The Sun. — 1854-03-24 (London, England)

IMPORTANT MEETING AT PLYMOUTH,  For some time a war has been waged at Plymouth between a portion of the ratepayers on the one hand and the corporation on the other, in regard to certain alleged illegal expenditure incurred by the latter, and defrayed out of the borough funds. The ratepayers formed a committee for the protection of their interests, and this committee instituted a suit, which is still pending, against several members of the corporation. On Thursday week a great meeting of the ratepayers wag held in the Guildhall for the purpose of hearing the report of the committee, and the proceedings, which were very noisy, extended to great length. The report communicated the offers for an amicable settlement proposed by the Town Clerk, and the determination of a majority of the committee to recommend the ratepayers to refuse to consent to any arrangement short of the repayment out of the pockets of the promoters of the Water Works Bill, of the whole of the money applied to that object, and of the cost of the suit in Chancery. It also announced the defection of Mr. White, one of the relators to the suit, and of Mr. Elworthy, the solicitor, who had hitherto gratuitously conducted the proceedings on behalf of the committee, both those gentlemen being of opinion that the terms offered by the Town Clerk ought to have been accepted. The committee recommended that the ratepayers should insist upon the repayment of the whole 1,8831. ; and that notice should be given to the defendants, that, if within three days they did not return an answer in the affirmative, the suit would be proceeded with without delay. On the motion for the reception of the report, an amendment was proposed to the following effect :—" That the relators be authorised to accept the offer made by the defendants, namely, the payment of 5001. into the borough fund ; and to pay all costs on both sides, such costs being costs out of pocket only ; and no costs to come out of the borough fund. The arrangement to be confirmed under a decree of the Court by consent of both parties." This was carried by a large majority, amidst loud applause, and the original resolution was, consequently, negatived. The effect of the amendment will be to torminat3 the Chancery suit. —Plymouth and Devonport Journal.  The mortal remains of the late Lord Gilbert Grosvenor, son of the Marquis of Westminster, will be removed on Monday next from Portsmouth, where the noble and gallant young lord's body was removed from the Boscawen, ship of the line, previous to that ship sailing for the Baltic, for interment in the family mausoleum at Eaton Hall, near Chester, where the Marquis and Marchioness of "Westminster are at present staying. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester was better yesterday. Her Majesty the Queen, attended by the Countess of Mount Edgecu►nbe, visited the royal duchess yesterday. The Admiralty have adopted the code signals in their communications by electric telegraph, in order to ensure secrecy for their orders to the outports.—Plymouth Journal.  DOUBLE ATTEMPTED SUICIDE IN THE ClTY.—Yesterday afternoon a female, of the name of Sarah Ann Collins, Mark-lane, Fenchurch-street, attempted self-destruction, under the following circumstances :—lt appears the unfortunate young woman had been in a desponding state of mind for some length of time, but it was not anticipated that she would attempt self-destruction. Being missed, search was made after her, when the poor creature was discovered in her bed room, labouring from the effects of poison and strangulation ; a part of an apron was tied tightly round her neck, and had it not been for the timely discovery, the Unfortunate woman would have completed her object. Police-constable, No. 586, conveyed her without loss of time to the casualty ward, St. Thomas's Hospital, where Dr. Bennett was promptly on the spot, when, on examination of the contents of a teacup, it was found that she had also swallowed a large quantity of copperas. The stomach pump was used and other antidotes, but she now remains in a precarious state, 

Article type: Incident