--(2 _Blac.
Comm._ 2)
"The _two sheriff's of London_ are the _one sheriff of Middlesex_;
thus constituting in the latter case, what may be denominated, in
the words of _George Colman the Younger_, (see his address to the
Reviewers, in his _vagaries_,) 'a plural unit.' Henry the First,
in the same charter by which he declared and confirmed the
privileges of the City of _London_, (and among others, that of
choosing their own sheriffs,) conferred on them, in consideration of
an annual rent of 300_l._, to be paid to his majesty and his
successors for ever, the perpetual sheriffalty of _Middlesex_. This
was an enormous price; 300_l._. in those days were equal to more
than three times as many thousands at the present time.
Here is a lively commentary upon the _Inclosure Acts_:
"To a pamphlet which was published some years ago, against the
propriety of enclosing _Waltham Forest_, the following quaint motto
was prefixed:
"The fault is great in man or woman,
Who steals a goose from off a common,
But who can plead that man's excuse,
Who steals the common from the goose?"
How to decide a Chancery Suit:
"The _Shellys_ were a family of distinction in _Sussex_.
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