The Press.
London, England, 1857-10-03 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY NEWS.

Sir,—l see that in your paper of yesterday you have devoted an entire column
to an attack upon my personal character, and an imputation of the most unworthy
nritives on my part, for a supposed arbitrary exercise of territorial rights within the
borough of Preston. Perhaps it may be a satisfactory—at all events I hope it will be a
conclusive—answer to the imputation of motives, to say that the article in your paper
is the first intimation which has reached me of the facts, or alleged facts, of the case
itself. I shall write to my agent to request that he will satisfy your curiosity upon a
point which he has not thought of sufficient importance to bring under my notice;
but, from my knowledge of the property in question, 1 conjecture the facts to be that,
having been engaged for some years in opening, at great expense to myself, but greatly
to the advantage of the town of Preston, an intended thoroughfare through my private
property, which is not yet completed, and has not been dedicated to the public, the
alleged decision of the magistrates raised a question of right of way, which, for form's
sake, could only be contested by placing a chain across the alleged thoroughfare.
It is just possible that this statement may lead you to think that you have been
somewhat hasty in attributing motives to, sir, your obedient servant,
Knowsley, Sept. 30.

DEBBY.

" City politics" in our days have lost much of their former into
rest. In the last century, in the days of WaxEs and others,
the City was as interesting to politicians as it is now to speculating
capitalists. The great new towns of the north of England were not
then in existence; Parliamentary reporting was in the hands of Dr.
JOHNSON and others, who made Roman senators discuss the affairs of
the eighteenth century in the Gentleman's Magazine, and opposition to
the Court was carried on in " the City." Commoners of the family
pretensions of the BECKFORDS and SAIVDRIDGES were prowl to aspire
to civic honours. The secret correspondence of JUNIUS with WoonrAt.i.
and WiLxEs, and the letters of Lord CHATHAM, amply prove the power
of " the City " in the last century. The rise of other commercial
places, and the changes of society, have now thrown " the City " into
shade, and we think that the change has gone too far. We place great
value ourselves on the opinion of the " City of London." It is more
truly British than the provinces, and it is animated with the spirit of
great traditions. We think that " the City" has been far too much
neglected in politics, and, for our own part, we feel much interest in
Its affairs, both social and political. We are sincerely glad, therefore,
thatb Sir R. W. CARDEN has been so cordially elected Chief Magistrate
for the ensuing year. A miserable attempt was made to disparage
him, but it ended in ignominious discomfiture, and the Lord Mayor
Elect completely turned the tables on his vulgar and mercenary oppo-
nents. We never like going into any matters of a pi ivate character,
but we may say that we fear factious motives, as well as sordid love of
base lucre, influenced some (we say " some") of the oppositionists to