Carlisle Patriot, 17 Dec 1825 - Public Meeting at Penrith

[petra.mi...@doctors.org.uk]

Saturday 17 Dec 1825   (p. 3, col. 4)

 

PUBLIC MEETING AT PENRITH.

 

A public meeting of the inhabitants of Penrith was held at the George Inn Assembly-room, on Wednesday last, in pursuance of a requisition presented to John DE WHELPDALE, Wm. HEBSON, and Thos. SCOTT, Esqrs. Acting Magistrates of the town, to consider of the expediency of adopting measures for procuring an Act of Parliament for lighting, watching, and otherwise improving the town: Wm. HEBSON, Esq. in the Chair.

 

Mr. PRESTON rose and stated that he was deputed by a Committee, appointed by the requisitionists, to submit to the meeting two resolutions, having for their object to carry into effect the measures the propriety of which the meeting was convened to consider. He contended that from the situation of the town as a great public thoroughfare, as well as the local advantages which would result, no difference of opinion could exist as to the necessity and propriety of the resolutions he would have the honour to move. It was evident that the proposed measures could not be effected without the aid of Parliament, and therefore immediate steps should be taken in the next or following session for an act. He begged leave to propose resolutions to the following effect:—

 

1st. That the town of Penrith, being a great public thoroughfare, it is expedient that the streets, lanes, and other public passages within the said town, should be lighted and watched, and the foot-paths kept in good repair and free from annoyances.

 

2d. That the said streets, lanes, and other public passages, are many of them very imperfectly lighted and watched, and others not lighted and watched at all, and the said foot-paths are in a very dangerous and dilapidated state and subject to various annoyances.

 

Mr. John BUCHANAN seconded these resolutions, and Mr. BLEAYMIRE cordially approved of them.

 

Mr. HUTTON opposed the resolutions on the ground that no estimate was produced by which the meeting could judge of the probable expense of the proposed plan. The resolutions were immediately carried with only one dissenting voice.

 

Mr. LAW rose to move the third resolution. He spoke at considerable length, shewing the general necessity of the measures proposed by contrasting the situation and state of the town with other places, particularly Kendal, which was perfectly lighted with gas, by a rate of 6d. in the pound upon houses; and after pointing out the necessity of the proposal as related to the foot-paths, he concluded by moving,

 

3rd. That measures be immediately adopted for procuring in the next or following Session of Parliament an Act for lighting and watching the streets, lanes, and other public passages within the town and neighbourhood of Penrith, and repairing the foot-paths within the said town and keeping the same free from annoyances.

 

Mr. John GRAHAM seconded this resolution.

 

Mr. BLEAYMIRE protested in toto against the resolution. No person could more highly approve than he did of the first two resolutions, but he insisted that the proposed measures might be fully and effectually accomplished by voluntary subscription without applying to Parliament. The honourable mover of the resolution, from his profession in life, might be ignorant of the expense of the measure he proposed, but there was another gentleman who must have known something of it, and therefore ought to have stated it. He however could tell the meeting, from his great and extensive experience in passing acts of Parliament in the course of his professional practice, that it was no trifling matter, and that an act could not be obtained for a less sum than £450. And where, he would be glad to know, was this money to come from? It was very easy for Gentlemen to sign a requisition, but he ventured to assert, that the whole of the requisitionists put together would not subscribe £100; and he challenged them to come forward and put down their names and sums opposite to them. He then descanted on the manner in which the preparatory measures had been conducted—he considered the business had been managed in a way any thing but satisfactory to him and his friends, and therefore it should have his decided opposition.

 

Mr. Thomas RAMSAY defended himself as secretary to the Committee, against a charge made by the last speaker, and acquitted himself to the perfect satisfaction of the meeting.

 

Considerable discussion then ensued, in which Mr. BLEAYMIRE charged the promoters of the measure with unfairness and finesse in attempting to carry the resolutions one by one, without making the meeting first acquainted with the whole. The imputation was denied by Mr. PRESTON, and the resolutions intended to be proposed were immediately read by the chairman.

 

Dr. HARRISON observed that there were many persons present who wished to pick his pocket, and therefore he moved that all those who were not rated inhabitants should go to the other end of the room.

 

Mr. HUTTON contended that no necessity whatever existed for either lighting or watching the town; it was a measure quite uncalled for, and unwarranted by precedent; no instance being upon record that the town had ever been lighted from the foundation of the world to that day. He therefore moved that the proposal be abandoned.

 

This motion was seconded by Mr. GRAVE.

 

Mr. LAW replied to the observations of Mr. BLEAYMIRE and Mr. HUTTON at great length.

 

Mr. A. HARRISON opposed the measure, and moved that the meeting do adjourn.

 

The meeting then became a scene of confusion, as is usual upon such occasions in Penrith, and broke up, having first carried a vote of thanks to Wm. HEBSON, Esq. for his conduct in the chair.