Page:Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition, v. 1.djvu/511

Rh A L D A L D 473 of the aldermannus totius Anglice, who seems to have corre sponded to the officer afterwards styled capitalis justi- ciarius Anglice, or chief justice of England; the alder mannus regis, probably an occasional magistrate, answering to our justice of assize, or perhaps an officer whose duty it was to prosecute for the crown ; and aldermannus comitatus, a magistrate with a middle rank between what was after wards called the earl and the sheriff, who sat at the trial of causes with the bishop, and declared the common law, while the bishop proceeded according to ecclesiastical law. Besides these, we meet with the titles of aldermannus civitatis, burgi, castelli, hundredi sive wapentacliii, &c. In modern times aldermen are office-bearers in the muncipal corporations of England and Wales, and Ireland. Before the passing of the Municipal Corporation Act their func tions varied according to the charters of the different burgh?. By the statute 5th and 6th Will. IV. c. 76, and 3d and 4th Viet. c. 118, the aldermen are elected by the councillors from among themselves (in Ireland, by the burgesses), for six years, one-half going out every three years. The number of councillors in each borough varies from 12 to 48, according to its magnitude. One-fourth of the municipal council consists of aldermen, and three-fourths of councillors. In the municipal corporations of Scotland there is no such title as alderman, the office-bearers of corresponding rank there being termed bailies. The cor poration of London was not included in the Burgh Reform Act, and the antiquated system remains there in full force. The Court of Aldermen consists of twenty-six, twenty-five of whom are elected for life by the freemen of the respective wards, who return two persons, one of whom the Court of Aldermen elect to supply the vacancy. The city is divided into twenty-six wards ; twenty-four of these send up one alderman each, the other two combine to choose a twenty-fifth. The twenty-sixth alderman serves for the independent borough of Southwark, and is appointed by the other aldermen, who generally select the senior from among themselves when a vacancy occurs. The lord mayor is elected from such of the aldermen as have served the office of sheriff; of these the Common Hall, which con sists of the freemen of the different wards, select two, and the aldermen elect one of these to the mayoralty. The Court of Aldermen act as magistrates for the city of London, and also possess authority of a judicial nature in the affairs of the corporation. The aldermen are members of the Court of Common Council, the legislative body of the corporation, which consists in all of 232 members, the remainder being elected annually by the freemen. In the United States aldermen form as a rule a legislative rather than a judicial body, although in some cities they hold courts and possess very considerable magisterial powers. ALDERNEY, one of the Channel Islands, and the most northerly of the four, lies between 49 41 and 49 45 N. lat., and 2 9 and 2 14 W. long., 7 miles to the westward S? ..TfrirtihTI ,? ..cwu^**^f^&amp;lt;v ,J ? / . **[S- : - -^ &quot;* ^^^ Q Crtadt** &amp;gt;^ % c ^ l&amp;lt; J.^2^%&amp;lt;rSiB^ ^y^- f M -i Jtofi Boni - CejueEhn? Xaira Fi&t of Cape la Hogue, and is separated from the French coast by a narrow channel called the Race of Alderney. The passage through this strait is rendered very dangerous in stormy weather by its conflicting currents ; but through it the scattered remnant of the French fleet under Tourville succeeded in escaping after the defeat of La Hogue in 1692. The harbour of Alderney is 20 miles distant from St Peter Port, Guernsey, 45 miles from St Helen s, Jersey, and 60 miles from Portland Bill, the nearest point of England. There is regular steam communication with Guernsey. The length of the island from N.E. to S.W. is 3| miles; its width about 1 mile; its greatest elevation is 280 feet; and the area is about 4 square miles. The greater part of Alderney is a level table-land, more or less cultivated. The land continues flat to the edge of the south-eastern and southern cliffs, which present a mag nificent succession of broken and perpendicular walls of rock. Towards the north-west, north, and east, the coast is less rocky, and is indented by several bays of tame and naked aspect, of which those of Crabby, Braye, and Longy are the most noticeable. Sandstone, granite, and por phyry are the chief geological formations. From the importance of the island in a military sense, it has been fortified by a chain of defensive works, extending round the northern coast from the Clanque Fort on the west to Fort Essex on the east. The cliffs of the southern shore form a very strong natural bulwark. An extensive granite breakwater has been constructed, protecting the bay of Braye towards the west, intended to form an additional defence, and to convert the bay into a secure harbour of refuge. The works have cost upwards of a million and a quarter sterling; but the new harbour is not much resorted to, and the value of the breakwater as a means of defence has been questioned. Fort Touraille stands on the eastern side of the new harbour, and is a strong fortification, mounting 50 heavy guns, with bomb-proof barracks and powder magazine. The population of Alderney has increased rapidly of recent years, on account of the extensive public works. In 1841 it was only 1030, in 1871 it was 2738. The inhabitants are Protestants, and Alderney forms part of the diocese of Winchester. Though a French patois lingers in the island, English is generally spoken and universally understood. The climate is healthy, and there is abun dance of good water. Corn is grown, but much of the sandy soil is in grass^ affording excellent pasture to the diminutive but pretty cows for which Alderney is famous. The only exports are cattle and early potatoes. St Anne s, the town of the island, is situated at some dis tance from the beach, overlooking the new harbour. It is plainly built, but has a fine new church in the early English style, erected as a memorial of the family of Le Mesurier, long the hereditaiy governors of the island. The only other architectural feature worthy of notice is a Gothic arch built as a memorial of the late Prince Albert of England. Alderney seems to have been known to the Romans as JRiduna, and Roman as well as Celtic remains have been discovered. It is subject to the British crown, and is a dependency of Guernsey. For its history and relation to English legislation, see the article on the CHANNEL ISLANDS. The internal government is vested in a judge appointed by the crown, and six jurats, chosen for life by the people; and these, with twelve douzainiers, who are popular representatives, but have not the power of voting, form the legislature. Justice is administered by the same judge &nd jurats, and several other officers. In civil cases an appeal may be taken to the royal court of Guernsey, while all criminal cases are referred to Guernsey for decision. Two companies of infantry and a battery of artillery com pose the local militia. Off the western coast of Alderney there are many unin habited rocky islands; and six miles to the westward lie I. 60
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