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49
energy, and zeal and skill, and business promptitude of Mr.
Evans-Vaughan, the architect, and Messrs. Dearing and Son,
the builders. (Hear, hear.) It might be that Lord Rosebery,
before he received the invitation to come into their midst that
afternoon, had heard of the parish of Clerkenwell, and of its
Vestry. (Laughter.) They were an earnest people in Clerkenwell—(hear,
hear)—whatever they undertook they did with all
their might, and in days gone by their voice had even pervaded
the councils which his Lordship so well graced. Clerkenwell
had done its best to promote the health and happiness of the
dwellers therein. They had endeavoured to carry out, with no
despotic enforcement, the sanitary laws which were calculated to
secure healthy homes for the people. And when he told his
Lordship that, situated as they were, with a teeming population
of workers, they had a death-rate of 2 per cent. lower than the
parishes adjoining; and, moreover, when he said that their
death-rate only averaged 18 as compared with 22 for all London,
he thought they might be congratulated upon having done some
good. (Hear, hear.) They had endeavoured to give good
thoroughfares; they had instituted a mortuary and disinfecting
apparatus; they had provided one of the most popular free
libraries, in order that the mental appetites of the people might
be satisfied; and to-day they were opening their new municipal
buildings. (Applause.) It might be that there were those on
the platform and in the body of the hall whose political tenets
were not in accord; but that day the strife of tongues was
hushed, and they all united in giving a very hearty welcome to
Lord Rosebery. (Applause.) They did this the more warmly
because it was extremely gratifying to have amongst them one
who occupied the greatest position it was possible for a public
man to reach, and to see that he evinced an interest in their
affairs—(applause)—and also because of the untiring interest
and energy displayed in their behalf when chairman of the
London County Council. (Applause.) Above all, they remembered
with tender feelings that when his Lordship was prostrated
by illness, he readily said that he would, if possible, come to
open their new Town-hall that day. (Applause.) For these,
and for many other reasons, they had cause to be thankful to
Lord Rosebery for coming there that day to declare their new
Town-hall open. (Applause.)
Lord Rosebery, who was received with applause, again and
again renewed, said :—I am very grateful to you for the address
which you have presented to me, and for the great honour you
have done me in asking me to be here to-day. I suppose you
have asked me on the generous principle, "Should auld acquaintance
be forgot"—(cheers)—for I shall not readily forget my
last visit here when this avenue was opened. But then I had