The Sun.
London, England, 1856-12-01 00:00:00

[PRICE 4D. STAMPED hcZ.

order to prevent the resignation being received I should
wish it wade known to the Court at large.
The Lorl MAYOR.—We had. better have from the
Town Clerk his viers upon the subject.
The TOWN CLeRIc L. the Reoorder'S resignation were
now to be accepted the office would be void, and no per-
son would be capable of signing 'the subpoenas now ne-
cessary for the Mayor's Court, and it is therefore, requi-
site still to keep in existence the .office of _Reorder, as
the officer of the Court for public purposes,
Mr.. Alderman SLDNET.—Then I ask what took place
upon the death of the late Recorder These was then
an interregnum of about two, months before his successor
was appointed. I a'sk the-Town Clerk to favour us with
what took place ther; • •
The Tows CERK.--At that time the business in the
Mayor's Court was not so great that the-appointment
could not be postpan'ed. At present. it 'is so great that
it cannot be postponed without doing an act of injustice
to the suitors.
Mr. Alderman -SIDNEY.---Then I think we should at
once accept the resignation, and proceed to the appoint-
ment of the learned Recorder's successor forthwith.
The Town Clerk rei-ly have given a satisfactory reason,
but to my mind itlis a most inconclusive one, that. the
business of the Mayor's Court six years ago was so un
important that for two months at least the office was in
abeyance, -and that it is now so important that fora few
days we cannot accept the resignation. Thb most im•
portant • functionsr of the Rec-rder, it is well known,
were at the Central Criminal Coast, and during the
whole of this week the Recorder, on account of ti,e
more important office for which he has been selected by
favour of her Majesty, has not given his attendance at
that Court. The public are largely interested in this
question, and surely we must satisfy the public that, as
a public body, we canna do as other public bodies do—
namely, that when a judicial officer tenders his resigna-
tion there is a difficulty about accepting it. I believe
there is but one course
_open
,to ns-ssuaraely,.theA, we
should recieve the resignation, and then it will be open
to a committee to enter upon the consideration of the
duties and emoluments of the office, with injunctions to
bring up a report, notice being given with respect to the
app ontment of a successor. We should not be doing
our duty if we did nut receive the resignation at once.
Mr. Alderman ROSE.—If the learned Recorder re-
tains his office till the next Court he Las the power of
appointing a deputy, and if his resignation were accepted
at the present time that power would not be vested
in him,

Mr. Alderman SIDNEY.—We never heard of that be.
fore.
Sir P. LAURIE—The public have not suffered by rea,
son of the Recorder's not having been at the Central
Criminal Court this week, because others were present
to officiate for him.

Mr. Alderman SIDNEY—As he has resigned, can he
appoint a deputy ?
The LORD MAYOR—We have not reached that part of
the business yet.
The TOWN CLERK—It has been moved and seconded

that the letter be entered upon the minutes of the Court.
Mr. Alderman SIDNEY -I move as an addition and
by way of amendment, that the resignation of the learned
gentleman be accepted.
Mr. Alderman CARTER—I am at a total loss to under-
stand the pertinacity with which my friend (Alderman
Sidney) adheres to his priaposition. lam quite satisfied
with the letter we have received from the learned Re-

corder, because I trust he is in a better position than he
stood in here. I learn with extreme regret that he has
determined to leave us, and I ardently trust that his suc-

cessor will do us equal honour with hiin-elf, but I cannot
understand why eny friend wants the Court so hurriedly
to accept the resignation. Surely, when we appoint a
gentleman to that high, honourable, and distinguished
position, it i• needful and necemary for our own protec-

tion, as well as. fur the benefit of tie community at large,

that we should look around us and endeavour to seleci

the man best qualified for the duties of an office which
has been so gracefully filled for so many years by the
learned Recorder. I therefore hope and trust that no
undue haste will be eshibite f in the appointment, but
that an opportunity veil be afforded the Court of select-
ing such a man for the office as will do honour to the
corporation and the citizmi at large.
Sir W. MAGNAT —I beg to second the amendment. As
the Recorder has the power of appointing adeputy I think
he should he requested to do so at once. The office now
beinc, in abeyance I thick will tend very much to interfere
with the regular business of the Court, and therefore the
vacancy should be filled up as quickly as possible.
Mr. Alderman LAWRENCE—WhiIe you hold the Re-
corcl.,T in his present position he can appoint a successor,
but if you deprive him of the office he cannot d. so.
_ _

Mr. Alderman CDBITT—i think the letter of the
learned Recorder expresses the neces,ity which he is
under of tendering his resignation, and it goes on to say
that he shall be happy to surrender his office into the

hands of his successor. I think if the letter is fairly read
it is not a letter now giving his resignation, but tender-
ing his resignation, to he consummated heraNr.
Mr. A tderman Roez—lf the resignation were a,
cepted the functions of any deputy whom the learned
Recorder might appoint would cease with the accept-
ance of the resignation.
Mr. Alderman SIDNZT—I do not want a deputy; I
want a Recorder.

The Town Clerk put the amendment, which was ne-
gatived by a large majority, there being but two hands
held up in favour of it.
The original motion was then put and carried.
Mr. Alderman SIDNEY—At the next Court I shall
move that we proceel to the election of a Recorder.

Mr. Alderman CHALLIS —And at the proper time I
shall bring forward a mutton expressive of the regret we
feel at parting with the Recorder.
The Court then adjourned.