stimig ht not interfere with the consi-
eration on.
ASHURST did not object to grant further time.
oft he suspected that there might be in view the object
F
rying the matter of reforming the Corporation
mop the session of Parliament.—(Cries of " No, no.")
ites were bound, in his opinion, to instruct a sub corn-
,tee prepare a Bill, while the officers were preparing
Itl!;eir answers, for the opinions of counsel as to whe her
1,110 necessity of going to Parliament were not required.
th et was a question of policy, not of law. Those who
f„Q,sught with him thought it would be necessary to go
rarliament, whatever might be the opinion of the
Officers, and it would be inexpedient to delay the
Preliminary steps, as the session of Parliament was
helidlY passing, and a great deal of time had already
tieeen occupied in' ineffectual efforts to advance the ques-
Hull of reform. The proceedings of the other court
64.engthened the argument for decisive conduct. The
oeeier‘t,cf Aldermen agreed to appoint a committee with
to reform—agreed unanimously. But the mo-
t they saw their speeches in the newspapers they
there frightened, and so complete was their repentance
kat they ridiculed and eered at the ver proposition
Which they had all advocated.—(Laughter)
*Sir PETER LAURIE assured the committee that there
1,..;/4 not one member in the Court of Aldermen who
-allied to appeal to Parliament, whatever credit the
ectninittee might be disposed to give to the mover of the
gllestion alluded to, for sincerity.—(Laughter.)
ASRURST said he was not mistaken in suspecting
(eat,. he had given
the Court credit for too much.—
see lighter.) That it was essential to go to Parliament
m' Pe pel of the Ith of eorge therst, thercal be re
noa doubt, asl a preliminary step in improve-
e
eine How monstrous was it that the Aldermen could
Pit rid .
tt of 'any question that was unpalatable to them, by.
e'PaPping out at the side door ; and that the Lord
efeYor should have the power of disposing of the result
h the deliberation of the great mass of the Corporation,
iltrefusing to put the questions.—(Hear, hear.) It was
nglabent upon the committee to lose as little time as
;78 ible, If they allowed the 9th of November to pass
Would
reform, they might have a Lord Mayor who
00,/Ihl he disposed to act more in consonance with the
keiPtc'erate body, than the present Chief Magistrate ;
hies*" question might then pass away with the ep-
jii,`„ent necessity, as was unfortunately the case after
o,stwinchester Mayoralty.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. Ash-
ler" then moved that the application of the law officers,
121 au extension of time, be granted, the limit to be the
h of April
aelf-r' FIALA, seconded the motion, and wished it to be
pazirstood at the same time, that he by no means sup-
rot d the law officers had any notion of causing delay,
Atlle Purpose of postponing the question.
14 a motion was unanimously agreed to.
lil• IlonT—ln the meantime let us prepare a Bill fur
lanlent.—(Cri* of " No, no ")
PttriF• BURN believed they should be obliged to apply to
ament but they ought to apply with regularity and
ra%elisistenoi, and hand in hand with the Court of Alder-
toariralear, hear.) There was as yet no reference
110 e to get the authority to go to Parliament, but he
kted the Lord Mayor would call a Court to give the
4ority to prepare a Bill.
tete I'. We JONES said it would be prejudicial to the in-
s, stB of the Corporation to prepare a Bill at the pre-.
time
bpi, PETER LAURIE said be was altogether against
keflg to Parliament. He was not prepared for encoun
yering such a danger. Lord Brougham said to him
eetterday," What! are you coming to us?"— (Laughter.)
e,oe thank God," said he (Sir Peter), fbr he was of
el,aagrave's opinion, that by going to Parliament the
ttY would incur the guilt of suicide
te kr. HALE said there was a time when he concurred in
tun opinion just expressed, but he was now decidedly for
going to Parliament.
Mr. ASSEURST then moved," That the Committee pre-
terit a report to the Court of Common Council that the
iqorporation requires reform which can only be effected
e3' the aid of Parliament."
Mr. HUMPHREYS assured the Committee the Corpora-
;ell would get but little by going to Parliament, and
ilieY did not know what they might not lose.—(Hear.)
eY would certainly lose the magistracy of the City.
eela fendiaties would be the substitutes of the Aldermen,
,;'.tievery Government, whether Whig, Tory, or Radical,
'`ts
Id be always ready to put their hands into the City
e,
ad.
&lakr, e BOWER supported the motion, and hoped that the
oat I::: of Parliament would not he allowed to pass with-
Presserfng
ieevidence to the sincerity of their long-ex-
Council elgs.
eAtis was convinced that the Court of Common
%tit th "tight not to decide upon going to Parliament
e °Pinions of counsel were known, and he should
e in tk
.1Y ~'"e Court upon the expediency of not making
hao den
to Parliament at all.—(Hear, hear.) It
said that the Court of Aldermen intended to
Ilte Atoethat authority themselves. That was an error.
art en could not go to Parliament except as
sketaseati Parcel of the Corporation, for they had in
Ts a corporate capacity.—(Hear, hear.)
NeriII:Q.DERTON was surprised at the bugaboo jack a
hke tee emention of Parliament.—(Laughter.) It was
u'ig words used to frighten babies, and produce
tatiehesliclldling effee.e upon the great babies of the Cord-
4.ea 'me.; Re did not believe that Government consi-
,N"' la. be their interest to do the Corporation of
;'l73' anY mischief, or that they even contemplated
"Oele '"Perious interference with the privileges of the
‘•los; If the Corp Oration carried union with them, no
kisinllient would make the experiment of taking. away
hese etges which had been handed down to the citizens
frirne immemorial. He certainly apprehended der!
epee% not going to Parliament, although he conso
%de het Perfectly safe to seek the aid of the Legislature,
NI tlt rejoiced that Sir Peter Laurie's ward differed
"ekskelr Alderman on the subject, and manifested so
Sir leg a spirit.
"'its tTER LAURIE—The ward showed the utmost
Alderin-
Il ie• 'There were only 16 present.
4,ttan SIDNEY agreed in u inking that some reform
which'eceseary, but they ought to settle upon the po nts
44 tenuired remedy be:ore they proceeded to Parlia
tiatieerld they ought to avail themselves of the expe-
ellesio-ePtal judgment of the Court of Aldermen in dis
Alelet!he matters for consideration.
NI6,„,_"I4I.RTLEY contended that the Act of Edward 111..
towe'wr Story of the Corporation, was conclusive of the
itself the Corporation to make all necessary reforms
%ruz.""tf, and rendered any application to Parliament
It• lean useless.—(Hear, hear.)
true:iksurriasT in reply, said he had not heard a word
4.lliecitent against an application to Parliament. Could
keel condition be worse than that in which the Corpora-
*lees at that moment placed?—(Hear, hear.) He
tliqpe'l to test the sincerity of those who had expressed
,414141,isaPprobation of the control to which they were
',lVtor:(l- As to the points which required remedy,
eeemaerediculous to specify them, known as they were to
444 a ain and out of the Corporation. Look at th.•
t 114• Mayor; look at the Aldermen; look at the constitu-
telVansisting of publicans. who were unjustly corn-
.thais',l° take up their freedom before they announced
e'lte ;elle. Look at our long shore men, a set off alwas a
.4°:-/neral for a few hundreds to influence. any elec-
Itln;''(Hear h state of things to be
eti4;PlZtoet_idtllre' d?e-(Loud no.") It was for
eteitieen to give its powerful aidSus'', rend in pieces
The "g system.—(Cheers.)
The resolution was then carried.
sbNee next resol tif n which went to restrain the Chem-
-4.,0 for
to Paying every sum money
fiend Mayor, &e., &c., was, after some discussion, iiega-
eeeititle`:,alently from respect to the Chamberlain, e hose
ev,iate since his appointment had given the most corn-
eas fad
that it would be absurd to doubt the judi-
NY sf" independent performance of his duties under
kightl'eeltristancea of doubt or difficulty in which he
,„ Ther Placed.
I),;looet'oTsr,t resolution was,. ".That it is the right of this
'eel, to re Council, in Common Council asseru-
lee_lsoe tlegillate and control the business and proceed-
-yell,elees."et Court, and the order and course of its pro-
's •to tj'e? and to regulate its paper of business."
la eoees resolution, which was moved by Mr. Ashurst,
u'Enittee agreed unanimously.—Adjourned.

-31-A.R V LEBONE VESTRY.
„eon Sat u 4 POOR-LAW FOR IRELAND.
'th -`ll4lav at a very numerously-attenae meeting
th •e )4 i- - -., - hR v• Dr. Spry in the
Mr) ary,ebone v estry (t e e .
t kr:ii
04 --;;;C• 'Wilson Mr. G. Daniell, and Mr. Potter, as
,° PRllti""°b on the part of the parochial committee,a
higilthil," up the following petition to Parliament, pr y-
„Ndbgislature to pass a poor-law for Ireland,
-ro th) upwards of 5,000 ratepayers
bTeztio7, Right Honourable the Lords Spiritual and
"411.-411tod Commons of the United Kingdom in
46 1,, -rnent assembled •
ue hi, Li the parishioners of St.
„43-I,,k_ -na.Ae petition of
'Be b..,—":no in public meeting assembled, the rector of
il.‘-‘lBn in the chair,
„ She.,
Pro, -etb--That your petitioners consider the rights
klit rettY, however sacred, to be secondary to the
tht ri,?ifi eXistence and to the law of self defence •; that.
4fletii' it of .-xistence and of subsistence constitutes stn
$144,14` and indetea*ible portion of the social and reh-
olifik.etthileZel3:netgwr(h)sisely-I•unitks• man to man ; that this coin-
violated by some of the possessors
4'4 • I°4l in Ireland. who in the absence of law. have
live • Ili"lnanly denied to ;heir fellow men the right to
15% ; and that this rnonstroui and crying evil can only
1444:11teuk.,d bY gg to that unhappy country a per-
tc)por.e'n'i effective poor-law, which will make the
'4, liltbi J of Irelan4 liable, as the property of England
kid d ", to the support and main:enance of the pour
'l'4Battitlite.
kki ikoYcair petitioners view with feelings of indignation
rreilee the heartless conduct of those landlords