The Sun.
London, England, 1819-09-17 00:00:00

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17. 18n4.

REMONSTRANCE FROM THE LIVERY

TO THE LORD MAYOR.

Yegterday morning several Membeis of the
Livery waited %Tot: the Lotto AlAYort for the pur-
ro6e of presenting his Lordship with a Remon-
strance, which had been some time in contem-
plation.
When the Deputation entered his Lordship's
private room, Mr. Dixon, of Fleet-street, one of
the number, said; " My Lord, we wait upon you
at the ruguest of a number of our Fellow-live
men, most respectfully to present
,to your Lord-
ship a Remonsirance, upon your refusal to call a
Common-hall, upon the subject of the late Pro-
ceedings at Manchester."
The Lotto Nlavott most politely. invited the
Deputation to be seated.
Mr. DlxoNt then said, that if his Lordship would
permit, the Remonstrance should be read.
The Lotto MAron—My respect for tire Livery
will at all times incline me to listen to airy Re-
monstrance they think proper to make.
The Remonstiance, which was then read, was
to the following effect :

" TO THE RIGHT HON. THE LORD MAYOR OF THE

CITY 01 LONDON.

" MY Lotto—We, the undersigned Liverymen of London,
respectfully beg leave to expostulate %Intl your Lordship sin
your refusal to call a (;ominon-hall, to take into considera-
tion the I etc violation of the law at Manchester, although a
requisition was presented to sour Lordship, signed by nearly
100 of the Livery of London, who were desirous of giving ex-
pression to their sentiments on transactions too momentous
to be passed over in silence--too mournful to allow of those
sentiments being suppressed by any authority wkatever, and
least of all by that of your Lordship, who, by virtue of your
office, are bound to protect and give effect to the rights,
liberties, and privileges of the Livery of London.
"That the Livery of London possess the right, which they
hare exercised front time immemorial, of expressing their
opinion on public affairs, in Common-hall, it is superfluous
to remind your Lordship; but shoold that right ever become
subject to control from the pohi cal opinions or private views
of the Lord Mayor, for tile Uute being, it would erase to exist
iu any thing hut name.
That the sui,jeet, for the consideration of which the
Requit:ition of the Livery was presented to your Lord-
ship, was suited to public consideration, is manifest from
your Lordship having held a Court of Common Council for
its discussion. That your Lordship's refusal cannot hare
been dictated by an -411XifirJA and over-scrupulous regard
fur the preservation of the public peace, is apparent front the
linowledge your Loreship must possess, t hat where the Magis-
trates have presura-d to deprive. their fellow-citizens of the
means of meeting in that orderly and convenient tray pro-
vided by their municipal constitutions, they have uniformly
assembled together tinder circusostauces less favourable to the
matieten4nee.of the public mmace.
" Unwilling, as we are, 'usy Lord, to put any unfavourable
constructionou the conduct or motives of the Chief Magistrate
of the City, ire confess ourselves unable to interpret your
Lordship's rejeetion of it requisition fur a Common flail, on
so important an occasion, in any way which shall not imply
an indifference to, or contempt of, the wishes and opinions of
the Livery,. be whom yott were appointed to )(int- high
" Resolve:l, however, as v.e. are not to surrender the rights
of the Livery of London, we venture respectfully, yet firmly,
to request your Lordship to reconsider your answer, and to
appoint an early day for the holding of a Common-Hall, in
compliance-with the requisition presented to your Lordship
on time Ist instant.—Datcd Sept. 16.“

Mr. DtxoN.—Tlie Livery, my Lord, find them-
selves, iu consequence of the late transactions at
Mauchts'er, imperiously called upon to express
their public opinion iu Common-had, and have
felt it lkird, that while justice called aloud and
humanity bled, they had no opportunity, in com-
mon with others of his Majesty's snbjects, to ex-
press their opinion. They hope your Lordship
will le-consider the matter, alter your former de-
termination, and call a Conunon-ilall.

The Lunn MAYOR.-Gentlemen, I feel myself
as deeply ioterested in the question of !Ile rights
and privileges of the Lively of London as arty of
you ; toy obligations to do so art us strong. Al-
ready I have given an answer to this question, in
strict conformity kvirli my oath. It is my deter-
mination to adhere to inc refusal which has been
made, on the most, conseientinui grounds, not-
withstanding the unpopularity to ‘chich 1 may be
subjected; and 1 conlegs that 1 ant trot a friend to
the hoOttogs and hiLt;ings which have been so
plentifully bestowed upon tile.

Mr. DIXON observed, that the present was an
opportunity, the best that could be presented, for
turning aside that offeniile notice of which his
Lordship had complained.
The LortD.MaYoa.—l have acted upon this,
as upon, ail other occasi,ns, according to the best
of my judgment as a Magistrate and an indivi-
dual ; knd (with Much earnestness) I appeal to
the Power above whether I have acted conscien-
tiously or oot.
Mr. GonwiN (of Paul's-Chain).—My Lord,
this is a deputation from the Livery, who have
placed you ia your present elevated situation. We
trust that you will not trample Upon our rights
Hnd Privileges. We consider yoii, my Loril, as
our father for the time being.,- and, we hope that
you will not refuse to grant us the privilege of the
use of our Hall. I have to add one more word.
We consider the Corimion-Hall the Storehouse of
the liberties of the citizens ; and surely you„ who
are at the head of us, will not place an obstacle
in the way of that which we have'enjoyed time
immemorial. We ask; my Lord, merely'what our
forefathers always' demanded as a right,•and we of
course think• our birth7right.
The Loan Mayon.-Do you not consider that
it is unfair to prejudge a ease ? Suppose you were
yourself charged with ati Offeoce, I askyou whether
you would think it fair that a judgment should be
passed upon you, without regard to those evi-
dences which are necessary upon every occasion,
in order to Collie to a just couclusiou?' It you
were innocent, do you not think that speeches'
declaratory of your guilt would he injurious ?--
Would you not at least think a prejudication un-
generous ? If you think milady, I dare say you
trill arrive at this conclusion. Would it not then
be highly improper and illiberal in me to authorize
and encourage a meeting of this description, COD-
scions at the sante ante that a legal discussion is
to take place, upon whiCh the merits 01 the case

to which you have alluded will be entered into
most accurately ?
Mr. Tav-LoR (the Common-Councilman )—We
only wish, my Lord, that the doors of inquiry
should not be barred against inquiry. Other
parts of the country have met, why Elmold not the
Livery have the privilege of adding their opinions
to toe ‘tei;:ht of those already diSFrsed through
the maim) ?

Mr RoseaTs—My Lord, I beg to know whe-
ther it is your Lordship's intention, it the Livery
of London should come to a determination to
meet, to close the doors of the Hall against them.
The Lour) MAYOR said, he conceived the Chief
Magistrate had a right to do so, but he did not in-
timate that it was his intention to oblige the Li-
very to look for some other place of meeting.
Mr. STEPH ENS said, that a former Lord Mayor
Lad not hesitated to call a Common Hall open
certain charees which were brought against the
Duke of Volk ; and that question was discussed in
Parliament afterwards, without sufferiug from the
previous debate upon it. With respect to the pro-
position put by the Lord Mayor, whether any ob-
jection could not be made to comments and reso-
lutions previous to all legal consideration of a
question, he should deelAre that he should have
no objection to have the fullest inquiry made into
his conduct if ionocent. On the contrary, lie
should think that the more it was discussed, the
greater effect it would have in establishing the er-
roneousness of the charge.
Mr.TAYLOR said, that this rule held with equal
force against those who hail acted in violation of
thelaw,cut humanity.Thedeeper the inquirythe more
plain wet e made the evidences of guilt. The Livery
wished to apprize the people, that those persons
who had violated the laws should be brought to
justice. He hoped the Lord Mayor would not be
;00 hasty in giving his opinion, sod that lie would
not persist in going decidedly against the general
sentiment of those to whom his Lordship was in-
debted for his present elevated situation.
The LORD AYOR.—It would be the gieatest
pride of my life, Gentlemen, that I, who have
risen from a very humble situation in lite to that
by which I am now honoured, should coincide in
the opinion of the Livery, and I regret much that
there exists any difference of opinion ; but I
should feel that I was degrading the office which
I fill, if I were to act unconseientiously, and I
therefore most persevere.
Mr. GooNvis.—ln the name of the Livery, my
Lord, I beg leave to return you thanks for the
very handsome manner in which you have received
us; but (with much warmth) I here rotsure your
Lordships, 'that the Livery of London intend to
hold a meeting; to discuss the rights of their coun-
trymen, notwithstanding your Lordship's opposi-
riou, and I request that your Lordship will recol-
lect that we inform you of their resolution.
The Lotto MAYOR.--I shall be at my post, Gen-
tlemen ; but I most say, that this is an unequal
contest here, for I,ten but one man against nine,
Now, it you will allow me to have eight of my
fritools against you, we shall probably tin a good
deal towards clearing away all the impediments to
the right view of the question.
Mr. G6DWI N.—There can he but little objec-
tiou to thgt, toy Lord, particularly on a subject
on which the whole country agree. We hope to
oppose your friends in the right place, my Lord,
and beg to say, that we, the Livery of London,
shall be at our posts to discuss our rights and
privileges according to ancient custom.
Some conversation took place after this, which
was kept up in a very dispassionate tone. The
Deptit ation individually expressed themselves
much indebted to the Lord Mayor for the marked
civility with which they were received, and his
Lordship seemed equally pleased at the respectful
deportment of the Deputation, who withdrew after
an interview of upwards of an poor.