The Sun.
London, England, 1844-02-05 00:00:00

THE MARYLEBONE VESTRY.

On Saturday, the Vestry assembled at the Court-
house to consider the propriety of taking steps for put-
ring down the newly-established Western Refuge for the
Houseless Poor of the Metropolis, on account of such
establishment being considered a nuisance to the rate-
papers and an injury to the parish.
Mr. Arber, the Secretary to the Society for the Relief
of the Houseless Poor, was present in the gallery to
watch the proceedings.
Mr. W. Clapp having been called to the chair—
A deputation of rate-payers from Ogle-square
(where the institution has been established) attended to
present a memorial to the Vestry, praying them to
use their influence in putting down the establishment,
on account of the vast injury and nuisance in the imme-
diate neighbourhood, occasioned by the assemblage
of large bodies of destitute and houseless poor waiting
to be relieved by the institution. The members of the
deputation, who appeared to belong to the industrious
classes, added, that the poor congregated around their
houses from all parts of the metropolis ; that the nui-
sance was so great, that they were obliged to shut up
their shops, and the majority of their lodgers had given
them notice to quit. The deputation then withdrew,.
and—

Mr. KIRBY said that he considered it to be the duty of
the Vestry to protect the rate-payers by endeavOuringto
put down at once the nuisance complained of. If the in-
stitution were a temporary one, to last only during the
inclement weather, it might be tolerated ; but it was to
be permanent, for a large body of nobleme❑ and gentle-
men had raised a considerable amount of money, and
were still engaged in raising more for its support. The
nuisance, therefore, was likely to increase rather than
diminish ; and although the agent of his Grace the Duke
of Portland had given the Committee of gentlemen notice
that such an establishment could not be permitted to re-
main on his Grace's property, they had disregarded the
notice, and persisted in completing their building. It was
the duty of that Vestry to sympathise with the rate-
payers, and earnestly request the Duke of Portland to
use stringent measures to abate the nuisance.

Mr. JOSEPH regretted that they had no power undt.r
the local Act to remove the nuisance complained ot. Ite
would move, therefore, " That the Vestry forthwith
apply to the Duke of Portland and his agent, and urge
upon them the necessity of putting down the establish-
ment, and that copies of the memorial presented by the
deputation be furnished to his Grace and his agent."
Mr. SODEN seconded the motion, remarking that,
although it might be said the Vestry were wanting in
feelings of humanity in throwing obstacles in the way
of an institution established to relieve the distresses of
the poor, still, he thought, they were acting humanely
in endeavouring to protect the poor and industrious
rate-payers, who no doubt were and would be injured
by the inconvenience created by the institution.
Mr. WALTER denied that the institution was likely to
prove injurious to the neighbourhood in the way repre-
sented. For the short period it had been open he had
watched it narrowly, and had no hesitation in declaring
it a great blessing to hundreds of poor and destitute
persons. He considered that the institution had dimi-
nished by one half the number of street mendi-2ants i❑
Marylebone, and the recipients of the bounty of the in-
stitution entered and left it most order), and quietly.
Mr. DETTMER said the establishment ci applained of
would affect all the rate-payers of Marylebone, because
hundreds of poor persons from all parts of the country
flocked to this new institution fur relief, and those who
slept in it for a night could, by the new poor-law, be-
come a burthen to the parish for a period of 21 days.
After some further discussion, the resolution was
carried, and the Vestry broke up.

FALLING IN of the EXCAVATION
OF THE NEW GRECIAN CLUB-HOUSE, CITY.

SEVERAL MEN BURIED.

On Saturday morning at half-past eleven, while between thirty
and forty men, consisting of carpenters and excavators, were en-
gaged in clearing out the foundation for the New Grecian Club.
bouie, adjoining Messrs. Smith, Payne, and Smith's Bank, a large
portion of the embankment next the Mansion-house Court gave
way, burying several of the unfortunate men with it. All hands
were immediately called to the spot, and, after great exertions, a
carpenter and two excavators were got out, one of whom was so
much injured that he was immediately taken to the hospital. It
was then discovered that three others were still buried—namely,
a carpenter and two labourers, who were engaged at the bottom in
shoreing up the embankment. The exertions of the men were
still continued with unabated vigour, notwithstanding the very im_
mint danger of the situation, from the shorting of the embankment
(e hich is at that part from twenty to thirty feet) having all fallen
with the earth, added to the very sloppy nature of the soil.
One of the men who was dug out stated to our informant, that he
had had his fears all the morning as to the safety of the shores.

(LATEST ACCOUNT).
The deplorable accident occurred shortly b, fore twelve
o'clock, on the site formerly occupied by I )ove-court,
Mansion-house-street, where some extensive excavations
have befett going on during the last few weeks, prepara-
tory to the erection of the Gresham Club-house. In or-
der to render the loeality where the accident took place
clearly understood, it will be necessary to explain that it
is bounded on the north by King William-street and the
banking-bouse of Messrs. Smith, Payne, and Smith
on the west by Charlotte-row, a narrow turning east-
ward of the Mansion-house ; on the east by St.
Swithin's-lane ; and on the south by George-street,
one side of which has been r. mitly take*
down, in order to tarry on the projects] improve-
ments in this part of the City, the whole area being
enclosed by a strong hoarding. From inquiries
made by the reporter, it appears that a number of men
had bet-n engaged during the morn ng in excavating
a deep trench, for the reception of concrete, on which
the foundation of the southern wall was to be raised.
The trench had been dug out to the depth of about
twenty feet, and was considered nearly finish, d. The
embankment
asdhobreienng
pueprf"oromf tehdewupeipthdrupeoretaiorne of; ant4h, eaesmthbteink
throw-
ing in of the concrete generally causes considerable vi-
bration in the ground, the foreman of the works gave
directions that, before this was done, a second set of
shoring posts should be applied to the lower part of the
excavation. The navigators still continued to , ork in
the trench while (his was going on; and one of the car-
penters, named Hillier, was in the act of placing a board
against the embank int,nt, when a large quantity of eart::
bulged forwards from about the centre of the vutti g,
and fell into the trench, burying not o:d% c'e unfortunate
man in question, but severll others or derneath t. Three
or four managed to effect their escape before the mass fell:
but, in a few seconds, the whole embankment, to the extent
of twenty fret, gave way, burying four poor fellows under
its superinctimbent we ght. The men' were mustered
and set to work instantly to rescue their unfortunate
companions. Two of them were soon got out, but some
time elapsed before the nt-xt poor fellow, a navigator,
named John Pattisford, was extricated, and when he
was found he was in so exhausted a state that it was
hardly possible to say whether he was alive or dead.
A stretcher having been procured, he was at once re-
moved to Guy's Hospital, and the exertions of the
workmen were rednubled, in order to come at ihe
unfortunate man Hillier, who was known to be still
buried under an enormous mass of earth. Although
the spot where he fell was accurately known, some
time was lost through the caution which was abso-
lutely necessary to avoid injuring him by the
spades and shovels used to throw up the earth.
The men, however, worked with unceasing ardour,
and, with a reckless daring of all personal danger, which
it was almost painful to witness, for more than
half an hour, and still no glimpse of Hillier had as yet
been discovered. At length, about three quarters of an
hour after the accident, the poor fellow was got out.
The body being still warm, some hope was entertained
that life was not quite extinct. Stimulants were at-
tempted to be got down his throat, and the temporal
artery
.was opened by a medical gentleman who had
been sent for, and- was present, but no blood flowed,
nor were there any signs of returning animation. The
poor fellow was then conveyed by four of his com-
panions to Guy's Hospital, where the surgeon in attend-
ance pronounced that he had been dead some time.—The
other poor fellow rallied slightly during the afternoon,
and was pronounced out of danger last evening. The
cittastrophe occurring as it did, in the heart of the City,
-caused considerable exciti-ment, and the Lord Mayor,
-having had the circumstances re ported to him, gave
directions that the sufferers should be properly attended
to. Messrs. Cubitt are the contractors for the erection
d the club-house, and one of their foremen had the
Management of the excavation. It does not appear, at
present, that blanie is attributable to any party, though
a mere glance at the soil, which is extremely dry and
looSe, shows the necessity for the adoption of every pre-
caution for the prevention of similar disasters. The
deceased had only entered on his engagement a few
hours before his death. TIM whole circumstances in connec-
tion with the affair will be investigated at the inquest,
which will be held before Mr. Payne this day.

The Flintshire colliers hays struck work for an
advance of wages, at a time when hundreds of working men
are in a total want of employment.• This movement has been
urged by the delegates from the North, whose meetings we
have recently noticed. Thefollowing are said to be amongst
the demands :—The colliers demand that what they are now
paid 4s. for shall be advanced to 58. 6d. The drawers demand
an advance of from 2s. Bd. to 38. 2d. ; and the tillers from
2s. sd. to 2s. lld. All others employed also demand an ad-
vance. The strike is not general, but still it is embarrassing
to several large concerns. This combination will probably
produces combination of the employers, which will eventually
end in the depression of wages.—Shrewsbury Chronicle.
We hail with delight the progress of the Anti-
League-agitation in the agricultural districts. The League
had succeeded in Putting the "farmers' friends" upon their
trial; and every Anti-League gathering contributes a sort of ,
inquest for the elucidation of the local grievances of tenant-
farmers. In spite of the blandishments and frowns of land-
lords of the Buckingham and Richmond school, tenants will
be found to speak the truth fearlessly, and to encourage their
neighbours to hesitate before bearing a compulsory testimony
to the blessings of tenantcy-at-will, rack-rents, and game-
laws. Most of them understand right well that the corn-law I
question is a rent question ; nor is there an intelligent farmer
in the north of England who would not gladly vote for the
repeal of the corn-laws to-morrow, could he obtain in ex- I
change for themtcorannt acid a good lease.—lliditidvertiser