The Sun.
London, England, 1835-12-04 00:00:00

THE VACANT GOWN OF THE WARD OF BRIDGE.

Sir C. S. HUNTER announced to the Court that, as lie
lid not wish to be the cause of any confusion in the cor-
poration, and, as he bad looked into the law upon the sub-
ject, he had determined to accept the gown of the Ward of
Bridge, vacant by the resignation of John Ansley, Esq.

THE ELECTION OF DAVID SALOAIONS, ESQ., AS ALDERMAN

OF ALDGATE WARD.
The Clerk of the Court having read the proceedings upon
the election of David Salomons,Esq., as Alderman for the
Ward of Aidgate, that Gentleman was introduced to the
Court in due form by .several of his most prominent sup-
porters.

ISAAC SOLLY, Esq., addressed the Court upon the occa-
sion, and said that he felt it to be a high honour' and plea-
sure toqintroduce to the Court, as an Alderman, a gen-
tleman whom he had proposed as a candidate for an office
which he was in every respect so well calculated to fill.
Alderman BROWN -said that he had a painful duty to
perform as regarded the very excellent person who was just
introduced, but still it was a duty, and he must not shrink
from performing it. It was known that at the last Court a
petition had been presented against the return of Mr. Sa-
lomons. Now he , (Alderman Brown) at present asked
Mr. Salomons whether he had, within a month from that
day, made and subscribed the declaration required by the
9th of George IV., cap. 17 ?
. Alderman HARMER was quite surprised that such a
question should be asked. Upon his admission no question
of the kind had been asked, and if it had been asked, he
would have answered in the negative.
The LORD MAYOR suggested the propriety of hearing
the report of the City Solicitor, containing the opinions of
Counsel, that officer having been instructed at the last
Court to take advice of Counsel touching the election of
Mr. Salotnons.
Sir P. LAURIE submitted that the election of Alderman
Harmer was not at all a ease in point, as there had been
no petition against that return. Mr. Salomon's case was a
case per se. If Mr. Salomons would sign a declaration at
that _moment, he would be to all intents and purposes as
much an Alderman as any man in the Court ; but in order
to become a member of that Court, he must subscribe upon
the faith of a Christian.
Mr. SALOMONS threw himself upon the justice of the
Court. He had been acting in his capacity es Sheriff, and
he believed he had hitherto acted to the satisfaction of his
fellow-citizens. He hoped that any question put to him
would be put in a definite shape. He was then under pe-
culiar circumstances. He had been returned as Alderman,
and he was ready to take upon himself the office, and to be
sworn in according to the terms of the Act of Common
Council.

The RECORDER. then, in accordance with a resolution of
the Court, read the section alluded to, and the form of de-
claration, and said that it was his duty to put the declara-
tion before Mr. Salomokis.
Mr. SALOMONS said that when he entered that Court be
had no idea that the question would take such a turn. He
was altogether unprepared to meet it on the sudden. He
had no legal adviser to consult, and the Court must see the
difficulty of such a position. He repeated, however, that
he was ready to be sworn in according to the Act of Com-
mon Council, and to perform the duties of the office.
Alderman BROWN—We must tender the declaration to
Mr. Salomons.
Mr. SALOMONS declared that in such circumstances it
must strike every body that time was necessary for him.
He did not refuse to subscribe to the declaration ; but he
asked in justness and fairness for an opportunity of consult-
ing legal friends.
The LORD MAYOR said that before Mr. Salomons was
asked to sign the declaration, the report of the City Solici-
tor, comprehending the opinions of Counsel on the ques-
tions submitted to the Court, should be read.

The Town-clerk then read the following report :
"In obedience to your order of the ult., whereby I
was directed to consult the Attorney and Solicitor-General,
the Recorder and Common Sergeant, together with Mr. Ser-
geant Mereweather, and Sir W. Follett, upon the Act of
Parliament of the 9th George IV., cap. 17, requiring a de-
claration to be made and subscribed by persons on their ad-
mission to corporate offices, and how far the same may affect
the choice recently made of David Salomons, Esq., to be Al-
derman of the Ward of Aldgate, and to lay their opinions upon
the subject before this Court,
" I have the honour to certify that I have consulted them
accordingly, and I have added hereto a copy of their opinions
upon the subject. I have the honour to be, &c.
" W. NEWMAN.

" We are of opinion that Mr. Salomons must make and sub-
scribe the declaration prescribed by the Act of
.the 9th Geo.
IV., cap. 17, within one calendar month next before or on his
admission.
" We further think that it will be the duty of the Court of
Aldermen, upon Mr. Salomons appearing before them, to in-
quire whether he has signed the declaration within a month,
and if he acknowledges he has not, and then refuses to sign it,
it will be the duty of the Court of Aldermen to refuse to
admit him, and to proceed as upon a void election.
(Signed) " CAMPBELL.
R. M. ROLFE.
CHARLES E. LAW, Recorder.
HENRY ALWORTH MEREWEATHER.
W. W. FOLLETT.

JOHN. MIREHOUSE, Common Sergeant.

" Temple, Dec. 2."
Alderman BROWN-4 ask Mr. Salomons whether he has
signed the declaration ?
Mr. SALOMONS—I do not hesitate to say that I have
not signed it.
Alderman BROWN—I have no wish to press upon a
Gentleman for whom we all entertain -the highest possible
respect, and whose conduct we all individually admire ; but,
constituted as we are as a body, it is incumbent upon us
to perform our duty, however disagreeable it may be. I,
therefore, move, that the Town Clerk do hand over the de-
claration to be made and subscribed by Mr. Salomons.
Alderman T. WOOD seconded the motion.
Alderman HARMER—He has declared that he is totally
unprepared with legal advisers, and he asks for an adjourn-
ment, that he may prepare himself. I move " That Mr.
Salomons do attend the next Court upon the question."
Alderman VENABLES said he should second that amend-
ment, if Mr. Salornons wished for the delgy.-
Alderman WINCHESTER said the opinion of King's
Counsel and other lawyers was, that the Court had a cer-
tain course from which it could not legally deviate. The
original proposition should have his support. If Mr. Sa-
lomons refused to sign the declaration, the Court was bound
to pronounce the election void.
Alderman HARMER said that if Mr. Salomons declared
that he would not sign the declaration, the Court might
proceed to that extremity, but he had made no declaration
of the kind.
Alderman VENABLES was decidedly for giving the indul-
dulgence requested by Mr. Salomons.
Alderman TrromrsoN observed that the Court ought to
be informed whether it could, consistently with law, allow
Mr. Salomens longer time for deliberation. If that should
be the case, he was willing to grant the request.
Alderman T. WOOD declared it to be his opinion that it
was necessary to proceed at once. The question was not
one of law, but one of expediency. It was not a new question
to Mr. Salomons, as was evident from what had been done
in order to qualify that gentleman for the office of Sheriff,
an Act of Parliament having been passed to accomplish that
object. The Court was bound to decide at once, in justice
to the inhabitants of the Ward, who were without an Al-
derman. He felt it to be his duty to urge this, although
nothing could give him greater pleasure or confer greater
honour upon him than the fact of being associated with a
gentleman in every respect so excellent.
The LORD MAYOR said that if the law officers were of
opinion that time could be granted. to Mr. Salomons for
deliberation without prejudice to the Court, lie should be
very desirous to come to a decision to that effect., It was
most desirable that all religious distinctions should be done
away with, and it would be grateful to see them fall to no-
thing in the person cf Mr. Salomons.
Sir PETER LAURIE said lie regretted to bear the word
expediency used by a brother Alderman (T. Wood.) The
Court was bound by an Act of Parliament. The question
was strictly legal. He thought it might be put to Mr. Sa-
lornons in this way :—Would Mr. Salomons say that he
would sign the declaration if time were given to him ? Mr.
Salomons was as much a Christian now as he would be a
week hence, and if he refused to sign he could not be an
Alderman.
Alderman VENABLES said that Sir Peter Laurie was
out of order.
Sir C. HUNTER—His observations are net very discreet,
but they are not out of order.-:-(A laugh.)
Aldernian LUCAS said it was quite absurd to ask for time
if the Court could not give it.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. SALOMONS called on the members of the Court,
whose office it was to dispense justice, to dispense it in his
instance. He put it to the Court whether,, situated as he
then was, without an adviser, while the Court had the ad-
vantage of the presence of its law officers, it was charitable
to press him on a matter of so much importance ? As for
the declaration and the opinions which bad been giVen upon
the necessity of subscribing it, he had to assure the Court,
as a man of honour, that one of the - most eminent of the
Counsel who bad signed the document just rod had. dc-