The Sun.
London, England, 1840-04-22 00:00:00

TIM SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, IP4O.

terns, the Excise, and the Stamps and 'faxes, they re:- I
commend that the abolition of fees should be carried
into effect in the army, as it has been in the nary.

truth in the assertion that it was one of the objects of the 1
Society to restore Mr. Wetmore to race, with a salary of
4001. a-year, for performing duties which were at present
discharged efficiently for lao/. a-year ?—(Cheers and 1
groans.) lie knew nothing of Mr. Wetmore that was
not goad, but he Still obj•-cted,to paying that gentleman,
htevever respectable he might be, an unnecessary salary
out (.1 the poor-rates.—( Hear, hear.) It was true that
the days of rose-water and iced champaigne at parish dinners
were gone by, and an economical use of the poor fund was
unanimously adopted.--( Hear.) He did not advocate the
economy which ground down the poor, for he read in the
book of God's revealed word, " Accursed is he who grind-
eth the poor."—( Cheers.) But he did advocate the re-
duction of all excessive salaries.—(Cheers.) He further
wished to ask the gentlemen who were proposed by the
party opposed to the Protection Society whether it was 1
true that they had made an arrangement with the
surveyors for an assessment of the parish, by which the
burthens would be thrown upon the outer ward, for the ;
advantage of the ward in which those gentlemen resided.
—( Cheers.) He was no partizan of either side ; in fact,
if he might speak so, without irreverence. he woula com-
pare the parish to our Saviour who was crucified between
two parties. He would not say whom, but would leave
it to the meeting to make the application.—(Laughter.)
Mr. BALL defended the trustees of the Walcott charity
against the calumnies of the Protection Society, but he
spoke amidst such a clamour of taunts and jeers bandied
from one side to the other, that it was almost impossible to
hear a word from him.
Mr. BINE said it was most disingenuous on the part of
the members of the Society to charge the late Wardens
with making a Church-rate, whereas they knew the change
to be wholly false.—( Hear.) He wished to know, did
the gentleman who made that charge think it wrong to
levy the rate ?—( Hear, and a laugh.) The rate-payers
ought to bear in mind that Sir R. Inglis had a notice on
the hooks of the House Of Commons for a motion to bring
in a Bill for the erection of a new batch of churches. It
was their duty to elect men who would protect them against
the burthens which that Bill was designed to impose on
them.—(Cheers.)
Mr. IVI‘LeoD, in reference to one of the questions put
by Mr. Cox, explained that when the liberal guardians
came into office, they found that Mr. Wetmore *as paid an
ST. MARY'S, LAMBETH. excessive salary, which they immediately reduced. But
Yesterday, at eleven o'clock, a Vestry Meeting was held .it was said to be the intention of the persons proposed in
at the Boy's Parochial School-room, Lambeth-green, for opposition to the present liberal officers, to restore him to
the purpose of choosing Churchwardens, Overseers, and his former place and salary.—(Groans, cheers, and great
other officers for the ensuing year. There was at an early confusion.)
hour a remarkably numerous attendance of ratepayers, and Mr. WOOO (Solicitor employed against the Church-
soon after the Chair was taken this large room, which
wardens in the late litigation's entered into an explanation
of the law proceedings, and affirmed that the recent
holds about 2,000 persons, was nearl filled. In consequence
decision in the Court of Queen's Bench had not settled
of the litigation commenced by the Church party against
the Liberal Churchwardens, the animosity between the the question. But the interruptions were so loud and per-
Reformers and Anti-Reformers rages at present with severing that his explanation could not have given much
greater virulence than ever, and the walls of the parish satisfaction, as very little could be heard.
have been for the last few days covered with the placards Mr. QUIN then came forward, amidst greetings of a
of both parties ; in which as much, if not more, reference very varied character, to answer one of the questions put
is made to personalities than to the public affairs of the by Mr. Cox, respecting the objects of the Protection
parish. In the School-room, the Church party, (of Society.—( Cheers, groans, &c.) If it was one of the
whom a strong muster was indicated by the number of car- objects of that Society to obtain places at high salaries
riages before the door) gathered themselves in a knot to for particular individuals, he would not belong to it.—
the right hand of the chair, and seemed to be in the proper- ( Applause.) He did not hesitate to avow that the pla-
tion of about one-fifth to the mats of the rate-payers cards alluded to by Mr. Grady had been issued by the
assembled ; but their unity and strength of lungs in a Society.---(lndescribable uproar.) Nor would he hesitate
great measure compensated for the disproportion of their to adopt their words, and to repeat every word that be
numbers, in the contests of noise and vituperation which himself had uttered at the dinner.—( Renewed uproar.)
occupied a great part of the day. They had been asked what was the object of the Society ?
The Rector (the Rev. Dr. D'Oyley) took the chair at —(" Aye, that's the question you shirk at.") No ; he
eleven o'clock precisely. did not.—(Cheers and laughter.) The object was to
Mr. John B. Clerk was re-elected to the office of vestry protect the interests of the parishioners.—( Cheers and
clerk without opposition, cries of " Oh, oh," and great laughter.) " The object,"
The Rector then nominated Mr. Laurence Redhead, of said he, "is to serve you in spite of yourselves."—(Re-
Kennington-green, as his warden. newed interruption and shouts of laughter.) He wished
Mr. GRADY moved that Mr. George Fall, Mr. John to give his reason for voting against the first list proposed.
Ham, and Mr. John Barton, be the churchwardens for He called upon Mr. Cox, who had spoken of his veneration
the ensuing year. for the word of God, to listen to what he had to say. One of
Mr. RoGERs proposed Mr. Charles Evans, Mr. Thomas the persons nominated was Mr. Fall.—( Hisses and groans,
Grissel, and Mr. John Bright, to serve the office. and other interruptions for several minutes, when Mr. Fall
Mr. GRADY wished to address the vestry before the clues- stood upon the table, and, by dint of the most earnest
tion was put, and in the first place he exhorted the rate- entreaty, at length obtained a temporary cessation of the
payers to preserve order, and to give every one a hearing. tumult.) Mr. Quin then proceeded to read from a news-
The society, which called itself the Parochial Protective paper a report of a speech attributed to Mr. Fall, at a
Society, had circulated the most gross falsehoods against former meeting of the Vestry—an extract to the effect
the gentlemen whom he had the honour to propose for re- that be (Mr. F.) " would as lief go into a brothel as into
election as churchwardens. One of those calumnies was a church, or mingle with the low cunning hypocrites who
that when they were in office they had made a church- assembled there."--( Great uproar, amidst which Mr. Q.'s
rate. The persons who told that lie knew it was a lie.— voice was completely drowned.) He asked the rate-payers
(Cheers, and great interruption.) The fact was very well would they dare to re-elect Mr. Fall after such language ?
known to every member of the Society that the late —( Cheers, hisses, &c.) He wished that all the rate-
Churchwardens never made a rate.—( Cheers.) It was payers had been present at the last audit of the accounts of
true that two of them, Mr. Barton and Mr. Hunt, were those gentlemen who were now put up for re-election,
Churchwardens in the year before last, as colleagues with when the auditors disallowed just as much as they allowed.
Mr. Whea.ley and Mr. Saunders, and were threatened —(Laughter.) An attempt had been made by one of the
with imprisonment by the Rector.—(Cheers and groans.) previous speakers to draw a distinction between a Church-
The gentlemen of the Society sneered at the mention rate and a Church-building-rate ; but, in fact there was no
of Mr. Saunders's name.—(Laughter and groans.) He difference, or only the difference between tweedle.dum
had served their turn, and now they turned their backs and tweedle-deg.—(" Oh, oh," and a laugh.) Mr. Q.
upon him.—(Laughter.) That was their usual course. concluded with some observations, which the mingled out-
(Cheers and hisses.) They had no gratitude, nor any cry of friend and opponents rendered quite inaudible.
other good quality.—(Cheers and groans.) They were Mr. FALL, as one of the persons proposed for the suf-
eminent only for cowardice and lying.—(Cheers, groans, frages of his fellow parishioners, wished, with the permis-
and hisses,.—indescribable confusion.) They met in holes sion of the Chairman, to answer some of the charges which
and stews—and at their drunken wassails• they con- had been made against him for the last twelve months, by
totted and sent out calumnious lies against honest men, every scoundrel in the parish.—(Cheers.) One of these
whom they dared not meet face to face. At their first dinner charges involved his colleagues; it was that they had pri-
to which he (Mr. G.) requested to be admitted, offering vately made a rate without calling a Vestry. That charge
to pay any price for a ticket, most opprobrious and false .was made in a publication called the Argus (the objects of
abuse was poured out upon the absent Churchwardens ; which paper, and the character of its proprietor, Mr. Fall
reprobated in terms by no means measured or safe to be
and even he (Mr. G.3' bumble as he was, came in for his
slsisris of the slanders and lies.—(Cheers and booting.) reported), and -the person who made the charge was Mr.
He was surprised at the conduct of one of those speakers. Harwood, editor, well knowing at the time that the
who was only one degree removed from an Irishman ; and Churchwardens were eompelled'hy law to make the rate
it was not the characteristic of an Irishman to say of a man in the manner in which they did make it. But, to con-
behind his back what he would be afraid to say before his treat the conduct of those Churchwardens with that of Mr.
face.—(Cheers.) Where was he then ?—(Cheers.) Harwood the year before, when he himself was in office—
Mr. Quite—l am here.—( Cheers and laughter.) ( Cheers)—he would inform the meeting that he (Mr. F.)
Mr. GRADY would not occupy the time of the voters and his colleagues called a public Vestry in three days
with telling him at that time wbat he thought of him.— after they maee the rate, and submitted their accounts to
k Cheers, laughter, groans, and cries of " Coward, the rate-payers ; whereas Mr. Harwood and his colleagues,
coward," " Liar," on the one hand, and " Never mind being in office only three months before, made a rate in
~ private, but called no meeting afterwards.—(Hisses and
cupied several minutes.) The Society
them, Grady," " It's only a draw," on the other, oc
accused the groans.) Mr. Fall then proceeded to comment with great
Churchwardens of having put the parish to expenses severity upon the speeches and conduct of tire members of
for law proceedings. But the fact was, the party of the Protection Society. Dr. D'Oyley, he said, had:declared
which the Society was composed had put the parish to upon his oath, at Kingston, that he did not belong to that
19,0001. in law expenses, in a litigation which was under- Society; but yet he contributed to its funds—he canvassed
taken by that party when iu office to deprive the pa- for it—be attended its meetings, and dined at the first public
rishioners of their rights—(Cheers)—whereas the gentle- dinner.—(Much hooting.) In reprobating the con-
men whom he had now proposed had incurred an duct of the Church party in respect to Church-
expense of no more than 4001. or 5001., in defending
rates, he told the parishioners to lock at the
the rights of the parish.—( Hear,
and cheers.) Mr. G. Bill which had been brought in recently by Lord John
read several extracts from the speeches delivered at the Russell for the regulation of ecclesiastical revenues,
dinner of the society, commenting on them with great hu- and to compare it with the measure formerly prepounded
mour and no measured asperity, but amidst the greatest in- by the dirty little pettifogging scoundrel for the abo-
terruption of groans and cheers, hooting and applause, lition of Church-rotes.—(Laughter, cheers, and hisses.)
which beggared all description. The Rector's party had It had been said by Mr. Quin that Sir James Parke de-
obtained a verdict at Kingston against the parishioners, flounced a certain individual as the pest of society. But
and returned to Lambeth in triumph and decorated Sir James himself had gone to his last account, in which he
with white favours—(Laughter)—but the Court of found as much to answer for as his father George the Third.
Queen's Bench had put an end to their triumph —(Laughter and disapprobation.) Mr. F. explained
—(Cheers, and cries of " No, no.") In the list was what lie ( Mr. F.) had said on the occasion quoted by Mr.
Mr. Charles Evans. Now that man was going about, Quin to be, not that he himself would as lief go into a
like every other coward, maligning him (Mr. G.), but brothel as into a church, but that the hypocrites whom he
he (Mr. G.) would not speak of any man behind his back knew to go there were Worse than those who went into the
—lie would not go to Italy, as Mr. E. had done.— other kind of place ; and he would now say, that with
(Cheers and groans.) Some people went on their travels whatever loathing he might view a diseased prostitute
at the expense of the country, but he did not know et dragging her diseased limbs into her den, he viewed with
whose expense that gentleman had gone on his travels. mud' more loathing the man who sold for a price the in-
Some persons had got into trouble in consequence tellect which God had given him for the noblest purposes.
of dropping into areas and placing within the reach of fe. —( Hear, hear.) Mr. Rogers, the Chairman at the So-
male servants printed papers, of which the object was to ciety's dinner, had charged the late Wardens with an ex-
stem the rapid increase of population.—(Cheers, groans, iravagant expenditure; but the fact was that when Mr.
hisses. and indescribable outcry, in which the words Rogers was in office, he and his colleague expended in
" Shame," .. Coward," ~ Go on, go on," " Name, name," thirty-eight weeks 10,2961.—m0re than the late Wardens
" read the paper," &c. were most distinctly heard.) In spent in fifty-three weeks.—( Applause.) I: had been
1832, Sir James Scarlett, now Lord .Abinger, Mr. Follett, made a charge against him (Mr. Fall) that he was a clink
Mr. F. Pollock, and Dr. Lushington, gave an to a certain Board of Trustees. True, he was so ; but he
opinion against the Rector, upon the very same question had accepted the office at the solicitation of sixty-seven out
upon which, last year, Judge Abinger directed the Jury of the seventy-three Trustees.—( Hear ) Now the salary
to return a verdict directly in the teeth of his own opinion, of the office had formerly been 1901. a year under the ma-
solemnly and deliberately given in 1832 —( Hisses.) It nagement of the old clique. By his exertions it was re-
was charged against the Churchwardens, because they duced to 1001., and subsequently, when the duties were
resisted that verdict, that they were enemies to trial by nearly doubled, it was augmented to 150/. a year, which,
jury. It was no such thing. The verdict was not that was paid to the person who last held it. The Board offered
of the Jury, but of the Judge, who distinctly told them that him (Mr. F.) the same salary ; but as he had been the
they must bring in the verdict which he directed.— means of reducing it to 1001. a year in 'the first instance,
( Hear, hear.) It would be much better to have no Jury lie refused t 3 take any more.—(Great cheering.) Mr.
than such a Jury as that.—( Hear, hear.) Mr. Grady Fall then read a newspaper report, upon which he founded
concluded by exhorting the ratepayers to elect men who a grave charge of want of integrity against one of his op.
would give them at all times the opportunity of meeting in foments, who, he said, at the dinner had exhorted the rate-
vestry to express their opinions—who would support the payers to distinguish carefully between honest and disho-
voluntary principle, and promote liberty of conscience, and nest men.—( Laughter and groans.) It had been his
would so administer the poor-laws, as neither to plunder (Mr. F.'s) object, from the first hour he was elected
the ratepayers nor grind the poor. He sat down amidst churchwarden, to avoid all interference with the veclesias-
much cheering, mingled with groans and hooting. tical affairs of the Church, and to do everything in his
Mr. WILDE, in seconding the resolution, defended power to afford to the parishioners of every religious per_
Messrs. Fall, Barton, and Hunt, from the calumnies with "suasion the means of public worship according to their
which they had been assailed in the placards of the Church conscience.—( Applause.) He had endeavoured to restore
party. He begged the rate-payers to bear in mind that the poor to the enjoyment of the various charities, in the
a large majority of the House of Commons was in distribution of which they had been unfairly dealt .with
favour of the abolition of Church-rates, and, at the before. For instance, there was Mary Oakley's charity
a nßdu But
senthe
same time that he was opposed to all resistance of the for distributing coals at Christmas to poet housekeepers.
law, he thought the parishioners ought to use the powers When Mr. Rogers and Mr. Stahlschmidt were in office,
fusing the rate, and if not the
which the law gave them of protecting themselves, by re. they allowed only 11 cwt.pttohoreapeehrsporerssodno,oann(tchihseetrhse.y)
Church-building rate.—( Hear, 'hear.) He was surprised (Mr. F.)
Church-rate, at least the required the poohristococolimeaeaufoers and carry home.owt.,
and
to each o
at the inconsistency of Mr. Redhead, who now was put the coals.s homeother
charities
forward as the supporter of the Church-rate party, whereas In vartou. ey had effected equally bene-
at the last election for the borough that gentleman was ficial changesfor the poor,his statements of which were
the Chairman of the Committee for securing the return of received with much applause. As overseer of the poor, he
Mr. Hawes, who voted in particular against Church- had a demand of 3461. 19s. 6d. to make upon Dr. D'Oyley
rates.—( Hear, hear.) As the conduct of the Trustees of —( Laughter)—who in the twenty years, during which be
Highways had been attacked by the Protection Society, had been rector of the parish, had never paid a shilling of
and he was one of the Trustees, he begged to be allowed the rates, to which in law he"
as
liable.—(Great uproar
hear.) The present of hisses eroans and cries of " Sham liable
.—(Great
make an explanation.—( Hear,
Trustees had reduced the rates from 6d. to 4d. in the Dr. D (him said he never had been called upon to pay
pound, and in a short time they expected to be able to thous rates, but he was always ready to pay any rates to
reduce them to 3d.—and whilst they were effecting which he was legally liable.—(Cheers from the party on
great improver/le/vs in the highways of the parish, the right hand of the chair.)
with all that reduction of the rates, they had Mr. FALL was happy to hear it, for if the Doctor was in
placed a surplus of 1,7001. in the hands of the banker, earnest the parish would be paid the sum which he had
which sum would be available for further improvement or mentioned.—( Cheers, and laughter.) In conclusion, he
reduction of the rate, as the parishioners thought proper. advised the rate-payers to exercise their rights fur their
—( Cheers.) That was his answer to the calumnies of own advantage, and to keep out of office the selfish, and
the Society, and he asked, was it becoming the office of hypocritical party who had so long oppressed them.
the Rev. Dr. D'Oyley to give his money to enable any Mr. REDHEAD defended himself from the charges made
person to publish such lies as were propagated by the Pro- i against him by Mr. Fall.
tection Society ?—(Cheers and hisses.) He concluded Mr. AecrieuTT gave a denial to a statement made by
friendsf liberty the Church party respecting the partial conduct of tire
elect the o
by calling upon the Vestrye
of conscience, and of' the rights of the rate-payers and the Marsh and Wall liberty.
poor.---(Applause.) The Recroe then took a show of hands upon the
,dr. Cox came forward to ask two questions of the Liberal list, when there appeared—
gentlemen who had been proposed, before be gave his vote. For Mr. Fall
He first asked, what did they mean by the name of the Mr. Hunt 3S2
Protection Society ? Did they mean a Society for the Mr. Barton
protection of the aate_payers, and the conservation of their A show of hands being taken on the list proposed by
rights ?—(Cheers)—or for the protection of the corrupt i Mr. Rogers, there appeared—
and the conservation of abuses ?—( Hear and cheers.) He ! For Mr. Evans 92
hoped they would answer the question as candidly as he 1 Mr. Grissell
put it.—(Cheers and laughter.) He hoped they would ; Mr. Bright ~,.,.,,,•,.•,,,.••t. . . lee
answer it manfully and honestly.—(Cheers.) He waited 1 The election by show of hands having thus fallen on the
for their answer,—(Great laughter, and interruption of 1 three gentlemen in the Liberal list, Mr. Rogers demanded
cheers and jeers reciprocated by the two parties with great a poll, which the Rector immediately granted, appointing
heartiness for several minutes, in the course of which Mr. that it should commence at nine o'clock to-morrow (this
Quin made several attempts to give an answer, but could ; day), at the Church-porch, and continue until five o'clock
, ,
not be heard.) Mr. C. again asked for an answer. ;in the afternoon ; the poll to be resumed at nine o'clock,
The CHAIRMAN said that his question would be answered and to continue until five on each of the two following
when he had done speaking. i days, Thursday and Friday.
Mr. Cox now begged to ask whether there was any Mr. GRADY contended that it was for the Vestry
to say

6. That it would be expedient to improve the situa-
tion of the Adjutants of the army ; and with this
view, it is recommended that 33. 631. a day should be
allowed as the additional pay for the Subaltern d;s-
charging the duties of Adjutant in an infantry regiment,
and 2s. 6d. a-day for the Subaltern discharging the du-
ties of Adjutant in a cavalry regiment.
7. That it is expedient that officers who may be
placed upon half-pay with a step of Brevet rank, for the
purpose of serving abroad in the Adjutant-General or
Quartermaster-General's department, should be eligible,
after five years' service in these situations in the colo-
nies to be recommended for an effective step of rank on
half-pa 3.
In general, it is the opinion of the Commission that
the effective rank should only be conferred upon such
officers upon their ceasing to hold the staff appointment,
for their services, for which it is meant as a reward ; but
it does not seem expedient to lay down any strict rule
to this effect, as cases may arise in which, from peculiar
circumstances, it might be desirable that the effective
rank should be given to an officer who should still con-
tinue to hold his staff appointment.

8. That with reference to this class of appointments
on the staff abroad, it would be expedient that there
should be some relaxation of the rule according to which
a regimental officer who goes upon half-pay for the pur-
pose of accepting employment of this description is re-
quired to do so by exchange with some other officer on
half-pay of the same regimental rank ; but that this in-
dulgence should be strictly confined to cases in which
the Commander-in-Chief should think it desirable to give
promotion in the regiment without purchase, and no
particular staff appointment should be filled oftener than
once in five years.
(TO B CONTINUED.)

PAROCHIAL ELECTIONS.

whether the poll should be taken on the spot, or should be
adjourned.—(Applause and uproar.) He read the opinion
of Sir Frederick Pollock, Mr. Cressweli, and Mr. Hai es
(the eminent barristers), dated the 18th of April instant,
to show that the iZector had not the power to adj:llirn the
poll to another time and place without the concurrence of
the Vestry, which had by law the entire control over the poll ;
and further, that the rector had no riolit to preside in the
Vestry, if the rate-payers thought fit to elect another
chairman. Mr. G. put into the Rector's hand a resolution
moved by him, and seconded by Mr. Wild, to the effect
that the polling should take place in the school-room.
The Rector refused to put the resolution ; and after a
long discussion, in which the Rev. Chairman, Mr. Wood,
Mr. Quin, Mr. Fall, and Mr. Grady took part, the
Churchwardens proceeded to take the poll on the spot, the
Rector adhering, on the other hand, to his resolution to
take the poll (as he had at first fixed upon) in the church
porch to-morrow morning.
There will thus be two polls proceeding at the same
time, and, co:sequently, two sets of officers returned.

. .
The show of hands on the nomination of Overseers and
Surveyors being also in favour of the Liberal Eats, a poll
was demanded by the Church party, and granted by the
Rector, as in the case of the Churchwardens, to be held
also in the church porch.

Mr. GRADY protested against the Chairman's decision,
and n:ad the Local Act of the parish of Lambeth, to
show that eo poll could legally be taken upon the nomi-
nation of Overseers, which should be decided by a division
in the vestry.
The objection was over-ruled by the Chairman ; and in
this case also there will be a double poll, and t‘vo sets of
returns.

The busines) did not conclude until after liall.past six
o'clock.

ISLINGTON.

The annual business of E ester Tuesday was transacted
in this large metropolitan parish in a very quiet sort of
way. The parish contains, we believe, about 40,000 in-
habitants, and not much more than 40 rate-payers attended
the vestry. Such a small assemblage facilitates the trans
action of business, but it removes all check from corrup•
tion. Our readers know that the late vestry clerk was
succeeded by his son, and the junta which placed the latter
in his father's office have new found out that the neglected
state in which the former left the business of the parish is
a good reason for increasing the salary of the son. Pecu-
lation was long rife and undetected in the parish under the
Oldershaw dynasty, and now 2001. a-year is added to the
income of one of the Oldershaw family. Yet the pa-
rishioners allow this, and allow the whole influence and
honours of such a large parish to be usurped by an arro-
gant junta. The consequence is, that the parish, which
for wealth and population is equal to a third-rate town,
and superior to such counties as Rutland, has neither
voice nor influence in public affairs. Alarylebone
and Pancras, Lambeth and St. George's, almost every
parish in the metropolis, has a political existence ; Islington
has none. Now and then a petition is sent stealthily round
for more Churches, or some such object ; but on the great
questions of the Corn-laws, or the Chinese war, or national
education, the voice of this large community is stifled by
the incubus which lies on it, only apparently to extract its
money. Amongst the votes of the Vestry yesterday was
one to pay certain gentlemen 50/. to perambulate the
bounds of the parish, and bump the charity boys at stones
and corners, to imprint on their minds the line of separation
between Islington and St. Luke's, or Islington and Clerk-
enwell ! It is high time that practices which, in foreign
countries, as one gentleman present remarked, have been
spoken of as a proof of our barbarity, as if we could nei-
ther read nor write nor make a map, should be discontinued.
Bumping boys to make them remember a boundary, is cer-
tainly a custom as much savouring of barbarity as any
which yet lingers in the country.