The Sun.
London, England, 1820-07-14 00:00:00

COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL.

Yesterday a Court of Common Council was
held for the dispatch of various business. The
LORD MAYOR took the Chair at twelve o'clock.
The Court was very •fully attended. The Mi-
nutes of the last Court were then read.

CONDUCT OF THE LORD MAYOR.

Mr. Alderman Warrnmass said, he had a ques-
tion now to put to his Lordship, of particularly
great importance to the rights and privileges of
the Citizens of London. It was well known that
on a recent occasion there had been a most gross
violation a the privileges of the Livery, by the
introduction of troops into the vicinity of the
City during a time that an Address to her most
gracious Majesty Queen Caroline was under dis-
cussion in Guildhall. That such had been the
fact there could be no possible doubt, as one of
them was seen at the door of the Common llall
while the Livery were so assembled, and he had
himself seen one of them in the streets near the
Hall. Various statements had appeared in the
Newspapers, which, whether correct or not, had
stated that his Lordship had avowed that this act
was done with his knowledge and with his con-
sent. He therefore now thus publicly asked ins
Lordship, whether such was the fact, and if so,
what kind of communication had taken place be-
tween him and the Secretary of State, and what
grounds his Lordship had to justify him in taking
such a step ? To these questions he now re-
quested an answer in presence of the Court.,
The Loan MAYOR replied, that it was at his
request that Viscount Sidmouth had sent in the
troops. He considered himself as charged with
a strict attention to the preservation of the public
peace of the City, and that charge he was deter-
mined to execute most faithfully. When he saw
the infamous placards which were every where
in the City on the subject of the Queen's busi-
ness, he felt it his bounden duty to have a guard
of soldiers in the vicinity of the City to protect
his fellow-subjects.
Mr. FAVELL said, that at that moment he rose
to perform the most painful duty which had ever
fallen to his lot—a duty not snore painful to his
feelings than distressing in its nature, but the
call of his fellow-citizens was imperious, and it
was now the most serious duty of that Court to
take a solemn and pointed notice of what had
taken place. It was one consolation to himself
to reflect, that during the whole time his Lord-
ship had filled that Chair, no personal misunder-
standing had taken place between them, but that
the greatest urbanity had prevailed. No indivi-
dual would be more happy than himself, and he
was sure the whole Court would feel the same
delight, to hear his Lordship justify himself.
Errors or mistakes ought at all times to be met
with indulgence, but when such errors attacked
the vitals of the Constitution, the rights of
Englishmen, and the privileges of the . City of
London, then it would be the height of injustice
to overlook them---(Cheers.)---The Corporation
of London had two important duties to perform.
Every member had to guard his own rights as a
member, and he had also to watch over those of
his Constituents, remembering that he was sent
there to represent and guard such interests.
Were then the Livery. of London to be over-
awed ? This was the sole question before them.
He was prepared coolly to say that he never
knew a question of such deep importance to' the
City as this. Even in the profligate times of
Charles the Second, when Jenks ,was sent to pri-
son, however illegal that act might be, still even
there no military force was employed. He well
recollected the frequent refusals given by Lord
Mayors to hold- Cenimon Halls, and he was
proud to say that such examples had not been this
year followed, yet still when his Lordship grant-
ed a Common Hall, when he and his brother Al-
dermen presided, it was but just to say, that if
they were to be overawed by soldiers or by any
power, then he would say in the words of that-
truly lamented enlightened, and admirable
statesman, Mr. k ox, Resistance is a matter of
expediency."—(Loud Cheers)—Let the Livery
be thus overawed, and where was the man who
would then dare to bring forward any thing of an
obnoxious nature ? The man who would then
dare to be honest would be ruined—(Cheers)
—He blamed not the military, for a British sol-
dier was as generous as he was brave. But he
lamented the Lord Mayor had neglected to con-
Suit his brother magistrates, and had called the
troops in'merely from dread. The 'Worthy Mem-
ber concluded by moving a series of Resolutions.
Mr. OLDUAM seconded the Resolutions, and
considered, that either his Lordship had taken
pernicious advice, or had been actuated by a
timidity which was altogether unworthy of a
Lord Mayor of. London. His Lordship had said,
that he was desirous to prepare against such'coli-
sequences as had occurred in the Mayoralty of
Alderman Wood, from the. Spafields mob. But
who were the Livery ? Were they not the con-
stituents of the Lord Mayor, anct was his Lord-
ship bold enough to say that a meeting of the
Livery was assimilated to a Spafields mob ?--s
(Cheers)---This was a gross, aggravation of his
Lordship's conduct ; and it would be well, if, in
future, he would remember how improper the in-
terference of the military was, recollecting' that
Charles the First had lost his head by "seizing
five Members of the House by the aid of the mi-
litary. An acquaintance of his asked a soldier
on the day in question, why he was in the City ?
and the dragoon replied, 44 why, I don't know
why, but as how there has been a meeting co"
City; and now the Council is going home quietly,
and so are we." For the truth of this he pledged
himself.
The Loan MAYOR denied that he had meant

to overawe the City, and he again repeated his
former explanation.
Mr. DIXON said there could be but one opinion
as to the merits of the case, and the imprudent
step taken by his Lordship. He would not op-
pose the, motion, but he thought the language
might rather be a little softened. ,
• Mr. T, N. WILLI tms regretted that there was
a want of prudence on the part of his Lordship)