The Statesman.
London, England, 1821-09-12 00:00:00

COURT OF COILVON COUNCIL.
A Court of Common Council was yesterday held by
the Lord Mayor for the despatch of general business.
Mr. W. Kerl, of the Ward of Cripplegate, was appoint-
ed a Ooveraor of Bridewell sod .Bethlem Hospital. in
the room of D. KayeAsq„fieces,.sed.—The-Conimittee,
-appointed to Consider in reaped to the Invitation of
his Majesty to dine at the next Lord Mayor's Day. pre-
sented re Report, recommending that his Majesty be
humbly requested to honour them with his Royal pre-
sence at dinner, at Ouildhall, on the ensuing Lord
Mayor's Day, which was read and agreed 'to unani-
mously.—The Committee appointed to make arrange-
ments for the attendance of the Court at the .funeral
of her late Majesty, delivered in a Report of their
proceedings, which was ordered to be entered oft the
journals. ' •
VOTE OF THANKS TO SHERIFF WAITHMAN.
Mr. Parm a. rose to make a motion, which be Intro-
duced in so low a tone that be was for a considerable
time inaudible below the bar. Ile descanted on the in-
creasing tendency which be said appeared on the part
of the persons in power to avail themselves of the use
of military 'force instead of the civil authority,• and on
the jealousy with which all attempts to supersede the
civil power ought to be viewed. He would now iron-,
hie the Court with some circumstances on which be,
would found a motion relative to thi part tall° by one'
of their highest officers, on in occasion where the mili-
tary were concerned.
Mr. T. N. Mit.' Atom said, that from the manner in
which the Speaker had commenced his speech, be
(Mr. T. N. Williams) clearly foresaw that it would
end in a motion for a vote of thanks to Sheriff Waith-
man. The Speaker said' it was the standing order
that notice should be given of any matters off' Wiper-
tance that were to be brought before the Court. The
motion was one of great weight, and he claimed it at a
'right that he should have due time for considering it.
Mr. OLDII tM requested that Mr. Favell would state
what he meant to move.
Mr. FAveLo. said the Court was entirely master of
its own proceedings, and would at times suspend the
standing Order.
Mr. T. N. WowAsts opposed the proceeding, and
wontol not consent to the irregularity.
Mr. OLDHAM wished to take the opinion of the
Chair upon the matter.
The LORD MAYOR referred to the Standing Orders
of the Court. which were to the effect that no Member
should introduce a motion without first giving a cer-
tain notice upon the paper. His Lordship said that'
unless the Court should suspend the Standing Order,
he did not conceive that the Worthy Member could
now propose any motion.
Mr. llortcounz supported Mr. Favell, as did Mr.
Durnford, who said it was 1i question of privilege,
which, by the orders of the Court, preceded all others.
Mr. Alderman Watxutiart said be had no knowledge
of the motion which Mr. Favell intended to make, but
if it related to the conduct of some of the soldiery on
a recent occasion, we understood the Worthy Sheriff
to say that he thought it a. question out of the range
of the Standing Order, and he should feel it his duty.
to lay a statement before the Court upon the subject
himself.
Mr. FAvzt.t. said, the privileges of the city had
been violated through a
.person of one of their highest
oilicers, and as a question of privilege be pressed the
motion which he intended to make. The Speaker
proreoleil to make a statement of the riots before
Knightsbridge Barracks, on the Sunday of the fune-
ral of Francis and Honey, nearly similar to those
m hich have already appeared in the public prints. He
would confine himself to that Sunday, as other mat-
ters in which the Sheriff had acted, were now under,
a course of adjudication. He contended that from the
bold and able manner in which the Sheriff had
acted even at the risk of his life, on that occa- '
sion, for the preservation of the peace, be well
reserved the thanks of the Court. The speaker
concluded by moving a resolution to the effect, that
the office of Sheriff was the highest and most im-
portant in the election of the citizens, and that
it Was the duty of the Court to uphold its character,
and to protect the officer in tlif proper exercise of his
duty. That while they expressed their approbation of
the prompt and effectual means employed by Mr. Sheriff
Waithman for the preservation of the peace during the
funeral of Francis and Honey, on the 26th of August*
they cannot but express their abhorrence at the gross
violation of the public peace by several of the Life-guards.
and that the coolness and courage displayed by Mr
Sheriff Waithman on that occasion, deserved the thanks
of the Court and his fellow citizens.
M r. Sheriff Warroom AN said, that from what heat first
conceived as to the nature of the motion made by his
Worthy Friend, he (Sheriff Waithman) had thought to
have seconded it ; but as it was for a vote of thanks
to Matte% he should trouble the Court kith a few ob-
•servations, and then retire. that they might be un-
shackled by any feelings of delicacy in their discus-
sion which Might arise from his presence. But he
. considered the question as one which had very' Zile
relation to himself, as every man oho had firmness of
mind would have adopted the same course that be had
adopted. it was a question which arose from one of
'the greatest outrages and violation' s of Vie most im-
portant of public offices that had ever been recorded.
It had become a practice, whenever there wa any indi-
cation of a breach of the peace, to have recoirse to the
Police Magistrates. But to preserve the pp'ke it was
necessary to have recourse to persons who were of in-
fluence with the populace, and it could not better be
done than by estimating the task to those, orlio, were of
.the people's own election. Now on the Qt th of Au-
gust, although a communication was made to the Lord
Mayor, to request that lie would be in attendance to
preserve the peace, yet no communication was made on
'that day to the Sheriffs, who were the more proper
persons, He (Mr. Weidman) was out from nine
o'clock in the wonting until late at night, without
taking any regular refreshment, yet not a single Ma-
gistrate could he see during the whole of tbeday., Ile
then proceeded to detail the conduct oldie 'atfiliers
iq
the front of the barracks, whom he described all basin
provoked else wept* by appearing at the windows tind
'mocking tkom.'SoMe by pretending to cry, And othosio
by pretending to shoot at them. A -brick tette
toady thrown:amongst the people from the: haearieki:
.11s dosetibedlbf conduct of wheat the soldieis, whom
be should boil,. agpia, and who. laid bold otitis ham
•is a Vie} aim oittuototosces which left his
so altosiiitlye-bat to strike OW man. The Worthy.

Sheriffibisi imeceedeao state that be bad rettelifisl al
'ester; witilb regretted that he was not at the 'barrack
ttisoi it about nine o'clock at night tb armist Mr. Co-
nant, The Sheriff of London, exclaimed the speaker,
11 to assist a, hired Magistrate !" The speaker
said be bad aide s statement of the 'attempt
which bad been 'made upon his 4ife in the
execution of his duty, but as nothing bad been
said 'Spun the subject, and be bad never been
called Vint, he thought himself warranted,
in concludtag that no steps had been take% against
the offenders.; itfit although Mr. Conant had examined
some police officers, yet be '(Sheriff Waithman) was.
quite in the dark upon the subject, excepting that be
understood' questions had bests put to those examined',
with view of bringing out something against him-
self. He chaiacterised the whole proceedings as the,
part-of a systematic and deliberate plan to subvert the
lib. flies of the 'people. No one had a higher opinion
of soldiers in general than himself, and Hon forbid
that he should suppose that even in the Horse Guards
'there were not men with the proper feelings of huma-
nity. They *ere paid by the people fot the protection
of the liberties of the country, but their character
and disposition had become very different from what!
sdkllers ought to be. When two bodies were catrisd
.by. one ,of which they were charged by 'Elie werdtat of
a ~/nry with having committed wilful inardeN could
ony thing more evince a malignant disposition, than,
for the soldiers to mock and insult the populace who
were carrying them ? It had been asked why he, was
not present to quel the riot at Cumberland-gate., Now
he declared be knew nothing of the riot there at the
time, and merely heard the firing of the pistols ; but
what could the Siwalik have dons with the soldiers?
He went to attend the funeral and not to quel a riot.
Mr. OLDUA3t objected to the speaker's going into
what occurred at any other time than at the funeral of
,he two men. •
The Sheriff concluded with some farther °beefy*.

tiona.
Mr. Sheriff Wisaaaats said that before his colleague
withdrew (rota the Court; he wished to make some ob-
servations in his presence. Although the motion be-
fore the Court did not in terms censure him (Sheriff
Williams), yet it would hare the effect of a cenaure.
—(Cries of " No. no !")—Although the mover might
not intend any thing of the kind, yet he contended that
such an inference might very fairly be drawn; as well
as that his colleague had been making a speech to pro-
cure himself a vote of thanks. The speaker complained
that in the accodut of the funeral of the Queen. Ito no-
tice had been taken of his having been in readiness to
assist in preserving the peace. He also
•complaitid
that his colletigue had not gives him timely notice of
his intentions on that occasion. On the night previous
be said on parting—" I may be there, in my private,
but ndrin my public capacity." At about eight or
nine o'clock at night a letter came from him, stating,
that be should be at Ifydevark-corner in his,officiel
capacity at about seven o'clock. This letter was de-
livered in the ordinary manner, as if of no importance.
and was put in the ordinary letter-box, and was nut re-
ceived until nine o'clock on the fullowuig morality I
but he (Mr. Sheriff Williams) tatittettatety Of Air
the city-road as the most likely directiPw, and, was upon,.
duty the whole of the day. The vote of thanks. pro- ,
posed, if eareltd, be thought, from the meaner
which it was brought forward, would not be worth-
having ; it would have the appearance of party thanker'
it would appear as if his cause were weak and falling,
and that it wanted patching.
Mr. WAITIMAN then retired.
Mr. T. N. Witaataus said that the whole savoured
mncbAlf trick. He moved, as as amendment. that it
should be referred to a committee to inquire into and
report upon the matter.
Mr. OuiDiesli said that, at least, it was exceeding
bad taste to bring forward a question of that estate at
that particular juncture, which was most certaia..to
create party spirit, when unanimity was so much
sought.—{ileac, hear !)—He would not go the length
of saying that hr would not join in a vote of thanks if
it were regularly brought forward, for he was a great
enemy to the introduction of a military force on such
occasions ; but he did not take upon himself to say
that, however the worthy Sheriff might deserve the ap-
probation of the country for his conduct on the funeral
of Honey, yet his conduct on the inquest deserted,
and would meet with general reprobation. Ike speaker
said he should not vote if the motion were pressed.
A tong and stormy discussion followed, in which
Mr. Hurcombe and Mr. Eicke suppotted the• motion,
and Mr. :r. N. Williams pressed his amendment, that
the matter should be referred for inquiry to the Gaol.
Expenses' Committee.
Mr. Sheriff WAITHMAN was called into Court by his
friends, when Mr. Oldham repeated what he bad said
as to the Sheriffs conduct on the inquest, tee; •
Mr. Sheriff WAITHNIAIn replied, in explanation, that
no man could have done his duty who bad not acted as
he bad dune under such circumstances.
A *how of hands was taken, when a- division-was
demanded by Mr. T. N. Williame Defottr"tite -divi-
sion took place, Mr. Oldham Ind' a twat numbetw(
the Court (which was a very full one) paired off.
The soothers were as follows :—Foe the, weed's.,
—Alderman. 1--Commoners,
For the original motion—Commouers.
13 -Tudors.
2-55. Majority for the original motion,3o. •
Mr. Sheriff WAITHMAK returned- thanks. Mud ob•
served, that notwithstanding the time which ballad
devoted to the service of the Corporation, this was
the first mark of their approbation which be bid ever
received.
The Committee appoineaddwanalte the necessary:nee
rangemeats for the astwitineitie of the Court on the. Int.
neral of her late Mejetiitatmetie a Report of their pro-,
ceedings, which was Antlered to be entered on the
journals. , .
The Loan Matron &elated a vacancy in the oflee of
Hall-keeper; occasioned by the death of Mr. Temple.
The executors of the late Hall-keeper were desired
to superintend the execution of that *See until the
order of the Court ; and it was referred to the-City
-LandoCornotitt4 to consider whether any, and what
alteration, it may eapedient to =eke is the coaduct-
ingthat office in Ware.
• Monday the Lord 'Nape 'Pre a iontpnioalliAlteer
lid the Corporation of • Loutilite.* 'One )iteike wit:
IRA us to detail tket. sitertilassmit :*
the best fester* of theleasiwatiehalsenwmattP
which men of &threat partiet•sat dodo, sad-posed as
i lows evening together.