The Sun.
London, England, 1847-02-03 00:00:00

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CITY OF LONDON CORPORA-
TION REFORM.

Yesterday a very numerous meeting of the tnembcrs as-
sembled in committee of the whole court, for the purpose of
adopting resolutions, the tendency of which Was to reform,
in an essential manner, the Corporation of London.
Before the committee proceeded to business
Mr. R. L. Jos asked whether the Lord Mayor had any
communication to make to the Court ?

The LORD MAYOR replied in the negative. •
Mr. ASHURST (chairman of the sub-committee) brought
up the report, containing sundry recommendations.
Alderman WILSON objected to the reading of the report,
which he contended wai quite at variance with the reference
to the committee.

Upon this subject a very angry discussion took place, tes-
tifying that there was but little chance of unanimity in the
committee.

It was at length determined that Mr. Ainurst should
proceed.

Mr. AsutrusT then proposed the first resolution, of which
lie had given notice, and which formed one eesential portion
of the report. It was a recommendation that the Court of
Common Council request Um Lord Mayor to restore the
Qualification Bill to the paper of business to be brought on
at the nexeCourt. •It was very properly observed by Alder-
man Wilson that the Court Aldermen had become the
laughing-stock of the public. • rie conduct of that body
upon the late attempts of the Common Council to effect a
salutary reform was a strong illustration of the truth of that
observation. Soeing, however, that the Common Council
was resolved •to adopt a system of reform, that Court had
determined to apply to Parliament for beneficial, changes in
its constitution. Nothing, he contended, could be more
monstrous than the idea that the Lord Mayor had the power
to remove from the paper.of business any motion of which a
member of the Court had given notice. After several re-
marks upon the assumption of such a power, Mr. Ashurst
moved the resolution.
Sir P. Letnua felt great pleasure in secon•ling the motion.
-A greet misconception existed. he said, as to the power of
the two Court,. His notion was that the pocket-book regu-
lations constituted the only guide to the Lord Mayor, who
did not represent the Court of Aldermen in the committee,
but was merely the chairman, and it would be intolerable
that a Lord Mayor should attempt to dictatate to the Court
of Common Council as the representative of the other Court.
He was proud to say that he had been in a minority in the
Court of Aldermen since the journey to Oxford, and he ad-
mired the spirit with which the Common Council was show-
ing itself to be master of its own proceedings. if his Lord-
ship did nut thiuk proper to do his duty, the Court would,
as a matter of course, • apply to the next °Meer, for it was
not to be supposed that the great machinery of the corpora•
tion was to be stopped by'the caprice of one man.—(near.)
Mr. W. LAWRENCE said that if the Lord Mayor had a
right to remove a notice of motion from the paper of business
he might claim the right of saying there should be no paper
of business at alt.—(Heer, hear.) It was an outrage upon
eonemomeease to suppose the possibility of the existencenr,
such a power. The Court of Common Council would create
their own paper of business. They were willing to do it
through the Lord Mayor, if he happened to be so disposed,
• but if he refus,el to sit they would create their own business.
—(Cheers.) It would be placing the Town Clerk, he ad-
mitted, in a disagreeable position, to require of him to de
what the Lord Mayor refused to accomplish; but in a case
of such extreme importance there could be ne objection-to
sachem alternative.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. PewritEss declared that an end would be pat to all
corporation business if the Lord Mayor possessed so ex-
traordinary a power as his Lordship had Attempted to
exercise.'

Alderman SIDNEY wished to see unanimity existinn*'. be-
tween the Courts. He believed there was scarcely an Eng-
lishman to be found who wished ill to the aldermen of Lon-
don.—(A laugh.) A little might be said in Punch deroga-
tory to them, but they had no hostile feeling directed
against them.—(Cries of " Oh, oh.") If the Court did any-.
thing calculated to destroy so ancient and honourable a cor-
poration, upon their heads would fall the blame of frittering
away the privileges which they bad sworn to defend. Time
Lord Mayor had acted upon the advice of the Recorder, the
Common Sergeant, and two eminent counsel.
Mr. R. Tavv_nt—Who are the eminent counsel ?
Alderman SIDNEY could not at that moment say. To put
the question which tho Lord Mayor had refused to put
might be erroneous in law, and would not the Court be de-
serving of blame if they asserted a privilege without know-
ing whether they had it or not? lie thought there was a
way of gating out of the dilemma with honour, and he
should propose that way as an amendment. Ile then moved
that the opinions of the Attorney and Solicitor-General, to-
gether with the opinions of the Recorder and Common
Sergeant, be taken, whether the Lord Mayor had a right to
put the question.

.
Alderman Wu-sox seconded the amendment, because he
thought it the only mode of carrying out the reform of the
Court of Common Council. No one could read the whole of
the resolutions on the paper without feeling that, so far
from healing the differences which existed, they must tend
to widen them, and lead to the great detriment of the in-
terests, rights, and privileges of the corporation. The Court
assumed to itself more exclusive power than belonged to the
House of Commons; and he was inclined to think that, £ll
far as the city of London was concerned, they had those
extraordinary powers when- acting as a vested body of Lord
Mayor, Aldermen, and Common Council; but in passing Bills
for • levying t&xes on their fellow-citizens, extending the
elective franchise, and altering the qualifications of the mem-
bers of the Court itself, surely it became them to carry such
' measures in a manner worthy of a deliberative assembly, claim-
ing and exercising such extensive powers as those now con-
tended for. Of what value would a Bill be if not passed
legally according to the customs and charters of the City ?
How could they expect that the Court of Aldermen, as a
judicial body, would or could take notice of Bills or laws
passed is the way proposed? Did they suppose that if the
Lord Mayor declined to comply with their request, and
they attempted to place the Town Clerk above his Lordship,
the latter would remain in the Court, and if the Lord Mat or
left the Court, what would any Act passed in his absence be
Worth? He implored them to take the advice of ciunsel
1 upon a matter involving the great privileges of their fellow-
citizens. lie concluded by informing the Court that the
conusel upon whose opinion the Lord Mayor had acted, were
Mr. Peacock and Mr. Wilde, as well as the Recorder and
Coriorton-SiTgeene.
Mr. W. Jorrus said the speeches of the mover and seconder
of the amendment were conclusive in favour of the original
motion. lie thought it was cnly necessary to give the al-
dermen oppos3d to the Common Council rope enough and
they would certainly hang themselves. It was easy to puta
case in such a manner as to insure the delivery of an opinion
favourable to the views of the par:y interested. Ile con-
sidered it would be the extreme of impolicy to adopt the
amendment.

Alderman CHALLIS, at the same time that he advocated
the original motion, defended the Court of Aldermen from
the charge of wrish•ng to interfere with the independence of
the Court of Common Council.
Mr. LOWE said he had mentioned to the Lord Mayor that
if his Lordship assured the committee that he would restore
the Bill on the paper of business, and allow the question, that
the Bill be read a third time, to be put, he would move, as
an amendment, that the Bill be re-committed.--(Hear, hear.)
If such a course should be adopted, the opinion of counsel
could be taken as to the legality of the Bill, and the court
could act upon the advice.
The LORD MAYOR, having been called upon by several
members of the committee, said he always wished to see
unanimity established between the two Courts, and a kindly
feeling perpetuated. lie had been advised that he could not
legally put the question, and he had acted upon that advice,
fur he was not so presumptuous as to hazard an opinion
upon such a subject, when men of high legal education
and experience suggested the course for him to pursue. lle
lamented the disagreement which existed as much as anv
one, and he would suggest a motion to the extent to which
he-could conscientiously go. It wac, that the Lord Mayor
be requested to insert the Bill to declare the qualification of
freemen of London to be elected members of the Court
of CoMinon Council in the paper of business for the next
Common Council, in order that the said Bill should be re-
. committed, and its provisions reconsidered in committee of
the Common Couneil.—(Marks of disapprobation )
Mr. ANDEnTort said the Court could not think of such
• a citopro,iii-A: of its dignity. The question of the legality
of the Bill was to be decided elsewhere. The Court would
take upon itself the responsibility of passing it.
Sir JAMES DUKE complained that the advice of counsel
should be taken by a portion of the aldermen unknown to the
rest of that body. The objection to the Bill ought to have
been taken on the second, and not on the third reading.

Mr. I:. TAynon said he rose to address the Lord—gayor
personally. His Lordship's ear had been abused. He was
led by a small clique of the Court of Aldermen, and two or
three other officers. That was a degradation to the mayor-
alty, and it was the duty of his Lordship to retrace his steps,
and put the All upon time paper et business to undergo the
necessary discussion.
_ _

- Mr. 11. L. JONES, and other metnbere, also implored the
Lord Mayor to act independently of the clique by whom it
was evident he was influenced in opposing the wishes of the
great majority of the members of the Corporation.
The question was then put, and there were a few hands
held up fur Ahl.:rman Sielney's amendment, which was ne-
ga; ived, cmidst acclamation, by an immense majority.
Amongst those who voted fur the original question were Al-
dermen Sir Peter Laurie, Ilumphery,‘VrTuod, Sir James Duke,
and Challis.
There were four aldermen in the minority.
The following resolutions were afterwards carried by great
majorities:—

"'That in the event of the Qualification Bill not being
placed on the paper, this committee be recolumeuded to as,ert
and-adhere to their right to bring on -the same fur -di..i.eus-
sion, and to have the question that the Bill be read a third
time' lit to t

"'PIA the I:,ml.iilllrancer he I,:llllt,ted Io iav Ctilre the
1':11111 1'11!11lllltll'' Opy Of .111.,' to he presented
to the 11,,0,1.1 to rcpeal or alter the ..Ict of thy
I 1 t t. 1., ,00tt as it ,Indi
Alkkrin.iii 111•,iviii.:1t said it the Cowl agreed to go to
l'atliatto•tit to :;!tit the Act.alhudrll it. h. ,119,11,1:so arrange
the support.of the Bill that there would be no interference
whatever with the privileges of the COIIIIIIOII Vounciln.)en.
Sir l'ETEtt LAURIE quoted the opinion of Sir Fraucp Pal-
grave against going to Parliament.
Mr. It. TArton said Sir le. Palgrave had not only given
the opinion just quote J, but au opanun diametrically opposed
to it.
I Vso?tition, which was carried Itnani-
,,ort founded upon these resolutions le
olfsri. y, A
wslLu r
tsit,
prepared, signed, and presented at the next Court of Com.
won Council, and th.. the came should have precedence of
all other business.

Mr. Mnii.o7 then gave notice of several motions, asert-
ing the rights and pi ivileges Qt the C,,s.minon Council, secur-
ing the •.periodic....l elecilon of ald;,:men, diminishing the
nuiLthcr an:l thz wards, and comprehending a great
variety of :Alter e:sential changes in the Corporation.
The nii broke up at. a late hour.

PitovisioNs (111 E LAND).--A return of the aggre-
gate amount of provisions imported front Ireland into Eng-
land in the last three years, ending January,lBl7, moved tor
by Mr. P. &rope, shows that the quantity of corn Of Irish
growth) so imported amounted, in 1814, to 2,8'.,11,2t)6 quar-
ters; in 1843, to 3,251.901 quirtcrs ; and. i,t 1846, to
1,825 391 quo terra. The quantity of wheat flour, and oat-
meal amuonted respectively, in 1844, to 819,567 cwt., and
1,15i,976 cwt. ; hi 1845, to 1,422,379 cwt., and 1,059,183
cwt.; 2:nd in 1846, to 723,561 cwt., at.d 553,147 cwt.
The number of cattle exported front Ireland to Great Bri-
tain, in the year 1816, was as follows:-186,483 oxen, &c. ;
6,363 calves; 259,257 sheep and lambs; and 480,827 swine.

NEW ZEALAND.—Two blue books' were issued
yesterday, one of 87 pages in length, containing papers rela-
tive to the affairs of Nov Zealand, in continuation of those
presented last August; the other, a document of 511 plges,
contains the voluminous correspondence (from July, 1846, to
Jan., 1847,) relating to the measures for the relief of the
distress in Ireland (commissariat series).
Thomas Smith Badger, Esq., B.A of Trinity-
hail, Cambridge, and of Essex-court, Te:cp'.e (eld st son of
Mr. Badger, attorney, Rotherham, and one of her Majesty's
coroners for the county of York), was on Friday called to
the degree of Barrister-at-law by the Hon. Society of the
Middle Temple. •
Mr. Hildyard, M.P., arrived at Farrance's Hote!, Upper
Belgrave-street, yesterday, frera as se.A near Newark,