MEMOIRS and CORRESPONDENCE of JAMES ACL AND, Proprietor and Editor- written by Himte'f. " I LIKE HONESTY IN ALL PLACES."— Judge Bayley. Printed and Pnblished by JAMES ACLAND ( SOLK PROPRIETOR AN » EDITOR; at No. 4, All Saint » ' street, Bristol. No. L.] COMMITTEE- ROOM, 7th October, 1829. RESOLVED, That a further call of Three Shillings be made pal able in the following manner, vis.— One Shil- ling per Share, on or before the 17tk Instant; One Shilling per Share, on or before the 27th Instant; and One Shilling per Share, on or before the 6th of November next. To the EDITOR of the BRISTOLIAN. Oct. 12, 1229. Six, I was sorry to hear on Wednesday last, at our General Meeting, there was so many defaulteri in our Bread Association, though I must confess I anticipated that there would be very many, well knowing the Tax- g?- therers would be much about at that time, and have that little which they had reserved for a much better purpose, ( namely Unadul- terated Bread) but, Sir, we need not be cast down, the cause is good, and I tryst, in a little time you will confound all its enemies : but to begin with my subject, I promised you in my last, information respecting our Poor- Rates, and I am sorry to say, that on examin- ing it, I found, it too partial towards our great Vestry- men, which will be clearly seen by the subjoined list, and too heavy on the middling and poorer classes of my fellow- WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1829. parishioners. I did intend on the day of appeal, to oppose it on the behalf of them, but, by desire of a gentleman of our City, not to do it, knowing full well as he said, Vestry- men would have their own way. I declare it, and indeed I have found it to be so for many years past, for I have strongly opposed them, by stating the hardships of the case, and on one occasion, a great little man of the Vestry, who has got more brains in his head than good sense, told me, that if 1 had a pig- sty on my premises, he would rate it, but believe me Sir, I have none, for I am well persuaded there arc too many hogs already in our City; therefore I am quite convinced no good can be procured by ap- pealing to such a Vestry, meaning for myself, and I will give you a proof of it, for when I stated to them some time past, that a Mr. Bright, one of their Vestry- men, was only rated at t£ 34, and his rent c£ 100, and those whom I was contending for, three small te- nements, two rented at <£ 5 and the other £ 4, each rated at <£ 4 ayear, did they think this was a just and equitable rate; one replied, that Bright did not pay a ,£ 100 a- year rentj for a part was for utensils belonging to the house ; well, Sir, be it so said I, what af fords an annual profit is rateable, he cer. tainly pays tha landlord a .£ 100 a- year, therefore his Rate ought to be £ 66; the [ Price I{ d Father of the Vestry, ( as some call hifn) said, I consider that all is very just as the rate now stands, therefore, we cannot alter it ; but Sir, how comes it to pass, that his great house then rated at £ 20, is now only « £ 14 ? by such proceedings as these the poor are ihe sufferer?, for a few months ago, a poor widow woman with eight children, who is obliged to work hard at the washing- tub for their maintenance, had a mahogany table, 3 chairs. 1 looking- glass, and several other articles seized and tsken away for 12i. Gd. and no return made since; another poor woman told me she had taken off her flannel petticoat and pledged it to pay her Taxes. Many more distressing cases I could give, if required. Now, I would ask the old mart above alluded to, is this very just. But more oi this in my next, when I will inform you of the conduct of some of those tender- hearted Vestry- men towards one individual; but, Sir, before I close, I would appeal to every humane and intelligent man, and ask him who is best able to pay these taxes, the man who rides about in his gig, coach, or car, having many hundreds of pounds coming in yearly, or the poor hard- working'ahd la- borious man, having only or 15s. a- week coming in, and a wife and family to support out of that ? I trust you would say the rich man. Then, Sir, the only way to bring this 398 THE BRISTOLIAN. to pass, is for the inhabitants at large to ap- peal at the next Sessions, and prove its par- tiality, and the omission of rateing the ship- ping, & c. 3 the Court must then qunsh the Rate; and tlie Law says likewise, " that if any Rate- payer can make it appear that he has previously paid any sum of money in consequence of such a Rate, which he ought not to have paid, then the Court shall order such sum to be re. paid by the Church- warden or Overseer, together, with all reasonable costs." I trust, Sir, you will not object to assist them in their undertaking, having done some good already for the public. I am, Sir, your's respectfully, A RATE- PAYER. Messrs, Hare & Co's exten. sive Premises, rated at <£ 100 Mr, Illsby, George Inn, Tem- ple Meads i" 44 a Vestry- man. Mr. Williams's, ( coach- maker,) extensive Buildings .£ 80 Ditto. Mr. Gwyer, large and commo- dious House, only ,£ 20 Ditto. Mr. Bright's House and Pot- tery, only ....<£ 34 Do. Rent 100. Mr. Curtis, a large and roomy- House, only £ 14 Ditto. Father Mr. Edgar, House and Shop, only £ 2i Ditto. Mr. Barns, House and large Yard, only £ 50 Do. Rent 100. MEM— The charge advanced by my corres- pondent, is againt the Select Vestry, and amounts to this, that whilst they exact an extreme Rate from the Poor Housekeeper, they under- rate the Premises occupied by themselves and thtir friends. I can have no hesitation in denouncing such conduct INIQUITOUS, FRAUDULENT, OPPRESSIVE, and INFAMOUS ! ! ! 1 care not whom the cap may fit. It matters not how reli- gious the party may desire to appear. The man • who can be guilty of such outrageous injustice, is a rogue in heart, and dishonest in action. I shall expect to hear more of this. J. A. of the houses, and to the placing of the names • f the Si reels, Lanes, Alley*, HIM! Courts, at the entrance or bo h ends of the same; if this was attended to by the proper authorities, it would prevent much perplexity and annoyance to the Visitor or Stranger in Bristol, who has to run about from place to place, to find a street of which the Inhabitants themselves often know nothing whatever. If he has recourse to a map he will find himself still at a loss, however ac- curately they may be laid down there, from not finding perhaps above one in ten with the name at the end of the street; and with respect to the numbering the houses in very many streets. Lanes, Conns, and Alleys, you will find no numbers on the houses whatever, and in those streets where they profess to number the houses m you may pass many houses without finding a number on them, and • where a name is to be found at the end of a street it is often so obliter. ated as to be scarcely legible. These things ought not to be, in so large and wealthy a city as Bristol; why could not the proper authorities order a board with the name of the street to be placed at the end of every Street, Lane, Alley, and Court, and send a man with his I'aint and Brush to number tho< e houses where the number is not to be found, and charge those persons with the expense who have neglected to number their houses. I would just glance at another thing which needs amendment in Bristol as accruing in many places of Worship in this city; that is, the inattention to the accommodation of strangers ( and I have been told of Inhabitants too) unless you fee the Pew- opener; this certainly ought not to be allowed for those persons to make a trafic of the sittings on a Sabbath Day— where such a custom prevails it would be better to displace such mercenary beings, and place others in their stead. A STRANGER. To the EDITOR of the BRISTOLIAN. SIR, I aril sorry to observe in the great and opulent city of Bristol, the very little attention paid by tfcose whose duty it is, to the regular numbering and unjust, if it be so, why does he not advise him to enter an aetion against him ( or defama- tion of character, instead of resorting- to that common refuge of knaves and rogues; ( not of the guiltless but of the guilty) professing to feel what none but stoics can feel, an utter disregard and comtempt fur what is so repugnant to nature, and at whieh the mind of every honest man must feel indignation, viz. an unjust and disgraceful accusation. Until he shall have recourse to some such measure, an enlightened Public will naturally conclude he is afraid to risk the consequences of such a step, and thus he establishes in their minds iriefragable proof of his guilt, and most righteously deserve^ to be " cut" with his coun- terpost I. C. by every common honest man in Christendom. I am, Sir, your's respectfully, 1IONESTAS. MF. M.— The advocates of Roguery should at least be open advoeates. That can be but one objection to thtir coming forward in their real characters. They would themselves be consider- ed as roguish as those they attempted to def end. I fight not under cover— the cowards who do ar c not entitled to eqaal credit, either fur disinter « estedness, or honesty of purpose. I am not quite sure that the self- styled Veritas be not the fraudulent lawyer himself! J. A. To the EDITOR of THE BRISTOLIAN. SIS, If Veritas is so confident in his friends Pro- bity and integrity, and that the charge preferred against hira by Mr. Sommcrs, is both foun'dless A THOUGHT. At Lawyers fat, who cheat for fuu, Ye wags give over jeering; Since gall'd by ACLAND, Thomas John, Has stopp'd bis Pamphleteering;. He does not now send out his lies, For gratis distribution ! Or, Public Meetings scandalize, By murd'ring Elocution. We now get on, ( halloo! my boys,) Like honest, upright men ; And are not hindered by the noise Of swagg'ring T. J. M. Orthodox tVinterbottem. MEM.— VINDEX IS injormed that J uniformly attach my signature or initials to my own letters or memoranda. I should have inserted his Utter but for the paltry threat it eonlaintd, viz. that if I did not, he would send it to one oj my con- temporaries. I will not be dragooned even into liberality, and I think my honest readers will ad- mit that I have even given fair play to time to whom I have necessarily been opposed. J. A. TIIR BRISTOL! AN. 199 4, All Saints - S'( reel The Public are respectfully informed of the intention of the un- designed ( now that the forfeited Shares are disposed of,) to become Agent to the Association Share- holders, for the Sale and Purchase of the Shares. Per Share. Charge for Transfer,, ( paid,} ^ to the Association) £ Commission on Purchase, ( inclusive if new Shares V 6d. on Transfer,) Is. Total charge, ( payable by) the Purchaser,) ... 3 Present Price, Six SHILLINGS, Premium, per Share. JAMES ACL AND, Share Agent. J o the EDITOR of THE BRISTOL1AN. 10, Dighton- Street, Oct. 13,1829. ( LETTER IV.) SIR, I am informed, on authority, that a sum « f or exceeding JMO was expended, and of • course charged, in the Chief Constable's account for the year ending, Michaelmas, 1828, for summonses, which I have ascer- tained* to be Is. 6d. each, and amount to somewhat exceeding 500 Summonses; it must be considered a great hardship upon the necessitous Poor of the three parishes comprising the Ward of St. James, that this additional- burthen should be placed on them, and if not paid by them, then it is an addi- tional charge to the Assessment on the Ward. I have no doubt the highly respected indivi- dual who served the office of Chief Constable for the year 1827 to 1828, will not withhold f^ jm the public all the information1 he- can give respecting these Summonses, and I therefore call upon him through The Bristo- lian, for his account. You cannot form an idea of the extent of the Ward. In the year 1821, it consisted of 21) 64 inhabited houses, with in addition, some part of the parish of St. l'eter, the number of houses assessed to the Watch. Rate, from' 1826 to 1827, awarded 2172*, the difference being deductions for the Poor, and uninhabited houses and its inhabitants under the jurisdiction of the Cih/ Magistralts, consisted in 1821, to 19,797 persons. I have to hope I shall find that the retiring Chief Constable has passed his account, ( he ten days expired on Saturday last,— if not then that cause be shewn why the Act of Parlia- ment be not complied with. Your very humble Servant, STEPHEN C. WEBB. To ihe EDITOR of 1' llE BRISTOLIAN. SIR, It is essentia! for the production of good bread that good barm be obtained by the Baker of the Bristolian Bread Association. 1 therefore suggest that great care betaken in the purchase of that ar- ticle, for if kept a few days it will form itself into a subs: ance, in color and quality like unto Pipe- Clav, occasioned no doubt by the deleterious in- gredients used by Brewers. 1 am, Sir, your's truly, A FRIEND TO TRUTH. MEM.— This mil be attended to. J. A. To THOSE WHOM IT MAY CONCERN. " Some tell what they have heard or tales devise, Each fiction still imprbv'd with added lies." There is no vice more detestable or which shews more a depraved state of the human mind, than evil speaking. A propensity to ma- nufacture and circulate leports injurious to others, a disposition to intermeddle with their characters and affairs, has long existed in a cer- tain house which shall. be nameless at present, but I might say that it sits within the boundaries of St. Pauls Parish in this Cityi Some of the inmates of this house it may be from their pro- fessional calling are better enabled to hear what is going on in the school for scandal than others, theirbouses being a receptacle of rendezvous for the idle but busy trafficer in those things which ought not to concern them, who in their rambles pick up or fabricate stories which they retail with a wanton greediness to them. These cou- turier< s after ruminating on and digesting the stones brought them with others suggested by the sombre dictates of a black heart, sally out to their favorite haunts, and trumpet up ro their loftging associates the gleanings of the day no doubt considerably improved and amended, and it may to the serious injury of the reputation of the devoted object. Such is the case, and I do feel most heartily sorry that they do not attend more to the duties of the domestic circle, and endeavor to cultivate a better mode of employing their leisure hours. Those reflections are forced from me from hearing a particular friend's name made use of in their diabolical stories. I will not at present particularize the individuals, but as your invaluable paper is so widely dissemin- ated and may perchance fall into their hands, I hope this paper will have the effect of putting a stop to the farther propagation of such despica- ble stories, for surely sueh creatures are politi- cally and morally enemies to the peace and happiness of all good society. Milton with a master's hand has painted the dreadful train which follow on the steps of the King of terrors, and West has given them a " local habitation" in his splendid picture of " Death on the Pale Horse." But neither Milton nor West could describe, much less convey an adequate notion to the world, of the iniquitous excrescences which grow out of the system they have adopted for destroying reputation and character. Beware then ye heads of families how you receive into your houses these pests of society. Let them be spurned and those w hom they em- ploy, and let them be abandoned to the rage and execration of an incensed public. Avoid the lying tongue of the slanderer. " The notions of his spirit are dull as night Ami his affections dark, as Erenbus— Let no such man be trusted." 1 am, Sir, Your's, & c. QUILL. 200 THE BRISTOLIAN To the BREAD- EATERS of Biistol. My Friends, You are doubtless anxious to know when it is probable you will obtain Pure Bread. I answer, certainly by New Year's Day, and as certainly you may calculate on making your Christmas puddings with a Pure Flour. The Committee have determined on con- cluding a purchase of a Steam- Engine of twenty- horse power complete, and a de- putation for the purpose of completing such contract are now in the country, where this very desirable property is offered. The terms are agreed upon, and you may consider the Association in possession of the property. As to premises, I am happy in being en- abled to state my belief, that by Saturday we shall be in possession of one of the two for • which the Committee are bargaining. I have no doubt that in the course of next week, masons, carpenters and engineers will be actively engaged in adapting your premises to the purposes of the Association, and in removing your Steam- engine and mill from its present to its future situation. Of this at least I am sure — it ought to be so, and if it be not so, it shall be the fault of other individuals than Your faithful Servant, JAMES ACLAND- To the EDITOR of THE BRISTOLIAN. SIR, I should feel obliged if you would through the medium of your Bristolian of to- morrow, give notice to Messrs. J. F. Davis, and Wm. Davis, Law Stationers, Shannon- court, separately, that unless they desist from the employment of pro- fessional gentlemen's clerks in their employer's time, publicity will be given to the case, and that they may rest assured a sharp look out will be kept to bring such mean and unmanly actions » before the public. 1 am, Sir, your's A LOVER OF JUSTICE. MB*.— I believe an action would lie against those who thus fraudulently appropriate to their on n use ( he services purchased by others. J. A. To the EDITOR of THE BRISTOLIAN. Sir, I understand that the Chief Constable of St Michael's Ward only paid the poor Watchmen £ 3 5s. out of <£ 6 10s. when their families have little more to depend upon, they are left in dis- tress. If you think the above worthy of a place in your valuable Bristolian, you will greaily oblige, Sir, Your humble Servant, A RATE- PAYER. MEM. If this be not true, let the Chief deny it; it well becomes ail honest man to counteract a mischievously false rumour. If it be true, let the Rate- payers of the ward assemble, consider, resolve and act. J. A. To the EDITOR of THE BRISTOLIAN . Sir, I observe you and some of your correspon- dents have taken some trouble to put the public in possession of the fraudulent use of imitation copper nails at the Cattle Market, but I under- stand you have not yet arrived at the acme of thisfratd; two men were employed one with the copper and the other with the imitation nails, so that as soon as Mr. Surveyor hove in sight to work went the man with the copper nails, and it required great penetration and attention on the part of Mr. Pope to discover it; and I think it due to him to say he has been vigilant and performed his duty; for he has condemned and destroyed a quantity of improper copeing for the Masons, had a quantity of the slates re- moved by the Plasterer and Tiler; and made ihe Carpenter remove a number of principals and rafiers; you shall here more anon, lam, Sir, A LOOKER- ON. To the EDITOR of THE BRISTOLIAN, BRISTOLIAN versus MERCURY. SIR, I am sure in congratulating you on your complete defeat of T. J M. I am speaking the feelings of every individual who knows the circumstances of the case. The defeat is the more to be gloried in, as it takes from him the medium through which lie gave propagation to his base and slanderous T. J Ms. I say it is a glorious victory obtained, when it is con- sidered, he went about declaring he would drive you out of the City; hut how has it recoiled on him ? his 365 subscribers saw the baseness of the man they were supporting, and dropped off one after another ( ashamed of having it known they ever read such a " scur- rilous and insignificant provincial paper ") until his prophecy with regard to you is very ; likely to be verified in reference to himself. I announce it, Sir, with pleasure that Manchee has been compelled to give up the Murcury, it is passed from him ; and he will from this time sink to his proper level and insignificance. Huzza ! Huzza for the Bristolian ! 1 have not yet ascertained when he will leave the City, or whether he will take any situation that he can get here ; and as I do fancy that I am a man of some little consider- ation, I have taken into account that the man has a family, and knowing you to be a man of feeliug, may 1 beg you, bir, to look about \ our office, and see if you can give the poor fellow any inferior situation ; if you cannot find any other I am sure he will per- form the work of a Devil to perfection; by giving him any situation you may prevent his being a burthen on his wife's family; and as you have shewn that you can keep him in proper check, rlie public will be much better satisfied to hear you have him under your care, and that they will not again be annoyed by the poor fellow s '• cocotihis scribendi.'' But, Sir, if it is found he will leave the city, and the time should be known, I am sure there will be a more complete chorus of mar- row- bones and cleavers, pots, kettles, ,& c. than ever was heard in this Citv before. " How are the mighty fallen ! " PUBLICOLA. MEM. Poor fellow! Yet he is as black- hearted at water- brained! He thought to drive the anticipated victim of his rancorous malevolence from the city of Bristol! Hut I scorn to triumph over a vanquished enemy— I will noi hit a fallen man—/ would not ag- gravate the sentence of a retributive providence'. I should have as bad ah opinion of myself at I have of this man if I could trample on his Editorial dust. He. will live in the contempt of Bristoliane so long as the Bristolian shall thrive in their service and estimation. Let his pitiable fate be as a beacon to those who may at any time be tempted to sacrifice principle, public duty, and private property to their irisntinble ambition to grasp the " horns of the moon or to catch eels in a deep sea. Fnre tlue better than thou deservest at my hands, thou Mercurial T. J. M! Go where thou wil't thou can'st not render thyself more despicable than thon has't in Bristol;—- attempt what thou mayst— thou canst not less regard the rights of individuals than thau hast done here by thy heartless absorption of the sacred pittance of unprotected females! — Go— and be more wise, discreet and honeit than thou hast been— that thou mayst be somewhat less contemptible than thou art. J. A. The following subscriptions are received in behalf of the poor, lime burner:— In hand „£ IS 10 i C. H. W 0 7 6 A Stranger 0 2 6 Rev. Benjamin Richardson 10 0 T. Smith 0 0 6 £ 20 0 11 We are still -£" 14 short. J. A. Printed and Published by JAMES ACLANO, ( Sole Proprietor and Editor,) at the BRiSTOLUS- Orrici, No. 4, All Saintt' Street, Briitol.