The National Register.
London, England, 1816-09-16 00:00:00

COVENT-GIRDEN.

This Theatre opened on Monday night with the play
of Pizaro, one of Sherilan's patriotic gifts to the Pub-
lie. Its merits are so well known, and have been so
truly criticised, that, it is needless to go over them again.
In the cast of the characters there was nothing new.—
Young has played Rolla on many occasions. As an ac-
tor, his abilities arc not questioned; and if his great pre-
decessor Kcmble identified his fame with the Public in
pourtraying the Peruvian hero,—the Rolla of Monday
night might claim a portion of public, respect for his ta-
lents. Mrs. Egerton, in Lleira, was sc.:it to some dis-
advantage—the character is not adapted to her phy6cal
powers; her conception of it is good: and as an Acu:.•As
in many other parts, she justly claims attention ; but
as we suppsoe, the character was thrust upon her, fr
fault was not her own. The audience, however, sss
very numerous and very considerate, and they applaudei
the sentiments which fell from the lips of Ettira.—C.
Kemble, in allonzo, Miss S. Booth, in Cora, and the
of the Dramatis Personae, experienced the welcome -
dits of the audience on their appearance. The Miller c 7,4
his Men followed. The house does not appear to have La -
dergone any alteration. A handseme gas chandelier' as
been fixed over the grand stair-case, from the Bow-st:;..et
door, which from its size and construction, affords a brit.
liant illumination. The decorations of tke interior of
the house have b• en freshened; and two boxes, for
Prince and Princess of Coburg and the Duke and Deeh-
ess of Gloucester, have been anitably fitted up.
Wtalnestlay, after the musical Romance of Guy Man.
;tering, a new Divertisemcat was performed, for the pur.
pose of introducing to the spectators three Spanish dan-
cers, Senor Luengo and his two nieces or step.daughters,
Senoras Rainot. The exertion .s violent—the movement
voluptuous—and like the native dance of the Ilighlar.-
den, the lboting on the floor is strongly marked, instead
of the light spring and elastic pirouette of the French.
It is extremely curious, and the dance though short, pro-
duced tumultuous applause, mixed with some disappro-
bation.

A young lady of the name of Boyle, on Friday made
her first appearance in the part of Vialaitle, in the spi-
rited and bustling comedy of The Wonder. She has a
tall, slender, and genteel person—she moves timidly, but
with the air of a gentlewoman. In her action there is
much gracefulness ; and considering her want of self-
possession, it must be natura4, or at least habitually,
graceful. Her utterance has som•tching in it which
seemed at first to approach to a lisp, and to arise from an
original impediment : but upon closer observation we arc
inclined to think that it may be merely a manner, and
that it therefore may be soon unlearned. Her voice is
not wanting in volume, nor is her elocution hurried or
indistinct. Her features are regular,• and her eve
ex-
pressive. She gave some of the replies to the angry
taunts and merciless reproaches of Felix, with a coolness
and humour which told strongly upon the audience, and
was frequently and tkservedly applauded. Upon tbe
whole, we do not affect to speak of this Lady's delineat:en
of Vio/ante otherwise than. as a first appearance ; but if
it requires some of the tenderness due to such an ordeal,
we may pronounce, on the other hand, that it holds out
prospects, such ns we shall rejoice to see realized by
her ; for they arc such es we have seldom seen raised
by others.
I-lAN-MARKET r.—This Theatre closed on Sa-
turday ii ,ht with a shoi: .I:ldre:s sptien by Mr. Terry.

SEPTEMBER la

POLICE REPOltn

•
Mr. MAY, Vestry Clerk ttialmal-green, examined.
Live you brought with you the rates ?—I have.
is whose custody are those rates kept ?—ln the library of the
church, when out of hand.
You make the rate? —Yee, or my clerk.
Turn to the rate of 1597.—( Witness produces the books.)
After the rates arc allowed by the Magistrates, have any al-
terations taken place?—'lt appears there has e.
By whom ?—Some by me ; when an error Iraq crept in, I have
put them to rights; or when any other persons have come into
the houses, the Collectors have altered them.
Is it the practice in your parish for the rites, when signed
by the Magistrates, not to be considered as final?—Nu person
ought to alter the sum after it hits been signed by the Magis-
trates, unless it was a clerical error.
By whom have those alterations been made, besides the Veg.
try Clerk and the Collector ?—Thes e appears to have been a
rate altered in the case of J. Johnson, rated at 241. paid 71. lOs.
altered to 401.
By whom was that altered?—it appears to me, but I am a
bad judge ef writing, to be that ot'J. Nerceron, Esq.
There appears to be an alteration of the rate of G. Titkins,
from tel. to LSI in whose writim; is that ? —The same.
There appears to he a similar alteration in the names of J.
Marshal and J. Robinson; in whose writing do those alterations
appear to be ? In the same.
Whose handwriting is thot?—Jos. Merceron's, Esq.
Can you had the name of Charlotte Cowdry?—(Witness cc-
/wee/10 44 entry, by which it appeared that she was ruled at 401.
paid 71. 10s. and changed into OW. paid 111. 55.)
In whose hand-writing is that?—lt appears to me to be that
of Joseph Merceron's. Esq
Was not that alteration made after the rate was allowed by
the Magistrates?—Np doubt of it.
Inform the Committee whether there are not a great number
of instaimes in which an alteration has taken place in the same
hand-wr:tinz?—l see seven or eight.
Look at the book again, stud say whether there are not nearer
eighty or ninety?-1 cannot say, indeed.
Turn to Edward Hartley?--That is altered.
Is that altered by Joseph Merceron, Esq. ?—lt is.
Turn to Ed card Hughes, is that altered by Mr. Merceron ?
—Yes, there is no doubt of that.
Have you any doubt that the band-writing of the alteration,
in the case of Edward Hughes, is Mr. Merceron's?—No.
You would swear to that if you were upon your oath ?—Cer-
tainly ; I could not do otherwise.
Do you recollect the case of W. Blessed, and the history of
that transaction?—l have no recollection of any particular cir-
cumstances of Mr. Blessed, respecting any alteration in the
book.
1)o you not remember he appealed against his rate?—Against
a rate, but not that rate.
Do you not remember that he sustained considerable perse-
eutiou on the part of Mr. Merceron, for that appeal ; and that
for the payment of the rate Bailiffs were put into his house,
and he expended a considerable sum in defending himself
against it?—To the best of my belief that was not upon an
altered rate ; I sued him for payment of his rates, but to the
best of my knowledge that was not an altered rate.
Do you re.iienacr the case of Charlotte Cowdry, who was
raised by a stroke of Mr. Merceron's pen, from 401. paying 71.
10s. to 601. paying 111. 55.; elo you remember whether she was
its a di•tressed situation ?—I believe she was very distressed.
Do you recollect whether she was obliged to quit the parish
almost in the situation of a pauper?—l am sorry to say she was.
Can you give to the Committee any reasnu why, according
to your jud ment, the rise from 401. to 001. took place?—No, 1
cannot, nor did not. know it till after it took place.
There cannot be a doubt as to its illegality?—:!'here canuot
be a doubt of it.
Since lan, has Mr. Merceron been in the habit of altering
the rates—There are souse altered in ISMS.
Are there any altered in 18J9?-1 have never looked.
Have you ever been instructed by Mr. Mercerise to alter
the rate yourself?— ever ; I slmeld not have done it unless it
had been a clerical error committed by myseef or my clerks.
Have you ever seen him alter the rate?—No ; never.
Do you not believe, that in the altering of the rate, Mr. Mer-
eeron served his friends, and punished his enemies ?—I am sure
that I cannot speak to that.
have you any doubt that Miss Cowdry stood in the latter
predicament when she was raised ?-1 never hail.
What was Mr. Merceron's own house rated at, at the time
Miss Cowdry's house was raised ?—Thirty pounds in the year
1 SO7.
Was Mr. Merceron's house a better house, or as good a house
as Miss Cowdry's?—Not the house be then lived in ; the house
he now lives in is much Letter.
Do you recollect at what his house is at present rated?— It
is either .501. or WI. but I cannot speak positively; it is the
same rate that his predecessor paid.
Turn to Blessed's case in 1807. Mr. Blessed'e rate stand: at
1111. it is altered to 351. In whose hand-writing is that i—lt
appears to me to. be Mr. Merceron's.
Was it cm this Mr. Blessed appealed?--I believe nat.
Was it upon this he went into Court?—Probably it was.
Upon that occasion, why's the book was handed up to the
.Liry, vsa.s not the leaf turned down, so as to conceal the altera-
t dot's appear so.
Did you tern down that leaf yourself, and if so, by whose di-
m:6oo-1 never had a direction to turn that leaf down.
Can you speak as to the object of this leaf being turned
down?—Nu, I canna: ; I think it was when Mr. Liptrap and
sae Rev. Mr. King svvre at my office that I turned down ta?se
leaves.
Were you in Coart when the book was han,led up to the
Judge?-1 think it was never handed to the Judge.
Did that come out in evidence, which now appears in the
book, that Mr. Mercerise, had, after the rate Was signed by
the Magistrates, ihathleil it No.
Yon have stated, that you believe in that shook there are
about seven or eight alterations made in the rates—There arc
a great ninny more.
You have stated, as far as you have looked over the book,
yen have observed seven or eight alterations made by Mr. Jus-
• nee Mercerise. It appears, having turned over a very few
Laves of the book, that there are 20 alterations in the same
hand-moping, dues it not ?
Refer to those names, and tell the Committee by alums those
alterations were made; Mary Allen, in page 17?—The altera-
lion is from 301. to 491. ; it appears by Mr. Merceron.
In folio 19, William Hillary; by ss bout is that alteration made ?
It appeal.% to be Mr. Merceron's.
In folio 20, Miller; by whom is that alteration made in the
rate ?—I have no doubt that that is made by the Collector.
In 24, B. Burrows; by whom is that made from 241. to 301.1 1
-It appears to be Mr. 3ierceron's.
In 25, J. Meakinss by wl is hat made from :O. to 241.?
—That maws to be the 3&14..

THE NATIONAL nEGISTER.

In 26, S. Alyera; by whom is that mad,• •-- •tame.
In 29, J. flow.liam by whom is that made?—The same.
In 32, J. Sinsiuomill ; by whom is that made?—The same.
In 33, T. Hammond? —I cannot speak to that.
In 31, J. Young. from 181. ro 241.?--Mr. Merceron.

The same page, T. Mears? —By the same.
In 3.5, J. Johnson? —The same.
The same page, J. Marshall, from 161. to 181?—The same.
And J. Itohinson, in the same page ?—The same.
In 36,A. Oartic, by whom is that altered?—The same.
Turn over the leaves, and see If there are not many other al-
teration; by the same person great many.
And these alterations have been all made by Mr. Merceron,
after the rate had been allowed by the Magistrates?,—Yes,
they were.
Are there any alterations male by Mr. Merceron, reducing
the amount of the original rate ?—I do not know.
The Committee observe, that D. Daniel's rate has been alter-
ed from 151. to 601. and subsequently altered to 551. by whom
is that subsequent alteration made ?-3lr. Merceron.
Was that alteration made upon appeal ?—I cannot sneak to
that ; in general they are in my hand-writing, or the Collector's,
when they are upon appeals.
But as this is in Mr. Merceron's hand, you believe it to be
not upon appeal?—l believe it may have been, notwithstand-
ing that, on an appeal; when I have been busy Mr. M. has
taken the book, and put it at what the rate ought to be.
Can you inform the Committee what the total of the several
alterations made by Mr. Merceron in the rate.after it was al-
lowed by the Magistrates, amounted to, in the year 1807 ?
I certainly cannot.
It appears that Mr. Merceton began altering the rates in
1805; how long has he continued to alter the rates?-1 cannot
tell any more than appears by the books; I have looked into
the pears 1806, 1807 and 1808.
It appears that alterations have been made in the years 1805,
1806, ISO?, 1808, and 1809?-1 do not know they have in 1800.
From your situation, being conversant with these books, can
you, from recollection, say whether any alterations have been
lately made by Mr. Merceron?—Not to my knowledge, any
one.

It appears by a list of between 110 and 70 hooves produced
to the Committee, and stated to be rented by Mr. Merceron
up to the year 1807, that the houses were rated together at
961. 9s. t4l. and that upon Mr. Mitchell's becoming tenant of
those houses, in the year 1808, the rate was increased to .2271.
Os. 7d. being an advance of 1311.; can you state the r•ason of
that advance?—No, I do not know of any such advance; 1
know that when Mr. Mitchell came into possession of the pre-
mises, they were let at a very small rate, and shortly after I
have invariably understood that he raised the rents double, and
some more.

Mr. Mitchell raised the rents?--Yes. I have heard many
persons say, that before Mr. Mitchell came into possession of
the premises, they paid only 81. a year, and that Mr. Mitchell
had raised them to 161. 171. and 181.
Are you acquainted with two houses in Acre-street, rented
in the year 1807, of Mr. Merceron, one occupied by R. Davis,
and the other by R. Pullen, the rates of which appear to have
continued the same in 1808 as in 1807; can you give any rea-
son why. zhe rates of those two houses were not advanced at
the same time that the other 60 were?—No; I cannot speak
to those houses at all; I have less knowledge about that part
of the parish than any other. It is very frequently the case
that two houses appear to the eye on the outside, to be of the
same size, and when you go up stairs you find that one shop
runs over the two houses, which house, to which the shop be-
longs, would let for twice as much, and sometimes three times,
on account of the length of the shop.
The Committee ask you with respeet to two houses, out of
60 or 70, stated to belong to Mr. Merceron, the rates of which
were not altered when the rates of all the others were more
than doubled?-1 cannot account for it.

Turn to folio St in the book in your hand, you will find the
name of Norman alias Whitehead, rated at 91. has any altera-
tion been made in that rate after it was allow d by the Magi%-
trates, and by whom?—it appears to me by the Collector, but
1 cannot speak to that, those are not collected on; tlio.e al-
terations are merely memorandums to go into the nest hook,
it tines not appear that any of them have been collected on.
Those alterations you state, are not made by Mr. Merceron %
—Most certainly not.
That alteration was made after it was allowed by the Magis-
tratesi—l cannot say when; it appears to be a memorandum
to put into the neat rate, as it has not been collected on; the
haloes were not Mr. Mercerun's.

Not in 1807?—Nor now; I think they belonged to the
Rev. Mr. Natt, or 11. Bushy Esq.
They are stated to belong to Mr. Nati, but rented by Mr.
Mercerunt—l do not believe they ever were rented by lain;
Mr. Merceron collected the rents of them, but be had no in-
terest in the houses.

Mr. Merceron was the agent for the estate ?—He was.
And as such he had interest for his employer iu keeping the
rate down?—The same as every other agent.
Then the moment the rents of the houses ceased to be col-
lected by Mr. Merceron, the rate is raised from 9til. to 2271%
—I cannot speak at all to that:
That appears from the book, does it not?—When the bruises
were parted with, they were sold by auction; and when Mr.
Mitchell came into the possession of them, I have understood
that he more than doubled his rents, unit if he did, it was a
natural thing to put him up in the payment of the taxes.
Have you any later rate here than l'inB?—Su ; I have not.
Are all the houses in the parish rated according to their
weft value ?—As far as that could be ascertained ; our rate
states, it is according to the full rent or value thereof ; hut if
a house is let at 271. or 2SI. and others have been rated at 251.
I have considered the 251. as a proper rate, and 1 have not put
them op.
Do you know whether there is in the rates, after the year
1919, any further. alterations of namis in the hand writing of
Mr. Mercerini?—Not to my knowledge.
Is it part of your duty to be present at any of the meetings
of the Vestry I—A ',ways.
Have these Mectiogs latterly been very tumultuous ?
Certainly.
Has it been the practice to :Minium the Meetings of the
Vestry from the Churel, to the ('lurch-yard?—\o.
Has that ever happened?—We [Lave adjourned to the por-
tico of the Church.
So that you had in front of you the public that chose to
a.,semble?—No; the Vestry-men took care to keep away those
that were not Vestry-men; auJ they could be anuelt better
discerned there than in the Vestry-room.
Of course, they could aot keep those that were not Vestry-
men from Milig lookers-on, some few yards ott?—Cotainly ;
all who were in the Clint-clay ard were looker'-on.
Why was the Meeting adjournedi.— Because the Vestry-room
was not large enough to hold half that attended.
Have you ever seen Mr. Merecron wave his hat and give
times cbccrs, for bating gained any objeet?—Never.

t. 45

Will yon take upon yonrself to say that that has never hap.
pened?—Never in my presence.
Have you ever witnessed bullock-hunting, and that riotous
assemblage of persons in the neighbourhood of the Church and
Churchyard, which have been detailed before this Committee?
Oh yes; many times; the most disgraceful thing in the coun-
try; I have often ofli•red to tarn out as a volunteer to prevent
it. On Monday and Friday we have a bullock or poor cow
hunted; the butchers round Hackney and Bethnal-green have
paid the Police.ollicers fur having brought their bullocks
home safe; and as soon as that pay ceased, their attention
ceased.

Have you ever seen in the neighbourhood of the Church, or
Church-yard, duck-hunting and dog-fighting?—There is scarce.
ly a Sunday that there is not.
Do you know whether any complaints have been made on
this subject to Mr. Merceron, or to the Bencb?—l understand
many have been made to the Police-office.
How near does Mr. Merceron live to the place where thee•
assemblages take place ?—About a quarter of a mile ; it inclose
to the Church and Church-yard; the congregation must Le
frequently disturbed by it, and it is dangerous to persons to
come.

Do you not suppose it is the duty 6f the constables of the
parish to put a stop to such • meeting?—l have used every
influence in my power, and I believe, for the last five or six
months, it has been lessened somewhat. Being Clerk to the
Trustees, as well as Vestry Clerk, I have intreated the Trus.
tees to double our number of Headborosighs; we have now
28 instead of 14, in order to have peace officers in the parish,
that they have done for three years, hut they can do nothing*
one Police-officer will do more titan all our 28 Headboroughi.
Do the Police-officers never interfere?—l have not seen
them more than once these three years.
By whom is the High Constable appointed the Magls•
trates of the Tower Hamlets District.
Are the officers in the interest of Mr. Merceron I—They are
not; that in great part lies with me; and I can assure the Com-
mittee, that our 2ii Headhoroughs are the most respectable
men that arc in the Tower Hamlets.
The question relates to the parish-officers, are they taker by
rotation through the parish, or indiscriminately P—Every one
that has served three years, goes on the first regularly ; Mr.
Merceron has no more to do with it than any other person;
it is my duty to put on every one that is ripe, as they call it ;
lie goes on the list which I return. The Overseers are ap-
pointed under an Act of Parliament.
What is the number of the pour now in the house ?-639.
What is the allowance paid by the parish for each of the
in-door poor?—They have 241. in a shilling on their earnings ;.
the out-door poor are maintained according to their families ;
same have 3s. some have 4s. sonic 2s. some Is.

What should you reckon the cost per head of the in-door
poor?—I have understood from ss. 2d. to ss. 4d.
VACCINATION.-.—A Society for Vaccination, similar to
that of London, has been formed in Jamaica, and main-
tains relations with the Mother-Society. The Small-pox
has yielded to the efforts of Vaccination at the Cape of
Good Hope ; so that that frightful malady is no longer
known there. This happy result is ascribed to the insu-
lated state of the colony. At Ceylon, where the Small-
pox used to make horrible ravages, that disorder is lime
extremely rare. In Denmark- and Sweden Vaccinatio
is in fitll vigour, and the Small-pox no longer dreaded.
The Committee established at Berlin has been very sue.
cessful in its labours, and since its foundation has vacci-
nated 19,841 persons.

CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.—On Monday Morning at
six o'clock, a mare belonging to Mr. Davison, of Charing
Cross, and rode by a Mr. Hine, who is about eight stone,
started from the one-mile-stone near the Asylum; to go
20 miles in one hour, for a considerable wager. The road
selected was through Croydon, and from thence to Rei-
gate. Unfortunately, however, the poor animal, to
the great out deserved discomfiture of those who support..
ed her in such an extraordinary task, broke down (as tea..
nically termed) near Croydon, at the nine-mile-stozw,
having performed that distance in '26 minutes. The rider
f ~ding that neither whip nor spur would prevail, alight-
ed from her, and she almost instantly fell, but v..as short-
ly afterwards able to come home. The stone mare yer-
formed 17 miles within the hour on Sunbury-comtuon La
Friday se'nnight.
BREAKING into GOAL—A girl, belonging to the pa-
rish of Selling, Kent, having been sent to St. Augustine's
goal, for misconduct, her sailor, a journeyman tailor; c,f
the saute parish, actually contrived on the 31st of Aug.
to make his way into the prison, after his Etir inamarc:a.
Love, as well ;-..; hanger, will break through stone walls.
A few ila)s ago, a man at' middle size, dark hair, and sallow
complexion, pi ai:ikctl the follow Mg hoax:-1e went to a settee!
a short distance from town, enquired the terms, and asked ..
reference to ;:ny person whose child was there. The master
gave him a card, writing the reference on the bark ; he went to
the place, and asked cur the parents, .a} in;: he hrd came fluid
Mr. —; w hen the mother of the he told Inert shy
was desired to go immediately, her sou hying taken ill. This,
as it appeared afterwards, was to create alarm : the cruelty of
harrowing up the feelings of parents in this manlier, cannot be
described. On the mothers :;rival at the school, to her agree-
able surprise, she fauna her sun in perfect health. Mr.
recollected haying given a card with ceference on Mond..y
last ; for Use the first time, she suspected it must have been
to rob the house. On reaching holm, it appeared that all be
load been able to take was a large mother o'pearl soon' ho,. from
the chimney piece.
Mr. James Tuck, landlord of the Bald PayPd Stag, on En-
field Chace Side, who stands charged 00 suspicion of the roar.
der ot-11.'. Draper, was removed on Fridas morning in a hack-
ney couch, azemnpanied by two officer:, from the infirmary in
the House of Correction to Newgate for trial, winch will take
place on Friday •text. The Sessions commence on Wednesday.
The prisoners for trial, it is said, amount to near 400.
A soldier of the 1,4 Guards, while in a state of intoxication,
lost his Waterloo medal ; hearing there was one uttered ti,r
sale at Mr. Solomon's, a Jew ■ilversnmith, in New-sseret, Co.•
-vent Garden, lie went there several times to see if it was his,
bat receiving evasive answers, Mr.Soloman was suounoned bet
.fire the Police Magistrates in Qat:mutual e, when the truth
came ant from the shopinan,
Waterloo medal to dispose of, but were in the l:abit of getting'
oern made, and that the one offered by them for sale Yits et dm:4
by au niicer si dragoons, and ni•.ci J tut