THE Knw. — Our chronicle of his Majesty is this week limited
to two • facts—that he has passed the week in the enjoyment of his illustrious family in the green retreats of Windsor ; and that he this day exchanges that truly princely residence for the gew-gaw palace at Brighton. But lie carries his happy disposition and the loves of his people along with him—mutat ccellan non animum ; and the pleasures of residence and scenery are in that case very secondary considerations.
THE LONDON MAYORALTY.--On Monday, it was formally announced to the assembled Livery at Guildhall, that the wisdom of the Court of Aldermen had again been exerted to repress the wishes of the London people, by the election of Alderman Thompson, in the face of his decla- ration that he would not serve. As the secrets of the Court are known only to themselves, it is impossible for us to tell by what process of rea- soning they came to the conclusion that they were maintaining either their dignity or their privileges in selecting a gentleman who they knew would not accept of office, and refusing one who was ready to accept of it, and who had a second time been returned by a very large majority of their constituents as well as his. The selection was, however, made ; and the Livery had no choice but to proceed a third time to return two good and sufficient men,—for the purpose, it may 'be, of affording the Aldermen a third opportunity of maintaining their dignity on principles that are equally inscrutable. The constitution of the City of London is a very anomalous one, and would be quite as much benefited by a slight dose of Russell's Purge as would the constitution of the empire. Of all the anomalies, however, the most strange is that right which the Alder- men are now giving more prominence to than its value deserves, and much more than, from its absurdity, prudent men would venture to give if they wished to preserve it. That the Court should have a veto on one candidate, does not seem so very remarkable; but it certainly is re- markable, that where the majority of its votes have fallen on a man who refuses to serve, instead of the other candidate succeeding, as might naturally be expected, the Aldermen should have the power of calling indefinitely for a new election. The law of the case is disputed ; but whether sound or unsound in law, there can be no doubt of its unrea- sonableness.
sonableness.
The announcement of the Aldermen's will having been made, Mr. Pearson, who has taken an active share in the contest, stated to the Livery, that another Alderman would be forthcoming to be returned with the Lord Mayor ; and that if the Livery did not desire to lie put down for ever by their civic rulers, they must rally once more, on Wed- nesday, the day of nomination.
In the mean time, the party opposed to the Livery have not been idle. Finding that any attempt to return Sir Peter Laurie would be wholly useless, they turned to Alderman Farebrother ; who, being an Anti- Reformer, is content to do any work, it matters not what, for the sake of his party, whose interests have been somewhat strangely mixed up with the contest. Alderman Farebrother is younger than Sir Peter Laurie, and therefore his election would violate the rule of rotation more effectually than the second election of the Lord Mayor. In the one case, there would be no disturbance of the list, but a delay merely in the succession of its parts : in the other, there is, so far as Sir Peter Laurie is concerned, both delay and disorder.
On the proclamation being made, on Wednesday, Mr. Pearson for- mally protested against the election. The various Aldermen were then, according to custom, proposed in succession. The names of Laurie, Fare- brother, Winchester, and Copeland, who have distinguished themselves by their opposition to the Livery,—were received with great disapproba- tion ; while that of Mr. Alderman Kelly was greeted with the most deaf- ening cheers. The Common Sergeant in obedience to a requisition to that effect, put in nomination the Lord Mayor, amidst immense ap- plause and Mr. Stevens, the Chairman of the Lord Mayor's Committee, addressed the Livery on behalf of his Lordship ; and Mr. Pearson on behalf of Alderman Kelly. On the various names being put to the meet- ing, about thirty hands were held up for Alderman Farebrother ; the whole of the remaining hands in the Guildhall were raised in behalf of the Reform candidates. A poll was then regularly demanded ; and after some observations from Mr. Lawrence, Mr. Richard Taylor, and Mr. Galloway, it proceeded. At four o'clock yesterday, the numbers stood—
For the Lord Mayor
11902615
— Alderman Kelly — Alderman Farebrother 644 — Sir Peter Laurie 4 Subsequent to the announcement of the poll last night, Alderman Farebrother has publicly withdrawn. We hope we shall have no more attempts to keep out the Lord Mayor.
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