The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1843-11-07 00:00:00

THE MAYOR

Mr. HUGH HORNItY said, before they retired, he had
a very pleasing duty to perform—the most pleasing that
had ever devolved upon him in that chamber. It was to
propose a vote of thanks to the Mayor, and he hoped they
would not consider that vote in the light of a mere matter
of course, for he thought from no public body was such
an expression ever more justly due. He would not remind
those whom he had the honour of addressing, of the ad-
mirable manner in which the mayor had presided over
their deliberations during his year of office, of the great
intelligence which he had displayed and of the mild yet
dignified deportment which had distinguished him. It
was not merely as chairman of that council that he had
exhibited qualities so worthy of commendation in every
department of his office he had asked so as to gain the
esteem of all, no matter to what party they belonged, so
that he would have the pleasure of feeling, in his retire-
ment that he had won the esteem of the whole community.
He had sincere pleasure in moving a vote of thanks to the
mayor. (Loud cheers.)
Sir THOMAS BRANCKER said, he had great pleasure in
seconding the motion. The excellent address of Mr.
Hornby rendered it unnecessary for him to add further
comment.

Mr. EVANS hoped the mayor would indulge him in the
pleasure of adding one more word on the occasion. He
wished to express the deep satisfaction which he had felt
in noting the conduct of the present mayor ever since he
had been elected to the office. His last vote was worthy
of it, and added another halo to those which he already
had about him.

Mr. AIKIN said, he had hoped the pleasing task of
making this motion would have fallen upon him ; but in
this good and kindly act there had been a sort of anxiety
to be foremost. Mr. Aikin gave his testimony as to the
admirable manner in which the Mayor had performed the
duties of his office, and expressed a hope that the feelings
entertained towards him would prove the commencement
of a more kindly spirit amongst them. _

Mr. BUSHELL said, his party felt that they bad a right
to claim this honour to themeelves ; but courtesy had in-
duced them to yield to others a pleasure that was more
justly due to themselves. _

The vote of thanks was carried by acclamation

The MAYOR said : I beg to assure the Council, that I
feel most deeply grateful—more grateful, I fear, than I
shall be able to find words to convey—to the Council for
the very flattering expression of the opinion entertained
of my services during the period I have bad the honour to
hold my present office. That those services have been
greatly exaggerated, and spoken of in terms they do not
merit, 1 must admit ; but I believe I may say that the
Council have not over estimated my desire to discharge
the duties connected with my office faithfully and impar-
tially towards all. lam not insensibe to the fact, that, in
the attempts I have made to preside over the deliberations
of this Council, I may, on some occasions, have appeared
to outstep the limits of my duty in endeavouring to check
what appeared to me to be objectionable or irregular. It
is very possible that this may be laid to my charge ; but I
think the council will acquit me of an intentional want of
courtesy towards any of its members for whom it was my
duty to entertain every respect. I trust they will not be
unwilling to attribute my motive to no other cause than a
feeling of jealousy for the character of the Council, and a
deep anxiety, that. all its proceedings should be so con-
ducted, as to have no other object than the good of the
community in view. I shall retire from this chair, with a
grateful recollection of the kindness of the Council, and
of the readiness with which they have overlooked many
defects on my part, as well as tolerated my interference
when, perhaps, I had no right to expect it. (Loud cheers.)
The Council broke up at twenty minutes to four o'clock.