The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1876-04-04 00:00:00

e orresponbenrt.

THE EDWARDi
_TESTINIiiNIAL

To the Editor.
Sir, —ln common with others of my profeasi„mi
brethrenl the other 1 I .ay receive I a ..ircul aut.-mut.*
an ineanshe on the part some pereon,
get up and present a testimonial to Mr Edw,nls, who
ha. for many years dis, harged the duties of indictment
clerk on behalf of the clerk of the peace at our
quarter sessions.

It has been my pleasure to meet Mr. Edwards in
oaks) from the time of his first introduction to it; sag
it fa my good, or bad luck to remember his able pri.
deoeseor, and I yield to none in my respect and reorg
for both, or in my willingness to acknowledge ill.
efficient and courteous way in which they discheriod
their duties.

On the occasion of Mr. Sherring's retirement frost
the indictment office no testimonial wait presented t„
him, nor MN there any expression of the 0 ' •
which was entertained of his services, and yet I ale
qua* sure that no one will venture to question their
value. The truth in that in those daps testimonials
were not in fashion, and had not become the nuisance
they now have, when /scarcely can a policeman, a
relieving officer, a turnpike gatekeeper, or a natioeal
get UP
schoolmaster migrate from one place to another with.
out some busv• laxly putting himself forwar I to
• testimonial, really to air his own vanity, though
avosedly f.r the doubtful gratification ..f psrait
who has only done, or, perhaps, not dune efficienUy,
what was no more tit in a .luty.
With all the respect and regard which, in mimeo
with others. I feel towards Mr. Edwards, I protest
against being, as it were, put into a corner, and coin.
pelled, in that sense, to appraise his value in a
sum not exceeding five guineas and ao contribute
towards an object which I can scarcely believe
any man, possessing a spark of independence, would
approve, and I am much mistaken in Mr. Edwards if
he would not prefer to live in the kindly feeling. al
those) who know him, rather than be presented with
the emeentional (rapt, or salver, and the ordinary
icc onpaniment of some cut and dried expressions 01
hollow flattery.
A p stcript to the circular ailuded to, gonna to inth.
rate that this testimonial movement has the sanction
ef the county justices, and especially, of the noble
c. airman a our court of quarter sessions. I can
scarcely think so, although it has not been disavowed,
but if it ha., by all means let the intention be prri4.,
out in the way most pleasing to them. I can will
understand that Mr. Edwarda Las often rendered
importa...t te•rvices to ninny individual members .4 the
court. • n.l perhaps notably so in the recent, and as I
venture to that. uncalled-for, attack on the ancient
privileges .nd jurisdiction of the Borough .4 code
Castle, ag .inst the exerc:se of which no grievesceam
alleged unities it be ..ne that the dignity of the 4,
of magistrate was offended in the person of lb.
John». is, a man quite as respectable in hie
position as the mushroom baronet wit, hee
recently made an exhibition of himself in the Home
of Commons, or some of thous, from whom he derived
his inaccurate information. Such services though
taken in their conception, and unsucceasful s.sve in one
result, namely, a Clerk of the Peace's Bill, on the
county funds, may nevertheless be deserving ..f sub.
stuitial recognition, but I am sure I express the
opinion of very many when I say that they afford no
grounds whatever for an appeal to the legal profession,
Ma body, to join in a testimonial ..n account of them
Your obedient servant,
G. StgoNus,
Dorchester, 31st March, 1676.