Lord Mayor's Day.
The Times, 1824-11-10T00:00:00

Yesterday being the day on which, by prescriptive custom, the new Lord Mayor is swern into office at Westminster, and receives the consumlmation of civic honouar, every preparation was made in tile city to render the procession and grand entertainrnent as rnagni_ icent aspossible. HiaLordship had actively engaged himself for the parpos of revivingthe ancientspiritoftheth of November and certainly no expense was spared in rendering thie pageant an objeerc of wonder. The public seemed to be awarc of the richness of they treat intended, end alf the streets through which the C.hief 1llngis- trate was to pass were CFowvded at an early hour. Several shops were closed in order to avoid broken windows, and pickpockets weTe in abundance at every corner. rindeed, one gentleman lost his pocket- book, containing 6001., at the corner of Queen-strees, as the proces- sion was passing. At 10 o'clock the Lord Mavor's carriage was driven through the city, and attracted great admriration. The coach, rnan,outrider, and footmnen, were literallvcovered with golf. Theont- rider's jacket, when the sun,e whiclh had a cbeerful influence the whole of the day, played upon it, appeared quite in a blaze. Chains of gold ran along the arms ant back with embroidered flowers, antd at the top of each sleeve was a bouquet interspersed with olive feaves and cornucopie. On the shoulders were worked aigulets of massive gold chain-work. The cloth, secarccly any of which was oer- ceptible, amidst the splendour of the embroidery, was of grcen, lined with yellow. The pattern of the broad and heavy lace, which was so profusely accumulated, was beautiful, and had the strongattraction of novelty to recommend it. Thisimportantsap- pendage to the occasion was egualled by the liveries of the other servan ts of hie liordship, and wats highly creditable to the taste of Mtr. PaUtl, of Backlersburv, who made the liveries of his Lordship, when Sheriff: The fat sleek condition of tee men corresponded with, the reputation of the Gudlidhall banquet. At a little after 11 o'clock a grand breakfast was prepared for the Lord itayor, Aldermen, anti Corporation, in the Common Council Chamber, in which a great number of ladies, who would not run the hazard of a street view, were assembled. T he Sheriffs attended in state in their robes, foT- lowed by the Under-Shitrifrli and their officers. Tke late Lord Mayor, Aldermen W.1rood, Sir C. S. Hunter, Bridges. .agnay, Venables, and Thompson, were the only AldermeD weobserved at this commence- ment of the ceremonies of the day. The Common Sergeant, Nr. Sergeant Arabiri, and the other citV law officers, were at the break- fast. Atabout half past twelve, the Lord Mllayor got into his statar arriage, and the procession began to tnove. The horses which drew his Lordship were verv superbly Caparison- ed with green and yellow ribands, and emblazoned hammer-loths- The two city niarshals, although aneustomed to " the soft i hrase of peace," looked most warlike. They headed thte processioa like triumphiant heroes. The renowned men in armour followved. with their esquires in deni-militarv array, and their attendants in hie costume of tle days of Walwor&h. But everv one of tihe ciyic caval- cade shoeld be plump and rosy: nowtiome of these certainly brought to our recollection FaalOtf"s reginment, and looked as if the last meal they had tasted was on the anniversary of 1823. The herald, for instance, would he laughed at if he dared to bid defiancw to anv body, so deplorabty didl his appearance correspond with his office. In the list, the seeond suit of armour is set down as being fronm the Tower, wlhere it has the character of having onee covereh the body of fHenry V. This suit has been palmed upon the citizens as of that great antiquity, but t)r. Mevrick has provedl that there is not a single suit of artnnour in the Tower older than the days of henry VII I. The late LordI Ataor lwas greatly cheered as the pro- cession passed along Cheapside and down _LudgIte-hill. At Black- friars-bridge, where the crowds of spectators were imnmense, the company embarked on board the citV state barge. The barges of the Goldsriths', the Alferchant Tailors', the Fishmongers', the Gro- cers', and several other Companies received the suite. AU the barges were decorated with the emblazoned banners of the companies, and were unusually brilliant upon the water. The wind was rather brisk, and near Waterloo-bridge the Goldsmiths' barge, in spite of the ex- ertions of the wvatermen, was driven against one of the heavy coal barges, and sustained some dansage. Near Blackeriars-bridge, se- veral persons tumbled into the water, but we are glad to say thet n0 serious accident occurred-an extraordinary fact, considering tha-, such a crowd of small boats accompanied the aquatic pageant, that it was matter of great difficLulty to ayoid upsetting sorme of them. The l.ord dlayor w as saluted by rerpeated discharges of canr.ora, and the ringing of all the city bells. A4t half-past twDo, his Lordship larnded at Westminster, anti proceeded to the C,ourt of Exchequer. As this Court is a temporary erection on the miserablv contined space formerly occupied as the Court of Chancerv. the c lowdirg of the eurious became a sonice of thle utmPost annoyance. The Barons of the Exchequer sat in their robes to receive the civic body. fhe Recorder advanced, leading the new Lord Mayor on his right, and the old on his left. In introducing the new Lord AMayor to the Barons, the Recorder (as far as we couJd collect from the feeble tones of the learned gentleman) said, he had the honour of intro- ducing to the Court, the Right Hon. John Garratt, Citizen and Goldsmith, a gentleman elected by the free choice of his fellow- citizens, as worthy. from his public ai-d private virtues, to sustean the uiostimportatut and dignified officein tleirdisposal-that of their chief magistrate. The learned gentleman then enumnerated at con- siderable length, the duties of the office, thleir important and honour- able nature, and expressed his conviction that his Lordslhip would be wanting in nothing that was calculated to maintain the dig- nity and spiendour which always belonged to the situation. His Lordship Would doubtless preserve with inflexible firmness the inva- ltrable privileges of his fellow-citizens, act with diligence and impar- tielity in the justice seat, maintain that hospitality and munificent splendlour whlichv were worthyof the first mnetropolis in the world, and secure, at the expiration of his mayeraly, the thanks and es. teen of all his constituents. The Recorder then said, he bad the hotnour to introduce Robert Waithman, Esq., Alderman and Frame-work.knitter, who attenided to render in nis account of the thalhful discharge of the duties of hiis office. That gentleman hat acted meritoriously throughout. He had discharged his duties With zeal and loyalty. As a magistrate he had been most diligent and able, and had everywhere gained renown and esteem. He had shown hiiself the fiiend of the afflicted, the protector of the op- pressed, and made himself tlhe terror of evil-doerss He had Mm;n- rained the hospitality and splendour of the city, and his 0conduct throghout the year had been nuarked by an ardent desice to con- ciliate the goodwill of his fellowecitizens, nnd to iromoto every thnlg whigch t OUad operare to their mnoren end pological welfsre. tore could he said upon the subject, but the sense which tervan- tiean' s fellow-citizens entertaired of his services were bese hadssed by thie unanimous vote of thanks which they voted to hine in the last Cormmen Hlall. Thie CBoEF BARON addressed thie new Lord allitatcbeshsider- able lengtl, and exoiressed his concurrence in the aulogirmt.-made by the Recorder on the office of Lord hfayor and the grentlemaRl ithe election of whora was the strongest testimony that he had dif- fused the wealth honou .atbly acquired for the geueral benefit. The CAhief Baron said, that from all tie knewv, and all that he had heard of the gentleman who hael been just elected, he was convinced that the duties of the office wouhld be conducted writh the gr.eset zeal, loyalty, and talent. The CHiEF BARONY then sAdressed the lkte Lord M3!ayor in highly complimentary terms, ot the manner in which he had per- formed the duties of his office. To convince them of his meritorsous conduct, it was unnecessary to read thie vote of thMnk.- his actions were well known. He had executel the duties of his office in a manner that did honour to the city-in a rAanner caculated to be his satisfaction in his old age, and the pride of his children hereafter. After the new Iord Mayor hatl been swornz in, and had taken the customary oaths, the late Lord Aayor gave itt his accounts, and oerlSorrsed variousacra which are conitinued on account of their anti- qurity. The new Lord Mayor and Sheriffs then invited their 1ord- ships, and aftetwards went into the Court of Common Pleas, to in- vite the other Judges to dinner. Tne procession retrirrted to the city in rthe order in which it had set out. Y'HE HAILI was splendidly decorated, and an additional number of oil-lamnps were suspended round the Gothic frame-work of the windowvs, and gave a pleasing relief to the brilliant rlaere of the gas lights. Festoons of sas.liglits were suspended from the capitals of the higii pillars, and as each of the grand monuments were cleaned to perfect white. ness, the effect was inconceivably grard. Tie grand avenues to the Courts and Council Chambers were all thrown open for the occa. sion, and hung with crimson draperv, ornamented with sbields, wltich hiad thie appearance of burnished gold. THE DINNER. At a little before six o'clock, the Druke of York was announced. His Royal Highness was received with the loudest aecdamations; and soon aftervards the Duke of Clarence entered the Hall for thc firEt tihae, and was receiyed with similar testimonies of we;comc from tie company, which, was bv this time extrcemly numerous. Their Royal tlighncsmes in7imcdiately took their seats to the lett of tihe Lcrd ;ifayor, upoo whose right sat the late JL,rd Mayor,.Lord yexley, Air. Cannina, Air. Peel, Lord Francis Conynghanm, Air. (Deawvson, the Under-Secretary of State, Mir. CrDker, &c. To the l ft of the Royal. Dukes sat thc Chief Baron, Afr. Justice Park, ,1lr. Justice Gaselee, Afr. Justice Bayley, Air. Baron Garrow, Mir. 33aron Hullock, anti the Judges of the minor courts. AU the seats on the bustings were occunied as usual by the distinguishetl visiters those n the bodyof the Hall were filled by the Corperationand( their friend:i. Thu! dinner consisted of all the delicacies of the season. The firrst toa5t was " The King ;" which was drunk with great enthiusiasm. T'he band then played " God save the King," wvhich revived the apnlaiise. The LoInD MAYOR then rose to propose " The Duke of York. aend the Atmy," in doing which his Lordship said be was most happy to congratulate the city upon the revival of the ancient splendour andi roralty which used to attetid the civic feasts. (Cheers.) The LORD 5IAYOR next gave " The Duke ot Clarence, and the Navy," which was also drunk with the strongest cvidences of attach- ument and adrniratiob. His Lordship statetl to the companY that they were particularly honoured b; this visit of the Royal Dake, as it was the first time he had ever honoured a civic festival with his pre- sence. The fourth toast was " The Duke of Cumberland, and the rest of the Royal Family." The LoRu AIllkYoR then proposed the health of the late liord Mayor. He satd It was quite imnecessary for him to particularize the metits of a man who waas known to the public as a public charac- terof high talents and activity, as wvell as an impartial distributor of justice. cLoud applause.) MeT -Alciertnan WAIT5IUSAw retuirned thanks. With respect to the possession of talents, he had no more to say, thiai that upon en- terinc! into the situation which he had that day resigned, lie assured his fi low.oitizens that all he was capable of doing should be done. Ile h Id redeemed his pledge antd he trustetl that those around him were sa^tisfied ivithi the efrorts he had madle to prove his attachlmtent and sincerity. (Cheers.) TIFe LonR i\l AYOB next proposed the health of a nobleman whlo had been long connected with the administration of the country- Lord Bexley. That nobleman had filled onc of the most important officel; of the government, and it must be a source of great happiness to look back at the successful efforts of the men to whom he had been so closely allied, to find that thie measures of that Government xwith which he had been conuected were daily increasing the pros- perity of the country, and productive of the blessings of a lasting peaet (Applause.) LArd BEXL.EY said, that whatever mighit have been his merit as a member of theAdministration, he felt amply repaid by witniessing the rising happiness and prosperity of the country. In whatever de- rree that result might be attributable to the share he took in the af- fairw of the Government, lie felt it to be an un(leniable fact, that a snlid and unceasing abundance of prosperity was shed upon every bran h of the community. ile felt a peculiar gratification in having his tcalth proposed by his excellent friend the Lord Mayor, whom he hitd louglknown and highly respected. His lordship concluded inits gving-." Prosperity to the city of London." 'rihe julkefnf Yonx proposedl the health of the Lord Magor, 'ihitlt% d-ank in the most enthusiattic manner. T ^ hiR liAYoa returned thanks. The great dttiee wlich l a hzd.to perform should hav. all his care. He felt that they were ilifflezdlt of performance, but he would be indefatigable, and in his cilert kt3 support the dignity of the chlief magistrate, and enforce the iespect due to his Sovereigts, he would take espeeial care not to comroromise the privileges of his fellow.citizens. (Loud and conti. nnecl' cheers.) The Duke of CT.LARENCE proposed the health of the "L Lady M a ortess.', 'le LORDn MAYOR, proposed the health of " Mlr. Canning," who formed a mnost prominent part of the present Administra- tion. His Lordship said, he had to congratulate Lh1 Right ffonourable Gentleman upon being a distinguished member of a (Gov:rnment with which iie had connected hiniself at a period of great diffictulty, when the nation was engaged in a serious contest, and when, but for the vieorous and wise efforts of the Ministry, this cour.try was prevented from becoming a tributary state. The right hon. gentleman was highly to be congratulated upon being again a member of that Administration in which he had distinguisbed him- sclf hy his advocacy of the liberal policy now adopted, which policy won?d have been adopted at an carlier period had it not been for the Intervention of circumstancea which there,was no possibility of con- trolling. Air. CANNING, in returnin2 thanks, said he lIad been for- mctly connected with the Administration, wAhen they were per- foTrning acts which led to the most glorious results. It was his peculiar good fortune, end not his peculiar merit, that he happened to become a member of his AMajesty's Govern- ment at a period when a series of glorious victories was terminated by a. still more glorious peace; anti he felt happy in observing. that some of the most pleasing effects of those victories were to be found in a cessation of those angry feelings which unavoidablygrew out of that collision of opinions necessarily attendant upon a state of war and tlisquiet. He was proud also to state, that as England was established with foreign nations in a supremacy -which no accident coult overturn or shake, His Mlajesty's Ilinisters were happi to be enabled to adopt the measures of liberal policy to whith the-Lord Mayor had so kindly adverted. The wvhole'nation concurred in the opinion expressed of the positive advantages arising fror the system of policy by which the affairs of His MIajestv's Govrernment were conducted, and the energy of that Government on e:very o:a.sion which called for vigorits utranimity. (Cheers.), oThe'! bonD AYOR nex ooedC %, ih ORD tAfyon. next prop se thehealtl of " Ar.Peel. Alr. V'EML returned thanks. He, too, felt proud iu being one of thas Mtinistry whose meaisures were now so much the theme of pub- lictipprobationl. The country had already visibly undergone the mont extensive improvement in every branch of trade, and in.the facilities of dispensing a coupetency to all persons who were dis- posed to pursue a course of industrY. The " Speaker ef the Hous of Commons"-" The Judges," &c. were drank with enthusiasm; and at ten o'clock, the Dukes of York amd Clarence left the Hail, amidst the cheers of one of the most thronged companies we ever beheld. 'IThere was no danding on the hubtings where it was nsual to open the ball: but the Common Council Cha.nber, and the CourtofKing's Bcnch,wereisoon afterdin- ner apptopriated to that amusement. The company began to get very thin before half-past 11 o'clock, at which time all the distin- guished visiters had quitted the Hall. The citizens were delighted at the information given to them by the Lord Mlayor, that the hospi- tality of the Mansion-house is about to be upon a more extensive scale than it has been known to be within the recoUection of the pre. sent corporation. There cannot be a Fsurer way to reach the affiections of many of the body, than ithat of reviving their recollectiopts of the gocKd old times of their ancestors. LORD MfA YOR'S DA l.