The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-27
THE GOVERNMENT OF LONDON.
HOW A GREAT CITY Is GOVERNED.


In our former communication on this subject,
which promises to be one OF the most engrossing
IN the coming session Of Parliament we showed
with some detail what the renowned Corporation
OF 1.-THE City" Is not and what Its West End rival
the Metropolitan Board OF WORKS. Is. 1t may not
be uninteresttng to reverse the process and pre-
sent the converse by showing what the aforesaid
Corporation Is and what the Metropolitan Board is
not. The case, pro and con. VIII then DO before
the American puolic, and they will be in better
position to form correct opinion as to the nature
OF the coming struggle and as to the merits or
dement's OF the only plan now before the English
people for providing an efficient government Tor
the British metropolis.
Numerous authorities describe the Corporation
OF London as "the Oldest richest and most power.
fu municipal body IN the world" it Is SO old that
It's origin is lost in antique obscurity. 1t would
appear, however, from very ancient records, that
under the Romans LONDON went through the
various gradatons OF prefecture, colony and mu-
nicipium. But research has failed to d scover any
charter or act constituting the Corporation OF
the City. Hence, in all pleadlngs At law
or In equity, the ancient rights and
privileges OF the Corporation are stated to
have existed from "time immemorial." This solu-
ton OF the difficulty Of tracing It's title has been
recognized and acted upon IN favor OF the Corpo-
ration by all the British courts. So high an au-
thority in the United States and England as Lord
Coke says that Ito treat or the great and notable
franchises and customs OF the city OF London
would require a volume OF ITSELF" As the HERALD
cannot devote so much space to the subject we do
not propose to enter upon dissertati respect
ing those franchises and customs. Reference to a
few of them will De sufficient Tor our purpose. We
may take il for granted that most oil them nave a
very respectable antiquity when we ind that the
title OF Lord has been borne by the Mayor since
the reign OF Edward Ill, who commenced to reign
in 1927, and who 'shuffied OF the mortal coil, in
1877. The lordship came about in this wise - Up
to certain period in Edwards reign no person
in the kingdom was allowed to have a mace car
ried before him; but, by special grace and favor,
an exception was made by toat monarch IN the
instance OF the Mayor OF London, who forthwith
set up as lord. Another and still more curious
fact may related in reference to 'the SherIs of
London and Middesexr who next to the
Lord Mayor, are the biggest wigs con-
who set up as monarch IN HOO, granted to the
city the whole county OF Middesex to iarm
with liberty to appoint over 1t whom the Corpora.
ton would as Sheriff From that day TO this the
Corporation mas actually appointed the sherins Of
Mlddlesex though the sheri1s OF all the Other
counties in England are appointed by the Crown.
In olden times the newly sworn In Mayor on the
day OF his Inauguration was presented to the SOW
ereign In power, and by charters OF Henry III. and
Edward I. 1t was directed that IN the absence OF
the King the Mayor should be presented to the
Barons OF the Excnequer. This is done at the
present time SO late as the 9th OF last November
the Lord Mayor now in ONCE was duly presented
by the Recorder 10 these barons, and sir Fitzroy
Kelly, their chiel, improved the occasion by ad-
monishng the great CIVIC dignltary to resist the
attack now contemplated on what ne was
pleased 10 call the "ancent and undouoted rights
aud privileges oil the BODY Of winch he, the Lord
Mayor, Is tie head SO much Tor "bod an
tlquisY."
As at present constituted the Corporation con.
slsts OF I" eniysix Aldermen, elected for lie. and
200 common Councllmen. Freemen oil the city are
the elective constituency for Dotn the Aldermen
ana the Common Council, but rating quainca.
ton la addition 10 the freedom IS required TO con-
ler tne vote. Inc Corporation as a body can
admit TO the freedom, but almost
invariably. except where 1t is bestowed for emf
nence in something or other, as IN the case OF Kos
suth, Garlbaldl aud her puolic characters, 1t ~
obtained through the medium Of one VI the COM
panles, winch IN past times we're trade guilds Of
but which are now noJnlng more than shades OF
their former selves. There are no lever than
eghty-one Of them. out only twelve OF these are
OF any account. these are the MERGERS. GrOcers,
Drapers hisnmongers. Godsnitfs, Skinners,
Saters, Merchant Tailors, Haberdashefs, IRON
mon2ers, WINNERS and Clotnworkers. dozen OF
ricucr companies than tnese could not be found In
the world Tue Goldsmlihs have something OF
pulid WORK TO 90 III CONNECTION with the assay ing
OF and pasting what IL known AS ''the nall WORK"
on gOid ana SILVER articles OF manufacture, and he
Fshmongers are supposed 10 LOOK alter the classic
BInngsgate; but the administration OF their
scnoois ana amshouses and the giving OF per-
petual rou1J o. dinners are the nam uses Tor
which the twelve great companies now Give.
move aud have tner being" Trer wines
especially the old port, are excellent. ana
tue flsnmongers are SUCH tremendous swells
that sner pllte - OF solid gold. Pernaps
the oldest portions oil the corporate nnstl-
tuition Is "tuc liveryr one Is constantly
hearing OF 'nverYmann and "tlycrvmenu IN Lon
dOu; Dut wadt those appelatiOns SIGNIFY Us a mys-
I
innaDitants OF the great metropolis. There
two classes o. ireeinen IN all the leading compa.
mes: and contrary TO what at the nfst biusn
mIgnt be supposed, the cream Of the cream, or
upper class, bear the nunkeyish title OF ''ilyery
men, Tney have the much envej distinction or
wearing tle uniform livery OF tue company
and hence the name. A general assembly OF the
freemen Is called 'Ihe Livery" and this BODY II Is
which elects the Lord MAYOR ana the sheriff. The
ha chnaen O