AND EAST CUMBERLAND AND WESTMORLAND NEWS. NO. 440 - Eighth Week in Quarter Registered for Transmission ABroad. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1874. PRICE 1D. __________________________________________________ WESTMORLAND SPRING ASSIZES. It has been the custom from time immemorial, at least far remote, for the High Sheriff of the county, or his deputy, to receive and escort the Judges of Assize in the loyal and ancient borough with a pageantry worthy of the representatives of majesty and the power and dignity of the laws. From the days of KING JOHN to the death of the last EARL OF THANET, the descendants through the female line by the old and illustrious houses of the VETERIPONTS and CLIFFORDS, the shrivalty was hereditary in the family, as may be seen by reference to the tablet in Appleby Church, upon which is emblazoned the armorial bearings of the VETERIPONTS, recording that KING JOHN "gave first of all certain lands in Westmorland, together with the sheriffwick of the county.: This office was even exercised by a lady in her legal right, the famous ANN, COUNTESS OF PEMBROKE, DORSET, and MONTGOMERY, who sat on the bench in the exercise of her prerogative on the right of the judge on opening the court and during the trials. This noble lady possessed personal qualifications that have rendered her name famous, and added dignity and honour to one of the most illustrious families in the kingdom. She was the only surviving daughter and sole heiress of GEORGE CLIFFORD, 3RD EARL OF CUMBERLAND, "by his blessed wife, MARGARET RUSSELL, daughter of GEORGE RUSSELL, EARL OF BEDOFRD." There is a letter extant characteristic of the powerful will of this lady to SIR JOHN WILLIAMSON, Secretary of State to CHARLES THE SECOND, who asked her to return to parliament a certain person he named for the borough of Appleby. ............ "Sir, I have been neglected by a court, I have been bullied by a usurper, but I will not be dictated to by a subject. Your man shan't stand." To this good lady, Appleby owes that most charitable foundation, St. Ann's Hospital, where 12 aged widows and a mother are, in the decline of life, handsomely provided for. The present High Sheriff, SIR HENRY TUFTON, Bart., is a descendant of this noble lady, in whose family, as before stated, the shrievalty was vested until the death of the last EARL OF THANET in 1849, when GEORGE EDWARD WILSON, of Eversham, was appointed by the Crown, for that and the succeeding year 1850, since which the Sheriffs have been annually appointed, and are chosen from the resident gentry and landed proprietors in the county. The High Sheriff arrived at Appleby on Friday evening, accompanied by LADY TUFTON, and was met at the station by ADMIRAL ELLIOT, and on his approach to his ancestral residence, Appleby Castle, was welcomed by a hearty peal of bells from the tower of St. Lawrence Church. The judges, MR. JUSTICE DENMAN, and MR. BARON AMPHLETT, arrived at Appleby by a special train on Saturday evening, and were met at the station by the High Sheriff and his retinue, with the usual heralds, &c., and were escorted to the Shire Hall, where the commission was opened in due form.