Star.
London, England, 1819-09-15 00:00:00

COURT OF ALDERMEN.

A Court of Aldermen was held yesterday, at which
the LoRD MAYOR, presided, and the Aldermen pre-.
sent were, Sir WILLIAM Corms, Birt.; Sir Joust
BAUER, KW.; Sir JAMES SHAW, Bart.; J. J. SMITH,
• Esq.; C. SMITH, Esq.; Sir WILLIAM DOMVILLE,
Dan.; Geonoe SCHoLEY, Esq.; MATTHEW WOOD,
Esq.; GEoRGR BRIDGs, Esq.; WILLIAM lIBYGATE,
Esq.; R. A. Cox, E.:q.; 'torrent WArrarxml, Esq. ;
• and RICHARD ROTHixF.LI, Esq. 4
Mr. Alderman ROTHWELL entered into the usual
recognizances to serve the office of Sheriff.
The regular husinesS of the Court haying been
gone through, Alderman SCHOLEit rose, and in a
short speech proposed a very highly flattering vote
of thanks to the Right Honourable the LORD MAvort,
for his great care and activity in preserving the peace
of the City, on the occasion of the late Meetings in
Smithfield. •
Mr. Alderman ROTHwELL thought the proposed
vote by no means adequate to the occasion, and not
sufficiently expressive of the high sense the Court
must feel of the wisdom and rigour exhibited by his
Lordship on the occasion alluded to, and proposed a
more highly complimentary Resolution, in which his
'Lordship was particularly thanked for the decisive
measure of causing the arrest of Harrison, during
the time the Meeting was assembled.
Sir JAMES SHAW dlought,_ as there was likely to
be much difference of opinion as to the wording of
each of the Resolutions; it would be much better to
adopt the middle course, and propose such a vote of
thanks as every Member of the Court could concur
in ; as a moderate vote of thanks carried unanimously
would be much more complimentary to his Lordship
than one more highly coloured, and carried by a
small majority. The worthy Baronet then moved a
vote of thanks to his Lordship for his conduct on the
occasions mentioned, couched in moderate but flat-
tering terms cf approbation.
This was objected to by the Aldermen Cox and
BRIDGES as not sufficiently complimentary to his
Lordship, nor strongly expressive of the opinion of
the Court ; but, on being put to the vote, passed una-
nimously.
s•lr. Alderman Wool) desired to know from the
LORD MAYOR, whether ally and what steps had been
taken by his Lordship respecting the horrible plot
far burning the City and murdering the inhabitants,
which his Lordship had communicated to the Court
of Common Council? and whether any of th incen-
diaries, who his Lordship had stated held their Meet-
ings near the Guildhall, had yet been apprehended?
Mr. Alderman Cox thought it quite disordeily and
improper to make any such inquiries ; the commu-
nication was made to the Court of Common Council,
and his Lordship ought not to be called upon to an-
swer questions as to any thing that took place in ano-
ther Court.
Mr. Alderman WAITIIMAN contended that the in-
quiry was perfectly correct and in order ; the fears
and apprehensions of the citizens had been considera-
bly alarmed by the communications which his Lord-
ship stated had been made on oath, and it was highly
necessary some further explanation should be given.
If there was no real ground for alarm, the feelings
of the people had been unnecessarily sported with.
Mr. Alderman WOOD insisted, that some commu-
nication on this subject ought to be made. There
could be no impropriety in the Lord Mayor's making
known to his brother Magistrates information re-
ceived by him on oath, upon a subject which so
nearly concerned them. all, as well as every inhabi-
tant of the city, over which they presided.
The LORD MAYOR, however, though repeatedly
pressed both by Alderman Wood and Alderman
Waithman, maintained a solemn silence.
This business being at length dropped,
The LORD MAYOR addressed the Court, and said
he had a complaint to make against one of the Ma-
gistrates of the City, for what he considered a high
breach of his duty, rending to disgrace the Magis-
tracy, and degrade the office of Chief Magistrate ; he
then named Mr. Alderman Waithman. His Lord-
ship proceeded to state, that his complaint against
the worthy Alderman was, that after he (the Lord
Mayor) had dissolved- the last Common Hall, the
Alderman threw off his gown, took the Chair of the
Meeting, and induced the persons assembled to agree
and pass Resolutions degrading to him in his magis-
terial capacity. If such a proceeding was legal and
proper, it was altogether useless and unnecessary to
present Requisitions to the Lord Mayor as the Chief
Magistrate, as the Livery might hold CoMmon Balls
without his presence. Such conduct, he conceived,
would not meet the sanction of that Court. He con-
sidered that, after the Hall was dissolved by the
Lord Mayor, the proceeding to further business was
illegal, that the Meeting was an unlawful assembly,
and that the (Thief Magistrate would be justified in
reading the Riot Act. Ile had also another com-
plaint to make against the worthy Alderman for his
conduct while sitting as a Magistrate in the Justice
Room at Guildhall. A fe:low of the name of Stocks,
who had been an officer of the city, bat whom he
(the Lord Mayor) had discharged, applied to the
Alderman for a summons against him to appear and
answer for his conduct in the Court of Common
Council, at a Common Hall ; on which occasion the
worthy Alderman had uttered opinions degrading to
the high office he now held, insinuating that the
Lord Mayor might be brought to answer before the
sitting Alderman, and in the Common Hall ; recom-
mending the fellow at the same time to make his
complaint to the Livery at the next Common Hall.
His Lordship concluded with observing, that he con-
sidered such conduct degrading to the high situation
he held, and had, therefore, felt it his duty to.subinit
it to the judgmennt and consideration of
A long altercation ensued as to the manner
ceeding to be adopted ; at length Sir W-
proposed a Resolution, reciting the facts
by his Lordship, and concluding with a
the whole to the Law Officers, with
ins
search for precedents. This proposition
supported by the Aldermen Cox, Heyga\
and Rotha al.
Mr. Alderman Warritstax at length
purpose of defending his conduct, and col
the complaint against him had no referent
tohis Magisterial capacity ; that the Colur
a Meeting of the Lord Mayor, Aldermen,
but that as soon as his Lordship direct
to -be removed, and quitted the Chair,
warixo.looger a Common Hall, but a Meatim

Livery only; that he then threw off his gown, and
acted in his capacity of a Liveryman alone. With
respect to his taking thethiir, and introducing the
Resolutions that
*were agreed to, hundreds of Livery-
men who weresent knew that he.u4shed to have
avoided taking the Chair, and did his utmost to de-
cline it ; but he felt the duty imperative rii,on him
when elected by the Meeting. It was also matter of
notoriety, that he did not altogether approve of the
wording of the Itecolutions-; •and that he had. been '
charrd with par tiality, and his conduct publicly found ,
flat with, for the disapprobation he had shewn.
However much he might have declined taking the
Chair on that occasion, he still contelde ', the Livery,
when assembled, had a clear and legal right to dis-
cuss their grievances-in the Common Hall; and that
the circumstance of his being a Magistrate did not
deprive him of the poisession or exercise of that right
in Common with every Liveryman, and that without
his gown he acted as a Liveryman only. There was
no necessity to search for precedents: similar cases
were well known and remembered, and had been of
frequent occurrence. Alderman J. J. Smith, who
was now.present, had done precisely the same, under
similar circumstances. After the then Lord Mayor
had quitted the-Hall, he took off his gown and acted
as Chairman to the Meeting that remained. Alder-
man Combe, upon another occasion, engaged to do
the like, and would have taken the Chair, but that
the then Lord Mayor had prudence enough not to
dissolve the Hall. On the occasion alluded to, the
Livery had previously presented a Requisition to his
Lordship for a Common Hall, on the subject of the
New Taxes; and although in different parts of the
country Meotings had been hold for that purpose, the
Lord Mayor refused the Requisition; and when the
business was attempted to be brought forward at a
subsequent Common Hall, he instantly dissolved the
Hall. On the late occasion he did the same; and if
the Livery could not obtain a Common Hall, and
'were denied the privilege of discussing their griev-
ances when assembled, they were denied a right com-
mon to all Englishmen, and compelled to assemble
in the open street, and liable to be cut down by the
soldiery, as had been done elsewhere. He was en-
tirely careless what vote they might choose to pass ;
no vote they could come to would degrade him. He
was ready on all occasions publicly to defend his
conduct; but if they came to a vote, at the sugges-
tion of some hot-headed Magistrates, with regard to
the rights of the Livery, over which they had no con-
troul, they might degrade themselves, but certainly
not him. But he would ask, was it decorous for them,
a dose Court and secret Conclave of Magistrates, to
take upon themselves to call in question the right of
a Liveryman, exercised at a Meeting of the Livery
at large?—With regard to the second complaint, he
really thought it too contemptible for much notice :
had the Lord Mayor brought the Newspapers to the
Court, for it was from them he supposed he had get
his information, he would have shewn that there was
no ground of complaint. (the Alderman) had
seen but one report, and that was correct. He had
not the slightest intimation of any such application
being about to be made. The man applied to him
just as he was quitting the Chair ; he told him he
could not interfere; but be supposed, if the Lcrd
Mayor had done any thing illegal, he was amenable
for it at well as another man ; but that his charge
would be more properly made at the Common Hall.
He could have no serious intention of imputing
blame to the Lord Mayor, and treated the whole
business as trifling and absurd. The worthy Alder-
man again alluded to the former charge, and pointed
out several instances in which the right had been
exercised by the Livery, and particularly to the case
of the Lord Mayor Turner, who on Michaelmas Day
was compelled to admit the right. The worthy Al-
derman concluded with observing, that by depriving
the People of their legal and constitutional right of
discussing their grievances, they were driven to tu-
multuous Meetings, and the very evil was produced
which was the cause of their apprehensions.
Alderman J.J. SMITH corroborated the Alderman's
statement: he had taken the Chair, after a Hall was
dissolved: he took off his gown, and considered him-
self acting only as a Liveryman.
Mr. Alderman Woo]) declared there were several
similar instances. In the Mayoralty of Alderman
Scholey, Sir William Rawlins had taken the Chair,
after the Lord Mayor had quitted the Hall. He
strongly contended against any interference with the
rights of the Livery, and particularly reprobated the
secret manner in which this business had been brought
forward, without any previous notice, and at a time
when the Alderman complained of might have been
unprepared to skew any precedent tor his conduct.
He observed, that there was not now a Court (Sir
James Shaw retired before the business came on, and
Sir John Earner having gone to his duty at the Jus-
tice-room), and he should break up the Meeting.
While Alderman WOOD was on his legs, Sir Wm.
CURTIS had sent out for Sir JOHN LAMER, who
quickly attended the summons.
Mr. Alderman Wool) was greatly indignant at
this circumstance, and, persisting in his intention of
breaking up the Court, left the room, and was fol-
lowed by other Aldermen, and the Court was accord-
ingly broken up, without coming to any decision
upon the question.

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degrading to
ing that the Mr. COLBURN, we understand, is about to publish - ' $ •
;er before the Specimens of the Living British Poets, with Biogra. 4 !.'i ..: 1
Hall ; recom- phical 'Notices and Critical Remarks, by the Rev.
to make his G. CROLY. 1 . )
ommon Hall. OLD BAILEY.—This morning the Sessions con-
,1
4. , that he con- menced at the Old Bailey, before Mr. Baron GRA- I I
. t
high situation HAM, and Messrs. Justices BRST and RICHARDSON,
uty to submit the RECORDER, &c. ~ ,
F the Court. FortuErtv--Maher, the young man who had, on ; ,
ampler of pro- two former Sessions, in the last year, been brought
• Was. CURTIe up to plead to a charge of forging a receipt for £l2, i iil
:ts as narrated on one of the Government Offices, but who was n-
a reference of manded for Want of such plea, the prisoner manifest-
Lnstructions to ii,g strong symptoms of derangement, was again
was strongly brought up this morning. He ..now appeared per- i i I''
gate, Scholey, fectly restored, and betrayed every sense of Taint- ,
ality and feeling at the situation in which .end s
•
,th rose for the laced. -He was dressed in the most geny
p
contended that way, and presented altogether a prepossessing ap. ' .
rence whatever cearance• Upon being placed at the Bar, he pleaded
umon Hall was Guilty, in a firm tone. ,
, .
en, and Livery, Being asked by; the Court if he had pre-considered
:toted the mace the matter ?he said be had, and desired his plea to be
r, the Meeting recorded. It was recorded accordingly, and he bowed
keiting of the • .41 raked from the bar. I:
. .
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