The acceptance of this office, or stewardship, vacates a seat in
parliament, but without any emolument or profit. Chiltern is a ridge of
chalky hills crossing the county of Bucks, a little south of the centre,
reaching from Tring in Hertfordshire to Henly in Oxford. This district
belongs to the crown, and from time immemorial has given title to the
nominal office of stewards of the Chiltern hundreds. Of this office, as
well as the manor of East Hundred, in Berks, it is remarkable, that
although frequently conferred upon members of parliament, it is not
productive either of honour or emolument; being granted at the request
of any member of that house, merely to enable him to vacate his seat by
the acceptance of a nominal office under the crown; and on this account
it has frequently been granted to three or four members a week.
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[Illustration: ~Tommy Bell of Houghton-le-Spring, Durham.~]
This is an eccentric, good-humoured character--a lover of a chirruping
cup--and a favourite with the pitmen of Durham. He dresses like them,
and mixes and jokes with them; and his portrait seems an appropriate
illustration of the following paper, by a gentleman of the north, well
acquainted with their remarkable manners.
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