WHENany character of distinguish

ed eminence becomes the subject of contemplation, it is natural for the retrofpective faculty of the human mind to recur to antiquity, and to endeavour, from analogy, to appreciate its merit. This faculty the portrait which embellifes the prefent Magazine has, in ours, elicited. We have, therefore, traced a Jong feries of our Civic Magißrates from FITZALWIN to the prefent time, and thence have the fatisfaction to augur, that when this fhort Memoir fhall be interwoven with the hiftory of the country, the fubject of it will, for his talents and his virtues, be entitled to an elevated rank in its metropolitan department.

The office of Lord Mayor of the City of London has, whether regarded in a civil or commercial point of view, for ages been confidered as of the firft importance and dignity. Since the Union, by which London has become the metropolis of the whole empire, that importance and that dignity have infinitely increafed. Our principal Magiftrate may now be faid to act, not only under the infpection of England and Scotland, but alfo of Ireland, and our City to take the lead, and to give the tone to the proceedings of thole countries; as upon its regulations and adoptions, whether FISCAL, COMMERCIAL, or Ci VIL, the regulation of the whole kingdom depends. Like the vibrations of the HEART in the corporeal fyftem, the 'impulfe of London diffufes animation and warmth to the utmolt extremities of British domination.

Having made these fhort remarks, we muft obferve, that Mr. Shaw, whose portrait occasioned their introduction, is a native of Airfhire, in Scotland, and, as fuppofed, the firit of his nation that ever filled the Civic Chair. He was born in August 1764, and, destined to commercial purfuits, has long been an eminent merchant. His first introduction into public life was in the fpring of 1798; a period rendered peculiarly interelling from its being the date of the first operation of the Volunteer Syftem. He was, in confequence, unanimously chofen to command the corps raised by the ward of Portfoken, in which he refided. In the autumn of the fame year he was, on the refignation of Sir Benjamin Hammett, elected Alderman of that Ward. On the conclufion of the peace of AMIENS, in the year 1801, the volunteers were disbanded; but the dangerous fituation in which the country was placed by the infidious conduct of the French Government rendering a renewal of hoftilities abfolutely neceflary, the indignant fpirit of the nation was roufed, the fons of Britain flew again to arms; one fentiment feemed to pervade the united kingdom; all men were equally anxious to repel the threatened invafion, and to punish the faithlefs foe. Such was the ardour of the people, that, in a few months, 400,000 volunteers appeared in arms. Mr. Shaw came forward upon this occafion; and, with a zeal extremely honourable to him, convened in the parish-church the young men of his Ward. Here he harangued them

upon the duty which they owed to themfelves, their families, and their country, with fuch effect, that in a few days the books of enrollment were coinplete, and soool. were fubfcribed to fupport the establishment. He was again unanimously chofen to the principal command; and although the Ward of Portfoken does not contain above 5000 inhabitants, he was, on the birth day of his Majefty immediately fubfequent to their formation, enabled to appear at the head of 400 men. He was, on the Midfummer Day following, elected to the office of Sheriff; and, in confequence of the incompatibility of holding both, induced to refign the command of his regiment to that very excellent Officer, Major, now Lieutenant-Colonel, Pratt.

During the arduous year of his Sherivalty, the exertions of Mr. Shaw were particularly beneficial to the public. The election of a Knight of the Shire for the County of Middlesex was again contested. The ebullitions of party fpirit, and the frantic enormities of the Mob, are till freth in the memory of every one. Nor will the fimulations of their leaders foon be forgotten. Under thefe circumstances, with every ad. dition that inebriety and licentiouinels could generate, or unbounded protufion encourage, it is computed that not lefs than 100,cco perfons, most of the lowest, and many of the most infamous defcriptions, were, aimolt daily, collected around the Huftings at Brentford, or, in terrific bodies, affembled in its environs. At this dangerous period we owe to the fpirited conduct, the wisdom, and firmness of the two Sheriffs, the preservation of the public peace. The perfonal exertions of Mr. Shaw, and his colleague, Sir William Leighton, baffled every attempt at rioting, and enabled them to conduct the election to its close with the fame order and regularity which their unremitting attention had established during its continuance.

Mr. Shaw retired from the office of Sheriff at Michaelmas 1804; and advanced, by regular fucceffion, to the Chief Magiftracy, in 1805. The bril liancy and magnificence of the day of his inauguration have never, in modern times, been exceeded; this was a day equally memorable to, and lamented by, the Citizens of London, as it was the last time that the immortal Pitt vifited Guildhall.

Among the Chief Magiftrates who have exerted themselves to fupport the rights and dignity of their high office, Mr. Shaw appears molt confpicuous. His fuccefsful struggle to obtain that place which his fituation demanded at the funeral of the heroic Lord Nelson, and that perfevering firinnefs which was at length rewarded by his Majelty's patent of precedence, will ever be remembered by his fellow-citizens with pride and with gratitude : but as their fenfe of his condu& will be bett fhown by the unanimous vote of the Court of Aldermen, we shall quote its confequent refolution.

"At a Court of the Mayor and Aldermen, held on Tuesday, the 28th day of January, 1866, and in the 46th year of the reign of George the Third, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland King, &c.

"KESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY, That the thanks of this Court be given to the Right Honourable James Shaw, Lord Mayor, for his judicious arrangement of this City's part of the public proceffion of the 8th and 9th inftaut, in honour of the late Lord Vilcount Nelfon; for that manly, temperate, and persevering conduct, that procured him a warrant under the King's Sign Manual, to hold in the proceffion on the 9th inftant the place due to the Chief Magistrate, viz. that of the firft fubject of the realm; for the perfect concert in which he acted with the Committee of the other branch of the Corporation; for his excellent difpofal and brilliant difplay of the military force of this City; for his polite attention to all the Members of this Comt, and to every other perfon with whom he had intercourfe upon that folemn occasion; and for his liberal entertainments, paiticularly that at his mansion-house on the 9th inftant, when his hofpitable table was attended by the Municipal Authorities of the City, and honoured by an affemblage of eminent perfons rendered dear to his fellow-citizens by the great fervices they have performed for their country in the hondurable profeffions of the NAVY and ARMY.

"WOODTHORPE."

It is pleafing when we can contemplate the honour and dignity of elevated flations as properly fupported in the feafons of relaxation and bilarity as in the graver puriuits of business. The City of London, always diftinguished for the fplendor of its fetti.