The Sun.
London, England, 1847-05-21 00:00:00

COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL.

Yesterday a Court was held. The principal business of
the day was mentioned in the court paper under the follow-
ing N.B. :—" It is intended at this Court to present the
freedom of this City to Major-General Sir Harry George
Smith, K.C.8., agreeably to theresolution of the 6th of April,
1846." The members appeared in their full-dress gowns, and
the gallery was crowded with ladies. _

At oueo'clock the Lord Mayor took the chair, and imme-
diately afterwards the hero of Aliwal entered, introduced by
Mr. Anderton and Mr. John Wood, the mover and seconder
of the resolution, amidst loud cheers. Sir Harry Smith sat
on the left of the Lord Mayor.
The Chamberlain of the City of London read the follow-
ing resolution :—" That the thanks and congratulations of
the Court, with the freedom of this City, in a gold box of the
value of 100 guineas, be presented to Sir Harry George
Smith, for the eminent services rendered by him in the ar-
duous and successful operations on the 18th, 21st, and 22d
of December, 1845, at Moodkee and Ferozeshah, and for the
distinguished skill, valour, and judgment he manifested in
the important battle of Aliwal, on the 28th of January,
1846, when a greatly superior force of the Seikh army was
totally defeated, and increased lustre shed upon the reputa-
tion of the British arms."

Sir Harry Smith was then sworn in with the usual cere-
monies as a citizen of London.

The CHAMBERLAIN having addressed the Gallant Officer in
an appropriate and highly-complimentary speech, which was
much applauded,
Sir HARRY Smrn bowed to the crowded assembly, and
said—My Lord Mayor and Gentlemen of the Court of Com-
mon Council,—For the distinguished honour you have thus
conferred upon me in the name of the City of London, I
return you my most grateful thanks. To the elegant speech
in which your sentiments were delivered tome by the Cham-
berlain it is impossible for me to reply paragraph by para-
graph, but I must say that the terms in which I have been
addressed increase, if possible, my gratitude to this great
Corporation.—(Cheers.) It is true her Most Gracious Majesty
has conferred upon me high honours and distinctions; it is
true that Parliament has given to me a proud testimonial of
its approbation ; and it is true that at this moment I am re-
ceiving in this great city, which has been celebrated from
the days of Alfred for its glorious spirit of liberty, the privi-
lege of its citizenship—that I am put in possession of the
freedom of a city which has never been trod upon by the
foot of a foreign enemy.—(Great cheering.) Freedom is the
first word we are taught to lisp in this mighty empire. Con-
nected with that bright principle are all the honours and ad-
vantages to which England lays so unanswerable a claim in
the comparison with other nations, and in this city are ex-
hibited the most authentic evidences of the effects of the
noble principle which was framed for the protection of all.
—(Loud cheers.) It has been my fate to see many
countries—to observe the institutions by which the machinery
of many nations is worked, and the contracted force of
their operation. There is no human institution without
defects; but England possesses so dignified a station,
the genius of liberty has poured in upon her so rich
a flood of benefits, commercial, moral, and intellectual,
that it is impossible to contemplate ber without a deep feel-
ing of pride and admiration.—(Cheers.) It is impossible to
behold her without pride and admiration, struggling to avert
the horrors of war, to atop the effusion of blood.—(Great
cheering.) Let England continue to be but true to herself;
let her people flock round their Sovereign with their accus-
tomed zeal and vigour and loyalty, and the presence of a
foe will never excite alarm or apprehension. She will still
maintain her superiority at sea, and victory will still wait
upon the energies which necessity may call into action, sup-
ported by the John Bull rectitude of intention by which all
her actions have been distinguished.—(Cheers.) 1 return
you thanks for this great honour. I return you thanks in
the name, too, of the army to whose exertions the success
which you are celebrating has been mainly attributable.
There are probably several members of this court who have
relations amongst those lately engaged in the operations
abroad. It has been my fate to call upon the British soldier
to follow to victory; and never have I known him to fail.
The fear of defeat never entered the bosom of any one man
whom I have seen with the blood of John Bull in Iris veins.
—(Great cheering.) So long as England is true to herself
and loyal to the Sovereign she will stand as she now stands
—the paramount power of the world.—(lmmense applause
from all parts of the Court.)
Mr. Annearos moved that the address of the Chamber-
lain and the reply of Sir Harry Smith be entered upon the
minutes of the Court.
Mr. J. Woon seconded the motion, which was carried by
acclamation.
Sir Harry Smith, and Lady Smith and their daughter,
who accompanied the Gallant General upon the platform of
the court, then retired. The departure of the hero of Aliwal
was marked by the most enthusiastic applause.