The Express.
London, England, 1846-10-19 00:00:00

MARYLEBONE VESTRY.

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EXPENSE AND INEFFICIENCY OF THE POLICE.—
On Saturday a very full meeting of the Marylebone vestry
took p!ace at the Court-house, Marylebone-lane, to consider
the propriety of appointing a committee to investigate the
very numerous complaints of the inefficiency of the police.
Mr. NICHOL/LT observed that the vestry considered the
subject one of the most vital importance, not only to the
rate payers of Marylebone, but to the inhabitants of the
metropolis generally. He was sure there was no one who had
paid the slightest attention to the matter but would agree with
him that the present police force were a most inefficient body
for the public protection, and at the same time an enormous
expense, whilst the regulations wain guided the oilmen
the performance of their ditties IMO the poilist those of
absurdities that could be contemplated. The question was,
whether these foolish regulations emanated from parliament
or the commissioners. If from parliament, then it would
be the duty of the vestry to go to parliament ; and if from
the commisnoners, then they mutt call upon parliament to

correct the absurdity et the cammissioners. Mr. Nieholay
here at great length want into a variety of cases where rob-
beries
_and other misdemeanors had ansen in the Maryle-

bone district, and where, in frequent instances half an gone
and sometimes three quarters of an hour elapsed before a
policeman could be found. Another strong ground of com
plaint was, that, although they and other parishes were
called upon to pay double the amount they ot to pay
for the maintenance of police, on state and other public
occasions, they were drafted away for many miles, and
the districts who paid were left entirely unprotected. The
many complaints which could be substantiated showing the
gross inefficiency of the police he hoped would induce the
vestry to grant this committee.—Mr. HICKMAN remarked
that before the new police came into operation the cost of a
much more efficient police in Marylebone was under 10,0001.
per year, whereas the present inefficient force cost 100 per
cant. more. Under the old system they had in Marylebone
256 constables, whereas the nominal amount supplied by the
police commissioners was but 211.--Mr. RIDGWAY could
scarcely believe that any good could result from the commit-
tee proposed, when it was recollected that the police autho-
rities set the public at defiance. He had communicated with
the police commissioners frequently on the subject of the
number of men employed in the large district in which he
resided, and the commissioners bad refused to give the
desired information. He had, therefore, instituted in-
quirks himself, and he found that during the day
the entire district from Salisbury-court station-house,
Marylebone, to the Swiss Cottage at Hampstead, and to
the Windmill in Edgware-road, at Kilburn, there were
but five policemen employed. This, too, in a district cover-
in a seam of many square miles, having, in the parish of
Marylebone alone, upwards of 2,000 houses, and paying a
police-rate of 2,04/. 13s. 6cL annualli. (Shame.) The fact
was, that the whole conduct of the police was a perfect Star-
chamber system, and instead of being the protectors of the
public,they were mere soldiers of the government in disguise.
The police, when felonies were committed, or when those
infamous nuisances, street organs, were going on—(laughter)
—were never to be found, but they were always on the alert
to make a crusade against a poor apple-woman who happened
to be sitting too near the pavement. Mr. Ridgway having
cited a Freest number of cays against the police, concluded by
expressing his opinion that the vestry should go to parlia-
ment at once.—Mr. WILLIAMS, 11. P., thought that the
vestry were perfectly justified in taking up the matter, and
at least he thought it proper that a general survey should be
made, in order more equally to divide the charges for police-
rate. There could be no doubt in the world that many of
the existing regulations of the police were absurd, and he
believed, from what had fallen from members of the vestry,
that a good case could be made out for the appointment of a
committee of the House of Commons to inquire into the sub-
ject.—After a few other observations, the necessary resolu-
tions were put and carried unanimously.
UNHEALTHY Hoesze.—A communication was received
from Mr. Mills, the deputy coroner, containing the follow-
ing comments of a jury at an inquest recently held by him
on the body of a woman who had been found dead at her
miserable abode in Cambridge-court, near Carburton-street,
Portland-road :
" And that in viewing the place where the deceased woman was
found, they have found the court to be ill ventilated, dark and filthy in
the highest degree, and unfit for the residence of human beings; and
they express a Dope that either the proprietors of the houses in Cam-
bridgeeourt will speedily voluntarily put them in a proper and habit-
able condition, or that the authorities In whom is vested the legal
powers to abate nuisances in the metropolis, will adopt measures or
competing the said proprietors to amend the unhealthy character of
the buildings."
This document was also accompanied by a numerously-
signed memorial, expressive of similar sentiments, from a
large body of ratepayers.—The matter was referred to a
committee. . I

THE VACANT RECTORY OP THINITY.—A communication
was received from the Bishop of London, calling upon the
churchwardens to have all the fees pertaining to the rectory
of Trinity, vacant by the death of the Rev. Dr. Penfold,
placed under sequestration, until such time as his successor
was appointed. Much amusement was created by the vestry
clerk reading an account charging the churchwardens 21. 91.
for the trouble of sending them the official document contain-
ing the above order.—Aßer some discussion, in the course of
which it was declared to be the intention of the vestry on
the part of the churchwardens, to pay the amount charged,
but to deduct the same out of the stipend of the next incum-
bent, the document was ordered to be referred to the church-
wardens.—The vestry then separated.