Oct. 26th, 1860. This ancient Court for the barony of Dudley
was held yesterday at the Hotel. There were present in addition
to J. H. Bourne, Esq., (Steward of the Manor), S. Bourne, Esq.,
G. Taylor, Esq., T. Tinsley, Esq. (Mayor), and C. F. G. Clark,
Esq. (High Bailiff), Messrs. S. Fereday, J. Jordan, Grainger,
Hollier, Finch, Williscroft, E. Wood, W. Sheppard, Smart, S.
Cook, Marsh, Timmins, Bowen, Minty, Watkins, Houghton, W. C.
Wood, Saml. Rudge, S. Price, Patterson, D. Lloyd, D. Jordan,
G. Stevenson, C. H. Tyler, C. Lucas, Dixon, T. Sheppard,
Smith, Terry, and Wesley. The opening of the Court having
been proclaimed and the jury duly sworn, Mr. G. Stephenson
proposed, and Mr. Finch seconded, the election of Mr. Clark
(late High Bailiff) to the office of Mayor for the ensuing
year. There was no opposition and consequently Mr. Clark was
declared duly elected. Upon the proposition of Mr. Hollier,
seconded by Mr. W. H. Brooke, Mr. E. Grainger was elected High
Bailiff. The Sergeants, Messrs. A. Patterson and J. Jordan,
were reappointed, as were also Messrs. C. Lucas and S. Smart,
(flesh-tasters), and Messrs. W. Minty and J. F. Watkins,
(constables). The only alteration made in the appointment
of ale connors was the election of Mr. W. Smith instead of
Mr. J. Smith, who is ill, to act in conjunction with Mr. W.
Sheppard. Mr. Samuel Cook, amid some merriment, made his
customary annual protest against the illegal appointment of
a Mayor of Dudley, inasmuch as Mayors were usually elected
from the Court of Aldermen; and although he found from ancient
documents that there was once a court of Aldermen in Dudley,
yet as there was not such a court now, the office of Mayor must
have become extinct. He protested most solemnly against the
farce of continuing such elections. (Laughter). Mr. Cook was
thanked for his protest, and the subject dropped. Mr. Clark,
in a few words, thanked the jury for the honour conferred upon
him that day, and expressed his hope that at the termination
of the year of office they would find that he had discharged
the duties incumbent upon him in a very satisfactory manner,
and that he could allow the mantle of an office which had been
in existence 200 years to descend upon his successor unsullied
in the slightest degree. The various officers were then duly
sworn to "serve our Sovereign Lady the Queen," &c., and the
business of the Court terminated. Subsequently the whole of the
above-named gentlemen, together with F. Smith, Esq., Messrs. T.
Oakes, W. C. Wood, sen., Bateman, Houghton, Deely, Cartwright,
&c., sat down to a luxurious dinner, provided by Mrs. Smith, of
the hotel, in her accustomed good style. Amongst those who sat
down to dinner was Mr. S. Cook, who so indignantly protested
against the proceedings of the morning, and the fact caused not
a little pleasantry.--_Daily Post._
Died, November 11th, 1860, Isaac Badger, Esq., J.P., aged 76 years. Mr.
Isaac Badger was the last of a section of contracted Tories who had
literally ruled this town for half a century. Tory in political faith
but Radical in practice, unlettered but audacious, this gentleman rode
over all obstacles, and died a rich man, respected by a large circle of
life-long friends. A public funeral was given to his remains, as a mark
of respect.