The Sun.
London, England, 1846-07-10 00:00:00

REPRESENTATION OF MARY-

LEBONE.

On Wedn et (: a very numerous public meeting, convened by
the newly-isstablished Borough Hegistratim Association,
took place at the Load-of-Hay Tavern, Paddington, for the
purpose of considering matters in connection with the re-
presentation of the borough, consequent on the probability
of an immediate election. _ _

Mr. Lang ham, of Con naught - terrace, presided, and Messrs.
H. C. Wilson, Savage, Cooke, &c., and Messrs. Howarth,
Douglas, Alldis, Vince, and other gentlemen, attended as
deputations from St. Marylebone and St. Pancras.
The CHautsinx having briefly opened the business of the
meeting,
Mr. H. C. WILSON addressed the meeting, and concluded
by moving a resolution, in support of the objects of the
association, which was seconded by Mr. SAVAGt.
Mr. HOWARTIE supported the resolution, which was carried.
Mr. ALLiyis said, he had a subject to bring before that
meeting which he thoLght it was peculiarly their pro-
vince to entertain, as it affected the franchise of no less than
1,500 or 1,600 electors of that borough.—(Hear, bear.)
They were all aware that under the provisions of the Reform
Bill all poor. rates and assessed taxes must be paid, to quality
the voter, before the 20th of July. Now the assessed tax-
collector of one of the most populous and radical districts
of St. Pancras had recently died; and although the assessed
tax commissioners had appointed his successor, yet
through neglect, the party so appointed would not have his
books placed in his possession until the 17th or 18th, thus
leaving him but two days to collect the taxes of so large a
number of people.—(Shame, shame.) The number of
electors In this position varied from 1,500 to 1,700, and he
regretted to say that he (Mr. Alldis) was one of them. He
had tendered his rates, and he had no doubt but many
hundreds had done the same, but there was ne one ap-
pointed to receive them. He considered this extremely
hard upon the voter, who, having been on the register
for eight or ten years, was now, at the very time an
election was inevitable. to be deprived of his franchise,
through no act or omission of his own.—(Hear, hear.) He
had brought forward the subject in order to ascertain what
course was proper to be pursued under the circumstances.
Mr. HANAFORD considered this a subject of importance
to the entire constituency of the borough. Fifteen hunched
votes were sufficient to turn any election, and not a moment
ought to be lost in seeking some remedy. If he remembered
rightly, a similar case took place a year or two ago in the
parish .of Hackney, and the case was carried under the Re-
gistration Act into the Court of Common Pleas, when it was
decided that a tender of the taxes was a sufficient ground of
qualification. Would not, therefore, the proper course be to
serve every elector with a notice calling upon him to tender
his rates ? _ _ .

Mr. DOUGLAS thought they should go to the fountain-
head at once, either to Lord John Russell or to the Secretary
of State, to show them these gross anomalies of the Worm
Bill.—(Hear, hear.) There could be no better time than the
present, and he had no doubt but that they would succeed.
Mr. Tnonx considered there were two great defects in
the Reform Bill. These ratepaying clauses and the 501.
clause.—( I. I ear, hear. )
Mr. Court said if these votes were lost, it would be the
most serious thing to the Liberal portion of the constituency.
He approved of going to the Prime Minister at once, who
would see the necessity of the Bill introduced into Parlia-
ment the other day by General Evans.—(Hear, hear.) He
considered there was not a moment to be lost.
Mr. Wltsox admitted that the subject was not merely of
local, but national importance, and thought the vestry of
St. Pancras ought to take the matter up.
Mr. Auras said a memorial would be presented to the ves-
try at their next meeting, and he had no doubt they would
take a decisive step in the matter.—(Hear, hear.) the fact
was, that the party appointed collector had declared if he did
not get the books before the 17th, he would refuse to act at
all, as he was determined not to incur the responsibility and
odium attendant on the disfranchisement of so many hun-
dreds of, his fellow ratepayers.
On the motion of Mr. P. B. St. Jolts, a committee was
ultimately appointed to wait either upon Lord John Russell,
or the Secretary of State, with power to take any other
prompt and energetic measures in the matter which they
might deem expedient.
A vote of thanks having been passed to the chairman, the
meeting separated.