But of all the achievements abroad at this time none caused so much joy as the capture of Quebec (Sept., 1759). The City once more embraced the opportunity of presenting a congratulatory address to the king, at the same time expressing deep regret at the loss of so gallant an officer as Wolfe.[164] A year later it again offered its congratulations on the complete conquest of Canada,[165] promising to assist in the preservation of that valuable acquisition, and "to prosecute the various and extensive services" of the just and necessary war. Pitt was delighted with the address. "The address of the city of London," he wrote to Grenville, "will speak for itself, and I believe you will think that it speaks loud enough to be heard at Paris.... How it was heard at Kensington you need not be told, as the address is big with _a million in every line_. Were it able to produce an advantageous peace it would be most happy; next to that, such generous and warm assurances of supporting the war cannot but give the highest satisfaction to government."[166] Within ten days of listening to the address the king died (25 Oct.). [Sidenote: The City's admiration for Pitt.] On the last day of the month the first stone was laid of Blackfriars Bridge. The bridge was originally known as Pitt Bridge, and bore an inscription in Latin and English testifying the City's affection for the great statesman who had done so much to restore the ancient reputation of the British empire,[167] whilst the approach to the bridge was for some years known as Chatham Place. FOOTNOTES: [74] Repertory 131, fo. 285. [75] _Id._, fos. 287, 289-291. [76] Journal 57, fos. 154b-155b; Repertory 131, fos. 345-348. For the next two years the Common Council became practically powerless, the lord mayor for the time being summoning a court only when he thought fit. In 1728 the council only met four times, viz., twice in February and twice in May, after which no court was held until June, 1729. It was then thought high time to re-enact the old Act of Common Council _temp._ Richard II, when Brembre was mayor, compelling the mayor for the time being to summon a Common Council once a quarter at least, and a Bill for that purpose was brought in and passed.--_Id._, fos. 166b, 174b, 176, 177b, 182, 188b, 197b, 198, 201. [77] Hervey, Memoirs, i, 88. [78] Repertory 132, fos. 40-57. [79] Journal 57, fo. 162. An account of the entertainment, its cost, etc., is given by Maitland, i, 541-543. [80] Repertory 132, fos. 10, 16. [81] _Id._, fo. 9. [82] Journal 57, fo. 162. [83] Repertory 132, fo. 381. [84] Another portrait of Queen Caroline, by the same artist, is preserved in the National Portrait Gallery, having been transferred thither from the British Museum in 1879. [85] Memoirs, vol. i, c. vii. [86] Journal 57, fos. 274-274b. [87] Hervey, Memoirs, i, 176-179. [88] Parl. Hist., viii, 1281-1307; Maitland, i, 558, 559.