Star.
London, England, 1815-03-16 00:00:00

R

COMMON COUNCIL.

THE CORN QUESTION'
Yesterday there was a Special Court of Common'
Council assembled at Guildhall, to take into coati-,
deration what further steps were necessary to be pur-
sued' with respect to the measure now in Parliament,
with regard to the Corn Laws.
Soon after twelve o'clock the LOAD MAYOR WA
the Chair.
The LORD MAYOR opened the business of the day,
by stating the purpose for which the Court had been
called. While on his legs, he took occasion to notice
the misrepresentations which had gone abroad with
respect to what he had uttered on a former
occasion.
It had been stated by several Members of the House
of Commons, that 41 delivering his sentiments on
the measure, on former occasions. he had uttered
language calculated to inflame the minds of the
people. This charge he now most distinctly denied.
He was as desirous as any Member of that Honour-
able House that his motives or language should not
be misrepresented and he was also as incapable as
any of its Members of using language or entertain-
ing opinions calculated to inflame the public mind.
(Rear, hear.) For the truth of this assertion, if in-
deed it were doubted, be would appeal to the whole
tenor of his life. The Right Honourable Gentle-
man (Mr. Huskisson) who had animadverted on his]
conduct in the House of Commons, had stated. that
his opinion, delivered upon the effects of the pro-
posed Corn Bill, as it regarded the price of bread,
was given at the Egyptian Hall, whereas it was at'
the Common all. He stated this in order to shew
with what accuracy the Right Honourable Gentle-
man noticed the proceedings. The expressions he
'used on that occasion also were misconceived and
misrepresented. What he then said was, that he
felt alarmed at the proposed minimums of 80s. con-
scious as he was that if such were to be the winiansm,
the price of the quaitcin loaf must be 161 The
meanest school-boy could nuke the calculation, and
he defied all the House of Commons to contradict
him. Upon this rock he took his stand. He had
nothing to do with crude calculators and pretended
arithmeticians ; but he would mciutain against any
man, that it the proposed asitsionnn of 80s. rem adop-
ted, (and minimums, and not ovaxiwans, it Iciest be,)
that to produCe flour from wheat of such totality as
that which is now made into London bread, the
price of the quattern loaf must be 10d. —(llear.)
Those who supported the measure talked of opposi-
tion ; but if opposition had not been made, and that it
was allowed to piss quietly and in the ordinary way
through the House. he, no doubt, as well as every
succeeding Lord Mayor, would be called upon to
account to: toe extraordinary tact—that in a time of
peace the price of the quartern loaf was 161!
(Hear, hear.)—Having now stated his reasons lot
calling them together, lie wished to make a few ob.
servatious upon the animadversions of a Right lion.
Gentleman in the House of Commons upon 66 the
fur and gold chain" of the City of London. He had
not a seat, it was true, in that House ; but if lie
lie would tell that Right Honourable Gentleman
who spoke of 66 the fur and gold chain," that he bad
never known them to be disregarded or treated with
c.intempt till now. He would tell him that 66 the fair
ails gold chain" of the City of London had cost the
Government nothing. He would tell him too, that the
vir and gold chain • of this City of London had once
omeserved the monarchy within Its %vials !—(Hear,
hear I and apidause.)—lie would now make anotder
observation with regard to the consideration which
had been given to the Corn Laws in the House et
Commons ; and he should tell its' Members, that the
first principle which should distinguish all such pro-
ceedings was neglected. This he would also tell the
Right Honourable Gentleman (who had been so
ready to animadvert upon other calculators) was ,till
wanting—he meant proof; this was theirst jiriaqsk
to be considered : and had it been done ?—(llear,
hear.)--No I they had shut their eyes against the
light as well as proof; and it ill became the Right
Honourable Gentleman, as well as other Memberauf
the House of Commons, to impute unfair and un-
founded motives to men acting upon fact and proof,
and in a constitutional manner.—(Hear, hear !)_
He would further remark, that the Government
should not forget the services which he and his fel-
low-citizens bad rendered, on all occasions, when
called upon ; and this at least entitled them to hear-
ing and respect.—(Hear.)—These were his semi-
menu ; and be now recommended to the Meeting to
adopt the best measure it thought fit in pursuance of
the object for which it was convened—(loedatokour.)
Mr. Alderman WOOD rose for the purpose of mak-
ing a motion.
-Mr. lieu put in his claim to submit to them the
motion he had to make before that of the worthy
Alderman was brought under their consideration.
Mr. Alderman Woon did not know that it was un-
derstood the worthy Gentleman was to bring the bu-
siness forward. He (Mr. Wood) had intended to
propose a Petition to tne Prince Regent, praying his
Royal Highness to dissolve the Partiameia, in order
that the true sense of the people might ,be lairly yojso
lected our the question respecting the Corn Laws:—:
After a few words from Mr. Waiththao and Mr. S.
Dixon, Mr. Wood consented ip.wire his motion for
the present.
Mr. JACKS then rose.—He observed, that the 1406.
tion which he would have the honour to propose,
arose from the proceedings of former meetings of the
Court, and that he never could have contemplated
the necessity of renewing the applications, as he felt'
a sort of conviction that when the measure came be-
fore the House of Lords, further evidence would be
called, before it would be deemed prudent to decide
upon the question. Indeed, their Lordships, by their
own report of the 2ph... of July last, declared that fur.
Cher evidence was necessary. He was quite astonish.
ed after this declaration to see the proceedings of lbw
House of 4.ords on Tuesday evening, as detailed in ,
the public prints and he was still snore astonished.
at beholding that eighteen peers alone opposed the
measure, while a large majority supported and car-
ried the question without that " further evidence,"
which was declared by themselves to be necessary.:...
(Baer!) He pigged ri.,11 ute Lord Mayor in hiseal-,
-uiations with 'tespest to * price of breed. The
average price of Sour now was 07s. and .he price oi
theoquartern loaf was If, then, the price dew
W 45 to be raised to 00t. the quartern loaf must.o. I.
necessity, by.the plainest calculation, be raised to a;
'icast 14d. • Vssar. quantity of corn ituportec: