Welsh Newspapers

Search 15 million Welsh newspaper articles

Hide Articles List

7 articles on this Page

. ...-u.<'0...:-' TKSLa

GLAMORGANSHIKR MICHAELMAS…

NEATH RAftftOUR. NEATH RAftftOUR.

* To III EDITOR of The CAMBRIAN.…

News
Cite
Share

To III EDITOR of The CAMBRIAN. Kilvrough House, Oct. 10, ISiSt MR. EDITOR,—I send yon the following Correspondence between the Secretary of State and myself, which you may pub- lish in your paper, as you may think proper, though I trust you will do so-first, because it is a loctd matter, and will satisfy the neighbouring freeholders, and my tenants, that I have done all I could to relieve them from oppression; secondly, that as the section of the Act of Parliament referred to seems so undefined, I should hope it will be amended and. thirdly, that it will give our freeholders and independent voters a hint of what justice they ere to expect from Tories, and so that they will pause, on a future eleciion, before tbey support them. There has been lately sent lo me the copy of minntes of busi ness to he done at the next Quarter Sessions, and amongst ntliers, I find the increase of the Rural Police is to be taken into consi- deration. What does this mean, Mr. Editor? What has become of our once free country ? Are we to be subject to such inqui- sitors ? I had hoped that the Act, increasing the parish-constables, was a preliminary measure to get rid of a paid police-force, who exercise powers, that I have had proof of, equal to the inquisitors of old. The Magistrates of the different counties seem to me to have established Police forces, without considering the power they give to a Chief-constable, who has probably no stake in the county, and so cares but little for the economy required in these hard times, where all property is decreased to half its late value (without inciuding the Income-tax); but pensions and places under Government are not decreased, although in former times they were increased, on account of high price*. It is to be seen, whether our Magistrates, at the next Quarter Sessions, will allow of all increase to an establishment, whose chief occupation is to stand at the country blacksmith's shop. and listen to tales of scandal, and, if they can, to get up a case for the Assizes or Ses- sions. where they are to have extra pay. But why extra pay, Mr. Editor, for extraordinary duty for if such is granted, have not the soldiers the same claim for any extra duty ? Why have we a standing army, and a standing police-force ? The former may be necessary to keep our foreign enemies in order, but in time of peace, they are called upon to prevent riots. The fact is, the measures adopted are so harsh, that the honest patriotic feel- ing of the yeoman is doubted, and so disturbances are caused. I am, Mr Editor, yours faithfully, T THOS. PENRICE. MEM.—I have been lold, that in a large Agricultural District, the Police-force were merely Gamekeepers for the District. This is not doubted. -—— 41 To the Right Honourable Sir James Graham, Bart., Secretary of Stale, LIce-, &c. Kilvrough House, near Swansea, Glamorganshire, Monday, 4th Sept., 1843. SIR.—Having attended my Brother Magistrates, on Saturday lasl, at Swansea, for Ihe purpose of taking into consideration a letter from the Secretary of State, respecting jtbe payment of twelve local constables, who were desired to protect two gates, called the Kilvrough and Carlersford Gates, I find, that by that letter, the expenses of such constables are ordered to be paid by the two parishes, exclusively, in which these two gates are situate. > Being the proprietor of the greatest parta of both these pa- rishes, which adjoin each other, I am desirous to endeavour to protect the interests of my tenants; and I have humbipto suggest t° JM»u.the ••eoung unfairness of rach^n order,- The Kilvrough Gate, although in the parish of Penned, does not intervene any farms or inhabitants of the parish and the market-town (excepting my own house and that of my home- tenant), as they always use another parallel road, Which is re- paired by the parish; therefore that gate, being within a quarter of a mile of my own house, is not likely to be destroyed bv the parishioners themselves, although put up a few years ago," and by which the inhabitants in the lower part of this district have to pay two gales for 8J miles,'where the Trust eease to repair, and 1 tmself have to pay two gales, in going to Swansea, not seven miles however, this I will not complain of, -because we have a good road; and I firmly believe, knowing the quiet and orderly r r?i!l,?D oi 'k* People in this neighbourhood,)* are a colony of Flemiip that settled here in the time of Henrv the 8econd, and who do not even understand the Welsb language, that no at- tempt would have been made to destroy this Rate. Some days after tbe parish constables had been watching every night, I ex- uostulated with the police upon tbe unnecessary watching, but at last, after a month, when the parish constables thought ihey de- sometbing for their trouble, having been promised by the officer* of the Rural-police in authority, that tbey would be paid, "M j° Magistrates assembled at Swsnsea, not being able to a end myself, and at the expiration of five weeks, these men were desired not to attend the gates any more. My idea in wri lug to the Magistrates was to relieve the countjr-rate, because "rl » ,he *ratc,li"g useless. The Rural Police and other things have become such a burthen, •«««* u„0(*er and particularly at The arbitrary power gi en o a l/bmf-constable, who, it would appear, may throw us into any expence at his discretion, but because a turnoike-irate, the property of Trustees, for they may remove it at their plea- sure, Happens to be situate in a particular parish, that such parish too hard *° ^e#r "hole expense of protecting it, seems The Acl, it }« troe, states tbst tbe Justices shall order the overseers of the parish to pay the conatables out of the monies in neir bunds for any duty performed for which the payment !s, "°KI Uw charged upon th* countj-rates." Yet, I would humbly suggest, that the duty performed was for the general preservation of the peace of tbe county, and tbe law is, conse> Ml It that aucb charges ought to fall upon the county-rale." it would be more just if the Tarnpike Trustees were made to pay for the protection of their property, if they applied for « »■? t,,ere even been a suspicion that the said gate would nave been destroyed by ihe parishioners alone, ii is right to make them suffer; but in both cases, the parishioners themselves are less interested in the removal or destruction of the gates than L any other pal of the community, and really tliey being obliged to pay for the protection of other people's property, who choose to. place it in any particular parish, and because tbey have ground- less fears about it of a remote visionary breach of the peace, seems odd law. These gates pay nothing to the ratet of tbe parish. This district consists of sixteen psrishes, entirely agricultural, a Peninsula, nearly surrounded by the sea, aud .no town, only small villages. Thepeople loyul, quiet, honest steady, and for the most part attached lo th? Established Church many years without any case for the Quarter or Great Sexsions. We are taxed for police- men. They are not wanted here, apd 1 believe the knowledge of the presence of one of them in some of the parishes below me, would cause, a breach of the peace. The Magistrates themselves, feel- ing the iitiustice of taxing tbe two parishes.exclusively, applied to the higher potters, hefore they could order such a payment, and expressed tbemseYves to me as tbe case beinir vert hard. Swa'nsea gate for each donkey, little more t|ian six miles dis- tant, and it Would appear that no gates but such as of this de- scription have been attempted to be destroyed. Perhaps, sir, yon are not aware, that the perswp who rented the gates all over the country, after taking them at the 10.11" .1. wata before paid for tbein. Which was only tbree-fonrihs of what tbe Acl allowed, has raised the tolls to tbe. foil exleot la some case-, which hss most probably been the canse of some of these disturbances. There have been some foolish alerts, I should say, Caused by some boys firing off fowling-pieces, and I really think only to annoy the Roral Police-force, who have made a great foss about it,, because I know the people to be so well-disposed and quiet. "Treating, sir, that yos will take ft into yoar consideration the hardship which is propoaed to be inflicted on the two parishes eactaattett, for protecting the two gates, which no person who lives in the neighbourbood ever believed weatd be molested. I have the honour to be. Sir, Your most obedient and faithful servant, THOS. PBNMCK." P.S. Since writing the above, I have last received by post, the copy of the letter from Mr. Atiwood, the Clerk to the Magis- trates, addressed to yon on tire 24th of August, wherein, in the latter part (alluding lo the meetings of Turnpike Trusts); it is staled :—•• And at a subsequent meeting, held on the Hib of the same month, the following resolution was carried That Ibis Meetin); begs to offer their thanks for. and approval of, the pre- cautionary measures adopted by the Magistrates, on the 16th inst., to secure the safely of the various turnpike-bowses, gales, and bars, belonging lo this District; and ii fori lit r agrees to pay Ml such portion of tbe expenses lhal may be incurred, op to tbe "ext Monthly Meeting of Tmsiees, as are not recoverable from the Coonty or Hundred." Here is an express agreement to pay the expenses not reco- 1, verable from tbe County or Hnndred and as it appears by your order that tbe County or Hundred shall not be responsible/! trust you will have the condescension to rescind yoiol#order-tbat the two parishes are to pay exclusively lor protecting properly they have nothing to do with, but that ihe Turnpike Trast will be made to fulfil their agreement as above. I have the honour, Sir, further to remain, Yonr moat obedient and bumble servsnt, *• THos. PKNRICE." > "Whitehall,'Sept. 7th, 4843. "Sir.—I am directed by Secretary Sir James>Grahani m ao. knowledge the receipt of yutfr letter of the 4th instant, and in reply, to inform JOU, that the Secretary of State did not order the payment of the sum referred to by you, by ibe twq parishes in which the gates were situated but in answer to ah inquiry whtctt was addrmsedl to him on thia sebjecf', he infornted the Magistrates, that if the persons employed guarding -tiso-gries were doly-appointed constables, onder the Act 5 an" Via., o. 109, they might be paid for the work, as for the perforttrtwee of occasional duties by theoverseers of the parish, according to the rate of teell settled and the Justices in Petty. Se<«ions were authorised, under the 17th section of the Act above referred to, to make an order upon the Overseers for the purpose of payment. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, •• H. MANSERS StJfTON. Thos. Penrice, Esq., Kilvrough House, Swansea." "To the Right Honoorable Sir James Graham, Bart., Secretary of State, &c.. &o. Kilvrough House, near Swansea, 16th Sept.. 1843. Sm.—t have had the honoar to receive a reply to my letter of the 4th instant, wherein I complained of the hardship, and craved redress, in consequence of ine order made by the Magis- trates, from your opinion being, "That if Ibe persons employed in guarding the gales were duly-appointed constables, under the Act 5 and 6 Vict., c. 109, they may be paid for ibis work as for the performance of occasional duties by the Overseers of the paiish, according to the rate of fees settled and the Jo slices, in Petty Sessions, are authorised, under the 17ib sect. o the Act above relerred to. to make an order upon the Overseera for the purpose of payment." I have yet, Sir, to appeal to yon, to relieve my two parishes from the oppressive order made by the Magistrates, in conse. queiiee of your opinion, as above, and who express themselves to me as the case being a very hard one. I should hope that the 17th section of the Act, as referring to this particular afTair, would be construed to hue a different meaning than, what has been put npon it, and that the occasional duties performed bv the constables, relate to those of a more private nature than that of the guarding public turnpike-gates, when the county is in a dis- turbed state, and which gates pair nothing to the revenues of the pari-h. but that the duties performed in this instance belong to the County Rate and that the part of the section-" And when ever any duty for which any such fee or allowance shall have been settled, and for which the payment is not by law charged upon the Comity Rale, shall have been performed by any clerk, or by any constable appointed onder this Acl," oould not be construed in any other way, than that the duly was a public duty, performed for the good and preservation of the peace of the oountv or hundred and so, I trust, you will say, that the payment is by law chargeable to the County Rate. There have been great expenses incurred by these disturbances, and my two parishes, exclusively taxed, will have to bear their proportions of the County Rale. It is even hard to make us pay that proportion, because there have been no attempts at riotous conduct hare; but such has been the law and cnsioin, and we shall cheerfully submit to it. Then how much more inconsistent 10 make two psrishes pay exclusively for guarding two gates, beoause Trus. teell of Turnpikes take chimerical fancies into their beads, aDd require their property to be gaarded. I have now to dread the eonsequeaees of what every one thinks an injusiiee towards the two parishes, and to fear that aoae outrages may be committed, hy a the memory of maa or history, never WW kaowa toiiatt aeied otherwise tha. as qnfel, orderty, AND ohedieat to the FEW,; However, I trost that, by doe atteatiaa to their complaints, THE DI.VGRACEFUL OOFHTNCI wbieh has takes place M others, may bo averted in this Distru-i. I hiwe the ltoROQrtG remain, Sir, f, Your most obedient and faithful servant, II THOS. PENRICE." <« j j- September, 18th, 1843. SIR, I am directed bv the .Secretary of State toaoknowledge the receipt ol yonr letter of tlie 16th instant, and iu reuly to ac- quaint Jon, that the Secretary of State made no order n'poa the subject alluded to tnyoor letter, bnt being appealed ta-br the Ma- gistrates as to the meaning of a clause in all Act of Parliament, recently lie crave Ins opinion in a curdance with tbt- desire ot tl a Magistrates, although not accord.r,; to practice. "I have the hon,ur to be Sir, Your obedient serrinf. LLTI J, „ "II. MANNERS SUTTON. 1 hos. Penrice, Esq., Kih routjb House, near Swansea." "To the RIK'H Honourable Sir James Graham, Bart Secretary of Slate, &e. &c. &c." T Kilvrotigh House, near Swansea, 25th Sept. 1843 SIR,- In repl, to a letio-r 0f, tUe ,8"' "»»t addressed to me, and signed H. Manoers SuUon," wherein it is stated thai The Secretary of State made B° upon llie subject alluded to ill ins? T RT/i' ? V0 u" rU' MV LE,LER "F »HE I61I1 hnt Vl, -8V L'J'\e Sl"<« niade an order, Act of P*°l"r °l>,l,,on ^a. been re*jp»-cting a clause ol an Act ol Parliament, and in consequence of such opinion ille Ma- gistrates bad made .he order complained of. j haveto«gret th*. rVT6r R",e.!°*r °f"n,on> ■■ 8ppear» by jour lasl teller 8uch. R proceeding is not according to 0sUal uniciice and so a portion of her Majesty's subjects are op|ire.,s.-d and de- seotion l«°Il °b,a,S ^dress, for i,, such Explicable tfs°actory 006 ,0' s,D8nlar °l""ion is not very sa- I have the honour lo remain, Sir, Your very faithful servant, *'T«os. PENKICE

..-', TIJ the EDITOR of The…

Family Notices

8BX»araws.