The Sun.
London, England, 1835-05-22 00:00:00

MEETING.-(THIS DAY.)

ST. MARTIN' S-IN-THE-FIELD
A Meeting of the rate-payers and parishioners of Os r-t'he
of St. Martin's-in-the-Fields, took -place this morning jp the
vestry-room, for the purpose of nominating 24 guardians eitbe
accordingpoor for the ensuing year, to the provisions tn
the
Poor Law Amendment Bill. Mr. John Tidd Pratt teek,o,
chair, and the order for electing the board of guardians '0,4
ing been read, the nomination lists were handed in. reco-
the rest there was one from Mr. Churchwarden Fenn, ited
taming the names of 24 ladies, the reading of which Oc
much laughter.
The CHAIRMAN enquired if Mr. Fenn su'Jant seriously t°
propose these ladies as guardians of the prior.
iable to
Mr. FENN replied in the affirmative. They were l dbe
serve the office according to the provksions of the Act, 1120 b 1
thought the parish would be as wel:i governed by them
the old women by whom it hail. been previously goverae'
(Great laughter.)
to be
The CHAIRMAN feared that the names of the ladies sh°
printed, if Mr. Fernn inshted on it.. . lossS
Mr. FERN! thought if the two parties into which the Parls.ns, it
divided would agree upon a list of twenty-four guardians'
would save much trouble. less all
The CHAIRMAN observed that that could not be done un,4 0019
the lists were withdrawn, and one with twenty-four nevi—
handed in. to
s tin
Mr. WEBB had taken care in the list which he bad bhie°
exclude all who had previously held office, or had by t° in-
rendered themselves unfit to serve.—( Hear.) He Isbell/
eluded the present Board of Overseers,( as he considered
their
well fitted, for the manner in which they had dischargeoc bsd
duty, to act as guardinns of the poor.—(Cheers.), ea Of
always opposed the introduction of this bill, as he bellev into
under its provisions the old party wished again to ger.)
power, for the sake of- patronage and profit.—(Laughte,tioSS
Mr. STAUN TON said Mr. Webb had used some obsern7oBol,
which he must retract before any satisfactory arree3ole°,,
could be come to. He had broadly stated that the "0140,
the names in the other lists were jobbers.—(Cries of
andMr g.reatJAMES confusion.) , Were
MOTES said the allegations of Mr. Ny
most improper and unjustifiable.—( Great uproar.) nose'
Mr. WEBB explained—He had merely stated that the
nap
in his list had never served, while those put in by the °l)°-
party had. , So
Mr. MovEs--So much the better.—( Cries of " No,'
much the worse.")
Mr. E. CUST wished to know if Mr. Webb meant any
personal to him ?
Mr. WEBB said certainly not. ellai
ll
[The list to which Mr. Webb alluded as having Pre
served was then read.] 1)4
Mr. SIMPSON observed that one of the persons, David b
was a person whose appointment he would oppose, as, Ketl
never done his duty when a sidesman, without being ISO'
it. He had got acquainted with a Mr. Leslie, a Pio sill
writer to the Poor Law Commissioners, and that was pig
they were that day met, for it was through his twang t Tbell
visions of the Act had been introduced into the Parish.thotlght
were called together to commit an act of suicide. 11,e,.,f1d
the Act a most injurious and uncalled-for one, for the ill*-1.01-
parishioners of St. Martin's were able to reform anY pa cis'
abuses, without calling in the aid of a Board of CoMnuasoll°lll
By-and-bye the power of rating would be altogether tailor
the parishioners—the rate would be imposed by Commii beret°
sitting at Somerset House, and all the parishioners woUlutropc.
do would be to pay it.—( Hear.) He regretted that the hijle
tion of this Act had not been more strenuously resisted;,she,
nothing to say to the present Commissioners pers.:lol%loW
were very excellent men, and well balanced—being twe„glif art.,
and one Tory; but their successors might not be acumen
ceptable to the public. Mr. S. then proceeded to e
of Of
on Mr. Leslie's pamphlet, which, he said, was full
ora
grossest absurdities. first In
Mr. FENN was almost glad that the Act had been _ cessi,
troduced into the parish of St. Martin's, as, if ever 0;0;
missioners came into a parish in which their pm"! "rg.
to nothing, it was the parish of St. Martin's.—(CneelikelY
hoped the Chairman would apprise them that he was 3
meet with very great difficulties in executing his dal' woo
The CHAIRMAN hoped that would not be the 00'10, ,'
was recollected that he had been appointed by tbealsef CO
Mr. FENN—My object is to appoint such a Board °lid I br"
dians, as no Commissioners will be able to control ; Asts .0
li..!ve I have done that, by appointing twenty-four 'coil;
(Great laughter.) lam sorry I did not appoint C°
Jones as their Chairman.—( Renewed laughter.) Act, stoitb
Mr. SMITH complained that they received an uesi
would reduce them to nothing less than abject sse' italsbe
mirth and laughter, instead of trying to get rid of it. bft
most obnoxious and infamous law, and had been Plalmitisdrii,
Aristocracy to rob the people of their rights. Mr* the vial
ceeded at some length to denounce the provisions of joitioS
the object of which was, he contended, to throw' Lith o
power into the hands of the upper classes. --( Mr. ;of
frequeny called to order by the Chairniz-o.) rng tils' 0
The nomination lists were then prepared (ineln"l'stie°
the ladies, n hich Mr. Fenn expressed his deterininicith
press), and were ordered to be printed, in compliance
provisions of the Act.