It appears to be possible to make a tenant pay
poor rates twice with perfect legality. Mr. Thomas Atherton rents chambers in the city and compounds for his rates with his landlord. Some officious per- sons, without the consent of Mr. Atherton, served, in his name, upon the overseers of the parish a formal notice that he claimed to be rated to the poor, the object being to get Mr. Atherton's name upon the register of Parliamentary voters. Of course the claim was admitted, and in due course Mr. Atherton received an application for the pay- ment of a rate which he declined to pay, and then a summons to show cause why he should not pay. He was naturally very angry, but as the rate had been legally made, as Mr. Atherton had been rated, and as he had not appealed, he was bound to pay. The Lord Mayor had no choice but to enforce payment. Mr. Atherton said he would rather
be without a vote, and lamented his "hard case," but there was no- thing for it but to pay.
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