(_A Contribution towards a Future History, by Macaulay Stiggins, C. C._)
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The LORD MAYOR was the first Privy Councillor created, and has remained
so ever since that auspicious event. On the death of the Monarch, he
presides at the meeting that is immediately summoned, and appoints the
new Cabinet, generally from the members of the late Government, but on
one memorable occasion he appointed all the members of the Court of
Aldermen who had passed the Chair, and although they were afterwards
induced to resign, it was noticed that during their short administration
matters went on much as usual. This was called the Cabinet of Absolute
Wisdom, after Alderman WOOD, the Prime Minister, who was the First Lord
of the Treasury who ever left more in it than he found there. His
beautiful daughter, MARIA, was the reigning Toast of those hard-drinking
days, and gave her well-known name to the magnificent City Barge that
periodically conveys the City Fathers, together with the City Mothers,
on their several important inspections of the Silver Thames, in the
neighbourhood of Richmond and Twickenham. The matters they have to
discuss on these occasions are of so weighty a nature that they are
compelled to have five or six horses to draw them. On one occasion, and
one only, they managed to get as far as Oxford, an account of which
celebrated voyage was written by the Lord Mayor's Chaplain of the time,
under the title of "Alderman WENABLES' Woyage to Hoxford," a copy of
which is still preserved in the Bodleian, among their most cherished
treasures, and can only be seen on special application, as fabulous sums
have been offered by the Court of Aldermen for its destruction, it being
the only copy that escaped when the whole edition was ordered to be
bought up and destroyed. This unique volume is said to contain such
astounding revelations as must be seen to be believed, and would
possibly not be believed even then.
Before the newly-elected Lord Mayor is sworn in, he has to produce a
Certificate from a Wine Merchant, "residinge in ye Cittye," and a
Freeman of the Vintners' Company, that he has placed in the capacious
Cellar at the Mansion House, provided for that purpose, ten Tuns, or one
thousand dozen of good wine, for the year's consumption, and whatever is
left, _if any_, is distributed among the Royal Hospitals, the quantity
being carefully recorded by the learned Recorder, which record is placed
under the control of the equally learned Comptroller, and remains for
all time, as a witness to the liberality or stinginess of the Right
Honourable the Lord Mayor of that particular year.
The Sheriffs are the most ancient officers of the Corporation, having
been first elected in the reign of King NEBUCHADNEZZAR. A singular
custom still prevails, originating, it is said, in their association
with the grass-eating monarch. They are entitled, by virtue of their
office, to the first six bundles of sparrow-grass--as it was originally
spelt, and is still called by Members of the Corporation--that are
brought into Covent Garden Market: and his Grace the Duke of BEDFORD is
always courteously invited to partake of it, at a sumptuous banquet
called "the Grass Festival." (_Vide Stow_, cap. 23 of BELL'S ed.)
The City Marshal was formerly a personage of great importance, being in
fact of the same rank as a Field Marshal, the only difference being that
one acted in the City and the other in the Field, whence their names.
The City Marshal was the City Champion, and always rode into Guildhall,
fully armed, on Lord Mayor's Day, at the commencement of the Banquet,
and, throwing down a glove, dared anyone to mortal combat who disputed
the rights of the Lord Mayor. If no one accepted his challenge, he
quaffed a flagon of sack to his Lordship's health, and then cleverly and
gracefully backed out of the Hall. It is recorded that on one occasion
his challenge was accepted by a gallant Common Councilman who had been
fulfilling the important duties of Wine-taster, and who, when called
upon to name time and place for the deadly encounter, said, in the
memorable words of the great ALFRED, "Here and now!" which so astonished
the Champion that he pleaded sudden indisposition, and withdrew. The
custom has since been discontinued. The gallant Common Councilman was
made Deputy of the Ward of Port-soaken.
In ancient times the LORD MAYOR, as every one knows, had a Fool all to
himself, and he was the only Fool permitted in the City. The appointment
was open to all by competitive examination. On the occasion of a LORD
MAYOR making a Fool of himself the office was abolished by the Common
Council from motives of economy. In memory of this ancient privilege the
LORD MAYOR once in the season has a fool--a gooseberry fool--all to
himself.
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