The Express.
London, England, 1867-10-04 00:00:00

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THE POOR LAW AND THE CITY OP LONDON.
Yesterday afternoon a numerous deputation
waited upon the Earl of Devon, President of the Poor-law
Board, for the purpose of protesting against the introduc-
tion of powers vested in the Poor-law Board, under the
Metropolitan Poor-law Act of 1867, into the City of
London, on the ground that it would interfere with the
integrity of " the City proper." The deputation consisted
of ratepayers from the West London Union, and was
headed by Alderman Sir James Duke, Bart., who was
accompanied by Mr. R. W. Crawford. M.P., Alderman
Lawrence, M.P., Mr. Deputy Obbard, Mr. George
Walter, Common Councilman, Mr. Wolterton, and other
gentlemen.
Sir JAY= Dues said he had been requested, as alder-
man of the Ward of Fart ingdon Without, to introduce the
deputation, and to express the great interest which was
taken in this matter b 7 the ratepayers who were more
immediately concerned in it. They felt that the
which bad emanated from the Poor-law Board wpor:Pdit
an interference with the domestic arrangements of the
citizens in reference to their poor-law administration. It
should be borne in mind that no complaint had ever been
made against that administration, and he trusted that
the government would not interfere with arrangements
which it was admitted on all hands had been so well
carried out.
Mr. CRAWFORD, M.P., said he attended with the depu-
tation, not simply as • matter of form and because he hap-
pened to be member for the City, but because he had
inquired into all the circumstances of the case, and had
come to the conclueion that the objections which were en-
tertained to the proposed measure were in all respeeb well
founded, and were entitled to the serious attesters of bar
Majesty's government. He wished **be understood to use
so common form of words when he said that this was •
midis which was exciting the strongest amount of feeling
tiffiont the whole of the Oitr—not only is the West
Union, to which it was proposed to annex Clerkeo-
rer,t t also in the East London oion, to which it was
propdmd to annex St. Luke's, Old-street. On broad prin.
cop those unions "objected to the annexation to them of
ou perishes without the boundaries of the
City. City unions considered that they had done
everything that could be demanded of them in reference to
their poor, their lunatic criminals, and their children. He
believed that everybody who knew anything of the matter
would say that, as far as the West London Union was con.
owned, everting was most admirably conducted. There
was so reproach upon that union of any kind, and to join
it to a parish having separate and entirely independent in-
terests would give rise to endless difficulties, and lead to
disusiort, instead of to harmony of operation. He would
not dwell upon matters of detail, for be was quite sure the
noble lord was fully aware of the interest which the ques-
tion excited, and he would only express a hope that the
decision of the government might be reconsidered.
The Earl of Davos said it might tend to remove some
misapprehension if he at oars stated that than bad been
no detains. It was not intended by the letter which had
been sent out to imply that there had been any final set-
tlement of the matter ; indeed, it was distinctly stated
that the scheme was " proposed," from which it might be
inferred that the Poor-law Board would be willing te hear
everrthing that could be urged by persons interested in
the question.
Alderman Lawnthrt, M.P., said that joining Clothes-
well to the West Loudon Union would be like joining the
union of one county to that of another, for to all intents
and purposes the City of London was • county in itself.
All its arrangements wereof a distinct character. The City
of London threw no obstacles in the way of the posing of
the bill, and when it was remembered that the City
would be put to an additional expense of 40,0001. a year,
it would be seen that it wished to continue in the proper
performance of its duty.
The Earl of Devote said he was to see • deputation from
Clerkenwell next week, and he should then be able to
ascertain their opinions.
Mr. Brairottu, a Common Councilman, said there were
three unions in theCitythe centre, the west, and the east.
The babe contained all the wealth, the cart and west ell
the poverty. The poore districts expended 10,0001. •
year more than the rich district in rates. At present the
rich district paid Bd. in the pound, the poorer districts
3s. id. and 4s. in the pound. An equalised lab of Ia ld.
in the pound would meet all the liabilities.
The Earl of Divots said be wished to disabuse the minds
of the 4entletnen who supposed that the government had
any Amster views in reference in the matter. There was
no organised attempt to interfere with the privileges of the
City. All the Poor-law Board iatended and hoped to do
wed to carry out the provisions of the act of lost session,
by whirl it was thought the raise would be equahsed,
and the conventenee of the mailmen secured. It had berm
mamba that he should postpone his measure for two
yaws, but it was impossible for him to say what any one
sitting in that their two years hence would do. (Laughter.)
The whole question was of a very important character,
and It theuld have his mot anxious consideration, Of
course, he could not make any definite promises, hut be
hoped he should be able to make such arrangements as
would stable all classes of the community to work bar-
mouiously together.
Afterwards • deputation from the East London Union,
headed by the Rev. W. Rogers, rector of Bishopierate,
waited upon the noble president with the same result.

AORTCOLTIMAL HALU—Last night was the first
of the merles of nt!eesqguketau cower* soder the new

arrangement, for the four extra night; this week, and
from the large numbers which attended and the intim
slum displayed it is quite clear that the faii7 pekoe has
loot none of its attractions. Thiilp:mraleinme was in at-
tractive one. The British Army , for the 46,11
time, concluded the bet part. second part ears-
minced with the grand choral march from Pettit; these,
with the other raterteinmenta conducted by Mr. F.
Kingsbury and Kr. Dan Godfrey, met with an enthu-
siastic reception from an audience composed of several
thousand persons. This evening is to be devoted to Han-
deirs glorious oratorio of El(jala, with the bend and chorus
of 1,000 person,. To-morrow night is to be the closing
one with another miscellaneous concert, in which Madame

ilmraena- )1411;.iietiii;r17ifte; Julia Derby,
Mr. George Perron' Mr. Lewis Thomas, and Me. Levy
(cornet) will take part. In order to afford err/ shies
an opportunity of being present, it hes bees determined to
open the pilotage on that night at a charge of guipure..
Moan FINLAN ALAN.II.B IN 11.KLAND. —The Cork
correspondent of the Premium's Journal, writiag co Wed-
nesday, says:—" I have only time to inform you that
orders have been received at the Admiralty House,
Queenstown, for the war ship now stationed in that bar-
bout., the Helicon, to put to sea at once. This course, it
is understood, has been rendered neoemary by the appear-
aim off the southern °oast of a suspicious looking craft."
The Dundalk correspondent of the tame journal,
writing also on Wednesday, says :—" Them are most
slimming rumours in circulation here, and from cer-
tain proceedings of the authorities it might be
inferred that there are grounds for apprebeeaion.
It is, of course, difficult to ascertain what has
disturbed the usual serenity of our peon preserver, or
why our force should be all on the qsi vim : but it is at
the same time certain that the police are in posernen of
information which justifies prevention, and readers vigi-
lance It is understood hat the morning
steamer from iverpool, which left that port 10-day, is
most anxiously watched by the constabulary, and
report goes so far as to say that vessel will convey to
our shores not only an American of Fenian dis-
tinction, but also a quantity of arms. One of my in-
formants states that the expected visitor is one Gil-
man, or Gilmore, or some such name, who has recently
amved in Liverpool from New York, and that be is the
convoy of a large quantity of rifles and firearms. Ridi-
culous as such reports may appear, you may rely on the
accuracy of the indication I have given, and I shall be
much surprised if we have not an ' arrest of importance'
on the arrival of the Liverpool steamer at our quer to-
morrow. You must bear in mind that, though suspected,
the visitor could not be taken in Liverpool unless on •
specific charge, and hence he hes been permitted to let
out on his voyage for this country, where the suspension
of the habeas cnrput will sanction his arrest without rum
being shown.„
A Gee CONSUMSRA' 13ntigir.—Some time ago
, there was a town's meeting in Brierley Hill to protest
' against the price of gas supplied by the local company.
The townspeople wished a reduction from 4s. 7d. to 3s. 9d.
per 1,000, and urged as an argument in favour of such re-
duction the pekes paid by towns adjoining, and in the
district. The directors of the company refused to yield
such a reduction, stating that the loss to them for break-
ages in the mains (owing to the sinking of the mines)
was very heavy. Upon this a mooed public meeting wee
called, and a resolution passed pledging those present
to cut off the supply of gas on the 29th ult. A com-
mittee was also formed to solicit signatures to the
resolution among the shopkeepers and others who
were not present. Numerous signatures and promises
to fall in with the resolution were obtained. At
the last moment arbitration was offered by a gentleman
well known in the district, and accepted on the one part
by the Gas Company. The inhabitants, however, declined
the proffered mediation, and the consequence is that nearly
the whole of the houses is Brierley Hill Quarry Bank,
Brockcsoor, and Hart's Hill are lit up without the aid of
gas. Shopkeepers use lamps, which they say are satisfac-
tory and cost leas thin gas, whilst ordinary bonne use
candles or lamps, according to taste. The movement has
been very complete. On Monday evening, in consequence
of a run upon lamp., some few shops lit gas. On Tuesday
a large number of lamps entered Brierley Hill. Imme-
diate these were set to work, and the gas weestill fur-
ther cut off. Osetainly the lamps in the windows give
good lights, and upon some are statements showing that
the Plan is a deal more economical than gas. The directors
of the company have intimated that as the demand for gas
becomes less the pries must advance, but so far as we can
learn, the inhabitants intend keeping up the opposition
throughout the winter, unless their wishes am attended
to tie the matter stands at present.