THE LONDON MAYORALTY.—The contest for the Mayoralty, 'which be- gan
on Thursday, continues to be waged with great spirit and obstinacy. At the close of last night's poll, the numbers were—for Sir John Key 1131 ; Sir Peter Laurie 1130; Alderman Thorpe, 1030. It may be neces- sary to inform some of our readers, that the election of Lord Mayor of London is vested in the Court of Aldermen ; who are, however, limited in their choice to one of two candidates, returned by the Livery at large. In ordinary cases, the next Alderman in succession is returned with any other who has already passed the chair ; and as a matter of course, the choice of the Aldermen falls on the former. This is what the friends of Sir Peter Laurie will effect for him in the present instance ; or if they cannot do this, they will try to return him with the present Mayor, trusting to the Aldermen for his election. The friends of the present Mayor, on the contrary, will, if possible., return him along with Alder- man Thorpe ; in which ease the Mayor's re-election will be secure. There is a cry of Reform mixed with the contest ; but, in point of fact, Reform has very little to do with it. The cause of the dispute lies deeper. A dissolution of Parliament will take place during the ensuing Mayoralty. Now it is a kind of rule, though by no means absolute' that where the Lord Mayor is a candidate for the representation of the City, he obtains i t. If, therefore, one of thepresent members were to retire -which is not improbable:--Sir John Key and Sir Peter Laurie, both of whom would in that case he candidates, expect that their canvass would be very much furthered by the circumstance of their holding the office of Chief Magistrate. Hence their struggle, not so much for present its for prospective honours. On the part of Sir Peter Laurie, we repeat our observation of last week—that, considered merely as a contest for civic office, the struggle is an ungracious one. He withstands the honours which a number of the Livery were anxious to pay to Sir John Key, without the slightest necessity, as the Mayoralty was sure to de- scend to him, if not in 1832, at least in 1833. THE SHERIFFS OF Mnant.EsEx.—The New Sheriffs went on Tuesday to 'Westminster, and were sworn into their office in the usual form. The inauguration dinner took place yesterday. THE COMMON COL:NC:IL. PETETION.—This petition was committed to the charge of the Lord Chancellor on Tuesday, with more than usual state. The Lord Mayor had ordered the City Barge to be in readiness to convey the members of the court to Westminster; and his Lordship, with a numerous body of the Common Council, immediately proceeded to embark. On the arrival of the baree at Westminster, a salute of twenty-one guns was fired from the bank of the river opposite the House of Lords. The Lord Mayor with the City Officers and the Deputation, together with the Liverymen appointed at the Common Hall, then pro- ceeded to the Painted Cliamber. and Lord Brougham shortly afterwards entered. The Lord Mayor addressed the Chancellor as follows :—" My Lord Chancellor, I have the honour of presenting to your Lordship the petition of the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Common Council, which they request your Lordship will do them the honour of presenting to the Right Honourable the House of' Lords. We are aware, my Lord, that it is unusual for so large a company to attend on any Peer, to whose charge they may wish to commit their petitions ; but they feel that these are no ordinary times, and that the subject of this petition is one of no or- dinary importance. On the success of this measure they feel that the hap- piness and prosperity of our country entirely depend. My brethren of the Corporation, wishing to show their deep sense of the vast import- ance of the subject of this petition, and their high sense of your Lord- ship's integrity, talent, and independence, have therefore adopted this ex- traordinary means of manifesting their zeal in its support' and their anxiety for its success ; and they commit its charge to your keeping, and solicit your Lordship's support." The Lord Chancellor in reply said—" I will with much pleasure present the petition of the Cor- poration of London to their Lordships' House, and will support its prayer." The Lord Mayor then delivered trite petition of the Livery, for the same purpose ; which the Lord Chancellor received with equal courtesy, and retired. The Lord Mayor, Common Council, and Livery returned to their barge, and their departure was, announced by another salute of twenty-one guns. RESISTANCE TO RATES.—On Monday morning; a numerous and highly-respectable meeting of rate payers of the extensive parish of St. Pancras was held near Mr. Fairlie's. in Augustus Street, Regent's Park, to Consider the propriety of withholding further parochial rates until the parishioners obtain a control in the appointment of vestrymen and other officers.
A meeting of the inhabitants of the district of Trinity, Islington, took place on Wednesday at White Conduit Gardens, for a similar purpose.
A most determined spirit of resistance prevailed amongst all present; and Mr. Bawtrey- expressed a hope that if the goods of any person should be seized, the inhabitants of the neighbourhood would all accompany the
cart in which the goods were conveyed to "the place of execution," and explain to the people as they went along the cause of the seizure.
WATERLOO BRIDGE NEW STREET.—The Bill has now passed both Houses, the Commons having agreed to the amendments made by the House of Lords. The Royal assent was given on Monday.
Tien EAST INDIA COMPANY.—At the meeting of the East India Com- pany on Wednesday, Captain Gowan moved for an account of the expenses of dinners and other entertainments given to Governors-General ; also the expenses of all dinners given to Directors and other officers of the Company. The Chairman, in reply, said he was glad the motion had been brought forward, as it would enable him to set the matter right at once, and contradict the statements that had gone forth to the pub- lic. Ile then read an account from a paper as to the expenses of last year on this head :—To Directors' dinners, 8:c. 3,1701. ; breakfasts, 1,7794 ; coals and candles, 1,000!.
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