COMMON Cottarert..—A pretty considerable row has occurred in the Common
Council, arising out of the never-to-be-determined question of Secondary. The last day on which the Court of Aldermen sat, Mr. James took the oaths. On Thursday, a memorial was presented by the Sheriffs, stating that they had had a long letter from Mr. Crowther, the Secondary, submitting to the Court whether Mr. James's election were a legal tine; that a second letter from the same party expressed the fear of the writer, if Mr. James's desire of establishing two offices were com- plied with, it would subject the Sheriff to great mischief, by establishing two independent jurisdictions, and imposing new and serious liabilities on the Sheriffs.
Mr. Wood expressed himself perfectly satisfied with the legality of the election, and blamed the interference of Mr. Crowther, as calculated to excite groundless apprehensions.
Mr. Legge said—It had been asserted by Mr. Crowther, that he af- forded all possible facilities in his office, with respect to information re- quired by the Committee of City Lands. Mr. Legge denied that such was the case. One gross fact, with regard to a man who had been in the office, named Burness, would testify that. A gentleman, now a member of the Court, happened to be arrested. Dimness called upon him for a fee of ten guineas, seven of which he put into his own pocket, and three he handed over to the Secondary. The Secondary afterwards came forward and inforthed the Committee of similar acts committed by the same individual ; but not a word had he said, until that gross impo- sition which was by mere accident detected.
Mr. Crowther, on this charge, rose to address the Court ; but was informed that he could only do so on petition. He immediately presented a petition, with which be had come prepared. The Court was still, however, not inclined to hear him, until the usual preliminary business had been gone through. Mr. Crowther, finding that the Court were determined to proceed upon the ordinary business, took his petition from the officer, and tore it in pieces before their faces. Mr. Thornhill declared, that a more gross or disgraceful insult could not be offered to the Court ; and he should consider it his duty to move a vote of censure upon Mr. Crowther.
Alderman Atkins thought that some allowance ought to be made for the feelings of Mr. Crowther upon being so sharply attacked. It would be advisable in Mr. Crowther to declare to the Court that he had acted under excited feelings.
Mr. Crowther did not, however, move from his chair ; and Mr. Thornhill put his motion, that the conduct of the Secondary was de- serving of the marked censure of the Court ;---which was carried una- nimously.
At the same meeting, Mr. Routh brought up the report of the Com- mittee on the Coal-meters, &c., which was received. In presenting the report, Mr. Routh observed, that it had been ascertained that ship- owners and others were constantly suffering from the enormous frauds practised ; that the sea-meters and the land-meters were worse titan useless ; that, in fact, the whole of the present system abounded with fraud and plunder, and that the ship-owner and coal-consmner would be infinitely better protected by the means of security adopted in the sale and purchase of other cqmmodities. The plan recommended by the Com- -mittee was, the substitution of an open market, like the corn-market, • where the public would be their own protectors. Perfect protection could not, perhaps, be afforded ; but the old system was not to be rendered pure by the suggested administration of oaths, to prevent false returns— a man who would commit a fraud, would not hesitate to swear to it. As to the revenues, the Government had fully recognized the right. of the Corporation to them. The saving which would result from the change of' system would amount to 127,3164 per annum ; and the Cor- poration itself would be benefited by the arrangement.
At the same meeting of the Common Council, the report of the Coin- mittee appointed to superintendlhe preparations of the famous fah of November was also made. It appeared that the sum-total of the ex- penses on that occasion amounted only to 2,880/. Mr. Oldham, the reporter of the Committee, stated, that if it should please his Majesty at any time to honour the City with his presence, the Committee would be ready to receive him at the shortest notice.
Basra OF ENG LAND.—On Thtus4lay, a half-yearly General Meeting of Proprietors was held for the purpose of declaring a dividend. Ques- tions were put to the Governor, Mr. Palmer, with respect to the renewal of the Charter. Mr. Palmer answered, that he knew no more than the public prints had stated,—that Lord Althorp intended to renew the Charter by bill. To a question as to the number of Branch Banks, and whether they were a source of profit or loss, the answer was equally satisfactory,—the number the Governor could not tell ; and he only believed that they were working at a profit—not a considerable profit. The Governor admitted that the Bank had been engaged in Stock Exchange speculations, but not to the extent alleged (2,000,0001.); the mode of repayment of the Government advances, it was added, had not been finally arranged. Mr. Blackburne strongly pressed the propriety of publishing the accounts : previous to the renewal of the Charter they would be laid before the House of Commons, and inspected by a committee there,—and was it to be said that the Legislature were at liberty to inspect their books, while they, the proprietors, were debarred from that privilege ? The Governor remarked, that every ballot of the proprietors taken on that question had negatived it. On being further pressed, Mr. Palmer said, that the Charter, which expires in 1833, " would be made, be felt convinced, to the advantage of the public. The Directors would do all they could to preserve the rights of the Proprietors ; but the public good only would be consulted in the new Charter." [If the Reform Bill pass, it may.] The motion for the 11511111 dividend was then put, and carried.
Mr. Winter gave notice that he should at the next meeting submit a motion, " That no bonus should he declared until accounts are produced to show that the profits of the Bank could afford it."
ST. PATRICK'S SOCIETY.—The forty-eighth anniversary of this bene- volent institution took place on Thursday, at the Freemason's Tavern. The company had to set down to dinner without a chairman : previous, however, to dinner being finished, Lord Leveson Gower arrived, and slipped unnoticed into his seat. His Lordship, in toasting the King, read the following letter from Lord Melbourne to the Secretary.
" Home Office, February 10.
" Sir,—I have had the honour of laying before his Majesty your letter of the 7th instant ; and I am commanded by his Majesty to convey to you the expression of the satisfaction which hts Majesty feels in complying with the wish of the Benevo- lent Society of St. Patrick, that he should become their Patron: and also to ac- quaint volt further, that his Majesty rejoices in any opportunity of associating the Queen with himself for such objects."
The contributions amounted to 1,111/. Mr. O'Connell, after long resisting the call, was induced to take the chair when Lord Gower left it.
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