Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-24
OF NEW YORK CITY
Origin Of the Custom That is Observed in
Honor Of the Prince,
LONDON FUNCTION BORROWED LONG AGO
Men Eminent In worlds Affairs who
Have Been Thus on Oc-
casson OF visiting Amer
ica's Metropolis.

N1A@1aE Wv ~ MI aAO y INV
Henry's in New York City. says the New
York Tribune, is the honorary freedom OF
the city, which is presented to hin by
the municipal authorities. In taking this
course New York follows the example
Of London. where noteworthy men have
been honored in that way for many years.
In London this distinction was once
looked upon as a solid power" It carried
the right to trade within the city. No man
not holding a document showing that he
had the freedom OF the city could keep a
shop. All vehicles for the transportation
Of merchandise were marked free" II
owned By freemen, and all those not
branded in that way had to pay toll on
entering the city bounds. In 1886 the
custom OF giving this honorary privilege
to distinguished men was introduced, but
the members Of the common council seemed
to regret having bestowed so important a
gift on foreigners" without naming any
restrictions, and seven years later they
passed a law to the effect that freemen
must buy goods only from other freemen.
In 1856 Henry VIII and the queen recon-
mended two persons as honorary freemen,
but the citizens refused to admit them be-
cause they feared that SOM Of the re-
Quirements would not be fulfilled.
But when the rights and privileges Of
freemen became modified and citizens Of
london outside Of the guilds and corpora
lions. were not restricted as to trade adj
vantages, the freedom of the city became
purely an honorary matter and 1t is re-
garded so at this time.
A book is kept at the guild hall In which
the names of the persons thus hopored are
recorded and this roll OF honor contains the
names Of many distinguished men. The
first woman to receive this distinction was
the Baroness Burdett- Coutts, who was hon,
ored with the freedom Of the city of Lon
don on January IS. 1872. The freedom Of
the city of London is presented in the form
of a document engrossed and Illuminated on
parchment bearing the great seal Of the
municipality and the signature OF the
mayor. This document was considered suf-
hcient in the early days Of the custom, but
in the last century II has become a sec
ondary consideration, the prime feature be-
ing the casket in which the document is
Enclosed. These caskets are usually elabo-
rately carved and engraved gold boxes and
in many instances have been made addi-
tionally valuable by being decorated with
gems. Among the artistic caskets pre-
sented with the freedom OF the city Of Lon
don were those given to Henry M. Stanley
and to General Grant.
Not Always Appreciated.
While the freedom Of the city has always
been considered a great honor there are in
stances in which "freemen'' have failed to
| appreciate a distinction having no intrinsic
value. In answer to q query George Ellis
wrote to a friend: ''In 1856 l was pre-
scented with the freedom OF the city. What
l had done to merit this distinction / never
knew, and suppose / never shall know, any
more than l have ever been able to ascer-
tain what earthly advantage 1t confers. II
is true 1 paid nothing for It, but that, SO
far as l am capable Of Judging, is its full
value"
The custom, which at first had q great
commercial value, and later became an
empty but much coveted honor. was fol-
lowed by other cities In the British en-
pire, and now, although the cities are free
for all, the freedom is conferred when
ever persons Of distinction visit them. On
his recent trip to Australia and America
the prince of Wales made "a considerable
collection Of gold and silver caskets in
which the freedom Of many cities came to
the young prince and his consort.
Andrew Carnegie also has a shelf full Of
fancy boxes in which he has received the
freedom Of English and Scotch cities.
There has been much criticism Of the
custom by which one receives with much
pomp and ceremony a useless privilege.
But, on the other hand. 1t Is urged that
the presentation of the freedom Of the
city is the only way In which a municipality
may convince a visitor that he is welcome
and that the latch string is out for him.
Early Significance.
The bestowal of the freedom Of the city
Of New York was once in the power OF the
mayor and four or more aldermen on pay
menu OF a fee not exceeding e5 ito the
use OF the corporation" 1t was considered
not only an honor, but q grant OF sub
stantial benefit By making q person a
freeman OF the city he became entitled to
all its municipal privileges, and, among
others, to "the right Of voting for and Of
being elected to corporate ~of1ces," which,
according to the old charter. belonged only
to "freemen and freeholders."
The person who became q freeman"
had to take oath to be "obeisant and
obedient to the mayor and other ministers
or peace ofncers."
The first person honored in this way was
ViEcount Oornbury, December 1, 1907. Earl
LoyeIace received the freedom OF the city
of New York in 1903. Governor William
Hunter in ITO and Governor William Bur-
| net IN lIZO. Ohpthiu IOtot OoAbeAN y
ceiyed the honor as q reward for capturing
a private vessel In 1913 and hve years
later Captain Coril Mayne, who had driven
pirates away from the New England coast.
received the honor.
The list after that time includes Gov
ernor william. Cosby. Lord Augustus Fitz
Roy, Major Alexander Cosby. Thomas Free
man. Captain Mathew Morris. Captain Rob-
ert Long, Andrew Hamilton Of Philadel-
phIa, Daniel Horsmanden, Governor George
Clinton, Captain John Burgis. William
Shirley, Sir Danvers Osborn, Sir Charles
Hardy, General Jeffrey Amherst, Governor
Robert Monckton, Governor Henry Moore
William Davis. for having presented a por-
trait of William Pitt to the common coun-
ell; the earl OF Dunmore, Governor William
Tryon, General Thomas Gage. the Marquis
de Lafayette, George Clinton. John Jay and
Baron Steuben.
washington On the Roll.
On December 2. 1854. George Washington
received the freedom of the city "for most
nlustrious services" The document was
~inclosed in a gold box. AID spoke OF the late
COMMUNICATIVE hief As entitled to the re-
spect, gratitude and applause OF every
heart which is truly American" Five
years later Pierre Charles L'Enfant, who
came to this country with Lafayette and