Even the ancient rule of electing churchwardens, by single votes, has been set aside in Paddington; the Judges of the Exchequor Court sanctioning this proceeding, when the vestry appealed to that Court, by writ of error, from the decision of the learned Lord Chief Justice Denman, who had confirmed to the inhabitants of this place, their ancient right in this particular: {199} a right, which every inhabitant, who was not a lawyer, must have believed, as that learned Judge did, the tenth clause of the local Act confirmed to him. This clause declares that the election of vestrymen shall not take place, until after the usual election of churchwardens; “which election of churchwardens shall take place on _Easter Tuesday_, and be conducted from year to year in such manner, as hath been usual in the same parish.” The rule of plural voting for vestrymen having been established by the adoption of Sturges Bourne’s Act, vestrymen so elected could not sanction the election of church-wardens in the manner which had been usual in the parish; viz.—by show of hands. Those gentlemen, who still govern Paddington, determined to take advantage of a legal quibble, to abrogate the ancient form of election; but their proceedings produced an amount of ill-feeling, which lasted for years, between those who now really had the election of parish officers in their hands, and those who, in consequence of the introduction of this new principle, had nothing to do with parochial affairs, except the payment of whatever sums of money were demanded. This feeling is indeed not yet allayed; neither can it be till this act of injustice to the majority, is for ever and entirely revoked. And justice must not long be delayed, if harmony is to be restored. Upwards of 2,000 rate-payers have this year voted in favour of that Act, which gives a single vote, and but one vote in local elections; and it behoves all who pay towards the local expenses, all who are interested in the welfare of this parish, to think of this, and to co-operate by every means in their power, for the establishment of good government on the solid basis of just principles. When this is done, all discord may cease; for it will then be the fault of the majority if Paddington is badly governed. * * * * * THE END. * * * * * * * * * * A. & W. HALL, Caxton Steam Printing Office, 10, Cambridge Terrace, Camden Town. FOOTNOTES {1a} Cunningham’s Hand Book of London, 1850, p. 369. The Marylebone Borough Almanack, 1853. {1b} Environs of London, vol. iii. p. 329. This error is repeated in Lewis’s Topographical Dictionary and seems to have been copied by all subsequent authors. And although Lysons is generally accurate, we shall find this is not the only error he has made respecting this manor. {1c} Archæologia, vol. 26, p. 231.