Star.
London, England, 1823-07-18 00:00:00

sea tom socsontertosa
SATMW. yose to ask a question of the Lola
Mayor, which he conceived related to a breach of the
privileges of tha% Court. It was a matter of the
greatest impot tonic frt. the Court to know, in a za-
I tisfactor y manner, whether, in a vote they had made
on a recein r;ccasion, they had or had not acted in yin-
‘,l the laws of the country ? The Court were
perfectly aware of the circumstances attending the
vote of oae thousand pounds in aid of the Spaniards,
and of the protest made by the \Vise Men cf the East
(who evidently considered themselves superior to the
Wise Men of the West), that the grant was illegal
and io, violation of the neutrality resolved upon by
his Majesty's Government. After the vote had
passed, hints were given that strong measures would
be taken to punish the Corporation for their illegal
measures. Now, it was highly necessary that the
Corporation should not lie under such an accusation
as having violated the laws of their country, or under
the threat of punishment for that alleged violation.
From the newspaper report it appeared that a Loan
had been contracted with a number of individuals
for the assistance of the French. He meant no impu-
tation in any shape on the conduct of the Lord
Mayor, for whose character, public and private, he
had the lii:_thcst respect; but he thought it necessary
to ask of him, whether in his place in the House of
Commons be had put any such question or questions
to the Minister, as to the legality of this Loan in aid
of the French, as he had put or stated to that Court
as to the legality of their vote in aid of the Spaniards?
The worthy Member went on to daclare it was of
the utmost importance that the -question as to the
right of giviog pecuniary aid in such cases should be
settled ; and Le wished to know the course taken by
his Lordship, who had been so prompt in stating his
apprehensions to the Court? He could not, however,
help lamenting, that his Lordship should, with regard
to the protest, have suffered himself to he made the
cat's-paw ofa set of men, who were afraid to come for-
ward themselves with the avowal of their opinions.
The Lonn MAYOR said the Court would naturally
expect an aitswer him him ; and though he was at
a loss to see in what way the question related to any
breach of the privileges of the Court, lie should tin-
doubtedly answer it. He must say then that he had
not put any such question in the House of Commons
as to the legality of the French Loan—he had no con-
cern with it. It it were illegal to lend money to fo.
reign Powers, those individuals who made the Loan
would be liable to prosecution. Neither he, as Lord
Mayor, nor the Court, individually or collectively,
had in his opinion, anything to do with it. At the
same time he could not help expressing his astonish-
ment at the manner in which the course he had taken
on a former occasion had been misrepresented. He
begged to state tint he had then given no opinion as
to the merits or demerits of the question—he had most
cautiously abstained from doing so. He had been in-
formed that the Court were about to fall into an ilk-
gal measure; and all he did was to ask them, whether
they would not wait to take the opinion of their Law
Officers? The course he had taken, he was sati,fied,
front all he had subsequently heard, was a perfectly
correct course, which he should take main if similar
occasions were to occur. He could inform the
Court, that strong opinions had been given by high
Law. Authorities, that the vote of meney was illegal. •
His Lordship said, as to his haring beets made at
" cat's paw" of, that he had done no more than his
duty in presenting the protest; and he hoped the
Court would bear him witness, that he had acted
fairly by them in stating the nature of the document
before it was read. (Ilear, hear.)
Mr. Fatroar, said he had no observation to make
on what had fallen from the worthy Chief Magis-
trate. It had been said that money formed the si-
nea's of war ; and in his opinion it made no diffesence
whether the money advanced in aid of. one Power at
war with another was given or lent. Ilere the con-
versation dropped. •
Mr. FAVELL brought up the Report (tithe Finance
Committee, which teprcaented the City funds to be
in a prosperous tune, and that the Corporation would
soon bo " square" with the Public.

I.ONDnN BP LOGE.
Mr. Jnvr•.s brought up The Report of the P,:idge
House Committee, which stated the course that had
been adopted in Parliament ; and as the management
of the undertaking had been given to the Corpora-
tion (reset ring the power of adopting any-alteration
of Mr. liennie's plan, or the adoption of a new o;:e,
to three Lords of the Treasury). the Committee re-
commended that a Special Committee should be en-
trusted with the execution of the work.

Mr. FAVELL ficou4d•the motion forthe apo:nt-
meat of a Special Committee. He hoped, that
ever were the opinions of the Members as to,!l;.pro-
priety of this measure, they would give up ali opyi-
bition, and that the Court would unite heartily in car-
rying it into execution. To the motion before the
Court he %% wild add one, that the thanks of the Court
be given to Alderman Wood and the Members (,i
the Bride,e Ilonse Conitbittee, for their exertions to
trotect the City in the emotion of the measure. _ •
It was moved as an amendment, that A " Ward
Committee should be appointed, instead (Oa Special.
Committee."
Mr. BLIADEN supported the motion f,r a Ward
Committee, on•the ground that theie was talent
enough in the Own to form a proper Committee ti-)
carry the work into execution, it it.were chosen indis-
criminately. -
The Court determines (after some further disco's-
ion) to refer it to a Committee, consisting of all the
Aldermen, the Chairman for the time being of the
Bridge hence Committee, and a Commoner tit's'
each Ward.