The Sun.
London, England, 1839-04-23 00:00:00

CHURCH-RATES.

LEICESTER.—A strong contest took place last week
in the parish of St. Margaret's, Leicester, for the
office of Churchwardens, and has terminated in a
complete victory to the Liberals and anti-Church-
rate party. The High Church party fought a hard
battle, and their defeat, after using their best
exertions, in the only parish in which they ven-
tured a contest, is truly rnlrtifying to them. The
poll lasted four days, during the first three of which the
Tories, by dint of threats, and all these means of cor-
ruption for the use of which they are ever ready, kept
neck and neck with their opponents, but on the fourth
day their forces were exhausted, and the Liberals won
easy, bringing their candidate (Mr. Palmer) in by a
majority of 111. The numbers at the close of the poll
were—for Palmer 1,100 ; and for Knight (the Tory
candidate), 989. The new Churchwarden in returning
thanks to the electors for their votes, deciarcd that,
"rather than compel a single fellow-parishioner to pay
to a Church which, except for purpose of charity, they
never entered, because they conscientiously disapproved
it, he would go to prison, or even to death." This triumph
is considered conclusive of the strength of the Liberal
party in the borough, and the consequence of the elec-
tion itself is of importance, in as far as it will prevent
the High Church party from applying to the Court of
Queen's Bench for a mandamus to compel the vestry to
make a rate.

CHURCH RAPACITY.—A correspondent, on whose
authority we can rely, has furnished the following
astounding facts, which we publish with sincere regret
that such deeds should ever appear to be countenanced
by any Church in Christendom. It is certain that the
law never contemplated such acts of extortion as the
following, neither can we persuade ourselves that they
will be allowed to pass, without reproof at least, if not
restitution, by the local magistracy. On the 3d instant,
for a demand of two shillings and one penny for Church-
rates, upon Mrs. Price, of Glynfelin, in the parish
of Cadoxton-juxta-Neath, a seizure was made,
under the usual magisterial warrant, of fifteen bushels
of oats, worth at least two pounds ten shillings,
oats of not superior quality selling readily in Neath
market at 3s. 6d. per bushel 1 On the 2d instant, for a
similar demand of eleven pence halfpenny, the executors
of the warrant of distress took from Mr. Hayward, of
Bryntirion, in the same parish, one mahogany and one
oak table, fairly valued at fifty shillings. It is but jus-
tice to remark that as far as Mr. Hayward is concerned,
the Magistrates at Neath, as soon as it came to their
knowledge that so disproportionate a distraint had been
made, immediately directed, unsolicited, the most valu-
able of the two tables to be returned.—Cambrian.
BANBURY.—A meeting was called at the Church on
Wednesday last, for the purpose of granting a Church-
rate for the ensuing year. Au amendment was moved
and carried, postponing the consideration of the ques-
tion for eleven months. A poll was then demanded,
which has been fixed to take place on Tuesday and
Wednesday next.—Warzoick Advertiser.
TAUNTON.—One of those unseemly contests,
now of annual occurrence in every part of the
country, has disturbed the peace of this town,
showing the absolute necessity for an immediate
alteration of a law so evidently obnoxious to a
considerable portion of the community. On this oc-
casion, by dint of immense exertions, and by the
help of all the Lib-'ral Churchmen, who to a man
voted for the rate, it has been carried by a considerable
majority. But we fear this is only the beginning of the
strife. It is one thing to vote a rate, and another to
collect it. Unfortunately, the refusal of the Chairman
to put to the meeting the motion for the adjournment
has rendered the proceedings of the meeting illegal,
and it will be impossible to enforce the rate so made,
should it be resisted. Even if the rate should ulti-
mately be pronounced a legal one, we understand that
many Dissenters will refuse to pay it, and submit pas-
sively to a distress upon their goods. Besides these
difficulties, the collection of a heavy rate just now,
when a poor-rate and a highway-rate arc in course of
collection, will be very unpopular among the poor,
because grievously felt by them, from whom the three
rates together will take nearly a fortnight's earnings.
" Ah," said a poor fellow to us yesterday, " you
gentlemen go and vote away our money and you
don't think how hard we've got to work to earn it, and
bread so dear, too." We felt keenly the truth of this,
But what is to he done? The Church cannot be per-
mitted to fail down for want of repair. It is impossible
that a measure providing another fund for repairing
it can pass through Parliament this Session. It would
be but fair to give a reasonable opportunity for the pass-
ing of such a measure, before such an extreme course
is taken as stopping the supplies altogether. - For these
reasons we, in common with all those of the Liberal
party who, as Churchmen, can- have no conscientious
objection to the rate, but who, as a-matter of justice and
expediency to . the -whole qeorrneunityi,are. anxious to
find some substitute for it, readitffoted for thisrste.
But we reserve to ourselves 'the right, noy, we should
feel it to be a duty, should the proposed measure
for relieving the community from this tax be de-
feated in Parliament, to offer opposition in every
form, when all appeal to the good feeling and jus-
tice of Parliament shall have failed—but sot before.
Wo trust, however, that the excitement of the con-
test over, and a majority having declared in favour of
the rate, it will be paid without opposition, if not with-
out a murmur, and that all classes and sects and parties
will unite in a petition for a change in a law productive
of so much excitement and contest between neighbours
and fellow townsmen. Such a scene could not he re-
newed year after year, without consequences which
all must deprecate.—Sons. county Gazette.
THE LATE PROSECUTION FOR A CHURCII-RATE RIOT.

—We are requested to state that NV. Tooke, Esq. has
sent a second subscription of 5/. towards defraying the
expenses of the late prosecution. James Brown, Esq.,
Burton Bradstock, Dorset, has also sent 5/. ; and E.
Nicholetts, Bridport Il.—!Vest Brilon.