Welsh Journals

Sir Watkin Lewes, Knight, Lord Mayor of London, A WELL-KNOWN WELSHMAN OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. By Evelyn Lewes. IF the people of London on the ninth of November no longer witness the magnificent pageants pertaining to mayoralty, which an old-time writer tells us were performed by giants, extolled by laureates and recorded by his- torians," a certain measure of interest and excite- ment is still aroused in the minds of many intelli- gent persons by a view of the Lord Mayor's Show. And perhaps when-on or near Lord Mayor's Day-our Welsh Nationalists scan the picture papers and smile or sigh over the vanity of muni- cipal pomp and the transitory satisfaction to be derived from Guildhall banquets, they may also remember with some feeling of pride, that in bygone days of still greater aldermanic display two sons of Cambria played their part generously and well for the benefit of the citizens of London. In the Cambrian Register for the year 1795, an antiquary discoursing concerning some of the well-known descendants of Llewhelin Dalran of the tribe of Ednowain ap Bradwen, observes Nor can another descendant of the above Llew- helin Dalran be overlooked, Sir Watkin Lewes, Member of Parliament for the City of London, the first Welshman since the days of Sir Hugh Middleton1 who has filled the Civic Chair, and on whom no man has experienced a greater accumu- lation of City honours, or passed through them with more credit to himself and utility to the public, discharging the duties of a Magistrate with humanity, firmness and discretion, suited to times the most trying and critical, who may boast himself almost the only one of all the swarm of patriots that clustered some years ago, round the standard of liberty, who has never disgraced his principles by becoming either the slave of a popu- lar faction, or the tool of ministerial influence." This Sir Watkin Lewes, Knight,-whose great- grandfather was a son of the ancient house of Abernant Bychan2 in Cardiganshire-was a con- temporary of King George III., and lived to see George IV. ascend the throne so it may well be suggested that if a competent biographer attempted a detailed story of his long and strenu- ous life there might be forthcoming a volume of real interest concerning an 18th century Welsh- man's Civic duties and political adventures. I Sir Hugh Middleton's brother Sir Thomas Middleton was Lord Mayor of London in 1613; when the New River was opened. 2 Sir John Lewes, Knt., 1643, was the last Lewes who resided at Abernant Bychan. Meantime, it may be mentioned for the benefit of those who would wish to study even a short sum- mary of the varied happenings of his career, that such a brief account appeared in 1905, in a maga- zine entitled Old Wales," which was published for subscribers in Talybont, Breconshire. This pleasantly written narrative-which is anonymous-informs the reader that Sir Watkin, born about the year 1737, was the second son of the Rev. Watkin Lewes3, of Pengbenglog in Cardiganshire, and that he matriculated from Magdalen College, Cambridge, where he took the degree of B.A. in 1763, also that he entered him- self as a student of the Middle Temple on 27th November, 1760, and was called to the Bar in 1766. The same recorder tells us of his marriage with the well-dowered daughter of Robert Popkin of Forest,4 and of his pertinacious efforts and gen- erous expenditure in the hope of winning a seat in Parliament as representative of the City of Wor- cester. After four contests he seems to have been at length unwillingly convinced that the electors would never return him so he proceeded to concentrate the energy of his evidently very able mind on practical affairs connected with the City of London. Presently, we hear of his being made one of two sheriffs of London and Middle- sex, of being knighted by King George III, and elected one of the Aldermen of the City of London and a Commissioner of Sewers, Lamps and Pave- ments. It was on the 9th of November in the year 1780 that he entered on his office as Lord Mayor of London, where he is said to have dis- pensed hospitality to the highest in the land with the lavishness of an open-hearted Welshman." Yet in spite of Sir Watkin's instinctive hos- pitality, it would seem that he was inclined to exercise a dignified discrimination as regarded the guests admitted to Guild Hall functions; and he was also decidedly rigorous in the enforcement of regulations for the proper conduct of the Lord Mayor's procession, and it is interesting when reading the London newspapers of November, 1780, to note the journalistic approval, or unveiled sarcasm called forth by this determined son of Cambria. According to the Morning Post Yesterday Sir Watkin Lewes the new Lord Mayor began his annual sovereignty with a striking innovation upon freedom-the great avenue leading from Fleet Street was barred by a temporary railing and a group of beadles and peace officers prevented any from passing to Ludgate Street, except privates. By this means many worthy citizens of Westminster were prevented from seeing the procession of their London freeman, and his Lordship made happy in the compliments of the Court ladies and gentlemen." 3 Rector of Meliney, 8 miles south of Cardigan in Co. Pembroke. 4 Near Swansea. Her grandfather was Robert ap Hopkin.