The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-01-21 00:00:00

PUBLIC MEETING AT BRADFORD.
FOR THE RELIEF OF THE DISTRESSED POOR.

[From the Bradford Cwirier.]
We need hardly express the pleasure it gives us to be able to
state, that the measures so warmly recommended in our paper of
last week have been gone into, and that our expectations have been
fully realised in the warmth and zeal which this work of mercy
and duty has been proceeded in.
On Monday last, pursuant to requisition, a meeting for the
above-stated purpose, was held at the Court-house. It was at-
tended by a numerous and highly respectable body of the inhabit.
ants of this town, and the Her. Henry Heap, M.A. Vicar, watt
called to the Chair. .

The CHAIRMAN opened the business of d•e evening in an intro.
ductory and very appropriate address, stating the necessity which
existed for the immediate exertiona of the humane, and his convic-
tion that an appeal would not be made in vain to the judgment
and feelings of the meeting.
Resolutions were then put from the Chair, and carried tmani-
mously.
The Resolutions haring been passed, a Committee was then
named, consisting of a numerous and respectable body of the in.
habitants.

It will be In the recollection of some of our readers, perhaps,
that in the beginning of December last a letter appeared in the
Leeds hedepetstlent, in which the writer offered to subscribe 100/.
for the relief of the distressed poor of Ibis town. With reference to
this letter, it was therefore moved, " that 3lr. Fawcett and 31r.
Paley be requested to wait upon the Editor of Me Lads nilipendent
to ascertain the address of the gentleman who made that most
handsome offer of 1001. to the distressed poor of Bradford, which
appeared in that paper. and also to watt upon that gentleman and
tender to him the united thanks of this meeting for his liberal
offer."

- The Committee was then appointed to meet next morning at
eleven o'clock, in the vestry of the parish church.
The Custom/at having left the Chair, the thanks of the meet-
ing were awarded to him, for his attention to the business of
the day.
Next morning the committee meeting took place, when, the
town and neighbourhood Was divided into districts, and gentlemen
appointed to yisit, for the purpose both of soliciting subscriptions
and of ascertaining the existing distress; and the Committee was
further appointed to meet again the next evening at six o'clock, to
report progress.
We have now a most agreeable task to perform ; it is not only to
infonn our readers of the suttees which has attended the exertions
of the benevolent In this neighbourhood, but also to record one of
the most noble and disinterested stets of generosity which has ever
come to our knowledge. It was reported to the meeting, that in
consequence of the instruction of the meeting, Mr. Fawcett and
Mr. Paley had waited upon the Editor of the Leeds Indepen4knt,
and in consequence of the information received from him, had
waited upon Mr. William first, cloth-tnanufactnr, of Leeds,. the
author of that letter, who., in the most prompt and generous man.
nee, instantly preened his readiness, and the pleasure which. it
row. thavniaajwadzailzawols he had "Tett at
the disposal of,be Committee. Mr. Film is in no respect con.
netted with thlirtown, and this generous conduct is therefore not
attributable to anything but the dictates of a generous heart, which
rises superior to the common reasons which influence common
minds.

The reports of the other gentlemen appointed to visit the die
tricts were then received.
_ _

They then concurred in representing the sufferings of the poor as
heart-rending, and as calling for the most immediate interposition
of benevolence; and it gives us great pleasure to add, that they
concur in two other things more agreeable, the readiness of every
one to afford relief according to his power, and the general disposi-
tion shown on the part of the poor not to avail themselves of the
generosity offered, unless compelled by absolute necessity, but
rather pointing out to visiters neighbours greater sufferers than
themselves.
The reports having been received, from which it appeared that
upwards of one thousand pounds had already been collected, farther
metsures were adopted for carrying into eflixt the immediate relief
called for.