« < ov < ia MEMOIRS and CORRESPONDENCE of JAMES ACLAND, Proprietor and Editor— written by Himself " I LIKE HONESTY IN ALL PLACES."— Judge Bayley. Printed and Published by JAMES ACLAND ( SOLE PROPRIETOR AND EDITOR; at the ERISTOLIAN OFFICE, Bristolian Court, Bridewell Laue. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1830. [ PRICE \ \ d. VOL. IV— No. II. Because the expences of the Parish ( whether legitimate or not) have placed certain gentleman in the situation of creditors. These gentlemen are of those who consider themselves the Aris- tocracy of the Parish— and it is now sought to discharge their claims by the extortion of rates from the Parishioners without their consent, I shall be told that such is not the object of the present assessment. True; this rate is for the external repairs of the Church. But for what will the next rate be levied— if this usurpation of the Select Vestry be not resisted by the Parishioners? The repairs now asked for, are usually con- sidered those of the landlord. Now the law holds the Freehold of a Church to be in the Vicar, and I am strongly impressed with the opinion that Mr. Whish has no right to saddle us with this expence. However this may be, the consideration of the rate iu detail is not our present business— because the right of assess- ment must be decided before we can entertain the question of its reasonableness. That question of right is about to be tried. Two Public Meetings took place at the Hope and Anchor on Monday, and the necessary legal measures are taking for placing" this question of right at legal issue. The deputation appointed by yon have Consulted with Mr. Haberfield, as Solicitor, and Mr. Taunton as Counsel, and the result of such consultations will be reported to you at the GENERAL MEETING, AT THE HOPE ANI) ANCHOR, This Evening at 6o'Clock. which has been convened by the Requisionists, ( upwards of 100) in consequence ol the refusal of the Churchwardens to comply with our reasonable request. Fellow Parishioners— if you allow the Select Vestry of your Palish to fax you without your consent, now that you have an opportunity of resisting their procedure, you will deserve to be the laughing stock of your fellow Citizens, as fit subjects for a Parochial Despotism. If, on the other hand, you come forward, as a body, in vindication of your rights, you will do yourselves justice— set an example to all the other Parishes of Bristol— and give a death- blow to the Select Vestry system of wrong and favotlteism in this City. The proposed repairs of our Church, for instance, are estimated by an architect ap- pointed by the Select Vestry— most probably the friend of some one of the more influen- tial members of that body. No matter who may be the architect, you may be assured he will put as much money as he can in his pocket by the job ; and as he charges a per Centage on the amount of the woik done, or rather charged for, it is his interest that vou TO TH E PAHION RISERS OP ST. MARY REDCLIFF. Fellow Parishioners, I heat ily congratulate you on the indepen- dence you have manifested in your determination to resist the illegal attempt of the Select Vestry to impose a rate upon the Parish, without first submiP'ng t'le necessity; jris'; ce; afid prudence, of such fax, to a General Meeting of those whom it would so materially affect. I shall not pause to enquire whether or not ' he sum of <£ 1900. be really necessary for Parochial purposes. That may be a matter for after considera'ion ; but at present, we shall act wisely in restricting ourselves to the maintenance of ' he principle— the constitutional principle— that there should be no taxation of a free people, without representation. 1 he Select Vestry are not elected by, and therefore cannot be considered the representatives of the Parishioners. We have no voice in their appointment. It is clear, as well in law as in justice, that they have no tight to lax us at their pleasure. If it be conceded that they havej where will the baneful operation of such power terminate ? For two hundred and ninety years the Select Vestry have not exercised such usurped power— and then, only to call for voluntary contributions from the Parish. Why then do they now claim this illegal authority ? > L 6 THE BR1ST0LIAN should be made to pay as much as possible— that the charges of the tradesmen employed may have full scope, and he, the architect, feather his nest at your expence. is not this an obviously unjust method of repairing the Church— even on the supposi- tion that we rre legally bound to find the money for the expence incurred ? Yet it is bi t one of scores of instances in which the Select Vesjry system acts by imposition upon, and plunder of the Parishioners. I he best way of redressing our wrongs, is by the maintenance of Our lights. Let us do so— or submit to all the extortion we shall have richly merited. They who withold their support from their fellow Parishioners on the present important occasion, ought to pay al) the rates themselves, and that too, without tv^ n the privilege of grumbling. Nay, they should be held up to Public reprobation, as unworthy the name of Englishmen— and as desetters f: om the cause, and contemners of tbe principles of rational and constitutional Liberty. There will not be many such ; but the despicable minority sh?' l be known. I will take good care of that, at a fi and proper pc. iod, for such men canor. l v be actuated by one of two motives. They must either be the tools of the Parson or Select Vestry, and afraid to do themselves justice — or they must meanly desire to benefit by the labor, and at the expence of others. The fellows shall be shawn up ; that which they . richly deseive, they sha1! have. I court no man's smiles, nor do I fear any man's frown ; and however unpleasant my duty— the obligation from me to my fellow Parishioners, shall be faithfully discharged. I know net of how many our Select Vestry 5s composed, but the following are members cf that august body, and, however they may be hcifist and lespectable, as individuals, have by their recent attempt at despotism, entitled themselves to a dishonorable im mottality:— Mr. J. Wyld, Rectifier, RedclifF- Street. — W. H. Wyld, ditto — S. Lucas, Gentleman, New Cut. — T. Lucas, Confectioner, Redcliff- St, — J. Acraman, Redcliff Parade. — H, Fothergill, Brazier, Redcliff- St. — J. Steele, Mason, Thomas- Street. — W. Powell, Glass Manuf. Temple- St — H. Att wood, Linen- Draper, Redcliff- St. — J. Clark, Grocer, Redcliff- Street. — J. Loftus, Druggist, Bath- Street. King, Jun. Merchant, Redcliff- Par. — J. Westcott, Brass Founder, Thos. St. — S. R. Willmott, Brewer, Redcliff- Par. I am not astonished to see a Brazier and a Brsss Founder, in this list— but I am really sut prised to find the greatest part of them of other trades; their attempt has so much of assurance in it, that nothing but their success will be matter of wonder. You have a good cause in hand— persevere and you must prosper. Yours faithfully, JAMES ACLAND. TO THE HOUSEHOLDERS OF BRISTOL. Rate- Payers, Keep an eye on the spirited proceedings of your brethren of St. Maty Redcliff. It will speedily come to your turn to say whether you are contpnt to empty your pockets when- TO THE PEOPLE OF BRISTOL. Bristolians, You have before you, ( in my Publication of Saturday) the Petition to His Majesty, agreed to at the Public Meeting in Queen- Square, on Thursday last. That Pe'ition will lie at the following places Tor Signature, at 12 o'Clock this day.— Bristolian Office, Bridewell. Lane.— Galleiy of Arts, opposite the Drawbridge.— Mr, Bissicks, No. 99, Temble- Street.— Mr. Bingham, Redcliff Hill.— Mr, Jones's, Lower Maudlm- Lane.— Mr. May's, Old Market Street. In my next publication I shall be enabled to extend this list for your more general accom- modation— and I beg to suggest to you the pro- priety of every person signing the Petition, contributing a Penny towards the attendant expences- - which ought not to be allowed to press on a sinale individual. JAMES ACLAND. To JOHN MATTHEW GUTCH, and JAMES MARTIN, Proprietors of the Bristol Journal, Gentlemen, You are contmually inserting in you Paper, letter ( written by yourselves or others) c^ ling on the People to support the existing abuses in Church and State, which you dignify with the te. tm " Constitutional Privileges." You t? lk about a Public Meeting to address ever your respective Select Vestries may choose to cty " STAND." In due time I shall i His Majesty on the unceasing loyalty, and u>- be the fellow Parishioner of you all. Next | chan eable attatchment of the Bristolians to the week I shall begin with the inhabitants of; evils which afflict onr once noble Country. St. James, and, one by one, I shall be " at all j You call them " great and good ins'iiuiions," in the Ring"— and a veiy pretty circle of corruption and extortion it is. You have been robbed long enough. You have, many of you, submitted to the imposition very like good natured fools— but the time is come when it is necessary you should decide but jou cannot transform a thistle with a" Hey! Presto ! be a rose." But why do you not call this meeting you so much talk about? Be sure I shall be there, and you may also consider it equally certain that on such occasion, the Ultra Tories will be whether the Aristocratic cormorants shall beat on their own gronnd, by the Rational take your beds and your blankets, or whether Reformers of this City. you are not imperatively called upon to ; Pray, Gentlemen, is the law ( the rich man's enquire if they have a right to tax you protection and poor man's curse) among your without your consent, or for purposes wholly budget of " great and good Institutions?" unnecessary, and therefore unjustifiable. Yours faithfully, JAMES ACLAND. Are the Tithes among them ? Are the Corn Laws among them ? Is the Standing Army among them ? t THE BRISTOLIAN 7 Is the Government Police among them .' Are Sinecures among them ? Are the Game Lam among them ? Are Rotten Boroughs among them ? Is the Light Tax ( heavy as it is ' blasphe- mous) among them f Is Electioneering Corruption among them ? Is a Traitorous Press among them ? Are the appointments of a West India At- torney General and an East India Bishop among them? Is the accused Slave Trade among them ? But there would be no end to my enquiries, if I were ta do my subject justice, and as I cannot live for ever, I will not further per- sue that which appears to be interminable. Go on Mister Wellington Gutch, and you • will find that Ultra Toryism— even in Bristol, is " all my eye and Betsy Martin." JAMES ACLAND. To THE EDITOR OF THE BRISTOLIAN. Sir, Your Bristoiian of the 2d instant, contains two communications or rather, severe animadversiOHS up- on the character of the Chief of Temple Ward, in this City, under the cognomens " a Rate- payer," and " Alcibiades." In justice to the Chief, I do not besi" tate in declaring, that his conduct hps been £ - serving of any thing but the unfounded abuse heaped upon him, by your Correspondent— for let me assi. re you, " the Rati- payer" and " /" cibiades," are one and the same. It was my intention to have replied fully: but to persons engaged in business, time is veiy valuable, end therefore I tiust, the foljo'vug will suffice. It is the general custom of Chiefs in this City, to pay the Watchmen on Saturday Evening ; ; 1 n is. at the end of the We k's sei- ice. Now. Sir, the Chief of Temple has aga'n ard again, to my knowledge, advanced the Watchmen their wages on the Monday previous-, and if a solitaiy instance of non- psjment on the Saturday has occureii, it has been a'way; re- medied on the following Monday, by the paj . nent of the week in an ear together with the proceeding week's pay in advance— this fact every Peay and Watchman of the Ward will confirm. In regard of the par icular ease mentioned by " Aleibiades" of the Watchman, whose wife was lying- in of her 7th child, you must understand, that only three chilJren are living, and therefore, the state- ment about the 7th child was only to excite a compas- sion,^ which was unfounded. However, thisWatchman, and whose name, it is believed, is " Hawkins," did, on his wife lying- in, apply in great distress to the Chief— who, although the wages in course would not become due until some days afterwards, advanced him Five Shillings upon the occasion. With yourself, I like '' Honestyin all places," and I trust, your Correspondent will endeavour to incul- cate the same sentiment, and leave such noble fellows as Alcibiades alone ( unless indeed, he has in his ac- customed way of trade, to paint the noble Grecian upon one of his signposts) or he will be sure to meet A LYSANDER. MEM.— The writer of this letter is well known to me, and so are those of th". two commv ilcations referred to- Now, in the first place, I beg to state, tint " Alcibiades" is not " a Rate payer;" tt" origiril of that name, would have knocked the hard heads of Select Vestrgme. il into a state of mummification, before 1 • would have submitted to their greeiing. My C,. .- e.- pondents all appear to go by hearsay coi- di. ice. Way do not tl' Watchman and Petties put tl ' ir si gnat) res to (/>.? tiuth? Thai I should know how to estimate tt i credulity of Alcibiades, a Rate- payer, and Lysa. idUntil tV a, I sha'l be as I now am, completely botf . ed. Eith'- r tl°. Chief of Temple is utte. ly r iworthy his offire—> r his ehirontcr his bee. i most grossly m iligned. Which, is it ? Answer, ye Peities. If you cow. not to the seratch voluntarily, the injustice of a false accusation either against the Chief or his Denunciator, will be fairly chargeable to yotr acco\ ut. I am in search of the truth; let it cut !(:/.' ri. it meiy— give me thit true edged sword, ond I will wield it to th? dism vj of o'l therogu s and liars within my re « ch. J. A, To THE EDITOR OF THE BR'STOLTAN Committee Room, Oct. 11th, 1830. S; r, In answer to the letter of a " Dissatisfied Share- holder in the late B. B. A. ( in the Bristoiian of Saturday last;) we beg to assure him that no exeuion on our patt hps been wanting to complete the ai rangement, but difficulties present themselves in our progress, which we hope to be able soon to sutmount; and tiust in a very short time to lay before the Shareholders a fu'l and proper statement of the affairs of the late Association. JAMES FARR, JOHN MONDEY, JOHN COSSENS, NATH. RAVI?, ISAAC CARLING. MEM.—- I was tinder the necessity on Friday last, of proceeding to London, in consequence of ati attempt by two scoundrels of informers, to obtain a penalty from Mr, Cooper ( the proprietor of the Company's Coach) by the blackest per- jury. They failed, by reason of my attendance as a witness, and they were told by the worthy Magistrate that their evidence would never again be received by him. The name of the informer was William Rodger, of Walworth, near London. Why do not the Coach Propjietors form an association for the prosecution of perjured in- formers in all cases which an attorney might think capable of sufficient proof for the purpose of conviction. The Coach Proprietors of Bristol would do well to set the example. It is essential to their interests that something should be done in self protection against a set of fellows who are a pest to society, and whom the laws encourage to commit perjury whenever it may promise to be profitable. I shall be happy if I can be made conducive to the attainment of the object to which I have felt it my duty to advert. J. A. To THE EDITOR OF THE BRISTOLIAN. S'r, Drawbridge, Oct. 11 th, 1830. I apposed you in my letter of Fiidav Evening last, that 1 had been seived with a Summons to answer a second Information, filed against me by John Hobbs, Night Con- stable of St. Augustine's Parish, supported by the evidence of J. Harril, a Derson in the employ of Mr. Seyers, at the Weighing En gine, Broadmead ; to recover a Penalty of £ 50, under 10 Geo, 2d, for acting a part i- t the Melcdrama of the Seige of Yanina, on Inursday Evening, the 7th instant. IT - lnforma'; on, as, you ate, aware, came io hearing before AiJeimen Fapp and George, at. the Counc1' Hou? e, at Ten o'clock in the Morning; when, after investiga'ion of two houis dui'ng which, witneses were ex- amined iii support of ' he allegations confa'n'eU in the Infouna ion, as well .-- s others for the Defence; my cause being most ably conducted by Mr. Payne, Bairister, and Mr. Henry Day, Aitoiney ; the Magistrates feeing considera- ble dfficultv in conrng to a decision on ' be points of objection urged by Counsel, thought proper to adjoinn the final heailng of tHe case, until that dav fortnight, namely Mon. day, the 25th of October. As * n default of payment, the party convicted incur ths punishment of Six Months Imprisonment, i I the House of Correction, there to be kept 11 Hard Labour— it mjy not be amiss for us .8 THE BRISTOLIAN, puWte'y to state the names of the parties alluded to in my first letter, as the Five Tradesmen, who attended to give evidence in the case, had such evidence been admissible. These were on the two former Informations, Messrs Jackson. Silversmith; Fieeman, Shoe- maker; Halsall, Watchmaker; and Hounsall, Tailor, all of St. Augustine's Back, with Mr. Webb, Paper Stainer, of the Butts;— but on the hearing of the ptesent Information none attended except Messrs. Jackson and Halsall the latter being the party who states himself to have been latelv robbed, to the amount of <£ 900 and upward-, and in his letter inserted in ihe Mirror of Saturday, thegd of October, b. ings fotward such ingenious arguments, tihy the incredulous portion of the Public should give implicit credence to his statement These gentlemen are heartily welcome to all the credit due to persons who have the meanness thus to abet the practices of Com mon Infoimers. For myself, 1 await the re. suit of the adjourned hearing of the case, in perfect confidence of a favorable result, and with thanks for your prompt attention to my previous communications, I remain respectfully, Your obedient servant, GEORGE COOKE. MEM.— I am quite sure that there cannot be a legal conviction on this case. The pro- ceeding is under a Penal Statute, and the question involved affects the liberty of the subject. I hope the informer, or rather those whose instrument he is, will be sent to the round- about, for the time is gone by when the tr.' llions will submit to be depuved of their amusements at the whim or caprice of the would- be Aristocrats, Ihe Theatre in King street is not interfered with ; yet it is no more authorised than the Pantheon oppo- site the Drawbridge. The Patent has expired several years since and there is not any ses- sional licence. Is it not very much like persecution then, to endeavor to send the poor actor, of the Pantheon to a Gaol, for doing that which those of the Theatre Royal ate permitted and encouraged to do by even the abettors of the informers in this case, RMy " Spirit of the Air" has brought tne the certain fact, that Messrs. Brice and Bur- gess, last night sent off this pretty case, to the Metropolis, for the opinion of Counsel! Poor things! it is little they know about law, and to their ignorance on that subject it is perhaps, attributable, that on some few occasions within the last year or two, justice has been dispensed at the Council House. The Magistrates who presided on the occa- sion in question, were Aldermen Fripp and George; but this is the second persecution of the poor Player— the former having been dismissed for informality by the Right Wor- shipful the Mayor and Alderman Fripp, on 1 hursday. The second information was laid on the Evening of the day on which the first was quashed ! How many more may be con- templated 1 know not— but abhoiring perse- cution of every desctiption, the persecuted' no matter who, sh? ll find me an unsb: inking defender. I may be told the Pantheon Players are mere sticks. I admit that they are— what then ? I have seen more than one Alderman of the Bristol| Bench play his patt much worse. Aldermen, Town Clerks, Coiporate Lawyers, Watchmakers— honest men and rogues, like the persecuted players 11 Sirut and fret their hour upon the stage, Aud then ore seen » o more.' 1 There is an underplot in this business, which, in due time I shall develoa. J. A To THE EDITOR OF THE BRISTOLlAN. SIR, Messrs. Bartlett & Williams have, in your paper of last week, troubled your readers with a string of falsehoods as gross as any one could expect, even from them— in order, in the eyes of strangers, to justify their baso, cruel, and unlawful conduct towards me; violating all truth, and to the destruction of jnstice and every feeling that ought to become men. Mr. Editor,— I am sure you will laugh to find these Ship- Owners talk of my owing them o£ 101. 12s. 6d.— so far to the contrary, that, in addition to the sum I have already stated, they owe me, if loss of time is of value, much more; for in the multiplicity of their Mercantile trans- actions, when I was ready to sail, the Ship's Register was not forthcoming— and, on trequent applications, they let the cat out of the bag. It was in the hands of a Merchant on the Back, for a loan of £ 15. and I could get it out for that sum. As nothing could be done without this instrument, I went to this gentleman, and was told it was in the hands of his Solicitors, and they gave it me up on consideration of my paying them down £\ 6. 13s. 5d. which I did | out of my own pocket. Still all was not ye* over, 6s. 6d. was wanted to clear it at the Custom House, and this, simple as it may sippear to Bristol Merchants, was with some difficulty raised, as neither the owners or myself could muster it. Here was time lost— and no wonder I was kept short of cash, having these frequent calls upon me from my employers. I was obliged to draw a patt of the frieght of Messrs. Sloper and Gardner, of Sunderland, to keep on at all. These owners say, and one of them has sworn, that they sent me £ 27. to Newport; now Capt. Parfit brought me their remittance, and, instead of £ 27. as they say, it was £ 3.— and this is the capital I go to sea with, to victual the Ship, & c. to Rouen ! These are facts that can be proved by the parties named— thank God, I have not got such a fertile imagination, and not so apt to coin false- hoods, and slick to them, as Messrs. B. & YV.— but practice makes perfect, they say, and if this is the case, no one will wonder at their accom- plishments. Mr. Editor— I am taking up your valuable room with rather too long a yarn, but as 1 know you are a determined friend to the oppressed, I hope you will lend me your aid; for it is too bad for me to lose my money and sacrifice my liberty and reputation— though it is a consolation for the latter that some men's praise is a calumny, and their censure a panegyric. Those who know me, and any thing of this transaction, would give the lie to their assertions of fraud with which they accuse me, and I hope what I have now stated, will fully convince those who do not know me, that their assertions are false. To convince any one of their affluence, only look at the above statement, and that will tell you how likely they weie able or willing for me to get in their debt the sum stated. Your kindness in putting this round unvar. nished statement in your Bristolian, Will oblige, ROBERT ANDERSON, MEM.— Mr. Anderson meets the charges of Messrs. Bar. lett AWilliams with references to facts and names which must command attention. Still the latter gen- tlemen came forward at the first call, and it will, tnerefore be but fair that I abstain from giving an opinion on the case, until Messrs. B. & W. have had another opportunity of explanation by reply. The one party complains of great injustice, and appeals to the tribunal of Public opinion. The other recognizes the authority and jurisdiction of the Court, and the issue to be tried involves the momentous con- sideration whether Messrs. Bartlett & Williams have or have not disgraced themselves, as Merchants and as men. The Court is not yet iu full possession of the case. When taht shal have been concluded, it will be my duty to sum up the evidence— but until then, to pronounce judgment were iniquitously unjust. J. A. , Printed and Published by JAMES ACLAND, ( Sots PROPRIETOR AND EDITOR) at the BRISTOLIAN OFFICE, Bristolian Court, Bridewell Lane.