The Sun.
London, England, 1860-08-30 00:00:00

TBF NETV SHERIFFS OF LONDON AND

MIDDLESEX.

We extract from the city Press the following
biographical notices of Mr. Alderman Abbiss and
Mr. Lusk, recently elected to serve the office of
Sheriff for 1860-1.

MR. ALDERMAN ABBISS
Is a " self-made" man, and has attained to his pre-
sent position by enterprising industry and an un-
varying course of probity and conciliation in all
his transactions of private trade and public duty.
He was born on the 3d of June, 1812, near Walls-
worth, where his parents occupied a farm for many
years. He commenced business in Gracechurch-
street in 1835, and by steady application has at-
tained his present position of pecuniary competence,
and the esteem of his fellow-citizens. After the
frauds of Paul and Manini were discovered (in the
investigation of which Mr. Abbiss took a very ac-
tive part), he was chosen chairman of the Board of
Guardians of the City of London Union ; and on
the resignation of Sir Chapman Marshall, Mr.
Abbiss expressed, his willingness to place his ser-
vices at the disposal of his fellow-citizens, and the
unanimous 'vote of the electors at the ensuing
Wardmote conferred on him the high dignity of
Alderman of the Ward of Bridge.
Mr. Abbiss has taken an active interest in the
subject of education and mental improvement. Not
long since he purchased a building for the benefit
of the working classes at Ponder 's-end. This vil-
lage was without gas, and he bestirred himself, in
conjunction with other gentlemen, in establishing
gas-works, and had the pleasure of seeing gas
burning in Ponder's-end for the first time on the
11th of November last. This is working on the
local principle through and through. He has also
been a subscriber and active member of the Board
of the Asylum for Idiots, at Earlswood, almost from
its commencement, and at the last election, on the
26th of April, had the pleasure to see a proposition
of his own—viz., " To receive cases for /fie, instead
of five years," carried into effect. Those who know
Mr. Abbiss will not need to be assured of his ur-
banity, intelligence, and stern uprightness of heart,
but the general public may like to know that these
qualities meet in the chosen Sheriff of 1861.
MR. ANDREW LUSK.

Is also, to use the hackneyed but useful phrase, a
"self. made" man, and of the right mental and moral
substance for the office which awaits him. Mr.
Lusk comes from "'end the Tweed," a farmer's son,
with just enough of the Caledonian bleed to give
firmness to a character which is thoroughly Eng-
lish in its geniality and freedom. He has, perhaps,
had to fight harder for his way than the majority
of successful citizens, and has been thereby the
more completely- taught the great lesson of self-
reliance. The loss of his father at an early age, his
friendless condition, and the want of opportunities,
were the chief circumstances that opposed him ; but
he found friends and made opportunities, and the
sequel was success of no common kind.
Mr. Lusk, however, is no mere money-taker.
Acting on the proverb that the hand of the diligent
maketh rich, be also acted on that other proverb,
" Seek wisdom," and by indefatigable exertion he
stored his mind with kaowledge, and thus became
what ho is, an enlightened as well as a prosperous
citizen.

Commerce early became his sibyl, and called him
away from the homestead in his native village, and
he began life in a little northern town as " an active
lad" behind the counter. There must be genius,
though the world does not always call it such, in
the man who begins behind the counter, and
honestly works his way into the coitume of a sheriff
of the chief city in the world.
London, was, of course, the pole star of the young
man. With dreams of London were also mixed up
dreams of fame in literature. He saw himself in
print—the first ambition of a hopeful scribe—and
as a reporter and contributor to newspapers, found
constant and profitable occupation for his mind and
pen. He would, long ago, have been up to his
neck in literary enterprises had not a good spirit
whispered that trade was his proper vocation, and
forthwith he gave his mind to trade, and made
friends as fortune gave him opportunities, and In