Star.
London, England, 1826-03-29 00:00:00

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MELTING AT ST. -
.
For some Stkonths past the-1;47141d St. Liketaili
in an unusual ferment, owing sp sn erpected•e
for the situation of restrtieleris.. One of the past&
Mr. Wilke, had filled tht office for the last sixteen yba,

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The other candidate vi as a Mr. Florence.. Among the
reasons urged for the removal of Mr.Wilks, it was stated,
that his demeanour' to the parishioners was at all times
haughty and overbearing; that he had evinced unne-
cessary harshness and rigour to the poor; that he derived
too gnat an income from his office; that he was a Dis-
water from the established religion; that he had been
the tilicitor to the notin ions Equitable Loan Company ;
that he had rated many of the houses in the parish at
too high a rate ; and that he had opposed the *Adam-
izing Finsbury-place, in npposit on to the wishes of the
inhabitants. These objections bid been urged against
Jr.N Wilk: from time to time, and the new candidate,
in order to strengthen his claims to the support of the
Ve.trymen, had offered, it was said, to execute the
duties of the office of Vestry-clet k fur hat the sum which
Mr. Wilks derived from the office.

Accordingly, a numerous meeting of Vestrymen
assembled yesterday, at an early hour, at St. Luke's
Chuic',, in order to open-the proceedings. Hod after some
p,eliminary matters were disposed of, Mr. POTTlia, one
of the Churchwardens, was called to the Chair.

Alderman BRowN then rose for the purpose of pro-
posing Mr. Wilk' as a fit and competent person ter per-
form the duties of Vestry-clerk, a situation which he
had held for the space of cistern years, and to which h •
was fully competent.
Sir C. Fumes seconded the motion.

Mr. YEATS, 'hen rose for the purpose of naming Mr. Florance
for the °Nice of Vestry-clerk ; In doing so he was actuated by no
feeling of hostility to Mr. Wilke.
Mr Minor seconded the motion.

A discussion of rather a stormy nature then followed, and several
gentlemen, among whom were Mr. Bateman and bin. Melnce,
delivered their sentiments in support of the respective candidates.
Mr. WILDS then rose. He did notlear to court the
scrutiny of those by whom he was accused. He was
charged with accepting 1001. 4 year more than he had
solicited from the parish for his long aid laborious
services. Yes, he had been accused of taking this addi-
tional 1001. a year, which was unanimously voted tia
him by a vestry, consisting of 300 respectable inhabi-
tants; and the day on which that vote was passed, he
should ever'consider as the proudest of his life—not in
consideration of the addition which it brought to his
income, but because that vote implied that his long
and faithful services were appreciated by his I ellow.
parishioners. He would ask, what were the marvellous
changes which bad occurred since last Easter Tuesday,
when the vote was passed to increase his salary, that
men's minds should have turned against him, and that
he who was supported unanimously then, s',ould now
be held up as an object of sospician and distrust ?
With respect tooth; cuarge brought against him of op-
posing the M•Adamiziag of Finsbury-place, he was not
ashamed to say that it was with a view of sarriag the
parish the expense of that measure that lie voted against
it. In doing so he had sacrificed his private interest ti.
his sense of public duty; for while be opposed the mea-
sure, he offered to pay 501. out of his own pocket if the
inhabitants would consent to have the place M.Adam-
iied by private subscription ; or he offered to give double
the annual suhscrip:bn any of the inhabitants in order
to effect that objet. .4* to the charge tit not oitihg
icindly to the poor, he appealed to the acts of his past
life for proof of his .humanity. Out 'of the fifty-six'
guardistas of the poor belonging to the parish, five only
hid come torwaid to advance .that charge, but with
well a majority in his faVour he had litile,..need to feel
issteasy on.that Score:
.Ue had never given intentional
Offence to any person connected wiih the parish, and he
invited the veitrytnen who were present to say if he had
ever offered an insult to one of them (4 voice in the
crowd. " taro one to whom you offered an in+ult")—
Then make room for-the Gentleman, and let him Stole
his grievance.
Two of the vestrymen then pressed forward, but their slid not suc-
ceed in establishing any grounds of complaint against Mr: Wilk'.
Mr. Wit.ns theft resumed.—He was happy that those Gentlemen
had come forward, because their objections proved that is point of
tact there was no just grounds of complaint against him. The
parishioners should pause before they discharged an old and faithful
servant, againit whose character not a whisper of suspicion had been
heard. Would they deprive a man of his livelihood, and send him
into the world with a brand of infamy open him ?
Mr. With. having concluded,
Mr. frustums presented hitrself to the meetirg. He was invited
by Gentlemen of integrity and hoitourable character to offer himself
to their notice. He made himself no party to the charges advansed
against Mr. Willa, and he disclaimed any personal hostility to that
Gentleman.
The question was then pot from the Chair, and both candidates
being proposed, a chew of heads was taken for each, and a trifling
majority appeased in favour of Mr. Wilks. The friends of Mr.
Flora:ice, however, who were numerous, demanded shallot, which
being agreed to, this day and to-morrow, from eine to four, were
appointed for receiving the votes, and the meeting shortly after-
I wards dispersed.

CORONER'S INQUESTS.

An Inquest was taken before.Tnomets Hines Esq.
the Deputy Coroner for Westtrkinster, at the White
Lion, Hart-street, Covent•garden, on the ►ody of Mrs.
Catherine Rowe, the wife of a respectable tradesman
'residing in that neighbourhood.

The case afforded a melancholy instance of the fatal
consequences which are likely to ensue from a too free
use of ardent spirit.. The deceased, who, from the evil.
dence, it appeared, lad beet in a state .of 'continued
in•oxication for several days paste was found sitting in a
chair quite dead. The medical geraleman, who had
exerted himself to the utmost to. restore .animation with-
out effect, vote it as his bhe had died of a
fit brought on by.her psevious.irnegular habits..
The Jury returned a verdict to the Meet, that the deceased.disi
of solocation, occasioned by excelsive dkWg4. •
A Coroner's inquest vita last night held on the body
41 Henry Prite, aged shoat 7tjeatte• Who 'was' found
dead in the lack.tip roomOf the Witch-houlie of the
inoish of St. Mar-He-Strand; about ',even o'clOCk in
,tbe morning. The unfortunate old bintreauni had for-
anwly moved in a eery respectable sphem of life, but
bad of late become so extremely addicted drinking*:
'that it was fi'equently found necessary-to tote him to
the watch-house. Ool'idontlay'aight'he hied been taken
watch-house in front of theChtlicli.:chPiged with
being drink, and as a vagrant, and was thatioptaad in
else lock-up loom to Strand-lime for she night. '
G. F. Collier, of Norfollt•itreev, stated.-that tie
lived toned gitstikepated, who was'by pt.pfbitt* a .s,
li-
'citot,'add 001 elf.. the most eminent; .kii,t4'.Coisnty of
I for Ws last 4ve years his habits .wsee those of .
Ansaltards aishillriires positive that the cause of his
&Atli 'Wesirpofilest; ftrodoeed 'by hiebrtatioiratitt
1,. The °wale-and revere!' lit the liters elptenied theli iesioe of
toe exposed stake the loak-vp-houoe, heist open girdle Aeons air
of the Finer. and Waist Irindliwo,ataidirected doe Adman) Make
die Parochial authoiitiee hclusinted with it 'and.the Jolty ft and
eardict" That the driveled died to a it of apoplexy, occasion
• by cold, brought on by continual inebriation.'