Carlisle Patriot, 08 Oct 1825 - Local News (3)

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Saturday 08 Oct 1825   (p. 2, col. 4-6 and p. 3, col. 1, 3 + 4)     [continued]

 

MAYOR'S DINNER.

 

On Monday last, William HODGSON, Esq., of Houghton-House, was elected Mayor of Carlisle, in place of John HODGSON, Esq. of Penton, whose year of office expired on that day.

 

The Earl of Lonsdale arrived at Carlisle at an early hour from Lowther Castle, and assisted at the proceedings of the Court.

 

Sir Philip MUSGRAVE, Bart., M. P., was made an Alderman of the City; and Lieut. LITTLE was re-elected Common Council-man, an office which he a few years ago relinquished.

 

The usual annual elections also took place:—

 

Chamberlain—Mr. Robert ALLISON.

Sword-Bearer—Mr. Richard SOWERBY.

Mace-Bearer—Mr. Robert PORTER.

Bailiffs—Messrs. Jer. THOMPSON and Robt. SEWELL.

Coroners—Messrs. Sam. WALLACE and Wm. YOUNG.

 

On this occasion, Nathaniel WALES resigned his office of Mayor's Serjeant, which he had filled upwards of half a century. Upon tendering his resignation, he said he found that his age and infirmities (he is in his 84th year), disabled him from any longer discharging the duties of his office with satisfaction to himself; he therefore begged to retire from his situation in order that a more efficient person might be appointed in his stead. The Mayor, Mr. W. HODGSON, then addressed him, and said he felt great pleasure in being able to state that he had discharged the duties of his office with punctuality and fidelity which would have done honour to any one filling a much higher situation; he, the Mayor, would therefore propose to the Council that Mr. WALES, (in consideration of his long and faithful service,) should be allowed by the Corporation the full amount of his salary for the remainder of his life. Mr. HODGSON accordingly made the promised proposition, which was seconded by Dr. BLAMIRE, and carried unanimously. The feelings of the old man were so strongly overcome that he was unable to thank his benefactors in words—but he retired shedding tears. Lord Lonsdale, the Recorder, then observed to the other Serjeants-at-Mace, that he hoped what they had just heard would stimulate them to imitate the conduct of Mr. WALES in the discharge of their duties, that when they retired from office they might meet with the same gratifying reward.

 

At four o'clock, about seventy gentlemen sat down to dinner in the new Banqueting-hall, or Council-Chamber, at the Town-Hall, the Mayor-elect in the chair, supported on the right and left by Lord Lonsdale, Sir P. MUSGRAVE, Bart., Sir Hugh Dalrymple ROSS, the Very Rev. the Dean of Carlisle, Lieut.-Colonel SKERRETT, Sir Joseph SENHOUSE, &c. &c. The late Mayor filled the vice-chair, and was supported by Sir J. D. A. GILPIN, Mr. Alderman JACKSON, &c.

 

The new room is a desirable acquisition to the Town-Hall; but is rather too small for the annual repast.

 

Mr. ARMSTRONG of the Grapes Inn provided the dinner—which was a cold one, excepting soup, vegetables, and venison.

 

The cloth having been removed, the Mayor gave the following toasts:

 

[Numerous toasts and speeches not transcribed.]

 

Many other toasts were given; and various Gentlemen exerted their musical powers.

 

The Earl of Lonsdale, and Sir P. MUSGRAVE, Bart. retired about half-past seven o'clock, amid very loud cheering, and were speedily followed by the Dean, Sir H. ROSS, Sir J. SENHOUSE, Col. SKERRETT, &c. &c. And the party entirely broke up at the unusually early hour of eight.

 

Lord Lonsdale and Sir Philip immediately set out for Lowther Castle, and Eden-Hall.

 

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On Sunday night week, after the flood-tide, loud cries for help were heard from a man who had got embayed betwixt the channels of the Eden and the Esk, between Tordock point and the Hollen Bush; and as no assistance could at that time be possibly afforded him, he was set down for lost; but this idea happily turned out to be reckoning without the host. The man, who was an Irish whiskey smuggler, was found about day-light next morning not only alive, but whole and hearty, by a respectable young man (Lowther BIRRELL) one of the farmers of the Rockliff fishery betwixt the waters, who took Pat to his (BIRRELL's) residence, at Lee-house, where he was treated with kindness and hospitality, and gave the following extraordinary account of his providential escape, and his own proceedings:—Having fortunately got upon the very height of the bank between the rivers, he kept himself, though ignorant of this circumstance, in the same line until the tide began to ebb; and as he immediately perceived when this change took place, he adopted the prudent resolution of not moving from the spot he stood on, which he did without difficulty, from the lowness of the tide, and the consequent absence of any kind of stream so far from either channel. As the water never rose above his groin, the bank was soon dry, upon which he took so much of the crature out of his bladders, that he lost every sense of fear, and laid down quietly on the sand to indulge himself with a nap till morning. It is somewhat pleasing to add, that Pat acknowledged the hand of Providence in his wonderful deliverance, by kneeling down and singing a psalm with great solemnity,—although he imprudently afterwards entertained his kind host with an Irish ballad.

 

J. PITTS, Esq. Inspector General of the out-door department at the port of Newcastle, is removed to Hull, and has been succeeded by J. LAMPSON, Esq.

 

Francis De la Pryme GENESTE, Esq., of Douglas, is admitted a Member of the Manx Bar.