Etc ftirtropolio.
The Court of Common Council assembled on Thursday ; when the attendance of members was unusually numerous, the business before the Court being very important. Mr. II. L. Jones, Chairman of the Royal Exchange Committee,
'brought itp a report from that Committee, which gave a detailed account of the communications and negotiations with Government relative to the rebuilding of the Royal Exchange. It appeared that Mr. Spring Rice, in the first instance, and the Lords of time Treasury afterwards, refitsed to sanction time plans of the committee for the site of the new building and improviug the avenues and approaches thereto, unless the plans and estimates for the building itself were submitted to and approved by them. The Lords contended, that the net of lust session, fbr impyovino. the avenues and approaches and authorizing the loan of 1 50,onoi., ju''stified them in making this demand. On the other hand, the Gresham Committee refused to submit their plans to the Glovem- ment : they were prepared to rebuild the Royal Exchange entirely out of funds in their possession, and required no aid from Government or any other public body. Many letters passed and conferences were held between the Royal Exchange Committee and Lord Melbourne, Mr. Spring Rice, and Mr. Francis T. Baring; the result of which was, an announcement by Ministers that they intended to refer the point in dispute to a Committee of the house of' Commons at the .commencena lit of the session. The Royal Exchange Committee applied to the Re- corder for his opinion ; which Mr. Law gave, as follows—
I have reused the Act of Parliament 'For improving the site of the Royal
Exchange in the city of London, and time avenues adjoining thereto; and I RITI of opinion that the Lords of the Treasury are not empowered to require to be submitted to their approval the plans and estimates for the rebuilding of time new Royal Exchange, but only of the site thereof; and of the avenues and ap- proaches thereto; and I do not think their Lordships woulht be justified, under the provisions of the Act, in withholding their approval of the plan of the site, solely 011 time ground of the non-prmsluetion of time plans and estimates for the builaing the proposed new Royal Exchange. At the same One, I strongly re- commend that the Corporation of London and the Mercers Company, hi their character of Trustees of the Gresham estates, shUlthl hilld themselves to an out- lay of it specified stun fully adequate to the erection of a building in ell respects suit:tide to the purposes of the Royal Exchange on the enlarged site, and of a character and description worthy of the city a bunion in its unproved state. " CHAS. 1). LAW, Recorder." " Temple, Jun. 15, 1$39." The committee reported to the Court, that they could not recommend " the erection of the new Exchange otherwise than in accordance with the opinion of Mr. Recorder."
Mr. Jones having moved that the report be received, Mr. Wire moved an addition-
.. That this Court deeply regret the inconvenience occasioned to time mer- cantile interest of this great city by the delay in rebuilding the Royal Exchange, arising limn the want of the consent of the Lords of her Majesty/s Treasury to the plan of' the intended site of the IICW ROV111 Exchange, and the improve- ments adjoining, ; and agree with the Commiitee in thew report, and refer it back to the Committee to take such steps upon it as they 111/1iy deem desirable; and with power to take the opinion of the Law Officers of time Corporation, 111111 KWh consent as they will deem advisable as to the propriety of Mime+ diately moving the Court of Queen's Bench for a mandamus to enforce the execution of the Act of Parliament against all or any parties who may be con- sidered bound to act in time execution thereof; and, if so advised, immediately to make such application, and institute such iproceedings as may be necessary."
The amendment was supported by Mr. Richard Taylor, Mr. Galloway, and Mr. Corney. Mr. Taylor ridiculed the idea of sub- mitting the construction of an act of Parliament to a Committee of the Douse of Commons, when there was the Court of Queen's Bench, the regularly-constituted tribunal for the decision of such questions, before which the matter might be brmight.
Mr. Jones acceded to Mr. W ire's motion ; and it was carried unani- mously.
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