The Sun.
London, England, 1829-01-06 00:00:00

ST. PAUL'S, COVENT-GARDEN.

Yesterday the ex and present Vestry Clerk of this
parish, attenJeci by the Overseers and other paro-
chial and official gentlemen, appeared at the public
office, Bow-street, for the purpose of making a third
attempt to settle the passing of the above parish ae-
counts of last year.

George Rowland Minshull and Thomas Halls,
Esqrs., were present, for the special purpose of
passing them.

After tho Overseers of the last year (Messrs.
Jeremy and Griffiths) had been sworn to the ac-
counts,

Mr. Corder said, that on the last occasion he had
submitted to their Worships' notice the fact of Dr.
Mitford, the Chairman of the Reading Quarter Ses-
sions, having refused, on the Overseers of his parish
presenting their accounts (in which a dinner and
expences were charged) to be passed, to allow them
their expenses and dinner for visiting the poor chil-
dren, considering the office to be a gratuitous one.
Their Worships had refused to take that as any au-
thority, and he now cited a paragraph from Burn's
Justice, in which it sta;:ed that Overseers could not
demand their expellees. He therefore contended
that the sum charged for dinner, &e., amounting to
181., was an illegal one, and should not be passed.
Mr. HALLS, as a father and a Magistrate, would
never put his name against the paltry expellees, yet
an odium was cast upon them.
Mr. MINSHULL—There certainly is no odium cast
upon the overseers, purely an objection, and
(although I must differ frona my brother Magis-
trate's opinion) a well-founded one, to unnecessary
expences incurred in their duty; such as going over
to Greenwich to take their dinner when they might
have returned home to have dined.

Mr. Corder remarked, that certainly reason-
able expences would not be objected to ; that
at the parish of Saint Mary's, Whitechapel, two
guineas was thought a plentiful allowance for ex-
pences in visiting the poor children ut Enfield, which
was a much greater distance.
Mr. ROBINSON—How many poor children are
there at Norwood ?--Mr. Corder : Forty.
Mr. RowNeos—llut is it necessary that they
should be visited by no le.s a number than twelve
gentlemen ?—Mr. Corder : Most certainly not, sir.
Mr. ROBINSON—I should certainly be of that
opinion. In our parish two overseers are thought
quite sufficient for the purpose of sisiting.
Mr. MlNsuuLL—Well, it is really necessary that
we should come to some understanding. lam of
the same opinion us Mr. Robinson; and I think it
bettor that the objections shall be decided by the
majority of Magistrates.
Mr. HALLS—Very well, Mr. Minshull; I must
then differ from you; I cannot consent to throw

Mr. MixsutiLL—You are mistaken, I can assure
you, Mr. Halls, in using the word odium. None
of the gentlemen present wish to cast anything of
the kind upon the overseers.

Mr. Corder and other parishioners—Certainly not.
Mr. HALLS (in warmth)—But I say it is odium—
odium which the press and the country have been
employed to upon the gentlemen lately acting
in the parish.

Mr.Corder—But, Mr. Halls, I never employed
the press to cast any odium. It is, lam confident,
and every gentleman will allow it, too independent
to countenance such paltry proceedings.
Mr. Hau4—l did not say you did. There is an
acrimony displayed, however, in the conduct of the
present parochial offizzrs that is truly disagreeable.
Ur. Corder—There in, I submit, rather a spirit
of forbearance.

Mr. Mmititim—Well, enough has been said on
this subject. It is necessary to come to some deter-
mination. What do you mean to allow for the ex-
penses on the occasion ? Mr. Corder—Ton pounds,
takingoti the eight, which we think extremely liberal.
Mr. ROBINSON—SO I think ; as they might have
easily prcTeeded to their own mouses for the purposg
of taking their dinner.

Mr. Serewy—But your worship should recollect
that we are all men of business, and not accustomed
to dine at such hours. We were engaged until five
in the evening, and for that reason adjourned to CI
tavern.

Mr. MINsuLTLL—WeII, SI. have been deducted,
which I think is extremely liberal, and I shall, there-
fore, settle that.

Mr. Corder next objected to Mr. Roche charging
361. for conducting prosecutions of huslmntla who,
had deserted their families, Bce., when it ayiseared
by the vestry minutes that that very duty was im-
posed upon him it; his oflice of vestry clerk,
Mr. Roche-13a I contend that these prosecu-
tions ere criminal, and therefore I am entitled to the
sum. People would have a vestry clerk do all the
duties of the parish.
After a long and stormy discussion, in which much
irrelevant matter was mixed UT) in consequence, of
bystanders interfering, it was decided th 4 those pro-
secutions were not criminal, and consequently Mr.
Rothe ;ells not entitled to. 361.
Mr. ROBINSON—Are you a vestry clerk now,
Mr. Roche ?

Mr. Roche—No, Sir, Ido not li now that place
of nonentity. (Laughter.)
The respective sums having then been deducted,
and snwe other trivial business disposed of, th?.
Sessions broke up.