Star.
London, England, 1816-01-18 00:00:00

COMMON COUNCIL.

Yesterday a Common Council was held at Guild-
hall, the principal object of which was to consider on
an 'Address to the PRINCE REGENT, congratulating
him on the happy occurrence of a Peace with France,
and all Europe. At twelve o'clock the LORD MAYOR
entered tt'e Chamber, and the business commenced,
as usual, with the reading "of the Minutes of the pro-
ceedings at the last Court.
When the Minute was read respecting the Cony
having agreed to the Address to the Patna Reamer,
en the subject 'of the persecution of the Protestants in
the South of France,
• Mr. Donnronn asked if the Court were informed
that any day had been appointed by the Prince Re-
gent for receiving the Address ?
The Loan MAYOR said he understood, that the
Sheriffs not being in town, the Ritnembrancer had
waited upon Lord Sidmouth, to ascertain when it
would be agreeable and convenient for his Royal
Highness to receive the Address ; and that he re-
ceived for answer, that the Noce Regent was at pre-
sent at Brighton, but that as soon as he returned,:an
early day, would be fixed.
The REMEMIRANCER confirmed the statement of
the Lord Mayor.
Mr. WAITHMAN said, he wished it never to be for-
gotten, that the Corporation of the City of London
enjoyed a right not possessed by any other body in
the kingdom. If the interposition of the Ministers
prevented the voice of this Corporation from reaching
the Royal Ear, the Sheriffs could demand as interview
Willi M .jesty, and obtain it, as they had done before.
. Mr. DAvis said it was of no use for the Court to
• come to Resolutions, if it afterwards justified the ne-
glect or apathy of its officers.
Sheriff Batt. said, that as he conceived the Court
to have died a natural death on the 21st of Decem-
ber, and as there could be no new Court before Plow
Monday, he had waited with his colleague. no the Up.
membrancer, to know the proper steps to be taken on
the occasion ; when he was informed, that it was
usual for the Sheriffs to wait on the Minister for the
Home Department ; but, in consequence of the pre-
cise time at which it was necessary to attend, during
a son of interregnum of the Court, the duty devolved
upon the Remembrancer, and he went accordingly,
as already stated. The Sheriff however, expressed
his readiness to go this day or to-morrow to the Mi-
nister, in order to gain the information required.
'Mr. WAITHMAN said he should vote that the an-
swer of Lord Sidmouth should not appear on the
minutes of the Court. A Minister ought not to be
presumed to have the right to exercise his own dis-
cretion, which, if admitted, deprived the Court in
part C:(,m exercising theirs. He denied that the C ,r-
-poratiost died every year s it neverdied, and was at
Ili times competent to exercise its rights.
Nli. DIXON contended that the Sheriffs were not at
all in ener, except through misinformation.
Several other Members expressed their opinions on
the subject ; and it was at length agreed that the She-
riffs should proceed to Brighton, to learn his Royal
Highness's pleasure when he would be pleased to re-
ceive the Petition.
Sir W. CURTIS then presented a petition from the
Governors of Christ's Hospital, relative to further
indemnities for the leases of some houses about to be
pulled down for the site of the new Post Office.
A long disCussion eosued, in the course of which
Mr. WAITHMAN iduded to the abuses which prevailed
in that institution, through the whole management of
its affairs being entrusted to the Committee of Almu-
hers. By this means the real objecti of the charity
were prevented, and the children of parents were ad-
mitted, who were in the possession of incomes of from
47LIC to 41200 a.year. He still had it in contem-
Platiou to propose mine measure that should correct
this abuse ; for it was intolerable that the Qommittee
in question should have the sole management of the
concerns of that Hospital, and the individual Govor-
;tors have no interference with their proceedings. He
gave an instance of a spit in equity having been corn-
rpenced by the said Committer without the sanction
of the Governors, or without their having made to
them any report upon the subject. It was astonishing
to think, that when be proposed. to institute an en-
quiry into these abuses, he could not find s single
Alderptan or Governor to stand by hint ; but he
would try the expAiment again, and with firm hopes
of better success. He deprecated tlie error of electing
the Committee of Almoneri for life, and contended
that the great body of Governors ought to have some
choice and intett..ience, to prevent being plunged into
exorbitant expences. He concluded wan moving dt.it
the M morial be ti.ferred to vie Usual Comm- itt, ; sc:r
the A fforirs of Christ's Hospital.
Mr. DisloN, Mr. Jscxs, and Mr. Duncoma4 seve-
ralty suggested the porriety of 'referring it to the
Committee for City Lands ; and Mr. Werensta.st
jelly consented to -withdraw his motion.
Mr. WAITHMAN• a:xi gave notice of his intention,
of bringing torwara, at a 1 early day, a motion re-
specUng tile Property T.:E.
On another Petition being brought up, several
I•lembets spoke on. the *necessity of proceeding to the
i . puitant subject tor which the CcAut was summon-

ed, namely, an Address to the Print* Regent on the
Peace.
Mr. Lswte.eontended that all the routine business
ought to take precedence 'of any discussion on an
Address.
Alderman GOODBEHERI thOught the Ceurt could
not possibly enter into the question till the answer
was received to the former Address.
Sir Wm. CUlals paid an animated tribute to the
liberal and affectionate disposition of the Prince Re-
gent. As he was sure he could have no motive for
not receiving the former Addiattus there could be no
impropriety in proceeding to the consideration of the
ptesent. .
ii Alderman Heiman; was of opinion that the
'landing order ought, on this oCCasion,Aci be dis-
pensed with, as the question was perhaps the most
important of any in the history of Europe. He was
trot prepared to find the intention to oppse the Ad-
dress which now manifested itself, and lit was asto-
nished at it. _ _

Mr. WAITIIMAN denied that there was any pre-
meditated opposition to the question. They might
go into it as soon as they pleased, and he hoped if
the Court should sit till twelve at night, that 1w should
be able to sit with it. The Standing Orders ought
not to be departed from ; but as to a question to
which so much importance is attached, .he thought
it most extraordinary, that while the Court was
going up with an Address on a grievance sorkging
'out of the peace, there should be a proposition digs-
, tated for carrying to the Prince Regent ano:her, cunt-
plimenting !Sim on the very circumstance which 114 s
caused this grievance—( bord chariv.)—When tbe
peace was received with sullen gloom—when not a
single address of congratulation had been voted on it
from any corporate body in the kingdom—and when
no exultation had been :hewn at it, in public or in
private, it could not be a question of such a strong
unanimous feeling of the Court as should induce it to
postpone the Standing Orders.
Alderman Havaara then moved that the Standing
Orders be disposed of, on which a :hew of hands took
place, the apparent majority of which not being sa.
tislying, a division was called for, when there proved
to be as follows : —For dispensing with the Standing
Order respecting the Petitions, that a discussion may
be entertained on the Address—Aldermen 7—Com-
moners 24—Tellers 2-33.—Against the Motion—
Aldermen I—Commoners 65—Tellers 2-68—Ma-
jority 55.
The Court then resumed, and the Petitions were
respectively received, on some of which desultory de-
bates ensued, particularly on that respecting Bangs.
gate Market, which was finally referred to the Com-
mittee on City Lands.