The Sun.
London, England, 1824-11-06 00:00:00

LAMBETH VEsTRY MEETING.

Yesterday, pursuant to a Requisition signed by the Overseers
of the Poor, a meeting was held at the Vestry Room of St.
Mary's Parish, Lambeth, for the purpose of auditing certain
accounts of that parish. Amongst others, an objection started
by Mr. Falls at a former meeting, relative to a payment by the
late Overseers to the parish Solicitor, Mr. Evans, was this day
the principal subject of a conversation of some length and of a
most desultory nature, In which it was to be regretted some ex.
pressions escaped, we hope inadvertently, which induce us, act-
ing we trust on a sound discretion, to abstain from giving any
detailed account of proceedings characterized by so much irre-
gularity and vituperation. It appeared from the statement of
Mr. Falls this day, that he objected to the fallacy on the face
of the accounts of the last year of the Overseers of the poor as
to a sum of 4001. paid by them upon checques which had been
held over for several days by the persons to whom they had
been paid. He contended this was any thing but a compliance
with the Acts of Parliament respecting the auditing of parish
accounts and finally objected to the manner in which 3001. the
balance of Mr. Evans, the Solicitor's bill had been settled, as
being irregularly done, without beingfirst properly audited.
Mr. Evaxs was about to offer some explanation, when—
, Captain Tu ca begged the Chairman (Mr. Vaughan) to recol-
lect they were called together for an express purpose, namely,
the auditory of the accounts of those ( ientlemen who had gone
out of office last year. He now moved the accounts should he
audited. With a view to ascertain the sense of the Meeting as
to whether it would see the necessity of proceeding to business,
or waste its time in desultory conversation.
. This motion being seconded, was subsequently carried.
Mr. EVANS entered at some length into a ustification of the
conduct of the late Overseers; for his part lie was willing to
submit the account lie had furnished to the arbitration of any
respectable professional man. None would be more so than
two Gentlemen then present—Mr. Davis, of Walcot-terrace,
and .Mr. Schultz. Whatever they said he would abide by,
without troubling the parish with turtherdispute on the subject.
—He did so from a conviction that nothing short of' such a de-
finitive reference would be productive of any satisfaction to all
parties; particularly as he knew some of the most active oppo-
nents lie had, who were then present, would not be eatiatied
were he voluntarily to give up the whole amount of his bill,
but would still cavil with his motives, as if somthing selfish or
discreditable to him were still lurking under any proposition or
concession coming from himself.
A long discussion took place as to whether the referees should
have authority to add to the amount of separate items of charges
contained in this bill, as well as diminish them ; in which
Messrs. Dimes, Falls, Evans, Christy, Forest, Roffey, Schultz,
Harwood, Williamson, and others, took a part. Some impa-
tience was now manifested.
Mr. %troop, in afloat speech, congratulated the meeting. on
the result of the meeting to-clay. lie saw no reason to be un-
patient. The discussion, though warm, had had some very
beneficial effects. It had, he hoped andbelieved, tranquilized
the public. A great prejudice had prevalltal abroad, and there
was something due to the anxiety of the parishioners to under-
stand how their funds were managed, and whether their ac.
counts were properly audited. It would appear now that, at
the utmost, all that could be complained of was an irregularity
In the manner of transacting the public business, which had
fortunately been productive of no real injury to the parishioners.
He hoped they would eventually forget and forgive whatever
had been severally urged, which might have the appearance of
personality or ill will.
Here a short, strange-looking, elderly personage, In the cos-
tume of the days of Louis the Fourteenth, and with an accent
strongly indicative of his French 'origin, rose to address the
meeting in a speech, which for peculiarity of phrase and sin u.
larity of sentiment, abundantly proved that ‘. none but hirn-
self could be his parallel." Ile said, "he was tire, and the
parish too, of hearing about this bill; Mr. Evans was tire too.
He wish It all put aside; and to put an end for ever to it lie
weld move, the taking any more steps to inquire further in it,
and refer should for ever be sunk to oblivion."—(Laughing and
cheers followed.)
The worthy Speaker ceased—some one seconded him ; and
whether it was intentional or otherwise, certainly very much to
the surprise of many, the question was carried by an unanimous
show of hands, not one man holding up his hand for what so
many had been disputing for some hours. " What," said some,
" and this to be done by a Frenchman." Most, however,
laughed heartily, whilst the disputants lately loudest and most
angry with each other were seen cordially shaking bands in dif-
ferent parts of the Vestry-room. One said it was it droll,"
another looked round doubtingly anti pronounced it " a nil.
racle." For ourselves we are incompetent to dispute with such
authorities. We have heard, however, this gentleman is
named Dehoot, and that he is a professor of languages. If to
convince and conciliate in the fewest possible words is a proof
of eloquence, Mr. Dehoot is master of one language at least :
for never, perhaps, since the invention of language, was such a
sudden anti unexpected change produced on a public meeting
by a few sentences, uttered in defiance of rhetorical art, or or-
nament of style. Our Gallic Friend soon after left the room,
followed by all his coverts, exce.pt those few who remained to
audit the accounts.