The Statesman.
London, England, 1820-04-29 00:00:00

00fIRT OF COMMON COUNCIL.

• CONDUCT OP 11111111/111 eannuts.
.116tionisy Mr. S. Mini brought up the Report of
tin Committee appointed to inquire into the validity of
ale ammo made evillest Mr. Sheriff Parkins by the
late Lord Mayor. The Report stated that the Coin.
mane, aware of the importance of the occasion to
which their ottentioo was drawn, had directed the City
Solicitor to obtain the opinion of the Law oMcers of
,the Corporation upon the subject of the power of the
Cdstifof Common Couucil to remove from the She-
Jiffs*, anylodividnal to whose conduct they toa ob-
PetiON: 11%e opinion of the Law °Beers was, that
tiM:eole rower of removing the Sheriff existed in the
Comlttoss Council. who could accomplish it by vote.
1111..hriMelinienr. at the same time the impression, that
ride ing the increase of important duties which had
tlii[ede place is the Sherlffaity since that law was
passed, the Court should nut be recommended to adopt
mai_ixitose warm. except in cases of great emer-
*4o4.- The Committee were of opinion, that the
r barges brought against Sheriff Parkins by the late
Ll3l Mayor were established ; and that as to the quits-

tion of precedency between the two St•cri!fs, the se-
niority tas vested, in tlic et. iti of an Alderman being
appointed to the office, in that Alderman. The Re-
i port concluded with stating that Sheriff Parkins had
not acted with the dignity becoming his situation, and
recommending the Court to su4end all allowances to
him, in consequences of his negk't of ti,e respect due
t s his high office, and to require a proper discharge
of thorough duties in future.
Mr. Dmote moved that the Court should wee with
the Committee in the Report.
Mr. ORtrrt•rns seconded the motion. lie had, he
said, entertained a hope that the person who was the
object of the motion w•t.uld have reformed, and that
he would at length begin to act as a Gentleman ought
to act.
Mr. Putout (the Under-Sheriff to lir. Sheriff Par-
kins) then rose. He observed. that as Mr. Sheriff
Parkins had undertaken his own defence, in the letter
which had just been read to them, it was unnecessary
far him to say any thing in addition to abet that letter
contained. lie felt himself, however, is en honour
to declare, that he, as Under-Sheriff, received all the
fees of the office, and that he was nt.rexpeerri to give
up any part of these, either in money, or in any thing
which tnight be as valuable as looney. at any future
time, to Mr. Sheriff Parkirs. intlependently of this
he had also to state to them. th it Mr. Sheri/ Parlsins,
long betore this investigation into his conduct had
been proposed, had often declared to him, thes he
never would pat into his pocket one single sixpence
derived from the tines and amersements usually paid
to the Sheriffs. lie then entered into a general defence
of Mr. Sheriff Pal kins's behaviour; and conehnled by
observing, that he performed ail the duties which a
Sheriff could perform, with the utmost :eat, courage.
and ability.
Mr. JAMES thought it necessary to tale the-most
prompt course in the case of a man by whom the office
of Sheriff was, as has been said l'ebre, most woefully
degraded. His communications npon the subject of
the non-performance of the duties wor • mere sophistry
and impertinence.
Mr. N. IV tams said, the conduct of Sheriff Par-
kins should Le the more anxiously scrutinized, as the
Lord 3layor and the other Sheriff Were tobjes t ;o
great exprii..e.i, in consequence of the refusal of that
gentkman to co-operate in supporting the dignity of
the City.
Mr. TAYLOR moved an amendment, that the Re-
port should lie on Ile table.
Mr. Pos TIM thought the conduct of Mr. Parkins
a direct insult to the Court.—fllear. hear !)—lie
would ask, whether it was honourable cr honest in a
Sheriff to withhold his fair proportion of the rspences
attending his Sheriffalty, and throw it upon others ?
(Hear !) He hoped this general reproach would o••e,
rate as a warning to all Sheriff- hunters to look fur
none in future who were not reNiectable mid c
table characters.
Mr. HCRCORRE was for the adoption of the -
meat.
Mr. PrArOg R conceived the imputation as to Sh..-
riff-hunters applied to him. The reason las .lhad.pro-
poised Mr. Parkins So he a Siewiff was, that he was a
man of property and respectability. I, be ltai
sun the extravagance's that 'lure wvhiblteti themselves'
le should not have proposed that gentleman.
Mr. Alderman ROTHWELL said, it was painful for
hits to speak upon the subject. He felt it, however,
a duty to himself to say, that no circumstance under
Heaven could bare induced him to accept the office of
Sheriff, if lie had not been assured ti at there was an
Act upon which he could be proved entitled to the
precedency. lie had done all he could to support the
dignity of the office; he should continue to do so, but
he should never open his lips upon the subject of his
Colleague's conduct.
Mr. N. WILLIAMS then moved, that in considetation
of the importance of the subject, the Court should
adjourn.
The question was put and carried, and the Court
adjourned.

LAW LVTELLIGENCE.

COURT OF KING'S BENCH, Arm. 29.