The Statesman.
London, England, 1810-10-27 00:00:00

• COURT OF CO3IMON COUNCIL.

Yestvrday a Court of Common Council was held,
whiCh was folly attended. Oa bringing up the re-
port of the Committee appointed to consider of the
propriety of extending the time at present allowed
for the election of Aldermen (three days) to eight
tla)s, and for increasing the awn necessary fur qua-
lifying a person to take that office upon him, from
10,0001. to 30,0001.
Mr. JACKS opposed the report being received,
on the grounds of its containing personal allusions
to certain individuals, at present members of the
Court of Aldermen, and moved that the refuel
should be referred back to the Committee for re-

Air. `4. 1)1:10N WUS also of opinion the itepott
Should be r'..consitlete I ; he thought the solo o.lioud
as a qualification for the office was too large ; he
submitted that 20,0001. or °5,0001. at most, would
be sufficient. With respect to the time to b-J
ed for the election of an Alderman, he was of upi.
tliat instead of ei4lit days, the time named by
their Committee in their report, the term should be
twelve d.►ts.

al r. n l'ErTll4 sail, he shout dal ways feel re.
hi:OU t to say any thing which might be construed
into a w jib to lessen the dignity of the Court of
Aldermen ; in doi:,g so, he should feel he was les-
sening the dignity of the Court of which he had the
honour of being a member ; it; his present observa.
tions, he wss actuated by a wish to preserve the
dignity of that Court, and to prevent the possibi-
lity of improper persons obtaining seats in it; per-
sons, whit, at the time of their election, had not a
guinea iii their pockets which they could call their
,own; and who, perhaps, in less than six months
aftee their election, would make their appearance
in t'te Gazette amongst the list of bankrupts. lie
intended no personal allusions ; he hoped no such
rrsons were at present Members of the Court of
Aldermen, and he wished to prevent the possibility

of any such becoming so. lie thought the longest
time possible should be allowed for the election,
and that the qualification should be nothing less than
30,0001.

Mr. WAITHMAN disapproved of that part of the
report which recommended a longer period being
allowed fur the election of an Alderman, as it
would afford a greater opportunity for the exertion
of personal influence ; and instead of rendering
the Court of Aldermen more pure, he was con.
vinced it would have a contrary effect. He thought
the wisdom of our ancestors had been displayed in
Limiting the term as they had dune to three days,
and much doubted the expediency of extending it at
all ; he .could, however, by no means consent to
its being extended beyond six (lays.
Mr. JACKS differed in opinion from the worthy
Gentleman who spoke last ; he did not think the
extension of time would extend the opportunity of
exerting personal influence; that worthy Gentle.
luau was well acquainted with the opportunity there
vas of exerting personal influence by means of pa.
ragraphs in newspapers, connections in trade, and
tiersonal attacks on individuals, even during the
time allowed for the election of Common Council.
men. [A laugh.]
Mr. \Vainly.% s thought charges of personality
came with a very ill grace from the worthy Gentle_
man, who was himself the most given to personal
allusions of any man in that Court, over whose
head a prosecution was now suspended for having
in a speech delivered by him in that Court, branded
an individual milt the epithet of 46 convicted trai.
tor;" who had grossly insulted another Honour.
able Gentleman (Mr. Clifford) not a Member of
that Court, and therefore one who had not an op.
yortuaity of defending himself. Yet the worthy
Gentleman had been under the necessity of reading
a written apology fur that attack ; notwithstanding
v s addicted was the worthy Gentleman to
personal ...fusions, that even on the day on which
vhidi he made this apology he again offended by
personalities ure gross than any former ones rela-
tive to the same person.
Mr. WAITHMAN was here called to order by
Air. S. DIXON.

Mr. W AITHMA If was aware he was out order, but
to a man calumniated as he had been by the worthy
Gentleman, surely something might be granted on
the score of personal feelings. Mr. W. was pro.
cecding when lie was again called to order, with
loud cries of Chair! Chair!

The LORD 2%1 A YOR observed, that it was with re.
gret he hail heard the personal allusions on both
auks ; they had gone much too far, and he must re.
quest Gentlemen would confine themselves to the
question immediately before the Court.
Mr. lirnEtme thought all disqualibc.ations should
be dune away.
After a further discussion, in which Mr. (loin,
Mr. Dixon, and Mr. Slade took a part, the toes.
lion for the report being received was put and car.
aied without a division.