The Sun.
London, England, 1847-02-18 00:00:00

CORPORATION REFORM.

A Court was held on Tuesday. The summons stated
that the Court would be special, for the election of
various city officers, and on no ether business. A great
number of members attended, and the proceedings ex-
cited an extraordinary degree of interest. A Committee
of the whole Court, upon the proceedings of the Corpo-
ration, at which the reply to the Lord Mayor's state-
ment, explaining his reasons for refusing to put the third
reading of the Qualification Bill was read by the City
Solicitor, was previously held, and every one expected
a regular blow up, on the presentation of that do-
cument.

Mr. JOUN DixoN, the moment the Lord Mayor took
the chair, expressed regret that the feeling of some of
the Members had manifested itself in so objectionable a
manner at the last meeting of the Court.
The LORD MAYOR said he fult much gratified at the
expression of regret at treatment which he was con-
scious he had not merited.

After the minutes of the last Court were read,

Mr. WIRE rose to move that the minute of a former
Court, on the subject of the proceedings on the Qualifi-
cation Bill be amended by recording the fact that a
notice given in open Court by Mr. Wood, a member of
the Court, in the following words was handed in and
published by him to the Court :
" Notice of motion for the next Court by 11r.
~Wood.

" 2 hat the Bill to declare the qualification of freemen
of London to be elected members of the Court of Com-
mon Council be read a third time.

" JOHN WOOD.

" 11th February, 1847.
" And the Lord Mayor declined to receive the same."
After a good deal of discussion, of by no means a
conciliatory character, in which several members parti-
cipated, the above amendment was adopted, in prefer-
ence to one moved by Alderman Thompson, containing
what appeared to us to be a distinction without a dif-
ference. _ _ _ _

Mr. Low (the Chairman of the Committee of Privi-
leges of the whole Court) then rose, and said he begged
respectfully to state that the Committee of Privileges
had almost unanimously agreed to adopt the paper
which he held in his hand, in answer to the statement
made by his Lordship at the last Court, and he begged
that it might be read.
The LORD MAYOR—It is not in the paper of business,
and I cannot permit it to be read. There has been no
order given of it.
Mr. ANDERTON—Then I shall move that the Court do
now adjourn.
Mr. JONES—My Lord, you are bound to have the
paper read. Injustice to the Court, two hundred mem-
bers of which have in Committee agreed to it, you ought
to hear it. You thought fit at the last Court to state
your opinion, and this is an answer to that paper you
then read.
The LORD MAYOR—When the business for which
the Court was summoned, the election of officers, shall
have been finished, I shall have the paper read. I
thought we parted at the last Court on the understand-
ing that the officers should be elected at the following,
over
that t
hptyuh reapnitot se eam.
.cteaoant ot
in-
fluence the of Sad I called an early Chiosoulradtninfogurn
helpsayin
ogffithcaetratibliys
suspension.—(Loud cries of " No, no," and much con-
fusion.)

The RECORDER said the Court ought to consider that
the Corporation was in a locked wheel, in consequence
of the non-appointment of its officers.
The LORD MAYOR protested against the ungenerous
course of making the officers victims to the disagree-
ments which had sprung up between the two branches
of the Corporation.
Alderman WILSON said it was unreasonable to ex-
pect that the Lord Mayor would allow any business to
be proceeded with which did nut appear on the paper
of business.
Mr. WIRE was anxious to say a few words, that it
might not go abroad that your Lordship's speech could
not be answered.—(Hear, hear.) There were imputa-
tions in that speech upon the members of this Court,
for which there was not the slightest foundation. It
must not be allowed to be stated that we wish to co-
erce our officers. There is not the least truth in that
accusation.—(Loud cheers.)
The LORD MAYOR said that such language was un-
worthy any member of the Court, find he was surprised
to hear it from the lips of Mr. Wire.
Mr. ASHURST—Every word Mr. Wir© has uttered is
true.

Mr. LAWRENCE said it was quite evident that the
Lord Mayor was acting under the influence of the
Recorder in distrusting the Court--(Hear, hear.) It
was said that by the course in which the Court was pro-
ceeding, its existence was endangered. Who endangered
the Court ? Tho Lord Mayor.—(Hear. hear.) The

Court would, for the sake of its own character,-adhere
to its determination to protect itself and if
any
rnisnh'el
should result from the non-election of the officers, upon
his Lordship's head would be the onus. If his Lordship
perilled the Corporation, he did it upon the advice of
the
those who were about him (alluding to Recorder and
three or four Aldermen).—(Cheers).
The LORD MAYOR called to the Town Clerk to pro-
ceed with the business on the paper.
Mr. PEWTRESS could not suppose it possible that
when a paper was prescribed by the chairman of the
committee of the whole Court, the Lord Mayor could
think of refusing to allow it to be read.
The LORD MAYOR said the gentlemen who were con-
stantly rising were quite out of order, and interrupted
the business for which the Court had been convened.
Mr. JONES—It is the Lord Mayor that is out of order,
in objecting to allow the paper to be read. My Lord,
you are out of order.—(Loud cries of " Hear, hear," and
" No, no.")
The LORD MAYOR—WiII you, or will you not, go on
' with the election of officers? —(Loud shouts of" No, no.")
Alderman WiLsox—l came here an hour and a half
ago to elect the officers, and I am not to be kept here all
day. All sorts of illegal and absurd things are taking
place.
Mr. ASHURST—There (pointing to the Recorder) is
the cause of the whole confusion.
The LORD MAYOR—I am myself the cause, for lam
doing what is right, told nothing shall deter me from
continuing in that course.—(Hear, hear, and loud disap-
probation.)
Mr. ANDERTON—SureIy the least your Lordship can
do is to let the paper be read. There is no notice of it
on the paper of business, for it is an answer to your
Lordship's statement, got up at the earliest possible op-
portunity. If your Lordship think proper to persist, I
shall persist in my motion for the adjournment of the
Court.
The RECORDER—That motion is not consistent with
your oath as a member of this court.—(Loud disap-
probation.)
Mr. ANDERTON—That is an imputation of direct per-
ury.—(llear, hear.)
Mr. Wins—The Recorder has imputed perjury to a
member of the court. It is an insult to ovary member.
I move that the Recorder be removed from the court
(Great confusion.)
The RECORDER rose with the members' pocket-book,
in his hand, evidently for the purpose of reading the
oath.
Mr. Low—My Lord, as chairman of the whole court