Weekly national intelligencer., 1847-12-18

Stanley no doubt feels strongly does the Premier that
something must be done for that miserable country What
Lord John intends TO propose the remedy for her terrible
disorders known only the Administration, and may be
exactly what Lord Stanley himself would propose Were he
consulted therefore, predetermined opposition upon that
point entirely out of the question Free trade extesion
the property tax, the malt and tea duties and other matters
VIII no doubt have friends and determined opponents
bat there be party discipline upon these ponsthe
combaans pro and will vary each OCCASION II may
fairly be presumed that ground for sysemaca opposition
to the present Administration exists be assumed
present
To turn from politics city affairs The annual pageant of
the Lord Mayor of London of the 9th last with great
spendor at least the newspapers say An unpactsed eye
however, in such behed in the heightened procession
vast pouson of gliding and gewgaw but nothing that gave
to rejecting locker such impression of the wealth. the
power the Importance of the city of Londcn should have
been exhibited at the Inauguration of her chief magistrate
Nature was, however, propous the shone very brightly
for Norember IN London, and the air genial and bamy
1t delightful also to witness the of thousands of
hoyday-taking persons who smilngy enjoyed few hours
respite from labor and apparently from care, and gave rise
pleasant hope that perhaps there less misery in this great
metropolis than generally imaginedthere certainly
an abatement for day least. The bright sunshine
bright for London, but how mmeasuraby dim and luseess
compared with your goriousy eugent sky up the gay
colors and metallic spendor of knights of the fourteenth
tu, and state carriages la Louis XIV Iancers Of the
OF the Pennsuar war; and redoient of Waterloo and police
men in their best array But all this was parade behind
the times and correspondent with the true character and
importance of London.
may be Observed however, passant that London is
no longer the metropolis Lord Mayors not now what Lord
Mayors once were The dominion Of the Lord Mayor of
is4 IS but as speck upon the great metropolitan map and
the Roschds and the Bangs, and long list of merchants
unconneced with and undesng of civic honor and dnc-
ton, WELD power infinitely greater than the proudest and
most capable Lord Mayor did WELD The Lord Mayors
show probably the last of the pageans and which
IN ancient London often her Streets that
tnues to be filled by bona tide performers The May day
professions of Jackn-he Green and the November pro-
cessons of Guy Fawke performed by profession
al mendcans instead of chmneysweeps and schooboys
Il may be questioned whether the Lord Mayors show no
longer fairly represents the reality of his position and Office
had not better be abolished conducted upon plan
consonant to the spirit Of the times and the of public
feeling, well better adapted to exhibit the true dignity
and importance of the Office There certainly something
pleasant in the observance of anque custom even
when the origin Of has become of inquiry and the
meaning originally attached to ssquain Device has often
been amusngy, perhaps usealy, discussed when nothing
but the outward form visible but the advantage of pa
radng antique herald through the of London cloth
"Na
in every respect when nnetynne of every hundred of
the spectators mstook him for what they aceousy denom
mated the Lord Mayors fool and gravey reported him to
nquires being such may well be doubted The civic au
thores Of London just good deal of with
the public Some cavers maintain that their chief end and
aim to keep up sham conseryacy of the Thames in order
prevent real and uphold for the sake of its reve
the dangerous and dirty nuisance of Smthe Nor do
they stop here's they go and enlarge much upon the gu
tony Of coPoraOrs They speak of the t,ceny dinners
in the Of one company which all the Injuries Of the
successive spread upon the table sureitng cx
cess They tell Of the pofuson OF rich and wines at
these civic eas the details combine the vouptuounes and
extravaganza of Sardanapaus with the unmagnave vul
gary Of uneducaed enriched by the routine o the most
mechanical arts The grumbles proceed multiply the an
nua festive expenses Of company by the total number Of
city companies and add in the analogous eass Of the Corpora
on properly called The total forms an aggregate that is
positively appalling But this is the worst part of the
commentaries now continually making upon corporate pro-
ceedngs We told Of charitable trusts, instituted cenlu
res by Gresham and others and further that though the
rents Of the lands thus left TO the management Of civic com
Panes have since been quadpd nay increased ten or
twenty fold the exact ''nominaed in the bond con-
nue to be annually expended for purposes of charity or the
promotion Of education, whle the surplus devourcd by the
members Of the companies at thei luxurious easts II the
amount thus spent sordd sensual qualification in the city OF
London the beginning Of the present century had been
saved would have suiced at this time to found and enl
schools adequate the education OF the whole population of
schoogoins Sc, Or it might have paid for the removal of
all nuisances and distractions within the city; m the open
ing the view Of Paus and other architectural master
pieces crowded almost out Of sight by intervening osa
ce Or might have erected and stored with books libra
es extensive enough for the adult population of the
polls These things might have been done that they would
have been worthy objects for the civic authorities Of London
TO have directed their wealth and attention to- no one will
question The continuance Of the Corporation of London
much longer in its present shape may, for the following
sons well be doubted The wealthy and intelligent merchants
of London regard the commercial institutions and laws Of the
city to behind the usagcs and the wants Of mo-
dern commerce
The other metropolitan districts are weared and oppressed
with municipal institution existing in their centre, with
power and too often with desire, thwa and couneract
measures and improvements necessary for the good Of the
whole, and admitted be by and enlightened const
tuenee, elected h. the spirit Of the age and its improved mode
Of Judgment but innca to- perhaps, judged to be Ivy,
the holders Of obsolete and antique vested rights And lastly
the Of the vemen Of London themselves becoming
ashamed Of the frcca charscer OF the city institutions par
icusry when the progress Of municipal reform has abolished
ancient mummcy almost every other corporate body and