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THE GARDENERS 
CHRONICLE. 
[Ocms 7; 
Baron, several members of the Royal Academy, and the 
principal authorities of the Clothworkers’ and Stationers’ 
Companies, to which the Sheriffs belong. The usual loyal 
and civic toasts were drank with the customary honours, 
after which some amusement was caused by Sir Peter 
Laurie, who said he had a toast to propose which he knew 
would be received with great warmth of feeling. hey all 
hoped for the benefit of clergy, and he felt much gratifica- 
tion in proposing the health of the Chaplains to the Sheriffs. 
Dr. Croly, in acknowledgment, said that Sir P. Laurie had 
alluded to benefit of clergy ; he should exhibit his gratitude 
to him by hoping that the worthy knight may never require 
the plea; but’in case it should fail him, he promised that 
the Sheriffs’ Chaplains will feel bound to see the best 
ial of the law administered with all the considera- 
tion due to merit in misfortune. Mr. Masterman, one of 
the City members, the Recorder, and other personages, 
afterwards spoke in acknowledgment of various toasts. 
Death of Mr. G. W. Wood, M.P.—Accounts reached 
town on Wednesday of the melancholy death of Mr. G. 
W. Wood, M.P. for Kendal, which took place suddenly 
on Tuesday evening in the rooms of the Manchester Phi- 
losophical Society, of which he was a Vice-President. Mr. 
Wood had just entered the coffee-room and was sitting on 
a bench between Mr. Joule and Mr. Clare, conversing 
about the Ordnance Survey of the Northern Counties, 
when Mr. Clare was startled by hearing him breathe ster- 
torously, and feeling him tremble. At first Mr. Clare 
thought he was faint and laid hold of his arm, but Mr. 
Wood appeared to be unconscious. Mr. Clare imme- 
diately rose, and said aloud that Mr. Wood appeared to 
be very ill, and Mr. Stanway immediately got hold of Mr. 
Wood’s arm and called for Dr. Clay, who was at another 
table on the other side of the room. Dr. Clay, o 
reaching Mr. Wood, directed some one to remove his 
neckeloth, and open the windows to admit air; but 
on feeling the wrist he found that there was no pulse. 
An ineffectual attempt had been made by two gentlemen 
to raise Mr. Wood, and he was then placed on the 
form ; his head was propped up with cushions, snd pre- 
parations were made to bleed him. There were two other 
medical men in the room—Dr. Marshall and Dr. Jarrold. 
Dr. Clay instantly made an incision in the left temporal 
artery, but no blood followed the lancet. He next tore up 
the coat sleeve to open a vein in the arm, but it was found 
that there was not the slightest pulsation. On examining 
the eyes, Dr. Marshall perceived that the iris was not 
sensible to the action of light, and that the pupil did not 
contract, and thence inferred that there was a total loss 
of nervous sensibility. All these proceedings passed in 
less time than it has taken to describe them, and the 
medical gentlemen agreed that Mr. Wood must have 
expired instantaneously. Dr. Jarrold states that there 
was neither the slightest pulsation nor any tremor of the 
flesh, or in short anything to indicate that a spark of 
Jife remained; that, in fact, his death must have been 
more instantaneous than if he had been shot. At. the 
time the attack commenced, Mr. Wood appeared to be 
sitting at ease; one arm was thrown across the back 
of the form, and with the other hand he was twirling the 
guard chain of his eye-glasses. He had not partaken of 
any coffee or other refreshment. Mr. Wood was formerly 
one of the representatives for South Lancashire, and by 
his death a vacancy has occurred in the representation of 
Kendal. Mr. Wood was the son of a dissenting minister, 
and a native of Leeds, and it is supposed that he was in 
his 66th year. He had been in the commission of the 
peace for Lancashire for several years. The Jury at the 
inquest returned a verdict of “ Died of Apoplexy.” 
St. Stephen's, Walbrook.—A mecting of thé parish- 
joners was held last week, for the purpose of receiving a 
statement from Alderman Gibbs, relative to the present 
state of the parish accounts. Dr. Croly, the Rector, took 
the chair, when Alderman Gibbs objected to the presence 
of all who were not legally constituted vestrymen. This 
gave rise to a long discussion as to what was considered 
the requisite qualification of a vestryman ; and in reply 
to several inquiries, the vestry clerk stated, that since 
1775 it had been the custom in the parish, that no person 
should be a qualified vestryman who had not previously 
served the office of overseer. The chairman said he was 
on the side of justice, and thought that an account ought 
to be laid before the parish, concerning the receipts and 
disbursements of the parish estates. Wherever a trust 
existed, he held that the obligations of that trust ought to 
be strictly respected, and he hoped that in this case the 
trust with which the parishioners had invested the 
churchwarden would be known and felt, and clearly re- 
cognised. On the part of the churchwarden he was satis- 
fied that there could be no unwillingness to give an 
account of these monies, though there might be some 
etiquette as to the persons to whom he ought to surren- 
der it ; but certainly he could gay no more on his behalf 
unless he fully cleared up these accounts, and so saved 
them the only means of putting an end to these unplea- 
sant differences. Alderman Gibbs protested, and said 
that the vestry had, from time immemorial, as described 
by Stowe, been considered a select vestry, and to such a 
properly constituted vestry alone did he consider that his 
allegiance was due. He was ready and willing to render 
his accounts before a legally constituted vestry of the 
parish, He then left the vestry-room amid hisses and 
considerable confusion, intimating that in the ensuing 
week he would call a meeting to revise the accounts. Mr 
Rock, in a lengthy address, gave a detail of the circum- 
stances Which had instigated himself and fellow-parish- 
ioners to adopt the present proceedings. He stated that 
from inquiries instituted, he had learned that the parish 
possessed estates of the value of 1,000/. per annum, of 
=| 
in 1812, and that after the death of his co-trustees, he 
became sole trustee for the disposal of the funds, not hav- 
ing thought fit to renovate the trust by the introduction 
of new coadjutors. He had further ascertained that since 
1825 no auditors had been appointed to examine the 
accounts, nor had any allusion been made to them in the 
vestry books, Alderman Gibbs having acted as his own 
auditor, and that within the last ten years only twelve 
vestry meetings had been held, attended by only two or 
three persons. ‘The chairman suggested that time should 
be allowed for the production of the accounts, and the 
vestry adjourned for a week. They met again on Thurs- 
day, when a protest was read from Ald. Gibbs, who said 
he would lay the accounts only before a select vestry. A 
committee was then appointed for the purpose of endea- 
vouring to obtain the accounts, and to report thereon at a 
future meeting. _ Itwas also resolved that the Church 
should be insured forthwith. 
Rebuilding of St. Olave’s Church.—The parishioners 
of St. Olave’s held a meeting last week, for the purpose 
of receiving the report of the committee appointed to 
consider the best means of providing a new church. The 
Rev. Dr. Kenny, the Rector, took the chair. The report 
of the committee, which was very voluminous, recom- 
mended four distinct plans for the parishioners to decide 
upon. The first was to restore the church on its present 
site, with all its fittings, which, as it would require the 
tower to be rebuilt to bear the vibration of the peal of 
bells, would, according to the surveyor’s report, involve 
an expenditure of 9445/., being 3495. beyond the insur- 
ance money. The second plan also recommended the 
restoration of the church, but to dispense with all the bells 
except two, as the tower would not then be required to be 
rebuilt, only to be repaired, whereby a saving of nearly 30007. 
would be gained, reducing the estimate to 6445/., being only 
4957. above the amount of the insurance-money. The 
third plan was to erect a new church altogether, on the 
same site, on modern principles. The last plan was to 
restore the church, dispensing with all the bells, and save 
the expense of rebuilding the tower ; and by removing the 
east end of the church somewhat to the westward, obtain 
sufficient space at the east end for the erection of a rec- 
tory-house. A stormy discussion arose, in the course of 
which a letter was read by the rector from the Bishop of 
Winchester approving of the second plan. On the ques- 
tion being put, the adoption of the second plan was car- 
ried by a large majority. The church will therefore be 
restored, with the exception of the peal of bells. 
St. Leonard’s, Shoreditch.— One of the most tumult- 
uous meetings ever witnessed in the metropolis was held 
on Tuesday in this church. A vestry meeting had been 
convened to make a poor and churchyard rate, the chureh- 
warden in the chair. The proceedings commenced at 
3 o’clock, and did not terminate till 10 at night. During 
that period the church presented one continued scene of 
clamour and altercation, which ended in a general fight. 
The rate-payers contended that the trustees had allowed 
the parish money to be embezzled by their collectors to 
the amount of 1200/., and resolved, with few dissentients, 
‘that all the liabilities for which bills were not sent 
in by tradesmen should be disallowed.’’ The clergyman 
having ascended the pulpit at six o’clock to read evening 
prayers, the meeting adjourned for half-an-hour ; after 
which the proceedings were resumed with increased up- 
roar. In order to raise the sum of 5798/. 1s. 4d., a nine- 
penny rate was voted and carried against an clevenpenny 
rate proposed by a trustee. Several rate-payers accused 
Mr. Coste, the relieving-officer, of great cruelty in telling 
a poor widow, who had applied for crutches for her lame 
child, that she might get a pair of broom-handles, as 
there was no crutches for him. This accusation, with 
other similar charges, drove the meeting into a state of 
fury against the officer. It having been proposed that a 
farthing churchyard rate be allowed to raise 170/., a rate- 
payer, after alluding to the ‘‘ Puseyite doctrines’’ incul- 
cated in the church, moved that there be no churchyard 
rate allowed, as it was principally applied for the support 
of the church. The motion was carried by a majority of 
123 to 19. A vote of thanks to the chairman was also 
lost by an immense majority. At the termination of the 
meeting a conflict commenced, during which blows were 
struck, and the church seats were overturned. The affair 
was ended by the beadle and constables ejecting the 
parishioners, and closing the church doors against them. 
University College.—The by-laws of the college, passed 
at a general meeting of the proprietors, in May, 1842, 
contain a regulation for the gradual admission of alumni 
of the college to a participation in its government. With 
this view, the council are authorised to constitute students 
of the college, who have graduated with honours at the 
University of London, members of the corporate body, by 
conferring on them for life such shares as, in consequence 
of forfeiture, or of being ceded for the purpose by pro- 
prietors, they shall have the power of disposing of. The 
members to be so constituted are to be styled ‘ Fellows of 
the College,’”’ and to enjoy the privileges possessed by 
other proprietors, especially the right of taking part in the 
election of the council, and eligibility to be themselves 
members of that body. Not more than one-third of the 
shares to be so disposed of in any one year are to be con- 
ferred on graduates in medicine, nor more than two-thirds 
among graduates in arts and Jaw. This law has lately 
been acted upon for the first time by the council, by the 
appointment of three fellows—one for each faculty. The 
gentlemen who have received this distinction are Mr. John 
tunate young man whose parricide has given such notoriety 
to Cobham Park, It appears that he is now in custody 
at Fontainebleau, and that his family have memorialized 
the Home Secretary for permission to allow him to remain 
in France, where he will be properly taken care of as a 
lunatic, thus avoiding a trial in this country, which can 
terminate only in his confinement for life. 
Custom House Frauds.—Several new frauds were dis- 
covered at the Custom-house last week, in which parties 
before unsuspected, are implicated. The greatest secresy 
is observed by those who are conducting the investigation, 
and consequently the particulars have not yet transpired 5 
but it is generally understood that some of the more im~ 
portant discoveries relate to the foreign fruit trade. Large 
quantities, it is said, lhave been admitted from foreign 
shores either entirely duty free, or at a very reduced rate 
of duty. Owing to the dismissals and suspensions at the 
Custom-house, in consequence of the recent frauds, several 
Officers of the Customs at Bristol have been removed to 
the metropolis until those vacancies are filled up. 
Facise Nolice.—The Commissioners of Excise having 
been informed that the medical profession continue to 
retail spirits of wine without a license, have issued the 
following official order :—‘‘ Excise-office, London, Sept. 
12, 1843.—It having been discovered that various apothe- 
caries, chemists, and druggists, have been selling spirits of 
wine in a pure and unmedicated state, by which they have 
incurred the 50/. penalty imposed by 6 Geo. IV., ¢. 81, 
s. 26, for retailing spirits without a permit: Ordered, 
that the attention of the several collectors, supervisors, 
and officers in the United Kingdom be directed to this 
subject ; and that the officers call upon the different sur- 
geons, apothecaries, chemists, and druggists, in their 
respective divisions and rides, and respectfully explain to 
each of them the liabilities which they will incur under the 
above law should they sell pure and unmedicated spirits of 
wine without entry and license. And if any cases be dis- 
covered where such practices are continued after the 
parties have been cautioned, the same must be stated to 
the Board for prosecution.” If this order be strictly 
enforced, no chemist or apothecary will be able to dispense 
less than two gallons at a time, even in an urgent case. 
Kensington.—At the petty sessions last week, a ques- 
tion which has often been discussed at previous meetings 
in this parish, was revived for the purpose of deciding 
what class of jurors is entitled to the term ‘ Esquire.” 
Captain Bague said, he found that the name of ‘* Thomas 
Chancellor’? was described in the printed form as ‘‘ coach- 
master,’’ while it now stood as ‘ Esquire.” He should, 
therefore, require the senior churchwarden to explain the 
reason for the alteration, Mr. Chesterton, in explanation 
said, the parish officers had been instructed that every 
person ought to be called an “ Esquire” who held the 
office of Commissioner of Land-tax, as, although they 
were not holding a commission direct from the Crown, 
they were entitled, as ‘‘ filling an office of trust,’’ to be so 
termed. Mr. Hanson, as one of the parish Officers, would 
contend that all gentlemen who filled the office of Com- 
missioner of Land-tax, held an “ office of trust under the 
Crown.” By the 43d of George IIl., cap. 99, Mr. 
Thomas Chancellor and other gentlemen resident in the 
parish of Kensington are mentioned by name as the com- 
missioners appointed to carry the provisions of those acts 
into effect, and they had all qualified according to law. 
Now he would contend that it Mr. Chancellor had not 
been a man of trust, he would never have been appointed 
by the Crown as a Commissioner of Land-tax, and as the 
act of Parliament had received the sign-manual of the 
King, all appointments under it became appointments 
under the Crown, as well as under the Parliament, an 
being thereby placed in an ‘‘office of trust under the 
Crown,” he submitted that the Commissioners of Land- 
tax were as much entitled to be in the jury list designated 
as ‘ Esquires” as any other class of persons. As the 
questicn was an important one, and necessary to be 
decided, he would, if the bench would postpone their deci- 
sion, obtain a legal opinion on the subject. Captain 
Bague considered Mr. Hanson had brought forward no 
proof that the appoi tof C issi of land-tax 
was any act of the Crown. The chairman said, according 
to Mr. Hanson’s reading, every postman filled an office of 
trust, and ought to be an esquire. He considered Mr. 
Hanson had proved himself out of court, and he for one 
would pay no attention to any opinion on the subject less 
than the opinion of the judges of the land. The Bench 
then directed the clerk to give the necessary notice to each 
of the persons whose designation was objected toto attend 
the next meeting of the justices, to show cause why such 
designation should not be altered. On Saturday the 
magistrates held an adjourned sessions, and after hearing 
some further arguments, the chairman said it was the 
opinion of the bench that Mr, Chancellor, and the otber 
gentlemen acting as commissioners of land-tax, did not 
hold offices of trust under the Crown, and were, in fact 
not entitled to rank as esquires, or to sit on special juries: 
Mr. Hanson said it was his intention to take the matter 
before a superior court. It was also decided in the case 
of Mr, Pitt, who had been a captain of volunteers, that 
that gentleman was not entitled to “ esquire,” and bis 
designation was altered to that of “ gentleman. Dpow 
this case, also, it was intimated that the opinion of the 
Judges would be sought. We may here state that @ one 
cussion similar to the above has been going on before (h? 
magistrates at Brighton, and with the same results. 
Lotteries and ‘* Distributions.’’—On Monday night 
» 
Richard Quain, of the Inner \Temple, Bachelor of Law; 
Dr. John Taylor, Keppel-street, M.D. ; and Mr. Jacob 
Waley, of Lincoln’s-inn, M.A. 
The Murder of Mr. Dadd. — Considerable doubt 
which Alderman Gibbs was appointed one of the trustees 
appears to exist as to the actual position of the unfor- 
meeting was held at the National Association, in Holborn 
to hear a lecture from a Mr. Mudie on Scottish minstrelsys 
and to witness a ‘distribution’? of prizes, varying ie 
one shilling to one guinea, promised by Mr. Lee, 
publisher of a penny periodical, to all purchasers: 
