The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-09-09 00:00:00

HAMPSTEAD VESTRY MEETING.

Yesterday, a Meeting of the Parishioners of St. John, Hamp-
stead, was held at their Committee Room, for the purpose of re-
ceiving the Report of the U*mmittee which had been appointed to
examine the accounts of the present Surveyors of the Highways of
that parish, and also the accounts of Messrs. Newen and Hankins,
who were the Surveyors for the years 11122 and Din
There was a very full attendance, and at half-past 10 the busi-
ness of the day commenced by
Mr. HANKINS moving that Mr. PHILIP PAXON should take
the Chair.
This was opposed by several Gentlemen present, who thought
that Mr. I'oor.TEn,oneof the churchwardens, was the proper
person to preside on this occasion. As this suggestion seemed to
he unanimously acquiesced in, Mr. POULTEIi accordingly took
the Chair.
Mr. Ilawittws—l object to your sitting in that Chair, Sir. I
have given you notice before that you ought not to preside, and 1
now object to it. '
Mr. Po LTE R—l shall leave it to the Vestry to decide.
Mr. HANKINS-1 should be sorry to give you lITIV personal of.
fence ; but as you are one of the Committee, whose lienort is now
to be laid before the Meeting, by your sitting there, you will, in
fact, be deciding upon your own Report. Therefore I request
you will leave the Chair, Sir.
Mr. Paso sr, sen., thought Mr. Poulter was not so full of am-
bition as to desire the Chair.
Mr. Pout.SEß—Not at all.
11ANIC iss said that as a matter of right there was only one
person who could take it. It might be is a matter of courtesy al-
lowed for others to preside : but as this Meeting was a particular
one, he must ot,jeet to Mr. Poulter's remaining in the chair.
Mr. Pout.TER repeated that he had no wish personally to take
it, but he denied is tots that any intimation had ever been given
to him by Mr. Ilankihs, that he intended to make this opposition.
Mr. HANKINS asked whether Mr. Hansel', who presided at the
last Meeting, did not give that information ?
Mr. POULT E it —Certainly not.
Mr. GRAIN said, that in consequence of a want of attention to
the Comr.::ttee, by the parties who were re mired to attend them.
the document could not, in fact. be considered as a Report. It
wan a mere history of the proceedings of the Committee, not a re.
guise Report, and, therefore, could not be considered as th% act of
Zr.l Poulter, although he attended the Committee.
Mr. KELLY* said the Committee had been prevented from
making a regular Report for want of the proper accounts being
rendered.
Mr. GRAIN reinoekVl, that as to the objection that only one per-
son hat! n taint to preside over the Parish Vestry, it had nothing to
d' 'will their proceedings, because the Incumbent, whose right it
was, was not now present. -
A Pastsatoxxa said they might still proceed under the Art
of Parliament, which altered the. at lent mode of proceeding la
such Mts.
Mr. HANKINS renewed his motion, that Mr. Poulter be re-
quested to leave the chair, and Mr. Philip Poxon be called to it.
That gentleman was independent, unprejudiced, and impartial.
He was neither a parish officer, nor had any thing to do with its
affairs.
Mr. POULTER hoped Mr. Hankins did not mean to say that,
because he (Mr. Poulter) belonged to the Committee, be was
therefore prejudiced and partial.
Severed gentlemen now spoke at once, expressive of their opinion
that such a mode of reasoning would be most unfair.
Mr. PA2ON, sen.—ln my opinion, you cannot have a more ve-
sper:table man in the chair than you now have.
Mr. II AM X I Nti—l coincide in that °Onion ; but in this one ha
will be sitting upon his own Report.
A PARISHIONER—Iint he has no vote.
Mr. GILDY requested that the notice for convening this Vestry
might be read.
Before this request was complied whh,
111 r. THOMPSON rose, and begged leave to know who it was
that had employed the gentlemen before him (pointing at the Re-
porters) to take notes on this occasion, and whether it was custom.
ary to employ them at Vestry Meetings? He asked these ques-
tions because he thought there had been something very unhand.
some, something very unbecoming, something very ungenerous,
on the part of the Newspaper Reporters, towards an old and tried
servant of the parish, who, if lie had erred, he (Mr. Thompson)
was convinced had done so by his head, and not his heart. This
having been so, he should move that the Repotters might with.
draw. He did not see why they should be present on such oeca-
sions. He thought there was nothing either handsome or liberal
t.tarards an old servant to have him into this room to look over his
strain in the presence of strangers. lie knew nothing of Mr. Masters
(the Vestry Clerk). He spoke an a Christian, a friend, and an in-
dependent inhabitant of the parish, on his behalf. lie knew well
what it was to neglect things ; he himself was guilty of much ne-
glect, for which he could not account. At this moment he was los-
ing an immense sum of money from that very cause. He had ten
houses, which had not been let for the last eleven years; he had
also a house that had cost liim a great deal of money, for which he
had neither agreement nor lease. Ile knew not bow to account for
this; It was an apathy of the mind. He was confident that Mr.
Masters, from what he knew of him, would do nothing wrong to
hurt the parish ; or, if he had, it sprung from the head, and not the
heart. \%'it'; great respect, therefore, for the gentlemen before him,
he begged to move that they withdraw. They have nothing to do
with parish business. book at the consequences of the Press taking
up these things. Look at Pancras ; see how much that was divided,
and all through these little things. There was Mr. Blew, a gen-
tleman of this parish, described as *perfumer. Why, what tad that
to do with the business of the Vestry ? Why should he be called
such in a report of the proceedings at a Vestry ? They might as
well have spoken of him as a cobbler, or any thing else. Whathad
his being a perfumer to do with the business of their Vestry P
Mr. KELLY asked whether there was no; a motion before them
with respect to the Chairman leaving the Chair.
.Mr. HAWKlNS—Certainly you have. (Cries of " No, no.")
The Orate MAN—Does any body second the motion as to my
leaving the Chair? (Cries of •s No, that is past.")
Mr. a AlN—Because a Gentleman is on the Committee of the
parish, is he totally disqualified to preside here ? I deny any such
proposition. It is usual for our Churchwarden to take the Chair;
and as our spiritual head is not here, I move that our parish head
take the Chair.
Mr. Hai:mos, who had hitherto opposed It, DOW said, I se-
cond that motion, Sir. (Laughter.)
This point being disposed of,
Mr. HANKINS again rose and, said—Now with regard to the
Committee r

Reporters in the room. As some Gendemen- of wire _ _ at
the lad Vestry thought proper to introduce a Reporter from the
Morningllerald, they hula precedent for Reporters being admitted,
and he should therefore move that they be allowed to remain in
the room this day, to do him justice, and every man in the parish
too. He demanded this as a right, and not as a favour. His name
had been introduced into the papers as well as Mr. Masters's, and
what he wanted was the opportunity of repelling the foul calum-
nies which had been directed against him.
Mr. KELLYquiteconcurre4 in the propriety of the Reporters be-
ing permitted to remain in the room, but he did not concur in
attributing the introduction of theilleporter of the Morning Herald
at the last meeting to the Committee. Not one of those gentlemen,
he was assured, knew ten minutes before the Vestry commenced
that such a person was about to be presented to them. The charge
therefore was extremely unfounded. He could not but express
astonishment at the tone and temper which Mr. Hankins displayed
on this occasion. It was quite uncalled for, as there was no dispo-
sition on the part t.f any person to do any thing to affect Mr. Han-
kins. Ile could not imagine what part of that gentleman's
conduct it was upon which lie was so extremely alive
as to dread the examination of his accounts by the Vestry.
(Mr. IlanLins " Dread, sir r) There was something of
shame innate in 111,: feelings. (Mr. Haskjris,!' I desire to do
. .
of "

people
mys.lf Justice." Cries .. " enter, osier.") Gould it be sup. -
hear,--
and chars.) Until such M.C&StItC3 wire posed that the Committee, who had taken a great deal of pains to The Re :art wit then read. ft stated that the Committee had
wit;ficare'reiner inintogettect,.the throne woufd-1);-a-ccure, and the
tranquil. Meer,
carried into effect, the people would never be ',rushed, and the , investigate the proceedings of the perish accournitai,h:ad „any, indi- not been able to complete their Inquiries in consequence of the ac-
Great (lod in Heaven forbid they ever should. (Cheers.) . , v;.dual or particular interest in annoying Mr. ..enema r (Cries counts of Messrs. Newen and Hankins, not having been delivered,
At the conclusion of Mr. O'Connell's speech, the venerable Earl or " Certainly not.•,) Why should he, then, feel allayed, or con. but that they had ascertained the amount of the balance to the
, accompanied by Sir John Newport and the lien. Dlr. ceive himself attacked by the proceedings? Begging pinion for hands of Messra. Shelton and Grange for the years 1819 and HMO.
Fpoitnesowinilbiaym.
retired
this digression, he would now come back to the question before the A balance of 241. ls. remained to be received from Messrs. 13--
The company did not separate until a late hour nest morning. Vestry. lie concurred in the propriety of the Reporter remaining, and Cooke. .

d
A GENTLEMAN (one of the prenent Surveyors, we believe) said
he had Mr. Cooke's word fur the payment of it.
3lr. Kgt.t.Y resumed reading the Report. The Committee had
examined illr. Orange's accounts, and found them quite correct.
It appeared, however, extraordinary that, notwitiintanding ko much
had been said upon the subject, theft accounts were not pt
entered in the usual parish book, although a spate watt
left open for that purpose. The Committee accordingly
went to the .Sessions, when, after much discussion, the Ma.
gistrates determined that they could rot enforce• payment of the
arrears until the surveyors had passed their accounts in accordance
with the Act of Parliament. The Committee, therefore, teem.
mended that the acroutita nhould he paned. Some of the limns in
the accounts of 1019 and 111/0 ought to be corrected, and sn account
had been made out for that purpose. Mr. Ilmkina had disap-
pointed their expectations in not haying furnished a corrected ac.
count. Ile had not given one word to justify the payment of
salary of 301. to the vestry clerk. The arrears due on the different
accounts were, in one instance, 300/. As., and in another
1,0311. 17s. Id.; besides what was to be added to the aecount pre.
sewed by Messrs. Newen and Hankins.
Mr. BLEw moved that the Report be received.
31r. llAwxtxs called upon the Chairman to procure him as
nipsrtial hearing while he made some observations in vindication
of his character. Ile then complained of the report contained its
the Morning licrad, which he termed a foul report, and said t
had already lost him two friends, besides occasioning great arnica
tinn to his aged mother and two aunts. Ile had a right to defend
his character, and expose to the world this self-styled glorious Corn.
mitten, who had come to Hampstead and disturbed the peace of is
inhabitants, and with whom none of the respectable residents would
bare any thing to do. Ile begged to ask Mr. Hero!, if present
(Mr. Ilerol—" lam here"); did you or did you not bring the Re•
porter up in your chaise? And, .Me. Kelly, did you or not take
the Reporter home to your own house?
Mr. KELLY said the Reporter asked him for a copy of the Re.
port, and lie went to his (Mr. Kelly's) and obtained it. That was
all the knowledge lie had of the gentleman.
Mr. lit Hot. denied bringing the Reporter up in his chaise, and
asked what that could have to do with the accounts ?

Mr. KEl.LY—Since you have asked me a qurstion, I will now
ask you one, Mr. Hankins—Dad you not arterwards call upon me,
and said that if the accounts were to be examined, you hoped it
would ha done in a private Committee ?

Mr. Elsstsrsts—liiou lie, Sir. (Cries of " Shame, shame.")
Mr. Pszorr, sen. (to Mr. Hankins)—He was only asking
a question.
Mr HANKINS—He made an assertion.
Mr.6ll.llY—l was in Mr. Kelly's house at the time he callcd. So
much for Mr. Hankins's word.
Mr. IlAstxrxs—Tbank you, Sir; but I have better ruthority
than your word.
The CHAIN MAN—My dear Sir, you really do go the way to give
every body offence.
Mr. GILHY—I give you notice I shall object to every item ie
your account before a Magistrate.
Mr. Ttwursow—lie should make an apology.
Mr. llste K INS—To any other man in this room I might.
M:. PAXON again assured Mr. Hankins Chit Mr. Kelly only
asked a question, and did not make an insertion.
Mr. KELLY—I will 'stake the assertion, and I will prove it.
You called upon inc since last Saturday morning, and promised to
furnish the accounts; when we sent for them on Wednesday you
very laconically answered that you had no other account to produce
than what you hid already produced. I know nu way to extenuate
your conduct, except by supposing you are a little touched with the
mania.

Mr. THOMPSON—If you will make a motion of that I will
second it. (Laughter.)
Mr. HERON said he was one of the Committee, but was not
sclf.elected. The object and desire of that Committee were to heal
the wounds of the parish, and they had met from day to day for
that purpose. They sought to pass the accounts without the
slightest opinion that Mr. liankina had acted wrong; but, to
their utter surprise, he, to the question of the Committee fur
further accounts, returned answer, that he had no other to make.
The Committee considered these men liable to a penalty of three
times the amount of the balance in their hands ; and it was there.
lore the wish of the Committee to save them hom having these
penalties imposed.
Mr. HANK iws—Let the Magistrates inflict them if they please.
Mr. KELLY said, it would be unbecoming of the Chairman to
suffer any debate to take place until an apology had been made by
Mr. Hankins to the Meeting.
.Mr. HANK INS said lie would make no apology.
Mr. HERON said, then he would move a vote of censure upon
Mr. Hankins.
Mr. HANK:INA—Do. Sir, and I will second it.
Mr. KELLY begged the Meeting would take legal proceedings,
according to the Act of Parliament, to recover the penalties. •
Mr. liRAIN entreated Mr. Ilankins to have the kindness to let
the business proceed. He then seconded the motion that the Re-
port be received, and entered on the minutes.
The motion was put and carried.
Mr. Ilankins was now called upon to produce his accounts, as
recommended by the Repert of the Committee.
Much altercation again ensued, Alr. Ilar.kins complaining bit-
terly of the report published in the Herald, after having had his
accounts received by the Vestry upwards of three years ago; and
Mr. Kelly threatening to move that legal proceedings tre adopted to
recover the penalties, a motion was put and carried, that Mr. Han-
kins should hand in his accounts; but he refused to do so unless
he was previously allowed to make a speech to vindicate his dia.
racter. At length the confusion became so great that several gentle-
men were about to retire, declaring that they should protest against
and conclusion being come to amidst such irregularity.
The CHAIRMAN said it was their own fault. He bad several
times thrown himself upon the Meeting, but they did not sup-
port him.
Mr. KELLY returned, and said as the business was of import.
ante, and highly desirable to be concluded, he hoped the Meeting
would support the Chairman.
The Meeting signified it to be their wish to dp so.
The CHAIRMAN called upon Mr. Hankins for his accounts.
Mr. HANKINS put them in, and begged leave to say,
. that with
regard to his not bringing forward the arrears at the Committee,
the words he made use of to them were, that he should not give
them any account except through the hands of Mr. Masters. He
would ask Mr. Masters whether lie had not an account of the arrears
for the last four months in his possession ?
Mr. MASTERS said yes, and banded in a book in which they
were copied by himself.
Mr. IlasgiNS —Why then should I be called upon to hand In
my accounts after three years had elapsed, they having been already
delivered and passed?
Mr. KELLY then remarked, that there was an item in one of
them, which was, he thought irregularly paid, though Alr.Hankina
was not answerable for it,because, by paying it, he had only followed
the practice for many years back ; still the Committee begged to
draw the attention of the Vestry to the circu :stance. It was the

payment of MM. as a salary to 1111.lilasters,as servant tOtheS;;7.
veyors.This they thought deserved consideration. This was the only
point with respect to disbursements. With regard to the charge of
131. which had been expended at a dinner, he did not mean to dis.
curb that, because he believed the thing had been sanctioned by
long practice, but a new regulation as to that subject should be
made for the future. With respect to the arrears, if the book now put
it contained that account, he was perfectly willing to receive it. So
that after all this irritation there was nothing at all attaching to Mr.
Hankins.
Mr. HANKINS justified the salary to Mr. Masters, as being in
accordance with the uniform practice of the parish.
Some conversation now took place between Mr. Gilby and Mr.
Hankins—first in a low tone of voice, but presently it became loud
and warm.

Mr. HANN iris declared that many gentlemen would not attend
the Vestry while the Committee existed, and named Mr. Toiler,
Mr. Hoare, Mr. Ballintyne, Mr. Wells (or Watts), Mr. Warren,
and Mr. Nevison, as among those who had so determined to with-
hold themselves from interfering with the affairs of the parish.
It would be uninteresting to dwell longer (indeed we fear we have
already been a great deal too long) upon the proceedings of this
Vestry t much more angry word.; were made use of—at least on one
aide—but it finally terminated in a Resolution, which was unani.
mouldy agreed to, that, in the accounts ellfessrs.Newman and Ilan.
kins now received, it was the opinion of this Vestry there was no.
thing whatever to impeach the integrity of those gentlemen.
The accounts were then referred to the Committee.

A Mr. PINE opposed this motion, for he knew that the account*
were incorrect, although he had never seen them. (Laughter.)
It was then moved and carried, that the Churchwardens should
call a Meeting next Friday, to receive the accounts of Messrs.
Levock and Barker.

Thanks were voted to Mr. Levock, for his attention to the Com-
mittee.
Thanks were also voted to the Committee, and to the Chairman,
for the exemplary patience with which he had gone through the
stormy business of the day.
The subject of the offensive passages in the Herald was again
discussed.
➢lr. FAaTAN said that it had absolutely created a religious feud
in the parish. They were calling one another Calvinists, Deists,
and Atheists, on account of it. Sonic wrote about it, and sub-
scribed themselves" Amici Pattie," as if the loyalty of others was
not as trite as theirs. lie, for one, would Lot yield to any man i.;l
loyal attachment to his King and country.