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Resolved unanimously—That a Transcript of the above Resolution
be immediately forwarded by the Revd. Dr Fynes as Chairman
of this meeting to the said Sir Alan Gardner And that the
most grateful thanks of this Vestry accompany the same.
As on previous occasions, resolutions of thanks, couched
in the warmest terms, were passed and conveyed to the
Members of Parliament who had supported the application.
In the present instance the recipients of such votes were—
George Rose, Esq., The Speaker, Lord Arden, Lord Viscount
Belgrave, Sir William Dolben, Bart., William Wilberforce,
Esq., John Blackburn, Esq., H. Bankes, Esq., Christopher
Saville, Esq., John Fare, Esq., Scrope Bernard, Esq., and
others.
Keenly sensible of the special countenance given by
Parliament to the Church from time to time, and recognising
the prescriptive right of the Official Head and
Representative of the House of Commons to such seats as
he might require, the indignation of the Vestry was excited
by an inadvertent application for pew rent having been
made to the Speaker—so momentous was the oversight
that a special meeting was summoned to repair the
injury:—
Wednesday, 10 April, 1799. This Vestry was convened for the
purpose of enquiring how and under what authority the Right
Honble the Speaker of the Honble House of Commons has been
applied to for Rent of Pews in the Church, heretofore and
anciently set apart as solely appertaining to him and his
Attendants.
Resolved unanimously—That this Vestry never did or could
sanction that measure, a measure opposite to the past professions
of former Vestries, evidently injurious to the Parish
and an ill suited return for the frequent aids granted by
Parliament for the Repairs of the Parish Church, and it
appearing to this Vestry that such Payment originated in
the Collectors considering the Speaker as a private Inhabitant
upon his first coming to reside in this Parish.
Resolved also unanimously—That such Payment in future be
discontinued.
Resolved also unanimously—That a copy of these Resolutions
signed by the Revd Dr. Fynes, as Chairman, be sent to the
Right Honble the Speaker, accompanied with the respectful