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and upwards were exempted from serving as constables, and 70
years of age and upwards, from serving on Leet or Annoyance
Juries.
It may be remarked that burgesses are still appointed, although
most of their powers and functions have been superseded by
subsequent legislation.
Some parts of Westminster were placed, for paving purposes,
under the control of a Board of Commissioners as early as 1762,
and the jurisdiction of the Commissioners was gradually extended
until the whole of Westminster was included therein. The only
other local statutes relating to Westminster, until recent times,
were for regulating the recovery of small debts and such like.
From very ancient times and until 1844, Westminster had a
separate Sessions of the Peace, but this privilege was abolished by
the Act 7 and 8 Vic., cap. 71, sec. 11 and 13, which practically
merged the City and Liberties in the County of Middlesex, the
Sessions now held at Westminster being adjourned sessions for the
whole County. Petty sessional divisions still exist; but for criminal
business and police functions, Westminster is included in the
Metropolitan Police District, which was constituted by Act of
Parliament (10 Geo. IV., cap. 44) in 1829 and extended ten years
later by the Act 2 and 3 Vic., cap. 47.
The following extract from the charge of Serjeant Adams,
Assistant Judge, to the Grand Jury of Middlesex, at a General
Sessions held by adjournment at the Guildhall, Westminster, on
the 1st September, 1851, briefly describes the position held by the
City of Westminster :—
" The City of Westminster is a city without a Charter of
"Incorporation It possesses neither Mayor nor Aldermen,
"nor Common Council nor Freemen Its magistrates are
"appointed by the Crown, at the instance of the Lord Lieutenant
"of Middlesex, in the same manner as the County Justices are
"appointed. It has no Recorder or other Judicial Officers
"It has neither a common seal nor corporate funds, nor the means
"of acquiring any, and all its expenditure is provided for out of the
"County Rate."
Arms were granted to Westminster in the year 1601 under both
the seals of office of the Kings-at-Arms, William Dethick, Garter