The Sun.
London, England, 1824-04-01 00:00:00

COMMON COUNCIL,

Yesterday, in pursuance of a requisition re-
ceived by the LORD MITOR, a Court of Common Counei
was held at Guildhall, for the purpose of considering the pro-
priety of petitioning Parliament against the renewal of the
Alien Act.

The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Sir Edward Stanley, and two
other Gentlemen of the Corporation of that City, were, at the
instance of the LORD MAT OR, introduced, and took seats on
the Aldermen's bench.

Tll2 ALIEN ♦CT.

The requisition having been read by order of the LOAD
M•TOR,
Mr. TAYLOR rose, and after a few preliminary observa-
tions, proceeded to state, that the question which he was about
to bring forward derived no advantage from the circumstances
under which it was introduced. It was no party question, for
at present there was no party in the country ; there existed a
general feeling that the present GoVernment evinced a disposi-
tion to attend to the wishes of the people. Neither did the
question arise from popular effervescence. He brought it for-
ward merely on its own merits, from a conscientious conviction
of the importance of the subject. Indeed, it was a matter of
regret to him, that the subject had not excited a popular feel-
ing, in order that it might not appear that the people of this
country, who were so ready to petition the Legislature against
any measure which affected their own rights or interests, were
cold and indifferent to what regarded the interests of others.
It was said by some persons that there was no use in petition-
ing Parliament on this subject, for their (the Court's) petition
would have no effect ; but he contended that the Petition of
this Corporation was to be taken only as a contribution to the
general public feeling i • and if the Ministers were the enlight-
ened and well-disposed individuals they were represented to be,
they would be glad to receive every manifestation ofpublicopinion,
which th©y had pledged themselves to attend to. The Alien Act,
from its first introduction into this country, had always been re-
garded as art oppression, in rendering a man liable to be sent
out of the country at the will of a Minister, after he had accu-
mulated wealth, or established himself in business here : and
one of the Ministers themselves had expressed his objection to
the measure, without a sufficient 'cause to justify It. Now the

ground upon which it was adopted was the supposition that c:al''
ger was threatened to the constitution of this country, from,sth
machinations of foreigners, at a time when the country was "'
disaffected state ; but there was no disaffection in the country a
present; and the cause of its original adoption having ceased to of
ist,why not discontinue a measure which was an infringement ()_
the constitution ? It was now about to expire and therefore thi:
was the fittest moment for the Court to raise their voices, and eal
upon Ministers to discontinue a measure which they Nora'
already half disposed to give up of themselves. The corpora'
tion of Nottingham, a most enlightened and respectable bot-
had been beforehand with them in petitioning againstei.,;.
the second reading of the bill had been twice poStP°'l„„. •
in fact, they would come forward under a variety of ~,614,
cious circumstances at this particular period. As the '" tt.e
cellor of the Exchequer had given satisfaction to the cooth
try by endeavouring to restore its finances, so, he hoped'a,e,„
other Ministers of the Crown would give equal satisxe,a
tion by mending the breaches of the constitution. It was,!lll,,
that the power vested in Ministers by this act was but sPar-rt;
ly exercised ; but that, so far from being an argume,nt;',hout
favour, only went to prove that it was unnecessary. ry '
making any deep researches into the history of the count*
every person who heard him would be aware of the great ad l;
tages which it had derived from the reception of foreigners,
had brought with them many useful arts and manufactures.
The silk manufacture, for instance, which at present engage.do
much attention, was introduced amongst us by those foreign
en who sought refuge here, when flying from the b 1007;
persecutions of the Bourbons upon the revocation of the
of Nantes. The woollen manufacture was also introduced
vro,o,
ta
this country by foreigners, natives of the Low Countries, ",
had fled here from the persecutions of the Spaniards. 'r,
~,e,16,
settled at Norwich, Canterbury, and other places ; and l"""i
of the most respectable inhabitants of London were descende'd
from them. There were many names which the Member,.,),
this Court would recollect as shedding lustre and cenfer,"l
blessings on this country—Jortin, Dollond, Romilly, "
others; and they were all descendants of refugees who
have fallen victims to despotism had it not been for the
institutions of this country which afforded them protection.--
The Alien Bill, Mr. Taylor continued, had been used as an -ar'
gument to justify the oppression of Englishmen by forelgi
Governments, as in the case of Mr. Bowring, who was relesS'
from prison in France by the spirited interference of Mr. CAT,
ning. But it was argued, that it was necessary to give the,e
nisters of the Crown the power of complying with the Wish:o
of Foreign Powers. This was, Mr. Taylor considered, id
greatest condemnation ; and he hoped that the Court won',
feel, instead of thinking that it ought to subserve to the 11..111
poses of the Holy Alliance, that that would be the stroniP'f
argument against it. He would not trust himself to speak (°F.
that confederation of sovereigns against the liberties of mankin •
nor, indeed, had he words to express his abhorrence and dete:.;
tation of them, some of whom had been restored to their thrones
by the people of this country, and afterwards disappointed
their hopes. He (Mr. T.) knew several foreigners from Ita4
and various other countries, who expressed continual fears*
that if they uttered a feeling of the slightest sympathy for the
sufferings of their country, they would be sent out of the
kingdom, and left at the mercy of those tyrants from 'AT,
they had sought refuge here. Switzerland had formerly aff°, rep
ed them protection from persecution : they were lately &Ivo
from that. Let them not now be driven from this last asYht
of liberty. There were many foreigners who were deterre,.
by this Bill from coming here ; they dreaded that the power tv
adinded would he executed against them, and therefore they
remained exposed to the fangs of despotism ; and the cense':
quence was, that some of them were now rotting in loathsonis
dungeons. There were at present under the Government of
the Emperor of Austria, who had been styled a good sort °-
man," a number of Noblemen and others in dungeons, when:
they had been immured for years; and he (Mr. Taylor) knew
one man in particular, who was thrown into one of those „nr.
geons for merely sending a remittance to his son here.
worthy Member, after apologizing for the time he had take f
up, concluded by moving resolutions, drawn up in the spirit of
his speech.
Mr. FAVELL seconded the Resolutions. After compliment?
ing the worthy mover on the talent lie had displayed, he Pro'
ceeded to argue, that we ought to open our arms to foreigner:
instead of pursuing that system of espionnage and surveilblaro
which was a disgrace to the Continent, and a degradation
every Englishman who visited it. He trusted there would!"-;
a united feeling against this odious Act ; and contended that if
would be unwise, now that we were taking off the dutisi,o,
foreign merchandise, to retain a measure so offensive w
reigners. He could not anticipate any reason for hesitatins
moment to petition Parliament against it.
Olinr.thwe
Eqt.Liecsitliopniobpeoinsegdptriotr,
Mr. JAMES spoke to order.
had composed.—( Hear !) read a few verses which he hi
gissit
Mr. WELCH knew many men of ability to have quoted °he
verses of others in this Court ; and did not see, therefore,
he should not be at liberty to read his own.
The LORD MAYOR said it would be quite unusual. fig
a young member would not be allowed to read a written sPee:he
still less written verses. The next thing that a Member naig_„.
claim would be the right of singing a song to -the Coati`
(Hear, hear!)
•
Mr. WELCH said the foreign despots were fishing with er
long line ; they were trying to catch John Bull by the 10':
and if they succeeded they would throw him overboard.
Mr. Jamas censured the strong language that had been „
plied to the Allied Sovereigns, which was wholly unwarrant...,
The invasion of Spain by the French was the means of If)
venting the dissemination of pernicious principles--(LaughtTea
and was productive of much good.—(Laughter.)—He deat;io
that the public feeling was adverse to the Bill. The only of
and legitimate mode of ascertaining the opinion of the peoPleb.
England was through the House of Commons.—( Great lang
ter.)—One of the arguments urged against the messorg:
namely, that there were agents of those despots who were hv,„,
tile to the liberties of the country amongst us, was the stroll";
reason why this measure should be continued order that tet
might be removed from this country. The worthy 1410133,be
proceeded to reply to the various objections raised against •
Bill, and concluded by opposing the Resolutions. lora
Mr. PATTEN saw no necessity for the measure. Our
were sufficient to protect us from the machinations of foreigaW
Mr. SLADE reprobated the conduct of the Holy Alliance, a 0
of the Bourbons in particular, who, having been laid prostrani
by Buonaparte, recovered by appealing to this people, Wilt?
they had treated in return with the blackest ingratitude- be
Members would lend themselves to the present measure
teit
trusted, as we were on the eve of a general election, that t
constituents would not forget it.
Mr. TAYLOR having replied,
Mr. Bu TTERWORTH rose, and after some discussion 013
tba
irregularity of speaking after the reply, he was allowed, alf,e
new member,. to proceed. He wished to explain his reason
voting against the Resolution. This measure had been Plac'roa
in the hands of his Majesty's Ministers for wise purpose ft le
as they had not abused their trust, we ought not to wits
our confidence from them.
Mr. Alderman VENABLES said that the argument that tho:
power had not been abused would go to support the aisle°
of a Star Chamber.
Mr. PRWTRESS said a few words in support of the resole'
tions.

They were then put, and carried without a division.
On the question being put, that a petition, founded op ti).
resolutions, be presented to Parliament, be sr'
Mr. Alderman TICOMPsoN, after some discussion on t •
regularity. of re-opening the debate, made a few observatin°
against the motion: which, however, was carried.
„sa be
A petition was then read, which it was moved 'hew--
adopted by the Court as their petition.
Several Members expressed their opinion on the question-ha
The LORD MAYOR complained of the irregularity of 4"
re-opening the debate of the original question.
Mr. CROIEXR was proceeding to argue against the motto
when
The LORD MAYOR again rose, and stated that the aror )4,
member was out of order. If the rules of the Court WL.,
to be violated in this way, it would breed endless c`
~.t
fusion. He certainly did not now blame the condol-,4
those who had preceded him in that chair; for the ees",
way to go through the office, and perhaps to secure a /":,;,
of thanks at the end of the year, was to allow metnbeLi:
take their own course. However, would do his duty, M-
less of the consequences. If the Caurt wished their prna,l
ings to have any weight, they would abide bj their own ru`
and the rules that governed debates every where.
The petition was at length suffered to be put, and its Ao"
tion agreed to.
It was ordered to be presented to both houses of Parliatale
and the resolutions which had passed were directed to be
lished in the usual papers.

IPAXISH VOTE.
Mr. JAMES gate notice of a motion, calling upon the std
mittee to state more particularly how the 1,0001. voted in II
of the Spaniards had been applied.

CITY LIBRARY.
$Ol
Notice was also given of a motion to erect a libsary
reception of all documents connected with the city.

COAL-MARKET, IClAacp 31.
Ships at Market. ships sold
14, Newcastle . . 10
Sunderland

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