Star.
London, England, 1822-12-20 00:00:00

CITY BUSINESS.

TheArst Court of Common Council in the present
Mayoralty was holden yesterday.
The LORD MAYOR addressed the Members, and
slid, he consulted his own feelings in following • the
course pnrsued by his predecessors on similar occa-
sions, when he cJeclared it to be his anxious desire so
to execotethe duties of his office, as to gain thegood
opinion of every Member of that Court. He had
one observation to make, which he considered of im-
portance; he should look for the assistance of every
one there in his endeavours to preserve order, as it
was only from their cordial support that he could
hope his representations would have weight. He
concluded by declaring it to be his determination to
do all in his power to uphold the dignity of his office,
while he had the honour to fill that seat.

Mr. WHITBY (Deputy to the late Lord Mayor)
moved, that the thanks of the Court should be given
to Mr. Alderman Magnay, for the manner in which
he had filled the office of Chief Magistrate of the City
of London.—for the conciliatory manner in which he
had presided over that Court—for the ready access
afforded to him—for his vigilant exertions to preserve
good order—and for the punctuality, ability, and
mildness, which he had displayed in the administra-

. _
tion of justice.
A division being called for, the numbers were—
For the Motion, 1 Alderman, 25 Commoners, 2 Tellers, 28

Against it, 54 Commoners, 2 Tellers

Majoi ity against the Motion -—2 B
• Petitions were presented from the Warden of the
Butchers' Company, and from the Salesmen and,
Tradesmen connected with Smithfield Market, pray-
ing for authority to prevent the passage of carts and
coaches through Smithfield, by means of iron chains
fixed across the avenues to the market, on Mondays,
fri,rn six in the morning till noon.—Referred to the
Committee on City Lands.
Mr. Nortron, one of the City Pleaders, addressed
the Court at some length, and begged (being about
to go o!it to India as Judge) to resign his situation as
Pleader into the hands of the Court. In doing this
he expressed his gratitude to the Lord Mayor and
Court fur the appointment which they had conferred
on him, and for the manner in which they had been
pleased to acknowledge his services, which had aro-
duced much to his prosperity and advancement, and
to which he scrupled not to say he owed his present
elevation. The recollection of their kindness he should
carry with him wherever it might be his fortune to
go, and the consciousness of possessing their esteem
would continue to be the solace of his life. He then
respectfully bade the Court farewell.
Mr. OLDH AM brought up a Report from the Com-
mittee on Elections, in which the Members of the
Committee bore the strongest testimony to the im-
portant and meritorious services of Mr. Norton.—
Though at present unable to report on the whole
matterseferred to them, they felt it due to that Gen-
tleman not to suffer him to leave London without
carrying with him some mark of their respect and
gratitude ; and they accordingly made the present
preliminary Report for the purpose of recommending
to the Court, that Mr. Norton should he presented
with a piece of plate, of the value of 50 guineas, as a
reward for his useful and persevering exertions.
Mr. WELCH seconded the motion.

Mr. S. Dlxort spoke to the high merit of Mr.
Norton, and moved as an amendment, that instead
of a piece of plate, worth fifty guineas, one of the
value of a hundred guineas should be given to that
Gentleman.

Several Members of the Court bore testimony in
the warmest terms to the services rendered to the
Corporation by the Learned Gentleman,
The motion, as amended, was unanimously car-
ried, and, at the suggestion of Mr. 0 LDIIA m, referred
back to the Committee, from whom the original
proposition emanated, for them to carry the vote of
the Court into effect.

Mr. Norton, who had left the Court on resigning
his office, was then called.

The LORD MAYOR then communicated to the
Learned Gentleman the resolution which had just
been carried. _

Mr. Noa•row briefly expressed his high sense of,
and his gratitude for, the honour which had been
announced to him, and again took leave of the
Court, and retired.

A Report was brought up from the Committee to
which the subject of Parliamentary Reform had been
referred. The Report described Reform to be ne-
cessary, and recommended to the Court a new ap-
plication to Parliament on that subject,