Polynesian., 1856-09-20

ted money, IN order that the attractions of some
thing like fair might be added to the CEREMONY
A hundred years ago, and later the peerage did
not disdan to patrOnise the proceedings, and the
day of election was holiday for many thousands
of persons. Never before or since have such mul-
utudes assembled at the appointed place of gath
erlng, the roads thereto been so blocked up BY
carts and carriages. There you might see honor
able members on horseback, and dustmen on DON
keys, scrambing for the roadway, Just as may hap
pen now on going to the EPSON races. Hundreds
OF thousands sometimes assembled, and, through
the sweltering crowd, the candidates, dressed like
chmney-sweeps on May day, or in some mock he
rolc fashion, were brought to the hustings in the
carriages of noblemen, drawn by half.a dozen
horses-the owners themselves occasionally con-
descending to be the drivers Alas for the altered
relations of men and things in these later genera
tons But the great world spins for ever down
the ringing grooves of change So changed, in
deed, Is all this fraternising of the peerage with
the populace, that nothing remains of it, save
what we may sometimes see at general election
tor members to serve in parliament, when the
horses OF proper candidate are taken from his
carriage, and he is dragged in triumph through
the streets by number Of freemen,' with faces
nditferently acquainted with soap and water.
1t was the specialtyof the candidates for the may
orally of CARAT, that they invariably ready to
swear to anything (ln these days of purity of
election, cannot be wrong in calling this special
ty notwithstanding the ill-natured opinion of some
persons who affirm that other candidates are quite
as comPlalsant) Be this as it may, the CARAT
candidates promptly swore to anything desired and
made unlimited promises about reforming everything
Each elcctor was at the time required to take pre-
scribed oath, upon brick bat 1t was the fashion
for the candidates to figure under pseudonyms.
Thus, at one election, Sir Jeffrey Dunstan was op-
posed by Lord rwonkum, Squire Blowmedown aud
Squire Gubbings. His ordship was the CARAT
]
and the squires respectively a waterman
named Willis, and Master Smmonds, Southwark
publican. Sir Jeffrey, on presenting himself,
spoke boldly on the nature of his qualifications,
and intentions. He referred to his immense es-
tate IN the Isle of Man. in proof of the sOlidty
OF his property; announced his design of relieving
the king of his present want of money by abolish
ing It's use; engaged to keep his promises while it
was his interest to do so; and promised the ladies'
to Introduce bill for annulling marriages-all
which, he said, with remarkable logic, must
greatly increase the influence of the crown, and
lower Indian bonds He did not pretend that, if
elected, he should altogether avoid place-hunting,
but lntlmated that his ambition was limited to the
goyernorship of Duck Island or the bishopric cf
Durham. The latter was mentioned for the pur-
pose of enabling the invisibleshirted knight to add
that he was fond of clean shirt and lawn
sleeves
The candidates were under the obligation of con-
Quoting themselves throughout the contest accord
ing to the rules of honor and politeness. When
Sir Jeffrey Dunstan opposed Sir John Harper, there
were FIVE other candidates, all of whom where al
lowed a hearing, and ere otherwise considered to
be entitled to the courtesy which is due from one
gentleman to another These five celebrities have
been thus described Sir William Blaze, of high
rank in the army, corporal in the city bands
Admiral Sir Christopher DashwOod, known to many
VINO has tsicl felt the weight of his hands their
shoulders, and showing execution in the other
Sir William SwallOwtaI, an eminent merchant, who
supplies most Of the gardeners with strawberry
baskets Sir John GnawpOst, who carries his traf-
ic under his left arm, and whose general cry Is,
twenty five if you win, and FIVE if you lose ;; and
Sir Thomas Nameess, of reputation unmentlona-
ble.' We quote from DIR. DOran, from whose re-
Gently published work on Knights and their Days
we have obtained the rest of these particulars
The quotation, however, is made by the doctor from
some previous authority-apparently contemporary
with the events under description. The only IN
stance in which grnIemany courtesy on the part
of a candidate is said to have been forgotten
CURED on the occasion of Sir Jeffrey first election.
The offender was the aforesaid Sir John Harper, his
predecessor in the mayoralty. Sir Johns temper
was doubtless ruffled by the opposition he had to
contend with, and thus, losing command of him
SELF he encouraged his squire in armour TO insult
his most popular opponent. But this was MT al
lowed to pass with impunity. The insuted knight
appealed to the usages Of the election, and the Of
fender was thereupon compelled to dlsmount, drop
his colors walk SIX times round the hustlnSs, and
humbly ask pardon for his delinquency. Sir JOhn
as we have seen also lost his election, returned to
private station aRd left his axample a standing
admonition against all violation Of the laws OF no.
bic chiyairy.
The Sir William Swaowtail, mention ed in the
above enumeration, though never an elected mayor
of CARAT seems deserving of passing notice, IN
. ,rYrrtr,, lRE-1 he
conceptions He was q basket-maker of Brent
ford, who. deeming it proper, on the occasion of
the election, to have an equlpage every way SUIT
able to his calling, built his carriage, with his
own hands, in n style after his own particular taste
It was made of wicker-work, and was drawn by
four high hollow-backed horses, whereOn were
seated four dwarish boys ianastlCally dressed for
postions The coachman wore wlcker-hat, and
Sir William himself, in picturesque array, seated
in the vehicle, supported his dignity amidst uh-
bounded applause All this ingenuity OF getting
up' however, did not avail the worthy knight IN the
press of the great contest. Sir jeffrey Dun
stan was still more popular, and carried the day
in the face of all competitors. Three times, as
already said, was he elected, and then his waning
grandeur paed before the star of Sir Harry DIms-
dale. After Sir Harry, the mayoralty was extin-
guished thus sharing the fate of all venerable IN
stitutions of which society has grown tired. An
ATTEMPT was made to renew the saturnaia as late
Iy as 1896, when Sir John Paul Pry presented him
self as candidate in very bad English, it IS said,
and with a similarly qualified success The al
tered times had no welcome for the olden frollc
So CARAT remains without mayor, and would De
as nsignifcan, in all respects as any other obscure
village in the kingdom, were 1t not tor the lstre
it derives from the subject of the present history
I-Chanlbers'S Journal.
The Astronomy of Empire.
writer in Hunts Merchants Magazine for
June. is noting the westering way OF the Star ol