The Sun.
London, England, 1811-01-09 00:00:00

COMMON COUNCIL.

A Court of Common Council was held yesterday,
in consequence of the requisition previously made,
which has been already communktated tolour readers.
Mr. Alderman Wo9n, in opening the business,
lamented his inability to do justice to the subject.
He deplored the present unfortunate situation of the
Country, and censured the system pursued by Go-
vern.iient. He then vindictted the charkiler of his
Royal Highness the Princeot 'Wales, and spoke of
the blessings which might be hoped (particularly
tbrlreland) from his Administration ; censured'the
conduit of those by Whom lie had been aspersed ;
defended the principles, of those spoken
of as Jaco-
bins ; condemned the condua of their opponents ;
nod, after dwelling at some length upon these to-
pics, concluded by moving certain resolutions, pro.
testing against the testritaions on the Regent, pro-
posed by Ministers, as tending to fetter the l'ecu.
live, at a time when it was necessary
Power should be exercised in ail its torce---Js tending
to create divisions ainong.the Royal *''antily, and as
reducing the Noce to the degrading alternative of
being obliged to submit to the guidance of Minis-
ters who had proved themselves hostile to the Con.
stitution, or of availing hirnsilf of that baletill
thence which had proven so fatal to the -mainly
1-14: ccueutot 1119 puto VgliduCt of Zelinisters,,

plained of the victent of taxa,ion, and the want of
Parliamentary Reform, and concluded by stating it
to be the opinioo„pf that Court, that it would-be
the most constiehtional mode of proceeding to f6l-
- the Precedent of thee, by presenting an ad-
dress to his Royal .Highness the Prince of Wales,
requesting him to 'take upon himself immediately
the civil, military, and financial administration of
the Government, till the proposed Regency Bill had
gained the authority .of an Ad of Parliament.
Mr. QUIN, in an eloglhnt speech, enumerated
the many evils the couinry hid to contend with,
when the Court LIM. met. 'fury had then to con-
tend repinst many enemies,* but now they had
gained the very climax ot calamity. If be was
right in his idea of the Constitution, the incapacity
ot the King being established, it followed that the
Executive Power should be immediately restored in
propria persona as ~far as possible. All the prece-
dents which had been brought forward, went but
fu strew the absurdity of reasoning from them, as
none of them were analogoul to the present car'.
file only precedent at all satisfactory to a thinking
mind, was that of 1(438. In that case, the Govern-
ment of the country was suspended through the
abdication of King James, as at present through
the indisposition of his Majesty. In that case, the
defect in the Constitution was. upplied by the Lords
and Commons before they had considered whi flier
William should be Prince or King, de jaao or de
,lure. Then no such circumstances occie.red as had
recently taken place. We read of no Auditors or
Clerks of the ExCheetter, aho could scramble out
of the way of re,r,ons.bility. Wt.), not a‘dro,s
the Prince to take upon the Execu-
Live Govermnent, in all its branches, pro !empire,
according to the exigencies of the ease, and
argue on the subject of it Regency after wards ?
tie thought this the only time tor stein to go up
anti slate what it wa- their with to recommend.
He would not say he would 'throw his whole reli-
ance on any Prince, he would only say that the con.
duet of the Prince ot Wales in 1780, had proved
that he was Well founded in the Constitution Gt the
Count, y. He had 'acknowledged " that pooer
was a trust lodged in the hands ot the Esccutive fot
the benefit of the poi pie. This was something
like a pledge.-..slid was . inure than had ever been
given by any Mon irco. or Prince iii his situation.
Though Pal liament h id gone so much into the sub-
ject of th s deteet of the Executive Power, still
nearly three weeks must 'elapse befere the Regent
could begin to al. Would then any one under
such 'circumstances, say it was too late for that
Court to attempt taking any measures on .the occa-
sion ? Impossible I—tie thoNlit they Ought to go
tor with their Resolutions, to desiee the Lords mid
Commons to petition the Piince to take upon him-
' self the civil, military, and financial pasts of tne
'Government, and not leave the Executive Power
longer in the hands of the present Ministers,
•
Mr. Alderman SMITH asked; how they enuld ,
now go with a petition to that Alinement they bad
so grossly insulted last Session ? He thought they
mould have acted wisely in adopting a different line
of conduct, and expressed an intention of voting
against the Resolutiens.
Mr. Alderman BIRCH observed, the case of the
Revolution, and the pxesent thin ttion of the coon.
try, were as cliff/rent as light from dark. At the
time of the. Revolution the Throne was abdtcatett—
there was no 'King—there was no Seal—then the
Representatives ot the People had to supply a Kin,—
that was nut the case at present, and he
roil g
that Providence NOUN render 'it unnecessary for
another to assume even the shadow of Royal Power,
If a Regent were appoimed without restrictions and
limitations, what would the Lords and Commons be
doing ?—They would virtually be dettnonin; the
King. Twu could not sit upon the same throne.—
Would any one toy, that to appoint a Regent with-
out restriction or controul, was not to wrest the
sceptre from the hand of the reigning Monarch ?--.
Having given to a Regent the whole power, what
power could take it from hint on the lecovery of the
King ? trustee it was sufficiently obviuus, that
making a Regent without resthelions, Was ie wed
making a' King. Parliament was bound to guard 1
the Crown saloon the head of the present possessor,
in order that when in the course of nature it descend-
ed to his son, the Prince shonld receive it unimpair-
ed. The private virtues Attie Prince ought not to
be taken into consideration. They could not alter
the political state of the case.'; they could not justify
the giving to hint, as Regent, the whole Regal
Power. The Court of Common Council had sworn
allegiance to the King, had tosorri to defend his
rights and throne. Would petitioning Parliament
to lake the sceptre from the hand of our afflicted
Monarch be acting in conformity to that oath ?
Feeling, as he did, on the subject, he should move
as an Amendment " That the whole of the words
of the original Resolution be taken away after the
word " That," to make room for the following
words " That this Court relies With the fullest
confidence' on the wisdom and constitutional prin-
ciples of both Houses of Parliament ; that they will
under the present afiheaing eitcudisianeei ot our
beloved Sovereign, take such measures for the tetn-
porary discharge ot the necessary doges of the Nal
()dice, in the name and on 'behaleof the King as
shall secure the satety of the CroWn to'ita r.gettul
possessor; and m ike such provision, that whin it
shall please Almighty God in his providence to an-
swer the united prayer of bis subjeets, by remov-
ing the present calamity, that his Majesty may ress
sume the exercise of the Royal Authority, without
embarrassment to himself or to his people."
xMirr:
sA,
uSgstr:trttitiese,vciortnudeesd
othfetitle,rnildiemi2en.
best answer to the objections made to grantiog hint
the, full power of Royalty. if, unturtunately,.th
stio-ild be disappointed in their expectations, 'they
-'
ltd still the security of ?aliment and the People
to repress those iunovatious of which we might
stand dread.

,Mr. MAAVUAN took a view of the Constitntion,
48 estanhiheti in t(388, and contended, that our his-
tory afforded uo ins:once o! a It fgent being appoint-
et! with restiktions shuse now intended to be
imposed on the Prince of Wale,.
.s(lr, 4.l4lcrtuau lizticn, in cxplanAt'on, denied

I

• . , .
.
having 'cast fitly imputation an the PiinCe 01,
Mr. MAwstetir explained.
Mr. S. DIXON was ready to say, the csig6ll
the Prince rendered him equal to the high slieil
he was destined to fill. No person wished 01(=
else to be Regent. The coodud of Par 1101;
going into the subjetit as they had, had preve%.
were not unmindful of their duty 1-1" , nor wereili
mgleetful of the interests of the peOple. 74
that the Throne was aClually vacant. Ate
suspension was all they had ti, supply, and noPr.
ought to be given that could by possibility pro!
the resumption of power on the part of thtriCilE
his recovery. tie thought the Prince's Irk' fr!
would be careful haw they trusted new 00e';
The real friends to the King loved the Princet,
the true friends to the Prince must honour the l''
He did not altogether approve of the Ameloo
he had rather the previous question had been to ~.
.
It was quite unnecessary for them to,. a;ilJl
e i,...
rtestion at all. It had been properly token,.',
Parliament, and with. their'decisiou he s''
satisfied.
,eill
Mr. FaVel.l., was of opinion, it was their e-ts
take ue this subject. He censured the Aniendlli;
nod condemned the insinuation which bid beel"ii:
he contended) , indirectly thrown out agaiOt!,4
Prince. No arehinent had as yet been weed g ,
the Resolutions, and be therefore re -gee '' d t'''
entitled to his support. f).
Mr. SPENCER followed on the same Si'le'tib:
Mr. NVHSEBLE spoke in favour of II": v P
( if:MSG
113/61
Mr. WAITHMAN went at length jilt° the ,ii
of the Ceestitution. fie was- iilw,ls 3, '14,',1,
.epport the prerogaiia:es of the Crown, miliery
. awl liberties of tire people. Ti,, pecceen:ol:ll,
.v;i9 in no respect sitisfacrory. It the PrinC4i
antic to fill the high situatiou of Rogeetr t`'<
to turn • their eyes towards sometehil "i', cle
however, was not thought necesearYs lb' 'irltrio
!lig of age, and his charade! being tine:4o-'llO
lie then teu.nred the fitigu.,ge of the i‘ta'''':(o
as iniertOUS to the Prince. Arier a ‘,111'.,, i tell
sereations, many of thew personal, Mr: 1 '''"liel
observed, that a -Gentleman oppo,ite had Ifteifr
be should be satisfied with the dec:si("l,Z'i 01
Meet, whatever ilea decision might be • -ci-'4'4:4
they. to be satisfied with Parliament lot 1 1": ,e 1
aurdl
t)tliiig one day,. and u doing it aonti"' •0
another,n ohtu t
oi
ntey lyididdid a a:lbtilll'ign:lleone °ijv;:1111"`:11ts v)j
un 'id ti the next. - " a , 00;,
Mr. JACLS observed t 1 great difference I'. -,10
, . me ,
up() the .subjec'l before them d d es1"1 oi li,'
fiiriuerly existed, in Parliament ' and our A,lti
among men ns sound iti their views and regjr,lii
a'inled Cll7lr.stlietotxrt iodnis,a-zrea:city iwn Iti oh everec olailvneido;),; j.„liiillii
Lords, the late Duke of Richt-need, M'rfq:46
Lansdowne, end that great Constitutiotiat 'is'e 14'
Lord Camden, entirely concurred ...% ill} 1i: eV'
lately proposed for supplying the dele-,1 its '
er,,io
cuttve ; and the precedent of 08,8 tv3s ',fed
nut wholly in point. It was wilt! lain'`I Ad,
from the worthy Alderman (Birch) in 1115 bail
mint, as be,agreed with several Seeakers '''.,.,rk°
preceded him, that it was in some degred "ilioe-
to the charaeler of the Prince. He cook' ''`ii',Vj
with the Resolutions before them, nor c..erol;
agree with the Alderman, in thinking the 1 0,0!'
character of the Prince of 'Wales should l'e:10J
together out of the questicei.' He K°ce: ,iIP
I nnegyrise the social virtues of the l'O'cl'a cO-!
Were sure ind:catives of a goo.; heart• clotoig
view which he had taken of the BritlihoiceS,
don, he had been always of opinion that I'd' a 11`',
'of the Kingly Office, as refined and seil'el oill,
glorious Revolution, is tot more than is ifoe.,,,i
for the public welfare. The subjeet,fi"W:4lllVr'
in the hands of Parliament, where the C`7ll,,eodir
,had placed it. He had full confideece 19(001.
priety of its deesions. Gentleme" ilmi c°
' la'rj
of the little respe....m entertained in Palliator; ) ll'
City of I.oudon i but was this wotafrflue 01 I °4,
they not twice solemnly. declared, in the t''''.4,o
world, their contempt of Parliament, b)* ol'/;
. that the present House of Commons was ei'att Lli'l'ii
" in corruivion, and carried on its col''-fetiet,,
corrupt_ influence," and yet it is this 5:41! Is ti.,
1;°"Imolis they Fropose now to petition'' it Of:
asked, probable that the Members 01'..,"i,--edik
should, possess more of the Chrieiait PrJ'-',? I.°
forgiveness of injuries than other alit',lo,oloP,
thih Court learn to respeet the House °t7be I'l',
and thee, no doubt it (the Court) woctl"
.4, iri',4
esteemed. He thouht it would have been
bible fur Ministers tog have hastened the P'lo,t.
It'o9onPda,dibyrntit;kiniogncbhacnk°troe' tlltehlt;resci'led)''''tik.‘•::ll7i'':
the proceedings are now advanced,.ll"\'lo li`;)
farther than they were at the! pelloa• lie IV v
hintof the question, it was ituPo"' .1, ,0011',,,
rim to vote for the of iginal (notion, al' 1 ,oirl"',-„,
cd up and interlarded with ['Wet) ell Itill'',lii, ,1'
u' Or
ter, such
as Parliamentary Reform, 'II wo; ~,i..
.whieh were , subjects wholly eticreiticet ' r,„qiiii; 3,
b "I"re (1h#11). Although net elniielY '''''''. 0 •01 .V
S
f::::oclit'slalitl::l3oevi.ree'dt!hia':nr Idslitcdll,l:yideeidTtl:bri,et'sitoile"ll(ll4':l(Alittii;otti:::l'l'l.
the hope that the previous question cow
1 )1'
Mr. Alderman Woon shortly ren1i6"..0,,,. ~
HeYo4 re sPoke in weer of the lies°l°'' al'.,
om ~:'
Mr. Dimn
Dime moved the previous queth r'i
yetis tregatived, as WAS the AtllAtdrnent, ten ' . •.,
gins' Resolutiona carried. it t A ,44
The C :art the ti proem; led to klPP°.:lcara''''lli'
ti!umheittrit ec.::::
it,ltg,einiyipitrieeeeiti:tirteh
e.i.t
Courthe Pet ittotr.intil3:A'lll:,i,rt.„osl:o,o;
Alderrn to Comae brought up, die P011;001'01
They
Ono, 'and ordered e b f- -ded iorthw
varies then readliftt:r aan"duab;reetil tilote.:bit?.:o
juiti:lti:illt

a

t(4l
DGZ—I C3iii2o I Lisbon "i4h1141.1,4., Ousllll, 4

?His
vlt-:(,,?„,cK.
357 4 acct. Alat•

Col)4cits • -

emu orclered to be ferW3rded
Houses of Lords and COMMCIS.' iOP
Itreo
The gum of 2001. Kea, ordered to 1;1'
of the Sea-liathink Infirmary.