THE KING AND QUEEN IN THE CITY ( continued )
When all was in readiness for the reception of the King and Queen, the City Marshal, entering by the principal door, gave a signal that their Majesties were at hand, and enjoined silence. Instantly the hum of conversation ceased, the company rose, and a moment later the Lord Mayor, preceded by a deputation of the City Lands Committee, of which Mr. James William Domoney is chairman, and by the sword and mace bearers, entered the hall.
The Lord Mayor, carrying the sword upright, preceded the King and Queen. The King wore Field-Marshal's uniform and the Ribbon of the Garter; the Queen was dressed in a gown of black velvet, trimmed with violet, a black fox boa and a black toque with black ostrich feathers. Both the King and Queen appeared to be in excellent health. Their Majesties, having taken their places on the dais, greeted a few of the distinguished persons in their immediate neighbourhood, the King shaking hands with the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Lord Chief Justice of England, the latter of whom was wearing his scarlet and ermine robes with gold chain and full-bottomed wig.
Mr. Gladstone, as Home Secretary, took his place on the right hand of the King and the Archbishop of Canterbury stood on the left of the Queen. The Lady Mayoress then presented a bouquet of lilies of the valley to the Queen, after which the Lord Mayor, the two senior Aldermen, the Recorder, the Sheriffs, the Town Clerk, the Common Serjeant, Judge Lumley Smith, Judge Rentoul, and the Chairman of the City Lands Committee drew near in line, bowing three times as they approached the dais. The Lord Mayor was clad in the earl's robe of crimson, surmounted by a minever cape, which he assumes in the presence of Royalty. The address from the Corporation was then read by the Recorder.
It was as follows: “To Their Most Excellent Majesties the King and Queen. May it please your Majesties, we, your Majesties’ most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Lord- Mayor, Aldermen, and Commons of the City of London in Common Council assembled, desire to offer to your Majesties the expression of our devotion to your persons and Thrown and our gratitude for your gracious condescension in attending here today to declare this building open as your Majesty's Central Court for the administration of Criminal Justice.”
“This Court was established by Act of Parliament passed in the fourth year of the reign of his Majesty King William IV, and was referred to on the 15th August 1834, by his Majesty, in hi gracious Speech from the Throne on the Prorogation of Parliament in the following terms:-"The establishment of a Central Criminal Court for the trial of offences in the metropolis and its neighbourhood will, I trust, improve the administration of justice within the populous sphere of its jurisdiction, and afford a useful example to every other part of the Kingdom." The area, over which this Court has jurisdiction, includes the City of London, the whole of the Counties of London and Middlesex, and a very considerable part of the Counties of Essex, Kent, and Surrey. The "populous sphere" referred to in his Majesty's gracious speech, which in 1834 had a population of only 1,800,000, today has a population of considerably over 6,000,000, and the average number of prisoners tried in this Court each year exceeds 1,100. A Court house for the trial of prisoners has existed in the City of London from very early times, and the name of the Lord Mayor for the time being has always been included in the Commission of oyer and terminer by virtue of a charter of King Edward III bearing date the 6th March, 1327. In 1785 a New Sessions house was built by the Corporation of London, and was subsequently several times enlarged. It, however, proved quite inadequate to meet the demands of the present day, and on the 20th December 1902, the first stone of this building (which stands upon the site of the ancient Prison of Newgate was laid. The present building has been erected at the sole cost of your City of London, without assistance from Imperial funds or the neighbouring counties and will provide four Courts for the trial of prisoners and arrangements have been made for the reception of the Lord Mayor, your Majesty's Judges, the Aldermen, Sheriffs, and others connected with the administration of Criminal Justice. We trust that this building, whilst well adapted for the transaction of legal business, also possesses architectural features at once dignified and beautiful, which will make it an ornament to the metropolis of your Empire and a fitting home for the first Criminal Court of Justice in your Majesty's dominions. In conclusion we devoutly pray that all concerned in the discharge of judicial duties within these walls may be so guided by Divine Providence that they may administer justice with firmness and impartiality, ever mindful of the paramount duty which devolves upon them to temper justice with mercy. That your Majesties may long be spared - secure in the affection of your people - to preside over the destinies of this mighty Empire is the fervent prayer of your loyal and devoted City of London.”
The Lord Mayor, having received the address from the Recorder, knelt and delivered it to the King.
The King, in reply, said,” It is a source of great gratification to the Queen and myself to preside at the opening of the new Central Criminal Court. We thank you sincerely for your dutiful address of welcome, and we cordially congratulate you, my Lord Mayor, and through you the City of London, on the admirable manner in which this work has been carried out. The building which we shall presently examine with the greatest interest is not only of hand- some exterior, but is, I am confident, admirably fitted in everyway for the purpose for which it is designed. The great increase in the population of the metropolitan area which has taken place in the last half century renders the old buildings far too confined for the proper performance of the duties for which they were at one time adequate; and this noble edifice, erected by the City of London entirely at its own expense, will, I am sure, amply fulfill its high purpose by giving convenience and dignity to the administration of justice in the interests, not only of the inhabitants of its immediate district, but of the vast urban population that has accumulated in the adjacent counties. The old buildings which have now been replaced were, however, of high historical interest, for they witnessed during the century of their existence a change in the administration of criminal justice far greater than has taken place in any preceding century. The barbarous penal code which was deemed necessary 100 years ago has gradually been replaced in the progress towards a higher civilization by laws breathing a more humane spirit and aiming at a nobler purpose. (Cheers) It is well that crime should be punished, but it is better that the criminals should be reformed. (Cheers) Under the present laws the mercy shown to first offenders is, I am well assured, often the means of re-shaping their lives, and many persons, especially children and young offenders, who under the old system might have become hardened criminals, and are now saved from a life of crime and converted into useful citizens. (Cheers) Still more remains to be accomplished in the direction of reclaiming those who have fallen into crime, and I look forward with confidence to those who will administer justice in this building to have continual regard to the hope of reform in the criminal, and to maintain and strengthen in their new home those noble traditions which have gathered round the high position they occupy. I am well assured that the independence and learning of the Judges supported by the integrity and ability of the other members of the profession of the law will prove in the future as they have in the past, the safeguard of order, right conduct, and true humanity. We sincerely join in your prayer that God's guidance, without which we can do nothing, may be vouchsafed to all those whom duty calls to administer justice in this Court.” (Loud cheers)
The Lord Mayor again approached the dais, and, kneeling, received the King's reply from his Majesty's hands, after which his lordship asked the King's acceptance of a gold key of the building, which he was graciously pleased to accord.
The Archbishop of Canterbury then offered prayers, the following being a special prayer for the occasion:- “Almighty God, through Whom kings reign and princes decree justice, let Thy blessing rest upon the work to be undertaken within these walls and upon all who shall be set by Thee to exercise their office therein. Grant that judgment and mercy may here be so ministered that the law may ever be a terror to evil-doers, a support to the weak, and a refuge for the innocent. Through Him who shall one day judge the Quick and the Dead, Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Amen.”
“0 God of Truth, Who lovest righteousness and hatest iniquity, we beseech Thee to establish in the hearts of the people of this land a true regard for the rights of all men, a reverence for law and order, and a holy zeal for whatsoever things as just and of good report, Through Jesus Christ Our Lord, Amen.”
The Lord's Prayer followed. The King then said: "I declare this building open!" and the trumpeters sounded a Royal salute. The King and Queen next seated themselves in their chairs of state and the Lord Mayor presented to their Majesties the two senior Aldermen, Sir J. Whittaker Ellis and Sir Joseph Savory, the Recorder, Sir Forrest Fulton K.C., the Sheriffs, Mr. Alderman and Sheriff Crosby and Mr. Sheriff Dunn, the Common Serjeant, Mr. F. A. Bosenquet K.C., His Honour Judge Lumley Smith KC., and his Honour Judge Rentoul KC.
The Common Serjeant was then summoned by Lord Althorp, the Lord Chamberlain, "to receive the honour of knighthood." Mr. Bosenquet knelt before his Majesty, who, smiling, touched him lightly on each shoulder with a sword received from one of his suite. After this interesting ceremony, which reminded those present that the King is not only the fountain of justice, but also the fountain of honour, Mr. Domoney begged the King's acceptance of a specially bound copy of the Memorials of Newgate, compiled from the City's records.
At this point a slight hitch occurred in the proceedings, due to the fact that “Mr. Charles Williams” was summoned to receive the honour of knighthood. No one was forthcoming and it was evident that some misunderstanding had occurred, due, probably, to mistaking the name of Mr. Charles Willie Mathews, the well-known counsel. After a few moments delay, the proceedings in this part of the building ended by the retirement of the King and Queen, who were escorted by the Lord Mayor to the lift and thus conveyed to the first floor. On issuing from the lift their Majesties briefly inspected the upper hall, where Mr. Edward William Mountford F.R.I.B.A., the architect, was presented. Thence the King and Queen were conducted to the principal Court.
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