The Sun.
London, England, 1829-07-08 00:00:00

PARTNERSHIPS DISSOLVED.

Richard Houghton and Zachariah Barnes Houghton,
Liverpool.

William Heywood and John Howson, Manchester, ca-
fenderers.

Thomas Lockwood, Martha Martin, William Bevan,
sen. and William Bevan, jun.
James Dickson and William Abbott Kent, Wilson-street,
Finsbury-square, silk-manufacturers.

Thomas Shewring and Robert Veysie, Bathe shoe-
makers.

•
Joseph Deeley and James Wakeman, Birmingham,
comb-manufacturers.

Peter Hodges and Richard Lambert, Merthyrtidlil,
Glamorganshire, ironmongers.
Samuel Marsh, William Goodwin, John Dean, and

William II mdley, jun., Stafford, earthenware-Manlike-
turers.
W. Spensley and J. G. Lynch, Alder►nanbury.
John Drakeford and David Drakeford, Manchtster,
merchan ts.
Robert Taylor, Thomas Bowley, and Robert Tayltr,
jun., Charing-cross, boot-makers.
Timothy George Ad tins and William Baldock Etiritke,
Haymarket, coach-makers.
Aaron Crosfield and John B-allock, Newport, Men-
moutbshire, provision-merchants.
John Borthote and Joseph Greenway, Villiers-wharf,
Strand, coal-merchants.
Samuel Wilson and Charles Pritchett Bousfield, Old
Jewry, silk-manufacturers.

John Woodward and James Morton, Holborn-hill,
carpet- manufacturers.
James Bounds and Charles Eplett, Bristol, ship-joiners.
George Wheeler and S unuel Bacon, Ortne-square, Bays-
water, surgeons.

James Thompson and Robert Crowther, Wavertree,
Lancashire, stone-masons.
Alexander Veiteh, Robert Cowan, and Thomas Brown
Milnes, St. John-street, West Smithfield, fender•manufac-
turers.

Thomas Moore and John Noble, Preston, surgeons.
William Siddal Palmer and Edward Cross, Liverpool,
tea-dealers.

Henry Wicks, sen. and Thomas Wicks, jun., St. John-
street.

William Stevenson and William Thompson, Edinburgh,
haberdashers.

Samuel Stocker and William Harvey, Bristol, patten-
ring manufacture's.

Harry Stoe Man and John Jackson King, London,
general merchants.

Thomas Butler and James Rodwell, St. Ives, Hunting-
donshire, boat-makeis.
Robert Theakstone and Fawdington Theakstone, Liver-
pool.

SCOTCH SEQUESTRATIONS.
J. Smith, Jedburgh, and J. Smith, Kirkcannel, cattle-
dealers.

J. Grant, Edinburgh, banker and W. S.

SELECT VESTRY SYSTEM OF ST.

MARTIN'S.

FENN V. GRIFFITH AND OTHERS, OVERSEERS OF THE
PARISH OF ST. MARTIN-IN-THE-FIELDS.
At one o'clock yesterday Mr. Fenn, accompanied
by a number of the inhabitants of St. Martin's pa-
rish, appeared before Sir RICHARD BIRNIE, Mr.
MINSIIULL, and Mr. ROBINSON (a County Magis-
trate), that hour having been appointed for hearing
an information which had been laid by Mr. Fenn
against the Overseers of St. Martin's, under the 17th
Geo. 11., cap. 38, which imposes a penalty of five
pounds, and not less than twenty shillings, upon the
Overseers, for refusing to show the accounts of the
parish, in a ",just, true, and perfect state," to any
inhabitant who is a payer of rates, who has tendered
sixpence for viewing the same.
Sir R. BIRNIE was about to leave the office,
when the case was called on ; and Mr. Fenn said he
hoped the worthy Magistrate, who was acquainted
with some important circumstances connected with
the subject, would be pleased to give his attendance
as the question was one of great public importance
Sir It. BIRNIE said it was Report Day, and he
must go to Whitehall.
Mr. MiNstium, asked if there were any person in
attendance from St. Martin's parish ; ar►d no answer
being made, the Magistrate observed, that if the
Overseers did not attend, he should issue a second
summons; and if they did not then appear, he would
take the evidence ex-parte, and convict them in their
absence.
Mr. RAWLINS, the Vestry Clerk of the parish, soon
afterwards entered the office, and stated that he aF-
peared for the Overseers.
The information was read : it stated that Mr.
Fenn was rated to the parish, and, that on the
25th of June last, he applied at the office of the
Overseers to see tile last year's accounts of the ex-
penditure of the parish, and a book was handed to
him containing various items, and amongst them
was the sum of 241. paid to Mr. Cuff, of the Free-
masons' Tavern ; but no bill or voucher was shewn
to him explaining the nature of the claim of Mr.
Cuff; and, although he paid the sum of sixpence,
as the Statute directs, the defendants refused to
shew him a just, true, and perfect account of the
expenditure of the parish, and he (Mr. Fenn), there-
fore, prayed that they might be convicted in the
penalty of which the Act imposes.
Mr. FENN was sworn, and deposed to the truth of
the facts stated in the information, and he read the
clause in the Act of Parliament upon which the in-
formation was laid, as follows :
" That Churchwardens and Overseers of the
Poor shall yearly, and every year, within 14 days
after other Overseers shall be nominated and ap-
pointed to succeed them, deliver to such succeeding
Overseers a just, true, and perfect account in writ-
ing, fairly entered in a book, or books, to be kept
for the purpose, signed by the said Churchwardens
and Overseers, hereby directed to account as afore-
said, under their hands, of all sums of money by
them received, or rated and assessed, and not re-
ceived; and also of all goods, chattels, stock, &c.
that shall be in their hands, &c. arid of all moneys
paid by such Churchwardens and Overseers, &c.;
and the Churchwardens and Overseers are hereby
required to permit any person► assessed, or liable to
be assessed, to inspect the books of the parish at all
seasonable times, on payment of sixpence, &c. And
if any Overseer, &c. refuse to obey and perform the
several orders and directions of this Act, or any of
them, every such Overseer, &c. so offending, shall,
for every such offence, &c. pay the sum of .51., and
not less than 205., to be levied by distress on the
offender's goods, by warrant of such Justices," &c.
Mr.RAwuNs—Theinformation charges the Over-
seers with having refused to allow Mr. Fenn to in-
spect the parish books; now that is not true, for
they we►e shewn to him.
Mr. FENN----I have sworn that " a just, true, and
perfect account" has not been shewn to me. I saw
a book containing sums in the lump.
Mr. MINSHULL—Are the parish books here, Mr.
Rawlins ?
Mr. RAWLINS—No, they are not; I did not think
it necessary to bring them.
Mr. MINSHULL—I see no reason why they should
not have been produced.
Mr. RAWLINS—I am not bound to produce
them ; and my answer to the present case is, that
the accounts which are the subject of the informa-
tion before you have been audited, and legally passed
by two Magistrates in Petty Sessions ; and that you
have now Be jurisdiction in an inquiry relating to
these accounts.
Mr. MlNsturLt.—l have a jurisdiction which is
given by the Statute, which says that the Overseers
shall be liable to a penalty if they do not exhibit the
accounts to a payer of poor's rates on his tendering
the sum of sixpence; and the fact of the accounts
having been audited or passed does not affect the
provisions of the Statute in any way whatever.
Mr. RAwuNs—l say that after the accounts have
been passed by the Justices in Session, you have no
jurisdiction over them.
Sir RICHARD BIRNIE—The charge here is
for not producing the accounts to a Payer of Rates;
and the amount of the items we have nothing to do
with.

Mr. FENN again called the attention of the Ma-
gistrates to the Act of Parliament, which said
nothing about the Overseers being exempted from
exhibiting the accounts after they were audited and
passed. There were many items in the Overseers'
Accounts which were objectionable; in addition to
the bill of Mr. Cuff's, there was the sum of thirty
pounds charged for beating the boundaries of the
parish on Holy Thtirsday; and, upon inquiry, he
found that the stun was actually paid for a dinner at
the Freemasons' Tavern.
Mr. MINSHULL said that the Overseers ought to
have produced the books to Mr. Fenn.
Mr. RAWLINS said that they were shown to him.
Mr. MINSHULL said that the item of 211., paid to
Mr. Cuff, was not, in his.judgment, " a full, true,
and perfect account of the expenditure;" it should
have been added, " as per bill," and then Mr. Fenn
might have referred to the invoice, and he would
have had no cause of complaint.
Mr. RAWLINS—The accounts are kept in the

same way as they were when Mr. Fenn was Over.

seer.

Mr. MINSHULL—How can the parishioners know
what the lumping item of Cuff's charge is for, un-
less they see a bill ?
Mr. R SWLINs—Mr. Ferri knows very well what
the item is for; the same ch n•ge was made when he
was in office.
Mr. MINSHULL—If you had produced the invoice
to Mr. Fenn, there would have been no ground for
this information ; as it is, I say you have not sheen
him a full and perfect account of the expenditure.
Mr. RAWLINS—I say we are not bound to spew
the invoice.
Mr. MeNsitueL—l say you are bound to spew a
full and fair account of your expenditure, and the bills
are most material parts of the parish accounts.
Mr. RawuNs—l say we are not bound to show
the vouchers.
Mr. Mussituu,—But you are ; and if you do not,
I shall inflict the penalty. If the accounts are kept
fairly, what reason is there to withhold them from
the inspection of the inhabitants ?
Mr.RAWIANS—We shall not produce the vouchers.
Mr. MINSHULL--Then I shall fine the Overseers
the sum of 51., and they may appeal against my con-
viction.
Mr. RAWLINS—I again deny that you have juris-
diction ; and if you convict and proceed to levy the
penalty by distress, you will be liable to an action.
Mr. MissusTeL—l certainly shall convict if one of
my brother magistrates joins with me, it being ne-
cessary that two magistrates should decide upon a
conviction.
Mr. ROBINSON was of opinion, that, after the ac-
counts had been audited and passed by Magistrates
in Petty Session, no information could be supported
relating to such accounts.
Mr. MINSHULL declared again, that the auditing
and passing of the accounts had nothing to do with
the charge imputed to the Overseers by the present
information.
Mr. ROBINSON was of opinion, that a full and true
account had not been shown to Mr. Fenn ; but he
felt diffident in entertaining an information touching
accounts which had been sworn to by the overseers,
and had been passed by the Magistrates.
Mr. MiNsituLL—l only look at the fact of the
books containing sums in the gross, and no vouchers
having been produced.
Mr. FENN—I beg leave to explain a circumstance
of some importance. Before the accounts were
audited and passed, I applied to see the vouchers,
and the Magistrates said that I should see them. I
was told that I should know when the Petty Ses-
sions would be held to pass the accounts. I ap-
plied repeatedly to see the vouchers, and on the third
of July I was told that the accounts had been
passed in Petty Sessions on the second. I asked
Mr. Rawlins why he had not given me previous in-
formation when the Sessions was to be holden, and
he replied that he had received no instructions from
the Board on the subject. You see there was a
determination to pass the accounts in private, or I
should have received previous notice of the Ses-
sions; and I was the more surprised, because Sir
R. Birnie shortly before had, in his evidence given
before the Committee of the House of Commons,
declared that he never would pass parish accounts.
until he had the vouchers produced.
Sir R. BIRNIE observed, that he had asserted
that he would not pass the accounts, unless they
were previously examined; and before the accounts
in question were passed, they were examined by
three parishioners, who had compared them with
the vouchers.
Mr. FENN—The accounts ►were examined, no
doubt, by the parties against whom I complain.
Mr. RAWLINS—NO, they were not.
Mr. FENN—Pray who did examine them ?
Mr. RAWLINS—(No reply.)
Sir R. BIRNIE— Why do you not say who were
the three persons who examined the accounts before
I passed them ? I say that each bill was ticked off
item by item, and why do you not say who were
the three parishioners?
Mr. RAWLINS—I have no objection, if you wish it.
Sir R. BIRNIE—I wish •it ! I have no wish on
the subject.
Mr. RAWLINS—AII I have to say is, the accounts
are kept in the same manner as when Mr. Fenn was
overseer.
Mr. NllNsHum..—lf the accounts were then kept
improperly, that does not make it right now.
Sir R. BIRNIE—No, two blacks do not make a
white.
Mr. MINSHULL—WiII you produce the books and
voucher ?
Mr. RAWLINS—I certainly will not.
Mr. MINSHULL—YOU have appeared for the over-
seers; and do you mean to take advantage of their
not having appeared in person ?
Mr. RAWLINS—I shall take any advantage, either
legal or technical, in a case of this description.
Mr. MINSHULL—Then I shall issue another sum-
mons against the overseers; and if they do not ap-
pear in person to-morrow, I shall hear the evidence,
and decide in their absence.
Mr. RAWLINS—Why does not Mr. Fenn take
his remedy by appealing against the order of the
Magistrates ? If they have passed inaccurate or im-
proper accounts, he may have good reason for ap-
pealing to the Quarter Sessions.
Mr. MINSHULL—He has good reason, I think, in
what he has done, and you are bound to show him
the vouchers as part of the parish accounts.
Mr. RomNsoN--Where are the accounts ?
Mr. RAWLINS—In my possession. They were
placed !here by order of the late Overseers.
Mr. MINSHULL—You do not appear to be of opi-
nion that this Act of Parliament ought to be put in
force; and I, who know nothing of your parish
quarrels, feel myself called upon to enforce its pro-
visions when I see they have been violated.
A Gentleman stated that a number of the
parishioners of St. Martin's were in attendance, who
►were extremely anxious as to the result of this in-
quiry ; and the determination of the Overseers not
to allow the parishioners an inspection of the ac-
counts was calculated to excite suspicions that there
was some very extraordinary reason for it.
Mr. MINSHULL—What may be the cause of with-
holding the documents I know not ; I, however, am
of opinion they are bound to show them to the
parishioners, and I have directed another sum-
mons to be issued against the Overseers to attend
to-morrow.

OA the authority of a professor of physiology,
it is gravely stated in the Anthology, printed at Florence,
that a hog was some time ago killed in the neighbourhood
of Bologna, on one of the intestines of which the words,
" lanza guida da," in black and permanent characters, were
distinctly visible !

The butchers of Geneva have a singular mode
of preventing flies from attacking the meat in their shops.
They rub the walls and boards, upon which the ►neat is
placed, with the essential oil of laurel, the smell of which
keeps away this troublesome insect.

On Monday two pigs in a stye, at the House
of Correction, in this city, without any previous symp-
toms of indisposition, dropped down dead. Their bodies
were opened, but nothing which led to the discovery of
the cause of this singular fatality was observed in the ex-
amination.— York Herald.

AN UNPLEASANT CUSTOMER.—Last week
a person having the appearance of a gentleman, but who evi-
dently proved himself the reverse, called at the Old Hart's
Horns Inn, Barnet, and ordered dinner, the best the host
could afford, which was of course furnished him. After
dinner, he regaled himself with several glasses of wine,
brandy and water, &c p•and inquired if he could be accom—
modated with a bed ; on being informed in the affirmative,
the landlord informed his guest, previous to going to bed,
that it would be necessary for him to pay the expences
already incurred. He treated the "request with indiffer-
ence, but the landlord, as a matter of course, persevered
in his application, but was informed by his liberal friend,
that he had no money, but would remit it to him when he
reached Edinburgh, whither he was bound. This not sa-
satisfying the host, he had his friend locked up for the night,
and appeared next morning before the Barnet magistrates,
who decided in favour of the traveller, intimating to the
landlord that he could not detain the man a moment
under such circumstances. Really this requires to be
remeided.