Samuel Mayer's Commemorative Drinking Horn, Newcastle-under-Lyme

Description:This strange drinking vessel has two engraved silver collars and some bullocks legs as a stand.
The wording along top collar reads:
'This cup was made from one of the horns of a bullock which was roasted whole, and formed part of a banquet given to his fellow Burgesses by Samuel Mayer of Thistleberry, to commemorate his being elected the first Mayor under the new charter granted to the Borough of Newcastle under Lyne October XXIX MDCCCXXXII.'
(Note: 'Lyme' in Newcastle-under-Lyme was often 'mis-spelt' 'Lyne')

The engraving on the second collar reads:
'By the charter granted by King John the right of electing the mayor was vested in the whole of the Burgesses, but that power was usurped by the Corporation who chose their chief magistrate out of their own body, for a period of more than two hundred years. When after a series of trials, carried on by the Burgesses against the Corporation to regain their rights, the privilege was proved to be in favour of the former. A new charter was granted by King William the IVth confirming the charter of King John and Samuel Mayer was chosen mayor. As an acknowledgement of his honest and successful exertions in securing the right of his brother Burgesses.'

Funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.