1285. Though an old act names officers of Hundreds, in our land, 1823. The Irish bill is noted, as in modern years obtained.

MUNICIPAL OFFICERS.

THE LORD MAYOR OF LONDON.

1066. Town, e`en in Saxon days, its officer defined enthrones,* 1189. And through upwards of twenty years, Heary Fitz Alwyn

1233. In time, is named of our metropolis, an annual mayor,“ 1334. And our third Edward marks, as lord, its ruler of a year.4 14353. The almost regal exhibition, is in Londen made, 1685. Till all expenses, useless deemed, wisely aside are laid. THE LORD MAYOR OF DUBLIN.

1308. The magistrate of Ireland, also sway official bears ;* 1407. And as the ensign of just rule, a sword of gilt appears.

• Constables of Hundreds or Franchises, were instituted in 1285: these officers are now called High Constables throughout the reaim. There are three kinds of constables,—high, petty, and special,—the jurisdiction of the first extends to the whole hundred; of the second, to the parish for which he is chosen; and the third is appointed for particular pecasions or emergencies.

The Constabulary act of Ireland passed in 1823, when this species of force was embodied throughout that country.

* At the time of the defeat of Haroid by William I, 1066, the chief officer of London was called Port-reeve, from Saxon words signifying governor of a harbour.

Henry Fitz Alwyn, the first mayor, was appointed, 1189, and continued in office twenty-four years.

* Towards the close of Henry II's reign, the Norman title of Maire was brought into use, and Angiicised by spelling it Mayor. This officer was appointed annually by Henry III,—1933.

4 The prefix of Lord was granted by Edward III, with the style of Right Honourable,-1854.

e Sir John Norman was the first lord mayor who went by water to be sworn at Westminster, and the lord mayor's show was instituted in the same year,—1453. f The more costly pageants and triumphs of the show were laid aside,—1685. * John le Decer was appointed first Provost of Dublin,-1308.

A gilded sword was granted to the chief magistrate, to be borne before him, by Henry IV,-1407.

1409. The appointment registered is seen, under an English form ;i 1665. And titled Dublin dignitaries, annual lordship earn.j

COMMON COUNCILMEN.

1208. In Town, assembled names in zeal, judicial business aid,k 1285. And upon two in each new ward, authority is laid,1 1347. Till more are ranked as Councilmen, officially arrayed."

ALDERMEN.

}

1242. Town Aldermen are named, in rank next its ascendant one," 1323. And those of Ireland, its metropolis of note, must own.° 1394. The office annual once, is made one of perpetual right;P 1725. The choice of each is next unveiled, in its existing light, 1741. And to keep order, or restore, the justices unite."

i Thomas Cusack, the first officer who took the name of Mayor, was appointed,-1409.

j Sir Daniel Bellingham was the first mayor honored with the title of Lord by Charles II, who granted £500 per annum, in lieu of the company of foot, -1665.

k The formation of the Common Council of London commenced about 1208; the folk-mote, or court of the people, met in the open air at St. Paul's Cross, St. Paul's Churchyard.

The city was divided into wards in 1285, and at first only two representatives were returned for each ward.

m The number was enlarged in 1347, and since: these parties in addition to the lord mayor and aldermen, constituted the Court of Common Council, and soon became the parent of similar institutions throughout the realm.

n The word Alderman is derived from the Saxon Ealdorman, a senior, and at the time of the heptarchy, aldermen were the governors of provinces. In modern British polity an alderman is a magistrate, next in dignity to the lord mayor; and Henry III. may be said to have founded this city distinction in 1242. In London there are twenty-six aldermen.

• In Dublin, where there are twenty-four, they were first appointed in 1323. P Chosen for life, instead of annually, in the reign of Richard II,-1394.

The present mode of election was established,-1725.

r Aldermen were made justices of the peace,-1741.

928. Athelstan's first enactments, note a house of issues used,a 1278. Through names Italian, coining's valued art is introduced;b 1343. The arrival at our Mint, of a rich metal is avowed,

1640. And all its treasures, our doomed ruler seizes unallowed.d 1662. A tool's disuse and engine's due adoption, next appears ;e 1788. The coinage, Watt and Boulton's art improves in after years.f 1806. To erect a building, elegant in structure and design, 1810. The Houses think important, and an ample sum assign. 1811. The apparatus of inventive Boulton's talent try,h 1815. And to arrangements wise avowed, the laws at once apply.i

a Athelstan first enacted regulations for the government of the Mint, about 928, and there were several provincial mints under the control of that in London. b Stowe says the mint was kept by Italians, (the English being ignorant of the art of coining,) in the reign of Edward I,—1278.

The operators were formed into a corporation, which still continues, consisting of a warden, master, comptroller, assay master, workers, coiners, &c. by Edward III; and the first entry of gold brought to the mint for coinage, occurred in his reign,-1343.

The mint was anciently the depository for merchants' cash, until Charles I. laid his hands upon the money, and thus destroyed its credit,—1640.

e In 1662, the use of the mill and screw, which had been introduced some years previously and laid aside, was completely established, and the hammer formerly used in the operation of coining, abolished.

f Great improvements in this art were effected by Messrs. Boulton and Watt, at Soho, near Birmingham,-1788.

g Between 1806 and 1810, grants amounting to £262,000 were made by parliament for the erection of the present fine structure.

The new coining apparatus, justly esteemed a master-piece of mechanical skill and workmanship, was erected in 1811, under the direction of the inventor, Mr. Boulton ;

i And the new constitution of the mint, founded on the report of Mr. Wellesley Pole, took effect in 1815.

1216. Till an improvement named, all in effects obtain their dues,j 1257. And in the nation's later annals, gold appears in use:k 1337. In this unequalled metal, a yet marked amount is coined,' 1354. And tested means, establishing its lawful rate, assigned." 1542. The larger issue, even under early rule is named," 1631. And the distinctive art of " milling," truly ascertained." 1673. The elephant's design appears, on guineas early made,P 1696. And thirty of inferior due, are as a price displayed ;a 1717. Their currency, at twenty-one, is claimed in after years :' 1797. A third of its amount, as a coined piece of gold, appears, 1816. And that yet used, is valued twenty, as an act declares.*

S

j Coin, according to Stowe, was made sterling in 1216, "before which time, rents were mostly paid in kind, and money was found only in the coffers of the barons."

The first certain record we have of gold being coined in England, is in 1257. 1 The gold florin was first struck in the reign of Edward III, 1337, and nobles soon followed at 6s. 8d., and hence the lawyers' fee. There were afterwards half and quarter nobles.

m Professor Faraday states that the English florin was first struck in 1354; and in this year the method of assaying gold was established.

n In 34 Henry VIII, 1542, sovereigns were coined of the value of 20s., which afterwards passed for 24s. and 30s.

• Modern milling, or stamping the coin by a machine called a mill, instead of making the stamp with the blows of a hammer, was introduced,-1631.

P Guineas, so called from the gold of which they were made having been brought from the coast of Guinea, were first coined in 1673 ;—

They were then valued at 30s. and were worth that sum in 1696, the year after all the gold money had been called in and re-coined by William III. The original guineas bore the impression of the elephant, on account of their having been coined of African gold.

r They were afterwards valued at 22s., and were reduced in currency from that sum to 21s. by parliament, in 1717.

s Seven-shilling gold pieces were coined in 1797, and two-penny copper pieces also in the same year.

t By act 56 George III, sovereigns of the new coinage were directed to pass for 20s,, and they were issued from the mint the same year,-1816.

SILVER AND COPPER COINAGE.

1503. As an amount used in the land's exchange, are shillings made," 1553. And then in larger issues, legal money is arrayed:" 1620. Those owned inferior in degree, are in our nation seen," 1665. And their divisions duly laid, usefully intervene.* THE BANK OF ENGLAND.

1645. Traders deposit ample riches, under Lombard Jews, 1694. Till an incorporated dwelling place, reveals its use.2 1707. To ensure its credit, others joined are unto six confined, 1745. And the inferior coin receipts, are legally assigned.b 1754. A total change in issues, annals of our land record,© 1759. Though also unto coins, as yet, its laws a place afford.d 1797. The abolition of cash payments, is announced complete,e 1817. Until their benefits again assumed, our traders greet.‘

a

u The true English shillings were first coined, but in small quantity, in the reign of Henry VII,-1503.

▾ Crowns and half-crowns, very near to the present standard, were coined in the last year of Edward VI,-1553.

▾ The first large copper coinage, putting an end to the circulation of private leaden pieces, was issued,-1620.

x Halfpence and farthings, the earliest English coins in silver, were first coined in copper in the reign of Charles II,-1665.

y After Charles I. had seized the merchants' cash in the mint, in the Tower of London, where it was anciently kept, traders were driven to some other place of security for their gold; as when kept at home, their apprentices frequently absconded with it to the army: and, in 1645, they consented to lodge it with the goldsmiths in Lombard Street; and this became the origin of banking in England.

2 The Bank of England was originally projected by a merchant, named Patterson, and incorporated by William III, in 1694, in consideration of £200,000, the then amount of its capital, being lent to government.

a To secure the credit of this bank, it was enacted that no other banking company should consist of more than six persons,-1707.

b Bank bills were paid in silver,-1745.

c The first bank post bills were issued,-1754;

d And small notes,-1759.

e Cash payments were discontinued, February 25th, 1797, when notes of one and two pounds were put into circulation, and silver tokens appeared in the January of the following year. Spanish dollars, with the head of George III. stamped on the neck of Charles IV, were afterwards current.

f Cash payments were partially resumed, September 22nd, 1817;