The Sun.
London, England, 1851-10-10 00:00:00

converted into one constituency, I should like to
know how the Parliament or the Government would
relish the change. What influence could the repre-
sentations of two millions and a quarter of metropo-
litan inhabitants have upon the Imperial Parliament ?
How would that influence be consistent with their
free deliberations, or the free exercise of the functions
of government ?—(Hear, hear.) If these questions
are fairly rased, it will be for this Corporation to show
how busily and economically they! have discharged
their public trusts. It will be for this Corporation
to repel, as it is able to do, all vague charges of job-
bing end corruption, and to challenge to the proof
thoee who seem so desirous of first defaming, and
then destroying, an ancient and important public
body.—(Loud cheers.)
Mr. L. TAYLOR said the course which the chair-
man of the entertainment committee had adopted was
rather unusual, in addressing the Court at such length
upon the report without asking them to go to it. It
would have been far better and a great saving of
time, if he had moved that ;he report be printed in
the first place, and bad left the discussion upon its
contents till a future day.—(No, no.) He thought
the Court would have approved of his step, notwith-
standing the cry of " No, no." He (Mr. Taylor)
considered the latter part of the remarks of the chair-
man of the entertainment committee; in reference to
the public press, and especially to the Times, 'to refer
to no small matter, but to a question of very great
importance.--(Hear, hear.) He would rather have
seen this question taken up manfully by the Corpora-
tion in the shape of a distinct and specific motion
than that it should have been introduced in connexion
with the ' report of a committee, by adopting which
course the Court could not bestow that attention upon
it which the subject merited.—(Hear.) He hoped the
opportunity would soon occur when the Court would
speak out, and declare its own views in reference to the
articles in the Times attacking the Corporation—
greater libels than which were never before written.
—(Cheers.) He gave credit to the entertainment com-
mittee for not having exceeded the estimate made for
the decoration of the Guildhall and other expenses
attendant on the late visit of her Majesty, and be-
lieved this to have been the first occasion when an
estimate had not been exceeded.—(Hear, hear.) This
was something new, and he trusted that other com-
mittees would follow the example now set them, when
he was sure they would receive the support and en-
couragement of the Court.—(Hear, hear.) He must,
however, add, that although the sum allotted in this
instance had not been exceeded, for which he gave
them credit, he attributed the fact very much to their
being so very closely looked after.—(Laughter.)
Mr. CLARKE said he did not rise for the purpose of
contradicting any statements that he had heard made,
but he thought Mr. Dakin had sought the occasion of
introducing the subject of the report to make a speech
with regard to a particular journal.—(No, no.) Now,
that journal did not require either him (Mr. Clarke)
or any other man to speak in its favour.—(Laugh-
ter.) Gentlemen might laugh, but he would repeat
what he had asserted.--(Renewed laughter.) He
thought Mr. Dakin had brought about a great deal
of the severe castigation that the Corporation had re-
ceived, by having written a letter to the editor of the
Times, which he promised the other members of the
entertainment committee he would not do, when they
were attacked by that journal.—(oh, oh.)
Mr. GILPIN rose to order. If his friend, Mr.
Clarke, intended to move an amendment, he appre-
hended he might proceed, not otherwise.
Mr. CLARKE—You cannot be surprised at the
press being against us, when only nine'individuals be-
longing to that body were invited—the literature of
the age—and when each member of the committee
invited the same number of his private friends.—
(" No, no.")

The report was then, amidst great cheering, unani-
mously agreed to.

ELECTION ACT AMENDMENT ACT.
Mr. BOWER, in the absence of Deputy Harrison,
moved, " That the Sixth Proposition of the Freedom
Committee as reported to this Court be now read and
approved." He said the proposition was to the effect,
" that the qualification of candidates for the Common
Council be the same as those of the electors, and that
a provision be made to prevent any person being a
candidate for the office of alderman or common coun-
cilman, who may not have paid his debts in full in
case of having previously been bankrupt or insol-
vent, or having compounded with his creditors."

Mr BENNOCH said be should move an amendment.
He considered that the latter part of the sentence after
the word electors should be entirely omitted. He saw
no reasoa why gentlemen who had been unfortunate,
and who in the course of years had recovered their
position, should have such a restriction imposed upon
them by the Corporation. It was solely a question
for the constituencies, in his judgment, and not for
the Corporation to consider.—(Hear.) If the Court
thought proper to agree to the amendment, he
should then move, " That if any alderman or common
councilman, who may not have paid his debts in full,
by becoming bankrupt or insolvent, or compound-
ing with his creditors, shall immediately resign his
gown."—(Cheers.)
Mr. RICHARD TAYLOR seconded the amendment.
There were too many bankrupt peers and bankrupt
Members of the House of Commons—()h, oh)—and
he thought the constituents of the different wards
quite as fit to return respectable men to the Court of
Common, Council as the electors throughout the
kingdom were competent to send representatives to
Parliament.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. ANDRRTON wished to remind the Court that
one of its bye-laws was, that no person should be
eligible to serve on a committee who had been bank-
rupt or insolvent, and not paid his debts. What
was the use of sending a man to the Court who was
not qualified to act ?

Mr. BLxXE—I am very sorry to be opposed to the
mover and seconder of the amendment, but I do think
it a most extraordinary coincidence, that on the very
day that we have evinced such extraordinary sensi-
tiveness as to the imputations on our public virtue, it
should be moved and seconded by two highly ho-
nourable and upright men, that we open our doors
to persons who have not fulfilled their pecuniary obli-
gations.—(Hear, hear.) Notwithstanding the prac-
tice of either House of Parliament, let us maintain
that character for purity and virtue which belongs to
us, and defy the imputations which are falsely made
upon our honour and our respectability.—(Cheers.)
Mr. Deputy CORNET—You cannot compel an al-
derman to resign his_gown when he is elected for life.

Mr. BENNOCH—You can by Act of Parliament.
Mr. R. TAYLOR—And then he may cheat as much
as he pleases.—(Loud cries of " Question.")
The motion was then put and carried, two hands
only being held up for the amendment.
Mr. BOWER then moved " that the qualifications
for alderman be those of the freemen and citizens
aforesaid."

Mr. ANDERTON seconded the motion.
Mr. BENNOCTI considered it essential to the purity
of the Corporation that the constituencies should have
the opportunity at certain periods of getting rid of an
obnoxious alderman—(Loud laughter)—such an op-
portunity he considered every member of the court
felt to be particularly essential at the present moment.
He, therefore, proposed to add the words, that the
alderman be elected for a period not exceeding seven
years.
Mr. L. TAYLOR seconded the motion.
Mr. ANDERTON trusted the motion would not be
agreed to. It would be very dangerous to elect
magistrates periodically. It had been considered one
of the brightest gems in the crown of George 111.
that the judges were made independent of the Sove-
reign.—(Hear.) So ought the magistrates to be in-
dependent of the people.—(Cheers.)

Mr. Alderman COPELAND said he should like to see
the broad principle introduced, that every man rated
for the maintenance of the poor, and residing in the
City and carrying on trade, should possess the elective
franchise—(Hear, hear)—but with the number of un-
fortunate cab-drivers and persons who had been
brought before him for using false weights and mea-
sures, he should like to know what chance he should
have of being re-elected alderman. —(Hear, hear.)
Mr. BARKLEY considered that, if the Corporation
remained as at present constituted, a publican on
being convicted by an alderman might combine with
others in preventing his re-election; but when it was
borne in mind that the number of electors was pro-
posed to be increased from 5,000 to 25,000, he was
sure the publicans and drivers would have no influ-
ence in the election. He was sure the aldermen would
be invariably returned by their constituencies when
they performed their duty properly.
Mr. HALL could not imagine that the city magis-
trates would wish to refrain from going before their
constituencies occasionally, to see whether they had
done their duty.

Mr. ELLIOTT supported Mr. Bennoch's motion.
After several other speakers for and against both
motions and amendment, the latter was carried amid
general cheering by a large majority.

LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC ITISTITUTION.
A petition was read from the City of London Liter-
ary and Scientific Institution in Aldersgate-street for
pecuniary aid.
Mr. D AKIN warmly advocated the claims of the in-
stitution upon the City funds, and moved that the
petition be referred to the corn, coal,
and finance
committee, to report.