Lord Mayor first; we, the Sheriffs, next; the Recorder and Aldermen following in coaches, the Companies walking before us."

«From thence we went to Westminster in the City barge, taking place of all the Aldermen and our two Companies attended in the Goldsmiths' barge, as before agreed on, adorned with half the colours, and rowed with half the watermen belonging to the Drapers' Company. On landing, the Companies went first, the Lord Mayor next, then the Recorder with a Sheriff on each side, and last the Aldermen. On our approaching the bar of the Exchequer [in Westminster Hall,] the Recorder, in a speech, presented us to the Court, one of the Barons being seated there for that purpose, signi fying the choice the Citizens had made, and that, in pursuance of our charter, we were presented to his Majesty's Justices for his royal approbation; and the Baron accordingly approving the choice, he, and the Clerks of the Exchequer, were invited to our dinner; then the late Sheriffs were sworn to their accounts, and made their proffers; and the senior Alderman 'present cut one twig in two, and bent another, and the Officers of the Court counted six horse-shoes and hob-nails.

"This formality, it is said, is passed through each year, by way of suit and service for the citizens holding some tenements in St. Clement's Danes, as also some other lands; but where they are situated no one knows, nor doth the City receive any rents or profits thereby.

"This done, we returned in the same order to the Three Cranes, and from thence, in our coaches, to dinner at Drapers' Hall; where my Lord Mayor, Aldermen, Gentleman of Guildhall, and guests invited, dined at one table, and we, the Sheriffs, at the head of another, with

the Court of Assistance of each of our Companies; and the Clerks of the Exchequer by themselves at another table. After dinner, the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, &c. returned into a separate room, where we sat with them at the head of the table, one on each side of the Lord Mayor; our two Companies were in another room, and the greatest part of the Clerks of the Exchequer remained in the hall."

On the 7th of October they "settled a point" with the keeper of Newgate in regard to the transportation of felons. That was, that the keeper should deliver them to the merchant, "who contracts to carry them over," at the door of Newgate, and there discharge himself of any further custody; but leaving him and his officers the privilege of protecting them down to the water side, according to any private agreement between him and the merchant; it being fully understood that the Sheriffs should not be responsible for their charge" from the time of their first delivery."

"Wednesday, Oct. 29th. This being our grand feast day, my Lord Mayor, Humphry Parsons, Esq., sent his summons to attend at Guildhall, by ten o'clock, and that he would set out from thence, to Westminster, precisely, at eleven, in order to be back to our entertainment more early. What added magnificence to this day's Shew was, that his lordship's coach was drawn by six horses, adorned with grand harnesses, ribbons, &c., a sight never before seen on this occasion.-The Lord Chancellor and some of the Judges dined with us: the whole entertainment was happily conducted with great order and decency, and the company was broken up by about one o'clock in the morning.

"Wednesday, Nov. 5th. This being the commemoration of the Gunpowder Plot, we, the Sheriffs, attended my Lord Mayor from Guildhall to St. Paul's; and as his lordship's coach was, on this occasion, drawn as before by six horses, which he intended to do on every public occasion, it caused a more than ordinary concourse of people in the streets."

On Sunday, the 11th of January, Mr. Hoare, in his scarlet gown, with the Lord Mayor, and several of the Aldermen, received the Holy Communion, in St. Lawrence's church, in pursuance of the statutes, to qualify themselves to act as magistrates; and on the following day, being Plough Monday, he attended the Lord Mayor at Guildhall," to receive the several presentments of the respective wardmote inquests of each ward,-and at the same time to swear in all new constables for the ensuing year." On Wednesday, the 14th, the quarter sessions commenced, "when it is usual for the several common councilmen to take the oaths of Allegiance;" which was done accordingly.

"Friday, February 20th. Waited on my Lord Mayor to Bow church, in my scarlet, to hear a sermon upon the propagation of the gospel in foreign parts; to which the Archbishop of Canterbury also came in his state coach, and with grand solemnity, attended by seven or eight Bishops, and great numbers of gentlemen of that society."

The Lord Mayor (Humphry Parsons,) died on the evening of March the 21st, 1741; on the 23d, Daniel Lambert, Esq. was elected to succeed him, and the same evening he was presented to the Lord Chancellor, and approved of in the usual manner.

This day the new Lord

"Wednesday, March 25th. Mayor went in grand state and procession by land to the Tower-gate, on Tower-hill, to be there presented to, and sworn in before the Constable of the Tower, according to the charter and ancient custom and usage when a Lord Mayor happened, as in this case, to be chosen out of term time; and, consequently, cannot be presented to the Barons of the Exchequer sitting at Westminster. Just at the entrance of the Tower-gate, a large booth was built up, with seats and benches at the upper end, in the middle of which the right honourable Lord Cornwallis, Constable of the Tower, was seated, attended by the officers and servants belonging to him; to whom the Lord Mayor was conducted and presented, and sworn in the same manner as before the Barons of the Exchequer."

3

On the 28th of March, being Easter Eve, the Sheriffs attended the Lord Mayor "through the streets, to collect charity for the prisoners in the city prisons, according to annual custom ;" and on the Monday following, they accompanied his lordship, in procession, with the rest of the court of aldermen to St. Bride's church to hear the 'Spital, or Hospital Sermon preached before the governors of the several hospitals and charity schools of the city; and to which "all the charity children of the several schools, as also those of Christ's hospital, go in procession, and are seated in the galleries." This sermon is "generally preached by a Bishop," and that on the following day, in the same church (which is likewise attended by the corporation,) by a Dean. On the third Day in Easter week, the 'Spital sermon is preached by a Doctor in Divinity.

Speaking of the Easter Entertainments, our Journalist states the following particulars as the cause of their origin :

"The original institution of those entertainments was occasioned by the Lord Mayor and the two Sheriffs being accustomed to, separately, ask such of their friends who were Aldermen or Governors of the Hospitals, whom they saw at church, to dine with them at their own houses. But in process of time, it was agreed that the Lord Mayor should invite all that were at church on the first day; and the two Sheriffs, in their turn, on the next succeeding days. Hence, by degrees, they began to invite other of their friends; and the Aldermen bringing their Ladies, other ladies were also invited, so that the private houses not being large enough, they began to entertain at their respective halls: whence it is now brought to pass, that these Easter entertainments are become the chiefest articles of expense both to the Lord Mayor and the two Sheriffs."

"Monday, April 6th. The sessions began at Guildhall, but the Lord Mayor dispensed with the absence of the Sheriffs, on account that we this day were obliged to attend at Westminster, where we were to make our proffers at the Exchequer by a tender of 40s. ; and which was accordingly made by one of the secondaries at the Tally-office; by which, and the annual rent of 300l., the citizens of London hold and enjoy the Sheriffwick of London and Middlesex according to their charter. Afterwards we entertained all the Exchequer officers, aecording to ancient custom, with fifty-two calves' heads, dressed in different manners."

On the 20th of April the Sheriffs accompanied the Lord Mayor to hold a Court Baron and Court Leet at the Mitre in St. James's parish, in Duke's-place, which