THE   LOCAL  AUTHORITIES	277
chain and thi tide "Your Worship" tha^ for public duty, but
most experience shows that this preservation of old customs has
a beneficial effect. ;
All Boroughs possess as a miniTrmm the powers" of a large
Urban District Council, and smaller or greater additions are
made according to ihe terms of the Charter. Some gain nothing
by Incorporation except the added dignity, and the right to
audit their own accounts, and to make by-laws in a few minor
matters. Many have an Advisory Committee of their own to
recommend the appointment of £P.s who are thus separated
from the County Justices; a Stipendiary Magistrate and a separate
Court of Quarter Sessions may be appointed. When the popula-
tion is over 20,000, the Borough may apply for a separate Police
Force, though County Councils are now inclined to oppose
such applications. The Boroughs that have obtained this right,
exercise it through a Watch Committee composed of Councillors.
For still- larger Boroughs, further privileges may be added,
and those with a population of over 75,000, may promote
Bills in Parliament to turn themselves into County Boroughs.
The powers of a County Borough may be simply described by
saying that it combines those of a Borough and a County Council,
though there are various duties, such as the supervision of Rural
Districts, which obviously do not have to be performed. Towns
of great size or historic importance occupy this rank; whatever
Couiity they may be in geographically, they are independent of
the County Council. Any Borough, whether County or Municipal
(the name given to non-County Boroughs) may by ancient custom
or Royal Order be called a City, but this is only a dignity and
involves no legal powers; it is regularly granted to towns which
have a Cathedral. The Mayors of some of the most famous Cities
are called Lord Mayors.
GENERAL   SURVEY.
The mixture of old and new in local Government, the gradation
of powers, and the development of the various districts, combine