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27
Coroner's Court, and a mortuary (probably the best in London) at a
cost of nearly £3,000, to which great numbers of bodies are removed
annually from the dwellings of the poor, and the Vestry believe that
though imperfections may still exist, the parish will very favourably
compare with the Metropolis generally as to its sanitary condition, and
that the Vestry, whose labours have been incessant in this direction, do
not merit any discouragement in their work."
In acknowledging the receipt of the above letter, on the 24th of
March, you were pleased to conclude with the remark—"It is
undoubtedly true that the parish is a healthy one." The Committee
therefore trust that the imputation that the sanitary condition of
Clerkenwell is " not only a disgrace but a danger to the town, and that
the Vestry is not fit to be trusted with such a position," may be
removed, as altogether opposed to facts.
I have the honour to be Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
ROBERT PAGET, Vestry Cleric.
At the Meeting of the Vestry on the 10th July, Mr.
Churchwarden Robson called attention to the speeches of
Sir Charles Dilke at the Kensington Town Hall on the
24th May, in which he is reported to have said: "It had
been shown by the Chairman of the Sanitary Committee of
the (Clerkenwell) Vestry, that he had, at every turn, been
thwarted in his efforts on behalf of the ratepayers, by the
interested opposition of those who controlled the Vestry;
and also to the speech in the House of Commons on the
4th July above referred to. A resolution was therefore
passed, by 27 to 4.—
"That the attention of this Board having been called to
"the statements made by Sir Charles Dilke in the Kensington
Town Hall and the House of Commons, which are
''absolutely without foundation, this Board expresses its
"deep regret that a Cabinet Minister should deem it
"consistent with his high and responsible position to make
"such statements without ascertaining whether they were
"true, and hereby enters its emphatic protest against the
"unfair and cowardly means which are being employed to
" circulate such false reports,"