The Sheriffs Dinner.
The Times, 1824-10-01T00:00:00

Yesterday the Sheriffs Elect, Aldermen Key and Browne, sup- ported the nsual routine of civic hospitality, by their inauguration dinner at the Albion Tavern. The coo pany, which waa numerous, and chieflycomposed of inembesa of the Corporation of London, as- sembled at six o'clock. The Lord Mayor presided, supported by tpe late and present Shbriffs, by Mr. Wilson, MI.P., Mr. S. C. Whit- bread, A.P., Mr. Bottcrworth, MI.P., &c &c. After the cloth was removed, the usual toasts of the King, and the other illustrious mem'bera of the Royal Family, were given in succession with three times three. Messre. Taylor, Leete, Pyne, Evans, anli Master Sm-ith, gave the vocal accompaniments throughout the evening with sniitabl~e effect. Mr. Sheriff BROw9t said that he had the T,orct Mtayor's permis- sion to propose a toast. They had already paid a just and loyal complimnent to the Eoyal fanhily, and the army and navy. He hoped he might be peitmited now to propose the health of their worthy chief magistrate, who hail discharged his public duties with ex- emplary fidelity, and who had, as a man, certainly a claim for his (the Sherifs') private regard. They hRd often differed in public, but the candour which accompanied the animadversion had stripped it of its appearance of asperity. (Applause.) His worthy friend had never darried his political resentment bevond the threshold of the Court. HIe hoped the company would allow him to drink, ,with three times three, the health of the Lord MIayor. (Apius. Hi, Lorusbips health was dnik with three timnes three. Tue LORD MAYOR, in returning thanks for the lionour which the company had dene him, said that he felt be had a difficult task to perform in the discharge of his public duty. Hii constituents had known him before he was honoured with Isis present effice, anti if he had redeemed the confidence they had reposed in him, he was satisfied that he had performeed his duty. It was not aiways, ac- cording to the poet, that a man could "command success, neither was it always sure that he could "deserve it." ie, however, had, botlh yesterday at the Common Hall, and on this day, the satis- faction bf knowing that there were those who thought he had done his duty. lie was glad of the cordial support of his worthy friend who had propoSed his health. They had before, and might again differ upon political subjects; but he trustedl there would beno loss of friendship between threm. He had on one or two occasions spoken with something like asperity towards h is worthy friend, but a few moments had elapsed before he felt it necessaty to extend to him liis hand, and wish to f6rget t?ese publie collisions. (Applause.) If these differences were not tolerated-nay, justified-there woult be an end to the freedom of public discussion in this country, the very essence of which was the liberty of thinkingand expressing opinions in a fearless manner. (Apislause.) He had already served the different gralations of civic office, and hoped as long as health permitted, that his fellow citizens would always find him ready to be their z-aious and devoted servant. The judicial duties of the sta- tions through whici he had passed were arduous, not admittingof the absenceofone day'seattendancethrougliouttheyear. Theconscientions.- ness. however, of having acted to the best of his iudgment, consoled him for every other consideration which ill-health and the loss of lime, in a personal sense, were calculated to excite. He conclhde4 by cordially thanking the company for the honour which they haa done him. (Loud applause.) The Ioris) MAYon then proposed the healths of the rnew Sherifli, with some prefatory observations complimentary to tho3e gentlemen). Alr. She.iff BROWN E, in returning thanks, took a review of the ditties of his office, which he premised to discharge with conscientious fidelity. He adverted to the coniplicated nature of the duties of the shrievalty, an(I pledged himself to give to them his uttmost attention. These duties were arduous ftom their judicial and executive nature, and he fondly hoped that they would find no exerion of his spared to give proper effect to their performance. He had the satisfaction of knowing his worthy colleague, and was assured of his valuable co- operation. (Applauue.) hMr. Sheriff KEY, In returning thanks, declared that lie entirely coincided with his wortliv colleague in the view which he had taken of the dtities of their office. He hailed the favourable aatd most auspicious moment at which they had entered into their arduous office, and hoped tihat at the conclusion of their official duty, they wonld have to look hack with complaisance at their past conduct, and to a just expectatien of deserving a continuance of that confi- dence of their fellow-.citigens which tlsey had now in courtesy re- ceived. He begged to thank the company for their presence at this diiner. (Applause.) The lIoItD AfAYOR proposed "the health of tile Lord AMayor elect," to whom he addresseil a suitable complimen-t. Mir. Aldermnan OARRATT -aid, that in obedience to the desire of his fellow-citizens, lie kati within a few years quitted the bosom of private life to undertake the duties of a civic station. All he could say was, that he felt the im tortance of the trust reposed in him, and. could consciesttiousl y promise that no efforts of lhis would be wanting to deseive the coniinued confidence of lils fellow citizens, in the new, anl imore honourable situation whichl they had now confided to him. He could onlv reiterate to them the assurance of his unfeigned zeal and unabated deaire to perform the duties of the ofHice which the)' had so lately intrusted to hinm, in such a manner as was culculated to preserve the good opinion of his friends and his fellow-citizens at large. (Applause.1 Tl he l.ORD 1MAYOR then proposed the heaith of the new C.irsilor Baron" (Hlenry Bankes, Esq., IU. P.) The CURSITOR BARON, in returning thanks, declared that he considered Ehat to be one of the highest of hisofficial p rivileges which gave himi ais annutal opportunity of meeting the oficial per- sonses of the Corporation of the City of London. (Applause.) The LORD IMIAYOR next proposed the health of the "Aldermen above the chair ;" and lyr. Alderman ANsrsE:y returned thanksK. HIiS lORtDSHip next proposed the healths of the" Aldermen be. low, tle chair," Mr. Alderman VENABLa s returned thanks. The LoRD MAYOR pronosed the health of the Comrmon Ser- geant, (Thomas Denman, l8sq. MIl. 1P.), upon whose judicial conduct ie,pronounced a warn eulogy. he COstr3rON SEROEANT, in retirning thanics, begged to dis- claim the merits attributed to him by the cordiality of friendship with which he wag honoured by the Lord Mlayor. He was, how- ever, deeply sensible of the flattering mark of respect which echoed these sentimnents of friendship from so large a portion of his fellow. citizens, for such he was entitled to call them. (Applause.) lie still must be permitted to feel that he owed something of these cordial and gratifying testimonials, not alone to the private friendship of their worthy Chief Magistrate, but to the larger and eqrually cordial coincidence of their political sentiments. (Applause.) It was not, he hoped, too much for omen who had long embraced these stentiments, now to advert to tihem with something like self-approbation, when they fotund those who had been their political opponents claiming credit and popularity frous pursuing the steps of reduction anti eco- nomv whic thieiy had so long reconimentedl. (Applauise.) With refer'ence to their civiefestivals_.of vhichthepresent was so comnlete an example_-lhe had only to express his cordlial satisfaction at having the honour of being present at thLeir annual occuirrence. Theyafforded the peole an opportunity of participating hi the ractical enjoyment of their privileges-of pIlicing in the hands in which thev liked the local power of their Corporation. Tc splendour and niunificence of the civic festivals must always yield to the moral Influence of their practical e&ect. They gave the people the opportunity of placing in a prominent Situation the objects of their choice; anid while she city ot I,ondon maintainedl its libertics,there was som- esecuritv forthegere. ral liberties of the people at large. (Applause.) He felt himself trul fortunate its having been the object of their choice in the siuation in whicrl thev' Iad placed hiii ; and le hoped, that if since his passes- sion of o0fice in the corporatioti le hhad acquired some additional Claim to the support of his friends, he had also shown those who had been o-iginall, his opptonents t'rom the best motives ot partiality to other,, that fine had laid some claim for their confidence, trom thte manner in which he had discharged the duties intrusted to him. TIc ILo F D MAYoR next proposed the healthis of the late Slseriffs. Mlr. lWdHITAKERf in returning thanks, expressed the great satis. faction which he felt at thi.s enark of the approbation of his fellow. citizens. Sir PETER LAURlIEsaid, that in retiring with his worthy col. league who had just spoken from the shrievalty, be felt with himn the gratitude which he owed his fellow-cititizens for the continiance of their cordial supporL Having discharged his official duty, he boped with propriety, arid was flattered by now finding with thanks, he had now to say, that in a few days he would be niany hundred league.s distance from theti; the remembrance of their kindness would still remain, and he could exclaim, it the language of the " Where'er I go, whatever realms to see, ily heart untravelled fondly turns to thee." (Applause.) The uisual civic toasts followed, and the company sat until a hate hour in the enjoynsent of a festival for whichlevery titing was abur.- dantly provided. __ TrI7 Srtnrprsl DADN2BA.