The Sun.
London, England, 1857-12-11 00:00:00

COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL.

At the C,Yart held yesterday, Alderman HALE pro-
posed that the freedom of the City and a valuable sword
be presented to Sir H. Havelock, for his heroic condubt
in India; but on its being auggestad that it was th•
opinion of many members of the Court that the motion,
was submitted too early, Alderman Hale consented to
postpone it till the beginning of the year.

THE VACANT GROUND IN ST. PAUL'S-CHURCHYARD.
A. report from the Improvement Committee was
brought up by Deputy BOWER, " relative to the vacant
site on the south-east of St. Paul's churchyard, with a
plan for the appropriation of the same." The deputy
said that the matter had stood over for some time, in
consequence of difficulties which had arisen from the
Coopers' Company, and in consequence of the large
amount of compensation required by that body, the
committee had not been able to effect an amicable ar-
rangement. They had proposed to give up two-thirds
of the ground, and be coneid•red that was enough for
them to do. The view of the noble cathedral would not
be obstructed, while at the same time some portion of
the site might be advantageously realised, lie moved
that the Court agree with the committee in their
report. The committee, he might say, were unani-
mous, and he therefore hoped there would be no further
opposition.

Mr. De JERSEY strongly objected to the report. It
was extremely meagre, and considering the largeness of
the question, it was extreme'y insignificant. (Hear.)
The fact was, that the committee would not have gone to
that court at all if they could have helped it. He ob-
jected to the report further, because it proposed to deal
with a piece of valuable ground. They bad paid 500,0001.
for Cennoneereet out of the fourpenny coal-duty. Where
was the money to come from in this case I From the
City cash, he (Mr. De Jersey) was told. This could not
be a'lowed, and it was not right for the Court to decide
to give to the public 30,0001. or 40,0001. out of the
Ci,y's cash. Were they prepared to do so ! He thought
not. 40,000/. or 50,000/. was not to be thrown away,
But of this there was no'hing in the report, There
were no figures there, ard therefore be objected
to the report. They ought to know what
amount of money would be required, and where that
amount was to be obtained. The committee were
bound to furnish that information. There was
another thing. The committee had full power to set out
the street and appropriate the ground ; then why did
thi ygo to the Court at all I Simply because they were
compelled to ask leave to give away that large money
value in obedience to the arbitrary will of public taste,
The Architects' Institute had intimated, thrangh the
public press, that they should look to Mr. Bunning, the
City's architect, to preserve this open space to the public.
He (Mr. De Jersey) objected to this species of intimida-
tion ; and if they pleased, they might consider him to
be bath a Goth and a Vandal, but he would not be called
a coward, while be felt it to be his duty to oppose such
a mode of giving away the funds of the Corporation in
such a manner. (Cheers ) They were trudees of the
public funds, and it was their duty to see that they were
propsrly applied. The public would not subscribe a
penny ; as to giving us a 5-p?und note, they would see ns
at Jericho first. The Board of Works would not give
them ape ay. They said, "No, do ityonrselves ' • we know
you will not cover the ground ;”—and that from meg
who were in the habit of insulting the Corporation even
within those walls. Were they going to succumh to
Fu c parties as these ! Certainly not. (Hear, bear.)
Theis !et them look at the value of the ground. Who-
ever could have thought the plc) of ground within the
City would have reached the enormous value of 91. per
foot ! Bat it was so, and in some cases infiaittly greater.
Then let them look at the enormous increase which was
taking place in the rating o' the City. Let them look
at the consolidated rate. In 1855 it was 54,000/. ;in
1856 it was 80,000/
Mr. PERKINS—But the cemetery bee been bongbt,
laid out, and paid for. That was the charge. (Hear.)
111 r. DE JERSEY—The fact was, the rates were in-
creating in an alarming ratio. They remembered when
the sewers rate was but 5,0001. Last year it was 9,000/e
What was it at that moment ! 21,9001. (Hear, hear.)
Let them, then, pause before they voted away so large
and valuable a piece of ground, and well consider'
before they sunk so large a sum in value of corporation
property, fuel thus involve those who in after years
might follow them. He moved that the consideration of
the report be adjourned to a future period.
Mr. YOUNQ seconded the amendment.

Deputy PEWTRESS defended the committee, and con-
tended that there was no ground whatever for the propo-
sition of Mr. Da Jersey. The report had been well
considered for many months, and further reference was,
perfectly unnecessary. He was sure that if they adopted
members
the report
of thatrtitwo
culdoguirvt ; andethe h
gree wasate-t
quitesatli certain factioatoths
that
such a step would give the greatest satisfaction to the
body of citiz.ns and the inhabitants of the metropolis at
large.
Mr. BESLEY supported the report.
Deputy LOTT, F.S A, observed that .the committee.
had applied to the Board of Work., which body had
been constituted to represent the liberties of the people,
upon whose shoulders they had been brought in ; but
that board had evideotly given them the cold shoulder,
train refused to have anything to do with them. He,
for one, would not succumb to the opinions of the press
in the matter, but he would give something up for the
people. He thought the committee acted judiciously,
and exhibited wisdom in their proc. edings. He, there-,
fore, should veto for the adoption of the report,
Mr. ELLIOTT remarked that the question was one of
the greatest importance. He was strongly opposed to
the speech of Mr. De JAtsey. Tuey had there, he would
not say one of the best, bet one of the grandest sites
over the whole of the metropolis, he alluded to the
proximity of St. Paul's Cathedral. (llear ) He was
for sending the report back to the committee an for
allowing the vacant site in St. Paul's-churchyard to.
remain as it was at that time for an indefinite period.—
(thi

Deputy DeKriT hoped that the Court would agree'
with the committee in their report. Ho thought Deputy
Lott was quite wrong in the remarks he had made, as
no doubt when their architect had examined the eleva-
tions of the proposed buildings upon a portion of the
site, that officer would take care to see that they were
in keeping with the magnificent dome and noble pro-
portions of that unrivalled building. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. FRY trusted that before the Court ooneented"
the would pause before they committed themselves by
giving up the site, as proposed in the report, especially
when they considered the financial position of the funds
of the Corporation. The wonhy commoner then, in
illustration of his view, recapitulated many of the items.
contained in the report of the Special Revenue Com-
mitt-e, t i which we referred some time ago.
Mr. BLAKE considered that the members of the Cor-
poration, being trustees for the public, had a right to'
oistiose of the ground, and pay for it out of the moneys
entrusted to their charge. The proposed improvement
was a public iinyrovetnent, and thal: Court, he was
assured, would be justified in doing so. Mr. De Jersey
had said that that Corporation had nothing to do with
the public taste. He (Mr. Blake) was of a very different
opinion, as be thought it was their business not only to
spend money on public improvements, but at the same.
time to see that they were executed as tastefully as
possibly. He should heartily support the motion. '
Deputy BOWER replied in a most forcible speech, after
which the proposition was put, and carried by a large
majority, and ordered to be carried into execution.
Upon the question being about to be put,
Mr. ELLIOTT moved as an amendment that the report
be sent back for reconsideration, in the midst of much
confusion, and cries of "No, no."
Mr. MURRELL seconded the motion, which was nevi,
tived, and the original motion was carried by an over-
whelming majority.