THE RICHEST SQUARE MILE IN THE WORLD.

Dunstan Times, Issue 3101, 9 January 1922, Page 2

THE RICHEST SQUARE MILE IN THE WORLD.

At his inauguration banquet in 1842 Sir John Pirie, London's Lord said; “I little thought, forty ago, when I came to London, a poof' lad from the banks of the Tweed,, that I should over arrive at so great a distinction.’ The Lord Mayor has more than the powers of a king within his\ own small realm, the richest ‘'square mile” in the world. Even King George himself cannot enter his domain without first asking permission, and his Majesty’s soldierb may not march in any large number through the City streets without his sanction. Ho has the right of private audience with the Crown whenever he wishes it; be has the entree to the royal court; and enjoys the rare privilege of being able to drive direct into the Ambassadors’ Court at St. James’ without going round by Constitution Hill. During his year of office he ranks as an earl; he is a Privy Councillor,, and is entitled to be summoned on the death of his Sovereign; and he may claim admission to the Tower at any hour, equipped as he is with the password % sent to him regularly over the King’s signature. There are four swords attached to his office —the Pearl Sword, presented by Queen Elizabeth in 1571; the "Sword of State, borne before the Lord Mayor as an emblem of his authority; the Black Sword,' used on fast days and at the death of any member of the Royal Family; and the Sword of Justice, which is placed before the Lord Mayor’s chair at the Central Criminal Court. Much water has flowed under London Bridge since the present Guildhall was “builded new” in 1411 under the auspices of Lord Mayor Knoles, and “from a little cottage grew into a great house.” Under its hospitable roof London’s Lord Mayors have inaugurated with a great feasting their year of office ever since Sir Jolm Shaw entertained his guests so regally in 1501 or. dishes prepared in the Guildhall kitchen, which he had built at his own expense. Excellent as the banquet no doubt , was in those long-gone days it seems to have been richer in good fare than in manners. On the evidence of a chronicler of the time each guest “tucked' his napkin under his chin” after he had “pinn’d up his sleeves to his elbows.”

Since 1660 every British Sovereign lias been the Lord Mayor’s guest with three exceptions—James IT., owing to his holding the City Charter upon . a writ of quo warranto at his accession; George IV., \ ho was so unpopular in the City that he was never invited; and William IV., who was afraid to face the mob whose wrath was aflame over the Reform Bill.