Elie lifittrupalig.

As the 9th of November this year fell on a Sunday, the new Lord Mayer was sworn in on Saturday ; and the usual civic procession by land and water, the ceremony of inviting the Judges, and the grand entertainment at Guildhall, were postponed till Monday; when, not- withstanding the unfavourable weather—for it Was a cold, windy, rainy, true November day—every thing was conducted en regle, and with a degree of show and expense fully equal to former doings of the same tort.

The companyiat the dinner was numerous and splendid. Among them, were Lords Mulgrave, Melbourne, Brougham, Palmerston, the Duke of Richmond, Sir John Campbell, Sir James Scarlett, Mr. Cutler Fergusson, several of the Metropolitan Members, and the Turkish, Brazilian, and Mexican Ambassadors. The first toast was

Church and King," and was received with loud cheers ; the next, " The Queen, the Princess Victoria, and the rest of the Royal Family." Then conne "The Duke of Wellington and the Army ;" and here Lord Mayor Winchester essayed something like a speech • but, although the reporters were well stationed for hearing, his civic Lordship was quite unintelligible. In terms, supposed to be complimentary, but not un- derstood, the Lord Mayor then gave" The Lord Chancellor." This toast, according to the account given in the Chronicle, was received with very general applause ; but both the Herald arid the Post state, what was really the fact, that there was also a good deal of hissing. The Times is silent as to the reception the toast met with. Lord Brougham's reply was commonplace, and complimentary. He de- clared that he still adhered to the principles which had in former times procured him popular support, and that his public life would always be regulated by them. Several .other standing toasts were given ; but they elicited no speeches worth notice.

The list of Sheriffs for the ensuing year was prepared on Wednesday in the Court of Exchequer, preparatory to the names of the gentle- men who are to serve being pricked by the King in Council. The Marquis of Lansdowne, in the absence of Earl Spencer, presided. Lords Brougham, Mulgmve, Auckland, Denman, and Lyndhurst, Sir Lancelot Shadwell, Barons Vaughan and Bosanquet, and Mr. Justice Park, were also present. In the following details, we follow the report of the Times.

Tbe tined oath, which it is known is Mold Norman French, having been administered to the tnenthere of the Privy Council and the Judges, the Judges !proceeded to submit the lists, as delivered to them on their respective circuits. .A smaller number of exciews than usual from serving this high and ancient office were tendered, and of these but very few were admitted. The following are those only which are worthy of make.

The hist claim of- exemption was that of Mr. T. J. Metcalfe, of Roston Mall, who was proposed to serve as high Sheriff uf Bedfordshite. On this gentleurair'm name being read, Mr. Justice Gaselee said that Mr. Metcalfe wished to he excused on the grounds, first, of the very depressed state of agriculture, which had so greatly reduced his incense as to reorder him ill able to maintain the dignity of the ocms and also tkat Ite was laboieriag both louder bodily and mental debility. The Lord Chancellor—This gentleman's name cannot be taken off the general roll on account of the depressed state of agriculture, as that depression may possibly in a short ti:ne cease. We cannot, therefore, admit this plea. [But surely " bodily and mental debility" is a sufficient excuse. What became of that plea?) The next excuse was in the case of Mr. Astell, who was proposed for the same county. This gentleman ale° pleaded the distressed melte of agriculture, surd that he was a Lieutenant-Colouelerf Infantry, rigid liable to celled out at any time ; that lie had served in Parliament twenty-six years, during which time he was called upon to fill the arduous and important offices of Chairman and Deputy-Chairman of the East India Company for a period of sven years, and he therefore submitted that on account of his public services, he ought to be excused from the expense of the slit ievalty.

Their Lordships, after some consultation, said that, as in all probability this gentleman would not be called upon to serve for the ensuing year, there was na reason why his name should be removed from the roll.

pleaded exception on the ground of want of sufficient education Cambridge and hruntingdonshire.—To these united countieosnotr:,e,guearlitil:mhiamn satisfactorily to perform the duties of the office. (Laughter.) The other two vntlemervon the list also pleaded excuses, and their Lordship, after a short discuscion, decided on allowing the validity of those excuses la every instance, and the names of three other gentlemen were substituted. For the county of Hertford, one gentleman pleaded the illness of his lady, which he alledged would prevent his attendance to theduties of the office. Their Lordships, however, thought the plea insufficient, and ordered his name to be retained.

mplonshire.—Mr. Lewis Lloyd pleaded, that he was upwards of sixty, and nearly seventy years of age. Their Lordships ruled that, although that would be a good excuse front serving on a jury, it was none from serving the office of Sheriff. Name retained.

Nottinghamshire. —Mr. Baron Parke stated that two of the gentlemen nomi- nated had forwarded excuses to him : the first that he resided in Scotland, and the other that he was compelled to spend most of his time abroad. The learned Judge elided, that all he knew of the facts was froth letters he had received from the gentlemen alluded to.

The Lord Chaneellor—" It is probable that One of these excuses may turn out a valid one; we had better, therefore, retain the names of those gentlemen, and add two more for this county, in the list to be submitted to his Majesty." Mr. Justice Park—" That will be a novelty." The Lord Chancellor—" There were four names returned in the lists for two counties last year." Mr. Justice Park—" Then that was the first time."

County of Soatkampton.--Lord Denman said, that there had hitherto been great difficulty in obtaining the names of gentlemen to stand for this county. On the present occasion, however, no such difficulty existed, as he bad received a letter from Mr. William Hughes Hughes, M.P. for Oxford, who resided at Ryde, in the Isle of Wight, stating that he was willing to wave his privilege of Parliament, and was indeed anxious to take upon himself the office. The Lord Chancellor—" I do not think it competent in Mr. Hughes to wave his privilege of Parliament."

A long discussion ensued between the Lords of the Council, but.it was con- ducted in so low a tone of voice that not a word could be heard. The name in Mr. Hughes was, however, ordered to remain on the list.

Woreester.—Mr. Packington claimed exemption on the ground of being Chairman of the Quarter-sessions for this county.

The Lord Chancellor—" Does be perform the duties in person ?" Mr. Baron Alderson—" Yes, my Lord, I know the fact of my own knowledge."

Mr. Packington was therefore excused.

For the other counties no objections were offered.