Punch (86.1884)

May 3, 1884.]

PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

205

NEW MUNICIPALITY OF LONDON.

Guildhall, May 1st, 1885.

The first meeting of the Common Council of London was held as
above, the Lord Mayor in the Chair.

There was a very full attendance of Common Councillors, and
much excitement was exhibited in critically examining the beautiful
new Council Chamber that their predecessors, the Common Council-
men of the old and distinguished, but now extinguished, City of
London, had so liberally provided for them. In fact the noise and
hubbub were so great, and the Lord Mayor was so puzzled and dazed
at his unaccustomed position, that nearly an hour elapsed before
business could be proceeded with.

The Lord Mayor addressed the Court very briefly, and was so
painfully nervous that scarcely a word he said could be understood.
His Lordship then called upon the Town Clerk to state the order of
their proceedings.

The Town Clerk replied that as some considerable doubt existed
as to whether all appointments made by the Provisional Council would
not require confirmation, and as the number appointed was nearly
three thousand, it had better be referred to the Law and Parliamentary
Committee to take Counsel’s opinion and report. Referred accord-
ingly, with orders to report forthwith, as no municipal work could be
proceeded with till that point was decided.

It was announcedthat there were no less than thirty-six deputations
from District Councils with petitions humbly praying to be allowed
to elect their own officers and go on as usual. Their numbers filled
Guildhall Yard, and as the rain was pouring in torrents, they were
after long debate allowed to take refuge in Giuldhal 1. Several Coun-
cillors objected to these prayers being granted as they all had
several friends candidates for the various offices. Referred to Dis-
tricts Committee.

The City Architect reported that there were no less than twenty-
eight applications for leases for most important properties, requiring
instant attention. Referred to Leases Committee. The Chamberlain
said that £562,000 of City Bonds would fall due in a month, and
would require great care and attention as regards renewal. Referred
to Finance Committee. He also said the late Metropolitan Board of
Works had informed him that a fresh loan of about Three Millions
would he required to carry out certain improvements sanctioned by
Parliament. Referred to Committee. Mr. Smith wished to know
how their finances stood. The Chamberlain replied that they had
liberally taken over a debt of about Twenty Millions owing by. the
late Metropolitan Board of Works, and a debt of about Six Millions
owing by the late Corporation, making a nice little total of about
Twenty-six Millions of debt with which to begin business. (A laugh
from an old Common Councilman.) Mr. Smith said he didn’t see
anything to grin at.

Mr. Mudd (Shoreditch) said it certainly wasn’t a sum to be sneezed
at. (“' Hear ! ”) The Chamberlain asked instructions about making
the necessary “ City Rate.”

Mr. Jones (Bethnal Green) said he thought there must be some
mistake somewhere, lie and his friends had understood that the
money of the late wealthy Corporation would pay nearly all their
necessary expenditure, and that merely a small rate would be neces-
sary, as the twenty-first clause of the Bill said, if the City funds
were insufficient for the purpose. It was only with the view of
getting hold of the fabulous wealth of the old Corporation, and so
largely reducing their crushing rates, that they had worked so hard
to get this Bill. (“ Hear, hear ! ”)

The Chamberlain said he was afraid that they would find the old
Corporation’s enormous wealth fabulous indeed, for they had for
years spent more than their income, and the whole property trans-
ferred to the new Corporation would not reduce their rates more than
a penny in the pound, while he much feared, from what he had
learned of their probable expenditure, those same rates would be
increased at least fifty per cent. (“ Oh, oh! ” and groans.)

Mr. Robinson (Bermondsey) said as he thought there must have
been a lot of lying somewhere, and if so, he for one hoped as them
as had done it, would get tbeir hides well tanned. (A laugh.)
Referred to Committee.

Mr. Gormond (Whitechapel) wanted to know when they were going
to have their first grand banquet, and how many tickets they would
have for themselves. (“ Hear ! ”) He had read in a very big book
written by a Member of Parliament, so it must be true (a laugh) that
the market price for them was about ten guineas a piece. (Cheers.)
So about four or five would just about suit his book.

The Solicitor reminded the hon. Member (a laugh) that Banquets
could now only be given to “ distinguished persons.” (“ Oh, oh ! ”)

Mr. Mudd, said he thought as they had been all distinguished by
being elected by such a jolly lot of electors; they was quite
distinguished enough for a beggarly dinner. (“ Hear ! ”)

^^11)11 ^er (Shoreditch) wished to know what payments
would be made to Members of Committees as was done in the old
Corporation.

The Town Clerk said that no members of Committees were paid for
attendances in the old Corporation.

Mr. Robinson : What, more lying ? (“ Hear ! ”)

The whole question of the future sanitary arrangements of the
Metropolis was referred to the Sanitary Committee. The question of
the housing of the half million poor of London was referred to the
Building Committee. The question of the whole water-supply of
London was referred to the Water Committee. The question of the
future lighting of the whole Metropolis was referred to the lighting
Committee. During the whole proceedings the noise and confusion
was something incredible. About twenty other important matters
was referred to various Committees, and then, amid shouts of
“ Adjourn ! ” the Lord Mayor asked till when ?

The Town Clerk said he feared they would have to sit de die in
diem for the next three months at least. (“ Oh, oh ! ”)

Mr. Mudd protested against any of tbeir Officers presuming to
address them in the French language. Let him explain what he
meant in decent English.

The Town Clerk explained, with great humility, that the matters
they had already referred to various Committees, would, he should
think, require the daily attendance for months to come of every
member ; and as each would be on four Committees, he thought they
would have to sit daily from ten till six. {Groans.) And then, so far
as we could make out in the noise that prevailed, the Court adjourned
till to-morrow.

HYDE PARK CORNERED.

The following Minute-paper upon which was based the Report of;
the Committee appointed by an Illustrious Personage to consider the j
decoration of the Yew Place at Hyde Park Corner, and decide upon
the fate of the Equestrian Statue of the Great Duke of Wellington, j
is now published for the first time.

H.R.H. the Prince of Wales begs to say that having started a.
very popular movement, he thinks something ought to he done at;
once. Statue ought to be removed. Why not to Aldershot ?

Colonel Ellis’s opinion. “ By all means, Aldershot.”

The Duke of Wellington’s opinion. “Aldershot or Seringapatam.;
At all events, out of sight of Apsley House.”

The Earl of (Northbrook entirely agrees with His Royal Highness’s;
proposal that the Statue should be expelled from London.

Yiscount Hardinge is for Aldershot,—and so he hopes is the;
Statue. Would be willing to submit a design of his own drawing for
a “ suitable pedestal.”

Lord de L’Isle and Dudley quite approves of Aldershot. The1
Statue might otherwise have been placed in the Park. It might have
been burnished with gold-leaf, and polished up. It would have
looked (as everything should look) nice in the Park.

Baron de Rothschild. thinks Aldershot quite the best possible site
outside this best of all possible Metropolises.

Sir R. Wallace, M.P., suggests that it might he turned somehow
into a drinking-fountain.

Sir T. Brassey, while respectfully bowing to the Prince’s better
judgment, asks if nothing could be done wTith it as a figure-head to
an iron-cl ad ?

Sir F. Leighton, P.R. A., cannot sufficiently approve of the Prince’s
admirable feeling for all that is best in (Nature and Art. Aldershot*
is as lovely as a Greek child playing in the ambrosial streams of a
never-ending summer. Certainly Aldershot, by all means.

Mr. Shaw-Lefevre’s opinion. “Yes, Aldershot, — and get rid
of it.”

Mr. A. B. Mitford considers Aldershot eapital. First, however,
the Statue might figure in a Fancy Bazaar ; and couldn’t it be made
to move a bit, with music underneath,—some air from Offenbach
—might have a variety of ’em to turn on as Duke moves his arm and
horse moves head and tail:—this (with submission to H.R.H.) would
be at all events even more of a change of air for the Statue than
Aldershot.

“A Very Susceptible Chancellor.”—An admirable dish of
“ Bacon ” has been served up by Dean Church of St. Paul’s in Mac-
millan’s More-and-Morley Series of English Men of Letters. The
first line of the monograph is its own summary, “ The Life of Francis
Bacon is one which it is a pain to write or to read.” Francis
Bacon was an arch-dissembler, and a miracle of self-deception. As
Cannie James said, “ There were many sides of Bacon, and when his
flattery was more fulsome than usual, it was only a fine specimen of
the ‘ Gammon of Bacon.’ ” Those wbo trusted him he deceived. To
quote Ben Jonson’s witty observation, “ Bacon is Francis, but
not frank,” to which, as it will be remembered, Shakspeare at once
replied, “ True, Ben ; and to see him with his friends, by my hali-
dom, ’tis to he looking at 1 Bacon and Greens.’ ” Dean Church has
omitted these anecdotes, with which, we are firmly convinced, none
of the former biographers of Bacon were acquainted.