The Sun.
London, England, 1844-10-16 00:00:00

COURT OF ALDERMEN.

A special Court of Aldermen was held yesterday in
the Guildhall, for the purpose of receiving the return
from the ward of Portsoken, and tendering the oaths to
Mr. David Salomons, the recently-elected Alderman for
that ward. The hour fixed for opening the Court was
twelve for one, but long before that hour the avenues
and approaches to the Court were crowded to excess by
respectably-dressed persons, the majority of whom ap-
peared to be of the Hebrew descent. The proceedings
appeared to excite the greatest interest in the City. At
one o'clock precisely the Lord Mayor took the chair, and
the names of the Aldermen having been called over, the
minutes of the former Court were read.
THE ADDRESS TO THE KING OF THE FRENCH.
.- On that portion of the minutes being read which re-
lated to the presentation of the address of the Court to
the King of the French,
Mr. Alderman WILSON asked the Sheriffs if the ad-
dress had been presented ?
Mr. Sheriff SIDNEY replied that the address had been
presented.

- Mr. Alderman WILSON asked why the Court had not
been summoned to present the address ? Not only had
the Court not been summoned, but one of the members
of the Court, who was then present, had been positively
told that if he attempted to attend with the deputation,
he should be given into custody.—(Hear, and a laugh.)
It was time that the rights of the Court should be ascer-
tained, and that it should be known whether it was an
independent Court, having a right to present an address,
or whether it was a mere appendage to the Court of Com-
mon Council.
The LORD MAYOR denied that there was any desire to
encroach on the privileges of the Court, but the stay of
the King of the French was so short, that it was thought
better to present the address of the two Courts by a de-
putation.

Mr. Alderman HUGHES had assisted in drawing up
the address. He had been excluded from seconding the
motion for the address by Sir Peter Laurie, and on that
occasion he had expressed his regret. He lived at
Windsor, and certainly he had felt great surprise that he
had not been asked to assist in the presentation of the
address. A Noble Lord about the Castle had asked him
if he was not to be present at the presentation? and he
had replied that, strange to say, he had been excluded.—
(A laugh.) He had written to the Remembrancer,
stating that his equipage should accompany the depute-
tipn, and the Remembrancer had replied that he was ex-
cluded from attendance, and Sir Chapman Marshall had
told him that if he or any other person attempted to
accompany the deputation, he should be taken into
custody.

After a few words from Sir CLAUDIUS HUNTER,
The LORD MAYOR explained that the address was pre-
sented by a deputation composed of those members of
the Court of Aldermen who were in a position to attend.
Now the proper place for Mr. Alderman Hughes on Sa-
turday was not at Windsor, but at the Guildhall. He was
the Alderman upon the rota, and it was his duty to have
been there to pass home 400 Irish paupers.
Mr. Alderman HUGHES said that Mr. Alderman
Wilson had attended for him at the Guildhall, and had
discharged the duty for him. He thought the observa-
tions of the Lord Mayor totally uncalled for.—(Hear.)
The conversation then dropped.\

The return of the prisoner's in the various metropolitan
gaols was then read.

Several persons appeared to be admitted as brokers,
and, on the report of the proper authorities, were ad-
mitted accordingly.

MR. SALOMONS' CASE.

-.lt was then ordered that Mr. D. Salomons might be
called in." -
• 411'. Sidomons having come into Court,
Mr. SA:SteteIIALL read the return of the ward of
Portsoken', and in presenting Mr. Salomons to the Court,
said that Mt.`Salomons had been elected as Alderman of
Wei wardmote of Portsoken. He was glad that he
wits Litroducingla person who was already known
to 'thini, fcis% he had filled the office of Sheriff
'for the City, .the duties of which he discharged
with the greatest credit. He was brought up
in the City of London, and had obtained the highest
character at the Royal Exchange, which entitled him to
be placed in the foremost ranks of the merchants of the
City. He was, moreover, a magistrate of two counties,
and had now for several years discharged the duties of a
magistrate to the entire satisfaction of his brother ma-
gistrates. It was moreover the pleasure of her Majesty
in Council to place Mr. Salomons in one of the most im-
portant trusts thatcould be held by a subject, that of High
Sheriff for the county of Kent, the duties of which office
he also discharged with entire satisfaction. These cir-
cuMstances influenced the electors of the ward of Port-
soken, but they were also further influenced by the high
and unimpeachable private character which Mr. Salo-
mons was well known to possess. It only remained to
submit the choice made by the ward of Portsoken,
which presented to this Court Mr. D. Salomons, to fill
the office of Alderman for that ward.
Mr. DAVID SALOMONS said he had reason to
believe that there might be some technical objec-
tion to him which would require legal infor-
mation to guide both the Court and him in the
position in which they now stood. He had obtained
legal information, but not of that high legal character
by which the Court would probably be influenced. He
intended to have the opinions of men of such high legal
standing as Sir Thomas Wilde, Mr. Kelly, or Mr. Erle,
but he was unable to procure them in consequence of
their absence from town. He therefore begged the
Court to grant him a fortnight, to obtain such legal ad-
vice. He would, if the Court desired, read the opinion
of two excellent lawyers whom he consulted.
The Court would not hear the opinions.
Mr. Salomons was then asked if he had signed the
declaration required by the statute of George IV. within
the previous month ?
Mr. SALOMONS asked if he was to understand that his
application was denied?:
Mr. Alderman WOOD said he thought, before that
question was put, the request:of Mr. Salomons ought to
be considered and discussed.

The RECORDER said that the proper course to be pur-
sued was to tender the declaration in the first place.
Mr. Alderman WOOD thought that the discussion upon
the request of Mr. Salomons ought to take place first.
Alderman LUCAS said he understood that Mr. Salo-
mons asked for time in consequence of being asked to
sign the declaration.
_ _

Mr. Salomons was then asked whether he was pre-
pared to sign the declaration ?
Mr. SaLomoNS said he made the application he put
lorward in the bet faith, and he bogged of the Court to
give him the time he asked to consult counsel as to the
course he ought to pursue in circumstances altogether
new. He asked it as a personal favour to himself.
Mr. Alderman FAREBROTHER said he thought the
Court ought to be cleared before they discussed the sub-
ject.

Sir PETER LAURIE said, if the declaration was not
taken, he would move that the election be void.
Mr. Alderman HIIMPHERY did not see why they
should discuss the subject with closed doors.
Mr. Alderman HUGHES hoped the Court would not be
cleared.

Mr. Alderman WOOD hoped that Mr. Salomons would
be allowed the time he asked for.

The RECORDER advised the Court to pursue the usual
course pursued on occasions like the present, which was
to tender the declaration in the first instance.

Mr. Alderman FAREBRoTHER said it was competent
for any person to have the Court cleared.
Mr. Salomons was again asked whetiser he would take
the declaration.
• 'll Mr. SALOMONS begged foirtime ti .A at day fortnight.
Mr. Alderman HUGHES wished to know the grounds
on which this application was made. •
Mr. SALOMONS said he made the application in order
to have an opportunity of consulting Queen's counsel
on the subject. At present none but junior counsel were
in town. He had sought for Sir T. Wilde, Mr. Kelly,
and Mr. Erle, but in vain. He had obtained the
opinions of Mr. James and Mr. Welch, and they had
advised him to ask for time, as they wished to consult
their seniors.

The RECORDER asked if their opinions went to the fact
of his liability to be required by the Court to sign the
declaration?

Mr. SALOMONS—Yes, as to the mode in which the
qualification was to be taken, and as to the modifications
made in it by a'seßent Ace of ParliaMent. -
The RECORDER wished to know whether Mr. Salo-
mons asked the Court not to tender the declaration ?
Mr. SALOXONS—No; I only ask for a delay of a fort-
night,