CITY OF LONDONDERRY. 
ST . YLE ;'7 Th , e Present style of the corporation is “ the mayor and commonalty, and citizens 
oi the city of Londonderry. 
Officers —The corporation, as described in the charter of Charles the 2nd, consisted of 
the mayor, 12 aldermen, 2 sheriffs, a chamberlain, and 24 burgesses. A recorder is afterwards 
mentioned, a sword-bearer, and 6 serjeants-at-mace. 
•ffh 0 EOmmon council were to consist of “ the mayor for the time being, and also the aldermen 
s lentts, chamberlain, and chief burgesses.” There are at present a sword-bearer, in addition 
to tie mace-bearer, and 4 town serjeants, in place of the 6 serjeants-at-mace: the recorder mav 
serve by deputy. * 
Annexed to the corporation are also the following officers, who are elected and paid by 
, l prethonotary of the mayor’s court, a mace-bearer, 4 serjeants-at-mace, and 2 sheriffs’ 
bailiffs. 
Election of Officers.-— None who reside beyond the liberties are qualified to be 
members of the corporation: until 1834, however, this rule was not strictly observed. 
The sheriffs are chosen by the corporation exclusively, and the proceedings take place in 
close chamber. The election of the mayor and sheriffs takes place on the 2nd ef February t the 
other officers are chosen at any time, and for a stated period. 
Although the military and police form no part of the municipal body, it may not be improper to 
introduce the mention of them here, as they are amenable to the control of the mayor and magis- 
trates, in the exercise of the local government. 
The city is in the northern military district, and is the head-quarters of a regiment of in¬ 
fantry, which supplies detachments to various places. 
The usual force of revenue police is a lieutenant and 12 men, of constabulary—a chief con¬ 
stable and 12 men. 
Admission of Freemen. —According to the existing charter it would appear that the 
freedom of the city was to extend to the entire community, although the practice is different: 
“ and we will, grant, establish, ordain, appoint, confirm, and create, that all citizens and inhabi¬ 
tants of the city of Londonderry aforesaid, and they who hereafter shall be citizens and 
inhabitants of the said city and their successors for ever hereafter, be and shall be by force of 
these presents a new body corporate and politic, in deed, fact, and name.” The sons of 
aldermen and burgesses, and the husbands of their daughters, are of right entitled to their 
freedom, as are also such persons as have served their apprenticeship to a freeman. Some obtain 
it by special favour, among whom are the clergymen of the cathedral, and those attached to the 
Presbyterian meeting-house. 
Jurisdiction and Revenue of the Corporation. —With or without the recorder, 
the mayor holds a record court for sums to any amount, which is, however, too expensive to be 
much frequented. He also presides in the court of conscience, from which there is no appeal : 
here ordinary debts maybe recovered, not exceeding 20/., Irish currency; or servants wages, not 
exceeding 6Z. Courts of petty sessions also are held at irregular intervals before the mayor, or 
any other civic magistrates, for assaults within the liberties. The recorder has likewise a separate 
court, in which he presides alone. 
The jurisdiction of the corporation is also exercised in the enactment and enforcement of 
various regulations, and in presiding over various civic institutions. However, as the whole sub¬ 
ject of corporate jurisdiction is at present undergoing parliamentary investigation, it would 
be premature to enter very fully into it; but it will be necessary to advert to such parts of it as 
form the most legitimate matter for statistical inquiry. 
Watching, PAvrNG, Cleansing, and Lighting. —The city is watched, paved, 
cleansed, and lighted, under a police committee, in whom the necessary powers have been 
vested by an act, which received the royal assent on the 4th of July, 1832. This committee con¬ 
sists of the mayor, with twelve inhabitants, chosen by ballot. Those only are qualified to be put 
in nomination as candidates, who are rated at or above £20, and reside in the city, or suburbs; 
and those only are qualified to ballot, who are liable to assessment, and whose tax, or cess, is not 
one year in arrear. The committee has the power of appointing watchmen, fixing their salaries, 
and fining, or dismissing them. The watchmen, when on duty, possess the same powers as 
constables. The streets are maintained in good order, and remarkably well lighted with gas. 
Fire-engines are kept ready to be used at a moment’s notice. The expenses of this establishment 
are defrayed by assessments, or rates, levied on the city and suburbs, as directed in the act, by 
which the committee is empowered to determine the limits of the city and suburbs once a year, 
and to rate accordingly all premises not under the value of £10 yearly, “ provided such assessment 
shall not exceed one shilling in the pound of a valuation made by the committee.” 
The city is supplied with water from a tank, or reservoir, on the Quay Brae Head, over the 
Waterside.—[See Parish of Clondermot .] 
The corporation were empowered by the 40th George 3rd, to supply the city with water, and 
