The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-12-10 00:00:00

CITY TITHES.

On Thursday a Vestry Meeting of the Inhabitants of St. Olave,
Hart-street, was held, pursuant to notice; the attendance was
numerous and respectable; theßev. Dr. Owerc,the Rector,todk the
Chair, and read the Requisition, which was. '• to consider and de.
terming the !weenies to be adopted to obtain retires. from the op-
pressive exec:Mr.s recently enforced by the Rector, by fragmenting
his tithes; and' the furthtr prosecution of a Rill in Parliament for
the relief of the parishioners; also to receive a communleatiois
from the Tithe Committee of the parish on other matters con-
nected with the interests thereof."

The CHAIR MAN stated, that he had permitted the Notice to be
read in the Church, though he had therefore incurred censure, as
it certainly stated a falsehood when it Imputed " oppressive ex.
actions" to him. Ile objected also to the presence of several in-
dividuals rot entitled to form part of the Vestry. Among these
was the Collector to the Tithe Committee. and some reporters for
the public press. In order to render the Meeting legal, it was, in
his opinion, necessary that these gentlemen should withdraw.
A very warm discussion took place upon the former print, the
majority of the Meeting contending, that the individuals collected
had a right to, and should be present, when

Dr. 6scrwYsaid, that if the parishioners wished the Gentlemen
he had mentioned should be present, he had no objection, but he
did not think it legal.
In the irritation Revelling there appeared no disposition to re-
ceive any concession, and a Resolution was ultimately carried,
declaring that the Gentlemen objected to as not being parkbloners,
should remain present.
Dr. OWEN—If I had had any notion that any but parishioners
would be allowed to be presenti could have brought my friends too,
and I could hare brought half the Clergymen in London here ; how-
ever, I bow to the opinion of the sleeting.
The report of the proceedings of the Tithe Committee was then
read, and the letters that had been addressed to the Bishop of Lon-
don and Mr. Secretary Peel... _

Mr. DAIIKLAMII, 'a
parishioner, then stood forward todostlfy
the phrase " oppressive exactions," ill the requisition. was
glad, he said, to meet the Rector fax to fate. He owned he was
not a little rimed the other day at receiving a lawyer's litter front
Dr. Owen's atm, who was a lawyer, informing him that if he did
not pay V. and upwards, being 2a. 9d. in the pound upon one quar-
ter's tithes, he should be exchcquered. lie went to his clerks and
his servants, to Inquire if any application for the tithe had been
made in his absence. They knew of stone. To be doubly sure, he
applied to the Tithe Collector. The Collector acknowledged that
he had not applied. Tacked to the letter was a demand of b.. for
writing it. lie thought it necessary. however, to let the Bishop see
how his flock was fleeced, so he enclosed to him the letter from Dr.
Cwcn's son.

To this he received the following renly from his Lordship :
" Fulham, October 22, 1825.
" Sir.—l never see without concern dissensions between pa-
rishioners and their Clergymen, from whatever cause they may
arise, and with a view to the peace of St. °lave's in particular, I
signified in the last Session of Paillittnent my willingness to accede
to an arrangement which, leaving Dr. Owen in possession for life
of his income, as it then stood, would have fixed the payment for
tithes idle? his decease at eighteen-pence in the pound. In this
measure only could I have been ten iceable to the parish in this
matter. In the recovery of their dues I can neither assist nor
control the Clergy, and common discretion forbids me to interfere
where I have no power.
" I remain, Sir, your very obedient servant,
(Signed) " W. LONDON."

Dr. Owrx explained. He had directed his son to write, because
ben nderstood t"at Mr. Barklamb had refused to pay him tithes
until he (the Rector) paid poor rates.
Another Parishioner—But you told me, Doetcr, that you would
proceed spinet me, though I never said any thing about poor's
rates. You made me pay is. Id. in the pound.
Dr. Owt n.—Well. if I did that, I'll refund.
The Pariehoner —You not only made me pay Tithes for the
whole of the premises, but you made my undo...tenants pay also,
and besides that, I paid 2,1. to your son, for a threatening letter he
sent to me. (Loud tumult.)
Another Parishioner—And so ru did with me. You not only
had tithes e.g of rue, but you made a mt n who rents a cellar under
me, pay tithes also, and when T compl: load to you, you told me,
that unless I could show that both of re together paid more than
2s. 9d. in the pound, we ought to be • t stied.
Dr. Dirt u—And so you (tight. (Camour.)
Mr. NOLEE, in reply to • remark from the Chair, denied that
the Rector's claim was a vested right.
Dr. Ownst—l have read your long letter on the subject ; and I
am glad to hare the opportunity of declaring, before )our face, that
I havenever seen a more elaborate tieze of absurd:ty and falsehood.
(hies.-, and cries of " Order "1)
A long and angry discussion ensued. Finally, when the item.
lotion for adjournment was about to he put,
Dr. OWEN said, he thought it necessary to give some explana-
ticn. The expressions he had made use of towards Mr. Rolfe were
hank, but he thought they would admit he had received great pro-
vocation when he told them that 3lr. Rolfe called hint a legalised
robber. He denied that he was guilty of exaction or extortion, and
he defied any one of the parishioners to try the question. He would
give any man one hundred pounds to do so.
Serena parishioners offered to try the question fairly in the
Court of King's Bench.
Dr. OwEar —No ; I'll try .it in the proper places, the Court of
Exchequer or Chancery.
The Solicitor of the Tithe Committee asked the Rector if he
would consent to a friendly issue, to try the question of non.en.
velment ?

Dr. OwEN-10, I shall not, as I have three grounds for my
claim, be such a fool as to give up two of them ; I shall go into
Court upon all three—the Ant of the 27th, the Act of the 37th, and
the custom.

The SOLICITOI—Why, if you rely upon any one of those,
whet becomes of the *there?

Some long and angry discussion then followed, when the Doe.
tar, upon being questioned as to whether he would agree to the
conditions on which they first went to Parliament, namely, that he
should hare a fixed stipend of 1820!. per annum, exclusive of his
surplice fees. repeated twice, for the satisfaction of his parishioners,
" I will accede to the 18201., if you can settle with the Bishop the
sum to he paid to my successor. I will have nothing to do with
the settlement of the allowance to my successor ; that you must
settle with the Bishop, as he wished me to oppose tho Bill as It
then stood."

After this declaration a motion for an adjournment to that day
fortnight was enrried, in the hope that the proposed meeting
on the following day, between the Bishop and Trustees of Ad-
rnwson would lead h.) some satisfactory arrangement to terrainnte
the lamentable di:tin:tea of this parish.