The ftletropolis.
The members of the Court of Common Council met on Thursday. The Lord Mayor announced that he had been honoured with a private audience of the Queen, to present the vote of thanks passed by the Cor- poration for the gift of her Majesty's portrait ; and that he had been most graciously received. Resolutions of the Town-Council of Birmingham against the Bir- mingham Police Bill, communicated to the Lord Mayor by the Town- Clerk of Birmingham, were laid before the Common Council by the Lord Mayor, and ordered to be entered on the minutes.
A communication from the Coroner and Jury, who attended the in- quest on Margaret Moves, recommending a railing to be placed round the gallery at the top of the Monument, was read. The Lord Mayor said, they might as well think of preventing suicide by elevating the walls at London Bridge. Mr. Obbard thought it would be more reason- able to stop up the Serpentine. Alderman Brown asked, if it was really impossible to prevent people's feelings being outraged by a repe- tition of the suicide which occurred at Fish Street Hill ? He thought the question ought to go to a committee, from respect to the memorial- ists. Sir Peter Laurie was of the same opinion. Mr. Anderton said, if the public were excluded from the Monument, they ought not to be admitted into St. Paul's and other noble elevations— Where would the thing end, if they gave encouragement in this instance ? No druggist would be permitted to sell poison, and no cutler would be justified disposing of a razor or a knife. In fact, it was nothing less than absurd to think of making any change in the Monument, in consequence of what had taken place there, and which certainly all lamented.
The memorial was ordered to lie on the table.
I_The Court of Common Council cannot stop the sale of knives or drugs, fill up the Serpentine, or prevent persons from drowning them- selves in the Themes ; but a railing might easily be placed round the top of the Monument to prevent the repetition of suicide in the shocking form brought under the notice of the Court.]
The bust of Mr. Clarkson was exhibited for the first time. It was executed by Mr. Belmes for 130 guineas-100 for the bust and 50 for the pedestal.
A pezition was presented from friends of the " Oberlin Institution in aid of the Abolition of Slavery in the United States of America," for pecuniary assistance to enable the petitioners to obtain their object. The reasons for this appeal to Englishmen are given in the following paragraphs of the petition-
. " The eneouragementgiven to slavery by the professedly free citizens of the United States—the prejudice against Coloured persons, however worthy or respectable, by their exclusion from social intercourse—and the extreme diffi- culty in which the friends of the oppressed are at present placed by recent commercial failures, have compelled the friends of the slave in America to appeal, though with great reluctance, to their brethren in Great Britain Recollecting that the institution of slavery was commenced he their British ancestors, they feel the greater liberty in applying to the philanthro- pists of •his country as Christians, and as friends of humanity and freedom, to assist them iii support of the Obeelin Institution, where the Black, the White, and the Coloured man are educated and taught together, and of which American Abolitionists testify as follows—' We believe it to be accomplishing more for freedom of thought, speeelt and conscience, more for the great cause of human liberty and equal rb,hts, ;he annihilation of prejudice and caste in every form, more to honour God, and exalt his truth, than any other institu- tion in tlte United States.' "
Mr. William Allen spoke briefly from the bar in support of the peti- tion. It was referred to the Coal, Corn, and Finance Committee A report front the Committee to whom was referred the subject of appointing a Commissioner of City Police, and the assessment of ward- rates, was brought up by Alderman Venables. It recommended mea- sures for an early election of the Commissioner, and a fresh assessment of rates for the entire city, to be made on the actual value of property. The report was unanimously agreed to.
Previous page
