The Sun.
London, England, 1859-09-24 00:00:00

ST. GEORGE'S-IN-THE-EAST.

Mr Joseph Smith, a solicitor, of Arbour-square,
Stepney, applied to Mr. Yardley, at the Thames
Police-court yesterday, for summonses against
John Peterson, of No. 1, Lower Chapman-street,
St. George's-in-the-East, sugar baker, under the

following circumstances :
Mr. Smith said he applied on behalf of the Rev.
Bryan King, the rector of the extensive parish of
St. George, Middlesex, commonly called St.
George's-in-the-East, for two summonses against a
man named Peterson for unseemly conduct and dis-
turbing the congregation on the afternoon of Sun-
day last in the parish church, and also with repeat-
ing his offensive behaviour at the Mission Chapel
in Wellclose-square, in the parish of St. George,
on the same evening. Mr. Smith then called
the attention of the magistrate to two acts of
Parliament, the Ist of William and Mary, cap.
18, sec. 18, passed in the year of the glorious re-
volution, 1688; and the Ist of Queen Mary, session
2, cap. 3, passed in 1553. lie would take the later
act of William and Mary first. It stated that any
person disquieting and disturbing a congregation,
or misusing any preacher or teacher, upon proof
thereof before any justice of the peace by any two
or more witnesses, shall find two sureties in the
sum of £5O each, to appear at the Sessions, and,
upon conviction, to pay a fine of £2O. The act of
Queen Mary enacted that if any person by open
word, act, or deed, contemptuously molest, disturb,
or trouble, or by any unlawful means disquiet or
misuse any preacher or preachers in any of his or
their open sermon, preaching, or collation, or any
parson, vicar, priest, or curate, or any lawful priest
preparing, saying, doing, singing, ministering, or
celebrating the mass, or other such Divine service,
or saeramentals, every such offender shall be appre-
hended immediately by any constable, churchwar-
den of the parish, or any other person or persons
there being present, and carried before any justice
of the peace, and if found guilty on proof of two
witnesses, or upon confession, to be imprisoned for
three months, and at the end of that period to find
sureties for his good behaviour.
Mr. Yardley—Surely, Mr. Smith, that act must
have been repealed
Mr. Smith—No, it is not, sir.
Mr. Yardley—Why, it alludes to the mass. You
don't call the services of the present day in our
churches and chapels, "or such other divine ser-
vice."
Mr. Smith—l really must submit to you, sir,
that any services of a sacramental character only
differ from the mass in form and not in substance ;
in addition to which I can inform your worship
there has been a conviction under this very act of
Queen Mary in Dorsetehire within 18 months of
the present time.
Mr. Yardley—What act do you prefer ?
Mr. Smith—As this is the first case, I would rather
take the more merciful course, and have a summons
under the act of William and Mary.
Mr. Yardley—l think you will do right then.
Mr. Smith then stated that the Rev. Bryan King,
the rector, not being present, he would call on Mr.
Wm. R. Motion, of 4, Back-road, St. George's, wine
merchant, who gave evidence of a serious distur-
bance in the parish church on Sunday afternoon
last. When the congregation met for the Tracta-
rian or Puseyite service, as itis termed, the defendant
Peterson got very near the vestry door, where seve-
ral gentlemen were placed in order to protect the
curate, the Rev. Mr. Maconochie, specially deputed
by the Bishop of London to perform the service.
Previously to the clergyman coming to the vestry
several disorderly persons, including Peterson,
were there, and they used threatening language as
to what they would do when he came out of the
vestry. When the rev. gentleman came out of the
vestry and entered the church he was hustled,
shoved, and pushed about to such an extent as to
render it impossible for him with safety to attempt
divine service. The rev. gentleman was severely
maltreated, and was only saved from further violence
by the assistance of the police and his own friends.
The noise and confusion was dreadful.
Mr. Yardley was in hopes there was a termination
to the disturbances and dissensions in St. George's
Church, but he was sorry to say his expectations
were disappointed.
The summons was then granted.
Mr. Smith then applied for a seeond summons
against Peterson for an offence, under the act of
William and Mary, in the Mission Chapel in Well-
close-square which the solicitor said was a licensed
place of worship. It may be necessary to state that
the Rev. Bryan King has opened two chapels in
the parish in which the ceremonies are conducted
in the same manner as they have been in the parish
church, and which has given so much offence to the
Protestant parishioners. Owing to the serious dis-
turbance in the parish church in the afternoon, and
the threats made use of by the people there
assembled, the Tractarian services of the rector
were dispensed with in the evening, and the church
was closed. The disappointed anti-Puseyites then
repaired to the Mission Chapel in Wellolose-square,
where the Rev. M. Maconochie, the curate, was to
officiate, and stopped the intended service there as
Evidence was given by Mr. Motion that Peter-
son had conducted himself in a very disgraceful
manner in the Mission Chapel, created a disturb-
ance, and behaved rudely to a female member of the
congregation.
Mr. Yardley granted a second summons against
Peterson, and both will be heard on the same day.

LIGIITLIOUSES IN THE RED SEA AN.
ItIEDITERRANE4N.
9-

The following remarks on this subject appear in
a contemporary :—You have been good enough to
find a space in your powerful columns for a letter
from "A Commander in the Peninsular and Orien-
tal Service at Home on Sick Leave," on the subject
of lights in the Red Sea, perhaps you will also en-
deavour to promote the cause he is advocating by
granting me a similar favour on the same subject,
but nearer home.
The " overland route " to India from Southamp-
ton was opened in 1840, and every succeeding year
has tended to show how important a feature it has
become in the history of our country. To endeavour
to render it, therefore, as free from danger and risk
as is possible to make a voyage to the other side of
the globe needs no apology in asking the aid of
your most influential assistance, and under this im-
pression I address to you the following remarks and
suggestions.
To make this route as safe in the Mediterranean
as it would be in the Red Sea if your correspon-
dent's suggestions are acted on, it will be necessary
to have three more lights between Southampton
and Alexandria than at present exist. •
I can well remember, sir, when there was no
light on Cape St. Vincent, nor was it till late in
1845 that the present excellent one was placed
there. I can also remember when the north coast
of Spain, from Corunna to Vigo, was also without
a similar advantage ; nor was it until after the total
loss of one of the two mail packets then conveying the
India mails between Southampton and Alexandria,
near that grim and terrible headland, CaperFinis-
terre, in Feb., 1846, that a light was placed'on it;
and I may add, had there been one before, neither
that steamer nor the .West India Royal Mail packet,
lost just three years previously not far• from the
same spot, would in all probability have been sacri-
ficed. Since that period the west coast of Spain
and Portugal has received the advantage of several'
lights, including a most excellent one on Ceuta, just
opposite Gibraltar. There are still, however, three
more required to make, as I before observed, the
route on this side the isthmus complete in that re-
spect. The points on which these lights are re-
quired are Cape Trafalgar, Cape de Gat.t (156 miles
east of Gibraltar), and on the island of Galita. This
latter is undoubtedly the most dangerouS part of
the Mediterranean, and therefore should be the first
to be strongly advocated.
Had there been a light on this bald and barren
island, you would not have had to record, in the
winter of 1847-48, the total loss of her Majesty's
ship Avenger on the Sorelli Rocks, 13 miles from
this spot, with all (save four) of her magnificent
ship's company ; and your present correspondent
was some time since in a ship, commanded by the
most experienced Mediterraneen navigator, which
was—perhaps owing to the currents, which are
about there very uncertain both in their direction
and strength, or perhaps to some hitherto undis-
covered local attraction on shore—so set in that,
although steering a course which would, under or-
dinary circumstances, have taken the ship 12 miles
N. of Galita, she was at daylight, to the surprise
and anxiety of her commander and all who knew
the fact, inside Galita,. and had passed close (God
knowe how close) to those dreaded " Sorellis."
Is it not, therefore, imperative that every exer-
tion should be made to prevent, as far as human in-
genuity can, the possibility of a recurrence of such
frightful losses as have already too often taken
place from the want' of lights on these dangerous
points ?

- I may here mention that on the Cane Rocks, 55
miles S.E. of the Galita, a fine light is nearly com-
pleted, which I believe was obtained through the
earnest representation of its necessity to the Bey of
Tunis by the senior managing director of the Pen-
insular and Oriental Company (Mr. Anderson).
The next most valuable light would be on Cape
Trafalgar or Spartel. Either of these capes is a.
leading mark to run for to enter the Straits of Gib-
raltar from the westward, and if a light were on
either (Trafalgar, perhaps, the best), the com-
manders of the packets, as of all other classes of
vessels trading up the Mediterranean, would be able,
after passing Cape St. Vincent, to run boldly for the
Straits, thereby shortening the passage and being
relieved from a deal of anxiety, to which they are
now subject frGm the fear of being set in too closely
to the shoals off Cape Trafalgar.
The third light required to make the route com-
plete is the one referred to at Cape de Gatt ; this
could be used as a " hind," or, more properly,
light fall," by all vessels coming up the Mediter-
ranean from the eastward, and would be of infinite
service in dark, dirty weather.
You will see by the chart that two of these lights
must be sought for from the Spanish Government,
while the third would be in the hands of the Bey of
Tunis, or his chief, the Sultan of Turkey, both of
whom have shown themselves well disposed to aid
in the furtherance of science and the advancement
of mercantile interests.
The subject is one of great importance, not only
to England, but to all nations trading to the Medi-
terranean, and I hope, therefore, you will consider
it sufficiently so as to give it the aid of your ad-

vocacy.
I beg to subscribe myself, as one who has made
considerable over 100 voyages to Alexandria and
back.

METROPOLITAN BOARD OF WORKS.

The ordinary meeting took place yesterday at
Guildhall, City, Mr. J. Thwaites presiding.
From various causes several important questions
were postponed, comprising those relating to the
outfall service at Deptford, the deodorization of the
Thames, and matters relating to main drainage ; in
consequence, the business of the day resolved itself
generally into a mere matter of routine, which re-
lated to applications for consent and approvol as to
the erection of certain buildings and alterations.
Among the letters read was one from Mr. Chap-
pell, vestry clerk of St. George, Hanover-square,
declining to attend to the precept for the main
drainage rate, and also intimating that such rate
must (if at all) be collected by the board, as it would
not be undertaken by the parish authorities. In
regard to this it is understood the board will apply
to Parliament for additional powers. Thefollowing,
however, was the chief operation of the day :
THE ORDNANCE SURVEY OF THE METROPOLIS.
A claim having been made by the War Depart-
ment, as representing the late Board of Ordnance,
upon the Metropolitan Board of Works, as succes-
sors to the late Commissioners of Sewers, for ex-
penses incurred in the late survey of London,
amounting to £24,226 17s. 3d., a letter was written
by the clerk (Mr. E. H. Woolrych) to Gen. Peel,
urging that such claim should not bo onforced
against the ratepayers of the metropolis, &c.
To this the following was recived :
" Treasury Chambers, Aug. 20.

" Sir,--I am commanded- by the Lords Commis
sioners of her Majesty's Treasury to acquaint you
that the Secretary of State for War has referred to
this board Mr. Woolrych's letter to that department,
dated the 23d of April last, on the subject of the
repayment of the expenses incurred in making a
survey of London for the late Metropolitan Com-
missioners of Sewers.
" I am to observe that it appears quite clear that
the commissioners, by their resolutions of April and
May, 1848, rendered themselves liable for the re-
payment of the expense of making the block plan
in question. The resolution of the 30th May, 1848,
directs that the Ordnance Department be requested
to proceed with the block plan of the metropolis, so
far as may be necessary for the purposes of the com-
missioners, with all practicable speed, and that suoh
payments on account as may be requisite for pro-
ceeding with the survey be made from time to time
out of the sewers rates, making it evident that the
work was undertaken at the time on this distinct
understanding, and at the request of the Commis-
sioners of Sewers ; and it appears from the subse-
quent correspondence down to 1852 that the Com-
missioners never disputed their liability, and pro-
mised payment whenever legislative provision should
be made to enable them to raise the requisite funds.
" It is equally evident that the liabilities of the
Commissioners of Sewers have devolved upon the
Metropolitan Board of Works, so that it appears to
admit of no question that the board are under a dis-
tinct legal liability to repay to the Government the
whole Gf the sum of £24,212 17s. 3d. which was ex-
pended upon the block plan in question. My lords do
not feel that they would be warranted, by any of the
general considerations stated in the letter from
your board, dated April 28, in abandoning this
claim. The conditions under which the survey was
undertaken were perfectly well known at the time,
and the authorities by whom the ratepayers of
London were represented had the option of waiting
for the benefit of the national survey, to which they
had contributed as taxpayers, and which they
would have had, like the other large towns men-
tioned, without any further payment, or of antici-
pating that benefit by paying for it ; and, without
any pressure on the part of the Government, they

N EIV S PAPE E
, i',s'.s. ,
voluntarily ado t the latter optiot(for l'tvigtig '*f
._ , .
which-were doubtless thought goo di'iti :the time..';
.:T.
" The same course- was adopte. *some ot*r t •
towns in • England, for whose ...P:...‘modatiorillA' t
Ati4
os
expenditure of £20,486 Ss.
,7,4„_ -is incur -.-'. ,-„,?,..‘2„
Similar objections were raised by those tow - . 4,:lice
the repayment of this amount, and...it wa4.4.finalt. - S
compromised
..fox £4,06 is. id., or in round
numbers three-fifths otthe original claim, of which ._
a large portion has been repaid, and the residue. in
course of repayment.
" My lords are ready to admit that, under the
circumstances which have occurred, the ratepayers .
of London have r^4 .;.1 full. benefit which was
contemrl.a - : 1,.. the Commissioners
of Sewers asked for the survey, and therefore they
are quite ready, as in the case of the towns referred
to, to entertain a proposal for an'equitable compro-
mise, but unless such a proposal be made,
they would ' pyr it to bp their duty to
take steps to enforce the claim, as they dO
not consider they could recommend or justify to
Parliament an abandonment in favour of the me-
tropolis of a clear and undoubted right .which re-
sults from a distinct bargain made. with the Go-
vernment by the body representing the ratepayers
on their own application, and with a full know-
ledge of the facts, and which has been enforced in
the case of other towns in -the country similarly
circumstanced.—l have the honour to be, sir, your
obedient servant,

" GEORGE A. HAMILTON."
This matter was referred to the Main Drainage
Committee, and after some further business the
Court adjourned.