The Sun.
London, England, 1841-11-09 00:00:00

CHURCH-RATES--CAMBERWELL.
An adjourned tneeting of the Camberwell Vestry_was
last night held -within the dining-hell of the Camberwell
Workhouse, to resume the discussion of the proposed
rates to be imposed Upon the parish for the rebuilding of
when an attempt was made to pass the
the- church, See: The original meeting was called a
fortnight ago,
Report of tho Church Committee, involving a demand of
27,600/., when, after a long discussion, the meeting was
adjourned till the following Monday, to consider the
different clauses of that report seviatint, when, after
discussing Whether 3,000/. should be granted for en-
larging the burying-ground, a division- took place at
twelve o'clock, when a poll was demanded,and the scar
decided that the minority had the right to decide how
and when the poll should be taken. They determined
that it should take place then, when, by themPention of
Sturr,es Bourne's Act, the clause was declared carried
by a majority of 41. The opponents of. the rite pro--
tested agairiSt the decision, and are to apply to the!
Court of Queen's Bench to tut it aside.
The meeting held last night was called to discuss kiet
clause whereby 18,6001. arc proposed to ;he expended
in the rebuilding of the church. T'ne,Yestry was a
very crowded one, and inreb inteiest-was manifested'
in the proceedings.
The Rev. J. G. STOREY, the Vicar of the-, parish,
took the chair, and opened the business of the meeting
by reading the clause in the Church Committee's Re-
port now to be taken into consideration.
Mr. BLACKBURN said that before. entering; on the
discussion proposed, he begged to call the attention of
the Chairman and the meeting to the manner. in which.
the poll had been taken at the last raeoting,:, 'The me-
thod then pursued he held to .be illegal and unjust. He
protested against it at the time, and he new begged La
hand in another regularly Written protest, signed by
many who were not present at the meeting in ques-
tion: The Honourable Gentleman read some extracts
from a work of Mr. Prideaux's, on parochial law,
militating against the principles by which the Poll bad
on the former occasion been regulated. He also quoted.
the case of the King against the Churchwardens and:
parishioners of St. Mary, Lambeth, by the judgment
delivered in which, he contended that it was decided!
that it was illegal to confine the poll to the parishioners
in vestry asembled ; but that when a poll was de.
marided, it should be kept open to the whole of the
rate-payers of the parish. He thought that it was of
great importance that the question as to“the taking of
the poll should be gone into.
The CHAiRMAN said he had heard nothing to induce
him to alter the opinions or the course they bad already
decided upon and acted upon. He thought the majo-
rity by the show of hands had no right to demand any
further method of arriving at a decision—the minority
could, however, demand a poi'.
Mr. BLACKBURN, after some further remarks, moved
" That the consideration of the clauses imposing rates
be postpoced until the legality of the method of taking
the last poll should have been settled in a court of law."
The CHAIRMAN declined putting the motion amid'
great uproar.

- A PARISHIONER said that by the rule now laid
down, the Chairman could put down any motion he
wished not to be discussed.
The CHAIRMAN—Then I will be answerable.

After a scene of great excitement and confusion,
Mr. CURLING rose to a point of order, bu; arasin.!
terrupted by the Chairman, nhose conduct he charac-
terised as unfair and ungentlemanly.
A. scene of the greatest confusion and turbulence
ensued.

Mr. CURLING for a long time, amid the outcries of
the church-rate party, attempted in vain to be heard.
Mr. BLACKBURN moved an adjournment of the
Vestry until that day week. '
After a quarter of an hour of outcry and uproar,
Mr. CLARK said that they would be guided in the
imposition of the rates by the votes of the parishioners
generally.—(Great cheering and uproar.)
Mr. CURLING again attempted to make himself heard,
and was again put down by the Chairman, who declined
hearing him.

Mr:Churchwarden PEU then, amid great confusion,
proposed a motion, to the effoct that a rate of fourpence
in the pound should be levied for the raising of 20,0004
to be expended in the various works connected with the
proposed new church.—(Great excitement.)
Mr. Cox moved an adjournment until the 16th inst
Amid much uproar, several parishionete spoke
strongly in reprobation of the conduct of the Chairman
at the last meeting.

Mr. l'Eu then proceeded; amid frequent interrup-
tions, to speak in favour of his motion.

Mr. BRETT having moved an adjournment,
Mr. k 3. P. SWIM/I-contended; in -a long speech, that
the estimates and plans proposed by the committee
were more expens've and extensive tan were required
in the parish. He concluded by moving that a sum
not exceeding ten thousand pounds be expended in re-
building the parish church.

After some discussion on various matters of detail
connected with the building of the proposed church,
the original motion and the amendment proposed by
Mr. Smith were put to the meeting, when the latter
was lost by an immenr,o majority. A poll of the parish
was then demanded.

This demand was put to the meeting, when it was
decided by the voices of the majority that no poll of
the parish should be taken.
After iTle transaction of some other business con-
nected with the proposed new building, the meeting
separated at a very late hour.