The National Register.
London, England, 1817-10-06 00:00:00

• • ' I'l/4
• E' F.CTION OF A LORD MAYOR.
Monday a Clanton Hall was held of the Livery of London.
For the purpose of proceeding to the Election of a Lord Mayor
fierthityear twining.
doom after eleven o'clock the Lord Mayor, attended by
*IQ tif the Aldermen, the Sheriffs, Recorder, Common Ser.
jeasst, dee. went to St. Lawrence's Church and heard divine
service ; after which they took their sense on tha Hastings.
The Recorder thee came forward and opened the business
seer which,
The Lord Mayor. Recorder, and Aldermen, retired from
the Hustings to the Alderman's-room, as tumid, In order to
leave the Livery to their free choice
The Sheriffs and the Common Serjeant then came forward;
and the Common Serieatit read over die names of those Alder-
me, who were eligible, which were as follows :
Aid. C. Smith,
W. Heygates
Sir M. Bloxliam, Ald. G. Bridgm.
J. Atkins, R. A. Cox,
S. Goodbehere. and J. J. Thorp.
Magnay,
Ur. Hitehins then came forward on the Hastings mad ad-
dressed the Livery. He said he need not revert hi the Elec-
tion of a Lord Mayor last year, the reanit of whieli was so
well known to them all ; an election so beneficial in its come-
nnenees to the citizens of London, to the country, and to the
avorid at large.—Cries of " How ? How ? Tell as that!—At
that time, however, no one coulil have expected that we should
lie so soon robbed of our rights ; aid that our liberties should
have been itntnolated on thealtars of despotism,•—[Hisses and
Applanses.]—This roontry had since that time arrived at an
xinerimpled state of despotisin.—[Mnrmurs.]—He knew that
the advocates of the present system did not like the word
despotism.—[Hives and Applause. j —But there was a Latin
maxlin, which not even the advocates of despotism, lie thought
tomtit he displeased with, gamely, silos pope* supreme
Sex, (which be verhaly Eaglistted thns •' the health of the
people is the supreme law.") Was it not a proof of despotism
when our liberties were saeritired to the mast comfit and
arbitrary Court that ever exisfed.—EGreat tumult between
the hissing and applauding ]—He would appeal to argument.
and ask when any had existed In the world, which, with the
engine of despotism in its hands, had extorted so much mo-
ney from the people as ours' had in the last 00 years; or hid
dared to lavish it in so profligate a asanner.—[Dreadfal to.
malt and noise.]—Had not Alderman C. Smith, he would ask,
supported every one admit arbitrary ineasnres? Alderman
am.th puts forth his pretentious only on the score of the usual
rotation ; but it was their duty to elect a Chief Magistrate
aceerding to merit, and Dolby rotation. The power lodged in
a MagletraWs heads had lirea ahewn In the ease of Oliver,
who had prevailed on a Magistrate to imprison 10 innocent
men. They were met to chime a tit and prefer person to be
thole Lord Mayor fur the vest year ; and they had last elec-
tion !hewn that Aldcrams Smith was not so.—[Cries of No,
No I. and of Yes. Yes ll—Arlie saute engines of corruption es
. .

conntry in
they

so Wog
_. a decided expres-
sion of p ibtie °pleb* hod been delivered in that Hall, which
ended in the return pr the Lord Mayor, a second time to till
that hgro elite. Was the, e tem reason cow to avoid a similar
experssiontof poblill opinion? fiver* a similar exertion was!
not reqa!reel ofthem, since the cirenonstaoces were toot at
all altered, whlch hideried them to make the choice they did
last year. Had Alder loan C. Smith, saner that time, read his'
recantation? d it,ott he mow proiti.e to be the supporter. .of
the liberties of the profile ? The ailmienstration hail throwu
down the gaunt et to the people, by depriving them of what
was heretofore the palladium of oar Constitution and Idol:ohm
brat what had they gained by doing so ?—they had acquired a
power which they were afraid to earldom. The only claim
Mr. Alderman Smith made on the Livery was, by the rotation;
bat If they went by that, it would be destructive of the right
of electioa. Let theist skew tbenhelvestlite friends of Reform ;
and not its weathercock friends,. He concluded by recap-
mending the present Lord Mayor and Alderman Goodbeliere
to the choice of the Livery.
Mr. Oliver said the Livery had last year a very good reason
fur re-electing the Lout Mayor, since it was then stated to
theta that he lead..plans on foot which he bad not been able to
complete. That reesoli no longer existed. He had always
found their Akli•rneeti honest in the discharge of their duties
an Mel Singi•trwten, whether they were Ministerialises or
title% wise. The Livery had already sufficiently Motown its
alreligth fee puloislming Mr. Alderman C. Smith, and " it Was
excel cut to hare a giant's strength, but tyrannous to use it
like a giant." lie trusted a majority would think Alderman
Smith a lit and proper pernon to AU the office of Lord Mayor.
...., Hisses and A pplasse.j
Mr. d'iilistiors said be bad expected, from the opening of
this siehject, that the Livery had met to elect a prime Mistle-
toe; brat they were met for no such pnrpose.— [Great tumult.]
—Hr 164111 satisfied that this day the Livery would, by a show
of bands, return Alderman C. Smith ; but it' not, they would
bo nnolim the neeresity of calling on them for a farther exer-
ting, of their Privileges. Alderman Smith had always studied
the entered% of the City t - if-lineal—and he was perfectly
a *leaded he world do his duty.
Tue Cmamon Smjeant then informed the Livery that
fol,ssrs. Hotelnius and Vaughan had pat the Lord Mayor in
noinimotien.
The ea ucs of the several eligible Aldermen were put up,
when lit fir fir.iter leer appeared for the Lord Mayor;
beet the skew w n su equal 16r dr. Alderman C. South. mid
Mi. Wet-shin lieu Ihrheie, that the Sties offi, after a con ulta.
Lion, +-dared tirr.unrlnen unable .141 Deride.
Th.. Common Serjeatit then informed the Livery that
ilpirecoat of the Sheriff's was, that their choice had fade., en
the. Lord Mayen; but they whited the names of AlJeitaan

Wank now, which had last year required a man of 'firmness,
and a friend to the people to resist them. Let them, therefore
exercise the Atli r*ltt of election. A poll might be demanded;
but if they exerted themselves as they hail done last year,
their triemph wonlj be agaia complete. He then moved a
Reeoluloo, that the Lieery.sboold return. the present Lord
Moyne and Alderman doulebere to the Court of Aldermen ;
but at the sulteition of the Commog nerjeaust, he admitted he
Ind committed tip ennui as hiregraldrogee oommes resolution ;
hot eattessted inntseilf with. wesearirnesq, dm Lard Mare
mad Alikewea Gawilmierve. iisibNidloiriontie Livery.
Mr. Wailer. (Tie aka iherieli dims ensue fen-ward and said
dsattlity were use suet to exercise a suit important right,
bat be did sot stead there to oppose any sun personally ;—he
opposed principles, which he was serene use could defend
whieb bad been acted upon tor a long period, amid bad
ocerisioned all the disarm. the people bud so long felt;
and'wlrlcl4, R acted alma longer. would bring this country in
the entl to init.. Yet hid u tba.e priuriples were. stilt they
were beneficial to a few, who cared not fur posterity. so Wag
as their own ends wrt served. Lost year a decided expres-