The Sun.
London, England, 1828-04-04 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

STORER'S HISTORY OF CLERKENWELL.
London, 1823.
Few people would• suppose that so homely el
neighbourhood as the modern Clerkenwell—a place
which it would be beneath the dignity of IV le'
Croker to, mention in decent society—abounds je
historical and even classical associations. But the;
author of the present agreeable piece of antiquit)l
proves that it was once a spot consecrated to leant'
ing„ genius, and valour—graced by the presence of el
Burnett—a Virolsey ; and even, we believe, of 0'
Henry ; and what will make it more acceptable toe
large portion of the London community, once thi
fashionable quarter of the metropolis. To increases
the attractions of his volume, Mr. Storer hag
illustrated it with- numerous wood-cuts ;in which;
monasteries, episcopal palaces, " and all that," cut
a very venerable figure. Of these engravings we
would point out for especial praise, the represents'
tion of the New River Head as it appeared year!
since. It is intended to display a large piece of
water, with an old gentleman in a punt fishing, but
is of so perplexing a quality, that which is the ~id
gentleman, and which the punt, we have not yet
been able to ascertain. This, however, upon the good
old adage, onme ignotum pro magnXco, is an es°
ceeding recommendation to the work.

PARISH OF ST. MARTIN-IN-THE-FIELDS

It is well known that this respectable and port'
lous parish has been for a great number of years
governed by a select vestry; and it will also be ill
the recollection of our readers, that a portion of the
inhabitants have been for some time engaged in
struggle with " the powers that be," having for its
object the establishing of an open vestry, which,
they contend, is the indisputable right of the pa'
risliioners. 'I he first opportunity which has occur'
red for a practical trial of this question arose yester•
day, which, being the Thursday before Easter, i 5
the day appointed by the local Act of Parliamens
for the nomination of fit and proper persons to serve
the offices of churchwardens, sidesmen, &c. The
ceremony of nomination has been always performed
by the select vestry of 17, but.in consequence of the
recent decision of the Conn of .King's Bench, the'
advocates for an open vestry determined to insist
upon having a share in the nomination. As the eld
approached, the open vestry party were active in ell'
deavouring to rouse their fellow-parishioners to take
a determined part in seconding their views, and cif'culated a spirited placard, addressed to the inhabi'
tants, calling them to come forward and assert their
rights.

One o'clock yesterday was the time appointed far,
the holding of the Petty Sessions, and Sir Richer
°
Birnie, an 4 Mr. Beckett, a County Magistrate, tool‘
their seats in the vestry-room attached to the church
and were attended by the majority of the " select,
who were admitted by the door on the northern side
of the church. Meanwhile, a number of the Or°
vestrymen had assembled in .Lancaster-court, int°
which the public entrance to the vestry-room opened,
but they found the entrance barricadoed, and a
strong party of beadles and constables stationed
within, in a sort of yard, armed with their truncheonf,
and evidently prepared to resist any attempt to pass
them.

Mr. FENN was at the head of the parishioners
outside, and a consultation took place between the
persons assembled, the result of which was, that it
was determined to attempt, at any risk; to obtain
admission. One of the "select" applying to be,
admitted at this door, an opportunity was afforded
of trying the experiment, and at a given signal,: 0
grand rush was made at the door. The constables;
as was anticipated, disputed the entrance With sly
their might, and sundry heavy blows fell upon the
heads of the besieging party, some of whom retreat'
ed, others were forced back, and eventually the gate
was closed, leaving three gentlemen inside—narnelP
Mr. Fenn, Mr. Akeman, of Chandos-stieet, paper
merchant, and Mr. Geesin, an • old and respect'
able inhabitant. They endeavoured to gain ad'
mission into the vestry-room itself, but this wire
refused ; and, finally, they were ejected from
the yard by the civil power. A great deal of Wig'
nation was expressed by the assembled crowd, end
they were several times on the point of meeting in a
body to force down the barrier. Various opinions
were expressed, some being for forcing their way
into the sanctum sanctOunt at all hazards, while
others were- for pursuing measures of a milder, but,
,
as they averred, quite as effectual a kind—naraeq'
either to make an application to the sitting M 4"
strate at Bow-street,for warrants against the officers
for assaulting the parishioners, or to go to the ger
sions and prefer bills of indictment. At length,
Mr. FENN placed himself upon the cistern, ate
tached to the pump, in the church-yard, and ad'
dressing the assembly, said he had already done Ili
great deal to endeavour to establish the rights
his fellow parishioners, and he was now willing, 1
he received their support, to do more. If those selly
felt interested in the matter would subscribe the'
mites so as to protect him from pecuniary loss, he
would pledge himself to proceed against the .partirs
by whom the outrage of that day had been corn',
witted.—(Cheers, and cries of "We will 01'
subscribe.") Mr. Fenn then entered-into a length'
ened detail of the proceedings in the parish, and in
the Court of King's Bench (fully reported in our
columns at the time), in which he was engaged, and
which, he said, had cost him several hundred pounds'
He animadverted in very strong terms upon the
) which had 0'
manner in which the parish affairs had been nor,
naged, and the abuses (as he.alleged
isted so many years ; and said, that even Sir Richard
Birnie himself, the presiding Magistrate of their
petty sessions, and one of the ablest of their vestry'
men, had admitted to him (Mr. Fenn), in a receat
communication, that the parish affairs had of late
got into the hands of a junta, who seemed to mow
matters very strangely. (A laugh, and cries of "It
is
iterating his proposition to take proceedings at law,
enough.") Mr. Fenn concluded by re'
P indemnified from pecuniary loss,
anrdsvodsureexhortingelc
ie iiilo was
his fellow-parishioners to attend ill
over‘vhelining numbers to assert their rights on Mon-
day next, when the election of parochial officers
takes place.

SEAMEN'S WAGES.
.On the motion of Mr. HUME, an account was
ordered to be laid before the House of the sums de-
ducted from the wages of seamen in the Merchants'
Service, for Greenwich Hospital.
PENRYN WITNESSES' INDEMNITY BILL.
On the motion of Dr. PHILLIMORE, and after
a few observations from Mr. BRIGHT and Mr.
WYNN, the Penryn Witnesses' Indemnity Bill
was read a second time, and went through a Com-
mittee; the Report of which was received and
agreed to, and the Bill was read a third time and
407. a year, is now let for 121. We doubt not many per'
passed. Such has been the depreciation of property at
ROMAN CATHOLIC LAND-TAX BILL .
sons would again like to have a war.—Brighton Gazette.
Portsmouth since the war, that a house which then let for
fiofntehrispreepaariation. for their seedness than the
e
committed,
mr.i
tGte.d,L Catholic
and
nMdi, Ba
severaln
d-T brought
axneßuwi pi I the
;I
auTsßeh
see Report
were
f i‘tvnhaters
oßdr
uoe -: . , ,
A GRICULTURE --The barley growers never
cod ; after which the Report was again brought up,
March
and ordered to he taken- into further consideration
has given them, and doubtless. its effe
seen at harvest The frosts and cold winds hao'
was ordered to be printed.
on Monday, 14th April ; and the Bill as amended ,lii,:flul tbeah } h
. given to wheat a very unhealthy appearance (especiallf
CONTROVERTED ELECTIONS. • upon cold lands); genial weather would be very desirair
Mr. WYNN brought in a Bill to consolidate and at this moment. Beans do not come up kindly./
amend the Laws relating to the trial of Controverted Woressler Journal.
1

The meeting then separated, the nomination hay'
ing, in the meanwhile, gone on very quietly in the
vestry-room. It is plobable that Monday next will
be a very remarkable day in the annals of the pro.
ceedings of the parish of St. Martin-in-the-Fields.

Pan
Con

~~

Ma

TO
Al

the I
Spat
Hay
Hot
men
will

UPS
may
Wan

not
bay

tha
sad
wit

La
the
tire

the

ov,
wj]
laii

Cr
.11,111

Ittt
0'4:1
CIL
trp,
suit

Yet
' ext
me
.the
bel

by
thi

,e in Parlia-
o be read o
pill, and to

,in reply to
hat it was
ee, that the
September
'mon Fishe'
ad a seeod
e 2d of May.

Acts rel4t-
was brought
d a Bill was

'en disposes
ly the 14th

NWELL.

) homely
ell—a place
city of bir'•
'abounds it'
;. But the
f antiquity,
.ed to lector
resence of 0,

.!lieve, of 0
eptable to s
ty, once the
Co increase
Storer liao
; in which
that," cut
ravings rye
represenue
eared year,
P,.e piece
shing, but
is the did
we not ye
on the gooa
, is an es'

FIELDS

and port'
sr of years
also be ja
rtion of the
pged in a
ving for ire
ry, which"
of the pa'
has °mg'
ose yester'
Easter, i 5
Parliarnees
as to serve
&c. The,
performed
ence of the
Bench, the
d to insiO
As the dal`'
ctive in ell'
en to take
and cif'
:he inhabi'
tesert their

pointed 0;
it Richar°
trate, tool‘
the churc!),
" select,
hew side
the 0114°
.ourt. into
,tu opened,
!d, and
stationed
runcheonC,
ipt to pats

arishioners
tween the
tbat it
to &nail'
ng to be,
is afforded
:onstables,
e with tip
upon the
in retreat'
y the gate
--namely',
et, paper,
1 respect'
rain ad.
this w 8
ted from
of indig-
o wd, and
!cting.in a
°pinto°
their 11.8,Y
•ds, wbue
lder, but,
—nanielY!

ing Magi
he dial'
the o°,
ngth,
stern, as
and ad'
ly done °f
rights 41,f
hose 10°
vibe their
r loss, 116
!re petit'
een COol'
will all
a length'
and In
in ovjr
Aged, al,u
1 pound"'
upon the
wen ma'
h had er
r Richard

of their
it vestrr
a recent
d of late

) manage
es of " It
d by re-
;s at law,
iary los!,

tttend in
on Mow
1 officers

tion hay'
y in the
icxt will
the prtY
Fields.

perty at
len let for
nany per'
Gazette.

rsVer
Le March
its effect
ends has':
especial')
desiraV
kindly./