The Sun.
London, England, 1858-11-16 00:00:00

COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL:

Yesterday a special court, which was numerously
attended, was held for the purpose of considering
a report from the Corporation Inquiry Committee
upon the subject of the projected measure of the
Government for the better regulation of the cor-
poration.
Mr. J. WOOD, chairman of the committee, brought
up a' report to the following effect :--" The com-
mittee had had an interview with Mr. Walpole, the
Secretary of State for the Home Department, and
had been informed by him that it was his intention,
as a member of her Majesty's Government, to in-
troduce a bill into Parliament in the ensuing see-
sion for the better regulation of the Corporation of
London, founded upon the bill as amended by the
select committee of the House of Commons in the
last session. The committee had duly considered
the circumstances connected with this important
question, and recommended the Court to give them
authority to confer from time to time with her Ma-
jesty's Government upon the subject, and to make
such arrangements as might be considered desirable,
with the view of passing a bill during the ensuing
session of Parliament. They are also of opinion
that it is not advisable for your honourable Court to
introduce a bill for the better regulation of the cor-
poration in the ensuing sessioa, but to permit the
committee to use their best endeavours for the pur-
pose of obtaining such modifications and alterations
in the bill which is proposed to be introduced by
her Majesty's Government as may appear most
advisable."

Mr. WOOD, in moving, that the report be agreed
to, said—lf they gave the committee power to confer
freely, and as man would with man, upon a mea-
sure to be produced and acted upon, good results
might arise to the corporation. That the result
might not be entirely satisfactory he could believe,
but that a measure of change and regulation must
pass was admitted on all hands. Mr. Secretary
Walpole had told them that it was his duty to
bring in the bill, which would be founded upon the
resolutions of the select committee of the House of
Commons last year, unless he should see reason
bTfore he finally settled it to alter his opinion upon
any one point. Under these circumstances he trusted
they would agree with the committee in their re-
port. (Hear, hear.).
Mr. BARKLEY—When did you havo this inter-
view with Mr. Walpole ?
Mr. WOOD—On the 21st October.
Mr. BaRKLEY7-22Yho authorised the committee
to-have any intirview with Mr. Walpole ?
Mr. WOOD—The court.

Mr. BARKLEY—Certainly not.
Mr. WOOD—We applied as soon as possible after
the court met, and Mr. Walpole gave an interview
as soon as he could Oter he carne to town.

Mr. ANDERTON hoped the report would be
carried unanimously.

uld the worthy chairman re-
peat in as concise terms as he could the object in-
tended to be obtained by this report. What was
the object the committee had in view ?
Mr. Woo D—l cannot do that. The court must
go over all these resolutions to get at that,
Mr FARRAR—This court is to be bound hand
and foot to such agreement or arrangements as the
committee may think proper to make. If that is
so, it is most unconstitutional and most unfair to the
other members of the court. (Hear, hear.) We
sit as the representatives
.of the citizens of London,
and we have no right to delegate the power con-
fided to a small section of the court. I protest most
strongly against the report, and if in a minority of
one only I will hold up my hand against it. (Hear.)
Mr. Cox said he attended at great inconvenience
for the purpose of asking the court to refuse their
assent to the powers which the committee asked
for. When the former bill was in the House of
Commons every member of the court had an oppor-
tunity of reading it, and they gave powers to the
committee to get that bill as far as possible worked
into the shape of the resolutions they had agreed to.
It was a totally different state of circumstances to
the present. A deputation was appointed by the com-
mittee to wait on Mr. Snretary Walpole, and he
should like every gentleman of that deputation to
get up and give his version, and the result of what
the Home Secretary said upon that occasion.. He
believed that if the report was sent back the result
would be such a reform as would not be satisfactory to
the public : and in a short time afterwards the
radical reformers would have their way. He would
move as an amendment the insertion of the follow-
ing words at the end of the report, " But that
before agreeing to any proposition or arrangement
the committee shall report the same to this court."
Mr. BARKLEY, in seconding the amendment, said
that if the court placed in the hands of the com-
mittee the powers asked for, no reform of the cor-
poration would take place. He trusted that the
matter would be left entirely in the hands of the
Government who were of Tory principles, and so
anxious to court favour that they would grant any
reform that was asked of them. _

Deputy DAKIN—I am not one of the deputation
who waited upon Mr. Secretary Walpole, but I am
one of the members who heard the very intelligent
and the very consistent statement which every
member of that deputation brought to the com-
mittee by whom they were appointed. Their