The proclamation of our two fairs, is performed by the high bailiff, in the name of the Lord of the Manor; this was done a century ago, without the least expence. The strength of his liquor, a silver tankard, and the pride of shewing it, perhaps induced him, in process of time, to treat his attendants.

His ale, without a miracle, was, in a few years, converted into wine, and that of various sorts; to which was added, a small collation; and now his friends are complimented with a card, to meet him at the Hotel, where he incurs an expence of twenty pounds.

While the spirit of the people refines by intercourse, industry, and the singular jurisdiction among us, this insignificant pimple, on our head of government, swells into a wen.

Habits approved are soon acquired: a third entertainment has, of late years, sprung up, termed the constables feast, with this difference, it is charged to the public. We may consider it a wart on the political body, which merits the caustic.

Deritend, being a hamlet of Birmingham, sends her inhabitants to the court-leet, where they perform suit and service, and where her constable is chosen by the same jury.

I shall here exhibit a defective list of our principal officers during the last century. If it should be objected, that a petty constable is too insignificant, being the lowest officer of the crown, for admission into history; I answer, by whatever appellation an officer is accepted, he cannot be insignificant who stands at the head of 50,000 people. Perhaps, therefore, the office of constable may be sought for in future, and the officer himself assume a superior consequence.

The dates are the years in which they were chosen, fixed by charter, within thirty days after Michaelmas.

CONSTABLES.

1680 John SimcoJohn Cottrill
1681 John WallaxallWilliam Guest
1682 George AbelSamuel White
1683 Thomas RussellAbraham Spooner
1684 Roger MachamWilliam Wheely
1685 Thomas CoxJohn Green
1686 Henry PorterSamuel Carless
1687 Samuel BannerJohn Jesson
1690 Joseph RobinsonJohn Birch
1691 John RogersRichard Leather
1692 Thomas RobinsCorbet Bushell
1693 Joseph RannWilliam Sarjeant
1694 Rowland HallJohn Bryerly
1695 Richard ScottGeorge Wells
1696 Joseph HaddockRobert Mansell
1697 James GreirJohn Foster
1698 John BakerHenry Camden
1699 William KettleThomas Gisborn
1700 John WilsonJoseph Allen
1701 Nicholas BakewellRichard Banner
1702 William CollinsRobert Groves
1703 Henry ParrotBenjamin Carless
1704 William BrierlyJohn Hunt
1705 Jonathan SeeleyThomas Holloway
1706 Robert MooreJohn Savage
1707 Isaac SpoonerSamuel Hervey
1708 Richard WestonThomas Cope
1709 Samuel WalfordThomas Green
1710 John FoxallWilliam Norton
1711 Stephen NewtonJohn Taylor
1712 William RusselJohn Cotterell
1713 John ShawThomas Hallford
1714 Randall BradburnJoseph May
1715 Stephen NewtonSamuel Russell
1716 Stephen NewtonJoseph Carless
1717 Abraham FoxallWilliam Spilsbury
1718 John GisbornHenry Carver
1719 Samuel HaysJoseph Smith
1720 John BarnsleyJohn Humphrys
1721 William BennettThomas Wilson
1722 John HarrisonSimon Harris