25be Iftetropolis.
We understand that Mr. Under-Sheriff Pritchard is a candidate for the office of Town-Clerk of the City of London, vacant by the recent decease of the late talented and respected Henry Woodthorpe, Esq.- Morning Chronicle.
A meeting, which is said to have been one of the largest ever held in Marylebone, assembled in the Workhouse-yard, on Monday, "for the purpose (said the placard by which it was called) of denouncing the Government measure on the Corn-laws, and expressing a want of confidence in the present Administration, or any Administration not having sympathy with the sufferings of the people while famine is stalking through the land." Mr. Joseph Hume was to have presided ; but, in his absence, Mr. Villiers Sankey was called to the chair. Sir Benjamin Hall, M.P., Sir Charles Napier, M.P., Mr. Hume, and Mr. Wakley, M.P., appeared soon afterwards on the platform. Mr. Sa- vage moved a long declaration in accordance with the terms of the placard, and Mr. Hyde seconded it. Mr. Feargus O'Connor designat- ing the declaration;as a piece of blarney ; declared that the working- class were not again to be used, as they were at the time of the Reform Bill, by the middle class ; and after a long speech, he moved as an amendment, 'That this meeting, whilst wishing for a free and unfet- tered trade, think that so great a change as a total repeal of the Corn- laws would not benefit all classes, and that this meeting will not agitate for any thing less than those points embodied in the People's Charter." From this point the Chartists appear to have had it all their own way: they would not hear a speaker in support of the original resolution; they carried their amendment, and then a resolution, "that instead of going to foreign parts for food, a well-organized system of home colonization for the employment of the people on the waste land of the country would put them above the reach of poverty." Sir Benjamin Hall addressed the meeting, avowing that he would always support total repeal of the Corn-laws ; for which he was cheered. He said that the distress was so great in Marylebone, that one parishioner in fifteen was receiving relief. Several other speakers having addressed the meeting in favour of a national petition for the return of Frost, Williams, and Jones, a vote of thanks was passed to the Directors of the Poor for the use of the yard; similar compliment was paid the Chairman; and then the meeting broke up, with three cheers for the Charter.
The proprietors of the Thames Tunnel assembled for their yearly meeting on Tuesday, at the London Tavern ; Mr. Benjamin Hawes in the chair. The report was read by the Secretary. The entire work is now nearly ready for public use, the entrances to the Tunnel only being unfinished. That on the Wapping side had been contracted for by Messrs. Grissell and Peto, to be completed in about three months ; after which that on the Rotherhithe side would be undertaken. The works remained secure, and had not settled in the slightest degree throughout the Tunnel, a length of twelve hundred feet. The report alluded with gratitude to the assistance the Company had received from Government under various administrations, and the able manner in which the object had been advocated in the public journals. The balance-sheet from the 1st January to the 31st December 1841, was, receipts 5,3531. including 1,700/. from visiters, and from the sale of books 1251., and pay- ments 1,9911.; leaving a balance of 3,3621. In the Bank of England the funds were 31,361/., and the payments 21,1241.; leaving a balance in hand of 10,2361. The sums owing were 2,400/. The report and ac- counts were adopted. The chairman regretted the decease of Mr. Hyde Wollaston, who had been one of the first -promoters of the under- taking. He stated, in reply to a proprietor, that he could not exactly say when the carriage-way would be opened to the public, the present arrangement being only for the footway ; and he hoped the Govern- ment would be induced, on the work being opened to the public, to give up a portion of the toll, in order that some return might be made to the proprietors. Sir Alexander Crichton, Mr. Benjamin Hawes, and Mr. Frederick Luard Wollaston, were relected Directors; and Mr. W. Whitmore was elected Auditor, in the room of Mr. Frederick Boucher, disqualified. Thanks were then voted to the Directors and Sir M. L Brunel ; when the meeting separated.
Considerable interest has been excited by a case which was opened before Vice-Chancellor Wigram on Thursday. Sir Thomas Wilde stated that his client, Mr. Bulteel, had filed a bill for the specific per- formance of an agreement, against the defendants, Lord Abinger, Sir Edmund Currie, and Mr. Benjamin Currie, trustees, mortgagees, and legatees under the will of the late Duke of Gloucester, for the sale of the Rapley or Bagshot estate, for 25,000/. From July 1835 to July 1838, ineffectual endeavours had been made to sell the estate. It was three times put up to sale by auction : on the two first occasions there was no bidding ; on the third it was bought in, the offer not having reached the sum fixed for a reserved bidding, 25,000/. But there were several negotiations for the estate ; and among others, who offered to purchase, were Mr. Bulteel and the Honourable Robert Scarlett, the son of Lord Abinger. The Woods and Forests had offered 24,000/., and Mr. Robert Searlett about the same sum ; the latter disclaiming any intention to advance. Mr. Bolted having offered 25,000/., and hav- ing requested an immediate answer, as he was going abroad, the offer was communicated to the Woods and Forests, who declined to make any advance ; and to Mr. Robert Scarlett at his own house, but it was found that he had left town. Under these circumstances, an agreement was concluded by Sir Edmund Currie and Mr. Benjamin Currie with Mr. Bulteel ; and the fact was communicated to Lord Abinger, then on Circuit. Mr. Robert Scarlett, however, hearing of that circumstance, wrote to his father expressing indignation at the conduct of Sir Edmund and Mr. Benjamin Currie ; and Lord Abinger, on the ground that he had received communications implying that a higher sum than 25,000/. might be obtained, refused to ratify the agreement. Subsequently, Mr. Robert Scarlett offered 26,0001.; and, at the suggestion of Lord Abinger, a sub-contract was entered into between Mr. Scarlett and the trustees, which was to take effect only in case a Court of Equity should decide against the right of Mr. Bulteel to have the contract completed.
Sir William Follett addressed the Court for the plaintiff yesterday. He argued at considerable length that Sir Edmund and Mr. Currie had no power to conclude a sale without the concurrence of Lord Abinger ; and that Lord Abinger was bound to accept the largest offer; its being made by his son not affecting the question.
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