The Sun.
London, England, 1847-12-16 00:00:00

COURT OF ALDERMEN.

ALDERMAN SALOMONS.
On Tuesday a Court was held for the purpose of re-
ceiving the return of the election of an alderman for the
Ward of Cordwainer, in the room of Thomas Wood,
Esq., resigned.
The Lord Mayor proceeded from the Mansion-house
to the Guildhall upon the occasion in full state, and a
vast number of persons assembled within and without
the walls of the building, in consequence of the high
respect in whieh Mr. David Salomons, who was a few
days ago returned as alderman of the ward, is held.
At one o'clock the doors of the court were thrown
open, and we do not remember any occasion in which
greater anxiety was shown to witness the proceedings of
the court. It will be recollected that when Mr. Salomons
appeared some years ago in the Court of Aldermen,
upon being returned for Aldgate Ward, there was a
general expression of regret amongst the members at
the obligation under which they lay to reject his
application for admission. The warm manner in which
he was received upon his attendance at the court
yesterday proved that the language in" which that regret
was communicated was sincere.
The Aldermen were dressed in their violet gowns.
The CITY SOLICITOR formally reported to the Court
that a wardmote had been held at Bow Church on the
6th of December, for the election of a fit and proper
person to fill the place of alderman for the ward of Cord-
wainer, in the place of Mr. Wood, and that Mr. David
Salomons was the only candidate, and was duly elected
to that office.
Alderman COPELAND moved that Mr. Salomons be
called in, which being seconded,
The new Alderman entered, accompanied by a vast
assemblage of private friends, and was hailed with a
buzz of approbation.
Mr. Lou (one of the principal Common Councilmen
of Cordwainer Ward) introduced Mr. Salomons.
Alderman Salomons then shook hands with the Lord
Mayor, the Aldermen, and the principal officers of the
Corporation, and took his seat, immediately after which
the routine business of the Court was proceeded with.
EXTENSION OF THE ELECTIVE FRANCHISE.
Alderman MUSGROVE gave notice that he would move
for leave to bring in a Bill to extend the elective fran-
chise for aldermen and common councilmen to every
person being a freeman of London, renting and occupy-
ing for a period of twelve months, a dwelling-house,
warehouse, counting-office, chambers, or other premises
within the ward, as a yearly tenant at the annual rent
of 101. and upward.—(Hear.)
SANITARY MATTERS.
Alderman MooN said that at a previous Court it
had been referred to him, as Alderman of Portsoken
Ward, to make inquiry into the statements in a
paper presented by the inquest of the ward, com-
plaining of the existence of horrible nuisances in
several of the lanes and alleys in that crowded and in-
digent neighbourhood. He had paid immediate at-
tention to the subject, and he certainly had had to en-
counter not a little in the revolting adventure upon which
he considered it his duty to go.—(Hear, hear.) All he
could add upon the subject was, that he was astonished
how any human being could contrive to exist in the
midst of such abominations as he witnessed in the per-
formance of the melancholy duty.
The Town-Clerk then read the following report :
" In pursuanee of the reference by your Lordship
and the Court of Alderman to me, as the Alderman
of the ward of Portsoken, of the several matters
contained in the presentment of the inquest of the
said ward, dated Nov. 30 last, I beg to report to
your Lordship and the Court of Aldermen that I have
personally visited and inspected the several build-
ings and places in the presentment mentioned, and
that I found the same (with the exception of the nui-
sance complained of between the Clothes Exchange in
Borer's-passage, and the nuisance in Mounts-court,
which have since been abated and removed) in
the state and condition described by the inquest in
their said presentment, and that immediate and
efficient measures of a sanitary nature are necessary
for the preservation of the health of the large popu-
lation inhabiting the district in question; and, in
particular that landlords should be required to drain their
houses and premises into the common sewers, thatcisterns
of water, or other means should be provided by landlords,
so as to afford the occupiers of those houses a constant sup-
ply of water; that in cases of death from contagious or
epidemie diseases, the bodies should at an early period
be buried, without being removed to any dwelling-house,
and without the performance of the customary cere-
mony mentioned in the said presentment, which is
usually attended by numerous persons ; and that
dwelling-houses where death has been occasioned by
contagious or epidemic diseases, should immediately
thereafter be thoroughly cleansed, and the bed and per-
sonal linen of the deceased either destroyed or subjected
to a perfect state of purification.
"FRANCIS G. MOON."
Alderman MooN said he had done all in his power to
cause all the nuisances alluded to in his report to bo
abated, but he apprehended that without being armed
with a Bill to make it compulsory upon landlords to
cause drains from their tenants' houses to the sewer, ho,
could do but little in struggling against so serious an eviLi
After some discussion on the difficulties in applying a
remedy for the evil presenting itself in so prominent a
manner, under existing circumstances, the matter was
referred to the City Solicitor, who, if he finds that the
alleged nuisance justifies an indictment, will be autho-
rised to proceed by indictment, or the other means
afforded by the more recent enactments, or both.
Alderman MooN observed, that the Ward Clerk had
written to the landlords to do their duty in abating the
nuisances, and in every case in which the caution was
given in vain the City Solicitor should carry out the in-
tentions of the Court in the most effectual manner.

THE DISABILITIES OF THE JEWS.
Yesterday a Court was held in consequence of a re-
quisition received by the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor,
for the purpose of taking into consideration the following
notice of motion by Mr. Anderton, viz.:—" That this
Court do petition both Houses of Parliameut to remove
the civil and political disabilities affecting her Majesty's
Jewish subjects." It was distinctly understood that no
other business was to be transacted.
The requisition having been read,
Mr. ANDERTON rose and said, that as a very humble
member of the Protestant Church, it afforded him very
great pleasure to call upon the Corporation of London
to unite with him in petitioning the Legislature to
wipe away from the statute-book for ever the last
remnant of intolerance which still affected the ex-
tensive, influential, and most loyal body of her
Majesty's subjects, the Jewish community.—(Hear
hear.) lie could not for a moment suppose it pos-
sible that any member of the Court of Common Council
entertained a thought of sanctioning the continuance of
the disgraceful exclusion from those privileges to which
all the rest of the world were considered entitled. It
would be an act reflecting dishonour upon the Crown to
negative the principle which the Crown itself had so-
lemnly adopted. It would cast a censure upon her Ma-
jesty to deny the justice of that enlightened liberality by
which she bad been compelled to:confer upon members of
the Jewish persuasion the honours and distinctions
which the Sovereign was in the habit of dispensing to
individuals of worth and reputation. It would constitute
a charge against the Administration, the head of which
was engaged in framing a Bill of Jewish emancipation,
to deny the validity of the claims of those whom it was
intended to benefit. It would operate as a reproach to
the 7,000 voters for the return of Mr. Rothschild to
Parliament for the city of London, if there could be
found in the Court of Common Cooncil anything like
opposition to the feeling by which that gentleman's sup-
porters were influenced.—(Cheers.) How was Mr.
Rothschild unfitted by his religious principles for a seat
in the House of Commons ? By a compromise as to the
declaration, his admission to Parliament would be unde-
niable, but in conquence of the very respect entertained
upon points of conscience, he remained in the state of
exclusion.—(Cheers.) The petition to be submitted for
the adoption of the Court, did not go upon religious ,
arguments at all. It merely said, " That your petitioners
have learned with much pleasure that the Right Hon.
Lord John Russell has given notice of his intention to
move for a Committee on the removal of the civil and
political disabilities affecting her Majesty's Jewish sub-
jects, preparatory to the introduction of a Bill for the
same purpose. That recognising in this movement a
proposal for the extension of civil liberty and privilege to
a large and influential, and most loyal body of her Ma-
jesty's subjects, your petitioners humbly pray that your
Honourable House will be pleased to pass a law for the
removal of all disabilities affecting persons professing the
Jeivish religion." That was an appeal to justice alone. He
hoped he had said enough to secure the question from any
opposition in the Court of Common Council.—(Cheers.)
He could not help adverting to a curious coincidence
which at that moment struc him. It was, that Mr.
David Salomons bad, on the day before, by being sworn
in by the Court of Aldermen as one of that body, be-
conic entitled to support the petition in the Court of
Common Council in favour of the Jews.—(Loud cheers.)
It would be a source of great pleasure to him to see
Alderman Salomons and other members of the same
faith in the House of Commons, if they were considered
to be entitled to such distinction. Who were to be the
judges of their claims? The electors.—(Loud cheers.)
If 'the electors chose to say, " We shall have Montefiore,
or Rothschild, or Salomons," would the Court of
Coimmon Council presume to negative that judgment?
—(Cheers.) The community to which he belonged
owed much to Mr. Salomons. The country owed much
to him for the powerful aid he contributed in breaking
in pieces the odious prejudices which had been so
long fermented by the genius of intolerance. That
gentleman was the first Jew that ever became a Guyer -
nor of Christ's Hospital; the first Jew that ever became
a sheriff; and the first Jew that ever became an Alder
man.—(Cheers.) He had not only received the nume-
rous thanks of his fellow-citizens at the conclusion of
his shrievalty for London and Middlesex, but it pleased
her Majesty to express a concurrent approbation of his
conduct by appointing him High Sheriff of a neighbour-
ing county. In the instance of Sir Moses Montefiore,
the title of Baronet was added to the other honours
which it was considered but justice to confer upon that
gentleman as proofs of the royal approbation and bounty.
—(Cheers.) Was it to be said that men who were good
enough to be chosen to fill such responsible offices were
not fit to sit in the House of Commons?—(A Voice, "To
be sure it is.") It was monstrous to make the assertion.
Did those who still spoke the language of prejudice
know what the faith of a Jew was?—(Hear.) Why,
nineteen out of twenty, amidst the vast confusion which
existed about the faith of a Christian, knew very little
about the nature of that. principle.—( Hear, hear, and
laughter.) He 'was a member of the Church of Eng-
land, and:he could solemnly assert-that he was satisfied
the country and its creed were as safe from injury upon
the declaration on the faith of a Jew as upon the decla-
ration on the faith of a Christian.—(Cheers, and symp-
twits of dissent from two or three.) The religious
tenets of the Jews were to be found in the celebrated
confession of faith drawn up by Mainonedas, at the close
of the 11th century. It was as follows :—" 1. I be-
lieve with a true and perfect faith that God is the Cre-
ator (whose name be blessed), Governor, and Maker of
all creatures ; and that he hath wrought all things,
worketh, and shall work for ever. 2. I believe with
perfect faith that the Creator (whose name be blessed)
is one, and that such a unity as is in him can be
found in no other ; and that he alone hath been our
God, is, and for ever shall be. 3. I believe with a
perfect faith that the Creator (whose name be blessed) is
not corporeal, not to be comprehended with any bodily
properties ; and that there is no bodily essence that can
be likened unto him. 4. I believe with a perfect faith
the Creator (whose name be blessed) to be the first and
the last, that nothing was before him, and that he shall
abide the last for ever. 5. I believe with a perfect
faith that the Creator (whose name be blessed) is to be
worshipped, and none else. 6. I believe with a perfect
faith that all the words of the Prophets are true. 7. I
believe with a perfect faith that the Prophecies of Moses,
our master (may he rest in peace) were true ; that he
was the father and chief of all wise men that lived before
him, or ever shall live after him." Now (asked Mr.
Anderton) were the men who professed these tenets to
be excluded on that account from seats in the House of
Commons ?—(Laughter and cheers.)
Mr. JOHN DlXoN—Have the goodness, Mr. Anderton,
to read the whole of the Articles of Faith.
Mr. ANDERTON—Certainly. The Confession of Faith
goes on:—" 8. I believe with a perfect faith that all the
law which at this day is found In :our hands was de-
livered by God himself to our master Moses (God's
peace be with hiss). 9. I believe in a perfect faith, that
the same law is never to be changed, nor any other to be
given us of God (whose name be blessed). 10. I be-
lieve, &c., that God (whose name be blessed) understood
all the works and thoughts of men, as it is written in the
prophets; he fashioneth their hearts alike, he under.
standeth all their works. 11. I believe, &c., that God
will recompense good to them that keep his command-
ments, and will punish them who transgress them. 12.
I believe, &c., that the Messiah is yet to come; and,
although be retard his coining, yet I will wait for him,
till he come. 13. I believe, &c., that the dead shall be
restored to life, when it shall seem fit unto God the
Creator (whose name be blessed and memory cele-
brated world without end).—Amen." Now, I have read
all, and I ask you, can any man lay his hand upon his
heart, and say the men who subscribe to such doctrines
ought to be shut out of Parliament?—(Hear, hear.)
What is the standard of' their faith? The Bible, the
foundation upon which the New Testament is built. The
Bible from which we take thecommandments, the psalms,
the prophets which constitute so important a part of the
service in all Christian churches. The Jews are stead-
fast in their faith—the same yesterday, to-day, and for
ever. Their religion is the religion qf*sir forefathers.
I trust that the members of this 'Wletrt will prove
themselves Christians, not merely by name, but in ac-
cordance with their creed. We are told to do unto
others as we would they should do unto us. Let that
intolerance principle
wt
hui
cp
he n ourdi
sg rha ec
ea
sr t so,u
ra nsdt a the l
tut
e-basot remokanndanto
stig-
matises our Jewish brethren, will be blotted out for
ever.—(Cheers.) Mr. Anderton concluded by moving
the resolution of which he had given notice.
Mr. WIRE—I rise to second the motion, reserving to
myself the right to speak if any discussion should arise.
Deputy Conteer said if no other person should rise to
appose the motion he would humbly venture to state his
objections to it. He did not view the question as a
corporation question, and he considered that as such
wls the case the Court ought not to entertain it.—
(Cries of " Oh, ob.") Ile merely stated his opinion
',when he said so. The people of England were repro-
sented by persons adapted to the business of represent-
leg a community of Christians. The country was
Christian, and the Members of the Legislature wore
Christian, and a system which had existed for so many
years beneficially to all ought not to be infringed upon
without the production of some cogent argument in fa-
ivnotuern
toifo
nthe change.—,touch
up
0( Inl eraerl
ghieoanr. )
at latl l
wians
cfaalrl
ifnrgo from
ph3ins
the Court to negative the motion. That was an arena
upon which he did not mean to enter by any means.
But he- did not wish to see in the Legislature persons
who were not adaptable to that sort of business. From
the earliest periods of their history the Jews were
known and acknowledged to be a people possessing no