Lord Broughamalso presented a petition from an individual, complaining that the Common Council of London imposed a fee on the presentation of petitions to their court,—thus interposing the necessity of a "silver key" (or rather a "golden" one), instead of throwing open their doors, as did both Houses of Parliament, to petitioners. He would take that opportunity of saying, that he had on a former evening understated some of the items of the city income; as, for instance, the receipts derived from the fees on petitions appeared to amount to nearly 75,000l per annum. He had stated the parochial tithes at 20,000l whereas they amounted to 50,000l. Again, the duty on coals brought in 85,420l; yet such was the expenditure of the corporation that this duty was mortgaged, for no less an amount than 1,048,000l. So that he had not at all, certainly overrated the importance of the subject to which he had recently called the attention of their Lordships. He would beg in conclusion to call the attention of his noble and learned Friend on the Woolsack to the statements thus presented.
Lord Campbellwas glad the noble and learned Lord had heard the appeal to himself, because he also had to make an allusion to him upon the subject. It was perfectly astounding to hear the noble and learned Lord appealed to in confirmation of the imputations made against the corporation of London by his noble and learned Friend (Lord Brougham), considering that not very long ago the noble and learned Lord on the Woolsack had, at a dinner given by that corporation, spoken in terms of eloquent eulogy respecting it, declaring his gratification at finding, that while other corporations had suffered rude and harsh disturbance by the hands of the Reformers, the ancient, the venerable corporation of London, had been, and he hoped it would be still, preserved in all its integrity. The noble and learned Lord had used language of this 335 flattering character — [Lord Lyndhurst: Not in that tone though]—respecting a corporation now subjected to the most grievous abuse, as the very opprobrium and reproach of all municipalities. He did not know how far his noble and learned Friend's speech on a former evening had altered the opinion of the noble Lord on the Woolsack.
The Lord Chancellor:Had my noble and learned Friend been present on the occasion alluded to, I would have appealed to his recollection whether I ever uttered such expressions. All I can say-now is, that it was an after-dinner speech, and I have really no recollection of having uttered them.
Lord Brougham:I was present on that occasion, my Lords, and certainly have no remembrance of such language on the part of my noble and learned Friend. It appears not very strange, considering the civic festivities which my noble and learned Friends were then encountering, that their accounts of the matter should differ so much. As to my noble and learned Friend's compotator (Lord Campbell), now, at all events impransus. I can assure him that if he be now surprised at any agreement between my noble and learned Friend on the Woolsack and myself respecting the corporation of London, he may be yet more surprised before he has acquired much longer experience in the world.
Lord Campbellwas not present on the occasion, but he understood that the oration was one of the best efforts of the noble and learned Lord, praising in the highest terms that which his noble and learned Friend behind him had so vehemently condemned.