The National Register.
London, England, 1821-03-11 00:00:00

No. 1,309.—V0t...X1V.]

ELECTION OF AN ALDERMAN
FOR BRIDGE WARD.

A wardmote was held on Thursday in Fishtnon gees
Hall, in consequence of the resignation of Sir M.
Bhutan), the late alderman of Bridge IVartl, fur the
purpose of electing a successor to the gown. Toe Lord
Mayor presided, accompamed by the principal city
officers. Mr. Bollatul, Air.Casberd, and other council
were in array to protect the interest of the candidates.
The Lord Mayor opened the lit. Mess of the Jay by a
prefatory exhortation to the contending pz:rties to rest tam
themselves as mucti po,sittle within the bounds of
moderation. Ili; lordship ...xpressed his sincere ft tett&
ship for both candidate-, and hoped, that if in the
course of the contest any ditlicithi-.s should arise, he
should he able to decide %vitt) the impartiality twat be.
carne the situation he then had the honour of holding.

Mr. TILL came forward to propose Mr. Garrat as a
candidate fir the vacant wivu, and in doinz so, he ape-
logix.vl for the null-attendance of Mr. Davison, the
oldest iiihabhalit of the ward, who had intended, if he
had not beets prevented by indisposition, to have come
forward and put Mr. John Garrat, than whom he knew
no man more distiuguislied both for his public and pri-
vate virtue,, its !lamination.
Mr. Br:Kit:Am said, it was with the greatest pleasure
that lie seconded the nomination,. Lie declared that it
was not with any party sieves that Jlr. Garret came for.
ward, and he was sure that when a man of such emi-
nent private virtue was pro forward, the goud sense of
the ward would not lose tile opportniiity of avardng
themselves of the oiler of iris services for their welfare,
in
Mr. BET
to those of a strariger to the wind.
M r. BET IN G ToN came for ward to propose NI r. Slier; II
Williams as a candidate to fill the vacancy. He knew
po man that was more fit than the worthy Sheriff was
to fill the situation of a magistrate, from his great know-
ledge of the criminal code, his act-lit:durance whit died
State of our prisons, and his general knowledge of every
thing that was emniected with the weliare and good
order of the citizens and city at large.
Me. Pawrairts said, tnat if a good private character
were the only qualification required to till the office of
an alderman, or if the only interests to be protected by
their representative were merely the local inierest?of the
ward, there might be home difficulty in deciding upon
the merits of the two candidates; but the influence of
the politic character of an alderman not only extended
over the whole of the city, but over the whole of the
kingdom ; it was therefore of vast importance that their
representative should be equally distinguished for public
ability as for private virtue. Mr, Garrat was not known
to them as a public character, and indeed Ito had always
hitherto chosen rather to retire into hi, domestic circle
when called upon to fill any public office, Mari io step
forward Hilo those stations which inert of offfactice ancr
leisure were expected to fill for the benefit or those who
had not such advantages. With respect to \lr. Sheriff
Williams, he bad performed every office that he had
been requested to fill, with zeal arid ability, and had
given noire than ordinary marks of his possessing a lit.
polio.' mind. his conduct had been such as to give
sensible men cenfitlenoe that their hopes would not be
deceived :11 time to euine--(eries of bear, hear)--and
he had every qualifications that age and exi.erience could
give hint, and they had p guarantee hum his past con-
duct that his future attendance to the duties of the otlii.e,
if they should think proper to elect him to it, would be
such as to insure the inmost (treasure of iheir appruba.
*ion. The speaker concluded by seconding the :manna-
tion of James William:, EN.
Mr. Cron RAT then said, that In coming forward as a
candidate for their suffrages, to be a representative oldie
Ward hi the Court of Aldermen, he should be eare.ul 01
snaking any pioniiseit.ari he l if (A:served dial those %vim
promised largely always performed the lea.t. He offered
luttisulf at the solicitations ofUfa nuthliar of the must
ret-
respectablo inhabitama n: the Ward. 11e did eat NI
himself forward, for he was tin lover of socli aituatioris,
bus rather preferred ,clourestic retirennsot I but whets he
found the Ward placer/ in tile situation it had been, he
he thought it a cliktraao fur them to grime stranger to be
their representative, and slid nut hesitate in coming fur.
,ward,-,.(Cries of hear h)-With respect to the charge of
Fit nut being 4 tried public Mall, he wiiuld, say, that
a good private character, was art earnest ef a good puldie
For himself, he really thought, that its the oleo buff
pf an Alderman its politics were a minor consideration.
Mut if he ware elected to the Wilco he shook! think it
his dotty, as a magistrate, to honour the Kina, mid to
lumen the laws. tie was no raced the
Millie of poldies-..hut he would say,- that if he were
chosen, he would support di the Common Coursed
reform in l'aripienent, Ju tvnelusion he said, he stood
tip for their proileges mid independence, and that if he
were returned, he would do his duty faithfully to his
Constituents. lf, on the contrary, which he would tout
%Pimpled': for a nionwni, their donee should fall ua
his oppoiretit, he would retire to the begun of his familia
Yid nu event tit his life After should ever ititioca him to
come forward to stand either fur this Ward or ally other.
Tito speaker sat down amidst fowl and col ttttt mot cheers.
Mr. Site, id W us apologized m the Worriment
that tic could not &chi(eo, thctu su run) as he wished, Ott