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!  c. 

Ex  Ltbrii            \ 
K.  OGDEN    ; 

THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


2  1 


A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

1906-7 


BY  THE  SAME  AUTHOR 

WILKES  &  THE  CITY 

With  Illustrations.      Twelve  Shillings  net 

"Sir  William  Treloar  has  created  a  wonder- 
fully human  portrait  of  a  very  much  dis- 
cussed historical  character.  His  portrait 
is  by  no  means  done  in  whitewash,  but 
he  seeks  to  justify  and  explain  many  of  the 
things  which  historians  of  the  City  of 
London  have  condemned  in  Wilkes'  life 
and  personality.  ...  It  is  a  book  which 
you  cannot  help  enjoying." — The  Tatler. 


.  A 

LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

1906-7 


BY   WILLIAM    PURDIE    TRELOAR 

AUTHOR   OF   "WILKES   AMD  THE  CITY,"   ETC. 


TO    WHICH    IS    ADDED 


THE   OFFICIAL  DIARY   OF  MICAJAH   PERRY 

LORD    MAYOR    1738-9 


WITH   ILLUSTRATIONS 


LONDON 
JOHN  MURRAY,  ALBEMARLE  STREET,  W. 

1920 


rtsirvtd 


DA 


I    DEDICATE    THIS    BOOK 
TO 

MY  DAUGHTER  FLORENCE, 

WHOSE    DUTIFUL   AND    HELPFUL   LOVE    HAS 

BEEN  ONE  OF  THE  BLESSINGS  OF  MY  LONG 

AND   HAPPY   LIFE. 


PREFACE 

WHEN,  in  1881,  I  became  a  member  of  the  Corpora- 
tion, I  had  no  idea  of  becoming  Lord  Mayor  of  London. 
If  I  had  possessed  such  an  ambition  I  might  probably 
have  become  an  Alderman  in  1882  and  the  Lord 
Mayor  in  1887,  for  I  think  I  should  have  beaten 
Mr.  De  Keyser  in  the  election  for  Alderman  at  that 
time. 

I  should  say  that  very  few  men  who  join  the  Cor- 
poration, on  what  is  called  the  "  floor  of  the  Court," 
do  so  with  any  idea  of  eventually  becoming  Lord 
Mayor.  Whereas,  those  who  join  the  Corporation  as 
Aldermen  know  that  they  must,  if  they  live,  occupy 
the  position  at  some  time. 

In  the  Corporation,  one  need  not  begin  at  the 
beginning — which  is  a  pity.  An  apprenticeship  is 
always  a  good  thing  in  any  walk  of  life ;  this  is  recog- 
nised more  by  Labour  than  by  others.  You  must 
serve  an  apprenticeship  to  be  a  carpenter  or  a  brick- 
layer ;  but  need  not  do  so  if  you  want  to  be  a  peer,  a 
politician,  or  even  a  statesman. 

My  year  of  office  was  a  very  interesting  one  for  me. 
I  entertained  monarchs,  princes,  premiers,  and  other 
notable  people;  I  presided  at  many  grand  and  im- 
portant functions,  both  at  the  Guildhall  and  the 
Mansion  House,  and  much  enjoyed  the  experience 
and  appreciated  the  many  honours  I  received. 

vii 


viii  PREFACE 

But  there  is  nothing  that  pleased  me  more,  nothing 
I  prize  more  amongst  all  those  tributes,  than  the 
receipt  of  the  Freedom  of  the  Borough  of  Helston,  in 
Cornwall. 

Monarchs  come  to  the  Guildhall  and  monarchs  go, 
and  the  mere  fact  that  I  happened  by  a  lucky  chance 
to  be  Lord  Mayor  when  such  great  visits  and  events 
took  place  is,  after  all,  something  in  the  nature  of  a 
fluke.  It  might  have  happened  to  someone  else — my 
immediate  predecessor  or  successor;  but  to  be  given 
the  Freedom  of  dear  little  Helston  (the  home  of  my 
fathers),  in  the  quaint  and  ancient  guildhall  there,  is 
something  more  humanly  rich  to  me,  if  I  may  say  so. 
Mind,  I  am  not  running  down  the  glorious  things 
which  occurred  to  me  at  the  other  Guildhall — not  at 
all.  I  am  pleased  and  proud  about  them  also;  but 
there  was  something  of  home  about  Helston. 

I  had  a  regular  royal  progress  through  the  Duchy 
of  Cornwall  for  three  days,  and  both  Helston  and 
Truro  honoured  me  with  their  Freedom. 

As  to  Helston,  the  people  there  went  mad  with 
delight  as  I  danced  the  Furry  dance  through  the  hilly 
streets.  I  remember  how,  on  the  8th  of  May,  1907, 
men  and  women  stopped  me  in  my  dancing  course 
and  gave  me  small  sums  of  money — silver  and  copper 
— with  a  squeeze  of  the  hand,  and  the  words  "  for 
the  little  cripples  "  and  a  "  God  bless  'ee  !  " 

When  I  first  thought  of  publishing  this  diary  I 
naturally  searched  to  find  out  whether  such  a  book  had 
ever  before  been  written  by  a  Lord  Mayor.  I  cannot 
find  that  it  has,  with  the  exception  of  that  of  Micajah 
Perry,  Lord  Mayor  1738-1739,  and  this  I  have  given 
in  full  as  an  appendix  to  this  work.  It  suggests 
certain  interesting  comparisons. 


PREFACE  ix 

It  is  curious  that  no  other  Lord  Mayor  has  left  an 
account  of  his  year  of  office.  It  would  have  been 
very  interesting  to  read  now  such  a  book,  no  matter 
in  what  century  it  was  written.  Think  what  a  flood 
of  light  might  have  been  thrown  on  social,  historical, 
and  political  events  by  such  a  record  !  There  is  in 
the  Guildhall  Library  a  Diary  of  a  Sheriff,  Richard 
Hoare,  written  in  1740,  and  curiously  interesting  it  is 
to  one  who  knows  the  customs  and  traditions  of  the 
City;  but  although  he  afterwards  was  Lord  Mayor  in 
1745,  he  left  no  record  of  his  mayoralty. 

Micaiah  (or,  as  he  wrote  his  name,  Micajah)  Perry 
was  a  merchant  residing  in  St.  Mary  Axe,  in  the  Ward 
of  Aldgate.  He  was  elected  Alderman  on  the  24th 
of  February,  1728,  and,  almost  at  the  same  time 
became  Master  of  the  Worshipful  Company  of  Haber- 
dashers. In  the  previous  October  (1727)  he  was 
elected  one  of  the  three  Whig  Members  of  Parliament 
for  the  City,  the  fourth  being  a  Tory. 

He  served  the  office  of  Sheriff  in  1734-1735,  and 
on  Michaelmas  Day,  1738,  was  elected  Lord  Mayor, 
assuming  office  on  the  28th  of  October  following, 
when  he  was  forty- three  years  old.  He  lost  his  wife 
on  the  icth  of  October,  1738,  and  he  lost  his  seat  in 
the  House  of  Commons  at  the  General  Election  in 
1741 — perhaps  because  he  had  the  support  of  the 
Dissenters,  although  he  was  then  the  Ministerial 
candidate.  He  was  never  knighted,  probably  because 
up  to  1741  he  had  persistently  voted  against  Walpole 
and  the  Government. 

He  was  Colonel  of  the  Orange  Regiment  1738-1745. 
The  City  Train  Bands  were  then  divided  into  regi- 
ments distinguished  by  colours,  the  territorial  limits 


x  PREFACE 

of  the   Orange   Regiment   coinciding  with  my  own 
Ward  of  Farringdon  Without. 

He  surrendered  his  office  of  Alderman  in  November, 
1 746,  on  account  of  ill-health,  and  at  the  same  Court 
his  brethren  voted  him  two  hundred  pounds  per 
annum,  which  payment  was  continued  until  he  died 
in  January,  1753.  His  ill-health  is  evident  from  the 
fact  that  the  document  was  signed  with  his  mark,  and 
witnessed  by  Sir  John  Bosworth,  the  City  Chamber- 
lain, and  Ann  Cocke,  a  relative  of  his  deceased  wife. 

I  cannot  discover  the  cause  of  the  change  in  Perry's 
circumstances ;  but  I  find  that  on  the  2nd  of  December, 
1746,  the  Chamberlain  acquainted  the  Court  "  that 
Micajah  Perry,  Esq.,  late  Alderman  of  the  Ward  of 
Aldgate,  desired  him  to  return  his  most  humble  and 
hearty  thanks  for  their  generous  and  kind  concern 
for  him  and  for  the  seasonable  support  they  have 
given  him  in  his  present  necessity." 

The  family  of  Perry  must  have  been  well-to-do  at 
one  time,  as  is  evidenced  by  a  notice  in  a  contem- 
porary newspaper,  announcing  the  marriage  of  a 
Mr.  Cade  to  Miss  Perry,  sister  of  Mr.  Alderman  Perry, 
a  young  lady  of  £10,000  fortune. 

There  is  a  fine  full-length  portrait  of  Perry  in 
his  official  robes  at  Haberdashers'  Hall. 

On  the  28th  of  October,  the  day  Perry  left  office, 
he  records  that,  "  The  day  being  Sunday,  no  ladies 
were  invited,  and  I  only  entertained  the  Aldermen 
above  the  Chair,  the  Officers  of  Guildhall,  and  the 
Haberdashers'  Company."  Apparently,  after  paying 
this  easy  tribute  to  their  true  Sabbatarian  instincts, 
the  gentlemen  contentedly  enjoyed  their  dinners  as 
well  as  they  could  without  the  ladies. 

Three  days  before  he  left  office  he  laid  the  chief 


PREFACE  xi 

corner-stone  of  the  present  Mansion  House.  It  seems 
to  have  been  a  very  quiet  affair.  He  says,  "  After 
attending  adjourned  Quarter  Sessions  at  Guildhall 
— Violet — I  afterwards  put  on  the  Scarlet  Gown,  and 
went  to  Stocks  Market,  attended  by  several  Gentle- 
men of  the  Committee  appointed  to  erect  a  Mansion 
House  for  the  Lord  Mayor  of  this  City  in  their  Gowns, 
preceded  by  the  City  Musick  and  my  Officers  with  the 
Sunday  Sword  and  Mace,  and  laid  the  chief  corner 
stone  of  the  said  Mansion  House,  and  placed  therein 
a  copper  plate  with  an  inscription  engraved  thereon, 
and  afterwards  returned  home." 

Before  1753  the  Aldermen  and  other  wealthy 
citizens  lived  over  or  near  their  business  premises, 
and  the  private  residence  of  the  Lord  Mayor  became 
the  Mansion  House  during  his  mayoralty.  The  halls 
of  the  City  Companies  were  lent  to  the  Lord  Mayor 
when  required,  and  he  was  also  allowed  to  use  the 
stables.  This  latter  courtesy  was  continued  after  the 
Mansion  House  was  built. 

As  far  back  as  1670  it  was  thought  that  there 
should  be  an  official  residence  for  London's  Chief 
Magistrate,  and  in  1 734  it  was  decided  that  a  Mansion 
House  should  be  erected ;  and  the  first  stone  was  laid 
by  Lord  Mayor  Perry  in  1739. 

The  foundation  work  was  difficult  and  tedious ;  the 
site  is  close  to  the  Wall-brook,  and  piling  was  found 
to  be  necessary.  When  the  building  was  finished, 
dry  rot  appeared  in  the  large  beams  of  the  roof  to  the 
Egyptian  Hall,  and  in  1793  it  was  moved  in  the 
Court  of  Common  Council  that  a  Committee  should 
consider  the  erection  of  a  new  building  "  instead  of 
a  general  repair  and  alterations  to  the  present 
one." 


xii  PREFACE 

Certain  alterations  have  been  made  since  the 
building  was  erected.  The  side  porch  was  not  built 
to  the  private  entrance  on  the  west  side  until  a  much 
later  date.  An  attic  story,  called  the  Mayor's  Nest, 
existed  over  the  Egyptian  Hall  (so  named,  I  am  told, 
after  the  Egyptian  Hall  described  by  Vitruvius)  and 
another  over  the  ball-room;  but  they  were  removed 
in  consequence  of  dry  rot;  and  a  fine  state  staircase 
from  the  principal  floor  to  the  first  floor  has  alsobeen 
removed.  There  was  an  open  courtyard  at  the  level 
of  the  first  or  principal  floor.  This  was  entirely  sur- 
rounded by  the  building,  and  a  short  open  colonnade 
was  formed  at  the  entrance  to  the  Egyptian  Hall. 
The  steps  and  railings  in  front  were  altered,  and  the 
width  of  the  public  way  was  considerably  increased. 

The  illustration  shown  is  taken  from  a  rare  print 
in  the  possession  of  my  friend,  Sir  William  Soulsby.* 

The  first  Lord  Mayor  who  occupied  the  Mansion 
House  was  Sir  Crisp  Gascoyne,  in  1753,  one  of  the 
ancestors  of  the  Salisbury  family. 

Perry  was  buried  in  Epsom  churchyard,  presum- 
ably in  the  same  grave  as  his  wife.  The  inscription 
on  her  grave  reads  as  follows : 

"  Sacred  to  the  memory  of  Elizabeth,  late  wife  of  Micajah 
Perry,  Esq.,  daughter  of  Richard  and  Mrs.  Ann  Cocke,  who 
was  possessed  of  many  great  and  good  qualities.  .  .  .  She  lived 
many  years  in  this  parish,  and  died  10  Oct.,  1738,  in  the  39th 
year  of  her  age." 

It  will  be  observed  that  she  died  eighteen  days 
before  he  entered  on  the  duties  of  Lord  Mayor. 

*  If  Sir  William  Soulsby  some  day  gives  us  his  recollections  of 
the  Mansion  House,  how  interesting  they  will  be  !  Fancy  his 
opinions  and  criticisms  upon  the  forty-four  Lord  Mayors  under 
whom  he  has  served  as  private  secretary  so  faithfully  and  well ! 


PREFACE  xiii 

I  don't  think  that  Lord  Mayor  Perry  in  1738  had 
such  a  good  time  as  I  had  in  1906.  In  one  thing  he 
had  the  advantage  of  me :  he  was  but  forty-three  years 
old,  whereas  I  was  sixty-three.  But  I  do  not  think 
I  was  an  old  sixty-three,  and  I  fancy  he  was  not  a 
very  young  forty-three. 

The  traditional  idea  or  opinion  used  to  be  that 
Lord  Mayors  and  Aldermen  were  men  who  ate  and 
drank  more  than  was  good  for  them.  Most  certainly 
that  is  not  the  case  now,  nor  was  it  in  1906. 

According  to  Perry's  diary,  he  did  not  attend  any- 
thing like  the  number  of  dinners,  luncheons,  and 
suppers  that  I  did;  but  I  fancy  the  men  of  two  hun- 
dred years  ago  fed  more  heartily,  and  drank  more 
heavily  than  we  of  this  generation. 

After  all,  it  is  not  where  you  dine  so  much  as  how 
you  dine  that  tells.  I  can  safely  say  that  the  Alder- 
men of  to-day  are  very  abstemious,  and  even  careful 
livers.  I  know  that  when  I  was  in  the  Chair  I  carefully 
refrained  from  taking  meat;  I  drank  no  spirits  and 
only  took  one  sort  of  wine  at  my  meals.  I  do  not 
smoke.  I  observed  careful  rules  in  other  respects; 
and  so  it  is,  I  think,  with  all  of  my  brethren.  The 
fact  is,  we  know  more  on  this  subject  than  did  the 
men  who  lived  two  hundred  years  ago. 

We  are  not  like  the  woman  who  told  the  Board 
School  mistress  that  she  did  not  wish  her  little  girl 
to  be  taught  so  much  about  her  stomach,  as  she 
thought  it  was  rude  to  talk  of  the  inside. 

It  does  not  appear  that  Perry  could  have  spent  so 
much  money  during  his  year  of  office  as  we  modern 
Lord  Mayors  are  obliged  to  do.  He  was  paid,  as  was 
then  the  custom,  by  fees,  which  probably  amounted 
to  about  £5,000,  j£ioo  of  which  was  derived  from  the 

2 


xiv  PREFACE 

profits  of  Bartholomew  Fair ;  when  the  Fair  ceased  to 
be  profitable  two  Freedoms  of  the  City,  valued  at 
£25  a  piece,  were  granted  as  compensation  for  the 
£100,  as  the  facsimile  below  testifies. 

He  had  no  Mansion  House  to  keep  up  with  its  many 
servants  and  other  daily  expenses.  Apparently  there 
were  very  few  settled  formal  dinners  or  luncheons, 
and  not  so  many  charity  appeals  and  meetings.  The 
practice  of  going  into  the  London  markets  to  beg 


food  for  charities  and  the  poor,  as  he  did,  has  passed 
away,  I  am  inclined  to  think,  happily. 

There  was,  apparently,  not  a  great  Show  on  the 
28th  of  October,  which  was  the  date  of  the  Lord 
Mayor's  Show  then,  and  it  was  not  a  hired  Show  as 
it  is  at  present.  The  Aldermen,  Sheriffs,  and  Guilds 
attended  in  their  own  barges,  with  the  Lord  Mayor, 
and  were  rowed  from  Three  Cranes  Wharf  to  West- 
minster. It  must  have  been  a  pretty  sight,  and  I 
wish  we  made  more  such  use  of  our  dear  historic 
Thames.  After  all  that  dignity  and  pageantry,  the 
annual  junketing  trip  on  the  Maria  Wood  was  rather 


PREFACE  xv 

like  a  poor  harlequinade.     In  the  evening  there  was 
a  dinner  at  Guildhall. 

I  am  indebted  to  the  Rev.  A.  B.  Beaven's  excellent 
work  upon  the  Aldermen  of  the  City  of  London  for 
some  of  the  facts  in  this  notice.  I  also  owe  thanks  to 
my  friend  Mr.  Deputy  Bull  and  the  members  of  the 
Library  Committee  for  permission  to  copy  documents. 
My  friend  Mr.  Bernard  Kettle,  the  Librarian,  has 
also  assisted  me  greatly  in  my  searches,  and  I  should 
like  to  record  my  opinion  of  him  as  a  most  excellent, 
able,  and  ever  courteous  Librarian,  and  a  good  friend. 

Other  times,  other  manners — and,  it  will  have  been 
seen,  there  was  a  very  different  City  of  London  in 
George  II.'s  reign. 

Smollett  described  London  then  as  an  "  overgrown 
monster;  which,  like  a  dropsical  head,  will  in  time 
leave  the  body  and  extremities  without  nourishment 
or  support.  The  tide  of  luxury  has  swept  all  the 
inhabitants  from  the  open  country,  the  poorest  squire 
as  well  as  the  richest  peer  must  have  his  house  in 
town,  and  make  a  figure  with  an  extraordinary 
number  of  domestics.  .  .  .  There  are  many  causes 
that  contribute  to  the  daily  increase  of  this  enormous 
mass;  but  they  may  be  all  resolved  into  the  grand 
source  of  luxury  and  corruption." 

This  criticism  is  somewhat  like  that  to  which  we 
are  often  treated  now;  but  just  fancy  the  difference  in 
the  traffic  in  the  streets  then  and  now  !  Swift  motor- 
cars and  trolleys,  buses,  and  trams  block  the  streets 
and  are  everywhere;  whereas  then  gilt  coaches,  drawn 
by  four  horses,  hackney  carriages,  and  carts,  were 
the  means  of  locomotion,  and  there  was  little  or  no 
suburban  traffic. 


xvi  PREFACE 

The  evidence  given  before  the  Select  Committee  on 
Traffic  by  Sir  W.  J.  Nott  Bower,  Commissioner  of 
the  City  Police,  is  very  revealing  and  significant : 
30,934  vehicles  passed  the  Mansion  House  on  the 
26th  of  November,  1912,  proceeding  as  follows: 

From  King  William  Street  . .  . .  . .  5,756 

,,     Cornhill  . .          . .  . .  . .  3,365 

,,     Threadneedle  Street    . .  . .  . .  5,972 

,,     Princes  Street  . .          . .  . .  . .  4,038 

,,     Poultry  . .          . .  . .  . .  5,080 

„     Queen  Victoria  Street  . .  . .  6,723 

Iii  his  "  Trivia,"  Gay  tells  us  about  the  markets 
for  food  which  were  the  same  as  now: 

"  Shall  the  large  mutton  smoak  upon  your  Boards  ? 
Such,  Newgate's  copious  market  best  affords. 
Wouldst  thou  with  mighty  Beef,  augment  thy  meal  ? 
Seek  Leaden  Hall;  St.  James's  sends  thee  Veal; 
Thames-Street  gives  Cheeses,  Covent  Garden  Fruits, 
Moorfields  old  books,  and  Monmouth  Street  old  suits. 

Oh  bear  me  to  the  Paths  of  fair  Pell  Mell, 

Safe  are  thy  pavements,  grateful  is  thy  smell." 

And  that  splendid  lover  of  our  City  and  Metro- 
polis, Dr.  Samuel  Johnson,  in  his  "  London,"  which 
was  published  in  Perry's  year  of  1738: 

"  For  who  would  leave  unbribed  Hibernia's  land, 
Or  change  the  rocks  of  Scotland  for  the  Strand  ? 
There  none  are  swept  by  sudden  fate  away, 
But  all  whom  hunger  spares  with  age  decay. 
Here  malice,  rapine,  accident  conspire, 
And  now  a  rabble  rages,  now  a  fire ; 
Their  ambush  here  relentless  ruffians  lay, 
And  the  fell  attorney  prowls  for  prey. 
Here  falling  houses  thunder  on  your  head, 
And  here  a  female  atheist  talks  you  dead. 


PREFACE  xvii 

Prepare  for  death,  if  here  at  night  you  roam, 
And  sign  your  will  before  you  sup  from  home ; 

Some  frolic  drunkard,  reeling  from  a  feast, 
Provokes  a  brawl  and  stabs  you  for  a  jest." 

Yes,  things  are  changed,  happily  changed  in  many 
respects. 

Well,  I  am  proud  to  have  served  on  the  Corporation, 
and  to  have  been  Lord  Mayor,  the  chosen  represen- 
tative of  the  citizens ;  for  this  mighty  London  of  ours 
was  made  by  the  citizens  of  long  ago  and  by  the 
example  they  set  us.  Stow  tells  us  that,  "  This 
realm  hath  only  three  principal  rivers  whereon  a 
Royal  City  may  well  be  situated,  Trent  in  the  North, 
Severn  in  the  South-West,  and  Thames  in  the  South- 
East,  of  the  which  Thames,  both  for  the  straight  course 
in  length  reacheth  furthest  into  the  belly  of  the  land, 
and  for  the  breadth  and  stillness  of  the  water  is  most 
navigable  up  and  down  the  stream."  He  then  goes 
on  to  tell  the  story  of  how,  when  Queen  Mary,  angry 
with  the  citizens,  threatened  to  remove  the  Term 
and  Parliament  to  Oxford,  a  certain  Alderman 
asked  whether  she  intended  also  to  divert  the  Thames 
from  London;  because  if  not,  "  By  God's  Grace  we 
shall  do  well  enough  at  London,  whatsoever  become 
of  the  Term  and  Parliament."  No  doubt  the  river 
— the  "  fishful  Thames,"  Stow  called  it,  in  which 
Perry  records  there  were  sturgeons  ! — gave  us  a  good 
start;  but  it  was  those  old  citizens  who  made  our 
London  the  first  city  in  the  world. 

Domine  dirige  nos  (O  God,  direct  us),  and  those  who 
follow  us  to  keep  it  so.  Amen. 

W.  P.  T. 

November  gih,  1919. 


CONTENTS 

PAGE 

INTRODUCTORY  -  i 

THE  DIARY  ...  -      53 

LORD  MAYOR  PERRY'S  DIARY  -  -  -229 


xix 


LIST   OF   ILLUSTRATIONS 

THE  AUTHOR  -  Frontispiece 

Front  a  pencil  drawing  by  Phil  May  (photogravure) 

TACK 

ST.  THOMAS'S  DAY  ELECTION,  DECEMBER  21, 1881,  FARRING- 

DON  WITHOUT  WARD:  "THE  FARRINGDON  DERBY"  to  face  8 

THE  MANSION  HOUSE  OF  WHICH  THE  FOUNDATION-STONE 

WAS  LAID  BY  MICAJAH  PERRY  -      to  face  12 

THE  LORD  MAYOR,  SIR  GEORGE  TYLER,  AND  SOME  OF  THE 

ALDERMEN  AT  THE  SAVAGE  CLUB  -      to  face  26 

From  a  drawing  by  John  Proctor 

THE  JEWEL  AND  CHAIN  OF  OFFICE  -  -  -      37 

FIREPLACE   IN   THE   SERVANTS'    HALL,  MANSION   HOUSE, 

SHOWING  THE  "  WOODEN  HORSE  "  ON  THE  RIGHT         -      39 

THE  STATUE  AT  NEWBY  HALL,  RIPON  -     to  face  40 

GOGGLES  AND  MAGOGGLES:  A  CHANCE  THAT  SIR  WILLIAM 

TRELOAR  MISSED  -      to  face  46 

By  kind  permission  of  the  proprietors  oj  "  Punch  " 

THE  LORD  MAYOR,  1906-7  -  -      to  face  54 

From  the  original  painting  at  Guildhall  by  P.  Tennyson  Cole 

SIR  WILLIAM  AND  LADY  TRELOAR  RECEIVING  THE  FIRST 
LITTLE  PATIENTS  AT  THE  RAILWAY-STATION,  ALTON, 
SEPTEMBER  8,  1908  -  -  to  face  64 

Drawn  by  G.  L.  Stampa  from  photographs 

xxi 


xxii  LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 

PAGE 

A  FLEET  STREET  REVEL  AT  THE  PRESS  CLUB  WITH  VIS- 
COUNT BURNHAM  AND  SlR  W.  H.  DUNN  ON  SATURDAY, 

FEBRUARY  9,  1907  -  -      to  face  98 

SKETCH  FOR  THE  LORD  MAYOR'S  COACH    -  -     no 

from  the  drawing  by  E.  T.  Reed 

DESIGN  FOR  THE   SEND-OFF  BANQUET  TO  H.  BEERBOHM 

TREE  -  -     121 

COLONIAL  PREMIERS  AT  GUILDHALL,  APRIL  16,  1907  : 
GENERAL  BOTHA  AND  DR.  JAMESON  INTRODUCED  TO 
THE  ALDERMEN  -  to  face  124 

From  the  drawing  by  Ernest  Prater,  by  kind  permission  of  the 
editor  of  the  "  Graphic" 

ROYAL  SIGNATURES  FROM  MY  AUTOGRAPH  BOOK      -  -     127 

ALL-HIGHEST!  -     143 

SOME  AUTOGRAPHS  OF  FAMOUS  MEN  -     159 

THE  EDITOR,  MR.  PETT  RIDGE,  AND  CONTRIBUTORS  TO  THE 
SOUVENIR  BOOK  OF  THE  QUEEN'S  F£TE,  AT  THE  MAN- 
SION HOUSE  ON  THURSDAY,  JUNE  13,  1907        -     to  face  164 
From  a  drawing  by  A.  L.  Boyd 

VISIT  OF  QUEEN  ALEXANDRA  TO  ALTON  IN  JULY,  1912        „      168 
PRINCESS  MARY'S  COLLECTING  CARD  ,,       170 

"SANS  Souci "  PALACE,  JUNE  20,  1907:  BARON  VON 
REISCHBACH,  LORD  CHAMBERLAIN,  AND  CHIEF  BURGO- 
MASTER KIRCHNER  -  to  face  182 

THE  FIRST  LITTLE  PATIENTS,  SEPTEMBER,   1919,  AT  THE 

PAVILION  AT  SANDY  POINT,  HAYLING  ISLAND    -     to  face  198 

"ROSES,  ROSES  ALL  THE  WAY"    -  ,,      214 

From   the  cartoon    bv  John    Leech,  by  kind  permission  if  the 
proprietors  of  "  Punch  " 

"  OH,  WHAT  A  FALL  WAS  THERE,  MY  COUNTRYMEN  "     to  face  228 

From  the    cartoon    by  John   Leech,   by  kind   permission   oj    the 
proprietors  of  "  Punch  " 


A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

1906—7 

INTRODUCTORY 


A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 


INTRODUCTORY 

I  PROPOSE  to  set  down  in  chronological  order  a  record 
of  my  civic  doings  day  by  day,  and  to  make  some 
reference  to  the  people  with  whom  I  came  in  contact 
during  my  mayoralty  from  the  9th  of  November, 
1906,  to  the  9th  of  November,  1907.  Before  I  begin 
the  diary  of  my  year  of  office  I  will  try  to  give  an 
account  of  my  civic  career. 

It  was  on  St.  Thomas's  Day,  the  2ist  of  December, 
in  1 88 1,  that  I  became  a  Common  Councilman  for 
the  Ward  of  Farringdon  Without.  The  widening  of 
Ludgate  Hill  had  been  commenced  in  1862,  and  some 
of  my  neighbours,  thinking  it  was  now  time  that  the 
work  should  be  finished,  induced  me  to  enter  the  Cor- 
poration for  the  express  purpose  of  calling  attention 
to  the  delay,  and  if  possible  of  getting  this  much- 
needed  improvement  completed. 

I  served  for  eleven  years  as  a  Common  Councilman, 
until  the  year  1892,  when  I  became  an  Alderman;  and 
I  had  a  very  pleasant  time.  I  enjoyed  my  term  on 
the  "  floor  of  the  Court,"  and  my  close  association 
with  the  members  of  the  Court  of  Common  Council, 
quite  as  much  as  the  time  I  have  spent  since  in  the 
higher  latitude. 

Somehow  or  other,  in  the  lower  chamber,  if  there 
are  disagreements,  as  there  must  be,  and  one  gets 
the  better  of  another  in  a  dispute,  when  it  is  over  it 

3 


4  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

is  over;  the  men  take  the  winning  or  losing  as  sports- 
men ought  to  do,  and  no  malice  remains.  This  makes 
the  Court  of  Common  Council  an  agreeable  body  to 
belong  to.  Men  who  are  subject  to  annual  election 
have  robust  opinions,  and  seldom  or  never  do  you 
find  amongst  them  any  conspiracy  of  envy,  hatred, 
and  malice.  1  sometimes  wish  I  was  a  younger  man, 
when  I  might  resign  my  present  position,  and  enter 
again  in  the  running  for  a  Common  Councilman  in 
the  largest  and  best  ward  in  the  City;  but,  alas  ! 
perhaps  the  ratepayers  would  not  elect  a  man  of 
seventy-seven;  so,  as  a  bird  in  the  hand  is  said  to  be 
worth  two  in  the  bush  (I'm  not  sure  that  it  always 
is),  I  will  e'en  stay  as  I  am,  and  take  the  consequences, 
although  by  doing  so  I  may  perhaps  disappoint  one 
or  two  of  my  friends. 

Farringdon  Without  is  the  largest  and  best  ward  in 
the  City.  Its  boundaries  are:  in  the  west,  the  Law 
Courts,  including  the  Temple  and  Chancery  Lane  up 
to  Holborn;  in  the  east,  the  Church  of  St.  Martin's, 
Ludgate;  on  the  north,  Holborn  and  the  Central 
Meat  Market;  and  on  the  south,  Whitefriars  down  to 
the  river.* 

The  Ward  takes  its  name  from  one  William  de 
Farndone,  or  Farendon,  citizen  and  goldsmith,  three 
times  Mayor  of  the  City;  he  purchased  it  in  1279  of 
Ralph  de  Feure,  it  being  then  called  the  Ward  of 
Ludgate  and  Newgate;  the  Ward  of  Fleet  Street  was 
afterwards  added  to  it.  In  1 393  the  WTard  had  become 
so  large  as  to  necessitate  its  division  by  an  order  in 
Parliament;  and  from  that  time  the  portion  within 

*  It  has  been  said  that  as  Alderman  of  the  Ward  I  represent 
the  World,  the  Flesh  and  the  Devil — i.e.,  Fleet  Street,  the  home  of 
the  newspaj-er  press;  the  Central  Meat  Market ;  and  the  Temple. 


FARRINGDON  WITHOUT  5 

the  walls  has  been  called  Farringdon  Within,  and  that 
outside  the  walls  Farringdon  Without.* 

It  is  interesting  to  learn  that  the  Spital  Sermons 
were  for  many  years  preached  in  this  Ward — viz., 
at  the  Church  of  St.  Bride,  Fleet  Street.  Stow  says 
that  "  time  out  of  mind  it  hath  been  a  laudable 
custom  "  to  preach  these  sermons  during  Easter  at 
Paul's  Cross  and  at  the  Hospital  of  St.  Mary  Spital, 
near  Bishopsgate.  From  the  Restoration  till  1797 
they  were  preached  at  St.  Bride's,  and  since  then  at 
Christ  Church,  Newgate  Street.  St.  Bride's  Church 
was  long  noted  for  its  chimes,  and  here  the  curfew  was 
anciently  rung.  When  the  bells  were  first  put  up, 
about  1726,  and  for  some  years  afterwards,  Fleet 
Street  was  frequently  thronged  with  carriages,  the 
gentry  coming  from  far  and  near  to  hear  them  rung. 
Some  poet  has  written : 

"  Bells  of  St.  Bride's,  wheresoever  I  be, 
My  heart  in  the  night-time  must  travel  to  thee ; 
They  may  say  it  is  Cockney,  and  what  not  beside, 
But  I  ne'er  shall  forget  thee,  Sweet  Bells  of  St.  Bride." 

Some  of  the  questions  which  were  raised  in  the 
Corporation  during  my  membership  of  the  Common 
Council,  and  in  which  I  took  part  may,  I  think,  be 
referred  to. 

At  this  time — 1881 — when  my  neighbours  asked 
me  to  become  a  candidate,  I  was  in  the  most  blissful 
state  of  ignorance  as  to  the  Corporation.  I  had  heard 
of  the  Court  of  Common  Council,  the  Livery,  Common 

*  Sir  W.  H.  Dunn,  the  Lord  Mayor  at  Christmas,  1916,  very 
kindly  gave  a  specially  printed  copy  of  Stow's  "  London,"  which 
gives  an  account  of  the  Ward,  to  the  members  of  the  Corporation 
and  his  friends.  It  is  a  volume  which  is  indeed  a  real  feast  for 
antiquaries,  and  was  a  very  welcome  Christmas  present  to  those 
who  were  favoured  with  a  copy. 


6  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

Hall,  and  last,  but  not  least,  the  Court  of  Aldermen; 
but  I  knew  none  of  the  personnel  of  these  bodies.  I 
did  not  then  know  who  was  Lord  Mayor,  nor  was  I 
aware  of  the  name  of  the  Alderman  of  the  Ward,  or 
of  any  other  of  its  sixteen  representatives.  The  only 
official  of  the  Ward  known  to  me  was  the  rate-collector, 
and  I  hardly  looked  upon  him  as  a  personal  friend. 
However,  1  soon  made  the  acquaintance  of  the 
Common  Councilmen,  most  of  whom  impressed  upon 
me  the  absolute  necessity  in  my  own  interest  of  not 
then  prosecuting  my  candidature  for  the  Ward;  they 
advised  me  to  retire  gracefully  and  come  out  next 
year.  I  did  not,  however,  take  their  advice;  but  I 
went  to  the  poll,  with  an  excellent  result,  so  far  as  I 
was  concerned. 

There  were  other  ratepayers  in  the  Ward  who,  like 
myself,  had  no  knowledge  of  the  Corporation  and  its 
officials.  I  remember  that  shortly  after  I  was  elected 
a  gentleman  called  upon  me  and,  after  offering  his 
congratulations,  told  me  that  although  his  business, 
which  was  a  very  large  and  successful  one,  had  been 
carried  on  in  the  Ward  for  a  very  long  time,  and  he 
was  one  of  the  largest  ratepayers,  yet  he  had  never 
received  an  invitation  to  any  function  such  as  the 
Lord  Mayor's  Banquet.  We  had  a  pleasant  con- 
versation, from  which  I  learnt  that  this  large  and 
influential  ratepayer  had  never  taken  the  smallest 
interest  in  the  affairs  of  the  Ward,  he  had  never 
attended  any  of  the  Wardmotes  or  other  meetings, 
and  had  therefore  never  voted  for  a  candidate,  or  even 
known  one. 

He  eventually  agreed  with  me  that  he  was  not  in  a 
position  to  claim  any  recognition  from  those  to  whom 
he  himself  had  vouchsafed  none;  but  that  any  invi- 


ELECTIONEERING  INCIDENTS  7 

tations  that  were  going  about  were  due  to  those  who 
supported  one  or  other  of  the  candidates  at  the  annual 
elections,  on  St.  Thomas's  Day.  I  am  afraid,  even 
now,  there  is  not  as  much  activity  shown  in  muni- 
cipal and  even  imperial  matters  as  there  ought  to  be 
by  many  "  large  and  influential  "  ratepayers. 

The  Ward  had  always  been  noted  for  its  contests. 
I  believe  "  Orator  Hunt  "  disturbed  it  in  1828  by 
becoming  a  candidate;  I  did  the  same  in  1881.  I 
remember  some  incidents  during  my  canvass.  I 
called  upon  a  certain  baker  who  was  considered  to 
be  a  "  wire  puller  "  of  great  importance.  He  came 
up  through  a  trap-door  in  his  shop  to  receive  me; 
he  was  in  his  shirt-sleeves,  and  quite  floury. 

"  Well,"  he  said,  "  you're  the  carpet  man,  aren't 
you,  and  you've  called  to  ask  for  my  vote,  I  suppose  ?" 

"  Yes,  sir,"  I  replied. 

"  Well,  look  here,  young  feller,"  he  said,  "  I've 
never  yet  been  to  the  banquet  on  the  pth  of  November, 
and  if  you  will  promise  to  get  me  an  invitation  to  the 
next  one,  I'll  undertake  to  get  you  elected — me  and 
the  missis,  of  course,  I  mean." 

I  declined  to  give  a  promise;  and  he  then  said: 
"  Then  I'm  damned  if  I  vote  for  you  !" 

I  called  then  on  a  certain  publican,  who  was  also 
a  "  wire  puller."  He  was  not  in  when  I  called;  but 
I  had  the  pleasure  of  a  chat  with  his  third  wife,  and 
left  her  in  the  bar  parlour  with  her  solemn  promise 
that  the  "  old  gentleman  "  should  vote  for  me,  for, 
she  said,  "  you're  the  best-looking  one  of  the  lot." 

In  the  City  Press  of  the  22nd  of  September,  1917, 
Mr.  Lidstone,  a  very  well-known  inhabitant  of  the 
Ward,  gives  a  description  of  the  voting  in  the  Ward 
fifty  years  ago.  Among  the  Ward-mote  incidents  he 

I 


8  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

tells  how  the  Ballot  Act  had  not  been  passed  and  the 
Aldermen  had  to  sit  whilst  the  votes  were  recorded 
openly.  Once,  when  Sir  James  Duke  was  presiding, 
a  tree  and  independent  elector  approached,  and,  when 
asked  for  whom  he  wished  to  vote,  said:  "I  don't 
know;  it  was  a  cove  that  stood  me  a  quartern  of 
rum."  The  Alderman  told  the  poll  clerk  to  read  the 
names  of  the  candidates  to  him;  when  the  clerk 
came  to  a  certain  name,  "  That's  the  cove  as  stood 
the  rum — I  votes  for  him,"  said  the  voter.  "Take 
the  vote,"  said" the  Alderman. 

Ihe  contest  on  the  2ist  of  December,  1881,  was  a 
very  rowdy,  noisy  affair;  it  was  popularly  called 
'  The  1-arringdon  Derby."  There  were  twenty  can- 
didates for  sixteen  places.  The  Corrupt  Practices 
Act  was  not  then  in  force  for  City  Municipal  elections, 
and  much  money  was  spent.  That  perhaps  is  why. 

i  was  fortunate  enough  to  be  returned  at  the  head 
of  the  poll.  A  broadside,  here  reproduced,  was 
published  during  the  election,  which  gave  a  prophecy 
as  to  the  position  of  the  candidates.  James  Piggins 
was  at  that  time  Alderman;  he  retired  in  1882. 

I  made  it  my  business  after  the  election  to  issue 
on  my  own  account  a  circular  letter  to  the  electors  in 
the  \\  ard,  asking  them  to  tell  me  whether  they  wished 
to  have  the  Ballot  Act  in  force  in  the  City  or  not. 
The  replies  were:  632  in  favour  of  the  ballot,  327 
against  it,  and  115  neutral. 

On  the  3oth  of  April,  1885,  a  petition  of  electors, 
praying  the  Court  of  Common  Council  to  take  the 
necessary  steps  to  secure  the  adoption  of  the  ballot 
at  all  future  contested  elections  for  Common  Council- 
men  of  the  City  of  London,  was  ordered  to  lie 


u,   > 


z 

-  O 


u 

a  w 
o  S 

.  H 


ELECTION  BY  BALLOT  9 

on    the    table — votes   61    to    50.     I    voted    in    the 
minority. 

On  the  7th  of  May,  1 886,  a  motion  that  all  future 
elections  of  members  should  be  by  ballot  was  defeated 
by  77  votes  to  57.  I  voted  in  the  minority.  Fortu- 
nately, the  Court  eventually  decided  to  follow  my 
example,  and  sent  a  circular  to  every  voter  in  the 
City,  asking  his  opinion.  The  result  was  an  over- 
whelming consensus  of  opinion  in  favour  of  the  Ballot, 
and  on  the  ist  of  July,  1886,  I  moved,  and  Mr.  A. 
Brookman  seconded,  the  following  resolution,  which 
was  carried  without  a  division,  viz.: 

"  That  inasmuch  as  a  very  large  majority  of 
the  Citizens  are  in  favour  of  the  ballot  in  such 
elections  in  the  City  as  are  now  conducted  by 
open  voting,  it  be  referred  to  the  Local  Govern- 
ment and  Taxation  Committee  to  take  such 
steps  as  they  are  advised  may  be  necessary  for 
giving  practical  effect  to  such  opinion,  by  sub- 
stituting vote  by  ballot  for  open  voting  wherever 
practicable  in  the  City." 

So  the  Ballot  Act  came  into  work  in  the  City. 
The  first  contested  election  under  this  Act,  in  my 
Ward,  was  on  St.  Thomas's  Day,  the  2ist  of  December, 
1887,  when  I  headed  the  poll  with  1,044  votes. 
Fifteen  other  candidates  were  elected  as  usual, 
Mr.  H.  B.  Marshall,  the  father  of  the  late  Lord  Mayor, 
being  one  of  them. 

The  number  of  voters  polling  was  certainly  reduced, 
and  the  proceedings  altogether  were  not  so  lively  or 
amusing;  but  bribery  and  corruption  were  abolished, 
or,  at  all  events,  we  thought  so. 

One  of  the  earliest  functions  I  witnessed  after  my 


10  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

election  was  the  opening  of  Epping  Forest,  in  1882, 
by  Queen  Victoria.  1  remember  the  Lord  Mayor, 
Sir  \\hittaker  Ellis,  was  on  horseback  on  that  occa- 
sion, as  was  also  another  well-known  citizen,  Sir  John 
Bennett. 

1  wore  my  mazarine  gown,  and  felt  very  important, 
but  my  pride  had  a  fall.  I  went  to  a  seat,  but  was 
told  by  the  custodian  that  1  had  come  to  the  wrong 
stand.  For  Common  Councilmen  the  stand  was  over 
the  way;  "  this  stand  is  for  ladies  and  gentlemen." 

Thirty-five  years  ago  the  members  of  the  Corpora- 
tion were  very  fond  of  taking  excursions  on  the 
Thames  in  the  summer-time,  i  remember  my  first 
voyage  on  the  Maria  Wood ;  this  was  a  barge  used 
frequently  in  the  summer  for  taking  the  members  of 
the  various  committees,  and  their  ladies,  for  river 
trips.  It  started  from  Kew  Bridge,  and  was  towed 
by  horses  up  the  river  as  far  as  Pope's  Villa,  then 
occupied  by  Mr.  Henry  Labouchere.  Maria  was  a 
decked  boat,  and  had  a  very  roomy  cabin,  practically 
the  full  length  of  the  barge. 

The  gentlemen  were  all  dressed  in  frock-coat  suits, 
and  wore  tall  hats;  dancing  was  carried  on  with 
vigour  and  persistence  almost  immediately  the  boat 
started.  Refreshments  were  provided  in  variety  and 
profusion.  There  was  a  smaller  boat,  called  "  the 
shallop,"  towed  behind  Maria,  to  which  some  of  the 
older  men  retired  for  cigars  and  other  luxuries. 

After  plenty  of  exercise,  a  very  good  dejeuner  was 
served  in  the  long  cabin,  and  there  also  "  plenty  " 
was  the  order  of  the  day.  Speeches,  liqueurs,  and 
other  pleasures  followed,  and  so  the  day  wore  on.  In 
the  evening  members  were  landed  again  at  Kew  Bridge 
to  go  home  to  ruminate  on  the  doings  of  the  day. 


THE  MARIA  WOOD  1 1 

I  should  not  be  surprised  to  hear  that  the  expres- 
sion "  What  cheer,  'Ria !"  and  perhaps  the  name 
given  to  the  City  prison  van,  of  "  Black  Maria," 
emanated  from  this  barge.  As  I  say,  I  remember 
my  first  trip  on  this  famous  boat ;  my  friend  the  late 
Sir  Henry  Knight  was  there  with  Lady  Knight;  and 
I  rather  think  my  friend  Sir  Joseph  Savory  and  Lady 
Savory  were  of  the  party. 

The  Maria  Wood  was  named  after  a  daughter  of 
Matthew  Wood,  Lord  Mayor  1815-1816,  who  was 
a  successful  hop  merchant,  and  represented  the  City 
in  nine  successive  Parliaments.  He  was  a  fierce 
defender  of  Queen  Caroline,  George  IV.'s  unhappy 
wife.  In  1820  he  was  sitting  in  his  counting-house 
when  an  agent  of  the  Duke  of  Kent,  calling  late  on  a 
Saturday  afternoon,  asked  him  for  the  loan  of  £10,000. 
The  agent  explained  it  was  important,  for  reasons  of 
State,  that  the  expected  baby  (afterwards  Queen 
Victoria)  of  the  Duchess  of  Kent,  who  was  then  at 
Ostend,  should  be  born  in  England,  and  that  H.R.H. 
the  Duke  could  not  cross  over  unless  he  received  that 
sum  of  money  to  satisfy  his  more  pressing  creditors. 
Mr.  Wood  promised  to  reply  on  Monday  after  consult- 
ing his  partners.  The  agent  urged,  however,  that 
the  state  of  the  Duchess's  health  admitted  of  no  delay, 
and  that  she  ought  to  cross  at  once,  so  my  grand- 
father gave  him  the  cheque.*  Matthew  Wood,  who 
died  in  1 843,  was  created  a  baronet  by  Queen  Victoria  in 
1 837,  twenty-two  years  after  he  had  been  Lord  Mayor. 

On  the  ist  of  March,  1884, 1  moved  in  the  Court  of 
Common  Council : 

*  This  anecdote  is  told  by  Sir  Evelyn  Wood,  V.C.,  a  grandson 
of  Sir  Matthew  Wood,  in  his  book  "  From  Midshipman  to  Field 
Marshal."  1906.  Vol.  i.,  p.  2. 


12  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

"  That  in  the  opinion  of  this  Court  it  is  desir- 
able that,  as  regards  the  forthcoming  loan  exhibi- 
tion of  pictures  in  the  Art  Gallery,  arrangements 
should  be  made  for  the  exhibition  to  be  open  on 
Sunday  afternoons,  and  that  the  Library  Com- 
mittee be  instructed  accordingly." 

To  this  it  was  moved,  "  That  the  question  be  not 
now  put  ";  this  was  lost  by  9  votes — viz.,  65  for  my 
motion,  56  against.  It  was  then  moved,  "  That  the 
debate  be  adjourned  ";  this  was  lost  by  8  votes — 
64  to  56.  It  was  then  moved,  "  That  this  Court  do 
now  adjourn  ";  this  was  lost  by  11  votes — 62  to  51. 
It  was  then  moved,  "  That  it  is  undesirable  that  a 
decision  should  be  arrived  at  until  the  Library  Com- 
mittee have  ascertained  whether  the  people  who  had 
lent  pictures  would  consent  to  a  Sunday  exhibition, 
and  that  it  be  referred  to  the  Committee  to  ascertain 
their  views  and  report  thereon  ";  this  was  defeated 
by  12  votes — 60  to  48.  It  was  then  moved,  "  That 
the  debate  be  adjourned  ";  this  was  defeated  by  2 
votes — 50  to  48.  The  Court  then  adjourned. 

At  the  next  Court,  on  the  8th  of  March,  twenty- 
eight  petitions  were  presented  in  favour  of  the  opening 
of  the  Guildhall  Library,  Museum,  and  Art  Gallery 
on  Sundays,  most  of  these  petitions  being  from 
labouring  men's  associations  and  societies.  I  moved 
again  on  this  day  that  the  exhibition  should  be  opened 
on  Sundays,  and  it  was  found  that  88  voted  for  my 
motion,  and  88  against  it. 

The  Lord  Mayor,  Sir  George  Tyler,  thereupon  gave 
his  casting  vote  in  favour  of  my  motion,  and  it  was 
resolved  in  the  affirmative  and  ordered  accordingly. 
At  the  next  Court,  held  on  the  1 5th  of  March,  it  was, 
however,  moved,  "  That  the  minutes  of  the  last 


FOR  A  BRIGHTER  SUNDAY  13 

Court  be  amended,  and  that  the  name  of  A.  C. 
Morton,  Esq.,  be  inserted  as  voting  against  the  motion, 
and  that  the  majority  being  for  the  negative,  the 
casting  vote  of  the  Lord  Mayor  be  expunged."  It 
appeared  from  an  explanation  given  by  Mr.  Morton 
in  his  place,  that,  having  inadvertently  gone  into  the 
wrong  lobby,  his  vote  had  been  recorded  in  the  nega- 
tive; that  on  discovering  his  mistake  he  applied  to 
the  tellers,  by  whom  the  vote  was  erased,  and  his 
vote  recorded  in  the  affirmative.  On  the  motion 
being  put  it  was  carried  by  a  majority  of  5 — 93  to  88. 

Advantage  was  taken  of  Mr.  Morton's  mistake,  and 
so  my  motion  was  defeated.  According  to  custom, 
I  could  not  raise  the  question  again  until  the  follow- 
ing year;  but  where  there's  a  will  there's  a  way,  and 
I  moved  on  the  i2th  of  April,  "  That  in  the  opinion 
of  this  Court  it  is  desirable  that  the  exhibition  should 
be  open  to  the  public  on  alternate  Sundays."  This, 
being  different  in  form,  was  allowed. 

It  was  moved  that  the  question  be  not  now  put, 
which  was  defeated  by  4  votes — 88  to  84.  Then,  and 
at  last,  I  won,  carrying  my  motion  by  a  majority  of 
8 — 87  to  79  votes,  and  the  loan  exhibition  was  opened 
to  the  public  on  alternate  Sundays. 

Shortly  afterwards — viz.,  on  the  roth  of  March, 
1896 — Mr.  Massey-Mainwaring,  M.P.,  carried  a 
motion  in  the  House  of  Commons,  by  180  votes  to 
95,  that  the  National  Gallery  and  other  Exhibitions 
under  Government  control  should  be  opened  on 
Sunday  afternoons. 

In  the  course  of  the  debate  Sir  John  Lubbock  said 
that  "  he  had  the  honour  of  representing  the  Trustees 
of  the  British  Museum  in  that  House,  and  they  were 
anxious  to  open  the  buildings  in  accordance  with  the 


i4  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

resolution  now  before  the  House.  He  admitted  the 
importance  of  evening  opening;  but  they  did  not 
think  it  any  substitute  for  opening  on  Sundays.  He 
regarded  the  British  Museum  as  one  of  the  best 
Sunday-schools  in  the  country,  for,  owing  to  the  vast 
collection  of  antiquities  that  it  contained,  children 
could  be  taught  to  understand  their  Bible  better  than 
they  could  by  any  other  means  short  of  a  visit  to  the 
East." 

The  vote,  which  showed  a  majority  of  85,  proved 
what  a  change  had  taken  place  in  public  opinion  on 
this  subject.  In  1865  a  similar  motion  to  that  of  Mr. 
Massey-Mainwaring  was  rejected  by  a  majority  of  328. 
The  National  Sunday  League  can  claim  to  have 
done  a  great  work  in  bringing  about  this  change  of 
public  opinion,  and  I  think  that  body  should  be  con- 
gratulated upon  the  success  of  its  efforts.  Mr.  Morrell 
was  the  founder  of  the  League ;  he  and  the  very  able 
Secretary  of  the  League,  Mr.  Henry  Mills,  J.P., 
ex-Mayor  of  Islington,  have  done  more  than  anyone 
else  known  to  me  to  make  the  League  a  force,  and  an 
instrument  in  brightening  the  lives  of  the  working- 
classes  of  England.  We  in  London  especially  know 
the  difference  they  have  made.  Thirty  years-  ago, 
Sunday  was  often  a  day  of  particular  gloom,  with  only 
the  public-houses  to  give  their  sort  of  cheer  during 
the  hours  when  the  churches  and  chapels  were  closed ; 
but  now  it  is  an  occasion  for  true  recreation,  with  the 
result  of  undoubted  moral  good.  I  was  elected 
President  of  the  League  on  the  5th  of  January,  1893, 
and  am  proud  of  still  occupying  that  position  after 
more  than  twenty-five  years  of  service. 

I   cannot   resist   making   acknowledgment   here  of 
a  delightful   tribute  I  enjoyed   in  April  last  at    the 


THE  NATIONAL  SUNDAY  LEAGUE       15 

Finsbury  Town  Hall,  when,  in  the  presence,  on  the 
platform,  of  my  daughter,  with  Sir  William  Dunn,  Sir 
Ernest  E.  Wild,  K.C.,  Mr.  Percival  Clarke,  Mr.  Pett 
Ridge,  Mr.  C.  E.  Lawrence,  and  others  of  my  friends, 
Lord  Burnham,  on  behalf  of  the  League,  made  me 
a  presentation  of  £1,000  for  the  furtherance  of  the 
seaside  branch  of  my  hospital  at  Alton,  and  a  silver 
tea-service,  which  I  shall  treasure  and  my  daughter 
after  me,  as  a  souvenir  of  an  association  that  has 
been  to  me  a  very  real  source  of  joy.  The  occasion 
so  moved  me  that  I  did  not  make  the  speech  I  had 
meant  to  make. 

I  jot  down  a  few  of  the  notable  incidents  of  the 
period  when  I  was  a  Common  Councilman. 

The  Lord  Mayor,  Mr.  George  Swan  Nottage,  Alder- 
man of  Cordwainer  Ward,  died  on  Saturday,  the 
nth  of  April,  1885. 

He  had  gone  to  Brighton  for  Easter,  and  whilst 
there  attended  a  Volunteer  Review  on  the  Downs  in 
an  open  carriage;  his  death  was,  unfortunately,  the 
result. 

In  accordance  with  precedent,  a  Common  Hall  was 
at  once  called  to  elect  an  Alderman  to  be  Lord  Mayor 
for  the  remainder  of  the  term,  that  was  until  the 
9th  of  November,  1885.  The  choice  of  the  Livery 
fell  upon  Sir  Robert  Nicholas  Fowler,  Bart.,  the  im- 
mediate past  Lord  Mayor. 

The  last  case  before  this  of  a  Lord  Mayor  dying  in 
his  mayoralty  occurred  in  1770,  when  the  famous 
William  Beckford,  who  was  serving  a  second  year, 
died.  His  successor  was  the  next  Alderman  on  the 
rota  for  the  mayoralty,  Mr.  Barlow  Trecothick. 
Beckford  was  buried  at  Fonthills,  but  Mr.  Nottage 


1 6  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

was  buried  in  St.  Paul's  Cathedral.  The  funeral  took 
place  on  Saturday,  the  1 8th  of  April,  1 885 .  There  was 
a  large  attendance,  and  the  ceremony  was  very  im- 
pressive. Amongst  those  present  were  H.R.H.  the 
Duke  of  Edinburgh  and  H.R.H.  the  Duke  of  Cam- 
bridge. 

Nottage  was  the  first,  and  is  still  the  only  Lord 
Mayor  buried  in  the  present  Cathedral,  although 
monuments  are  there  to  three  citizens — Hammond  de 
Chickwill,  Sir  John  Poulteney,  and  Adam  de  Bury 
—all  of  whom  had  served  the  office  of  Mayor,  though 
none  died  during  his  year  of  office. 

The  inscription  on  the  coffin  was : 

THE  RIGHT  HONOURABLE 
GEORGE  SWAN  NOTTAGE 
LORD  MAYOR  OF  LONDON 
BORN  16  NOVEMBER  1823 
DIED  ii  APRIL  1885 


"  A  man  greatly  beloved. 
Daniel  X  Chapter  n  v. 

The  widow  was  graciously  allowed  to  take  the 
same  title,  place,  and  precedence  as  she  would  have 
done  if  her  husband  had  been  knighted.  In  her  will 
Lady  Nottage  expressed  a  wish  to  be  buried  in  the 
Cathedral  with  her  husband ;  but  the  authorities  were 
not  able  to  comply  with  this  wish. 

On  the  2oth  of  December,  1883,  Sir  John  Bennett 
moved,  and  Mr.  J.  Wheeler  seconded,  "  That  in  the 
opinion  of  the  Court  it  is  undesirable  that  the  City 
Corporation  should  remain  the  only  Corporation  in 
the  Kingdom  where  the  Aldermanic  veto  can  be 
exercised."  The  previous  question  was  moved,  and 
carried  by  97  votes  to  9.  I  was  one  of  the  nine. 


TEMPLE  BAR  17 

On  the  2nd  of  October,  1884,  the  new  (and  the 
present)  Council  Chamber  was  first  used  for  our 
meetings.  Mr.  Deputy  Fry  was  Chairman  of  the 
Committee  at  the  time,  and  it  fell  to  him  to  bid  fare- 
well to  the  old  room  and  give  a  welcome  to  the  new, 
into  which  we  trooped. 

On  the  26th  of  February,  1885,  it  was  resolved  and 
ordered,  "  That  the  Hall-keeper  do  arrange,  on  days 
when  the  Court  is  sitting,  to  provide  a  room  in  Guild- 
hall where  members  may  take  refreshments  at  their 
own  expense." 

S^On  the  8th  of  October,  1885,  a  motion  to  have 
Temple  Bar  erected  in  Battersea  was  unfortunately 
not  carried. 

On  the  23rd  of  June,  1887,  Temple  Bar  was  given 
to  Sir  H.  Bruce  Meux,  Bt.,  to  be  erected  at  the  en- 
trance to  Theobald's  Park,  Cheshunt.  I  shall  never 
cease  to  regret  that  this  beautiful  historic  monument 
was  thereby  lost  to  London. 

On  the  1 6th  of  February,  1882 — I  am  rather  going 
backward  in  my  dates,  but  never  mind  that — Alder- 
man Sir  Francis  Wyatt  Truscott  moved  as  follows  in 
the  Court  of  Common  Council,  and  it  was  carried: 
"  That  it  be  referred  to  a  Special  Committee,  con- 
sisting of  two  aldermen  and  fifteen  commoners,  to  be 
now  named,  to  consider  the  announcement  in  the 
Queen's  Speech  having  reference  to  the  reform  of  the 
Corporation  of  London,  and  the  extension  of  Municipal 
Government  to  the  Metropolis,  with  instructions  to 
do  therein  as  they  may  deem  expedient,  reporting  from 
time  to  time  to  this  Court." 

Sir  Francis  was  elected  Chairman  of  this  Committee, 
which  certainly  "  did  therein  as  they  deemed  ex- 


1 8  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

pedient,"  with  the  result  that  certain  charges  were 
brought  under  the  notice  of  the  House  of  Commons 
by  Mr.  George  Howell,  the  Labour  leader  and  Member 
for  Bethnal  Green,  and  Mr.  Bradlaugh,  the  famous 
Member  for  Northampton,  "  alleging  improper  use 
and  malversation  of  Public  Funds  of  the  Corporation 
of  London  by  or  with  the  consent  of  members  and 
officials  of  such  Corporation." 

A  Select  Committee  of  the  House  of  Commons  was 
appointed  in  March,  1887.  It  sat  for  some  thirteen 
days,  under  the  presidency  of  the  Marquis  of  Harting- 
ton,  and  examined  many  witnesses,  including  the 
following  members  and  officials  of  the  Corporation, 
viz.,  Aldermen  Sir  Francis  Truscott  and  Sir  Robert 
Nicholas  Fowler,  M.P.;  Mr.  T.  Loveridge,  C.C.; 
Mr.  E.  J.  Stoneham,  C.C.;  Mr.  Benjamin  Scott 
(Chamberlain);  Mr.  Gabriel  Prior  Goldney  (Remem- 
brancer); Sir  John  B.  Monckton  (Town  Clerk); 
Mr.  H.  Crawford  (City  Solicitor);  and  Mr.  W.  J. 
Soulsby  (Private  Secretary  to  the  Lord  Mayor). 

I  remember  I  paid  a  visit  on  the  ist  of  April,  1887, 
to  the  House  of  Commons  Committee  Room  on  the 
pressing  invitation  of  Mr.  Stoneham,  C.C.,  to  hear 
him  examined,  and  to  see  how  he  would  get  the  better 
of  Mr.  Bradlaugh,  who  was  to  examine  him. 

Alas,  poor  Stoneham  !  He  got  much  the  worst 
of  it.  Bradlaugh,  who  was  very  courteous  and  equally 
clear-headed,  most  patient  but  very  pertinacious, 
seemed  to  me  to  dominate  every  one  in  the  room, 
even  from  the  Noble  Marquis  in  the  chair  to  the  poor, 
limp,  frightened  witness. 

It  was  proved  that  the  Special  Committee  of  the 
Corporation  had  expended  £19,550  TOS.  lod.  in 
extravagant  and  excessive  advertising;  in  employing 


THE  LONDON  COUNTY  COUNCIL    19 

agents  without  any  proper  supervision;  and  that 
these  agents  had  used  the  money  given  to  them  for 
improper  and  indefensible  purposes. 

The  report  of  the  Committee  was  that  "  On  a  review 
of  the  whole  circumstances  we  are  of  opinion  that  the 
charge  of  malversation  has  not  been  sustained,  but 
that  improper  use  of  a  portion  of  the  funds  derived 
from  the  City's  Estate  has  been  proved." 

This  was  in  1887.  On  the  8th  of  May,  1888,  a 
motion  to  place  the  Corporation  of  the  City  under 
statutory  restrictions  with  regard  to  expenditure, 
similar  to  those  imposed  upon  other  municipalities, 
was  negatived  by  a  narrow  majority  in  the  House  of 
Commons. 

On  the  i /th  of  January,  1889,  the  first  election  of 
members  to  the  newly  constituted  London  County 
Council  took  place.  Sir  John  Lubbock,  M.P.,  and 
Lord  Rosebery  were  returned  for  the  City;  Mr.  John 
Burns,  Mr.  Augustus  Harris,  Sir  Reginald  Hanson, 
Mr.  E.  Lawson,  M.P.,  Lady  Sandhurst,  and  Miss 
Cobden,  were  also  elected.  The  first  meeting  was 
held  on  the  3ist  of  January.  Sir  John  Lubbock 
presided.  The  Council  adjourned  to  the  5th  of 
February  in  order  to  consider  the  election  of  Alder- 
men— all  but  one  of  the  nineteen  Aldermen  co-opted 
being  "  Progressives,"  as  the  Radicals  then  called 
themselves  (it  is  said  that  self-praise  is  no  recom- 
mendation, but  I  think  it  is  decidedly  so  when  you  are 
in  the  majority).  On  the  7th  of  February  Sir  John 
Lubbock  wrote  to  the  Corporation  asking  for  the  use 
of  the  Guildhall  for  their  meetings  for  three  months. 

This  permission  was,  of  course,  given;  and  at  the 
Guildhall,  on  the  i2th  of  February,  Lord  Rosebery 
was  chosen  Chairman,  Sir  John  Lubbock,  M.P., 


20  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

Vice-Chairman,  and  Mr.  Bottomley  Firth,  Deputy 
Chairman  with  a  salary  of  £2,000  a  year. 

In  1893  still  another  Royal  Commission  was 
appointed  to  attack  or  abolish  the  old  Corporation, 
the  reference  to  it  being  "  To  consider  the  proper 
conditions  under  which  the  amalgamation  of  the 
City  and  the  County  of  London  can  be  eft'ected,  and 
to  make  specific  and  practical  proposals  for  that 
purpose."  Mr.  Leonard  Courtney,  M.P.,  afterwards 
Lord  Courtney  of  Penwith,  presided  over  twenty-nine 
sittings  of  this  Commission,  and  their  report  indicated 
how  the  proposed  amalgamation  should  take  place. 

It  should  be  noted  that  the  reference  was  not  to 
give  a  verdict  on  the  matter,  but  to  pronounce  sen- 
tence. Sir  Edward  Clarke,  always  to  the  fore  when 
the  City  of  London  wanted  help,  made  a  splendid 
speech  in  the  House  of  Commons  against  the  appoint- 
ment of  this  Commission.  I  need  not  say  how 
doughty  a  champion  the  City  has  had  at  all  times  in 
Sir  Edward. 

No  action  was  taken  by  the  Government  upon  the 
report  of  the  Commission  until,  on  the  3rd  of  March, 
1899,  the  "  London  Government  Bill  "  was  intro- 
duced and  passed. 

By  this  Bill  the  present  Metropolitan  Boroughs, 
twenty-eight  in  number,  were  created;  and  the  old 
Corporation  of  the  City  of  London  has  very  properly 
become  the  fatherly  friend  of  these  younger  munici- 
palities, and  the  acknowledged  head  of  Civic 
London. 

If  I  remember  rightly,  the  first  Mayor  of  the  im- 
portant Borough  of  Camberwell,  the  late  Deputy 
Matthew  Wallace,  was  then  a  prominent  member  of 
the  City  Corporation. 


A  BREACH  OF  CUSTOM  21 

On  the  29th  of  September,  1883,  Mr.  Alderman 
Hadley  (Castle  Baynard  Ward)  was  senior  on  the 
rota  for  Lord  Mayor,  and  was  elected  by  the  Livery 
in  Common  Hall  with  Mr.  Robert  Nicholas  Fowler, 
for  the  choice,  as  is  the  custom,  of  the  Court  of  Alder- 
men. The  Court  selected  the  latter,  and  the  Livery- 
men were  very  indignant  and  noisy  about  it.  On  the 
Hustings  Fowler  said:  "  I  came  here  this  morning 
without  the  smallest  notion  or  idea  that  this  high 
honour  would  be  conferred  upon  me.  I  came  here 
because  I  felt  it  my  duty  in  a  crisis  like  this  not  to 
be  absent  from  the  election  of  a  Lord  Mayor  of  London ; 
and  without  any  hesitation  I  say  that  I  felt  that  the 
judgment  of  the  Livery  ought  to  be  respected,  and 
accordingly,  in  my  place  on  the  Court  of  Aldermen, 
I  gave  my  vote  for  Mr.  Alderman  Hadley.  My 
brethren  of  the  Court  of  Aldermen  have  arrived  at 
a  different  conclusion;  they  have  conferred  on  me 
the  high  office  of  Lord  Mayor,  and  I  feel  that  I  have 
no  other  course  to  pursue  than,  unexpected  as  the 
honour  is,  to  accept;  but  I  do  so  most  reluctantly,  I 
bow  to  their  judgment,  and  take  upon  myself  the 
high  honour  of  the  office  of  Lord  Mayor  for  the  year 
ensuing." 

In  the  evening  the  Lord  Mayor  gave  a  dinner  at 
the  Mansion  House  to  his  brethren  of  the  Court  of 
Aldermen  and  their  ladies  to  meet  the  Lord  Mayor 
Elect  and  the  new  Alderman  of  Langbourn  Ward, 
Mr.  Joseph  Savory,  who  had  been  received  by  the 
Court  of  Aldermen  that  morning,  and  sworn  in. 
Actually  it  was  possible  for  Mr.  Savory  to  have  been 
selected  by  the  Livery  instead  of  Mr.  Fowler,  in  which 
case  he  would  have  been  chosen  for  Lord  Mayor  on 
the  same  day  that  he  was  elected  Alderman.  What 


22  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

a  record  it  would  have  been — Sheriff  in  1882;  Alder- 
man, 1883;  Lord  Mayor,  1883 — even  beating  that  of 
John  Wilkes,  who  was  Alderman  in  1771,  Sheriff  in 
1773,  and  Lord  Mayor  in  1774. 

Hadley  retired  in  1884  from  the  Court  of  Aldermen, 
and  died  in  1890. 

Mr.  Polydore  De  Keyser  was  for  some  years  a 
Common  Councilman  for  the  Ward  of  Farringdon 
Without.  He  was  a  Belgian,  but  had  become  a 
naturalised  British  subject.  He  founded  a  large 
and  prosperous  hotel  on  the  Embankment — De 
Keyser's  Hotel. 

When  James  Figgins  resigned  his  position  as  Alder- 
man in  April,  1882,  De  Keyser  became  a  candidate; 
he  was  elected  on  the  pth  of  May.  There  were  two 
other  candidates,  and  the  poll  which  was  taken  dis- 
closed the  following  result : 

Polydore  de  Keyser    . .  . .  . .     902 

H.  W.  Waterlow         . .  . .  . .     662 

H.  B.  Marshall  . .  . .  83 

A  petition  against  his  return  was  lodged  on  the 
ground  of  disqualification,  through  his  being  an  alien 
born  and  a  licensed  innkeeper.  Mr.  Waterlow  claimed 
the  seat. 

The  case  against  his  return  was  argued  by  Mr. 
Edward  Clarke,  Q.C.,  M.P.,  and  Mr.  H.  A.  Farman. 

Sir  Hardinge  Giffard,  Q.C.,  M.P.,  (afterwards  Lord 
Halsbury),  and  Mr.  Muir  Mackenzie  appeared  for 
Mr.  de  Keyser,  and  pointed  out  that  in  1705  Sir  J. 
Parsons,  Alderman  of  Bassishaw,  was  the  licensee  of 
the  Red  Lion  public-house;  that  Alderman  Kennett 
of  Cornhill  was  a  wine  merchant  in  1 707 ;  that  Sir  T. 
Rawlinson,  Alderman  of  Farringdon  Without,  1686, 


TO  WIDEN  LUDGATE  HILL  23 

kept  the  Mitre  Hotel  in  Fenchurch  Street.  He  cited 
many  other  instances  of  Lord  Mayors  who  were 
publicans  when  elected  Aldermen.  He  also  referred 
to  several  instances  of  Aldermen  who  were  the  sons 
of  natives  of  Germany,  Italy,  Flanders,  Alderney, 
Jamaica,  and  France. 

Judgment  was  given  by  the  Court  of  Aldermen  on 
the  27th  of  June,  1882,  viz.,  that  "  The  objections 
were  overruled,  and  that  the  return  was  valid,  and 
Mr.  De  Keyser  was  called  in  and  sworn." 

Three  days  before  this  he  had  been  elected  Sheriff 
by  the  Livery  in  Common  Hall,  and  had  as  his 
colleague  Mr.  Joseph  Savory.  De  Keyser  was  Lord 
Mayor  in  1887,  being  the  first  Roman  Catholic  to  be 
elected  to  that  position  since  the  Reformation.  He 
was  knighted  at  the  conclusion  of  his  year  of  office 
.in  1888.  He  resigned  his  gown  in  1892  on  account 
of  deafness  (when  I  succeeded  him).  He  died  on  the 
1 4th  of  January,  1898. 

It  was  on  the  loth  of  February,  1891,  that  I  was 
fortunate  enough  to  induce  the  Commissioners  of 
Sewers  to  pass  a  resolution  which  practically  com- 
pleted the  improvement  of  Ludgate  Hill.  It  had 
taken  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century  to  accomplish 
by  degrees  the  widening  of  this  important  thorough- 
fare. 

I  said  at  the  time,  and  I  repeat  now,  that  a  still 
further  useful  improvement  would  be  accomplished 
if  the  north  side  of  St.  Paul's  Churchyard  could  be 
thrown  open  to  vehicular  traffic.  This  could  be  done 
at  a  trifling  cost  by  removing  the  railings,  and  making 
some  other  slight  alterations.  As  far  back  as  1868 
the  Metropolitan  Board  of  Works  considered  this 

4 


24  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

would  be  desirable,  and  negotiations  for  carrying  it 
out  were  entered  into  by  the  Commissioners  of  Sewers 
with  the  Dean  and  Chapter  of  St.  Paul's.  The  Cathe- 
dral authorities,  however,  objected  to  the  proposal, 
and,  therefore,  no  action  has  been  taken  in  the 
matter. 

It  was  intended  that  when  the  railway  bridge  across 
Ludgate  Hill  was  built  there  should  be  stairs  leading 
up  from  the  street  and  a  footway  over  the  viaduct. 
By  the  original  plan  a  footway  was  to  be  constructed 
beside  the  bridge,  by  which  passengers  might  cross 
the  street  without  going  on  the  roadway,  the  bridge 
was  to  be  reached  by  an  enclosed  staircase  on  each 
side  in  much  the  same  manner  as  that  which  leads 
up  to  the  Holborn  Viaduct  from  Farringdon  Street. 
That  this  was  the  intention  is  shown  by  the  fact  that 
the  houses  on  each  side  of  the  Viaduct  have  been  set 
back;  but  the  railway  company  were  somehow  or 
other  allowed  to  escape  this  expense. 

On  the  9th  of  February,  1892,  I  was  elected  Chair- 
man of  the  Commissioners  of  Sewers — a  body  quite 
separate  and  apart  from  the  Corporation,  although 
all  the  members  of  it  were  chosen  from  and  by  the 
Corporation. 

The  duties  of  the  Commission  were  of  a  very  im- 
portant character. 

It  was  the  rating  authority  for  the  City,  and  had 
to  see  to  all  matters  connected  with  the  widening  of 
thoroughfares,  the  cleansing  of  the  streets,  lighting, 
paving  and  drainage,  sewerage,  etc. 

Whilst  I  was  Chairman  of  the  Commission,  on  the 
3rd  of  June,  1892,  I  was  unanimously  elected  Alder- 
man for  the  Ward  of  Farringdon  Without  on  the 
retirement  of  Sir  Polydore  De  Keyser. 


ELECTED  ALDERMAN  25 

I  was  received  and  sworn  in  at  a  Court  of  Aldermen 
on  the  i6th  of  June,  1892. 

After  taking  the  Oath  of  Allegiance  and  signing  the 
book,  I  was,  as  usual,  taken  round  the  Court  to  be 
introduced  to  each  of  the  Aldermen,  and  I  remember 
that  Sir  George  Faudel  Phillips'  words  of  welcome 
were,  "  Treloar,  if  you  were  my  size  and  I  was  yours, 
I'd  give  you  a  damned  good  hiding!" — which  was, 
I  think,  a  very  good  welcome. 

The  Commissioners  very  graciously  altered  the 
hour  of  their  meeting  from  one  to  two  o'clock,  so 
that  I  could  attend  the  meetings  of  the  Court  of 
Aldermen  which  are  usually  held  at  one  o'clock  on 
Tuesdays. 

I  might  here  note  some  interesting  facts  relating 
to  the  value  of  rubbish,  derived  from  my  experiences 
while  on  the  Commission. 

The  dust  and  refuse  collected  from  the  streets  of 
the  City,  in  the  year  1892,  when  sifted  and  sorted, 
produced  various  marketable  commodities,  which 
were  sold  for  a  total  of  £1,171  i6s.  6d.,  made  up  as 
follows — viz.,  bottles,  £i  1 6  i2S.6d.;  glass,  £105  6s.  2d.; 
boots,  £6  75.  3d.;  knives,  £i  8  1 93.  od.;  iron,  £66  95.  3d.; 
corks,  £32  45.  od.;  string,  £190  75.  6d.;  paper, 
£437  95.  8d.;  rags,  £39  93.  id.;  metals,  £91  43.  7d.; 
tins,  £18;  oddments,  £10  8s.  8d.;  bones,  £38  8s.  lod. 

Many  articles  of  value  were  from  time  to  time 
found  in  the  rubbish,  and  many  letters,  some  con- 
taining cheques. 

The  Commissioners  of  Sewers  were  abolished  by 
the  City  of  London  Sewers  Act  of  Parliament  of 
1897,  which  came  into  operation  in  the  January 
of  the  following  year.  The  work  formerly  carried 


26  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

on  by  them  is  now  done  by  certain  committees, 
forming  the  Public  Health  Department  of  the 
Corporation. 

To  turn  to  the  social  side  of  life  for  a  moment. 
In  1892  I  had  the  pleasure  of  becoming  a  member  of 
the  Savage  Club,  of  which  I  am  now  a  Trustee.  It 
is  a  club  second  to  none  for  the  right  spirit  of  happy 
fellowship,  and  it  was  often  my  practice,  as  still  it  is, 
to  find  refreshment  of  mind  from  the  strain  of  business 
and  municipal  affairs  in  the  good  comradeship  and 
bright  talk  of  my  brother  Savages.  It  was  my 
custom  every  year  to  entertain  to  dinner  there  certain 
of  my  colleagues  in  the  Corporation.  The  accom- 
panying menu,  drawn  by  my  old  friend,  John 
Proctor,  illustrates  one  such  gathering  in  1894.  The 
guests  here  portrayed  are  Sir  George  Tyler,  Lord 
Mayor,  Sir  George  Faudel  Phillips,  Sir  John  Voce 
Moore,  Sir  Joseph  Dimsdale,  Sir  Reginald  Hanson, 
and  others. 

I  was  unanimously  elected  Sheriff,  with  Mr.  Alfred 
Bevan,  on  the  24th  of  June,  1899;  and  on  the  2oth 
of  September  the  inhabitants  of  my  Ward  presented 
me  with  my  shrieval  chain  and  badge. 

On  the  29th  of  September  we  gave  a  luncheon  to 
our  friends  at  Merchant  Taylors'  Hall,  kindly  lent  to 
us  by  the  Court  of  that  Worshipful  Company.  This 
customary  function  was  discontinued  during  the  War, 
but  was  resumed  in  1919. 

I  remember  making  my  first  public  speech  at  the 
Mansion  House  on  the  2ist  of  October,  1896,  when  I 
proposed  the  Navy  and  Army  at  a  dinner  given  by 
the  Lord  Mayor  (Sir  Walter  Wilkin)  to  the  winners 


SHERIFF  27 

of  the  Elcho  Challenge  Shield.     I  have  made  many 
speeches  there  since. 

Sir  Alfred  Newton  was  elected  on  the  29th  of  Sep- 
tember, 1 899,  to  be  Lord  Mayor  for  the  year  ensuing. 

On  Sunday,  the  i7th  of  December,  he  invited  me 
to  the  Mansion  House  to  meet  Colonel  Boxall,  Sir 
W.  Soulsby,  and  my  co-Sheriff,  Alfred  Bevan,  and 
as  a  result  I  went  that  same  day  to  Mercers'  Hall  to 
ascertain  where  and  when  I  might  be  able  to  see  the 
Worshipful  Master,  Mr.  Lane-Claypon,  with  the 
object  of  inducing  the  Mercers,  the  Premier  Company, 
to  subscribe  to  the  Lord  Mayor's  Fund  for  sending 
out  to  South  Africa,  to  take  part  in  the  Boer  War,  a 
regiment  to  be  called  the  City  Imperial  Volunteers. 
I  saw  Mr.  Lane-Claypon  the  next  day,  with  the  result 
that  the  Mercers'  Company  subscribed  £5,000.  The 
Fund  was  very  successful,  the  amount  obtained  being 
£117,893  175.  lod. 

Sir  Alfred  Newton  was  much  congratulated  and 
thanked  by  the  citizens  for  his  prompt  action  in  this 
matter,  and  he  earned  it.  My  co-Sheriff  and  I  did 
our  best  to  help  the  Lord  Mayor  in  his  very  successful 
efforts  to  raise,  equip,  and  despatch  the  C.I.V.,  as 
they  came  to  be  called.  We  assisted  in  enrolling  the 
men,  and  accompanied  the  Lord  Mayor  on  more  than 
one  occasion  to  Southampton  to  witness  the  embarka- 
tion and  to  wish  God  Speed  and  Good  Luck  to  those 
soldiers  of  the  City.  The  last  contingent  left  the 
Albert  Docks  on  the  3rd  of  February,  1900,  by  the 
S.S.  Montfort. 

Queen  Victoria  drove  to  the  City  on  the  8th  of 
March,  1900,  by  way  of  the  Embankment,  just  for  a 
drive  round — "  a  joy  ride."  A  stone  tablet  has  been 
placed  on  the  Embankment  recording  the  fact  that 


28  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

on  that  spot,  the  Boundary  of  the  City,  Her  Majesty 
was  received  by  the  Lord  Mayor,  Sheriffs,  and  Cor- 
poration. Sir  Alfred  Newton  presented  the  pearl 
sword,  as  usual;  and  two  days  afterwards  he  received 
the  following  letter  from  the  Marquis  of  Salisbury: 

"  FOREIGN  OFFICE, 

"  loih  March,   1900. 

"  MY  DEAR  LORD, 

"  Her  Majesty  yesterday  informed  me  that  it 
was  her  gracious  intention  to  confer  a  Baronetcy  on 
your  Lordship  and  a  Knighthood  on  each  of  the  two 
Sheriffs . 

"In  doing  so  she  has  not  only  resolved  to  follow 
the  custom  which  has  prevailed  in  reference  to  Royal 
visits  to  the  City,  but  she  has  desired  to  mark  her 
sense  of  the  distinguished  services  which  the  City  of 
London  has  rendered  to  the  Empire  within  the  last 
few  months. 

"  Believe  me,  my  dear  Lord, 
"  Yours  very  truly, 

"  SALISBURY. 

"  To  THE  RT.  HON.  THE  LORD  MAYOR." 

On  the  28th  of  March  I  received  the  following 
letter : 

"  HOME  OFFICE, 

"March  28th,   1900. 

"  SIR, 

"  The  Queen  will  confer  the  honour  of  knight- 
hood upon  you  at  Windsor  to-morrow,  March  29th. 
You  should  travel  by  the  train  leaving  Paddington 
at  1.5,  and  should  wear  ordinary  morning  dress 
(frock  coat).  Luncheon  will  be  served  at  the  Castle. 


KNIGHTHOOD  29 

1  Kindly  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  this  commu- 
nication. 

"  Believe  me, 

"  Yours  faithfully, 

"  J.  A.  LONGLEY. 

"  MR.  ALDERMAN  AND  SHERIFF  TRELOAR." 

I  went  to  Paddington  in  accordance  with  this 
letter,  and  found  my  colleague  Bevan  on  the  platform. 

A  royal  carriage  met  us  at  Windsor  Station  and  took 
us  to  the  Castle.  We  were  the  only  guests.  We 
lunched  with  the  Lords  and  Ladies-in- Waiting,  and 
I  remember,  amongst  other  dishes,  we  had  a  very  nice 
beefsteak  pudding,  which  was,  if  not  royal,  certainly 
toothsome  and  satisfying,  and  reminded  me  of  the 
Cheshire  Cheese  puddings  of  my  youth. 

After  lunch  we  were  taken  to  the  Queen,  one  at  a 
time.  I,  as  Senior  Sheriff,  went  in  first.  The  Queen 
was  sitting  in  a  very  low  chair,  and  several  Equerries 
and  Lords  and  Ladies  stood  behind  her.  I  think 
Princess  Beatrice  was  there  too.  I  had  been  duly 
instructed,  and  a  cushion  was  properly  placed  for 
me  to  kneel  upon.  I  kissed  hands,  and  someone  said, 
"  Mr.  William  Treloar,"  whereupon  the  Equerry  gave 
Her  Majesty  her  sword,  with  which  she  lightly 
touched  me  on  each  shoulder,  and  said,  as  if  correcting 
him,  "  Sir  William  Treloar."  I  then  rose,  and  backed 
out  as  well  as  I  could.  The  door  was  closed  a  little 
while,  and  then  Bevan  was  taken  in  and  done  for 
in  the  same  way. 

We  then  went  into  another  room  and  chatted  with 
Dr.  Reid,  the  Queen's  medical  attendant,  and  some 
others.  He  asked  me  my  height,  and  said  Her 
Majesty  had  asked  him  the  question. 


30  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

The  carriage  then  took  us  to  the  station,  and,  having 
duly  tipped  the  footman,  who  saluted  me  as  "  Sir 
John  "  and  Bevan,  whose  Christian  name  is  Alfred, 
as   "  Sir   James,"   we   returned   to   London    Knight 
Bachelors.     My  wile  that  morning  left  London  for 
Bournemouth,  and  I   calculated  that,  although  she 
was  Mrs.  Treloar  at  Waterloo  Station,  she  was  Lady 
Treloar  by  the  time  she  reached  Bishopstoke.     I  sent 
her  the  following  telegram  to  Bournemouth,  "  Opera- 
tion successfully  performed;  both  doing  well/'  which 
upset  Bevan,  who  seemed  to  have  an  idea  that  we 
might  be  "  unknighted  "  if  it  became  known  that  I 
treated  the  matter  in  such  a  way. 

Queen  Victoria  was  not  always  in  the  humour  to 
confer  knighthoods  upon  the  Sheriffs  of  London,  as 
may  be  seen  from  her  letter  to  Sir  John  Russell,  dated 
the  1 5th  of  July,  1851  : 

"  The  Queen  has  received  Lord  John  Russell's 
letter.  She  has  no  objection  on  this  particular 
occasion  to  knight  the  two  Sheriffs,  this  year  being  so 
memorable  a  one;  but  the  Queen  would  wish  it  to  be 
clearly  understood  that  they  have  no  right  or  claim 
to  be  knighted  whenever  the  Queen  goes  into  the 
City.  On  the  occasion  of  the  opening  of  the  Royal 
Exchange  the  Sheriffs  were  not  knighted."* 

Sir  Charles  Hall,  Recorder,  died  on  the  pth  of 
March,  1900,  and  Sir  Forrest  Fulton,  Common  Ser- 
geant, succeeded  him,  and  Mr.  A.  Bosanquet  was 
elected  Common  Serjeant. 

In  February,  I  dined  at  Brewers'  Hall,  in  Addle 
Street,  where  wre  had  strong  beer  in  loving-cups. 

*  "  The    Letters   of    Queen  Victoria,"  vol.  ii.,  p.  387.     John 
Murray,  1907. 


LORD  MAYOR  ELECT  31 

Bevan,  who  was  a  partner  in  Barclay  and  Per  kins  < 
Brewery  business,  told  me  that  the  Brewers'  Com- 
pany had  not  had  a  dinner  in  this  hall  for  nine  years. 
Sir  Alfred  Newton  became  a  Parliamentary  candi- 
date for  Southwark  during  his  mayoralty.  I  went 
with  him  to  a  very  rowdy  meeting  on  the  ist  of 
October,  1900.  Lord  George  Hamilton  spoke  for 
Sir  Alfred.  Harry  Newton,  the  Lord  Mayor's  son, 
was  assaulted  by  some  roughs  at  this  meeting,  and 
had  his  head  knocked  through  a  thick  glass  door. 
I  took  him  to  St.  Thomas's  Hospital  to  have  his 
wounds  dressed.  Newton  did  not  get  in.  The  poll 
showed  the  following  result — viz.: 

Causton,  R.  K.          ..  ..  ..2,893 

Newton,  Sir  A.  J.      ..  ..  ..     2,763 

In  August,  1900,  I  went  for  a  holiday  to  Sweden 
and  Finland,  and  came  home  through  Germany.  I 
got  home  on  the  roth  of  September,  and  gave  up  the 
position  of  Sheriff  on  the  28th.  Six  years  afterwards 
I  was  elected  Lord  Mayor. 


LORD  MAYOR  ELECT,  1906 

To  everyone  but  the  chief  actor  the  election  of  a 
Lord  Mayor  must  be  an  interesting  and  picturesque 
sight. 

The  Lord  Mayor  comes  at  noon  on  the  29th  of 
September  from  the  Mansion  House  in  state,  with 
sword  and  mace,  to  the  Guildhall  to  take  part  in  the 
election  of  his  successor.  A  procession,  consisting  of 
the  Lord  Mayor,  the  Aldermen,  Sheriffs,  Under- 
Sheriffs,  high  officers  and  officials,  all  in  Court  dress, 
fully  robed,  and  each  carrying  a  nosegay,  walk  to  the 


32  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

Church  of  St.  Lawrence,  Jewry,  where  a  short  service 
is  held.  Afterwards  the  election  takes  place  in  the 
Guildhall. 

The  Liverymen,  the  electors,  are  assembled  there 
in  force.  They  are  the  members  of  the  various  City 
companies  or  guilds,  numbering  about  8,000,  who 
constitute  a  very  important  electorate,  quite  apart 
and  distinct  from  the  ratepayers;  and  for  position, 
wealth,  influence,  and  intelligence,  they  will  compare 
very  favourably  with  any  other  constituency  in  the 
kingdom.  It  is  their  right  and  duty  to  elect  two 
Aldermen  who  have  served  the  office  of  Sheriff,  in  order 
that  the  Court  of  Aldermen  may  select  one  of  the  two 
to  be  Lord  Mayor  for  the  ensuing  year.  I  was  elected 
with  Sir  John  Bell,  and  the  Court  of  Aldermen  selected 
me  for  Lord  Mayor. 

Before  the  election  the  Lord  Mayor  issues  invita- 
tions for  a  dinner — during  the  War  it  was  a  lunch — 
to  "  meet  the  Lord  Mayor  elect."  There  is,  they 
say,  many  "  a  slip  'twixt  the  cup  and  the  lip,"  and 
I  have  known  two  instances  when  some  of  the  Alder- 
men who  had  accepted  the  invitation  to  dine  or 
lunch  with  the  Lord  Mayor  were  not  present.  The 
absentees,  it  is  presumed,  were  very  much  upset 
that  they  had  not  succeeded  in  their  efforts  to  upset 
someone  else. 

The  Lord  Mayor  of  London  is  chosen  in  quite  a 
different  manner  from  that  adopted  by  any  other 
municipality  in  the  kingdom.  Instead  of  being  elected 
by  the  members  of  the  Corporation,  or  Council,  who 
may,  and  often  do,  for  political  party  reasons  choose 
someone  who  has  never  done  suit  or  service  to  the 
town,  the  Lord  Mayor  can  be  chosen  only  from  those 
who  have  served  an  apprenticeship  of  some  years  to 


HIS  MAJESTY'S  APPROVAL  33 

the  Corporation.  He  must  first  be  elected  an  Alder- 
man by  the  ratepayers  of  the  Ward,  and  accepted  and 
sworn  in  by  the  Court  of  Aldermen ;  then  he  must  have 
served  the  office  of  Sheriff,  to  which  position  he  has 
to  be  elected  by  the  Liverymen,  and  afterwards 
approved  by  the  Sovereign. 

Then,  and  not  till  then,  is  he  eligible  to  ask  the 
Liverymen  to  elect  him  as  Lord  Mayor;  the  Court  of 
Aldermen  afterwards  again  having  the  power  to 
refuse  him,  the  approval  of  the  Sovereign  being  again 
necessary  before  he  can  take  office. 

On  the  24th  of  October,  1906,  I  attended  at  the 
House  of  Lords,  accompanied  by  some  of  the  Alder- 
men, the  two  Sheriffs,  the  Under-Sheriffs,  the  high 
officers  and  officials,  and  there  to  the  Prince's  Chamber 
came  in  state  the  Lord  Chancellor  (Lord  Loreburn), 
to  whom  the  Recorder  (Sir  Forrest  Fulton)  presented 
me  in  an  eloquent  and  very  kindly  speech.  Lord 
Loreburn  congratulated  me  on  my  election,  saying  that 
it  must  be  a  source  of  proud  satisfaction  to  me  to 
recall  the  fact  that  in  the  hour  of  my  election  to  the 
greatest  civic  dignity  in  the  world,  I  had  not  forgotten 
the  claims  of  the  most  helpless  of  suffering  humanity. 
In  conclusion,  he  said  he  might  without  presumption 
express  the  confident  hope  that  my  tenure  of  office 
would  add  lustre  to  the  position  to  which  I  had  been 
appointed. 

He  said  he  had  it  in  command  from  the  King  to 
signify  His  Majesty's  gracious  approval  of  the  choice 
made  by  my  fellow-citizens.  He  then  shook  hands 
with  me,  and  drank  my  health  in  a  loving-cup  be- 
decked with  flowers,  which,  after  I  had  drunk  his 
health,  circulated  to  those  present.  There  were,  in 
fact,  two  cups;  one  contained  red,  the  other  white 


34  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

wine,  spiced  and  warmed,  and  there  were  also  bis- 
cuits. I  believe  the  Lord  Mayor  pays  for  these  deli- 
cacies and  also  gives  a  fee  of  £2  los.  to  the  Lord 
Chancellor's  mace-bearer. 

That  evening  I  gave  my  presentation  dinner,  or,  as 
some  call  it,  "  inaugural  banquet,"  at  Goldsmiths' 
Hall,  which  was  kindly  lent  to  me  by  the  PrimeWarden 
and  Court  of  that  Worshipful  Company.  My  guests 
on  this  occasion  were  the  Aldermen,  Sheriffs,  high 
officers  and  Under-Sheriffs,  and  some  personal  friends. 

On  the  8th  of  November  a  luncheon  took  place  at 
the  Mansion  House,  the  invited  guests  being  the 
Aldermen,  Sheriffs,  high  officers,  Under-Sheriffs,  and 
other  officials,  the  members  of  the  Courts  of  the 
Cutlers'  and  Loriners'  Companies,  those  being  the 
Companies  to  which  the  Lord  Mayor  and  I  belonged. 
This  luncheon  was  given  on  our  joint  invitation,  and 
we  shared  the  expense  of  it  according  to  the  number 
of  guests  we  each  invited. 

After  luncheon  we  went  in  state  to  the  Guildhall 
for  the  ceremony  of  installation,  going  first  to  the 
Aldermen's  Court-room,  where  the  Lord  Mayor  made 
a  farewell  speech  to  his  brethren,  and  thanked  them 
for  their  help  during  his  year  of  office.  The  procession 
then  went  into  the  Great  Hall,  where  a  large  company, 
including  a  great  many  ladies,  had  assembled.  After 
we  had  taken  our  seats  the  Town  Clerk,  making  three 
obeisances  as  he  walked  up  and  retired,  read  to  me 
the  declaration  according  to  the  Promissory  Oaths 
Act,  1868.  I  repeated  it  after  him,  and  afterwards 
signed  it.  The  outgoing  Lord  Mayor  thereupon  sur- 
rendered his  seat  to  me,  and  took  his  place  on  my 
left.  Then  the  Chamberlain  (Sir  Joseph  Dimsdale) 
presented  the  Sceptre  (called  the  Crystal  Mace)  to  the 


THE  CEREMONY  OF  INSTALLATION      35 

outgoing  Lord  Mayor,  who  handed  it  to  me,  and  the 
same  was  done  by  the  Chamberlain  with  the  seal  and 
the  purse ;  all  these  symbols  of  office,  after  being  first 
given  to  me,  were  then  placed  on  cushions  on  the 
table. 

The  same  ceremony  was  performed  by  the  sword- 
bearer  and  the  mace-bearer  (Major  Ker-Fox  and 
Colonel  Kearns),  the  sword  and  mace  being  left  on  the 
table.  All  these  insignia  of  office  were  then  taken 
back  by  the  various  officers  after  they  had  received 
them  from  me. 

Each  officer  as  he  advanced  and  retired  made  three 
obeisances.  The  Comptroller  then  presented  to  me 
some  documents,  one  of  them  being  the  agreement 
for  the  payment  to  me,  in  quarterly  instalments,  of 
£10,000  in  lieu  of  all  fees,  which  I  promptly  signed. 

The  outgoing  Lord  Mayor  then  delivered  to  me  the 
keys  of  the  City  Seal,  etc.  The  Aldermen,  Sheriffs, 
high  officers,  and  other  officials  in  proper  rotation 
then  shook  my  hand,  and  offered  me  their  congratu- 
lations, and  I  went  back  to  the  Mansion  House  with 
my  predecessor.  This  ceremony  at  Guildhall  takes 
place  every  year,  and  is  conducted  as  it  has  always 
been,  in  a  very  medieval  way,  accompanied  by  the 
blowing  of  trumpets,  as  in  olden  times.  It  is  well 
worth  seeing,  and  as  admittance  to  it  is  quite  free, 
no  invitation  or  ticket  being  required,  I  am  sur- 
prised that  more  people  do  not  attend  it. 

The  chain  of  office  and  the  jewel  are  not  handed 
over  to  the  incoming  Lord  Mayor  on  this  occasion. 
It  was  on  the  following  morning  that  I  received  these. 
Their  history  is  curious,  and  so  interesting  that  I 
venture  to  tell  it. 

The  chain  of  office  of  the  Lord  Mayor  is  a  most 


36  A 

beautiful  Collar  of  SS,  one  of  the  finest  as  well  as 
earliest  known  to  be  in  existence,  and  has  formed 
part  of  the  City  insignia  for  over  three  and  a  half 
centuries.  Its  history,  unlike  that  of  the  maces  and 
swords,  is  quite  clear  throughout.  It  was  bequeathed 
to  the  Lord  Mayor  for  the  time  being,  and  his  suc- 
cessors by  Sir  John  Aleyn,  citizen  and  Mercer,  who  was 
Lord  Mayor  in  i  525-1526,  and  again  in  1535-1536.  He 
died  about  August,  1 545 ,  and  a  condition  of  the  gift  was 
that  the  Lord  Mayor  and  his  successors  should  "  come 
yerely  to  myne  obytte  in  the  Mercers'  Chapell,"  or 
the  Collar  was  to  be  returned  to  his  executors  of  "  such 
like  waight,  fynes  of  golde  and  vallue  as  it  is  now 
delyuerid."  No  mention  of  the  Jewel  is  made  in  the 
donor's  will,  and  it  was  not  until  1558  that  Sir  Martin 
Bowes,  Lord  Mayor  in  i  545,  gave  for  a  pendant  to  the 
Collar  a  gold  cross  or  jewrel  set  with  pearls  and  pre- 
cious stones.  In  1607  a  new  jewel  was  offered  for 
sale  to  the  city  by  Richard  Gosson,  goldsmith,  which 
was  bought  for  £480;  this  displaced  the  jewel  given 
by  Sir  Martin  Bowes,  which  was  not  to  be  sold,  but 
kept  "  as  a  remembrance  of  him  that  gave  it."  It 
has,  however,  long  since  disappeared,  and  nothing 
whatever  is  known  of  its  history  subsequent  to  its 
disuse.  So  far  as  can  be  ascertained  from  the  evi- 
dence of  portraits,  etc.,  the  jewel  bought  in  1607  has 
substantially  continued  to  be  worn  down  to  the 
present  day.  It  was  probably  during  the  reign  of 
Henry  VII.  that  the  chiefs  of  the  King's  Bench,  the 
Common  Pleas,  and  the  Exchequer  were  decorated  by 
the  Sovereign  with  the  Collar  of  SS,  which  is  now 
worn  as  the  insignia  of  office  by  the  Lord  Chief  Justice 
of  England.  The  City  records  do  not  state  by  what 
royal  authority  the  Lord  Mayor  is  entitled  to  use  the 


THE  JEWEL  AND  CHAIN  OF  OFFICE. 


38  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

Collar,  nor  is  it  known  under  what  circumstances  Sir 
John  Aleyn  became  the  holder  of  a  Collar  of  SS,  but 
Dr.  Purey-Cust,  Dean  of  York,  was  probably  right  in 
assuming  that  the  Chief  Magistrate  obtained  the 
Royal  sanction  to  add  it  to  the  insignia  of  office,  of 
which  it  has  since  formed  so  conspicuous  an  orna- 
ment. The  Collar  is  5  feet  4^  inches  long,  if  inches 
wide,  and  consists  of  twenty-eight  letters  S,  fourteen 
roses,  thirteen  knots  and  one  portcullis  (the  badge  of 
John  of  Gaunt,  founder  of  the  Beaufort  family),  and 
weighs  40  ounces  avoirdupois.  Many  conjectures 
have  been  made  as  to  the  origin  and  meaning  of  the 
Collar,  but  as  yet  no  definite  solution  has  been  found.* 

The  jewel,  or  "  Diamond  Badge,"  as  it  is  called, 
measures  3!  inches  in  length  by  3^  inches  in  width. 
It  consists  of  an  onyx  cameo  set  in  gold,  and  carved 
with  the  arms,  crest,  supporters,  and  motto  of  the 
City,  with  the  cap  of  maintenance  in  chief;  this  is 
encircled  by  a  buckled  band  of  dark  blue  enamel, 
garnished  with  small  diamonds,  and  inscribed,  also 
in  diamonds,  with  the  City  motto:  "  Domine  dirige 
nos."  Surrounding  the  whole  is  a  wreath  of  eight 
roses,  with  the  thistle  and  shamrock  intertwined, 
composed  of  219  brilliants  and  24  rose  diamonds,  all 
set  in  silver.  The  loop  for  suspension  is  also  set  with 
nine  small  brilliants.  On  the  gold  back  of  the  jewel 
are  engraved  the  City  armorial  ensigns,  as  on  the 
front.  The  wreath  of  roses,  thistles,  and  shamrocks 
only  dates  from  1880,  when  the  jewel  was  reset. 
When  not  used  as  a  pendant  to  the  Collar  of  SS,  the 
jewel  is  worn  suspended  from  a  dark  blue  ribbon. 

Directly  I  became  Lord  Mayor  Elect  I  went  with 

*  "  The  Collar  of  SS,  a  History  and  a  Conjecture,"  by  Arthur 
P.  Purey-Cust,  D.D.,  Dean  of  York,  JQIO.  p.  30. 


RULES  OF  THIS  HAU. 

gvlfXK  MOT.  UE  MOT 
NEITHER  H"«'I°!£2^SVAU. 

.  rassSwasassassa 

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jo  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

the  General  Purposes  Committee  to  inspect  the 
Mansion  House,  by  permission  of  the  Lord  Mayor, 
to  see  if  there  were  any  suggestions  I  wished  to  make. 
This  Committee  has  the  power  to  spend  money  to 
meet  the  wishes  of  the  incoming  Lord  Mayor,  it  some- 
times is  extravagant,  sometimes  the  reverse;  I  do  not 
know  by  what  rule  it  is  guided.  I  was  much  inter- 
ested in  the  various  rooms.  The  chimney-piece  in 
the  servants'  hall  is  noteworthy,  and  records  the 
name  of  the  first  Lord  Mayor  who  resided  in  the 
Mansion  House,  Sir  Crisp  Gascoyne,  whose  great- 
granddaughter  was  the  mother  of  the  Fourth  Marquis 
of  Salisbury.  The  kitchens  are  good;  they  are  lofty, 
brick-vaulted,  and  well  ventilated.  The  cellarage 
also  is  excellent,  and  ample.  I  was  able  to  have  my 
own  cellar  accommodation  there  some  years  before 
I  was  elected  Lord  Mayor.  The  Mansion  House  is 
probably  the  only  house  in  the  kingdom  used  as  a 
residence,  as  a  Court  of  Justice,  and  as  a  prison.  It 
is  looked  at  from  different  points  of  view  by  different 
people.  There  is  a  story  of  a  man  and  woman  passing 
it  on  a  bus.  She  was  heard  to  say,  "  What  place  is 
that,  Bill  ?"  He  replied,  "  That  is  the  Mansion 
House,  where  I  got  my  fourteen  days." 

The  site  upon  which  it  stands  was  originally  one  of 
the  markets  of  London,  called  the  Stocks  Market, 
which  took  its  name  from  a  pair  of  stocks  erected 
there  for  the  punishment  of  offenders  in  the  year 
1281. 

It  was  here,  in  the  open  place,  that  Robert  Vyner, 
Lord  Mayor,  erected  in  1675  an  equestrian  statue  of 
Charles  II.  trampling  on  Oliver  Cromwell — at  all 
events,  that  is  what  Vyner  called  it;  but  when  he 
bought  it,  it  represented  John  Sobieski,  King  of 


THE    STATUE    AT    NEWBY    HALL,    RIPON. 
This  statue  stood  on  the  site  of  the  Mansion  House  in  1737. 


To  face  p.  40 


THE  VYNER  STATUE  41 

Poland,  trampling  on  a  Turk.  It  was  altered  and 
put  up  by  this  loyal  Lord  Mayor,  who  was  afterwards 
made  a  baronet  by  a  grateful  Sovereign. 

This  statue  was  taken  down  to  make  room  for  the 
Mansion  House  to  be  built  in  1738.  It  remained  in 
an  inn  yard  in  Aldersgate  Street  until  1779,  when,  by 
a  resolution  of  the  Court  of  Common  Council,  it  was 
given  to  Mr.  Robert  Vyner,  a  descendant  of  the 
clever  Lord  Mayor,  and  it  is  now  standing  in  the 
park  at  Newby  Hall,  Ripon,  where  I  have  seen  it. 
I  was  allowed  to  take  a  photograph  of  it,  which  I 
have  reproduced. 


LORD  MAYOR 

Now  ior  the  doings  of  Friday  the  pth  of  November. 
There  is  so  much  to  tell,  and  I  am  so  anxious  to  record 
the  play  and  the  events  of  "  the  day  "  without  being 
prolix  and  wearisome,  that  I  feel  I  am  facing  a  diffi- 
culty as  great  as  was  that  of  playing  the  part 
originally. 

We  did  not  take  up  our  residence  at  the  Mansion 
House  until  Thursday  the  22nd  of  November;  but 
lived  at  De  Keyser's  Royal  Hotel  from  the  gth.  Of 
course  I  was  up  very  early  on  the  pth;  but  I  made 
up  for  it  by  going  very  late  to  bed — not  quite  follow- 
ing the  Charles  Lamb  tradition.  At  about  1 1  o'clock 
I  appeared  at  Guildhall  where  a  "  light  breakfast  " 
was  ready  for  the  Aldermen,  Sheriffs,  the  officers,  and 
others  who  were  doomed  to  be  in  the  show.  A  light 
breakfast  it  may  be  called,  but  I  think  a  "  heavy 
luncheon  "  would  be  the  correct  name  for  it.  The 


42  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

procession  made  a  start  shortly  after  u,  and  I,  who 
came  last,  reached  the  Law  Courts  about  2  o'clock. 
My  carriage  stopped  in  the  Central  Markets,  where  an 
address  in  a  beautifully  bound  album  containing  the 
names  of  the  subscribers,  was  presented  to  me  by 
the  late  Mr.  William  Cooper  on  behalf  of  the  Market 
tenants  of  the  Corporation.  A  splendid  gold  loving- 
cup,  specially  designed  and  manufactured  by  Elking- 
ton,  accompanied  the  album.  I  drank  from  the  cup 
that  same  evening  at  Guildhall  to  some  of  my  friends. 
Again,  at  St.  Sepulchre's  Church,  in  Holborn,  my 
carriage  stayed  a  minute  in  order  that  I  might  receive 
a  presentation  from  the  hands  of  the  senior  church- 
warden, the  late  Thomas  Simpson,  on  behalf  of  his 
fellow-parishioners,  consisting  of  an  address,  accom- 
panied by  a  silver  inkstand,  a  pair  of  candlesticks, 
and  a  carriage  clock. 

Opposite  to  my  premises  on  Ludgate  Hill  further 
presentations  were  made  to  me.  One  was  made  by 
the  late  W.  Bland,  representing  the  staff  of  Treloar 
and  Sons;  he  referred  to  the  fact  that  many  of  the 
signatories  had,  like  himself,  served  the  firm  for  more 
than  fifty  years.  A  beautiful  silver  rose  bowl  accom- 
panied the  address.  My  friend,  the  Hon.  Harry 
Lawson,  M.P.,  now  Viscount  Burnham,  acted  as 
spokesman  for  an  address  from  the  electors  of  my 
Ward,  and  referred  in  sympathetic  terms  to  my  en- 
deavours to  help  crippled  children.  Then  came 
another  address  of  congratulation  from  the  parish- 
ioners of  St.  Bride,  whose  spokesman  was  the  Vicar, 
my  friend  the  late  Rev.  W.  C.  Heaton.  At  the  Law 
Courts  I  signed  the  following  declaration  before  the 
Lord  Chief  Justice  (Lord  Alverstone)  and  Justices 
Ridley  and  Darling: 


THE  DECLARATION  43 

11  I,  the  Lord  Mayor,  Sir  William  Purdie  Tre- 
loar,  Knight,  do  solemnly  and  sincerely  declare 
that  I  will  faithfully  perform  the  duties  of  my 
office  as  Lord  Mayor  of  the  City  of  London." 

After  I  had  signed  this  the  document  was  handed 
to  the  King's  Remembrancer.  The  Recorder  then 
read  a  warrant  from  the  Mayor,  commonalty,  and 
citizens  of  London,  appointing  their  attorney  to  sue, 
prosecute,  defend  and  lay  claim  to  all  their  liberties, 
etc.,  in  the  King's  Bench  Division,  which  was  after- 
wards read  by  the  King's  Remembrancer. 

The  Recorder  prayed  their  Lordships  that  this 
warrant  might  be  recorded.  The  Lord  Chief  Justice 
then  said:  "  Let  the  warrant  be  recorded."  The 
Judges  were  then  asked  by  the  Recorder  to  honour 
the  Lord  Mayor  and  Sheriffs  with  their  presence  at 
the  banquet  at  Guildhall  in  the  evening,  and  the  Lord 
Chief  Justice  answered:  "  Some  of  us  will  attend." 

I  was  delighted  to  see  in  the  Court  my  dear  friend 
Sir  Edward  Clarke  in  his  wig  and  gown;  the  sight 
of  him  cheered  me  and  gave  me  courage.  It  was  like 
him  to  be  there. 

Lord  Alverstone,  when  congratulating  me,  said : 

"  I  have  heard  with  very  much  interest  the  account 
— brief,  but  full  of  incident — with  which  the  learned 
Recorder  has  presented  you  to  our  notice.  I  may  be 
allowed  to  offer  you  my  personal  congratulations  as 
an  old  school-fellow  [the  cadets  of  King's  College 
School,  which  school  Lord  Alverstone  here  refers  to, 
furnished  the  guard  of  honour  at  the  Guildhall],  for 
I  learn  from  the  Recorder  that  you  were  born  a  few 
days  after  myself,  and  that  we  were  both  educated 
at  the  same  school,  where,  if  we  learnt  nothing  else, 


44  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

we  learnt  how  to  work.  I  think  you  have  been  a 
striking  example  of  the  advantages  that  may  result 
from  habits  of  industry  early  inculcated.  The  Re- 
corder has  referred  to  the  active  part  which  you  have 
taken  in  the  improvements  in  the  City,  and  particu- 
larly to  the  approach  of  the  Cathedral.  I,  in  that, 
had  the  pleasure  of  taking  a  humble  and  a  less  dis- 
tinguished part.  I  well  remember  the  time  when  I 
was  acting  for  the  Commissioners  of  Sewers,  the 
commencement  of  that  work,  the  difficulties  which 
surrounded  it,  and  the  fear  of  the  great  expense  that 
would  be  involved.  I  am  sure,  however,  that  anyone 
who  remembers  Ludgate  Hill  as  it  was,  and  looks  at 
it  now,  will  feel  satisfied  that  the  citizens  of  this 
great  City  have  reason  to  congratulate  you  upon 
your  efforts,  always  regretting  that  anybody  was 
allowed  to  put  a  railway  bridge  across  that  great 
thoroughfare.  The  Recorder  has  also  referred  to  the 
part  you  have  taken  in  connection  with  the  promo- 
tion and  advancement  of  the  loan  art  collections  in 
the  City,  and  I  am  very  glad  of  the  opportunity, 
through  you,  of  congratulating  the  City  upon  the 
admirable  collections  of  art  which  from  time  to  time 
have  been  brought  together  to  delight,  not  only  the 
citizens  of  London,  but  everyone  who  is  a  lover  of 
art  in  the  best  sense  of  the  word.  I  am  glad  to  know 
that  through  your  efforts  more  of  the  poorer  and  more 
hardly  worked  inhabitants  of  London  have  been  en- 
abled to  appreciate  and  enjoy  these  treasures.  But 
the  subject  which  has  caused  me  greatest  pleasure, 
although  it  was  no  news  to  me,  is  the  active  part  you 
have  taken,  and  the  success  of  your  efforts,  in  im- 
proving the  condition  of  the  children  of  the  poor,  and 
giving  some  pleasure  to  those  who  have  otherwise  no 


LORD  ALVERSTONE'S  SPEECH  45 

opportunity  of  actually  enjoying  pleasure,  and  no 
resources  of  their  own.  It  is  a  subject  which  is  coming 
very  prominently  before  our  notice  at  the  present 
time.  You,  my  Lord  Mayor,  will  be  for  the  year  at  the 
head  of  the  greatest  Corporation  in  this  country,  if 
not  the  greatest  Corporation  in  the  world.  You  have 
around  you  twenty-eight  or  twenty-nine  other  muni- 
cipalities of,  comparatively  speaking,  recent  estab- 
lishment, but  yet  with  great  local  interests.  I  do 
not  for  one  moment  suggest  that  you  can  as  Chief 
Magistrate  take  an  active  or  direct  part  in  any  of  the 
operations  of  these  municipalities;  but  you  can  set 
them  an  example.  The  Mansion  House  has  always 
been  a  source  from  which  have  issued  many  streams 
of  sympathy  and  support;  it  is,  as  I  have  said,  not 
possible  for  you  directly  to  extend  your  personal 
efforts  to  the  various  municipalities  which  surround 
you;  but  if,  by  your  example  and  influence,  you  can 
inspire  in  these  Corporations  the  wish  to  advance  the 
cause  of  physical  improvement  and  innocent  recrea- 
tion for  the  workers  and  toilers  of  greater  London, 
you  will  add  to  the  great  traditions  of  the  City  a  lustre 
which  will  never  dim,  and  which  will  be  remembered 
by  generations  to  come." 

I  had  with  me  in  my  carriage  my  chaplain,  the  Rev. 
Dacre  Craven,  and  the  sword-bearer  and  mace-bearer, 
with  the  sword  and  mace.  I  left  the  Law  Courts 
about  3  o'clock,  and  proceeded  westwards  as  far  as 
Northumberland  Avenue,  returning  by  the  Embank- 
ment and  Queen  Victoria  Street  to  Guildhall,  where  I 
arrived  about  4  o'clock,  rather  tired  and  weary. 

I  was  very  pleased  at  seeing  so  many  little  children 
comfortably  seated  in  various  shops  and  warehouses 
in  the  City,  enjoying  the  pageant,  and  I  am  afraid  I 


46 

earned  the  title  of  "  the  unconventional  Lord  Mayor  " 
upon  this  the  first  day  of  my  office,  by  having  my 
carriage  stopped  for  a  minute  on  Ludgate  Hill,  and 
stepping  out  to  salute  the  little  crippled  children 
there. 

The  procession  was,  I  think,  a  fairly  good  average 
show,  if  one  can  judge  by  the  papers  the  next  day. 
There  were  eighteen  bands,  and  some  Crimean 
veterans — Chelsea  pensioners — in  carriages;  a  life- 
boat, manned  by  a  Worthing  crew;  a  car  carrying 
Cornish  miners  at  work;  a  car  representing  various 
departments  of  the  work  of  the  Ragged  School 
Union;  boys  of  the  Duke  of  York's  Military  School, 
with  four  /-pounder  guns ;  a  detachment  of  frontiers- 
men. The  spectacular  element  in  the  show  was  the 
historical  pageant  of  famous  Lord  Mayors  with  their 
officers — viz.: 


1  3th  century 
i4th 
1  5th 
1  6th 


1  8th 
igth 


Henry  Fitz  Alwyn          Lord 
Sir  John  Philpot 
Dick  Whittington 
Sir  Thomas  Gresham 
Sir  Thos.  Myddleton 
John  Wilkes,  Esq. 
Robert  Waithman,  Esq. 


Mayor      1200 

1378 
1400 

1537 
1613 

1774 
1823 


But  the  hardest  part  of  my  day's  work  was  yet 
to  come,  as,  although  sitting  in  the  old  coach,  rocking 
and  swaying,  is  something  like  being  on  a  boat  in 
mid-Channel,  it  is  not  hard  work  for  one  who  is  a 
good  sailor. 

At  6  o'clock  the  guests  began  to  arrive  at  Guildhall, 
and  I  had  the  pleasant  duty  of  receiving  them  in  the 
Library. 

I  was  sorry  that  the  Prime  Minister,  Sir  Henry 
Campbell-Bannerman,  was  not  able  to  attend  the 


["Punch,"  November-],  1906. 

GOGGLES    AXD    MAGOGGLES  :     A    CHANCE    THAT    SIR    WILLIAM    TRELOAR 

MISSED. 
Lord  Mayor's  chauffeur  (feelingly]  :  "  Domine,  dirige  nos. " 


To  face  p.  46 


THE  BANQUET  47 

banquet.  He  had  just  been  bereaved  by  the  death 
of  Lady  Campbell-Bannerman.  The  First  Lord  of 
the  Admiralty,  Lord  Tweedmouth,  was  also  absent 
for  a  similar  reason.  There  were,  however,  many 
other  Cabinet  Ministers  present,  and  many  Ambassa- 
dors and  Ministers  from  foreign  Courts.  Amongst 
these  distinguished  guests  were  the  Marquis  of  Ripon, 
the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  the  Japanese  Am- 
bassad&r,  the  Italian  Ambassador,  the  Earl  of  Crewe, 
the  Earl  of  Elgin,  Earl  Carrington,  L.C.C.,  the  Bishop 
of  London,  the  Speaker,  Mr.  Herbert  Gladstone,  M.P., 
Mr.  H.  H.  Asquith,  K.C.,  M.P.,  Mr.  Augustine 
Birrell,  K.C.,  M.P.,  Mr.  Sydney  C.  Buxton,  M.P., 
Lord  Justice  Moulton,  Mr.  R.  B.  Haldane,  K.C., 
M.P.,  the  Greek  Minister,  the  Swiss  Minister,  the 
Belgian  Minister,  the  Swedish  Minister,  the  Nor- 
wegian Minister,  Mr.  Justice  Grantham,  Mr.  Justice 
Bigham,  Mr.  Justice  Warrington,  Mr.  Justice  Deane, 
Mr.  Justice  Parker,  Mr.  J.  Lawson  Walton,  K.C., 
M.P.,  Sir  Edward  Clarke,  K.C.,  Mr.  Winston  Churchill, 
M.P.,  Lord  Fitzmaurice,  and  many  others — over  800 
guests. 

A  novel  feature  was  introduced  into  the  scheme  of 
decoration  by  the  wish  of  my  wife.  The  Library,  the 
corridors,  and  the  walls  of  the  Guildhall  were  decorated 
with  a  large  array  of  flowers,  which  filled  every  nook 
and  corner;  these  were  all  artificial,  except  those 
which  stood  upon  the  tables,  and  consisted  of  masses 
of  roses,  chrysanthemums,  carnations,  and  picotees, 
made  by  the  crippled  girls  of  the  Water-cress  and 
Flower-girls  Mission.  My  wife  had  also  a  beautiful 
bouquet  of  roses  made  by  these  girls;  in  all  some 
30,000  flowers  were  used,  and  the  effect  was  striking. 

After  dinner  the  quaint  ceremony  of  "  Crying  the 


48  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

Guests  "  was  performed,  and,  the  loving-cup  having 
circulated,  I  proposed  the  King's  health,  and  read 
the  following  telegram  from  Lord  Knollys: 

"  The  King  asks  your  Lordship  to  convey  to 
the  Citizens  of  London  his  sincere  thanks  and 
appreciation  of  their  loyal  good  wishes  and  con- 
gratulations on  the  occasion  of  His  Majesty's 
birthday." 

After  I  had  proposed"  The  Queen,  the  Prince  and 
Princess  of  Wales,  and  the  rest  of  the  Royal  Family," 
and  the  Royal  toasts  had  been  loyally  honoured,  the 
senior  Sheriff,  Mr.  Alderman  Crosby,  proposed  "  The 
Imperial  Forces  of  the  Crown,"  to  which  Mr.  Haldane, 
Minister  of  War,  in  the  absence  of  the  First  Lord  of 
the  Admiralty,  responded.  In  the  course  of  his  reply 
he  said,  and  I  reproduce  his  words  because  of  their 
significance  to  these  present  days,  "  My  noble  friend 
(Lord  Tweedmouth)  and  I  represent  in  the  Govern- 
ment the  care  of  the  Imperial  Forces. 

'  We  may  wish,  and  we  do  wish,  that  the  nations 
would  abate  the  rivalry  of  armament.  We  may  think, 
and  we  do  think,  that  it  is  a  duty  of  every  Christian 
people  to  try  what  it  can  do  to  set  an  example,  and  to 
give  a  lead.  But  this  we  know,  that  unless  response 
is  made,  unless  the  change  comes,  it  is  impossible  in 
the  interests  of  peace  itself  for  any  nation  to  let  down 
its  strength.  And,  therefore,  speaking  not  only  in 
the  name  of  my  noble  friend,  but  speaking  in  the 
name  of  His  Majesty's  Ministers,  I  say  that  our  policy, 
and  our  solemn  obligation  is  to  maintain  at  the 
present  juncture,  in  their  full  strength,  the  fighting 
efficiency  of  the  forces  of  the  Crown. 

"  Ours   not   to  attack,   ours   to   defend;   and   yet 


LORD  HALDANE'S  WORDS  49 

defence  means  the  capacity  of  swift  and  prompt 
action  if  once  the  moment  comes  when  diplomacy  can 
avail  no  more.  That  is  not  the  spirit  of  militarism. 

"  On  the  contrary,  we  would  fain  see  things 
changed,  fain  see  the  time  which  I  believe  will  come, 
when  nations  will  look  back  upon  such  periods  as 
ours  as  periods  of  barbarism,  and  wonder  how  men 
could  spend  millions  unnecessarily  to  the  prejudice 
of  the  problems  around  them. 

"  Yet  we  must  deal  with  the  circumstances  of  our 
times,  and  we  must  be  prepared  to  face  the  emer- 
gencies of  our  time." 

Other  speakers  were  the  Marquis  of  Ripon,  Baron 
Komura,  Mr.  Sheriff  Dunn,  Lord  Justice  Fletcher 
Moulton,  the  Attorney-General,  the  Archbishop  of 
Canterbury,  the  late  Lord  Mayor,  Sir  Walter  Vaughan 
Morgan,  and  then  "  the  company  dispersed."  Some 
went  to  the  Council  Chamber,  where  a  concert  was 
given  by  students  of  the  Guildhall  School  of  Music; 
others  to  the  Smoking-room,  or  to  the  Library,  where 
dancing  proceeded  for  some  time;  some,  wiser  in 
their  generation  than  the  others,  went  home  to  bed, 
and,  as  Pepys  might  have  said  if  he  had  been  in  my 
place,  "  so  away  home  to  bed  with  infinite  content 
at  this  '  my  day/  for  it  was  mighty  pretty  and  every- 
thing mighty  rich;  but  methinks  it  do  seem  a  great 
expense  for  one  day,  and  it  pleases  me  to  know  that 
the  Sheriffs  must  bear  half  the  cost." 

Probably  the  banquet  on  the  pth  of  November  had 
its  origin  in  the  Lord  Mayor  inviting  a  few  personal 
friends  to  a  feast  to  celebrate  his  election,  and  as  the 
electors  were  the  members  of  the  Livery,  it  would 
have  been  from  that  body  that  his  list  of  guests  was 
made. 


So  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

It  is  evident  that  prior  to  the  year  1777  the  members 
of  the  Court  of  Common  Council  were  not  invited, 
and  formed  no  part  of  the  company  at  the  banquet. 

In  that  year  the  Council  recommended  the  appoint- 
ment of  a  Committee,  to  consist  of  twelve  members 
of  the  Court,  eight  to  be  nominated  by  the  Lord 
Mayor  and  Sheriffs,  and  four  by  the  Court,  to  super- 
intend the  entertainment ;  and  a  further  recommenda- 
tion suggested  that  the  sum  of  £500  should  be  allowed 
to  the  Lord  Mayor  and  Sheriffs  towards  the  expenses. 

We  must  remember  that  the  Lord  Mayors  did  not 
then  receive  a  fixed  allowance  as  at  present,  their 
emolument  was  by  fees.  All  the  reports  I  have 
examined  go  to  show  that  the  Common  Council  have 
always  been  anxious  to  control  the  management  of 
the  banquet. 

It  appears  that  what  was  called  the  fitting  up  of 
the  Guildhall  for  the  banquet  was  done  under  the 
direction  of  the  Court  of  Aldermen;  all  the  reports, 
resolutions,  and  recommendations  tend  to  show  that 
the  members  of  the  Court  of  Common  Council  resented 
the  fact  that  it  was  so.  On  the  pth  of  October,  1781, 
it  was  recommended  that  the  Lord  Mayor  and  Sheriffs 
should  entertain  the  members  of  the  Corporation  and 
their  ladies  at  the  Guildhall  on  Lord  Mayor's  Day 
next.  In  1838  it  was  recommended  that  the  Lord 
Mayor,  Aldermen,  and  Sheriffs  should  no  longer  sit 
at  raised  tables  separated  from  the  members  of  the 
Court  of  Common  Council,  as  such  distinction  tended 
to  degrade  the  members.  At  this  time  a  light  iron 
railing,  4  feet  high,  was  put  up  across  the  Guildhall 
at  the  end  of  the  short  tables  to  preserve  order  at  the 
banquet. 
The  question  of  seating  the  guests  was  referred  to 


THE  GUILDHALL  51 

in  1868,  1872,  1873,  and  1874,  and  the  position  and 
shape  of  the  tables,  the  number  of  inches  to  be  occu- 
pied by  each  guest,  and  such  matters,  were  all  dis- 
cussed. 

The  Court  wished  to  know  also  whether  special 
seats  (apart  from  their  several  Wards)  could  not  be 
allocated  to  the  Chairmen  of  Committees  and  their 
ladies. 

At  present  the  number  of  seats  arranged  for  is,  I 
think,  855 — and  412  of  these  are  occupied  by  the 
members  of  the  Court  of  Common  Council  and  their 
ladies — the  remaining  443  seats  are  for  the  Lord 
Mayor  and  Sheriffs  and  their  friends,  the  Aldermen, 
the  high  officers  and  their  ladies,  the  officers  of  State, 
Judges,  Ambassadors,  Ministers,  treasurers  of  Royal 
Hospitals  and  Inns  of  Court,  etc. 

At  present  the  expense  of  the  banquet  and  show  is 
borne  by  the  Lord  Mayor  and  Sheriffs;  perhaps  the 
time  may  come  when  the  Corporation  will  bear  this 
expense,  and  the  Sheriffs  be  relieved  of  spending 
£1,000  each,  and  the  Lord  Mayor  £2,000,  on  the  9th 
of  November. 

For,  after  all,  this  is  much  more  than  a  personal 
occasion.  The  Guildhall,  during  the  hours  of  the 
banquet,  is  a  focus  of  interest  to  every  part  of  the 
Empire,  as  well  as  to  foreign  Governments,  who  know 
that  Ministerial  pronouncements  of  the  first  signifi- 
cance are  delivered  there.  It  needs  no  words  of  mine 
to  point  its  historical  importance.  Many  sovereigns, 
and  most  of  our  greatest  statesmen  have  spoken  under 
its  roof.  Read  the  inscriptions  on  the  monuments, 
and  you  get  some,  though  but  a  slight,  impression  of 
the  widespread  influence  that  has  been  exerted  there. 

The  Guildhall  has  often  been  the  sounding-board 


52  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

of  the  Empire;  for — I  say  it  with  pride — the  City  of 
London  has  never  faltered  in  its  stand  for  liberty, 
justice,  and  humanity;  it  has  helped  with  both  hands 
every  cause  that  improves  the  condition  of  sufferers 
and  the  weak;  and  has  backed  these  activities  of 
spirit  with  a  hospitality,  I  venture  to  believe,  un- 
equalled. 


THE  DIARY 

1906-7 

"  All  life  is  a  stage  and  a  game;  either  learn  to  play  it, 
laying  by  seriousness,  or  bear  its  pains." — PALLADAS. 


THE    LORD    MAYOR,     1906-7. 

From  the  original  painting  by  /'.  Tennysan  Cole,  presented  to  the  Guildhall  by 
Sir  William  H.  Dunn.  Bart, 

To  face  p.  54 


THE  DIARY 

1906-7 

Friday,  9th  November. — In  the  Great  Assembly  Hall 
at  Whitechapel  there  was  another  banquet,  to  2,140 
poor  men,  women,  and  children.  The  event  is  an 
annual  one,  and  the  Lord  Mayor  and  Sheriffs  sub- 
scribe towards  the  cost.  It  was  organised  twenty 
years  ago,  mainly  through  the  efforts  of  Mr.  F.  N. 
Charrington,  a  son  of  the  founder  of  the  famous 
brewery  firm.  When  twenty-one  years  of  age  he 
declined  a  partnership  in  the  firm,  preferring  to  devote 
his  life  to  evangelical  work  amongst  the  East  End 
poor.  His  work  is  quite  unsectarian,  and  has,  1 
believe,  been  very  successful. 

Saturday,  10th  November. — My  first  function.  I  went 
to  a  concert  at  Queen's  Hall.  This  was  a  "  West 
Country  festival,"  and  was  attended  by  some 
thousands  of  Cornish  and  Devonshire  people;  Mr. 
Croydon  Marks,  Member  of  Parliament  for  the  Laun- 
ceston  Division,  presided.  There  was  much  singing  of 
"  Trelawny,"  and  of  "  The  Land  between  the  Seas," 
"  O  Devon,  my  Devon,"  and  some  comic  recitations 
of  humorous  Cornish  stories,  and  as  a  bonne  bouche,  a 
speech  from  the  newly  hatched  Lord  Mayor,  up  to 
which  time  I  think  all  the  West  Country  people  had 
thoroughly  enjoyed  themselves. 

I  once  received  good  advice  from  an  octogenarian 
Cornishman,  whom  I  met  near  the  Lizard;  he  told 

55  6 


56  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

me  to  get  plenty  of  fresh  air,  plenty  of  good  company, 
no  smoking,  not  too  much  whisky,  and  never  to  cross 
a  bridge  until  I  came  to  it.  It  was  on  the  principle 
of  not  meeting  care  or  trouble  half-way  that  I  acted 
on  the  previous  day,  for  I  remembered  that  Shake- 
speare, who  knew  everything,  said  : 

"  Come  what,  come  may, 
Time  and  the  hour  get  through  the  Lord  Mayor's  day." 

A  meeting  of  the  Society  of  Cogers  was  held  at 
Cogers'  Hall,  Fleet  Street,  Lieutenant-Colonel  R. 
Manifold  Craig  opening  a  debate  on  "  The  Govern- 
ment Speeches  at  the  Guildhall  Banquet."  The 
Grand  Coger  referred  to  the  fact  that  in  the  Lord 
Mayor's  Show  they  witnessed  representatives  of  two 
former  members  of  the  Society,  Wilkes  and  Waithman ; 
and  their  President  of  to-day,  Sir  William  Treloar,  the 
Lord  Mayor.  The  survival,  he  said,  of  the  Civic 
Procession  was  not  more  remarkable  than  was  that 
of  the  Cogers.  Both  served  a  useful  purpose — the 
pageant,  to  remind  the  citizens  through  the  eye  of 
their  civic  duties;  and  the  Cogers  to  inform  the 
citizens  through  the  ear  of  their  civic  and  national 
obligations. 

Monday,  12th  November. — I  went  in  state  with  the 
Sheriffs  to  lay  the  foundation-stone  of  a  new  building 
for  the  Gospel  Lighthouse  Mission.  I  was  received 
by  the  Member  for  Southwark,  Mr.  R.  K.  Causton, 
now  Lord  Southwark,  the  Mayor  (Mr.  Hilton),  and 
Miss  H .  Gladstone,  who  made  a  charming  little  speech 
in  thanking  me. 

Forty  years  before  this  I  had  lived  for  five  years 
in  Southwark,  as  my  father  then  had  a  factory  there, 
which  factory  I  still  keep  going  to-day.  For  five 


VISIT  OF  THE  KING  OF  NORWAY       57 

years  I  used  to  ring  the  workpeople  in  to  work  at 
6  a.m.,  acting  in  every  way  as  foreman.  I  worked 
very  hard  then,  and  the  experience  did  me  good,  and 
has  been  of  great  help  to  me. 

Tuesday,  13th  November. — For  the  first  time  a  King 
of  Norway  paid  a  visit  in  state  to  the  City  of  London. 
King  Haakon  and  Queen  Maud  came  from  Windsor 
to  Paddington  by  special  train,  arriving  there  about 
noon.  A  guard  of  honour  was  formed  by  the  Cold- 
stream  Guards,  and  a  sovereign  escort  of  Life  Guards 
was  waiting  their  arrival.  They  took  their  seats  in  a 
postillion  landau,  drawn  by  six  bay  horses. 

Before  this  an  address  had  been  presented  by  the 
Mayor  of  Paddington  (Mr.  Herbert  Lidiard),  and 
some  other  quick  ceremonies  and  compliments  had 
been  performed.  Then  on  went  the  glittering  caval- 
cade, en  route  for  Guildhall.  At  Oxford  Circus  the 
Mayors  of  Westminster  (Mr.  G.  W.  Tallents),  Holborn 
(Mr.  D.  Rawlins,  K.C.),  and  Marylebone  (Sir  T.  H. 
Brooke-Hitching),  were  assembled  with  their  Coun- 
cillors in  robes  of  office,  and  presented  a  joint  address 
of  welcome.  The  Lady  Mayoress  and  I  were  early 
at  Guildhall  to  receive  the  guests,  who  began  to  arrive 
about  12  o'clock.  I  wore  an  ermine  robe,  which  is 
de  rigueur  when  a  Lord  Mayor  receives  Royalty. 
According  to  ancient  custom  this  robe  is  provided 
and  paid  for  by  the  Court  of  Aldermen,  and  becomes 
the  property  of  the  Lord  Mayor. 

A  list  of  the  celebrities  who  came  to  the  Library 
for  presentation  from  12  to  i  o'clock  would  fill  many 
pages,  and  cannot  therefore  be  given;  all  the  leading 
statesmen,  soldiers,  and  churchmen  were  present, 
including:,;  the  Norwegian  Minister,  Dr.  Fridtjof 
Nansen. 


58  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

At  about  11.45  I  went  from  the  Library  to  the 
Porch,  or  entrance,  of  Guildhall,  with  the  Lady 
Mayoress  and  the  Reception  Committee,  to  receive 
the  Prince  and  Princess  of  Wales,  the  Duke  and 
Duchess  of  Connaught,  and  Princess  Patricia,  Alder- 
man Sir  Whittaker  Ellis,  Bart.,  taking  my  place  in 
the  Library  during  my  absence.  At  i  o'clock  the 
silver  trumpets  gave  warning  by  a  fanfare  that  the 
King  and  Queen  of  Norway  had  arrived;  so  the 
Duke  of  Fife,  with  Princess  Patricia  of  Connaught, 
led  a  procession  from  the  Porch  to  the  Library, 
followed  by  the  Duke  of  Connaught  with  the  Princess 
of  Wales,  wearing  a  costume  of  heliotrope  and  two 
orders  set  in  diamonds.  The  Prince  of  Wales,  wearing 
an  Admiral's  uniform,  escorted  the  Duchess  of  Con- 
naught;  then  I  came,  with  Queen  Maude,  who  was 
wearing  a  heliotrope  dress  and  toque  to  match,  an 
ermine  stole  covering  a  bodice  covered  with  rich 
cream  lace;  then  the  King  of  Norway  escorted  my 
wife.  He  was  wearing  naval  uniform,  over  which 
was  the  broad  ribbon  of  the  Order  of  the  Garter, 
with  which  he  had  been  invested  the  previous 
evening. 

The  Band  of  the  Royal  Artillery  stationed  in  the 
Library  played  "  God  save  the  King."  As  we  en- 
tered the  Library  there  was  much  cheering  by  the 
guests  there,  and  so  we  proceeded  to  the  dais,  where 
we  took  our  allotted  seats. 

The  Town  Clerk  gave  the  usual  signal  (two  knocks) 
for  calling  the  Court  to  order,  for  a  Court  of  Common 
Council  was  now  held.  He  then  read  the  resolution 
for  presenting  the  address.  The  Recorder,  in  his 
black  robe  and  full-bottomed  wig,  read  the  address; 
1  then  presented  the  gold  casket,  which  was  on  the 


"SKAAL1"  59 

table  in  front  of  us.  The  King  graciously  acknow- 
ledged these  presentations. 

I  presented  Mr.  Alderman  and  Sheriff  Crosby  and 
Mr.  Sheriff  Dunn,  Sir  Horace  Marshall  and  Alderman 
Sir  Whittaker  Ellis,  Bart.,  mover  and  seconder  of 
the  address,  and  the  two  senior  Aldermen.  I  con- 
ducted the  royal  party  to  a  boudoir,  where  the  King 
and  Queen  signed  the  official  register. 

His  Majesty  then  invested  me  as  a  Knight  Com- 
mander of  the  Order  of  St.  Olaf,  and  I  wore  this 
decoration  at  once;  he  also  made  the  two  Sheriffs, 
the  mover  of  the  address,  and  the  Town  Clerk,  knights 
of  the  first  class;  and  the  Remembrancer  and  Sir  W. 
Soulsby  (my  private  secretary)  knights  of  the  second 
class. 

By  this  time  the  general  company  (about  850)  had 
taken  their  seats  at  the  luncheon  tables  in  the  Great 
Hall,  and  the  royal  party,  headed  by  the  King  and 
the  Lady  Mayoress,  processed  round  the  tables,  with 
trumpets  gaily  blowing,  and  the  band  playing  the 
National  Anthems  of  the  two  countries. 

The  floral  decorations  were  the  same  as  used  on  the 
9th — artificial  roses,  chrysanthemums,  etc.,  made  by 
the  crippled  girls  of  London.  When  I  proposed  the 
health  of  the  King  and  Queen,  I  finished  by  saying 
"  Skaal !"  in  a  loud  voice  in  true  Norwegian  style; 
this  salutation  was  repeated  by  all  the  guests,  raising 
their  glasses. 

The  King  said:  "  I  am  happy  in  the  certainty  that 
every  word  you  have  spoken  of  England's  good-will 
towards  Norway  is  founded  on  sincerity  and  truth. 
We,  both  of  us,  the  Queen  and  I,  revert  affectionately 
in  memory  to  the  country  where  she  was  born  and 
educated,  and  where  we  spent  for  so  many  years  a 


6o  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

happy  married  life,  where  our  little  boy  was  born, 
and  where  I  was  treated  with  the  frank,  generous, 
kindly  cordiality  of  an  Englishman  during  the  period 
of  ten  years,  when  1  had  not  the  shadow  of  an  idea 
of  the  destiny  that  awaited  me." 

The  King,  of  course,  spoke  English  fluently  and 
well.  He  conversed  in  a  very  pleasant,  frank  manner 
with  my  wife,  principally  about  his  year-old  son,  the 
little  Olaf,  who  was  at  Windsor;  the  Lady  Mayoress 
expressed  her  regret  that  the  little  chap  (though  she 
no  doubt  said  Prince)  had  not  come  with  his  parents 
to  Guildhall.  The  King  was  very  amusing  about  my 
speech,  which  I  had,  of  course,  carefully  prepared, 
as  it  had  to  be  submitted  before  being  delivered.  I 
had  provided  myself  with  a  copy  in  very  large  type, 
from  which  I  could  read  whilst  it  remained  on  the 
table  unseen  by  the  audience. 

His  Majesty,  noticing  this,  said:  "Ah:  the  Lord 
Mayor  is  a  cheat;  he  is  reading  his  speech  from  a 
paper  on  the  table,  and  the  people  do  not  know  that 
he  is  reading  it,  as  they  cannot  see  the  paper.  Now, 
when  I  have  to  speak  I  must  read  what  I  have  to  say 
from  a  paper  held  in  my  hand,  and  so  all  the  people 
will  see  that  I  am  reading  it.  He  is  a  cheat,  this 
Lord  Mayor  of  ours,  and  I  wish  that  I  also  had  been 
prepared  to  do  as  he  has  done." 

The  royal  party  left  soon  after  luncheon,  and  the 
King  and  Queen  arrived  at  Windsor  Castle  about 
5  o'clock,  and  no  doubt  had  tea  with  little  Olaf,  and 
told  him  all  about  the  ceremony  and  doings  in  London. 

The  Corporation  of  London  serves  a  very  useful 
purpose  in  giving  a  welcome  to  royal  and  other 
potentates  who  visit  this  country.  Long  usage  and 
great  experience  guarantee  that  the  arrangements  and 


HOSPITALITY  OF  THE  £ ITY  61 

management  of  these  functions  will  be  carried  out  in 
a  very  perfect  manner  as  to  every  detail,  with  a  touch, 
and  more  than  a  touch,  of  medieval  splendour.  The 
old  Guildhall,  the  quaint  customs,  and  the  antique 
style  of  dress,  give  a  finish  to  the  ceremonies  which 
must  impress  foreign  visitors. 

There  is  no  other  body  which  can  in  this  respect 
take  the  place  of  our  old  Corporation,  or  do  with 
tclat  and  the  approbation  of  every  citizen  what  it 
performs  so  easily.  The  expenses  are  borne  by  a 
mysterious  fund  called  "  the  City's  cash."  No  rate- 
payer is  called  upon  to  pay  a  penny  of  the  cost. 

Thursday,  15th  November. — Sir  Horatio  D.  Davies, 
K.C.M.G.,  Alderman  of  the  Ward  of  Bishopsgate,  who 
had  served  as  Lord  Mayor  in  1897-1898,  vacated  his 
seat  as  Alderman  on  the  soth  of  October,  1906,  pur- 
suant to  12  and  13  Victoria,  he  having  been  adjudi- 
cated a  bankrupt.  I  presided  this  day  at  a  Ward- 
mote  to  elect  an  Alderman  in  his  place ;  there  being 
no  opposition,  and  his  bankruptcy  in  the  meantime 
having  been  annulled,  he  was  unanimously  chosen 
again  to  be  Alderman  of  the  Ward.  He  was  received 
by  the  Court  of  Aldermen  and  duly  sworn  in  for 
the  second  time  on  the  4th  of  December,  1906. 

As  Lord  Mayor,  I  said  to  him  then:  "  I  am  very 
pleased  to  inform  you  that  the  Court  has  passed  the 
following  resolution:  '  That  Sir  Horatio  D.  Davies, 
K.C.M.G.,  having  been  re-elected  to  the  office  of 
Alderman,  be  invited  to  take  the  same  position  in  the 
Court  which  he  occupied  previous  to  the  vacancy.' ' 

Sir  Horatio  died  on  the  i8th  of  September,  1912, 
and  was  succeeded  by  my  friend,  Mr.  E.  C.  Moore. 

Friday,  16th  November. — Presided  at  a  meeting  of 
Lord  Roberts'  Committee  on  National  Defence. 


62  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

Dined  with  the  Plumbers'  Company  at  Haber- 
dashers' Hall,  Gresham  Street  (Mr.  William  Douglas 
Caroe,  the  Master,  presiding).  After  dinner  an  "  At 
home  "  was  held  by  the  ladies  of  the  Court  of  Assis- 
tants, at  which  the  English  Dramatic  Societ}'  gave  a 
performance  of  the  "  Interlude  of  Youth,"  a  Lambeth 
Morality  play. 

Monday,  19th  November. — Opened  the  Sessions  at 
the  Central  Criminal  Court  at  10  o'clock.  (Mr. 
Justice  Grantham;  64  prisoners.) 

Received  a  deputation  of  Liverymen,  asking  me  to 
nominate  Mr.  C.  C.  Wakefield,  C.C.,  as  a  candidate 
for  next  year's  Shrievalty;  this  I  promised  to  do,  and 
pointed  out  that  by  an  act  of  Common  Council  the 
Lord  Mayor  can  nominate  three  candidates,  and  that 
his  nomination  of  any  candidate  was  not  to  be  con- 
sidered as  displaying  any  favouritism. 

Presided  at  a  Court  of  Lieutenancy  at  2,  at  Guildhall. 

Dined  with  the  Loriners  at  De  Keyser's  Hotel; 
the  Rev.  G.  H.  Smith,  B.A.,  the  Master,  presiding. 

Tuesday,  20th  November. — Received  the  Judge  (Mr. 
Justice  Grantham)  at  Central  Criminal  Court  at  10.30. 

Attended  the  Court  of  the  Irish  Society. 

Dined  with  the  Worshipful  Company  of  Butchers 
at  their  hall  in  Bartholomew  Close;  the  Master, 
Mr.  J.  G.  Randall,  presiding. 

Wednesday,  21st  November. — Received  a  deputation 
from  the  East  London  Nursing  Society,  10.40. 

Attended  a  Court  of  St.  Thomas's  Hospital  at  4  p.m. 

Dined  with  the  Worshipful  Company  of  Goldsmiths 
at  their  hall,  Mr.  C.  J.  Lucas,  the  Prime  Warden,  pre- 
siding. 

Thursday,  22nd  November. — Attended  meeting  at 
St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital  at  1 1 . 


A  TRUMP  CARD  63 

Received  a  visit  from  Lord  William  Cecil  re  North- 
Eastern  Hospital  for  Children. 

Dined  with  the  Worshipful  Company  of  Fish- 
mongers at  their  hall,  the  Prime  Warden,  Sir  Richard 
Biddulph  Martin,  presiding. 

The  Master,  in  proposing  the  toast  of  the  Lord 
Mayor  and  Corporation,  said:  "  The  Lord  Mayor  had 
begun  his  year  of  office  well ;  he  had  played  the  King 
and  Queen  of  trumps,  and  there  was  also  the  little 
individual  who  had  gratified  the  hearts  of  all  the 
ladies  of  England,  and  most  of  the  gentlemen,  Prince 
Olaf.  He  had  played  these  three  trumps,  and  no 
doubt  had  the  ace  somewhere  about  him;  having 
begun  such  a  prosperous  deal,  he  only  hoped,  and  he 
felt  sure,  that  when  at  the  end  of  the  game  the  Lord 
Mayor  gathered  up  the  trumps,  he  would  find  that 
he  had  not  only  swept  the  board  of  tricks,  but  that 
he  also  had  four  by  honours  to  score." 

In  replying,  I  said:  "  You,  sir,  have  said  that  I 
have  taken  some  tricks  or  played  some  trumps.  I 
want  to  play  a  card  to-night.  It  is  this:  One  of  the 
chief  reasons  why  I  wished  to  become  Lord  Mayor 
was  that  the  position  might  enable  me  to  do  some- 
thing permanently  to  benefit  the  little  crippled 
children  of  the  Metropolis.  For  more  than  ten  years 
that  subject  has  been  ever  present  to  my  mind.  I 
have  been  continually  confronted  with  the  painful 
necessities  of  7,000  little  ones,  all  cripples.  Ten  years 
ago,  when  first  the  hampers  from  the  Guildhall  went 
out,  not  one-fifth  of  London's  cripples  were  known. 
To-day,  I  am  happy  to  think  nearly  all  of  them  are 
regularly  visited,  and  a  few  of  them  are  even  taken 
to  school;  but  much  remains  to  be  done.  Paris  and 
New  York  are  ahead  of  us.  What  we  want  is  a  cripple 


64  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

institution,  which  shall  do  its  best  to  cure  the  suffer- 
ing and  then  to  train  the  helpless  cripples  to  become 
useful  members  of  society.  I  am  told  by  experts  that 
the  cost  of  setting  such  an  institution  on  foot  will 
be  £60,000.  Very  well;  then  I  ask  for  £60,000,  and 
I  am  glad  that  I  make  that  appeal  first  of  all  within 
the  walls  of  one  of  London's  foremost  guilds,  renowned 
for  its  generous  charity,  and  I  am  proud,  too,  to 
believe — as  I  have  reason  for  doing,  as  I  happen  to 
know  privately  from  a  very  reliable  source — that 
His  Majesty  the  King,  who  is  always  foremost  in 
helping  every  good  work,  and  whose  sympathy  with 
cripples  is  unfailing,  thoroughly  approves  of  my 
scheme,  and  that  I  have  his  best  wishes  for  my 
success.  I  shall  not  appeal  in  vain  to  the  benevolent 
public,  and  I  am  sure  that  the  Livery  Guilds  will 
loyally  and  generously  support  a  Lord  Mayor  of  the 
greatest  City  in  the  world  in  his  efforts  for  promoting 
a  scheme  which  is  of  national  importance,  and  which 
has  the  approval  of  the  Sovereign." 

The  Deputy  Lord  Mayor  of  Manchester  (Mr.  J.  H. 
Thewlis),  in  speaking  afterwards,  said  he  regarded 
it  as  a  remarkable  sign  of  progress  that  the  Lord 
Mayor  of  London  on  such  an  occasion  as  that  should 
have  made  the  chief  feature  of  his  speech  an  appeal 
for  crippled  children.  Crippled  children  were  very 
largely  the  result  of  our  imperfect  municipal  govern- 
ment, which  permitted  the  creation  of  slums. 

This  was  how  and  when  the  Lord  Mayor's  Little 
Cripples'  Fund  was  launched. 

*  Thirteen  years  have  passed  since  that  memorable  hour. 
The  scheme  has  been  a  wonderful  success.  His  Majesty  the 
King  has  just  (i  January,  1920)  conferred  the  honour  of  Knight- 
hood on  Sir  Henry  Gauvain,  who  has  been  the  able  and  zealous 


\ 


SIR     WILLIAM     AND     LADY     TRELOAR     RECEIVING     THE     FIRST     LITTLE 

PATIENTS  AT   THE    RAILWAY-STATION,    ALTON,    SEPTEMBER   8,    igoS. 

Drawn  by  G.  L.  Staiitpafraiii  photographs. 


To  face  p.  64 


THE  CRIPPLES'  FUND  LAUNCHED        65 

The  day  after  the  dinner  at  Fishmongers'  Hall  I 
sent  a  letter  to  all  the  papers,  appealing  for  support, 
in  which  1  stated  that  "  The  institution  which  I  am 
advised  is  urgently  needed  will  not  displace  a  single 
existing  agency;  it  will  not  compete  with  the  hospital, 
convalescent  or  holiday  home,  or  special  school;  but 
nevertheless,  it  may  necessarily  partake  of  the  char- 
acter of  each."  The  Press  was  unanimous  and  en- 
thusiastic in  its  support. 

I  should  like  here  to  acknowledge  with  lasting 
gratitude  the  great  help  given  to  me  in  the  early  stages 
of  my  appeal  by  Sir  Ernest  Flower;  his  advice,  his 
constant  help  were  invaluable;  he  devoted  prac- 
tically all  his  time  during  my  mayoralty  to  the  work, 
and  the  assistance  he  gave  me  I  shall  never  forget. 
The  secretarial  and  other  work  was  supervised  by 
him  in  the  most  efficient  manner.  He  had  a  special 
office  and  a  small  staff  at  the  Mansion  House,  and 
attended  regularly  every  day. 

Friday,  23rd  November. — Received  a  deputation  at 
the  Mansion  House  of  the  London  Philanthropic 
Society,  10.30. 

Received  a  deputation  of  Foreign  Consuls,  and 
afterwards  entertained  them  at  luncheon,  i  and  1.30. 

Medical  Superintendent  at  Alton  since  the  start  of  the  hospital  in 
1908.  A  new  branch  was  opened  at  Sandy  Point,  Hayling  Island, 
in  September,  1919,  and  50  little  children  are  there,  bringing  our 
number  of  patients  up  to  350.  My  co-trustees — Miss  Treloar,  the 
Bishop  of  London,  Viscount  Burnham,  and  Sir  W.  H.  Dunn — unite 
with  me  in  congratulating  Sir  Henry  Gauvain  upon  the  honour 
bestowed.  He  has  well  earned  the  distinction,  for  it  is  to  his  un- 
tiring work  that  the  Lord  Mayor  Treloar's  Cripples'  Hospital  and 
College  at  Alton  has  become  famous  all  the  world  over.  Per- 
sonally I  am  as  much  delighted  by  this  honour  as  if  I  had  been 
offered  a  Peerage. 


66  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

Presided  at  General  Meeting  of  the  Fourth  City 
Mutual  Benefit  Building  Society,  Cannon  Street 
Hotel,  at  5. 

Dined  with  the  Worshipful  Company  of  Patten- 
makers  at  De  Keyser's  Hotel,  the  Master,  Mr.  C.  A. 
Hanson,  presiding.  In  responding  to  the  toast  of  the 
Lord  Mayor,  I  said:  "  If  my  scheme  for  the  founda- 
tion of  an  institution  for  the  permanent  benefit  of  the 
poor  crippled  children  of  London  was  not  crowned 
with  success,  I  should  consider  my  mayoralty  to  have 
been  a  failure,  whatever  honours  I  might  receive 
during  my  year  of  office."  Mr.  Bram  Stoker,  in  re- 
sponding to  the  toast  of  Literature,  said:  "What 
the  Lord  Mayor  was  doing  for  the  cripples  tran- 
scended the  work  of  imagination.  It  would  be  a 
record  of  that  great  and  strenuous  present  in  which 
we  lived,  and  which  did  so  much  and  would  do  so 
much  for  the  common  good.  They  honoured  the 
Lord  Mayor  for  doing  so  much  for  those  little 
withered  buds  that  come  from  the  Garden  of  Life, 
and  were  so  soon  cut  off  by  the  frost  before  their 
time." 

Saturday,  24th  November. — Attended  at  Guildhall 
the  annual  Prize  Distribution  of  the  3rd  City  of 
London  Volunteers.  The  Lady  Mayoress  handed  the 
prizes  to  the  winners.  When  I  spoke,  I  admitted 
that  I  had  never  been  a  volunteer,  but  when  quite  a 
boy  I  had  attempted  to  join  a  corps  which  was  going 
out  to  assist  Garibaldi.  My  father,  however,  frus- 
trated my  design  roughly  and  effectively.  On  an- 
other occasion  I  asked  my  father  to  buy  me  a  com- 
mission in  the  Army.  He  would  not  do  that;  but  he 
solemnly  promised  that  if  I  chose  to  enlist  as  a  private 
he  would  not  buy  me  out.  I  told  the  audience  that 


CHIEF  OF  "SIX  NATION  "  INDIANS      67 

I  was  inclined  to  think  that  it  would  be  a  good  thing 
for  this  great  nation  if  we  adopted  conscription:  it 
would  discipline  the  young  men  in  times  of  peace  as 
well  as  in  times  of  war.  (I  think  so  now  more  than  ever.} 

Dined  at  the  Savage  Club,  to  meet  the  Duke  of 
Connaught,  who  was  that  night  elected  an  honorary 
life  member  of  the  Club.  The  Duke  said,  in  the 
course  of  his  remarks,  that  perhaps  there  were  few 
of  those  he  was  addressing  who  had  more  right  to  be 
called  a  "  Brother  Savage  "  than  himself,  because  he 
happened  to  be  one  of  the  "  six  nation  "  Indians. 
They  live  in  Canada,  not  far  from  Montreal,  and 
in  1869  he  was  made  a  "  brother  savage,"  and 
had  a  blanket  put  on  his  shoulders,  and  since  then 
had  been  one  of  the  chiefs  of  the  "  six  nation  " 
Indians. 

Monday,  26th  November. — Entertained  to  luncheon 
at  the  Mansion  House  thirty-seven  guests,  members 
of  the  Committee  of  the  Franco-British  Exhibition. 
M.  Jules  Cambon,  the  French  Ambassador,  with 
about  fifteen  French  senators,  Lord  Desborough, 
and  others,  were  present. 

In  order  to  promote  sympathy  for  my  "  Little 
Cripples'  Fund,"  I  held  a  conference  of  the  Mayors 
and  Mayoresses  of  London  at  the  Mansion  House,  at 
which  many  of  the  boroughs  were  represented  by 
their  chiefs,  while  those  who  were  absent  wrote  ex- 
pressing their  sympathy  and  offering  their  support. 
All  the  Mayors  present  undertook  to  aid  the  movement 
in  their  various  localities,  stipulating,  however,  that 
if  possible  I  should  personally  attend  the  introductory 
meeting  in  each  district.  This,  of  course,  I  promised 
to  do,  and  to  attend  in  state. 

I   told  them  I   should  not    attempt  to  make  the 


68  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

scheme  a  national  one,  but  that  I  hoped  if  it  were 
successful  in  London  the  great  provincial  cities  and 
towns  would  start  similar  movements,  so  as  to  help 
the  poor  crippled  children  living  in  their  midst. 

Dined  at  Carpenters'  Hall  with  the  Worshipful 
Company  of  Carpenters,  the  Master,  Mr.  William 
Robertson,  presiding.  There  was  a  very  large  attend- 
ance at  this  dinner,  and  I  seized  the  opportunity  to 
speak  of  my  Crippled  Children's  Fund. 

Tuesday,  27th  November. — Mr.  Peacock,  the  hon. 
secretary  of  the  Savage  Club,  with  Mrs.  Peacock,  and 
Tom  Catling  and  his  daughter,  to  lunch,  with  several 
other  friends. 

In  the  evening  dined  with  the  Sette  of  Odd 
Volumes  at  the  Imperial  Restaurant — a  merry  time. 

Wednesday,  28th  November. — Drove  in  state  with 
the  Lady  Mayoress  and  Sheriff  Dunn  and  his  daughter 
to  the  British  Home  for  Incurables  at  Streatham; 
the  Lady  Mayoress  opened  a  sale  of  work,  the  pro- 
ceeds of  which  were  to  be  given  to  the  poor  inmates 
for  pocket-money.  Mr.  H.  H.  Baker,  Chairman  of  the 
House  Committee,  received  us,  and  I  met  many 
friends  and  neighbours. 

In  the  evening  dined  with  the  Stationers'  Company 
at  their  hall  on  Ludgate  Hill,  the  Master,  Mr.  Richard 
Stevens,  presiding  over  a  large  party.  One  of  the 
toasts  was  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  patron  of 
the  Stationers'  Company. 

After  dinner  I  attended  a  conversazione  of  the  City 
of  London  School  Committee  at  the  School  on  the 
Embankment.  The  Chairman,  Mr.  Walter  Bull, 
C.C.,  received  us.  There  were  about  2,000  guests. 

Thursday,  29th  November. — Presided  at  a  Com- 
mittee of  the  whole  Court  at  12.30;  and  at  a  Court  of 


A  LATE  NIGHT  69 

Common    Council    at    i    o'clock,    when   £1,000    was 
generously  voted  for  my  Crippled  Children's  Fund. 

Presided  at  3,  at  Mansion  House,  at  a  meeting  of 
the  Council  of  the  Hospital  Sunday  Fund. 

There  was  also  a  meeting  afterwards  of  the  City 
Council  for  the  Organisation  of  Charity. 

Dined  at  Grocers'  Hall — Metropolitan  Dispensary 
Dinner,  Mr.  Arthur  Balfour,  M.P.,  presiding.  This 
was  the  i26th  anniversary.  Over  10,000  patients 
were  admitted  to  the  benefits  of  the  dispensary  last 
year.  The  medical  staff  gave  more  than  27,000 
consultations  during  the  year. 

Friday,  30th  November. — At  10.20  received  a  depu- 
tation of  the  Working  Lads'  Institute. 

At  10.30  presided  at  a  Court  of  Lieutenancy. 

At  i  o'clock  entertained  Lord  Avebury,  the  Hon. 
W.  H.  Goschen,  and  others,  to  lunch. 

At  3  presided  at  a  meeting  of  the  Chamber  of 
Commerce  in  the  Egyptian  Hall,  when  Mr.  Asquith, 
an  old  City  of  London  schoolboy,  and  Chancellor  of 
the  Exchequer,  presented  the  prizes,  and  made  a 
good  speech  on  Commercial  Education. 

In  the  evening  I  drove  to  Croydon  to  deliver 
prizes,  at  8  o'clock,  to  the  scholars  of  Whitgift 
Grammar  School.  The  Mayor,  Mr.  Keatley  Moore, 
and  many  of  my  friends  and  neighbours  were  there. 

"  On  my  way  home  "  from  Croydon  I  went  to  a 
concert  at  the  Criterion  Restaurant  in  Piccadilly, 
given  by  the  Guildhall  Cricket  and  Athletic  Club, 
and  spent  a  pleasant,  restful  evening.  Rather  late 
home. 

Saturday,  1st  December. — Anniversary  of  the 
Queen's  birthday.  I  sent  Her  Majesty  a  telegram  of 
congratulations,  and  received  a  gracious  reply. 


7o  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

Dined  at  the  annual  dinner  of  the  Savage  Club  at 
the  Hotel  Cecil,  Dr.  Fridtjof  Nansen  presiding.  There 
were  350  guests.  I  ventured  to  tell  them  "  that 
nobody  liked  long  speeches  except  those  who  make 
them."  Eden  Peacock,  the  hon.  secretary,  said  in 
his  speech  that  the  Club  drew  its  members  from 
wherever  it  could  find  them,  sometimes  from  the  North 
Pole,  sometimes  from  the  Antarctic,  and  sometimes 
even  from,  the  Mansion  House 

Sunday,  2nd  December. — Attended  in  state  at  3.15, 
St.  Columba's,  Pont  Street,  a  Scottish  service,  and 
took  tea  afterwards  with  the  Rev.  Dr.  and  Mrs. 
Fleming  in  Beaufort  Gardens. 

Attended  a  concert  at  Queen's  Hall  given  by  the 
National  Sunday  League  in  aid  of  my  Fund,  when  I 
announced  the  receipt  of  £100  each  from  the  King 
and  Queen. 

Mr.  George  Alexander  was  present,  and  made  a 
kindly  speech.  £31  was  collected  in  the  hall. 

Monday,  3rd  December. — To  St.  Bride's  Church  at 
1 1 .30,  to  sign  the  Ward  list  of  electors. 

Went  to  see  Sir  Arthur  Bigge  at  Marlborough  House 
at  12.30. 

Mr.  Gentle,  Chief  Constable  of  Brighton,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Lawrence,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lory,  and  other  friends 
to  lunch,  i  .30. 

At  4  presided  at  a  meeting  of  the  Surgical  Aid 
Society  in  the  saloon  of  the  Mansion  House. 

Dined  with  the  WTorshipful  Company  of  Makers 
of  Playing  Cards,  the  Master,  Mr.  Baldwin  Latham, 
presiding.  I  told  them  the  story  of  my  predecessor, 
John  Wilkes,  who,  when  asked  to  take  a  hand  at 
cards  by  a  royal  personage,  replied  that  he  did  not 
play,  for  he  never  could  tell  a  knave  from  a  king. 


WILSON'S  TRUST  71 

Sir  James  Crichton-Browne  told  us  that  playing 
cards  were  invented  in  France  in  the  fourteenth  cen- 
tury for  the  amusement  of  the  mad  king,  Charles  VI.; 
cards  were  largely  in  use  in  every  lunatic  asylum  in 
this  country,  but  he  did  not  know  if  they  had  a 
curative  effect. 

Each  guest  was  presented  with  a  handsome  pack 
of  cards,  the  design  on  the  backs  being  commemora- 
tive of  the  visit  to  India  of  the  Prince  and  Princess 
of  Wales  in  1905-1906. 

Tuesday,  4th  December. — Meeting  of  Wilson's  Trust 
Committee,  at  12. 

In  1 766  Mr.  Samuel  Wilson,  of  Hatton  Garden,  by 
his  will  directed  his  executors  to  pay  the  sum  of 
£20,000  to  the  Chamberlain  of  the  City  of  London, 
"to  be  lent  to  men  who  have  been  set  up  one  year 
or  not  more  than  two  years  in  some  trade  or  manu- 
facture in  the  City  of  London."  No  more  than 
£300  nor  less  than  £100  was  to  be  lent  to  any  one 
person,  nor  for  a  longer  term  than  five  years,  the 
first  year  at  i  per  cent,  and  afterwards  at  2  per 
cent. 

The  Trustees  are  the  Lord  Mayor,  the  two  senior 
Aldermen,  and  the  Recorder.  By  a  deed  dated  1865 
another  Wilson,  Colonel  and  Alderman  Sir  Samuel 
Wilson,  Alderman  of  the  Ward  of  Castle  Baynard, 
gave  a  sum  of  £4,000,  and  appointed  as  Trustees  the 
two  senior  Aldermen,  the  Chamberlain,  the  Recorder, 
or  the  Common  Serjeant.  The  Trusts  are: 

1 .  The  presentation  of  certain  rings  to  the  Trustees 
and   to   the  Aldermen  at  the  date  of  the  donor's 
death. 

2.  To  set  aside  £100  to  accumulate  not  beyond  £200 
for  a  ring  for  the  Alderman  of  the  Ward  of  Castle 

7 


72  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

Baynard,  to  be  presented  on  the  day  he  is  sworn  Lord 
Mayor. 

3.  A  dinner  to  the  Lord  Mayor,  Aldermen,  and 
Trustee^. 

4.  A  dinner  to  certain  officers. 

5.  Balance  of  each  year's  income  to  be  divided  into 
sums  of  £10  i os.,  and  paid  to  certain  charities.     The 
Trusts  to  be  suspended  if  the  income  at  any  time  be 
below  £200. 

Presided  at  a  meeting  of  the  Court  of  Husting  at 
12.30.  ihe  Common  Cryer  opened  the  proceedings 
with,  "  Oyez,  Oyez,  Oyez  1  All  manner  of  persons 
who  have  been  five  times  called  by  virtue  of  any 
exigent  directed  to  the  Sheriffs  of  London  and  have 
not  surrendered  their  bodies  to  the  said  Sheriffs,  this 
Court  doth  adjudge  the  men  to  be  outlawed  and  the 
women  to  be  waived."  The  last  meeting  of  this  Court 
was  held  in  1 90 1 . 

'ihis  Court  is  of  Scandinavian  origin,  for  the  laws 
of  Edward  the  Confessor  directed  the  sittings  to 
take  place  every  week.  The  term  Husting  signifies 
a  court  held  in  a  house  instead  of  in  the  open  air 
according  to  the  usual  Saxon  custom. 

1  wo  deeds  relating  to  the  City  were  enrolled  at  this 
meeting.  1  he  Common  Cryer  closed  the  proceedings 
by  saying, ' '  Oyez,  Oyez,  Oyez  !  All  manner  of  persons 
who  have  anything  more  to  do  at  this  Hustings  of 
Pleas  of  Land  may  depart  hence  at  this  time,  and 
keep  their  day  here  again  at  the  next  Hustings  of 
Pleas  of  Land." 

i  he  court  of  Aldermen  at  i . 

'1  his  Court,  according  to  ancient  custom,  meets  on 
this  date  to  inspect  and  select  the  cloth  annually  sent 
to  the  great  officers  of  state,  and  other  parties,  the 
list  of  whom  is  as  follows : 


LIVERY  CLOTH  73 

Four  and  a  half  yards  each  of  the  best  black  cloth 
are  sent  to — 

Lord  Chancellor. 

Lord  Chief  Justice  of  England. 

Master  of  the  Rolls. 

Lord  Chamberlain  of  His  Majesty's  Household 

Vice  -  Chamberlain. 

Lord  Steward. 

Treasurer. 

Comptroller. 

Secretary  of  State  Home  Department. 

Secretary  of  State  Foreign  Department. 

Mr.  Attorney-General. 

Mr.  Solicitor-General. 

Mr.  Recorder. 

Mr.  Chamberlain. 

Mr.  Common  Serjeant. 

Six  yards  Mr.  Town  Clerk,  and  6  yards  of  green 
cloth;  4  yards  principal  clerk  in  Town  Clerk's  office, 
and  4  yards  of  green  cloth. 

Cloth  notes  are  also  issued  as  under — 

4  yards,  i6s.  a  yard  Attorney  in  Exchequer. 

4       „         „          „  Attorney  in  Chancery. 

4       „        „          „  The  Cashier  in  Chamberlain's  Office. 

4       „       las.        „  Mr.  Recorder's  Clerk. 

4       „         „          ,,  Usher  to  the  Court  of  Aldermen. 

The  origin  of  the  gift  of  livery  cloth  is  supposed  to 
be  that  retainers  of  the  great  lords  wearing  their 
liveries  were  so  numerous  as  to  be  dangerous,  and  it 
was  prohibited  to  wear  liveries ;  but  an  exception  was 
introduced  in  the  prohibition  in  favour  of  guilds  and 
fraternities,  and  men  of  the  mysteries  of  cities  and 
boroughs. 

The  Mayor  and  Mayoress  of  Holborn  (Mr.  W.  D. 
Rawlins,  K.C.),  and  Mrs.  Rawlins  to  lunch,  with  a  few 
friends. 


74  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

Presided  at  the  annual  meeting  of  the  City  Asso- 
ciation for  the  Poor  at  5,  in  the  Long  Parlour.  This 
charity  was  started  in  1 799,  and  was  originally  known 
as  the  City  Kitchen,  its  principal  object  being  to  dis- 
tribute coals  to  the  poor. 

Dined  with  the  Worshipful  Company  of  Innholders 
at  their  hall,  the  Master,  Mr.  A.  H.  Baynes,  presiding. 

Wednesday,  5th  December. — Attended  a  meeting  of 
the  Patriotic  Fund,  Seymour  House,  Waterloo  Place, 
the  Duke  of  Connaught  presiding. 

Went  to  the  funeral  of  my  aunt,  Mrs.  Robertson, 
Holland  Park  Avenue. 

Four  o'clock,  presided  in  the  saloon  of  the  Mansion 
House  at  the  distribution  of  prizes,  City  Police 
Athletic  Club. 

Six  o'clock,  attended  Grand  Lodge  at  Freemasons' 
Hall,  and  proposed  the  election  of  the  Duke  of  Con- 
naught  as  Grand  Master. 

Dined  with  the  Worshipful  Company  of  Leather- 
sellers  at  their  hall,  St.  Helen's  Place,  the  Master,  Mr. 
Stanley  G.  Lutwyche,  presiding.  The  Company 
generously  gave  me  £200  for  my  Fund. 

Afterwards  Mr.  Sheriff  Dunn  and  I  went  to  the 
Actors'  Benevolent  Fund  Dinner  at  the  Hotel  Metro- 
pole,  where  Sir  Charles  Wyndham  was  in  the  chair. 

Thursday,  6th  December. — Mr.  Harry  Smith  and 
daughter,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  Regnart,  Mr.  Bernard 
Evans  and  his  niece,  and  other  friends  to  lunch. 

Presided  at  a  meeting  in  the  Mansion  House  for  my 
Fund,  3.30. 

Dined  with  my  old  friends,  the  Churchwardens  of 
St.  Sepulchre,  Holborn,  Mr.  Sydney  Ross  presiding. ^ 

Friday,  7th  December. — Mr.  H.  Regnart,  Mr.  Sydney 
Simmons,  and  others,  to  lunch. 


POST  OFFICE  RIFLES  75 

Saturday,  8th  December. — Presided  at  Guildhall  at 
the  annual  prize  distribution  of  the  Post  Office  Rifles 
(24th  Middlesex  Volunteers).  Colonel  the  Hon.  F.  L. 
Colbourne  mentioned  that  the  enrolled  strength  of  the 
regiment  was  1,264.  Sir  N.  G.  Lyttelton  addressed 
the  men. 

The  officers  afterwards  dined  with  me  at  the  Mansion 
House. 

Monday,  10th  December. — Opened  the  Sessions  at 
Central  Criminal  Court  at  10  o'clock.  (Mr.  Justice 
Lawrence;  48  prisoners.) 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Comfort  and  two  daughters,  Mr. 
Lewis  Waller,  Mr.  C.  F.  Corbould-Ellis,  Mr.  W.  de 
Selincourt,  and  others,  to  lunch. 

Distributed  prizes,  at  8.30,  to  the  4th  V.B.  Royal 
Fusiliers  at  Shaftesbury  Street,  N.,  General  Mon- 
crieff,  Colonel  and  Mrs.  Dunfee,  and  others,  dining 
with  me  at  7.30. 

Tuesday,  llth  December. — Opened  a  sale  of  work 
held  at  93,  Eaton  Square,  lent  by  Lord  and  Lady 
Armstrong  in  aid  of  the  Royal  Waterloo  Hospital  for 
Women  and  Children.  My  daughter,  in  the  absence 
of  the  Lady  Mayoress,  and  Sheriff  and  Miss  Dunn 
went  with  me.  The  Duchess  of  Albany  and  Princess 
Alexandra  of  Teck  were  present. 

Five  o'clock,  presided  at  the  Mansion  House  at  a 
meeting  of  the  Council  of  the  Dwellings  of  the  Poor. 

Dinner  in  the  evening  with  the  members  of  the 
Bartholomew  Club  (Mr.  Carl  Hentschel  presiding)  at 
the  Hotel  Cecil;  over  500  persons  present.  I  have 
been  a  member  of  the  club  for  twenty-five  years  ( 1 907) . 

Wednesday,  12th  December. — Received  the  Judge, 
Mr.  Justice  Lawrence,  at  Central  Criminal  Court  at 
10.30. 


76  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

Mr.  F.  A.  Bevan  and  Mr.  Carfey  (London  City 
Mission)  at  1 1 . 

Attended  in  state,  with  the  Lady  Mayoress,  meeting 
at  Camberwell  Town  Hall  re  Cripples'  Fund  at  3. 

The  Mayor,  Mr.  William  Lane  Mitchell,  and  Mrs. 
Mitchell  received  us.  Already  they  have  more  than 
£200  in  hand  for  my  Fund. 

In  the  evening,  at  De  Keyser's  Hotel,  presided  at 
the  Annual  Festival  Dinner  of  the  Infant  Orphan 
Asylum.  Sheriff  Dunn,  Sir  Benjamin  Cohen,  and  a 
very  large  number,  were  present.  A  little  girl,  one 
of  the  children,  aged  eight,  made  a  very  delightful 
speech  to  me,  and  we  collected  £3,000.  This  is  my 
first  public  dinner  in  support  of  a  charitable  institu- 
tion as  Lord  Mayor. 

Thursday,  13th  December. — With  the  Lady  Mayoress 
1  attended  the  annual  distribution  of  hampers  to 
Jewish  children  at  12  o'clock,  at  that  beautiful,  clean, 
compact  Jewish  soup-kitchen,  Buller  Street,  Spital- 
fields  (Chanukah). 

Presided  at  a  Court  of  Common  Council  at  i  o'clock. 

Attended  the  Police  Committee  Dinner  at  De 
Keyser's  Hotel,  Sir  Alfred  Newton,  Bart.,  Chairman, 
presiding. 

Sir  A.  de  Rutzen  paid  a  compliment  to  the  City 
Magistrates,  saying  they  were  the  wonder  of  the 
world,  and  they  dispensed  justice  in  a  way  which  no 
human  being  could  find  fault  with.  I  doubt  if  a 
lady  to  whom  I  gave  a  month's  hard  labour  a  day  or 
two  ago  would  endorse  what  Mr.  de  Rutzen  said;  but 
"  the  bay  horse  says  one  thing,  the  man  who  saddles 
him  another." 

Friday,  14th  December. — Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  Alex- 
ander, Sir  W.  Richmond,  and  some  others,  to  lunch. 


KING  EDWARD'S  HOSPITAL  FUND       77 

Presided  at  a  meeting  of  the  Shakespeare  Memorial 
Fund  Committee  at  5. 

Dined  with  the  members  of  the  City  of  London 
Tradesmen's  Club  at  De  Keyser's  Hotel,  Mr.  Louis 
A.  Newton  presiding.  Mr.  A.  J.  Balfour,  M.P.,  Mr. 
Sheriff  Dunn,  and  about  300  other  guests  attended. 
Mr.  Balfour  made  a  very  impressive  speech. 

Saturday,  15th  December. — Attended  the  opening  of 
the  Piccadilly  and  Brompton  Railway,  now  known 
as  the  Piccadilly  Tube ;  and  Sir  E.  Speyer  afterwards 
presided  at  a  luncheon  at  the  Criterion  Restaurant. 
Mr.  Lloyd  George  was  presented  with  a  silver  key  as 
a  memento  of  the  occasion. 

Sunday,  16th  December. — Attended  service  at  St. 
Stephen's,  Walbrook,  at  1 1 . 

At  5  attended  in  state,  with  the  Sheriffs,  the  annual 
Chanukah  service  at  the  Central  Synagogue,  Great 
Portland  Street.  Dr.  H.  Adler,  the  Chief  Rabbi,  con- 
ducted the  service.  Sir  George  White,  V.C.,  Lieut.- 
General  Douglas,  C.B.,  and  many  others,  were  present. 

Monday,  17th  December. — Attended  at  Marlborough 
House,  at  1 1 .30,  the  General  Council  of  King  Edward's 
Hospital  Fund  for  London,  the  Prince  of  Wales  pre- 
siding. His  Royal  Highness  moved  the  adoption  of 
the  report,  which  recommended  the  application  to 
Parliament  for  a  short  Act  to  incorporate  the  fund. 
I  seconded  the  motion,  which  was  carried. 

At  2  o'clock  attended  a  special  matine'e  at  the  Lyric 
Theatre  given  by  Mr.  Lewis  Waller  in  aid  of  my 
Fund.  The  play  was  Robin  Hood,  I  was  in  my  robes 
and  chain  of  office,  and  so  were  the  Sheriffs.  The  play 
was  a  great  success.  I  made  an  appeal  from  the  stage 
for  my  Fund,  and  thanked  Mr.  Lewis  Waller,  and 
Miss  Evelyn  Millard,  and  the  other  performers. 


78  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

At  8  o'clock  I  went  to  another  performance  in  aid 
of  my  Fund  given  by  the  Dickens  Fellowship,  of 
which  I  am  a  Vice-President .  The  Broadway  Theatre, 
Deptford,  was  the  scene  of  this  performance;  The 
House  of  Dombey  was  the  play.  Mr.  Herbert  Tree 
made  a  nice  speech,  in  which  he  said  it  was  his  birth- 
day, and  presented  me  with  a  cheque  for  £75. 

Tuesday,  18th  December. — Attended  in  state  with 
my  daughter  and  the  Sheriffs  the  Portman  Rooms  at 
3  o'clock,  and  opened  the  Christmas-tree  party  or- 
ganised by  the  Poor  Children's  Yuletide  Association. 
Among  those  present  were  Mr.  C.  Arthur  Pearson, 
the  Duchess  of  Sutherland,  the  Duchess  of  Portland, 
the  Countess  of  Londesborough,  and  Lady  St.  Helier. 
The  object  of  the  Association  is  to  distribute  toys, 
books,  and  other  gifts,  to  poor  children. 

At  5  o'clock  I  made  a  presentation  of  a  silver  salver 
to  Mr.  Alderman  Hanson,  in  connection  with  the 
City  of  London  Schools  Guild. 

This  day  it  was  resolved  to  present  me  with  the 
Freedom  of  the  Butchers'  Company,  and  record 
the  terms  of  the  motion  passed  by  my  good  friends 
of  the  "  Art  or  Mystery." 

At  a  Special  Court  of  Assistants  of  the  Art  or 
Mystery  of  Butchers  of  the  City  of  London,  held  at 
the  hall,  Bartholomew  Close,  on  Tuesday,  the  i8th 
day  of  December,  1906, 

'  It  was  moved  by  Mr.  William  Haydon, 
seconded  by  the  Deputy  Master,  Mr.  James 
Kilby,  and  resolved  unanimously,  that  the 
Freedom  and  Livery  of  the  Company  be  pre- 
sented to  the  Right  Honourable  Sir  William 
Purdie  Treloar,  Knight,  the  Lord  Mayor,  in 


FREEDOM  OF  THE  BUTCHERS'  COMPANY  79 

recognition  of  the  fact  that  he  is  the  Alderman 
of  the  Ward  of  Farringdon  Without,  in  which 
the  principal  meat  markets  of  the  Empire  are 
situate,  and  of  his  efforts  at  all  times  to  promote 
and  protect  the  interests  of  the  trade,  and  of 
his  practical  philanthropy,  especially  in  con- 
nection with  crippled  children,  which  has  en- 
deared him  to  all  classes  of  society,  and  of  his 
exertions  on  behalf  of  the  Citizens  generally, 
which  entitle  him  to  the  highest  respect  and 
admiration." 

In  the  evening  dined  with  the  members  of  the 
Farringdon  Ward  Club  at  Holborn  Viaduct  Hotel, 
Mr.  Deputy  Weingott  presiding. 

Wednesday,  19th  December. — There  was  a  meeting 
at  the  Mansion  House  of  the  General  Purposes  Com- 
mittee of  the  Hospital  Sunday  Fund  at  1 1 .30.  With 
the  Lady  Mayoress  and  the  Sheriffs  started  in  state 
for  Croydon,  to  lunch  at  i  o'clock  at  the  Town  Hall, 
and  at  2.30  to  open  a  new  Fire  Station,  a  long  and 
tedious  drive. 

We  were  met  at  the  Norbury  Boundary  by  the 
Mayor  (Mr.  Keatley  Moore)  and  an  escort  of  the 
Surrey  Imperial  Yeomanry. 

In  the  evening  dined  with  the  members  of  the 
United  Wards  Club  at  Cannon  Street  Hotel,  Mr. 
Harry  Bird,  C.C.,  presiding. 

After  dinner  to  a  reception  by  the  Mayor  of  Isling- 
ton, Mr.  G.  S.  Elliott,  at  the  Town  Hall,  a  very 
splendid  affair,  and  a  great  many  guests  present. 
The  Mayor  allowed  me  to  make  my  usual  appeal  for 
the  Fund. 
Thursday,  20th  December. — Attended  in  state  with 


8o  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

the  Sheriffs  a  service  at  All  Hallows,  Lombard  Street. 
Sermon  preached  by  the  Bishop  of  London.  An 
appeal  was  made  for  my  Fund. 

The  Bishops  of  London  and  Croydon  afterwards 
lunched  at  the  Mansion  House. 

At  3  o'clock  presided  at  the  annual  meeting  of 
the  constituents  of  the  Hospital  Sunday  Fund  at 
the  Mansion  House.  I  moved  the  adoption  of  the 
report,  which  was  seconded  by  the  Bishop  of  London. 

Dined  with  the  Merchant  Taylors'  Company  at 
their  hall  in  Threadneedle  Street,  the  Master,  Mr. 
Coles  Child,  presiding.  This  is  called  the  Doctors' 
Dinner. 

Friday,  21st  December. — St.  Thomas's  Day,  when 
every  Common  Councilman  has  to  come  before  his 
constituents  for  election.  As  I  write,  I  am  reminded 
that  on  the  nth  of  December,  1890,  Mr.  A.  A.  Wood 
moved  in  the  Court,  "  That  measures  should  be 
taken  to  make  all  future  elections  to  the  Aldermanic 
office  to  be  for  a  term  of  years  instead  of  for  life, 
as  at  present." 

I  was  not  then  an  Alderman,  and  I  ventured  to 
suggest  that  "  it  should  be  referred  to  the  Com- 
mittee to  consider  the  advisability  of  making  the 
Aldermanic  election  of  an  annual  character  while 
the  election  of  the  Common  Councilmen  should  be 
for  life." 

There  was  no  contest  in  my  Ward  this  year. 

In  the  evening  I  entertained  the  representatives 
and  some  of  the  leading  inhabitants  of  the  Ward  to 
dinner  at  the  Mansion  House.  75  guests. 

Saturday,  22nd  December. — Sir  Marcus  Samuel,  the 
Alderman  of  Portsoken  Ward,  was  ill  and  unable 
to  attend,  and  as  there  was  a  contest  I  presided  in 


HAMPERS  FOR  CRIPPLED  CHILDREN    81 

his  place  at  the  Vestry  Hall,  Minories,  counted  the 
votes,  and  announced  the  names  of  the  gentlemen 
who  were  elected  to  be  Common  Councilmen  for  the 
Ward. 

Monday,  31st  December. — I  despatched  hampers 
to  7,200  crippled  children  from  Guildhall  at  i  o'clock. 
They  were  sent  in  thirty  vans  to  various  depots, 
east,  west,  north,  and  south  in  the  Metropolis,  and 
were  to  be  delivered  to  the  children  to-morrow,  or, 
in  some  cases,  this  evening.  The  distribution  is 
undertaken  by  the  Ragged  School  Union,  with 
whom  I  have  been  associated  in  this  work  since  1903. 

Before  the  hampers  were  despatched  a  very  touch- 
ing ceremony  took  place :  four  little  crippled  children 
were  presented  to  me  by  Mr.  John  Kirk,  and  Leslie 
Lamporte,  one  of  the  children,  presented  me  with 
a  silver  statuette  representing  two  small  cripples. 

The  little  fellow  made  a  speech  thanking  me,  and 
wishing  me  all  success  in  my  efforts  to  found  the 
hospital  and  college.  On  a  medallion  are  the  words : 

"  Presented  to  Sir  William  Purdie  Treloar,  Lord 
Mayor  of  London  1906-7,  from  the  pence,  and  with 
the  affection  and  gratitude  of  6,000  crippled  children 
of  the  Ragged  School  Union  and  Shaftesbury  Society, 
December  31,  1906." 

I  afterwards  entertained  a  party  of  106  to  luncheon 
at  the  Mansion  House.  Among  those  present  were 
Sir  Ernest  and  Miss  Flower,  Dr.  Sheriff  Crosby  and 
Miss  Crosby,  Mr.  Sheriff  Dunn  and  Miss  Dunn,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Arthur  Collins,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  Alex- 
ander, Mr.  Lewis  Waller  and  Miss  Evelyn  Millard, 
Mrs.  Burgwin,  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Eicholz,  Miss  Adler, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kirk,  and  twenty-seven  Metropolitan 


82  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

Mayors  and  Mayoresses.  It  was  very  sad  for  my 
wife  that  she  was  not  well  enough  to  be  present,  for 
the  cause  of  the  children  was  dear  to  her. 

In  the  evening  I  entertained  at  Guildhall  1,300 
poor  children  to  dinner.  Crackers  from  Tom  Smith 
and  Co.,  and  other  gifts  from  various  people,  in- 
cluding a  woollen  shawl  or  comforter  for  each  child 
from  Deputy  C.  T.  Harris,  were  distributed.  Ring 
and  Brymer  supplied  the  dinner.  The  guests  con- 
sumed 1,000  Ib.  of  meat,  6  cwt.  of  potatoes,  300 
quarters  of  bread,  755  Ib.  of  plum  pudding,  600  quarts 
of  milk,  1,300  oranges,  and  1,300  apples. 

This  was  the  first  banquet  given  at  Guildhall  to 
children  by  a  Lord  Mayor,  although  it  was  the 
thirteenth  given  by  me  there,  and  I  continue  to  give 
one  every  year  still.  His  Majesty  the  King,  follow- 
ing the  example  of  his  illustrious  father,  King  Edward, 
contributes  to  my  Fund  every  year,  and  I  never 
have  had  any  doubt  about  getting  the  money  for 
this  banquet  and  hamper  distribution  to  "  Little 
Londoners." 

1907:  Wednesday,  2nd  January. — Attended  a  meet- 
ing of  Governors  of  Christ's  Hospital  at  12. 

Dined  at  Butchers'  Hall  at  the  invitation  of  the 
Deputies  and  Common  Councilmen  of  my  Ward. 
A  merry  evening. 

Thursday,  3rd  January. — Presided  at  the  annual 
meeting  of  the  London  Philanthropic  Society  at  the 
Mansion  House,  at  4.15. 

Dined  with  the  Worshipful  Company  of  the 
Armourers  and  Braziers  at  their  hall  in  Coleman 
Street,  the  Master,  Mr.  D.  A.  Bumstead,  presiding. 

Friday,  4th  January. — Attended  a  meeting  of 
Croydon  magistrates,  Town  Hall,  10.30. 


GRAND  COURT  OF  WARDMOTE    83 

To  the  Bank  with  Mr.  Bernard  Glover,  at  1.30. 

Presided  at  distribution  of  prizes  (at  the  Art 
Gallery,  Guildhall)  of  Royal  Drawing  Society,  4.45. 

Attended  a  concert  at  Cannon  Street  Hotel  given 
by  Chough  Musical  Society. 

Saturday,  5th  January. — Attended  in  state,  at  12, 
the  funeral  service  at  Westminster  Abbey  of  Baroness 
Burdett  Coutts. 

Attended  National  Orthopaedic  Hospital,  a  Christ- 
mas entertainment  at  Charing  Cross  Hospital  at 
4.30. 

At  Drill  Hall  of  the  London  Rifle  Brigade,  attended 
a  dinner  to  1,200  children. 

Attended  conversazione  of  the  United  Kingdom 
Commercial  Travellers'  Association  at  Hotel  Cecil,  9. 

Sunday,  6th  January. — Attended,  with  the  Sheriffs, 
a  service  at  St.  Lawrence  Jewry,  n. 

Monday,  7th  January. — Attended  Grand  Court  of 
Wardmote  at  Guildhall,  it  being  Plough  Monday. 
This  Court  is  held  to  receive  the  returns  as  to  the 
elections  from  the  several  Wards,  also  any  petitions 
against  the  returns. 

In  the  evening  entertained  to  dinner  at  the  Mansion 
House  the  household  and  certain  other  Corporation 
officials.  At  this  dinner  the  Swordbearer  proposes 
the  health  of  the  Lord  Mayor,  and  the  Chaplain 
that  of  the  Lady  Mayoress.  56  guests. 

Opened  the  Sessions  at  the  Central  Criminal  Court. 
(Mr.  Justice  Lawrence;  84  prisoners.) 

Tuesday,  8th  January. — Attended  meeting  of  the 
General  Council  of  the  Royal  Patriotic  Fund  at  the 
Royal  United  Service  Institution,  the  Duke  of 
Connaught  presiding,  12. 

Attended  reception  of  the  Mayor  and  Mayoress 


84  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

of  Hackney  (Dr.  and  Mrs.  Montagu  Miller)  at  the 
Town  Hall,  at  9  o'clock. 

Wednesday,  9th  January. — Went  to  Buckingham 
Palace  to  see  Lord  Knollys  by  appointment  at  12. 

Presented  with  the  Honorary  Freedom  of  the 
Butchers'  Company  at  the  hall  in  Bartholomew 
Close,  afterwards  lunching  with  the  Master,  Mr. 
Joseph  Gurney  Randall. 

Referring  to  the  fact  that  after  the  banquet  on 
the  9th  of  November  the  food  left  over  is  given  to 
the  poor,  I  told  them  that  an  old  lady  called  at  the 
Mansion  House  on  the  loth  of  November  and  said 
she  had  come  for  some  of  the  "  remains  of  the  Lord 
Mayor." 

Juvenile  ball  at  Mansion  House.  This  is  one  of 
the  prettiest  sights  seen  at  the  Mansion  House,  or 
anywhere  else.  The  Lord  Mayor  with  Sheriffs  in 
state  is  a  beautiful  sight,  but  the  Children's  Fancy 
Dress  Ball  is  better — at  least,  I  think  so. 

There  were  about  1,264  guests.  I  am  afraid  some 
of  them  had  more  parents  than  usual;  in  fact,  there 
were  too  many  "  grown-ups  "  who  came  to  look  on; 
but  the  little  ones  in  their  joy  and  glee  made  up  for 
all.  One  of  my  guests  was  Chang,  the  Chinese 
Giant,  8  feet  tall.  There  were  Sir  Peter  Teazles, 
Columbines,  Cupids,  Pink  Roses,  Little  Miss  Muffets, 
White  Rabbits,  Alices  in  Wonderland,  Empresses, 
Kings  and  Queens,  and  Robin  Hoods,  Puritan  girls, 
Cavaliers,  David  Garricks,  and  even  Lord  Mayors. 
Supper  was  served  "  at  intervals,"  and  it  was  mid- 
night before  the  Mansion  House  was  quiet. 

A  37oung  gentleman  named  Geoffrey  Lewin  ap- 
peared as  "  the  Lord  Mayor,  1907,"  and  "  did  me  " 
very  well. 


THE  OLD  BAILEY  85 

Thursday,  10th  January. — Welcomed  at  Guildhall 
members  of  the  Incorporated  Association  of  Head 
Masters  at  1 1 . 

Presided  at  3,  at  Mansion  House,  at  a  meeting 
of  the  Council  of  the  Hospital  Sunday  Fund. 

Dined  with  the  Worshipful  Company  of  Masons 
at  Haberdashers'  Hall,  the  Master,  Mr.  Arthur  W. 
Donne,  presiding. 

Friday,  llth  January. — Committee  of  the  whole 
Court  of  Common  Council,  when  I  announced  that 
the  King  would  open  the  new  building  of  the  Central 
Criminal  Courts  in  the  Old  Bailey  early  in  February. 
There  was  something  very  like  a  scandal  in  March, 
1906,  because  a  great  effort  was  then  made  to  open 
this  building  long  before  it  was  finished;  in  fact, 
the  King  had  been  induced  to  fix  a  day  for  the 
ceremony.  For  what  reason,  and  by  whom  this 
attempt  was  engineered,  I  cannot  say.  If  it  had 
succeeded  the  cost  to  the  City  would  have  been 
some  £20,000,  and  His  Majesty  would  have  resented 
opening  a  building  in  an  unfinished  state.  The 
following  extract  on  the  subject  is  interesting;  it  is 
from  the  Law  Times  of  the  2oth  of  September,  1906: 

"  It  will  be  remembered  that  an  attempt  was 
made  to  invite  the  King  to  open  the  new  Court  in 
May  last;  but,  owing  to  the  protest  made  against 
the  unnecessary  expenditure  required  to  push  for- 
ward the  work  on  an  unfinished  building,  it  was 
decided  to  postpone  the  ceremony  until  the  building 
should  be  completed. 

"It  may  be  remembered  that  in  March  last  the 
City  Corporation  were  somewhat  sharply  criticized 
for  what  looked  like  a  resolve  on  their  part  to  have 
the  new  Old  Bailey  opened  by  the  King  long  before 


86  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

it  could  be  ready  for  business ;  the  project  was  speedily 
dropped.  At  the  meeting  of  the  Court  of  Common 
Council  last  week  a  report  was  presented  by  the 
City  Lands  Committee  to  the  effect  that  since  the 
end  of  March  no  efforts  had  been  spared  to  press  on 
the  work  by  the  builders,  and  that  the  Courts  would 
be  ready  for  opening  at  a  convenient  date  towards 
the  end  of  October.  The  report  was  adopted  with- 
out a  word  of  discussion.  The  affair  is,  of  course, 
none  of  ours,  but  we  will  point  out  that  by  the  end 
of  October  the  present  Lord  Mayor  will  have  all  but 
completed  his  year  of  office.  The  mayoralty  of  his 
successor,  Sir  William  Treloar,  an  energetic  public 
servant,  will  commence  on  November  gth.  The 
Old  Bailey  is  in  Sir  William's  own  Ward.  Would  it 
not  in  the  circumstances  be  a  courteous  and  graceful 
thing  to  postpone  the  opening  ceremony  until  he 
has  entered  on  his  office  ?  And  is  there  any  reason 
why  this  should  not  be  done  ?" 

Friday,  llth  January. — Travelled  to  Bristol  with 
Sir  William  Church,  Bart.,  President  of  the  University 
College  Colston  Society,  in  order  to  attend  the  annual 
dinner  this  evening.  We  are  to  be  the  guests  to- 
night of  the  Lord  Mayor  of  Bristol  at  the  Mansion 
House. 

Saturday,  12th  January. — I  left  Bristol  to  spend 
the  week-end  with  my  friend  Lord  Fitzhardinge  at 
Berkeley,  and  had  a  pleasant  time.  He  was  Master 
of  the  Berkeley  Hounds,  and  a  very  agreeable  host. 
The  kennels,  the  shorthorns,  and  the  duck  decoy, 
the  salmon  fishing  in  the  Severn,  were  all  shown 
to  me,  and  all  interested  me  much.  I  was  put  into 
the  Blue  Room,  where  there  was  supposed  to  be  a 
ghost;  but  he  did  not  appear  to  me,  although  I  took 


AT  BERKELEY  CASTLE  87 

a  Welsh  rarebit  and  a  tankard  of  home-brewed 
October  ale  for  supper  as  an  inducement. 

I  enjoyed  my  week-end  at  Berkeley  Castle;  his 
Lordship  was  most  kind.  I  happened  to  say  I  found 
silk  tights  and  knee-breeches  very  cold  wear,  and 
shortly  after  I  got  home  he  sent  me  a  pair  of  woollen 
stockings  which  he  had  knitted  for  me  himself. 

He  used  to  send  me  yearly  a  haunch  of  venison 
with  a  cheery  letter.  He  died  at  the  ripe  age  of 
eighty-six  on  the  5th  of  December,  1916. 

Monday,  14th  January. — I  gave  a  luncheon  at  the 
Mansion  House  in  connection  with  a  movement  to 
present  a  testimonial  to  Mr.  John  Kirk,  Secretary 
to  the  Ragged  School  Union,  when  I  heartily  thanked 
that  gentleman  for  all  the  help  he  had  rendered  in 
selecting  the  recipients  for  my  annual  distribution 
of  Christmas  hampers.  Lord  Kinnaird  presided  over 
the  subsequent  meeting,  as  I  had  to  leave  to  go  to 
a  memorial  service  at  3 . 

He  moved  in  my  name,  and  seconded  in  his  own, 
"  That  after  Mr.  John  Kirk's  forty  years'  service  as 
Secretary  of  the  Ragged  School  Union,  the  time  had 
come  when  he  should  be  presented  with  a  suitable 
testimonial." 

I  went  in  state,  accompanied  by  the  Sheriffs,  to 
St.  Lawrence  Jewry,  to  a  memorial  service  for  my 
dear  frieud  Mr.  Winzar,  the  Swordbearer,  a  good 
ceremonial  officer,  a  good  friend,  and  an  honest, 
honourable  gentleman. 

Dined  at  the  Mansion  House  with  the  members  of 
the  Lord  Mayor  and  Sheriffs'  Committee.  This  is  called 
the  "  Audit  Dinner,"  and  is  the  completion  of  the 
Committee's  labours.  The  Lord  Mayor  and  Sheriffs 
presented  the  Chairman  (Mr.  Deputy  Weingott)  with 

8 


88  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

a  diamond  scarf-pin,  and  the  Secretary  (Mr.  Roy 
Treloar)  with  a  gold  watch. 

Tuesday,  15th  January. — Received  a  Wesleyan 
deputation  at  1 1 . 

Attended  a  Wilson  Trust  Committee,  12. 

Presided  at  Court  of  Aldermen,  i . 

Presided  at  a  Court  of  the  Royal  Waterloo  Hospital 
for  Women  and  Children  at  Waterloo  Bridge  Road,  3. 

Attended  a  meeting  at  the  Holborn  Town  Hall 
at  4.20,  convened  by  the  Mayor,  Alderman  Donaldson 
Rawlings,  in  aid  of  my  Fund.  Mr.  Sheriff  Dunn 
was  with  me,  and  amongst  those  present  were  Lord 
Alverstone,  Mr.  Reader  Harris,  K.C.,  Mr.  Justice 
Kennedy,  Mr.  Justice  Parker,  Sir  Edward  Clarke, 
K.C.,  Mr.  Justice  Joyce,  and  Lord  Macnaughten, 
who  moved  the  following  resolution  after  I  had 
explained  my  scheme:  "That  the  opinion  of  this 
Committee  is  that  the  scheme  deserves  the  support 
of  Holborn." 

Attended  a  meeting  re  the  Dwellings  of  the  Poor, 
Mansion  House,  at  5.30. 

Entertained  at  dinner  at  the  Mansion  House  my 
colleaguss  of  the  Court  of  Aldermen,  the  Sheriffs, 
and  the  high  officers  of  the  Corporation.  65  guests. 

Wednesday,  16th  January. — The  members  of  the 
Farringdon  Club  Ward  visited  the  new  Sessions 
House,  Old  Bailey,  at  1 1 . 

Received  a  deputation  re  French  Hospital  to 
luncheon  at  the  Mansion  House. 

Attended  an  entertainment  at  Newington  Baths 
given  by  the  Mayor  of  Southwark  (Mr.  R.  D.  Hilton) 
to  crippled  children.  The  Lady  Mayoress  accom- 
panied me. 

Presided    at    King's    College    School    Old    Boys' 


KING'S  COLLEGE  SCHOOL  OLD  BOYS     89 

Dinner,  Grand  Hall,  Hotel  Cecil.  This  was  to  me 
a  very  interesting  and  happy  evening.  One  of  the 
speakers  referred  to  the  fact  that  the  Lord  Chief 
Justice  of  England,  the  Speaker  of  the  House  of 
Commons,  the  Astronomer  Royal,  and  the  Lord 
Mayor  were  at  the  present  moment  Old  Boys  of 
King's  College  School.  Lord  Alverstone  proposed 
my  health,  and  said  that  he  had  been  attending 
these  annual  dinners  for  some  time  with  one  sinister 
hope,  and  that  was  that  he  might  one  day  meet 
again  the  boy  who  had  knocked  out  one  of  his  front 
teeth.  He  said  that  he  remembered  he  used  to 
attend  chapel  very  regularly,  and  he  regretted  to 
have  to  add  that  he  could  not  remember  young 
Treloar  being  there  very  much.  He  then  proceeded 
darkly  to  remind  me  that  at  an  Old  Boys'  dinner 
about  six  years  ago,  when  I  was  present,  being  then 
a  Sheriff,  I  had  made  a  certain  contract,  and  signed 
a  certain  document,  which  had  also  been  signed 
by  about  1 50  witnesses,  and  he  went  on  to  add  that 
if  I  did  not  fulfil  the  provisions  of  that  document 
within,  say,  the  next  seven  months  of  my  Lord 
Mayoralty,  he  would  personally  institute  a  suit 
against  me  which  would  be  without  parallel  in  the 
whole  annals  of  English  jurisprudence,  and  in  which 
he  would  be  at  once  witness,  counsel,  and  judge. 

I  chaffed  him  in  reply  on  not  producing  the  docu- 
ment. Was  his  Lordship  afraid  to  produce  it  ?  In 
its  absence  I  denied  its  existence.  It  was  only  the 
bluff  of  a  clever  lawyer.  One  of  the  papers  next 
day  said  it  was  like  two  schoolboys  meeting  again, 
and  rotting  each  other.  The  contract  was  that  I 
had  promised  to  have  the  Old  Boys  to  dinner  at 
the  Mansion  House.  I  fulfilled  this  contract  later  on. 


90  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

Thursday,  17th  January. — Presided  at  a  Committee 
of  the  whole  Court  at  12.15,  and  at  a  Court  of  Common 
Council  at  i . 

The  King  has  fixed  the  27th  of  February  next  for 
opening  the  new  Sessions  House,  Old  Bailey. 

Mr.  Ernest  Lamb,  M.P.,  moved  that  on  the  occasion 
of  the  Colonial  Conference,  the  representatives  of  the 
Colonies  be  invited  to  an  entertainment  in  Guildhall, 
and  that  addresses  be  presented  to  the  Prime  Minis- 
ters of  the  Colonies.  The  mover  of  such  a  resolution 
is  chosen  to  be  Chairman  of  the  Committee  for  carry- 
ing out  the  work;  he  attains  this  position  by  being 
the  first  to  lodge  with  the  Town  Clerk  notice  of  the 
proposal.  At  this  Court  we  elected  Mr.  E.  M. 
Borrajo,  Librarian,  in  place  of  Mr.  Welch,  resigned. 

I  informed  the  Court  that  Sir  Dighton  Probyn  had 
written  to  me,  intimating  that  the  King  would  give 
a  thousand  guineas  to  the  Fund  which  His  Majesty 
anticipated  would  be  opened  at  the  Mansion  House 
for  the  sufferers  from  the  Jamaica  earthquake. 

Mr.  Williamson  proposed,  and  Sir  Joseph  Savory 
seconded,  a  motion  that  the  Corporation  subscribe 
a  thousand  guineas,  and  it  was  resolved  accordingly. 

In  the  evening  attended  at  Freemasons'  Hall,  and 
was  elected  for  a  second  term  Worshipful  Master  of 
St.  Mary's  Lodge.  Afterwards  dined  at  Lodge. 

Friday,  18th  January. — I  find  in  my  diary  that 
there  was  a  meeting  of  actors  at  the  Mansion  House 
re  my  Cripples'  Fund,  and  that  we  afterwards  lunched, 
but  I  have  no  record  of  the  names  of  those  present. 

Attended  the  International  Cookery  Exhibition 
at  3.30,  at  the  Grand  Hotel,  and  had  a  very  amusing 
time  there.  My  daughter  presented  the  prizes. 

Presided  at  the  City  of  London  College,  Moorfields, 


SIR  EDWARD  CLARKE  91 

where  an  address  was  presented  to  me  by  my  dear 
friend  Sir  Edward  Clarke,  who  is  Chairman  of  the 
Governors. 

I  presented  the  prizes  to  the  students.  I  think 
Sir  Edward  Clarke  was  an  object-lesson  to  them  all. 
When  fourteen  years  old  he  was  a  student  there, 
and  we  all  know  what  his  life  has  been.  Politics  is 
a  thing  I  do  not  think  much  of — there  is  too  much 
intrigue  in  it.  Sometimes  the  professional  politician 
thinks  more  of  his  party  than  of  his  country;  Sir 
Edward  thought  more  of  his  country  than  his  party, 
and  the  party  would  not  put  up  with  him  in  con- 
sequence, and,  therefore,  the  country  loses  the  ser- 
vices of  one  of  the  most  honest  and  straightforward 
men  in  the  world. 

Saturday,  19th  January.  —  The  Lady  Mayoress 
presented  the  prizes  at  the  Drill  Hall,  Bunhill  Row, 
to  the  successful  members  of  the  London  Rifle 
Brigade,  at  8  o'clock.  Among  those  present  were 
the  Sheriffs,  Lord  Bingham  (Lieut .-Colonel),  Major- 
General  Mackinnon,  and  Colonel  the  Hon.  T.  J. 
St.  Aubyn. 

Sunday,  20th  January. — Attended  in  state  with 
Sheriff  Dunn  a  service  at  St.  Bartholomew  the  Great, 
when  the  Bishop  of  London  inducted  as  Rector 
the  Rev.  W.  F.  G.  Sandwith,  and  at  the  same  time 
unveiled  and  dedicated  the  window  of  the  Lady 
Chapel,  thus  bringing  the  work  of  restoration  to  a 
close. 

Monday,  21st  January. — A  meeting  of  the  John 
Kirk  Testimonial  Committee  at  4.30,  at  32,  John 
Street. 

Attended,  at  8,  with  Sheriff  Dunn  a  reception  of 
the  Mayor  and  Mayoress  of  Woolwich  (Mr.  and  Mrs. 


92  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

W.  J.  Squires)  at  the  Town  Hall.  There  were  400 
people  present.  We  had  supper  afterwards  in  the 
Mayor's  Parlour,  and  got  home  rather  late. 

Tuesday,  22nd  January. — Presided  at  a  meeting 
in  the  Egyptian  Hall  at  3.30  of  the  Friendly  Workers 
among  the  Poor. 

At  4  a  meeting  of  the  Finance  Committee  of  the 
Hospital  Sunday  Fund. 

Dined  at  the  Albion,  Aldersgate  Street,  which  used 
to  be  a  famous  City  dining  place,  with  the  John 
Carpenter  Club,  Mr.  J.  Lulham  Pound  presiding. 

Wednesday,  23rd  January.  —  Meeting  of  the 
Governors  of  St.  Bride's  Foundation  at  5. 

Dined  with  the  Worshipful  Company  of  Spectacle 
Makers  at  Carpenters'  Hall,  the  Master,  Mr.  Hylton 
Foster,  presiding. 

Afterwards  went  to  the  Cafe  Royal,  Regent 
Street,  to  a  supper  of  the  Bons  Freres  Club  (a  late 
night). 

Thursday,  24th  January. — To  Madame  Tussaud's, 
with  the  Sheriffs,  Miss  Treloar,  Miss  Crosby,  and 
Miss  Dunn,  to  a  poor  children's  treat.  They  had 
tea  at  many  tables  in  the  rooms  with  the  wax  figures. 
The  children  cheered  loud  enough  almost  to  wake  up 
the  figures. 

The  members  of  the  Court  of  Common  Council 
dined  with  me  at  the  Mansion  House.  Mr.  Domoney, 
the  Chairman  of  the  City  Lands  Committee,  and 
Mr.  Deputy  Algar,  Chairman  of  the  Bridge  House 
Estates  Committee,  replied  for  the  toast  of  the  even- 
ing. 271  guests. 

Sir  Edward  Clarke  proposed  the  toast  of  the 
London  County  Council  and  the  Metropolitan 
Boroughs,  to  which  Mr.  Evan  Spicer,  the  Chairman 


THE  AUSTRALIAN  COMMONWEALTH     93 

of  the  County  Council,  and  Mr.  G.  W.  Tallents,  the 
Mayor  of  Westminster,  responded. 

Saturday,  26th  January. — Presided  at  a  meeting 
in  the  saloon  of  the  Mansion  House  of  the  Advisory 
Committee  of  the  Balkan  States  Exhibition  at  12. 
The  Servian  and  the  Bulgarian  Ministers  spoke,  and 
Mr.  William  Le  Queux  moved  a  vote  of  thanks  to 
me.  Prince  Ferdinand  of  Bulgaria  sent  me  a  telegram 
from  his  Sofia  Palace,  wishing  success  to  the  proposed 
exhibition. 

Attended  a  matinee  at  the  Alhambra  at  3  in  aid 
of  the  Jamaica  Earthquake  Fund. 

Dined  with  the  Worshipful  Company  of  Fruiterers 
at  Skinners'  Hall,  the  Master,  Mr.  Alfred  Bull, 
presiding. 

Sunday,  27th  January.  —  Visited  the  Browning 
Street  Settlement,  Walworth  Road,  at  3.15,  Mr.  H. 
Stead  receiving  us. 

Monday,  28th  January. — Opened  the  Sessions  at 
the  Central  Criminal  Court  at  10.  (Mr.  Justice 
Kennedy;  59  prisoners.) 

Meeting  of  Jamaica  Earthquake  Committee  at  12 
at  the  Mansion  House. 

Presided  at  the  Mansion  House  at  4  at  a  meeting 
of  the  British  Science  Guild.  The  Rt.  Hon.  R.  B. 
Haldane,  K.C.,  proposed  the  adoption  of  the  report, 
and  the  Hon.  and  Rev.  Canon  Lyttelton  seconded  it, 
which  was  carried. 

Attended  the  first  annual  dinner  of  the  Australian 
Commonwealth  at  the  Trocadero,  Lord  Tennyson 
presiding.  In  his  speech  he  gave  utterance  to  four 
distinct  hopes.  His  first  hope  was  the  establishment 
of  a  distinct  scheme  or  co-operative  system  for  the 
defence  of  the  Empire;  his  second,  that  an  Imperial 


94  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

Intelligence  Department  should  be  organized  for  the 
purpose  of  educating  Cabinet  Ministers;  his  third, 
preferential  tariffs;  his  fourth,  that  Lord  Elgin 
should  preside  over  the  conference. 

Tuesday,  29th   January. — At  the  invitation  of  Mr. 

E.  A.  Smith,  Deputy  Chairman  of  the  Stock  Exchange, 

I  paid  a  visit  to  the  institution  at  12.     They  sang, 

"  He's  a  jolly  good  fellow,"  and  called  for  a  speech. 

I  told  them  that  Lord  Mayors  did  not  make  speeches 

before  lunch.     A  conversation  between  two  of  the 

members    was    heard;    one    said,    "What    a    grand 

reception  the  Lord  Mayor  got  !"     "  Yes,"  said  the 

other,  "  of  course  he  did,  for  are  we  not  all '  cripples  ' 

just  now  ?" 

Dined  with  the  Worshipful  Company  of  Loriners 
at  De  Keyser's  Hotel,  the  Master,  Mr.  John  Gibbs, 
presiding. 

Looked  in  afterwards  at  the  Camberwell  and 
Dulwich  Pension  Society  at  Holborn  Restaurant, 
Mr.  Howard  Colls  presiding. 

Wednesday,  30th  January.  —  Attended  the  recep- 
tion of  the  Mayor  of  Finsbury  (the  Rev.  George  H. 
Perry),  at  the  Town  Hall. 

Thursday,  31st  January. — Presided  at  the  Court  of 
Common  Council  at  i . 

City  and  Guilds  Institute  Meeting  in  the  Egyptian 
Hall,  prizes  distributed  by  Sir  E.  Busk  at  8. 

Friday,  1st  February.  —  Meeting  of  the  Actors' 
Committee  at  Mansion  House  at  12.30. 

Meeting  of  the  Gresham  Committee  at  2.30. 
Retirement  of  Sir  John  Watney  reported. 

Saturday,  2nd  February. — I  was  present  at  10.15 
with  the  Sheriffs  at  the  service  at  the  new  West  End 
Synagogue.  I  did  not  go  in  state.  I  was  received 


AT  THE  SYNAGOGUE  95 

by  Mr.  Meyer  A.  Spielmann,  one  of  the  Wardens, 
and  Mr.  Jerrold  N.  Joseph,  and  was  seated  between 
them  in  the  Warden's  pew;  a  beautiful  sermon  was 
preached  by  the  Chief  Rabbi  from  the  following 
text,  taken  from  2  Samuel  ix.  13  :  "  So  Mephibosheth 
dwelt  in  Jerusalem;  for  he  did  eat  continually  at 
the  king's  table;  and  was  lame  on  both  his  feet." 

Meeting  at  Mansion  House  of  National  Society  of 
French  Masters.  Distribution  of  prizes  at  4,  and 
afterwards  tea.  The  Lady  Mayoress  was  present. 
M.  Cambon,  the  French  Ambassador,  gave  us  an 
address. 

Dined  this  evening  with  the  Society  at  the  Cafe 
Royal,  Regent  Street.  M.  Cambon  presided,  and 
we  had  a  very  pleasant  time. 

Sunday,  3rd  February. — Distributed  the  prizes  at 
the  Victoria  Boys'  Club,  Fordham  Street,  E.,  at  3.30. 
Monday,  4th  February. — Attended  committee  meet- 
ing re  Colonial  Premiers  at  Guildhall  at  1 2 . 

Attended  Jamaica  Earthquake  Committee,  Mansion 
House,  12.30.  Presided  at  meeting  re  Dr.  Barnado's 
Homes  at  Grosvenor  House,  lent  by  the  Duke  of 
Westminster.  Princess  Henry  of  Battenburg,  the 
Bishop  of  London,  Lord  Strathcona,  and  Mr.  Sheriff 
Dunn  were  present. 

Dined  with  the  Worshipful  Company  of  Weavers 
at  the  Albion  Tavern,  the  Upper  Bailiff,  Mr.  W.  R. 
Fox,  presiding.  Admiral  Sir  Compton  Domville 
said,  "  that  the  bogy  of  the  German  Emperor  was 
responsible  for  the  recent  naval  redistribution 
scheme." 

Tuesday,  5th  February. — A  meeting  of  the  City 
Imperial  Volunteers'  Trustees  was  held  at  Mansion 
House  at  i . 


96  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

After  luncheon,  the  Lady  Mayoress  held  a  reception 
from  3  to  5. 

Dined  with  the  Worshipful  Company  of  Carmen 
at  De  Keyser's  Hotel,  the  Master,  Mr.  C.  E.  Scholes, 
presiding.  He  gave  me  a  handsome  cheque  on  behalf 
of  the  Company  for  my  Fund. 

Wednesday,  6th  February. — Amongst  my  guests  at 
lunch  was  Mr.  Paiza  Okada,  of  Kobe1,  Japan. 

Meeting  at  4  of  Queen  Victoria  Clergy  Fund  at 
St.  Paul's  Cathedral;  afterwards  tea  at  the  Chapter 
House. 

Dined  with  the  Worshipful  Company  of  Dyers, 
the  Master,  Mr.  Arthur  Brewin,  presiding. 

Thursday,  7th  February. — Paid  a  visit  with  Sheriff 
Dunn,  at  2.30,  to  the  Crown  Theatre,  Peckham, 
where  a  performance  was  given  in  aid  of  my  Fund. 
The  Mayor  of  Camberwell,  Mr.  Lane  Mitchell,  and 
Dr.  Macnamara,  M.P.,  were  present. 

Attended,  with  the  Lady  Mayoress,  children's 
party  at  St.  Bride's  Institute  at  5. 

Dined  with  the  Worshipful  Company  of  Skinners 
at  their  hall,  the  Master,  Colonel  St.  John  Roche, 
presiding. 

Afterwards  attended  the  Mayor  of  Southwark 
(Mr.  Robert  D.  Hilton)  at  the  Town  Hall. 

Friday,  8th  February. — Received  to  luncheon  the 
members  of  the  Local  Marine  Board. 

Paid  a  visit  with  the  Lady  Mayoress  and  Sheriffs 
to  the  Kennington  Theatre,  where  a  special  matine'e 
was  given  in  aid  of  my  Fund. 

Afterwards  to  Hoxton  Baths,  Pitfield  Street, 
Hoxton,  where  the  Mayor,  Mr.  Edward  T.  Pearce, 
gave  a  treat  to  poor  crippled  children. 

Dined  at  the  Wilson  Dinner  to  Aldermen  at  the 


THE  PRESS  CLUB  97 

Mansion  House.  Afterwards  went  to  the  dinner 
held  by  the  Scottish  Provident  Institution  in  the 
new  building  just  erected  close  to  the  Mansion  House. 

Saturday,  9th  February. — Attended  Savage  Club  at  4. 

Dined  at  the  Press  Club  in  Wine  Office  Court,  the 
Hon.  Harry  Lawson,  M.P.,  presiding.  I  have  been 
a  member  of  the  Club  for  years,  and  am  well  known 
to  the  members.  We  had  a  very  festive,  not  to  say 
uproarious,  night.  Directly  the  dinner  commenced 
one  of  the  members  smashed  a  plate  with  a  hammer 
to  call  attention  to  a  Lord  Mayor's  show.  This 
included  the  Recorder,  the  City  Marshal  on  a  hobby- 
horse, the  Worshipful  Company  of  Street  Sweepers, 
the  City  Hangman  with  gallows,  the  City  Ratcatcher 
with  a  mousetrap.  The  Recorder  then  recited  an 
ode  which  was  engraved  on  parchment,  and  sealed. 
From  this  famous  document  I  quote  a  few  lines : 

"  Lord  Mayor  !  and  member  of  this  ancient  Club, 
We  greet  you  in  tumultuous  hub-hub  ! 
We  hail  you  !  and  our  welcome  fills  the  air 
Most  just,  most  admirable  Lord  Mayor  ! 
For  once,  your  civic  robes  are  thrown  aside ; 
But  see  !  the  Press  Club  Marshal  comes  astride 
Upon  his  prancing  hobby-horse  so  neat 
(The  sole  equestrian  emblem  of  Fleet  Street  1) 
The  Press  Club  hangman  with  his  hempen  cord 
Proclaims  the  presence  of  the  Mayoral  Lord ; 
And  hopes  that  with  us  you  will  deign  to  stop, 
However  late  the  feast  or  long  the  drop  ! 
Though  plain  the  fare  (how  can  the  fair  be  plain  ?), 
We  trust  that  when  you've  cut  you'll  come  again; 
And  if  the  fare  be  plain,  'tis  wholesome  fare 
And  easily  digested,  O  Lord  Mayor  ! 
No  turtle  soup  comes  swimming  to  the  board, 
We  have  no  plovers'  eggs  or  quails,  my  lord  1 
We  hope  your  gourmand  tastes  will  not  be  dashed 
By  sight — or  sound — of  sausages  and  mashed  1 


98  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

So  clash  the  cymbals,  bang  the  booming  drums — 

For,  see  !  to  our  Royal  Court  the  Lord  Mayor  comes  ! 

Not  in  a  gilded  chariot  cometh  he 

(With  stately  serving  men  on  bended  knee), 

To  take — we  hope  with  grace — the  noisy  babel 

Of  rapturous  welcome  from  the  Bottom  Table. 

And  if  discretion's  overrun  by  zeal, 

We  only  tell  you,  sir,  just  what  we  feel  1" 

I  was  then  taken  to  the  bottom  table,  and  a  fearful 
oath  was  administered  to  me.  Then  the  freedom 
of  the  bottom  table  was  conferred  upon  me,  and 
we  drank  from  a  housemaid's  galvanised  pail  (called 
a  loving-cup). 

After  dinner  the  Recorder  again  recited,  and 
invested  me,  "  'Mid  dreadful  oaths  beneath  this 
solemn  gable,  with  the  full  freedom  of  the  bottom 
table."  Then  gongs  were  banged,  lights  were  put 
out,  blue  flames  emitted,  etc.,  etc.  After  all  this 
we  had  a  very  fine  entertainment  and  concert, 
and  Mr.  Sheriff  Dunn  and  I  got  away  about 
3  o'clock. 

Sunday,  10th  February. — Went  in  state  to  St. 
Andrew's,  Holborn,  to  service  at  1 1 . 

Monday,  llth  February.  —  Meeting  of  Jamaica 
Earthquake  Committee  at  12,  Mansion  House. 

Meeting  of  John  Kirk  Testimonial  Committee  at  4, 
Mansion  House. 

Dined  with  the  Worshipful  Company  of  Coopers 
at  Hotel  Me"tropole — ladies'  dinner;  the  Lady 
Mayoress  unable  to  be  present.  The  Sheriffs  and 
their  daughters  were  present.  Mr.  John  Jackson, 
the  Master,  presided. 

Afterwards  attended  reception  of  the  Mayor  of 
St.  Marylebone,  Sir  T.  Brooke  Hitching,  at  the  Ritz 
Hotel. 


J  < 

U    Q 


THE  SPHINX  CLUB  99 

And  then  to  Lady  Portsmouth's  reception  at 
Mansfield  Street. 

Tuesday,  12th  February. — Parliament  opened.  I 
attended  in  the  West  Gallery  at  the  House  of  Lords. 

Meeting  of  Wilson  Trust  Committee  at  Guildhall, 
12.45. 

Court  of  Aldermen  at  i . 

The  Duchess  of  Albany  lunched  at  the  Mansion 
House,  and  afterwards  opened  an  Exhibition  of 
pictures  by  eminent  artists  at  the  Guildhall  in  aid 
of  my  Cripples'  Fund.  The  exhibits  were  all  for 
sale,  and  included  works  by  Sir  L.  Alma  Tadema, 
R.A.,  Mr.  D.  Farquharson,  A.R.A.,  Professor  Von 
Herkomer,  R.A.,  Sir  John  Tenniel,  R.I.,  Sir  J.  D. 
Linton,  R.I.,  Mr.  Yeend  King,  V.P.,  R.I.,  and  many 
others.  I  anticipate  a  good  result. 

A  meeting  at  Mansion  House  of  the  Council  of 
the  Dwellings  of  the  Poor  at  5. 

Drury  Lane  Lodge  meeting  at  Hotel  Cecil  to 
install  Dr.  Armitage. 

Dined  with  the  London  Meat  Trades  and  Drovers' 
Benevolent  Association,  Criterion  Restaurant,  Mr. 
Arthur  F.  Gain  in  the  chair. 

Wednesday,  13th  February. — Dined  with  the  Sphinx 
Club  at  the  Hotel  Cecil,  Mr.  Ralston  Balch  in  the 
chair.  There  was  an  unfortunate  breakdown  in  the 
arrangements;  the  Sphinx  was  to  have  given  an 
address,  the  lights  were  put  out,  the  eyes  of  the 
Sphinx  shone  and  sparkled,  but  his  inside — a  gramo- 
phone— would  not  work.  However,  £61  was  collected 
for  my  Fund,  so  his  (or  her)  silence  was  golden  after  all. 

Thursday,  14th  February. — I  attended  the  Levee 
held  by  the  King  at  St.  James's  Palace,  being  pre- 
sented by  the  Marquis  of  Ripon. 


ioo  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

Presided  at  a  Court  of  Common  Council  at  i . 

Attended  a  lecture  in  Egyptian  Hall  by  Dr.  E. 
Reid.  This  was  a  meeting  of  the  National  Service 
League,  at  which  Earl  Roberts  spoke. 

Attended  St.  Mary's  Lodge  Chapter  Dinner, 
Imperial  Restaurant. 

Attended  a  smoking  concert  of  the  Royal  Amateur 
Orchestral  Society  at  Queen's  Hall.  The  Prince  of 
Wales  presided,  and  His  Majesty  the  King  was 
present,  as  was  Count  Mensdorff,  the  Marquis  de 
Several,  the  Earl  of  Pembroke,  the  Duke  of  Rich- 
mond, Lord  Alverstone,  Lord  Bridport,  Dr.  Nansen, 
and  Sir  John  Fisher.  Between  the  two  parts  refresh- 
ments were  dispensed,  and  His  Majesty  and  the 
Prince  rose  from  their  seats  and  chatted  with  many 
of  the  visitors.  The  King  had  a  fairly  long  con- 
versation with  me,  much  to  my  delight. 

Friday,  15th  February. — Presided  at  Mansion  House 
at  3  at  a  meeting  of  the  General  Purposes  Committee 
of  the  Hospital  Sunday  Fund. 

Attended  dinner  of  the  Hunterian  Society,  at 
Skinners'  Hall,  Dr.  Sheriff  Crosby  in  the  chair. 

Attended  Lady  Durning-Lawrence's  reception  at 
Carlton  House  Terrace. 

Afterwards  went,  at  1 1.45  p.m.,  with  Sheriff  Dunn 
to  the  Gaiety  Restaurant  to  sup  with  the  Shakespeare 
Lodge;  Mr.  Adrian  Pollock,  W.M.,  who  proposed 
the  guests,  and  asked  Mr.  Beerbohm  Tree  and  me 
to  respond.  Mr.  Bourchier  proposed  the  health  of 
the  W.M.;  Mr.  Anthony  Hope  proposed  the  Lodge, 
to  which  Mr.  Forbes  Lancaster,  K.C.,  responded. 
The  toast  of  the  Sheriffs  was  given  by  Mr.  H.  B. 
Irving,  and  responded  to  by  Sheriff  Dunn. 

Saturday,   16th    February. — A  party  of  some  forty 


TO  HELP  THE  DESTITUTE  101 

children  from  the  L.C.C.  Islington  School  visited 
the  Mansion  House  this  afternoon. 

Presided  at  Hotel  Cecil  at  the  annual  dinner  of 
the  London  Cornish  Association,  when  500  guests 
were  present,  including  Mr.  Sheriff  Dunn,  Sir  Edwin 
Durning-Lawrence,  Lord  Courtney  of  Penwith,  Sir 
G.  W.  Truscott,  all  with  their  ladies.  My  daughter 
came  in  place  of  the  Lady  Mayoress.  The  Duke  of 
Cornwall  sent  a  gracious  reply  to  a  telegram,  and 
we  were  all  very  happy. 

Sunday,  17th  February.  —  Attended,  with  the 
Sheriffs,  a  dinner  at  the  Hotel  Great  Central  given 
by  Maccabeans,  Sir  George  F.  Faudel-Phillips  pre- 
siding— a  large  and  very  pleasant  company. 

Monday,  18th  February.  —  Presided  on  Founders' 
Day  at  the  Providence  Row  Night  Refuge,  a  charity 
founded  by  the  late  Monseigneur  Gilbert.  The  Lady 
Mayoress  and  the  Sheriffs  accompanied  me.  There 
is  in  this  institution  no  question  of  creed,  only  a 
question  of  need;  those  who  were  destitute  were 
helped,  even  though  they  might  not  be  worthy. 

Dined  with  the  officers  of  the  London  Rifle  Brigade 
at  the  Grand  Hotel,  Charing  Cross.  No  speeches. 

Tuesday,  19th  February. — Opened  the  Central  Poor 
Law  Conference  at  10.30  at  Guildhall.  Received 
Mr.  Walter  Long  and  others.  Called  attention  to 
the  fact  that  in  London  there  are  more  than  10,000 
poor  children  crippled  by  tuberculosis  of  bones  and 
joints,  and  the  necessity  for  Poor  Law  Guardians 
and  others  to  try  and  stamp  out  this  terrible 
disease. 

Received  a  Scottish  deputation  at  1 1 .30  in  the 
Long  Parlour,  before  they  went  to  Post  Office. 

Presided  at  Salvation  Army  meeting  at  4.30  at 


102  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

Salisbury  House,  London  Wall.  Mr.  Sheriff  Dunn, 
and  many  other  citizens,  members  of  the  Stock 
Exchange  and  of  the  Corporation,  were  present. 
General  Booth  gave  an  interesting  address,  pointing 
out  that  he  started  the  movement  forty-one  years 
ago.  He  was  about  to  start  on  a  journey  to  China 
and  Japan. 

Dined  with  the  Worshipful  Company  of  Salters 
at  their  hall  in  St.  Swithin's  Lane,  the  Master,  Mr. 
Henry  Curwen,  presiding.  One  of  the  speakers 
talked  of  the  silly  cry  of  mending  or  ending  the 
House  of  Lords. 

I  have  noticed  that  frequently  those  who  are  very 
loud  in  expressing  their  wish  for  mending  the  House 
of  Lords  or  the  Court  of  Aldermen  end  up  by  trying 
to  become  members  of  the  body  complained  of.  I 
suppose  they  think  that  is  the  only  way  to  mend  or 
end  it. 

Wednesday,  20th  February. — Members  of  the  Irish 
Society  attended  before  me  at  10.45  at  the  Mansion 
House  to  make  the  customary  declaration.  Sir 
Alfred  Newton,  Bart.,  the  Governor,  Mr.  William 
Cooper,  Deputy  Governor,  Sir  Joseph  Savory,  Bart., 
and  others,  were  there. 

Attended  a  meeting  of  the  General  Court  of 
Governors  of  Queen  Anne's  Bounty  at  No.  3,  Dean's 
Yard,  Westminster,  at  2.45. 

Attended  a  meeting  in  aid  of  my  Cripples'  Fund 
at  the  Town  Hall,  Finsbury,  at  3.30. 

Dined  with  the  London  County  Council  Lodge 
of  Freemasons  at  Hotel  Cecil. 

Went  afterwards  to  the  Trocadero,  where  the  Silk 
Association  dinner  was  held,  under  the  presidency 
of  Sir  Thomas  \Vardle. 


SOUTH  AFRICAN  PRODUCTS  EXHIBITION    103 

Thursday,  21st  February. — Attended  at  12  the 
opening  of  a  new  fire  station  in  Cannon  Street  by 
Mr.  Evan  Spicer,  Chairman  of  the  London  County 
Council.  Mr.  Spicer  very  gracefully  allowed  the 
Lady  Mayoress  to  perform  the  actual  ceremony  of 
dedicating  the  station  to  the  public  by  giving  the 
first  call. 

Attended  a  matine'e  at  the  Hackney  Empire  in  aid 
of  my  Cripples'  Fund  at  4,  the  Mayor  (Dr.  Miller) 
presiding. 

Dined  with  the  Urban  Club  at  their  annual  ladies' 
dinner  at  the  Gaiety  Restaurant,  my  daughter  with 
me,  and  Sheriff  Dunn  and  his  daughter. 

Friday,  22nd  February. — Received  a  deputation  of 
the  Water  Board  at  12.45  at  the  Mansion  House. 

The  Bishop  of  Stepney  called  at  5.30,  by  appoint- 
ment. 

Presided  at  the  dinner  of  the  Ancient  Society  of 
Cogers  in  Lincoln's  Inn.  My  daughter  was  with  me. 
Lord  Avebury  delivered  a  very  interesting  address 
upon  Parliamentary  representation;  during  the  even- 
ing it  was  announced  that  Mr.  A.  J.  Balfour  had 
become  one  of  the  Vice-Presidents  of  the  Society  of 
which  I  am  the  President. 

Saturday,  23rd  February. — His  Majesty  the  King 
opened  a  South  African  Products  Exhibition  at  the 
Royal  Horticultural  Hall,  Westminster,  at  12.  The 
Queen  came  with  His  Majesty,  as  did  also  the  Prince 
and  Princess  of  Wales.  Other  members  of  the  Royal 
Family  were  present.  The  Lady  Mayoress  and  my 
daughter  were  present,  and  the  Sheriffs,  with  their 
daughters.  We  afterwards  lunched  with  the  Mayor 
and  Mayoress  of  Westminster,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  G.  Wr. 
Tallents,  at  49,  Warwick  Square. 

9 


io4  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

As  Honorary  Colonel  of  the  ist  City  of  London 
Garrison  Artillery  I  attended  at  Guildhall  at  8,  to 
present  challenge  cups  and  prizes;  the  Sheriffs,  Miss 
Treloar,  Miss  Crosby,  and  Miss  Dunn  were  present. 
Afterwards  we  went  to  an  At  Home  of  the  regiment 
at  Cannon  Street  Hotel. 

Sunday,  24th  February. — To  St.  Paul's  Cathedral  in 
state  at  3.15,  when  a  sermon  in  aid  of  my  Cripples' 
Fund  was  preached  by  the  Bishop  of  Stepney,  and 
a  collection  was  taken. 

Monday,  25th  February. — Opened  the  Sessions  of 
Central  Criminal  Court  at  10.  (Mr.  Justice  Ridley; 
64  prisoners.) 

Presided  at  Committee  of  Jamaica  Earthquake 
Fund  at  Mansion  House  at  12. 

Attended  in  state  a  concert  at  Wandsworth  Town 
Hall  at  8  in  aid  of  my  Cripples'  Fund.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
James  Wise,  the  Mayor  and  Mayoress,  received  us, 
my  daughter,  and  the  Sheriffs  and  their  daughters. 
Purses  were  presented  to  Miss  Treloar,  and  the 
Mayor  said  he  intended  to  send  £250  to  the  Fund. 

Tuesday,  26th  February. — Received  the  Judge,  Mr. 
Justice  Ridley,  at  Central  Criminal  Court  at  10.30. 

Afterwards  rehearsed  proceedings  at  Old  Bailey 
for  to-morrow,  when  the  King  opens  the  Courts. 

Attended  at  4  at  the  Guildhall  School  of  Music 
inauguration  of  a  new  organ,  Mr.  Paul  Alliston, 
Chairman. 

Presided  at  8  in  Egyptian  Hall  at  a  conversazione 
of  the  London  City  Mission. 

Attended  at  10.30  the  Aldersgate  ball,  King's  Hall, 
Holborn. 

Wednesday,  27th  February. — His  Majesty  the  King 
opened  the  new  Central  Criminal  Courts,  Old  Bailey. 


OPENING  THE  OLD  BAILEY  105 

He  was  accompanied  by  Her  Majesty  the  Queen. 

With  the  Sheriffs  in  full  state,  I  wearing  an  Earl's 
robe,  we  met  their  Majesties  at  the  City  Boundary, 
where  Temple  Bar  used  to  stand,  and  alighting  from 
our  state  carriages,  waited  on  foot;  after  I  had 
presented  the  pearl  sword,  and  the  King  had  re- 
turned it,  we  entered  our  carriages  and  preceded 
their  Majesties  to  the  Old  Bailey,  arriving  punctually 
at  12  o'clock.  I  walked  in  front  of  their  Majesties, 
bearing  aloft  the  pearl  sword,  and  they  took  their 
seats  upon  chairs  of  gold  and  crimson  velvet  under 
a  canopy  fringed  and  tasselled  with  gold.  A  screen 
of  white  silk,  embroidered  with  the  royal  arms  and 
lion  and  crown,  was  behind  the  chairs,  which  were 
on  a  raised  dais,  on  either  side  of  which  in  broad 
alcoves  were  the  guests.  The  King  wore  a  Field 
Marshal's  uniform  and  the  ribbon  of  the  Garter; 
the  Queen  a  costume  and  toque  of  black  velvet, 
with  touches  of  heliotrope.  I  presented  the  Lady 
Mayoress,  who  offered  the  Queen  a  bouquet  of  lilies 
of  the  valley,  which  was  graciously  accepted.  Every- 
one now  being  in  position,  the  Recorder,  making 
three  obeisances,  read  the  address.  Afterwards  I, 
kneeling,  gave  the  address  to  the  King;  then  His 
Majesty  made  his  reply. 

I  then  presented  the  King  with  a  gold  key,  adorned 
with  gems  and  a  royal  crown  in  diamonds. 

The  Archbishop  of  Canterbury  offered  a  prayer, 
and  the  King  then  said:  "  I  declare  this  building 
now  open."  Then  there  was  a  fanfare  of  trumpets, 
and  I  presented  the  two  senior  Aldermen  present, 
Sir  Whittaker  Ellis,  Bart.,  and  Sir  Joseph  Savory, 
Bart.;  the  Recorder,  Sir  Forrest  Fulton,  K.C.;  the 
Common  Serjeant,  Mr.  F.  A.  Bosanquet,  K.C.;  the 


1 06  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

two  Sheriffs;  the  other  Judges  of  the  City;  the 
Chairman  of  the  City  Lands  Committee,  and  the 
architect. 

The  honour  of  knighthood  was  then  conferred  on 
the  Common  Serjeant,  the  King  borrowing  a  sword 
to  give  the  accolade.  The  Lord  Chamberlain  then 
called,  "  Mr.  Charles  Williams,  to  receive  the  honour 
of  knighthood."  No  Mr.  Charles  Williams  appeared, 
and  there  was  a  solemn  silence.  I  then  conducted 
their  Majesties  to  the  lift,  in  which  we  were  borne 
upstairs  to  the  Courts.  This  lift  is  a  very  small  one; 
I  have  had  it  measured :  the  floor  of  it  is  4  feet  i  inch 
by  i  foot  9  inches. 

I  hesitated  as  to  going  in,  but  His  Majesty  laugh- 
ingly said:  "  We  can  make  room  for  you,  my  Lord 
Mayor — come  in,"  so  the  King,  the  Queen,  the  Lord 
Mayor,  and  the  lift  attendant  were  closely  packed. 
The  Judges  and  all  the  other  notabilities  went  up  the 
staircase.  The  moment  we  reached  the  handsome 
Central  Hall,  the  King's  eye  caught  the  Richmond 
fresco  at  the  north  end,  representing  nymphs 
dancing.  I  suppose  they  are  nymphs;  they  have 
no  clothes  on.  "  Not  very  appropriate  to  a  Court 
of  Justice,"  said  His  Majesty,  with  a  quiet  laugh. 

I  conducted  the  King  and  Queen  to  the  chief 
court,  where  the  Lord  Chief  Justice  and  other  Judges 
received  them. 

When  their  Majesties  had  taken  their  seats,  Lord 
Alverstone,  in  the  unavoidable  absence  of  the  Lord 
Chancellor,  gave  an  address,  at  the  conclusion  of 
which  their  Majesties,  bowing  to  the  company, 
retired,  and  I  conducted  their  Majesties  to  the  ground 
floor.  Here  the  knighting  mistake  was  remedied, 
Mr.  Charles  Matthews,  K.C.,  in  wig  and  gown  ap- 


ROYAL  APPROVAL  107 

peared,  and  the  King,  smiling  genially,  gave  him 
the  accolade  with  the  Lord  Chamberlain's  sword. 

His  Majesty,  before  leaving,  expressed  to  me  his 
entire  appreciation  of  the  arrangements,  and  stated 
that  he  and  the  Queen  were  pleased  with  what  was 
a  delightful  function. 

I  received  with  great  pleasure  a  letter  from  Sir 
Whittaker  Ellis,  Bart.,  the  senior  Alderman,  dated 
the  28th,  from  Upper  Brook  Street.  In  it  he 
said: 

"  Being  nearest  to  you  throughout  the  proceedings 
of  yesterday,  I  cannot  help  recording  at  the  earliest 
opportunity  my  admiration  at  the  manner  in  which 
you  carried  through  a  difficult  ceremony  in  all  its 
details  and  changes." 

It  was  pleasant  to  receive  such  a  spontaneous 
commendation  from  the  senior  Alderman,  and  I  much 
appreciated  it. 

Presided  at  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  the 
National  Lifeboat  Institution,  City  Branch,  at  3. 
There  was  a  large  attendance,  including  Lord  Ave- 
bury,  Captain  Ackland,  and  the  Deputy  Master  of 
the  Mint  (Mr.  McCartney). 

Dined  with  the  Worshipful  Company  of  Grocers 
at  their  hall,  the  Master  (Mr.  William  Grantham) 
presiding.  The  Marquis  of  Lansdowne  was  presented 
with  the  honorary  freedom  of  the  Company.  Mr. 
A.  J.  Balfour,  M.P.,  the  Earl  of  Kerry,  Mr.  Justice 
Grantham,  Sir  Gorrel  Barnes,  Mr.  Sheriff  Crosby, 
Mr.  Sheriff  Dunn,  and  many  others  were  present. 

Thursday,  28th  February. — Presided  at  a  meeting 
of  the  Court  of  Common  Council,  when  I  informed 
the  Court  that  the  King  had  expressed  his  entire 
satisfaction,  and  that  the  Queen  and  he  thought  the 


io8  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

function  yesterday  was  a  delightful  one.  I  con- 
gratulated Mr.  Domoney,  the  Chairman  of  the  City 
Lands,  on  the  great  success  of  the  efforts  made  by 
him  and  his  Committee. 

Friday,  1st  March. — Privileges  Committee  of  Court 
of  Aldermen  at  12.30. 

Presided  at  the  Mansion  House  at  the  usual  dinner 
to  the  Masters  of  the  City  Companies  and  their 
ladies.  This  was  a  very  large  and  important  gather- 
ing. 304  guests. 

Saturday,  2nd  March. — Meeting  of  children  of  the 
British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  at  the  Mansion 
House  at  3. 

Parties  from  the  British  Rambling  Club  and  the 
Borough  Polytechnic  visited  the  Mansion  House. 

Monday,  4th  March. — Jamaica  Earthquake  Com- 
mittee, 12. 

John  Kirk  Testimonial  Committee  at  4. 

Dined  with  the  Port  of  London  Sanitary  Committee 
of  the  Corporation  at  Leathersellers'  Hall,  Mr.  H.  S. 
Dove,  the  Chairman,  presiding.  The  late  Chairman, 
Mr.  Hastings  Miller,  was  presented  with  an  elegant 
silver  candelabra  as  a  souvenir  of  his  year  of  office, 
the  fund  for  which  was  subscribed  by  the  members 
of  the  Committee. 

Tuesday,  5th  March. — "  This  is  the  Lord  Mayor's 
first  appearance  in  the  part.  A  soft-voiced  lady  in 
black  stood  upon  the  stage  of  Drury  Lane  Theatre, 
holding  the  hand  of  gigantic,  dignified  Sir  William 
Treloar;  the  lady  who  made  the  introduction  was 
Lady  Bancroft.  It  was  Cripples'  Day  at  Drury 
Lane,  and  she  was  pleading  the  cripples'  cause,  and 
introducing  the  cripples'  friend;  the  appearance  on 
the  stage  of  these  two  figures  hand-in-hand  provided 


MATINEE  AT  DRURY  LANE  109 

the  enthusiastic  moment  of  enthusiastic  hours." — 
Extract  from  the  Daily  Mail. 

The  matine'e  given  in  aid  of  my  Fund  at  Drury 
Lane  Theatre  by  permission  of  Mr.  Arthur  Collins 
and  the  Directors  was  a  wonderful  success.  Miss 
Winifred  Emery  gave  a  recitation  which  touched  all 
hearts.  Mr.  Tree  and  his  companions  played  The 
Man  Who  Was ;  Edward  Terry  recited  the  trial 
scene  from  Bardell  v.  Pickwick;  the  Drury  Lane 
Company  acted  a  scene  from  the  pantomime,  Sinbad  ; 
Mr.  Cyril  Maude  showed  us  The  Beauty  and  the 
Barge,  and  other  items  were  happily  sung  or  said 
by  Mr.  Huntley  Wright,  Mr.  Lewis  Waller,  Mr.  H.  B. 
Irving,  Mr.  Ben  Davies,  Miss  Margaret  Cooper,  and 
Mdlle.  Gene"e,  Mr.  Fred  Upton,  Mr.  Alfred  Lester, 
and  Mr.  J.  M.  Glover. 

The  Committee  who  arranged  this  show  for  the 
benefit  of  my  Fund  consisted  of  the  following — viz.: 
Sir  Squire  Bancroft,  Mr.  Beerbohm  Tree,  Mr.  George 
Alexander,  Mr.  Cyril  Maude,  Mr.  Arthur  Bourchier, 
Mr.  Fred  Terry,  Mr.  F.  Harrison,  Mr.  Otho  Stuart, 
Mr.  Lewis  Waller,  Mr.  Seymour  Hicks,  Mr.  George 
Edwards,  Mr.  Edward  Terry,  Mr.  Lionel  Brough, 
and  Mr.  H.  V.  Leveaux,  and  it  is  not,  therefore, 
surprising  that  the  affair  was  such  a  success. 

The  programme  was  a  long  one;  the  show,  which 
commenced  at  1.30,  was  not  completed  until  6.15. 

My  friend  "  Jimmy  "  Glover  conducted  the  over- 
ture. There  was  a  "  Blue  Hungry  Band  "  with  Mr. 
Joe  Coyne  as  drum-major  for  the  prehistoric  Lord 
Mayor's  Show,  arranged  so  admirably  by  Mr.  E.  T. 
Reed,  assisted  by  Mr.  Edmund  Payne.  Some  people 
thought  that  the  Lord  Mayor's  coach  was  rather 
like  a  wheelbarrow.  There  were  some  old  Red 


MATINEE  AT  DRURY  LANE  1 1 1 

Sandstone  Highlanders,  who  were  very  much  ap- 
plauded; and  Mr.  George  Grossmith,  jr.,  made  a 
fine  appearance  on  a  hobby-horse  as  City  Marshal. 

Everyone  carried  away  a  copy  of  the  very  interest- 
ing programme  of  the  occasion,  which  will,  I  fancy, 
become  a  valuable  record  and  a  memorable  evidence 
of  the  invariable  desire  of  the  members  of  the  theatri- 
cal profession  to  give  their  time,  experience,  and  best 
efforts  to  help  the  cause  of  charity.  All  fun  and 
frolic,  and  a  fine  cheque  for  £i  ,000  for  me  at  the  end. 

Dined  with  the  Worshipful  Company  of  the  Gold 
and  Silver  Wire  Drawers  at  Clothworkers'  Hall, 
Mr.  Richard  Stapley,  C.C.,  the  Master,  presiding. 

Wednesday,  6th  March. — I  presided  at  a  meeting 
at  Guildhall  at  12,  called  by  citizens,  to  whom  the 
Guildhall  was  lent  by  the  Corporation,  when  a 
resolution  strongly  protesting  against  the  charges 
proposed  to  be  made  by  the  Metropolitan  Water 
Board  was  carried  unanimously. 

Lady  Beatrice  Wilkinson  and  others  to  lunch  at 
i  .30.  Lady  Mayoress'  reception,  3  to  6. 

Meeting  of  Lord  Roberts'  Committee  re  Rifle  Clubs 
at  3.45,  Mansion  House. 

Attended  Grand  Lodge,  Freemasons'  Hall,  at  6, 
and  proposed  the  re-election  of  the  Duke  of  Con- 
naught  as  Most  Worshipful  Grand  Master. 

Dined  with  the  Worshipful  Company  of  Glass 
Sellers  at  De  Keyser's  Hotel,  the  Master,  Mr.  T. 
Lampard,  presiding. 

Went  afterwards  to  the  Trocadero,  where  a  banquet 
was  held,  with  Lord  Burnham  in  the  chair,  in  honour 
of  Thomas  Catling,  an  old  and  very  well-known 
journalist  who  had  been  editor  of  Lloyd's.  All  the 
newspapers  were  represented  by  their  proprietors 


ii2  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

or  editors.  A  handsome  and  well-deserved  testi- 
monial was  presented  by  the  Chairman,  who  made  a 
charming  speech,  full  of  reminiscences  of  Fleet  Street. 

Thursday,  7th  March. — Visited,  with  Sheriff  Dunn, 
the  Commercial  Motor  Exhibition  at  Olympia,  and 
lunched  with  the  Society  of  Motor  Manufacturers 
and  Traders,  who  gave  me  £52  ics.  for  my  Fund. 

I  called  attention  to  the  possibilities  of  motor 
transport.  I  said  some  of  the  best  intellects  of  our 
engineers  and  others  connected  with  this  trade  were 
at  work  on  the  motor  industry ;  individual  enterprise 
had  made  this  country  great,  and  individual  enter- 
prise would  eventually  knock  out  of  time  altogether 
municipal  trading.  As  time  went  the  brains  which 
were  now  at  work  on  this  industry  would  produce 
something  which  would  make  the  trams  of  the  present 
day  scrap-iron. 

Mr.  Straker,  who  followed  me,  said  it  would  only 
be  a  question  of  time  for  commercial  motors  to  con- 
trol the  destinies  of  our  street  traffic. 

Received  at  the  Mansion  House  two  Dutch  heroes, 
Captains  Sperling  and  Jansen,  who  were  instru- 
mental in  saving  lives  from  the  steamer  Berlin, 
wrecked  at  the  Hook  of  Holland  a  week  or  two  ago. 

Attended  a  performance  of  Fra  Diavolo  by 
students  at  the  Guildhall  School  of  Music. 

Afterwards  went  to  the  Great  Central  Hotel  to 
the  Music  Trades  Dinner. 

Friday,  8th  March. — Received  a  deputation  of  the 
City  of  London  Truss  Society  at  i . 

Dined  with  the  Officers'  and  Clerks'  Committee 
at  De  Keyser's  Hotel,  Mr.  J.  J.  Redding  presiding. 

Afterwards  went  to  Mrs.  Lowther's  At  Home,  in  the 
Speaker's  House  at  Westminster. 


A  FOOTBALL  DINNER  113 

Saturday,  9th  March. — A  party  of  forty  girls  from 
Islington  L.C.C.  schools  visited  the  Mansion  House. 

The  Duke  of  Somerset  and  others  to  lunch. 

Went  to  Fulham  with  Sheriff  Dunn  to  see  a  match 
at  football  between  the  Corinthians  (amateurs)  and 
Newcastle  United  (professionals),  the  latter  winning 
by  5  goals  to  2.  I  presented  the  shield  and  medals 
to  the  winners,  and  both  teams  dined  with  me  at  the 
Mansion  House  in  the  evening.  Lord  Kinnaird  and 
others  present.  51  guests. 

Sunday,  10th  March. — Attended  in  state  a  service 
at  4  o'clock  at  Excelsior  Hall,  Mansfield  Street, 
Bethnal  Green,  in  aid  of  my  Cripples'  Fund.  The 
sermon  was  given  by  the  Rev.  H.  S.  Woollcombe, 
of  the  Oxford  House.  The  Mayor  and  Corporation 
of  Bethnal  Green  present. 

Monday,  llth  March. — Attended  meeting  at  1 2  of  the 
Naval  Fund  at  the  Royal  Institution,  and  proposed  a 
vote  of  thanks  to  the  Prince  of  Wales,  who  presided. 

Presided  at  Guildhall  at  3  at  the  annual  meeting 
of  the  East  London  Church  Fund. 

The  Bishops  of  Stepney  and  of  Islington,  and 
Lord  Robert  Cecil,  to  luncheon  at  the  Mansion  House 
before  the  meeting. 

Dined  with  the  Sanitary  Committee  at  De  Keyser's 
Hotel,  Mr.  Sigismund  Pollitzer,  Chairman,  presiding. 

Tuesday,  12th  March. — Deputation  of  the  German 
Society  of  Benevolence  at  1 1,  at  Mansion  House. 

Wilson  Trust  Committee  at  Guildhall,  12.50. 

Court  of  Aldermen  at  i . 

Luncheon,  Mansion  House,  1.30,  the  guests  in- 
cluding Earl  Crewe,  the  Rev.  J.  F.  Stein,  the  Rev. 
A.  G.  B.  Atkinson,  Archdeacon  Sinclair,  Mr.  Ogilvy, 
and  others. 


ii4  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

Presided  at  a  meeting  of  the  East  London  Nursing 
Society  at  the  Mansion  House  at  3. 

Meeting  of  Committee  on  Dwellings  of  the  Poor  at  5 . 

Dined  with  the  officers  of  the  ist  City  of  London 
Volunteers  at  the  Criterion. 

Wednesday,  13th  March. — Luncheon  at  the  Mansion 
House  to  the  Master  of  the  Trinity  House  at  2,  the 
Prince  of  Wales  present.  245  guests. 

Presided  at  dinner  of  the  Institute  of  Printers  at 
the  Hotel  Cecil.  Sheriff  Dunn  and  Miss  Dunn,  Mr. 
Anthony  Hope,  the  Hon.  H.  W.  Lawson,  M.P.,  and 
many  others  present. 

Thursday,  14th  March. — Court  of  Common  Council 
at  i. 

Presided  at  the  annual  dinner  of  the  National 
Sunday  League  at  the  Holborn  Restaurant.  My 
daughter,  the  Sheriffs  and  their  daughters,  the  Hon. 
Harry  Lawson,  the  Rt.  Hon.  Jesse  Collings,  Mr. 
Will  Crooks,  and  about  500  guests,  not  forgetting 
Mr.  Morrell,  the  founder  of  the  League,  were  present. 

Friday,  15th  March. — Attended  at  Marlborough 
House  the  annual  meeting  of  King  Edward's  Hospital 
Fund  at  1 1 .30. 

Went  to  a  matine'e  at  Criterion  Theatre  for  Jamaica 
Earthquake  Fund. 

Visited  the  Royal  Hospital  for  Diseases  of  the 
Chest  in  City  Road. 

Dined  with  members  of  the  Jubilee  Masters'  Lodge 
of  Freemasons  at  the  Hotel  Cecil.  Henry  Neville 
was  installed  as  W.M.  It  was  announced  during  the 
evening  that  the  Most  Worshipful  Grand  Master, 
H.R.H.  the  Duke  of  Connaught,  had  conferred  upon 
me  the  rank  of  Past  Grand  Warden  of  the  Grand 
Lodge  of  England. 


THE  FIRST  CASE  AT  OLD  BAILEY      115 

Saturday,  16th  March. — Went  on  board  the  Con- 
servancy steamer,  starting  from  Temple  Pier  at  12.50, 
to  see  the  University  boat  race. 

A  party  of  about  fifty  of  the  London  and  Middlesex 
Archaeological  Society  visited  the  Mansion  House  this 
afternoon. 

Presided  at  the  89th  Anniversary  Dinner  of  the 
German  Society  of  Benevolence  at  De  Keyser's 
Hotel.  Mr.  Sheriff  Dunn  and  the  German  Ambas- 
sador present.  This  charity  was  instituted  in  1817 
to  relieve  the  want  and  distress  of  Germans  in  London. 
I  was  struck  with  the  way  the  donations  were  col- 
lected :  the  Secretary  goes  with  a  foolscap  book  to 
each  guest,  who  signs  the  book  and  adds  the  amount 
of  his  subscription  opposite  his  signature. 

Sunday,  17th  March. — Attended  service  in  state  at 
St.  Mary's,  Bryanstone  Square,  in  aid  of  my  Fund. 

Monday,  18th  March. — Opened  the  Sessions  at 
Central  Criminal  Court  at  10,  when  I  made  a  speech 
to  the  Recorder  and  the  other  Judges  present,  making 
this  the  formal  opening  of  the  new  Courts.  There 
were  forty  prisoners.  The  first  case  actually  dis- 
posed of  was  that  of  George  Sidney  Bodimead,  a  cook, 
who  pleaded  guilty  to  stealing  marmalade,  bacori,  and 
other  articles  belonging  to  his  employer,  a  coffee- 
house keeper  in  Fetter  Lane.  He  was  sentenced  by 
the  Recorder  to  twelve  months'  hard  labour.* 

*  I  cannot  resist  at  this  appropriate  place  printing  as  footnote 
an  account  I  wrote  of  a  trial,  with  a  tragic  ending,  which  occurred 
at  the  Old  Bailey  in  1902.  I  was  so  deeply  impressed  by  the 
circumstance  that  I  sent  this  description  to  the  Globe  newspaper 
(December  22nd),  where  it  appeared  as  from  an  "  Eye-Witness  " 
under  the  title,  "  Solomon  Barmash's  Suicide  ": 

"  His  face  haunts  me  as  he  sat  in  the  dock  at  the  Old  Bailey 
between  the  two  other  prisoners.  He  was  paralysed  in  his  lower 


ii6  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

Private  meeting  of  the  Hospital  Sunday  Fund  at 
2,  at  the  Mansion  House. 

Attended  concert  of  the  City  of  London  Residents' 
Club  at  Cannon  Street  Hotel,  at  7,  in  aid  of  my  Fund. 

Went  afterwards  to  Bishopsgate  Ward  Club 
Dinner,  Great  Eastern  Hotel,  Mr.  Tollworthy,  C.C., 

limbs,  and  had  been  carried  into  the  dock  and  placed  in  a  chair 
by  two  warders.  On  his  right  stood  his  son,  William,  aged 
twenty-six,  on  his  left  the  other  prisoner,  Philip  Bernstein,  aged 
thii  ty-one.  They  had  all  pleaded  guilty  to  the  charge  of  forging 
Bank  of  England  notes,  aud  were  now  in  the  dock  to  receive 
sentence  from  Mr.  Justice  Darling.  Bat  before  the  sentence  was 
passed,  at  least  two  hours  were  spent  in  hearing  counsel  in  miti- 
gation, and  in  listening  to  a  long  speech  from  the  prisoner  Bern- 
stein. The  young  Barmash  had  turned  informer  after  his  arrest, 
and  it  was  in  consequence  of  the  information  he  had  given  to  the 
police  that  Bernstein  appeared  in  the  dock.  It  was  curious  to 
see  the  way  in  which  young  Barmash  watched  and  listened  to  the 
rambling  statement  made  by  the  man  whom  he  had  given  away. 

"  He  did  not  appear  to  be  at  all  moved  by  Bernstein's  words, 
but  looked  at  him  and  listened  to  him  in  a  curious,  inquisitive, 
way.  Neither  Solomon  the  lather,  nor  William,  his  son,  said 
anything.  I  wondered  why  so  much  time  was  spent  before 
sentence  was  passed  on  these  men;  but  it  became  evident,  as 
time  went  on,  that  the  Judge  thought  one  or  other  of  the  prisoners 
might  give  information  which  would,  perhaps,  lead  to  the  dis- 
covery of  the  forged  notes,  for  notes  to  the  face  value  of  £30,000 
are  supposed  to  be  hidden  somewhere. 

"  During  these  long  two  hours  or  more  Solomon  Barmash  sat 
in  his  chair  listening  and  looking.  He  had  given  his  age  as 
forty-six.  He  looked  much  older,  as  well  he  might.  He  had  a 
strong  look  in  his  face,  a  weather-beaten  look.  His  forehead  was 
good,  it  was  deeply  furrowed;  he  seemed  to  follow  everything 
that  was  said  or  done ;  to  keep  a  watchful  eye  on  the  Judge  and 
jury;  and  to  pay  deep  attention  to  everything  the  Judge  said. 
And  when  the  sentences  were  passed,  he  still  had  the  same  atten- 
tive look  on  his  face.  First  his  son  was  sentenced  to  ten  years' 
penal  servitude.  He  was  told  that  he  was  receiving  a  more 
lenient  sentence  than  he  deserved  because  he  had  given  information 


TO  EASTBOURNE  117 

presiding;  and  then  to  the  Fulham  Football  dinner 
at  the  Holborn  Restaurant. 

Tuesday,  19th  March. — Central  Criminal  Court  at 
10.30,  to  receive  Lord  Alverstone,  the  Lord  Chief 
Justice,  who  made  a  short  speech,  in  which  he  con- 
gratulated the  Corporation  on  the  New  Courts. 

Went  to  Eastbourne  to  attend  a  West ,  Country 

which  had  enabled  the  police  to  lay  hands  upon  other  criminals. 
He  was  reminded  of  the  fact  that  he  and  his  father  were  both 
sentenced  for  the  same  crime  in  this  court  some  years  ago,  he 
(then  only  sixteen  years  of  age)  to  twelve  months'  imprisonment 
and  his  father  to  ten  years'  penal  servitude.  Then  Solomon,  his 
father,  received  his  doom — fifteen  years'  penal  servitude,  the 
Judge  reminding  him  that  he  was  a  forger  by  profession,  that  he 
had  educated  his  son  to  be  a  forger,  and  that  it  was  owing  to  him 
that  the  son  was  what  he  was. 

"  As  each  prisoner  received  his  sentence  he  left  the  dock,  the 
younger  Barmash  walking  away  before  the  father  was  sentenced, 
down  the  stairs  to  the  cells.  Two  warders  stepped  forward 
directly  the  sentence  was  pronounced  upon  Solomon,  and  lifted 
him  from  the  chair  upon  which  he  was  seated.  He  placed  one 
arm  round  the  neck  of  each  warder,  and  so  was  carried  below. 
Bernstein  was  sentenced  to  twenty  years'  penal  servitude,  with 
an  intimation  that  if  he  gave  any  useful  information  to  the  police 
his  sentence  would  probably  be  reduced. 

"The  Court  having  adjourned  at  i  o'clock,  reopened  at  2, 
when  three  other  prisoners  were  placed  in  the  dock,  charged  with 
being  concerned  in  the  same  forgeries,  and  were  found  guilty. 
It  was  while  this  case  was  proceeding,  at  about  4  o'clock, 
that  I  saw  someone  whisper  to  Mr.  Mathews,  the  King's  Counsel, 
and  heard  him  in  reply  say  '  Killed  ? '  I  thought  he  had  received 
information  that  the  informer,  Schmidt,  was  murdered,  but  I 
soon  learned  that  he  was  being  told  of  the  suicide  of  Solomon 
Barmash.  Prisoner  had  in  some  mysterious  way  got  possession 
of  a  revolver ;  whether  he  had  it  when  he  was  in  court,  or  whether 
he  had  it  passed  to  him  after  he  was  sentenced,  is  not  known. 
I  believe  it  was  loaded  in  six  chambers.  He  had  placed  the  barrel 
to  his  right  temple  and  pulled  the  trigger,  killing  himself  almost 
at  once."— W.  P.  T. 


u  8  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

dinner  there  to  be  held  at  the  Grand  Hotel.  Mr. 
Sheriff  Dunn  accompanied  me;  the  Mayor,  Mr.  Keay, 
Dr.  James  Adams,  and  other  gentlemen,  met  us  at 
the  railway-station.  At  the  dinner,  which  was  a 
great  success,  the  Mayor  of  Bexhill  was  present.  A 
pleasant  evening,  and  a  cheque  for  £i  50  for  my  Fund. 

Mr.  Harvey  Du  Cros  put  us  up,  and  he  and  Mrs. 
Du  Cros  helped  to  make  our  visit  to  Eastbourne 
very  enjoyable. 

Wednesday,  20th  March.  —  Colonel  Vyvyan  to 
luncheon  at  Mansion  House  at  i . 

Presided  at  a  meeting  of  the  International  Congress 
of  School  Hygiene  at  3. 

Sir  Lauder  Brunton  gave  an  address  on  the  subject 
of  School  Hygiene,  in  the  course  of  which  he  said 
it  owed  its  origin  to  the  energy  and  public  spirit  of 
Professor  Griesbach  of  Mulhausen,  and  its  first 
gathering  took  place  in  Nuremberg  in  April,  1904. 

Dr.  Macnamara  said  that  on  an  examination  of 
245  boys  and  girls  in  a  Board  School  in  South  London, 
only  three  had  absolutely  sound  teeth,  and  only  three 
had  ever  used  a  toothbrush. 

The  Mayoresses  of  London  attended  a  meeting  at 
the  Mansion  House  at  5. 

Thursday,  21st  March. — Received  Lord  Avebury, 
Sir  J.  Gorst,  and  others,  at  1 1. 

Court  of  Common  Council,  Guildhall,  at  i. 

Sir  Benjamin  Stone  was  to  be  at  Guildhall  at 
12.30,  and  I  went  there,  as  he  wished  to  take  some 
photographs,  in  which  I  was  to  be  included. 

Dined  with  the  School  of  Music  Committee  at 
Cordwainers'  Hall,  Mr.  Paul  Alliston,  Chairman, 
presiding.  A  testimonial  was  presented  to  the  late 
Chairman,  Mr.  James  Roll. 


FIRST  VISIT  TO  ALTON  119 

Attended-  the  opening  of  the  University  Hotel, 
Endsleigh  Gardens,  9.30. 

Friday,  22nd  March. — Went  to  Alton  by  motor- 
car. My  first  visit.  A  memorable  occasion.  My 
friend  Mr.  J.  Hall  Richardson,  of  the  Daily  Telegraph, 
had  told  me  that  there  had  been  erected  at  Alton,  on 
seventy  acres  of  sloping  grassland,  bungalows  to  serve 
as  a  hospital  for  soldiers  wounded  in  the  South 
African  War.  With  the  passing  of  time,  the  need  and 
usefulness  of  these  buildings  had  ceased  and  they 
were  resting  empty  and  tending  to  decay.  Here  was 
an  opportunity.  With  the  kind  help  of  Lord  North- 
cliffe,  by  whose  generous  efforts  in  1903  this  soldiers' 
hospital  had  been  started,  and  with  the  most  efficient 
and  kindly  assistance  of  Lord  Haldane,  then  Minister 
of  State  for  War,  those  buildings  and  the  freehold 
land  on  which  they  were  erected  became  mine  by 
Act  of  Parliament. 

Dined  with  the  County  Purposes  Committee  at 
Trocadero,  Mr.  James  Lake,  Chairman,  presiding. 
A  testimonial  was  presented  to  the  late  Chairman, 
Mr.  J.  F.  Bennet. 

Went  afterwards  to  Lady  Havisham's  At  Home, 
9,  Grosvenor  Square. 

Saturday,  23rd  March. — Presided  at  distribution 
of  prizes  by  Mr.  Haldane  at  Guildhall,  at  4,  to  the 
ist  Cadet  Batt.  of  the  King's  Royal  Rifle  Corps. 

Sunday,  24th  March.  —Went  in  robes  to  Dawes 
Congregational  Church,  Fulham,  at  3  o'clock,  to 
give  an  address  on  Pleasant  Sunday  Afternoons  to 
assist  the  Mayor,  Mr.  J.  M.  Littleboy,  in  his  efforts 
for  my  Cripples'  Fund. 

Monday,  25th  March. — Dined  with  the  Billingsgate 
and  Leadenhall  Markets  Committee  at  the  Imperial 

10 


I2O 

Restaurant,  Regent  Street,  Mr.  Marcus  R.  Sewill, 
C.C.,  presiding,  when  a  testimonial  was  presented  to 
Mr.  J.  Rowland  Brough,  the  late  Chairman. 

Tuesday,  26th  March.  —  Mr.  Henry  Neville,  Mr. 
Harry  Nicholls,  and  others,  to  lunch. 

Dined  with  the  Cattle  Markets  Committee  at 
De  Keyser's  Hotel,  Mr.  W.  Mann  Cross,  the  Chairman, 
presiding,  when  a  testimonial  was  presented  to  Mr. 
A.  L.  Bower,  the  late  Chairman. 

Wednesday,  27th  March.  —  Mr.  William  Crooks, 
M.P.,  and  Mrs.  Crooks,  Mr.  Tree  and  Mrs.  Ford  of 
St.  Leonard's,  Mr.  William  Rome  and  daughter,  with 
others,  to  luncheon. 

Went  with  the  Lady  Mayoress  to  an  exhibition  of 
work  done  by  cripples  at  De  Keyser's  Hotel,  3. 

Dined  with  the  Finance  and  Improvements  Com- 
mittee in  the  old  Council  Chamber  at  Guildhall,  the 
Chairman,  Mr.  Walter  Dennis,  presiding,  when  a 
testimonial  was  presented  to  the  late  Chairman,  Sir 
George  Woodman. 

Saturday,  30th  March.  —  A  party  of  about  thirty 
Good  iemplars  were  shown  over  the  Mansion 
House. 

Monday,  1st  April.  —  A  party  from  York  visited 
the  Mansion  house;  tea  at  5. 

Wednesday,  3rd  April.  —  Meeting  of  the  Court  of 
Governors  of  Christ's  Hospital  at  12. 

Friday,  5th  April. — Opened  the  Building  Trades 
Exhibition  at  Olympia  at  12.  Luncheon  there  at  i. 
Mr.  Aston  Webb  proposed  my  health.  Mr.  Frampton, 
R.A.,and  Mr.  Leonard  Stokes  were  present. 

Dined  with  the  Worshipful  Company  of  Turners 
at  Leathersellers'  Hall,  Mr.  Edward  Terry,  J.P.,  the 
Upper  vVarden,  presiding. 


fr  BEERBOHM  r^^g 


ON  THE  OCCASION  OF  HIS  FORTHCOMING  VISITTO 
BERLIN, 

HOTEL  CECIL.          SUNDAY  APRIL  7.  1907. 


122  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

Sunday,  7th  April. — Attended  St.  Dunstan's  Church, 
Stepney,  offertory  for  my  Fund. 

Presided  at  a  "  send  off  "  dinner  to  Mr.  Beerbohm 
Tree  at  Hotel  Cecil  previous  to  his  departure  for 
Berlin ;  many  Germans  as  well  as  Englishmen  present. 

Mr.  Ludwig  Hollhausen  said  to  Tree:  "  You  go 
to  Berlin,  sir,  at  the  invitation  of  an  Emperor  who 
has  the  soul  of  an  artist  and  the  heart  of  a  soldier." 
During  the  evening  I  sent  the  following  telegram  to 
the  Kaiser:  "  English  and  German  friends  and 
disciples  of  art,  assembled,  in  the  name  of  Shake- 
speare, with  Mr.  Tree  on  the  eve  of  his  leaving  for 
Germany,  beg  to  present  to  your  Majesty,  the  great 
protector  of  art,  our  respectful  greetings." 

Monday,  8th  April. — Dined  with  the  Library  Com- 
mittee in  the  Guildhall  Art  Gallery,  Mr.  Deputy 
Ellis,  the  Chairman,  presiding. 

A  very  good  loan  collection  of  Danish  pictures  has 
been  arranged  in  the  Galleries,  and  the  Danish 
Minister,  M.  de  Bille,  made  an  excellent  speech  in 
English.  A  testimonial  was  presented  to  the  late 
Chairman,  Mr.  C.  F.  Corbould-Ellis.  Mr.  Bram 
Stoker  responded  for  the  visitors. 

Attended  a  Bohemian  Concert  in  aid  of  my  Cripples' 
Fund  at  Cannon  Street  Hotel. 

Tuesday,  9th  April. — Presided  at  a  Committee  of 
the  whole  Court  at  12.30. 

Presided  at  a  Court  of  Aldermen  at  i ,  when  I 
nominated  Mr.  C.  C.  Wakefield,  C.C.,  and  Mr.  T.  B. 
Baptie  as  candidates  for  the  office  of  Sheriff,  the 
election  for  which  takes  place  on  the  24th  of  June  next. 

I  had  a  large  party  to  luncheon  at  the  Mansion 
House,  and  afterwards  opened  at  Guildhall  the 
Exhibition  of  Danish  pictures. 


THE  SPITAL  SERMON  123 

Presided  at  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  re  the 
Dwellings  of  the  Poor  at  the  Mansion  House  at  5. 

Dined  with  the  Worshipful  Company  of  Black- 
smiths at  De  Keyser's  Hotel,  the  Master,  Mr.  Alfred 
Barrow,  presiding. 

Attended  afterwards  a  dance  given  by  the  Mayor 
of  Paddington,  Mr.  Herbert  Liddiard,  at  Paddington 
Baths,  Queen's  Road,  in  aid  of  my  Fund. 

Attended  Kensington  College  in  the  same  neigh- 
bourhood, and  received  a  gift  from  the  pupils  for 
my  Fund. 

Wednesday,  10th  April. — Attended  in  state,  Christ 
Church,  Newgate  Street,  to  hear  the  Spital  sermon 
by  the  Bishop  of  Southwark.  A  special  prayer  was 
offered  for  the  Lord  Mayor  and  the  Court  of  Alder- 
men. I  think  there  is  no  one  that  requires  to 
be  prayed  for  more  than  a  Lord  Mayor,  and  I 
much  question  if  once  a  year  is  enough;  but  it  has 
been  going  on  for  some  years,  and  may  have  done 
some  good,  although  I  have  not  discerned  it. 

Presided  at  the  Easter  banquet  at  the  Mansion 
House,  a  very  large  and  influential  gathering.  305 
guests. 

Thursday,  llth  April.  —  Presided  at  a  Court  of 
Common  Council  at  Guildhall  at  i . 

Dined  with  the  Worshipful  Company  of  Wheel- 
wrights at  De  Keyser's  Hotel,  the  Master,  Mr.  G.  E. 
Cockram,  presiding.  Dr.  Sheriff  Crosby  and  Mr. 
Sheriff  Dunn  and  a  large  number  of  guests  were 
present. 

Friday,  12th  April.  —  Presided  at  a  meeting  at 
Guildhall  at  3  of  the  Hospital  Sunday  Fund  Council. 

Dined  with  the  Honble.  Artillery  Company  at  the 
Barracks  in  Bunhill  Fields. 


i24  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

Afterwards  went  to  a  reception  by  the  Mayor  of 
Stoke  Newington,  Mr.  William  B.  Trick,  at  the 
Highbury  Athenaeum. 

Saturday,  13th  April. — Presided  at  a  dinner  given 
in  honour  of  Brother  J.  Fraser,  Grand  Treasurer,  of 
Freemasons,  at  Hotel  Cecil. 

Monday,  15th  April. — Presided  at  Jamaica  Earth- 
quake Committee,  Mansion  House,  at  12. 

Went  to  Guildhall  to  a  rehearsal  of  the  reception 
of  the  Colonial  Premiers,  2.30. 

John  Kirk  Testimonial  Committee  at  Mansion 
House  at  4. 

Dined  with  the  Worshipful  Company  of  Frame- 
work Knitters  at  Saddlers'  Hall,  the  Master,  Mr. 
Deputy  Baddeley,  presiding.  An  announcement  was 
made  that  the  Company  will  dispose  of  the  present 
almshouses  in  Kingsland,  and  build  others  at  Leicester. 

The  Master  handed  me  two  cheques  for  my  Fund, 
one  from  the  Company,  the  other  from  himself. 

Afterwards  went  to  Countess  Beauchamp's  At 
Home  at  13,  Belgrave  Square. 

Tuesday,  16th  April.  —  Reception  at  Guildhall,  at 
12,  of  the  Colonial  Premiers,  and  presentation  of  the 
Freedom  to  them.  They  were  the  Rt.  Hon.  Sir 
Wilfred  Laurier,  the  Hon.  A.  Deakin,  the  Hon.  Sir 
Joseph  Ward,  the  Hon.  Dr.  L.  S.  Jameson,  the  Hon. 
F.  R.  Moor,  General  the  Hon.  Louis  Botha,  the 
Prime  Ministers  respectively  of  Canada,  Australia, 
New  Zealand,  Cape  Colony,  Natal,  and  the  Transvaal. 
The  declaration  they  all  made  and  signed  was  "  that 
they  were  men  of  good  name  and  fame,  that  they 
do  not  desire  the  Freedom  of  the  City  whereby  to 
defraud  the  King  or  this  City  of  any  of  their  rights, 
customs,  or  advantages;  but  that  they  would  pay 
their  scot  and  bear  their  lot." 


COLONIAL   PREMIERS   AT    GUILDHALL,    APRIL    l6,  1 907  :    GENERAL   BOTHA 

AND    DR.    JAMESON    INTRODUCED    TO    THE    ALDERMEN. 

From  the  drawing  by  Ernest  Prater. 

To  face  p.  124 


PREMIERS  AT  GUILDHALL  125 

I   do  not  think  the  City  ever  had  quite  such  a 
scene  as  this  function  provided.     The  Prime  Minister 
and  all  the  great  officers  of  State  and  Church  were 
present ;  and  it  added  to  the  romance  of  the  occasion 
to   see    Field-Marshal    Earl    Roberts    chatting   with 
General  Louis  Botha  and  Dr.  Jameson,  presently  to 
be  joined   by  the   hero   of  Ladysmith,   Sir  George 
White.     Then  to  see  the  six  gold  boxes,  all  alike  in 
shape  and  size,  with  different  ornamental  medallions. 
Mr.  Winston  Churchill  was  present,  he  who  shortly 
afterwards  spoke  of  "  the  good  stout  door  of  British 
oak,"  which  was  not   only  "  banged  "  against   an 
Imperial  understanding,  but  "  barred  and  bolted." 
After  the  presentations   and  addresses   and   replies 
had  been  got  over,  we  sat  down  to  luncheon  in  the 
Great  Hall,  and  there  we  had  a  lot  more  talking, 
and  very  good  talking,  and  so  made  a  finish.     Later 
on,   the   Chairman   of  the   Committee,   Mr.    Ernest 
Lamb,  having  the  good-fortune  to  be  a  Member  of 
Parliament  of  the  "  right  "  colour,  received  from  a 
grateful   Government   the   honour   of  a   C.M.G.   in 
acknowledgment  of  all  that  had  been  done  by  the 
Corporation  on  this  occasion. 

At  3.30   I   presided  at  the  Mansion  House  at  a 
meeting  of  the  Fresh  Air  Fund. 

Dined  with  the  Worshipful  Company  of  Horners 
at  Grocers'  Hall,  the  Master,  Mr.  H.  S.  Foster,  pre- 
siding, who  gave  me  a  very  nice  cheque  for  my  Fund. 
Afterwards   attended   a   reception   of   the    Japan 
Society  at  the  Institute  of  Painters  in  Water  Colours. 
Wednesday,  17th  April. — Attended  a  meeting  in  the 
Egyptian    Hall    of   the    United    Kingdom    Railway 
Temperance  Union,  6. 

Attended  evening  service  at  7,  at  St.  Sepulchre's 
Church,  Holborn. 


126  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

Went  afterwards  to  the  Hotel  Cecil  to  the  dinner 
of  the  Association  of  Municipal  Corporations. 

Thursday,  18th  April. — Presided  at  Guildhall  at  the 
meeting  of  the  Association  of  Municipal  Corporations ; 
many  provincial  and  country  mayors  present. 

Received  the  members  afterwards  to  lunch  at  the 
Mansion  House.  229  guests. 

Attended  a  performance  in  aid  of  my  Fund  at  the 
Paragon  Theatre,  Mile  End  Road,  organised  by  Mr. 
H.  H.  Wells,  C.C. 

Dined  with  the  Society  of  Architects  at  De  Keyser's 
Hotel,  Mr.  Pridmore  presiding. 

Attended  the  Police  Orphanage  Ball  at  Cannon 
Street  Hotel  at  10. 

Attended  a  dance  at  Cable  Street,  St.  George 's-in- 
the-East,  in  aid  of  my  Fund. 

Friday,  19th  April.  —  Presided  at  a  Committee  of 
the  whole  Court. 

Lunched  with  the  Imperial  Industries  Club,  De 
Keyser's  Hotel,  Sir  G.  Hayter  Chubb,  Bart.,  presiding. 

Dined  with  the  Worshipful  Company  of  Cutlers, 
the  Master,  Mr.  C.  J.  Scott,  presiding. 

Went  afterwards  to  a  monster  whist  drive,  in  aid 
of  my  Fund  at  the  New  Town  Hall,  Hackney,  the 
Mayor,  Dr.  Frederick  M.  Miller,  presiding. 

Saturday,  20th  April. — Laid  the  foundation-stone 
of  the  new  St.  James's  Hall,  Great  Portland  Street, 
at  12. 

A  party  from  Hornsey  visited  the  Mansion  House 

at  3. 

Annual  meeting  of  the  Hospital  Saturday  Fund. 
Lady  Mayoress  presented  medals. 

Attended  the  39th  Annual  Dinner  of  French 
Hospital  at  Hotel  Cecil,  M.  Cambon,  the  French 
Ambassador,  presiding. 


ROYAL  SIGNATURES   FROM* MY  AUTOGRAPH   BOOK. 


128  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

Sunday,  21st  April. — Attended  in  state  a  service 
at  the  Hampstead  Synagogue,  West  End  Lane,  at 
3.30,  in  aid  of  my  Fund. 

Monday,  22nd  April.  —  Opened  the  Sessions  at 
Central  Criminal  Court  at  10.  (Justices  Jelf  and 
Bray;  91  prisoners.) 

The  German  Consul-General,  with  Mr.  D.  Malcolm 
Scott,  and  others,  to  lunch  at  1.30. 

Attended  in  state  the  annual  meeting  of  the 
Working  Lads'  Institute,  279,  Whitechapel  Road, 
3  o'clock,  when  the  Lady  Mayoress  distributed  prizes. 

Conversazione  to  the  London  Shakespeare  League, 
who  gave  Morris  dances,  folk-songs,  and  games,  at 
the  Mansion  House  at  8.30.  750  guests. 

Tuesday,  23rd  April. — Received  the  Recorder,  Sir 
Forrest  Fulton,  K.C.,at  10.30  at  the  Central  Criminal 
Court. 

Attended  the  Empire  Education  Committee  Meeting 
at  Guildhall,  12. 

Attended  a  concert  given  at  the  Mansion  House 
in  aid  of  my  Fund  by  the  Musicians'  Company,  5. 

Dined  at  Sion  College. 

Wednesday,  24th  April, — Presided  at  a  meeting  at 
Swiss  Cottage,  London  Society  for  Teaching  the 
Blind,  at  3.  The  Lady  Mayoress  distributed  prizes. 

Attended  Grand  Lodge,  Freemasons'  Hall,  at  4.30. 

Dined  with  the  Worshipful  Company  of  Saddlers,  the 
Prime  Warden,  Mr.  Archibald  McDougall,  presiding. 

Thursday,  25th  April. — Committee  of  the  whole 
Court,  12. 

Court  of  Common  Council  at  i . 

Dined  at  the  fifth  annual  dinner  of  the  Mayors' 
and  Ex-Mayors'  Association  at  Prince's  Restaurant. 
Major-General  Lord  Cheylesmore,  President  of  the 
Association,  occupied  the  chair.  The  Sheriffs  were 


EAST  ANGLIANS  129 

present.  The  Duke  of  Fife,  Lord-Lieutenant  of  the 
County  of  London,  responded  to  the  toast  of  his 
health,  which  was  proposed  by  Mr.  G.  W.  Tallents, 
Mayor  of  Westminster. 

Friday,  26th  April. — Entertained  to  luncheon  the 
Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  the  Bishop  of  London, 
the  Archbishop  of  the  West  Indies  and  Miss  Nuttall, 
Mr.  Olivier,  and  Mr.  Pearce,  1.30. 

Presided  at  meeting  of  the  Jamaica  Churches 
Earthquake  Committee  at  3,  Egyptian  Hall. 

Presided  in  state  at  the  annual  ladies'  dinner  of 
the  Whitefriars '  .Club .  The  Lady  Mayoress,  with  both 
the  Sheriffs  and  their  daughters,  accompanied  me. 

Saturday,  27th  April. — Presided  in  state  at  Guild- 
hall at  a  Cripples'  Conference,  called  by  the  Guild 
of  the  Brave  Poor  Things,  10.30. 

Received  about  400  members,  and  others,  to  tea 
at  Mansion  House,  4. 

Dined  with  the  London  Society  of  East  Anglians 
at  the  Hotel  Cecil.  The  Lady  Mayoress  and  the 
Sheriffs  with  their  daughters  were  present.  Mr. 
Robert  Pearce,  M.P.,  presided;  and  speeches  were 
made  by  Mr.  Louis  N.  Parker,  Colonel  F.  A.  Lucas, 
and  others.  There  were  several  East  Anglian  mayors 
present. 

Monday,  29th  April.  —  Meeting  of  the  Empire 
Education  Mansion  House  Trustees  at  1 2 ;  they  after- 
wards lunched  with  me. 

Festival  of  the  Sons  of  the  Clergy  at  St.  Paul's  at  3. 
Dinner  at  Merchant  Taylors'  Hall  in  the  evening, 
when  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury  presided  at  the 
253rd  anniversary.  I  read  once  of  a  certain  Arch- 
bishop of  Canterbury  who  told  a  Lord  Mayor  to 
mind  his  own  business.  A  Lord  Mayor  cannot  do 
so.  I  have  not  attended  to  mine  since  I  became 


130  A 

Lord  Mayor,  and  I  am  glad  to  say  that  the  business 
is  all  the  better  for  it. 

Tuesday,  30th  April.  —  Presided  at  the  Mansion 
House  at  a  meeting  for  the  Strangers'  Home  for 
Asiatics  at  3. 

Dined  with  the  Worshipful  Company  of  Iron- 
mongers at  their  hall,  the  Master,  Mr.  B.  P.  Stedall, 
presiding. 

Wednesday,  1st  May.  —  Received  Sir  R.  Bond  at 
Guildhall  in  the  Aldermen's  Court  Room,  11.30.  I 
attended  in  state  for  the  purpose  of  formally  pre- 
senting the  Premier  of  Newfoundland  with  the 
Freedom  of  the  City  in  a  gold  casket.  The  ceremony 
was  of  a  private  character,  and  Sir  R.  Bond  made  a 
short  speech  in  reply  to  the  resolution  read  by  the 
City  Remembrancer.  He  was  the  seventh  Colonial 
Premier  who  received  the  Freedom  during  my 
mayoralty. 

I  attended  at  12.30  with  Sheriff  Dunn,  at  the 
Swan  Street  Schools  in  the  Minories,  to  hoist  the 
Union  Jack  amid  the  cheers  of  a  thousand  school 
children.  All  the  children  saluted  the  flag. 

I  think  such  doings  are  good  for  inculcating 
patriotism.  I  remember  once  in  New  York  I  was 
taken  to  some  schools  in  the  Italian  quarter,  and 
there  saw  a  lot  of  children  of  Italians  who  had  just 
come  to  America  to  live,  and  I  saw  hundreds  of  the 
Italian  children  being  taught  to  sing  Yankee  Doodle, 
and  to  salute  the  Stars  and  Stripes.  We  do  not 
sufficiently  realise  in  England  the  necessity  of  teach- 
ing our  children  to  be  patriotic  in  their  early  days. 

Attended  the  dinner  of  the  French  Chamber  of 
Commerce  at  Prince's  Hall,  Piccadilly.  The  French 
Ambassador  presided,  and  there  were  present  the 
Duke  of  Argyll,  the  Earl  of  Derby,  and  many  others. 


ROYAL  ACADEMY  BANQUET     131 

From  this  dinner  I  went  to  the  Battersea  Town 
Hall  in  state,  to  a  May-day  Fancy  Dress  Ball  in  aid 
of  my  Fund,  arranged  by  the  Mayor  and  Mayoress 
of  Battersea,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  Henry  Brown. 

Afterwards  attended  the  Archbishop  of  Canter- 
bury's reception  at  Lambeth  Palace. 

Thursday,  2nd  May. — Presided,  at  12,  at  a  meeting 
of  the  Court  of  Common  Council  at  Guildhall. 

Attended  in  state  at  Shoreditch  Town  Hall  a  treat 
given  to  crippled  children  by  the  Hon.  Mrs.  C.  Tufton, 
at  6. 

Presided  at  Guildhall  at  a  display  given  by  the 
London  Diocesan  Church  Lads'  Brigade  at  8.30. 
The  Lady  Mayoress  distributed  challenge  shields  and 
prizes. 

Attended  Lady  Avebury's  At  Home  at  6,  St. 
James's  Square. 

Friday,  3rd  May.  — Presided  at  the  Mansion  House 
at  a  large  meeting  at  4.30.  It  was  held  to  form  a 
Central  Legal  Aid  Society  for  poor  people,  Sir  Charles 
Matthews  urged  that  in  all  Criminal  Courts  pro- 
fessional assistance  should  be  provided  gratuitously 
for  accused  persons  unable  to  pay  for  it. 

After  the  meeting  I  entertained  about  400  people 
to  tea  and  coffee. 

Saturday,  4th  May.  —  Opened  the  Balkan  States 
Exhibition  at  Earl's  Court  at  12,  and  afterwards 
attended  a  luncheon  there,  at  which  Mr.  Paul 
Cremieu-Javal  presided. 

In  the  evening  attended  the  Royal  Academy 
Banquet,  Sir  Edward  Poynter,  P.R.A.,  presided. 
The  Prince  of  Wales,  Prince  Christian,  Prince  Arthur 
of  Connaught,  the  Duke  of  Teck,  the  Archbishop  of 
Canterbury,  the  Lord  Chancellor,  and  others  of  dis- 
tinction, were  present.  Many  long  speeches  were 


132  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

delivered.  One  new  toast,  "  Our  Dominions  Beyond 
the  Seas,"  was  responded  to  by  Mr.  Deakin,  the 
Australian  Prime  Minister. 

Sunday,  5th  May. — Went,  at  the  invitation  of  my 
friend  Mr.  George  Briggs,  C.C.,  to  Steinway  Hall,  to 
a  service  and  sermon  of  the  Ethical  Religion  Society 
at  11.15. 

Left  Paddington  with  Sheriff  Dunn  by  the  4.30 
train  for  Plymouth.  We  arrived  at  Plymouth  at 
10  p.m.  We  went  at  once  to  the  Grand  Hotel  on 
the  Hoe. 

Monday,  6th  May. — The  Mayor,  Mr.  J.  F.  Winncot, 
entertained  us  to  breakfast  at  9,  and  about  80  guests, 
including  Mr.  C.  A.  Hanson,  High  Sheriff  of  Corn- 
wall, Admiral  Sir  Lewis  A.  Beaumont,  K.C.B.,  ' 
K.C.M.G.,  Vice-Admiral  J.  C.  Barlow,  D.S.O.,  Major- 
General  Sir  John  Leach,  K.C.V.O.,  and  many  of  the 
Aldermen  and  Councillors  and  Borough  Magistrates. 
Before  breakfast  we  had  found  time  to  walk  upon 
the  Hoe  and  look  upon  the  gates  of  the  English 
Channel,  the  playground  of  Drake,  Raleigh,  Hawkins, 
and  other  old  sea-dogs,  who  played  bowls  on  the 
Hoe  and  at  the  same  time  kept  an  eye  upon  the 
defence  of  the  country.  I  like  the  statue  of  Drake 
and  that  other  statue  there  with  the  following  in- 
scription on  its  base,  "  He  blew  with  His  wind  and 
they  were  scattered." 

At  10.30  we  left  by  special  train,  a  saloon  having 
been  kindly  placed  at  our  disposal  for  the  four  by 
the  G.W.  Railway  Company. 

At  Lostwithiel  the  Mayor,  Mr.  J.  H.  Dingle,  and 
the  members  of  the  Corporation  received  us.  The 
Town  Clerk,  Mr.  W.  Pease,  read  an  address  of  welcome. 

We  started  by  train  for  Fowey,  and  stopped  at 


VISIT  TO  CORNWALL  133 

Golant  station,  which  was  bedecked  with  flags, 
flowers,  and  palms,  the  school-children  looking  very 
pretty  and  bright  with  many-coloured  ribbons.  A 
band  of  bell-ringers  were  also  on  the  platform. 

Before  we  arrived  at  Fowey  we  put  on  our  robes, 
chains,  and  official  hats.  An  address  was  presented 
by  Mr.  F.  J.  Denison,  Chairman  of  the  Parish  Council. 
In  this  I  was  reminded  that  when,  in  1347,  King 
Edward  III.  called  for  ships  and  men  to  blockade 
Calais,  770  "  gallants  "  of  Fowey  sailed  forth  in 
47  ships,  and  that  in  the  fleet  of  700  ships  flying 
the  George  of  England,  London  sent  662  mariners 
and  26  ships. 

I  performed  the  ceremony  of  opening  the  new 
Grammar  School,  after  one  of  the  schoolboys,  named 
O.  Thomas,  had  recited  an  address  to  me  beginning, 
"  Viro  honoratissimo  Gulielmo  Treloar  Equiti  cele- 
berrimae  urbis  Londiniensis  praefecto." 

We  then  went  to  luncheon  in  a  tent.  Canon 
Purcell  presided;  and  amongst  the  200  guests  were 
the  Bishop  of  Truro,  the  Bishop  of  St.  German's, 
Mr.  Freeman  Thomas,  M.P.,  Miss  Marston,  Mr.  S.  J. 
de  C.Treffry;  the  Mayors  of  Plymouth,  Devonport, 
Bodmin,  Launceston,  Liskeard,  Penzance,  Truro, 
Lostwithiel,  Falmouth,  and  Penryn;  and  Mr.  A.  T. 
Quiller-Couch.  Letters  of  regret  were  read  from 
Lord  Mount  Edgcumbe  and  Lord  Courtney  of  Pen- 
with.  Many  speeches  were  made ;  and  after  luncheon 
we  went  to  the  school,  where  I  distributed  prizes. 

We  stayed  that  night  with  Mr.  Hanson,  the  High 
Sheriff,  at  Fowey  Hall,  where  he  gave  a  dinner-party 
and  reception  in  our  honour. 

Tuesday,  7th  May.  —  At  Helston  the  Mayor  (Mr. 
Henry  Toy)  received  us,  and  with  him  were  Sir 


134  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

Arthur  Pendarves  Vivian,  and  many  others.  The 
town  was  quite  en  fete,  and  very  full ;  they  say  never 
had  so  many  people  been  seen  in  Helston  before. 

We  were  entertained  at  a  banquet  at  the  Angel 
Hotel,  and  had  the  advantage  of  being  able  to  say, 
"  Where  we  dines  we  sleeps." 

Wednesday,  8th  May.  —  This  is  the  day  of  the 
"  Flora,"  or  "  Furry"  dance,  and  I  was  wakened 
before  six  o'clock  by  music  and  dancing  in  the  street. 
The  music  was  noisy.  I  looked  out  and  saw  several 
couples  hard  at  work  dancing.  It  seems  the  early 
morning  is  devoted  to  the  working  people,  who  do 
not  go  in  and  out  of  other  people's  houses  and  gardens, 
as  the  aristocracy  do  later  on. 

The  excursion  trains  brought  thousands  of  people 
into  Helston,  and  by  10  o'clock  the  main  thorough- 
fares were  crowded.  Outside  the  Angel  Hotel  the 
people  were  packed  from  one  side  of  the  road  to  the 
other.  I  had  with  me  in  Helston  the  City  Marshal, 
the  Sword-Bearer  (Major  Ker-Fox),  and  the  Mace- 
Bearer  (Colonel  Kearns),  and  we  made  a  great  show 
going  out  of  the  old-fashioned  Angel — first  the  foot- 
men, in  full  state  liveries ;  then  the  officers  mentioned 
above;  then  Sheriff  Dunn,  in  his  robes  and  chain  of 
office;  then  several  Cornish  Mayors,  in  robes  and 
chains;  and  then  the  Lord  Mayor,  in  black  and  gold 
robe,  and  matinee  hat.  So  we  marched  through  the 
dear  old  town  to  the  Guildhall.  There  a  very 
pleasant  ceremony  took  place.  The  Freedom  of  the 
Borough  of  Helston  was  presented  to  me  in  a  box 
or  casket  made  of  Cornish  tin  and  copper  on  a  plinth 
of  Cornish  granite.  I  confess  I  was  very  much 
touched,  and  felt  the  honour  greatly.  The  recollec- 
tion of  it  has  always  been  a  great  joy  to  me. 


THE  FURRY  DANCE  135 

When  these  proceedings  were  finished  we  went  in 
procession  back  to  the  Angel  to  get  rid  of  robes, 
chains,  and  state  hats,  so  that  we  might  be  able  to 
join  in  the  "  Furry  "  dance  properly  and  with  vigour. 

I  was  touched,  too,  with  many  little  acts  of  kind- 
ness; for  instance,  as  I  walked  through  the  streets, 
or  danced  along,  some  of  those  in  the  crowd  thrust 
little  sums  into  my  hand,  sixpences,  shillings,  and 
in  one  case  three  coppers,  all  for  my  Cripples'  Fund 
— no  names,  no  publicity,  just  the  little  offerings. 

The  "  Furry"  or  "  Flora"  dance  of  Helstonisof  very 
ancient  origin,  so  ancient  that  no  one  can  say  any- 
thing decided  about  it;  all  we  know  is,  that  it  has 
been  going  on  for  centuries,  and  always  takes  place 
on  the  8th  of  May.  Although  fun  and  frolic  is  the 
order  of  the  day,  still  there  is  a  certain  amount  of 
dignity  about  the  proceedings;  the  fun  begins  very 
soon  after  dawn,  when  a  melody  of  trumpets  rouses 
every  one.  The  servant  girls  and  their  sweethearts 
are  the  first  performers;  they  danced,  and  danced, 
and  the  drums  and  trumpets  sounded.  There  is  no 
sleeping  in  Helston  on  "  Furry  Day  "  after  4  a.m. 

We  assembled  in  the  old  Guildhall  to  choose  our 
partners,  or  to  take  those  selected  for  us  by  the 
Committee.  Mrs.  H.  M.  Rogers  fell  to  my  share, 
and  then  off  we  went,  dancing  through  Helston 
Highway,  in  and  out  of  the  houses,  until  I,  for  one 
was  tired  out,  and  my  partner  cheered  me  on  to 
further  achievements  by  saying,  "  Oh,  you  poor 
thing  !" 

Before  we  left  Helston  we  took  tea  with  the 
Mayoress,  Mrs.  Toy,  at  Cross  Street  House.  We  then 
motored  to  Bosham,  the  beautiful  seat  of  Sir  Arthur 
Pendarves  Vivian,  and  had  a  great  treat  in  seeing 


136  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

the  splendid  tropical  trees,  palms,  and  shrubs,  in 
the  lovely  grounds  of  that  delightful  Cornish  home. 
I  shall  never  forget  the  loving-kindness  shown  to  me 
by  Cornish  men  and  women  of  all  ranks. 

We  motored  to  the  Poldhu  Hotel,  Mullion,  where 
we  spent  the  night,  my  good  friends  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Thomas  making  us  very  comfortable. 

Thursday,  9th  May. —  In  the  morning  off  we  went 
to  St.  Keverne,  which  we  reached  about  noon.  Before 
entering  the  village,  very  gay  with  banners,  flags, 
and  mottoes,  we  were  allowed  by  Mrs.  Pascoe  to  use 
Alexandra  Villa,  where  accommodation  was  provided 
for  us  to  put  on  our  official  robes.  The  lifeboat 
crews  of  Porthouslock  and  Coverack,  wearing  their 
cork  jackets  and  picturesque  red  caps,  formed  a 
splendid  escort.  The  vicar  (the  Rev.  Canon  Diggens) 
and  Dr.  Leverton  Story,  Mr.  James  Coud  (the  Chair- 
man of  the  Parish  Council),  and  many  others,  also 
came  to  welcome  us.  In  the  village  square  many 
little  children  presented  purses  to  me,  with  money 
for  the  bells.  The  Chairman  of  the  Council  read  an 
address. 

By  this  time  a  full  congregation  had  assembled  in 
the  grand  old  parish  church.  The  Bishop  of  Truro, 
the  Vicar  (Canon  Diggens),  the  Rev.  H.  Vyvyan,  the 
Rev.  S.  Vyvyan,  the  Rev.  A.  Leakey,  and  the  Rev. 
A.  L.  Mugford,  proceeded  to  the  tower  with  me  and 
the  Sheriff,  where  the  Bishop  said:  "  By  virtue  of 
my  office  I  desire  solemnly  to  set  apart  and  dedicate 
these  bells  and  this  clock  to  the  glory  of  God,  and 
the  use  of  this  church,  separate  from  all  profane 
and  unhallowed  uses."  The  Bishop  then  said  to 
the  churchwardens:  "  You  are  to  take  notice  that 
these  bells  are  committed  to  the  custody  of  the  Vicar 


THE  FREEDOM  OF  TRURO  137 

of  this  parish,  to  be  used  only  with  his  consent, 
subject  to  the  ultimate  control  of  the  Bishop  of  the 
diocese."  Then  I  took  the  bell-rope  and  said:  "  In 
response  to  the  request  of  the  Vicar  of  this  parish, 
I  hereby  declare  this  peal  of  bells  open,  and  ready 
to  be  employed  in  the  service  of  God."  Then  the 
ringers  gave  a  short  "  change  "  peal  on  the  eight 
bells,  Canon  Kempe  (Vicar  of  Veryan),  Secretary  of 
the  Cornish  Guild  of  Ringers,  standing  in  the  centre 
of  the  band. 

The  Bishop  then  gave  us  an  address,  taking  for 
his  text,  "  Make  a  joyful  noise  unto  the  Lord  and 
King  "  (Psalm  xcviii.  4,  6). 

After  the  service  we  adjourned  to  a  spacious 
marquee  for  luncheon,  at  which  the  Rev.  Canon 
Diggens  presided.  There  was  a  very  large  attend- 
ance, including  the  Bishop  of  Truro  and  Mrs.  Stubbs, 
the  High  Sheriff  of  Cornwall  and  Mrs.  Hanson,  Mrs. 
Sandys,  Mrs.  Vyvyan,  Mrs.  Diggens,  Colonel  Vyvyan, 
Mr.  Robert  Fox  of  Falmouth,  Mr.  Davey,  the 
Mayors  of  Falmouth  and  Penzance  (Mr.  Grose  and 
Mr.  Barnett).  There  were  many  speeches. 

We  left  early  in  the  afternoon,  as  I  had  to  be  in 
the  Town  Hall  at  Truro  to  receive  the  Freedom  of 
the  City  at  5  o'clock.  Captain  Tremayne  of  Carclew 
took  us  in  his  powerful  car,  and  his  chauffeur  obeyed 
implicitly  her  owner's  oft-repeated  instructions  to 
"  let  her  go."  We  had  rather  an  exciting  journey,  the 
speed  was  great,  the  lanes  were  curly,  and  I  was  very 
thankful  when  we  slowed  down  in  the  city  of  Truro. 

Punctually  at  5  I  was  escorted  to  the  Town  Hall, 
from  the  Red  Lion  over  the  way,  by  the.  Mayor 
(Mr.  W.  F.  Clarke)  and  the  Town  Clerk  (Mr.  F. 
Parkin).  Amongst  those  present  in  the  Town  Hall 


1 38  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

were  Viscountess  Falmouth,  the  Bishop  of  St.  Ger- 
man's, Chancellor  Wortledge,  Precentor  Corfe,  Sub- 
Dean  Hassard,  the  Mayor  of  Falmouth,  etc.,  etc. 
Speeches  were  made  by  the  Mayor,  Alderman  Bullen, 
the  Deputy  Mayor  (Mr.  J.  J.  Smith).  The  scroll 
was  enclosed  in  a  silver  casket  with  finely  carved 
and  hammered  ornamentation ;  it  bears  the  following 
inscription : 

"  Presented  to  the  Rt.  Hon.  Sir  William  P. 
Treloar,  Lord  Mayor  of  London,  1906-7,  on  his 
being  admitted  an  honorary  freeman  of  the 
City." 

The  Mayor  handed  a  purse  of  thirty  guineas  for 
my  Fund.  We  then  (still  robed)  paid  a  visit  to  the 
Cathedral,  and  Chancellor  W^ortledge  showed  us 
over  it. 

In  the  evening  we  were  entertained  at  a  banquet, 
the  Mayor  presiding.  Viscount  Falmouth,  Mr. 
Richard  Glanville,  the  High  Sheriff,  Canon  Hassard, 
the  Mayor  of  Falmouth,  and  many  others  were 
present.  We  were  to  go  to  London  by  the  10  o'clock 
train,  in  which  I  had  a  sleeping  compartment.  The 
crowd  in  the  streets  was  very  great,  we  had  almost 
to  fight  our  way  into  the  station.  I  received  the 
following  telegram  from  the  Prince  of  Wales  before 
leaving  Truro : 

"  The  Prince  of  Wales  desires  to  thank  the  Lord 
Mayor  of  London  for  kind  message  sent  on  behalf 
of  the  High  Sheriff  of  Cornwall,  the  Sheriff  of  London, 
and  to  offer  the  Lord  Mayor  his  hearty  congratula- 
tions on  being  admitted  to  the  Freedom  of  the  City 
of  Truro." 


CARMEN  HELLESTONIENSE  139 

There  were  some  very  interesting  and  amusing 
poems  published  during  my  visit  to  the  Duchy,  as, 
for  instance,  the  following : 

"  Veni,  Vidi,  Vici,  Aye, 
Of  Cornish  arts  galore. 
God  bless  'ee,  and  we  wish  'ee  well, 
Sir  W.  P.  Treloar. 

Bless  your  good-humoured  Sheriff  too, 
Butt  of  your  harmless  fun; 
Whatever  he  may  have  to  do 
Is  bound  to  be  "  Well  Dunn." 

Or  this,  written  by  "  Q  ": 

CARMEN  HELLESTONIENSE 
ANNI  MCMVII.  IN  FLORALIA  COMPOSITUM. 

"  Confitemini,  o  molles 
Agni  humilesque  colles 
Hodie  cur  exultetis; 
Tu  praesertim  Magnum  Mare 
Facme  certiorem  quare 
Haud  dedignas  crura  dare 
Hiphoorariis  in  fretis. 

"  Venit  annus  venit  mensis 
Cum  Praefectus  Londiniensis 
Redit  in  paterna  rura; 
Quern  advenientem  gratu- 
latur  urbs  in  commeatu 
Tympanis  et  aeris  flatu : 
Ergo  (aiunt)  damus  crura. 

"  Venit  mensis  venit  dies 
Hellestoniensis  eques 
Ruit  in  immensum  sonum 
Foris;  foras  cum  in  forum 
Praesepia  caballorum 
Ducimus  antiquum  chorum. 
O  qua  musica  trombonum  ! 


140  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

"  Venit  dies  venit  hora 
Venit  et  solennis  Flora, 
Mane  quae  postridie  nonas 
Maias  lucens  exoptata 
Nos  e  portis  nos  in  prata 
Margueritis  constellata 
Jubet  nectere  coronas. 

"  Ambar vales  prorsus  retro 
(Locuples  in  curru  petro- 
lensi,  Lazarus  in  pannis) 
Maiae  praedam  reportantes 
Irruamus  corybantes 
Te  nostratem  salutantes 
'  Macte  esto  tu  quotannis.' 

"  Eja  collis  cum  agello 
Cantat  '  He's  a  jolly  good  fellow  !' 
Id  quod  nemo  denegare 
Audet :  '  Mos  est  hie  (ut  malis) 
Militaris  ve  !     Navalis 
Hunc  et  studii  Generalis 
Proles  solet  celebrare.' 

"  Tuque  nostras,  Anglicanae 
Urbis  Metropolitanae 
Et  tutamcn  et  decor ; 
Terram  repetitam  unde 
Partus  es  ter  pede  tunde 
Vir  honorificabunde 
Gulielme  P.  Treloar." 

Friday,  10th  May. — I  arrived  at  the  Mansion  House 
from  Truro  in  time  for  an  early  breakfast,  and  received 
there  afterwards  the  Hon.  T.  Bent,  Prime  Minister 
of  Victoria,  at  1 1 .30. 

Visit  of  Prince  Fushimi.  It  is  seldom  that  such 
a  brilliant  scene  was  witnessed  in  the  old  Guildhall  as 
when  this  Royal  Prince  of  Japan  was  welcomed  to  the 
City  to-day.  As  a  rule,  all  these  receptions  of  royal 


PRINCE  FUSHIMI  141 

personages  take  place  in  the  Library,  and  the  old 
hall  is  the  place  for  luncheon  afterwards.  To-day 
the  ceremony  was  held  in  the  Great  Hall,  and  the 
luncheon  took  place  at  the  Mansion  House.  It  was 
a  splendid  display  at  Guildhall,  and  a  large  and  dis- 
tinguished company  attended  both  there  and  at  the 
luncheon  afterwards.  The  company  included  repre- 
sentatives of  the  Royal  Family,  of  the  Church,  the 
Government,  the  Army,  the  Navy,  and  every  depart- 
ment of  trade  and  commerce. 

I  received  the  Prince  at  the  entrance  in  company 
with  the  Sheriffs  and  Mr.  Domoney,  the  Chairman 
of  the  City  Lands,  and  his  Committee.  As  we  walked 
to  the  dais,  the  choir  of  the  Duke  of  York's  Military 
School  sang  in  Japanese  the  National  Anthem  of 
Japan.  Prince  Fushimi  wore  the  uniform  of  a  General 
of  the  Japanese  Army,  with  the  broad  red  ribbon 
of  a  Knight  Grand  Cross  of  the  Order  of  the  Bath. 
The  Prince  of  Wales  wore  an  Admiral's  uniform, 
and  the  Duke  of  Connaught  a  Field  Marshal's  uniform. 

The  Town  Clerk  read  the  resolution,  the  Recorder 
read  the  address,  and  I  presented  it.  The  Prince's 
reply  was  read  by  Count  Mutsu. 

We  all  went  over  to  the  Mansion  House  for  lun- 
cheon; there  were  no  speeches,  but  two  toasts  were 
honoured — viz.,  "  The  King  "  and  "  The  Emperor 
of  Japan . "  283  guests . 

Dined  with  the  Anglo-Saxon  Club  at  De  Keyser's 
Hotel,  Mr.  Alderman  Howse  presiding. 

Saturday,  llth  May. — Mr.  Barton  Kent,  and  others, 
to  lunch  at  1.30. 

At  4,  received  a  party  of  young  Scottish  girls  from 
Stornoway,  introduced  by  Mr.  Henry  Smith,  to 
over  the  Mansion  House  and  take  tea, 


i42  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

Dined  with  the  Newspaper  Press  Fund  at  the 
Hotel  Me"tropole,  M.  Paul  Cambon,  the  French 
Ambassador,  presiding.  There  was  a  distinguished 
company,  and  £1,600  for  the  Fund  was  the  result. 

Monday,  13th  May.  —  Presided  at  the  Mansion 
House  at  the  meeting  of  the  British  and  Foreign 
Sailors'  Society,  at  3. 

Attended  a  meeting  at  the  Crystal  Palace  re  my 
Fund  for  cripples,  at  5. 

Dined  with  the  Worshipful  Company  of  Glovers 
at  Leathersellers'  Hall,  the  Master,  Mr.  Gilbert 
Purvis,  presiding.  Both  Sheriffs  present. 

Tuesday,  14th  May.  —  Presided  at  a  Court  of 
Aldermen  at  i . 

Presided  at  Guildhall  at  a  meeting  of  conference 
about  the  estuary  of  the  Thames — i  .30  lunch,  and 
2.30  meeting. 

A  meeting  of  the  John  Kirk  Testimonial  Com- 
mittee, Mansion  House,  at  4. 

A  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  the  Dwellings  of 
the  Poor  at  Mansion  House  at  5. 

Dined,  accompanied  by  the  Lady  Mayoress,  with 
the  Association  of  Foreign  Consuls  at  the  Criterion 
Restaurant. 

Attended  the  reception  of  the  Japanese  Ambas- 
sador to  meet  Prince  Fushimi,  Hyde  Park  Hotel, 
10  to  ii. 

Wednesday,  15th  May. — To  the  Foreign  Office  at  12. 

Presided  at  Joint  Committee  of  the  Hospital 
Sunday  Fund  at  the  Mansion  House  at  3. 

Received  a  deputation  from  Berlin  at  Mansion 
House  at  4. 

Dined  with  the  Worshipful  Company  of  Girdlers  at 
;heir  hall,  the  Master,  Mr.  Henry  Hicks,  C.C.. presiding. 


9Cf**H 

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ALL-HIGHEST 


144  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

Afterwards  went  to  the  Goldsmiths'  ball. 

Thursday,  16th  May.  —  Presided  at  a  Court  of 
Common  Council  at  i . 

Attended  a  meeting  of  the  City  Association  for 
Organising  Charities  at  3. 

St.  Mary's  Lodge  of  Freemasons,  of  which  I  am 
Worshipful  Master,  held  a  Lodge  meeting  at  the 
Mansion  House,  and  afterwards  the  Brethren  dined 
with  me.  The  Most  Worshipful  the  Grand  Master 
the  Duke  of  Connaught  attended,  and  after  dinner 
proposed  my  health. 

Monday,  20th  May. — Opened  a  Currants  Cookery 
Exhibition  at  Holborn  Town  Hall,  3.30. 

Wednesday,  22nd  May.  —  Dined  at  Leathersellers' 
Hall  at  a  dinner  given  to  the  French  leather  trade, 
the  Master  of  the  Company,  Mr.  Stanley  G.  Lutwyche, 
presiding. 

Thursday,  23rd  May. — Presided  at  the  Distribution 
Committee  of  the  Hospital  Sunday  Fund  at  3. 

Attended  in  state,  with  the  Sheriffs  and  the  Lady 
Mayoress,  the  ceremony  of  opening  the  new  out- 
patients' department  of  the  Evelina  Hospital  for 
Sick  Children  in  the  Southwark  Bridge  Road  at 
4  o'clock.  Mr.  Charles  Wightman,  Chairman  of  the 
Committee  of  Management,  presided. 

Mr.  Leopold  de  Rothschild  proposed  a  vote  of 
thanks  to  the  Lady  Mayoress  and  me,  and  mentioned 
the  fact  that  I  was  at  one  time  hon.  treasurer  of  the 
hospital.  Sir  John  Murray  Scott  seconded  the 
proposition. 

Presided  at  a  dinner  of  the  Royal  Gardeners' 
Orphan  Fund  at  De  Keyser's  Hotel.  Mr.  Sheriff 
Dunn  and  Sir  Albert  Rollit  and  others  present. 
£970  subscribed. 


SIR  JOHN  KIRK  145 

Friday,  24th  May.  —  Presided  at  a  meeting  in  the 
Egyptian  Hall,  at  3  o'clock,  of  a  large  and  distin- 
guished gathering,  on  the  occasion  of  the  presentation 
to  Sir  John  Kirk  of  the  testimonial  raised  in  recogni- 
tion of  his  work  in  connection  with  the  Ragged 
School  Union. 

Lord  Northampton  made  the  presentation,  Which 
consisted  of  a  portrait  of  Sir  John,  a  cheque  for 
£2,000,  and  an  illuminated  address.  Sir  John  Kirk, 
who  had  just  been  knighted,  in  the  course  of  his 
remarks  said  he  owed  me  a  debt  he  could  never 
repay;  and  a  vote  of  thanks  to  the  Lady  Mayoress 
and  myself  for  our  constant  kindness  and  assistance 
to  the  promoters  of  the  testimonial  was  proposed  by 
the  Hon.  Evelyn  Ashley,  seconded  by  Mr.  F.  A. 
Bevan,  and  carried. 

In  reply,  I  took  the  opportunity  of  acknowledging 
the  valuable  assistance  I  had  received  from  Sir  John 
Kirk  in  the  distribution  of  my  Children's  Christmas 
Hamper  Fund.  I  regret,  and  I  always  have  regretted, 
that  Sir  John  Kirk  will  no  longer  help  me  in  this 
work. 

It  was,  I  think,  in  the  year  1892  that  the  proprietors 
of  the  Daily  Telegraph  decided  to  send  out  Christmas 
hampers  to  all  the  crippled  children  in  the 
Metropolis. 

At  their  own  expense  they  got  a  list  of  all  the 
little  sufferers  who  were  eligible  for  this  gift,  and  that 
list,  I  believe,  was  handed  by  them  to  the  Ragged 
School  Union. 

The  next  year  I  carried  on  this  work,  at  the  request 
and  with  the  help  of  the  Ragged  School  Union,  and 
we  continued  to  co-operate  in  it  up  to  the  year 
1908. 


146  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

I  willingly  express  my  thanks  to  the  Council  of 
the  Ragged  School  Union  for  helping  me  all  these 
years  in  the  distribution  of  the  hampers. 

In  October,  1908,  Sir  John  Kirk  informed  me 
verbally,  in  my  office  at  Ludgate  Hill,  that  the 
Council  had  decided  that  they  would  no  longer  assist 
me  in  the  distribution  of  hampers.  I  expressed  my 
regret,  and  asked  how  about  selecting,  as  usual,  poor 
children  (not  crippled)  to  come  to  the  usual  banquet 
at  Guildhall;  he  replied  that  the  Council's  decision 
also  applied  to  the  banquet.  Again,  I  asked  him  how 
about  bringing  200  crippled  children,  as  usual,  to 
my  shop  windows  on  Ludgate  Hill,  on  the  gth  of 
November,  to  witness  the  Lord  Mayor's  Show  ?  He 
again  replied  that  the  Council  declined  to  assist  me 
in  that  way  also. 

I  afterwards  wrote  to  Sir  John  Kirk,  and  give  a 
copy  of  my  letter  and  his  reply. 

(Copy.) 

DEAR  SIR  JOHN  KIRK, 

In  reference  to  our  conversation  this  morning, 
I  should  be  very  glad  to  have  the  reply  of  your 
Council  to  my  suggestion  that  they  should  again 
undertake  the  distribution  of  the  Christmas  hampers, 
as  usual,  as  soon  as  possible.  You  will  readily  under- 
stand how  anxious  I  am  that  the  crippled  children 
of  London  should  not  be  deprived  of  their  annual 
treats  and  enjoyments,  and  that  if  it  should  be 
necessary  for  me  to  institute  further  arrangements 
with  regard  to  the  selection  of  the  children,  the  task 
may  be  put  in  hand  without  much  further  delay. 
But  I  hope  that  an  arrangement,  which  has  worked 


CORRESPONDENCE  WITH  THE  R.S.U.    147 

satisfactorily  in  the  past,  will  not  be  departed  from 
without  some  very  pressing  necessity. 

Yours  very  truly, 
(Signed)  W.  P.  TRELOAR. 
October  i^th,  1908. 

(Copy.) 
DEAR  SIR  WILLIAM, 

The  Council  are  under  the  impression  that  it 
was  in  your  mind  that  the  Christmas  hamper  scheme 
should  in  future  be  undertaken  by  your  own  organisa- 
tion, and  accordingly  the  following  resolution  was 
passed  : 

"  That  whilst  desirous  that  no  opportunity  should  be  missed 
of  brightening  the  lives  of  the  cripple  children  of  London,  the 
Council  agree  that  it  is  inexpedient  to  continue  the  delivery  of 
Christmas  hampers  as  in  former  years,  owing  to  the  confusion 
which  is  likely  to  arise  from  the  separate  interests  of  two  existing 
cripple  funds." 

They  considered  that  it  would  be  inexpedient  that 
the  two  cripple  agencies — the  Alton  Home  and  the 
Ragged  School  Union — should  be  too  closely  identified 
with  each  other  in  the  public  mind.  Confusion  has 
already  arisen  on  this  account  which  has  affected 
contributions,  and  this,  it  was  felt,  might  be  accen- 
tuated by  the  continuance  of  the  arrangement  come 
to  prior  to  the  establishment  of  the  Alton  Home 
Fund. 

Having  regard  to  all  the  circumstances,  the  Council 
desire  me  to  state  that  they  are  unable  to  depart 
from  the  terms  of  the  resolution  above  referred  to. 

They  gratefully  remember  the  cordial  relations  and 
active  co-operation  which  has  existed  between  you 
and  them  in  the  past  in  connection  with  the  supply 
and  distribution  of  the  Christmas  hampers,  and  they 


148  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

will  rejoice  with  you  if  the  establishment  of  a  perma- 
nent National  Home  for  Cripples  at  Alton  meets  with 
the  success  which  your  earnest  labours  and  devoted 
service  merit. 

With  kindest  regards, 

Yours  faithfully, 
(Signed)  JOHN  KIRK. 

October  i^th,  1908. 

The  banquet  and  the  distribution  of  hampers  are 
paid  for  by  the  funds  which  I  annually  collect  for 
the  purpose.  His  Majesty  the  King  always  heads 
the  list  of  subscriptions ;  the  Lord  Mayor  and  Sheriffs, 
and  many  other  leading  citizens  follow  suit;  and  I 
am  proud  to  say  that  I  have  a  list  of  regular  sub- 
scribers, not  only  in  the  City  and  the  Metropolis, 
but  all  over  the  world. 

It  was  from  this  yearly  banquet  and  distribution 
that  the  idea  of  trying  to  be  of  some  permanent  use 
to  crippled  children  arose,  and  the  result  has  been 
the  founding  of  the  Lord  Mayor  Treloar  Cripples' 
Hospital  and  College  at  Alton,  in  Hampshire,  where 
some  260  crippled  children  are  now  residing. 

I  keep  the  Fund  open  all  the  year,  and  I  not  only 
pay  for  the  banquet  and  the  hamper  distribution  from 
it,  but  I  help  to  clothe  the  children  in  the  hospital 
and  college  at  Alton,  and  also  help  in  many  ways 
other  crippled  children  in  the  Metropolis. 

I  am  glad  to  say  the  willing  assistance  which  I 
now  receive  from  the  Metropolitan  Mayors  enables 
me  to  make  the  distribution  annually  and  without 
any  question  of  creed. 

Attended  at  Queen's  Hall  an  Empire  Concert  at  4, 
with  the  Lady  Maj-oress  and  Sheriffs.  Lady  Minto 
and  Lord  Strathcona  were  present. 


OLD  BOYS  OF  KING'S  COLLEGE  SCHOOL  149 

Dined  with  the  Streets  Committee  of  the  Corpora- 
tion at  the  Gaiety  Restaurant,  the  Chairman,  Mr. 
John  Stopher,  presiding.  A  presentation  of  plate 
was  made  to  the  past  Chairman,  Mr.  Domoney. 

Saturday,  25th  May.  —  Attended  with  the  Lady 
Mayoress  and  Sheriffs  the  Military  Tournament  at 
Olympia. 

As  an  Old  Boy  of  King's  College  School  I  had  the 
supreme  pleasure  of  giving  a  dinner  to  many  other 
Old  Boys  at  the  Mansion  House.  Among  them 
were  Sir  W.  H.  Preece,  Sir  W.  Christie  (Astronomer 
Royal),  Sir  Charles  Lyall,  Admiral  Sir  T.  S.  Jackson, 
Sir  John  Tweedy,  Sir  Edward  Stern,  Sir  Albert 
Rollit,  Professor  W.  W.  Skeat,  Mr.  Frederic  Harrison, 
Professor  George  Saintsbury,  Canon  Syers,  Dr.  Gow, 
Mr.  Henniker  Heaton,  M.P.,  Mr.  J.  Bloundelle 
Burton,  Mr.  John  Cutler,  K.C.,  and  Mr.  Martin 
Harvey.  Messages  of  sympathy  had  been  sent  by 
many  other  Old  Boys,  including  the  Lord  Chief 
Justice,  Lord  Ebury,  Lord  Glenesk;  the  Bishops  of 
Exeter,  Ely,  Leicester,  Barrow-in-Furness,  and  Barry; 
Sir  Edward  Clarke,  K.C.,  Sir  John  Cockburn,  Mr. 
Justice  Grantham,  Mr.  Justice  Jelf,  Judge  Bacon, 
Judge  Parry,  Judge  Coventry;  the  Deans  of  Canter- 
bury and  Durham;  Mr.  Reginald  McKenna,  General 
Festing,  General  Byam,  Mr.  Alfred  de  Rothschild, 
Mr.  Leopold  de  Rothschild,  Mr.  Lewis  Waller,  Mr. 
Haddon  Chambers,  Professor  Dicey,  and  the  Rev.  S. 
Baring-Gould.  152  guests. 

I  entered  the  school  in  1854.  The  prize  list  of 
1856  bears  the  names  of  Lord  Alverstone,  the  Lord 
Chief  Justice,  Sir  Albert  Rollit,  Mr.  John  Cutler, 
Canon  Syers,  and  William  Treloar. 

I   received   during  the  evening  a   telegram    from 


ISO  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

Charles  Bates,  which  declared  that  the  sender,  who 
sent  hearty  good  wishes  to  all  "  Old  Boys,"  was 
the  first  boy  to  enter  the  school  when  it  opened  in 
1831. 

Mr.  Frederic  Harrison  said  he  entered  the  school 
in  1843. 

Monday,  27th  May.  —  Attended  in  state,  with  the 
Sheriffs,  the  induction  of  the  Rev.  Barbe  Sydenham 
Sladen  as  Rector  of  St.  Margaret  Pattens,  at  12.30. 

Presided  at  a  meeting  at  the  Mansion  House,  at  3, 
on  behalf  of  the  Deaconess  Mission  and  Christian 
Instruction  Society.  During  the  year  these  good 
women  had  paid  80,000  visits  to  the  homes  of  the 
poor.  The  Society,  which  is  undenominational,  is 
doing  good  work. 

Dined  with  the  I bero- American  Benevolent  Society 
at  De  Keyser's  Hotel,  the  Spanish  Ambassador,  Don 
Venceslas  R.  de  Willaursutia,  presiding. 

Tuesday,  28th  May. — Opened  the  Sessions  of  the 
Central  Criminal  Court  at  10.  (Mr.  Justice  Bigham; 
84  prisoners.) 

Princess  Alexander  of  Teck  lunched  at  the  Mansion 
House,  at  i  .45. 

Afterwards  a  meeting  was  held  at  3  o'clock  of  the 
Girls'  and  Boys'  Guild  of  the  Waterloo  Hospital  for 
Children. 

Presided  at  a  dinner  at  Mansion  House  in  aid  of 
the  North-Eastern  Hospital  for  Children.  The  Lady 
Mayoress  was  present,  with  a  very  large  and  dis- 
tinguished company.  £2,500  was  the  amount  sub- 
scribed at  the  table. 

After  dinner  attended  with  the  Sheriffs  a  con- 
versazione of  the  John  Carpenter  Club  in  the  Art 
Gallery  at  Guildhall.  The  members  of  this  Club  are 


THEATRICAL  FUND  DINNER        151 

the  Old  Boys  of  the  City  of  London  School.  Mr. 
Lulham  Pound,  President,  and  Mrs.  Pound  received 
the  guests.  Dancing  took  place,  and  concerts  were 
given  during  the  evening;  and  an  interesting  exhibi- 
tion of  old  manuscripts,  prints,  and  books  was 
arranged  by  Mr.  Borrajo,  the  City  Librarian. 

Wednesday,  29th  May. — Received  the  Judge,  Mr. 
Justice  Bigham,  at  Central  Criminal  Court,  at  10.30. 

Opened  a  rifle  range  in  Charterhouse  Street, 
organised  and  paid  for  by  the  Central  Markets  Rifle 
Club,  at  12. 

Presided  at  a  meeting,  in  the  Egyptian  Hall,  of 
the  Royal  Association  in  aid  of  the  Deaf  and  Dumb 
at  3.30.  Sir  Arthur  H.  Fairbairn,  known  as  the 
"  deaf  and  dumb  baronet,"  made  a  very  interesting 
and  earnest  appeal  by  using  his  fingers,  which  was 
spoken  by  an  interpreter  as  quickly  as  it  was  made. 

Presided  at  the  Farringdon  General  Dispensary 
dinner  at  De  Keyser's  Hotel.  Mr.  G.  P.  Wagstaff  is 
hon.  secretary  of  this  excellent  charity,  which  was 
founded  in  1828  to  afford  medical  and  surgical  relief 
to  the  destitute  poor. 

Thursday,  30th  May.  —  Committee  of  the  whole 
Court  at  12.30. 

Court  of  Common  Council  at  i . 

Presided,  at  3,  at  the  Mansion  House,  at  the 
Distribution  Committee  meeting  of  the  Hospital 
Sunday  Fund. 

Presided  at  the  Royal  General  Theatrical  Fund 
dinner  at  the  Hotel  Metropole.  Mr.  T.  P.  O'Connor, 
M.P.,  proposed  the  Drama.  He  said  the  Drama 
might  be  regarded  as  a  primordial  human  instinct 
which  would  exist  for  all  times — as  an  illustration, 
David  danced  before  the  Ark,  and  Sir  William  led 

12 


152  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

the  "  Furry  "  dance  recently  in  Cornwall.  He  also 
said  he  believed  that  a  good  many  people  had 
been  delivered  body  and  soul  over  to  the  enemy 
by  Sunday-school  literature.  Subscriptions  for  £800 
announced. 

Friday,  31st  May. — Presided  at  the  Mansion  House 
at  a  meeting  in  aid  of  the  Brompton  Consumption 
Hospital  at  3. 

Attended  dinner  of  the  General  Purposes  Com- 
mittee of  the  Corporation  at  De  Keyser's  Hotel, 
the  Chairman,  Mr.  W.  Hayward  Pitman,  pre- 
siding. 

Attended  at  Streatham  Town  Hall  a  concert  given 
in  aid  of  my  Fund  by  the  Streatham  Choral  Society ; 
a  presentation  of  purses  was  made. 

Saturday,  1st  June.  —  Went  to  the  meet  of  the 
Coaching  Club  in  Hyde  Park,  afterwards  going  on 
a  coach  to  Ranelagh  to  luncheon. 

Sunday,  2nd  June.  —  Hospital  Sunday.  At  3.15 
attended  St.  Paul's  Cathedral  in  state  to  meet  His 
Majesty's  Judges. 

Monday,  3rd  June. — Presided  at  meeting  of  Jamaica 
Earthquake  Committee  at  12,  at  the  Mansion  House. 

Presided  at  meeting  of  St.  Giles'  Christian  Mission 
at  3,  at  the  Mansion  House. 

Was  to  have  dined  with  the  members  of  the  Bridge 
House  Estates  Committee  in  the  Old  Council  Cham- 
bers, Guildhall,  but  was  not  well  enough.  I  was 
sorry  to  disappoint  my  old  friend,  Deputy  Algar,  the 
Chairman. 

I  was  not  able  to  attend  Mrs.  Whitelaw  Reid's 
reception  at  Dorchester  House. 

Tuesday,  4th  June.  —  Attended  matinee  given  by 
the  Savage  Club  at  His  Majesty's  Theatre  in  aid  of 


JUDGES  TO  DINNER  153 

my  Fund.  The  Prince  and  Princess  of  Wales  were 
present.  A  new  play  by  Mr.  Alfred  Sutro,  Mr. 
Steinmann's  Corner,  was  given.  Among  a  host  of 
performers  were  Mdlle.  Jane  May,  Miss  Lena  Ashwell, 
Mr.  Albert  Chevalier,  and  Mr.  Harry  Fragson.  All 
the  male  performers  were  members  of  the  Club.  A 
very  good  result  was  achieved. 

Presided  at  the  festival  dinner  of  the  City  of 
London  Hospital  for  Diseases  of  the  Chest  at  the 
Trocadero. 

Wednesday,  5th  June.  —  Derby  Day.  Dined  with 
the  Law  and  City  Courts  Committee  at  De  Keyser's 
Hotel,  the  Chairman,  Mr.  Lavington,  C.C.,  pre- 
siding. 

Thursday,  6th  June. — Opened  Bazaar  at  Westwood, 
West  Hill,  Sydenham,  at  3,  in  aid  of  the  Church  in 
the  Grove,  Sydenham. 

Dined  with  the  Central  Markets  Committee  at 
De  Keyser's  Hotel,  the  Chairman,  Mr.  C.  A.  Teuten, 
presiding. 

Friday,  7th  June. —  Rehearsal  at  Guildhall,  at  3, 
for  the  King  of  Denmark's  reception. 

Opening  of  Prince's  Skating  Rink  at  5.  Princess 
Henry  of  Battenberg  to  be  present. 

Presided  at  dinner  at  Mansion  House  given  to  His 
Majesty's  Judges.  There  were  304  guests,  including 
the  Lord  Chancellor,  the  Master  of  the  Rolls,  and 
some  twenty  other  Judges  with  their  ladies.  The 
Lady  Mayoress  was  present. 

Saturday,  8th  June.  —  I  should  have  gone  to 
Loughton,  the  inaugural  excursion  of  the  Fresh  Air 
Fund;  but  was  not  well  enough  to  go.  Both  Sheriffs 
went  for  me,  and  met  Sir  Arthur  Pearson,  and  had 
a  pleasant  day  with  the  children. 


154  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

Sunday,  9th  June. — Attended  the  City  Temple  at 
1 1,  and  Westminster  Abbey  at  3. 

Monday,  10th  June.  —  The  King  and  Queen  of 
Denmark  came  from  Buckingham  Palace  at  12.15  in 
state  carriages  to  lunch  at  the  Guildhall,  after  receiv- 
ing an  address  from  the  Corporation.  Their  Majesties 
arrived  in  London  on  Saturday,  crossing  from  Flushing 
in  the  Royal  yacht  Victoria  and  Albert.  The  Prince 
of  Wales  met  them  at  Portsmouth,  and  escorted 
them  by  train  to  Victoria  Station.  There  they  were 
met  by  King  Edward  and  Queen  Alexandra,  and 
drove  to  Buckingham  Palace,  where  a  State  banquet 
was  given  in  the  evening.  On  Sunday  they  paid  a 
visit  to  Windsor  in  motor-cars. 

Before  arriving  at  Guildhall  their  Majesties  received 
an  address  of  welcome,  presented  to  them  in  Pall 
Mall  at  the  bottom  of  Waterloo  Place  by  Lieut. - 
Colonel  Clifford  Probyn,  the  Mayor  of  Westminster. 

With  the  Lady  Mayoress  I  received  the  guests  in 
the  Library,  at  12  o'clock.  Among  the  first  to 
arrive  were  the  Duke  and  Duchess  of  Somerset,  Lord 
Carrington  and  Mr.  Birrell,  the  Bishop  of  London, 
Sir  Edward  Grey,  Sir  Charles  Hardinge  and  Lord 
Crewe ;  then  the  Prime  Minister,  Sir  Henry  Campbell- 
Bannerman,  wearing  the  uniform  of  an  Elder  Brother 
of  Trinity  House.  I  left  the  Library  to  await  the 
arrival  of  the  King  and  Queen  of  Denmark  at  the 
entrance  to  the  Guildhall,  my  place  being  taken  by 
Sir  Whittaker  Ellis,  Bart.,  the  senior  Alderman.  A 
blast  of  trumpets  from  the  four  scarlet-coated 
trumpeters  soon  proclaimed  the  advent  of  the  royal 
procession,  which  advanced  in  the  following  order, 
all  the  guests  rising  as  the  procession  entered  the 
Library : 


VISIT  OF  THE  DANISH  KING  155 

The  City  Trumpeters. 

The  City  Marshall. 
Under-Sheriffs  Greenhill  and  Timbrell. 

The  Reception  Committee. 

Mr.  Walter  Hayward  Pitman,  Chairman. 

The  Town  Clerk. 

The  Sheriffs. 
Alderman  Thomas  Boor  Crosby,  M.D. 

Mr.  William  Henry  Dunn. 
Aldermen  Sir  T.  Vezey  Strong,  David  Burnett,  W.  C.  Simmons. 

The  Recorder. 

Sir  Walter  Wilkin.  Sir  G.  Faudel-Phillips. 

Sir  David  Evans.  Sir  Joseph  Renals. 

H.R.H.    Prince   Arthur   of   Connaught,    with   H.R.H.    Princess 

Patricia  of  Connaught. 
H.R.H.  the  Duke  of  Connaught,  with  H.R.H.  the  Princess  of 

Wales. 
H.R.H.  the  Prince  of  Wales,  with  H.R.H.  the  Duchess  of 

Connaught. 

The  Sword.  The  Mace. 

The  Lord  Mayor  with  H.M.   the  Queen  of  Denmark. 
H.M.  the  King  of  Denmark  with  the  Lady  Mayoress. 

The  Band  of  the  Royal  Artillery  played  the  Danish 
National  Anthem  as  the  procession  moved  on. 

The  King  wore  the  uniform  of  a  Danish  General, 
with  the  ribbon  of  the  Garter.  The  Queen  was  in 
a  gown  of  white  glace  silk,  with  a  pleated  skirt  with 
lace  and  gold  embroidery,  a  white  tulle  toque  with 
gold  embroidery,  and  a  white  osprey.  Her  Majesty 
wore  a  Danish  Order  set  in  brilliants,  and  a  most 
beautiful  pearl  necklace.  The  Prince  of  Wales  wore 
Admiral's  uniform,  with  the  ribbon  of  the  Danish 
Order  of  the  Elephant.  The  Princess  of  Wales  wore 
a  dress  of  crepe  de  chine  with  hand-painted  flowers 
on  a  white  background,  and  a  mauve  toque.  The 
Duke  of  Connaught  was  in  Field-Marshal's  uniform, 
with  the  ribbon  of  the  Order  of  the  Elephant;  and 


156  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

Prince  Arthur  of  Connaught  wore  the  uniform  of  a 
Captain  in  the  Scots  Greys,  with  the  aiguillette  of 
the  Staff. 

When  all  the  persons  composing  the  procession 
had  taken  their  appointed  places,  the  King  sitting 
on  my  right,  the  Queen  on  my  left,  the  Town  Clerk 
(Mr.  James  Bell)  read  the  resolution  of  the  Court 
for  presenting  the  address,  and  the  Recorder  (Sir 
Forrest  Fulton,  K.C.)  read  the  address.  The  King 
graciously  replied,  saying:  "The  Queen  and  I  feel 
gratified  by  this  testimony  of  your  sympathy.  We 
shall  always  keep  this  beautiful  casket  as  a  dear 
remembrance  of  the  reception  which  has  been  given 
us  to-day  by  this  venerable  and  historic  Corporation." 

I  then  presented  Mr.  W.  H.  Pitman,  the  mover, 
and  Alderman  Sir  G.  F.  Faudel-Phillips,  the  seconder 
of  the  address,  the  two  next  senior  Aldermen  present, 
and  the  Sheriffs;  then  I  conducted  the  royal  party 
to  a  withdrawing  room,  and  the  general  company 
took  their  seats  at  the  luncheon  tables.  Their 
Majesties  paid  a  visit  to  the  Art  Gallery  during  this 
interval,  to  see  the  Loan  Exhibition  of  Danish 
pictures.  The  King  conferred  various  classes  of  the 
Order  of  the  Danebrog  upon  me,  the  Sheriffs,  the 
Town  Clerk,  the  City  Remembrancer  (Mr.  Adrian 
Pollock),  Sir  W.  Soulsby,  Mr.  W.  H.  Pitman,  Mr. 
Corbould  Ellis,  and  Mr.  A.  G.  Temple. 

There  were  only  three  toasts :  The  King  and  Queen, 
The  King  and  Queen  of  Denmark  (proposed  by  me), 
and  The  Lord  Mayor  and  Corporation,  proposed  by 
His  Majesty. 

Dined  with  the  members  of  the  City  Lands  Com- 
mittee at  Carpenters'  Hall,  the  Chairman,  Mr.  J.  W. 
Domoney,  presiding. 


GALA  AT  THE  OPERA  157 

Attended,  after  dinner,  at  Lady  Rothschild's 
reception,  148,  Piccadilly. 

Tuesday,  llth  June.  —  Meeting,  at  12.45,  Guildhall, 
of  Wilson's  Committee. 

Court  of  Aldermen  at  i  .30. 

Went  to  Olympia  to  the  Royal  Horse  Show,  with 
the  Lady  Mayoress  and  Sheriffs,  3.15.  Met  there 
the  King  and  Queen  of  Denmark. 

Meeting  of  Committee  of  Dwellings  of  the  Poor, 
Mansion  House,  at  5. 

Dined  with  the  Worshipful  Company  of  Ship- 
wrights at  Fishmongers'  Hall,  the  Master,  Mr.  J. 
Mowlem  Burt,  J.P.,  presiding. 

By  command  the  Lady  Mayoress  and  I  went  to 
a  gala  performance  at  the  Opera  to  meet  the  King 
and  Queen  of  Denmark.  I  have  never  seen  such  a 
grand  sight  at  any  theatre  as  this :  the  whole  of  the 
boxes  on  every  tier  were  covered  with  a  ground- 
work of  green  trellis-work,  on  which  hung  festoons 
of  pale  pink  roses,  while  the  fronts  of  the  boxes 
were  edged  with  a  thin  bank  of  roses  of  deeper 
shades. 

The  Royal  Box  in  the  middle  of  the  Grand  Tier 
was  formed  from  five  ordinary  boxes.  Above  it  was 
a  crown  in  scarlet  and  yellow,  and  the  Danish  and 
English  flags.  The  majority  of  the  flowers  were 
artificial,  because  experience  has  shown  that  if  real 
blooms  are  exclusively  employed  the  perfume  is 
overpoweringly  sweet. 

The  programme  started  with  the  playing  of  the 
Danish  National  Anthem  and  "  God  Save  the  King  "; 
then  selections  from  the  operas  Madame  Butterfly 
and  La  Bohenie.  Signori  Caruso  and  Scotti,  and 
Mdlle.  Destinn,  Mme.  Melba,  Signori  Sammarco, 


158  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

Marcoux,    and    Gilbert,    and    many    other   talented 
artistes,  took  part  in  the  performance. 

Wednesday,  12th  June. — Attended  service  in  state 
with  the  Sheriffs  at  12.45,  St.  Magnus  the  Martyr, 
London  Bridge. 

Earthquake  Committee  at  12,  at  Mansion  House. 

Attended  a  meeting  of  the  Belgrave  Hospital  for 
Children,  Prince's  Skating  Rink  at  Knightsbridge, 
at  3.  Princess  Henry  of  Battenberg  present. 

Attended  with  the  Lady  Mayoress  the  State  Ball  at 
Buckingham  Palace. 

Thursday,  13th  June. — One  of  the  great  events  of  my 
mayoralty,  for  to-day  Her  Majesty  Queen  Alexandra 
came  to  the  Mansion  House  to  open  the  Queen's 
Fete  in  aid  of  my  Cripples'  Fund.  Her  Majesty, 
who  was  accompanied  by  Princess  Victoria,  and 
attended  by  the  Hon.  Charlotte  Knollys,  Lady  Alice 
Stanley,  Lord  Howe,  the  Hon.  Sydney  Greville,  and 
Colonel  Brocklehurst,  C.B.,  drove  from  Buckingham 
Palace  to  the  Mansion  House  in  semi-state,  in  a 
landau  drawn  by  four  horses,  with  postillions  and 
scarlet-coated  outriders,  and  attended  by  a  travelling 
escort  of  Life  Guards.  A  second  carriage,  drawn  by 
four  horses,  contained  the  suite  in  attendance. 

As  the  royal  procession  drove  up  to  the  Mansion 
House,  punctually  at  three  o'clock,  the  Queen  was 
greeted  with  loud  cheers ;  while  the  Guard  of  Honour 
of  the  Honourable  Artillery  Company  gave  the  Royal 
Salute,  and  the  band  played  the  National  Anthem. 
The  Lady  Mayoress  and  I  received  Her  Majesty  at 
the  entrance,  we  were  in  full  state  attended  by  the 
Sword-Bearer,  the  Mace-Bearer  and  the  City  Marshal 
The  Queen  wore  a  dark  purple-coloured  gown,  with 
a  toque,  and  a  feather  stole  to  match.  We  escorted 


SOME  AUTOGRAPHS  OF   FAMOUS  MEN. 


1 60  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

Her  Majesty  and  the  Princess  to  the  first  floor  by  the 
lift,  and  proceeded  to  the  representation  of  Old 
Temple  Bar  erected  in  the  middle  of  the  saloon, 
where  I  presented  a  gold  key  to  the  Queen,  requesting 
Her  Majesty  to  inaugurate  the  fete  by  opening  the 
gates.  As  this  was  done  there  was  a  flourish  of 
trumpets,  followed  by  the  National  Anthem,  played 
by  a  string  band  of  the  Royal  Artillery.  I  then 
conducted  Her  Majesty  to  the  flower  and  fruit  stall 
at  which  the  Lady  Mayoress  presided.  My  daughter 
presented  Her  Majesty  with  a  bouquet,  and  Miss 
Harrison  presented  one  to  the  Princess. 

The  Egyptian  Hall  presented  a  very  gay  and 
brilliant  appearance.  I  conducted  Her  Majesty  and 
the  Princess  to  chairs  on  a  slightly  raised  platform, 
under  a  crowned  canopy  of  royal  red.  I  then  made 
the  following  speech,  which  I  am  giving  here  because 
it  tells  the  story  of  my  Fund : 

'  May  it  please  your  Majesty,  ladies,  and  gentle- 
men, in  the  first  place  it  is  my  humble  duty  to  wel- 
come your  Majesty  here,  at  the  Mansion  House,  and 
as  Lord  Mayor  of  London  to  assure  you  of  the  dutiful 
•loyalty  of  the  Citizens,  and  the  great  delight  which 
they  experience  in  having  your  gracious  presence  in 
their  midst.  It  is  perhaps  fitting  that  I  should 
make  a  brief  statement  of  the  object  to  which  your 
Majesty  is  giving  assistance,  and  which  has  brought 
together  this  fete — the  Queen's  Fete. 

"  The  efforts  which  from  time  to  time  have  been 
made  to  benefit  the  crippled  children  of  London — 
efforts  in  which  1  have  been  privileged  to  take  some 
part — have  convinced  me  of  the  necessity  of  en- 
deavouring to  establish  homes  in  which  that  terrible 
national  scourge,  tuberculosis,  can  be  combated  at 


THE  QUEEN'S  FfeTE  161 

its  source,  and  which,  at  once  curative  and  educa- 
tional, should  provide  home  and  education  for  the 
tuberculosis  stricken  children  of  England.  No  insti- 
tution of  the  sort  at  the  present  time  exists;  but  in 
France  and  in  Germany  systematic  and  successful 
efforts  are  made  on  these  lines.  I  am  glad  to  be 
able  to  say  that,  in  response  to  the  appeal  which  I 
made  in  November  for  £60,000,  the  sum  of  £40,000 
has  been  received;  this  sum  includes  a  special  fund 
of  £5,000,  which  has  been  contributed  as  the  result 
of  your  Majesty's  visit  here  to-day,  in  response  to  a 
special  appeal  which  was  sent  forth,  asking  for 
donations  which  might  be  announced  on  your 
Majesty's  visit.  I  have  also  to  record  the  gratifying 
fact  that  the  Mayors  of  the  Metropolitan  Boroughs 
have  been  loyally  and  generously  assisting  me.  The 
following  list  may  be  of  interest,  as  showing  what 
the  Metropolitan  Mayors  have  done  up  to  the 
present  —  viz.  : 


Battersea           ..  ..  £100  |     Kensington  .. 

Bermondsey      .  .  .  .  212         Lambeth  .  .  .  .  61 

Bethnal  Green  .  .  .  .  185         Marylebone  .  .  .  .  50 

Camberwell       ..  ..  332         Paddington  ..  ..  134 

Chelsea  ..          ..  ..  140         Poplar  ..  ..  112 

Finsbury            .  .  .  .  229  j     Shoreditch  .  .  .  .  202 

Fulham              .  .  .  .  303         South  wark  .  .  .  .  226 

Hackney             .  .  .  .  225         Stepney  .  .  .  .  400 

Hammersmith  .  .  .  .  305         Stoke  Newington  .  .  363 


Hampstead        . .          . .       201 
Holborn  . .          . .       330 


Wands  worth   . .          . .       607 
Woolwich        . .          . .          50 


"  In  conclusion,  I  have  only  to  say  I  must  still  be 
a  beggar — the  sum  of  £60,000  has  to  be  raised. 
Towards  that  result  the  efforts  so  nobly  led  by  your 
Majesty  to-day  will  in  no  small  degree  contribute, 
and  it  is  with  a  heart  full  of  gratitude  to  all  who  have 


1 62  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

assisted  me  to  organise  this  magnificent  fete,  that  I 
ask  your  Majesty  to  declare  it  open." 

The  Queen  now  received  from  a  procession  of 
children  purses,  the  sums  amounting  in  all  to  £i  ,400 ; 
then  a  space  was  cleared  by  the  Yeomen  of  the 
Guard  for  her  Majesty  to  visit  the  stalls,  where  she 
made  many  purchases. 

In  the  Venetian  Parlour  all  the  plate  belonging 
to  the  Mansion  House  was  displayed,  and,  of  course, 
a  small  extra  charge  was  made  for  the  side-shows. 

In  the  Long  Parlour  tea  was  served,  under  the 
direction  of  Countess  Howe. 

The  entrance  to  the  Egyptian  Hall  was  made 
through  a  representation  of  Old  Temple  Bar,  set 
up  as  a  generous  gift  by  Messrs.  Waring  and  Gillow. 
The  first  stall  was  in  the  charge  of  the  Lady  Mayoress, 
where  fruit  and  flowers  were  sold.  The  stall  with 
foreign  goods  was  in  charge  of  H.R.H.  the  Princess 
Alexandra  of  Teck.  Lady  Faudel-Phillips  presided 
at  the  men's  stall.  The  American  Embassy  stall, 
organised  by  Mrs.  Ronalds,  with  Mrs.  Whitelaw 
Reid,  Mrs.  Ridgely  Carter,  Mrs.  Gibbons,  Mrs.  Clo- 
man,  and  a  number  of  other  ladies,  was  a  grand 
show.  The  Fine  Arts  stall  was  presided  over  by  the 
Duchess  of  Somerset,  assisted  by  the  Duchess  of 
Norfolk,  the  Duchess  of  Westminster,  Countess 
Bathurst,  and  Lady  Marjorie  Manners.  H.R.H.  the 
Princess  Henry  of  Battenberg  presided  over  an 
Oriental  stall.  H.R.H.  the  Princess  Christian  had 
a  stall  for  silks.  The  French  Embassy  stall  was 
managed  by  the  Comte  de  Lastours ;  this  was  a  very 
interesting  exhibition,  and  the  following  ladies  helped 
to  make  this  stall  attractive:  Madame  Geoffray, 
Madame  Anzepy,  the  Comtesse  de  Mauneville,  the 


STALL-KEEPERS  AND  ENTERTAINERS   163 

Marquise  de  la  Begassiere,  the  Comtesse  de  Lastours, 
and  the  Comtesse  de  Mantholon. 

The  Wedding  and  Birthday  Presents  stall  had  the 
help  of  the  Lady  Lilian  Grenfell,  the  Hon.  Mrs. 
Gilbert  Johnstone,  Lady  Henderson,  Lady  Wernher, 
the  Lady  Alwyne  Compton,  Lady  Greenwell,"  Mrs. 
H.  D.  Jefferson,  and  Mrs.  Eckstein.  H.R.H.  the 
Duchess  of  Albany  had  control  of  the  stall  for  the 
sale  of  china  and  glass.  The  Marchioness  of  Salis- 
bury presided  at  a  miscellaneous  stall,  assisted  by 
the  Countess  of  Dudley,  Lady  Ellis,  and  Lady  Strong. 

Upstairs,  in  the  old  ball-room,  under  the  manage- 
ment of  Mr.  Edward  Terry  and  Mr.  Graham  Browne, 
a  series  of  twenty  minutes'  entertainments  were 
given  by  Mr.  George  Alexander,  Madame  Alice  Esty, 
Mdlle.  de  Nys,  Signer  Besoni,  Mr.  Lewis  Waller, 
Miss  Lilian  Braithwaite,  Mr.  Franklin  Clive,  Master 
Max  Darewski,  Mr.  Harry  Fragson,  and  Mr.  Harrison 
Hill.  Mr.  Leslie  Lambert  provided  an  exhibition  of 
sleight  of  hand;  and  Mr.  Kronstaud,  the  Swedish 
artist,  produced  lightning  portraits;  Mr.  Louis  Wain 
drew  cats ;  and  a  fine  gramophone  gave  the  voices  of 
Patti,  Melba,  and  Caruso.  Miss  Cowper  Coles 
arranged  a  set  of  old  English  dances  by  her  pupils, 
who,  on  the  first  day,  had  the  honour  of  dancing 
before  the  Queen. 

I  much  admired  the  way  by  which  Mrs.,  now  Lady, 
Alexander  in  this  room  greatly  helped  the  Fund  by 
selling  programmes.  "  Look,"  she  said  to  some 
unsuspecting  visitor,  "  the  Queen  has  left  her  pro- 
gramme." I  think  the  sale  of  programmes  was 
increased,  and  high  prices  obtained  by  this  allowable 
action.  It  reminds  me  of  the  clever  way  by  which 
a  Cook's  dragoman  on  the  Nile  obtained  good  tips. 


1 64  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

A  large  party  of  tourists  were  riding  on  donkeys  in 
charge  of  this  dragoman  when  one  of  the  lady  riders 
complained  that  her  donkey  was  not  a  comfortable 
mount.  Whispering,  and  enjoining  profound  secrecy, 
the  wily  Arab  suggested  that  his  own  .special  donkey 
should  be  the  lady's;  his  was  a  special  animal,  most 
comfortable  to  ride,  and  easy  to  manage.  The 
exchange  is  made;  the  tip  given;  and  the  same 
performance  was  gone  through  again  and  again, 
each  lady  in  turn  being  given  "  my  own  beautiful 
quiet  donkey,"  and  providing  her  own  beautiful  tip 
for  the  exchange  of  animals. 

To  return  to  the  Queen's  Fete.  There  was  also 
a  "  Universal  Bureau,"  where  the  goods  sent  for 
the  tombola  sale  (which  the  Home  Secretary  would 
not  allow)  were  sold. 

Had  the  lottery  taken  place  a  lion  cub  would  have 
been  included. 

A  pedigree  calf  was  sold,  a  Chow  dog,  a  live  lamb, 
several  fresh  salmon,  etc.  Lady  Gunter  gave  a 
motor-car  (600  guineas)  to  be  sold  to  the  highest 
bidder. 

Mr.  Sheriff  Dunn  vainly  endeavoured  to  dispose 
of  this  at  auction. 

Mr.  Pett  Ridge  edited  the  souvenir  book  of  the 
Queen's  Fete,  and  Her  Majesty  graciously  accepted 
a  copy,  which  he  presented  to  her. 

Mr.  Percy  Armytage,  M.V.O.,  was  of  great  assist- 
ance in  arranging  and  organising  the  proceedings. 

Before  leaving,  Her  Majesty  graciously  assured  me 
of  her  pleasure  at  the  success  of  the  beautiful  fete, 
and  of  her  complete  sympathy  with  me  in  the  work 
I  was  trying  to  do;  and  I  confess  I  was  greatly 
encouraged  by  her  kind  and  sympathetic  words 


THE  EDITOR,   MR.  PETT  RIDGE,  AND  CONTRIBUTORS  TO  THE  SOUVENIR 
BOOK  OF  THE  QUEEN'S  FETE,  AT  THE  MANSION   HOUSE,   ON  THURSDAY, 

JUNE   13,    1907. 

Ftein  a  drawing  by  A.  S,   Boy  a. 


To  face  p.  164 


RED  CROSS  CONFERENCE  165 

She  told  me  she  wished  to  come  to  Guildhall  privately 
to  see  the  Danish  pictures  now  on  exhibition  there; 
but  that  she  would  wait  to  make  her  visit  until  after 
my  return  from  Berlin.  Seven  hundred  guineas  was 
the  amount  realised  by  the  sale  of  entrance  tickets 
on  the  first  day. 

That  night  I  held  a  reception,  amongst  the  stalls 
and  platform,  from  9  till  12  o'clock,  for  the  Inter- 
national Red  Cross  Conference.  There  were  many 
important  guests,  including  the  American  Ambas- 
sador and  Mrs.  Whitelaw  Reid,  Lord  and  Lady 
Ormonde,  Lord  and  Lady  Coventry,  Lord  Clarendon 
and  Lady  Edith  Villiers,  Lord  Wicklow,  Lord  and 
Lady  Esher,  Lord  and  Lady  Brownlow,  Lord  and 
Lady  Mount  Edgcumbe,  Lord  and  Lady  Burton,  Sir 
Ernest  Cassel,  the  Hon.  Charles  and  Mrs.  Rothschild, 
General  Sir  John  Ardagh  and  Susan  Lady  Malmes- 
bury,  the  Hon.  Henry  and  Mrs.  Cubitt,  Prince 
Troubetzkoy,  M.  and  Mme.  E.  Carnot,  Countess  Jean 
de  Castellane,  Mr.  Henry  Morris,  President  of  the 
Royal  College  of  Surgeons,  Mr.  Acland,  K.C.,  and 
Mrs.  Acland,  Rear-Admiral  and  Mrs.  Chadwick,  Sir 
John  and  Lady  Furley,  Sir  Alfred  and  Lady  Keogh, 
Colonel  Sloggett,  Sir  John  Tweedy,  The  Mackintosh 
and  Mrs.  Mackintosh,  Major-General  Montgomery, 
Colonel  Stapleton  Cotton,  Dr.  and  Lady  Philippa 
Stewart,  Colonel  and  Mrs.  Kenyon-Slaney,  and  others. 

Friday,  14th  June. — Presided  at  a  Court  of  Common 
Council  at  12  o'clock  at  Guildhall. 

At3  I  received  M.  Cambon,  the  French  Ambassador, 
at  the  Mansion  House,  who  opened  the  Queen's  Fete 
for  the  second  day.  He  unlocked  Temple  Bar  with 
a  silver  key,  and  trumpets  were  again  blown.  Four 
stalwart  Yeomen  of  the  Guard  escorted  His  Excel- 


1 66 

lency.  In  addressing  M.  Cambon,  I  reminded  him 
that  his  presence  was  especially  appropriate,  since 
in  France  at  Berck-sur-mer  there  was  an  institution 
for  tuberculosis  patients  remarkable  for  its  success, 
and  one  from  which  I  hoped  to  learn  many  features 
of  usefulness.  His  Excellency,  in  reply,  said  it  was 
a  great  pleasure  for  him  to  see  the  British  Flag 
associated  with  the  Flag  of  France  and  of  the  Republic 
of  the  United  States  to  decorate  this  splendid  charity 
fete.  "  It  is  well  for  the  three  great  liberal  nations 
of  the  world  to  work  together  in  such  a  generous 
undertaking.  I  do  not  think  there  is  a  task  which 
could  be  more  interesting;  and  I  thank  you  for 
having  allowed  us  to  take  part  in  it."  His  Excel- 
lency went  up  to  the  entertainment  in  the  old  ball- 
room, and  I  with  him,  accompanied  by  Mr.  George 
Alexander. 

Presided  at  a  dinner  in  the  Art  Gallery  at  Guildhall 
— "  The  North  Sea  Dinner." 

Saturday,  15th  June. — Attended,  by  command  of 
the  King,  at  the  unveiling  by  His  Majesty  of  the 
equestrian  statue  of  the  Duke  of  Cambridge  at  White- 
hall, at  12  o'clock.  I  wore  leve*e  dress,  in  obedience 
to  orders.  It  was  a  very  wet,  miserable  day,  and  as 
I  stood  in  my  pumps  amongst  all  the  generals  and 
other  officers  in  top  boots  and  overcoats,  I  was 
addressed  by  the  Duke  of  Connaught.  He  said: 
"  My  Lord  Mayor,  the  King  has  sent  me  to  tell  you 
that  he  is  aware  you  have  not  been  well  lately;  he 
therefore  wishes  you  to  go  into  a  front  room  at  the 
War  Office  on  the  ground  floor,  where  you  will  be 
sheltered  and  warm,  and  from  whence  you  can  see 
all  there  is  to  be  seen,"  and  he  then  took  me  to  the 
room. 


GOLDEN  RESULT  OF  THE  F&TE    167 

The  King  came  to  me  after  the  ceremony,  and 
spoke  a  few  kind,  genial  words.  I  shall  never  forget 
this  episode.  It  showed  me  why  King  Edward  VII. 
was  beloved  by  everyone  he  came  in  touch  with. 

The  American  Ambassador  and  Mrs.  Whitelaw 
Reid  opened  the  Queen's  Fete  for  the  third 
day. 

His  Excellency  expressed  himself  as  being  surprised 
at  my  moderation  in  only  asking  for  £60,000;  as  the 
Chief  Magistrate  of  the  greatest,  richest,  and  most 
populous  city  in  the  world,  I  ought  to  have  asked 
for  much  more,  and  I  think  he  was  right.  If  I  had 
known  as  much  at  the  beginning  of  my  year  of  office 
as  I  did  at  the  end,  I  would  have  got  more;  but 
perhaps  I  have  made  up  for  it  since. 

Mr.  Sheriff  Dunn  had  another  try  to  get  rid  of 
Lady  Gunter's  motor-car,  but  the  bidding  was  only 
£500;  eventually  that  lady  kindly  paid  600  guineas 
to  the  Fund,  and  took  back  the  car. 

It  was  decided  that  as  so  many  people  were  unable 
to  attend  the  Queen's  Fete  during  the  three  days 
it  was  open,  the  Mansion  House  door  should  be 
available  to  paying  visitors  on  Wednesday  and 
Thursday,  and  sales  should  continue  on  those  two 
days.  I  was  then  in  Berlin.  Sir  Alfred  Newton, 
Bart.,  kindly  assisted  the  Lady  Mayoress,  and  good 
results  were  attained.  The  total  amount  realised 
by  the  Queen's  Fete  was  £12,000. 

Her  Majesty  the  Queen  further  evinced  her  sym- 
pathy and  her  interest  in  the  Fund  for  Crippled 
Children  by  sending  me  a  telegram,  and  writing  the 
following  autograph  letter  to  me.  The  telegram  is 
from  Copenhagen,  and  so  is  the  letter,  both  dated 
the  2  5th  of  September,  1907. 


1 68  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

The  telegram : 

"  To  THE  LORD  MAYOR,  LONDON. — I  will,  with 
the  greatest  pleasure,  give  my  name  to  the  Children's 
League  for  the  help  of  poor  crippled  children,  and 
send  you  a  cheque  for  one  hundred  pounds. — 
ALEXANDRA." 

This  is  the  letter : 

"  DEAR  LORD  MAYOR, 

"  I  have  heard  with  great  satisfaction  the 
result  of  the  ftte  which  was  held  during  the  summer 
in  aid  of  '  The  Lord  Mayor's  Cripples'  Fund,'  and 
am  much  interested  to  learn  that  a  special  effort  is 
now  to  be  made  to  raise  the  additional  sum  of  £10,000 
which  is  still  required  to  complete  the  endowment 
fund  for  the  Home  and  College  at  Alton. 

"  I  trust  most  sincerely  that  this  sum,  which  is  so 
essential  to  the  success  of  the  undertaking,  will  be 
given  by  the  many  kind  people  who  are  interested 
in  so  good  a  cause,  and  that  you  personally  will  have 
the  satisfaction  before  leaving  office  of  knowing  that 
your  lifelong  efforts  on  behalf  of  those  poor  suffering 
children  will,  with  God's  blessing,  be  crowned  with 
perfect  success,  and  that  everything  that  can  possibly 
be  done  to  alleviate  their  condition  and  conduce  to 
their  ultimate  cure  had  been  fully  accomplished. 
"  Believe  me,  yours  sincerely, 

"  ALEXANDRA. 

The  result  of  Queen  Alexandra's  letter  was  imme- 
diate and  certain,  and  before  my  year  of  office  had 
ended  I  received  from  a  generous  public  more  than 
the  amount  I  had  estimated  for — viz.,  £60,000. 

It  was  decided  after  long  discussion  with  several 


QUEEN  ALEXANDRA'S  HELP  169 

of  my  friends,  including  Sir  Ernest  Flower  and  Sir 
William  Soulsby,  to  name  the  Institution  at  Alton 
"  The  Lord  Mayor  Treloar's  Cripples'  Hospital  and 
College."  Sir  William  Soulsby  was  the  originator 
of  this  title,  and  strongly  urged  its  adoption;  the 
idea  in  his  mind  being  that  the  name  should  at  once 
show  that  the  Hospital  was  founded  by  a  Lord  Mayor, 
whose  name  was  Treloar.  Many  people  have  given 
me  the  credit  of  inventing  this  title,  but  the  actual 
idea  came  from  my  old  friend  Soulsby,  and  I  wish  to 
put  the  fact  on  record  once  and  for  all. 

It  is  now  twelve  years  since  then,  and  I  have 
included  in  this  book  three  illustrations,  which, 
although  they  do  not  refer  to  incidents  during  my 
year  of  office,  are  yet  the  direct  results  of  it. 
(i)  The  reception  at  the  Alton  railway-station  of 
the  first  batch  of  patients  on  the  8th  of  September, 
1908;  (2)  the  gracious  and  never-to-be-forgotten  visit 
of  Queen  Alexandra  to  Alton,  accompanied  by  Queen 
Amelie  of  Portugal,  when  both  the  Queens  planted 
trees  in  commemoration  of  their  visit;  and  (3)  the 
first  patients  at  Sandy  Point  Branch  at  Hayling 
Island,  who  came  on  the  nth  of  September,  1919; 
they  are  shown  on  the  balcony  of  the  pavilion,  which 
is  situated  on  the  edge  of  the  sea. 

Her  Majesty  graciously  became  the  President  of 
'  The  Queen  Alexandra  League  of  Children  to  Help 
Poor  Crippled  Children,"  and  contributed  £100 
towards  the  Fund  for  its  inauguration. 

I  issued  many  collecting  cards  to  the  little  members 
of  the  League,  and  so  collected  a  large  sum. 

The  royal  grandchildren  had  cards,  one  of  which, 
that  used  by  Princess  Mary,  I  have  reproduced. 

From  the  beginning  Queen  Alexandra  has  taken  the 


1 70  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

greatest  interest  in  my  work,  and  is  always  ready  to 
do  everything  she  can  to  assist  and  encourage  me. 

November  2jth,  1906. 

"  MY  DEAR  LORD  MAYOR, 

"  I  am  commanded  by  the  King  and  Queen 
to  let  you  know  with  what  interest  their  Majesties 
have  read  the  appeal  you  are  making  to  the  public 
on  behalf  of  the  poor  crippled  children  of  the  Metro- 
polis, and  to  assure  you  that  their  Majesties  most 
heartily  and  sincerely  wish  all  success  to  your  philan- 
thropic endeavour  to  relieve  these  poor  suffering 
children.  I  have  now  the  pleasure  to  enclose  two 
cheques  for  100  guineas  each  (one  from  the  King 
and  one  from  the  Queen),  as  donations  from  their 
Majesties  towards  the  Fund  being  raised  for  this 
most  worthy  object. 

"  Their  Majesties  authorise  me  to  say  they  cannot 
conceive  any  method  better  calculated  to  assist  in 
rescuing  from  crippledom  a  large  portion  of  these 
poor  little  sufferers  than  the  establishment  on  a  firm 
and  sound  basis  of  such  an  institution  as  is  contem- 
plated in  the  scheme  which  you  have  laid  before  the 
British  public. 

"  I  remain,  my  dear  Lord  Mayor, 
"  Very  truly  yours, 

"  D.  M.  PROBYN." 

^, 

I  cannot  resist  adding  this  testimony  from  a  great 
authority.  Sir  George  Newman,  in  writing  to  me  in 
December,  1919,  says:  "  I  have  been  for  many  years 
a  warm  admirer  of  the  splendid  work  which  has  been 
done  at  Alton.  It  has  not  only  proved  invaluable 
as  a  body-repairing  and  life-saving  institution  of 


LADDER   OF   HEALTH. 


Will  you  help  us  up  by  taking  a  Shilling  Rung? 

*Che  Spaces  are  for  Names  or  Intii&k. 

PRINCESS   MARY'S   COLLECTING  CARD. 


To  face  p   1 70 


INVITATION  TO  BERLIN  171 

inestimable  benefit  to  hundreds  of  little  children,  but 
it  has  proved  itself  a  pioneer  in  setting  a  new  standard 
for  the  treatment  of  non-pulmonary  tuberculosis  in 
children.  I  am  very  pleased  that  it  was  a  President 
of  the  Board  of  Education  (Lord  Gainford)  who  first 
provided  Exchequer  grants  in  aid  of  Alton,  and  I 
hope  that  in  future  years  a  number  of  Altons  will 
spring  up  in  various  parts  of  the  country." 

Earlier  in  my  diary  (Saturday,  the  i6th  of  March) 
I  told  of  a  dinner  at  which  I  presided  in  aid  of  the 
German  Society  of  Benevolence.  I  was  induced  to 
take  the  chair  by  my  friend  the  late  Mr.  De  Keyser, 
who  told  me  that  the  German  Ambassador,  Count 
Metternich,  would  be  present,  and  was  anxious  to 
meet  me. 

De  Keyser  gave  me  a  hint  that  the  Ambassador 
intended  to  speak  to  me  about  a  visit  to  Berlin  which 
it  was  hoped  I  would  pay. 

My  predecessor,  Sir  W.  Vaughan-Morgan,  had  paid 
a  visit  to  Paris  during  his  year  of  office,  and  I  thought 
it  quite  a  likely  idea  that  I  should  be  invited  to 
Berlin,  and  it  appealed  to  me.  The  Ambassador, 
during  dinner,  asked  me  if  I  thought  that  the  Kaiser 
would  be  a  welcome  visitor  if  he  came  on  a  visit  to 
London.  I  said,  Yes,  I  thought  he  would.  "  Will 
you  say  so  when  you  speak  to-night  ?"  he  said. 
"  Yes,  I  will,"  I  said.  After  I  had  spoken,  His 
Excellency  said  to  me:  "Are  you  going  to  visit 
Paris  during  your  mayoralty,  as  the  late  Lord  Mayor 
did  ?"  "  No,"  I  answered,  "  I  shall  not  go  to  Paris. 
If  I  go  abroad,  I  should  like  to  go  farther  afield, 
for  I  think  the  greater  the  distance  from  London, 
the  more  consequence  and  importance  is  attached 
to  the  position  of  Lord  Mayor  of  London."  He 


172  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

laughed,  and  said :  "  Berlin  is  not  so  near  to  London 
as  Paris ;  how  would  that  suit  you  ?  Would  you  be 
inclined  to  accept  an  invitation  to  go  to  Berlin  in 
the  summer?"  I  became  a  little  coy,  and  thought 
I  might ;  I  would  if  I  could,  etc.  I  eventually  fixed 
on  the  only  week  I  could  get  away — viz.,  that  begin- 
ning on  the  1 6th  of  June;  and  so  it  was  left.  I  met 
Mr.  Haldane,  who  was  at  this  time  our  War  Minister, 
on  the  following  Saturday,  the  23rd  of  March.  He 
was  giving  the  prizes  to  the  boys  of  the  ist  Cadet 
Battalion  King's  Royal  Rifle  Corps  at  Guildhall,  and 
I  was  in  the  chair.  I  took  the  opportunity  to  tell 
him  that  I  had  reason  to  believe  I  might  be  invited 
to  go  to  Berlin  shortly,  and  I  asked  his  opinion  as 
to  my  accepting  such  an  invitation.  He  said  he 
would  let  me  know.  A  day  or  two  afterwards  I 
received  the  following  letter : 

"  WAR  OFFICE, 

"  March  26th,  1907. 

"  DEAR  LORD  MAYOR, 

"  I  think  that  if  the  invitation  we  spoke  of 
comes  from  Germany  you  may  safely  accept  it. 
"  Believe  me, 

"  Yours  sincerely, 
(Signed)  "  R.  B.  HALDANE." 

I  announced  to  the  Court  of  Common  Council  on 
the  2nd  of  May  that  I  had  received  a  letter  dated 
the  1 3th  of  April  from  Herr  Kirchner,  Oberburger- 
meister  of  Berlin,  inviting  me  and  the  Sheriffs,  and 
forty  or  fifty  members  of  the  Corporation,  to  visit 
Berlin,  and  the  date  selected  for  the  proposed  visit 
was  June  1 6  to  21. 


VISIT  TO  THE  FOREIGN  OFFICE        173 

The  Court  received  the  communication  with 
acclamation,  and  decided  to  choose  members  for  the 
visit  by  ballot. 

On  the  1 5th  of  May  I  went  to  the  Foreign  Office 
by  request.  Sir  Edward  Grey  received  me  very 
genially.  I  remember  he  said:  "  Sit  in  this  chair, 
my  Lord  Mayor;  it  is  very  comfortable  and  easy; 
we  call  it  the  Ambassador's  chair."  It  was  a  com- 
fortable armchair.  "  I  hear  you  are  going  to  Berlin." 
"  Yes,"  I  said.  "  When  do  you  go  ?"  he  asked.  I 
replied:  "  On  the  i6th  of  June,  for  five  days — i.e., 
until  the  2ist."  "  Who  fixed  the  date  ?"  Sir  Edward 
asked.  "  I  did,"  said  I.  "  Are  you  sure  ?"  "  Yes, 
quite  sure."  "  Well,"  he  said,  "  we  have  heard  that 
it  is  intended  by  the  Germans  to  call  attention  to  the 
fact  that  the  i8th  of  Jun?  is  the  anniversary  of  the 
Battle  of  Waterloo  in  order  to  annoy  France,  and, 
if  possible,  to  create  bitterness  between  us  and  the 
French  people,  and  no  doubt  you  will  be  used  as  a 
pawn  in  the  game.  The  present  strained  feelings 
between  France  and  Germany  will  not  be  improved 
if  they  make  use  of  your  visit  to  carry  out  such  an 
idea.  Do  you  think  your  visit  could  be  put  off?" 
"  No,"  I  said,  "  that  cannot  be."  "  Well,"  he  said, 
"  forewarned  is  forearmed;  you  must  do  the  best 
you  can." 

When  I  got  back  to  the  Mansion  House  I  sent  a 
telegram  to  the  Oberburgermeister  to  ask  that  he 
would  be  so  kind  as  to  leave  the  evening  of  the  1 8th 
June  free,  as  I  had  arranged  a  private  dinner  for 
that  day,  and  should  be  glad  not  to  attend  any  public 
function  in  the  evening. 

Shortly  afterwards  I  had  a  visit  from  Mr.  John 
Walter,  of  The  Times,  who  brought  to  see  me  his 


174  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

Berlin  correspondent,  Mr.  Saunders.  He  asked  me 
the  same  questions  as  Sir  Edward  Grey  had  put  to 
me;  and  he  also  suggested  that  the  proposed  visit 
should  be  abandoned,  or  delayed.  He  said  the 
French  Government  were  aware  of  the  intention  of 
the  Germans  to  use  the  Lord  Mayor  of  London  as 
a  pawn  in  their  game,  and  he  bid  me  beware. 

Well,  I  went  to  Berlin  as  arranged ;  and  on  the 
1 8th  I  went  with  our  party  to  Charlottenburg,  where, 
at  a  public  luncheon  in  the  Town  Hall  (it  is  interesting 
to  see  how  my  objection  to  a  dinner  was  avoided) 
Burgomaster  Matting  recalled  the  fact  that  ninety- 
two  years  ago  to-day  Englishmen  and  Prussians 
had  fought  shoulder  to  shoulder;  and  that  now,  as 
then,  English  and  Germans  must  stand  together. 

In  replying,  I  said  I  was  glad  to  say  that  France, 
which  was  our  foe  nearly  a  hundred  years  ago,  was 
now  our  stanchest  ally.  The  following  extract  from 
Le  Petit  Journal  of  the  2ist  of  June,  1907,  showed 
how  alert  Paris  was  at  this  time : 

"  Depdche  de  noire  Correspondant. 

"Berlin,  20  Juin. 

11  Le  jour  anniversaire  de  la  Bataille  de  Waterloo 
le  lord-maire  et  un  certain  nombre  d'ediles  de  Londres 
qui  font  actuellement  un  voyage  en  Allemagne 
assistaient  a  un  dejeuner  qui  leur  offrait  la  munici- 
palite  de  Charlottenburg  pres  de  Berlin. 

"  A  1'heure  des  toasts  le  Bourgemestre  crut  bon 
de  rappeler  que  ce  mcme  jour  il  y  a  juste  quatre- 
vingt-douze  ans  les  armees  anglaises  et  allemandes 
avaient  combattu  cote  a  cote  dans  les  plaines  de 
Waterloo.  II  termina  son  allocution  en  disant  que 


A  "  CLEVERLY-ARRANGED  PLOT'       175 

'  Maintenant  comme  alors  Allemands  et  Anglais 
devaient  marcher  ensemble.'  Avec  beaucoup  de  tact, 
le  lord-maire  se  contenta  de  repondre : 

"  '  Je  suis  un  homme  de  paix  et  non  un  homme 
de  guerre.  Tout  ce  que  je  peux  dire,  c'est  que  le 
vaillant  ennemi  de  1'Angleterre  en  1815  est  aujourd- 
'hui  notre  plus  sur  allie  (our  stanchest  ally).'  Les 
Anglais  presents  a  ce  banquet  ont  &£  vraiment 
affect e"s  par  la  preuve  de  mauvais  gout  donnde  par 
ce  bourgemestre  tudesque.  Les  Allemands  sans  parti 
pris  ont  deplore"  qu'il  se  fut  attire*  la  fine  rdplique  du 
lord-maire  de  Londres." 

An  article  appeared  in  Nash's  Magazine  of  January, 
1910,  called  "  The  Terror  on  Europe's  Threshold." 
The  author,  Mr.  Alexander  Powell,  displayed  quite 
a  prophetic  instinct  about  the  war  which  was  to 
break  out  four  years  later.  He  points  out  how  the 
ambition  of  the  Kaiser  was  to  dominate  the  Continent 
and  the  world,  how  he  bullied  France,  and  how  he. 
was  always  striving  to  test  the  strength  of  the  Anglo- 
French  alliance.  Mr.  Powell  then  goes  on  to  refer 
to  "  the  cleverly  arranged  plot  "  to  trap  the  Lord 
Mayor,  and  I  venture  to  give  his  own  words,  written 
some  three  years  after  my  visit  to  Berlin : 

"  Behind  the  documentary  dust  of  diplomacy  are 
hidden  comedies  as  well  as  tragedies,  and  the  fierce 
battle  which  is  being  raged  in  the  underworld  of 
Anglo- Franco-German  politics  has  produced  instances 
of  both.  Here  is  the  story  of  one  of  the  comedies — 
a  petty  affair,  it  is  true;  but  it  bade  fair  to  be  a 
tragedy;  and  if  the  conspirators  who  planned  it  had 
succeeded,  it  would  probably  have  ended  the  friend- 
ship of  England  and  France.  On  this  occasion  the 


1 76  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

city  of  Berlin  prepared  a  vociferous  welcome  for  a 
Lord  Mayor  of  London,  in  which  triumphal  arches, 
banquets,  toasts,  and  decorations  all  bore  their  part. 
There  was  to  be  a  great  dinner  with  the  Lord  Mayor, 
as  its  chief  figure,  with  a  chinking  of  glasses  and  a 
making  of  speeches  to  proclaim  to  the  world  the  fact 
that  the  peoples  on  both  sides  of  the  North  Sea  were 
brothers  despite  the  war  talk.  But  scarcely  had  the 
Lord  Mayor  set  foot  on  German  soil  than  a  dis- 
quieting report  reached  the  British  Foreign  Office 
through  French  secret  service  sources,  that  some- 
thing besides  a  banquet  was  afoot  in  Berlin.  There 
was  a  cleverly  arranged  plot,  said  the  Suret£  officials, 
to  trap  the  Lord  Mayor,  whose  utterances  would  be 
taken  as  those  of  the  British  nation,  into  making 
some  indiscreet  remark  which  would  be  seized  upon 
by  the  Anglophobe  pens  of  Paris  as  an  excuse  for 
denouncing  the  Anglo-French  alliance.  The  secret 
agents  of  the  French  Government  were  right.  The 
occasion  utilised  was  an  official  luncheon  in  Berlin, 
at  which  the  chairman  reminded  his  guests  that  on 
that  day  fell  the  anniversary  of  Waterloo,  and  ex- 
pressed the  hope  that  in  the  future  as  in  the  past, 
Germans  and  Britons  would  stand  shoulder  to 
shoulder  against  the  common  foe — the  foe,  of  course, 
being  France. 

"  Most  men  would  not  have  seen  the  danger  until 
it  was  too  late,  and  would  have  replied,  thoughtlessly 
enough,  that  they  seconded  such  a  wish,  and  that 
they  drank  to  the  health  of  their  friends  and  brothers 
the  Germans.  But  that  Lord  Mayor  was  a  diplomat, 
if  ever  there  was  one;  he  sold  good  Persian  carpets 
in  his  private  capacity,  and  that  is  why,  perhaps,  he 
was  so  imbued  with  Oriental  cunning.  For,  amid 


DEPARTURE  FOR  BERLIN  177 

an  expectant  silence,  he  rose  in  his  place,  imposing 
in  his  fur-trimmed  robes  and  his  chain  of  office,  and 
replied  that  the  anniversary  of  Waterloo  but  served 
to  remind  all  Englishmen  of  the  progress  they  had 
made  in  friendship  and  understanding  with  their 
good  neighbours,  the  French,  and  taking  this  as  his 
theme,  he  availed  himself  very  adroitly  of  the  opening 
thus  given  him  by  German  diplomacy  to  applaud 
the  entente  with  France." 

Saturday,  15th  June.  —  Departed  from  Victoria 
Station  at  8.35  p.m.  for  Berlin,  via  Queenborough 
and  Flushing.  I  have  been  feeling  ill  for  some  days, 
and  once  or  twice  I  was  afraid  I  might  have  to 
abandon  my  intention  of  going  on  this  visit  to 
Germany.  I  wrote  to  the  Head  Burgomaster  asking 
to  be  allowed  to  take  with  me  my  doctor,  the  late 
Henry  Hetley.  Dr.  Kirchner  at  once  consented,  and 
sent  personal  invitations  for  him  to  all  the  functions 
which  had  been  arranged.  This  was  a  great  comfort 
to  me,  because  Hetley  was  a  very  dear  friend  of  mine. 
I  am  sure  he  enjoyed  the  tour,  for  he  was  a  very 
hard-working  man,  and  seldom  took  any  relaxation. 

The  members  of  the  deputation  (alas  !  how  many 
of  them  have  gone  !)  were  Alderman  Sir  Vansittart 
Bowater,  Mr.  Deputy  Cuthbertson,  Deputy  Sir 
George  Woodman,  Mr.  Deputy  Turner,  Sir  Thomas 
Brooke-Hitching,  Mr.  J.  Cloudsley,  Mr.  W.  P.  Neal, 
Colonel  Vickers  Dunfee,  Mr.  W.  H.  Pitman,  Mr. 
W.  H.  Key,  Mr.  W.  H.Thomas,  Mr.  W.  Hacker, 
Mr.  J.  Rowland  Brough,  Mr.  R.  Davies,  Mr.  Alex 
Tillie,  Mr.  A.  E.  Palmer,  Mr.  James  Lake,  Mr.  S. 
Pollitzer,  Mr.  W.  J.  Downes,  Mr.  J.  J.  Redding, 
Mr.  W.  W.  Green,  Mr.  D.  Haydon,  Mr.  F.  D.  Bowles, 
Mr.  Carl  Hentschel,  Mr.  James  Roll  (now  Alderman), 


i78  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

Mr.  F.  Brinsley-Harper,  Mr.  J.  G.  Howell,  Mr.  W. 
Cambden,  Mr.  S.  J.  Sandle,  Mr.  E.  H.  Green,  the 
Rev.  Percival  Clementi-Smith,  M.A.,  Mr.  L.  A. 
Newton,  Mr.  R.  Green,  Mr.  T.  Robinson,  Mr.  L. 
Bamberger,  Mr.  C.  P.  Whiteley,  Mr.  Howarth  Barnes, 
Mr.  G.  Frankel,  Mr.  H.  G.  W.  Brinsley,  Mr.  C.  McCraig 
Wither,  Mr.  G.  C.  H.  Jennings,  Mr.  T.  Ellis,  Mr.  W. 
Hurst  Brown,  the  Chamberlain  (Sir  J.  Dimsdale), 
the  Town  Clerk  (Mr.,  now  Sir,  James  Bell),  and  the 
Remembrancer  (Mr.  A.  Pollock),  Mr.  Alderman  and 
Sheriff  Crosby,  Mr.  Sheriff  W.  H.  Dunn  (since  Alder- 
man, and  Baronet). 

I  see  by  the  papers  that  the  Municipality  of  Berlin 
propose  a  vote  of  40,000  marks — i.e.,  £2,000 — as  the 
cost  of  our  visit. 

Sunday,  16th  June. — We  arrived  at  Berlin  about 
7  p.m.,  and  were  received  by  Burgomaster  Kirchner 
and  other  municipal  representatives,  and  taken  to 
our  hotels;  mine  was  the  Bristol,  where  a  fine  suite 
of  rooms  on  the  first  floor  was  placed  at  my  disposal. 
This  is  the  programme  of  the  work  and  enjoyment 
confronting  us : 

MONDAY,  JUNE  lyrn. 
Morning. — Visit  to  the  Government  School,  Wilhelmstrasse,  No.  10. 

Visit  to  Public  Baths,  Barwaldstrasse,  No.  64. 

Visit  to  the   Frederick  High  School,   Mittenwalderstrasse  • 
Nos.  31-34. 

Lunch  in  the  Rheingold  Restaurant. 
Afternoon. — Inspection  of  the  Rudolf  Virchow  Hospital. 
Evening. — Dinner  in  Town  Hall,  8  p.m. 

TUESDAY,  JUNE  i8xH. 

Morning. — Visit  to  the  Royal  Museum  and  Technical  School' 

Andreasstrasse,  Nos.  1/2. 
Journey  on  the  High  and  Underground  Railways  from  the 

Schleswig  Gate  to  Charlottenburg. 
Lunch  at  Town  Hall,  Charlottenburg. 


DR.  VIRCHOW'S  HOSPITAL  179 

Afternoon. — Visit   to   the    Charlottenburg    School    of   Forestry. 

Grunewald  Colony. 
Evening. — Opera,  8  p.m.     Reception  afterwards  at  the  Houses 

of  Parliament. 

WEDNESDAY,  JUNE  IQTH. 

Morning. — Visit  Zoological  Garden  and  Picture  Galleries. 

Lunch  at  the  Picture  Galleries. 

Afternoon. — Visit  to  the  Municipal  Institution  at  Buch. 
Evening. — Dinner,  Zoological  Garden. 

THURSDAY,  JUNE  20TH. 

Morning. — Drive  to  Potsdam. 
Evening. — Dinner  at  Kaiserhof,  7  p.m. 

Monday,  17th  June. — This  morning  (by-the-by, 
this  is  Ascot  week  at  home),  just  before  ten,  we  went 
off  in  motor-cars  flying  English  and  German  flags; 
each  car  took  four  of  us,  and  a  Berlin  alderman, 
who  talked  English,  to  a  Board  School,  where  the 
Chief  Burgomaster  spoke  a  few  words  from  the 
master's  rostrum,  or  stand,  in  the  centre  of  the  room. 
After  he  had  finished,  I  entered  the  stand  and  made 
a  little  speech.  Children  sang  hymns  of  welcome; 
then  there  was  a  great  chorus-song  sung  by  the  boys, 
"  Long  Live  the  Kaiser."  Singing  national  songs 
is  part  of  a  child's  education  in  Germany. 

Then  we  saw  some  wonderful  swimming  and 
gymnastic  performances. 

We  lunched  at  the  new  Rheingold  Restaurant, 
which  has  accommodation  for  seating  five  thousand 
people.  We  had  a  good  lunch  and  no  speeches,  and 
were  then  taken  to  the  great  Municipal  Hospital 
named  after  Dr.  Virchow.  This  is  a  free  hospital, 
or  series  of  hospitals,  maintained  by  the  rates, 
equipped  as  are  only  the  very  best  and  most  expensive 


i8o  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

hospitals  here.     Berlin  has  a  right  to  be  proud  of 
this  magnificent  hospital. 

We  dined,  and  were  formally  welcomed,  at  a 
gorgeous  state  banquet  in  the  Town  Hall,  where 
over  a  thousand  of  Berlin's  most  illustrious  citizens 
gathered  to  do  us  honour.  Amongst  those  present 
were  Dr.  Von  Bethman-Hollweg,  Minister  of  the 
Interior;  Herr  Nicherding,  Secretary  of  State  for  the 
Department  of  Justice;  Herr  Dernberg,  Secretary  of 
State  for  the  Colonies.  Count  Posadowsky,  the 
Imperial  Home  Secretary,  proposed  the  joint  toast 
of  "The  Kaiser  and  King  Edward."  I  am  able  to 
give  his  words : 

"  Gentlemen, — In  this  place,  in  the  Town  Hall  of 
the  capital  of  the  German  Empire,  where  so  many 
events  full  of  significance  for  the  German  Empire, 
the  State  of  Prussia,  and  the  City  of  Berlin  have 
already  been  celebrated,  we  have  to-day  the  honour 
to  salute  the  Head  of  the  City  of  London,  the  greatest 
city  of  earth,  which  was  an  important  trading  place 
already  at  the  time  of  the'  Romans,  before  Christ. 
We  have  taken  over  from  England  the  principle  of 
communal  self-government  in  the  modern  sense. 
When  the  Lord  Mayor  of  London,  the  head  of  the 
greatest  city  self-government  corporation  of  this 
giant  city,  which  can  look  back  on  a  history  and 
experience  of  2,000  years,  accompanied  by  numerous 
City  representatives,  comes  to  Germany  in  order  to 
see  the  communal  arrangements  of  our  country,  this 
can  only  fill  us  with  genuine  pleasure;  this  means  the 
recognition  that  the  German  city  authorities  have 
known  how  to  comply  with  the  rising  requirements 
of  their  office,  and  thus  to  offer  the  representatives 


THE  BANQUET  181 

of  such  an  ancient  place  of  culture  as  London,  many 
things  worth  enquiring  into,  and  perhaps  even 
imitating.  As  the  representative  of  the  Empire  at 
this  festive  meeting,  I  heartily  welcome  in  Germany 
the  Lord  Mayor  of  London.  The  Empire  and  State 
authorities,  jointly  with  the  communal  corporations, 
will  do  their  best  to  show  our  guests  all  the  arrange- 
ments in  the  social  and  communal  domain  that  they 
consider  worth  their  examination.  The  fact  that 
in  modern  times  the  communal  corporations  in  Great 
Britain,  as  well  as  in  Germany,  have  reached  such 
a  tremendous  development,  is  due  to  the  Monarchs 
of  the  two  countries  having  showed  great  under- 
standing and  interest  in  the  welfare  of  the  quickly 
growing  town  population,  and  to  their  statesman- 
like wisdom,  which  left' in  full  confidence  to  the  self- 
government  of  the  cities  the  problems  of  general 
state  administration.  We  wish,  therefore,  now,  in 
the  first  place,  to  honour  the  Monarchs  of  the  two 
great  States,  and  to  express  to  them  our  homage  by 
calling  long  life  to  His  Majesty  the  German  Kaiser, 
King  of  Prussia,  and  His  Majesty  the  King  of  Great 
Britain  and  Ireland." 

It  was  one  of  the  Ministers  of  State  sitting  next  to 
me  at  the  dinner,  who  said :  "  Hullo  !  you've  got  the 
Vicar  of  Wakefield  with  you."  He  was  referring  to 
the  Rev.  P.  Clementi-Smith,  one  of  our  party,  who 
has  a  very  good  head  of  white  hair  and  a  fine  healthy- 
looking,  good-humoured  countenance,  and  who  would 
certainly  make  a  good  representation  of  the  Vicar 
of  Wakefield  on  a  film. 

In  responding  to  the  toast  of  "  The  Guests,"  pro- 
posed by  Burgomaster  Kirchner,  I  told  them  that  if 


1 82  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

I  were  not  Lord  Mayor  of  London  I  would  like  to  be 
Chief  Burgomaster  of  Berlin,  and  that  I  should  be 
disengaged  early  in  November. 

Tuesday,  18th  June.  —  To-day  we  went  to  two 
museums,  the  Pergamon  and  the  Kaiser  Frederick, 
and  then  went  to  Charlottenburg,  a  suburb  of  Berlin, 
with  a  population  of  three  hundred  thousand,  and 
a  separate  corporation.  At  lunch  here  occurred 
the  affair  described  on  p.  176.  What  interested  me 
here  was  the  "  Forest  School,"  to  which  delicate  or 
sickly  children  are  taken  in  trams  or  other  vehicles, 
and  given  lessons  suitable  to  their  state  of  health 
in  the  open  air,  after  which  they  are  sent  home  in 
the  same  way.  It  is  a  splendid  idea,  and  is  all  done 
out  of  the  rates. 

Wednesday,  19th  June.  —  We  went  to-day  to  the 
Zoological  Gardens,  to  some  art  galleries,  and  an 
annual  exhibition  of  paintings. 

This  evening  we  went  to  a  gala  performance  at  the 
opera,  where  Donizetti's  Daughter  of  the  Regiment 
was  given,  followed  by  an  informal  supper  in  the 
large  lobby  of  the  Reichstag. 

Thursday,  20th  June. — I  received  this  morning  the 
following  telegram  from  the  Kaiser : 

"  I  have  received  with  many  thanks  your  Lord- 
ship's and  Corporation  of  London's  kind  message. 
I  am  particularly  pleased  to  know  that  you  will 
to-day  be  my  welcome  guests  at  Potsdam,  and 
sincerely  hope  you  may  enjoy  your  visit.  I  regret 
not  to  be  able  to  be  present  myself,  and  have  ordered 
His  Royal  Highness  Prince  Frederick  Leopold  of 
Prussia  to  represent  me  and  receive  you  in  my 
name. — WILHELM." 


FAREWELL  TO  BERLIN  183 

A  special  train  took  us  to  Waunsee  on  the  River 
Havel,  where  we  embarked  on  a  pretty  little  steamer 
for  Potsdam.  At  Potsdam  we  were  received  by 
Baron  von  Reischbach,  Lord  Chamberlain,  who 
escorted  me  to  a  handsome  barouche;  I  found  that 
all  our  party  were  similarly  accommodated  in  royal 
carriages,  with  attendant  footmen  in  royal  liveries. 
We  had  a  pleasant  drive  through  the  royal  borough. 
Before  proceeding  to  the  New  Palace,  the  Emperor's 
residence,  we  halted  at  the  Garrison  Church  at 
Potsdam,  where,  in  the  name  of  the  Corporation, 
I  deposited  a  wreath  on  the  iron  casket  of  Frederick 
the  Great,  which  rests  on  a  plain  stone  vault  behind 
the  altar. 

After  seeing  the  rooms  at  the  New  Palace,  and 
admiring  the  park,  we  drove  to  the  Sans  Souci 
Palace,  where,  in  the  orangery,  we  were  received  and 
welcomed  by  His  Royal  Highness  Prince  Frederick 
Leopold  of  Prussia  on  the  Kaiser's  behalf.  We  had 
a  splendid  luncheon,  and  afterwards  drove  to  the 
mausoleum  where  the  Emperor  Frederick  and  His 
Empress,  our  English  Princess  Royal,  lie  side  by 
side,  and  deposited  wreaths  bearing  the  names  of  our 
Corporation. 

Our  hosts  bade  us  formal  farewell  at  a  banquet 
at  the  Hotel  Kaiserhof,  and  we  left  the  next  morning 
at  11.30  for  home.  I  handed  to  the  Chief  Burgo- 
master before  I  left  the  sum  of  8,000  marks — i.e., 
£400 — for  the  poor  of  Berlin.  This  is  in  accordance 
with  custom,  and  was  made  up  as  follows : 

Lord  Mayor  . .          . .          . .          ...          . .          . .     £100 

Sheriff  Crosby          50 

Sheriff  Dunn  50 

Subscribed  by  the  other  members  and  officers    . .       200 

£400 


1 84  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

Saturday,  22nd  June. — We  arrived  early  this  morn- 
ing, and  I  sent  by  telegram  to  the  Chief  Burgo- 
master of  Berlin  the  thanks  and  cordial  good  wishes 
of  our  party. 

I  forgot  to  say  that  when  I  was  on  the  platform 
at  Berlin  ready  to  start  I  received  from  the  Kaiser 
by  telegraph  an  invitation  to  go  on  board  his  yacht 
at  Kiel.  I  could  not  have  accepted  his  invitation 
even  had  I  received  it  earlier,  as  I  had  been  com- 
manded by  King  Edward  to  a  garden-party  at 
Windsor  to-day 

On  my  arrival  at  the  Mansion  House  this  morning 
I  received  the  following  letter : 

Secret. 

"  10,  DOWNING  STREET, 

"WHITEHALL,  S.W., 

"June  2ist,  '07. 
"  MY  DEAR  LORD  MAYOR, 

"  As  I  see  you  have  returned  from  your  most 
successful  visit  to  Berlin,  on  which  I  congratulate 
you,  I  hasten  to  say  that  it  will  give  me  great  pleasure 
if  you  will  allow  me  to  submit  your  name  to  the 
King  for  the  honour  of  a  baronetcy.  I  know  that 
His  Majesty,  in  common  with  all  of  us,  has  a  high 
appreciation  of  the  admirable  manner  in  which  on 
two  occasions  of  a  royal  visit  by  a  foreign  sovereign 
to  the  City,  you  have  represented  not  only  the  great 
community  over  whose  affairs  you  so  worthily 
preside,  but  our  countrymen  at  large. 

"  This  is,  of  course,  to  be  kept  quite  private  for  the 
present. 

"  Believe  me,  dear  Sir  William, 

"  Yours  very  sincerely, 
"  H.  CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN." 


THE  PREMIER'S  WELCOME  185 

I,  of  course,  at  once  replied  to  this  very  kind 
letter  in  a  suitable  manner,  and  then  went  by  motor- 
car to  Windsor. 

I  met  the  Premier  at  the  garden-party,  who  asked 
if  I  had  received  his  letter.  I  answered  Yes,  and 
said  I  had  replied  to  it.  I  thanked  him  for  the  tone 
of  it,  and  he  was  good  enough  to  express  in  even 
warmer  and  more  flattering  terms  his  satisfaction 
with  my  conduct  in  Berlin.  I  have  reason  to  believe 
that  he  mentioned  the  matter  to  an  exalted  person, 
who  was  pleased,  and  laughed  at  the  story. 

I  got  back  to  London,  and  owing  to  a  breakdown  of 
the  car  was  only  just  in  time  to  preside  at  the  Seven- 
teenth Readers'  Dinner  of  the  London  Association 
of  Correctors  of  the  Press.  I  had  no  time  to  dress — 
in  fact,  I  drove  straight  to  De  Keyser's  Hotel,  where 
the  dinner  was  held,  and  the  Mayoral  Jewel  was  sent 
to  me  there  at  the  earnest  solicitation  of  Mr.  Sheriff 
Dunn,  who  said  that  if  I  did  not  wear  it  he  feared 
that  some  evil-disposed  persons  might  suggest  that 
I  had  pawned  it  in  Berlin  to  pay  my  fare  home. 

Sunday,  23rd  June.  —  The  Lady  Mayoress  had  a 
reception  at  the  Mansion  House,  where  we  received 
about  1,200  members  of  the  National  Sunday  League, 
Mr.  R.  M.  Morrell,  the  founder  of  the  League,  handed 
me  a  cheque  for  £160  for  my  Cripples'  Fund,  making 
a  total  of  £300  given  by  the  League. 

Monday,  24th  June. — Opened  the  Sessions  at  the 
Central  Criminal  Court  at  10.  (Mr.  Justice  Darling; 
65  prisoners.) 

This  being  Midsummer  Day,  I  presided  at  a  meet- 
ing of  the  Liverymen  of  London,  at  12,  at  Guildhall, 
to  elect  two  Sheriffs,  who  will  take  office  on  the 
28th  September  next,  and  serve  for  twelve  months 


1 86  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

The  candidates  were  Mr.  Alderman  Burnett,  Mr. 
Charles  C.  Wakefield,  C.C.,  and  Mr.  T.  B.  Baptie, 
J.P.,  a  member  of  the  Stock  Exchange.  The  show 
of  hands  was  in  favour  of  Burnett  and  Wakefield. 
A  poll  was  demanded  for  Baptie. 

I  paid  a  visit,  with  the  Lady  Mayoress  and  my 
daughter,  to  the  French  Hospital,  Victoria  Park 
Road,  South  Hackney.  A  short  service  was  given 
in  French  in  the  pretty  little  chapel,  and  afterwards 
the  children  of  the  French  Protestant  School  at 
Westminster  sang  French  songs.  The  Lady  Mayoress 
distributed  the  Fontanean  gifts  in  money  from  a 
legacy  bequeathed  many  years  ago,  the  recipients 
were  forty  men  and  twenty  women.  We  had  after- 
wards a  pleasant  luncheon,  winding  up  with  a  loving- 
cup  and  speeches. 

Tuesday,  25th  June.  —  At  n  to  Central  Criminal 
Court  to  receive  the  Judge,  Mr.  Justice  Darling. 

Drove  to  Beddington  in  the  afternoon,  with  the 
Lady  Mayoress  and  Miss  Treloar,  and  Sheriff  Dunn 
and  Miss  Dunn,  to  the  Royal  Female  Orphan  Asylum. 
The  Lady  Mayoress  distributed  the  prizes.  Unfor- 
tunately the  weather  was  bad,  and  the  rain  made 
it  impossible  to  have  any  function  in  the  garden,  as 
arranged. 

The  orphan  girls  wore  very  pretty  white  caps. 
It  occurred  to  me  it  would  greatly  improve  the 
appearance  of  the  Aldermen  if  their  hats  were  white. 

Attended  a  dinner  of  the  Worshipful  Company  of 
Poulterers  at  Frascati's  Restaurant,  the  Master,  Mr. 
R.  Pain  Walkden,  presiding. 

Wednesday,  26th  June.  —  Attended  in  state  at  St. 
Mary  Aldermanbury  Church  a  service  at  12.30  in  aid 
of  my  Fund. 


ELECTION  OF  SHERIFFS  187 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hanson,  Dr.  Jane  Walker,  and 
others,  to  lunch. 

Presided  at  the  Mansion  House  at  4,  at  a  meeting 
held  to  inaugurate  an  educational  health  and  food 
campaign.  Dr.  Crichton-Browne  discoursed  on  the 
advantages  of  knowledge  as  to  what  was  the  best 
and  cheapest  food.  He  said  feeding  was  better  than 
education;  he  deplored  the  disuse  of  porridge,  and 
said  patent  sauces  are  now  only  second  in  popularity 
to  patent  pills. 

Dined  with  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury  at 
Lambeth  Palace.  Prayers  in  the  chapel  at  7.30. 
Dinner  at  8. 

Thursday,  27th  June.  —  Lord  O'Hagan  called  by 
appointment  at  12. 

Court  of  Common  Council  at  Guildhall  at  i . 

Presided  at  a  dinner  at  De  Keyser's  Hotel  in  aid 
of  Miller 's  H  ospital  (Greenwich) .  Sheriffs  Sir  Thomas 
Crosby  and  Sir  W.  H.  Dunn,  Lord  Dartmouth,  and 
many  other  distinguished  guests  present.  £1,200 
subscribed. 

Attended  reception  of  the  Chairman  of  the  London 
County  Council,  Mr.  H.  Percy  Harris,  at  the  Grafton 
Galleries. 

Friday,  28th  June. — Declaration  of  poll  for  Sheriffs 
at  ii.  Burnett  and  Wakefield  were  elected. 

Presentation  of  the  Freedom  to  Lord  Lister  at 
Guildhall,  11.30.  There  was  a  very  large  and  influ- 
ential gathering,  including  the  Presidents  of  the 
Royal  Colleges  of  Surgeons  and  of  Physicians,  and 
the  leading  medical  men  of  London,  and  representa- 
tives of  every  hospital. 

Presided  at  the  commencement  of  an  important 
meeting  at  the  Mansion  House  in  connection  with  the 


1 88  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

National  Institution  of  Apprenticeship.  Lord  Ave- 
bury  moved  the  resolution,  and  presided  after  I  left 
the  chair. 

Presided  at  distribution  of  prizes  by  the  Lady 
Mayoress  at  the  Wanstead  Orphan  Asylum  at  3. 

Dined  in  full  dress  with  the  Home  Secretary,  the 
Rt.  Hon.  Herbert  Gladstone,  at  the  Grafton  Galleries. 
King's  birthday. 

Afterwards  attended  a  reception  at  the  Foreign 
Office.  Received  congratulations  from  Cabinet 
Ministers  and  many  prominent  men  on  the  success 
of  my  visit  to  Berlin;  in  fact,  I  was  patted  on  the 
back  by  one  or  two  bold  spirits. 

Saturday,  29th  June. — Drove  to  Purley  with  the 
Lady  Mayoress.  Prize  day  of  the  Warehousemen 
and  Clerks '  School .  SirWilliam  Dunn  was  present ;  and 
after  lunch  we  robed  for  the  benefit  of  the  children,  and 
prizes  and  speeches  filled  up  the  time  until  we  left. 

Attended  at  Lambeth  Palace  the  Archbishop  of 
Canterbury's  garden-party. 

I  had  my  brother  Savages  to  dinner  at  the  Mansion 
House,  and  a  very  pleasant  and  jovial  evening  we 
had.  Mark  Twain  was  there,  and  amused  us  with 
a  humorous  speech.  Charles  Santley  charmed  us 
by  singing  "  Simon  the  Cellarer  ";  the  Norwegian 
Minister^  Dr.  Fridtjof  Nansen,  told  us  stories  about 
Norway  and  the  Vikings;  Edward  Terry,  Franklin 
Clive,  Mostyn  Pigott,  and  many  other  Savages  of 
light  and  leading,  "  did  their  bit."  My  old  friend 
and  schoolfellow  Lord  Alverstone,  Lord  Chief  Justice 
of  England,  proposed  my  health.  There  were  229 
guests,  and  the  evening  was  one  that  will  be  memor- 
able in  the  annals  of  the  Savage  Club  and  of  the 
Mansion  House. 


THE  ART  GALLERY  189 

Sunday,  30th  June. — Went  with  the  Lady  Mayoress 
in  state  to  St.  Pancras  Parish  Church  at  1 1 ;  offertory 
for  my  Fund. 

We  afterwards  lunched  with  Sir  Thomas  and  Miss 
Crosby  at  19,  Gordon  Square. 

Monday,  1st  July. —  Received  a  deputation  from 
St.  Anne's  Society,  Mansion  House,  10.45. 

Attended  in  state  to  meet  Princess  Christian  at 
the  opening  of  the  City  of  London  Lying-in-Hospital, 
City  Road,  at  3. 

Went  in  state  to  Kennington  Oval  to  witness  a 
cricket  match  between  "  Jockeys  "  and  "  Athletes  " 
in  aid  of  my  Fund. 

Attended  Dominion  Day  dinner  given  by  Lord 
Strathcona  at  Hotel  Cecil. 

Tuesday,  2nd  July. — Dr.  Jane  Walker,  Dr.  Chalmers 
Mitchell,  and  others,  to  lunch. 

Went  to  a  Stepney  bazaar,  held  at  People's  Palace, 
to  meet  the  Duke  and  Duchess  of  Connaught,  3. 

Attended  Bishop  of  London's  meeting  at  Mansion 
House  in  aid  of  the  Bishop  of  London's  Fund,  4.30. 

Dined  with  the  Worshipful  Company  of  Fanmakers 
at  De  Keyser's  Hotel;  the  Master,  Sir  Homewood 
Crawford,  City  Solicitor,  presiding. 

Wednesday,  3rd  July. — Attended  meeting  of  the 
Patriotic  Fund  Committee,  17,  Waterloo  Place,  1 1.30. 

Received  a  command  from  Queen  Alexandra  to 
attend  at  the  Art  Gallery,  Guildhall,  at  3.  Her 
Majesty  paid  a  private  visit  to  see  the  Danish  Loan 
Exhibition  of  pictures  there.  She  was  accompanied 
by  Princess  Victoria,  and  attended  by  Lady  Suffield, 
the  Hon.  Charlotte  Knollys,  Lord  Howe,  and  the 
Hon.  Sidney  Greville.  Although  the  visit  was  quite 
private  and  informal,  by  the  Queen's  wish  the  public 


A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

was  not  restricted.  Mr.  A.  G.  Temple,  Art  Director, 
accompanied  me,  and  Her  Majesty  spent  an  hour 
in  looking  at  the  pictures,  many  of  which  were  well 
known  to  her.  The  royal  party  took  tea  in  the 
Director's  room,  and  I  was  graciously  invited  to 
join  the  party.  Her  Majesty  expressed  the  great 
pleasure  she  had  derived  from  seeing  so  interesting 
a  collection. 

The  annual  banquet  to  the  Archbishops  and  Bishops 
took  place  at  the  Mansion  House,  at  which  was  a 
very  representative  attendance.  The  Archbishop  of 
Canterbury  responded  to  the  toast  of  the  health 
of  the  Archbishop  and  Bishops,  and  the  Bishop  of 
London  proposed  the  toast  of  the  Lord  Mayor  and 
Lady  Mayoress.  292  guests. 

Thursday,  4th  July.  —  Received  a  deputation  from 
the  Ward  of  Billingsgate  re  Cripples'  Fund,  1 1 . 

Presided  at  the  Mansion  House  at  a  meeting  of 
the  Hospital  Sunday  Fund  Distribution  Committee. 

Attended  in  state  carriage  a  garden-party  at  Bute 
House,  Hammersmith,  given  by  the  Mayor  (Mr. 
E.  C.  Rawlings)  in  aid  of  my  Fund.  Sir  William 
Bull,  M.P.,  Mr.  Jocelyn  Brandon,  and  Mr.  Edward 
Collins  were  present. 

Friday,  5th  July. — Meeting  of  Privileges  Committee 
of  the  Court  of  Aldermen,  Guildhall,  i . 

Went  to  the  Hippodrome  to  a  matinee  in  aid  of 
my  Fund,  3.30. 

The  annual  dinner  to  the  Chancellor  of  the  Ex- 
chequer and  the  Bankers  and  Merchants  of  the  City 
of  London  was  held  at  Mansion  House.  Mr.  Asquith 
responded  to  the  toast  of  "  Continued  Prosperity  to 
the  Public  Purse,  and  the  health  of  the  Chancellor 
of  the  Exchequer,"  given  by  me.  The  Governor  of 


DINNER  TO  BANKERS  191 

the  Bank  of  England  responded  for  "  the  Merchants 
and  Bankers,"  which  I  proposed;  and  Lord  Avebury 
proposed  "  the  Lord  Mayor  and  the  Lady  Mayoress," 
to  which  I  responded.  252  guests. 

Went  afterwards  to  Lady  Portsmouth's  At  Home, 
1 6,  Mansfield  Street. 

Saturday,  6th  July. — 120  Canadian  educationalists 
were  shown  over  the  Mansion  House,  1 1 .30. 

A  party  of  the  Boys'  Brigade  was  shown  over  the 
Mansion  House,  3.45. 

Went  to  Okehampton,  accompanied  by  Sir  W.  H. 
Dunn,  where  we  arrived  at  6  o'clock,  and  were 
received  by  General  Holley,  who  was  to  be  our  host 
during  our  visit,  the  Mayor  (Mr.  W.  B.  German), 
and  Mr.  Sydney  Simmons.  One  or  two  speeches 
were  made  at  the  station,  and  General  Holley  took 
us  in  his  car  to  Oaklands.  Here,  in  his  lovely  park, 
his  tenantry  and  workpeople  were  assembled  to  do 
us  honour.  A  dinner-party  was  given  to  welcome 
us  by  the  General  this  evening,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sydney 
Simmons  being  present.  The  object  of  my  visit  is 
to  open  a  park  which  Mr.  Simmons  is  giving  to 
Okehampton,  his  native  town. 

Sunday,  7th  July. — We  attended  this  morning  the 
parish  church,  where  a  sermon  was  preached  by  the 
Bishop  of  Exeter  from  the  text  Micah  i.  6  and  iv.  2. 

Monday,  8th  July.  —  W7e  went  in  full  state  to  the 
Town  Hall  at  1 1 .30,  when  Mr.  Sydney  Simmons  and 
I  received  the  Hon.  Freedom  of  the  town.  The 
Mayor  made  the  presentations  in  a  very  nice  speech, 
and  we  both  suitably  responded.  The  scrolls  were 
enclosed  in  silver-gilt  caskets,  bearing  the  Arms 
of  the  Borough,  and  the  words  "  Incorporated 
Edward  I.,  A.D.  1272." 


1 9a  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

Luncheon  in  the  Market  Square,  the  Bishop  of 
Exeter,  General  Holley,  and  the  Mayors  of  Torquay, 
Honiton,  Great  Torrington,  Tiverton,  Dartmouth, 
South  Molton,  Bideford,  Barnstaple,  Exeter,  and 
Andover,  wearing  their  chains  of  office,  being  present. 
After  luncheon  to  the  New  Park,  where  a  spacious 
stand  had  been  erected.  Here  the  proceedings  began 
with  a  short  service  conducted  by  the  Rev.  A.  Linzea 
Giles;  the  hymns  "  Praise  God  from  whom  all  bless- 
ings flow  "  and  "  Now  thank  we  all  our  God  "  were 
sung,  and  then  I  declared  the  park  open,  at  the 
request  of  Mr.  Simmons,  who  handed  the  deeds  to 
the  Mayor  and  a  silver  key  to  me. 

Then  we  attended  an  At  Home  of  the  Mayoress 
(Mrs.  German).  Some  tree-planting  had  to  be 
abandoned,  or  rather  postponed,  on  account  of  the 
rain. 

Tuesday,  9th  July. — Left  Okehampton  by  the  9.35 
a.m.  train. 

At  3  I  went  in  state,  with  the  Lady  Mayoress  and 
the  Sheriffs,  to  distribute  the  prizes  at  the  Freemen's 
Orphan  School  at  Brixton.  Received  by  the  Chair- 
man, Mr.  Charles  Johnston,  and  Mrs.  Johnston.  A 
garden-party,  tea,  and  sports  followed. 

Dined  with  the  Worshipful  Company  of  Gardeners 
at  Fishmongers'  Hall,  Sir  Thomas  Dewar,  the  Master, 
presiding. 

Wednesday,  10th  July. — Attended  Butcher's  garden- 
party  at  Walham  Green,  at  3.30,  with  Sir  William 
Dunn. 

Afterwards  to  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury's 
garden-party,  Lambeth  Palace. 

Presided  at  a  banquet  of  members  of  the  Anglo- 
French  Association,  L 'Entente  Cordiale,  at  the 


FLOWERS  IN  EAST  LONDON  193 

Trocadero.  The  Lady  Mayoress  and  the  Sheriffs 
were  present;  also  Lord  Fitzmaurice,  the  Greek 
Minister,  the  Marquis  de  la  Begassiere,  the  Mayor  of 
Calais,  and  many  others. 

Thursday,  llth  July. — Committee  of  the  whole  Court, 
11.30. 

Court  of  Common  Council,  at  i . 

Meeting,  Mrs.  Close's  Emigration  Scheme,  Mansion 
House,  3.30. 

Opened  in  state  the  i4th  Summer  Flower  Show 
in  connection  with  the  People's  Palace  and  East 
London  Horticultural  Society.  The  King  and  Mr. 
Leopold  de  Rothschild  lent  choice  flowering  plants. 
The  Lady  Mayoress  was  present.  The  Hon.  Harry 
Lawson  welcomed  us  to  the  Exhibition. 

Friday,  12th  July. — Meeting  at  Mansion  House  at 
2.30,  Distribution  Committee  of  the  Hospital  Sunday 
Fund. 

Dined  with  the  Mayor  of  Marylebone,  Sir  Thomas 
Brooke-Hitching,  at  the  Wharncliffe  Rooms  of  the 
Hotel  Great  Central.  About  120  guests,  including 
the  Rev.  H.  Russell  Wakefield,  Prebendary  Barker, 
Archdeacon  Sinclair,  Sir  Albert  de  Rutzen,  Sir  John 
Cockburn,  Sir  Thomas  Pink  and  Mr.  A.  C.  Plowden. 
The  Mayor  made  a  presentation  on  behalf  of  the 
members  of  the  Council  to  the  late  Mayor  (Mr.  W. 
Dennis). 

Saturday,  13th  July. — Left  Liverpool  Street,  with 
the  Sheriffs,  at  10.40  for  Bury  St.  Edmunds,  to  see 
the  pageant  there,  which  has  been  prepared  and 
organised  by  Mr.  Louis  N.  Parker;  to  lunch  with  the 
Mayor  (Mr.  Owen  A.  Clark),  and  to  receive  the  Hon. 
Freedom  of  the  ancient  and  historic  borough.  There 
was  a  large  and  representative  gathering,  including 


194  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

Sir  Ernest  Clarke,  Captain  Harvey,  R.N.,  M.P.,  Mr. 
G.  A.  Hardy,  M.P.,  the  Lord  Mayor  of  York,  the 
Mayors  of  King's  Lynn,  Beccles,  Eye,  Peterborough, 
Chelmsford,  Wisbech,  Thetford,  Ipswich,  Cambridge, 
Colchester,  Aldeburgh,  Maldon,  Southwold,  Norwich, 
Yarmouth,  Sudbury,  and  Saffron  Walden,  and  many 
others. 

The  Freedom  was  conferred  upon  me  before  lunch. 
The  motto  of  this  ancient  borough  is,  "  The  shrine 
of  the  King,  and  the  cradle  of  the  Law."  After 
luncheon  the  Mayor,  in  proposing  my  health,  said 
I  had  been  to  "  Berlin  on  the  Spree,  and  now  came 
to  Bury  on  the  Lark." 

Monday,  15th  July. — Miss  Olga  Nethersole  called 
by  appointment  at  1 1 .  She  rode  with  me  in  the 
state  coach  to  St.  George's  Circus,  Blackfriars  Road, 
where  I  inaugurated  a  new  clock  tower,  presented 
by  Mr.  W.  B.  Faulkner  and  Mr.  F.  Faulkner  to  the 
Borough  of  Southwark. 

The  opening  ceremony  took  place  in  the  presence 
of  a  large  company,  including  the  Bishop  of  South- 
wark, the  Mayor  of  Southwark,  and  the  Rt.  Hon. 
R.  K.  Causton,  M.P.  We  first  assembled  in  the 
Passmore  Edwards  Library.  The  tower  was  originally 
erected  to  the  memory  of  Lord  Mayor  Brass  Crosby, 
who  had  been  imprisoned  in  the  Tower  with  Alder- 
man Oliver  for  his  action  with  Alderman  John  Wilkes 
in  defending  the  freedom  of  the  Press.  Amongst  the 
plate  at  the  Mansion  House  is  a  cup  called  the 
"  Crosby  "  Cup,  commemorating  his  action,  which 
was  presented  to  him  by  the  Corporation  and  given 
by  him  to  the  City. 

Presided  in  Mansion  House  saloon  at  the  annual 
meeting   of  the   British   Empire   League.     Amongst 


BRITISH  EMPIRE  LEAGUE  195 

those  present  were  Lord  Selby,  Lord  Knutsford,  Lord 
Avebury,  Lord  Blyth,  Admiral  Sir  E.  R.  Freemantle, 
Mr.  C.  H.  Rason  (Agent-General  for  Western  Aus- 
tralia), Sir  John  Tweedy,  Sir  Rivers  Wilson.  Lord 
Derby  moved  the  adoption  of  the  report,  which  Lord 
Selby  seconded. 

Attended,  with  the  Lady  Mayoress,  the  annual 
sports  at  Herne  Hill  in  aid  of  the  Billingsgate  Hospital 
and  Fishmongers'  and  Poulterers'  Institution. 

Tuesday,  16th  July.  —  Meeting  of  City  Imperial 
Volunteers  Trustees,  Mansion  House,  at  12.30. 

Court  of  Aldermen,  Guildhall,  12.50. 

Mr.  Toft,  a  brother  Savage  and  a  good  sculptor, 
to  lunch,  1.30. 

Visited,  with  the  Lady  Mayoress  and  Sir  W.  H. 
Dunn,  the  Stepney  and  Bow  Foundation  School,  to 
distribute  prizes.  Mr.  Henry  Cushen,  Vice-Chairman 
of  the  Governors,  presided.  There  are  i  ,000  scholars. 
The  school  was  founded  in  1538. 

Dined  with  the  Worshipful  Company  of  Coach 
and  Coach  Harness  Makers  at  De  Keyser's  Hotel,  the 
Master,  Captain  Chancellor,  presiding.  The  motto 
of  this  Company  is,  "  Surgit  post  nubila  Phoebus." 

Wednesday,  17th  July. — Opened  at  Werndee  Hall, 
South  Norwood,  a  Wesleyan  Church  Fete  and  Bazaar 
in  aid  of  my  Fund.  The  grounds  were  lent  by  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Sydney  Smith.  The  Lady  Mayoress,  Sir 
William  and  Miss  Dunn,  accompanied  me. 

Dined  with  the  Worshipful  Company  of  Cooks 
at  Mercers'  Hall,  the  Master,  Mr.  H.  Volckman, 
presiding. 

Afterwards  attended  the  First  Lord  of  the  Ad- 
miralty's (Lord  Tweedmouth)  reception  at  the 
Admiralty. 


1 96  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

Thursday,  18th  July. — Opened  the  Empire  Educa- 
tion Fund  Exhibition  at  the  Horticultural  Hall  at 
Westminster,  at  1 1 . 

Left  St.  Pancras  for  St.  Albans  at  12.15,  with  the 
Lady  Mayoress  and  the  Sheriffs  and  their  daughters. 
We  were  received  at  the  railway-station  by  the 
Mayor  of  St.  Albans  (Mr.  Worssam)  and  the  Town 
Clerk  (Mr.  Debenham).  Our  state  carriage  had  been 
sent  on  by  the  8  o'clock  train.  We  were  in  full 
state,  with  sword  and  mace.  Luncheon  was  served 
in  the  Town  Hall.  Amongst  others  present  were 
the  Earl  of  Clarendon,  Lord-Lieutenant  of  Herts, 
Lad}'-  Edith  Villiers,  the  Marquis  and  Marchioness 
of  Salisbury,  Sir  John  and  Lady  Evans,  the  Bishop  of 
Colchester,  Mr.  N.  Micklem,  M.P.,  and  Mrs.  Micklem, 
Mr.  H.  Carlile,  M.P.,  and  Mrs.  Carlile,  and  the 
Mayors  and  Chairmen  from  the  towns  in  the  district. 
After  witnessing  the  very  magnificent  pageant  we 
left  for  town  by  the  6  o'clock  train. 

Friday,  19th  July. —  I  visited  with  the  Lady 
Mayoress  and  the  Sheriffs  the  Central  London  Dis- 
trict Schools  at  Hanwell,  and  the  Lady  Mayoress 
distributed  the  prizes. 

Went,  as  commanded,  with  the  Lady  Mayoress  to 
a  State  Ball  at  Buckingham  Palace. 

Saturday,  20th  July. — Went  with  the  Lady  Mayoress 
to  Broadstairs  to  Founders'  Day  of  the  Yarrow 
Home,  and  to  be  the  guest  until  Monday  of  my  dear 
friend  Sir  Alfred  Yarrow,  Bart.  He  is  exactly  the 
same  age  as  I  am,  both  of  us  having  been  born  on 
the  1 3th  of  January,  1843. 

Monday,  22nd  July.  —  Opened  the  Sessions  at 
Central  Criminal  Court  at  10.  (Mr.  Justice  Darling; 
87  prisoners.) 


EXTENSION  AT  "  BART'S."  197 

Visited  a  small  children's  hospital  at  Winifred 
House,  Wray  Crescent,  Tollington  Park,  at  3.30,  at 
the  request  of  Mrs.  Mills. 

Tuesday,  23rd  July.  —  Received  the  Judge  (Mr. 
Justice  Darling)  at  Central  Criminal  Court  at  1 1 . 

Meeting  of  the  Empire  Education  Trustees  at  the 
Mansion  House  at  i . 

Sir  Albert  Rollit,  Madame  Take  Jonescu,  and 
others,  to  lunch,  1.30. 

Opening  of  the  new""  out-patients'  block  at  St. 
Bartholomew's  Hospital  by  T.R.H.  the  Prince  and 
Princess  of  Wales  at  3.30.  Attended  in  state,  with 
the  Sheriffs.  The  Princess  was  elected  a  Governor 
of  the  hospital. 

Wednesday,  24th  July.  —  Received  at  the  Mansion 
House  about  400  members  of  the  Auctioneers' 
Institute. 

Entertained  to  luncheon  at  Guildhall  by  the 
members  of  the  deputation  who  went  with  me  to 
Berlin;  Mr.  Deputy  Turner  presided.  The  German 
Ambassador  was  present,  who  announced  that  the 
Kaiser  had  been  graciously  pleased  to  confer  upon 
me  the  Star  and  Second  Class  of  his  Order  of  the 
Red  Eagle,  and  on  the  Sheriffs  the  Second  Class  of 
his  Order  of  the  Crown. 

After  luncheon,  I  motored  with  Sir  W.  H.  Dunn 
to  Burnham-on-Crouch  to  a  flower  show,  and  to  see 
my  dear  old  friend  Deputy  William  Rome,  who  was 
on  his  death-bed. 

Thursday,  25th  July. —  Lord  Monkswell  called,  by 
appointment,  at  10.30. 

Chevalier  Cernigleare  Melliti  called,  by  appoint- 
ment, at  1 1 . 

Committee  of  the  whole  Court,  12.30. 


198  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

Court  of  Common  Council  at  i . 

Friday,  26th  July.  —  Distributed  prizes  at  the 
annual  meeting  of  the  City  of  London  School.  The 
Lady  Mayoress  and  Sheriffs  were  present.  Mr.  W. 
Bull,  the  late  Chairman,  presided,  in  the  absence 
through  illness  of  the  Chairman,  Mr.  E.  H.  Lamb, 
M.P. 

Meeting  of  the  City  School  Boys'  Shooting  Club  at 
the  Mansion  House  at  4.  Earl  Roberts  present.  A 
great  little  man,  whose  example  is  an  inspiration  to 
his  country. 

Visited  a  factory  for  the  employment  of  cripples 
at  77,  East  Road,  Hoxton. 

Saturday,  27th  July. — Went  to  Alton  by  motor 
with  the  Lady  Mayoress  at  9.30. 

A  party  of  the  Gresham  College  Students'  Associa- 
tion visited  the  Mansion  House  at  4.30. 

Monday,  29th  July.  —  Left  Victoria  Station,  with 
Sir  W.  Dunn,  at  10.40  for  merry  Margate.  Our  visit 
is  in  celebration  of  the  Jubilee  celebrations  of  the 
Borough.  We  lunched  with  the  Mayor  (Mr.  J.  J. 
Hermitage)  at  Dane  Park,  where  the  Bishop  of  Dover, 
the  Vicar  of  Margate,  the  Mayor  of  Ramsgate,  and 
Lord  George  Sanger,  circus  proprietor  and  showman, 
were  some  of  the  guests.  I  started  a  new  fountain 
erected  in  the  park.  Collections  in  the  town  were 
made  for  my  Fund. 

Tuesday,  30th  July.  —  Left  London,  from  King's 
Cross  at  1 1.25,  for  a  long  holiday  at  Harrogate  away 
from  functions  and  footmen. 

I  wanted  a  holiday,  and  I  was  especially  anxious 
about  the  health  of  my  wife.  I  was  tortured  by  the 
idea  that  perhaps  if  I  had  not  taken  office  it  would 
have  been  better  for  her;  but  yet  she  was  so  pleased 


a   j 
S   >* 


H    2 


AT  H ARROGATE  199 

at  the  success  of  my  Cripples'  Fund,  and  took  so  much 
interest  in  every  detail  of  my  plans  and  my  work, 
that  I  hoped  she  was  perhaps  more  benefited  than 
injured  by  the  excitement  of  it  all. 

Sir  James  Ritchie,  Bart.,  had  agreed  to  be  my 
locum  tenens  at  the  Mansion  House,  and  I  was  there- 
fore comparatively  free  from  all  Mansion  House  work. 

We  stayed  at  the  Queen  Hotel,  and  had  pretty  good 
weather.  I  went  up  to  London  only  once  to  preside 
at  the  Aldermanic  Election  of  Castle  Baynard  Ward . 

Tuesday,  27th  August. — Came  to  London  to  preside 
at  a  Wardmote  for  Castle  Baynard  Ward  for  the 
purpose  of  electing  an  Alderman  to  succeed  the  late 
Sir  David  Evans.  Sir  Thomas  Vansittart  Bowater, 
Sir  William  Henry  Dunn,  and  Mr.  Henry  O'Brien 
were  nominated. 

The  show  of  hands  was  in  favour  of  Sir  T.  V. 
Bowater,  and  a  poll  was  demanded  and  ordered 
for  to-morrow,  the  result  of  which  was:  Bowater, 
152  votes;  O'Brien,  77  votes;  Dunn,  37.  I,  therefore, 
declared  Sir  T.  V.  Bowater  duly  elected. 

The  Gramophone  Company  sent  two  gentlemen  to 
Harrogate  to  take  a  record  of  a  speech  which  was 
delivered  at  the  concert  given  by  that  Company  at 
the  Albert  Hall.  Beyond  this  I  did  nothing.  I  was 
greatly  amused  by  an  American  gentleman  at  the 
Pump-Room  one  morning  rushing  up  to  me  and  grip- 
ping my  hand.  "  You  don't  know  me,  and  I  never 
saw  you  before;  but  I'm  told  you  are  the  Lord 
Mayor,  and  I  should  like  to  shake  hands  with 
you." 

I  have  another  story  to  tell.  I  consulted  a  medical 
man  at  Harrogate,  who,  after  carefully  examining  me, 
threw  up  his  hands  in  horror,  and  said:  "  Oh,  my 


200  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

Lord  Mayor  !  but  there,  of  course,  the  life  you  have 
been  leading  is  accountable  for  your  serious  condition 
— too  much  food,  rich  food,  and  little  or  no  exercise. 
Oh  dear  !  the  fact  of  it  is,  your  stomach  is  quite  six 
inches  lower  than  it  ought  to  be.  You  see,  the 
stomach  is  held  up  by  muscles,  just,  for  instance,  as 
stays  are  supported  by  whalebones,  and  if  the  muscles 
which  hold  up  the  stomach  become  flabby  and  useless, 
so  we  have  this  condition.  You  must  take  exercise 
in  the  open  air;  take  very  little  food,  and  live  quite 
plainly  and  moderately,  and  you  must  have  a  course 
of  vibratory  massage  in  accordance  with  this  pre- 
scription. Go  to  So-and-so  with  it,  and  he  will  know 
what  to  do,  and  come  and  see  me  again." 

Off  I  went  to  have  the  vibratory  massage.  I  found 
this  operation  consisted  in  the  rubbing  of  an  iron  ball 
with  spikes  in  it,  charged  with  electricity,  over  my 
stomach.  I  had  about  twenty  minutes  of  it,  and 
when  I  was  dressed  and  ready  to  go,  I  said:  "  How 
much  have  I  to  pay  ?" 

"  Oh,"  said  the  operator,  "  you  can  pay  at  the  end 
of  the  course." 

I  said :  "  This  is  the  end  of  the  course." 

"No,"  he  said;  "  you  must  have  three  weeks 
according  to  the  prescription." 

I  insisted,  however,  and  paid  75.  6d.  Before  leaving 
Harrogate  I  had  another  interview  with  the  medical 
man,  who  after  a  careful  examination,  said :  "  See  the 
effect  of  vibratory  massage.  Your  stomach  is  quite 
normal." 

I  have  great  faith  in  the  Harrogate  sulphur  water, 
but  none  in  vibratory  massage  for  my  stomach. 

Tuesday,  17th  September. — Wilson's  Trust  Com- 
mittee, 12.45. 


FOUR  LORD  MAYORS  201 

Court  of  Aldermen,  i,  when  the  new  Alderman, 
Sir  Vansittart  Bowater,  was  admitted. 

Sir  Whittaker  Ellis  moved:  "  The  members  of  this 
Court,  with  sincere  pleasure,  desire  to  express  to 
Sir  Andrew  and  Lady  Lusk  their  hearty  congratula- 
tions upon  the  approaching  ninety-seventh  anniver- 
sary of  Sir  Andrew's  birthday,  and  an  expression  of 
their  hope  that  he  may  continue  to  enjoy  the  health 
and  happiness  so  long  vouchsafed  to  him." 

Sir  Andrew  Lusk  was  Lord  Mayor  in  the  year  1873. 

Entertained  at  the  Mansion  House  the  members  of 
the  Court  of  Aldermen  and  their  ladies,  the  high 
officers  and  their  ladies,  and  others,  to  meet  the  newly 
elected  Alderman  Sir  Vansittart  Bowater  and  Lady 
Bowater.  60  guests. 

Wednesday,  18th  September.  —  At  9  o'clock  this 
morning  I  entertained  to  breakfast  at  the  Mansion 
House  the  Lord  Mayor  of  Cardiff  (Sir  William  Cross- 
man),  the  Lord  Mayor  of  Bristol  (Mr.  T.  A.  Smith), 
and  the  Lord  Mayor  of  Leeds  (Mr.  J.  Hepworth),  and 
after  breakfast  we  four  Lord  Mayors  went  in  state  in 
my  carriage  to  the  meeting  at  Wesley's  Chapel  in 
the  City  Road.  The  Sheriffs  also  attended.  This 
meeting  was  a  conference  of  the  United  Methodist 
Church,  and  my  guests  at  breakfast  were  members  of 
one  or  other  branch  of  the  Methodist  Church.  Mr. 
Edward  Borden,  the  President  of  the  Conference,  was 
in  the  Chair,  and  he  very  graciously  gave  me  the 
position  for  the  short  time  I  was  with  them.  I  was 
asked  to  address  the  Conference.  I  venture  to  give 
a  newspaper  extract  of  my  response. 

"  Sir  William  Treloar  said  the  platform  was  full  of 
Lord  Mayors  and  Mayors — some  people  might  call 
it  a '  Mayor's  nest.'  He  had  that  morning  entertained 


202  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

three  Lord  Mayors  to  breakfast,  and  in  his  state 
coach  four  of  us  Lord  Mayors  had  been  carried  from 
the  Mansion  House  to  that  building.  Fortunately, 
he  was  soon  leaving  office,  so  that  it  would  not  affect 
him  whatever  the  result  on  the  coachman  might  be. 
'  Some  time  ago,'  he  continued,  'I  was  in  Cornwall, 
and  met  a  very  entertaining  man,  who  was  a  Methodist 
— at  any  rate,  I  know  he  was  a  livery-stable  keeper. 
As  he  drove  my  wife  and  me  about  the  Lizard  he  used 
to  tell  us  all  sorts  of  stories,  stopping  the  carriage  for 
the  purpose.  In  this  way  he  amused  us  and  rested 
his  horses;  he  was  over  eighty,  and  I  was  interested 
to  know  how  it  was  he  looked  so  well.  He  gave  me 
his  recipe:  '  No  smoke;  no  whisky;  plenty  of  good 
society;  plenty  of  fresh  air;  and  last,  but  not  least, 
never  cross  a  bridge  till  you  come  to  it.'  'Well,'  said 
the  Lord  Mayor, '  I  don't  smoke ;  I  don't  drink  whisky ; 
I  am  now  in  very  pleasant  society ;  I  have  been  getting 
at  Harrogate  plenty  of  fresh  air;  and  to-day  I  am 
adopting  the  last  part  of  the  advice — I  have  not  pre- 
pared a  speech. ' 

The  President  referred  to  my  Cornish  story,  and 
added  that  the  gentleman  to  whom  I  had  referred  in 
my  speech  was  his  brother-in-law.  Confirmation 
strong  as  Holy  Writ. 

After  the  meeting  I  entertained  to  luncheon  at  the 
Mansion  House  the  Lord  Mayors  of  Cardiff,  Leeds, 
and  Bristol,  and  the  Mayors  of  Harrogate,  Chatham, 
Appleby,  Bury,  Southport,  Torrington,  St.  Ives, 
Woodstock,  and  Keighley,  the  Sheriffs  of  Norwich, 
Mr.  Alderman  Shape  (Liverpool),  and  others  who  are 
in  London  in  connection  with  the  Methodist  Con- 
ference. 

The  Lady  Mayoress  and  I  dined  with  our  friends 


CHRIST'S  HOSPITAL  203 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  Hall  Richardson,  48,  Thurlow  Park 
Road,  West  Dulwich. 

Thursday,  19th  September. — Committee  of  the  whole 
Court,  12.30. 

Court  of  Common  Council  at  i . 

Distributed  prizes  at  St.  Bride's  Institute.  Mr. 
C.  J.  Drummond,  Chairman  of  Governors,  presided; 
and  Sir  William  Dunn  and  the  Rev.  P.  Clementi- 
Smith  were  present. 

Friday,  20th  September. — Presided  at  a  meeting 
or  conference  on  town  planning  and  housing,  held  at 
Letchworth  Garden  City,  our  subject  being  the 
Housing  Lessons  of  the  Garden  City.  Dr.  Macna- 
mara,  M.P.,  the  Parliamentary  Secretary  of  the  Local 
Government  Board,  representatives  from  the  London 
County  Council,  the  City  Corporation,  twenty-four 
Metropolitan  boroughs  and  eighteen  provincial  cor- 
porations were  present. 

Saturday,  21st  September.  —  St.  Matthew's  Day. 
In  accordance  with  ancient  custom,  the  Lord  Mayor, 
Sheriffs,  and  Aldermen,  and  the  Governors  of  the 
five  Royal  Hospitals — Christ's,  St.  Bartholomew's, 
Bridewell,  Bethlehem,  and  St.  Thomas's — ought  to 
go  in  state  to  Divine  Service  at  Christ  Church, 
Newgate  Street.  The  boys  of  Christ's  Hospital, 
Horsham,  and  the  girls  from  Hertford  attend. 

I  returned  after  service  to  the  Mansion  House, 
where  I  gave  the  boys  new  coins — to  24  Grecians,  a 
guinea  each;  to  7  probationers,  half-a-guinea ;  40 
monitors,  half-a-crown ;  and  619  others,  one  shilling. 
The  boys  and  girls  were  entertained  to  tea  by  the 
Lady  Mayoress,  and  afterwards  returned  home. 

Sunday,  22nd  September. — Went  in  state  at  3.30 
to  Christ  Church,  Westminster  Bridge  Road,  the 


204  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

P.S.A.  (Pleasant  Sunday  Afternoon)  Brotherhood, 
and  delivered  an  address  to  a  large  congregation  of 
working  people.  Made  a  collection  for  my  Fund. 

Monday,  23rd  September. — Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kendal, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pilcher,  Sir  W.  H.  Dunn  and  Miss  Dunn, 
Mr.  Toft  and  Mr.  Franks,  and  others,  to  lunch 
at  1.30. 

Tuesday,  24th  September. — Left  Cannon  Street 
Station,  at  3.45,  with  Sir  William  Dunn,  for 
St.  Leonards  and  Hastings,  to  lay  the  foundation- 
stone  of  a  new  wing  for  children's  wards  at  the 
Buchanan  Hospital  there  at  6.  Two  footmen  in  state 
livery  for  me,  and  another  one  for  the  Sheriffs.  After- 
wards we  attended  at  the  West  Country  Association 
dinner  at  the  Queen's  Hotel,  Hastings. 

We  were  received  by  the  Mayor  (Major  S.  T. 
Weston)  and  Mr.  Harvey  Du  Cros,  M.P.  A  cheque 
for  £200  was  handed  to  me  for  my  Fund. 

We  were  put  up  by  Mr.  Harvey  Du  Cros  at  his 
pretty  house,  and  were  royally  entertained  by  him 
and  Mrs.  Du  Cros. 

Wednesday,  25th  September. — Left  Hastings  at  10.18, 
arriving  at  1.31 . 

At  3  attended  in  state  an  entertainment  at  Prince's 
Theatre,  Poplar,  in  aid  of  my  Fund. 

Went  to  the  Lyceum  Theatre  to  see  a  performance 
of  The  Christian. 

Thursday,  26th  September. — Opened  a  grand  fete 
at  Fulham  Town  Hall  in  aid  of  my  Fund. 

Dined  with  the  Education  Committee  at  Guildhall, 
Mr.  W.  H.  Key,  Chairman,  presiding. 

During  the  evening  a  presentation  of  plate  was  made 
by  the  members  of  the  Committee  to  Mr.  Key  in 
appreciation  of  his  work  during  the  past  year. 


ALMSHOUSES  AT  LEICESTER          205 

Friday,  27th  September. — Went  to  Heckford  Street 
Council  School,  Shadwell,  at  3.30,  to  unveil  Mrs. 
Heckford's  portrait. 

Went  to  the  Chapter  House,  St.  Paul's  at  about  5, 
to  meet  Mr.  Graham  of  the  Geological  Society. 

Presided  at  the  Hale  Club  dinner  at  Holborn  Restau- 
rant. This  club  was  formerly  called  the  City  of 
London  Freemen's  Club,  founded  by  Mr.  Alderman 
Hale,  in  1854. 

Afterwards  went  to  the  Odeon  Concert  at  the  Town 
Hall,  Old  Street. 

Saturday,  28th  September.  —  The  new  Sheriffs, 
Mr.  Alderman  Burnett  and  Mr.  C.  C.  Wakefield,  were 
admitted  to  office  at  Guildhall  at  10  o'clock,  I  and  the 
two  out-going  Sheriffs,  Alderman  Sir  Thomas  Crosby 
and  Sir  W.  H.  Dunn,  attended  in  state.  After  the 
ceremony  the  new  Sheriffs  gave  a  luncheon  to  their 
friends  and  supporters  at  Grocers'  Hall.  I  was  not 
present.  (I  regret  that  this  good  old  custom  has  been 
discontinued.) 

At  1 1  o'clock  I  attended  in  state  service  at 
St.  Lawrence  Jewry,  and  afterwards  presided  at 
Common  Hall  for  the  election  of  my  successor.  Alder- 
man Sir  John  Bell  was  chosen. 

I  gave  a  dinner  at  the  Mansion  House  to  the  Alder- 
men and  the  high  officers,  with  their  ladies,  to  meet 
the  Lord  Mayor  Elect  and  Lady  Bell.  77  guests. 

Monday,  30th  September. — Left  St.  Pancras  Station 
at  10  a.m.,  with  the  new  Sheriffs,  for  Leicester,  where 
I  am  to  lay  the  foundation-stone  of  the  almshouses 
to  be  erected  by  the  Framework  Knitters  Company. 
Our  horses  and  carriages  and  suite  went  earlier,  and 
met  us  at  Leicester  Station,  so  that  we  might  drive 
jn  state  through  the  town. 


206  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

The  Master  of  the  Framework  Knitters,  Mr.  J.  A. 

Corah,  J.P.,  met  us  at  the  station,  and  we  proceeded 

to  the  Town  Hall.     The  Mayor  (Sir  Edward  Wood) 

and  the  Town  Clerk  (Mr.  E.  V.  Hiley)  received  us  at 

the  Town  Hall .     Here  was  a  large  gathering,  including 

the  Mayors  of  Derby  and  Nottingham,  Mr.  James  Bell 

(Town  Clerk   of  London),   Mr.  Tudor  Walters,   Sir 

Herbert  Marshall,  and  Sir  Samuel  Fay.     Speeches  of 

welcome  and  their  acknowledgment  having  been  got 

through,  we  went  in  full  state  to  Oadby.     The  Mayor, 

the  Warden  of  the  Company,  the  Sheriffs,  and  I  were 

conducted  to  the  platform  by  the  Vicar  of  Oadby, 

the    Rev.   J.    Raine.    After   the   ceremony   and   its 

attendant  speeches  we  drove  to  the  Municipal  buildings 

at  Leicester  to  luncheon,  at  which  Sir  Edward  Wood 

presided.     After  luncheon  the  Sheriffs  went  back  to 

London,  as  did  the  coaches  and  officers;  whilst  I  went 

to  a  garden-party  at  Middlemead,  the  residence  of  my 

host  and  hostess  (Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brice),  where  the 

Lady  Mayoress  and  I  spent  the  night.     The  Leicester 

Guild  of  Cripples  were  present  at  the  garden-party. 

Mrs.  Brice  gave  a  dinner-party  in  our  honour,  where 

I  had  the  pleasure  of  meeting  my  friend  Mr.  G.  Hodges, 

and  of  talking  to  him  of  my  dear  friend  the  late 

John  M.  Cook,  who  was  a  native  of  Leicester,  and 

Mr.   Hodges'  brother-in-law.     I   had  been  thinking 

all  day  of  John  Cook. 

Tuesday,  1st  October.  —  Mr.  Harold  Owen  and 
others  to  lunch. 

Presided  at  a  crowded  meeting  of  citizens  at  Guild- 
hall, at  3,  in  support  of  a  scheme  for  preserving 
Crosby  Hall. 

Wednesday,  2nd  October. — Opened  the  new  Garden 
Suburb  at  12  in  state.  The  Sheriffs,  Lord  Chichester, 


THE  GERMAN  OFFICERS'  CLUB        207 

Mr.  Vivian,  M.P.,  Mr.  Nield,  M.P.,  the  Rev.  Canon 
Barnett,  and  many  others,  were  present.  We  planted 
trees  and  made  speeches.  I  was  presented  with  a 
silver  key,  and  opened  with  it  the  first  cottage.  I 
think  the  movement  will  be  a  great  success. 

Gave  a  luncheon-party  at  2  at  the  Mansion  House 
to  a  large  party,  and  afterwards  opened  the  new  wing 
of  the  City  Guilds  Technical  College  at  Leonard  Street, 
Finsbury,  at  3.30.    Amongst  the  guests  and  those 
present   were   Lord   Halsbury,   Mr.  A.   F.   Yarrow, 
Mr.  R.  C.  Palmer,  Mr.  L.  B.  Sebastian,  the  Sheriffs, 
Mr.  C.  A.  Hanson,  the  Mayor  of  Winnipeg,  Professor 
Sylvanus    Thompson,    Sir    A.    Kennedy,    Sir    John 
Wolfe    Barry,    Sir    Edward   Clarke,    K.C.,    and   Sir 
Walter  Prideaux,  Clerk  of  the  Goldsmiths'  Company. 
Dined  at  the  German  Officers'  Club  at  Oddenino's 
in  Regent  Street .     Baron  Campbell  Laurentz  presided, 
and    the    guests   included   the    Earl   of    Kilmorey, 
Prince  Stolberg  Wernigerode,  Baron  von  Newrath,  Sir 
William  Dunn,  and  Colonel  Ker-Fox.     The  Chairman 
proposed  my  health,  and  in  the  course  of  his  speech 
he  said:  "Almost  every  German  of  good  family  con- 
sidered it  his  duty  to  visit  foreign  countries.    A  year 
in  France  and  a  year  in  England  was  indispensable; 
that  meant  to  London  an  influx  of  from  fifty  to  eighty 
German  officers,  who  came  over  to  learn,  principally 
in  the  great  banking  institutions  and  other  large  or 
small  firms.     Thus  it  happened  that  he  could  intro- 
duce the  Lord  Mayor  that  night  to  the  flower  of 
Germany's  youth,  sent  every  year  to  London,  the 
greatest  commercial  centre  of  the  world,  to  kneel  and 
learn,  and  then  to  return  home,  and  hand  down  to 
coming  generations  the  lessons  learnt  in  London." 
One  of  the  officers,  who  was  in  business  here  as  a 


2o8  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

wine-merchant,  told  me  that  he  had  been  for  some 
five  or  six  years  living  at  Burnham-on-Crouch,  where 
he  kept  a  small  yacht,  and  that  he  believed  he  knew 
our  coast  and  its  many  inlets  round  about  the  Nore 
better  than  most  of  our  pilots  did. 

Thursday,  3rd  October. — Court  of  Common  Council 
at  i .  Mr.  Matthew  Wallace  moved,  and  Mr.  Pannell 
seconded,  a  reference  to  Finance  Committee,  which 
was  carried  unanimously,  to  consider  and  report  as  to 
giving  me  a  further  grant  for  my  Fund. 

Attended  Ladies'  Committee  Cripples'  Fund  at  4. 

Dined  with  the  Lodge  of  Verity  at  Imperial  Res- 
taurant, Mr.  Richard  Davies,  C.C.,  Master. 

Friday,  4th  October. — Went  to  Alton  by  motor  at  9. 

Saturday,  5th  October. — Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ganthony, 
Mr.  Nevell,  and  others,  to  lunch. 

Presided  at  the  annual  dinner  of  the  Dickens 
Fellowship  at  the  Holborn  Restaurant.  Mr.  Percy 
Fitzgerald  made  a  very  appreciative  speech  on 
Dickens. 

I  remember  in  my  early  married  life  I  used  to  take 
my  wife  whenever  I  could  to  hear  the  novelist  give 
a  reading  from  one  or  other  of  his  novels.  Once  when 
he  read,  for  the  first  time,  the  scene  of  Nancy's  murder 
by  Bill  Sikes,  a  gentleman  rose  in  the  stalls  and 
declaimed  against  Dickens  for  daring  to  read  this 
scene  before  ladies.  He  was  hissed  and  turned  out. 
I  was  told  afterwards  that  Dickens  had  himself 
arranged  for  the  protest  to  be  made,  having  doubts 
as  to  how  the  scene  would  be  received. 

I  used  in  those  days  to  read  to  my  wife  all  Dickens' 
novels — in  fact,  I  have  read  some  of  them  to  her  more 
than  once.  We  had  many  a  laugh  and  many  a  cry 
over  the  books  of  Charles  Dickens. 


THE    WORD 


for 


October.  SOT ember,  and  December  1907. 


October 


1st 

2nd 
3rd 

4th 
5th 
6th 
7th 
8th 
9th 
10th 
llth 
12th 
13th 
14th 
15th 
16th 
17th 
18th 
19th 
20th 
21st 
22nd 
23rd 
24th 
25th 
26th 
27th 
28th 
29th 
30th 
3 1st 


City. 

Cornwall 

Babylon 

Lincoln 

Dallas 

Ebony 

Durham 

Bute 

Hoiyfield 

Berks. 

Kama  s 

Orkney 

Mark 

Denbigh 

Otcroft 

Salop 

Quarter 

Stafford 

Ufa 

Tostock 

Warwick 

Vineyard 

Jersey 

Yorker 

Zeal 

Ayr 

Aberdeen 

Cutsaeh 

Perth 

KLefield 

Cardigan 

Zouch 


PASSWORD    FOR   THE    TOWER    OF    LONDON,    1907. 
SIGNED   BY   THE    KING. 


210  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

Sunday,  6th  October. —  Received  the  President 
(M.  Andre  Lefevre),  the  Syndic  (M.  Bellan,  C.V.O.), 
and  some  sixty  members  of  the  Paris  Municipal 
Council. 

Monday,  7th  October.  —  Went  with  the  French 
Councillors  for  a  trip  on  the  Thames  Conservancy 
steamer,  after  they  had  paid  a  visit  to  Billingsgate 
Market.  Stopped  to  visit  Deptford  Market.  Dis- 
embarked at  Woolwich,  drove,  via  Blackwall  Tunnel, 
to  De  Keyser's,  where  all  the  party  are  our  guests 
during  their  stay. 

Presided  at  Guildhall  at  a  banquet  to  the  Paris 
Councillors,  the  French  Ambassador  proposing  my 
health. 

Tuesday,  8th  October. — To-day  I  went  with  our 
Paris  friends  to  visit  the  Tower  Bridge  and  the 
Tower  of  London.  Mr.  Deputy  Algar,  Chairman  of 
the  Bridge  House  Estates  Committee,  chaperoned  us 
over  and  under  the  bridge  and  its  mysteries.  At  the 
postern  gate  at  the  foot  of  the  bridge  we  were  admitted 
to  the  grounds  of  the  Tower,  Lieut  .-General  Sir  Bryan 
Milman,  Major  of  the  Tower  and  General  Sir  Hugh 
Gough,  V.C.,  Keeper  of  the  Crown  Jewels,  received  us, 
and  then  in  groups  of  twelve  we  were  shown  the  sights. 

We  then  drove  to  the  Mansion  House,  where  I  gave 
a  luncheon  to  a  very  distinguished  company,  including 
the  French  Ambassador  and  Lord  Fitzmaurice. 
257  guests. 

Presided  at  a  banquet  to  our  Paris  friends  at  De 
Keyser's  Hotel;  afterwards  we  all  went  to  the  Palace 
Theatre. 

Wednesday,  9th  October. — WTent  with  our  friends 
to  visit  the  Central  Criminal  Court  and  the  Central 
Cattle  Market. 


FRUIT  FOR  THE  HOSPITALS  211 

Afterwards  attended  a  luncheon  given  in  honour 
of  the  French  visitors  by  Mr.  Percy  Harris,  Chairman 
of  the  London  County  Council,  at  the  Gaiety  Res- 
taurant. 

To-night  the  French  visitors  dine  with  the  French 
Chamber  of  Commerce.  Through  the  Syndic  the 
Paris  Councillors  presented  me  with  £200  for  my  Fund. 

Thursday,  10th  October. — I  went  in  state  to  De 
Keyser's  at  9  a.m.,  to  bid  farewell  to  our  French 
guests,  who  left  this  morning. 

A  banquet  at  the  Mansion  House  to  the  Worshipful 
Company  of  Fruiterers  and  the  General  Purposes 
Committee — 250  guests — amongst  whom  were  Mr. 
Alfred  Bull,  Master  of  the  Fruiterers;  Mr.  W.  H. 
Pitman,  Chairman  of  the  General  Purposes  Commitee ; 
Sir  Trevor  Lawrence,  Bt.,  Sir  Thomas  Elliott,  Sir 
Edward  Clarke,  K.C.,  and  Lord  Blyth.  Previous  to 
the  dinner  a  presentation  of  fruit  was  made  to  me,  in 
accordance  with  ancient  custom,  by  Mr.  Alfred  Bull. 
The  fruit,  which  I  sent  to  hospitals,  was  very  fine, 
consisting  of  pineapples,  grapes,  melons,  peaches, 
nectarines,  and  apricots,  all  home-grown.  238 
guests. 

Friday,  llth  October. — Visited  the  Dairy  Show  at 
the  Agricultural  Hall  at  Islington,  with  my  daughter, 
and  the  Sheriffs  and  their  wives. 

Miss  Treloar  presented  the  prizes  to  the  winners 
in  the  butter-making  competition. 

Distributed  prizes  at  the  Mansion  House  to  the  City 
School  Boys'  Shooting  Club,  of  which  Lord  Roberts  is 
Chairman,  at  4.30. 

Attended  a  performance  at  the  Balham  Theatre, 
accompanied  by  Mr.  Sheriff  Wakefield,  in  aid  of  my 
Fund. 


2!2  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

Saturday,  12th  October. — Went  to  Central  Criminal 
Court  at  10.30  to  meet  the  Judges  to  arrange  and 
settle  dates  for  holding  the  Sessions  for  next  year. 

Sunday,  13th  October. — Attended  church  parade 
of  the  Royal  Fusilier  Brigade  at  St.  Paul's  Cathedral, 
with  the  Sheriffs.  Afterwards  appeared  on  the 
balcony  at  the  Mansion  House  to  see  the  brigade 
march  past  and  take  the  salute. 

Monday,  14th  October. — Attended  in  state  (why 
not  in  bathing  costume  ?)  the  Westminster  Swimming 
baths,  to  open  the  swimming  competition  of  the  pupils 
in  the  Metropolitan  Poor  Law  Schools,  2.45. 

Presided  at  the  Mansion  House  at  a  meeting  in 
support  of  the  work  of  the  men's  committee  of  the 
London  Diocesan  Council  for  Preventive  Rescue  and 
Penitentiary  Work.     Mr.  Percy  Taylor,  secretary  of 
the  Council,  stated  that  about  a  month  ago  he  sent 
out  ninety  letters  to  the  clergy  and  others  of  the  City 
of  London  asking  what  they  could  do  to  assure  the 
success  of  the  meeting.     He  did  not  get  a  single  reply. 
When  he  found  such  apathy  on  the  part  of  the  clergy, 
it  behoved  someone,  in  the  Name  of  God,  to  take  up 
the  cudgels  and  do  the  work  they  were  paid  to  do. 
The  Bishop  of  Stepney,  in  reply,  said  we  must  not 
measure  the  keenness  of  the  people,  clergy  or  lay,  by 
their  readiness  to  answer  letters.     He  was  sure  that 
all  the  clergy  of  London  would  do  all  they  could,  if 
they  had  the  chance,  to  help  or  strengthen  any  boy 
or  man. 

Dined  with  the  Worshipful  Company  of  Framework 
Knitters  at  Haberdashers'  Hall.  Mr.  Robert  Rowley, 
of  Leicester,  the  Master,  presiding.  He  presented  a 
Past  Master's  Jewel  or  Badge  to  Mr.  Deputy  Baddeley, 
the  late  Master  of  the  Company. 


1  THE  HOUSE  OF  SUNNY  HOURS  "     213 

Tuesday,  15th  October.  —  Opened  a  meeting  at 
Guildhall,  at  10,  of  the  Women's  Industrial  Council. 
The  Sheriffs  accompanied  me  in  state.  Amongst 
those  present  were  Mrs.  George  Cadbury,  the  Hon. 
Lily  Montagu,  and  Mrs.  Despard.  One  of  the 
speakers — Mrs.  Graves — raised  a  storm  of  hisses  by 
saying  that  if  they  kept  foreigners  out  of  the  country 
they  could  find  more  work  for  English  men  and 
women.  It  was  the  foreigners  who  reduced  the 
wages.  She  was  an  Englishwoman  (hisses,  and 
cries  of  "  Shame  "). 

Wilson's  Committee  at  12.45. 

Court  of  Aldermen  at  i . 

Distributed  the  prizes  at  Aske-Hatcham  Girls' 
School,  New  Cross,  at  3. 

Presided  at  the  Market  Clerks'  Provident  Society's 
annual  dinner  at  the  Holborn  Restaurant. 

Wednesday,  16th  October. — Sir  M.  and  Lady  Allan, 
Miss  Cooper,  and  others,  to  lunch. 

Paid  a  visit,  with  the  Sheriffs,  in  state  to  the 
Engineers  and  Machinery  Exhibition  at  Olympia. 
Miss  Margaret  Cooper  sang  a  song,  "  The  House  of 
Sunny  Hours,"  in  the  cafe  chantant  there,  which  was 
specially  written  in  aid  of  my  Fund.  Miss  Cooper 
who  has  so  greatly  assisted  my  Fund,  lunched  with 
me  at  the  Mansion  House,  and  rode  with  me  in  my 
state  coach  to  Olympia,  which  delighted  her,  and  was 
very  pleasant  to  me. 

The  Lady  Mayoress  and  I  dined  with  Sir  Joseph 
and  Lady  Dimsdale  at  29,  Sussex  Square. 

Thursday,  17th  October. — Committee  of  the  whole 
Court  at  12.30. 

Court  of  Common  Council  at  i . 

Meeting  of  the  Empire  Education  Trustees,  Mansion 
House,  at  2.15. 


214  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

The  Gramophone  Company  gave  a  concert  in  aid 
of  my  Fund  at  the  Royal  Albert  Hall.  They  made  no 
charge  for  any  of  the  boxes  or  seats ;  applications  for 
tickets  were  to  be  made,  and  they  would  be  supplied 
without  charge.  A  collection  was  made  at  the 
concert,  and  the  result  was  £500  to  my  Fund. 

The  concert  was  very  good,  and  the  whole  affair 
was  admirably  managed,  and  in  every  way  most 
satisfactory.  One  of  the  items  was  a  speech  of  mine 
made  by  gramophone,  followed  by  a  speech  made  by 
me  personally. 

The  Gramophone  Company  have  been  very  good 
to  me  always,  and  I  am  very  grateful. 

Friday,  18th  October. — Attended  a  concert  in  aid 
of  my  Fund  at  Queen's  Hall,  Langham  Place,  3. 

Dined  with  the  Worshipful  Company  of  Painters 
at  their  hall,  the  Master,  Mr.  W.  Hayward  Pitman, 
presiding. 

Saturday,  19th  October. — A  party  of  school-girls  from 
Bethnal  Green  were  shown  over  the  Mansion  House. 

The  National  Challenge  Trophy  and  the  Mackinnon 
Cup  were  received  by  me  to-day  from  Major  Porter 
and  Lieut  .-Colonel  the  Hon.  T.  F.  Freemantle. 

At  the  invitation  of  Colonel  W.  R.  Smith  I  pre- 
sented the  Volunteer  Ambulance  Shield  to  the 
2nd  Volunteer  Battalion,  Royal  Fusiliers,  afterwards 
entertaining  the  winning  team  at  dinner.  56  guests. 

I  entertained  at  a  soiree  500  members  of  the  London 
Cornish  Association  at  the  Mansion  House.  The  Earl 
and  Countess  of  Mount  Edgcumbe,  Lord  and  Lady 
Courtney,  Sir  E.  Durning-Lawrence,  and  Sir  William 
Dunn,  were  present,  and  a  pleasant  evening  was 
spent.  Lord  Mount  Edgcumbe  proposed  my  health 
in  a  very  kindly  speech. 


THE    MAYORALTY4.— THE    COMING    IN. 


"ROSES,    ROSES    ALL    THE    WAY." 

From  the  "Punch"  cartoon  by  John  Leech. 


To  face  p. 


COLCHESTER  OYSTER  FEAST          215 

Monday,  21st  October.— Opened  Central  Criminal 
Court  Sessions  at  10.  (Mr.  Justice  Lawrence; 
137  prisoners.) 

Attended  the  Colchester  Oyster  Feast,  where  there 
was  a  large  party,  including  the  Marquis  of  London- 
derry, the  Duke  of  Marlborough,  Mr.  A.  J.  Balfour, 
the  Marquis  of  Lansdowne,  the  Archbishop  of  Canter- 
bury, Lord  Alverstone,  the  Hon.  Whitelaw  Reid, 
Admiral  Sir  John  Fisher,  Sir  Oliver  Lodge,  Mr.  Rud- 
yard  Kipling,  Sir  Edward  Carson,  Sir  Edward  Clarke, 
and  many  others. 

Dined  with  the  Worshipful  Company  of  Paviors 
at  the  Great  Eastern  Hotel,  Mr.  Griffiths,  Past 
Master,  presiding. 

Tuesday,  22nd  October. — Received  the  Judge,  Mr. 
JusticeA.T. Lawrence,  at  Central  Criminal  Court  at  1 1 . 

Meeting  of  Committee  of  Hungarian  Exhibition 
at  Mansion  House  at  12. 

Meeting  of  Royal  Society  for  Assistance  of  Dis- 
charged Prisoners  at  3 . 

Attended  performance  at  Hengler's  Circus  in  aid 
of  my  Fund  at  3.45. 

Presided  at  the  annual  dinner  of  the  Newspapers 
Benevolent  and  Provident  Institution  at  De  Keyser's 
Hotel.  Among  the  company  present  were  Sir  Charles 
W.  Dilke,  M.P.,  Sir  Clifton  and  Lady  Robinson, 
Sir  Clarence  Smith,  Miss  Marie  Corelli,  Mr.  Lewis 
Coward,  Sir  Edward  and  Lady  Letchworth,  Mr. 
Frank  Lloyd,  Mr.  Horace  Cox,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  A.  F. 
Waller,  Mr.  Alderman  and  Sheriff  Burnett,  Mr.  Sheriff 
and  Mrs.  Wakefield.  £i  ,650  was  subscribed. 

Wednesday,  23rd  October. — Presided  at  Mansion 
House  at  a  meeting  of  the  Advisory  Committee  of 
the  proposed  Hungarian  Exhibition  at  1 1 .30. 

16 


216  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

Members  of  the  General  Purposes  Committee  to 
lunch,  i  .30. 

Meeting  in  Egyptian  Hall  of  the  Committee  for 
Church  Extension  in  Plymouth  and  Devonport,  at 
4  o'clock.  The  Archbishop  of  Canterbury  and  Bishop 
of  Exeter  present. 

Dined  with  the  Worshipful  Company  of  Wheel- 
wrights at  Armourers'  and  Brasiers'  Hall;  the  Master, 
Mr.  G.  E.  Cochrane,  presiding. 

Went  afterwards  to  the  E.C.  Postal  District  Tele- 
graph Messenger  Institute,  8.30. 

Then  to  St.  Bride's  Institute  conversazione  and 
dance. 

Thursday,   24th    October.  —  Opened   a  bazaar,   St. 
Pancras  Church  (Lancing  Street)  School,  at  3  o'clock. 
Attended  in  state  a  matine'e  performance  at  Chelsea 
Palace,  given  by  Mr.  Henry  Gros  in  aid  of  my  Fund. 
Attended  dinner  of  the  Accounts  Committee  given 
in  the  old  Council  Chamber  at  Guildhall,  Mr.  W.  Bull, 
Chairman,  presiding,  and  made  a  presentation  to  Mr. 
Heilbuth,  late  Chairman. 

Went  afterwards  to  the  Trocadero  to  make  a 
speech  at  the  dinner  of  Mr.  William  B.  Trick,  Mayor 
of  Stoke  Newington. 

Friday,  25th  October. — Opened  a  conference  meet- 
ing at  Guildhall  on  town  planning,  at  1 1  o'clock. 
Eight  Servians  to  lunch,  i  .30. 

Presided  at  the  opening  by  Prince  Arthur  of  Con- 
naught  of  a  miniature  rifle  range  at  Lavington  Street, 
Southwark,  at  3  o'clock. 

As  is  usual,  I  gave  a  ball  at  the  Mansion  House  to 
all  the  Lord  Mayors,  Mayors,  Lord  Provosts,  and  Pro- 
vosts of  the  kingdom  who,  like  myself,  have  come  to 
the  end  of  their  tether — i.e.,  are  going  out  of  office 


BALL  TO  THE  MAYORS  217 

in  November.  There  were  959  guests,  among  whom 
were  219  English  Mayors,  2  Irish  Mayors,  n  Scotch 
Provosts,  and  49  Town  Clerks,  and  their  ladies. 
Amongst  them  were  the  Lord  Mayors  of  York, 
Bristol,  Leeds,  Newcastle,  Sheffield,  and  Dublin;  the 
Lord  Provost  of  Dundee,  the  Master  Cutler  of  Shef- 
field, the  Chairman  of  the  London  County  Council; 
and,  as  all  the  gentlemen  wore  full  dress  or  uniform 
and  their  chains  of  office,  the  scene  was  a  brilliant  one. 
Dancing  to  the  music  of  the  string  band  of  the  Cold- 
stream  Guards  commenced  at  9  o'clock.  Supper  was 
served  in  the  old  ballroom  upstairs. 

Saturday,  26th  October. — A  party  of  forty  or  fifty 
from  Bow  Band  of  Hope  to  be  shown  over  the  Mansion 
House  in  the  afternoon. 

Distribution  of  prizes  to  students  of  the  Guildhall 
School  of  Music  at  the  Mansion  House,  at  3  o'clock. 

Attended  Alexandra  Palace  Lodge  (1,541)  for  the 
Installation  by  Sir  Edward  Letchworth  of  Mr.  S. 
Kutnow,  Trocadero  Restaurant. 

Sunday,  27th  October. — Attended  service  at  Primi- 
tive Methodist  Church,  Crisp  Street,  Poplar,  at  n. 
Offertory  for  my  Fund. 

Monday,  28th  October. — The  Freedom  of  the  City 
was  to-day  presented  to  Lord  Cromer. 

There  was  a  very  large  and  very  distinguished  com- 
pany in  the  Guildhall,  which  was  packed  to  overflow- 
ing. A  list  of  those  present  would  contain  the  names 
of  most  of  the  statesmen  and  prominent  members  of 
Society. 

After  the  proceedings  were  over,  Lord  and  Lady 
Cromer  came  to  luncheon  at  the  Mansion  House. 
About  300  guests  were  present;  amongst  them,  Sir 
Edward  Grey,  Lord  Crewe,  Mr.  Morley,  Lord  and  Lady 


2i 8  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

Bath,  the  Dowager  Lady  Bath  and  Lady  Beatrice 
Thynne,  Lord  and  Lady  Granville,  Lord  and  Lady 
Mount  Edgcumbe,  the  Hon.  Harry  and  Mrs.  Lawson, 
Lord  Goschen,  Lord  Milner,  the  Hon.  Walter  Roths- 
child, Lord  and  Lady  Courtney,  Sir  William  Dunn, 
Sir  Edward  and  Lady  Clarke,  Sir  Ernest  and  Miss 
Flower,  Sir  Vincent  Caillard,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moberly 
Bell,  and  the  Sheriffs  and  their  ladies.  There  were  no 
speeches. 

Went  to  the  Grand  Theatre,  Forest  Gate — a  per- 
formance in  aid  of  my  Fund,  at  4  o'clock. 

Dined  with  the  Worshipful  Company  of  Musicians 
at  Stationers'  Hall,  the  Master,  Sir  Homewood  Craw- 
ford, City  Solicitor,  presiding.  Presented  medals  to 
the  Master  elect,  Mr.  C.  T.  D.  Crewe,  to  Mr.  Santley, 
and  to  Miss  Frances  Scarborough. 

There  was  an  amusing  incident  at  the  meeting  of 
the  Court  of  Common  Council  to-day,  where  I  pre- 
sided. Mr.  Richard  Davies  drew  the  attention  of  the 
Court  to  the  removal  of  the  portrait  of  Nelson  from 
the  place  it  occupied  in  the  Lobby,  and  asked  by 
whose  authority  it  had  been  removed.  Neither  the 
Chairman  of  the  City  Lands  Committee  nor  the  City 
Surveyor  could  answer  the  question.  Mr.  Temple,  the 
Art  Curator,  was  sent  for,  and  he  informed  the  Court 
that  Nelson's  portrait  had  been  removed  to  make  way 
for  a  portrait  of  me,  which  had  quite  lately  been  pre- 
sented to  the  Court.  Mr.  Davies  moved  that  the 
matter  be  referred  to  the  City  Lands  Committee,  and 
I  believe  Lord  Nelson  came  by  his  own  again  at  once. 
If  the  portraits  had  been  speaking  likenesses  one  might 
have  said  how  sorry  he  was,  and  the  other,  "  What 
the  devil  does  it  matter  ?"  or,  if  he  were  quite  an 
up-to-date  admiral,  "  Sack  the  lot  !" 


CITY  OF  LONDON  SCHOOL  219 

Tuesday,  29th  October. — Mrs.  Harkness,  Miss  Marie 
Corelli,  and  others,  to  lunch,  1.30. 

Presided  at  a  meeting  at  the  Mansion  House,  re 
church  work  at  Plumstead  and  Woolwich,  the 
Rev.  J.  W.  Morris,  Rector,  and  General  Sir  Neville 
Lyttelton,  with  Lord  Hugh  Cecil  and  the  Bishop  of 
Southwark,  being  present.  The  meeting  was  held  in 
connection  with  the  Woolwich  Ruridecanal  Church 
Extension  Association,  and  the  support  of  the  citizens 
of  London  was  solicited. 

Attended  the  79th  Anniversary  Festival  Dinner  of 
the  Butchers'  Charitable  Institution  at  the  Criterion, 
Mr.  George  Simpson  presiding.  Sheriff  Wakefield 
was  amongst  the  guests.  The  subscriptions  exceeded 
£1,800,  and  constituted  a  record. 

Wednesday,  30th  October. — Presided  at  the  City 
of  London  School  at  a  distribution  of  prizes  to  the 
girls  who  have  gained  distinction  in  their  work. 
Unfortunately,  the  Lady  Mayoress  was  not  well 
enough  to  be  present.  My  daughter  took  her  place. 
The  girls  looked  very  pretty,  all  dressed  in  white, 
with  white  and  scarlet  ribbons.  Mr.  Ernest 
Lamb,  M.P.,  the  Chairman  of  the  School  Committee, 
and  Mrs.  Lamb,  his  mother,  were  present;  as  were 
Mrs.  Sidgwick,  Principal  of  Newnham  College,  the 
two  Sheriffs,  and  many  others.  During  the  proceed- 
ings the  girls  sang  a  number  of  part  songs. 

A  meeting  in  Egyptian  Hall  of  the  Queen  Victoria 
Clergy  Fund,  the  Duke  of  Argyll  in  the  Chair. 

Attended  a  concert  at  Cripplegate  Institute  in  aid 
of  my  Fund,  at  9  o'clock. 

Afterwards  attended  a  ball  at  St.  Marylebone, 
held  at  the  Hotel  Great  Central  in  aid  of  my 
Fund. 


220  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

Thursday,  31st  October. — Court  of  Common  Council 
at  i .  Lord  Cromer  came  on  the  dais  and  took  a 
seat  on  my  left.  He  was  much  cheered,  and  I  told 
him  we  were  all  pleased  to  see  him.  Lord  Cromer 
simply  thanked  the  members,  and  soon  left. 

In  accordance  with  ancient  custom,  this  being  the 
last  meeting  of  the  Court  at  which  I  shall  preside,  I 
made  a  short  farewell  speech  to  the  members.  I  hoped 
that,  although  I  was  leaving  the  chair,  I  should  for 
many  years  have  their  friendship.  I  referred  to  the 
fact  that  the  Lord  Mayor  of  London  was  not  elected 
by  the  Court  over  which  he  presided,  but  by  an  entirely 
different  body  of  men.  My  year  of  office  had  been  an 
interesting  and  eventful  one.  First  I  had  the  honour 
of  receiving  the  King  and  Queen  at  the  opening  of  the 
new  Sessions  House.  Other  notable  events  during 
my  year  of  office  were  the  visits  to  the  City  of  the 
King  and  Queen  of  Norway,  the  King  and  Queen  of 
Denmark,  Prince  Fushimi  of  Japan,  the  seven 
Colonial  Premiers,  and  the  Paris  Municipal  Councillors. 
I  also  had  the  honour  and  pleasure  of  heading  a 
deputation  of  members  of  the  Court  of  Common 
Council  to  Berlin,  where  we  had  a  delightful  time. 
Moreover,  I  had  been  to  Cornwall,  where  I  received 
the  Freedom  of  Helston,  my  father's  native  place,  and 
of  Truro,  the  capital  city  of  the  Duchy.  I  had 
received  a  similar  honour  from  Bury  St.  Edmunds  in 
East  Anglia,  and  from  Okehampton  in  Devonshire. 
I  had  been  much  favoured  in  being  permitted  to  raise 
a  large  sum  of  money  to  benefit  crippled  children. 
They,  as  a  Court,  as  well  as  individually,  had  assisted 
me  by  their  sympathy  and  support,  having  voted 
1,000  guineas,  and  only  recently  Mr.  Deputy  Wallace 
and  Mr.  Deputy  Pannell  moved  and  seconded  a 


A  SUMMING-UP  221 

proposition,  which  was  unanimously  carried,  to  give 
me  in  addition  £100  a  year  in  perpetuity.  For  all 
this  I  tendered  my  heartiest  thanks,  and  I  was  sure 
they  would  all  be  glad  to  hear  that  before  I  left  office 
I  should  have  achieved  my  object.  I  was  very  proud 
that  I  had  been  able  to  use  my  position  as  Lord  Mayor 
to  help  crippled  children.  The  remaining  years  of  my 
life  would  be  devoted  to  the  hospital  I  had  founded, 
which  I  hopedto  see  conducted  economically,  honestly, 
and  in  the  best  interests  of  those  for  whom  it  had  been 
founded.  In  conclusion,  I  was  pleased  to  tell  them 
that  the  Mayors  of  the  twenty-eight  Metropolitan 
boroughs  had  united  together  to  invite  me  to  a 
banquet,  which  I  very  much  appreciated. 

Mr.  Domoney,  Chairman  of  the  City  Lands  Com- 
mittee, congratulated  me  on  behalf  of  the  Court  on  a 
brilliant  year  of  office,  and  on  the  success  of  the  great 
object  which  was  so  dear  to  my  heart. 

A  concert  given  by  "  Ye  Antient  Society  of  Cogers," 
of  which  I  am  the  President,  was  held  in  the  Egyptian 
Hall  in  aid  of  my  Cripples'  Fund.  Among  the  artistes 
were  Mr.  Santley,  Mr.  Guy  Doeura,  Madame  Carmen 
de  Oliveira  Nery,  Mrs.  Henry  J.  Wood.  Miss  Ethel 
Bevans,  Madame  Sobrino,  Mr.  Lloyd  Chandos,  Mr. 
Ward  Cowdery,  Mile.  Raymonde  Amy,  and  Mr. 
Barclay  Gammon.  Mr.  Santley  sang  "  Ehi  Capitano," 
and  "  Simon  the  Cellarer."  Mr.  H.  Bartholomew  and 
Mr.  Tom  Browne  illustrated  a  souvenir  programme. 

Afterwards  I  went  to  a  reception  given  by  the 
Mayor  of  Shoreditch,  Mr.  E.  Taplis  Pearce,  in  aid  of 
my  Fund. 

Friday,  1st  November.  —  Police  Court  Mission 
annual  meeting,  Mansion  House,  3  o'clock. 

A   concert   was   held   at   the   Mansion    House   at 


222  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

4  o'clock  in  aid  of  my  Fund,  at  which  a  number  of 
distinguished  artistes  took  part.  Madame  Sarah 
Bernhardt  recited  "La  France  du  Timballier"; 
Sir  Charles  Wyndham  recited  "  The  man  who  had 
his  hair  cut."  Mr.  Maurice  Farkoa,  Miss  Mary  Moore, 
Mr.  Harry  Dearth,  Mr.  Hayden  Coffin,  Mr.  J.  N. 
Maskelyne,  Mr.  David  Devant  and  Sister  Dora, 
Mr.  Wilhelm  Ganz,  Mr.  Denis  O  'Sullivan,  Signer  Carpi, 
Mile.  Lalla  Miranda,  all  did  their  best,  and  made  up 
a  unique  and  charming  entertainment. 

Dined  with  the  Imperial  Industries  Club  at  De 
Keyser's  Hotel.  Sir  George  Truscott,  the  President, 
was  in  the  chair,  and  a  very  large  and  influential 
company  took  part.  A  presentation  on  behalf  of 
the  Club  was  made  by  the  Chairman  to  Sir  George 
Hayter  Chubb,  the  late  President.  Lord  Jersey 
handed  me  a  cheque  for  £25  as  a  contribution  from 
the  Club  to  my  Fund. 

Saturday,  2nd  November. — Attended,  at  Steinway 
Hall,  Miss  Berwick's  recital  in  aid  of  my  Fund,  at  3. 

Dined  with  the  Hospital  Officers'  Association  at  the 
Gaiety  Restaurant.  Mr.  Thomas  Ryan,  Secretary 
of  St.  Mary's  Hospital,  President  of  the  Association, 
was  in  the  chair. 

After  dinner,  at  10,  or  thereabout,  I  drove  to 
"  Wonderland,"  in  Whitechapel,  to  see  some  boxing 
at  this  the  well-known  centre  of  pugilism  in  the  East 
End  of  London.  Some  of  my  friends  urged  me  not 
to  go;  all  of  them  begged  me  not  to  wear  my  badge. 
Sir  William  Dunn  and  Sir  Ernest  Flower  accompanied 
me,  and  a  strong  detachment  of  police  was  on  duty 
outside  the  hall.  I  took  my  badge  and  brought  it 
safely  home  again,  and  a  cheque  for  £50  for  my  Fund. 

I  made  a  speech  to  about  3,000  very  rough-looking 


THE  CITY  TEMPLE  223 

young  men ;  they  seemed  very  cheerful  and  happy,  and 
very  sympathetic.  As  I  walked  through  the  crowd 
of  these  men,  inside  the  building,  one  of  them  said : 
"  God  bless  you,  governor;  you're  a  fair  old  knock- 
out !" 

Sunday,  3rd  November. — Went  to  the  City  Temple 
in  state  at  1 1 ,  where  the  Rev.  R.  J.  Campbell  allowed 
me  to  make  an  appeal  from  the  pulpit.  There  was  an 
enormous  congregation.  Women  shed  tears  and 
men  applauded.  Mr.  Campbell  said  to  the  congre- 
gation: "  I  don't  mind  your  breaches  of  decorum  this 
morning.  I  wanted  to  join  with  you  a  little  while 
ago." 

I  told  my  audience  that  I  hoped  in  the  early  spring 
to  have  one  or  two  hundred  crippled  children  at  Alton, 
to  commence,  the  work  there  to  which  I  intended  to 
devote  the  remaining  years  of  my  life.  After  I  had 
made  my  appeal,  the  Rev.  R.  J.  Campbell  followed 
with  an  appropriate  address  on  the  text,  "  It  is  not 
the  will  of  your  Father  which  is  in  Heaven  that  one 
of  these  little  ones  should  perish."  The  collection 
amounted  to  £1 1 1 . 

Went  in  the  evening  to  a  concert  given  by  the 
National  Sunday  League  at  the  Alhambra,  when  I 
made  an  appeal  from  the  stage  for  my  Fund.  The 
Harrogate  Municipal  Orchestra,  with  Mr.  Julian 
Clifford  as  conductor,  and  Mr.  John  Bridge  as  princi- 
pal violin,  were  in  good  form.  The  singing  of  the 
Hon.  Mrs.  Julian  Clifford,  Miss  Alice  Laken,  and  Mr. 
Ivor  Foster,  was  much  appreciated. 

Monday,  4th  November. — Went  with  the  Sheriffs  in 
state  at  1 2  o'clock  to  the  funeral  service  held  in  the 
Church  of  St.  Botolph,  Aldersgate,  to  the  memory  of 
the  late  Sir  Joseph  Renals,  who  was  Alderman  of  the 


224  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

Ward  of  Aldersgate.  There  was  a  large  congregation, 
the  service  being  conducted  by  the  Rev.  C.  O.  Becker 
M.A.,  the  Vicar,  assisted  by  the  Rev.  J.  S.  Barras, 
Rector  of  St.  Lawrence,  Jewry. 

Presided  at  the  Mansion  House  at  the  annual  meet- 
ing of  the  Mansion  House  Council  on  Dwellings  of  the 
Poor,  at  3  o'clock. 

I  was  entertained  by  the  twenty-eight  Mayors  of 
the  Metropolis  at  a  dinner  at  De  Keyser's  Hotel; 
the  Mayor  of  Westminister,  Mr.  G.  W.  Tallents, 
presiding,  who  truly  said  the  occasion  was  exceptional 
—in  fact,  unique;  all  the  Metropolitan  Mayors  had, 
as  the  Chairman  said,  conspired  together  to  do  honour 
to  the  Lord  Mayor.  They  were  all  present  with  their 
ladies  except  the  Mayor  of  Wandsworth,  who  was 
represented  by  his  son.  As  the  Chairman  said,  the 
twenty-eight  Mayors  of  London  had  never  before 
been  unanimous  in  agreeing  to  do  honour  to  any  parti- 
cular person.  I  regret  that  my  wife  was  not  well 
enough  to  be  present;  she  was  toasted.  My  daughter 
made  her  first  after-dinner  speech  in  response  to  this 
toast. 

I  think  it  will  be  for  the  benefit  of  the  City  and  for 
Municipal  government  if  the  Corporation  and  the 
Metropolitan  boroughs  stand  together  as  much  as 
possible  on  all  Municipal  matters,  and  I  hope  that 
future  Lord  Mayors  will  do  all  they  can  to  foster 
and  encourage  a  feeling  of  friendship  with  their 
Metropolitan  brethren. 

Went  afterwards  to  a  concert  given  by  the  United 
Wards  Club  at  Cannon  Street  Hotel  in  aid  of  my  Fund. 

Tuesday,  5th  November. — Meeting  of  Trustees  of 
City  Imperial  Volunteers,  Mansion  House,  10  o'clock. 

The  Lady  Mayoress  held  her  last  reception  at  the 


OUR  LAST  RECEPTION  225 

Mansion  House,  at  3  to  6  o'clock.  The  members  of 
the  Corporation  attended,  and  presented  her  with  a 
diamond  and  ruby  ring,  for  which  they  had  subscribed 
amongst  themselves  as  a  mark  of  their  respect  and 
esteem.  Mr.  J.  W.  Domoney,  Chairman  of  the  City 
Lands  Committee,  made  the  presentation  in  a  very 
sympathetic  and  manly  speech,  for  which,  on  behalf 
of  my  wife,  I  sincerely  thanked  him.  I  have  a  feeling 
of  deep  gratitude  to  all  my  colleagues,  for  love, 
honour,  and  troops  of  friends  are  what  everyone  must 
be  proud  of;  and  I  really  believe  that  the  members 
of  the  Court  of  Common  Council  have,  on  the  whole, 
a  friendly  and  sympathetic  feeling  towards  me  and 
my  charity. 

Went,  accompanied  by  the  Sheriffs,  in  state  to  the 
Queen's  Palace  of  Varieties,  Poplar,  to  a  concert  in 
aid  of  my  Fund.  The  Mayor  of  Poplar  (Councillor 
F.  Thorn)  and  Mr.  Abrahams,  the  proprietor  of  the 
theatre,  received  us.  I  went  on  the  stage  with  the 
Mayor,  where  we  made  speeches.  His  speech  was  the 
best,  because  he  had  £30  and  a  promise  of  more  to 
give  me. 

Dined  with  the  Mayor  of  Finsbury  (the  Rev.  Pre- 
bendary C.  H.  Perry)  at  De  Keyser's  Hotel,  where  I 
had  the  pleasure  to  announce  that  I  had  that  day 
written  to  the  King  to  tell  His  Majesty  that  the 
amount  of  my  Fund  exceeded  £60,000,  which  was 
the  sum  I  had  asked  for.  The  success  has  been 
mainly  due  to  the  support  I  have  received,  first  and 
foremost,  from  Queen  Alexandra,  and  then  from  the 
twenty -eight  Metropolitan  Mayors.  The  Mayor 
handed  me  a  cheque  for  £274  collected  by  him  in 
Finsbury.  The  Ma}rors  of  Westminster,  Chelsea, 
Deptford,  Fulham,  Hackney,  Holborn,  Islington, 


226  A  LORD  MAYOR'S  DIARY 

Marylebone,  and  Stoke  Newington,  the  Sheriffs,  and 
many  others,  were  present. 

Wednesday,  6th  November. — Received  at  Mansion 
House  a  deputation  of  the  Hungarian  Society  at  10.30. 

Attended  a  meeting  of  the  Executive  Committee  of 
the  Royal  Patriotic  Fund  at  1 7,  Waterloo  Place,  1 1 .30. 

Presided  at  a  meeting  at  the  Mansion  House  re 
University  College  of  North  Wales,  3.  Lord  Kenyon, 
the  President,  read  a  letter  from  His  Royal  Highness 
the  Prince  of  WTales,  who  sent  a  cheque  for  £100. 
Other  subscriptions  announced  were :  £5,000  from  the 
Drapers'  Company,  £3,000  from  Mr.  Pritchard  Jones, 
and  £1,000  from  Mr.  Owen  Owen. 

Dined  with  the  Worshipful  Company  of  Cloth- 
workers  at  their  hall,  the  Master,  Mr.  Deputy 
F.  Farnan,  presiding.  Afterwards  went  to  the  dinner 
of  Mr.  Robert  D.  Hilton  at  the  Holborn  Restaurant  to 
receive  a  cheque  for  my  Fund. 

Thursday,  7th  November.  —  Attended  in  state  a 
matinee  at  the  Palace  Theatre  of  Varieties  at  Stoke 
Newington,  which  the  Mayor  (Alderman  W.  B.  Trick) 
had  organised,  with  the  assistance  of  Mr.  Alderman 
Turner  (Hon.  Secretary),  in  aid  of  my  Fund.  Leading 
artistes  of  London  took  part,  including  Mr.  George 
Robey,  Miss  Maud  Santley,  Mr.  Edmund  Payne,  Miss 
Margaret  Cooper,  Miss  Gertie  Millar,  and  many  others. 
The  proceeds  were  estimated  at  £260. 

There  was  also  a  matinee  at  Shoreditch,  given  by 
Mr.  Walter  Gibbons,  which  brought  me  over  £100. 

Dined  with  the  Gresham  Committee  at  the  Hotel 
Cecil,  the  Chairman,  Mr.  Deputy  F.  Farnan,  presiding. 

Friday,  8th  November. — Luncheon  at  the  Mansion 
House,  given  by  the  Lord  Mayor  and  the  Lord  Mayor 
elect.  169  guests. 


OUT  OF  OFFICE  227 

Afterwards  to  Guildhall,  where  the  ceremony  of 
admitting  my  successor,  Sir  John  Bell,  was  performed, 
and  I  went  back  to  the  Mansion  House  no  longer 
Lord  Mayor. 

But  still  I  had  two  more  functions  to  attend,  where 
by  courtesy  I  was  still  "  Lord  Mayor." 

First  I  went  to  a  matinee  performance  at  the 
Shakespeare  Theatre  at  Clapham  in  aid  of  my  Fund. 
Madame  Sarah  Bernhardt  and  her  French  company 
appeared  in  Adrienne  Lecouvreur.  Miss  Lena  Ashwell 
read  an  address  to  Madame  Sarah  Bernhardt,  for  which 
the  great  comedienne  promptly  kissed  her. 

The  Mayor  of  Battersea  (Councillor  J.  H.  Browne) 
was  present;  so  was  Councillor  A.  Shirley  Benn, 
Dr.  McManus,  and  others.  I  was  afterwards  called 
upon  to  speak.  1  expressed  my  regret  that  no  one 
had  kissed  me,  and  pointed  out  that  I  was  an  actor- 
manager  at  the  Theatre  Royal,  Mansion  House,  where 
I  had  just  concluded  a  very  successful  twelve  month's 
engagement,  always  taking  the  leading  parts. 

No  one  responded  to  my  appeal.  I  am  evidently 
really  out  of  office.  My  brilliant  uniforms  (liveries) 
will  be  discarded,  and  will  by-and-by  appear  on  the 
stage  of  some  music  hall  or  variety  palace,  being  worn 
by  the  men  who  stick  up  the  numbers  at  the  side  of 
the  stage  of  the  various  items  of  performance,  or  they 
will  be  used  by  some  dusky  chieftain  in  far  distant 
lands;  my  state  carriages  will  get  coats  of  paint  of 
other  colours,  and  be  altered  and  hired  by  a  Sheriff 
still  to  be  elected.  I  am  no  longer  "  My  Lord," 
unless  Sir  H.  Campbell- Bannerman  has  been  so 
impressed  by  my  merit  that  he  is  going  to  write  me 
another  charming  letter  and  offer  me  a  peerage. 

I  remember  a  very  pleasant  little  incident  which 


228  A 

occurred  on  the  last  day  of  my  mayoralty.  Just  as  I 
was  prepared  to  leave  the  Mansion  House,  dressed  in 
all  my  civic  glory,  I  took  up  in  my  arms  a  little  girl 
and  kissed  her.  She  was  a  granddaughter  of  our 
present  learned  Common  Serjeant,  Mr.  Henry  Fielding 
Dickens,  K.C.  She  submitted  with  a  good  grace  to 
my  embrace,  and  then  ran  to  her  mother,  saying: 
"  Mummy,  the  Lord  Mayor's  Show  kissed  me." 


,  \my.^^,^Mm/iS»^  :ias 


THE    MAYORALTY.— TIIF,    GOING    OUT. 


:OH,    WHAT    A    FALL    WAS    THERE,    MY    COUNTRYMEN. 
From  the  "Punch"  cartoon  by  John  Leech. 


To  face  p.  228 


DIARY 

OF  THE  PROCEEDINGS,  HABITS,  AND  CEREMONIAL 

OBSERVED  IN  THE  OFFICE  OF  MAYOR  OF  THE  CITY 

OF  LONDON  FROM  THE  29TH  OF  SEPTEMBER,  1738, 

TO  THE  28TH  OF  OCTOBER,  1739,  INCLUSIVE 

KEPT  BY  MICAJAH  PERRY,  MERCER 


TO  THE  RIGHT  HONOURABLE  SIR  JOHN  SALTER,  KNT., 
LORD  MAYOR  ELECT. 

Sir  John  Eyles,  Bart.,  Richard  Levett,  Esq., 

Sir  Robert  Baylis,  Bart.,  Sir  Geo.  Champion,  Knt., 

Humphrey  Parsons,  Esq.,  Sir  Robt.  Godschall,  Knt., 

Sir  Francis  Child,  Knt.,  Robt.  Willimott,  Esq., 

John  Barber,  Esq.,  Danl.  Lambert,  Esq., 

Sir  Willm.  Billers,  Knt.,  Sir  Josh.  Hankey,  Knt., 

Sir  Edwd.  Bellamy;  Knt.,  Robert  Westley,  Esq., 

Sir  Jno.  Williams,  Knt.,  Sir  Willm.  Rous,  Knt., 

Sir  Jno.  Thompson,  Knt.,  Henry  Marshall,  Esq., 

Sir  Jno.  Barnard,  Knt.,  Sir  Josh.  Eyles,  Knt., 

Sir  Harcourt  Masters,  Knt.,  Willm.  Baker,  Esq., 

Aldermen. 

Geo.  Heathcote,  Esq.    1  A1 ,  ,  ou    .„ 

0.    ,  ]L,  }  Aldermen  and  Sheriffs. 

Sir  Jno.  Lequesne,  Kt.J 

This  treatise  of  the  Habits  to  be  worn  and  Ceremonial  to  be 
observed  in  the  Office  of  Mayor  is  most  humbly  inscribed  by 
their  much  obliged  and 

most  faithful  humble  Servant, 

MICAJAH  PERRY. 

HABERDASHERS'  HALL, 

October  tjte  28th,  1739. 


LORD  MAYOR  PERRY'S  DIARY* 

1738-9 

September  29th.  —  The  Lord  Mayor  and  Court  of 
Aldermen,  in  Scarlet,  attended  by  all  the  Officers, 
went  to  St.  Lawrence  Church,  near  Guildhall,  and 
heard  a  sermon  preached  by  Mr.  Goodwin,  Minister 
of  Clapham,  appointed  by  the  Mayor. 

N.B. — The  Communion  Service  is  only  read  upon 
this  occasion;  antiently  the  Mayor  and  Aldermen 
received  the  Sacrament  this  day. 

The  Lord  Mayor,  Aldermen,  etc.,  returned  from 
Church  and  went  directly  into  the  Council  Chamber, 
from  whence  (after  a  short  stay)  they  went  down  into 
the  Great  Hall  to  the  Hustings,  where,  after  the  Lord 
Mayor,  Aldermen,  Sheriffs,  and  other  Officers  were 
seated, 

The  Common  Cryer  proclaimed  Silence,  and  directed 
all  persons  to  be  uncovered  in  the  Hall,  the  Court  was 
opened  after  the  following  manner : 

The  Common  Cryer  repeating  the  following  Pro- 
clamation after  the  Town  Clerk, 

"  You  good  Men  of  the  Livery  of  the  several 
Companies  of  this  City,  summoned  to  appear  here 
this  day  for  the  Election  of  a  fit  and  able  person  to  be 
Lord  Mayor  of  this  city  for  the  year  ensuing,  draw 

*  Guildhall  Library  MSS.,  15,  1 6. 

231  17 


232         LORD  MAYOR  PERRY'S  DIARY 

near    and    give    your    attendance.     God    save    the 
King  1" 

After  which  the  custom  is  for  the  Recorder  to  rise 
from  his  seat  on  the  right  hand  of  the  Lord  Mayor, 
and,  having  first  made  his  obeysance  to  the  Lord 
Mayor,  goes  to  the  front  of  the  Hustings  and  then 
makes  his  obeysance  to  the  Commons ;  then  in  a  speech 
tells  the  Commons  the  occasion  of  their  meeting  at 
that  time ;  after  the  speech  the  Recorder,  making  his 
obeysance  again,  returns  to  his  seat,  and  then  the 
Lord  Mayor,  Aldermen,  and  Recorder  retired  and 
went  into  the  Outer  Court,  commonly  called  the 
Mayor's  Court,  when,  after  they  were  seated,  the  doors 
were  shut  and  kept  by  the  three  Serjeants  of  the 
Chamber. 

N.B. — The  Recorder  being  at  Bath  no  Speech  was 
made,  but  the  Lord  Mayor  and  Aldermen  retired  as 
above,  and  the  doors  shut  as  aforesaid. 

The  Sheriffs,  with  the  Common  Cryer  between  them, 
advanced  to  the  front  of  the  Hustings  attended  by 
the  Chamberlain,  Town  Clerk,  and  other  the  Guildhall 
Officers,  when  the  Common  Serjeant  generally 
makes  a  short  speech  to  the  Commons;  then  the 
youngest  Attorney  of  the  Mayor's  Court,  who  is 
Clerk  of  the  Common  Hall  (ex  officio],  gives  the  names 
of  those  Aldermen  who  have  served  the  office  of 
Shrievalty  to  the  Common  Serjeant,  who  reads  them 
to  the  Commons,  and  informs  them  that  out  of  those 
they  are  to  return  two  to  the  Lord  Mayor  and 
Aldermen  for  them  to  choose  which  of  those  two  shall 
be  Lord  Mayor. 

Then  they  proceeded  to  the  Election.  The 
Common  Serjeant  dictating  to  the  Common  Cryer  in 
this  manner  and  he  to  the  Common  Hall. 


THE  ELECTION  233 

So  many  as  you  as  will  have  Micajah  Perry,  Esq., 
Alderman  and  Haberdasher,  to  be  Lord  Mayor  of 
this  City  for  the  year  ensuing  hold  up  your  hands, 
and  so  on  through  the  list  of  those  Aldermen  who  are 
in  nomination.  Then  the  Common  Serjeant,  by 
direction  of  the  Sheriffs,  declared  to  the  Commons 
that  the  Sheriffs  were  of  opinion  that  their  Election 
was  fallen  upon  me,  Micajah  Perry,  Esq.,  Alderman 
and  Haberdasher,  and  Sir  Thos.  Lombe,  Knt., 
Alderman  and  Mercer.  Then  the  two  Sheriffs,  with 
the  Common  Serjeant  between  them,  the  Chamber- 
lain, and  the  rest  of  the  Officers  who  stayed  on  the 
Hustings,  with  the  Common  Cryer  (his  Mace  on  his 
shoulder),  descended  the  Hustings  and  went  up  to 
the  Mayor's  Court,  where  the  Lord  Mayor  and 
Aldermen  were  sitting;  so  soon  as  they  entered  the 
doors  were  thrown  open,  and  after  three  obeysances 
to  the  Court,  the  first  at  the  Arch,  the  second  in  the 
middle,  and  the  third  at  the  barr  (at  the  third  rever- 
ence the  Mayor  pulls  off  his  Hat),  the  Town  Clerk 
goes  into  the  Court  and  sits  down,  the  Common 
Serjeant,  at  the  barr  between  the  Sheriffs,  attended 
as  before,  reported  the  several  Aldermen's  names  who 
had  been  put  into  nomination  and  on  whom  the 
Election  fell. 

Then  Mr.  Common  Serjeant  and  Town  Clerk  went 
down  to  the  Arch,  where  a  Table,  Pens,  Ink,  and  Paper 
stood  for  that  purpose,  and  the  Town  Clerk,  having 
wrote  the  names  of  the  two  Aldermen  returned  by 
the  Commons  and  drew  a  line  against  each  name 
(the  Recorder  sitting  in  a  Chair  placed  for  him, 
Common  Serjeant  standing  on  the  right  hand  of  the 
Town  Clerk),  every  Alderman  then  present  came  down 
to  the  Table  (beginning  with  the  youngest)  and 


234        LORD  MAYOR  PERRY'S  DIARY 

declared  which  of  the  two  they  were  for,  and  the 
Town  Clerk  crossed  the  line  against  the  Alderman's 
name  who  was  declared  for,  the  Recorder  and 
Common  Serjeant  overlooking  that  no  mistake 
might  be  made  in  scoreing;  then  the  Recorder  goes 
up  to  his  Seat  in  Court  on  the  right  hand  of  the  Lord 
Mayor,  and  the  Town  Clerk  went  up  to  his  Lordship 
to  know  which  of  the  two  his  Lordship  was  for 
(the  Common  Serjeant  also  going  to  his  seat),  that 
both  the  Recorder  and  he  could  hear  his  Lordship's 
vote  and  see  it  marked. 

N.B. — The  Recorder  not  being  present  it  was  per- 
formed by  the  Common  Serjeant  and  Town  Clerk. 

After  his  Lordship  had  voted  the  Town  Clerk 
delivered  the  scrutiny  paper  to  the  Common  Serjeant, 
who  went  down  again  to  the  barr,  and  declared  on 
taking  the  scrutiny  there  appeared  to  be  2 1  Aldermen 
for  Micajah  Perry,  Esq.,  and  i  for  Sir  Thos.  Lombe. 

The  Sword  Bearer  then  placed  me  at  the  Mayor's 
left  hand,  when  I  received  the  Compliment  of  every 
Gentleman  of  the  Court,  and  also  of  the  Officers. 

I  then  addressed  myself  to  the  Court  in  a  short 
speech.  The  Court  then  went  down  to  the  Hustings. 
I  walked  abreast  with  the  Mayor,  on  his  left  hand; 
my  train  was  supported.  The  Common  Serjeant 
(in  the  absence  of  the  Recorder)  declared  the  Election. 
I  was  taken  out  by  the  Recorder  and  had  the  Chain 
put  upon  me,  and  then  I  returned  my  thanks  to  the 
Common  Hall  in  a  short  speech,  as  usual. 

The  Lord  Mayor  did  the  same,  and  the  Court 
adjourned. 

The  Lord  Mayor  carried  me  home  in  his  Coach, 
attended  by  the  Sheriffs  and  Officers. 

N.B. — This  day  the  Scarlet  Gown  is  worn,  and 


DEATH  OF  MRS.  PERRY  235 

antiently  there  was  a  Cloak,  but  that  is  now 
disused. 

Several  of  the  Aldermen  did  me  the  honour  to  sup 
with  me  this  evening;  the  entertainment  is  always 
cold. 

I  did  not  appear  any  where  by  reason  of  my  Wife's 
death  till  the  2oth  Octr. 

October  20th.  —  The  Lord  Chancellour  appointed 
that  evening  to  be  attended  by  two  Aldermen  and 
the  Deputy  Recorder  and  myself,  which  I  accord- 
ingly did  in  Violet  Gowns.  The  Deputy  Recorder 
made  the  usual  speech  upon  presenting  me,  which 
the  Lord  Chancellour  returned.  His  Lordship 
received  us  in  state  with  all  his  Officers,  and  the 
Purse  carried  before  him. 

N.B. — This  is  usually  done  in  the  day,  and  many 
Aldermen,  attended  by  the  Common  Hunt,  with 
the  extraordinary  Officers  and  such  of  the  Officers 
of  Guildhall  as  are  at  liberty  who  are  invited  and 
dine  with  the  Mayor ;  but  his  Lordship  shewed  me  an 
indulgence  upon  my  then  affliction. 

October  28th.  —  The  Aldermen  below  the  Chair, 
with  1 6  of  the  Court  of  Assistants  of  the  Haber- 
dashers' Compy.,  attended  me  at  Haberdashers' 
Hall,  where  Roast  Beef  and  Burnt  Wine  was  provided, 
according  to  custom.  We  then  proceeded  to  Guild- 
hall (upon  notice  given  that  the  Lord  Mayor  was 
come)  preceded  by  the  Company,  the  Juniors  walking 
first;  and  I  was  supported  to  the  Coach  and  after- 
wards into  the  Hall  and  up  to  the  Council  Chamber 
by  the  two  senior  Aldermen  present. 

A  Court  was  held,  when  I  took  the  left  hand  of  the 
Chair.  The  Violet  Gown  is  worn,  and  the  chain 
hanging  longways. 


236        LORD  MAYOR  PERRY'S  DIARY 

After  the  common  business  of  the  day  was  done, 
Mr.  Alderman  Barber  moved  to  return  the  Mayor 
the  thanks  of  the  Court  for  his  prudent  and  wise 
conduct  during  the  course  of  the  year  which  was 
resolved. 

N.B. — This  is  usually  done  by  the  Recorder  or 
Senior  Alderman  present. 

The  Mayor  returned  his  thanks  to  the  Court  in  a 
short  speech,  and  then  delivered  me  up  the  Chair, 
which,  after  a  customary  address  bespeaking  their 
advice  and  assistance,  I  returned  again. 

We  then  went  down  to  the  Court  of  Hustings.  I 
walked  abreast  of  the  Mayor,  on  his  left  hand.  After 
we  had  taken  our  seats,  mine  at  the  left  hand  of  the 
Chair,  I  was  sworn  into  the  Office  in  the  following 
manner : 

On  the  right  hand  of  the  Hustings  stood  the 
Haberdashers'  Company  (of  which  I  was  a  Member), 
and  the  Grocers'  Company,  of  which  the  Lord  Mayor 
was  a  member,  on  the  left. 

The  City  Officers  ranged  themselves  on  both  sides 
according  to  their  rank.  Silence  was  proclaimed,  and 
the  people  ordered  to  be  uncovered. 

The  Common  Cryer,  from  the  right-hand  side  of  the 
Hustings,  with  the  Mace  upon  his  shoulder,  made 
three  reverences,  and  came  to  the  table  set  there  for 
that  purpose,  where,  grounding  his  Mace,  he  held  the 
New  Testament  for  me. 

The  Town  Clerk,  from  the  same  quarter,  made  three 
reverences,  and  upon  his  knee  administered  to  me  the 
Oath  of  Office  and  those  to  the  government,  and  I 
subscribed  to  them,  as  also  to  the  declaration  about 
transubstantiation . 

The  Mayor  delivered  me  the  Chair. 


TO  THE  THREE  CRANES  237 

Then  the  Regalia  was  delivered  me  in  the  following 
manner : 

The  Chamberlain,  from  the  left-hand  side  of  the 
Hustings,  made  three  reverences,  and  on  -his  knees 
delivered  to  the  late  Lord  Mayor  the  City  Septer, 
which  he  delivered  to  me,  and  I  laid  it  on  the 
cushion. 

He  delivered  the  Purse  and  the  Seal  separately  in 
the  same  manner  and  form. 

The  Sword  Bearer,  from  the  same  side,  delivered 
the  Sword  in  the  same  form  with  the  Chamberlain, 
which  I  returned  to  him. 

Then  the  first  Clerk  of  the  Chamber  came  in  the 
same  form,  and  I  delivered  him  back  the  Regalia,  he 
receiving  them  on  his  knees. 

We  then  proceeded  to  the  Coach.  I  walked  on  the 
right  hand  of  the  late  Mayor,  who  sat  me  down  at  the 
Hall,  preceded  by  both  the  Companies  and  Musick, 
and  followed  by  the  Aldermen  and  principal  Officers. 

I  entertained  the  Aldermen  below  the  Chair,  the 
Junior  Sheriff,  some  of  the  Gentlemen  of  Guildhall, 
and  my  Company.  The  Common  Cryer  attended  me 
at  Dinner  and  all  that  day. 

The  Aldermen  go  to  the  Old  Lord  Mayor's  about 
8  at  night,  and  about  9  at  night  the  Chamberlain 
brought  me  the  Plate  and  Swords,  for  which  I  signed 
an  Indenture. 

October  29th. — This  day  was  Sunday,  so  we  did  not 
go  to  Westminster  till  the  next  day. 

The  Aldermen  (20  in  number),  with  the  Sheriffs,  etc., 
met  me  at  Guildhall,  and  after  Breakfast  We  set  out 
in  my  State  coach  for  the  3  Cranes,  preceded  by  my 
Company  with  their  old  men  (44  in  number,  I  being 
so  many  years  old)  and  their  Streamers,  etc.  I  was 


238         LORD  MAYOR  PERRY'S  DIARY 

dressed  in  the  Scarlet  Gown  and  Velvet  Hood,  with 
the  Collar  of  SS,  Pearl  Sword,  Cap  of  Maintenance, 
and  the  Mace,  Myself  and  Servants  in  deep  mourning, 
my  State  Coach  not,  but  my  Private  Coach  was  in 
mourning.     We  took  water,   and  landed  at  West- 
minster Bridge  attended  by  the  several  Companies  in 
their  Barges,  and  saluted  from  the  several  Wharf es 
with  Guns  as  We  passed  by.     We  were  received  at 
landing  by  the  City  Grenadiers,  who  ushered  us  first 
into  a  room,  where  we  refreshed  ourselves  with  WTine 
and   Savoy  Biscuits,  and   then   to  the    Hall   Gate, 
where  we  saluted  the  several  Courts.     We  were  pre- 
ceded by  my  Company  and  all  the  Officers  of  the 
City,    walking     two     abreast,    according     to     their 
rank. 

N.B. — Antiently  within  my  memory  all  the  Com- 
panies landed  at  Westminster  and  lined  the  Hall  for 
the  Mayor  to  walk  through,  but  now  only  the  Tallow 
Chandlers'  Company  do  it. 

We  proceeded  up  to  the  Exchequer  Barr,  which  we 
approached  with  three  reverences ;  then  the  Recorder, 
Myself  standing  uncovered  on  his  right  hand,  the  late 
Lord  Mayor  on  his  left,  made  his  speech,  which  the 
Chief  Baron  answered  as  usual. 

After  that  I  took  the  Oath  of  Office. 
Proper  Warrants  of  Attorney  were  filed.     The  late 
Lord  Mayor  took  two  Oaths — viz.,  One  as  Gauger, 
and  the  other  as  Escheator  to  account  with  the  Crown. 
The  Barons  were  invited  to  Dinner. 
We   proceeded   down   to   the    King's   Bench   and 
Common  Please  Court,  and  filed  Warrants  of  Attorney, 
and  invited  the  Judges  to  Dinner. 

N.B. — The  Lord  Chancellour   usually  sits  in   his 
Court,  to  whom  we  pay  the  first  Compliment,  and  give 


BACK  FROM  WESTMINSTER  239 

his  Lordship  an  invitation,  but  this  being  the  King's 
Birthday  he  was  absent. 

From  thence  we  returned  in  the  same  manner  by 
Water  to  Blackfryers.  At  our  going  off  from 
Westminster  Bridge  the  Grenadiers  discharged  a  volley, 
and  so  again  upon  our  landing  at  Black  Fryers. 

From  thence  we  proceeded  to  Guildhall  in  pro- 
cession, of  which  I  can  give  no  account  but  that  my 
own  Company  and  the  Artillery  Company  marched 
all  the  way  before  me. 

We  dined  in  State. 

N.B. — Upon  my  coming  to  Guildhall  I  went  into 
the  Old  Council  Chamber,  put  off  the  Scarlet  Robe, 
and  put  on  the  Entertaining  Gown. 

November  5th. — Went  to  St.  Paul's,  preceded  by 
the  City  Trumpets  and  attended  by  the  Sheriffs,  in 
Scarlet  and  Collar  of  SS. 

14th. — Went  to  Court  of  Aldermen  as  usual  in 
Violet.  Prayers  at  Guildhall  Chapel  every  Court 
day  throughout  the  year;  as  also  Family  Prayers 
every  Wednesday,  Thursday,  and  Friday  at  10  o'clock 
in  the  morning. 

N.B. — The  Sheriffs  attend  every  day  when  I  go 
out,  in  their  Gowns,  and  their  Officers,  and  follow 
me  to  Guildhall,  when  I  salute  them  as  they  pass  by 
in  their  Chariots. 

16th. — Held  a  Court  of  Common  Council.     Violet. 

19th.— Went  to  St.  Paul's. 

21st. — Held  a  Court  of  Aldermen. 

26th.— Went  to  St.  Paul's. 

28th. — Held  a  Court  of  Aldermen. 

30th. — Entertained  the  Judges  and  Council. 
Received  them  in  the  Entertaining  Gown,  and  dined 
in  state. 


24o        LORD  MAYOR  PERRY'S  DIARY 

December  1st. — Held  a  Court  of  Aldermen  and 
Common  Council.  In  Violet. 

3rd.— Went  to  St.  Paul's. 

4th. — Went  to  Guildhall,  and  held  a  Sessions  of 
Peace. 

5th. — Held  a  Court  of  Aldermen. 

6th. — Sessions  at  the  Old  Bayley,  held  till  Saturday. 

N.B. — I  never  went  to  St.  Paul's  the  Sunday  after 
Sessions  Week. 

llth.— Adjourned  Sessions  of  Peace.  Not  present, 
being  in  the  Country. 

12th. — Held  a  Court  of  Hustings  at  Guildhall. 
Violet. 

N.B. — A  Court  of  this  kind  had  not  been  held  for 
many  years.  I  sat  in  the  Court,  with  the  Recorder 
at  my  right  hand,  the  Officers  of  the  Court  below, 
the  Council  on  each  side.  A  Jury  was  empannelled, 
and  an  Issue  at  law  was  tried,  the  particulars  of  which 
I  have  directed  to  be  entered  in  the  Books  of  that 
Court.  Afterwards  held  a  Court  of  Aldermen. 

The  Fruiterers'  Company  attended  me  this  morning 
with  the  usual  present  of  Baskets  of  Fruit.  I 
entertained  them  with  a  cold  breakfast. 

13th. — An  Adjourned  Sessions  of  Peace  at  Guild- 
hall. 

14th. — The  Elders  and  Ministers  of  the  Dutch 
and  French  Church  attended  me,  and  by  one  of  their 
Ministers  paid  me  the  usual  Compliment,  and  desired 
my  Protection,  which  I  returned.  They  presented 
me  with  two  silver  Flagons,  One  from  each  Church. 
I  received  them  in  the  Entertaining  Gown,  and 
dined  in  State. 

N.B. — This  Custom  has  been  disused  ever  since 
Sir  Peter  Delme's  time,  but  I  revived  it. 


BEGGING  IN  THE  MARKETS  241 

December  17th.— Went  to  St.  Paul's.    Violet. 

18th. — An  Adjourned  Sessions  of  the  Peace  and 
Holymote. 

21st. — Held  my  own  Wardmote  in  Scarlet.  No 
Sheriffs. 

23rd. — Went  a  begging  with  the  Sheriffs  through 
the  several  Markets  for  the  several  Prisons.  Violet.* 

The  House  broke  up  till  Wednesday. 

January  3rd. — Held  a  Wardmote  in  the  Sheriff's 
Court,  Guildhall,  for  the  Election  of  an  Alderman 
of  the  Ward  of  Cheap  in  the  room  of  Sir  Robert 
Cater,  deceased.  They  proceeded,  at  my  desire,  to 
Poll  directly  without  holding  up  of  hands.  Sir 
Joseph  Eyles  and  Richard  Hoare,  Esq.,  were  Candi- 
dates. The  former  was  declared  by  the  majority 
of  One  Vote.  A  Scrutiny  was  demanded  on  behalf 
of  Mr.  Hoare,  which  is  to  begin  on  Monday  the  22nd 
inst.  The  Sheriffs  attend  me. 

N.B. — The  Scarlet  Gown  is  worn  during  the  12 
days. 

Held  a  Quarter  Sessions  of  the  Peace  in  Southwark. 

4th. — Held  a  Wardmote  at  Girdlers'  Hall  for  the 
Election  of  an  Alderman  of  the  Ward  of  Bassishaw, 
in  the  room  of  Sir  Thomas  Lombe,  deceased,  when 
Mr.  Baker  and  Capt.  Ellerton  were  Candidates. 
Mr.  Baker  declared  upon  the  Poll. 

Entertained  my  Officers.  At  the  second  course 
I  went  down  to  them  and  drank  to  them  in  a  loving 
Cup  according  to  custom,  and  wished  them  a  happy 

*  "  The  Newspapers  of  1721  refer  to  the  revival  of  an  ancient 
custom  on  the  eve  of  great  festivals  of  the  Lord  Mayors  visiting 
the  Markets  in  person  to  solicit  contributions  of  provisions  for  the 
poor.  It  is  said  that  his  Lordship  was  very  successful  at  this 
period." — Malcolm's  "Manners  and  Customs,"  vol.  ii.,  par.  17. 


242         LORD  MAYOR  PERRY'S  DIARY 

new  year.  They  all  attend  that  day.  They  gave 
me  in  a  Bill  for  Winter  Liveries  to  the  following 
persons:  To  the  Sword  Bearer,  £4;  Three  Carvers, 
each  £2;  Yeomen  of  the  Waterside,  £2  each;  Sword 
Bearer's  young  man,  £i  i6s.  8d. 

January  8th. — Guildhall,  to  receive  Inquest 
Presentments,  and  afterwards  to  the  Mayor's  Court 
and  swore  the  several  Constables  and  Scavangers. 
In  Scarlet. 

9th.— Held  a  Court  of  Aldermen.     Violet. 

14th. — Went  to  St.  Lawrence  Church  to  receive 
the  Communion.  Scarlet.  The  Minister  and  Church 
Wardens  dined  with  me  as  usual. 

15th. — Held  a  Quarter  Sessions  of  the  Peace. 
Violet. 

16th.— Held  a  Court  of  Aldermen. 

17th. — Sessions  at  the  Old  Bayley;  held  till 
Saturday. 

22nd. — Begun  the  Scrutiny  for  Cheap  Ward;  held 
till  Thursday  noon. 

23rd.— Held  a  Court  of  Aldermen. 

28th.— Went  to  St.  Paul's.  Met  the  Judges. 
Scarlet,  being  first  Sunday  in  Term. 

N.B. — 9  Judges  and  8  Serjeants  dined  with  me. 
Dined  in  state. 

29th. — Went  to  Guildhall.  Declared  Sir  Joseph 
Eyles  duly  elected  Alderman  for  Cheap  Ward  by  a 
majority  of  9  votes  upon  the  Scrutiny. 

30th. — Went  to  St.  Paul's,  in  Black  Gown  without 
the  Chain. 

February  4th. — Went  to  St.  Paul's.    Violet. 

6th. — Held  a  Court  of  Aldermen  and  an  Adjourned 
Sessions  of  the  Peace. 


BIRTH  OF  A  PRINCE  243 

8th. — Held  a  Common  Council, 
llth.— Went  to  St.  Paul's. 

13th.— Held  a  Court  of  Aldermen. 

16th. — Went  to  Bow  Church;  heard  a  Sermon 
preached  by  the  Bishop  of  Bristol  before  the  Society 
for  Propagating  the  Gospel .  After  invited  the  Bishops 
to  dine  with  me.  There  were  9.  Received  them  in 
the  Entertaining  Gown  and  dined  in  State. 

18th.— Went  to  St.  Paul's. 

19th.— Wrent  to  Guildhall.  Held  a  Sessions  of 
Peace. 

20th. — Held  a  Court  of  Aldermen  and  Common 
Council  and  Court  of  Husting. 

21st. — Sessions  at  the  Old  Bayley ;  held  till  Saturday 
morning. 

March  1st. — Held  a  Court  of  Aldermen. 

4th.— WTent  to  St.  Paul's. 

N.B. — There  was  no  Court  of  Aldermen  this  week 
by  my  desire,  I  was  so  engaged  in  Parliament. 

llth.— Went  to  St.  Paul's. 

13th. — Held  a  Court  of  Aldermen. 

14th. — Went  to  Guildhall,  Licensed  Victuallers. 

15th. — Summoned  a  Court  of  Aldermen ;  acquainted 
them  with  the  Princess  of  Wales  being  delivered  of 
a  Son.  Resolved  to  address  the  King  and  Prince 
upon  the  Occasion;  desired  the  Recorder  to  make 
the  Compliment,  and  that  it  might  be  confined  to 
the  particular  occasion. 

Ordered  the  Sheriffs,  attended  by  Mr.  Remem- 
brancer, to  wait  upon  the  King  and  Prince,  to  know 
when  they  will  be  attended  by  this  Court. 

Then  held  a  Board  of  Lieutenancy. 

The  Sheriffs  returned;  told  me  the  King  would  be 


244        LORD  MAYOR  PERRY'S  DIARY 

attended  by  the  Court  of  Aldermen  to-morrow  at 
2  of  the  Clock  at  St.  James's.  The  Prince  would 
send  me  word  when  the  Princess  was  well  enough  to 
receive  us. 

16th. — Summoned  a  Court  of  Aldermen  to  Guildhall 
to  attend  the  King.  The  Recorder  made  the  com- 
pliment. The  Officers  attended  me  on  foot  as  far  as 
Temple  Bar,  and  then  went  in  Coaches  to  St.  James's. 
The  Sword  is  elevated  to  the  Palace,  the  Mace  is 
carried  before  to  the  Guard  Room,  and  then  both 
Sword  and  Mace  are  left.  The  Lord  Chamberlain 
receives  us  at  the  Door  of  the  Presence  Chamber. 
When  he  introduced  us,  I  was  in  the  middle,  the  Lord 
Chamberlain  on  my  right,  and  the  Recorder  on  my 
left.  We  approached  the  King  after  making  three 
Reverences,  each  of  which  the  King  returned  by 
pulling  off  his  Hat.  He  was  seated  in  a  Chair  of 
State  surrounded  by  the  Great  Officers.  The  Duke 
stood  on  his  left  hand.  The  room  was  lined  by  the 
Band  of  Pensioners,  and  we  had  all  the  honour  to 
kiss  his  hand.  Scarlet. 

18th.— Went  to  St.  Paul's.     Violet. 

20th. — Held  a  Court  of  Aldermen. 

21st. — Held  a  Court  of  Common  Council.  Agreed 
to  address  the  King  and  Prince.  The  Sheriffs  were 
ordered  up  as  before  to  know  when  the  King  would  be 
attended. 

22nd. — Went  up  to  the  King  with  the  Common 
Council,  only  two  of  the  Aldermen  attended. 
Received  as  before.  In  Scarlet. 

Went  out  of  Town  till  Monday  night. 

27th.— Held  a  Court  of  Aldermen.    Violet. 

28th. — Went  to  Southwark.  Held  a  Quarter 
Sessions. 


TO  PUTNEY  IN  THE  CITY  BARGE    245 

29th. — Held  a  Common  Council. 

30th. — Went  to  Putney  in  the  City  Barge,  attended 
by  the  Aldermen  and  Officers.  Held  a  Court  of 
Conservancy  there,  then  crossed  the  River  to  Fulham. 
Held  a  Court  and  dined  there. 

April  1st.— Went  to  St.  Paul's. 

3rd. — Held  a  Court  of  Aldermen. 

5th. — Held  a  Board  of  Lieutenancy. 

8th.— Went  to  St.  Paul's. 

10th. — Held  a  Court  of  Aldermen. 

llth. — Went  to  Stratford  and  Greenwich,  and  held 
Courts  of  Conservancy. 

15th.— Went  to  St.  Paul's. 

17th. — Held  a  Court  of  Aldermen  and \Court  of 
Common  Council  to  acquaint  them  with  appointment 
made  for  receiving  address. 

Nominated  a  Sheriff. 

18th. — Went  up  to  Norfolk  House,  attended  as 
before.  Introduced  by  the  Marquis  of  Carnarvon, 
the  Lord  of  the  Bed  Chamber  in  waiting. 

19th. —  Held  a  Court  of  Lieutenancy;  chose  Colonel 
Phillips  Muster  Master. 

20th. — W7ent  to  St.  Paul's  at  3  o'clock  in  the  after- 
noon, in  Black  Gown  without  the  Chain,  being 
Good  Fry  day. 

21st. — WTent  through  the  Markets  a  begging, 
according  to  custom. 

23rd. — Went  to  St.  Bride's  Church  the  three  days, 
attended  by  several  of  the  Aldermen,  the  Sheriffs, 
and  the  Officers  of  Guildhall,  preceded  by  the  Gover- 
nours  and  Charity  Children  of  the  several  Hospitals; 
on  Monday  and  Tuesday  in  Scarlet,  with  the  collar 
of  SS,  Velvet  hood  and  Regalia;  on  Wednesday, 
in  the  Violet  Gown.  The  Sermons  were  preached,  on 


246        LORD  MAYOR  PERRY'S  DIARY 

Monday  by  Dr.  Herring,  Bishop  of  Bangor;  on 
Tuesday,  by  Dr.  Bolton,  Dean  of  Carlisle;  on 
Wednesday,  by  Dr.  Lavington,  one  of  the  Residen- 
tiaries  of  St.  Paul's.  This  last  day  the  Children 
came  to  my  Hall,  and  it  has  been  usual  of  late 
to  give  them  each  a  Role  and  a  glass  of  White 
Wine. 

On  the  Tuesday  I  named  a  Sheriff. 

26th. — Went  out  of  Town  till  Sunday  Evening, 
being  Easter  week. 

30th. — Held  a  Quarter  Sessions  of  the  Peace.  I 
wore  a  silk  Gown  for  the  remainder  of  the  Summer, 
as  did  the  Sheriffs. 

May  1st. — Held  a  Court  of  Aldermen,  and  named 
a  Sheriff. 

This  day  the  Churchwardens  of  St.  Bride's  attended 
me,  when  I  paid  them  £5  for  the  use  of  their  Church, 
according  to  custom. 

2nd. — Sessions  at  the  Old  Bayley ;  held  till  Saturday 
night . 

8th. — Held  an  adjourned  Sessions  of  the  Peace  and 
Court  of  Aldermen. 

Named  a  Sheriff. 

13th.— Went  to  St.  Paul's.  Met  the  Judges, 
being  the  first  Sunday  in  Easter  Term.  In  Scarlet. 

N.B. — When  the  Judges  dine  with  either  Sheriff, 
as  they  did  this  time  with  the  Senior,  The  Mayor 
stops  his  Coach  at  some  convenient  place  and  lets 
the  Chief  Justices  and  the  Chief  Baron  pass 
him;  he  pays  them  a  compliment,  and  then  goes 
home. 

15th. — Held  a  Court  of  Aldermen.  Named  a 
Sheriff. 

20th.— Went  to  St.  Paul's. 


STURGEONS  IN  THE  THAMES          247 

22nd. — Held  an  Adjourned  Sessions  of  the  Peace 
and  Court  of  Aldermen.  Named  a  Sheriff. 

This  day  the  Water  Bailiff  brought  me  an  account 
that  a  Sturgeon  of  7  feet  4  inches  long  and  3  feet 
6  inches  in  circumference  was  taken  near  Chiswick, 
which  I  ordered  to  be  presented  to  the  King. 

24th. — Another  Sturgeon  was  taken  near  Lime- 
house,  of  7  feet  long  and  3  feet  in  circumference, 
which  I  ordered  to  be  presented  to  the  Prince  of  Wales. 

27th.— Went  to  Saint  Paul's. 

28th. — Held  a  Common  Council. 

29th.— Went  to  St.  Paul's,  preceded  by  the  City 
Musick,  in  Scarlet  and  Collar  of  SS.  Named  a 
Sheriff. 

June  1st. — Held  a  Commission  of  Land  Tax,  and 
swore  in  the  Commissioners. 

3rd.— Went  to  St.  Paul's. 

5th. — Held  a  Sessions  of  the  Peace  and  Court  of 
Aldermen.  Named  a  Sheriff. 

6th. — Held  a  Board  of  Lieutenancy. 

7th. — Sessions  at  the  Old  Bayley  held  till  Saturday. 
Went  from  thence  and  held  a  Common  Council  this 
day. 

llth.— Went  to  St.  Paul's,  preceded  by  the  City 
Musick,  in  Scarlet  and  Collar  of  SS. 

The  Artillery  Company  met  me  at  St.  Paul's,  and 
marched  before  me  through  Cheapside  and  down 
King  Street  to  my  Hall.  They  were  led  by  Col. 
Deacon.  They  drew,  up  before  the  Hall  and  fired 
three  volleys — One  at  the  King's  Health,  One  at  the 
Prince  and  Princess  of  Wales',  and  the  other  at  mine. 
I  afterwards  entertained  the  Officers  with  a  cold 
dinner.  I  received  them  in  the  Entertaining  Gown, 
and  gave  the  Soldiers  a  Bottle  of  Wine  between  three. 

18 


248         LORD  MAYOR  PERRY'S  DIARY 

They  after  dinner  drew  up  and  saluted  me  as  they 
passed  by  the  Hall  Gate. 

The  House  broke  up  till  Monday,  being  Whitsun 
week. 

19th. — Held  a  Court  of  Aldermen. 

24th.— Went  to  St.  Paul's.  Met  the  Judges,  being 
the  first  Sunday  in  Trinity  Term.  Scarlet. 

By  Act  of  Common  Council,  made  the  i  5th  of  June, 
1694,  The  Election  of  Sheriffs,  Chamberlain,  Bridge- 
masters,  Auditors  of  this  City  and  Bridge  house 
accounts,  and  Ale  Conners,  in  case  Midsummer  day- 
happen  to  fall  on  the  Lord's  day,  commonly  called 
Sunday,  is  appointed  to  be  on  the  day  next  following ; 
and  Midsummer  day  happening  this  year  to  fall  on  the 
Sunday,  I  issued  Precepts  to  the  Masters  and  Wardens 
of  the  several  Livery  Companies  of  this  City  to  cause 
their  respective  Liveries  to  be  summoned  to  meet  at 
the  Guildhall  on  Monday,  the  25th  of  June,  at 
9  o'clock  in  the  morning,  to  make  the  said  Elections; 
and  a  Court  of  Aldermen  was  summoned  for  the 
same  time  on  that  occasion. 

Accordingly,  on  Monday  the  25th,  I  went  to  Guild- 
hall in  my  Violet  Gown,  attended  by  my  Officers  as 
usual,  where  I  was  met  by  several  Aldermen  in  their 
Violet  Gowns  in  the  Council  Chamber;  and  after  a 
short  stay  there,  Myself,  the  Aldermen,  and  Recorder, 
attended  by  the  Guildhall  Officers,  went  down  into 
the  Great  Hall,  when,  being  seated  on  the  Hustings, 
the  Common  Hall  was  opened  after  the  following 
manner  (that  is  to  say) :  The  Common  Cryer,  with 
his  Mace,  at  the  front  of  the  Hustings,  commanded 
Silence  and  the  people  to  be  uncovered  in  the  Hall. 

Then  the  Common  Cryer  repeated  the  following 
Proclamation  after  the  Town  Clerk:  "  You  good  men 


249 

of  the  Livery  of  the  several  Companies  of  this  City, 
summoned  to  appear  here  this  day  for  the  Election 
of  two  fit  and  able  persons  to  be  Sheriffs  of  this  City 
and  County  of  Middlesex  and  other  Officers  for  the 
year  ensuing,  draw  near  and  give  your  attendance. 
God  save  the  King  1" 

Then  Mr.  Recorder  (according  to  custom)  rose  from 
his  seat  on  my  right  hand,  and  having  first  made  his 
obeysance  to  the  Court,  went  to  the  front  of  the  Hust- 
ings, and  after  another  obeysance  to  the  Commons, 
made  a  speech  to  them,  wherein  he  declared  the 
occasion  of  their  meeting,  and  after  the  obeysances 
as  before,  returned  to  his  seat.  Then  the  Court  of 
Aldermen  and  Recorder,  with  the  Sword,  retired  up 
into  the  outer  Court,  commonly  called  the  Mayor's 
Court,  where,  after  we  were  seated,  the  outer  doors 
were  shut  and  kept  by  the  3  Serjeants  of  the  Chamber. 

After  we  were  retired  the  two  Sheriffs,  with  the 
Common  Serjeant  between  them,  and  attended  by  the 
Common  Cryer  with  his  Mace,  and  the  Chamberlain, 
Town  Clerk,  and  other  of  the  Guildhall  Officers, 
advanced  to  the  front  of  the  Hustings,  when,  after 
the  youngest  Attorney  of  the  Mayor's  Court  (who  is 
Clerk  of  the  Common  Hall  ex  officio)  had  given  Mr. 
Common  Serjeant  a  list  of  the  names  of  the  Aldermen 
and  Commoners  who  were  in  nomination  for  Sheriffs, 
the  Common  Serjeant  read  them  to  the  Commons, 
and  informed  them  that  out  of  those  they  were  to 
choose  two  to  be  Sheriffs  for  the  ensuing  year. 

Then  they  proceeded  to  the  Election,  the  Common 
Serjeant  dictating  to  the  Common  Cryer,  and  he  to 
the  Common  Hall,  thus  :  "  So  many  of  you  as  will  have 
George  Heathcote,  Esq.,  Alderman  and  Salter,  to  be 
one  of  the  Sheriffs  of  this  City  and  County  of  Middle- 


2$o        LORD  MAYOR  PERRY'S  DIARY 

sex  for  the  year  ensuing,  hold  up  your  hands,"  and  so 
on  through  the  list  of  those  Aldermen  and  Commons 
who  were  put  in  nomination. 

Then  the  Common  Serjeant,  by  direction  of  the 
Sheriffs,  declared  their  election  for  Sheriffs  was  fallen 
upon  Robert  Grosvenor  (the  Elder),  Leatherseller, 
and  William  Townsend,  Merchant  Taylor. 

After  which  they  proceeded  in  like  manner  to  the 
Election  of  Chamberlain,  Bridge  masters,  Ale  Conners, 
and  Auditors  of  the  Chamber  and  Bridge  house 
accounts.  After  all  the  Elections  were  declared  to  the 
Commons,  the  two  Sheriffs,  with  the  Common  Serjeant 
between  them,  and  attended  by  the  Chamberlain, 
Town  Clerk,  and  other  the  Guildhall  Officers  (who 
stayed  on  the  Hustings),  with  the  Common  Cryer  (his 
Mace  on  his  shoulder),  descended  the  Hustings  and 
came  up  to  the  Mayor's  Court,  where  I  was  sitting 
with  the  Aldermen  and  Recorder.  So  soon  as  they 
entered  the  doors  were  thrown  open,  and  after  three 
obeysances  to  the  Court,  the  first  at  the  Arch,  the 
second  in  the  middle,  and  the  third  at  the  barr 
— at  the  third  obeysance  I  put  off  my  hat — the 
Town  Clerk  went  into  Court  and  sat  down,  the 
Common  Serjeant,  between  the  Sheriffs  at  the  barr, 
attended  as  above,  reported  the  several  Elections 
of  Sheriffs,  Chamberlain,  etc.,  and  on  whom  each 
fell. 

After  which  the  whole  Court,  attended  as  before, 
went  down  again  into  the  Common  Hall  in  the  Hust- 
ings, and  being  seated  as  before,  the  Recorder  soon 
rose  from  his  seat,  and  after  the  usual  obeysances,  as 
before,  went  to  the  front  of  the  Hustings,  and  declared 
to  the  Commons  the  several  Elections  as  reported  to 
the  Court,  which  they  confirmed. 


THE  SHERIFFS  ELECT  DECLINE          251 

Then  the  Sheriffs  elect  were  called  out  on  the 
Hustings  by  the  Common  Cryer,  the  Town  Clerk 
dictating  to  him  as  follows : 

"  Robert  Grosvenor  (the  Elder),  Citizen  and 
Leatherseller,  and  William  Townsend,  Citizen  and 
Merchant  Taylor,  lately  elected  by  the  Commons  of 
this  City  to  be  Sheriffs  of  this  City  and  County 
of  Middlesex  for  the  year  ensuing,  come  forth 
and  declare  your  consent  to  take  upon  you  the 
said  office  upon  pain  and  peril  that  shall  fall 
thereon." 

After  that  the  Common  Hall  was  dismissed  in  the 
usual  form,  and  I  and  the  Aldermen  departed  severally 
and  went  to  our  own  homes. 

26th. — Held  a  Court  of  Aldermen,  when  Robert 
Grosvenor  and  William  Townsend,  Esq.,  Sheriffs 
Elect,  attended,  and  Grosvenor  refused  to  execute  the 
Bond  or  hold  the  Office,  being  a  Protestant  Dissenter, 
and  Townsend  swore  off.  Whereupon  the  Court 
ordered  a  Common  Hall  to  be  summoned  for  Tuesday, 
the  3rd  of  July,  for  the  Election  of  two  persons  to 
be  Sheriffs  in  their  room. 

29th. — Went  to  Southwark  and  held  a  Quarter 
Sessions  of  the  Peace. 

July  1st.— Went  to  Saint  Paul's. 

3rd.— -Went  to  Guildhall.  Held  a  Court  of  Alder- 
men, and  also  a  Common  Hall  for  the  Election  of 
two  fit  and  able  persons  to  be  Sheriffs  in  the  room 
of  Grosvenor  and  Townsend,  when  Mr.  Alderman 
Heathcote  and  Sir  John  Lequeson  were  Elected  and 
called  out,  and  the  same  ceremonies  performed  as  at 
the  Election  on  the  2$th  of  June. 

5th. — Held  a  Common  Council. 

8th.— Went  to  Saint  Paul's. 


252         LORD  MAYOR  PERRY'S  DIARY 

10th. — Held  a  Court  of  Aldermen. 

llth. — Went  in  the  City  Barge  up  to  Fulham, 
held  a  Court  oftonservancy  .there  and  at  the  Bowling 
Green  House  on  Putney  Heath,  where  we  dined, 
attended  by  several  of  the  Aldermen. 

13th. — Entertained  the  Judges,  being  the  first 
Sittings  at  Guildhall  after  Trinity  Term. 

15th.— Went  to  Saint  Paul's. 

16th. — Held  a  Quarter  Sessions  of  the  Peace  at 
Guildhall. 

17th. — Held  a  Court  of  Aldermen. 

18th.— Sessions  at  the  Old  Bayley  held  till  Fryday 
Night. 

24th. — Held  a  Court  of  Aldermen. 

25th. — \Vent  to  Stratford.  Held  a  Court  of  Con- 
servancy; thence  went  to  Blackwall,  and  so  in  the 
Barge  to  Greenwich.  Held  a  Court,  and  dined  at 
Grace  Van  Courts  on  Blackheath.  The  Ladies 
were  there,  and  were  carried  in  the  City  Barge 
and  landed  at  Greenwich,  from  whence  it  went 
to  Blackwall  to  meet  us.  Several  Aldermen 
attended. 

27th. — Entertained  the  Master,  Wardens,  and 
Court  of  Assistants  of  the  Haberdashers'  Company. 
Received  them  in  the  Entertaining  Gown,  and  dined 
in  State. 

The  House  broke  up  this  day  till  the  23rd  August. 

August  23rd. — Went  to  Guildhall,  and  thence  to 
Smithfield  to  proclaim  Bartholomew  Fair.  We  stopt 
under  Newgate,  where  the  Keeper  presented  me  with 
a  cold  tankard,  according  to  custom.  The  Pro- 
clamation was  read  by  the  Attorney  of  the  Mayor's 
Court  in  waiting  (who  sate  in  the  Coach  with  me) 
in  Cloth  Fair,  and  repeated  by  one  of  the  Sheriff's 


THE  FIRE  OF  LONDON  253 

Officers.     From  thence  we  returned  home  by  way  of 
Bartholomew  Close. 

The  House  adjourned  till  Monday,  the  3rd  of 
September. 

September  3rd. — Being  the  day  appointed  by  Act 
of  Parliament  to  keep  the  Fire  of  London,  when  the 
2nd  happens  on  Sunday  as  it  did  this  year.  Went 
to  St.  Paul's  in  Black  Gown  and  no  Chain,  Black 
Sword. 

4th. — Went  to  Guildhall,  held  a  Sessions  of  the 
Peace  and  Court  of  Aldermen. 

6th.  —  Sessions  at  the  Old  Bayley  held  till 
Saturday . 

8th.— Went  from  the  Old  Bayley  to  Guildhall- 
put  on  the  Scarlet  Gown  and  Collar  of  SS — attended 
by  all  the  Officers  and  City  Trumpetts,  and  several 
Aldermen,  to  proclaim  Southwark  Fair,  and  Dined 
at  the  Bridge  House. 

N.B. — The  Sword  Bearer  wears  the  Embroidered 
Cap,  which  is  only  worn  on  this  day,  and  the  Pearl 
Sword,  and  the  Common  Crier  the  Mace. 

llth. — Held  a  Court  of  Aldermen. 

16th.— Went  to  Saint  Paul's. 

18th. — Held  a  Court  of  Aldermen. 

19th. — Held  a  Board  of  Lieutenancy. 

21st. — This  day  I  should  have  gone  to  Christ's 
Hospital,  but  was  taken  ill,  so  that  I  did  not  go  out. 

The  occasion  is  this : 

The  Lord  Mayor  goes  there  about  1 1  o'clock,  into 
the  great  Hall,  where  the  Presidents  and  Governors 
of  the  several  Hospitals  meet  him.  From  thence  they 
go  to  Christ's  Church,  preceded  by  the  Children  in 
their  order,  where,  after  a  Sermon,  they  proceed 
to  the  Grammer  School,  where  two  of  the  Boys 


254        LORD  MAYOR  PERRY'S  DIARY 

make  Orations,  One  in  Latin,  the  Other  in  English, 
in  commemoration  of  their  Benefactors;  after  which 
the  Clerk  of  each  Hospital  delivers  unto  the  Mayor 
a  list  of  the  several  Governors  nominated  within  the 
preceding  year  which  ought  to  be  delivered  into  the 
Court  of  Aldermen,  and  was  antiently  intended 
for  their  approbation ;  but  this  has  been  of  late  years 
discontinued. 

Then  the  several  Beadles  of  each  Hospital  come  in 
and  lay  down  their  Staves.  The  Mayor  enquires  of 
the  City  Marshalls  after  their  conduct,  and  if  they 
have  been  found  faithful  in  the  discharge  of  their 
respective  offices  he  then  directs  them  to  take  them 
up  again.  Violet. 

23rd. — Did  not  go  to  Saint  Paul's. 

25th. — Held  a  Court  of  Aldermen. 

27th. — Held  a  Board  of  Lieutenancy.  Chose 
Mr.  Henry  Smart,  Clerk  to  the  Commissioners  in 
his  Father's  Room. 

28th. — Went  to  Guildhall.  Received  the  new 
Sheriffs,  who  walked  from  Grocers'  Hall,  preceded 
by  1 6  of  the  Court  of  Assistants  of  the  Salters'  and 
Grocers'  Companies,  of  which  the  Sheriffs  are  members. 
The  Salters  took  the  right  hand,  as  Mr.  Alderman 
Heathcote  was  the  Senior  Sheriff.  They  were  each 
introduced  by  two  Aldermen  above  the  Chair  as 
they  were  Aldermen;  had  they  been  Commoners 
they  would  have  been  supported  by  Two  Aldermen 
below  the  Chair.  We  went  down  into  the  Hustings 
Court,  when  they  were  sworn  into  their  office  in  the 
following  manner : 

Myself  and  Aldermen  being  seated  in  our  places,  the 
Common  Cryer  first  commanded  Silence  and  the 
people  to  be  uncovered  in  the  Hall. 


NEW  SHERIFFS  ELECT  255 

Then  the  new  Sheriffs  were  called  out  by  the 
Common  Cryer,  the  Town  Clerk  dictating  to  him  as 
follows:  "  George  Heathcote,  Esq.,  Alderman  and 
Salter,  Sir  John  Lequesne,  Knt.,  Alderman  and 
Grocer,  lately  elected  by  the  Commons  of  this 
City  to  be  Sheriffs  of  the  same  City  and  County  of 
Middlesex  for  the  year  ensuing,  come  forth  and  take 
upon  you  the  said  office  on  pain  and  peril  that  will 
fall  thereon." 

Then  the  new  elected  Sheriffs  came  forth,  and  the 
Common  Cryer  with  his  Mace  held  the  new  Testament 
to  them  while  the  Town  Clerk  administered  the  Oath 
of  Office  to  them  (both  he  and  they  standing) ;  then 
the  Oaths  of  Allegiance,  Supremacy,  and  Abjuration, 
with  the  declaration  against  transubstantiation,  all 
which  they  subscribed.  Then  they  presented  Mr. 
Timothy  Waldo  to  be  their  Under  Sheriff  of  Middlesex, 
and  the  Town  Clerk,  sitting,  administered  to  him  the 
Oath  of  Office  and  the  other  Oaths  and  Declarations, 
he  kneeling,  and  the  Common  Cryer  holding  the 
book  to  him.  Then  the  Officers  put  the  chains  on 
the  new  Sheriffs.  That  done,  We  all  left  the 
Hustings. 

The  new  Sheriffs,  with  the  Aldermen  and  the 
Companies,  together  with  the  Chamberlain,  Common 
Serjeant,  Town  Clerk,  and  as  many  of  the  Guildhall 
Officers  as  attended,  went  to  Grocers'  Hall,  where  they 
were  all  entertained  at  Dinner  by  the  new  Sheriffs,  as 
usual  on  the  like  occasions. 

N.B.— The  Old  Sheriffs  attended  me  home,  where 
a  mutual  Compliment  was  paid.  Violet. 

This  day  I  left  off  the  Silk  Gown. 

29th.~ Went  to  Guildhall,  in  Scarlet.  The  cere- 
mony of  this  day  is  already  particularly  set  down, 


256         LORD  MAYOR  PERRY'S  DIARY 

except  that  there  was  a  Poll  demanded  for  Sir  George 
Champion,  which  was  given  up  that  evening,  so  that 
the  Declaration  was  not  made  till  the  Tuesday 
following. 

30th.— Went  to  Saint  Paul's. 

October  1st.— Went  to  Guildhall,  in  Scarlet,  where 
the  Sheriffs  met,  attended  by  their  respective  Com- 
panies. 

We  took  water  at  the  Three  Cranes,  and  from  thence 
proceeded  to  Westminster  by  Water.  The  two 
Companies  landed  first;  then  the  Officers,  after  them 
the  Aldermen,  the  Juniors  first,  who  placed  themselves 
in  their  rank  upon  the  Bridge  (and  the  same  ceremony 
in  other  respects  was  observed  upon  the  Aldermen 
landing  as  is  mentioned  at  going  up  with  the  Sheriffs 
at  page  238).  I  landed  with  the  Sword  and  Mace, 
and  walked  thro'  them;  then  they  closed  in  according 
to  their  seniority.  We  proceeded  to  the  Exchequer 
Chamber,  from  thence  to  the  Exchequer  Barr,  the 
Companies  lining  the  way.  I  walked  abreast  between 
the  Sheriffs,  the  Recorder  at  my  left  hand,  the  Sword 
on  my  right,  and  the  Mace  on  my  left.  I  was  covered. 
We  made  three  reverences,  at  each  of  which  the  Baron 
pulled  off  his  Hat,  and  I  returned  it.  The  Recorder 
then  presented  the  Sheriffs  to  him  in  a  short  speech. 
Proper  Warrants  of  Attorney  were  filed,  and  the  late 
Sheriffs  swore  to  account.  Then  the  Senior  Alderman 
below  the  Chair  that  was  present  cut  some  Twiggs 
for  suit  and  service  for  some  Lands,  and  the  Officers 
of  the  Court  told  some  Nails  and  Horse  Shoes. 
The  Baron  was  then  invited  to  Dinner.  I  pulled  off 
my  Hat  and  paid  him  my  Compliment.  We  then 
returned  in  the  same  order  to  Grocers'  Hall  to 
Dinner. 


257 

The  Sheriffs  take  place  on  this  day  of  all  the 
Aldermen,  and  are  in  Scarlet,  the  Aldermen  in 
Violet. 

October  2nd. — Went    to   Guildhall.     Received  the 
report  of  the  Sheriffs.     Went  into  the  Husting  Court, 
and  declared  Sir  John  Salter,  Knight,  Lord  Mayor, 
the  particular  manner  before  described. 
Held  a  Court  of  Aldermen. 

3rd. — Held  a  Quarter  Sessions  of  the  Peace  in 
Southwark. 

7th.— Went  to  St.  Paul's. 
9th. — Held  a  Court  of  Aldermen. 
llth. — The    Bishop   of  London   came    to    Haber- 
dashers' Hall,  when  We  distributed  the  King's  Bounty 
of  £i  ,000,  with  other  money  collected  by  virtue  of  His 
Majesty's  Letter,   dated  the   2Oth   February,    1738, 
among  the  several  Poor  Parishes  within  the  City  of 
London  and  Bills  of  Mortality. 

The  Bishop  afterwards  dined  with  me. 
14th. — Went  to  my  own  Parish  Church  (St.  Mary 
Ax),  without  the  Sheriffs,  and  in  the  Entertaining 
Gown.  I  was  received  at  the  Church  Door  by  the 
Church  Wardens  with  their  Wands,  the  Organ  playing 
and  Bells  ringing. 

15th. — Went  to  Guildhall.    Held  a  Quarter  Sessions. 
16th. — Held  a  Court  of  Aldermen. 
17th. — Sessions  at  the  Old  Bayley  held  till  Fryday 
night. 

23rd. — Held  a  Court  of  Aldermen. 
I  received  a  letter  from  the  Duke  of  Newcastle, 
dated  the  ipth  Inst.,  desiring  my  attendance,  and 
that  of  the  Aldermen  and  Sheriffs,  upon  the  Declara- 
tion of  War  with  .Spain.  Upon  enquiry  I  could  not 
find  any  mention  of  a  Procession  of  this  kind,  either 


258        LORD  MAYOR  PERRY'S  DIARY 

in  the  Repertories,  the  Herald's  Office,  or  Secretary's 
Office,  but  only  in  general  that  it  was  done,  and  that 
the  Mayor,  Aldermen,  and  Sheriffs  attended,  for 
which  reason  this  Procession  was  not  conducted  in  the 
regular  manner  it  ought  to  have  been  done.  To 
prevent,  therefore,  any  such  disorder  in  time  to  come 
I  have  here  set  down  the  order  in  which  it  ought  to 
have  been  conducted. 

The  Mayor,  attended  by  the  Aldermen  and  Sheriffs, 
in  Scarlet,  went  from  Guildhall  to  Temple  Barr, 
preceded  by  the  Constables  of  the  several  Wards 
through  which  the  Procession  was  to  pass.  The  Gate 
is  shut,  but  upon  notice  of  the  Heralds  or  being  come 
it  is  ordered  to  be  opened;  the  procession  then  begins 
in  the  following  order : 

A    Party   of   the    Horse    Grenadiers. 

The  Constables. 

Sheriffs'  Officers. 

Lord  Mayor's  Officers. 

The  Gentlemen  of  Guildhall,  Juniors  first. 

The  Sheriffs. 

The  Aldermen,  the  Juniors  going  first. 

The  Lord  Mayor  immediately  before  the  Heralds. 

The  Procession  is  closed  by  a  party  of  Life  Guards. 

In  this  manner  the  Declaration  was  read  at  Chan- 
cery Lane  end,  at  Wood  Street  end,  and  at  the  Royal 
Exchange. 

N.B. — As  soon  as  the  Gate  was  opened  Blue 
Mantle  Pursuivant  presented  me  the  last  Marshall's 
Warrant  for  liberty  of  proclaiming  War  within  the 
City. 

25th. — Went  to  Guildhall.  Held  an  Adjourned 
Quarter  Sessions  of  the  Peace.  Violet. 

I  afterwards  put  on  the  Scarlet  Gown  and  went  to 


FAREWELL  TO  OFFICE  259 

Stocks  Market,  attended  by  several  Gentlemen  of 
the  Committee  appointed  to  erect  a  Mansion 
House  for  the  Lord  Mayor  of  this  City,  in  their 
Gowns,  preceded  by  the  City  Musick  and  my  Officers, 
with  the  Sunday  Sword  and  Mace,  and  laid  the 
chief  corner  stone  of  the  said  Mansion  House,  and 
placed  therein  a  copper  plate  with  an  inscrip- 
tion engraved  thereon,  and  afterwards  returned 
home. 

26th.— Went  to  Guildhall.  Held  an  Adjourned 
Quarter  Sessions  of  the  Peace.  Violet. 

28th. — The  Aldermen  above  the  Chair,  with  16 
of  the  Court  of  Assistants  of  the  Haberdashers' 
Company,  attended  me  at  Haberdashers'  Hall,  when 
Roast  Beef  and  Burnt  Wine  was  provided  accord- 
ing to  custom.  We  then  went  to  Guildhall,  where 
we  met  the  Lord  Mayor  Elect,  and  from  thence 
we  proceeded  to  Guildhall  Chappie,  where  (being 
Sunday)  a  Sermon  was  preached  by  The  Revd. 
Mr.  Abbot  (appointed  by  me).  We  afterwards 
went  up  into  the  Council  Chamber.  The  further 
ceremony  of  this  day  is  already  particularly  set 
down. 

This  day  being  Sunday  there  were  no  Ladies 
invited,  and  I  only  entertained  the  Aldermen  above 
the  Chair,  the  Officers  of  Guildhall,  and  the  Haber- 
dashers' Company. 

The  Officers,  with  the  Sword  Bearer,  came  when 
the  Company  were  gone,  and  took  their  leave  of  me 
in  a  Body.  The  Sword  Bearer  delivered  the  Com- 
pliment. 

MICAJAH  PERRY, 
Mayor. 

BILLING   AND  SONS,    LIMITED,   PRINTERS,   GUILDFORD,  ENGLAND 


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