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	The Windsor and Eton Express. Bucks Chronicle and Reading Journal
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Some Selected Reports from The Windsor and Eton Express

11th November 1837

The Fog on Tuesday - On Tuesday the fog in Windsor and in other parts was exceedingly dense, so much so as to cause great inconvenience in travelling; some of the coaches arrived considerably after their customary time. In many other parts of the country the fog was severely felt. Many trifling accidents occurred in London, where the inconvenience was more especially experienced.

Corporation of Windsor

On Thursday the quarterly meeting of the Town Council of Windsor was held in the Council Room, at the Town Hall. The mayor, E.Bovingdon,jun,Esq, in the chair. The Town Clerk reported the result of the late municipal elections for the borough, and stated that the gentlemen who had been elected had declared their acceptance of the office. Those gentlemen subsequently made the usual declaration, as required by the statute.

Election of Mayor

This being the day when according to the Municipal Reform Act the election of Mayor for the ensuing year was fixed to take place, Mr. Alderman Snowden said, as they arrived at that period when it became necessary to proceed to the election of a Mayor to represent the borough for the next twelve months, he had risen to propose a gentleman, who had lived many years in the town - who had, in fact, been born in the town, and who was in every respect qualified for the office, if the Council should think proper to elect him. Having served the office himself, he (Mr.Snowden) was fully aware of the arduous duties that were attached to it, but he felt confident that the gentleman he should propose would fulfil them with credit to the town. He begged to propose William Jenning, Esq. Mr.Alderman Bedborough, who had risen at the same time as Mr.Alderman Snowden, but then gave way to that gentleman, said he had great pleasure in seconding the nomination of Mr.Jennings --[hear,hear] The Mayor put the question, and Mr.W.Jennings was declared unanimously elected.

Vestry Meeting in New Windsor (Church Rates)

The largest vestry meeting that has been known for many years in Windsor, was called on Thursday last, when the ratepayers were called together by a notice signed by Messrs.T.Adams, Sharman and F.Twinch (churchwardens) "for the purpose of making a rate of six shillings in the pound for the payment of the principle sum of �3,000 with the interest thereon, due to Mrs.Elizabeth Jenks, pursuant to a writ of mandamus from the court of Queen's Bench, issued and served upon the churchwardens." Mr.Sharman took the chair. The meeting was appointed to be held in a large room at the workhouse, but it was found that such a large number of parishioners were desirous of witnessing the proceedings and opposing the exaction of so heavy a rate, that it was found they could not all be accomodated. Mr.Darvill moved an adjournment to the Town-hall, as that room was limited to hold the persons who wished to attend. Mr.Batcheldor thought there was no occasion to adjourn, for the whole business laid in a very narrow compass. The Chairman hoped that Mr.Batcheldor would not go into the business, as Mr.Darvill had moved an adjournment. Mr.Batcheldor again attempted to show that the business could be speedily disposed of, but was stopped by the chairman, and the question of adjournment, after being seconded by Mr.Vare, was put and carried.
A messenger was dispatched to request the permission of the Mayor (W.Jennings Esq), to use the Hall, which was speedily granted, and shortly after the door was opened it was nearly filled. There could not have been less than 500 persons present.
The Chairman then opened the business of the meeting. He said he was placed in a peculiarly painful situation, in as much as his capacity of Churchwarden, and in conjunction with his colleagues, he had been under the necessity of calling upon the rate payers for a rate of 6s in the pound, in order to pay the money that had been borrowed of Mrs.Jenks, for the rebuilding of the church. It was not necessary for him to go very particularly into details, because they had been so frequently before the vestry that all knew what they were. He felt most unpleasantly circumstanced; but he was called upon by the Court of Queen's Bench, and he hoped that the vestry would feel and respect the full authority of that court, and also the painful situation in which he was placed. He was certainly a Churchwarden, but he did not wish to be thought so, because the parish ought to have been out of debt long ago. But the law said he was a Churchwarden, and the law required what must be done. He would now read the notice calling the meeting, and it depended upon themselves what the result would be (Mr.Sharman here read the notice). He would here allude to there being only three signatures to the notice; there were two other gentlemen who had been elected, who had been duly returned to the Visitation, but who had not given any aid or assistance to put the matter forward. He therefore wished the meeting to observe, that these gentlemen had been served with a writ of mandamus as well as himself but they had not signed the notice. The Churchwardens had been served with another notice, allowing them six days to make the return to the writ, therefore it was not an enviable situation, that his property and himself, as well as the other Churchwardens, were liable to pay this money. He was very sorry to say that this rate was not only called, but he must, by the order of the Court of Queen's bench, proceed to the making of it; though of course, that could not be done, without applying to the rate payers, who had the right to make such observations as they pleased, and to say whether the rate should be granted or not.
Mr.Day asked what was the amount of interest on the debt. The Chairman said he did not know, in fact he had not seen the accounts of the Churchwardens, and was not aware of the amount that had been paid. �3000 was the principle sum, but he had never touched a farthing of the money, and he was in complete ignorance about its application.
Mr.Beenham But there was a fourpenny rate granted, and you have never applied for it.
The Chairman observed that that rate was never intended for this use, and he hoped they would confine themselves to the object for which they had met.
Mr.Beenham said the rate was to pay the salaries of the Clerk,Sexton, and others who wanted it.
The Chairman begged Mr.Beenham to confine himself to the object for which they had met.
Mr.Clode(wine merchant) Is this rate to be collected all at one time?
Chairman. Yes - (loud expressions of disapprobation). We have only six, or at the most twelve days.
Mr.Batcheldor here begged to enquire of the Chairman if he had been appointed to the Chair, and this gave rise to some little discussion, in the midst of which Mr.Bedborough moved that Mr.Sharman be the Chairman, which was carried. The question appeared to be asked because, in his capacity as Chairman, it was stated by Mr.Batcheldor that he could not propose the rate, as it was imagined he was about to do.
The Chairman having now been voted into his seat which he had previously occupied by virtue of his office as Churchwarden, then observed he would leave it in the hands of the Meeting to say whether or no the rate should be granted.
At this stage of the proceedings there was a long pause, every one expecting that some one would rise to propose the rate, but nobody attempted it. At length. Mr.Astle rose, and said it appeared there was no business before the meeting. It had been intimated that there was a necessity for making a rate, but it did not seem that there was any gentleman who had the hardihood to propose the rate, and if that were so, he should propose that the further consideration of the subject be postponed to that day twelvemonths-[loud cheers, and cries of "bravo"]
Mr.Beenham seconded the motion.
The Chairman said, he hoped the meeting would do him the favour to consider the difficult and unpleasant situation he was in. He was exceedingly sorry to be obliged to call on them to make a rate to such an amount. He wished most particularly to avoid making any observations as to the circumstances in which they were placed, but from the proposition which had just been made, and which would he had no doubt, be carried, he felt obliged to state thus much. The law imposed on him the exaction of a six shilling rate to pay the mortgage, the rates to pay which had already been collected, not from all the parishioners, but from a great many - fully sufficient to liquidate the claim -[hear,hear]. He did not wish, in making that observation, that it should be believed that the gentlemen who had the management of the rates had appropriated any of the money for their own use,but,looking at the schedule of the mortgage deed, he was sure that a proper appropriation of the funds would have secured the payment of the money that had been borrowed -[cheers]. The arrears too were very considerable - and here he nust be permitted to make an observation as to the passing of the accounts two or three years ago, for it had been said he had assented to those accounts. He had certainly signed them, when Messrs. Adams, Legh, and Bedborough were the Churchwardens, and the arrears were then stated to be nearly �600. It was then said that the Churchwardens had no opportunity of collecting the arrears. He could only say, that in passing those accounts he did not pass over the gross negligence of the Churchwardens (and he charged them with it), in not collecting the money. However, he certainly passed them, but since then the accumulation of arrears had been immense, for they amounted - and he spoke from what he considered good authority - to �1,500, or �1,600, which had never been collected. When Mr.Twinch and he were elected Churchwardens, they did all in their power to induce the bringing forward of the accounts. They wrote in a respectful manner to request the former Churchwardens to bring forward their accounts, and at various other times they made the same request, but all to no purpose. Three months after he was in office, finding the accounts were not brought forward, he went to the bench of Magistrates, of which Mr.Legh was one, and stated that he was about to adopt a rather novel course of proceeding, and which the Magistrates might think they had nothing to do with, but as they were persons who were deeply interested in the welfare of the town, he thought they would adopt some course of going through the Churchwardens accounts, Mr.Legh was then chairman, and he (Mr.Sharman) requested to know when the accounts would be passed. Mr.Legh then said, he would not promise next Sunday, but on the Sunday after he (Mr.Sharman) might depend upon him. Now it was not until February that the accounts were produced, and then he protested against them, for the parish, having bound themselves for fourteen years to pay the money, they had a right to know how the funds had been applied, and why it was the debt was not paid -[cheers] They knew that there were many expenses paid out of the rates which ought not to have been so paid. He had challenged the Churchwardens on the subject and had said to them privately, "Why do you not make a rate in aid , and not interfere with money that is raised for a particular purpose?" - [cheers]. He trusted that those gentlemen would not consider that he was speaking anything personal to them, but he had the interest of the town at heart, and he would assure the meeting he had done all that laid in his power to get a meeting with them, in order that if there were any difficulty to be got through, they should meet it, and not allow his property to be amenable, and himself to be subjected to incarceration for this debt -[cheers]
Mr.Bedborough: I always said the same as you do, and I endeavoured all I could to get a meeting.
Chairman: Then Mr.Adams tells a story - [loud laughter and cheers], I never said Mr.Bedborough was not willing, but I said that he did not do it.
Mr.Bedborough begged to explain his reason why he did not take an active part. He had always expressed his willingness to give the fullest information in his power, and he said that if it should appear he was wrong he would be an improper person to be churchwarden again; but he was always ready to meet the parish, and whenever he did meet them, he had always said it was a shame that this business was not brought to an end- [cheers]
Chairman: I said it was your duty, and the duty of Mr.Adams and Mr.Legh to do it.
Mr.Bedborough: I only ask whether I have not always expressed a willingness to meet you! The proper way would be to appoint a committee to examine the accounts. I only acted in respect of the charities.
The Chairman said all he meant to say, that, as men of business the Churchwardens had acted exceedingly wrong in suffering this matter to remain over, when the writ ought to have been returned on Friday last. During the last three months he (Mr. Sharman) with Mr. Twinch had endeavoured to negociate the matter, and they were perfectly willing to meet the other gentlemen, and Mr. Twinch assured him that he had spoken to them upon the subject. Seeing the difficulty in which he was placed, and that there was no one to act as the Churchwarien, which was disgraceful to the town, he had written to the Registrar of the Diocese requesting him to state his (Mr. Sharman's) information, the best way of getting out of the difficulties in which he was placed, but he received no reply. He then wrote to the Archdeacon, and he informed him that the citation was forthcoming, and he indulged the hope that the other gentlemen would be obliged to give information as to the accounts, but that information had not been received, and now he had notice, that at the expiration of six days more an attachment would issue under the writ of mandamus - at all events he believed the time would not exceed twelve days. He could not consent to place himself in such a situation, and he was compelled, therefore, to say that a rate must be made or else he must go to gaol and have all his property attached - [cheers].
Mr. Astle rose, and said it had been suggested to him as the more straight-forward course of coming to a conclusion that if any of the gentlemen was inclined to move that the rate of six shillings in the pound be made, he should withdraw his motion of postponement, and move it as an amendment - [hear,hear]
Chairman: I thank you, Sir, for that will better meet the object of the meeting.
Mr. Astle: Then I beg to withdraw my motion for the present, for I assure you that no man feels for the situation in which you are placed more than I do.
Mr.Batcheldor rose, and said that in order to prevent the Chairman from being placed in the awkward predicament of proposing the rate and putting it to the meeting, and then perhaps to be found fault with by the Court of Queen's Bench, he begged to propose that the rate of six shillings in the pound be made.
Mr. Bedborough asked when it was to be collected?
Mr. Batcheldor said, that had nothing to do with the business. It was merely for the rate payers to record their votes, either for or against the rate.
Mr. Astle said, he felt he was placed in a peculiar situation in having proposed a motion which he dis at so early a period of the business, but he hoped to be allowed to make one or two observations. It would be admitted on all hands as had been already observed by Mr. Sharman, that the rates had been mortgaged to Mrs. Jenk's. It would be far from his wish to accuse the Churchwardens of appropriating a single farthing of the money to their own use or benefit, but he could not withhold his opinion that the rates that had been collected for liquidation of the debt had been appropriated to other purposes - [cheers]. Whether these purposes were necessary or proper, it was not for him to say, but at all events it was a manifest direliction of duty to appropriate the rates to any other purpose than that for which they were willingly paid - [cheers]. He, as a rate payer never questioned the right to pay them, and it did appear to him a very hard case that sufficient sum should be collected to be called upon to liquidate the debt, and that now after a lapse of years they were to be called upon to pay it over again - [cheers]. He knew not the sentiments of those who were present upon the subject, but he was convinced that although they might carry the vote for the rate they would not be able to collect it [cheers]. All Rates of this description must be prospective, and not retrospective, and the Churchwardens were bound to bring forward an estimate of their expenses before they could collect the rate -[cheers], and also that it might be successfully withheld under any other circumstances. He for one did not believe the Churchwardens had appropriated a farthing of the money to their own use, and he also felt the circumstances Mr. Sharman was placed. Mr. Sharman had been called on to satisfy the debt, but he, (Mr.Astle) did not believe he was called on to make a rate.
Mr. Sharman : I am called on to make a rate.
Mr. Astle: But you have not right to make a rate -[loud cheers]. It seems you are called on to do that which you are not able to perform; therefore, Gentlemen, Mr. Sharman is placed under peculiar circumstances. Mr Astle then proceeded to say that it appeared from Mr. Sharman's statement, that there were considerable arrears which might have been collected if the parties had been called on, but now many of them had left the town, and others were dead, so that it was the present inhabitants who were required to pay their debts -[cheers]. He spoke as a rate-payer, and he said he was determined to persevere in his amendment, which was, that the further consideration of the question be postponed to that day twelve months- [loud cheers.]
Mr. Batcheldor intimated to Mr. Astle, that he had better refuse the rate altogether than postpone it.
Mr. Astle, however, persisted in moving the postponement.
Mr. Day seconded the amendment.
The Chairman said, he felt greatly obliged for the observations which Mr. Astle had made regarding himself, but seeing that the Court of Queen's Bench had issued a process to him and four other gentlemen commanding them to levy a rate, he requested that the meeting would be pleased to adopt the refusal of the rate rather than to postpone it tweleve months, because this would amount to nothing- [loud cries of "refuse it" , and "twelve months"].
Mr. Astle said there was no person present who would be more happy than he would to accommodate Mr. Sharman, but there were certain circumstances which it was not necessary for him there to be plain, which induced him to persevere in his amendment as he had moved it [cheers] The Chairman said he would of course put the amendment, but he begged that every one who voted for it would put his name down in the book - [hear, hear]
Mr Batcheldor I shall demand a poll, in order that you may be placed in as good a situation as possible.
The Chairman then put the amendment which was carried unanimously, excepting that Mr. Adams, one of the Churchwardens, held up his hand against it, which caused great laughter, Mr. Batcheldor then demanded a poll, to commence at nine o'clock the next morning , and to close at four.
The Chairman put the original question, for granting the rate, which was negatived; not even Mr. Batcheldor holding up his hand for it, although he proposed it. This also occasioned much merriment.
Mr. Astle said it had been moved that a poll take place, to which he had not the slightest objection; but he begged to move an amendment that, instead of its commencing the next morning it should take place immediately (loud cheers), and that it continue until seven o'clock the following evening.
The Chairman - I thank you, Sir, for that will give every one an opportunity of recording his vote.
Mr. Byles[?] seconded the amendment of Mr. Astle.
The amendment was carried unanimously , and the Chairman announced that the poll would take place immediately, and continue till seven o'clock , and from eight the next morning until seven in the evening. The Chairman added that he was much obliged to the inhabitants for their attendance.
Mr. Astle said there was one more motion which he had to make, and which he was confident all would concur in. When they considered the arduous situation in which Mr. Sharman was placed, and in the impartial manner in which he had discharged his duty that day, as Chairman, he was sure they would tender him their thanks. He begged to move that gentleman the thanks of the meeting [cheers].
Mr. Byles seconded the motion.
Mr. Bedborough said, before the motion was put, to which he did not intend to object, he begged to suggest that a committee be appointed to examine the Churchwarden's accounts, in order to ascertain whether there was any foundation for the sweeping charges that had been made against them. He believed that there had been very great negligence in collecting the rates, and so far as he was accountable, he was willing to bear his share -[cheers]. He did hope that a committee would be appointed to examine the accounts. He had never had anything to do with the accounts himself, and as to the charge of his not having signed the notice to call that meeting, he was absent from home at the time, as Mr. Sharman knew.
The Chairman: I had not the slightest idea you were called upon to do it. Mr. Bedborough proceeded to observe, that whenever it was necessary to call a meeting he had authorised Mr. Adams, if he were not home himself, to sign the notice for him - [hear hear].
Mr. Brough: The last time this subject was under discussion the Churchwardens promised to produce their accounts, now are they forthcoming ?
Mr. Bedborough: A committee was appointed, and they were handed over.
Mr. Brough said there was no doubt the �3,000 must be paid, and therefore if the Churchwardens could produce honest accounts, he for one was prepared to withdraw his opposition to the rate.
Mr. Astle begged to second Mr. Bedborough's proposition , and said if in examining the accounts it was found nothing was wrong, he for one would pay his quota.
Mr. Lovegrove suggested that after Mr. Astle's motion for postponement was carried he considered the meeting defunct -[cries of "no , no"].
Mr. Darvill - The object of Mr. Brough is, that a statement of the Churchwardens accounts should be produced, and surely there can be no objection to that [hear , hear]
Mr. Bacheldor - Well, now I do assure you, the accounts wont bear looking at [loud laughter]
Mr. Astle - I moved a vote of thanks to Mr. Sharman, and I do assure you, gentlemen, that I felt a sincere pleasure in doing so, for he has acted a candid and impartial part [cheers].
The motion was carried, immediately after which a Mr. Rolfe attempted for some time to address the meeting, but finding he could not be heard, the business of the meeting being over, he mounted a table, from which he soon descended on all fours, the table being upset by some persons.

The meeting then broke up, but the polling commenced, and continued until seven o'clock. Yesterday it was resumed, and at the close the numbers were as follows:-

For the rate.......................................4
For the postponement for twelve months...........299

Those persons who voted for making the rate, were three of the Churchwardens concerned, Messrs. Sharman, Adams, and Bedborough, and Mr. Thomas Adams, of Peascod-street, not a Churchwarden.

We understand that Mr.Bedborough intends to publish, in the course of the ensuing week, a copy of the Churchwarden's accounts, from the year 1821 to the year 1837, with extracts from the minutes of the various vestries relative to the same.