The Sun.
London, England, 1832-03-10 00:00:00

SELECT VESTRIES.

We understand that in the metropolitan parishes, where
tho rate-payers have signed requisitions for the adoption of
Sir John Hobhouse's Vestries Act, the Churchwardens
are using every endeavour to defeat the parishioners, by a
forced construction of one of the adoptional clauses of the
Act; and should they succeed, the householders will be
prevented abolishing the present unconstitutional system of
self-elected irresponsible Vestries, and thus the Act of the
Legislature will be nullified. The Parochial Committee
of St. Marylebone are, however, taking active steps to
counteract this attempt of the Churchwardens. The follow-
ing correspondence has, in consequence, taken place :
" Berkeley-square, March 2, 1832.
Sir John Hobhouse presents his compliments to the Attor-
ney-General, and begs to ask his opinion, whether or not the
annexed clause of the Ist and 2d of William IV. chap. 60, justi-
fies the Churchwardens of parishes, the rate-payers of which are
desirous of adopting the said Act, in compelling the parishioners
voting under the provisions of that Act, to appear personally and
deliver their votes to the persons appointed to receive the same."
"'The Attorney-General presents his compliments to Sir John
Hobhouse, and in answer to his note, begs to state, that in his
opinion it is clear that the rate-payers need not attend in the
first instance to vote upon the adoption of the Vestry Act ; it is
only required that the votes shall be written and printed, or
partly written and printed, and delivered (without saying by
whom) to the Churchwardens. The fifth section which ex-
pressly authorises the Churchwardens to call the voting rate
payers before him, demonstrates (as he thinks' that personal
attendance in the first place is not necessary.
" Lincoln's Inn, March 2, 1812."
This interpretation by the Attorney-General of the adop-
tional clause is in direct opposition to that officially signified by
the Churchwardens of St. Marylebone, who contend that the
personal appearance of the rate-payers is required, thus putting
it out of the power of that parish adopting the Act from the fact
of the rate payers being too numerous (viz. 11,000 ! to be able
to vote personally in the time allowed by the Act, which is only
twenty-four hours. It is expected that should the Church-
wardens, after this opinion, still persist in requiring the personal
appearance of every rate-payer, the most serious confusion and
tumult must be the consequence in the extensive and densely popu-
lated parishes of St. Marylebone, St. George, Hanover-square,
anti St. Pancras, as upwards of 28,000 !! rate-payers must assemble
to insure the adoption of the Act, and in twenty-four hours.

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.-(THIS DAY)

FROM LLOYD'S.

DEAL, MARCH 9.—N.E.—The Goodwin South Sand
.Head
Light vessel is taking her proper station.
PORTSMOUTH, MARCH 9.—N.V.—Arrived his Majesty's
ship Padtaloon, from Plymouth, the Palmira, Loader, and the
Ferguson, Young, from London for Bengal.
PLYMOUTH, MARCH B.—N.N.W.--Arrived the Alexander,
Forbes, Gandie, from Tarragona. Sailed his Majesty's ship
Pearl, for Jamaica ; his Majesty's ship Savage, for Cork ; and his
Majesty's ships Leveret and Lei•ant, on a cruize.
FALMOUTH, MARCH S.—W. to N.W., fresh breezes and
squally—Arrived the Wansbeek, Skinner, from Odessa; his Ma-
jesty's Steam.packet, Firebrand, from Plymouth.
LIVERPOOL, MARCH S.—Arrived the Minerva, from Bengal
Worrall, Sant Martha, Zante, Williams, from Cephalonia.
DOVER,IMAACII theMeta,Eroderson, from Leg.
horn ; off port, Sophie, Splide, from Batavia.
TERCEIRA, FEB. 21.—0 n the 19th inst., the following ves-
sels were driven on shore, it blowing a gale of wind trom the
S.E., and had it bontinued half an hour loeger, not a vessel in
the Bey would have escaped :—American schooner Souvenir,
Lathman, part of the cargo on board, totally wrecked. Portu-
guese brig Prudencia, Souza, totally wrecked ; Portuguese
schooner Naren, totally wrecked.
DUBLIN, MARCH S.—Arrived, the Sea Horse, Callendar,
from St. John's, New Brunswick. The Westmoreland, from
Port Rush to Liverpool, was totally wrecked near Shilrugh on
the sth instant., crew saved.
The Ann, from Clyde to Arbroath ; the Ann, from Aberdeen
to ditto, and the Sophia,of Peterhead, weretotally wrecked near
3tontrose on the 7th inst., crew saved by the life boat.