The Sun.
London, England, 1846-12-21 00:00:00

A conflict has already taken place between the
Court of Aldermen and the Court of Common
Council. The Common Council declare and insist
upon their right, as independent representatives of the
citizens, to originate and adopt such measures as shall
be to the honour of the City, and the advantage of
their constituents. The Aldermen, on the other hand,
protest against such a doctrine, and declare that all
matters brought before the Common Council must
originate in the Court of Aldermen, and be by them
recommended to the Common Council, before they can
be discussed.

If such be the law, then an irresponsible body,
elected for life, governs the City, controls the re-
venue ; the responsible representatives of the citizens
have no power—their boasted independence sinks into
a mere court of registry. Shall such things con-
tinue ?—can such things be admitted as reasonabi,?,
and consistent with the onward progress of the times
and the spirit of the age ?
We have taken much interest in the matter, and
have inquired into the cause of the extraordinary
scene which took place in the Common Council on
Thursday.

The " General Purposes" Committee was requested
to superintend the drawing up of a bill to define
clearly the qualification of freemen to become mem-
bers of the Common Council. The Finance Com-
mittee was requested to prepare a bill restraining the
Court of Aldermen from having any power over the
City purse, and giving the controlling power to the
Common Council, IA hich consists of Lord Mayor,
Aldermen, and Commoners, in Common Council as-
sembled.

For the first bill the Aldermen care not a farthing,
but the second bill excites their dread. As a deter-
mined opposition to the second, after sanctioning the
first, would savour of selfishness, they have with
judgment chosen the first as their battle-field. If
they successfully oppose that, on the ground that they
in all such measures must take the initiative, then
it will form a precedent for their opposing the latter.
Will such conduct be tolerated in these times ?
The election for Common Council takes place
this day, and constituencies should strengthen the
independent part of the Common Council by return-
ing only such representatives as will vote for a reform
of the Corporation, by making the Aldermen respon-
sible through periodical elections.

Intelligence has been received from Lisbon to the
10th December. This intelligence (brought by the
Queen steam-packet) by no means corroborates the
accounts of the successes of the QUEEN'S troops which
were brought by the Tagus. Instead of Colonel
LAPA having entered Coimbra and cut off the com-
munications between SA DA Must:mita, Boltrim, and
DAs ANTAS, it appears that the Colonel has not ad-
vanced further than Leira, and at the time the packet
sailed a rumour was current in Lisbon, and was
generally credited, that Colonel LAPA had been at-
tacked by Bommt and defeated. Some marines from
the blockading squadron of Oporto have landed at
Valenta de Minho, and taken possession of
it in the name of the QUEEN'S Govern-
ment. On the other hand, the forces of
the popular party have taken St. Übes, the Govern-
ment authorities of which town have taken refuge in
Lisbon. Troops had been dispatched from Lisbon to
strengthen :Major ILnallo, and enable him, if possible,
to take St. Übes, thus, of course, woakening the
garrison of the capital, in the outskirts of which the
popular guerillas have appeared in considerable force,
and have dearoyed the steam-boat wharf on the other
side of the Tagus, opposite to Lisbon.

Madrid papers of the 9th have arrived.
In the new Cortes the Progressistas will muster
strongly; and, as a proof of their increasing popu-
larity, we may state that Senor MENDIZABAL, who
was a member of ESPARTERO'S last Cabinet, has not
only been returned for Madrid, but he has also been
elected at Santander, at Corunna, and at Seville.
Mr. COI SD-EN is at Barcelona.
MADRID :Boise, DEc. 9.—The Three per Cents.
were done at 34 1-16 for cash ; the Five per Cents.
at 21; the Coupons, at 19k; and the Passives, at 64.

We have received the Paris papers of Thursday.
The Journal des Debats announces that in Cata-
lonia the i\Zcderadoes had gained 17 elections, and
the Progressistas 11. Senor MENDIZABAL leaves
Paris for Madrid on Saturday, he having been elected
to the Corti% as one of the Deputies for Madrid.
The Journal des Dads publishes, from the German
papers, what purports to be the official reply of Aus-
tria to the sTeeches made on the subject of Poland in
the British Houses of Parliament and the French
Chamber of Deputies during the course of last session.
This reply is merely a repetition of the allegations put
forth in the recently published manifesto. It taleges
no new fact, and brings forward no new argument.
The Three per Cents. closed on the Paris Bourse on Thurs-
day at 80f. .95e. ; the Five per Cents., 118 f. 70c. ; the
Orleans Railroad Shares, 1,2621: 50c. ; Rouen, 907 f. 50c. ;
Havre, 66Cf.; Great Northern, 648 f. 75e. ; Avignon, 8901. ;
Vierzou, 605 C; Bordeaux, 562 f. 50c. ; Troves and Montereau,
3551. ; Bask,l22of. ; Diec -7.e,3571. 50,.. ; I'aris and Strasburg,
4871.50 e. ; Tours and Nai....-:e,495f. ; Paris and Lyons, 5121.
50c. ; Lyons and Avignon, 485 f. • Bordeaux and Cette, 4501. ;
Belgian Two-and-a-Hall per dents., 53%; Spanish Three
per Cents., 381/,.
LYONS, DEC. 15.—Avignon and Marseilles, 880 f. ; Vier-
zon, 59. 50c. ; Northern, 643 f. 75c. ; Paris and Lyons, 5101.
BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE
LONDON STOCK: EXCHANGE, DECEMBER 18.
Boulogne and Amiens, 13%—Dutch Rhenish, 47, —East
Indian, V2--Luxembourg, 3A—Northern of France Consti-
tuted, 103/—Orlearis and Vierzon, 14—Orleans and Bor-
deaux, Bj--Paris and Lyons Constituted. 514 ex int.—
Rouen and Havre, 261/4—Sambre and Meuse, 41,2,.
_ ...—„,...
Th,

re remains of the late Right lion. Thos. Gren-
ville will be deposited in the family mausoleum at Burn-
ham, near Dropwore.
TILE NELSON LETTERS AND::DISPATCHES.—WQ
observe with pleasure that a cheap re-issue of this na-
tional work, is announced by Mr. Colburn, in fourteen
monthly parts, price only fi►•e shillings each ; the first of
which will appear with the Magazines on the Ist of
January. A very great circulation will doubtless be
attained, for, as the Standard observes, " the family that
shall want this book must be ungrateful to the memory
of Nelson." In the words of the Quarterly Review," the
nation expected, and was entitled to expect, that while
cities vied with each other in consecrating statues in
marble and brass to the memory of Nelson, a literal.)
monument would be erected which should record his
deeds for the immortal honour of his own country, and
the admiration of the rest of the world." " That
Literary Monument." says The Sun, "is here com-
pleted. It is a splendid memorial of the glory and dig-
nity of the naval service of Great Britain. The Letters
will hereafter be the Manual of the sailor, as the sister
service has found a guide in the Dispatches of the Dukr
of Wellingtoa. They will range side by side. Eng•
lishmen will associate their heroin deeds, and point then
sons to the ,c kindred works as the best memorials of
their lives."

be; the introduction of the principle of rewards would
ha'e the most beneficial efft ct on the charac-
ter and conduct of the soldier. What acts
of bravery and devotion were occasioned
in the French army by the opportunity afforded to
the humblest of her soldiers of being ennobled for
some distinguished action, for some extraordinary
service, in the ranks of the " Legion of Honour," and
wearing its cross on his breast, in company with
the highest and noblest in the land. That association
did not degrade those distinguiseed personages, but
it elevated the soldier to whom it was granted ; he
felt himself a different man after receiving this evi-
dence of his deserts, and his comrades, who knew
that they might attain a similar honour for equal
merit, were stimulated to the highest degree of
honourable emulation. NAPOLEON was a shrewd
judge of human nature, and he knew that a bit of
ribbon and some cheap ornament, that would confer
distinction on its wearer, would be more estimated
than a pecuniary recompense of many hundred times
its value ; and he was not mistaken. He was
idolized by his soldiers, who knew that they had
a leader who appreciated their conduct, and
conferred an immediate reward whenever it
was earned. He was aware that men fight
well when prompt rewards await upon daring deeds.
Why have we not been taught by the impressive
lesson thus afforded ? We hope to be shortly able to
record that something of the kir.d is introduced by
our military authorities. Already many ameliorations
have been sanctioned, and we have reason to know
that others of an important character are under con-
sideration at the Horse Guards. Of this the persons
on whom the responsibility of making the changes
is cast may be assured, that the public will gladly
sanction any expense in reason to promote the com-
forts, improve tho condition, and increase the effi-
ciency of our military brethren.

(FROM A CORRESPONDENT.)
Remarking upon the late election of Lord Mayor,
we observed, " Should ever a reform of the Corpora-
tion of London take place, it will be urged on by the
folly of the Court of Aldermen." We had no idea
then that the denouement was so close at hand.