The Sun.
London, England, 1816-12-21 00:00:00

COAIMQN COINC'IL.

A Court or Common Commit was held .54tester-
tlay tc receive lilt AIiNWCr of the littricE. REOh!Ir
to the .Ithitess vined gt the hit (;writ.

A,,,wer hoving been read to tbe Court by
the It Set i ItDE

Sir %V CUISTIS rose to arldresi the Lori! Mayor.

Here .rt considerable tumult arose. Many ot. the
'Member% called loudly fur the MOverdi the for-
titer Aodress to he allowed to speak-, and ,

Mr. WAIT.FI .81141.4 it wsis the constant prac-
tice of the Court, on end, oeeasions, to give the
,lover of an Addietis the opportunity of first ad-
dressing the Court wheu.the ,answer given to it
was to be taken into eonsideration.

Mr. S. Dt xoN denied that this lad been the prac-
tice of that Court, as he (Mr. S. Dixon) might
say, that he had 'had almost a monopoly, of -first
speeches on site!) occasions, having often moved
that the Answer to an Address should be entered
on ttthe necor‘%, in case's where lie, had nothing to
do with moving the Addreis.
Mr. WAITHMAN. asserted, it had been usual,
front courtesy, 'to give •he Mover an opportunity
or Inking the lead, instead of shouldering him out
(if it, ns was attempted to be done on the pre-
sent oecnsron.

Sir %V. CURTIS said, he only claimed the com•
!non privilege of a Member of that Court, to ;Hi-
ltless them, as he had a right to do, he having
first caught the eye of the Lord Mayor.
Mr. S.. iltx,44,sopported the claim of the Hon.
Baronet to the attention of .the Court.
The LOnrri,ll.AYott decided that the Him. Ba-
ronet had first viiiight his eye, and had, therefore,
As he apprehended, a right to proceed.
sir W. Glift‘Tri said he should be short, as be
ITht dimply to ;twee " That the most -gracious
Aosvier :of the Trince Regent to the last Ad-
tires should, be rotered ou the Records of the
Court."

Air. S. Dixosi most corilial:y seconded the mo-
tion. 1-.4: considered the An,tvar to be that which
tO have been given to an Address distitt-
to!stred, I.IS the hitt wets, by the eottlielleSS Of its

Mr. kitext.t. spoke to order. Ile submitted to
lb,' Lout Mayor, that the Speaker had no-right,
Ilse present ofeasjon, to ',hose the lanwge
whic.i. a lornier Cuortdtad, judged it right to •thl-
mit into an Addres4 which they had resolved upon
carrying up to the Prince Regent.
Tue LORD MAYOR rusts of opinion this subject
was not now before the Court.

Mrt S, DIXON coubiderett the Answer given to
be :Ind 4' swat geseieut," thstri,f,,rie
seconded the motion for entering it upon the
Yotirnalt,

Mr, WMTHMAN thought he knew the Addresses
which had beet • voted. by that Court, and the
Answers given to them, at various ni;riods, as Well
as'ilny man.* but he did not know of any instance
in which a repulse or.reprimand had been-given at
all approaching to the present. Even on recent
occasions, Addresses almost in the same words
had been carried up, to which answers bra very dd.-
teient character had been reterned, ,though it .was
admitted, that nt bo period had the distress which
gave rise to them at all appi iodinated to that which
was non, generally felt. Such an Answer, given at
such a time, seemed to mark a disposition to restrict.
the right of petitioning. It seemed to teach, that
when slight grievances were endured, complaints
might 'be meth!' of them, but that when the cala-
mity became intolerable, the Buffeters ought nn
longer to opproach the Throne. in support of
whlt he had said, he contrasted the language of
former Addresses,'end the Answers to them, with
the late.Addrest and Reply.- The last, he con-
tended, was such as would justify theta in having
recourse to the strongest measure which they could
adopt—that of carrying up a remon,trance to the
toot of the Throne. On the present occasion he
should not propose to them, to go that length, but
he thought it right, that in recording the reply
they should enter also on the Journals a declare.
tion of the sentiments which it inspired, as a rca
bake so severe was not what they hurl a right In
look for at a time when the distress was so great,
mut when the temper and forbearance with which
it ware submitted to, was such as could hardly have
been expected -in this, and could not have heen
found in any other country. He then moved cer-
tain Resolutions, expressing surprise mid regret at
the Answer given to the Address, setting forth the
necessiiy of persevering in their efforts to procure
a Reform in Perliatnent, and inviting all counties,
cities, towni, &c. throughout the kingdotit, by
all cnn,titutionai means, to unite in an Alpression
of n,it feeling, in order to avert the.calami-
ties which now threaten-the empire.
Mr. FA v sect Wed the amendmeet.
thought the Curt could not avoid coming to
some exprvs...ion of their sentiments, on the'reply
which had been given to their Address, since two
important` yles whieli the .gaiter touchCil, upou,
lletrenchment and iterorm,lol nal heen•nOtieed
in the Answer. The course proposed to be par..
sued he thought the molt moderato that could be
taken, snit the sprecli, of the Mover of the uteend-
Meet appeared to him, fine' the forbearauce
Which-T distinguished ii, to have keen rather ait..
dressed to the gentlemen who commonly•opposed
"bitti, than to three who,were in the habit of F. 1% ing
him their support. There u ere times 'when that
Court, -on retriving such an answer .to' an' Ad-
dress, woulti have lost no time in carrying tip a
remonstrestee to the !pot of the Throne.

Sir W. CURTIS Ci31,11.41(14:(1, H it nre gractiemss
proper, soil dtgitified Homtr coui4l not Burr beeti
givtn an white's so improptr, end so incurs.

sistent with..the dignity of that Court, as was that
last carrieil up.

Here the Speaker was interrupted by cries. of
" Nt , tic,,'' at Order," ": Question," &c. •.
Mr. Disos ,poke order. Those, he sub.
mined to the Lord Mayor, who differed from the
I ion. Baronet were : free.' to Janswera' but had AO
right to interrupt him..
Sir W. CURTIS contended, the Address was un.
worthy of that. Court, and he denied that that of
the Common Hall spoke the language of the loyal
Livery of London. The latter, in number,
Amounts to ten domain! the former Was A-atten-
d by nomore than five hundred persons., rte knew
they were bound 'to take it up as the petition of
the Livery; but still he denied audit expressed
their sentiments.- Those who dictated the.itilllWte;
had his thanks. -On the subject of Reform be•
wi,hed to know what was wanted. Was it Wislia-
ed to 'pull down that venerable fabric. which had,
been so long the glory of the county —(Ni?
He.tontended this would, he, the consequence- of
doing what some people recommended, in
_ordet
to bring about a Reform. Few, of its advocates'
could agree what it was that 'Witt waio,..d, and
oho...tenths of those who were loudest in ealling
for Reform wished to see a revolution. Young
men were frequently very te.rions in the cause of
Reform t but when tlty gained years of maturity,
they saw the folly of the course therhad pursued..
Mr. DAVIS spoite to order. He put it to the
Lard Mayor, if the Hon. Baronet was not wan-.
det i r.g from- the question. -
Sir W. CuRTIS resumed. H asserted the late,
Address to have been dictatorial. lit considered.
it to have interfered with the prerogative ot •the,
Crown, and held the rittstver to have been " most
gracious," and in every respect most proper.
A Member said, he supposed the Hon.• Baronet
would not basis described the answer to be " most
gracious," but for the " most gracious" manner
which it was delivered.—(Hearn.
Mr. Dtxots declined, no malt in ekistence was
more favourable to• Reform than he was, so far
4,1 was consistent with' discretion, and good sense,
The nation certainly laboured under great diflis.
eolties, but these could not.he removed by a Par.,
limneotarynefotm.--.10 proceeding to shrew this,
Mr. Dixon was called to order by Mr. Waitliman,
Mr. Dixots, in resuming,. noticed sarcastically
the impatience • ot some Gentletneo while he was
speaking, who lint indreipicotly entertained the
Court with speeches an, hour or. two long. He
was thin adverting to the proceedings '
of the lust
Court, when " -

Mr. WAyrtimmq spOce to urdvr.
Mr. HAlrvEy'ntaintaineti, thittlit the considers.
tiuu of the Aniwer of the Prince Itegent, they lind
u right to discus,. the rriuriplei of utio Address. 1.
Mr. • ItAilltiA. Said, it .wits OH flint pOitit this
speolier'lnut nuest Dell tthonter.
411 r. tentintleti the Worthy Gebtlem:ni,
char he (Mr. 1) gun) had fit at been called to order
while spe,diing on the subject of Parliattetadry
itefurtu.

The LORD MAYOR decided, that in discussing the
Amendmi-nt, 'the Speakers had a: right to go into
the glic‘tion of l'ailiamentary Reform..
Mr. DixoN proceeded to shew the evil cnnse.
tptences Of Ittising an outcry on- the subject of
Reform at a time like the present. He did not
mean to impute to any Geotkman a wish to ex.
cite the populace to rioting and mischief, but he
wished them 'coolly to consider whether the lass-
gomge they had held on this subject Might nut
have tended to put notions in the heads of the
lower orders, which would not °theorise have
been there. lie wished to know it a Reform in
Parliament would feed the hungry and clothe ON
tanked ? He asserted it would not ; nod even it
the advocates for a Reform could agree ujmn
what it ought to he (Which no two of theta
could do), it would he necessary that the.,pen.
pie should be fed while the treat Mirk WPS
in progress. The answer to the Address,, he con.
tended, was loots gracious,—(4. No, no, us,
Hetwas not surprised at this opposition. lie Ai .
ticiptit,ql finding himself in a very small majority.
'Cite amendment be (limb eel not would be carried
with a high band, as many Gentlenten would not
be seen to divide against it just before St. Thomas's
sky, who, when that was past, would he lottlid Its
hold as lie was now. He heiwever wits not .afraid,
of expressing his sentiments On this occasion, as
on eves y otter, shimgh he should have to-morrow
to meet those whom hi. bail represented to the
hest of his Atli; y for the last thirty, years.
Mr. PAVELL again spoke to Order, and asserted
the Speaker to be wandering' from the question
before the Court.

Mr. Dixon 4 again expressed the sense he had of
the Answer of the Prince'Regent, and declared he
should vole against the amendment.
Mr. LIAKVF.Y was of opinion that there was And
always had halt great iiKolislstcney iu the pro.*
ceedings of that body. The Wectors of West.
mincer understood what Reform meow, when
they said " consistency was its character." He
objected both to the Address and the Amendment
uow proposed, and he slimild nive his teosons, for
the ()pluton he entertained of tit'le.m. The Address
Contained many inittle.fft on which the public opi-
nion 11111421) 1 Mid he did ow. see how
Ministers (fur the Answer of the Pi itice Must
he considered the Answer of the Mittiiers), who
had bees so many yenta at the helm of atbirs,
mold give oh)' other to Stich on itsconguitons hied-
Icy. They had certainly realited 'he hopes
they halt ever held tiot,-, to the country, in the
subdnetion of that Power which otherwise timer
would have relaxed till this country had !Allen
ictior to it, inteOtimm J lie VieW.4 t4re•
fore which certain .Genticareo had of 0 gra
cioits A INUOId 114. Ye lePtird it) belie WI
the inuotittFC'S Ftntl principles of the Administra-
lion. He would not tuppou the Motiou of the

washy Alderman (Curtis) because be did not
consider the Answer to be a gracious one. When
the. Prince and his Ministers acknowledge that
very great distress exists, the people have a right
to look for such sentiments of sympathy in that
distress as the parent of a people ought to feel
for them ; hut when it was considered how much
untenable, false, and unfounded matter was in-
troduced in the
„Address, it was impossible for
Iklinisters to reeollllDelid a gracious reply, Ile
then took a view of the Address, and commented
particularly on its concluding passages, which he
admitted were sopoorted by a Very large majority
of flint Court ; but he would say, that the Com-
mon Council had in s,ine iustances given thn
public very decided grounds to question their
jodgmeut and capacity. They had declared that
the war tool been wisely commenced, ably
managed, and well ended ; while. they now term
it rash, unnecessary, and ruinous. The fulsome
lamgoage the Address to the Allied Sovereigns,
in applobation of the war, and their connection
with it, fOrmed a remarkable contrast to their
langttage and opinions ite the late Address. The
assertions the latter, that all our grievances
were attributable to .the defective state of the Re-
preseutation, arid they could only be removed by
Reform, were false and untenable. In 1793 there
%VHS a univerial opinion throughout this country
favourable to war. (Here Mr. Slade, to whose
Opittions at that - period the speaker had
al
lauded, said, " I deny it.") It was so strong
opinion that the worthy Gentleman who
ventured to oppose it in that body (Mr. Slade),
was considered) as an object almost of cxc-
eratian. Now, in his opinion, that Gentle-
man was never so highly entitled to the thanks of
public men as when he dared to start(' forward
alone in itprobatiou of the war ; and. if his opi-
nions had been adopted, the country would not
•have keen in its present situation. It might be
delusion ; but the public opinion was so excited
in 1793 ; and thereime, if the doctrine of univer-
sal satfrage had prevailed at that time, we shoot('
have had the war, because the general opinion
was in favour of it. It was false to say,
that it we had had reform in 1793, all the evils
-of war would have yielded instantly. There was/
a Vitra deal more of corruption amongst the
people at large than they were inclioed to ad-
mit of, and he thought the best way of producing
Reform in Parliament, wool(' be For the people to,
begin liv reforming- thetwelves. - In the Meeting
at Spa-fields, for instance, .where esery man was
an advocate for Reform, a great many Electors
were prese,J ; and if such a person as the worthy
Alderman had appeared, with all his supposed
corruption about biro, lie would have stood a better
chalice of carrying his motion, thou those who
have nothing to give.
The worthy Gentleman continued .to argue on
the. carrial)tiout among,t electors, till
*called to order by Mr. FAVELL, who observed,
that such digressions, however diverting, ought
slot to be tolerated, as they would render the de-
bate endless.
Mr. I-IAktVEY replied, that this was the first
:time he hadever beet) called to mkt.", in that
Court, and lie wr,ald not be put down. The very
priociple Of. Reform was fallacious, unless the
ptople themselves came to the onanienous deter-
.nlioal ion to render it effectual. lithe Worthy Al-
derman (Curtis) were a candidate for a scat in
Parliament, and were to be opposed by the frost
popular man in that Court, aye, evert by the pre-
sent worthy Lord 11layor, with all
.his
aerved honours about hint, -when the electors
Callie up to poll, such was the effect of expecta-
tions, promises, and favours couferred unexpect-
ed, that the worthy Alderman, who was repro-
bated as the champion of corruption, and every
thing belonging to it, would be elected.—(Mtieb
laughing, and cries of hear !)--.13e Wished to re-
move the artful insiottation that that body could
riot agree about Reform. They might easily agree,
if they adopted il3.a principle, the petitioning foe
triennial Parliaments,- which were acknowledged
to he legal, because they had existed .before. Hr
concluded with saying, that he objected to the
amendmeut. He did not think the answer re-
proachful, but was sorry that such a one had
heen given ; but the Address.. was so inconsistent
that it was nothing more than was to be expect-
- ed. Ile was convinced that the Address had pre-
judiced bite cause of Reform, for it had afforded
Ministers the opportunity of making such a reply
as was now under consideratiott, and such a one
as they should not otherwise have had, There
seas no now who did not agree in the necessity of
a Reform, but the.thinking part of the communi-
ty, would not name themselves as 'advocates for
universal suffrage and annual Parliaments, which
they knew must sweep away the pintas of the
Constitution, the Monarchy, and all those esta-
blishments by which we had benefited for ages.
There were no sorts tit men whom we should he
more anxious to avoid any coincidence with than
suspected regicides and convicted apostates. Ile
•. would concur in the original motion, provided
the word '' gracious" tvere left out.
• Niter -a tem.?' words iu reply from Messrs.
SLADe. and DIXoN, the question for
the Amendment was put and carried without a
division,

ratt.

Men.

Arr EXPFAIRNCED evening,
the sth lost, Joseph Ctark, an experienced thief,
front London, exhibited the followlug proofs of
dexterity in Kendal called at the shop of
Messrs. lirey and Bellingham, stationers, and no-
der the pretext of asking for_ work, stole a ream
of paper he soon after made a second visit, pre-
tending to purchase a small quantity of the same
article, and carried off alecond ream, He then
p Ivied to the shop of Mr. [)meson, stationer,
where be :purloined u tnetnorandurn book, value
about 64. ; 'on quitting this place, he called upon
Mr. S. Bell, bratier, and begged.» piece of wire ;
-while the shopmao WaS Iprocaring it, he kole
copper kettle. His next and last explOit was on
the property of Mr. Thornborrow, draper, at
whose shop he passed the wire through a bolt-
hole of the window, and extracted six silk hand-
keroniels, and 'concealed them in the crown of
hia hat. The trans3ction was obsrrred by some
young men in the 'Street, who seiletf the culprit
•
and carried hint before the Mayor, by whom he
w .s committed to the }louse of Correction, to
take his trial at the ensuing Sessiuns.—(Whitehu-
-yen Paper.)

THEArIt I-CAL ItY,GISTER.
Performed hail Night.
DatritY-LANE.—ltantah Droug: CaptainSidoey, Mr.T.coalie;
Eliza, Miss Mangrun. After which, The Mayor of Gar-

Ze-
COVF:NT-GA ROM—The Slave : Gambia, Mr. Macreatly ;
Miss Stephens. After which, The Miller and his

ARM vED—t France, 1 Gotteoborgh, 1 Lisbon, I Holland,
2 tianilturgh, Dublin. E-1 Guttenburgh, Guei
sty and Jersey, 2 Waterford.

-
ST. THOMAl.—llolitlav at the Batik, Exchequer, East India,
am! Suutt► Sea tiousu4.

COURSE OF EXCI-lANGE, Fitt OAY, DecotnEtt 20.
Amsterdam
Ditto, at Sight 39 6
Amsterdam
Ditto, itt sight • 19 2
Rotterdam
Antwerp l2 8 Ex. Money
36' 10 2 Us.
Hamburgh
Altona .....
Paris, 3 Day's sight..... 25 60 •
Ditto
Bourdeaux, ditto
Frankfort on the Maio
Madrid
Cadiz
Sevilla .. • 34
Bill.wa ' ri... 35
Gibraltar
Leghorn __ .
444
,_

2gl,
.he 11... 41-Venicc .
Malta.,
Ptilermo
Lisbon
Oporto, i .... 6si

. —....
Kin •latieiru / . bg,
Dahill). • ...... 11 ..... Cork., . . 104 per Cent.
Agiu of the Bank on I 1011a0.1.... ',l
l'orttli4al Gold, in Coin / .3 18 G per Oz
Foreign Ciotti, in Bars
New Dollars ,
0 4 11i
Silver, In Bars, Standard

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE TO-MORROW.
%taming, 44 iniuutet after 4. 1 Kresling, 9 tniriutes alter 5,