Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1888-10-25
ROW 1T rs DONE.
The Historic Favor OF Comforting
ga he Freedom of the Uity.D


The Historic Favor OF Comforting
he Freedom of the Uity.D
Youtl's tCnpsni.n
Nov and then II is announced in the
newspapers that some eminent man
usually an Epglishman, but occasionally
foreigner-has besn ttpiesented with
the freedom of the city of London in a
gold box The last to receive this honor
was the Marquis OF Harrington, upon
whom il was conferred in April, in Iecog.
milton OF his political character aud SER
vices. This custom is an ancient one,
and is attended with much elaborate care
mony. 1t is voted to dlstinsui he'd
man by the corporation of the city Of
london; day ia appointed; the common
council gathers in official costume in the
ancient Guildnsn; certain members are
appointed, VINO voueh for the w0rthiness
of the recipient OF the honor, and who aIe
called "oompurgators;" the now 'tfree
man" signs tho roll, and then the lord
mayor, clad in the robes of his eff 70,
FrFssnts the eminent man with richly
oFnamentei gold box, in which is played
the certifioate OF bia ''frsedom OF the
city" There arc fous wayH 10 which q
Ioan may become what is called q trse.
man OF Londonn The frat 10 by iuheri.
tancs. Tho sons % one who ia alfsAdy o
freonign bAve the right to be also enrolled
ss frsemen Of the city. The second il
by 'servisude or apprenticeship to q
master. a!ready d freempn.n The tkird ls
by redemption or purchaRs and the
fourth ID By vote OF the corporation c9n-
ferting the freedom OF the city az gift,
thia being an honorary di;tinction. All
these methods ate part of the very an
csent system Of the municipal government
of London city, features Of which Indeed
p1sy betraced as far bOck as to tne Saxon
period Of English history. The freedom
OF the city Is conferred upon eminent
men for great variety Of achievements
II ia given 10 statesmen when they have
done some signal act Of atatecraft or have
won some notable SUCCESS in diplomacy;
10 great captains or sailors VINO have
given lustYe to BYiiish arms, or in other
countries have had @ brilliant career; to
men Of scisnoe, discoveries. explorers and
philapthropitts. II is also frequently con
ferred on royal personsges. On the roll
Of the Freshmen Of the city by gift dur.
ing the present century are to be found
the famous nsmes of Pitt, Brougham,
Peel, Russell, Golden, Beaoonsfeid and
Salisbury for their success ss statesmen
wellington, Nelson, Gariba!di, Napier of
MagdaIa, and Wolseley for deeds OF war;
Jenner, Rowland Hill and Shaft sbury
for philanthropy; M. &c Lesseps for
engineering science, and Livingstone for
discovery. The royal dukes of Kent aud
Sussex and Prince Albert was 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 o freempnsby purchase.
Three great Amerioans-- General Grant,
George Peabody and Isenry NJ. Stanley
have also been presented with the free
dom OF the city as n practical fact, the
receiving of the freedom OF the city BY
gift Of the corporation ID an honor, high
indeed, but without many substantial
privileges. A freeman OF the city has the
right to vote for aldermen and council.
men, and is eligible for those offices.