The crier, a squat Londoner, roared lustily from his side-perch in the Court for room to be made for the "Worshipful the Mayor and the Corporation;" but his mouthing was unattended to. Judge Willis was fidgetting impatiently on the Bench, commanding the crier to keep order, and the Court, now thronged, to be cleared, commands impossible to be enforced, for the crier was irrepressible with excitement, the spectators were in no humour to be trifled with, and this was one of those occasions on which Willis condescendingly left his bouncing unnoticed. The Judge as he appeared robed on the Judgment-seat cut a rather grotesque figure. His coiffure was constructed upon an admixture of two or three orders of hat-architecture, a tripartition of the billy-cock, the shovel, and cocked-hat. It was not unlike the "black cap" in which Judges pass capital sentences, but it was winged, padded, enlarged, and ornamented in such a manner as to be unrecognizable. After some delay and difficulty the Mayor marched in with head erect, his hair stiffened as if with starch, and likened to a crown of long bristles. Condell followed by his colleagues, strutted forward in his trailing red vestment looking like an ancient flamingo. The honour of a formal introduction was accomplished through the medium of Councillor Patterson, as a Government official, after which the Mayor was vouchsafed the privilege claimed by misdemeanants presented for trial and allowed to stand "on the floor of the Court," close to the Bench, whilst Aldermen and Councillors received the greater compliment of being pushed into the jury-box, like a lot of calves in a butcher's pen. Mr. J. D. Pinnock, the Deputy-Registrar administered the necessary oath to the Mayor, who kissed the greasy, insanitary looking Bible with a solemn face and loud smack, after which Judge Willis delivered the following address:—
"Worshipful Mayor, Worthy Aldermen, and Gentlemen Councillors,"
"Elected as you have been under an Act of the Legislative Council to the offices you now claim by virtue of that Act, to fill, I cannot but feel gratified at your presence in the Queen's Supreme Court of Judicature on the present occasion.
"The prerogative of erecting Corporations is justly esteemed one of the most important pertaining to the Crown, because it denudes the Sovereign of so much of the right of Government as may thereby be conferred on others. This prerogative, therefore, has ever been held sacred by the laws of England; were it not so, the evils would be obvious.
"All Government is a trust for the benefit of the people; and yvhen that trust is legally created, duly undertaken, and honestly fulfilled, it never fails to promote the general happiness—that happiness which exists not with dissension, but only dwells with unanimity and peace.
"If I might presume to offer a few words of advice, I would say to each of you in the language of Shakspeare,
'Love thyself last—cherish those hearts that hate thee,
Corruption wins not more than honesty :
Still in thy right hand carry gentle peace
To silence envious tongues, — BE JUST AND FEAR NOT.'
"The Crown of Civic glory—of that glory which will result from the prosperity of your Borough—the goodwill of your fellow-burgesses—not of the knavish, the profligate, the timid, and inactive, but of the virtuous, and the industrious, and the approbation of your own consciences—awaits your efforts for the general good. I know those efforts will be strenuously made; and, so far as may be consonant to law my best wishes attend you for their success."
This was the shortest and best oration ever delivered by Judge Willis, and well would it have been both for himself and the Council if its precepts had been adhered to. It was a multum in parvo dissertation on the ethics of good government; and its condensed wisdom is as applicable to the present generation as to that to whom it was addressed.
After His Honor had concluded, the Mayor made a profound obeisance, which was reciprocated from the Bench, and the Judge courteously invited the "Worshipful Mayor, worthy Aldermen and gentlemen Councillors" to partake of the hospitality provided" in his Chambers, "that is, in an adjoining room where was served a sumptuous repast, consisting of a dish of corned-beef sandwiches, and a modicum
