Metropolitan Board of Works, 1, Greek Street, Soho, W., 17th October, 1860, Dear Sir,—I am directed by the metropolitan board of works to acquaint you that they have directed their attention to the subject of the amounts outstanding on their precepts issued to the vestries and district boards of the metropolis, and they desire me to apprize you for the information of the vestry of Chelsea, that having been unsuccessful in their attempt to carry a measure through Parliament in the past session for conferring upon the board the necessary powers to deal with the question of the redistribution of the Counter’s Creek charges, they have had under consideration the subject of the payment of the amount due from the vestry on the precept for the ordinary expenses of the board for the year 1858, being the sum of £447 4_s._ 2_d._ payment of which was, as you will recollect, allowed to stand over until the re-apportionments of the debts of the Commissioners of Sewers had been discussed in Parliament. The board now feel that the time has arrived when it is necessary that they should adopt measures for obtaining payments of the amounts outstanding, and after an attentive consideration of the facts of the case, and having regard to the arrangement with the vestry in reference to the parish contributing to the cost of the Counter’s Creek diversion sewer, the conclusion they have arrived at as to the most convenient course to be adopted is, that the board should proceed to appoint persons to make a rate on the parish in default, for the amount due on the precept, and in the event of the vestry continuing their objection to the payment, that some ratepayer should then raise the question of the liability of the parish by an appeal against the rate, on which a special case might be reserved for the opinion of the Court of Queen’s Bench. I am directed to add that the Board have deferred further proceedings in the matter for a fortnight from the date of their last meeting, the 12th instant, in order to afford the vestry an opportunity of paying the amount in question should they think proper so to do; and meanwhile I am to request that you will be good enough to lay this letter before the vestry, and to favor me with a reply with the least possible delay. I am, dear sir, yours faithfully, JOHN POLLARD, Clerk of the Board. The amount assessed for 1859, four hundred and fifty-six pounds, nine shillings and one penny, was paid by order of the board on the sixth December, 1859, before any portion of it was received from the board of guardians.