nor destroy or weaken any of those ancient rights and privileges of which this city is so justly proud. I feel the responsibilities of my position, and I hope I shall never be unmindful of the duties of a citizen. When I consider that I shall this day be proclaimed as chief magistrate of the City of, and when I look back to the struggles and disappointments of my early life, I can scarcely realise the fact. Gentlemen, my past career is before you. If that had not been the career of a faithful and independent citizen, I should not have been permitted to address you in my present position, and if what I have done has met your approbation, I can only say that I shall proceed in the same course, neither looking to the right hand nor to the left, but always bearing in mind that the only way to secure the respect of one's fellow men is by pursuing a course of honour and independence, as it always has done, and I believe always will do. Gentlemen, permit me further to say that I will exercise the powers with which you have invested me with firmness and with moderation, and I hope, when I appear here again to render up the trust, you will find that the dignity and prestige of this high and honourable office has suffered nothing in my hands.

Response-By the Mayor.

The MAYOR of

said he thanked the Chairman for the very flattering encomiums he had been pleased to bestow on him as the Mayor of

for which he begged to tender him and the company present his warmest and best thanks. He was quite sure that it was the warmest wish of the inhabitants of

to be on friendly terms with the town of because the interests of the one were identical

with those of the other, and he wished the same feeling to prevail throughout the county of. He was very glad to have his health drank in this manner by the inhabitants, for he claimed an early association with the Borough of in which he had received his education. He felt gratified at receiving the invitation, and he trusted might be attended with prosperity for many generations to come.

Response.

He

The MAYOR briefly acknowledged the toast on behalf of himself and the Corporation of fully endorsed the opinion of Mr.

that a

Corporation was the best form of local government, being that of self-government. He fully believed this to be the truth. There was much to do in the coming municipal year connected with sanitary matters; and he trusted that it would be attended to with no niggard hand, for the sake alike of inhabitants and visitors. it must not be forgotten, had no manufactures; its staple was its visitors, and for those visitors the town should be made as perfect and as attractive as municipal regulations could make it. He begged to thank those assembled for their kind feelings towards the Corporation of

Response-By the Mayor or Senior Alderman.

GENTLEMEN. It is with unmingled pleasure that I rise to thank you on behalf of the body whose health has been so enthusiastically received, and to especially thank the Chairman for the eloquent way in which he submitted the toast to you. The manner in which you responded to his call is a convincing proof that you endorse his sentiments with regard

to the importance of self, or local government, which is the palladium of all our liberties, and should be dearly cherished by us, having been won by the blood of our forefathers, and raised and having maintained this England of ours in its present and envied position among nations. Where there are no municipal institutions, such as are to be found in this country, there can be no real freedom,-freedom of thought, and speech, and action; and it is this freedom which engenders obedience in the governed, and confidence in those who rule. The man who is not willing to obey, is not fit to govern; and where can you point to a people abroad in whom their sovereign can place such reliance as is placed in the people of England? It is this confidence which exists between the Government and the governed, that not only allows the latter to make laws for themselves, but enforces a respect for them.

Gentlemen, I also thank you on another ground, -on the reception which you gave the toast. It is satisfactory evidence to us whom you have selected as governors of this municipality, that, if we have not done all that could be done, we have gained your approbation and sanction of those acts which have been performed; and on behalf of the Corporation, I can say with truth, that they have laboured conscientiously, and will be ever mindful of their duties and watchful over your interests.

Response.-By the Mayor.

The MAYOR, in responding to the last toast, said it had been his earnest endeavour to discharge the duties of his office, which he had now filled for a year and a half, in a manner which should result in

gaining for him the good opinions of the people of the town. This town has now become the metropolis of this part of England, and notwithstanding all that had been done, he could assure them that whoever succeeded him would find there were great duties yet to perform. He felt deeply and sincerely the importance of upholding the attractions of the town, and hoped those attractions would increase.

Response.-By an Alderman or Councillor.

Mr. Alderman

briefly acknowledged the last toast, and said he could assure them that the Corporation had done all in its power which would conduce to the interests of the inhabitants by improvements in general, but more particularly those of a sanitary nature; and he hoped it would foster the races and other amusements, which were the only staple commodity of the town. He was at all times pleased to meet his fellow-townsmen at social entertainments like the present, as they were calculated to establish and perpetuate that good feeling which should ever exist between the inhabitants and the governing body. He would conclude by thanking the worthy Chairman and the company for the manner in which the toast had been received on behalf of the Mayor and Corporation of

PAROCHIAL.

"THE BOARD OF GUARDIANS."

By the Vice-Chairman.

GENTLEMEN.—A toast has been placed in my hands which I have great pleasure in submitting to you; it is that of "The Health of the Board of Guardians." No body of men are more deserving our thanks than those gentlemen who voluntarily give up their time to those onerous, and, not infrequently, painful duties, of attending to the wants of the poor. None but those who are acquainted with those duties can fully realise them. The qualifications for a Guardian do not consist in his paying so much "scot and lot," or in being "discreet," in the general terms of the Act of Parliament; but he must be a man of unbending resolution and determination, yet full of compassion; for it should be borne in mind, that a Guardian of the Poor has two important trusts committed to his charge-the money of the ratepayers, and the wants, even the lives, of a section, and a large section too, of his fellow creatures. If niggardly with the one, in order to save the pockets of the ratepayers, he acts unjustly towards those who have a legitimate claim to the money for whose support it has been collected; and if he administers relief without exercising caution, he encourages imposition, whereby the ratepayer and the truly necessitous are both wronged. But in this parish I am pleased to be able to say, from having been a keen observer of