Meeting of the Livery of London in Common-Hall

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London, Saturday, June 24, 1775.

This day came on, at Guildhall, the election of Sheriffs for the City of London and County of Middlesex, and other officers, for the year ensuing. At a quarter past one o' clock, the Lord Mayor, attended by the two Sheriffs, Recorder, and the Aldermen Bull, Lewes, Thomas, Newnham, Hayley, Esdaile, Rawlinson, &c˙, ascended the Hustings, when the Common Crier opened the Court, and the Aldermen below the Chair, who had not served the office of Sheriff, were first put in nomination. The principal show of hands appearing in favour of Aldermen Hayley and Newnham, the Sheriffs declared the election to have fallen on them.

The names of Hayley and Newnham were received with the greatest applause, which was testified by almost every one in the Hall holding up their hands. About twelve people held up their hands for Alderman Rawlinson, and about seven for Alderman Thomas,

The Lord Mayor then came to the front of the Hustings, and acquainted the Livery, that in consequence of their Resolutions last Common-Hall, he waited on His Majesty, in his corporate capacity, with their Address, &c. He then read the King' s Answer, together with a Letter he received a few days after from the Lord Chamberlain, with his (the Lord Mayor' s) Answer.

Mr˙ Saxby, the Chairman from the Livery at the Half-Moon Tavern, then came forward, and made the following motions:

1. That the Town Clerk do enter in the Records of this City, the Letter from the Lord Chamberlain to the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor, with his Lordship' s Answer.

2. That the thanks of this Common-Hall be given to the Right Honourable John Wilkes, Lord Mayor, for his

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3. That a copy of the said Resolution be fairly transcribed and signed by the Town Clerk, and by him delivered to his Lordship.

4. That whoever advised His Majesty to declare he would pot in future receive on the Throne any Address, Remonstrance, and Petition, from the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Livery of London, are enemies to the right of the subject to petition the Throne, because such advice is calculated to intercept the complaints of the People to their Sovereign, to prevent a redress of grievances, and alienate the minds of Englishmen from the Hanoverian succession.

5. That it is the opinion of this Common-Hall, that unless His Majesty hears the petitions of his subjects, the right of petitioning is nugatory.

6. That the thanks of the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Livery, in Common-Hall assembled, be given to the Right Honourable the Earl of Effingham, for having, consistent with the principles of a true Englishman, refused to draw that sword which has been employed to the honour of his Country, against the lives and liberties of his fellow-subjects in America.

7. That the said Resolution be fairly transcribed and signed by the Town Clerk, and by him delivered to the Right Honourable the Earl of Effingham.

8. That an humble Address, Remonstrance, and Petition be presented to His Majesty, from the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Livery of the City of London, in Common-Hall assembled, on this important crisis of American affairs.

9. To agree to the Address, Remonstrance, and Petition now read.

10. That the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor, our Representatives in Parliament, the Court of Aldermen, the Sheriffs and Livery, in their Gowns, attended by the Recorder and other City officers, be desired to present the said Address, Remonstrance, and Petition, to His Majesty sitting on his Throne.

11. That the Sheriffs, attended by the Remembrancer, do wait on His Majesty on Monday next, to know his Royal will and pleasure when he will receive on the Throne the humble Address, Remonstrance, and Petition of the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Livery, in Common-Hall assembled.

12. That the said Address, Remonstrance, and Petition, be not presented to His Majesty but sitting on the Throne.

The above motions being unanimously approved of, the Hall was adjourned.