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

COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL.

At the Court 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 conduct
in India; bat on its being suggestad that it was the
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 BT. PAIII:S-CHURCITARD.

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 tbo ground, and he considered 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. He 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
ERRE!' strongly objected to the report. It
Mr.
opposition.
nn
thewa eqxutersetmi
oetil mt ewa
agrs e,
extremely and cons i de
insignificant.
riog the
largeness
(H earol
The fact wag, 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 had paid 500,0001.
for Cannon-street out of the fourpenny coal-duty. where
was the money to come from in this case ? From the
City cash, he (Mr. De Jersey) was told. This could not
be allowed, and it was not right for the Court to decide
to give to the public 30,0001. or 40,0001. out of the
City's cash. Were they prepared to do so ! He thought
not. 40,0001. or 50,0001. was not to be thrown away.
But of this there was nothing in the report. There
wers no figures there, and therefore he 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
tht 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 bad intimated, through 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 both a Goth and a Vandal, but he would not be called
a coward, while he 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 trustees of the
public funds, and it was their duty to see that they were
properly applied. The public would not subscribe a
penny ; as to giving us a 5-pound note, they would see us
at Jericho first. The Board of Works would not give
them ape ay. They said, "No, do ityourselves ' • we know
you will not cover the ground ;"—and that from men
who were in the habit of insulting the Corporation even
within those walls. Were they going to succumb to
suc's parties as these Certainly not. (Hear, hear.)
Then let them look at the value of the ground. Who-
ever could have thought the price of ground within the
City would have reached the enormous value of 91. per
foot! But it was so, wad in some cases infinitely greater.
Then let them lock at the enormous increase which was
taking place in the rating of the City. Let them look
at the consolidat'id rate. In 1855 it was 54,0001. ;in
1856 it was 80,000/,
' Mr. PERKINS —But the cemetery has been bought,
laid out, and paid for. That was the charge. (Hear.)
Mr. De JERSEY—The fact was, the rates were in-
creasing iu an alarming ratio. They remembered when
the sewers rate eas but 5,0001. Last year it was 9,0001.
What was it at that moment 4 21,9001. (Hear, hear.)
Let them, then, pause before they voted away so large
and valuable, a piece cf ground, and well consider
before they sunk so large a sum in value of corporation
property, and 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. YOUNG seconded the amendment.

Deputy PEWTRESS defended the committee, and con-
tended that there was no ground whatever for the propo-
sition of Mr. De Jersey. The report had been well
considered for many months, and further reference was
perfectly unnecessary. He was sure that if they adopted
mtkeearthoperts,rtofittwhaotucldoguirvte;
t haen and greatest ho was satisfactionqui s certaintha
t
such to
the
sucb a step would give the greatest satisfaction to the
body of citizens, 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 Works, which body had
been constituted to represent the liberties of the people,
upon whose shoulders they had been brought in ; but
that board had evidently given them the cold slioalder,
hiving 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
peoule. He thought the committee acted judiciously,
and exhibited wisdom in their proceedings. He, there-
fore, should vote 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 Jaeuey. They had there, be would
not, say one of tho best, but oce of the grandest sites
over whole of the metropolis, he alluded to the
proximity of St. Pawl's Cathedral. (Hear.) He was
for sending the report back to the committee and for
allowing the vacant site in St. Paul's-churchyard to
remain as it was at that time for an indefinite period.—
(Oh l)

oDAftNt.ehionptehdeir report.l Hethought
that the Court
Deputy would agree
withD Tthueje'm
Log wao quite wrong in the remarks he had made, as
ao dou'ot when tbeir 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 consented
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 worthy commoner then, in
illubtration of his view, recapitulated many of the items
contained in the report of the Special Revenue Com-
' mittee, t ) which we referred some time ago.
Mr. 13LaKft considered that the members of the Cor-
poration, being trustees for the public, had a right to
dispose of tha ground, and pay for it out of the moneys
entrusted to their charge. The proposed improvement
was a public improvement, and that Court, he was
assured, would be justified in doing so. Mr. De Jersey
had said that that Corporation had aothing to do with
the put ITc taste. He (Mr. Blake) was of a very different
ai he thought it was their business not only to
spend money on public improvements, but at the same
time to set- that they were executed as tastefully as
possibly. He should heartily support the motion.
a:,-puty 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 scut back for reconsideration, in the midst of much
confusion, and cries of "No, no."
Mr. MURRELL seconded the motion, which was nega-
tived, and the original motion was carried by an over-
whelming majority.
IMPROVEMENTS IN NRWGATE-STREBT.

Mr. PERKINS brought up a report from the laidge.
house Committee (in the absenca of the chairmen,
Mr. G. C. Graves), recommending that the committee
should be empowered to treat with the Commissioners
of Sewers for setting back four house. of the north
side of Newgate•street.
Mr. PERKINS, in moving that the Court agree with

the committee in their report, said that one of the
great advantages which would arise from the carrying
out of this iraprovenaent would be the wideaiug of
the means of access to Newgate-markent, where new
so much difficulty existed as to make the crowding of
the vehicles and the pressure of the people who
thronged the market perfectly intolerable. (Hear.)
Report agreed to.