13 NOVEMBER 1841, Page 4

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Tuesday the 9th of November was "Lord Mayor's Day," and Al.' derman Pirie's term of office was ushered in with the usual show. On the previous evening he had taken the oaths at the Guildhall, with the customary ceremonies ; Alderman Johnson resigning the office to his successor. At nine o'clock on Tuesday morning, the Lord Mayor and the Sheriff's Committee assembled in the Guildhall to make the arrange- ments for the day. At eleven, the chief City officers partook of an elegant breakfast. At twelve, the procession, with its curiosities, including the men in armour and the model of an East Indiaman, and the repre- sentatives of the City Companies, was declared to be ready. Just as it was about to start, a special messenger arrived from Buckingham Pa- lace, with the announcement that a Prince was born. It was received with loud cheers ; a bumper was filled to the Queen and Prince; and the Committee of Taste immediately gave directions for altering the design of the evening decorations in the Guildhall so as to place the in- scription " God bless the Prince " and an illuminated star at the west end, opposite to the words " God save the Queen " at the other end. In the mean time, the procession moved on ; taking water at London Bridge and landing at Westminster, and so to the Exchequer Court; where the Lord Mayor was presented with many complimentary phrases to the Chief Baron, by the Recorder. The procession returned by water to Blackfriars Bridge. At the obelisk at the corner of Fleet Street, it was joined by the Ministers of State, the Ambassadors, and the other persons of distinction who bad been invited to the evening feast.

The great novelties in the preparations for the banquet were the spe- cial decoration already mentioned, and the band of the Seventy-second Regiment of Highlanders, who attended in honour of a Scotchman's elevation to the Mayoralty. The daily papers give the usual bills of fare, with their splendid abundance. Among the company were Sir Robert Peel, the Lord Chancellor, Lord Wharncliffe, and most of the Ministers, Count St. Aulaire the French Ambassador, and several of his brother diplomatists, Lord Hill, Lord Langdale, Chief Justice Tin- dal, Lord Abinger, the new Vice-Chancellors, and many other Judges and eminent lawyers, all the Members for the City except Lord John Russell, Colonel Wood the Member for Middlesex, and some other Members of Parliament and persons of note. The first toast was " The Queen," drunk with three times three and one cheer more ; then " Health and long life to the infant Prince, the heir-apparent to the British throne," which was received " with an enthusiasm that baffles all de- scription " ; next, " The Queen Dowager, Prince Albert, the Princess Royal, and the rest of the Royal family," also with three times three and one cheer more. Other routine toasts followed. Count St. Aulaire responded to the toast of his health and that of other Foreign Ministers : he assured the company, that not only did France look upon England with a friendly and brotherly feeling, but that the Royal Family of France entertained a kindly and most intimate affection for the Royal Family of England. Sir Robert Peel answered to the health of " Sir Robert Peel and her Majesty's Ministers"; and he made good use of the event of the day- " Whatever obligation her Majesty's Government may owe to you for the compliment which you have just paid to them, I should ill respond to the feel- ings which you have displayed in so enthusiastic a manner, if 1 did not on their part express, in the first instance, their cordial satisfaction at being allowed to join with their fellow subjects in this ancient ball, in expressing their feelings of exultation at that auspicious event which will make this day memorable in the annals of England, and which, by completing the domestic happiness of her Majesty, and presenting an heir-apparent to the British throne, will fill with joy the universal people of this great country. Gentlemen, I rejoice you have had the opportunity of manifesting those feelings of loyalty in the pre- sence of distinguished foreigners, the representatives of powerful and friendly states. I rejoice also that they have bad the opportunity of observing, that whatever be the political differences which divide us, whatever the conflicts of party inseparable from the working of free and popular government, we are all united as one man in the sentiment of attachment to the monarchy of this

country, and in feelings of devotion to the person of our Sovereign. Tin feel- ing they witness this day is an example of that which pervades the whole peo-

ple of this country ; who will see with delight the prospect of increased security for the liberty and happiness of the people, and look forward with hope and joy to the accession, in the fulness of time, to the throne of his ancestors of the

Prince who has been born this day ; and who, they confidently trust, formed

by the tender care and instructed by the example of his illustrious parents, shall at some future, and as we is most distant day, prove himself worthy of the high destiny to which he is called—worthy of filling the throne of this United Kingdom, of protecting the constitution, and advancing the liberties and happiness of a free and generous people."

Thanking the citizens for the support which they had given him on former occasions, Sir Robert hinted a return in kind-

" I cannot enter the city of London without feeling my connexion with and lasting obligations to that commercial industry of which you are the repre-

sentatives; nor can I take my place in this hall without recognizing my obliga- tions to the city of London, and remembering the proofs of kindness and confi- dence I have received within these walls, which now lead me to address you, not as a stranger, but as a fellow-citizen proud of his connexion with you. In these feelings, gentlemen, by which I am animated, my colleagues cordially partake; and it is not the language of flattery, it is not the language of mere

compliment, when I assure you that we feel in our collective capacity deeply anxious to testify on every occasion our high respect for the authorities of the city of London, and our earnest desire to cooperate with them in promoting the public tranquillity, and advancing the comfort and welfare of the inhabitants of this metropolis."

Returning thanks for the toast of "The Lord High Chancellor," Lord Lyndhurst rejoiced with the citizens at the conservation of their property and privileges-

" I witness with pleasure your ancient ceremonies; I rejoice to see you sur- rounded by your own insignia ; above all, I rejoice that you still continue to possess that extensive property which you have always so liberally and so bountifully administered. I further rejoice that you still retain those import- ant privileges, the claim to which we have this day recorded in Westminster Hall—privileges which you have upon so many occasions used for the advance- ment and support of the great principles of our constitution. There was a pe- riod when, indeed, I despaired of these things ; but the storm has blown over, andyou have survived its effects."

He touched upon the circumstances under which he had ascended the woolsack for the third time-

" There are circumstances connected with the present possession of office, for which I am indebted to the gracious favour of her Majesty, which render it

upon this occasion peculiarly grateful to me. For many years, as most of the

company very well know, an accumulation of causes existed in the court over which I now preside, which no effort of successive Judges has ever been able to

reduce. No persons ever laboured more conscientiously and more effectually

for that purpose than my immediate predecessor and the learned Judges asso- ciated with him; but, unfortunately, with the same result. I congratulate you now that a ray of hope has burst in upon us, and that we have the chance of a more favourable state of things. I allude to that legislative provision which, after a long struggle, we have been able to obtain for increasing the power of the judicature in the Court of Chancery ; and I have such confidence in the ability and industry of those learned Judges who have been recently appointed to the bench and the courts of Equity, and who, I believe, are now pre- sent, that by our united exertions this standing reproach on the Court of Chan- cery, and, give me leave to say, this reproach on the country itself, will at no distant penod be entirely removed. When I said there were circumstances peculiarly gratifying to me on my accession to office, these were the circum- stances to which I mainly referred; and if my expectations should happily be realized, I shall enjoy the satisfaction of feeling that I have contributed in no inconsiderable degree to discharge the duty I owe to my country ; and I shall have the consciousness and the satisfaction of not having held in vain the high office with which it has pleased her Majesty to honour me."

A number of other toasts were given and acknowledged, and then the chief guests departed. Ministers, say the Government papers, were much cheered, both in going and returning.

At special meetings of the Court of Aldermen and the Common Coun- cil, on Wednesday, congratulatory addresses were unanimously voted to the Queen, Prince Albert, and the Dutchess of Kent ; the Aldermen's to be presented by the whole Court.

The City people have been somewhat scandalized at an ill-timed ex- cess of authority on the part of their servants. A special messenger was hastening from Buckingham Palace, on Tuesday, to order the firing of the Tower-guns, when the City Police stopped the cab in which he rode, at the end of King Street in Cheapside, and in spite of his explanations and remonstrances, and the display of a letter to the Commanding-officer at the Tower, inscribed " On her Majesty's service," refused to let him go further in that direction. Being threatened with personal violence, he alighted, and proceeded on foot. The misconduct of the Police was to be reported to the proper authorities.

The whole of the first battalion of Fusileer Guards stationed in the Tower were called out on Tuesday, for the purpose of having read to them a letter from Sir John Macdonald, which enclosed communications from the Duke of Wellington to Lord Hill, expressing the Queen's approbation of the behaviour of the military on the occasion of the fire, and the Duke's special approbation of the conduct of Captain Walker, Captain Davis, Adjutant Davis, Captain De Salts, and Assistant-Surgeon Bawling. These proceedings have taken place in consequence of in- jurious reports relative to the soldiery which have been circulated in the public journals, and which are said to be totally without foundation. On Wednesday, the entire garrison, including the first battalion of Scots Fusileer Guards and a company qf the Royal Artillery, with all the Wardens and other authorities, were assembled on the parade, in order to hear further communications from the Duke of Wellington, enclosing others from the Secretary of State for the Home Department to the same effect as those read before.

Inquiries are still proceeding as to the origin of the fire. An order has been issued to prevent visiters from being admitted behind the board-fence which encircles the ruins, in consequence of the hindrance which they occasion to the workmen. At four o'clock on Tuesday, in accordance with an ancient custom on the birth of a Prince, the Warders assembled in their ball, at the Spur Gate, and the Head Warder filled from a silver punch-bowl of great antiquity, to every person who chose to partake of it, a glass, to drink " the health of the Queen, and long life to the Prince of Wales."

A public meeting of St Luke's parish was held on Monday, to form an Anti-Corn-law Association. About 2,000 parishioners were present.

Colonel Thompson took the chair. The proceedings were interrupted by the Chartists : to a Birmingham Chartist the meeting refused to listen ; and a Chartist amendment to one of the resolutions was so ill supported that it was withdrawn. Mr. Wakley then came forward with a speech curiously mixing up self-vindication with counsel to the Corn- law Repealers. First of himself— It had never been his practice to deal in deception. He always disclosed his sentiments freely, as it was his duty to do. It had been charged against him that he had ratted : he did not find, however, that his tail was lengthened. He had been maligned because he thought, and honestly thought, that thegreatest possibly injury would accrue to the country if Sir Robert Peel was forced to bring forward measures before he was prepared. (A voice—" But you asked time for him.") That was false : be had stated in the House, and he again said so there, that if Sir Robert Peel was not prepared, it was better that he should have time than that he should bring forward crude and imperfect measures. And were they afraid to give him time? It had been said that he had betrayed the pledge given to his constituents, and was called upon to resign ; but had any portion of them ever made that call? Had it been made, he would have re- signed his trust within twenty-four hours after. What more could a repre- sentative do?

Then as to the future course of the Repealers ; still, however, keeping the self-vindication in view— They had been oppressed by two aristocracies, each of which had had the skill to play upon the people for its own interest. By a series of events, one of these aristocracies had got itself into a rather awkward position. He had helped to place it there; and it was his policy to keep it there. if it was restored, the people would gain nothing but misery. But it was said, Restore them ; they are in favour of the repeal of the Corn-laws. That was untrue ; they were only in favour of an Ss. duty, and even that they could not carry if restored to power tomorrow. He had not refrained from joining in the Corn -law cry be- cause he was inclined to support those laws. On the contrary, he believed that it was utterly impossible for the people of this country to be happy or the nation prosperous till those laws were repealed. But be believed that it was impossible to effect any permanent good without an extension of the suffrage. Out of a population of 260,000 inhabitants in the borough of Finsbury, and 13,000 voters, there were not 300 or at most 400 working journeymen who had the franchise. He wished a Radical reform in which should be embodied the principles of the Charter. These were his views; and if the tradesmen of Finsbury said, "Resign your seat," he would do so instantly. He wished to see what the aristocracy would do for them. They had given the Whigs ten years. They would now give the Tories time; and if they proposed good measures, should be refuse them ? He would, however, join in no agita- tion which was not for giving the suffrage to the working-classes of the country. He was glad that the gentlemen around him on the platform bad seen the error of their ways and had come round now to join them. Let them not call the new society Anti-Monopoly Association, but the Suffrage Association. If it was known throughout the country that the St. Luke's Anti-Corn-law Association, in consequence of failure, had become a Suffrage Association, it would do more to further the cause than any other step what- ever.

A leading man in the meeting exclaimed, " Well, we will make Mr. Wakley godfather to our society, and call it the " Enfranchise and Anti-Monopoly Association.'" The amended proposition was unani- mously agreed to. A Committee was then named to complete the orga- nization of the association.

A letter from Mr. Allen has been published in the Morning Chronicle denying the main allegations made against him at a meeting to sup- port the masons' strike, at the Crown and Anchor Tavern on Friday. The letter is dated " Houses of Parliament, 6th November 1841." First, he denies that he has prevented men from paying the last rites to their deceased relatives—" One of the masons under me, (he says,) wished to be absent a fortnight or three weeks. I told him I could not keep his job open so long for him. He came back in ten days, went to work, and continued to do so till the strike." Secondly, he avers that it is not true that be had locked up a pump to prevent men who were teetotallers having access to it. He next contradicts the allegation that he had behaved brutally in refusing a man employ who was recovering from an accident—" A man, after a severe accident, employed under me, applied again to be placed to work. I found him unable to undertake employment so laborious, being still obliged to use a stick. I recommended his application to Messrs. Grissell and Peto for a lighter berth : they appointed him as one of their tallymen, or clerks on board the brick barges, and where he is still employed." Mr. Allen explains that the charges against him were brought after the strike, in a letter addressed to the Earl of Lincoln, and by hint sent to Messrs. Grissell and Peto ; who immediately made a strict investigation into the matter. Mr. Allen declares the cause of the enmity of the Unionists to be his informing Messrs. Grissell and Peto of a limitation of the amount of labour fixed by the Unionists, and of their fining those who did more than the prescribed quantity.

On Wednesday, at an adjourned meeting of delegates in support of the strike, at the Craven Head in Drury Lane, Mr. Armstrong Walton replied to Mr. Allen's letter. He complained that the contractors and their foreman only met the charges against them by flat contradictions ; whereas the workmen had claimed to submit the dispute to the only fair test, an arbitration. A resolution was carried declaring the opinion of the meeting that the refusal of Messrs. Grissell and Peto to submit their foreman to arbitration proved that the statements of the masons were true.

A public meeting was held on Wednesday, at New Park Street Baptist Chapel, Southwark, for the purpose of receiving from the Re- verend J. E. Giles of Leeds and the Reverend W. Dawson of Bradford a report of their visit to Copenhagen as a mission in behalf of certain persecuted Baptists in Denmark. Within the last few years, it is stated in the report, several Baptist congregations have sprung up in Denmark ; and for their dissent from the national religion many of their preachers have been persecuted, fined, and imprisoned. The Re- verend J. E. Giles said, that though the Established Church in Den- mark was Lutheran, little of the faith and practice of Luther remained in it. Most of the clergy were what was called " Rationalists," who reduced all they found, whether in the Word of aid or not, to the standard of reason. Two new sects had risen up ; one resembling in creed our Puseyites, and the other consisting of Baptists. In addition to a memorial which he and his brother had been deputed to convey to the King of Denmark, Mr. Giles had been furnished with a letter from Lord Palmerston to our Minister at Copenhagen, and nearly the last act of Lord Palmerston's official career had been to draw up a despatch in favour of the persecuted Baptists in Denmark. Oh the arrival of Mr. Giles and Mr. Dawson in Copenhagen, the King had treated them with the most patient attention ; but he said the prisoners had offended against the law. He ultimately offered to release them, provided they would consent to leave off preaching until the law was settled. They were received with less courtesy by the Bishop, who did not ask them to sit down, but smoked a pipe during the whole time of their visit. All that he condescended to observe upon the subject was, that such was the law. Mr. Giles said he believed the objection of the clergy to the Baptist preaching arose from the loss of fees consequent upon their flocks withdrawing from the Lutheran Church. The imprisoned ministers declined accepting the King's offer, on the ground that there was no passage in Scripture authorizing them to do so, and that he had no more right to silence them for three months or three years than he had to silence them for life. Before officially communicating this an- swer to the King, the mission had returned to England, to consult on the measures to be further adopted. Since his return, Mr. Giles had heard that two more Baptists had been imprisoned. He understood from Mrs. Fry, that the Queen of Denmark was a firm friend to their body, and that she used all her influence with the King in their favour. Mr. Giles concluded by calling on the meeting to subscribe towards the relief of their persecuted brethren in Denmark. Resolutions were carried una- nimously, approving of the conduct of the recusant clergymen ; accord- ing thanks to the King of Denmark for his condescension to the mis- sion, but hoping at the same time that he would adopt such measures as to render any similar deputation unnecessary ; and dispensing thanks to Lord Palmerston, Sir Henry Wynn, Envoy at the Court of Den- mark, Mr. John Wheaton, the United States Ambassador to Berlin,. and sonic other diplomatists, and to Mr. J. J. Gurney and Mrs. Fry for their efforts in behalf of the sufferers in Denmark. A final resolu- tion was agreed to, approving of the manner in which the mission had been conducted. After a psalm had been sung, a collection was made, and the meeting separated.

In the Consistory Court, on Wednesday, the Queen's Advocate moved for the confirmation of a church rate at Braintree, in Essex. The parishioners having repeatedly refused a rate, the Vicar, the Reverend Bernard Scale, commenced a suit against the Churchwardens and parishioners ; and obtained a monition, requiring them to meet in Vestry and make a rate on a certain day. The Churchwardens accord- ingly, on the 15th July, called a Vestry ; where they produced esti- mates of the necessary repairs and expenses, and proposed a rate of 2s. in the pound ; when an amendment was moved, that a compulsory church-rate was unsanctioned by Scripture, opposed to the religion of Christ, in violation of the rights of conscience, and unjust to Dissenters; and accordingly that the rate be refused. This amendment being car- ried by a majority, the Vicar, Churchwardens, and other parishioners and rate-payers present, though a minority, in obedience to the moni- tion of the Court made a rate of 2s. The Queen's Advocate moved the Court to cite the parishioners to show cause why this rate should not be confirmed. Dr. Lushiogton feared that they were about to compli- cate a matter sufficiently difficult per se. He thought that the rate might be sued for, whether it was confirmed or not. However, he con- firmed the rate instanter, and then it might be sued for ; but he pro- nounced no opinion as to the validity of a rate made by a minority.

On Monday, the Earl of Lincoln, Mr. Hawes, M.P. and Mr. Walker

the engineer, inspected the Surrey side of the river from Nine Elms to Battersea Bridge, to ascertain the expense of embanking the river ; it being the intention of Government to convert Battersea Fields into a park, to be called Lancaster Park, and to construct a carriage-road along the water from Vauxhall Bridge to Battersea Bridge. The Park will cause no expense to the public, as it is to be paid for out of the revenues of the Dutchy of Lancaster.