LONDON. 
and Weftminfter, and all the bodies politic and corporate 
in the three kingdoms. 
Lord-mayor’s day happening this year on a Sunday, fir 
Matthew Blackifton, the mayor eleCl, was not fworn into 
his office till the day following; when, on account of the 
recent death of the king, who was not yet interred, the 
nfual ceremonies were omitted, and he went privately in 
his coach, attended by the aldermen, to be fworn into his 
office. 
About this time, two caufes were tried in the court of 
King’s Bench, Guildhall, refpeffing the right of the city 
to take toll for provifions expofed to fale before koufes in 
the markets. They were tried before a jury of non-free¬ 
men ; and the parties in the firft were, the Citizens of 
London, plaintiffs, and Edward Smith and Ralph Twy- 
ford, falefmen, in Newgate-market, defendants. The other 
parties w'ere the fame plaintiffs, and John Cope, a falef- 
man, defendant, for the fale of provifions in White-Hart- 
flreet, an avenue or paffage leading to Newgate-mar¬ 
ket. In each of thefe caufes, the jury gave a verdifl for 
the city ; by which the citizens ultimately eltablilhed their 
right to the tolls, not only in the markets, but alfo in the 
avenues or paffages leading thereto. 
Among the acts of parliament palfed during this firftfef- 
fion, was one forlaying an additional duty on ftrong beer. 
Loud clamours were excited by this tax among the clafs 
of labouring people, efpecially in the metropolis, where 
fome few- publicans attempted to raife the price double 
the amount of the tax; but, as they did not aft in con¬ 
cert, thofe houfes in which the experiment was made 
were immediately abandoned by their cuftomers. The 
flreets refounded with the noife of vulgar difcontent, which 
did not even reJpeft the young fovereign ; and, if the price 
of llrong beer had been a finally railed to the intended 
amount, in all probability fome dangerous tumult would 
have enfued. 
The bulinefsof the feffion being brought to a clofe, the 
parliament was diffolved on the 20th of March, 1761 j and 
writs were iffued out for the election of a new one. 
A treaty of marriage having been concluded between 
his majefty and the princefs Charlotte-Sophia of Meck- 
lenburgh-Strelitz, the nuptials were folemnized by the 
archbilhop of Canterbury, on the 18th of September, in 
the prefence of the royal family, and the principal part of 
the nobility. The whole nation united in teftifying their 
joy on this occafion; the amiable charafter of the prin¬ 
cefs promifing future felicity both to her royal confort 
and his fubjefts. The lord-mayor, aldermen, and com¬ 
mon-council, prefented their congratulations to the royal- 
pair on their nuptials; as alfo to the princefs-dowager of 
Wales. It was on this occafion that the common-council 
appeared in mazarine-blue filk gowns, agreeable to an or¬ 
der of that'court, made a (hort time before; which greatly 
contributed to heighten the folemnity and grandeur of 
their public appearance. 
On the 22d of the fame month, his majefty’s corona¬ 
tion was performed in the abbey-church, at Weftminfter, 
with the ufunl folemnities. Their majesties and the prin¬ 
cefs-dowager went, in the morning, through the park, 
from St. James’s, in chairs, and their attendants in coaches, 
to Weftmiiifter-hail; from thence they walked, about 
twelve o’clock, in grand proceffion, to the abbey. After 
the ceremony, which laded fix hours, they returned to the 
hall, where they dined molt magnificently, in the prefence 
of nuntberlefs fpeftators richly dreffed. All the way of 
the proceffion was lined with crowded fcafi'olds, and the 
abbey all'o was as full and fplendid as poffible. On the 
queen’s entrance into the hall, three thoufand wax tapers 
were all lighted in lefs than five minutes. The royal 
ftandard was hoifted at the Tower, the lhips in the river 
difplayed their flags, the flreets were univerfally illumi¬ 
nated, and all kind of bufinefs was entirely laid afide. 
A little before the proceffion began, proceeded that of 
the princefs-dowager of Wales, from the houfe of lords, 
acrofs Old Palace-yard, on a platform erected for that 
107 
purpofe, to the fouth-crofs of Weftminfter-abbey. She 
was led by the hand by prince William-Henry, dreffed in 
white and filver. Her train, which was of filk, was but 
fiiort, and her hair flowed down her (boulders in hanging 
curls. The reft of the princes and princeffes, her royal high- 
neffes’s children, followed in this order: Prince Henry - 
Frederic, alfo in white and filver, handing his fitter, the 
princefs Louifa-Anne, dreffed in a flip with hanging fleeves; 
then prince Frederic-Williant, in the fame drefs, handing 
his youngelt filter, the princefs Caroline-Matilda, dreffed 
alfo in a flip with hanging fleeves. The other perfons 
who made up this proceffion were thofe who had not a 
right to walk with their majellies; and the proceffion was 
clofed bv three Mahometan ambaffadors, in the proper 
drefles of their country, having turbans of fine muflin on 
their heads, and long gowns of flowered and laced filk; 
their (allies were crimfon, and in each of them were en- 
clofed a dagger and poniard. The great diamond in his 
majefty’s crown fell out in returning from the abbey to 
Wellminfter-hall, but was immediately found and reftored. 
The nation in general, and the corporation of London 
in particular, being greatly difcontented at the meafures 
of the court, and particularly at the refighation of 
Mr. Pitt, whofe conduct in adminiftration they highly 
efteemed, the court of common-council, on the 221! of 
October, unanimoufly refolved to iaftruCt the city mem¬ 
bers on the fenfe of the citizens refpeCting the prefent 
critical conjuncture. Accordingly, inftructions were 
drawn up and delivered to the four members; the prin¬ 
cipal articles in which were : To endeavour at a repeal or 
amendment of the late att for the relief of infolvent debt¬ 
ors, in refpeCt of the inconveniences arifing from the com- 
puliive clatife ; (which was accordingly done by flat. 2 
Geo. III. c. 2.) To promote all neceflary meafures for 
the eftablifhing good economy in the diltribution of the 
national treafure. To oppofe all attempts for giving up 
fuch places as might tend to leffen our prefent fecurity, re- 
flore the naval power of France,and expofe us to frefh holii- 
lities; particularly to preferve our foie and exclufive right 
to our acquifitions in North America, and its, fifl.eries ; 
and laftly, to concur in profecuting the war with the ut- 
molt. vigv.^r, fo as to obtain a fate and honourable peace. 
At the fame time another motion was made, that the 
thanks of the court be given to the Right Hon. Mr. Pitt, 
for the many and important Cervices rendered to his king 
and country. And a third motion was made, that the 
committee, in their thanks to Mr. Pitt, do lament his re- 
fignation, &c. Thefe motions, with the exception of the 
laft, on which there was a divilion, were carried unani¬ 
moufly. 
According to ancient cuflom, the lord mayor who is 
firft elected to that office after a coronation invites the 
king and queen to dine at Guildhall on lord-mayor’s day. 
Sir-Sarnuel Fludyer, being chofen to that office, had the 
honour of entertaining their majefties on this occafion. 
The ceremonial was conducted with the greateft magnifi¬ 
cence, all ranks ftriving tomanifeft their loyalty and at¬ 
tachment. The pageants and decorations were more 
pompous than had been on any former occafion ; and the 
entertainment was elegant, fumptuous,'and well conduct¬ 
ed. His majefty and all the royal family exprdfed their 
entire approbation of it; and the nobility and foreign mi¬ 
ll] Iters acknowledged it to have been far beyond any they 
had ever feen. At a court of common-council, held on the 
iSth.of November, it was refolved that a flattie of his nia- 
jefty fhouhl^be ereCted in the Royal Exchange; and that 
Ills picture, with that of the queen, (hould be put in Guild¬ 
hall. Their majefties, having been acquainted with the 
intentions of the court, condeicended to fit for their pic¬ 
tures, which were foon after placed over the buffings in 
Guildhall ; and the ftatue of the king was placed belitie 
that of his grandfather in the Exchange. 
We fhould be wanting in attention and regard to the 
fpirit and manners of the times now under conlideration, 
were we not to take notice of an impofture of the molt 
