no Metrologist.
Alderman Copeland was sworn in as Lord Mayor on Saturday, with the usual ceremonies. On Monday, the great Ninth of November, his Lordship, with Mr. Winchester, the Recorder, and a civic procession, proceeded in state to the Court of Exchequer. The Recorder pre- sented the Lord Mayor to the Judges, and eulogized his public and private character. He then paid the late Lord Mayor a similar com- pliment; dwelling especially on his zeal in maintaining the ancient privileges and usages of the City. Lord Abinger, as Lord Chief Baron, congratulated Alderman Copeland on his elevation ; and then delivered a very eulogistic address to the ci-devant Lord Winchester ; whom he informed that "his conduct had insured for him that popularity which alone had value." Some formal business, such as the presentation of the accounts of the last Mayoralty, was then transacted; and the usual invitation to the Judges to dine with the new Lord Mayor was given by the Recorder, and of course accepted. The Lord Mayor and reti- nue then withdrew, and returned to the City. Winchester was hissed a good deal by the crowd, both in Palace Yard and in the City. In the evening there was a grand entertainment in the Guildhall. Among the distinguished guests, were Lords Melbourne, Glenelg, Denman, Abinger, Hardwicke, the son of Tippoo Saib, Sir John Hobhouse, and 3Ir. Spring Rice. Several speeches were delivered ; but the Lord Mayor's when proposing the health of his Majesty's Ministers, and Lord Melbourne's in reply, are alone worth notice: The Lord Mayor said— He was heartily glad to see the noble lord on this occasion ; and congratu. lated him and his colleagues that they had now the opportunity of carrying into effect all those great and valuable measures of Reform in our institutions which the state of the country might require. He congratulated them that they could do so at a time when (and he spoke his own sincere opinion) greater prosperity never smiled upon this land. It was true that for a moment the agricultural Interest might labour under some cloud, but he trusted that the energies of the farmers and the landed interest would ultimately give rise to that prosperity in agriculture which the manufacturing interest now enjoyed. He felt confident that Lord Melbourne and his colleagues would carry into effect all those measures that would tend to the maintenance of the Constitution —of King, Lords, and Commons.
Lord Melbourne replied with characteristic caution and tact-
" Allow me to thank you, my Lord Mayor, for the sentiments which you have expressed—sentiments in which I entirely concur, and which you have expressed so clearly and so distinctly as to render it utterly unnecessary for me to dilate further upon them. It is with the most lively satisfaction that we perfo m an act of duty in receiving the hospitality of the citizens of London, and in paying on our parts those proper attentions to the constituted authorities, and also to the whole body of this community, which, without running the risk of incurring the censure of exaggeration or of national vanity, we may safely pronounce to be the most wealthy and most flourishing, as it is undoubtedly one of the most ancient, commercial cities in the world. The grandeur, the growth, and the prosperity of empires, have, I believe, in all times taken their rise and flow from the energy and industry of cities; and it is not for us to for- get that the city in which we are now sitting was a great and commercial mart long before the country of England had taken that distinguished place among the nations of Europe which it now maintains, and which, under God's bles- sing, I trust it is long destined to assert and support. The growth and pros- perity of cities depends in a degree upon the good fortune of their locality ; but still more upon the character of those who inhabit them; yet more upon good government; more still upon an unrestricted system of trade ; still more upon a due, impartial, steady, and certain administration of justice ; but more than all, upon the energy, spirit, and zeal, the probity and integrity, of their inha- bitants. These have always been the characteristics of this great city. These characteristics I trust and confidently believe you will maintain ; and not only maintain, but increase and improve,—that you will enlarge whatsoever is con- tracted, correct whatsoever is amiss ; and that, by following this wise, just, and sound policy, you will carry this great metropolis to a pitch of opulence and splendour to which it has not yet arrived."
Two or three noisy individuals created some interruption when the health of Ministers was proposed ; but this only increased the ener- getic expression of the good-will of the company.
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