The National Register.
London, England, 1821-07-01 00:00:00

COMMON HALL.

ELECTION OF SIIERIFFS.—MOOday last being Mid-
summer-day. a Common Ilall was held, according to
custom, for the election of Sheriffs and other officers for
the year ensuing. The Hall was most unmerously
attended.
The Hall Was opened by Alderman Wood in state,
attended by the City Officers and the Court of Aldermen,
of whom Alderman Rothwell and Alderman Garrott,
and the Recorder, were received with peculiar marks of
their displeasure
The Commod Crier read a document from the Lord
Maya appointing Alderman Wood his locum learns, in
his absence on account of bodily indisposition, to hold
Common halls, C is of Aldermen, &c.
The Recorder in presenting himself to state to the
Hall the purposes for which they were convened, was
assailed with groans and hisses, and cries of " No asset-
ciai ions, &c. &c."
The Court of Aldermen having withdrew, the Com-
mon Sergeant read the list of i.ersons put in nomination
as candidates fur the office of Sheriff'. They were as

John Garrott, Esq. Alderman and Goldsmith.
William Venable., Esq. Alderman and Stationer.
Rawl t Humphrey Martin, Esq Citizen rota Cook.
illiam Kr), Esq. Cutest and Cook.
Simon, Esq. ditto, ditto.
Jobe Woohe), Esq. Citizen and Gluier.
Richard Butter, Esq. Citizen and Butcher.
oh Clements, Esq. Citizen and Merchant Tailor.
Ai clidaie Pabort, Citizen and Mercer.
Edinund Wilier Rundell, Esq. Citizen and Goldsmith.
Miles Stringer, Esq. Citizen and Merchant Tailor.
Benjamin Esq. Citizen and Drapi r.
Thomas Kelly, Esq. Citizen and Blast( rer.
Enos Hiirant, Esq. Citizen and Weaver.
Joseph Pull), Esq. Cstivm and Waichaudler, and
William Crook, Esq Citizen and Merchant Tailor.
Mr. SCHULTtz, after the names had beet' read, came
forward to address the Hall. They were, he said, con-
vened to exercise one of their most important duties, in
the election of officers who, in the. discharge of their
functions, were superior even to Peers themselves. They
were about to elect conservators of the peace, who of
their own authority, inialn apprehend and commit to
prison all misdoers. When they considered the high
power and extensive jurisdiction of these officers, oi-
whom they had the appointment, it became highly im-
portant that they should elect none but men of integrity
and firmness, who would Stiffer neither their own rights
as high officers, nor those of their fellow citizens, to be
invaded. It became still snore necessary that they should
elect such men, when they saw the constituted authori-
ties invaded, and their powers usurped by a self-elected
junta, who had associated and were formed (in the very
centre of ilte jurisdiction of the officers whom they were
about to appoint) for the purpose of intimidating the
press, and oppressing the unfortunate, for ditkrences of
opinion. Should the powers of the regular authorities
be allowed to be usurped by a set of informers t (Loud
eppl.•use.) He hoped never to see a conclave exist in this
country, such as did at the titne of Nero, the Roman
Emperi.t, and who were, in the reign of his successor,
Tuns, nit cued to be publicly whipped through the
forum ; and then they were led through the amphithe-
atre as svi:d beasts, and afterwards sold as slaves. In the
proscription, during the second •irate caused by the
informers, the names of the proscribed were inscribed on
tablets hutht up in the public view. Toe prosecuted
had then stone chance, and might see what was placed
against then. There was another feature preoliar to
that association, which was, that no priests had any
share in the proceedings. Alter sonic further observa-
tions to the smite effect, he exhorted the hall to be stre-
nuous in their opposition of such measures, as their po-
litical and religious liberties were all at stake. He said,
that it was for the purpose of potting forward a person
ti ho would assist, as far as in him lay, in resisting the
proscriptive hwastem of regular authority, which he vial
had recently taken place, that he rear 11111 l ended to their
notice the name of Mr. Crook.

Mr. Citoox came forward and stated, that it was
his intenti kkk 10 have obtruded hinisell,but that he wished
to correct sonwthitig which It .d been said of him that
'miming by the well-known character Doctor Slop.—
The Doctor had said that he (Nlr. Crook) was a Sheriff's
broker, and therefine not a fit permit to serve the office
of Sheriff. He dettiial that he either was or ever had
been a Sheriffs broker. In fact, there was now no
such office in exigence. It had been abolished by
Lord Kenyon. lie (Mr Crook) had certainly sold in,
his capacity as a broker, tinder several Sheriffs' writs ;
liut the ippon 1111 l rut of the broker lay with the plaintiff
in the action, or his agent, and it was under such ap-
pi' sit that he heel acted.
The names of the several candidates in nomination
were Mei, put, Kill a show of hands taken ; when the
Sheriff, declared the election to have falleb on
Veda' lei, Alderman and Stationer, and James Crook,
Citizen and Merchant Tailor. The declaration was
recvortil with much applause.
Me. CitoOK came forward and said, that he would '
not demand a 1•01 for himself, but if he were chosen he
would do the duty honourably and faithfully. He hoped
1w was untirtstood. He would nut be at one shilling
expense, nor did he consider that he ought, as they had
given thus opiniou in his (Kotse by so considerable a
majority. A•Aliterman Garai had chosen to have a
volt, he unit Alderman Venable. ought to be at the
vitottice. Ile raid that he had loathing for himself to
seek or as 4 for, and repeated that if chosen he would do
his duty.
Sneed? IVAITHSIAN said, that this being a compulsory
oilice like ilia. of a Member of Parliament, he was of
oinnum that there was tio difference between the two,
and that an individual was not competent to withdraw
histairlf after havittg !wen elected.
; After sonic consultation with the law officers, Sheriff
WAITHMAN returned, and said, that upon discussing
the matter, and empiiritig what had been done On fur-
suet cecasions, till) sad mute to the decision that, under