The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-09-03 00:00:00

"ST. BOTOLPII. At MATE. LW/110N.

" In thetnatter of the Plains of Rages livnaatoa, Esq. the fay
!moratoria or of this Parish, to the Sum of 2s. %I. in the Pound,
tor and in rtspert of Tithes, under the Statuu: and &liege,' De.
tut of :i7th litn:y VIII.
" Ti the Parishioners of the Parish of :It. notolph Without, Aid.
gate, is the City of Lyndon, in Westminster assembled :
`• Report of the Provisional Committee acting on behalf of the In.
habitants and Occupiers, and other persons benetiaally Interested
in Domes and Premises, in the Itsndott Division of this I'arish,
against the lay lenpropriator's said Clain:—
`• Your Provisional Con .... int" having (and some of them for
nary yews), in common with their tellow.parishintiers, labourcl
unda a gr..dual ineetase of tithes by the lay Impropristor,
until at L•ngth the mu:plaints in the pariah upon this import.
ant subject have bee site laid and general, felt themselves in
duty bound to adopt measures whereby the fella of the parish
generally from an oppressive bunhen might be effected ; and
the lay latpropriator In.ving recently instituted procvedings in the
Court of Cheacery for the recovery of his demand, anti having
threatead utuitur prat edings to a gems er extent, your Committee
could no longer withhold laying before their brother-p arishietera
such i.fonnation as they have been enabled to obtain upon the
subject, io ort.er that they might have a lair and just opportunity
of availing themselves art such means of relief as the nature of the
(MSC imperatively demands ; and ft • that purpose this General
Vestry has been construed by the Churchwardens, upon a requisi.
tiso signed by oilman!, of NO inhabitant householders. Your
Carrnattee t! viese itrt.rced primarily to state, that the Statute of
17 Henry VIII., and the alleged Decree under the saute (even it
• have for along series of years been a continued source of
disunion and litigatioa, destructive of the best interests of the
Church Establishment, and of the peace and happiness of parishes.
"That the raid Decree, independently of being formed prior to
the establishment of the Reformed Religion in this country, and its
validity net appearing to have been eunfimted and completed by
enrolment, provides for payments which cannot he considered as
reclusively applicable to the Clergy, but in lieu of obligations and
other dues which were previously appropriated also fin the relict
of the poor and the repairs of the churches, bath of which
essential purposes are now otherwise remitted for by the pa-
rishioners.

That by the Schedule annexes! to the Act of 22 and 25 of
Charles IL cap. 15 (commonly call xi the Fire Act), even as in.
creased by Parliament in the year 1304, it appears that is each of
those panshts which suffered in the dreadful fire of London, in
1665, Parliament made a provision in lieu of tithes, which in no
ere one exceeds 3714 per annum, beyond glebe and perquisites ;
whilst in this parish thin is annually levied, under the deito.M.
ration of tith s, partially, and as is considered illegally and uncurl_
intationally, the immentie sum of bets ern 4,001 P. and 5,00 J. ; and
that Parliament, baring relieved the sundry parishes not consumed
by the tire of lawulon, from the enormous cfrect Intended by the
btatute and alleged Decree, 37 Henry ►'III., your Committee con.
'Wendy auburn: that this pe.isb is entitled to similar justice and
relxt.

•• -
Twat th• great amotint nos received by the Lay Impropriamrs
frit: the limoon Division or this parish, bits been land within the
last 20 years mow rapidly) increased from ancient customary pay-
nients, protecting; the fonue► inhabitants of this as well as the
Aliddlate division. under solemn pledge from time to time, that
no farther claims gLoold be niggle; but in d fiance of good faith,
the said Statute and allet;sl Decree have been and are now held
In terroren over the inhibiants to enforce the demand of 2s. ;11. in
the pound. _ _

•• That such claims ire made only in that part of the parish
'hien is situate wiihin the Liberties of London, und.•r colour of
the said Statute and Decre, 37th Henry VIII., whilst the Middle-
sex division of the parish Is protected by ancient established sums
cf small amount.

•• That it appears t 6 pint Committee, that the inhabitants
Fate the Mph. at reason to et nclude that they hate been wrongfully
khouring un lot this oppressive bunhen, in consequence at the lung
considered obsolete Act and IKTIce, under at hich it it pre-
tended to be exacted not being valid iu law, for want of due en-
roltuer.t.

••• That your Committee, upon historical reference, find that
after time rentrinati.tn in religion in this county, and for avery con.
siderable permit after tie date of the said Statute and De-
cree, their provisions were never generally. if at all, acted upon.
•• That the former hay Impropriators of this parish (When their
receipts far (ions did not 811)0U3l to oae-fifth part of the *um paid
a• the prteent time) contribitted toward* the maintenance of the
Mid sting Minister; but it ix understood that such Is not now the
tag!, or to a very trilling amount.
•• Your l'imitnittee, under the circumstances aforesaid. and the
64reined stare of the Petitioners in relation to Tithes, feel it as.
canary. in aceotdance with the general tending, And in order to pro.
thote the peace of the inhabitatits and the protection of property,
that the demands of the l.av Impropristor should, if poasible, by
1.g.51 and justifiable means, be restrained, and a Lir and tea:
seta I: compensation given him in lieu thereof.
•• That, therefore, it Is highly expedient, on the part of the
Freeholders and ash me persona beneficially interested in premises
es well as the imtnediat: occupiers of property in this Parish, that
they ahouhl unitedly and firmly realm the inordinate demands of
the Lay Imprat riatur, by availing themselves of the first ground of
e.,•estauning his legal rigit, as well as by respectfdly laying their
eficsma mCe4 before Pala:: e it for redress, ansl your tonintittee re.
tau re rd pe nuns to both Houses of the Legislature, to be pre-
pared for tint purr se.
•• Your :11.iree also recommend, that the the legitimate rue-
ries ;.f seal...defence. a subecription be entered into by Freeholders, '
Lardno!Jers. and all persona bwelicially interested in houses and
przniscs, wietir this parish. in metier to defray the expenies which
nay In: instrrnl in resisting the itojusiiliable demands of the I.ay
lamer' iat it, and that nn person who lies not emitributed to site
Fund fn the protection and benefit of himself and the rest of his
fellow parishio !eluded in any measures adored :or the
pedal de enee. or have a voice in tbe.deliberations of the parties
waiting to ileterd.
•• Tic an etfi -lal communication be made of the proecedi -gs
lintel et beliatf of the parish, to the Honourable Court of
1,, ec ens of the East India Co:npany, requesting their co.operz.
Urn in a measure, in which, as a publiz body, they are so se.
riau‘if and itnioc liately concerned.
•• 'lbat a pt.iti in be presented to the Honourable Corporation
of the City of Lend ist., woo have already, upon various occutione
so btnobetally iuterelted themselves fur the protection of the
carers in ivgani to Tithes, praying their assistance and ea-opera.
rim. par indaly as the said Csirpuration arc eatensiec Propnetars
d lin
t. vs and premises within this parish.
You- Provironal Caeintittee also recommend, that an open
Ommatte be appointed to take such legal and other mraitum
heti* purpose aforesaid, and also foe application to the I.egis.
Ivan as they shall dm:emit most expedient ; and that Resolutions
be Tsai 1 at rite Vestry, to be held on Thursday next, embrac-
lwe the vest roaterial and important points relating to the des
how of %be parish, and be afterwards printed and circulated
and
wwwil'l the nitabitants, and advertised in the usual Mornirg
Ltelli le Pairs."
With our hearty wishes fur the success of thy first cause in
**di the /mash is engaged, and for the welfare of the inhabitairs,
le Bar rw usrn e respectfully submit their foregoing Report, tbas
sf Sepenher, 1821."
COLDBATCH said, that as he happened to be the
.1104 bh4hittra of the parish, the duty devolved upon him to
moved. ti-st resolution, against the most oppressive tithes that
'°' Perhaps ever ea meted in the ci•y Of LOollion. The Income
opprs alive as it was, could not be held in mitre just ab.
s
~motoce a-al he trastoti the parishioners would make a corns
sa od sention to rid themselves from so illegal and oppressive
esunion.
TTAIS E.= d al the resolution, which was at follows :
That the repeated attempts es the part of the lay impropriatora
W 4 clergy in Inc eity dLondon sad its liberties, to erdtmree the
'mute at Henryr VIII.. and the decree thereat; referred to, by
yodacing disunion and litigation, are alike destructive of the best
isw tgtttats DC the church establishment, id of the peace and happi.
of time pa- ish."
dirt:, R. STAN nut so rose to propose tho next resolution. lie
wlirt to cal! time attention of the Meeting to an historical state.,
sett of the satiation in which the several parasites of t me
sw. Icased Providence in If l$ to afflict this metropolis with
acute g e; VII which eceasion a number of churches wew
'3letit On that occasion eon streets were destroyed, consisting
hones ; besides th lie Rai stree•s, of 93 churches within
L .ndo3, were if:strayed by the tire of Hirai. 0.4
-.remaining of tha• part of the. City whieh had hen desrayed by
14.101 churches only were rebuilt, under the 2-2 d of Charles IL,
It'Sweely called the Fire-act. Ply the 2-21 anal
able
Charka
;6," s's"n of parishes was tifected, and a sui able coal ma.
vat mule to those who hail been deprived of their pr.
;*14:: by the fire which linfortlinat ly broke out ard destroy. d,
es„,ll:l'"tion of the city. By the new regalations a new
P3YrilTilt was introduced. and 3101. a year was the
ii-r allowed to any oh the new inrunthehts. It world HITS
chughi,
.ruCtinate tiling for that ;lariats (St. twirl) if their
aaep ,1 been among the number burnt (hear, hear,) r r
payalg LoTtatrn four and thousan I, 'ranch they
40.47- they world may have to pay three or four bun.
aq tie hear.) Other parishes, tae instance, St. Dunstmn's
11 tst, ut3l t. Andrew's Holborn, which had been 'titularly

circuit:Mane:ell, had resortid to means to abate the claim of tithe,
and had succeeded. By similar exertions they iniglo meet with
Ind expect similar success. (hear, hear.) St. Andrew's had re-
duced their rate from 2s 9.1. by mak:lige subscription, and now
paid an annual sum or 730/. instead or .10010. or 5,01104 and thin
regtdation was enforced by an Act of Parliament. which would pre-
vent any of the successors of the present inc aaaaa bent from renewing
their claim of 2a. thl. This had been done at an expense of 2,500/.
to the parish, %Melt a • s ever after exempted loon so grievous a •
charge. This parish was now only doing what other's had done he-
tbre i:, and which it should have done 20 year. ago. Since that
period the claim has advanced f am is. to Is. 6J., and thence to
'*.)id. By renewed and repeated exactions of this kind, Mr. K. bad
angst up forty thousand pounds. Let any man consider how.
front such a sum, he might have stored up means to comfort
his old age, t portion off his daughter, or to provide for his
family in various ways. Another mantels titian of the heavy rate
was, the number of houses in the parish, particularly in the 31ino.
rtes, to let. Homes and pronisos were there to be seen wi h large
placanls In their front, with this inticriptim-- These large and
extensiee wends" to let." (Hear, hest.) He had I I itself known
instances in which the value of houses wan reduced from 1210. to
199. in consequence of the clorbitant exaction or tithe by the lay-
inipropriatdr, 31r. Kynasion. (Loud cries of „hear, hear.")
The whale rental of the parish am. 37,001 U., out of which 22.01101.1
was paid in teem.; of doe stun 4,1/1101, was paid in tithes ; and the
l'Onr-rate• amounted to 7.111.e9. The Assessed Taxes had Ewen re-
duced ; the 1 hancellur vi the Exchequer hail relieved the country
trout scveral burdens, and, whilst other taxes weer daily diminish.
ing, it was unreasonable to continue this !infant at its present cunt_
sous, and, as he would contend, illegal height. (Wear.) Now
that the quartem loaf' was reduced front :NA tin war time) to ilk!.
and every other thing in proportion, why should not the lay im.
proprietor note down in the same manner? (deer.) The weak
part of the parish was the want of money ; but, unlessthey now
joined, they would be like the bundle of sticks, contending with
this powerful man, rendered powerful y their means—by the *nue.
MOUS autos which he dna annually from their pockets. (Hear.);
The worthy gentleman concluded by proposing a resolution to doe'
effeet--that a general subscription for the pureoac of attaining the
object with they had in view—the reduction of the tithe exacted by
the lay impropriator should be entered inta. lie would himself
subscribe thirty guineas. (Applause.)
Mr. N'lOALttt secandcd this rcsolutidn, which was carried
unanimously.
Mr. STAN ImitteM begged to remind the Meeting that this day
was the anniversary or the fire of London, in 1666, to which he had
alluded, and lie hoped that their meeting on this day might be
auspicious and a good omen to the success of the cause in which '
they were engagtd. (land applause.)
!Ir. Curet:lt proposed the next resolution. lie denied that the
parish tithes were the freehold pmperty or the lay impropriator.
Tite tithes were for the maintenance of the minister, and relief of
the poor; but the poor received none of it, and the lay impropria.
tor claimed thls enormous charge, tinder an act of Parliament,
which, upon the most diligent investigation, could not be fitund to
have been enrolled in any of the repositories for such documents.
This resolution was seconded by Mr. T, Pattaxa, and carried
unanimously.
3lr. J. BATH° proposed the fourth resolution. The inhabitants
had made attempts in 1I:01. iima, and 111106 to stem the oppressive
demand of the lay impropriator, but they had not seen the matter
in the same light Sher this enlightened vestry now saw it. There
was a great and very important difference between the amount at
which the lordship part of this parish was rated, which was only
3001. while the freedom part paid 4,01.10 f. It should be borne
in mind, that the tither of the present Impropriatot received
only Is. in the pound. Die eon, however, came to him as he
had to others, and said. that in consequence of having a nume-
•ous family, and other considerations, lie was obliged to raise
the tithe from In. to Is, fal., but at the same time assured him, he
'could not ask any more during his life. This San his promise,—
but Le did not keep his Word. Our immortal Bard had described
bail faith to be •• the keeping the word of promise to the ear, and
betaking it to the hope;" and Mr. Kyinistim fulfilled and verified
'he accuracy of his definition, Me, from that period to the present
he had progressively, at intervals, increased his demand from
Is. 1k!. to 2s. 9d. Such was the rate at which he and others of the
parishioners had been charged on his rack-rent. The burden
was too oppressive to he longer endured, and he hoped their cum.
Mined exerttim would be available to defeat so exorbitant a claim.
The worthy Oentleman concluded by moving a declaratory rem.
!titian, that the deinand was and contrary to what it was for.
utterly customary to demand from the parishioners, and to be paid
by them, and that it om.:111 thetefine to be resisted.
Mr. II aaaa AA ta seconded this resolution, which was carried
unanimously.
Mr. PA eisows rose to propose the next resolution. Ile begged
to ()tome upon the Act of Parliament, .td the comparative value
of the opinions of those Council who had been consulted upon it.
For his own part, he had generally no very exalted idea of the yid-
Mans of lawyers, as it was well-known that if it served the in.
wrest of his client, a lawyer would rut a hundred constructions upon
an Act of Parliament but the right one. (A laugh). Such was
the character of the opinions which hail been given egainet them ;
but when he yaw persouti ~s high legal stations who could have no
interest in giving an interested opinion, lie was dispoicil to pay
more respect and attention to their opinions. For instance, there
was the Recorder and Common Sergeant of London, who could
have no interest in giving any other titan an unbiassed opinion ;
and when It found that tit on fierintrable, as it was, to the claims
which they preferred, WI pronounced a similar cane, he felt midi.
dent as to the result of their cause. (Bear). After adverting to
the speech of Mr. Law, who appeared on behalf of Dr. ()wen'sapplicstinn, for a watrant against 31r. teeorge Abbot, a parish.
loner of St. (Rave's, Ilartoitreet. for tithes. he adverted to the
opinions which on that occasion fell from the Recorder Com-
mon Sergeant, as to the necessity of having the decree, on I
which the Art of the 37th, Henry I 111. was grounded, enrolled ;
and amongst other pottage', from their speeches, read the following.
In that occasion the Recorder said :
" The very case which is set up by Or. Owen gives yen the jaris.
diction, but for one circumstance. very ease depends upon
the question of the enrolment of the decree. Now the condition of
that decree is, that it shall become and enure as a part of the law
ttl the I out, provided it be enrolled within six months after the date
thereof. One would naturally suppose, that there could be no such
difficulty in (-Lacs like the prew..t, if this decree had ever been en.
rolled. It has never SO been pleaded, nor can 1 find that the ques-
tion has ever been put on that issue In any case that has ever been
decided by the courts themselves."
The opinion of the Common Sergeant was in conformity with
that of the Recorder

li;e;:i:iii;lia7ii against Adams and another, that has been
referred to, proves. as to the case, this i that if the decree has not
been enroll:el in Chancery, then your Lordship has no jurisdiction.
That was a case in which a party was sent to prison, tinder a war-
rant from the Lord alayor, fur nor.payntent of this rate of 2s. 9d.
in the ported. That party brought an action of trespass and false
imprisoanient for such sending, against the Lord Mayor. And the
question that ultimately arose in that matter was—the question of
fact—namely, • Ilas this decree been enrolled or has it nut?' 11,
then, in point of fact, it bad not been enrolled—it was admitted by
the able lawyers, who, no doubt advised upon the records of those
days, that thi Act of Parliament, in taint of law, did not come into
operation. In the great variety of eases which have been gone
through by Mr. lAII, it aeons to have been always assumed, as a
fact, that the decree has been enro:led. Rut the fact of its enrol.
meat or non-enrolment, is constantly a question, which it is visibly
for the parties interested to assert or to deity, as the ease may be.
And than it is said the fact of the enrolment has been found for, by a
jury. The decision of one jury. however, as the Recorder has ob-
served, is no rule to guide another."
Insleal it was not seriously contended that the decree was en.
rol'ed, and its nuri-enrolment was attributable to an omission.
It it were an omission, it was an omission most disgraceful to the
' clergy ; fur the increase was granted by Act of Parliament in the
possidage on the rental. aids the understanding and intention by
the legislature that be this increase they would be enabled to pro-
, side for the poor. The clergy, however, after having made the
application, ware nut *whaled with the proybion, and to their din-
s:m.la( • with it was attributable the nuti.sion of the enrolment
lof the deer:e. l)r. Owen took relit to, himself for baying brought
I the subject on fur discussion, under circumstances the least inettn.
yebient to the party engaged with him in it. For his (Mr.
Parton's) part, he had great distrust in those prtfessions of the
clergy ; he had always found them a hotly of eten, who, whilst their
fellow.ereatures were in distress around them, lived themselves in
the boom of affluence and in the possession of every enjoyment.
Such practice was at variance with the doctrine they were bound to
inculcate; and such a thsproport Winne provision was never intended
for the fair and hobo:Jr:o.de support of a church establishment.—
altar, hoar.)
/11r. PRESTOS accanded the resolution.

Mr. BI.ACENCRIS, in proposing the next resolution. stated. that
at the historical part of the subject had been autliciently dwelt
upon, he tentld not occupy the attention of the meeting in further
expatiating upon it. It was his, as it was the general opinion of the
meeting, that the exactions of the Lay! itipropriatur were as illegal as
they all telt them to be exorbitant and oppressive. lie could corm-
, bout. the statement of 31 r. Bath° as to the pri 111 l Ise mole by AIL Ks.
'mutton. lie airfoils d in his owh pinto' a Ening instance of the great
fit rcase which the present lay I mpropriator made in the demand of
tithe. II is predecessor in the Minorite paid only eighteen Millings'
on his a hole rental. After the promise which had been made by
Ur. Fy nasion, cf not increasio.g the demand over Is. lid., it had,
neverdst levy, been swollen into the rate of Ys. 9d. in the pound.
At length he earnestly resisted such a demand. lie refused to pay.
lie demurred ; but, as an individual, he could not resist the demand,'
illegal and oppressive as he felt it. lie was served with an excite-
quer process, and oblig.d to pay ; but on paying it, he conveyed to
the person to whom he gave it, his sense of the injustice of the'
exec:ion. Ile said to hint, '• There's your nitmey for you, and
may it perish with you. (A laugh.) I protest failure God you are 11
all robbers. Yon have robbed me; you —you hare niched my
chip leen." (Laughter and applause.) Site did he l.Mr. Blackburn)
speak this without effect. The applicant felt the justice of the ob.
serrations ; lie literally trembled in his shoes, and said, .` Then.
I'd not take the looney." lie threw it down, and went off; and
he (Mr. Blackburn) did not see the fellow's faze for hive
month!, afterwards. (Loud laughter and cheers). lie could
not have been more discomfited if he were detected ins daft, or
if he had been taken before the police office for picking a pocket.
This was strong language, but a man was naturally exasperated
who felt himself to be swindled out of his money ; sod instead of
the long list of resolutions which were prepared for the Meeting that
d ty, he could lure wished they were fewer in number, but stronger,
anti more energetic in expression. The parish had been asleep hither.
to, but he hoped that now they were awakened, they would not re-
pose until they had awned their rights. (Hear). lie begged to call
the attention of the meeting to the provision fur the poor which the
lay iniproprianic was obliged to make. The predecessor of the
present inipcipri.ttor had given two houses to the parish, in lieu of
pour rates, for hi, tithe. When the present tropropriator came into!
possession, why not comment: a new arrangement a nth him, which I
would %Mtge him to give a CUrsidcr:At:ua more propuiitivnate t

what We ought to contribute from the Urge tithes he aceiv.
ed. Ile wished to impress this earnestly on the attention of the
meeting. Ile did not mean to imp to blame to the present
churchwarden (Mr. Hoppe); but this he would promise, that if
he ever became Churchwarden. he would make Its earnest atten-
tion to this subject the first blow of his administration. (lean)
Again it should be remembered that Mr. Kynaston's tared • ass
allowed Mr. Ilatt 41.11. a- ear; whereas the present Impropriator
l allowed him nothing. IA voice in the crowd here intimated that
an allowance was made by him to the Rector.) Ile (Mr. /1.) was
not sufficiently conversion in the secrets of the church to answer
Upon. that point, hut he could answer for the withdrawal of 401.
a.year, • hich the present impmpriator's predecessor allowed. Ile
onjureil the meeting not to let their weakness induce them to
forego their just rights ; by united exertions, and a combined tahrt,
they would be able to surmount the difficulties I and concluded by
moving the following resolution. [Fur which see Advertisement.)
Mr. KEG us (Churchwarden) seconded the iesolution, which
was carried unanimously.
The neat tihe flth) was proposed by Mt. Bonnows,
and seconded 1)4- Mr. Gimes.
Mr. II A LL: in proposing the next resolution, spoke to the fol_
lowing ettiet :—" In rising to submi. to your consideration and
ultimate adoption. the revolution you have just heard read, it may
I be desirable that I shoula state to you, that having myself taken
outsider:able trouble, and been at wine individual expense, to in-
form myself uplift the t portant subject r. e are this day met upon,
I am fully warranted in sayieg, that the molt I have arrived at is,
that the parish has the strongest grounds to anticipate a successful
result to the struggle we are about to engage in. That the sub.
j ct itself is one of the most Erelong importance, it would be as
useless for me to Insist on, as it would be to Unnecessarily take ep
I your time in defending the pusttion wherewith the resolution, now
I under our consideration, sets out (fur which see Advettisentent),
the self-evident truth of which is too clear to admit of controversy,
or to require the aid of argument in its support- We have all.
Gentlemen, been sailing too seriously and too I:ing under the
grievous harden and the oppressive exaction, which has now, at
length, tilled the measure of our forbearance. That we sl hi
continue to consent to the annual payment of near 3,0001. which
this parish has been improperly, and. as I contend, illegally, and
therefore unconstitutionally, subjected to for a series Of years, is an
evil which cannot any longer be tolerated, and which it is absolutely
requisite should be matrained. The glaring inconsistency of this
abominable exaction will be more clearly apparent, upon its being
placed in comparison with the 1111114111 l which Parliament twit.]
awarded to the tlergy of sack parishes of London as suffered in
the fire or INN, and you sill then find, that the highest sun, which
Parliament thought it proper to adjudge to the clergy of such pa. I
riches as were by that calamity reitdool incapable of paying tithe,
was 3701.. whilst this unfortunate parish—unfortunate because not
burnt down—is annually taxed under the denomination of tithe, to
the unheard-of amount of nearly 5.11161/. Gentlemen, I ask you
whether this is a state of things which it is possib!e should be suf-
fered to continue ? whether it is not in open defiance of common
sense? whether it is reasonable—whether it is suffemble—that the
Lay Impmpriator shall be raising a revenue out of this parish. ex•
ceeding that of half the Itc:cli of Ilishops--execeding the salary of
his Majesty's i'rincival Secretary of State--exceeding that paid to
Judges of the land ? And shall this parish, deficient hither in
the respectability of its inhabitants, nor in the ffirtility of its re-'
111.111TeS, be the last to come forward and resist: he degrading thraldom
it has so long been 'offering under ? No: let it rather act as a
stimulus to us in the present instance. that we have not been the'
first to emancipate ourselves, our chiltha 1, and our successot's, from I
the degradation we have so long and so tamely submitted to. There
are several objections which have been started, by very well inten.
tinned individuals, to the course of procte.fings which it this day
submitted for your adoption, and which it will be only lust and
proper that 1 should advert to, and in so doing I will endeavour to
meet them in the order in which they have been brought forward.
The firm objectitm which has been urged against the probability of
a favourable result awaitieg our proposed operattena that Mr. I
K. having a vented right in the tithes of this parish, it will be a 1
difficult natter tat induce Parliament to lend a favourable ear to our
application fur relict; for it must nut be concealed front you, Gen. I
drown, that
_ .

•
!imposed on. Gentlemen, it liar also beer. urged, that we may fail In
• our endeavours to see out Ares eightrd. Now, whilst I admit freely
the possibility of failure, I must stre-tiously contend for the pro.
bability of success, and whilst I confess to you, that I am the last
man who would engage in a contest of this nature, unless I saw a
probable peomect of success, I do not envy that wait his feeling,
Iwho would recommedd to us, to sit down quietly under our
wrongs, and tamely offer our backs to the boll, for want of sufficient
spirit to rid ourselves of an onto:salve and adieus burthen. Gentle-
men, let us only be true to our- elves, firm, united, and acuatcd by
a proper spirit; let us only, in the words of taffy ftMacbeth,, • Screw our courage to the sticking place,
"And well not fail."
Gentlemen, one word more, and I have done. IVe are told that
wine of the inhabitants of this parish do not pay to the extent of !
2s vq. in the pound upon their rents, and that these persons do not
fedtnemselves aggrieved, and feel apprehensive that in the event of
their joining in the measure of resistance, that they also may be'
carried up to the 2a. lid. rate ; to such persons, I would just beg to'
say, that if they consider that they owe their present rate of tythe
to any merciful feeling on the part of die Lay Impropriatur, I am
Pony for their mistaken notions. The Lay Impropriator takes
just as much as he thinks he can get, and if he considered them'
I able to pay him at the rate of 2s. 9d.-21. 91. he would here to-
now. I woe I also just ask persons so situated, whether they
! would not feel the relief of having their present tytlie diminished']]
1 to one belles much as we should, who pay up to die full rate ? l'
Other Gentlemen, who are actually rated at 2s. 9d., are apprelten.
wive, that as they are not quite rack rated, that a retributive feel.'
ing on the part of the I.:is linproini nor might produce a re.survey ,
of the pat ish by winch means they might have even their payments',
increased ! 'I
would request Gentlemen to dismiss from their '
minds any such apprehension, as it is pretty well ascertained that
the result of a resurvey would be, that where one house would'
be raised, it would be requisite to lower at least five, and 1
that therefore, any such measure would. in point of fact, de-
feat itself. Sonic Gentlemen have cast doubts upon the legality
lof our subscri:ing conjointly to defray the essences attendant,
; upon the measures we are about to adopt. It may be antis.
1 factory to such Gentlemen to know, that the opinion of Counsel ,
has been taken upon this uoint, and 1 sill, with your permis- ;
lion, read to you the opinion of Mr. Rolland upon it. (The
!opinion which Ire here read through, corroborated his statement.'
Nothing. I apprehend, c. n be more clear or more satisfactory. 1
There is one oilier point to which I would refer before I conclude,
! and which 1 consider to be of considerable importarre. I would'
; wish it to be understood, that in the event of the Lay Impropriator,
' or the parties representing his interests, coining forward forthwith,
I and proving themselves inclined to come to a mutual understand-
ing in the first instance, that we should then be inclined to treat 1
1 upon terms considerately more to his advantage than if, at any fu.'
i tore stage of the contemplated proceedings, and after he shall have
put the parish to some considerable expense, he 'amokd then find
it his interest to propose a c empramise. I should be glad to hear ,
whether this does or day not meet with your concurrence ? It
could not with propriety be einlardied in our resolutions ; but as 1 I
have little doubt but 31r. K., or those acting fur liitti, will be in.
formed of all that take* place here this day, this circumstance will
not be overlooked. Sonic Gentlemen have reeteinniended mode-1
ration in our proceedings, and temperance in our language ; and if;
I should have expressed myself warmly, it is because I feel warmly
! upon this matter, a...Aar it is hardly possible to speak upon with 1
any kir.d of temper. lam sure the vestry will bear MC out in say-
I log, that the hay Inipropriator's conduct towards us, does not en.
tide him to expeet any particular courtesy from us, or die use of
measured language, when applied to his proceedings."
The worthy Gentleman then sat down, eler moving a resolution,
amidst the general applause of tile meeting, having been intemtpted
in the course of his address by frequent bursts of loud approbation.
Mr. BLEW' Ail N. in proposing the rext resolution, said that he
was Induced to bead a requisition upon this subject, from a comic.
don that he would inert with the unanitnotis support of the palish
in Meeting the object in which they all had a common interest.
Ile had in his own person resisted the applicatieh, the conse.
quence of which was, that legal proceedings were commenced
against him. Mr. Saunders (who, from his acquaintance with
this subject, and his ability, he was sure, the parish would em-
ploy on the present occasion.) put in an aptearance for him,
whereby he would be exempted front any further individual report-
sibility until November next ; but he had every confidence in the
combined assi.utiice and support of the parish ere that perind. lie
was glad to inform the meeting of the alacrity with which this
subject heel been taken up already, as many persons had put down
their names. and in a few hours not less than a thousand pounds
was subscribed. A general disposition prevailed to contribute a
proportionate moiety towards the attainment of an object, which, by
proper and 1,411-directed means they should long since hare attained.
l'hey had the example of similar exertions in other parishes ; they
had the instance of their success, and the most satisfactory and
high legal opinion to assure them of a favourable result. It was
no: the least-to-be-regretted coneide-ation in this case, that this
large exaction was not paid by
.the parish fur the support of the
church, or the dignity of religion. On the contrary, the interest
of religion was oserlooked and neglected. and scarce a betoming
maintenance provided for the clergy, in consequcnceof the large sum
drained from it by the lay improprlator, who enjoyed this great re-
venue by reason tt'f some for 110.tietuf.vested by one of his progetitors.
They should bear in mind the likelihood of this case coining before
Parliament, on which occasion they would hare to use their utmost
exertions. Ile had been himself an observer of proceedings in the
house of loninions, and would assure the meeting it was no easy
matter to enlist the services of 31embers of that House in such •
cause as theirs. Some were cringed by promoting the local bite-
reins of the respective places they represented, and some were other-
wise engaged. There were not wanting persons ready to promote
the interests of the people, but he only wished to remind them that
they were with (NCI ulty got at; and they (the parishioners) haul
need of every direct and circuitous exertion to procure their r t-ope-
ration and assistance. Ile concluded by recommending unanintons
exertion, anti purposed the next (the 9M) Resolution.
It was duly seconded, and carried unanimously.
The vestry-clerk- here, at the request of the chur:hwardent, read
two letters, one from Mr. Tomlin, of the firm of 31, MM. 'faddy,
Tontlin, and l'o. It expressed regret at his unavoidable absence
from the meeting, approved of the me:vomit the parishioners were
about to adopt, end expressed his readiness to contribute any fur-
ther ptoportionate moiety that might be regaiNte fur carrying
them into efli:ct.

" To thin complexion must you cone at last."
It must be from Parliament, and front Parliament only, that we
can hope for that sure and stable terminatiera to our arduous la-
bouts, as shall effectually protect us f any future claim. But,
Gellllolllll. whilst I am Mapes:al to allow Mr. K. every weight lie
can himself wish to derive Inns his vested right, I you'd beg to
ask, what regard lie has evinced, by his rapacious proceedings to-
wards us, for our vested rights ? for surely it must be admitted,
that it lie is pit a v vi of a vested right, which, for argument's sake,
tee will admit, to charge us at the rate of 7001. a year by way of
tithe, we surely, on the other hand, have a vested right not to have
that payment increased upon us, at the sole will and "price of Mr.
K. And by way of elucidating the trader mercy with which Mr.,
K. has treated our vested right, I dial! just take the liberty of
stating to you, for your information, a scale of payments made to
Mr. S., as for tithe, by an old and very teepee: de inhabitant of
this parish. This gentleman faille to his present house In 1771
(where he has ever since resided, and where I hope he will continue
irony years to reside, and to enjoy the fruits of the labours we are
about to enter upon), le which tone lie paid as tithe 4:2 4 II
In HAD his tithe was raised to 2 la 6
Which sum he continued to pay annually to 11107, from
which year to 1809 he paid •
Front 111119 to 1819 he paid a
And horn ItilO and *nice he has actually been paying,
incredible as it may seem, . • - - HI 18 2
This, gentlemen, I have selected as an instance of the unheard of
enormity under which we are now suffering, and which is a picture
dr the state of the whole parish. Now, gentlemen, shall we be
herearter told. that we ought to respect the vested right of an indi-
vidual, who has had the shatitelesaneas to treat our rested rights in
this unwarranted manner ? 1 Mil really at a loss for words in
which adequately to express my feelings upon this subject in rerun
comprehensive enough, to convey to you my feelings of the
' enormity of this transaction. Gentlemen, I say, let Mr. K. *now
' to the satisfaction of a Committee of the llotoe of Commons, that
he is seize., of a vested right to fleece us to the annual amount of
6,0001. and I, for ore, will cease to oppose his claims. But, If on
the contrary, he can substantiate Lis right to a tythe, in tt is
parish, and can only prove a consideration paid by lien ancestors for
the same, amounting to some 10.0001. then 1 say, that his vested
tight (being first duly cstablaslied) will be amply satiaued, by the
annual payment• which the parish made at the tittle of the pot.
chase, and which I should apprehend a payment of sixpence in the
Pound. on our present rated t:ntal, would be found liberally to
socure to him. But I beg to state distinctly, that it is neither the
wish, nor the intention of any gentleman who has firm? I in this
business, to deprive the Lay Impropriator of his income altogether,
as the concluding words of the resolution row under your consider.
anon will fully show. Still I must be ullowed to leaser!, that it we
were to measure out justice in this matter, as it has been meted out
to us, we should be fully ;twilled, if we substantiate our chief'
ground of defence, in withholding payment of tythe altogether—
not only this but we should be warranted (if the case were not
utterly hopeless) in tequiring in equity, at least a refund of what, I
think we should not flare much difficulty in showing, we have
just grounds to assert he has improper:), been levying in this parish,
and which the vestry will perhaps he surprised to hear,
amounts to the astounding sum of 60,000/. So much for the
objection as to the vested right of Mr. Kynaston. The
next objection which the gemlemen of the Provision Com-
mittee 'Aye heard raised, is, that it is wholly futile to attempt to
oppose the Lay Impropriroor, because, forsooth, the East India!
Company failed in their opposition to his claims. Now, this is
mud. easier asserted than proved. Let us examine for a moment
the grounds which there may be fur despairing of success on this
head. Although, Gentlemen, we shall have numerous grounds of
defence to these acrid' which it would be unnecessary end indeed
inim,litic to enumerate in this plate, it cannot, it need not be con-
cealed, that our chief point of defend will rest upon the fact (for I
am warranted in so calling it) of the mm-enrolment of the decree
referred to in the Act of Henry the Eighth. Now, although the
nomenrolment was certainly pleaded by the East India Company
in their d.lence, it was never argued, nor was it made a painkiller
point of defence. The fact was simply this--that Mr. IC. insisted
upon the payment of a certain sum tor tithe, upon certain ware. houses of the Company situated in this parish, which they con- I
sidereal were not or the value he set upon them, and the whole
matter went oil; upon the evidence 4.1 certain surveyors, who,
having fixed an annual value thereon, the verdict was taken accord-
ingly. Another objection with which we hare been met, and which
ant free to *ay is one to which I should fur one be most happy to!
listen were it possible to be entertained, is thls—that inasmuch as
the question of tithes in the City of London is row before the Law
Cairns, it would be prudent to await the result of these proceed..
ings, snit be guided by the judgments to be pronounced in the -
CAWS now pending. Gentlemen, as I said before, this offers an I The different Protestant and Roman Catholic Clergy
argument ad cai,landarn, but which cannot fora moment bear the arc actively engaged examining the Oftraent schools in this
test of clue domination. The tithe questions are in themselves so! diocese,
to enable them to answer the of queries of the
very materially distinguished from each other, are to diderent .
their general as well as in their particular features from each other, Commissioners of Education:—/Interk k:Chroniele.
as well as from our particular case' that any decision had upon The Commissioners of Fisheries have directed the sum
any such case so pending, even if the Lay Impropriator were!, of 400/. to be applied for the purchase of boats for the poor
to agree to be bound by it (which lie need not be, and which of Sligo.
it is not difficult to anticipate that lie would not be), that it is I
wholly out of the question for us to exam our cause to be Cu ran Awars.—A new corps of yeomanry has
tried by others; odd to a hick the very material consideration been art a-going, in the room of the " deceased ; cavalry
the
that the tithe causes now ',ending are fast. whtich are resisted ! inemlx•rs of which have been invited to embody themselves
by individuals, and which may be conitoornised to-morrow.l in the troop. The entnmanding officer is Mr. %Vedder.
At any event, it is exceedingly improbahle that any result can be burn, of Islahatik. A junction is also talked of with the
looked fir from them, is at ail likely to be serviceable to Ds. Perth wider Major Belches.
The one is, the case of Mr. Punier, who is contesting the claim of the troop,
Lay joi/aapriator of the parish of St. Helen's, liisnopagate-street ; I So great an effect has
the
most trifling change of soft
and the other is thatorarublic.,pi,ium individual in tam neighbour. i and herbage on the growth of wool, that on two farina,
ing parish of St. ()lave's, lart.street, Mr. Newlin, who is, single-1 adjoining each other on the South Downs of Sussex, there
handed, opposing the mighty force which the incumbent, Dr. is annually a difference in the value of their respective
Owen, is bringing to crush him; who has stool forward to tight growths of from fis. to 4s. per ton, eat n though the ewes
the battle of the parish in his own person, in a manner so noble,
that it ought to cause every individual its the parish, when they from which it was shorn should have been originally
meet hint in the street, to hang down their heal for shame, in equally good as to breed and staple. 'llls experiment has
withholding from him that assistance his public spilt so justly me- lice,. tried, for several succeeding years, by the occupants
rim. It has also been urged, in oPPolition to our Proposed eowtelef the farms alluded to having exchanged, each vear, fifty
'of proceeding, first, that it has bcco tried before in this parish, and ewes of the same age and quality, and the e.
that asea-
that the result was unsuccessful. I had rather nut witch upon this
taint.d, the .01 of one of the parcels of ewes invariably
subject, inasmuch as it might perhaps lead to inferring mismanage.
degenerating.
meat somewhere or other, where perhaps it ought not to rest. And, improving, the other invariably Nor is this
secondly, that our having paid the rate of 2s. 9d. fig bailie time the only instance of the kind. Thin chalky land, covered
past. must act as a bar to our present or future object...ins. Good with a fine-textured turf, interspersed with wild thyme,
Slot! I are we to be told, that because we have been paying money
small wild clover, and cyebright, ;as that which produces
for wine time, in our own wrong, that we are therefore to go on „
molting such payments ad jarful/min )1 If this be the law, all I can the finest wool. It is, indeed, a well-known fact, that,
'say is, that Idu nut believe Parliament would keep us low in sus. wool always become coarse, though increased in weight, I
peose, if we petition for its amelioration; for Ido nut lositate to from sheep being fed on strong land. Ilenee it is that
say, and I rejoice in being able to say it, that the tithe is gone by, a South Down ewe product% a fleece full a third heavier,
when co iiiii ion law and common sense are to till oppo.the scales •
tnougn much coarser, the year she is fattened, than in
Our !taring so long aubmitted to this shameful exaction—atainetul
alike to the payers and the receiver, is a very weak and bail reason I an!, one that preceded it.
why we should continue tu do so ; but a very stroag and irodefut t Small blidgrs, repeatedly applied, are the only efl'ectual
renew wiry we should instantly, and for ever, rerese to be forth reinetiv for Curtis.

A letter frotn Sir J. Shaw, the Alderman of the Ward, was also
received, containing 201. as his sobseription. The announcement
of this subscription was received with an c‘pression of applause by
the:meeting. Several minor subscriptions were also announced to
the meeting. . .

The CristRNAW intimated that many were willing to subscribe
who did not wish to give io their nlines as subscribers. and sug-
gc,ted the propriety of admitting them to subscribe, a hich was ac-
ceded to.

Serena resolutions were then pmposed, pennant to the mom.
mendstion of the Committee.

31r. SAUNDEBS, on a vote of thanks being proposed to him,
which was unanimously carried, exprmsed the gratitude he felt at
the confidence which the parish tl us reposed in him. It was not
front professional considerations merely that he expressed the pride
and gratification which their good opinion of him inspired ; but he
was in heart, and front principle. attached to the rause in which
they were engaged, and neither zeal nor assiduity would be wanti:,
on his part to promote the object for which they were conventsr.
and which they had entrusted to his care. (Hear, hear.) IFe felt
assorts!, both on principles of law and of justice, that their exer-
tions a ould be crowned with ultimate storm. The decree which
could alone give validity to the nth of Henry VIII. was not en.
rolled, and its non-enrolment rendered the Act futile and inope-
reise. This was a legal cpinion. supported by the highest au.
thority, and gave assurance of final success to their efforts.
They had the example if other parishes, w'tieh :tad succeeded
in a similar struggle. for which lie (Mr. S.) had been also en-
gaged : he could safely promise them, that the sane exertions and
devotedness which he gave to this subject before, should now be
employed in their service. (Dear, hear.) He would, with the
aid of their Vestry Clerk, use every diligent research, and look af.
ter every ease whim could hear upon the point at issue. The
only opposition that could be raise el against them was, a pre.
sump tion that the decree had been enrolled ; but lie felt con.
(Went that no tribunal would permit a vague presumption to
overturn or weigh against a positive right. (Hear, hear.) lie
begg.ed to renew his expression of thanks for the honour con.
(erred upon hint, and to assure them of his zeal in promotmg
their interests, and of confidence in the result. (Hear, hear.)
Thanks were then voted to the Churchwardens, and to sere.
ral Gentlemen of the parish, who had taken an active part in
convening the present meeting. and promoting its objects ; after
which it Woke up at half-past three o'clock.

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