The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-12-18

which has furnished so many eminent
judges to the British bench. its pres
ent chief being Sir Frederick Pollock,
who Is frequent visitor to this
country. and Is known on this side OF
the Atlantic as the editor of the Brit
ish Law Reports. and as professor OF
Jurisprudence at oxford.
The office OF chamberlain Of the city
OF London. which carries with II
salary Of $4,000. is very ancient. dat
ing from the time of the Norman Con-
quest. Originally he was appointed by
the sovereign; and King John, in his
charter to the city OF London. express
ly reserved to the crown the grant OF
this Office. In fact, II was not until
more than hundred years later that
Edward II. permitted the election OF
the chamberlain by the municipality.
This connection Of the office with the
crown Is commemorated by the fact
that to this day the official title OF Its
occupant Is chamberlain and comp
troller of the Kings chamber
The chamberlain keeps the accounts
of the city and the immense sums OF
money derived from rents. dues and
market tolls pass each year through
his hands. He is. moreover. the rec
ognized public orator of the CITY or
London. When some great soldier
some eminent pro-cOnsul, some phil
anthropist, statesman or traveller mas
won the good will OF Great Britain the
city of London usually adds its leaf 10
the wreath by presenting him with us
freedom.
Now the freedom of the city of Lon
don is not. as some suppose mere
parchment enshrined in an appropriate
casket 1t is state of being which
carries with il q number of privileges
Involving also certain ooigatiohs'
Consequently. when the recipient pe
comes a freeman OF LONDON; ne TAN r.
the oath and signs the parchment II
Is on these occasions that the voice Oh
the city chamberlain Is heard adnilh =
istertng the oath and binding the iree-
man to serve the King and TO respec'
the city ordinances.
BEFORE the oath is taken. however
the chamberlain declaims the reasons
FOR honoring the distinguished guest
In rotund periods his deeds are reciteo,
his work estimated and his quanties
extolled. At oxford and camoilose
the public orator cloaks his glowing
santimants in Latin when announcing
why the university has seen Mt TO con
fer its honorary degree or doctor ol
law or Of letters on those selected "
wear the scarlet robe. But In the cry
in the plainest English By the cnam
berlain, in a manner that sometimes
brings a blush of modesty to the
cheeks Of the new freeman.
Formerly the chamberlain mac
charge of the Kings Palace OF oooth-
wark. of the national mint. ana OF ths
Kings Jewry. that is to say. OF ina:
nortion of the city in which the jews
were segregated IN medieval time
under the particular protection OF me
crown and city, and he was also tne
Kings deputy coroner ana assiste I.
butler Moreover. it devolved upon
him to adjust all quarrels between tne
masters and the apprentices IN IN.
~itv the apprentices, a very turouien.
bodv in medieval times. being suoJeS..
70 his control and supervision. ".
these duties the chamberlain To-Day
has been relieved.
Adrian Pollock has until now oeen
renernbrancer of the city or LohIoh
with a salary of $4,000 year. IN
remembrancer attends at the Rouse y,
Commons daily during the session ana
renorts 10 the corporation any mea-
sures Affecting the interests or priv
Ieges of the city. besides TRANSFORMS
The legal business of the corporation
and acting as its principal legal au-
wiser. IT. pran+uood
Company