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33
Local Government Board, Whitehall,
August 15th, 1884.
Sir,
The memoranda from which I spoke on the 9th ulto. are not
at hand, but I have no doubt that the citation which you make is substantially
accurate. The words "or closely connected with them,"
should be repeated at the end of the paragraph.
After this lapse of time, I do not see that any useful purpose
would be served by enquiring into the authorship of an analysis which
came to me from a trustworthy source. And I am strengthened in
this view by the fact that your evidence before the Royal Commission
on the Housing of the Poor, abundantly confirms the purport of my
observations.
I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
G. W. E. RUSSELL.
R. Paget. Esq.
This correspondence was laid before the Vestry on
the 28th September, when the Clerk stated that if the
replies just read are intended to convey the impression
that his evidence went to confirm the allegations
which had been made against the Clerkenwell Vestry,
by those gentlemen, he must beg leave to demur to
any such inference. That when the evidence was published
it would be found that nothing which he
had stated in his evidence substantiated the statements
which had been made. When he was asked certain questions
about members owning house property, he replied
that he did not know the houses that they owned, nor was
it his business to inquire. He said he believed a good
many of the members of the Vestry were fortunate enough
to be owners of house property, at least he hoped so. He
was further asked if he was of opinion that owners of
property were proper persons to be a majority of a Board
and administer local affairs. He said most emphatically
it was his belief that they were. When asked did he think
it was the belief of the parishioners generally, he replied