The Sun.
London, England, 1847-04-13 00:00:00

hi 1847.

p qICIA SD•

ST. MARYLEBONE PROTECTIO-5

ASSOCIATION DINNER.
The members and friends of the St. M+ryle:•boone Pro-
tection Association, to the number of about a hundred,
mbled at the Eyre Arms, St. John's Wood, last
evening, to colt brace the success with which the local
I hjeets of the Association had been pursued, in the re-
duction of certain burdensome, unnecessary, and, it
seems, illegal taxes ; and in the increase, at the same
time, of the benefit which the public derived from better
paving, lighting, and cleansing on the thoroughfares of
the surrounding neighbourhood.
Mr. Goslin, the active proprietor of the Eyre Arms,
was employed as caterer for the convivialities of the even-
ing, and judging by what we saw, and heard, and felt,
judging by our own satisfaction after dinner, and the
expressions which the like feeling drew from the other
guests, a better choice could not have been made. The
tables were laid out with great good taste, and after-
wards loaded with what could most agreeably meet a
good appetite, and not offend a fastidious taste. In short,
the dinner was capital, the wines very good indeed ; the
puntuality and attention of the servitors all that could
be wished ; and the toastmaster, Mr. Wheeler, will
certainly add to his patrons, by the excellent discharge
of his office last night.
Benjamin B. Cabbell, Esq. was in the chair ; sup-
ported by W. P. Carter, Esq., barrister ; Charles
French, Esq., James Russell, Esq., William Collins, Esq.,
Jos. Angell, Esq., Alex. Ridgway, Esq., Jos. Haynes,
Esq., Captain Sparshott, R.N., Jos. Rawlins, Esq., bar-
rister, James Rusford, Esq., John Vandal', Esq., and
other gentlemen, sat down to dinner with their nume-
rous friends at half-past six o'clock.
After dinner the " Non nobis" was sung with good
effect by Messrs. Packingtou and Wild and Master
Cook. Then followed the usual toasts—

" The Queen."—National anthem.
" Prince Albert, Albert, Prince of Wales, and the
Royal Family."—Glee, " Here's a health to the Prince
and the Queen."
" The Army and Navy."—Duet by Packington and
Wild, " Oh give ma the tented field."
Responded to by Captain Sparshott.
The CHAIRMAN, in giving " Success to the St. Mary-
lebone Protection Association," said they had now come to
the business of the evening for which he therefore begged
the attention of the company, for although their meet-
ing had been of a convivial nature, he might with justice
say that conviviality was not the sole object and had
not been the sole result. He confessed he gave the
toast with a feeling of mingled pleasure and regret—
pleasure because they had something as an association
worthy to be protected—but of regret because that some-
thing which they bold worthy was in danger and needed
their protection. That was their case then. In a fair
country they had equal rights and ought
to have equal rates ; they had met and asso-
ciated themselves to protect these equal rights
and to destroy the very appearance of inequality. He
said, after the parish of St. Marylebone began to emerge
from the condition of a mere rural village an enactment
was passed for the lighting, watching, and paving ; but
as the suburbs extended it was found that a new rate for
these thinly populated parts would be necessary. That
was called, levied as a highway rate to the amount of
41. Another Act, however. the 35th of George 111.,
was pas.,ed, increasing the am-unt of the highway rate
to a sum not exceedieg ls. in the pound. lie begged
!he e,,mpeey's attention to the Act. It allewed
of no rate exc• eding one shilling, but in case
the emergency required, it gave the vestry power to
inner
rate and accordingly, in 1822, when the
rate was 25., the outer, or highway rate, was Is. But
the reformed vestr), misint-rpreting the Ace, increased
the amount of the imposition ; so that in 1844 while,
n ith the go ,d accommodation, the rate in ether parishes
w,ts—in St. Pancras, 25. 9d ; in St. James's, 2s. 4A. ;
Sr. George's, 2s. 4d. ; Sr. Ann's, 2,e 4.1. ; in Mar lebone
it was 3i. Bd.—(Cries of " Hear.") And the difference
between the outer and the inner district rate was only
81. or 9d. In these eireurnsianc, s. when with increased
taxes, and when the vestry actually resolved on ex-
tinguishing every alternate lamp, it was that a number
of gentlemen had met in that room and asnociated them-
solve: to prevent so egregious an injustice. The
Chairman proceeded at length to enter into details, and
ss i I the result, in the short space of two years, mainly
thr..nh the exertions of the gentleman near him, their
treasurer, Mr. Freeth, had been that the rate was reduced
to its legal bounds of Is. He concluded by giving the
toast coupled with the name of Charles Freeth, Esq.,
which was received with bumpers, and three times three.
Song by Mr. Wild—" There's a land that bears a
well-known name."

Mr. FREETII, who was received with loud cheers,
entered at length into the history of their efforts with
the vestry, and made several statements relative to the
local accommodation of the neighbourhood, which were
received with cheers, and on the ground of which he
appealed to the gentlemen present to join the associa-
tion, and aid them to accomplish what was still to be
done. He concluded by reading a list of subscriptions
to the funds of the association, on which the chairman
appe.sred for 5/. ss. and Mr. Frecth 2/. 2s.
Mr. RIDGWLY, as a Liberal member of the vestry,
and a friend to the objects of the association, was
favourably received by the company, who heard him
make several explanations, and enforce the main object
of the meeting. Both Mr. Ridgeway and the previous
speakers alluded to Lord Morpeth's Bill as likely to
work a favourable change in the metropolis, and ex-
pressed their hope that every aid would be rendered to
pass it into a law.
The other toasts of the evening—" The Chairman,"
" The Stewards," " The Visitors," and " The Ladies,"
were received with all the honours, and followad by ap-
propriate vocal music.
The company at length dispersed in the highest feel-
ings of satisfaction.