Star.
London, England, 1819-11-08 00:00:00

COURT OF ALDERMEN.

The.flight Hon. the‘oan Maros held his last
Court of Aldermen, at the Guildhall, on Saturday.
No bwiness beyond that of the ordinary routine ap►
peared ol the summons, nor was any thing of pecu-
liar interest er importance expected to be brought
forward, it being generally understood to be merely
his Lordship's farewell Court.
The LOKI) Mayon took the Chair a little before
one o'clock. Some small difficulty at first occurred
in making a Court, but in a very short period the
attendance was more than usually numerous. Mr.
Sheriff PARKINS was not in the seat usually appro-
priated for the Sheriff, nor was be observed to be in
attendance at all.
The reading of the Minutes of the last Court hay-
ing been gone through, a letter received by the Right
I ion. the' Lord Mayor, from Mr. Alderman Waith-
man, dated from Winchmore-hill, the Alderman's
country residence, November the sth, was read in
nearly the following words:
tiv Loan AND Gr..‘rcrssEN—Being prevented by severe indis-
position from being present at the Court of Aldermen to be held
to-morrow ; and as certain proceedings, in which I and others
have been personally concerned, have been entered upon at re-
cent Courts without any previous notice, should it be intended
to resume any such proceedings to-morrow, I beg to submit to
your Lordship and the Court, the justice, fairness, and pro-
priety of postponing the consideration of the same, until I may
be sufficiently recovered to attend in my place in the Court.
I have the honour to he, my Lord and Gentlemen,
To the Rt. lion. the Lord Mayor I Your obedient servant,
and Court of Aldermen. It. WAITHMAN.

Mr. Alderman WOOD moved, that the letter then
read be entered on the Minutes.
A short conversation ensued, in which it was urged
that the letter was a private communication to the
Lord Mayor, and not of that importance to require
being inserted on the Minutes. The Town Clerk also
suggested, that it was not usual to enter on the Mi-
nutes every communication made by the Lord Mayor
to the Court of letters received by him. On search-
ing the Journals, entry of similar communications
was found, where the same were addressed to the
Court ; and it appearing that the letter in question
was addressed, not only to the Lord Mayor, but to
the Court of Aldermen also, it was held to be a re-
gular communication to the Court, and the worthy
Alderman's motion for entering the same on the Mi-,
mutes, was agreed to.
Sir WILLIAM CURTIS then presented a Report
from the Committee of Privileges, to whom it was
referred at the last Court to inquire into the circum-
stances which took place in the Guildhall, on Mi-
chaelmas Day, at the Election of a Lord Mayor for
the year ensuing; to take such legal advice, as they
might dean necessary, and to report, whether any,
and what proceedings, should be had thereon.
The Report was then read by the Clerk ; it stated
generally, that the Committee had examined evi-
dence as to the transactions which occurred in the
Guildhall on Michaelmas Day; that statements of
the circumstances of the case had been submitted for
the opinion of several learned Gentlemen thereon, all
of whom agreed in opinion, from the circumstances
submitted to their consideration, that the occurrences
which then took piece were improper and illegal ;
and that proceedings at law might be instituted
against all the parties implicated therein. The Com-
mittee therefore recommended to the Court to file
Criminal Informations against Mr. Alderman Waith-
man, Mr. Sinn iff Parkins, Mr. Hurcombe, Mr. Bum-
stead, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Fearon, Mr. Stevens, and
Mr. Hunt, for the tumult, and for obstructing the
Electon of a Lord Mayor.
This Report was signed by the LORD MAYOR, Sir
WILLIAM Coats, Sir WILLIAM LEIGHTON, Sir
CLAVDIUSSIEPHEN HUNTER, and Mr.AldermanCox.
The Report having been read,
Sir WILLIAM CURTIS rose—He regretted exceed-
ingly the highly improper and illegal proceedings
which had taken place in Common Hall oa the occa-
sion alluded to, and the necessity which existed for
the interference of that Court, which he considered
as imperiously called for under the circumstances, in
order to hold out an example to others, by the pro-
secution and punishment of the actors and abettors of
those tumultuous and improper proceedings, and
thereby prevent a repetition of such disgraceful scenes
in future. He lamented to find among the number
of those who were accused, the name of a Member
of that Court. He declared he entertained no feel-
ing of animosity against the worthy Alderman, nor
against any of the parties implicated, many of whom
he personally knew, and believed to be highly re-
spectable ; but he felt he had a public duty-to per-
form, and it was from a sense of that duty alone
that he now called upon that Court to interpose their
authority, to protect their own rights and privileges,
and to insure the peace and regularity of the public
proceedings of the Citizens at large. The worthy
Baronet concluded by moving—
mat this Court do approve of the Report of the Committee,
and.that the same be referred back to them, to carry the same
into execution, by proceeding against the parties named, by In-
formation, Indictment, or otherwise.
Sir C. S. HUNTRR, in a short speech, seconded the
:notion.
Mr. Alderman WooD deprecated the hastiness of
such a proceeding, and called upon the Court, by
every consideration of justice and fairness, not to de-
termine upon the prosecution of a Member of that
Court without any previous notice or intimation to
him of such a business being to be brought forward,
especially as the Honourable Member had appealed
to their candour not to proceed against him in his al)•
sense, and at a time when illness alone prevented his
appearance in hi: place to defend himself. No Mem-
ber was more regular in his attendance than that
worthy Alderman, nor more ready on all occasions
to justify his conduct ; nor could he perceive any
reason whatever for precipitation in a business of so
serious and important a nature. He confessed he was
lzritself taken somewhat by surprise, and had no ex-
P•
-ctuinn• till within the last hour, that this business
would come under the consideration elf the Court
that day ; no notice whatever of that fact was in-
serted in the summons, nor did he know, though he
was• one of the Committee of Privileges, that the
Committee were prepared to make their Report.
He had received no summons to attend the Com-
mittee for that purpose, but happening to be at the
Guildhall that morning, he lea, nt by accident that
the Committee were sitting ; he went instantly to the
Committee Room, and found there, not indeed all the
Gentlemen whose wanes were to the Report, though
he took it. fur granted they had been in attendance,

Some of the Law Omcers here intimated to Mr.
Alderman Thorp, that even if that fact were ascer-
tained and allowed, it could make no difference what-
ever in the law of the question.

Mr. Alderman THORP was not enabled to decide
what difference it would make in the law of the case;
but he conceived it ought, and would have great
weight in the decision of the Court upon the ques-
tion. Even admitting the correctness of the facts
stated in the Report, he had great doubt as to the
right of that Court to interfere with the privileges
and conduct of the Livery in Common Hall ; for
which reason, and also upon the former grounds he
bad urged, he should feel it his duty to vote for the
adjournment of the consideration of the Report. '
Mr. Alderman BIRCH rose, with some warmth,
and insisted upon the propriety of the Court's pro-
ceeding immediately. He disclaimed all party feel-
ing, nor was he actuated by the slightest sentiment
of hostility or animosity towards any one of the indi-
viduals implicated in these transactions; but the right
of that Court to interfere on such a business had
been publicly questioned, and even denied—it was,
therefore, of the utmost importance to the dignity of
that Court, and to the Citizens at large, that that
question should be determined as speedily as possible ;
that it should be ascertained what were the rights
and privileges of the Court of Aldermen, or whether
they had any rights and privileges at all? , He con-
sidered, that on the legal issue of this case depended
that decision, and he could see no reason whatever
for delay. He should, therefore, support the motion
for approving the Report, and for proceeding upon
it forthwith.

One or two of the Aldermen made observation;
.but more in the nature of •desultory conversation
than open discussion, and, on the question being put,
the Amendment was negatived, and the original
Motion, for referring the Report back to be carried
'into execution, was agreed to.
I l'he Low Moron called the attention or the Court to tile

but only the Lord Mayor, Sir William Curtis, and e.trerTisttnce of theo recent publicationrces of.hiths e Proceed:few
tea
a Alderman Cox, from whom he learnt that the " Itcporat coruwirtyra Iwo or
wrrittrenee late utris anthe.sobjeLoot.rdbot p
tea
business Will already concluded, that a Report had
been agreed to, and would' be presented to the Court himself with a verbal statement of the facts as they occurred....
He considered the publication as a breach of the privileges
that Court, and thought it of importance that inquiry Should be
that day. made by what means, and by whom, such communications had
It was here explained to the worthy Alderman
been made? As this infringement on the Privileges-of the Court
that a summons to attend the Committee that morn-
had commenced during his Mayoralty, he should have whited
ine had been sent to him, and the shortness of the that some decision on the subject could have been come to before
notice was accounted for from the circumstances that he left the
s Chair ; and
be had, witd h that
to the view, bad
felt it his duty to
make the tatement one Court.
the' opinions of the Learned Counsel had not been
Mr. Alderman Cox coseurred us the importance and name.
procured till late on the evening previous, and that sky of ascertaining through whom, and in what manner, their
the instructions of the Lord Mayor for summoning proceedings bad got before the Public? That Court was not as
the Committee were not delivered to the proper Of- open Court, and their proceedings must therefote have gone
hoer till eleven o'clock on Friday night. through some improper channel; he thought every Alderman
ought to be called upon to declare upon his honour whether or
Mr. Alderman Woo], .said, he would not under- not he had any participation in causing the said proceedings to be
take to deny that a summons had been sent to him ; made public ?
he must, however, declare, that he had been at his This proposition or Mr. Alderman Cos's occasioned several
remarks, and one or two of the Members declared their inno-
ceueresreioun, thonhwaetnrg mwadsenaiotiyfocomnlilunicat
counting-house, and had neither seen nor heard of any
tioneaecnhthAeldstibject ; the
such summons. He contended, nevertheless, that
the Committee were not in a situation to make their cisent, and, after some aconversatioan,yth put
otter dropper:wall:l7c
Report, and that he had a right to conclude that any precis
he Court e motion. The other regular business being gone
t adjourned.
such Report would not be made, and could not with through.
propriety be made, until certain Papers, for which
he had moved, and which he considered of great im•
portance, as to the proper decision of the case, were
before thein.--EThe worthy Alderman, we under-
stand, had moved in the Committee for the produc-1
tion of Precedents, to prove the right of the Court'
of Aldermen to interfete with the privileges of the
Livery, and aho to shew the right of that Court to
direct prosecutions to be instituted at the expense of
the City.J—These Papers, the worthy Alderman
said, for reasons unknown to him, had not been laid
before the Committee; and he insisted that, withput
a due consideration OR those particular points, they
ought not to have adopted the recommendation for
instituting criminal prosecutions.
One of the officers saki, the papers moved for and
i;rrdered by the Committee were in preparation, but
there had not been sufficient time to make the neces-
sary search, and get the documents completed.
Mr. Alderman Woos urged that this was a good
and sufficient reason why the Court ought not to pro-
ceed further on the business at present-it might turn
out that they were interfering where they had no
right, and incurring an expense which they were not
authorised to defray out of the funds of the City.
At all events, in his judgment, the Report had been
prematurely agreed to, without the proper docu-
ments before them, and as there could be no occa-
sion whatever for precipitation, even if the recom-
mendation of the Committee was ultimately'adopted,
as there had been no notice of this business on the
summons ; and, above all, as the Honourable Member
accused had thrown himself on their justice, not to
be condemned unheard, and, in his absence, he shoul
move as an amendment, that the consideration of the
Report be adjourned to the next Court. -
11Ir. Alderman Toone seconded the motion for the
adjournment of the proceedings, and dwelt with
touch force upon the want of candour and feeling in
thus directing a prosecution against one of their own
Members, who was absent through unavoidable and
unforeseen illness, and who appeared to rely that
they would not resume proceedings against him,
much less come to an ultimate decision in his absence,
and without hearing what he might have to urge in
his defence. There was one point respecting this
business, which did not appear to have occupied the
attention of the Committee, but which he considered
as of much importance in the case. It was well
known, and had been publicly intimated, previou*
to Michaelmas Day, that an attempt would be made
at the Common Hall to go into the consideration of
other business previously to proceeding to the Ekes
tion of a Lord Mayor. If, therefore, his Lordship
knew of such an intention—if he thought such a
roceeding riotous, and an illegal obstruction of the
Election—if, as had been asserted, the mover on that
occasion had informed his Lordship what he was
about to do, and tendered to him the motion he was'
about to propose, before he quitted the hustings, it
was his duty, if he apprehended riot, to have stopped
to prevent it, and not, by retiring from the Hall, to
leave it in doubt, at least, whether he considereti
such proceeding improper or otherwise? He con-
ceived, therefore, that it was of importance that the
fact should be ascertained, to the satisfaction of the
Committee and the Court, whether his Lordship was
aware of the proceedings about to be adopted, as
should it appear that his Lordship was fully inform-
ed upon that subject, his quitting the Hall without
interfering to prevent it, might have been construed
by many to sanction the opinion, that such proceed-
ings were neither irregular, unusual, nor illegal.

THE EVENING STAR.

'LONDON.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1819.
THE FUNDS.
PRICE OF STOCKS THIS DAT AT ONE OdCLOCK :
3 per Cent. Reduced sei 671 67; .
3 per Cent. Consols 671 614 67i
k per Cent. 84iii
5 per Cent. Navy 1054 latt 104
Bank Long Annuities 1711
Imperial 3 per Cent. Anns. 651
ludia Bonds 7 S pre.
Exchequer Bills (2d.) par, 2s. dis.
Commercial 22 discount

Otnniam ltf dis.
Consols for Acct. 67i 68} 67i 68.
A Dutch Mail arrived yesterday, and this morning
a Mail from Flanders. Their contents may be sum-
med up in a few words: Lows BONAPARTE, the
ci-devant King of HOLLAND, is prosecuting the pre-
sent King of the NETHERLANDS for the value of a
Palace and Estate, which the former had purchased
from Mr. Hove, the Banker, at Haarlem, of which
the latter took possession as being a demesne of the
Crown, on his coming to the Throne.
By the last accounts from Cadiz, the total num-
ber of deaths by the fever was upwards of 12,000.
A letter from Stockholm mentions a curious fact,
respecting a whole basket-full of letters, sent to Baron
CHARLES WILLIIRSTEDT, at Marseilles, by the French
Consul at Marseilles, but which nobody at the Laza-
retto would venture to touch, as they had come from
Tunis. It was proposed by the Directors to consign
the whole to the flames ; but as many of them were
known to be from the Consuls of different European
Powers, the Baron insisted that they should not bel
disposed of in this summary manner, without first
opening them to see which should be preserved and
forwarded. He actually undertook the task himself,
having first anointed his hands with a pomatum coin.
posed of wax, oil, and sulphuric acid ; and was oc-
cupied for two days in the task without receiving in-
jury, to the great surprise of the people belonging to
l
the Lazaretto.

An article from Berlin presents some curious no-
tices respecting the Constitution to be proposed for
Prussia; and the Nasremburg Correspondent enters
into an explanation, which, if we were Germans, we
confess would alarm us, of the searching functions
and enormous powers to be exercised by the far-famed
Committee of Police-officers at Mentz.

They write from Vienna, that a courier from War-
saw has arrived there, bringing news that the Em-
peror ALIMANDER had acceded to the Resolutions
passed by the. Congress at Carlsbad; but that his
Majesty would postpone his decision relative to the
territorial arrangements for Poland, and for the se-
condary States of Germany. By an order of the
Aulic Council of War, the whole of the Austrian
Landw•ehr are to be disbanded.

The Paris Papers of Thursday have arrived since
our last.

It is doubted whether the KING will be able to
open the Chambers on the 15th in person. The state
of his MAJESTY'S health, however, is not such as to
give cause for any serious alarm.
The nuptials of the KING and QUEEN of SPAIN
were celebrated at Madrid on the 20th ult. in pre-
sence of all the great Officers of State, Foreign Mi-
nister•, icc.
Such is the dread of the fever entertained at Ma-
drid, that individuals, whether provided with pass-
pores or not, who come from the infected provinces,
or those suspected of being so, and not having been
examined. by the Health Commissioners, nor pre-
sented themselves to the Officers of the cordon of qua-
rantine, are declared irrevocably liable to suffer
death.

Prince SCHWARTZENBRRO is dangerously ill at his
country seat in Bohemia. A rumour of his death
was even circulated, but happily is not conflz med.
French Fire per Cents. 71 fr.

We have received this morning Boston Papers to
the 2d October, from which the following are extracts:

NEW YORK; SRPTEMBE,R

Our readers will learn, with inexpreslible pleasure,
that no case a malignant fever was reported to the
Board of Health yesterday.
Mr. Cobb* did rot go out in the ship Hector, for
• ,
ItiTerPPfei reßoled •yc:sterday.
A/Gentleman from Bermuda iticirms us tlfat the
•