Page:Item 9 1861.pdf/125

The Lord Wardenship.

In the first month of the year, it was understood that the office of Lord Warden was to be abolished, and that the late Marquis of Dalhousie would have no successor. This intimation so far disturbed the volunteer arrangements for the ports that the local Artillerymen, being apprehensive that they would be enrolled under the Lord-Lieutenant of the County struck the first note of independence in the following memorial:-

“To the Right Hon. the Lord Herbert of Lea, Secretary of War, &c &c.”
“May it please your Lordship, we the undersigned enrolled effective members of the 4th Cinque Ports Artillery Volunteer Corps, have heard with dismay that it is intended to alter the status of our Corps. It does not follow that the privileges of the Cinque Ports are abrogated because the office of Lord Warden is abolished. We speak with justifiable pride when we say we consider ourselves second to no Artillery Corps in England in loyalty, nor, we hope, in efficiency. We are prepared to offer the services of a Brigade of our own; but we are not inclined to continue our services at all if the officers of any other corps are set over us, even for administrative purposes.”

The intention to bring in a bill in the next session of Parliament to abolish the office around which so many national and historical associations had gathered very naturally excited antagonistic feelings in the other ports also, and at Dover meetings were held, protesting against the threatened intention. The Dover Telegraph published the following:-

The office of Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports has ever been one of high honour and trust, and its importance was not overlooked even in the days of Roman rule. “The Count of the Sea Coast” kept watch and Ward, with his 2,200 foot and 200 horse During the Saxon heptarchy, when the kingdom was divided, each king guarded his own part of the coast, but ineffectually; and Godwin, Earl of Kent was, without question, the first recognised English Warden. Dying in 1053, he was succeeded by his son Harold, whose ill-starred fortune we yet pity. Harold’s successor (Bertram de Ashburnham) was put to death by the Conqueror, who intrusted William Peveral with the temporary care of the Castle and shore until Odo, Bishop of Baieux received this honour – it being the first office of power and trust conferred by the King after his coronation. It were useless to trace the long list of names and succession of the Wardens in the unsettled times that succeeded the reign of William 1. – Sometimes the office was held by the King, at other times by the Barons and Knights; and an instance is on record that a Bishop of London endeavoured to prove his ability for the position. Edward l., when Prince of Wales, held the post until he ascended the throne. Henry, Prince of Wales, afterwards King Henry V., was appointed by patent, and held the post until his succession to the throne. Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, fourth and youngest son of King Henry IV., -