13 APRIL 1878, Page 3

The Common Council of the City elected the Common Serjeant

on Thursday, and seems to have taken a good deal of pains to make the worst choice it could. After two preliminary winnowings, there remained before the Council as candidates Mr. Bourke (the Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs), Mr. Bushby, and Mr. Charley (the Member for Salford), a man of no particular legal standing, and famous for hot Protestant opinions and roaring Tory speeches. He was, however, elected, receiving 135 votes ; while Mr. Bushby had 100, and 5,1. Bourke only 92. Mr. Bourke then retired from a contest which in common dignity he should never have entered without a certainty of success, and on a final poll, Mr. Charley beat Mr. Bushby by 126 votes to 58.