The works of the Albert Bridge are still suspended, but there is reason to hope that they will shortly be recommenced, and rapidly completed.
FIRST ELECTION OF MEMBERS FOR THE BOROUGH OF CHELSEA.
I will now endeavour to record a few impartial particulars respecting the proceedings on the day of election, with the ultimate state of the poll, when the two first members for the Borough of Chelsea were elected. The nomination took place on Tuesday, the 17th of November, 1868, and the election on the following day.
The hustings were erected in an open and central place near the South Kensington Museum, and was capable of holding about 200 or 300 persons. C. A. Bannister, Esq., of Chelsea, was the Returning Officer, and he performed his duty with the utmost courtesy and fairness.
The candidates originally were C. Wentworth Dilke, Esq., [223] Sir Henry Hoare, Dr. Russell, and C. J. Freake, Esq. Mr. Odger, a working man, who was warmly supported by a large number of the constituency, retired previous to the nomination from what may be fairly considered the most honourable motives.
R. Freeman, Esq., of Kensington, proposed Mr. C. W. Dilke, and John Boyd, Esq., of Argyll House, King’s Road, seconded the nomination.
Wingfield Baker, Esq., proposed Sir H. A. Hoare, and James Heywood, Esq., seconded.
The Hon. E. C. Curzon proposed Mr. Freake, and the Hon. Capt. Maude seconded the nomination.
General Sir A. S. Wangle proposed Dr. Russell, and Captain Morley seconded.
The show of hands was then taken, and there being a large majority for Mr. C. W. Dilke and Sir H. A. Hoare, the two liberal candidates, a poll was demanded on behalf of Dr. Russell and Mr. Freake, which took place on the following day, the 18th of November, 1868. The proceedings were of the most orderly character, generally speaking, at all the thirteen polling booths.
The state of the poll was declared to be as follows:—
Dilke |
7,357 |
Hoare |
7,183 |
Russell |
4,177 |
Freake |
3,929 |
About 2,000 persons were present, and the four candidates with their friends.
SINGULAR ASCENT IN THE CAPTIVE BALLOON.
A female inmate of St. George’s Workhouse, Fulham Road, named Hogg, having completed her hundredth year, August 3, 1869, was asked by Mr. Godrich, the medical officer, if, at her advanced age, there was any particular wish he could gratify. Her reply was that she should like to go up in the balloon, and see the world once more. Arrangements were made for the following Thursday, and, accompanied by the Matron and a few of Mr. Godrich’s friends, they ascended, and after enjoying themselves for some considerable time descended quite safely, the centenarian expressing herself much delighted with the aerial trip.
I have at length arrived at the conclusion of my work, and it now only remains for me to bid the reader a respectful FAREWELL.
Errata.—At page 68, line 10, read “East Meon, Hants,” instead of “East Mere, Hants.”
FREDERICK BELL, PRINTER, KING’S ROAD.
Footnotes
[7] For on account of the presentation of these colours, see “Ranelagh,” in a subsequent part of this work.
[19a] In 1534 he was attainted for denying the King’s supremacy, and executed at Tyburn, the 7th of March in that year.—Holinshed’s Chronicle.
[19b] He was ejected from the Rectory in 1554, for being a married priest, but was restored by Queen Elizabeth.—Strype’s Stowe.
[19c] He gave, by will, £15 to the poor of this parish, and to the repairing of the lead of the church. He was buried at Chelsea in 1615.
[23] From Dr. King’s MSS. it appears there had been a Clerk’s house and school-rooms on this site previous to the erection of the present building.
[26] There is on accidental mistake at page 3. The number of acres at Kensal, belonging to the parish, should have been, as above, 137¾ acres.
[27] This ancient manor house stood on the site of Lawrence Street, near the Old Church, and derived its name from having been the residence of the Lawrence family for a long period.
[41] Mr. Thomas Bettsworth was well known to the parishioners and much respected. He was Churchwarden at the New Church, and took an active part in parochial affairs.
[57] Life of A. R. Bowes, Esq., by Jesse Foot.
[71] Earl Cadogan’s Records.
[72] I was well acquainted with these particulars, but for the sake of accuracy I have taken an extract from “A Walk from Loudon to Fulham,” by the late T. C. Croker, Esq., a work of great worth and highly interesting. Published by William Tegg, London, 1860.
[82] See Old Church, page 14.
[85] Gent. Mag., 1753.
[87] Stephensiana, Monthly Magazine.
[100] Granger, vol. iv., p. 293.
[102] Gent. Mag. May, 1781.
[105] See History of the Manor, p. 24.
[107] Biog. Dram.
[108] Dr. Drake’s Essays.
[111] Pennant’s History of Whitford and Hollywell, p. 16.
[128] Mr. Goss, the present Organist of St. Paul’s Cathedral, was then Organist of the Church.
[137] The Act specifies £20,000 and a Sixpenny Rate.
[144] In allusion to a very impressive sermon preached by the late Rev. H. Blunt, from 1 Sam. xv. 14.
[147] The number that died of the plague this year in London was 30,578.
[150] The Writer’s father was one of the two Overseers of the Poor in 1805.
[153a] Drawn up in the hand-writing of the Rev. Dr. King, Rector.
[153b] We find mention of Bloody Gate and Bridge as early as the reign of Queen Elizabeth. This spot was situated at the eastern entrance into Sloane Square, and where Chelsea is divided from St. George’s, Hanover Square.
[153c] The whole of the land, now the site of Sloane Street, was anciently called “Blackland.” It extended as far as the Marlborough Road, some few years since known as Blackland Lane.
[155] Gent. Mag., 1753.
[159] Annual Register, 1771, p. 160.
[177] Queen’s Road West was formerly called Paradise Row.
[184] Gent. Mag. 1747. pp. 298, 400.
[188] Rev. G. R. Gleig’s “Chelsea Hospital.”
[199] These Colours are deposited in the Old Church.
[218] Granger’s Biog. Hist., vol. ii. p. 211.
[223] Now Sir Charles Wentworth Dilke.