The Sun.
London, England, 1823-06-14 00:00:00

COMMON COUNCIL.

INDEPENDENCE OF GREECE.

:Yesterday a Special Meeting of the Common Council was
to receive the Report of the Committee fur General
Purposes, on the Petition of the Greek Commi►tee for aid in
behalf of the Greek cause, and also for the disposal of public

aniness.

The Report of the Committee was-brought up and read ; it
stated, that they regarded with a feeling of deep interest the
efforts of the Greeks to obtain emancipation from their pre-
sent degraded condition ; that it deservestsssistance, nit only
from states, hut also from individuals ; and they therefore re-
commended that 5001. be granted from the funds.
Me. 111.acxer, after, reading the Report, moved that 5001.
be granted in aid of the Greckx.
Mr. SAVAGE seconded the motion, hut begged to observe.
that if an amendment he proposed of granting 1,0001, instead
of 5001., he did not know but that he might support the
amendment in preference to the original motion.
The Loan Marou rose and stated that several Members of
the Court had itttimaled, their strong doubts of the legality of
the aid proi*setti to the Greeks, and also that afforded- the
other day to the Spaniards. The Council are awsre of the
proclamalumjsstied against rendering aid to any of the two
powers, both of whom were on terms of amity with this (;o-
vernment. Feeling the importance of the subject, he had
submitted the question as to the legality of supplying either
arms or money to the Greeks. The Recorder had strong
doubts of its legality; the Common Sergeant thought that
the supply of both would he legal but, from the importance.
of the subject, requested further time.--(Hear, hear !)—For
his own part, he wished well to the cause of both the Greeks
and Spaniards. but thought that time, ought to be afforded, for
examining the legality of the proposed course.
Mr. Jove considered that many Members of the Court, al-
though nut pet haps to he placed in competition with the City
Officers, yet. were competent to form a judgment upon the le •
gality of the proposed aid. These thought we might safely
afford aid. The germ of liberty had began to expand, and
deserved and demanded our most ardent co-operation. The
proposed grant would receive his most cordial support. He
would, however, rather vote a larger sum. If it were illegal
to supply arms, let us limit oar aid to the transmission of
money.---CLoud and continued cheering.) •
The Luna MAYOR repeated that be had no objection to aid•
ing the Greeks. but he wished time to consider of its legality.
Mr. JAMES observed that the Greeks had often been made
the subjects of treachery, aid hail heel) promised to be af-
forded to their efforts, and after they had taken up arn.s they
had 'been abandoned to the fury of their. relentless enemies.
He called upon the Court not to withhold assistance now that
its utility was apparent ; he called upon them to show their
feelings as men and Christians, and to proclaim to the world
that the City of London regarded despotism with its strongest
indignation. As an amendment to the original inotioii, he
proposed a grant of 1,0001.
Mr. HICKS leVentlEd.tht amendment. lig observed that, in
such a cause. although the City, was poor, it w;l6 their duty to
spew their feelings, • and render the iiiniOst aid in their

•
power.
Alderman WAITHMAN believed the cause Of both the Spa-
,
niards and Greeks to be the same; they stood upon the same
footing ; they were both the efforts of the oppressed against
an intolerable tyranny—efforts which commanded the atter).
tion of the whole civilized world, and were worthy the aid of
every lover of liberty.
Mr. GALLOWAY observed that he had the honour of bring a

iember (-)1 the Greek Comioittee, anil from his knowledge

that body, he was stire*the Meeting might fully refs on their
discretion for the mode adopted of transmitting to the Gieeki
the money subscribed. T. his knowledge arms had been re-
cently sent to Spain, and were ont stopped, although exa-
mined by the officers of the Custom-house.
Several other members spoke for and against the question.
Amidst loud cries of "Question, question," the Amend-
ment, viz. that 1,0001. instead of 5001. be advanced from the
City funds for theassistance of the Greeks, was put and cur-
ried—there nut being more than seven or eight dissentients•