The Express.
London, England, 1859-08-18 00:00:00

BATING 07 PUBLIC

A deputation from the parish of St. George-the.
Martyr, Southwark, waited upon Sir G. C. Lewis yseterdsy
et
the Homo-offloa, their object being, if novelle. to convince
the 'ovenware of the hardship of =emptier all public
institutions from contribution to the poor rate. The deputa-
tion were introduced by J. Locke, Kai., M.P. for the bo-
rough, sad cassisted of Marrs. D. But and C. Senders
(ohnrchweedmas), Messrs. T. Haat, J. H. Clerks, aad J. 8.
Beadle (oveemers), sad Mr. J. Day, clerk to the board of
has.
Mr. Locos, os inlrodecing the deputation, reminded the
Home Secretary of the report of the rating of public institu-
tions' committee, of which the right hoe. gentleman bad been
• member, and which committee reported that, with two or
three exceptions, ell lends should be rated for the relief of the
or. including all charitable inadeekons. The parish of
St. George wee, he said, peculiarly situated, insomuch as
that oat of it • very large area wee occupied by charitable ie-
stitntione, which had nothing to do with the parish itself,
✓ed which were entirely exempt from,the poor rate. The con-
sequence of this was that • dispeportionately heavy Donlan
was throws =the rateable portion of the perish, aggravated
by the constent rominion of strange poor from other parishes.
The local authorities conceived that the charitable inmate-
Sons is their plinth ehould be put on a level with other
public bundler, and be rated to the support of the parochial
poor. Then were for instanoe, the:British and Foreign
School Society anceEethlebern Hospital, neither of which bad
say connexion with the panel), and which were now wholly
exempt, but which the parishioners considered ought to be
rated. A bill bed been introduced into parliament by the
late government, but as it merely contemplated pub-
lic buildings belonging to the government, the object
of the present deputation Irma should it be resumed by the
present government, to have such betiding, as he bad in-
stained included in its operatics. The gentlemen prevent
thought their can much stronger than that of perishe, occu-
pied by government bnildinp.
Sir G. C. Lewis remembered herbs bees a member of the
committee alluded to, and bad heard the evidence given by
?dr. Day. I t would therefore be quits unnecessary men to
trouble that gentleman, as he (Sir G. C. Lewis) distinctly
remembered ell the tarts. With regent to the
general question, the one stood thus The lets
government brought in a bill founded on the
report of that committee, recommending that all Misr
exemptions should be put en end to, bet so great wee the
opposition they met with that the wagon was virtually
wain:non before the =cession of the pretest government to
dins. Her Idsjeety's present ministers saw that there wee
so nee in attempting to revive this bill, and thereto, had
adopted • different course, which was, when the public pro-
perty was large in a pariah, to come to en arrangement with
the ishabitants, leaving the law in other cases es it stood.
However, it was quite open to any member of parliament to
raise the question, as it was °roof local and not imperial tea-
nice. He did not think it likely that the present govern-
ment would bring in • bill affecting charitable festitutions.
Mr. Locar said that Mr. Apt= had brought in • bill for
eqcialleing the poor rate, which would have effected all the
deputation sought.
8* 0. C. Lawn' said that that bill referred to a different
matter, the general poor law.
Mr. Bier said that their object wee to induce the govern-
ment, if poesible, to legislate In the direction of the report of
the committee._

Sir G. C. Law's repeated his belief that the present
government were not likely to touch the matter, the expe-
riment of their predecessors having been so unememeffid.,
Bat individual members might act, and he did not say that
he should object to a measure so introduced. He thought
there waa • great deal to be said in favour of the demands of
the deputation, but that • mamma carrying them out would
be a very difficult one to pan through parliament.
Mr. DAT said that a deputation having waited on Mr.
Betcoure, that gentleman sem wiling to propme a rate on
endowed institution., and all those which did not derive half
their support from voluntary oubscriptioes.
Mr. iIiST asked whether, if a bill were brought in by •
private member, it would receive the support and concur-
reace of government P
Sir 0. C. Lzwis—That would certainly depend upon the
character of the memure. He could not tell until he saw it.
Mr. Bizer—deppree It took the form of the report of the
oretinitteeP
Sir 0. C. Lewis had concurred In the report of the earn-
mium,ead wee not unfavourable to the change now proposed;
but whether • measure brought in with the view of 'doming
that change had any chance of success was quite another
goalies.
Mr. BEAT said that such • nmeaure, if it succeeded, would
relieve the pariah of St. George of one-third of its present
rate.
The deputation then withdrew.

THE FORESTERS' DAT AT THE CRYSTAL PALACE.—
The annual great gathering of the Foreeters' clubs and so-
cieties will be held at the Crystal Palaos on Tuesday neat,
the Mird of August. This met nensual preparedness have
he.. made foe Increased tragic, nearly all the vans in London
and its vicinity being mimed by parties oonnectad with the
association. Additional facilitieis will also be given by the
railway', arrangements having been made for special trains
as trey:trimly as may be needed , from both the London-bridge
and Pimlico-stations. This will be the more necemary,

.
numerous ezeureloes having been organised from differeiii
parte of the emstry ; the consequent demand, therefore, for
conveyance to the 5:41. expected to be exceedingly gnat.
The doors of the Pathos will he opened at the un-
usually early hour haltput 8; sad those who desire to
get to the palace without crowding will find the first trains
will offer eery tome on even this buy day.
PROPOSED ESTABLISHMENT OP A FREE LIBRAZI
in litheutenax.—An adjourned spedal meeting of ta.
town cowed of Blimitigb,am wit held on Tuesday, the
Mayor, Sir John Itatcliff, in the chair. Mr. E. C. Sabena
moved a resoludoe, that the mayor be requested to convene
a public meeting of the Museum to determine whether they
will adopt for this borough the Free Public Libraries and
Museum Act. He observed that a rate of one pennn the
pound, to which the monicipal body wee limited for the pur-
pose In question, would produce idiot 3,4361., and that if
the full onmunt were levied, its pressure would not be felt
by any clue of the community. The motion was seconded
Mr. Holland. Mr. Alderman Ailday approval of the
ject in view, and in a friendly spirit moved an ainendment
ob
to the effect that, previously to the plowed meeting being
convened, a committee be appointed for In purpose of cone-
' dering and extirpating the probable cost et establishing a
free public library and 1:120.60‘119, and the probable annual
amount of the working charges of such institutions in this
borough ; the powers and privileges which would be en-
trusted to the council by the eclopoon of the Muwurn and
labeeries Act, 1860, and the Public Libraries Act of 1855,
end to report fully thereon ; also that the said orsionivee
•• be authorised to obtain information respecting the several
systems upon which the free public libraries sad museums
already established ere conducted, the mode of selectieg and
purchasing books, Ito. ; and should the committee decide In
favour of the formation of such imputations in this borough,
they be directed to submit the rules and regulations for their
government for settlement by the council ; and that the raid
committee be instructed to consider whether it would not be
advisable, before a public meeting of the burgeon be sou-
sewed by the mayor, to recommend that an auxiliary we.
mittee of yellows., unconnected with the corporatlow, be
appointed to solicit private donations of money and books for
snob library, and epeeists= of natural history, works of art,
raw sad mainufweneed materials, machinery models, and
piiikeephiosi apperolue, for snob museum." This proposi-
tion ues seoseded by Xt. Cutlet. With a view to promote
unanimity Kr. Taylor with Mr. Wright for a wonder)
mowed that &calmness be appointed to consider the sub-
ject, and report previous to a meeting of the burgesses. This
amendment was dully carried.