The Sun.
London, England, 1826-12-04 00:00:00

PARISH OF ST. GEORGE'S, HANOVER-SQUARE.

A numerous Meeting of the inhabitant householders of the parish
of St. George, Hanover-square, was held, this day, at the. Gun
TaVern, Pimlicof for the purpose of petitioning Parliament against
an Act passed during the last Session of Parliament, entitled an
Act for paving, lighting, watching, and repairing Grosvenor-
place. Mr. Hobhouse, M.P. in the Chair.

The petition submitted and agreed to by the Meeting was
founded on a series of resolutions proposed by a Meeting held in
October last, in which the parishonerscomplamed that Earl Gros-
venor had smuggled the Act through the House of Commons
without the knowledge of the parishioners, and in opposi-
tion to another Act prepared' with the consent of the parish.
It was also complained that the Act was onerous, oppres
site, and unequal, for that the powers given by it to the
trustees were arbitrary and unlimited; that excessive sums might
be levied on the parish under it ; and that by its provisions the
inhabitants of the outward, where the greatest proportion of the
poor resided, were called upon to defray expenses which ought to
be paid by the whole parish. In addition to these grievances, it
was alleged that this Act was the first step towards dividing the
parish, which would be ruinously oppressive to the inhabitants of
the outward.

The petition having been read and unanimously agreed to, Mr.
Francis Edwards addressed the meeting, calling upon the share-
holders to come forward and assist in the struggle they were
about to enter into with Lord Grosvenor, by affording some pe-
cuniary assistance. He said there were about 2,500 houses in the
parish, and that half-a-Crown from each would defray all the
necessary expellees. He knew that the householder's who were
not under the immediate influence of Lord Grosvenor, were
eagerly and unanimously opposed to the late act, and he could
assure them that any funds placed in the hands of the Committee,
should not be wasted.

A Parishioner wished to be informed whether their worthy
_Re-
presentatives were acquainted with the passing of the Act through
the House of Commons.

Mr. HOBHOTISX said, the Bill was put into his hands by Mr.
Boodle, who said there was uo opposition to it, and it passed as
all such bills should, in perfect silence. When any opposition was
intended to a private Act, it was ahvays the custom to present a
Petition against it, which was not done in this instance.-

Mr. EnwARDs said, that no notice was posted on the Church of
the intention ofapplying for the Act, so that in this respect it was
informal.

Mr. Hoenoust said, that she only way for the Petitioners to
effect their object,,would be to bring another bill into Parliament,
repealing the objeitionable clauses in Lord Grosvenor's Act. He
must add, that-the expence of a privatebill was shamefully great;
it amounted, he believed, to about 1,600/. Under those circum-
stances, it was for the Parishioners to consider what they
should do. Ile would suggest the propriety- of attempt-
ing an arrangement. He could not conceive that the
trustees under - the New Act, many of whom were
highly respectable gentlemen, nor that our - Lord Governor
himself, would desire to force a bill which was generally
objectionable. However this might be, he had to acquaint the
meeting, that presenting the petition would not effect their object,
though it was a proper and necessary step towards it.
A GICNTLrNtax inquired, whether Lord Grosvenor could not
make some alteration in the bill.

Mr. Ho:inmost replied, that any alteration must be made by
the House of Commons. An Lord Grosvenor could do, was to
offer no opposition to any new bill that the parishioners thought
proper to bring in.
Mr. EnwAaus said the rate under the Bill would amount tb
Ss. in the pound, and it was estimated a dozen years ago that a
rate of Id. a pound produced 1,5001. Three shillings a pound,
he thought, could not produce less, at this time, than between
70 and 80,0001., an enormous su► for the parish to he called
upon to pay.
A GINTILKSIAN asked whether Mr. Hobhouse would Conde-
seeud to accompany the Deputation? to which the Hon. Gentle-
man assented.

A PARISHIONER Said, Lord Grokrenor eared nothing, for be
had let hie land.

Mr. HATCIIARD suggested the propriety of a deputation wait-
ing on Lord Grosvenor, and showing him the petition.,
Alr. Enwaans said, Lord Grosvenor knew his tenants very
Well when they went to pay their ground-rents, but lie knew no
thing at alt of them upon any other occasion.
Mr. Jamas iIATCHARD said, there could be no doubt that some
of the Trustees were personally interested. They had gone to ex-
pences which no men would have done without having a
private interest in the matter. Acting upon this principle
of private interest, the parishioners now saw the great thorough-
fares in the panel; in a dangerous filthy state, whilst streets little
used, were most expensively paved. The objections to the bill
were numberless; there was no limit to the application of the
money. If Lord Grosvenor chase to pave his squares with
marble, and leave the streets unpaved, the pariah had no remedy.
A Parishioner inquired whether it could disfranchise the pa-
rishoners if the Wards should be divided?
Mr. 11011110 USE said the.Aleeting might be assured he would
never bring in a bill to effect that. _

A resolution was then pulled to the effect that application
should be made to Lard Grosvenor, and, if posaible, an amicable
arrangement entered into. _

With this understanding the Meeting separated.