Star.
London, England, 1819-06-10 00:00:00

COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL.

Yesterday a Court of Common Council was held,
for the especial purpose of considering the propriety
of petitioning both Houses of Parliament against the
Foreign Enlistment Bill. Eight of the Aldermen
were present.

After some warm conversation on the conduct oh
the Aldermen who had deserted the Court on Mon-
day last, which prevented the consideration of the
present question,
Mr. FAVIILL opened the business of the Requisi-
tion in a speech of some length. , He observed, that
though he was loth to take up the time of the Cou'rt
is long quotations from Grotius, PuffendOrff, or
ram', them was a passage in the latter author
which he felt himself justified in bringing before
their notice. It was this—that no Power had a right
to complain of the subjects of a neutral Power join-
ing their efforts to those Of a third and hostile Power
unless those subjects either invaded its territories, or
engaged in a cause that was manifestly and noto-
riously unjust—(Hear, hear, from Mr. S. Dixon).—
If this principle was correct, and he maintained that it
Was, Spain could have no reason to complain of the
interference of British Subjects in her quarrels with
her Colonies ; and there was, therefore, no necessity
for introducing such a Bill as was at present pending
in Parliament. He then moved the first Resolution—
(>o which see the Advertisement.)
The Resolution was seconded by Mr. SLADE.
Mr. S. Dixott rose to oppose it. With regard to
the quotation from Battle—(loud laughter, and cries
of You mean Vattel !")_he would neither admit
nor dispute its authority, as he did not so much look
to the opinions of old musty records as tothose which
,were warranted by the history of man. He could
not discern any validity in the arguments which were
used against the enactments of this Bill, especially
when he recollected, that we had stated during the
American war the interference of France and Spain
in that quarrel as the reason of our commencing hos-
tilities against those nations: Even if he stood alone
in his view of the subject, lie shouldoppose the passing
of such a Resolution as had been proposed by the
worthy Gentleman opposite.
Mr.GRIFFITHS, Alderman WOOO, Mr: James, and
Other Members of the Court, opposed the view of the
question taken by Mr. Dixon, and supported the Re-
solistion of Mr. Favell.
Alderman WAITIIMAN said, that he had listened
with the utmost attention to the speech of the Hon.
Gentleman (Mr. Dixon), but such was the pity and
compassion which he felt for him on account of the
woeful ignorance which he (Mr. Dixon) had that even-
ing displayed, that he almost thought it unneces-
sary to comment upon it. He had not merely mis-
named one of the most valuable, and yet one of the
most common works on the Laws of War, but had
even gone so far as to call one of the best known of,
modern Publications on the subject an old and musty
Record. For his own part, he (Alderman Wa:th-
man) looked upon the Bill now before Parliament as
a most unjust and unconstitutional interference irith
the liberties of the subject, and should therefore be,
very happy to support the Resolution, eithCr in that
Court or elsewhere, with all the abilities in his power.
After a few words in explanation from Mr. DixoN,
and several unimportant remarks front other Mem-
bers, the resolution WAS carried with only .one dissen-
tient voice : that voice was the voice of Mr. Dixon.
The Other Resolutions (fir which see the Advcrtise-
sielt) were theta moved and carried, after a short
discussion; the Petitions conformable thereto were
afterwards agreed on, and ordered• to be presented to
both Houses of Parliament by. the City Members ;
after which the Court adjourned.