Chapter V: Part 5

CLAUSE 69, empowering Vestries, &c., to compel supply of water to houses. _Remark referred to_:—‘We do not think this clause will work, unless a power be invested for making the expense a first charge; it will be nugatory and will cause useless expense.

CLAUSE 74, empowering Vestries, &c., with sanction of the Metropolitan Board of Works, to effect improvements within their districts, &c. _Remark referred to_:—‘We think this clause requires remodelling. It does not go far enough. We think the clauses for improving streets in the Towns improvement Clauses Act should be embodied in this Act, particularly sec. 67; and also the clauses of the Lands Clauses Consolidation Act, enabling the Vestry to take compulsory possession of land.’

CLAUSE 75, enacting that buildings projecting beyond the general line of the street, where taken down to an extent exceeding one half, shall be set back to the general line. _Remark referred to_:—‘This should be extended to Vestries with the consent of the Metropolitan Board of Works.’

CLAUSE 78, empowering Vestries &c. to drain and pave courts, &c. on default of owners, in lieu of enforcing penalties. _Remark referred to_:—‘The judgment when recovered should be a first charge on the property, with power of sale in default of payment, on three month’s notice affixed on the premises.’

CLAUSE 93, enacting that a Vestry or District Board may require payment of costs or expenses from an owner or occupier, and the occupier paying to deduct from rent. _Remark referred to_:—‘We do not think the clause goes far enough. The Vestry to be properly protected against their enormous outlay, should have a statutable charge upon the premises for moneys expended by them recovered by judgment. We see no reason why the Vestry should not have a power of sale something similar to that given to the Commissioners of Police under the 74th section of the Metropolitan Buildings Act, 18 & 19 Vic., cap. 122; unless this is effectually done, the annual loss to every parish which carries out the intentions of the Metropolis Local Management Act, must be considerable; the Act will become a dead letter, or Vestries must be protected from loss.’

_Resolved_,—That the attention of the Solicitors be directed to the discrepancy between the marginal note to Clause 52, and the body of the clause.

_Resolved_,—That the Solicitors do endeavour to obtain the following alterations:—Clause 90 in the Bill above referred to, line 29, omit the words, ‘which may be unfit for the keeping of swine, or where the breeding, feeding, or keeping swine may create a nuisance or be injurious to health,’ in order to insert the words, ‘within forty yards of any street.’

Line 31, insert after the word ‘place’ the words, ‘or in any locality, premises, or place in such manner as to be a nuisance to other persons residing near thereto.’

_Resolved_,—That the Solicitors and the Vestry Clerk be instructed to arrange with Mr. Tite as to the best mode of obtaining the above alterations in the Bill now before Parliament.

* * * * *

_The Vestry Clerk to W. Tite_, _Esq._, _M.P._

April 25th, 1861.

METROPOLIS LOCAL MANAGEMENT ACT AMENDMENT BILL.

Sir,

I am directed to send you copy of a Petition of this Vestry to the House of Commons respecting your Bills (Nos. 1 & 2) for Amending the Metropolis Local Management Act, which Lord Enfield has been requested to present.

I am also to send you the four new clauses and amendments which are referred to in the prayer of the Petition, and to request that you will obtain the introduction of them into the Bill No. 1.

I have the honor to be, Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
CHAS. LAHEE,
Vestry Clerk.

W. Tite, Esq., M.P., &c., &c., 42, Lowndes Square.

* * * * *

_To the Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland in Parliament assembled_.

The Petition of the Vestry of the Parish of St. Luke, Chelsea, in the County of Middlesex,

SHEWETH,

That Your Petitioners are informed and believe that two Bills, intituled respectively “The Metropolis Local Management Act Amendment Bills, Nos. 1 & 2,” are now before your Honourable House, by the first of which relief is proposed to be given to the late Counter’s Creek separate sewerage district in this parish, for certain sums expended in respect of the Counters Creek Diversion Works, and improperly charged upon the said district in respect of the construction of sewers and works for the general benefit of the Metropolis; and by the other it is intended to settle upon equitable principles the parishes, districts, and parts, upon which certain debts of the Metropolitan Commissioners of Sewers shall stand charged, having regard to the benefit derived by those parishes, &c., respectively from such expenditure.

That under the Act for the Better Local Management of the Metropolis, 18 & 19 Vic., cap. 120, the Metropolitan Board of Works found themselves unable, from the defective powers of the said Act, to give any relief to the said Counters Creek District from payment of the charges upon it above mentioned, and in consequence thereof a great amount of dissatisfaction has existed in this and other districts similarly circumstanced.

That in consequence of such and other defects in the practical working of the Metropolis Local Management Act, the Vestries and District Boards constituted under the said Act have instigated the Metropolitan Board to introduce the said Bills to your Honourable House to remedy the same, and for other purposes.

That your Petitioners being by the said Metropolis Local Management Act constituted the authority to order the levying of the rates under the said Act, have incurred a considerable amount of unpopularity and censure in performing a duty which is against their own consciences, and repulsive to the feelings of the ratepayers residing in that district.

Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray your Honourable House that the said Bill, with certain amendments and new clauses which your Petitioners propose to endeavour to effect the introduction of, when in Committee may pass into law.

And your Petitioners will ever pray.

CHAS. LAHEE,
Vestry Clerk.

Given under the common seal of the said Vestry, this 23rd day of April, 1861.

* * * * *

_The Four New Clauses_.

1.—In Clause 46, line four, for the words “twenty-six” substitute the word “thirteen;” add a clause after said clause as follows:—“If any member of the Metropolitan Board of Works shall be absent from the meetings of the said Board for thirteen consecutive weeks, he shall thereupon cease to be a member of the said Board; and the said Metropolitan Board of Works shall immediately send notice of the fact to the Vestry or District Board by which such member was elected, whereupon which Vestry or District Board shall forthwith proceed to elect a new member for the said Metropolitan Board in the room of the member so ceasing to be a member as aforesaid; and such election shall be conducted in accordance with the 44th, 45th, and 46th sections of the firstly-recited Act, so far as the same are respectively applicable.”

2.—Provided always that in construing the 6th section of the firstly-recited Act, in calculating the number of Poor Rate assessments in any parish, each house, or piece or parcel of land, tenement, or hereditament rated to the relief of the poor, shall be counted and taken as a separate Poor Rate assessment.

3.—Notwithstanding anything in the said recited Acts or this Act to the contrary, Be it enacted, that the Vestry of the Parish of Chelsea, in the County of Middlesex, shall from time to time raise and levy the sums which they may require for defraying the expenses of executing the said Acts and this Act, and shall for that purpose make separate equal pound rates upon their parish or part thereof, in like manner as overseers are required to do with respect to the sums for which orders are by the firstly-recited Act directed to be made upon them by Vestries and District Boards; and shall in raising such sums act upon the like principles, and have the like discretion, as provided in the firstly-recited Act with respect to orders upon Overseers by Vestries and District Boards, subject to the provisions of this Act, and shall for that purpose have free access to, and be at liberty to copy or adopt any assessment to the Poor Rate in the said parish, or any part or parts of such assessment; and such Vestry shall have power to appoint a collector or collectors for levying the amount of such rates, and to pay him or them such salary, poundage, or allowance as they may deem just and reasonable; and shall take such security from every such collector for the due execution of his duty as they shall think reasonable and proper; and such collector or collectors shall proceed in the same manner, and shall have the same powers and remedies, and be subject to the same regulations and directions with reference to the levying of such rates, as if he or they were an overseer or overseers of the poor, and shall pay over the amount of such rates to the said Vestry or otherwise, as such Vestry may direct; and such collector or collectors shall, when and in such manner as shall be required by the said Vestry, make out and deliver a true and perfect account in writing, signed by him or them, of all monies received by him or them, in manner provided by the 65th section of the firstly-recited Act; and in default of his or their so paying over such moneys, or making out and delivering such account in writing, he or they shall be subject to the penalties mentioned and contained in the said 65th section of the firstly-recited Act in the case of officers or servants failing to account for moneys received; and it shall be lawful for the said Vestry by order in writing, to require the Clerk to the Guardians of the Poor of the said parish or other person having the custody or control of any rate for the relief of the poor in such parish, or of any other rate or of any book containing a copy of any such rate as aforesaid, to furnish within such period, not being less than seven days, as shall be limited in such order, a true copy of such rate for the relief of the poor, or other rate or of such copy thereof, as aforesaid, or of such part or parts of the same as shall be specified in such order, on payment or tender for such copy at the rate of sixpence for every twenty-four names (inclusive of all the particulars in the several columns in the rate, so far as such particulars have reference to such names respectively), and the said copy shall be examined by and signed by such Clerk, or other person, and shall be verified by his solemn declaration, if the said Vestry shall require the same, which solemn declaration any Justice of the Peace or Commissioner duly authorized is hereby empowered to administer, and any person having the custody or control of such rate, or copy thereof, who shall refuse or neglect to make and deliver to such Vestry or any person by them authorised to receive the same, such copy or extract, or to make such solemn declaration as aforesaid, shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding £10 for every such offence, and to a further penalty of £10 for each and every day during which the said offence shall be continued, to be recovered by a summary proceeding.

4.—That in place of the 109th Clause, the following be inserted:—“The two hundred and thirty-fourth section of the firstly-recited Act is hereby repealed, and in lieu thereof be it enacted, that all penalties or forfeitures payable or recoverable under the firstly-recited Act, or this Act, and all penalties or forfeitures recovered by any Vestry or District Board acting as the local authority for the execution within their respective parish or district of ‘The Nuisances Removal Act for England, 1855,’ shall go and be paid in manner hereinafter mentioned, anything contained in an Act made and passed in the session holden in the Second and Third years of the reign of Her present Majesty, chapter seventy-one, or in any other Act or Acts to the contrary notwithstanding;—that is to say, shall go to the Vestry or District Board of the parish or district in which the offence was committed, or to the Metropolitan Board of Works in case the injury shall have been sustained by, or the offence committed in respect of that Board; and all sums which shall go to or be recovered by any Board or Vestry on account of any penalty or forfeiture, shall be paid to their treasurer, or into such bank to their account as they may direct, and shall be applicable towards the general expenses of such Board or Vestry.”

APPENDIX No. 20. CHELSEA CHARITIES.

_The Articles in the_ West Middlesex Advertiser _referred to in Mr. Druce’s letter at page_ 20, _in the Report_.

April 7, 1860.

The peculiar position in which the parish of St. Luke’s, Chelsea, at the present moment stands, induces every one interested to prevent by every possible means the occurrence of future discord arising from what may in after years be difficult to correct. Probably for many years, no period has ever existed in which the parish of Chelsea has been more dependent on the wise action of its patrons, property holders, and inhabitants in general than at the present moment. Circumstances having afforded us opportunities of acquiring much knowledge of its affairs generally, and deeming that the kindest act would be to communicate some portions of that knowledge to our fellow-parishioners, we venture to intrude the following matters on their attention. Our readers are aware of the movement made with reference to the assessments, but they may also know from personal experience, the great difficulty of the question, and from having been for some years, careful observers of the actions of many of those gentleman who bestow so much of their time and ability on parochial affairs, we are thoroughly convinced, that such matters are carefully and honestly administered; and although the watchful check of the ratepayers and other Societies is very beneficial, we doubt whether much good would arise from any material change. The attention of the Vestry, and the separation to some extent of church matters from the general interests of the parish, has deprived its officers of the advantage of a “legal vestry clerk,” and thus the local authorities in whom are vested many of its charities have lost their best and proper adviser, and many of the charity interests are not in such a state as they should be in a well-ordered parish; for instance, the sums of money belonging to the St. Luke’s, Chelsea, parochial school stand thus—

£764 13s. 4d., the gift of Earl Cadogan, stands in the name of Lee Jortin, Esq., and others, some of whom have passed away, and Mr. Jortin, is not so strong in health as his friends would wish him.

£692 2s. 4d., the gift of Mr. Gibbs and Mr. Bryan, stands in the name of the Rev. Chas. Kingsley and Philip Burrard, both dead.

£100 the gift of Mr. P. Burrard, stands in the name of the Rev. C. Kingsley and Mr. Walker, both dead.

£450 the gift of Mrs. MacPherson,

£445 14s. 7d., the gift of Charles Walker, Esq., stand in the name of the Rev. Charles Kingsley and Mr. W. Druce. Thus supposing the first to be in safe trust, the two next are without any trustees, and the two last, in the name of one individual, which is not as it should be.

Again, Chamberlain’s Charity is for educating boys in the parochial school, and then apprenticing them; the Vestry elects the boys, and the parochial officers ought to do the rest, but the money is placed in the Savings’ Bank, and there we suppose it rests; there is a sum of money also lying at the parish bankers to the credit of the Chelsea charities, which we much suspect belongs to this charity, this sum has been lying unused for many years: it is also the duty of the parochial officers to see that the money paid for the benefit of the school children under Mr. Flood’s gift is properly applied: the treasurer of the schools cannot be expected to apprentice the children, so this money also finds its way into the Savings’ Bank. It is in these cases that the loss of the legal Vestry Clerk is felt, as from the nature of the present Vestry, and the limitation as to powers of interference with church matters, renders the assistance of the able Clerk of the Vestry, as now constituted, of no avail. The question also of the Church Trustees is in a very peculiar state; there is great uncertainty as to their powers. A most careful examination of the conflicting clauses of the Act creates great doubt as to whether the power of the Trustees to make a rate does actually expire at the present period, as is generally believed. If their powers of rating do expire, they will find themselves with an important trust to carry out without the means of performing their trust. We think it would tend much to the well-being of the parish generally if the Vestry, on Easter Tuesday, were to appoint a committee to inquire and report on the course it may be desirable to pursue with respect to the Church Trust. It must be the wish of everyone that the power to rate should cease absolutely, and that we should never again hear of a church rate in the parish of Chelsea. Possibly a short Act of Parliament, annulling the present Board of Trustees, and putting an end to the Act, would be the best mode of proceeding; thus leaving the Rector and Incumbent of the churches and the Church Officers to take charge of their own interests, taking the revenue of the church and making the best of it; the removal of the expense of the Board of Trustees, and a moderate contribution of the congregations towards the expense of what may be called church luxuries would meet the necessity of the case. Without great care and consideration this matter may become a troublesome and annoying parochial question. The old Rector has passed away, a new one has been appointed; let us not forget that, amidst the doctrinal disquisition and rubrical eccentricities of which we have heard so much, we have enjoyed, under the former, a quarter of a century of religious peace, and let us hope that the wise actions of the new one may tend to increase the affectionate feeling so many of us hold for the memory of his father and grandfather.

_Saturday_, _April_ 14, 1860.

Though the name of Mr. LOVELAND is always spoken of with the greatest respect as the former vestry clerk of this parish, yet we by no means wish to infer the necessity of a legal gentleman filling that office. We believe that it could not be in better hands than it is, and we have felt it to be our duty, on more occasions than one, to express our warm approbation of the conduct of Mr. LAHEE. Litigation will arise in every parish, and may be promoted to a very great extent by the appointment of attorneys, and even if it were not so they would get the credit and the obloquy, and therefore should not be placed in so unenviable a position.

Mr. Toulmin Smith says, ‘It may be safely stated, that it will be usually the wisest course not to appoint a person of the legal profession to the office of vestry clerk. It is quite unnecessary to the discharge of any of his duties that he should be of that profession; while his being so has a tendency to encourage a narrow technical mode of dealing with the duties of the parish, and very often indeed lead to litigation, for which there is no real occasion whatever.

‘Every parish should, however, have some known and confidential professional man of the neighbourhood, to whom it should refer on occasions needing professional action or advice.’

Again, in Brady and Mahon’s work on Parochial Law and Taxation it is said, ‘A custom has prevailed of late years of appointing attorneys as vestry clerks. The numberless statutes by which parochial affairs are now regulated, give something like a satisfaction to this practice, and the conflicting decision of the courts of law on parish cases, would lead to a belief that none but a lawyer could be qualified for the office. But whatever may be the cause, the fact appears to be unquestionable that such appointments have tended greatly to the increase of parochial expenditure; for the professional gentlemen thus selected as vestry clerks, however unjust it may be to attribute to them obliquity, foul play or evil designs very naturally carry with them into office a sort of _esprit du corps_ which leads to appeals to quarter sessions, vexatious removals, litigious contests, journies half over the kingdom, the inevitable consequence of which is an enormous annual expenditure, amounting, it is said, to something like one third of the total poor rates!’

With such statements as these emanating from lawyers it would be absurd to argue for the continuance of a practice fraught with such imminent danger to the pockets of the parishioners.

APPENDIX No. 21. CREMORNE GARDENS.

_Report of the Committee of Works and for General Purposes_.

Board Room, Manor House, September 24th, 1860.

To the Vestry of the Parish of Chelsea.

Gentlemen,—We, the undersigned, of your Committee of Works and for General Purposes, beg to present the following special report upon the resolution passed by you on the 11th instant (25):—

“That the Committee of Works be requested to consider the whole
question relating to Cremorne Gardens as to past proceedings, present
injury and annoyance to the parishioners, and the probable increase
of such damage and nuisance in consequence of the proposed change
from one proprietor to a company; to report thereon, and the course
they would recommend to be adopted to mitigate, and, if necessary,
put an end to the evil.”

With reference to the first portion of the enquiry we have had laid before us, the whole record of your former proceedings, with the evidence taken before the licensing magistrates in 1857, which we have attentively considered; and we are of opinion that the second report presented by the Committee at that time contains much that is valuable, and only requires to obtain due publicity to have a great effect in diminution of the evils to which it adverts—evils which the unfavourable weather during the past season has prevented from becoming so intolerable as during the seasons of 1858 and 1859, but which the return of a hot summer, and the intended change from the direct responsibility attaching to one proprietorship to the infinitesimally reduced responsibility of the individual shareholders in a public company would, in the opinion of your Committee, largely increase.

Nor, it is to be feared, would these evils be confined as heretofore to the summer months, for the prospectus of the new company offers the bait to shareholders that the gardens may be made profitable during the winter also.

Having regard therefore to the magnitude of the question with which we have to deal, and the advice of a sub-committee appointed by us to consult the solicitors as to the course to be pursued, we recommend that the report before alluded to, be printed and circulated, and that a petition be presented forthwith to the licensing magistrates, praying that the hour of closing Cremorne Gardens may be made twelve o’clock at night, as has been the case with other public gardens, and that the solicitors be instructed to take all necessary steps in that behalf.

Respectfully submitted,

WM. HALL, Chairman.
W. NEWTON FINCH.
ALEXR. BLAZDELL.
W. LAWRENCE.
WILLIAM FOY.
J. COWAN BREUN.
HENRY OXFORD.
WM. SANSUM.

APPENDIX No. 22.

_Report of a Committee appointed to investigate the State of the Town
Meadows called_ “_The Lotts_,” _April_ 18_th_, 1834.

“We have seen the land, and behold it is very good.”—Judges xviii. 9.

Mr. Chairman,—Agreeably to the Resolution passed at the last Board relative to the appointment of a Committee to go and view the meadow-land called “the Lotts,” I have now to inform you, Sir, and the Committee at large, that we proceeded thither on Friday morning, and upon arrival, we found the gates locked up; we, however, procured the key of the adjoining lands which communicate with “the Lotts,” of a woman who lives in the late Mr. Brown’s cottage.

After proceeding to the western extremity of the meadow, we found that a large bank had been thrown up at the time of the cutting of the canal, and that by this means perhaps one fourth part of the land had been lost, or taken away to widen the canal; but we were of opinion that this bank might be gradually levelled and sloped down on the meadow below, so as to elevate it, and render it free from inundation, and thus make it more fit for any kind of cultivation or pasture. And we were all moreover unanimously of opinion, that it would be highly desirable to obtain re-possession of this valuable piece of land for the use of the parishioners.

No determination, however, as to the means by which this most desirable object could be effected was formed on this occasion, and I am humbly of opinion that the Committee must continue their earnest endeavours, in order to obtain all possible evidence upon this difficult and complicated case. It seems proper to observe, in this stage of the business, that “the Lotts” are Lammas Land, and have been for ages appurtenant to the Manor of Chelsea. The Lord of the Manor possesses the right of letting the land on lease, for the Spring and Summer quarters, beginning with March and ending in August; and the inhabitants at large enjoy the privilege of turning in their cattle from August till February, being the Autumn and Winter quarters. This state of appropriation continued till the year 1825 or 1826, when the Directors of the Kensington Canal Company took unlawful possession of them for their own use, immediately upon the completion of their Canal; and they have illegally detained them ever since, and have let them successively to several persons, and received rent for the same. It now, therefore, becomes a question, by what authority they have shut out the ancient inhabitants, landowners, and householders from their undoubted privilege of turning in their cattle to graze, a privilege which they have uninterruptedly enjoyed for a succession of ages, and which they are confident has never been on their part either invalidated or annulled.

It must not, however, be concealed on this occasion, that it has been confidently reported from many quarters that money was offered to the parishioners for the surrender of their rights to these lands, by the Directors of the Canal Company; and that money was accepted by the Churchwardens of that time; for their Act of Parliament specially declares that the Churchwardens, Overseers, and four Freeholders appointed in Vestry, only shall receive and be accountable for all monies paid for land under this act.

But after the most diligent enquiry relative to any money transactions, or to the execution of any bond, or deed, or lease, or assignment, we have the affirmation in writing of one of the then Churchwardens, denying the receipt of any money, or compensation whatever; and as this Churchwarden is a man of probity, we are, of course, bound to place every degree of confidence in his averment. It is also necessary to mention, that the Directors of the Kensington Canal Company have become bankrupt since the completion of the Canal, and that any legal proceedings on our part to endeavour to obtain any money from them, either as compensation for damages done to the lands, or for rent, would only involve the parish in useless expense.

Your Committee, therefore, after a most careful and diligent investigation, are of opinion that it would be prudent to wait patiently until the twelfth day of August next, and on that day those inhabitants who have been accustomed to turn in their cattle to graze, should proceed thither with some horses and cows, preceded by the Parish Beadle, Rector, Churchwardens, Overseers, and such Members of the Parochial Committee, and other inhabitants, as may think proper, and if upon their arrival they find the gates locked up, they be ordered to break them open, and turn in their cattle as they have been accustomed to do from time immemorial.

In conclusion, permit me to apologize to you, Sir, for the length of this Report, and humbly to hope that the extreme importance of the case affecting the ancient and undoubted privileges of the inhabitants of this Parish will form a sufficient apology; and finally, permit me to hope, Sir, that you and every other Member of this Committee will cordially and zealously assist me in my earnest endeavours to obtain the re-possession of these lands.

_Resolved_, unanimously, that the thanks of the Committee be given to Mr. Faulkner for his able Report, and that it be entered in the Minute Book, and printed and circulated throughout the Parish.

J. W. LOCKWOOD, Chairman.

Chelsea Board Room, April 22, 1834.

APPENDIX No. 23. CHELSEA HOSPITAL GROUNDS.

_To the Right Honourable William Cowper_, _M.P._, _Chief Commissioner of
Her Majesty’s Works and Public Buildings_.

The Memorial of the Vestry of the Parish of Chelsea, in the County of
Middlesex,

SHEWETH,

That your Memorialists are sensible of, and grateful for, the benefit which has resulted to their parish and to the public from the improvements which have of late years been made in the grounds of the Royal Hospital, and from their having been thrown open for the recreation and resort of the crowded neighbouring population.

That by the present regulations, the grounds are closed during the months of May, June, July, and August, at eight o’clock in the evening.

That an extension of the time of closing the gardens, particularly on Sunday evenings, would, in the opinion of your Memorialists, be much esteemed by their frequenters; and as evidence that this would be so, a correspondent of your Memorialists writes: “An extension of the time of closing the Royal Hospital Grounds to the same hours as Battersea Park, would be accepted as a great boon by all classes, more especially on the Sunday evenings in the hot weather, as, though the grounds are opened on Sundays at two o’clock in the afternoon, they are not generally much attended till after tea, which makes it half-past six o’clock, or even seven, before the mass of visitors arrive (according to the distance they have to come, as many come from London by the steamboats), and at a quarter to eight o’clock in the very height of summer, they begin to clear the grounds, and at eight o’clock precisely they are finally closed.

It is naturally felt to be a great hardship to be so turned out when the sun is shining brightly on a warm summer evening, and when, though comparatively early, still too late to go anywhere else (except Cremorne), and the consequences may at once be seen by the fact of the public houses and beer shops in the neighbourhood being immediately filled, a state of things much to be deplored.

Persons attending a place of worship are of course quite precluded from taking a walk round the grounds when they come out, and before they go home, the grounds being closed so early.

The comforts and rest of the inmates of the Royal Hospital need not be interfered with, as the public could be shut off the central part at a certain hour, if thought desirable, and all might leave the grounds by the eastern and western entrances; and if the additional hour’s duty be thought too much for the pensioners, three or four policemen additional, or other attendants, could be provided at a very small additional expense.

Your Memorialists therefore respectfully request that you will consider the foregoing, and give directions that the regulations for closing the said grounds may be assimilated to those of Battersea Park.

And your Memorialists will ever pray.

CHAS. LAHEE,
Vestry Clerk.

Given under the common seal of the said Vestry, this 17th day of July, 1860.

* * * * *

_From A. Austin_, _Esq._, _Office of Works_, _&c._, _to the Vestry
Clerk_.

3537.

Office of Works, &c.
23rd August, 1860.

Sir,

I am directed by the First Commissioner of Her Majesty’s Works, &c., to acquaint you, for the information of the Vestry of the Parish of Chelsea, that he has given instructions for the closing of Chelsea Hospital Grounds at the same hours as the gates in Battersea Park, as requested in their Memorial which accompanied your letter to this Board, dated the 2nd instant, upon the understanding that some slight modification of the rule may be adopted if any practical inconvenience to the authorities of the Hospital should be found to result from the proposed alteration.

I am, Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
ALFRED AUSTIN,
Secretary.

Chas. Lahee, Esq.

APPENDIX No. 24. THAMES EMBANKMENT.

_To the Right Honorable the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament
assembled_.

The Petition of the Vestry of the Parish of Chelsea in the County of Middlesex,

SHEWETH,

That there is now pending before your Honorable House a Bill entitled “A Bill to continue the Duties on Coal and Wine by the Corporation of London.”

That the provisions of the said Bill appear to your petitioners to be pre-eminently calculated to accomplish a great object—viz., the Embankment of the River Thames, and to provide a low level north sewer within the same.

That the inhabitants of the kingdom, and particularly of the metropolis, are greatly interested in the accomplishment of these measures.

That unless this Bill is passed into a law there will be no means of embanking the Thames, except by an increase of taxation of the inhabitants of the metropolis, who are already so heavily taxed by the Main Drainage Rate, and the Sewers and other rates under the various acts of parliament recently passed for public improvements, and for sanitary purposes, that they are unable to bear any additional burthen.

Your petitioners therefore humbly pray your Honorable House that the said Bill may pass into law.

And your petitioners will pray, &c.

CHAS. LAHEE,
Vestry Clerk.

Given under the common seal of the said Vestry, this thirteenth day of April, 1861.

APPENDIX No. 25. HORSE RIDE IN KENSINGTON GARDENS.

_To the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty_.

The Memorial of the Vestry of the Parish of Chelsea in the County of Middlesex,

HUMBLY SHEWETH,

That the Vestry aforesaid, believing that the admission of the riding public into Kensington Gardens, however it may conduce to the recreation of equestrians, is inconsistent with the comfort and the safety of the public in general who visit the gardens, and that the riding public have already great and numerous facilities for horse exercise, pray that your Majesty will be graciously pleased to direct that the Royal Gardens may be restored to their former and long established state, and that pedestrians only may be admitted thereto, as heretofore.

And your Majesty’s memorialists will ever pray.

CHAS. LAHEE,
Vestry Clerk.

Given under the common seal of the Vestry of the Parish of Chelsea, this fourth day of August, 1860.

APPENDIX No. 26. LOCAL MAGISTRACY.

_The Vestry Clerk to the Lord Lieutenant_.

13th February, 1861.

My Lord Marquis,—I am instructed by this Vestry to transmit to your Lordship a copy of a resolution passed by them at a late meeting.

Resolved,—That the parish of Chelsea, having been deprived of the services as Magistrates of three gentlemen by death, and another being about to retire from parochial duties, it is important for the interest of the parish, that other gentlemen should be appointed in their place, therefore, that the vestry memorialize the Lord Lieutenant of the county for the appointment of some gentlemen who will act for the parish in that capacity.

I have the honor to be, my Lord Marquis,
Your Lordship’s most obedient and very humble servant,
CHAS. LAHEE,
Vestry Clerk.

The most Honorable the Marquis of Salisbury, K.G., P.C., &c. &c. &c., 20, Arlington-street, Piccadilly.

* * * * *

_The Lord Lieutenant to the Vestry Clerk_.

London, February 13th, 1861.

Sir,—In answer to the memorial of the Vestry of the parish of St. Luke, Chelsea, requesting that magistrates may be appointed to discharge the parochial duties of the above mentioned parish, I have the honor to inform you that I do not find it stated as one of the Divisions of the County in which Petty Sessions are appointed to be held by the Court of Quarter Sessions.

I remain
Your obedient Servant,
GASCOYNE SALISBURY.

To the Vestry Clerk, St. Luke’s, Chelsea.

APPENDIX No. 27. PAROCHIAL ASSESSMENTS BILL.

_To the Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland in Parliament assembled_.

The petition of the Vestry of the Parish of Chelsea, in the County of
Middlesex,

SHEWETH,

1. That a Bill has been introduced into your honourable House, intituled, “A Bill to Amend the Law relating to Parochial Assessments in England.”

2. That your Petitioners view with much alarm many of the provisions of the said Bill.

3. That your Petitioners humbly submit that the present law on the subject is based upon sound principles, and has in the main been found to be efficient in its operation.

4. That your Petitioners believe that the present law gives all necessary protection to those who suffer from the evils resulting from unjust and unequal assessments.

5. That the present assessors, namely the Board of Guardians of the Poor of this Parish, are in consequence of their appointment by the parishioners, directly amenable to the voice of public opinion.

6. That by the present Bill it is proposed, that in by far the greater number of cases, the assessors should be appointed for life, by, and from amongst the Crown appointed Magistrates of the County.

7. That your Petitioners believe that the levying and the disbursing of County Rates by a Board wholly irresponsible to the ratepayers, is a source of general dissatisfaction throughout the country, dissatisfaction which will be greatly increased when the large additional powers contemplated in the Bill are conferred upon the Board.

8. That the right at present possessed by the ratepayers of appeal to the General Quarter Sessions against the original assessment, is by the said Bill taken away, except in the few cases in which some principle of rating may be involved.

9. That the evils which it is alleged have arisen under the present law, may in the opinion of your Petitioners, be remedied by a far less cumbrous and costly machinery than that proposed by the said Bill.

10. That the said Bill will, if it pass into law, give unprecedented and unconstitutional powers to the Assessment Boards created under it.

11. Your Petitioners, for the foregoing reasons therefore, humbly pray that the said Bill may not pass into law.

CHAS. LAHEE,
Vestry Clerk.

Given under the common seal of the said Vestry, his twelfth day of March, 1861.

APPENDIX No. 28.

HOUSES AND POPULATION in Superintendent Registrar’s District, on March 31st, 1851, and on April 8th, 1861.

CHELSEA.

Inhabited Houses. Population Increase or Decrease Excess of
Enumerated. in the Number of Registered
Persons between 1851 Births over
and 1861. Registered
Deaths in ten
years.
1851. 1861. 1851. 1861. Increase. Decrease. 1851–61.
7591 8318 56,538 63,423 6885 — 4302

SOME OTHER STATISTICS OF CHELSEA.

Date of Census. POPULATION. Inhabited Houses By how many Families. Uninhabited Persons Persons Persons not
Houses. employed in employed in employed in
Agriculture. Trade. Agriculture or
Trade.
Males. Females Total.
1801. 4651 6953 11604 1637 2746 128 183 1069 10,352
Families Families Other Families Houses
chiefly chiefly not employed Buildings.
employed in employed in in the two
Agriculture. Trade, preceding
Manufacturers, Classes.
and
Handicraft.
1811. 7737 10525 18262 2430 3968 107 168 2217 1583 207
1821. 11623 15237 26860 3602 5829 138 275 2979 2575 146
1831. 14536 17835 32371 4635 8032 349 87 3985 3960 44
1841. 17663 22516 40179 5648 No Return. 178 Returns not continued in these Forms. 100
1851. 25475 31063 56538 7591 No Returns for Parishes. 264 Ditto 98

APPENDIX No. 29. ENFRANCHISEMENT OF THE PARISH OF CHELSEA.

_Statistics laid before Lord Palmerston on the_ 5_th March_, 1861.

The united parishes of Chelsea and Kensington, according to the census in 1851, contained a population of upwards of 100,000 persons; and they are now rated under Schedule A to the income and property tax, at £693,860.

Of the total number of cities and boroughs in the United Kingdom, returning members to parliament, fifteen only are rated higher to the income and property tax than Chelsea and Kensington, while 240 are rated at a less amount.

There is no un-enfranchised town in the United Kingdom containing half the population, or assessed at half the amount of property under Schedule A; and it is therefore respectfully contended that the inhabitants of Chelsea and Kensington have a paramount claim to any new borough representation that may be created by the legislature.

CHELSEA. KENSINGTON. TOTAL. Miles of Streets 21 35 56 {116a} Houses Rated 8,252 8,700 16,952 Estimated Rental £338,239 319,586 £657,825 {116b} County Assessment. £234,248 £319,924 £554,172 {116c} Property and Income Tax:— Schedule A {116d} £269,876 £423,984 £693,860 Schedule B £720 £2,781 3,501 Schedule D £141,887 £200,526 342,413 £1,039,774 Population—Census 1851 56,538 44,053 100,591 Annual Increase at 4 75,000 59,500 134,500 per cent. {116e} Persons Rated at £10 5,342 3,793 9,135 and under £50 {116f} £50 and upwards 700 2,176 2,876 £10 and upwards 6,042 5,969 12,011 County Electors 679 955 1,634

_Representation of Scotland compared with that of the Metropolis_.

Population, 1851. Property Rated under Members.
Schedule A.
Scotland 2,862,000 £4,636,755 53
Metropolis 2,869,000 £18,625,296 16

_To the Honorable the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland in Parliament assembled_.

The Petition of the Vestry of the Parish of Chelsea, in the County of Middlesex,

SHEWETH,

That your Petitioners having had under consideration a Bill about to be introduced into your honorable House by Viscount Enfield, to transfer the two seats formerly possessed by the Borough of St. Albans, in the County of Hertford, to the Parishes of St. Luke, Chelsea, and St. Mary, Abbott’s Kennington, respectfully represent—

That the claims of the Parish represented by your Petitioners for direct and separate representation in Parliament are based _inter alia_ upon its wealth, population, intelligence, and extent.

That the estimated annual value of the house property in the Parish is about £315,000.

That the Parish of Chelsea extends from the City of Westminster to Fulham, and contained at the census of 1851, 56,538 inhabitants, and 8,252 houses.

That since the census of 1851, the number of inhabitants has largely increased, and may be now estimated at 75,000: the number of houses has also become augmented in like proportion.

That the number of rated householders, according to the last return, was 4,542, and of persons rated, 5,014; but of this number about 700 only enjoy the Parliamentary franchise.

That the Parish represented by your Petitioners occupies an area of 771 acres, and contains upwards of 21 miles of streets.

That the rateable value of property in the Parish, as assessed to the County Rate, is £234,248; to the Poor Rate, £213,115; and to the Property Tax, £267,897.

That the persons qualified to serve on juries in the Parish now number 1233.

That there are 23 churches and chapels, and 46 public schools of popular education in the Parish, besides several public reading rooms and places for mutual instruction.

Your Petitioners therefore pray your honorable House that the Bill of Viscount Enfield for transferring the two seats formerly possessed by the Borough of St. Albans, in the County of Hertford, to the Parishes of St. Luke, Chelsea, and St. Mary, Abbott’s Kennington, may pass into law.

And your Petitioners will ever pray, &c.

CHAS. LAHEE,
Vestry Clerk.

Given under the Common Seal of the said Vestry, this twelfth day of February, 1861.

APPENDIX No. 30. WATER COMPANIES’ ACCOUNTS.

CHELSEA

Account of Receipt and Expenditure of all Rates or other Monies levied under the Chelsea Water Works Act, 1852, from 25th March, 1859, to 25th March, 1860.

RECEIPT.
£ s. d.
Water Rents 53350 5 2
Sundry Receipts 171 0 0
£53521 5 2

(Signed) W. Geo. Brett,
_Governor_.

EXPENDITURE. £ _s._ _d._ Management, Office Expenses, Law Charges, 6471 4 2 &c. Rates and Taxes 3566 16 0 Working Expenses 10883 9 11 Interest on Loans 6342 2 2 Dividends on New Share Capital at 4½ per 20223 1 4 cent. and on Old Share Capital at 3 per cent. Balance 6034 11 7 £53521 5 2

(Signed) J. Boustead,
John Deedes,
Henry Hyde,
_Auditors_.

ALBERT GILL, _Secretary_.

* * * * *

WEST MIDDLESEX WATER WORKS.

An Account of Receipts and Expenditure for the Year ending 30th September, 1860.

RECEIPTS. £ _s._ _d._ Balance in Treasurer’s hands 30th 421 2 3 September, 1859 Water Rental for Ordinary Domestic 81024 6 6 Supplies, High Services, Trades, Street Watering, &c. Treasurer’s Loans, on 10000 0 0 account of New Works, Borrowed Repaid on account 3000 0 0 7000 0 0 £88445 8 9

(Signed) William Tite,
Lionel Booth,
William Carpmael,
_Auditors_.

Chas. L. Boileau,
_Chairman_.

EXPENDITURE. £ _s._ _d._ Dividends 55320 0 0 Current 6772 8 11 Expenses:— Directors, Auditors, Officers, Collectors, Superannuation Coal, Workmen’s 11784 17 8 Wages, Engine-house Charges, Repairs, &c. Rents, Rates, and 5336 6 10 Taxes Parliamentary and 1200 0 0 Law Charges Interest on Loans 473 2 0 25566 15 5 Exchequer Bills, 13294 2 6 bought Ditto ditto, sold 13275 1 6 19 1 0 New Works on 7376 9 3 account of New Mains, Engines, Filter Beds, &c. Balance in 163 3 1 Treasurer’s hands, 30th September, 1860 £88445 8 9

I hereby certify that the above is a correct copy,

W. H. WHIFFIN, _Secretary_.

APPENDIX No. 31 THE VESTRY OF THE PARISH OF CHELSEA IN THE COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX

_An Account in abstract_, _shewing the Receipt and Expenditure of the said Vestry_, _under the Metropolis Local Management Act_, 1855, _for the year ending on the_ 25_th day of_ March, 1861, _under the several distinct heads of Receipt and Expenditure with a Statement of the allowance of the Auditors_. _Pursuant to the_ 196_th Section of the_ 18_th and 19th Vict._, _cap._ 120.

RECEIPTS. £ _s._ _d._
Cash Balance in Treasurer’s hands 2542 8 7
Rates—
Order of the Vestry to the 5 3 0
Guardians of the Poor, dated March
18th, 1856, surplus
Do. dated 17th March, 1857, 31 8 7
surplus
Do. do. 17th March, 1857, surplus 5 18 10
Do. do. December 18th, 1857, 42 5 7
surplus
Do. do. March 30th, 1858, surplus 76 13 6
Do. do. September 28th, 1858, 251 12 5
surplus
Do. do. January 11th, 1859, 337 19 2
surplus
Do. do. February 1st, 1859, 85 5 6
surplus
Do. do. March 15th, 1859 321 9 9
Do. do. September 13th, 1859, 180 16 0
surplus
Do. do. September 13th, 1859, 241 10 7
surplus
Do. do. September 13th, 1859 2526 7 5
Do. do. March 24th, 1860 39 5 11
Do. do. October 23rd, 1860 2670 0 0
Do. do. March 13th, 1860 5780 0 0
Do. on account of Chelsea 3 10 0
Improvement Commission arrear,
1854, 1855, on No. 2, Durham Place
12599 6 3
Incidentals, General:—
Lighting 14 10 3
Works executed for Public 617 2 11
Companies and others
Sundries 4 8 6
Sanitary Works 27 19 5
Rents 44 0 0
768 1 1
Metropolitan Board of Works:—
Order of the Vestry dated 13th September, 1859—
“Ranelagh” District 204 19 8
“Counter’s Creek” ditto 256 9 1
461 8 9
Ditto dated 13th Sept., 1859, _re_ Main 2928 2 0
Drainage, amount thereof
Ditto dated 2nd July, 1860, for £1720 1444 3 0
11s. 8d. on account thereof
4833 13 9
Carried forward 20683 9 8
PAYMENTS.
General Works:—
Paving Roads,
Materials 2118 17 7
Labor 316 1 9
Sundries 97 9 6
2532 8 10
Footways,
Materials 570 12 8
Labor 124 16 0
Sundries 6 19 2
702 7 10
Cartage of Materials 258 18 1
3493 14 9
Lighting,
Gas consumed 3668 13 5
New Lights 22 8 0
Repairs 49 8 3
Gas Enquiry 150 0 0
Law Expenses 871 2 1
4761 11 9
Watering,
Contracts 853 16 1
Sundries 89 5 5
Law Expenses 111 5 0
1054 6 6
Cleansing,
Contracts 518 19 10
Labor 567 12 4
Sundries 20 0 9
1106 12 11
Improving 58 16 2
Removing Nuisances 326 15 0
Sanitary Works 4 3 2
Rents 57 18 8
Sundries 122 6 8
10986 5 7
Deduct from Surveyor’s Disbursements for Labor charged above the sum paid 1 14 3
10984 11 4
Metropolitan Board of Works:—
Precept dated 12th August, 1859, and payable 30th April, 1860, for Main 2928 2 0
Drainage, amount thereof
Precept dated 31st December, 1858, and payable March 25th, 1859, amount of 447 4 2
Counter’s Creek portion thereof
Precept dated 11th May, 1860, and payable 29th Sept., 1860, cash on account 1720 11 8
5095 17 10
Carried forward 16080 9 2

Amount brought forward 20683 9 8
Incidentals—Sewers, viz.
Contribution towards Alteration of Ranelagh Sewer Bridge 5 0 0
Block Flaps 2 12 2
7 12 2
Establishment—Incidentals:—
Stamps for Contracts repaid 7 0 0
Sundries 0 2 0
Inspector’s Costs repaid 0 18 0
Hire of Hall 99 5 0
107 5 0
Mr. Ludlow, amount returned as overcharged on Taxes, June, 1859 0 8 4
Deposits for House Drains, &c. 306 14 10
Interest on Deposit account 106 19 1
Error by Treasurer in Pass Book, per contra. 4 17 11
Treasurer, for amount of “Deposit account” 7000 0 0
£28,217 7 0
Amount brought forward 16080 9 2
Sewers Works
Construction of Sewers and Gullies 149 6 5
Private Drain Mouths 19 3 8
Cleansing Sewers and Gullies 55 14 1
Day Work 118 8 2
Incidentals 33 18 4
Cartage and Horsehire 9 15 9
386 16 5
Establishment
Salaries
C. Lahee, Clerk 250 0 0
Dr. A. W. Barclay, Medical Officer 150 0 0
J. Pattison, Surveyor 250 0 0
J. E. Salway, Office Clerk 78 0 0
J. Nicol, do. 78 0 0
W. Holland, Office Messenger 3 10 0
E. Alder, Inspector of Nuisances 130 0 0
W. Maddy, Hall-keeper 70 4 0
1009 14 0
Rent, Taxes, &c. 81 1 1
Office Cleaning, &c. 20 7 0
Books, Stationery, and Printing 229 8 5
Stamps for Contracts 9 6 0
Law Charges 358 18 4
Sundries 119 16 0
Inspector’s Costs 1 10 0
Expenses of Committees and Officers 79 1 3
,, of Coffee Room 26 9 11
,, of cleaning the Hall 2 10 6
1938 2 6
Charges on Local Rates,—Hans Town,
Compensation to late Officer 144 0 0
Chelsea, do. do. 20 0 0
164 0 0
Income and Assessed Taxes 71 6 1
Deposits for House Drains, &c., returned 41 16 2
Error by Treasurer in Pass Book, per contra. 4 17 11
Interest on Loans 1245 16 0
Repayment of Loans 1900 0 0
Vestry Hall 5593 5 4
Balance in Treasurer’s hands 790 17 5
£28,217 7 0

The Account of which the foregoing is an Abstract has been audited and allowed by us, except {123} as therein referred to, and we have signed the same in token thereof, pursuant to the 195th Section of the Metropolis Local Management Act, 1855, 18 & 19 Vict., cap. 120.

G. E. MEAD,
W. RHIND,
JAMES CRISP.

APPENDIX No. 32. CHARGES UNDER THE HEAD OF ESTABLISHMENT.

_March_ 25_th_, 1860, _to March_ 25_th_, 1861.

Folio Ledger
271. Salaries £1011 14 0
Rent, Taxes, Insurance, &c. 89 18 0
Office Expenses, Furniture, Cleaning, &c. 32 4 6
Books, Stationery, Printing, &c. 246 6 3
Sundries 98 16 9
Stamps for Contract 11 2 0
Law Charges 195 17 10
Expenses of—
Committees and 88 4 11
Officers
Coffee Room 32 12 5
120 17 4
£1806 16 8

* * * * *

271. By Hire of the Hall: Balance after £78 8 1
Payment of Expenses
Stamps for 12 15 0
Contracts
repaid
Inspector’s 1 8 4
Costs recovered
14 3 4
“General Works” 1242 13 11
“Sewers Works” 428 11 4
“Chelsea 35 16 0
Improvement
Commission”
“Hans Town 7 4 0
Commission”
1714 5 3
£1806 16 8

APPENDIX No. 33. REPORT OF THE AUDITORS, 1860.

We, the undersigned Auditors of Accounts of the Vestry of Chelsea for the year ending March 25, 1860, present the following report thereon:—