The CASE of the Petitioners touching the Election of Sheriffs for the City of London.  
THE Citizens of London in Common-Hall assembled, have had, used, and enjoyed the Liberty( by Prescription and immemorial Usage) from time to time freely to elect and appoint their Sheriffs from among themselves; which Liberty hath been confirmed by the Great Charter of Liberties, and many other Charters and Acts of Parliament, the last whereof was in the second Year of the present King and late Queen, wherein it is declared, That the restoring the Citizens to their ancient Liberties tends very much to the Peace and good Settlement of this Kingdom.  
Notwithstanding which, the Court of Aldermen for some Years last past( for the Lucre of Fines) have discharged those from the Shrievalty,( tho every way qualified) who were legally and duly chosen by the Citizens in Common-Hall; and have caused new and partial Elections to be carried on and multiplied by an inferior number of the Common-Hall, while the mayor Part have adhered to their due and former Election;  
To the unreasonable Trouble and great Disquiet of the Citizens, who have again been summoned to ten or more irregular Common-Halls, where have been made( as they humbly hope to make appear) rather forced and pretended, than free Elections, of 15 or more Sheriffs, whereby above 5000 l. have been raised by Fines in one Year for their Discharge.  
And these sort of Elections have lasted for near three Months together: which doings, if still suffered,( 'tis humbly feared) may tend to the hazard of the Peace of the City and Kingdom, and may have evil and dangerous Consequences in the Example, to the encouraging corrupt and sinister Practices in placing other City Officers.  
By this practise of the Court of Aldermen in discharging of Sheriffs against the Consent of the Electors, the Right of the Citizens to make a free Election( according to their Prescription, Usage, and Charters confirmed as aforesaid) is become voided and of no effect, and( as they humbly conceive) wholly taken from them, and they rendered thereby unsafe in their Lives, Liberties and Estates.  
The Power of the Sheriffs is well known, and what Service or Disservice they may do the public upon emergent Occasions, according as they stand affencted, especially the Sheriffs of London; where the perverting the ancient manner of their Election in the late Reigns was attended with very mischievous Consequences still fresh in Memory.  
The placing this great Trust in about 8000 of the most grave and wealthy Citizens, which is the Number of the Common-Hall, rather than in the Court of Aldermen that are but 26,( who are also Members of the Common-Hall, and Co-Electors there, and whereof thirteen do make a Court) sufficiently shows the Wisdom of our Ancestors, who judged that these last, being so small a Number, might sooner be influenced than the former; seven or eight of which Court have often discharged Sheriffs duly elected by the Common-Hall: Tho it seems contrary to Reason and the Method of Elections, that seven or eight Co-Electors should undo what themselves have done in Conjunction with so many thousand others.  
Wherefore it is humbly hoped that the Honourable House of Commons, will in their great Wisdom find out a Remedy to redress these Grievances, and settle the Election of the aforesaid Sheriffs in such manner as may be most safe and beneficial for the City and Kingdom.   

The Petitioners CASE Touching the Election of the Sheriffs of London.