The Express.
London, England, 1858-04-01 00:00:00

(Stamped ld. Additional.) [TWOPENCE.

PAVING OF BEGENT-827tHET.

Yesterday a meeting of the inhabitants of Regent-
street, most numerously attended, wu held at the Hanove
r-
square Rooms, Mr. Nicoll., M.P., in the chair, for the
purpos of considering what steps should be taken to resist
the project of paving the margin of the street 12 feet on each
side with granite, as ocatanplsted by the vestry of St.
James's.

- It appeared from the report of the committee read by Mr.
Jay, that it wee the original intention of the vestry to lay
the whole street with granite pavement, but a memorial
signed by 114 pereone, and representing 242 houses out of
266, the other house* being either unoccupied or the owner"
being absent, having been presented to the vestry, that body
consented to forego their resolution to pave the whole street,
but voted 6,0001. for paving a margin of 12 feet as each side
of the street with granite.
The CHAIRMAN, in opening the betimes al the meeting,
said that they had obtained possession of the chid approach
to the citadel of their opponents, and be believed it wee only
necessary for theca to continua their exertions to carry the
whole fortress. (Hear, hear.) The inhabitants of Regent-
street contributed largely to the rates of the parish, and it
was only fair that they should be expanded on the papnn
ea which they were professed to be levied in rometLingr like
the same proportion. He regretted to say that on this subject
a epodes of op Hon had been called into existence, which,
from the way is which it wee handled, amounted almost to
insult. (Hear, hear.) They had bees driven against their
wishes Into thin contest, sad had been left no choice but to
give in to what they believed to be an unjust mods of pro-
ceeding on the part of the vestry, or to adopt the present
amuse of oppoeltion. They had all entered into the contest
in the firm belief that they were acting in the tight, in de-
fence of their pespeties for the bend& of them museraus
persons who degiselof en there for the suceessfulitss el their
capital, and in the interest of that large portion of the metro-
polis who frequented the most fashionable pert of it.
Mr. MEDWIN moved the following resolution:—" That in
the opinion of this meeting the present intention of the vestry
to extend the marginal stone paving of Regent-street to the
width of 12 feet on each aide is in opposition to the clearly
ascertained wish of the inhabitants and felt by them to be
moat injurious to their property, business,e and comfort. That
the meeting consequently considers it to be imperative on
them to use every possible means (whenever it may become
nreasary to repair or re-lay the Street) to oppose any margin
o. paving stone whatever except such as may be e
for drainage purposes." The position which the veleitreyes:2
up in this matter was that the rest of the parish paid more
than their tan there of the rates. Bat he would show that
this was not the case. The whole outlay of the pariah of St.
James's wee 2,7621. Ils. 11d., at 6d. in the pound assessment
end Id. for drainage. The money which Regent-street con-
tributed to the perish was 3,6071. 14s. 6d. (Hear.) Even
allowing 10 per cent. for management, it would leave
the excess which Regent-street paid to the parish
over what the_ pariah laid out for Regent-street at
I something over 6001 He took the figures from the most
recent book he could 'find, and he must observe that it was
en account for fifteen months. How, than, was the perish
injured by it connexion with Regent-streets (Hear.) But
that was not all. Regent-street gave 7,0001. to the parish of
St. James's for poor rate, and be believed that the Regent-
street poor did not cost the parish 2,0001.—(..n0 no ")—eo
that the parish generally was a gainer there to the extant of
at least 60001. (Hear, bear.) The real fact therefore was,
that Regent-street gsve the parish all that wee spent on it in
paving, and much more than was spent on them in poor
rates. (Hear.) It ins their duty, then to declare that they
would not abide by the decidon of the vestry of St. James's.
What, then, were they going to do? for that wee the real
question. (Hear.) They were going to petition parliament,
and that, he knew, the vestry did not like. They would not
only go to parliament, but they would canvas" the parish
y, for there were men in the vestry who were
rinri the greatest possible injury to the parish by
battling for local interests, thus setting class against
class and neighbour against neighbour. (Hear, bar.)
He pledged himself to use all the interest he peeseseed, not
only inßegent-street but in its neighbourhood, to get men
into the vestry who would enter upon their duties with liberal
and enlightened minds, and who would do to them what was
just. (Hear, hear.) Justice they would have, and in saying
that he felt he represented the feelings of all present. (Hear.)
Mr. WAUGH seconded the motion. If there were My of
the respectable inhabitants who were not with them on this
subject, those gentlemen ought at least to come forward and
state their views. He believed they were looking for simple
justice in this matter, and that the proceedings of the emery
were not only %Isis.; but Gothic. (Hear, hear.) He was
one of the oldest inhabitants of Regent-street, and he believed
what the mat?), proposed to do would injure the property.
(Hear hear.) So much bad been said by Mr. Idedwin on
thejtoint that he need merely second the resolution.
r. Dena thought that if Mr. Medwin's statement had
been confined to the twelve months' aooounte instead of fif-
teen mouths, it w ould not appear favourable to Regent-street
to the extent at which he put it. Bat however that might be,
the pariah had no reason to grumble with Regent-street,
because he did not believe the poor of Regent-street cost the
poor-rats 1,0001. If themtarish derived so considerable a
profit on one head they o t not to complain of a little extra
expenditure on another. ( ear, hear.)
Mr. WILKES, a member of le vestry of St. James's, said
it wasquite certain the vestry would insist on paving Re-
gent-street. There was a decidedly hostile feeling amongst a
portion of the vestry to Regent-street. (Hear, hear.) At
the last meeting of the vestry a member declared that he
voted for the paving of the margin of the street on the
ground that it would lead to the paving of the entire street.
Mr. WI tti e said that a similar battle had been fought in
Liverpool to the one which the inhabitants of Regent-street
were now engaged in. Tho principal street in Liverpool had
been paved with granite, but that paving had to be taken up
and was maa.. by Mecadam. Hear, hear.)
The resolution was then put and carried unanimously.
Mr. JAY moved the next resolution, to the effect that a
petition be presented to parliament praying for an emend-
meat of the Metropolitan Local Management Act, and that a
clause be introduced enabling the inhabitants of Regent-street
to assess themselves for paving, watering, cleansing, lighting
and partially watching the said street, and that the adminis-
tration of the fund or rates so raised be vested in the mem-
bers of the vestry, returned by the ratepayers so assessed
or rated. It happened fortunately for them that a bill was to
be shortly brought before parliament on this subject; con-
sequently they might hope that a petition from them would
have due consideration at the proper time. The whole of this
agitation arose from a paltry feeling of enmity against the
inhabitants of Regent street. (Hear.) Many of the vestry
declared their determination to oppose the interest of the
Regent-street people, because they said if they could get
Regent-street paved, it would drive the trade out of it into
their respective localities. Could anything be more paltry or
wretched ? One member of the vestry said they did not
know what was best for themselves, and that they should be
taught. (Laughter.) Why, Regent street had been made by
the individual exertions of the men in business there. Not
less than 16,0001. a year was laid out every year in improving
and decorating the street, all of which went into
the pockets of the unmans end people living in
the beck streets. (Hear, hear.) That would be
lost to them if Regent-street were to become deteriorated.
But he hoped the feeling and spirit mimed at that meeting
would check this unfortunate vestry in their career. There
was • spirit of unanimity amongst the inhabitant of Regeet-
street on this subject. All of them had cheerfully paid the
call of 10s. which had been made upon them, and cos gen-
tleman expressed his readiness to put down 1001., because he
thought it was the best means of protecting his property. lie
received that morning a letter from the department of the
Prefecture of Pada, in which he was informed that the first
coat of laying down kens paving wee 12fr. per square metre,
that of Macadam, Sir. 60e. The annual cost of repairing
stone pavement was lfr. per square metre; of repairing
Macadam from lfr. 50c. to 4fr. • the cost of repairing being,
of course, proportioned to the extent and character of the
repairs. But it was a fact that Macadam wee everywhere
'screeching on the stone pavement of Paris. (Hear, hear.)
He would only say, in conclusion, that if they wire unani-
mous, he was sure they would be successful.
Mr. Box seconded the resolution, and expressed his belief
that till some alteration took place in the constitution of the
vestry, the interests of Regent-street would not be attended to.
The motion was carried son con. _

Mr. (isysorsa proposed a resolution to the effect that
the committee be instructed to take such steps as may be no-
°weary to have a case prepared and submitted to conned,
• Alt a view to an application to the Vice-Chancellor for an
injunction to restrain the vestry of St. James's from paving
Regent-street in the manner proposed. (Hear, hear.) He
believed that was the speediest and moat effectual mode of
proceeding, and it would give them time till they brought the
question before parliament. (Hear.)
Mr. Lewis seconded the motion.
Mr. Jerre said he thought they ought to appeal to the
vestry once more before going to a higher tribunal. (" No,
no.") He heard a vestryman say that if the Regent-street
psope paid something extra, the street would be allowed to
remain as it was.

tt said that the nice and easy thing we.not
away@ the right thing. It would neither be right nor just
that should pay &differential rate. The whole parish was
to Regent-street. He should recommend them to
fight out the battle now shoulder to shoulder. (Hem.)
The motion was then put, and carried unanimously.
A rote at thinks to the chairman terminated ths pro-
ceedings.

THE BISHOP OF LONDON'S GLOVES.—A keen 00D-
Downy is raging to sows of the church papers relative to
the sort of gloves which it is lawful and expedisat hr •
bishop to wear. It wears that • few days ego, et a rah-
&es meeting over which the Eel of libehosbary presided,
the right reverend prelate stood on the =wow =
pair of bright yellow riding gloves, •
seems completely to boos mandalieed .7.1112. id dhol-
eeoso
=• aoPrta :eta It
sa seems
y probiritlela" a prelate Moro-
lag himself with yellow gloves, sad Yeremss tho Bishop of
Lashes Is not likely to be cited to the Ectissisotteal Coon la
easseqnsace of his peculiar ideas 011 ha asithst of "impel
Miro.

ASYLUM FOR IDIOTS.

The anniversary festival in aid of the above
valuable institution was held yesterday evening at the Lon-
don Tavern, under the presidency of his Grace the Duke of
WEI.LINOTON, supported by Sir H. Rawlinson, W. Ron-
pell M.P., Sir George Carroll, Sir J. Boileau, Sir J.
ircicoa. M.P., M. T. Base, Esq., M.P., She, iff Allen and
clain, Mr. Alderman Wire, Mr. Under-Sheriff Millard.
J. Kochi, Bag., Drs. Conolly and Little, Mr. Sheriff
Lawrence, &c. bout 160 gentlemen sat down to dinner.
A musical party was in attendance, under the direction of
Mr. Bamford, and including the talents of MUM 11•1141114
Hyleal..tirs. Bamford, Holmes, and W. E. Rana/cod.
The of an occusioual song, " The Idiot born," by
Miss-7/an7ord, was much applaailed by the compiler. The
duties of toastmaster were efficiently performed by Mr.
Harker. The Chairman baying given the mud loyal toasts
with judicious htmvivf,prope " The Ansy and Navy,"
to which Sir H. Raedinson, la rearming thanks,
made an appropriate allusion to the services now being
performed by the British army is India, and con-
gratulated himself on the fact that many of the heroes of
the day—Lawrence, Havelock, Outrun, &n.—had been his
own companions in arms during the Affghaa was. The gal-
lant speaker also alluded to the illuetrione eases borne by
their noble chairman, and concluded by, stresurimely recces.
mending the Idiots' Asylum to the charitable attention of the.
company. The Chairman, in giving the tort (Attie emu-.
ing, " Prosperity to the IdioulAsylum,', mesfaffy detailed:.
the ot the institution. It appeared that although.
only 1 yews in existenos:the institution, in the two asylums,.
now sheltered 277 of the moat helpless members of the 0010.,
=unity. The annual income was from 12,00 W. to 14,00 W,,
but the erection of the new asylum at Highgate had entailed
as expense of 16,0001., to Pqmdato which was the paramount,
oiliest of the committee. The board were sanguine Of to the.
early discharge of this debt, and in their confidence had de-
termined to admit 25 cases at the next electfoo,
ta—
sesd of 15, which was the usual number. In this
coarse the board intended to persevere, and in addition they
provided accommodation for the children of the affluent, who
were received at a moderate rate of remuneration. It was
satisfactory to be able to announce that a great many per-
inea had availed themselves of this privilege. The chairman.
dwelt with much force on the peculiar claims of the unfortu-
nate persons who were the objects of this charity, and feel-
ingly reminded the company that to no human frailty but to
the act of God, they must attribute the peculiar helpieseness
for which their aid was invoked that evening. Subsequently
the health of the chairman was proposed by Sir (George
Carrel, and duly acknowledged ; after which came the presi-
dent's, the vioe-president's, and Sir J. Boileau's. Sir J. Boi-
leau, in responding, expressed hi. regret that there was no
public mesas provided for the support of the unfortunate
persona who were the objects of this charity. Every
county now had its lunatic asylum, and he hoped
that the time was not far distant when it would
also have its asylum for idiots. The subscription
list was then read and a collection made—resulting
in the gratifying addition of 3,6001. to the funds of
the charity. In answer to the toast of "The Medical
Officers," proposed by Mr. Mechi, Dr. Connolly returned
thanks, in an instructive speech, in the course of which he
gave some interesting details of the care bestowed on the
inmates of the institution, and the Interest with which the
first dawn of intellect was watched not only by the medical
officers of the institution, but by their friends. Relying
upon the discoveries of modern science, he entertained the
most sanguine hopes of the ultimate success of their bene-
volent experiment. A few more toasts having bees dispoeed
of, the company separated.