The Sun.
London, England, 1833-07-08 00:00:00

COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL.

QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE OFFICE OF COA!
• MON SERGEANT.
On Saturday a Court was held for the purpose of dis-
cussing the propriety of appointing a Committee to in-
quire into the qualifications of the two candidates for the
office of Common Sergeant, Matthew Hill and John Mire-
house, Et•qrs. The crowd below the bar was very great,
and strangers manifested their feeling as strongly as the
members of the Court, amongst whom there was the
utmost excitement. Mr. Law having formally resigned
the office of Common Sergeant in a complimentary speech,
which was loudly applauded,
Mr. CHARLES PEARSON rose—Till the glorious ex-
ample set by their predecessors in the election of Thomas
Denman to the office, the office of Common Sergeant had
been almost invariably filled up from the bar of the city
local courts, and he was sorry to say that that mode of
supplying the office had not provided the public with
Judges whose legal attainments afforded any recommends.
tion for its coutinuance.—(Hear, hear.) Sir John Sil-
vester, whose name would descent to posterity in con-
nection with that of Eliza Fenning, and the late Recorder,
whose awful mistake was not likely soon to be forgotten—
(Cheers)—had graduated regularly through the offices of
Common Pleader and Common Sergeant to the Recorder-
ship ; but he apprehended that the precedents in question
were hardly likely, even in the eyes of the dearest lovers
of rotation, to furnish an argument for their imitation.
Mr. Mirehouse rested his claims to the appointment
principally upon the fact that he was Judge of the
Sheriff's Court, a situation which was in reality a
sinecure, and required in its possessor neither legal
knowledge, forensic talent, nor any other quality re-
quisite to make a good Common Sergeant.—(Cheers.)
Not only ought the Common Sergeant of London to be
qualified to sit as a Judge, but he ought to possess a con-
siderable talent as an advocate. Look at the important
interests which were confided to his protection as the
leading Counsel of the Corporation, in all compensation
causes, where he had to be opposed by the first talent of
the day, retained by the other suitors.—(Hear.) Of-
fence had been taken against Mr. Hill, because at the
time Mr. Mirehouse was appointed Judge of the Sheriff'.
Court, he hail respectfully declined that office, alleging, as
the fact was, that till the machinery of the Court should
be so improved as to render the business somewhat com-
mensurate with the salary, he could not accept it.—
(Cheers.) Mr. Hill, unlike Mr. Alirehouse, had been
the architect of his own fortunes. His friends did not
ask for the appointment of Common Sergeant as a reward
for the useful and independent exercise of his talents in the
public cause—it was not a political office—(Great cheer-
ing)—but they asked that he should not be excluded
merely because his political opinions were in coincidence
with the feelings of the members of the Court. He con-
cluded by moving a reference to a Committee.
Mr. R. TAYLOR seconded the motion.—(Hear.)
Mr. Alderman BitowN moved that it be referred to the
Committee of Clerks and Officers to inquire generally into
the qualifications of the candidates, and to report.
Mr. JAMES Woon seconded the amendment.
Mr. STEVENS could see no objection to the appoint-
ment of the Committee.
Mr. STACEY objected to the motion, because it was
only for a partial inquiry, while the amendment went to
inquire into every qualification of the candidates.
Mr. PEARSON replied.
The Court then divided, when there appeared--
For the Amendment
Against it 6l
Majority —B
Mr. Pearson's motion was then agreed to without a
divison.
A discussion then took place, as to whether the sub-
ject should be referred to a Special Committee, or to the
Committee of Clerks and Officers, when, on the suggestion
of Mr. C. Pearson, it was referred to the Committee of
Clerks and Officers.

EXTRAORDINARY CASE OF JUVENILE
SUICIDE.—On Saturday an inquest was held before Mr.
BALER, at the Cumberland Arms, City-road, on the body
of EDWARD BROOM, aged 16. The deceased was in the
employ of Mr. RWYNOLOS, oilman, No. 131, Whitecross-
street. Mrs. REYNOLDS stated that the lad was of a very
stern and morose disposition, but of late he had been
much milder; he was subject to fits, and a surgeon who
attended him, said his bead was badly formed, and ordered
him to live abstemiously, or something fatal would happen:
On Wednesday he was sent to feed the horse in his masters
stable, but he did not return, and he was found suspended
by the reins in the loft quite dead. The father of the
deceased, a respectable tradesman, said al: his sons were
subject to fits.—Verdict, Temporary Derangement.