CH EON TC LE. 
he died possessed. In 1757 he 
began business for himself in Al- 
dersgate-street, and married an ami- 
able woman, Miss White, daughter 
of a gentleman in extensive business. 
Mr. S. served the office of sheriff in 
1784, the commencement of Mr. 
Pitt’s career. On that occasion, 
though thé whig principles of Mr. 
Skinner were perfectly well known, 
and that his intimate friend Mr. 
Byng, candidate for the county, and 
Mr. Sawbridge for the city, were 
most violently opposed, Mr. Skin- 
ner conducted himself as sheriff with 
such clearintegrity as to draw from 
the enemies of his known opinions 
the most unequivocal approbation. 
He was elected lord mayor at Mi- 
chaelmas 1794, and went through the 
mayoralty with much honour and 
reputation. Though warmly at- 
tached to.the party at that time in 
opposition, he never suffcred his po- 
litical sentiments to interfere in the 
smallest degree with his duty asa 
magistrate, and purposely refrained 
from all attendance on public meet- 
ings connected with party during 
his mayoralty. ‘This also was a me- 
morable year, on account of*the 
state trials, when the ministry, from 
their apprehension of riots, were 
most earnest with the lord mayor to 
permit a body of regular troops into 
the city to assist the police. Mr. 
Skinner positively refused, and 
 shewed them that a vigilant and con- 
stitutional first magistrate of the 
city could, in the most difficult 
times, preserve its peace by the civil 
power alone; and declared, that, 
while he sat in the chair, no military 
foree should be employed. He ful- 
filled Mis promise of keeping the 
peace effectually. As a magistrate, 
he has been indefatigable im his ser- 
509 
vices to the city, and at all times 
with the most disinterested spirit; 
for, though repeatedly urged to take 
the representation of the city, or to 
participate in some of their lucrative 
posts, he always rejected places as 
well as titles. He gave the corpo. 
ration all the benefit of his able ad- 
vice and assistance in the improve- 
ment of their estates, and particu- 
larly of those set apart for charitable 
purposes; and to him, more than 
any other member, are they indebt- 
ed for the improvements that have 
taken place. His company (the 
haberdashers) particularly ‘benefited 
by his sagacity, and their estates 
have accordingly been greatly ad- 
vanced. In his own profession he 
has shewn what wonderful things 
may be done by ability and perse- 
verance. When he began the business 
of an auctioneer, he was scarcely 
known. It was thought discredit- 
able to bring estates or goods to 
sale in the country; but to such 
a height has it arisen under his 
auspicies, that the auction-duty paid 
to government last year amounted to - 
the sum of 300,000/. Mr. Dyke, 
who came to be with him in 1763, 
has for a long time discharged all the 
active parts of the business, which 
allowed him to spend much of his 
time at Collier’s wood, a beautiful . 
seat, which he purchased, near Mer- 
ton, in Surrey, but which he has 
never truly enjoyed since the death 
of his wife, about five years ago. 
Alderman Skinner was a man of 
strong natural -sense and consider. 
able knowledge of the world. He 
conducted a large concern in busi- 
ness with much skill and credit ; and 
has left twosons, one in the firm of 
Goodwyn, Skinner, and Thornton 
(formerly Parsons’s brewhouse,) and 
the 
