The Sun.
London, England, 1844-09-27 00:00:00

ELECTION OF ALDERMAN FOR
BILLINGSGATE WARD.

Yester,lay a wardmote was held in Fellowship Hall, St.
Mary-at-Hill, for the election of an alderman in the
room of Anthony Brown, Esq., appoined Chamberlain
of the City of London. Mr. Sidney, the Sheriff-elect for
the ensuing year, was the only candidate ; the other,
Mr. 'William Mitcalfe, having resigned.
Precisely at twelve o'clock the Lord Mayor, attended
by the several civil functionaries, entered the Hall, and
having taken his seat, the Court was opened.
Mr. PEAK; in proposing Mr. Sidney, said he was
supported by all parties ; and he (Mr. Peake) was confi-
dent that, in the office of Alderman, he would be equally
distinguished for the virtues and abilites which had so
much characterised him in private life.
Mr. BOWER seconded the nomination. He said that
he had not, like the mover, the honour of such an inti-
mate acquaintance with Mr. Sidney, yet the voice of
fame had spoken well of him ; and from the little he
knew, he was fully of the same opinion. They had
parted with a gentleman who was highly respected, and '
who had filled his office well, and he had every confi-
dence that the gentleman now proposed as Alderman
would do away with their regret at parting with the last
one. He was glad that there was no opposition on the
present occasion, as however well conducted such contests
might be, they invariably left gall and bitterness behind.
He would, therefore, with every heartiness, second the
nomination of Mr. Sidney, and he hoped that in all their
future relations he and the " good men" of Billingsgate
would esteem each other in the highest degree.
There being no other candidate, Mr. Sidney was de-
clared elected.
Mr. SIDNEY returned thanks. There were moments

in every man's life, when words would be found inade-
quate to express the intensity of his feelings, and such
was the case with himself at that time. He could say
unfeignedly, that that was one of his proudest moments.
He would not take up their time by detaining the prin-
ciples he had laid down for his future guidance, because
the last month bad given him ample opportunity of ex-
plaining these. He had sought that important position
as a means of extended usefulness to his fellow-citizens.
—(Hear, hear.) He did not mean to say that opportunity
of much usefulness could not be found in the privacies
of life as in its public walks—
" To do good by stealth, and blush to find it fame,"
might be chronicled of many—the most humble indivi-
duals.—(Cheers.) If in that office, he did not the good
which at present he hoped 20 do, he would not retain
it, but at once resign into their hands again
the honourable distinction they had conferred upon
him. They had had the good sense not to ask him
any question as to his political sentiments, and he had
no right, nor would he, in that unanimous assemblage
thrust these opinions upon them ; although they all
agreed, be was convinced in this, that it was truly wise,
and truly liberal, to allow to each and all the expression
of that opinion, whatever it might be.—(Cheers.) He
was proud to call himself a friend to the glorious insti-
tutions of the country, and he hoped that he should ever
advocate an extended system of education. He would
hail the day with gratitude when education would raise
from among the masses of the country a new power,
moral, political, and religious—(Hear hear)—and
to that object would all his exertions be given.
That was the best mode of preventing crime
and its consequences. He thanked them all for the
kindness with which they had received him in the course
of that canvass, and he could assure them that he would
endeavour to discharge the duties of his office in an ho-
nourable and honest manner.—(Great cheers.)
Mr. Deputy CURLING moved a vote of thanks to their
late Alderman, Anthony Brown, Esq., which was passed
unanimously.
Thanks were voted to the Lord Mayor, who then dis-
solved the wardmote.