The National Register.
London, England, 1816-09-30 00:00:00

ELECTION OF A LORI) MAYOR,

On Saturday there was a Common Ilan held, pur-
suant to annual t.tbtom, for the plrpose of electing one of the Alder-
taco attic City of London to fill the situation of Chief Magistrate for
Cie euming year,—Vas; numbers of per:ons su.r.roundal Huddled' and
its avenues. attracted by the rumour, that the present Cnief Mvis-
trate would again be propose,' to fill that distinguished situation.—
After the u; :al ceremonies. the Crier announced the name of Alder-
man C. Smith, ;M.P. for St. Albans, as next in rotation. This drew
tlirth a tolerable chew of hands, opposed strongly. howenT, by hissing,
and repeated cries of No, nal-111C next was that of .‘ltlernian Good.
behere, and his name produced an exhibition of hands Le more numer-
ous titan the former. The nooses of Alderman Atkin. Nlagney, Cox.
and Ileygate, were then severally put up and rejecual. The offbeat
having thus gone thorough the list oithose who had not served the office
of Lord Mayor, procred to announce 0103 C who had, by stniority.
Upon the name of H. C. Coombe being held tv..t, genera applause took
place ; the chew of halals, in. favour of his return, WWI almost Itencrid.
.fhe name of the pre cot Lord Mayor was then exposed, and gre.it ap-
plause instantly burst forth from every quarter of the hall.—(Louil
shouts of Bravo! Wo.xl for ever! and the waving of hats and hand-
kerchiefs long continuettt—These demonstrations were succeeded by a
persevering exhibition of uplifted hands on every side. The Common
S:rjeant then came forward and announced that, in the opinion of the
High Sheriffs, the choice of the Livery had fallen upon Harvey Chris-
tian Coambe, and upon the Right Hon. Matthew Wood. to be ;c.
turned. to the Court or Aldemica as proper persons to serve the office of
Lord Mayor for the ensuing year. l'he High Sheriffs. Officers. &c.
immediately attended the Court of Aldermen to acquaint them with
the decision ; when. after rome deliberation, the Lord !Mayor, Ile.
eorder, Aldermen, /ie. lett the Council Chamber, and entered the Hall
in due farm. Upon enterin„'r the court, and ascending the hustings.
the Lord Mayor was greeted with acclamations, and as soon as silence
could be obtained, the Recorder came forward, and 'mimic: al to the
hall, that the choice of the Livery having been communicated to the
Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen, they coincided therein ; but that
Mr. Alderman Christopher Smith, the next in rotation for the office of
Lord Mayor, had dentandol a poll, which the Court was of course,
willing to grant.

The Lord Mayor then came forward, cinid applause, w:ii:11 was
continued for several minutes, and repented to as to interrupt his Lord-
ship frequently in his attempting to address the Assembly. At length
he obtained a hearing, anti assured the LiverT, that he had not the
slightest idea of this proceeding, on the part of his friends, until two.
days since. Ile thought proper to dwell upon this insurance, in order
to convince the public, as well as the Lis ery, that no plan or concert food
been entered into by himself, or friends, to adopt the measure, which
was then pursuing Aw the purpose of re-elecing him. But be would be-
lie his own feelings, and prove himself the most ungrateful of man-
kind, if, under a distinction bestowed upon no individual in the recol-
lection of the Court, he sitrunk from the performance of the duties of
a chief Magistrate when duly elected. fShouts of applause swiveled
his Lordship's address, and continued emend ninnies.)
The Lord Mayor, Recorder, and Aldermen, having retired, the She..-
.riffs declared the poll to be opened in a short time, and at half past
three it commenced.

A warm contest continued for an hour, when the poll closed for the
day, leaving the numbers voted as follows:
Fur the Hight Hon. the Lord Mayor -
For Harvey Christian Combe, Esq. - - 97
For Christopher Smith, Esq. - • -

Total polled - 3c7
At the time our paper went to prat. the state of the poll was much
in favour of the Lord Mayor, and Mr. Alderman Combo. Should the
latter gentleman be returned, however, to the Court of Aldermen, we
conceive. that neither election must even then take place t for Mr. Al-
derman cowl* stekmast LO say. is in such a state of ill health, that
it will be imperil& kw hies to serve.
There is no legume of s !Chief Magi trate of the City of London
having been re..dossil komsraisely idler his find mayoralty since the
iffijF institution of this sem I bat we have an example of the
chair being filled tat letsitsda twice by the same individual.
within the memory of ram generation ; and it was the case with
the most popular 4nagislifire that ever sat in it, Mr. Alderman Beek.
ford. „,„.....,-......,-„----

TO THE WORTHY AND •INDEPENDENT LIVERY OF

LONDON.

GENTLEMEN,
An attempt having been this day made to vary the usual course
adopted-by you in returning two Aldermen to the Court of Aldermen,
of whom one should be by them elected to the high and honourable
office of your Chief Magistrate, I (as next in rotation) appeal to your
liberality to return me as one of them. An Englishman bY hirth, and
as sensible as any of my Countrymen of an E:iglisbruan's privilege to
act as respects political subjects, according to the dictates of his con-
science ; I have adopted a line of conduct for myself and have respect-
ed that of others, however 1 may have differed from dim in opinion.
If to this is to, be attributed the displeasure of those by whom I am
opposed, I shall regret the circumstance while I glory in the occasion
that ha., given rise to it.
I look leeward with confidence to the result of the Poll; and shonhl
my expectations be realized, I will so ensleavour to discharge the Duties •
of the Office, that it may descend to my stwaessor unimpaned in its
importance, and unsullied by nly conduct.
.1 have the honour to be, Gentlemen,
Your faithful and obedient Servant,
Guildhall,2Bth Sept. 1816. CIIRISTOPIIER SMITII.