The Sun. — 1836-09-08 (London, England)

VESTRY-CLERK explained—lt had been the custom for the last thirty years, whenever an increase of salary was voted to any of the parochial officers, to convene a second vestry meeting to confirm the minutes of the preceding one, as well as to give an opportunity to any rate-payer to express his sentiments thereon. Mr. NEWLAND urged that the confirmation of the minutes of any meeting was necessary in order to legalise the proceedings. Mr. DUCKETT opposed the confirmation of the minutes, and trusted that the friends of reform would by their votes put a final stop to such an unnecessary increase of Mr. Newsom's salary, and an additional burden on the poorrates. He (Mr. Duckett) would like to know what good reason could be assigned for increasing Mr. Newsom's salary to 1301., when the duties had been diminished. Could any other tradesman of the parish add 1/. a week to his income, and do nothing for it ? He should feel it his bounden duty to submit the whole of the present proceedings to the notice of the Commissioners. Mr. VINALL moved " That the increase of salary voted to the assistant-overseer be confirmed." Mr. CHALMERS, the rector's warden, seconded the resolution.  Mr. DUCKETT moved the following amendment : " That it is the opinion of this vestry that the minutes of the 14th of July last, respecting the increase of salary to the assistant-overseer, be not confirmed, and that such increase be rejected." Mr. KtcapmaN seconded the amendment. The amendment was carried by a large majority. A poll was demanded on the question, and granted, and the vestry adjourned. On Tuesday morning, at eight o'clock, the parochial authorities, with a number of the most respectable inhabitant householders, attended at the vestry-room for the purpose of commencing the poll. At the close of the poll, at six o'clock, there appeared— For the original resolution For Mr. Duckett's amendment Majority Yesterday morning, the poll commenced at the same hour in the morning as on the preceding day, and closed at seven o'clock in the evening. The Liberal party strenuously exerted themselves, and their exertions were crowned with success, notwithstanding the determined opposition of their opponents. At the casting up of the numbers of both days' poll, there appeared For the original resolution For Mr. Duckett's amendment Majority for the Liberals 47 The result of the poll was received by the parishioners in the vestry-room, which was crowded to excess, with the most deafening cheers, and also by the assembled multitude at the doors. In the course of the debate a violent altercation ensued, in which Mr. Duckett, who holds an appointment in the Secretary's office of Chelsea Hospital, was violently assaulted by Mr. Johnson, a surgeon, of College-street, who hurled with considerable violence the ruler of the Chairman's desk at his.head, which struck him, as it was understood, a little below the eye on the right check, and much injured him. Mr. Johnson was immediately surrounded by the friends of Mr. Duckett, at whose hands he received a severe castigation. The affair terminated in a general row, and had it not been for the united exertions of the active parochial constables in rescuing him from the hands of the crowd, he would doubtless have been murdered.  ur townsman' Mr. Duke, sheriff elect of London and Middlesex, has evinced his respect' for Montrose by sending cards of invitation to the sheriffs' inauguration dinner, on the 30th instant, to our provost, bailies, town-clerks, &C. The Lord Mayor has testified his good feeling towards Mr. Duke by granting the use of the Egyptian Hall, with all the magnificent city plate ' • and, as this is the first instance of the Mansion-house being granted for such an occasion, the entertainment is likely to be on a scale of unusual splendour. Montrose is undoubtedly the first provincial town which can boast of two of its sons filling, at the same moment, the high offices of Members of Parliament and of sheriff of the meti•opolitan county.—Montrose Review. •