1837—NOVEMBER 27—The Council petitioned Parliament for an alteration in the fees and regulations in passing private bills. 1837—DECEMBER 15—The Council decided against Mr. Deighton’s proposition to allow a salary of fifty guineas to the Mayor, by a majority of 23 to 12. 1837—DECEMBER 28—The Council decided against Mr. Alderman Chalk’s motion to throw open their meetings to the public, by 24 to 6. 1838—FEBRUARY 21—The Council refused to remove the Corn Market to Angel Street, or to grant the petition of the agriculturists to sell the old Sheep Market as a site for a new Corn Market. 1838—MAY 2—The Council petitioned for the abolition of the apprenticeship system, on the motion of Mr. Alderman Edward Evans. 1838—NOVEMBER—The municipal election made no difference in the political constitution of the Council. At the first meeting of the renovated body, Mr. Alderman Richard Evans was elected Mayor, on the proposition of Dr. Hastings and Mr. Alderman Hall; and Mr. John Hall was chosen Sheriff. Mr. Alderman Richard Evans was the first Dissenter who ever held the office of chief magistrate in Worcester. The Aldermen elected this year were Mr. William Corles, Mr. Palmer, Mr. Chalk, Mr. Lilly, Mr. Edward Evans, and Mr. Benjamin Stokes. 1838—DECEMBER 20—Mr. Padmore chosen Alderman in the room of Mr. Stokes, deceased. 1839—FEBRUARY 7—Mr. E. L. Williams proposed that the Council, “being deeply impressed with a conviction of a thorough examination of the existing Corn Laws,” should petition Parliament for an inquiry into their operation. He thought agriculture needed some protection, though the present laws wanted alteration: if gloves required protection, corn did. Alderman E. Evans seconded his motion. Mr. W. Pugh proposed, as an amendment, that the Council should petition for a total repeal. Alderman Hastings said that a repeal of the Corn Laws would be productive of immense evil; because if they reduced the revenues of the rich, they took it out of their power to assist the poor; and they would certainly rue the day if they agreed to a change that would be so silly. No measure that the legislature could adopt would prevent corn being occasionally dear, and its dearness now arose from deficient production and regrating. On a division there appeared For total repeal: Aldermen Hall, Corles, Lilly, and Padmore; Councillors F. Hall, Greening, Davis, Smith, Oates, J. Hall, George, W. Pugh, Crane, W. Chamberlain, Southan, Dance, Lee, Ledbrook, Groves, and Thompson—twenty. For inquiry only: The Mayor; Aldermen E. Evans, Hastings, and Palmer; Councillors Fawkes, Horne, Dent, Lea, Grainger, Lingham, Summerfield, and Williams—twelve.