ebe Ilittropolfitt.
At a Common Hall, held for the purpose on Monday, Mr. Alder- man Henry Winchester was elected Lord Mayor. On the previous Saturday, be had given assurances to a deputation of members of the Common Council, who were much dissatisfied with the refusal of the acting Lord Mayor to convene Courts of Common Council, and Com- mon Halls, that he would at all times be ready to afford the inhabitants every facility in the expression of their opinions on public affairs.
Messrs. Raphael and Illidge were sworn in Sheriffs of London for the ensuing year, on Saturday last. Mr. Charles Pearson is Mr. Ra- phael's, and Mr. Hardwick, of Lawrence Lane, Mr. Illidge's substi- tute.
The Sheriffs gave their inauguration dinner, at Merchant Tailors' Hall, on Tuesday. The Morning Herald says, that it was "of a very inferior description, and most miserably served up." Lords Brougham, Auckland, and Denman, Mr. Spring .Rice, the Lord Mayor, the Re- corder, and the other principal civic functionaries, were among the most distinguished guests. The usual loyal toasts were given, together with those of his Majesty's Ministers, to which Lord Brougham re- plied in a very flat harangue. His Lordship afterwards proposed the health of Sir Edward ,Sugden and the Bar ; and took occasion to laud the talent, independence, and virtue of the barristers, and particularly of Sir Edward Sugden, his honourable and learned "friend," in terms of the highest panegyric. He said,
Were he not then in the presence of that gentleman, he should attempt to do justice to his merits ; but to this extent he might without offence go—namely, the length of saying that parties were indeed lucky who had the benefit of his assistance, while those to whom he was opposed must be considered as not so fortunate. He gave his health in connexion with that of the Bar as their leader in the present company, and he did so with much pleasure. A more honest, able, and fearless body of men did not exist ; and the qualities for which they were distinguished were of the highest importance to the rights and the liberties of the People of England.
Sir Edward, in acknowledging the toast, admitted that he had pre- ferred the discharge of his professional even to his Parliamentary duties., whenever they clashed together. He did not go so far as to compli- ment Lord Brougham personally in return for his Lordship's flattery: he probably remembered the Chancellor's pleasant simile of the bug, made, in his absence, "in another place."
A Court of Common Council was unexpectedly held on Wednes- day, on the summons of the Lord Mayor, in consequence of the Recorder and the Common Sergeant having expressed an opinion that the temporary City Solicitor, appointed by the Common Council, could not legally bold that office, as he is also one of the Secondaries of the City. There was some discussion on this point ; and the Recorder and Com- mon Sergeant reiterated their opinion. Mr. Charles Pearson ridiculed the idea of making so much fuss about the thing; inasmuch as Mr. James was only appointed pro tem., and there was no intention of finally electing him. The Court separated without coming to any vote or decision on the question to settle which it had been convened.
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