The Sun.
London, England, 1833-12-19 00:00:00

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

HOME CIRCUIT—LEWES, DEC. 17.
(Before Mr. Baron VAUGRAN)
James Page, William Chatfield, William Mar-
chant, and Charles Sands, were charged with having,
on the 18th Nov. inst., at Pevensey, with divers
other persons, armed with fire-arms and other
offensive weapons, unlawfully and feloniously assem-
bled together, aiding and assisting in carrying away
certain goods liable to certain duties which had not
been paid.
The prisoners, with others, to a great number,
attempted to run a cargo of contraband goods near
Pevensey Marsh, armed with guns, &c. ; and, find-
ing a resistance en the part of the coast-guard, the
smugglers fired at the preventive men, and a regular
fight ensued, which ended in the death of one of the
smugglers, and the capture of the four prisoners.
The trial lasted till near two o'clock, when the
Jury found the prisoners Guilty, and they were
sentenced to be transported for life.
William Goodie', labourer, was charged with set-
ting fire to a barn at the parish of Ewhurst, the
property of William Daws.
The Jury found the prisoner Guilty, and
His LORDSHIP passed sentence of death upon him.
The prisoner made a confession in the prison after
the trial, at the request of his mother, who, we un-
derstand, actually furnished the prisoner with the
tinder for the diabolical purpose. He also confessed
to another fire about two years ago.

CORPORATION COMMISSION.

THIRD DAY.—WEDNESDAY.
(Concluded from The Sun of yesterday.)

Mr. Deputy Wood was examined—He stated
that the Recorder was elected by a Court of Alder-
men, called for the express purpose. On the occa-
sion it would be necessary that a legal majority of
the whole body should be present. The Recorder
should be a barrister; but the qualification did not
require that he should be of any particular standing
at the bar. Men of eminence at the bar were
usually chosen; the appointment was for life, and
the Court of Aldermen, he believed, had no power

of removal. Deputy Recorders had been appointed,
and the Recorder, before he acts, was sworn in be-
fore the Court of Aldermen. Only three Common
Sergeants within the last hundred years had become
Recorders. Political feelings did not influence the
election. The election of Common Sergeant took
place in a public Court of the Common Council ; lie
is elected by ballot, according to the standing order,
which is of very ancient date; this order was re-
scinded at the last meeting of the Common Council ;
from 1700, the candidates had always been barristers;
the appointment is for life ; persons connected with
the Corporation have been generally elected Common
Sergeants ; they must be free of the city, before
they can be elected; in the election of Common
Sergeants, political feeling had much influence;
when the person was elected, he was returned to
the Court of Aldermen, and there sworn in; the
two Sheriffs of the city of London were elected by
the Livery; three classes of persons were put in
nomination :—First, Aldermen who had not been
Sheriffs before; secondly, persons on the Lord
Mayor's list, which consisted of nine persons, to
whom he drank at an entertainment, thereby show-
ing that he wished them to serve; thirdly, the en-
tire body of freemen, any of whom, if a brother
freeman chose, might be put in nomination ; the
office is sometimes in request, and sometimes not.
In one instance a person sought for and obtained the
office, and other persons who refused to serve with ,
him paid to the city 10,0001. in the shape of fines,
for their refusal. For refusing to go to an elec-
tion, the tine of the person nominated, and on the
Lord Mayor's list, was 4001. and twenty marks.
Persons elected and refusing to serve, were fined
600/. and twenty marks each. Formerly Dissenters
used to be elected. He, sooner than take the necessary
oaths, paid the fine. It was stated in the House of
Lords by Lord Mansfield, that the Mansion-house
was built with fines of this description. For the
last five or six years the Lord Mayor's list had nor
been used. Persons elected to the office of Sheriff
were
election
generally men of property and respectability.
The of Town Clerk was vested in the
Common Council; it was necessary that he should

be a freeman of two years' standing, and acquainted
with the duties of the office ; the situation was one
of emolument, and was canvassed for ; before the
person could act, he was sworn in before the Court
of Aldermen ; the appointment was for life, and he
knew no instances of any one being displaced from
it. Two of the city pleaders were appointed by the
Common Council, and two by purchase; the two
who were elected were barristers and freemen of
London ; they were nominated by the Common
Council and admitted by the Court of Aldermen;
up to 1817 or 1818, the whole four city pleaders
were appointed by purchase; he believed the pur-
chase-money was generally under 1,500/., and the
sum went into the city funds.
Shortly after three o'clock the Commissioners
adjourned.