Mr. John Childs, of Bungay, who is well known by
his resistance to Chureh-rates, is endeavouring to get up a county meeting on the subject of the Ballot. He has this week published an address to the farmers and middle classes of Suffolk, in which, after noticing " the iniquities of Norwich and Ipswich," he declares that the present is a most favour- able time for petitioning "form alteration of the suffrage, and a secure mode of exercising it." He calls upon the electors to assemble after harvest at one of the towns of Suffolk, as shall be most convenient to the greatest number, and lay their opinions before the new Parliament. —Essex Herald.
The rate-payers at Leeds on Thursday week refused a motion for a church-rate of a halfpenny in the pound : a very large majority ad- journed a meeting, called for the purpose of laying a rate, for a twelve- month.
A Vestry meeting was held at Smarden a short time since, to make a church-rate. On the motion being put for the rate, an amendment was proposed and carried, " That the consideration of a church-rate be adjourned for six months." But this measure having left the Warden in arrears for expenses attending the late confirmation, it was agreed to discharge the same by a voluntary contribution, with a caution that he must be careful in laying out money for the time to come.—Kentish Chronicle.
The Duke of Bedford, in answer to an application made the other day for assistance towards erecting a chapel of ease in St. Paul's parish, Hertford, sent a check for 50/. The noble Duke has also subscribed during the present week 201. towards the expenses of repairing the church at Wilden.—Hertford Reformer.
The lessee of the Swinton toll-bar was fined last week by the Man- chester Magistrates, for having caused tolls to be demanded on the day of nomination for the Southern Division of Lancashire. He had sup- posed that the act of Parliament only applied to the pulling-days ; but the Magistrates convinced him that he was wrong, the day of nomina- tion being equally one of the days of election.
We have heard it whispered that Mr. Fleetwood, the honourable Member for the borough of Preston, is about to have the dignity of a baronetcy conferred upon him.—Preston Chronicle.
Party politics seems to affect the administration of justice in Bristol. The Bristol Mercury says- " During the past week, a case occurred in this city, in which, notwith- standing there was a considerable number of Liberals on the jury-hst, the Jury were, to a man, Tories. The defendant had heard it rumoured in court that eighteen of the Jury would be challenged ; but no objection being publicly made, he considered he had a fair chance jury. On examining the list, the fol- lowing appeared as the result ; Total numbers 48 Of whom were called... 16 All Tories Ditto 1 Unfavourable, owing to the nature of his business.
17 Not called 31 Of these there were Liberals 18 Tories 11 Uncertain 2 —31
Thus, every one celled was either a Tory or unfriendly ; while of the 18 of contrary polities, not one was called Another Jury had previously been taken out of the 48; but it is most probable this would not much effect the result ; and it is no ways material, as our object, in quoting this ease, is merely to show what may happen iu the present state of things. All comment on such pro- ceedings, or argument to prove that one uniform system should be observed, must be deemed wholly superfluous."
Previous page
