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reconcile his statement, 'on his own official responsibility,' that the
sanitary condition of Clerkenwell was ' not only a disgrace, but a
danger to the whole town 'with its death rate, which is below that of
the Metropolis generally, and with his own statement in his letter to
the Vestry, dated the 24th March, that 'It is undoubtedly true that the
Parish is a healthy one.' That he be asked to explain the statement
in his letter of the 9th July, 'That the composition of the Sanitary
Committee has now become similar to that of the whole of the other
Committees of the Vestry, the composition of which will shortly be
explained to the public at large.' Whether by this statement he refers
to and endorses the statement made in the House of Commons on the
8th July, by Mr. G. Russell, Parliamentary Secretary to the Local
Government Board, on the subject as reported in the Times of the 9th
July, viz.:—'In the Parish of Clerkenwell, in each of the five
Committees a large majority were house-farmers, or closely connected
with them. In the Finance Committee 10 out of 15, in the Works
Committee 15 out of 20, in the Assessment Committee 15 out of 20,
the Parliamentary Committee 6 out of 15, and in the Sanitary Committee
9 out of 20 were house-farmers'; the truth of which statements
the Vestry altogether disputes."
I have, therefore, to ask you accordingly.
I have the honour to be. Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
ROBERT PAGET, Vestry Clerk.
The Right Hon. Sir Charles W. Dilke, Bart., M.P.,
76, Sloane Street, S.W.
Vestry Hall, Clerkenwell,
August 14 th, 1884.
Sir,
The attention of this Vestry has been called to a statement
made by you in the House of Commons on the 8th ulto., as reported
in the Times of the 9th ulto., viz:—
"In the Parish of Clerkenwell, in each of the five Committees,
"a large majority were house-farmers, or closely connected with
"them. In the Finance Committee 10 out of 15, in the Works
"Committee 15 out of 20, in the Assessment Committee 15 out of
"20, in the Parliamentary Committee 6 out of 15, and in the
"Sanitary Committee 9 out of 20 were house-farmers."
As the Vestry altogether disputes the correctness of this statement,