Star.
London, England, 1824-11-20 00:00:00

/

PARISH OF GREENWICH.

A numerous Vest' y Meeting of Ole inhabitants .of
Greenwich took place in the Church yesterday evening,
for the purpose of considerina the accounts of former
Churchwardens, Overseers, Vestry-Clerk, &c.
Mr. RITCHIE having taken the Chair,
Mr. HAMMOND moved That the bills of the late
Vestry-Clerk and Solicitor be taxed ; and that the Go-
vernors and Directors be empowered to take such steps.
.as might be necessary for the recovery of any sum dis-
allowable upon the same.
Mr. PRATT asked what was unjust in the late Vestry-
Clerk's accounts ? This business evidently originated
in malice; for Mr. Bicknell offered to have his bill
taxed two years ago.
Mr. HAMMOND observed, that if Mr. Bicknell offered
to have his bill taxed two years ago, there could be no
harm in taxing it now. He disavowed any hostile feel-
ing towards Mr. Bicknell.
After some discussion, the motion was carried.
Mr. HAMMOND then moved, that the Overseers of
last year be called upon to render their accounts, ve-
rified upon oath ; and that the Governors and Directors
be empowered to take the necessary steps for the re-
covery of any sums which should appear to have been
illegally spent. The worthy Gentleman commented
upon the items composing the accounts which they had
passed, observing, that out of 1,1991. which they had
received, it appeared that only 2171. had gone to the
poor ; of the residue, 289/. had gone for weekly dinners
direct ; 3471. for removals, also including dinner
charges; and 1581. to beadles and • constables this
sum, in like manner, including charges for dinners.
Mr. Bowsaws objected to Mr. Ham mond's mentioning general
sons ; let him give the particulars.
Mr. HAsoroan pledged himself for the accuracy of his statements.
Mr. BENNET defied the Overseers to chew any Act of
farliament authorizing them to appropriate sums of
money in this way out of the parish funds, to defray
the expense of dinners- for themselves. It was no an-
swer to say that the practice had subsisted for a long
time ; for the long continuance of an illegal and bad
practice did not warrant its being made permanent.
Mr. SUTER (the present Vestry-Clerk), on being ap-
pealed to, said that the Poor Laws did not warrant the
expenses for dinners to be defrayed out of the parish
' Wilds. He merely stated this as a dry point of law;
but be begged to be understood as taking no part on
one side or the other in the present discussion.
Mr. Ham put in a written statement in explanation of the late
Overseers' accounts.
Mr. HAMMOND said that the present Overseers had reduced the
expenditure in three quarters by £5,000.
Mr. Hazes observed, that they (the present Overseers) had not
cried on any works as the others had.
Mr. HAMMOND said the rate was reduced to a shilling, and he
expected to see it only 9d.
' After some conversation, and not a little confusion; the resolu.
tion was passed unanimously.
Mr. HAMMOND then presented the different reports
of the Committee appointed to investigate the parish
accounts back to the year 1817 ; which, upon being
read by the Vestry-Clerk, gave rise to a great deal of
irregular discussion ; particularly that part which stated
that Mr. Toolan had allowed a reduction in certain
rents without consulting the parish.
Mr. TOOLAN said, that the reduction was made, not
by him, but at the desire of the feoffees.
Several resolutions were passe& relating to these re-
ports, condemning. the extravagant expenditure they
pointed out ; directing steps to be taken to recover the
sums illegally paid ; and laying down regulations to be
observed in granting Church-rates in future.
Thanks were then voted to the Committee for their exertions;
and to Mr. Ritchie for his conduct in the Chair ; after which, the
Meeting separated at a late hour.—We understand that proceed-
ings have been resorted to in the Court of King's Bench, against
the present Committee.
THE NEW VAiRANT ACT.

The sth Section of the New Vagrant Act, which.goes
on to describe who shall be deemed incorrigible rogues
and vagabonds, and specifies the quantum of punish-
ment which offenders of that dais become liable to on
conviction, seems to have caused much diversity of opi-
nion among the Magistrates; and, as the greater num-
ber are those whiCh haie been previously convicted of
vagrancy under the 3d of Geo. IV. cap. 40, it was by
some considered that the former conviction should stand
in force, and on any subsequent repetition of the offence,
after the passing of this Act, the person convicted should
be considered an incorrigible rogue and vagabond, and
be treated as such. To remove all doubts on this im-
portant point, the case was submitted to the Attor-
ney-General for consideration, who has given the fol-
lowing opinion:
" I am of opinion, that a person convicted of any offence uncles
the new Vagrant Act, which shall subject him to be dealt with a
a rogue and vagabond under any former Act of Parliament, thereby
becomes' an incorrigible rogue, within the sth of Geo. IV. c. 83,
and is subject to be punished as such.
(Signed) "J. S. COPLEY, Serjeant's Inn."
Prom the above, it is evident that offences against
former Acts are provided for by this.
•

A letter from Bayonne of the 9th inst. states, that'
on the 6th inst. an extraordinary' courier arrived at
that place from Paris, on his way to Madrid, with (as
it was rumoured) orders for,the suspension of the march
of the French troops. A considerable number of sick
had arrived at Bayonne, and alsd nineteen soldiers, un-
der escort, to be tried for crimes committed in Spain.
. We learn, by private letters, that the Ex-Queen of
HAYTI arrived at Florence on the 21st ult. She is ac-1
companied by her two daughters, who are perfectly
black, but genteel in appearance, and well educated.
An English Lady travels also 'with her, and several
English servants.
Mr. TELFORD returned to town last night, having
completed his survey of the line of theintentled Canal
which will form a communication between the Bristol
Channel and the English Channel, for vessels of 200
tons burden. Mr. T. is now' about to commence a stir-
vey of that part of the Isle of Dogs which is intended
for Fortune's Colliers Dock.
When William Dewhirst, the unfortunate man who
stands charged with the murder of his child, was con-
s eyed from Union Hall, after his examination, to Horse-
monger lane Gaol, on Thursday, he exhibited strong
marks of insanity. He was immediately placed in the
strong room of the prison, along with two men, uho
were appointed to watch him. In this place his con-
duct was described as that of a man labouring under
strong mental derangement. He due* hiinself on the
bed, and during the whole night talked in as incoherent
manner. Yesterday morning, upon rising, he was ad-
mitted into the yard, which he paced up and down, and
apparently unconscious of all passing around him, kept
constantly muttering to himself, thereby inardekting to
those who observed his actions, the most decided symp-
, trims of insanity.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
11ANSION-HOUSIL
Tin Seeming Reetroass...—ln consequence of the report of tha
case of Captain Gomez Venegas and his brother Officer in the
Newspapers' several contributions, amounting to
..El5 10s. were
received by Mr. Hobler, and yesterday Captain Veriegas attended
and received the subscriptions.
The Loan MAYOII said be was much gratified that the case had
excited the attention of the benevolent ; but be lamented that this
exercise of hernanity could only yield temporary aid to the unfor-
tunate Officers, who must, if some plan of a permanent nature were
nut adopted, be in a short time plunged into as deep wretchedness
las that from which they had just been relieved. This was, he had
good reason to believe, not a solitary case, and there was reason
to apprehend that there were many, more refugees pining in want,
and tact haps in despair. To be informed of this fact was, he knew,
all that was necessary to the people of every rank in London, to In-
duce them to unite in establishing what it was evident was so ex-
tremely desirable.
The kind attention of the Lord Mayor to the case of the refugees
has called forth the most eloquent praises of the foreigners who are
so numerous in London. It induced one in particul.&r to come for-
ward, not only to make his own misfortunes known and implore re-
lief, but to prefer his tribute of gratitude in a poetic effusioa, for he
has acted in the double capacity of bard and warrior, and now in-
tends, if he meets with encouragement, to devote himself entirely
to the Muses, until his native country shall have attained a political
and of course a moral regeneration. His name is Malaspina. lie is
a well-looking man. about thirty years of age, and when his green
spectacles were removed, wildness or Inspiration, whichever the
critics like, was visible in his eye. Unfortunately his dress corre-
sponded with the vulgar notibns of a poet's independence. It was
threadbare and in tatters. He came before the Lord Mayor. Upon
being asked by the hlarahal, who was struck with his singular ap-
pearance, what he wanted, with the most profound respect- he pre-
sented a written statement of hia case.. It appeared from a cer-
tificate of his service, that be also was a refugee from Spain. He
had, he said,'lived as a poet in Italy, but he had once beau an offices
in Napoleon's service. There were a great number of Napoleon's
Officers who, on the last return of the legitimate Government were
banished, '
and who, on the breaking out of the Neapolitan Revolu-
tion, joined the revolutionary party. Malaspina was amongst the
number. When that Revolution was checked by the Austrians, he
fled with his companions and joined the Spanish Patriots. In Spain
they formed a band under Mina, called " The:Sacred Band," which
consisted of nearly 1000 nien, all of whom were Officers. He at
the same time begged to present the Lord Mayor a stanza or two
as a tribute of his esteem and respect.•
The Loan MAYOR, although he felt much for the condition of the
poor poet, cuuld not refrain from laughing upon reading the dedi-
cation of the poem. The whole production is a very comical spe-
cimen of Italian extravaganza.
" At merit* isiceisparabile di Lord Garrott, irscoronato Mier ai Laptev,
if Mete di Novenabre, 1824.

" SONICTTO IXTEMPORANZO.

44 Sall' all del peasier to spirit° mio
Oltre varcando la region del tuono,
Fervido ardi posar vieino al Trono
Ove siede de Numi 11 Padre, e
" Coll di Gloria it Genio offrir vid' io
Un monumento d'adamante in don°,
U di Garrott mkt seolpite sono
opre vineitriei dell' oblio.
66 Stupi it Tonante, e volt° it Giglio atter°
Brillar miro l'Astra maggior eh' indora,
Dell' orme del gran Mer *gni sender°
4' Genio alato disse Giove anon
Di Londra io cedo I quest' nom l'impero
Porch/ eguale non si 1 visto aneora.
4' In segno della pil profonda stima ed ossequio,
" It. PONTA. MALASPINA."

" To the rnconsparaile Merit y lord Garnett, crowned Mayor of Lon-
don in the Month of Aovember, 1824.
" AN LITEMPOLANIOn SONNET.
" On the wings of thought my fervid spirit, soaring beyond the'
regions of thunder, presumed to alight near the throne where sits
the Father and the Ruler of the Gods.
" There I beheld the Genius of Glory offer as a gift an adaman-
tine monument, on which were engraved the immortal deeds of
my Garratt !
" The Thunderet was surprised, and raised his awful brow. I
saw the mighty star which gilds every path of the ocean stream
blaze forth ! • • '• -
" To the winged Genius Jove then said, I give the sovereignty
of London to this man, for his equal has never yet been seen !
" Ia testimony of the most profound esteem and respect,
" Tax PO= Macasents."
This production is perfectly in the style of the sonnets in which
Goldoni used to celebrate* the virtue of his noble patrons. The plight
of the poet Malaspina had, however, more effect than his poetry.
His Lordship gave hint a sovereign, and recommended him t*
the Committee formed for the purpose of raising a subscription foe
the Italian refugees.
The poet, who draws" etnpyreal air" in a garret in Hanover-
court, Leicester-fielda, bowed low, and retired full IV gratitude.
GUILDHALL.
Two boys, named aift and Justin, were brought before Mr. ail
derman Watseka% yesterday, charged with robbing their meistisr,
Mr. Taylor, printer, of Shoe-lane.
It appeared that Mr. Taylor bad missed great quantities of tow
Inable paper, such as manuscripts, porticos of a Lexicon, and
other works, at various times, and at length suspicion falling on ono
of the numerous boys he keeps employed, he charged him with the
thefts; the boy, after some hesitation, admitted the fact of his ha*
log been concerned with the prisoners in disposing of very large
quantities of paper,. to many of the cheesemongers' and pork-
.butchers' shops round the neighbourhood. The prisoners, on being
apprehended, confessed to some of the robberies, and Miser, another
boy. was admitted King's evidence.
I . The following are only a few of the shops where the prisoners
I have tit various times disposed id Paper at the rate of 2d. per lb.
the usual price being 30. for w e paper s—Mr. Gittins, asGray's-
Inn-lane ; Mrs. Ford, White's-all , Chß:were-lane ; Mr. Stevens,
Fetter-lane; and Mr. Hawkins, etter-lane. They identified the
prisoner* as the persons of whom they purchased the paper.
Mr. Taylor complained of the facilities afforded to boys dis-
posing of valuable paper as waste, to persons who never make any
inquiry, nor care of whom they purchase, so as they get it at a
cheap rate. -
In some cases, however, it appeared that the prisoners had stated
that they were in Mr. Taylor's employ, and that the paper wis their
perquisites, as the premises were going to be taken down.
The Alderman; in severe terms, censured the conduct of all the
above persona, and 'assured them that there was so nice a distinction
between their conduct and that of the receivers of stolen goods,
according to the Act of Parliament, that if they still pursued this
course, they would certainly appear some day at the bar of the Old
Bailey. He then desired the clerk to read the Act regarding the
receivers of stolen goods (22d Geo. 111. cap. 58), and after a fur-
ther admonition as to their future conduct, desired them to keep the
paper to produce in Court. The prisoners were remanded.
BOW' STREET.
Casson or Ansow.—Thursday evening, Jihn Clarke, oilman, late
of No. 21, Mount Pleasant, Cold Bath-fields, was brought before
Sir Rictus° ,Illimo,r, by Upton, one of the officers, on a warrant,
charged with having wilfully set fire to his dwelling-house, with in-
tent to defraud the County Fire-office. The prisoner is a middle-
tbed ban, apparently about 55 years of age. His demeanour
while at the bar was perfectly easy, and free front anything like
lembarrassment or agitation.
After a long examination, the prisoner was remanded.
Coaco-Oreics POILTKRL—Joeph Richardson, a porter at the Old
Bell, Holborn, was charged with a fraud, in the delivery of some
parcels at the house of the Mat quis of Stafford, in Cleveland-row.
From the evidence of Mr. Gammon, the groom of the chambers to
the Noble Marquis, it appeared that Richardson delivered three
baskets and a box at the Marquis's house, and demanded U. its.
three *billings and four-pence being charged for porterage. Some'
objection was raised on account of the porterage being overcharged,
and the parcels having arrived by the Birmingham coach, they
could base been left at the White Horse Cellar, instead of being
carried to the Old Bell, in which case Is. 4d. only would have been
denianded. Richardson immedi.itely altered his ticket to 11: Os.
this sum he received, but with the assurance that if overcharged he
would •be summoned. About half an hour after, Mr. Gammon
picked up the original ticket which Richardson had received from
the office, charging U. La. 4d: Mr. Gammon went to the office,
and demanded the name of the porter, which he was informed was
Joseph Smith, and upon reference to the books, it appeared that
11. os. Bd. had been charged, but how the clerk came to make out
the ticket for 11. 2s. Bd. remained to be explained. Richardson's
scheme, it was evident, was a gross fraud, and being made ac-
quainted with the discovery, he called at the Marquis's, and offered
back the overcharge. which' lee begged might be accepted; it wa.
very. properly refused, and the porter was apprehended by Bishop

~~..

`rho clerk endeavoured to show that the porter, in charging
limners.. from the Old Bell, had made his amend on th
contrary to the edtry in the book. He I. wed Richardson'
!writing to the ticket on which he demanded U. 11s.
111.95. and stated, that the moment he diseivered the
.advised Richardson to return with the money.
Mr. Mdtaxvaa said, he was Much afaid that the book-ks
concerned in the fraud.
Richardson was then committed for trial for the fraud,
parties were bound over to prosecute.
31 A R LBO ROU G H-ST RRET.
For several months past, Mr. H. Dobson, a reputable
houseman in the Curtain-road, has complained that '
served with notices from the Middlesex Clerk of the
bit recognizance, entered into at this Grace, for different ,
-would be estreated, In consequence of the non-appearanc,:
partite. Mr. 1)obson has succeeded in discovering,
man, named Rickard lilkeidraiv, the person who. has
name and character, and also, without his authority,
.Henry Dobson in several rersognitances to appear.
The prisoner, who whined and cried all the time,ackniw)
the offence, but declared that be did so through no •
and he boldly asserted that Mr. Dobson, with whom ,
in partnership, partook of a dinner which„.was given
vices, and in fact authorised him to become bail.
Mr. Dobson most positively denied such assertions,
saner was remanded for a further examination.

H ATTON- G A R DEN.
F Otis Forster. a smart-looking countryman, was c..
having game in his possession, he not bring a qualified
Two of the Bow-street patrol met the prisoner in the (
ing a fag on his shoulder, and desired to fee the coot/
prisoner refused, and they took him into custody, amid'
hag four soared hares and one pheasant.—The officers
complaints are made at every Office in liondou of the
miffed by poachers on different estates throughout tk
from, whence the game is fonvarded to their confederate
by various means. When the prisoner was first _
treated the matter with the most perfect indifference, .
went so far as to give the cfileerii a very courteous invitation
down and shoot on his grounds whenever they pleased.
The prisoner, in his defence, stated, fiat, that he bad t'
qualified person, but would not give the name; however,
he admitted having destroyed the game himself, and •
bad permission to shoot an the grounds of a Gent!
Spicer, who has a Large estate at Love Water, (ligl
ye whose woods were co imitted to his charge, and that •
.(the prisoner) occ a house of Lord Carrington',
he had a similar au ority.
The Magistrate observed, that there was proof of possession
an unqualified pers,• n, and fined him 201. which he paid.
Mr. Webb, a binder, *as charged with erecting a se,'
Hunter-street, without a license.. Mr. Webb contended
license was unnecessary, as the scaffold was not erected in the stre.
but the poles were fixed within the palisadoea, and the scaffold pro-
jected over the area, consequently in private ground. The Magis-
trate, however, said the Act was peremptory, and allowed no ex-
emption ; he must therefore fine him £3, being 10s. for each day it
had been erected. Mr. Webb gave notice of appeal.

NI

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nitrites hand.
anti received
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dale oil ware.
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he Peace, that
erent persons,
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he had beer: *torsi •
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t, and the pri.
I charged with
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;he City carry.
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id found in the
era stated, that liar]
.he havoc corn. goal&
t the country,
crates in uity,
spoken to, he
nee, and even . Riad
invitation to go js
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bad them of a
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ntleman named
ligh Wycombe, •
it at present be
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if possession by 1)1
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g a scaffold in .`
mended that a
ted in the street,