The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 13, No. 357, February 21, 1829

ANTIQUITY OF THE ALDERMAN

Alderman is derived from the Saxon word ealderman, that is a senior or alderman, which by degrees came to stand for persons of great distinction, because such were chosen to discharge the highest offices, being those whose long experience rendered them most capable, and whose birth and fortunes made them most conspicuous; and as they were generally entrusted with the government of the counties, instead of saying the governor, it was said the ealderman of such a county. While the heptarchy lasted, these offices were only during the king's pleasure; at last they became during life. After the Danes were settled in England, the title of ealderman was changed into that of earl, and the Normans introduced that of count, which, though different in its original signification, meant, however, the same dignity. There were several sorts of ealdermen; some were properly only governors of a province or county, others were owners of their province, holding it as a fee of the crown. These ealdermen, or earls, were honoured with titles of reguli subreguli, principes, patricii, and some times rex. Those who were only governors, had the title of ealderman of such a county, or sometimes in Latin by the term consul. The first administered justice in their own name, and appropriated to their own use all the revenues and profits of their respective counties. The last administered justice in the king's name and had only part of the profits assigned them. A third sort of ealdermen were those, who upon account of their high birth, bore the title, without any authority, out of which rank the governors were generally chosen. There were also inferior ealdermen in cities or boroughs, who administered justice in the king's name, and were dependent on the great ealdermen, or earls, which by the name of alderman still continues among us to those inferior officers, while they are called earls only. The office of the ealderman was wholly civil, and had nothing to do with either military or ecclesiastical affairs. What power each of them had, it is not easy to determine; but they were all obliged to have some knowledge of the law. In the Saxon times, the bishop and ealderman sat together to try causes; the one proceeded by the canons, the other by the common law. Part of the ealderman's jurisdiction was to examine the arms, and to raise the militia within such a district, in order to suppress riot and execute the sentence of a court of justice. He had likewise the cognizance of house-breaking, robbing, &c. Nor was it lawful for any person to move from one place to another without a certificate from the ealderman.

HALBERT H.

The Gatherer

A snapper up of unconsidered trifles.

    SHAKSPEARE.

HANDSOME BAR-MAIDS

The following advertisement appeared in a New Orlean's journal:—Wanted, two handsome ladies to assist in two bar-rooms, and to whom liberal wages will be given. Beauties from New York, Charlestown, or Savannah will be preferred. A well-shaped, well-looking black lady would meet encouragement as an under bar-maid. Due attention will be paid to applicants, at No. 60, Camp-street.

W.G.C.

FRENCH MATRIMONIAL ADVERTISEMENTS

Matrimonial advertisements being standard articles in our own newspapers at this period, as a pleasantry they may be compared with the following, extracted from various French journals:—

Une demoiselle bien née et aimable, ayant 120,000 francs de bien, desire épouser un homme âgé et riche.

Une demoiselle de 24 ans, jolie et d'une education distinguée, ayant 40,000 francs comptant, et par la suite 200,000 francs, desire épouser un jeune homme aimable, et ayant de la fortune.

Une demoiselle de 19 ans, sans fortune, mais jolie, aimable, et bien élevée, desire épouser une homme âgé, et assez aisé, pour pouvoir faire quelque bien à sa mère.

J.G.R.

SONG

Oh, silent was her grief and woe,
No tear her eye betray'd,
When Damon from his Anna fled,
And took some other maid!
But, ah, her bleeding heart did tell
What outward show denied;
For at that simple word, "Farewell,"
She bow'd her head and died!

    J.B.

TO A YOUNG LADY WHO REQUESTED THE AUTHOR TO RESTORE A LOCK OF HAIR HE HAD TAKEN FROM HER.—By E.S. Barrett

By one only recompense can I be led
With this beautiful ringlet to part;
That should I restore you the lock of your head,
You will give me the key of your heart.—Atlas.

PARLIAMENTARY QUALIFICATIONS

When the friends of the youngest Thelluson proposed making him a member of parliament, he said, "he did not understand exactly what it was to be in parliament, or what they meant by constituents in the country; but, if there was any necessity to go backwards and forwards for their orders, he could trot down as fast as any member of parliament in the kingdom."

CHANGING NAMES

Thomas Knight, Esq. whose paternal name was Brodnax, which, very early in life, he changed for that of May, afterwards, by a statute of 9th Geo. II. took the name of Knight, which occasioned a facetious member of the house to get up, and propose "a general bill to enable that gentleman to take what name he pleased."

TOUCHSTONE FOR THE TIMES

Midas (we read) with wond'rous art of old,
Whate'er he touch'd, at once transformed to gold;
This modern statesmen can reverse with ease,
Touch them with gold, they'll turn to what you please.

GENIUS DEFINED

A wit being asked what the word genius meant, replied, "If you had it in you, you would not ask the question; but as you have not, you will never know what it means."

POOR SACK, (HANGED.)

Though Sack's misdeed is punished right,
It never was intended
That he should leave his office quite,
He only is suspended.

EPITAPH

On a man of the name of Fish.

Worm's bait for fish; but here's a sudden change,
Fish's bait for worms—is that not passing strange?

    C.K.W.

notes

1

"Warwickshire," p. 298, edit. 1661.

2

Vide Camden's "Britannia," by Bishop Gibson, vol. i. p. 603, edit. 1722.

3

"Inter Occidentalium Anglorum Reges illustrissimos, præcipua commendationis laude celebratur, rex Warmundus, ab his qui Historias Anglorum non solum relatu proferre, sed etiam scriptis inserere, consueverant. Is fundator cujusdam urbis a seipso denominatæ; quæ lingua Anglicana Warwick, id est, Curia Warmundi nuncupatur."—Matthæi Paris "Historia Major," à Watts, edit. 1640.