Mr. Figgins—" Was that communication made to the Duke with
or -without the advice of the Court of Aldermen or the Committee ?"
The Lord Mayor Elect—" It was made without advice." Mr. Galloway regretted that so injudicious a communication had been made, though he believed the motives of the Mayor Elect had been good. He thought the duty of the Common Council was to convey to the Executive its opinion on the subject ; previous to which an expreles sion by the Lord Mayor of his regret for having sent so unadvised a communication would be proper. Although the Corporation could • not have the King's company on the 9th, they might on some future day, when the erroneous impressions of danger now entertained had ceased. • The Lord Mayor Elect said, the communication had been sent to his Grace in a moment without consideration, and he should certainly never cease to regret that he had acted so erroneously. He assured the Court, that it would operate upon him as a caution in his future proceedings ; which he should take care should never be considered as unadvised. It would give him the greatest happiness to adopt the advice just tendered to him; but he wished it to be distinctly understood, that it was an. error to suppose that he meant to advise the Duke of Wellington to come into the City accompanied by the military. His object was merely to induce his Grace to pass guarded through those parts of the metro- polis where the New Police were so unpopular. • It appeared in the course of the conversation which ensued, that Mr. Pearson had also written to the Duke of Wellington, and had reer ceived an answer ; which, however, he could not read to the Courta-.• because he had promised to keep it secret. The Lord Mayor Elect grounded his communication on a letter signed " A Citizen," which he had received, and a verbal communication of a Mr. Christie, of Gray's Inn Road. Mr. Pearson's justification rested on the complaints of the labouring classes, the declaration of the !Duke against reform, and the acts of violence in various parts of the country. Mr. Bleaden said, he was of opinion the King might come into the City with all his Ministers ; but he believed also, that if any Minister*
Was more unpopzdar them 'another, that Minister was the Duke of 'Wel- lington. If any Minister ever performed an act calculated to throw dis- respect upon the Sovereign' the Duke was that Minister.
It was finally agreed, that a committee should be appointed to pre- pare a declaratory resolution expressive of the loyalty of the citizens and their regret that circumstances should have occurred to deprive th; citizens of the gratification of the Royal visit.
THE Locusr TENENS.—A Court of Common Council—the first at which Lord Mayor Key presided—was held yesterday. A vote to the late Mayor was, after some opposition, agreed to. The Court, in noticing the postponed visit, seem to have taken their cue from the rest of the public, and to be deter2nined to laugh at a mishap which is now remediless. The principal contributor to the mirth of the meeting was Sir Claudius Hunter. We give his account of the interview with Sir Robert Peel on Saturday, of which the Home Secretary gave so solemn an account on Monday. It is a choice spcimen of the eloquence which prevailed on the Duke and the SeLtretary to -advise the King to disappoint the good people of the City. The interview took place at the Home Office. " After waiting," said Sir Claudius, " a short dine, Sir Robert Peel came in and sat himself down ; and the first thing he said, was, What shall we do with the Duke of Wellington ?' It had been previously noticed, mind you, that such and such was intended, for you know tile mob had pelted the Duke in the Park. Well, and so I said to Sir Robert Peel—' Is it necessary that the Duke of Wellington should come.to the City at all ?' Upon which Sir Robert Peel turned round, and said, rather sharply—' Call it be otherwise?' And what did• I say to that ? why, that the Duke of Wellington was the public property • of the world ; and I stated most distinctly that no harm should happen to hims--adding, that his Majesty's body guard, if he brought them, would start up to a man in defence of the Duke. I certainly said, too, that if thousands of persons should intercept the King on his way, to place in his hands a petition representing their starving dispositions : why, in that case, I said, or rather suggested, that it would be prudent to have some troops placed at* great distance, because if there should be any danger of a riot, the constables would not be sufficient ; and I told Sir Robert that the City constables, poor fellows! had beenworking night and day- which they had not done, by the by, but I wanted to give them a puff?'
At a second interview on Sunday, 'Sir Claudius was told by Sir Be. bert, that military, both horse and foot, would be stationed at different places, and an Alderman appointed to watch over each station.
"I confess," Sir Claudius went on "that I began to shake when I heard of this ; and I did not half like the notion, to tell you the plain truth : and I said to myself, Here will be a pretty end to our jollification! Not wishing to take upon myself the responsibility of breaking this news to my brother Aldermen, I asked Sir Robert Peel if he would be good enough just to give me a letter ; but he said—rather short, by the by- ' Sir, it's the law, and you know it.' "
An attempt was made to move an address to his Majesty, to invite hini a second time to visit the City; but it was withdrawn by general consent—properly, we think.
Previous page
