22nd April, 1766. John Paterson Esquire being withdrawn a Motion was made and the question being put That a piece of plate of the value of Fifty Pounds or thereabouts be presented to the said M{r} Paterson as a mark of the high esteem and value this Court entertains of his merit and abilities and to shew their gratitude to him for his long and faithful services during the course of twenty years and in return for his readiness on every occasion to assist this Court with his advice and council, the same was carried in the Affirmative, NEMINE CONTRADICENTE. By the Accounts for this year it appears that a Silver Tureen, Dish and Ladle were purchased for £65 16_s._ 0_d._, and this was no doubt the gift to Mr. Paterson. 20th August, 1767. The Court being informed that Mr. Paterson intended to stand for the City at the next General Election, it was ordered that he should have the use of the Company’s Hall for his meetings. An excellent mezzotint portrait of Mr. Paterson, with some eulogistic lines below, is preserved at Barbers’ Hall. In 1754 Mr. Paterson presented to the Company the valuable portrait of the Duchess of Richmond, painted by Sir Peter Lely, and which still adorns the Court Room. Mr. Paterson was a member of the Common Council, and sometime Chairman of the Bridge House Estates Committee, he was also M.P. for Ludgershall, Wilts. He was ever faithful to this Company, serving it with distinguished ability, and seems to have been greatly respected and esteemed. 1st June, 1790. William Wood elected Clerk vice Marye. Mr. Wood presented the Company with a handsome Silver Tea Urn. 13th August, 1795. Edward Grose Smith (Mr. Wood’s partner) elected Clerk vice Wood, resigned. 5th March, 1822. Henley Smith (son of E. G. Smith) elected Clerk vice Smith, resigned. 5th February, 1861. Mr. Henley Smith resigned and was elected an Assistant (Master in 1864). 7th May, 1861. Henley Grose Smith (son of Henley Smith) elected Clerk vice Smith, resigned. Mr. Henley Grose Smith was elected an Assistant 1877. [Illustration] [Illustration] THE BEADLE. There is no certainty as to the first institution of this office, though it is probably not so old as that of the Clerk, who in ancient times, summoned the Livery, collected the quarterage and performed various duties which we afterwards find assigned to the Beadle, and we may conclude that in those days he was little more than a Caretaker or “Porter”; indeed, this is the more likely as the latter designation is frequently applied to the Under Beadle in the Records.