London's Roll of Fame, 1757-1884. (Cassell and Co.)—This volume, published
under the direction of the Library Committee of the Corporation, contains an account of the various presentations of the honorary freedom of the City to distinguished personages during the 127 years last past. The earliest name is the Earl of Chatham, the latest the Earl of Shaftesbury; the roll is, as may be supposed, a very distinguished one, though one naturally looks to see the obscure rather than the illustrious names. In the " Chamberlain- ship of John Wilkes, Esq." (for the entries are arranged in " Chaco- berlainships," as they might be in " Reigns "), we know very well why the honour was given to Lord Hood, and Rear-Admiral Sir George Rodney, and Mr. William Pitt, but why to "Sir Henry Gould, Judge of the Court of Common Pleas ? " Because of his wise, manly, and constitutional opposition to the establishment of martial law during the late unhappy disturbances." The "late unhappy disturb. ances" were the Gordon riots ; it seems now as if martial law would have saved not a few lives in the end. The City authorities certainly do not show very well in the affair. Mr. Justice Gould never got the freedom. The resolution was passpd a few days after the suppression of the riots, while the Corporation was smarting under not a little hostile criticism. The volume is illustrated with the portraits, not of the great men honoured, but of the Chamber. lains; and the frontispiece shows us the late Lord Mayor. It is a handsome volume, possessing much interest, though it might have had more.
Previous page
