When Lord Derby was elected Lord Mayor of Liverpool I was asked to act as his deputy, as it was not expected that his lordship would do more than the formal and official work. For some time I called at the Town Hall every morning to see if I could be of any service, but I quickly discovered that Lord Derby was not going to discharge his duties in a perfunctory manner, and my services were required very little. I remember on one of my visits his lordship telling me his horse was the favourite for the Oaks, which was to be run on the day following. I begged him to go up to see the race, but he replied his first duty was at the Town Hall. The race was run, and Lord Derby's horse won. I often narrated this episode as a proof of his lordship's devotion to his duties, and once in his presence, when he intervened and said: "Do not give me too much credit; I must confess the temptation to see my horse win was too strong for me. I went up by the midnight train, and returned by the first train after the race." Lord Derby proved a most excellent Lord Mayor, and the debates in the Council were never before--and have never since been--conducted with so much decorum and dignity. The hospitality of the Town Hall was maintained on a splendid scale. Lady Derby took a keen personal interest in all the arrangements, and her own charming personality contributed greatly to the popularity and success of his lordship's year of office, which I have also reason to believe he greatly enjoyed. It may be interesting to narrate how Lord Derby became Lord Mayor. I had heard it stated that his brother and predecessor in the title had often expressed his wish that the old tradition of the family might be revived, and that he might be asked to become Mayor of Liverpool; and bearing this in mind I ventured one day to mention the subject to Lord Stanley. I found it not only interested him greatly, but he said he was sure his father would appreciate the honour, provided it was the unanimous wish of the Council. I mentioned the matter to our leader in the Council, and an early opportunity was availed of to elect Lord Derby as the first Lord Mayor of the extended Liverpool. By the death of Lord Derby, Liverpool sustained a grievous loss. He had filled many great public positions--Governor-General of Canada, Secretary of State for War--but in no position did he do more useful work than in the management of his own vast estates, and in furthering good work of every description round and about Liverpool. He fully realised that great responsibility attached to his position, and he devoted himself to the discharge of his many duties in the county and in Liverpool with an assiduity and earnestness which won the admiration of all, while all were fascinated by his great courtesy and old-world charm of manner.