The Sun.
London, England, 1839-10-07 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON. MONDAY, OCTOILER 7, 1 '39.

.LITERATURE

MAR YLEISONE VESTRY

THE SURREPTITIOUS ERASURES AND INTERPOLATIONS
IN THE PARISH REGISTER.
Saturday, the Vestry took into consideration the pro-
priety of suspending the7payment of the quarterly sti-
pends of 25/. to the five district rectors :—The Rev. Dr
Dibdin, of St. Mary's ; the Rev. James Chichester, of
All Soul's ; the Rev. Robert Walpole,,,Of Christ Church,
and the Rev. Dr. Penfold ; and the Rev. Dr. Spry, the
Rector of the Parish.—Mr. A. Daniell in the chair.
Mr. KENSETT observed that it was a duty be owed
to the parish, to put to the test the opinions of the
Vestry, in reference to the conduct of the five district
Rectors, who, it was too well known (and which cir-
cumstance had been elicited' in an investigation which
took place before the committee appointed to inqiire
into the charge of the interpolations and erasures in the
parochial registers) had been found to have neglected
transmitting duplicates of the biptisms and burials,
as it was their duty to have done, by Act of Par-
liament, to Mr. Sheppard, the Bishop's Registrar. In
consequence of that discovery Mr. Flood, their vestry-
clerk, wrote to Mr. Sheppard to knol how long a pe-
riod it was since he had received any duplicates from
the Rector of the parish, when he sent back an answer
that no duplicates had been received from Maryh'bone
since the month of April, 1833. When that Vestry
was reformed, it was found that the Rectors were paid
80/, for sending up these copies, but which it was their
duty to do, independent of any such sum of money
being received by them. Upon that being ascertained'
by the Vestry, a resolution was agreed to that that.
allowance should be discontinued ; bat, what was the
conduct of the clergy of the parish on that occasion
Why they ceased to send any more duplicates to the
I-3;shop's registrar ; the Vestry, howeVer, still supplied
the vellum and parchment upon whiclido transcribe the
duplicates ; What. had become of .the parchment he
could not say, though, as he observed before, perhaps,
it had been cut up for tailors' measures:---(Laughter.)
He had inquired into that effair, and the iiilhrthatiott'
he obtained from Mr. Pau the sexton was, that after
the 801. was disallowed (he having for a twelvemonth
subsequent to that continued to send duplicates
without remuneration), he asked Dr. Spry what
he should do, when that Reverend Gentle-
men told him that he might discontinue sending
them, as be, Dr. Spry, would have nothing to 'do with
them. He tlien moved " That the-Rectors of the five
district churches be required to explain the cause of the-
monstrous omission of copies °kite registration of bap-
tisms and burials, agreeable to Act of, Parliament, and
that the payment of the regular quarterly salary be
suspended until the explanation be given."
Mr. GIBSON, in seconding- the motion, .remarked,
that upon a subject of such importance the Vestry
ought to pause before they allowed the quaiterly sa-
laries. It was a question of most momentous considera-
tion to families whose registratiohs were entrusted to
them, for, where the records of the lineage of any party
happened to be lost, the ruin would be irremediable ;
how requisite, therefore, was it, that duplicates should
be returned to those parties, to whom, by Act of Par-
liament, they ought to have been transmitted. It was
only within the I:st four weeks, in the district over
which he was Churchwarden, that the clerks com-
menced to draw up duplicate copies, and which was
edged on in consequence of the disclosures made by
the Committee.
The Rev. Dr. DIBDIN complained that Mr. Kensett
had not acted fair!), towards him. He (the Doctor)
was informed by Mr. Langley, his clerk, he told hint
(Mr. Ken Sett) that duplicates had been sent by,hirn to
the Bishop's Registrar up to the year 1837.
Mr. KENSETT explained that he stated that the
answer of Mr. Sheppard was, that no duplicates had,
been sent from Marylebone since April 1833.
The Rev. Dr. DIBDIN—Then Mr. Sheppard has not
acted fairly towards me.
Mr. JOSEPH said that as the subject was then before
the Committee, Mr. Kensett ought not to have brought
any motion upon it before the Vestry.
Mr. RATHBONE also observed, that. at that time the
Committee was in correspondence with the Rev. Dr.
Spry, and they ought to hhve waited for the result.
He had, however, to iremark, that while the Rector
had been complained of, the Churchwardens ought to
know that it was also their duty to certify.
Mr. 'FitEosata, a barrister, said that the stipend
proposed to be suspended arose out of the pew-rent
from the • several district churches, and the amount
from which was placed in the custody of the Vestry as
its depository. It was, le fact, the money of the dif-
ferent Rectos, the disposition of which was not with
the Vestry.
Mr. KENSETT, in reply, maintained that the money
being placed in the possession of tho- Vestry, was a suf-
ficient answer to the last speaker, that the Vestry had
power over it. He did not wish to impute any wilful ne
glect to any one ; all he wished for was an explanation.
One Reverend Gentleman had stated that up to the
year 1837 his clerk had sent duplicates ; he wished to
ask the Reverend Doctor if he had signed the
duplicates ?
The Rev. Dr. DIBDIN replied that he had not.
Mr. KENSETT—Then it was your duty to have
sigoed them according to Act of Parliament.
Mr. FLOOD remarked that the Act of Parliament re-
ferring to the registration of births, &c., excluded dupli-
cates, in reference to marriages.
Mr. KENSETT proceeded to call on the Vestry to
support' him, observing, that in consequence' of the ex,
traordinary dereliction of duty on the part of the clergy
of their parish, great mischief might have been done.
He considered that the Vestry would not be doing its
duty if the motion Was not carried.
For the resolution, 6—Against U,26.
Mr. KENSETT then moved that the quarterly salary
of 251. allowed to the Rev. Dr. Spry be suspended
until he attended the Committee, to give an explana-
tion in reference to the non transmission of duplicates to
the Bishop's Registrar. He observed that the Rev.
Doctor had placed himself in a position far different to
that in which any of the other Rectors were placed.
Mr. RA.THBoNE said that the 25/. objected to be paid
were subscriptions from the different renters, in lieu of
Easter offerings which Dr. Spry claimed from them.
Mr. SODEN saw less excuse for Dr. Spry than for
any other of the district clergy.
There were several other members who addressed the
Chair, when, on the .question being put, there appeared
15 for, and 11 against the motion.
Mr. JOSEPH then gave notice that he should oppose
the confirmation of that minute.
Mr. Pau (sexton) applied to the Vestry for its per-
mission to re-inscribe the name of a person of the name
of Turner upon a tombstone.
Mr. KENSETT--DO you apply as executor to the
deceased ?

Mr. PAu—No; at the request of the widow. The
stone is almost gone to decay, and the names on it
obliterated. If he were allowed to superintend the
inscription on a new stone, he would see that the names
were exactly transcribed.
The Vestry gave him permission.

THE EVIL EYE.

A few nights since two gentlemen were seen speaking
to each other in the grand foyer of the Academic Roy-
ale, at Paris. One of them, an Englishman, was called
away by a friend of his, an Italian, a man of the world,
sensible and well informed, with whom the Englishman
was most intimate, and on whose judgment he placed a
great reliance. "You must not speak to that man,''
said the Italian. " Why not ?" demanded the Englisll-
man. " Because he is notorious in every part of Italy,
and he will soon become so here." " You alarm me !"
replied the Englishman. "Ishe a spy—a political agent
—a person of Immoral--" "No: he is a most
respectable man of good family, and of good princi-
ples ; but he is a person to be shunned, and I trust
you will never take his arm again." "Explain
yourself, my dear fellow." " Listen, then. That is the
Count de Rivoli, so well known in every town in Italy
as a jettet-tore, or the evil eye.' Wherever he is seen
misfortunes are sure to occur, and there is not a family
at Milan, Rome, or Naples, who will receive him."
" Nonsense," said the Englishman, " these are nursery
tales to amuse children with. The evil eye in our clays!"
" My dear fellow, I will tell you a few facts," replied
the Italian, " and then you can judge for yourself. You
must know that the Count de Rivoli is a great musician.
and fond of the society of artists: He is, therefore,
anxious to become acquainted with the most celebrated
foreign singers, as his reputation is so well known that
none of our native school will make his acquaintance.
He was at Naples when poor Nourrit arrived there.
He paid Naurrit a visit, and two days after the unfor-
tunate maa %visa. dead. Hd 'went to the theatre at Ve-
nice a month or two after that event, and a fire broke
"oust "half an •.hour after he was seen in the house. He
came to Paris ...met Lablache in the street—addressed
him,. and in a week after the beautiful daughter of
Lablache was a corpse. He paid a visit of condolence
to Madame Nourrit, then in this capital. Three
days afterwards she was in the grave. He was introduced
to the Marquis de Custine, and invited to a ball., The moment he entered, the centre lamp fell, and
broke the'head of the master of the house. He went
to the grand opera, to hear Mdile. Falcon. That
night she lost her. voice, and has'not appeared since. He
looked at Paganini, as that great man was ravishing all ears
with the sound of his violin. The arm of the master
seemed withered by the shock, and you know his present
dreadful state of health. It was said be was at Man.
cheater when poor Malibran died. He spoke to Lafont
the day before he set out on that journey in which La-
font lost his life. In Short there are ten thousand in-
stances where his presence seemed to announce dire mis-
fortune, because 'as certain as he appeared dire mis-
fortune does occur." " What you tell me is very curious,"
said the Englishmman, " but I remark that his influence
proves only fatal to artists and professors." " Yes, that
is the case," replied the Italian, "and you tnay congra-
tulate yourself that you are not, nor ever have been.
a musician by profession." The Englishman appeared
for a moment tonfuSed. "It is very ridiculous," said
he, " but you must know that at the age of eighteen
I ran away from my father and family, and supported
myself in the country by giving lessons on the flute, of
which I am a great enthusiast. lam now restored to
my then position in life, and would have forgotten my
former folly if your words had not revived it."
The Englishman went home. His servant opened
the door with a countenance expressive of great woe.
" What is the matter ?" said the master. " Oh, Sir,
my dear young lady is taken suddenly ill. At nine
o'clock she dropped down in a fit, and the doctor is
apprehensive for her life."
Such is the evil eye.

THE LANDLORDS AN]) THE

HARVEST.

'(From the Brighton Herald.)
Even the landlords are staggered at the disastrous
.effents of the late bad weather upon the harvest ; they
care little that people should be comielled to buy bread
at 10d. and Is. the quartern ; hut that the farmer
should have little or none to sell at that price--that the
speculaters in foreign corn alone should reap benefit
from kws made exclusively for themselves—this is vexa-
liens in the extreme. Sir James Graham deplores the
harsh decree of Providence. " Never," be said last
week at the Netherby Agricultural Association, .‘ was
there a year of greater promise than the present. He
had travelled through the greater part of:England and the
south of Scotland,and never had he seen more abundant
crops on the ground. The declaration that had been made
against working was rescinded'; the cultivator ofthe soil no
longer feared his crops would spoil for want of reapers
the foolish and wicked decree of man (alluding to the
Chartists' 'sacred month') prevailed not. But mark
the stern decree of Providence. The crops were plen-
teous ; the sickle was prepared ; and the reapers were*
willing to work ; but the elements prevented them from
gathering in the ripened harvest. This was a striking
—an awful warning, which he hoped would not be thrown
away upon the people of this country." We do not
think it will be thrown away upon the people of this
country. It proves by a fearful demonstration—the
threatened starvation of millions—that our landholders,
with all the assistance of laws which enable them to
bring into corn-cultivation land never intended for such
a purpose, cannot raise sufficient food for the mainten-
ance of the people. Again, as last year, we must have
recourse to a foreign market, where, our deny:nil beim;
unexpected and unprovided for, we must pay the highest
prices.

CLOTH MAKING WITHOUT SPINNING OR
WEAVING.—Among the many extraordinary and truly
wonderful inventions of the present times, is a machine
for the making of broad or narrow woollen cloths with-
out spinning or weaving, and from our acquaintance
with the staple manufacture of this district, after an
inspection of patterns of the cloth, wo should say there
is every probability of this fabric superseding the usual
mode of making cloth by spinning and weaving. The
machines are patented in this and every other manufac-
turing nation. The inventor is an American, and ap-
pears to have a certain prospect of realising an ample
fortune by the. sale of his patent right. We understand
patterns of this cloth, as well as a drawing of the
machinery, have been shown to many of our principal
merchants and manufacturers, none of whom have
expressed a doubt but that the machinery appears
capable of making low cloths which require a good
' substance. Should it succeed to anything near the ex-
pectation of the patentees, its abridgment of labour, as
well manual as by machinery, will be very great. We
find that means are already taken to introduce this ma-
chine among our continental rivals ; a company of
eleven gentlemen, in London, have deposited five thou-
sand pounds with the Patentees, who have ordered
a machine for them ; when finished they are to try it
for one month, and if at the end of that time they
think it will succeed, they are to pay twenty thousand
pounds for the patent right in the kingdom of Belgium,
and it will of course be worked there. We are there-
fore bound, in duty to our country, and her manufac-
turing interests, to adopt such facilities as will prevent
us from falling into a position below our rivals in other
countries. We are informed the necessary machinery
for the production of this patent woollen felted cloth vviA
be tried here in a week or two, under the superinten
dente of the inventor, by a cloth merchant who has an
exclusive license, but is about to associate with him
twenty other respectable business men, for the purpose
of sharing the expenses of giving the invention a fair
It is .calculated that one set of machinery, not
costing more than six hundred
,pounds,. will be capable
et producing six hundred yards of 'woollen cloth, thirty-
innheS in width, per day of tavelve hours.--Leeds
PotiaE.--The daily reports of the pr.&
ending-4 in the Police Courts show a great activity On",
sho part .of the Metropolitan force in carrying into
,the fullest effect •certain provisions of 'the new Act.
Scarcelya day occurs but some constable enjoys the
triumph of locking up some hungry, houseless wan-
derer, and of consigning her the next morning, upon
hisindividual testimony, to a prison. Then, again, the
proprietors of respectable hotels, such, for instance, as
that of Mr. Evans, of Covent-garden, are fined ; and,
going farther afield, the tradesman who, after having
attended the morning Divine service in London, takes
his wife and children to breathe the fresh air on
Hampstead-heath, must not refresh them even
with a crust of bread and cheese at that ancient
resort, " Jack Straw's Castle." If he do, the
police will be witnesses against him, the wife,
and children, and woe betide the landlord. Ac-
knowledging thus far the extreme activity of the
police in these matters, we ask, in common with many
correspondents, why it is that no step has yet been
taken to abate the most destructive nuisance which it
is possible to bring under the cognizance of the police
in any country ? The gambling-houses which abound
in every street in the vicinity of St. James's, and
which are most appropriately called " Hells," do not
merely pursue their course uninterruptedly, but we
have good reason for knowing that the apathy of the
police has been mistaken for an implied sanction, and
that at this moment some respectable persons—per-
sons, we mean, of station—are actually engaged in
the fitting up of splendid mansions for gambling-houses
or clubs, and that the apathy of the police is their
uctl vaunted socarity.-4:o:)server.

MR. }EARGUS O'CONNOR.—This gentleman
states that his visit to Ireland, whither he has gone
suddenly, will be short, and is undertaken for the pur.
pose of establishing Radical Associations there. He
says :—" The elections of Ireland have died a natural
death. I gave political existence to many constituencies
in 1832, and I now find that the whole of the aristo-
cratic influence in the county of Cork is arrayed
otaiost the people. They are afraid to renew the fran-
chise, and complain that they have no support. I go to
help them."

OMNIBUS LOITERING.—The driver of Ben•
nett's Mile•end and Chelsea omnibus, No. 2,95.5, was
summoned on Friday to Marlborough-street by the po-
lice, for having improperly loitered at the Black Horse
booking-office, Coventry-street. Mr. Lewis Bennett's
lawyer took many technical objections, which were over-
ruled by Mr. Long, the Magistrate, who imposed a fine
of 10s., with costs.