At the time and place fixed the Sherift' attended with his Deputies and presided at the "Court of Election." The electors met, the candidates being present, the Sheriff" announced the names of one side, when all of their supporters held up their hands ; then he announced the names on the other, and their supporters held up tljeir hands. He then announced who had the most. In case the election was not determined by this

THE ORIGIN AND HISTORY OF THE 3IAN0RS.

Ill

" view," as the law calls it, or " show of hands," as it was popularly termed, with the consent of the electors, then " a Poll " was required. The SheriH" then appointed a sufHcient number of (derks who were sworn, "Truly and Indiferently to take the same Poll, and to set down the names of each Elector, and the place of his Freehold, and for whom he shall poll, and to i)oll no Elector who is not sworn, if so required by the Candidates or any of them, then and there present." The Sheriff also ap|)ointed to each candidate such one j)erson as the latter designated " to be Inspectors of Every Clerk." Every elector if a candidate desired it was obliged to swear in his vote, which was given audibly by word of mouth. At the end the Sheriff made a return of the votes cast in writing and announced the result. The return, which was a certified coi)y of "the poll " as taken by the Clerk " in his i)resence, the Sheriff returned to the Secretary of the Province, who produced it at the first meeting of the Assembly which was the judge of the validity of all elections of its members. Neither the Sherifl' nor his deimties were permitted to charge any fees whatever.