News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1888-11-15
THE FREEDOM OF THE CITY.
Men Who Are Thus Honored by the
Great City of London.

Now and then it is announced in the
newspapers that some eminent man
usually an Englishman, but occasionally
a foreigner-has been presented with
the freedom of tine city of London in a
gold box" The last to receive this
| honor was the Marquis of Partington,
upon whom it was conferred in April in
recognition of his political character and
services.
The custom is as ancient one, and is
attended with much elaborate ceremony
1t is voted to distinguished man by the
! corporation of the city of London; a
day is appointed the Common Coun-
Gil gathers in official costume in the an
cient Guild hall; certain members are
| appointed who vousL>4e-T G1e worthiness
OF tue recipient of the honor and who
! are called "compurgators;" the new
''freeman" signs the roll, and then the
Lord Mayor, clad in the robes of his
Office, presents the eminent man with q
richly ornamented gold box in which is
placed the certificate of freeman of the
city" There are four ways in which q
man may become what is called 'free-
man of London"
The first is by Inheritance. The sons
| of one who is already freeman have the
right to be also enrolled as freemen of
the city. The second is by ''servitude
or apprenticeship to n master already
freeman" The third is by redemp-
ton or purchase, and the fourth is by
vote of the corporation, comforting the
freedom of the city as q gift, this being
an honorary distinction. All these
methods are part of the very ancient
cvctoD, Of tla p1upioino1 OovarpDooOt Of
London City, features of which, indeed,
may be traced as far back as to the Sax
on period of English history. The free
dom of the city is conferred upon emf
nent men for great variety of achieve
ments.
1t is given to statesmen when they
have done some signal act of statescraft
or have won some notable success in
diplomacy; to great captains or sailors
who have given luster to British arms,
or, in other countries, have had brill
liant career; to men of science, discover
ers, explorers, and philanthropists. 1t
is also frequently conferred on royal per-
sonages. On the roll of the freemen of
the city by gift during the present GEN.
tury are to be found the famous names
of Pitt, Brougham, Peel, Reset, Cob
their success as statesmen; Wellington,
Nelson, Garibaldi, Napier of Magdala,
and Wolsely, for deeds, of war; Jenner,
Rowland Hill and Shaftesbury, for phil
nnthropy; M. de Lesseps, for engineer
ing science and Livingstone for discov-
cry.
The royal dukes of Kent and Sussex
and Prince Albert were added to the list,
and the Prince of Wales and his son,
Prince Albert Victor, derive their
freedom of the city" by inheritance.
Mr.. Gladstone is a freeman by pur,,
chase. Three great Americans-General
Grant, George Peabody, and Henry NJ.
Stanley-have al been presented with
the freedom of the city. As practical
fact tho receiving OF the freedom of the
city by gift of the corporation is nm hon
or, high indeed, bat without many sub
stautial privileges. A freeman OF the
city has the right to vote for Aldermen
and Councilmen, and is eligible for those
Offices.