Mr. Humesaid, that he had a petition of great importance to present to the House from John Savage, a parishioner of Marylebone, complaining of the conduct of the Select Vestry of that parish. The petitioner had refused to pay the rates illegally imposed by the Vestry, and in consequence of that refusal, certain Magistrates had issued a warrant, without any summons, under which his goods had been seized, and were consequently to be put up to sale. He must explain to the House, that a very large portion of the parish had refused to pay these rates; and to enforce the payment of these rates, two individuals had been selected whose goods had been seized. The goods had been removed out of the parish, and taken to a sale-room in Marl-borough-street. He was not aware, until this circumstance occurred, that a Vestry had the power of taking the goods out of the parish for sale. If they could take the goods one mile, they might take them fifty miles, and such a condition of the law ought not to be suffered to exist for another day. The circumstance had caused so much commotion in the parish of Marylebone, that he had felt it his duty to give notice to the Secretary of State, that it would be necessary to increase the police force to-morrow, which was the day 52 fixed for the sale, in order to preserve the peace. He must say, that he thought the Government ought to have taken up this subject, and not have allowed a parish of 120,000 inhabitants to be taxed and governed for so long a period, by a self-elected body of persons. He was one of the parishioners who had refused to pay rates, which they had been advised were illegal, and he was, therefore, liable to have his goods seized; but he should, nevertheless, persist in his refusal.
Mr. Wilkssaid, that if the Magistrates had issued the warrant without a summons to the petitioner, they had done what was notoriously illegal, and had subjected themselves to an action, which he hoped the petitioner would institute against them, as well for his own sake, as in consideration of the duty which he owed to the public.
§ Petition to lie on the Table.