The Sun.
London, England, 1851-07-29 00:00:00

ELECTION OF A SHERIFF.

Yesterday a Common Hall was held for the election of
a sheriff in the room of Mr. James Hartley, who, upon
being elected, together with Mr. Cotterell, to fill the
office, declined to serve, and paid the fine. Soon after
the announcement that Mr. Hartley would not tor the
present accept the office had been made, several gentle-
men of influence in the City waited upon Mr. Richard
Swift, a gentleman of high respectability, considerable
attainments, and influence, and without difficulty ob-
tained his consent to become a candidate for the dignity.
At one o'clock the Lord Mayor, accompanied by
several of the aldermen, the sheriffs, and the high City
officers, appeared upon the hustings; and
The RECORDER represented to the Livery the peculiar
circumstances under which they had been called together.
The Right Hon. and Learned Gentleman concluded his
brief address by stating that it was in the power of any
member of the Livery to propose any qualified person,
although the name might not be included in the formal
list of those proposed to their acceptance.
The Towx CLERK having read the long list of names,
Mr. WINKWORTII came forward upon the hustings to
propose Mr. Richard Swift as ai candidate for the office.
It was, he said, the first time he had ever had the ho-
nour of addressing the Livery, and certainly he could
not be engaged more beneficially to his fellow.citizens,
or more honourably to himself, than in introducing to
their notice a gentleman so admirably qualified, in every
respect, to perform all the duties of the office of sheriff.
—(Loud cheers.) If he entertained a single doubt upon
the subject he would not appear there to advocate the
claims of his excellent friend, but his intimate know-
ledge of the high character and eminent worth of Mr.
Swift strengthened and confirmed his confidence, and it
was a source of gratification to know that the gentleman
who was thus nominated was not only adapte to the
office, but was willing to accept it, for the service of the
citizens of London.—(Loud cheers, and a cry from a few
persons in front of the hustings of " He's a Catholic,"
which was drowned in applause.) In Mr. Swift the con-
stituency would have a sheriff who would not only
maintain their rights and privileges, but would most
splendidly support the hospitalities of the office, and dis-
charge all its duties in the most vigorous manner.
Two or three persons in the crowd said—" You may
as well propose Cardinal Wiseman as sheriff;" but they
were soon silenced by overwhelming cheers.
Mr. THOMAS Nonnts (the common councilman) se-
conded the nomination of Mr. Swift, and congratulated
the meeting upon the fact that a person of such distin-
guished qualifications had readily consented to take upon
himself so important and responsible an office. The
citizens of London bad a most satisfactory guarantee for
the proper performance of the duties of the office of
sheriff in the well-known character of the gentleman
whom he felt so much pride in supporting. It wads im-
possible to say less of Mr. Swift. It would be very iffi-
cult to say more of anybody.—(Loud cheers.)
Mr. GEORGE SHOODRIDGE, who, it will be real
succeeded some years ago in prevailing upon the
tants of the City to build almshouses instead
passing
mof thte
nating their own houses in honour of
the
FleagLivery the
Reform Bill, wished to
,impress upon
necessity of raising fifty model lod eleticatebdi:
accommodation of the poor; but theginegl:chttooursseesvtdoerntthlye
considered the introduction of
suchfote: asubbejteteert uonp-
-
seasonable, and advised him to watt
portunity.
on councilman) came for-
Mr. BENNOCH (tbe comm
eountyi e
rat oartihiset moeurictyso
advocated
dq
tuhael i fibcuailtdi
tin s
ward to bear testinig
of Mr. Swift. No one, he said, doubted the philanthropic
• but the Livery bad assembled
doifsmpoosdietiloliodogfitchge.
heua"'
They had
for a different purpose..ff met for the purpose
of electing a model
to
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e
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most
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e
and the hall resounded
with acclamations when the name of Mr. Swift was
dthe °slit rhos: fib
nlee:
mo bej
se cwt.e—r
announced.
The SHERIFF declared that the election bad fallen
upon Richard Swift, Esq., citizen and spectacle-maker,
and the newly-elected sheriff was formally call upon to
take upon himself the office.