The Sun.
London, England, 1857-12-24 00:00:00

THE GREAT SLANDER CASE.

The hopes of a conclusion before Christmas are
becoming more faint. No less than eight witnesses
were examined yesterday on the part of the defen-
dant, and it is said that the list is not yet exhausted.
The trial is to be resumed this morning.

EQUALISATION OF POOR-RATES IN
THE METROPOLIS.

Last evening an influential meeting of the ratepayers
of the borough of Greenwich was hold in the hall of the
Greenwich Literary Institution, for the purpose of con-
sidering the propriety of adopting a petition to Parlia •
ment for au equalisation of the poor-rates throughout
the metropolis.
Mr. JOHN TOWNSEND, M.P. for the borough, was
unanimously voted to the chair, and addressed the tnen L-
ing at considerable length, observing that in no p trt of
the metropolis more than that of the borough of Green-
wich was the evil of the present system of levying poor-
rates felt. (Hear, hear.) If the ratepayers of Greenwich
looked at the large Government establishments in the
borough occupying the best sites of land, and shutting
out merchant shipowners without contributing ono penny
t i the relief of the poor, they would see the injustice
practised upon them. (Loud cheers.) If they looked
at certain rich parishes they would the amount of rata
there levied for the relief of the poor was not more than
6d. in the pound, but in their own parish they were
called upon to pay a rate of 4s. or ss. in the pound. In
St. Paul, Deptford, it was 45., but in the adjoining
parish of St. Nicholas, Deptford, only a few weeks since,
a rate of 3s. in the pound on the quarter was made, and
for years past that parish had paid not less than 134. in
the pound per annum. (Shame.) The present move-
ment partook neither of a party nor political purpose,
but was a qdestion in which the ratepayers individually
were deeply interested.
Mr. SMITH, in moving the first resolution, expressive
of the opinion of the meeting that the destitute poor
should be relieved equally by every member of the cow-
mueit;;direeted attention to the burdens inflicted upon
hitnselt and other ratepayers in Greenwich, by the poor
thrown upon rates by Greenwich Hospital, which esta-
blishment altogether escaped from payment towards
their support.
Mr. SMALLWOOD seconded the motion.

Mr. GILBEItT, chairma❑ of the association calling the
meeting, entered int) an el,tborate and statistical state-
ment, chewing the inequalities at present existing, and
that by a uniform assessment not more than a rate of 14.
in the pound would be required annually.
Other resolutions, embodying a petition to Parliament
were then proposed and agreed to, and, after a vote of
thanks to the chairman, the meeting separated.

RATING OF THE LIVERPOOL DOCKS.—We understand
that Mr. Roes, the district auditor, has intimated to Mr.
Churchwarden Woodruff that in his coming audit he
intends to surcharge the churchwardens and overseers
of this parish with the sum of 20,0001. uncollected poor.
rates on the assessment of the Liverpool docks. Should
the auditor carry out his present intention, there will be
nothing left for the parochial authorities but an appeal
to the Court of Queen's Bench in order to have it deoided
whether the docks are legally liable to be rated to the
relief of the poor. should the Court decide that the
docks are liable, the rate-payers will be at once relieved
of a burden to the extent of at least Gd. in the pound.
Should it be decided that, as the law at present stands,
there is no power to rate the docks, there still remains
the question whether it is desirable to apply to PAilia
[ADvEßTisintiewr
meet for au act for rating the dock estate to the relief of
the poor. —Liverpool Mercury.
leg —F. Bird, gardener,
an unparalleled cure of a bad •
was afflicted for 20 years
50, Georges-grove, Holloway,
]—Holloway's Ointment and Pills,
itself into an angry wound, e con.
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g friends without
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resource he determined to give Iloilo.
effect, as a last
andafter
suited several mheimdicablymes;manpadthtriieeidn_alm almost everything
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itb —Sold by all Medicine vendors throughout the
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1858 -Fail not to begin the NEW YEAR
• with a DIARY. LETTS'S are kept
by every bookseller in the kingdom. Catalogues gratis. Those
generally adopted by
LADIES are Nos. 10, 12, 18, 20, ARMY and NAVY, 8,9, 10, 11,
22, plain or elegantly bound. in perpetual sprg. lock cases,
GENTLEMEN, 8,9, 10, 11, etc. MERCHANTS, BANKERS,
in perpetual peg- lock cases. ENGINEERS, etc. 51, 52, 53,
CLERGYMEN, 9, 10, 12, 12 enl. 1,2, 3,6, 8,9, 11, with Dr. and
Tablet, Sermon books, etc. Cr. form., 3a, 48, 118, etc.
MEDICAL MEN, 1,2, 8,9, 10, TRADESMEN, 4,5, 11, 13, 15,
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LAWYERS, 51, 52, 1,2, 8,9, the FARMERS, 4, 5,6, 7, 11, 13, etc.
Scribbling, plain or interlvd. ]TECH A.NICS, Is. 6d., is 9d , 6d.
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