Chapter XIII: Part 13

"In reply to yours of yesterday, we shall be happy to comply
with your requests so far as agreeable to the wishes of the
congregation, we hope to succeed in forming a Male Choir when
an Organist is appointed, giving him the power of making
choice of Singers; we shall proceed at once to advertise for
an Organist, and deem it desirable to call a General Meeting
of the Congregation for the purpose of selecting a fit and
proper person to that office. We do not agree to provide you
with parchment sheets for the purpose of copying Registers
for several years, the Meeting yesterday agreed to an item of
Register Book if required."

"We paid Surplice Washing for the year ending 25th March last,
and shall be happy to pay the same this year. We have no desire
to clash with Official Authorities, we can have but one object
in view, and that is for the comfort and happiness of the
Church, Pastors, and People."

We are, yours truly,
DANIEL JORDAN,
SAMUEL PRICE.

* * * * *

_Saturday, August 22nd, 1857._

To the Rev. Dr. Browne.

DEAR SIR,

"It is reported in this day's Birmingham Journal that you have
made the Organist, will you please inform us if the statement
is correct."

We are, yours truly,
SAMUEL PRICE,
DANIEL JORDAN.

* * * * *

DR. BROWNE to Messrs. PRICE & JORDAN.

The Vicarage, August 22nd. 1857.

"The Vicar in reply to a note this day received, signed
by Messrs. Price and Jordan, herewith transmits a Copy of
the Circular[34] issued two days since, of which he fully
understood they had each previously received a copy in common
with all the other Subscribers."

* * * * *

To The Rev. Dr. BROWNE.

DEAR SIR,

"We beg to hand you a Copy of Notice for a Meeting of St.
Thomas's Congregation, to be holden (by your permission), at
the Vestry room, on Monday Morning next."

Yours truly,
JORDAN & PRICE.

_Dudley, August 22nd, 1857._

* * * * *

The Vicarage, Dudley, 22nd August, 1857.

[35]"The Vicar has to acknowledge the receipt of a note signed
by Messrs. Jordan & Price wherein he is requested to sanction
a Meeting "Relating to the Appointment of Organist," in his
Church Vestry-room, on Monday, at 10 o'clock a.m."

"The above question having been definitely settled by the
Churchwardens and himself, he, the Vicar declines the use of
his Vestry room for such an already decided purpose."

September 3rd, 1857. Married, at St. Edmund's Church, by her father, Miss Emily Mason Davies, eldest daughter of the Rev. John Davies, M.A., the Vicar, to Mr. Charles Cochrane, Ironmaster, of Middlesboro', Yorkshire.

September 11th, 1857. Miss Emma Saunders, a very popular Dudley Vocalist, this day sailed for Adelaide, South Australia, to be married on her arrival.

A "Practical Joke," was at the time played upon our worthy Mayor, Mr. John Beddard, which caused the following rejoinder from his Worship.

COMPLIMENTARY DINNER TO H. B. SHERIDAN, ESQ., M.P.

The MAYOR having had his attention called to an Advertisement
in the Birmingham Journal of to-day, announcing that he will
take the Chair at the intended "Complimentary Dinner" to H. B.
Sheridan, Esq., on Thursday next, begs to state that such an
announcement is entirely without his knowledge or sanction, he
having, at once, when applied to, explained the improbability
of his being able to attend.

JOHN BEDDARD, Mayor.

_Dudley, September 12th, 1857._

September 15th, 1857. H. B. Sheridan, Esq., M.P. came amongst us to attend a "Complimentary Dinner," but a good deal of the fire of the late election had gone out, and he was received rather coolly by some of his recent ardent supporters.

MR. SHERIDAN'S RECEPTION IN DUDLEY.

_To the Editor of the_ DUDLEY WEEKLY TIMES.

SIR,--During this week the _Free and Independent Electors_ of
Dudley have had the opportunity afforded them of receiving
at the hands of their representative an account of the
trust placed in his hands in March last; and the meagre and
insignificant attendance at the Lancasterian School room in the
afternoon, and the more important (especially to Dudley men)
dinner attendance at the Hotel, too plainly tells the tale of
the _altered opinions_ and _dubious proceedings_ of those _very
vociferous supporters_ who figured so prominently at the last
election. Now, Mr. Editor, most men of anything like probity
of character and honesty of purpose, more especially those who
have a little fame to sustain, usually manifest some decent
regard for their public actions and motives; but in this case,
a _more political case of apostasy_ (and upon a large scale
too), has not disgraced the annals of our local political
traditions. We well know that six months ago influential
electors of all shades of opinion were lustily crying out for
freedom, denouncing in unmeasured terms the lordly interference
with their political rights, proclaiming the day of Dudley's
political emancipation at hand; and using the most strenuous
exertions to support their _new born ideas_ by placing Mr.
Sheridan in the proud position of representing _their views_
and sentiments in parliament. Such, Sir, were the doings of
the past; but alas! to what more genial atmosphere has that
rampant spirit of personal antagonism and offended dignity
taken its aerial flight? Is the once powerful coffee room still
the abode of its blinded ambition and political inconsistency?
Has not the recent disseverment plainly told us that party
purposes, not political liberty, were the sole objects of that
unnatural alliance. Was it to be expected that ultra Toryism on
the one hand, and exploded Chartism on the other, were elements
likely either to sustain a six months' political union, or
awaken anything but a spirit of derision and contempt? Such,
however, were the incongruous elements with which Mr. Sheridan
obtained his seat in parliament, and as the M.P. for Dudley
he is entitled to that respect and courtesy which belong to
his office, and the position of a gentleman. Why then this
shameful lukewarmness and public apathy on behalf of his recent
supporters? Has the honorable gentleman _altered_ his political
sentiments, thereby bringing down the offended ire and silent
estrangement of his once eager listeners? Well, truly may _he_
apologise for their non-attendance, _at the proper place_, to
hear the exposition of his political stewardship, for truly
a more insignificant demonstration never graced the public
reception of a public man. If, Sir, the _present_ elective
franchise _can thus_, by interested partisans on the one hand,
and political demagogues on the other, be made the sportive
instrument of demoralising all consistency of conduct in the
virtuous, and can thus be dragged forth to inflame the unholy
passions of the blind and vicious, what must be its operations
when the long anticipated Reform Bill extends its privileges to
a more extensive, uneducated, but not less dangerous class of
_such like free_ and independent electors? If the past should
unhappily contain the germ of the future waywardness of spirit,
and vindictiveness of action, displayed by the head and front
of the promoters of the last Dudley election, we may indeed
expect marvellous acts of pitiable abandonment of reason and
reflection, and the future M.P. for Dudley _may pray to be
delivered_ from his friends.

Your obedient servant,
AN ELECTOR.

_Dudley, September 18th, 1857._

Died, September 29th, 1857, Mr. Edward Terry, Grocer, Market Place, a very upright and honourable gentleman, who twice served the office of Mayor, and had a handsome service of Silver Plate presented to him. Aged 70 years.

An important and influential Public Meeting was held at the Old Town Hall, under the presidency of John Renaud, Esq., the Mayor, to remonstrate with the Local Railway Companies, at the very unsatisfactory accommodation afforded to the public at our Dudley Railway Station.

INCOME-TAX COLLECTORS.

_To the Editor of the_ DUDLEY AND MIDLAND EXPRESS.

SIR,--Your lengthened remarks in your last publication of the
_"Express"_ on the anomalous position existing betwixt the
local commissioners of income and property-tax, the tax-payers,
and the unhappy delinquent in Worcester Gaol, must necessarily
have awakened much reflection upon this important subject; and
if I should not be considered trespassing too much upon your
valuable space, I would offer a few observations with a view
to elicit some well-digested opinions upon the most salient
parts of your important address. Ere your strictures appeared
in public, the local commissioners had, it was found, exercised
that power in appointing a successor to Mr. John Leadbetter
which the Act of Parliament gives them, and it would appear
somewhat irregular in a local press, cognisant of that fact,
to recommend a vestry meeting to consider a question _that
ought to have been urged upon the rate-payers at an earlier
date_, backed by such _legal information_ as is well known to
exist in the editorial staff of your acceptable journal. You
are, doubtless, aware, Mr. Editor, that income-tax collectors
can be appointed either by the rate-payers in public vestry,
or the local commissioners in private; but an appointment made
by the rate-payers must have the confirmation of the local
commissioners _before it can be received at the Treasury_;
hence the very little importance, in my opinion, of agitating
a parish on the merits of a question which, after all, must
be the result either of favouritism, or true appreciation
of the local commissioners. In the event of a local board
of commissioners making a selection decidedly obnoxious to
a parish, then it is competent for any five rate-payers to
object to the appointment, by showing to the Treasury why such
nomination should not take place; but in the event of no such
objection being made by the rate-payers, as illustrated in
both Mr. Worley's and Mr. John Leadbetter's appointment, the
nomination stands good in law, and the collectors (by the tacit
consent of the parish) are the _bonâ fide collectors of the
rate-payers_, as well as the commissioners. In this view of
the case it becomes apparent that the parish of Dudley _cannot
legally object_ to pay the defalcation rate that most assuredly
will be exacted from us; nay, the local commissioners can
legally claim it at our hands, on the acknowledged principle
that Mr. Worley was as much the appointment of the parish as by
them, _inasmuch as that parish very graciously acquiesced in
their selection_!

Such being the fact, the general question is often asked,
"What is to be done with that miserable man now incarcerated
in Worcester Gaol?" As he has been placed there under a warrant
issued by the local Commissioners, he most assuredly is their
prisoner; and the ratepayers of Dudley can have no legal
process against a defaulter abstracting money which is the
property of the Crown. If the Commissioners are at all doubtful
about their right or power to prosecute the delinquent, why
place him in durance vile, and institute _most vigilant legal
proceedings_ against his _supposed sureties_, bringing the
terrible powers of the law to _annihilate_ the innocent and
unoffending; whilst the main delinquent is kept as a sort of
savage appendage to every man's vision, who occasionally
refers to his cash book to ascertain the status of its taxable
page?

If, again, the object of incarcerating the collector was
intended to secure his detention until the embezzled money was
re-levied, pray Mr. Editor, by what reasoning powers have those
highly-respectable gentlemen come to the determination _to
delay that unpleasant duty_ to the latest possible period of
propriety, or, perhaps, public safety? Now it must be apparent
to all that changes are daily being made in trade incomes and
value of property in such an important town as Dudley; and it
would be manifestly unjust to charge the moiety _upon an income
of £400 a year now_, when at the time the robbery was committed
such income was assessed _at only £300 a year_. Such cases
as these, Mr. Editor, would awaken no small degree of alarm
and anxiety as to the course the commissioners and collectors
intend to pursue; for I would opine that your editorial skill
and staff of management would feel themselves somewhat startled
to find that 2¼d. in the pound had been levied upon them,
for the recovery of a moiety of income-tax abstracted by a
previous defaulting collector at a lapsed time, when your
editorial vision had not looked into the fame of your future
greatness, or dreamt of the honours that awaited your advent
into this region of physical smoke and mental darkness.

Such, however inadvertently, may be the case, and against such
errors and mal-practice it behoves both the rate-payers and the
press to exercise a vigilant eye; for it is well known that
our gracious Queen cannot afford at this particular juncture
to lose any portion of her allotted supplies, and _the living_
most assuredly will have to pay for the dead in this vexatious
case. It is much to be regretted that the minor officers of
the public service do not appear to receive that reward for
their services commensurate with the labour and responsibility
entailed upon them; nevertheless, we must not lose sight of the
fact, _that_ the _present order of the day is retrenchment_ in
all branches of the paid civil service; and that the salary
accorded in these cases _is fixed in London_, _not_ by the
local commissioners. In the particular case referring to
Dudley, whilst the stipend is only about 100_l._ a year for the
collection of the property and income-tax, _the collector is
also_ the recipient of the poundage derived from the collection
of the assessed taxes and house duty; making his income amount
to about 150_l._ a year; and really, Mr. Editor, we are not to
have so little faith in the integrity of poor human nature,
as to believe that no respectable townsman can be found to
faithfully fulfil that office, _without_ entrenching upon
the region of venality on the one hand, or pandering to the
inordinate vices of cupidity or meanness on the other.

If such an one cannot be found in Dudley, sufficiently sensible
of his responsibility and power, we may indeed humble ourselves
"in dust and ashes," at the depravity of human nature in
general, _and the want of worth and honesty in Dudley in
particular_.

I am, your obedient servant,
INQUISITOR.

_Dudley, October 14th, 1857._

THE INDIAN REVOLT.

October 24th, 1857. A General Subscription was entered into in Dudley, on behalf of the Indian Relief Fund for sufferers by the dreadful Military Revolt, which took place in Delhi and the surrounding Districts. The handsome sum of £831 6s. 8d. was raised for that laudable and urgent object.

THE OXFORD, WORCESTER, AND WOLVERHAMPTON RAILWAY STATION AT DUDLEY.

_To the Editor of the_ DUDLEY AND MIDLAND COUNTIES EXPRESS.

SIR,--Scarcely three months have rolled over our heads, since
the leading officials of the above line did penance on the
stool of public opinion, erected at a town's meeting held in
the Old Town Hall, Dudley, "to consider the disgraceful state
of the Railway Station in Dudley, and the want of railway
accommodation afforded to the town generally."

On that occasion a considerable amount of _special pleading_
was resorted to by the parties complained of; and much _stress_
was placed upon _their intentions for the future_, promising to
mend their ways (and the station also) if the indulgent public
would only continue to pay their money, take their trips, and
cease grumbling.

Such, in June last, was the _promise given_; now, Mr.
Editor, let us see how the _performance_ has tallied with
that pledge of amendment. Report, with her thousand tongues,
runs rife in our busy streets and gossiping saloons, saying
that the good people located at Queen's Cross, in the
densely populated streets surrounding the Gas Works, and the
industrious community at Netherton, are to have _their station
accommodation increased_ (when they wish to go to Stourbridge,
&c.) like the Yankee fashion of _progressing backwards_; for
it is said, that the Netherton station is doomed to be blotted
out of the fair features of this eccentric line, by being
knocked off the line for passenger traffic altogether. If such
be correct, this false economising system seems fitted to make
those inhabitants _pay an extra fare_, and stretch their aged
or rheumatic limbs, by walking to and from their domiciles down
to the Dudley station; besides giving the timorous the benefit
of an unnecessary fright in our waterproof tunnel.

Doubtless, Mr. Editor, you can furnish the public with some
_official contradiction to this rumour_; otherwise we must be
up and doing, ere our contested rights (hardly fought for,
and fairly won in 1845-6) are wrested from our hands by some
mistaken system of cheeseparing and illiberality.

If the aged, lame, infirm, or timid railway traveller casts
his anxious eye towards the Dudley station, expecting to find
_any improvement_ effected at that delightful arena of decorum
and propriety, (more especially on a wet Saturday night), he
will be most woefully deceived. For can it be supposed, Mr.
Editor, that a railway company, already prolific in blunders,
misunderstandings, and broken promises, could be so egregiously
foolish as recently to remove their ticket office at the
Dudley Station from its legitimate ground-floor platform to
the extreme entrance of that _highly artistic wooden tunnel_,
spanning its unwieldy proportions across the domain of two
important railway companies!! To passengers starting from
Dudley _the boon_ is offered, we presume, as being highly
convenient to take your ticket before you take your choice of
_standing_ upon that spacious gallery. In warm weather it may
be thought pleasant to cool one's heels in a mighty torrent
of wind and dust, usually generated in that elegant ladies'
waiting room (?); but pray, Mr. Editor, are our shivering limbs
to be subjected to the piercing winds of a severe winter's
night,--_sans fire, sans doors, sans seats_--yea, _sans
everything_ that ought to be afforded to an important town like
Dudley?

This, truly, may suit the economy of the O. W. and W. R. Co.,
but surely the sensible, well-thinking, and comfort-loving
people of Dudley _will not tamely submit to this additional_
indignity. To the casual traveller (more especially the infirm,
aged, and children) who may be so unlucky as to require
_rebooking from an in-coming train_ on the South Stafford line,
the amount of annoyance and physical exertion cannot fail to be
intolerable. Fancy, sir, some poor aged traveller, or a lady
with children (_not an O. W. and W. Railway Director_) arriving
by a late train on the South Stafford line, and having to
hobble or rush up and down two pairs of slippery stairs, then
along that precious gangway, for another ticket, occupying some
considerable time at the present spacious ticket office, ere
they can arrive at the object of their solicitude, the waiting
train below.

Such scenes would appear decidedly improbable in this our day
of tidy railway accommodation; but, Mr. Editor, if you or the
proper officials connected with the line are at all doubtful
of the truthfulness of the same, pray let me induce both to
witness (on any coming dark or rainy Thursday or Saturday
evening) the arrival of a South Stafford train, laden with its
living freight of young and old, halt and timid--and I venture
to predict that you will think that my remonstrance and call
to duty are not overcharged, but that we live in times when
the honour, integrity, and liberality of a railway company can
be summoned legitimately to the bar of public judgment _for
neglect of duty and broken promises_, viz., for committing
a positive and palpable deviation--thereby breaking faith
with the public--from the offered accommodation intended to
be secured to the inhabitants of Dudley when its promoters
originally _solicited that public_ to give it their preference
to a competing line in 1844-5-6.

I am, your obedient servant,
C. F. G. CLARK.

_Dudley, Oct. 27, 1857._

[In our first number we drew attention to the disgraceful
state of the station accommodation of this town. Unless strong
measures are adopted we think little will be done.]

A long-suffering period of twenty-two years passed over our heads before the London and North Western Railway Company could be prevailed upon to erect a decent Railway Station for Dudley.

LORD WARD'S COURT LEET.

The result of the Parliamentary Election in March last was not allowed to slumber, for Mr. Wm. Haden, a County Magistrate, and a member of the Court Leet, got his back up at some of the proceedings, and as he was out-voted by the majority of the Liberal gentlemen present, he must needs vent his spleen upon Mr. Bourne, the Clerk to the Court Leet, which brought forth the following correspondence:--

_To the Editor of the_ BIRMINGHAM DAILY PRESS.

SIR,--In your report of the proceedings at Lord Ward's Court
Leet on Friday last, you state, "Mr. Haden returned to the room
and apologised to Mr. Bourne for any hasty expression which
may have escaped from him on his first entering the room, he
assured Mr. B. that what he had then said was not intended as
personal."

This is altogether incorrect, the words "apology" or "hasty
expression" I certainly did not use; what I did say to Mr.
Bourne was, "That I feared from something I heard after leaving
the room, he thought my first remarks were intended to be
applied to him. I assured him I had no such intention, as I
felt satisfied the proceedings had not originated with him."

I must request that you will publish this note in one of
your earliest editions, as your report will lead the public
to believe I had apologised to Mr. Bourne for some hasty
expression which I was anxious to withdraw.

I am, sir,
Yours respectfully,
WILLIAM HADEN.

_Dixon's Green, Dudley, November 2, 1857._

* * * * *

LORD WARD'S COURT LEET.

_To the Editor of the_ BIRMINGHAM DAILY PRESS.

SIR,--In your publication of this day we are favoured with a
letter from Mr. William Haden, of Dudley, one of the uninvited
to the late Court Leet Dinner, in explanation of what he
alleges to be a misinterpretation of his very un-called-for
remarks at the Court Leet meeting on Friday last. As I was
present on that occasion, I deem it but just to the merits
and acknowledged truthfulness of your general reports to aver
that Mr. Haden assuredly made use of the expressions referred
to, and in such an excited state of mind, too, as to leave
no doubt upon the minds of the gentlemen present that he came
there brim-full of indignation and chagrin (at witnessing
the "good time coming" manifestation), at what he and the
deputation who indorsed his expressions with "Hear, hear,
hear," seemed to believe was intended as a personal slight to
those worthy townsmen who have so often eaten Lord Ward's roast
beef, and then lampooned his lordship for his hospitality and
courteous welcome.

The Court Leet meeting of the manor of Dudley, being dependent
upon the manorial rights of the barony of Ward, becomes by such
ancient right a self-constituted body of that barony, hence
the perfect right of Lord Ward to invite whom he may please to
attend his Court Leet. This private right could not have been
more scrupulously observed last week than has been witnessed
the last thirty years at former Leet meetings, for it cannot
be denied that a certain "clique" has at that Leet exercised
an amount of domination unbearable to honourable minds, arming
themselves with a species of presumptuous authority, most
unmistakeably uncongenial to the known liberality and courteous
bearing of Lord Ward; dictating the terms of political
subserviency and social local dependency that should fit any
townsman to be eligible for that festival of local celebrity.

Pitiable indeed must be the status of that spirit of
independence engendered in the minds of intelligent Englishmen
who can present themselves where they are not invited, and
condescend to interrogate the legal authority of the Lord of
the Manor upon a question beyond their right of inquiry.

Mr. Wm. Haden may, if he thinks proper, characterise the
last Court Leet meeting "as a contemptible proceeding," but
we remind Mr. Haden that the influx of new life and liberal
thoughts into the elements of the late Court Leet augur well
for the onward progression of both political and social
advancement in Dudley. We believe, sir, that the contracted
neck of Toryism and the conclusive and bigotted favouritism of
partizanship is broken thereby, and that Lord Ward has hitherto
been deceived in his estimate of the lingering political
vitality of the borough of Dudley. We furthermore hail this
last local excitement as foreboding days of enlightenment,
and liberty of thought and speech to the good old town of
Dudley; and we accept the proceedings of the last Court Leet
as the act of a liberal, benevolent nobleman, conscious of his
immense responsibility, alive to the approaching signs of the
times, and fully sensible of the patent fact that local cliques
and self interests, rigidly exercised in the management of
affairs in Dudley, have retarded its commercial enterprise, and
contracted its social and political usefulness.

Yours respectfully,
VERITAS.

_Dudley, November 6th, 1857._

* * * * *

THE DUDLEY COURT LEET AGAIN.

We are happy to find that our strictures a fortnight ago, on
the subject of the Dudley Court Leet, have met with the general
approval of this district. Nor could it well be otherwise.
To say nothing of the principles of common justice, an error
in tactics so glaring as that perpetrated in connexion with
the late Court Leet meeting could not but meet with general
condemnation.

It will be seen, however, from a letter under the heading
of "Our Open Platform," that a gentleman who signs himself
"Investigator" has undertaken to investigate the facts
connected with the invitations to the Court Leet, and to
present himself as the champion of its proceedings.

This letter is couched in the best possible spirit; and though
our correspondent takes strong exception to many of our views,
we shall always bid him and others welcome to the use of
our pages, so long as they can express their differences of
opinion from us or from each other with so much freedom from
acrimonius feeling. Had the argument of "Investigator" been as
sound as the tone of his letter is satisfactory, we should have
passed it over without a single observation. We shall have no
difficulty in proving, however, that his remarks are open to
that very charge of misleading the public which he attempts to
fasten upon ourselves.

He says he has the list of invitations to the Court Leet
before him, and on that ground he claims to be regarded as the
champion of those by whom it was supplied. Of course we have no
objection to accept the gauntlet. He then says that there were
82 gentlemen invited to the late Court Leet, and that of this
number 38 have attended former meetings, and the remaining 44
were townsmen of various opinions.

Now, the only inference which any man of ordinary powers of
mind can draw from these figures, is that 44 out of the number
of persons accustomed to attend former Courts Leet have this
year been rejected, and that 38 of that number have been
retained. But why reject the 44 and retain the 38? Simply
because the political preferences of the former at the last
election happened to differ from those of the parties who
issued the invitations. To any other answer than this, the
voice of public conscience would at once demur.

But "Investigator" has made a discovery which completely
falsifies our own statement of this matter. He has discovered
that many of Mr. Sheridan's supporters were amongst the
persons attending the late Court Leet. How many do our readers
think? One half.--Guess again. One quarter.--Guess again. A
half quarter.--Guess again.--You give it up. Then, thoughtful
reader, let us tell thee there was the astounding number of
four. One of these was the late mayor, who was known to have
long before abandoned Mr. Sheridan's cause;--two others were
gentlemen connected with the press, and who were supposed to
be changing sides before the meeting took place--and the fourth
was a kind and amiable man, whose presence in such company has
not yet been accounted for.

So far, then, from our correspondent disproving our statement
respecting the invitations to the Court Leet, we find that his
statements confirm substantially every word that we have spoken
upon that subject.

We may, however, here state once for all, that it is not a
question between Mr. Sheridan and his political opponents,
but between those opponents and such of the inhabitants of
this district as think proper to vote for a candidate of
their own selection. That Mr. Sheridan happens to be that
candidate is the mere accident of the hour. The question is
simply this:--Shall the electors of Dudley vote for whom they
will?--or are they to be subject to pains and penalties for the
free and independent exercise of their electoral rights?

Nor is "Investigator" more successful in his attempt to
vindicate the right of the Lord of the Manor to do what he
likes with his own. He says the Barony of Ward is a private
institution, and that therefore Lord Ward has a right to invite
whom he likes to transact his own business. As well might he
say that the Borough of Dudley and the Monarchy of England are
private institutions, and that, therefore, the Mayor of the one
and the Monarch of the other have a right to employ and discard
whom they will. We deny that the Barony of Ward is, in the
sense spoken of by "Investigator," a private institution; and,
of course, we deny the possession of the right he claims.

We are actuated by no feeling of hostility to Lord Ward, but as
public Journalists it is our duty to watch over the interests
of the public, and to see that Senator and Plebeian are alike
protected in the exercise of the privileges they enjoy. As an
evidence of our desire for the most perfect fairness in the
discussion of questions such as this, to which we have now for
the third time been compelled to advert, we may state that in
an article on "A Royal Charter for Dudley," in our last issue,
the word "charge" instead of the word "complaint," is used
either by our mistake or by that of our printer. As, however,
it has been represented to us by one of our friends, that some
readers may possibly suppose, from the construction of the
sentence in which this word occurs, that we impute bribery and
coercion to Lord Ward, or to his agents, or both, we feel it
to be due to ourselves, to Lord Ward, to his agents, and to
our readers generally, to state that nothing could possibly
have been further from our intention. What we meant to have
said, and what we think our words clearly convey, is this--that
the right of the Lord of the Manor to invite whom he would to
his Court Leet had been so exercised, as that, by inviting a
great many gentlemen to his annual dinner who were known to
have supported Mr. Sandars, but who had not been accustomed to
be invited, it was liable to be construed into a species of
bribery to one class, and to operate as a kind of punishment to
the other, and so we have reason to believe it is popularly
regarded. But any intention or idea of imputing bribery to Lord
Ward or his agents, either expressly or by implication, we
distinctly and absolutely disavow. And this disavowal we make
as spontaneously and promptly as we can. It is as painful to
us as it is contrary to our inclination to have to discuss the
public conduct of public men. When, however, duty impels us
to the task, we trust that we shall never be found wanting in
those proprieties towards those from whom we differ, which the
commonest courtesy requires at our hands.

To the most amusing part of our correspondent's letter we
have, however, yet to come. After having occupied nearly
half a column of our space in endeavouring to prove that the
agents of Lord Ward have not acted with partiality in the late
Court Leet affair, he goes on to show that they have always
acted with partiality; that they have done on the present
occasion--only to another set of parties--what they have always
been accustomed to do--to one side or the other;--that those
who have now been rejected ought not to have given utterance
to a single murmur, on the simple principle that they had now
received a Roland for an Oliver.

He speaks of "respectable and sensible men, who have never
hitherto been favoured with his Lordship's smile," of the
chagrin and personal insult experienced by many of our worthy
townsmen, and of the bygone bigotry, political domination and
petty clique of the last thirty years. The agents of Lord Ward
may truly say, "Save us from our friends."

If one-half of what "Investigator" says be true, it is high
time that the management of Dudley Court Leet be reformed. But
it is a curious incident in this controversy, and one which
strikingly illustrates the narrowness of men's minds, and their
ignorance of the very first principles of genuine liberty,
and there should be men of professed education in the town of
Dudley who can look upon the mere transfer of an exclusive
privilege from the hands of one set of men to those of another,
as an evidence of real progress. If there exists anywhere
powers such as those to which our correspondent refers, and
which can be used for purposes of oppression or intimidation,
it is manifest that these powers ought not to exist; and
however much their transfer from the hands of one political
party to another may gratify men's vanity and assist in the
advancement of their personal purposes, the only evidence
of real progress will be found in such powers being taken
altogether from the hands of those who hold them, and being
vested in others who cannot employ them for purposes of their
own.--_The Dudley and Midland Counties Express._

December 1st, 1857. This present period was one of great distress and misery in the town and neighbourhood, occasioned by the suspension and failure of many Iron Masters hereabouts. The serious commercial consequence was, that fifty-seven Blast Furnaces were stopped, and upwards of 10,000 men were thereby thrown out of employment. This depression of our local trade had a most serious effect upon the tradesmen of the town, and many lamentable bankruptcies amongst us was the result.

Died, December 17th, 1857, Mr. Joseph Morris, of the Miner's Arms; Mr. Morris had gone through a great diversity of trials in life, and was deservedly much respected by all parties. Aged 73 years.

Died, December 17th, 1857, at Westbromwich, Mr. Richard Bond, formerly Parish Clerk of St. Edmund's Church; he was a close-fisted old gentleman, and died very rich.

THE SEBASTOPOL GUNS.

_To the Editor of the_ DUDLEY WEEKLY TIMES.

SIR,--Our last Castle Fetes were heralded forth to the
pleasure-seeking public with more than ordinary pomp and
significance, by the _prominently announced fact_, that those
mighty engines of death and destruction (the Sebastopol
Trophy Guns), were to be ushered into the far-famed Castle
Court-yard, amid the din of arms, the plaudits of the people,
the beating of the heart-stirring drum, and the merry peals of
our excellent parish church bells. Being one of the admirers
of that march of pomp and day of _local exultation_, and
heartily concurring in the sentiments uttered by our public
functionary (the Mayor), I naturally anticipated that _some
suitable site would ere this_ have been found, _whereon to
permanently fix_ those trophies of our sanguinary struggle
with the great Power of the North; but no! Dudley like! the
famed Sebastopol guns, like the crumbling walls with which they
are surrounded, _seemed destined to be left alone in their
glory_. Anon the hobby-horses whereon the juvenile warriors are
daily wont to practice the art of cannon riding, and the more
matured admirers of naval glory, are accustomed to ruminate
upon the mighty events of _their departed lustre_, under the
consoling influence of that soother of the "ills and woes
that flesh is heir to" a pipe of the genial Virginian weed.
Such being the humiliating fact, I maintain, Mr. Editor, on
the ground of _public sympathy alone_, that these precious
relics of the famed Sebastopol should _immediately_ be taken
under the _protecting wings_ of the Mayor, on behalf of the
liege burgesses of this ancient city of the renowned Dodo,
or consigned to the fostering care of the popular president
of the Mechanics' Institute. Surely £50 would suffice to
provide proper gun carriages, and fix them on solid masonry
in front of the magnificent Keep, protected by a suitable
_chevaux-de-frise_, with an adequate _elevated_ covering to
protect them from the inclemency of the weather! Did not the
Committee of the last Castle Fetes _derive more additional
"grist to the mill"_ by the fact that the guns were to be
seen _under their auspices alone_? Hence the reasonableness
of that Committee taking proper care of those trophies, _as
showing more decent acknowledgement_ to the sightseeing public
for _the additional proceeds_ received to their funds by the
opportune presence of those national trophies. If it was worth
the trouble _to depart_ from the ordinary routine of official
propriety to receive the guns at the hands of Government,
surely it is but reasonable to hope that the sanguinary
admirers of national prowess should provide (like other towns)
a suitable place to deposit them on. Such being the public
belief, let the Committee of the Mechanics' Institute perform
their duty, by endeavouring to convince that public that
they are not _insensible_ to _the very exclusive and liberal
support_ they have from time to time received at the hands
of an hitherto silent but observant public, but at once make
a suitable provision for those interesting objects of public
curiosity, which are properly intended to be the enduring
evidences of a nation's triumphal prowess and valour, under
difficulties and privations unsurpassed in the annals of
warfare.

I am, your obedient servant,
ONE WHO LIKES TO SEE EVERYTHING IN ITS PROPER PLACE.

_Dudley._

* * * * *

DUDLEY MECHANICS' INSTITUTION.

_To the Editor of the_ DUDLEY WEEKLY TIMES.

SIR,--Permit me a small space in the _Times_, in reply to the
letters of Mr. Sluter, "A Schoolmaster," and "One who likes
to see everything in its proper place," which appeared in
your last. I feel the more pleasure in noticing them, from
the courteous spirit in which they appear to be written,
contrasted with that of a leading article in the columns
of your contemporary, upon (in some respects) a somewhat
similar subject. Right glad am I to find an interest taken
in the matters to which they refer, sufficiently strong to
develop itself by directing public attention to them through
the pages of your paper. The offer of affording gratuitous
adult instruction to a class or classes in connection with
the Mechanics' Institution, so kindly made by Mr. Sluter and
his coadjutors, was the subject of many conversations, and
occupied much attention of myself and its committee; the great
obstacle, however, appeared to us to be the want of proper
accommodation, the Old Town Hall being occupied for so many
purposes, and at such varied hours, that we feared it could
hardly be rendered properly available for such a purpose.
Again too, we entertained the hope that long ere this we
should have been in possession of rooms and building of our
own, in which, suitable accommodation, not only for this but
every other purpose connected with the Mechanics' Institution
or the public, would have been provided--the exertions to
obtain which, notwithstanding the sneers of the writer in
the _Express_, are pretty well known to most. The effort
to establish adult evening schools may, perhaps, unhappily
not be supported, either by those requiring them on the one
hand, or by public countenance on the other, but it is worth
a trial, and the offer of Mr. Sluter, and others of the
Schoolmasters' Association connected with him, is a noble one,
evincing a feeling on their parts which ought to be thankfully
and heartily responded to. What, Mr. Editor, even the most
enlightened, is the education of our youth, compared to that
more mature knowledge we acquire in after years? It is but,
as it were, the outlines of the map then laid down, to be
filled in by ourselves at leisure at a future time. I trust,
therefore, now the matter is again mooted, the subject will not
be allowed to drop without a trial being made regarding it. To
argue as to the necessity or propriety of the establishment of
such classes or schools, were but to insult the understanding
of those most likely to render them efficient support.

As to the Sebastopol guns, I also should like to see them
in their proper place, and the consideration of the _proper
place_ has not been lost sight of. My idea of this _place_ is,
as your correspondent suggests, in front of the Keep--others
think somewhat differently; at any rate their position and
state, it must be acknowledged, is not the most suitable one,
and ere long, with the assistance of our worthy Mayor, I hope
to see them placed upon a spot which for appropriateness of
situation will be second to none in the kingdom. They were
worthily received, and they ought to be worthily esteemed, as
trophies of the prowess and valour of our countrymen. The Fetes
Committee are perfectly willing to render all the assistance
in their power towards this object, but I am sure that your
correspondent would not desire that their funds should furnish
the necessary amount. The Committee, at considerable expense
and with no little trouble, obtained them _for_ the town;
surely then the town should not be wanting to see they are
properly bestowed and kept, now they do possess them. This I
know is the desire of the Mayor, and others in authority; I
therefore trust ere long to see them in their proper position.

In regard to the remarks of the writer in the _Express_, I
would observe that it is a very much easier thing to sit at
home at ease and write an article for a newspaper, sneering at
the efforts of others, which most probably they did but little
to aid, than to get up funds for a building, requiring, if
it be done properly, some three or four thousand pounds. The
efforts of many on behalf of the Dudley Mechanics' Institution
are well known, and I think need no attempt to be written down
by the _Express_, for the purpose of elevating Mr. Sheridan. I
have already occupied sufficient of your space, or should not
hesitate to break a lance with its writer as to what the Dudley
Mechanics' Institution has been, is, or may become. I trust
that it has already been "productive of some real and permanent
advantages," and that it will continue to exist to furnish more
"for posterity."

I am, Mr. Editor,
Yours respectfully,
E. HOLLIER.

January 25th, 1858, was a royal day in Dudley, it being the Wedding Day of our first young Princess, the Princess Royal of England, and the Crown Prince of Prussia. Dudley had never lagged behind its neighbours in its genuine loyalty to the throne, and on this occasion all hands were willing to add lustre, and a pleasurable remembrance, to this interesting event. A public subscription was at once inaugurated to give a treat to the school children, and tickets for meat to the indigent poor. The day was propitious, and upwards of 4,000 school children walked in procession to the Castle Court, led on by two bands of music; after a short suitable address had been delivered, they all returned to their various school rooms, and enjoyed a good "tea drinking." The poor old men and women enjoyed their beef and plum pudding at their own homes, whilst the well-to-do townsmen dined at the hotel, under the presidency of the Mayor, Mr. John Beddard. The town was decidedly _en fete_ this day, for the merry peals of our parish bells, the jingling of the friendly glass, and the hearty good wishes for the happy pair, made old Dudley decidedly "jolly" on that memorable day. These two royal personages will in due course of time become the Emperor and Empress of Germany. Long may they live to enjoy their exalted and responsible station in life.

N.B.--Whilst I am writing these lines their eldest son, Prince William of Prussia, is also entering into the tangled web of holy matrimony.

THE CELEBRATION OF THE PRINCESS ROYAL'S WEDDING IN DUDLEY.

On Monday last, John Beddard, Esq., the Mayor of this town,
issued bills stating that he should be very happy to meet,
at Smith's Hotel, in the Market Place, that evening at seven
o'clock, any of the inhabitants disposed to support some public
demonstration on the marriage day of the Princess Royal.

At the time appointed for the meeting to take place, our
reporter attended and found only the Mayor present. During
the next half-hour or so a few gentlemen looked into the room
to see what sort of a meeting there was, and having satisfied
their curiosity withdrew. About half-past seven o'clock,
however, the Mayor remarked that business had better be
proceeded with. The number of loyal subjects present then was
very few, and during the entire meeting did not exceed a score.
We have no difficulty in subjoining a complete list of their
names. They were the Mayor, the High Bailiff (Elliot Hollier,
Esq.), Mr. W. H. Brooke, Mr. S. Rudge, Mr. R. Houghton, Mr.
W. Wigginton, Mr. Waring, Mr. G. B. Lowe, Mr. Masefield, Mr.
Walker, Mr. William Haden, jun., Mr. Minty, Mr. Laskey, Mr.
Wainwright, Mr. E. Sanders, Mr. Denison, Mr. J. Cartwright, Mr.
Clark, Mr. J. Renaud.

Mr. JOHN RENAUD moved that the Mayor should take the chair.
(Hear).

The MAYOR in doing so, said he was very glad to tell the
gentlemen present that Mr. Smith, at the Priory, would be very
happy "to fall in with whatever was done there." In proceeding
to open the business of the evening, the chairman said they
were met to take steps towards getting up a treat of some kind
or other so that the inhabitants of this town may remember the
day on which the Princess Royal was married. He thought they
ought to do something on this occasion, so that the event might
be signalized and remembered by their children for some time to
come. (Cheers). So far as regarded the poor in the Workhouse,
he should have very great pleasure in affording them a treat
himself. (Hear, hear). Mr. Clark had been suggesting that the
children belonging to the various Sunday Schools should also
have a treat. He should like to hear what he had to say upon
the subject.

Mr. C. F. G. CLARK, chemist, of High street, thought it only
right that the young people and the inhabitants of Dudley
generally should have an opportunity of participating in some
kind of rejoicing on the occasion of the marriage of the
Princess Royal. His Worship the Mayor had been kind enough to
promise--as the highest recognized authority in this place--a
treat to the poor in the Workhouse; and he (Mr. Clark) was of
opinion that they could not do less than give a treat also to
the Sunday School children of the parish. He would, therefore,
at once propose that they should enter into a subscription that
night, and communicate as soon as possible with the trustees
and ministers of the schools to solicit their co-operation in
giving the children a treat, and that they should award to each
establishment a certain sum out of the funds (to be regulated
by the number of scholars they had) for that purpose.

The proposition met with several objections. It was stated, in
answer to questions, that a tea might be had for the children
at fivepence per head, and that the total number of Sunday
Scholars in Dudley was about two thousand. This being so, it
was hinted that the subscription might not be large enough to
pay these schools fivepence per scholar for a treat, and to
meet this it was suggested that fivepence should be given,
and any deficiency which might arise should be made up by the
congregations at each place of worship.

A Gentleman in the meeting asked if the people of Netherton
were to be included in the arrangements? He believed it was the
general opinion that Netherton participated in anything of this
sort with the people of Dudley.

The MAYOR did not think that they could do anything with the
Nethertonians. "Dudley proper," he thought, was enough for them
to deal with.

Mr. CLARK said so far as own feelings were concerned in this
matter, he should very much like to have seen an ox or two
roasted and distributed amongst the poor in the neighbourhood,
after a good old English fashion.

Mr. RENAUD recommended the appointment of a deputation to
confer with the school authorities as to the best mode of
giving a treat to the children. He had no doubt that the
people belonging to the several places of worship would see to
treating their own children, and that each would meet their own
expenses in the event of a deficiency in the amount awarded
them out of the public subscription.

Mr. CLARK said if they were to give a treat at all, let them
do it as it ought to be done. For his own part, he did not
like the idea of proposing a treat and then calling upon other
people to pay for it. He disapproved of the shabby generosity
which wanted to give a tea to children, and, doubting whether
they could do it or not, called upon the congregation to make
up any deficiency. In such a case he (Mr. Clark) very much
questioned whether the parties belonging to the churches and
chapels would comply with, such a request. Some might: others
might not. At any rate, they could do as they liked, and it
would be left to each of them to act independently in the
matter.

Mr. RENAUD remarked that it was just that spirit of
independence amongst the people which he wished to acknowledge.

Mr. CLARK: Well, don't let us do the thing in a spirit of
niggardliness. If such a proposal is carried out, I think it
will be very much like a sectarian treat.

Mr. RENAUD: I wish to abolish that word "sectarian" in this
matter. I don't want us to have a sectarian, but a general
treat.

The MAYOR: Well, I think somebody had better move the
appointment of a deputation to wait upon the ministers of the
churches and chapels in the town upon the subject.

Mr. W. H. BROOKE: I would suggest, Mr. Mayor, that, as a matter
of order, you should first decide whether a committee of that
sort is to be appointed. (Hear, hear.)

The MAYOR: Just so. Will any gentleman move a resolution to
that effect?

Mr. W. H. BROOKE: I will move, if you please, then, "That the
gentlemen present form themselves into a committee for the
purpose of carrying out any arrangements that may be considered
advisable for celebrating the marriage of the Princess Royal in
Dudley."

Mr. HOUGHTON: And I second that motion.

The MAYOR put the proposition to the vote, and it was carried.

Mr. RENAUD: I will next move then, "That the said committee
wait upon the ministers of each chapel and church in the town,
to ascertain if they are willing to co-operate in giving a
treat to the Sunday School children on Monday next, the 25th
instant, in honour of the Princess Royal's wedding, and to use
the best means of carrying this into effect."

Mr. E. HOLLIER: I will second that motion.

The Mayor put the proposition to the vote, and it was carried
unanimously.

Mr. MINTY inquired if the Castle guns were to be fired?

Mr. RENAUD replied that the guns in the Castle yard were
spiked, and could not be used. They did not want to have
another earthquake. (Laughter.)

Mr. CLARK moved that a public subscription should be entered
into.

Mr. W. WIGGINGTON suggested that the committee should report
to a meeting to be held the next night. This proposition was
received.

The MAYOR said he should propose that there be a dinner at
Smith's Hotel, on Monday, precisely at half-past three o'clock.

Mr. WARING, on behalf of the Garrick Club, one of whose
performances is to take place next Monday evening, requested
that the dinner should not interfere with that entertainment.

The MAYOR promised that it should not.

Several gentlemen inquired what sort a dinner they should have.

Mr. CLARK proposed they should have a half guinea dinner, and
the suggestion was received.

Mr. RENAUD reminded the meeting that they ought to do something
for the poor in the neighbourhood. It was well to treat the
inmates of the workhouse, but at the same time he could not
lose sight of the fact that there were many, very many, poor
people who were as badly, if not worse off than the poor in the
workhouse, who ought to be treated also. (Hear, hear).