, 1875-02-06
AN ENGLISH ASStzE,
Our American Cousin Among
the Big-Wigs.
Bofna Acconnt Of Tho Court Ceremonies
and of the Assiae Ball,

Oh my arrival in London some few years Agp,
In tic courac Of my commercial trtt,A to that
great transatlantic mart, l found fny old friend,
Charley 1.uesc at tho t4AlahAm with hiE trunks
packed and ready for Z 1nDYe. I had not Hecn
Charley for aotno tltho, and was mitch dlsap-
pointed 10 think that we @cse 10 sooh to part
after an long separation. Ile had completed
hia b,lsiness for q New York hounc, 10 which l,o
htood In the sAme rsihttre position ~ thtu did
to n,ine wtas mas but beginning tho duties Of
my mission. It Was with mnch relief, then.
TINT heard hn was not yet to return home,
"llaying aomo public duty to perform, I"
az lo eomewhat unigmatical1y EXPRESSED
himself before hin ilnal departure, I
was rather myntlilcd 1t tLit, but he
room enlightened ma by 1tattng that
he had In sosne WAY bscorne hecoaHary wttnoss
in case OF very considerable Importance, which
vas to be tried II. the coming waek ard ii. which
he Wan under nubptola to arpoar II tho Ahpizos
then to bo hold In DoersnIrs. Az had nover
been present At tho sitting Of Ill
xKotist nounT or JUSTICE,
gladly availod t,rseff Of Lis suggestion to IN
down NTH him, provided could 10 arrange mat
tors an that tho intetasta Of the houss should
not Bf1frer by my at,seucs. Most fortunately an
opportunity presented itaelf, the particulars Of
which mood not ron bo detailed, aud m. ready
to accompany my f1ond. The nu1t day We called
at tho Office Of Mcssrs. Capias l. puuuce, No. $50
Lstle George street, Westminster attorneys for
tho plaintiff, aud, having there received full in
Btsuettons as to The when and the whers Of our
departure for tho Aasiza Town, we male our.
sclvoa as comfortable Is pussiblo, mud literally
took Our chse III our Inn. On the appointed day
Mr. Carlas took us up at the Langha1n Ia
coach, and no ill went to the station together.
We had both expressed our desire to our legal
friend to see Az much "a ne c1ght OF the cese-
monies of the court. having leard TINT they Diff
fcred 10 wilely from our own, and be bad pro1n-
,aod to crafty OUT request; the more readily,
too, lo snid as ho had other business which
would requiro hin carly attendance at Deerhau,,
tho county town. We arrived ou the night hefors
tho opening Of tile court.
HOW TIE JUDGE COMES To ToHH.
On the f0reitoon Of tila next day, Tuesday.
think. hearing martial muec, NO walked in tho
direction Of tho house tho JudKo wns 10 occupy
during tho AHaizes, Aid found him already on tbs
way to The Caatto. Tie JulRe wAs seated In hn
elegant carriage. bearing tho artna OF Tho HiEl,
aud that distinguished official occupied scat II
his side. Tho carriage WAS rrectdsd by com-
phny OF twenty-four mounted iaYolln-me,l, in
uniform. iod By band of trutnpeters, alao GU
horseback. Dehind the carriage canno process
sion Of the ,naglstrases, jnrora constab1ss, and
with great stats at tbs entrance to tho Cnhtlb in
whiel, the AsBlzes wero to b1 held ntld, willis hc
IL finding the Why 10 his private apartment aud
to our nents III tbs hall Of justice. lot us hear
what Ar. CnpfaB has to ray Of tho prellmlu1ries
We have 1ust Witnessed
THR A1sroRr OF fT.
IN ancient times {hxpaiaod lIo). Ali suits at
lsr .nero brought pefore the King hi,naolf, at
Westminster, Of nheraoovar elss lie might bu. Al
population aud business increased, suita beanno
far too numerous 10 be heard BY ths
KBE or auy oti.er Individual With kny
hops Of jtsAce being meted ont
to each chse, and no Judges hAd to be appointed
to represent the Hing and dispose Of the suits
epnct with which theHe Judges, Al Representa-
tiYes OF MaiestJ itsslf, ato Icceived when matt
lug their crcuits through tha country for the
convenience OF tho people, who hrG thug allowed
the luxury Of litigation At their owr county seats
without tho expense anh delay Of hearing at
Westminster a4one. TboAe men you see u1
horseback armed with jhyellns represent tue an
cient body -gnafd, which always accompanied the
Hing in 4 lsoysl rrogreeH. ana which Of right
bhoNld accompany his Representatives..
81 but Wlenoa does he bring this guard 7" In
guircd wc.
Mr. Gapias explained thst tho Judge Is BAved
Ill chre Of tho euhrd uy the arrangement Of tho
High Sheriff. Who il, for the tsmo bofns. the of.
secs to ii tllatIh Judge e received Ia manner be-
fitting the dignity aud importance at hi4 mission,
nud Ii way tho fnuss 1iNely to lnaptre tho uun.
mon people with All idaa ef tbs majesty Ut tbs
law.
"Is this High sherin e1ectod, AZ With ms ~
"Oh, no. Esid Mr.. carIas, "his appointment
is r1hdo iii a way quito peculiar 10 our own GUS
toms, 0nco every year tho Lord Chancellor
places before the Queen list Of tho nnmca Of
AtAA zrUD
may 10 considered eligible for go higI, an oi1ire.
for you tuuEt know that the Sheriff fnrnhrly hc'el
tho znuk of Tice- C0,1~s, or Earl. List auy
jealousy Bluuld bo created by this annnal Ar
f!Iy coyorod BY bhcet Of white paper, and q
instrument il then nut into tho
loyal hRntl, wlth which a pns,ctnre Is fnAdc
through tuo paper, and the gentleman whnse
iiame Ia found nearest the ptI1lctnre on the lint
wien the sheet Of paper Ii removed, IL appointed
Tho Bhoriffe OF Loudon aud Westminster only
are eeoted, and that through some ancient char
ter privileges Of thcso cities"
.'But IL not the bhrlevalty" asked ws tan
,s. 9es qt a.,fns,n, gs 19sp0h''y and AoH ara :s
5Tho ufIlce, !" said Mr. Captss, "ts Indeed one Of
the greatest responsibility too great for lny-
man to execute, In fart aud 40 t1Ie legal dntes
pointed By tho High sAorln, and giving bonds to
him, anu his 1uccessurs, Bhcrlns for the tlh,e be-
Ing. for tho faithful performance Of his duty.
rhiH Under Sheriff il atwnys chosen from my own
profession, and le ia generally solicitor OF some
experience, md looks TO tho appointment aB an
honorable retirement frou. actuni practlce, and
holds tue Office, ~ tulo, for life or good
duct
= Iho appointment gp # The niEl,,, Sheriff adds
" I'll, no" said ntr. 0apias, '.ho thinks it be.
l,cath bis dignity to receive any OF tbs tees, and
looks npon Ais appointment AZ purely honorary.