which left the parish £4 in arrear, which the parish ordered to be paid, and otherwise exonerated the officers. As Mr. Troup had previously applied for summonses against the surveyors, the meeting suggested the advisability of Messrs. Harman and Putland attending the Bench that day with the vestry book containing the resolution, and for that purpose, therefore, Mr. Putland had it in possession, when Mr. Troup applied for the loan of it for a short time. To their astonishment, when they called on Mr. Troup that morning, he refused to give it up, and they therefore hoped the Bench would grant them a summons to enable them to recover possession of it. The Mayor (F. Smith, Esq.) hoped that would be unnecessary; and, in reply to Dr. MacCabe, Mr. Troup took technical objections, but said he was willing to give up the book to Mr. Chester, as overseer, and not to the applicants. Mr. Mannington remarked that the surveyors were being deprived of the means of proving their exoneration of a grave charge which Mr. Troup had laid against them. Mr. Troup affected to be sorry that gentlemen on the Bench should prejudge the case. Major Jeffries asked, impatiently, "Do you mean to keep the book?" "Oh! not by any means if the overseer applies for it" was the cool reply. But, added Mr. Troup, "I shall apply for summonses against the late surveyors for a balance due to the parish, as there has not been a fair investigation." Dr. MacCabe dissented, and expressed his belief that all that was crooked was on the part of Mr. Troup. The case was adjourned, but the subsequent decision showed that in this, as in many other contentions of which he was an almost ubiquitous author, Mr. Troup had to give way. In railway matters, in postal arrangements, in school treats, in parochial management, in the choice of a site for the Infirmary, and in many other things of a public nature, Mr. Troup was almost invariably on the side of the opposition, although the carping, cantankerous spirit which this gentleman possessed was on some occasions not without its use. A mild and peaceable man will sometimes yield right to wrong for quietness' sake, but this failing - if it be a failing - was certainly not possessed by the "monarch of Warrior square." Howsoever vanquished in fact, he always sought to maintain his ground in theory, and would usually have the last word in letters to newspapers. But even in this he sometimes got a Rowland for his Oliver[a]. In consequence of a letter of his not appearing in the Railway Times, he again wrote to the Editor as follows :-
"Sir, - As the letter I wrote last week contains matter which you evidently wish to suppress, I claim as an act of justice insertion of the following fact, in answer to your base insinuation as to my motive for urging the shareholders to investigate the affairs of the Brighton Railway Company ... That you may have no excuse for withholding this letter, I will consent to pay for it as an advertisement, if you feel that you can, with propriety, charge for it.
— J. TROUP."
After this, the Railway Times inserted both letters of Mr. Troup's, the contents of which must have been amusing to those who knew that whilst Mr. Troup claimed to be a shareholder of the Company, he had not paid up his "calls." He charged the Directors with misapplication of capital, waste, jobbery and extravagance; also with "not only calling for the last instalment to make up nine-hundred-thousand pounds, but also with having the assurance to threaten proceedings to enforce payment." "I propose," says the redoubtable champion of right, "to forward you next week a rough estimate of the value of work done up to the 1st of July, when the Directors made their last report; for a rod of brick-work, a cubic yard of earth, and a ton of iron rails are easy calculation by any persons who can keep a milk score." This is engineering made easy truly; but, methinks that in the reply of the editor of the Railway Times Mr. Troup received a well-merited rebuke. The castigation, if I may so call it, was as follows :-
Our conscience does not twit us with having, either in our last or any previous number, made any 'base insinuation' as to Mr. Troup's 'motives.' However, as his last week's letter has fortunately been saved from the flames - a fate to which many a better production was remorselessly consigned - we accept Mr. Troup's challenge, and shame ourselves by printing it here. Now, Mr. Troup, we hope we have pleased you for once. We could ill spare the space, but we would do much to oblige so good-tempered a gentleman. We think we might, 'with propriety,' have charged your letter as an advertisement,' but we are generous as well as just, and you have nothing to pay. Henceforth we shall be happy to accommodate you at so much per column; only recollect that your abuse and 'base insinuations' must be lavished on us alone, and not upon every respectable gentleman or body of gentlemen, who may have the misfortune to fall under your high displeasure.
The same system of letter-writing, with the view apparently of having the last word, or of justifying his conduct in the eyes of the public, was pursued by Mr. Troup in connection with his disproved charges against Messrs. Harman and Putland. Writing to the Cinque Ports Chronicle, Mr. Troup professed to have discovered, as a Trustee of the Sedlescomb Road and Chairman of the Finance Committee a something which led him to believe that the highway rates were not applied so strictly as they should have been for improvements, and for the employment of poor labourers; and he intimated that he accepted the office of Surveyor with the object of reforming all this. That he failed in this very laudable (?) desire has already been shown, but that he was not altogether wrong in denouncing the practice of Surveyors of Highways supplying labour and materials themselves and charging them to the public accounts was proved by his quotation of a clause in the Highway Act. This clause set forth that
If any surveyor shall have any part, share or interest in any bargain or contract for work or materials for any highway under his care or management; or shall, upon his own account, directly or indirectly use any team, materials, &c., in making or repairing such highways, he shall forfeit for every such offence, on conviction, any sum not exceeding ten pounds, and be for ever after incapable of being employed as a surveyor, with a salary under the authority of this Act.
Mr. Troup's contention was that Mr. Putland had violated the provisions of the Act by the item which appeared in the St. Mary Magdalen Highway accounts for March, 1837, as "Carriage of beach, and labour on roads, paid by Mr. Putland, as per account delivered, £38 1s. 0 1/2d." But he did not assert that Mr. Putland had paid that amount to himself, nor that even if he (Mr. P.) had so done, it was only what had been many times done by the St. Leonards Surveyors of Highways. It was not always that in a sparsely populated district teams could be had for the mere asking, and this was especially the case after the unprecedented snow of 1836-7, when every available cart and horse was called into requisition to remove the snow and to repair the roads with beach. Nor was it convenient for Mr. Troup to lay stress upon the saving clause in the Act "unless a license in writing for the sale of such materials, or to let to hire any such team, be first obtained from two Justices of the Peace." I do not know that in Mr. Putland's case such license was obtained, but that the account was officially passed by two Justices of the Peace is sufficiently proved by the signatures of Joseph Jeffries and John Mannington. It was generally thought that a political animus was the mainspring in most of the contentions where Mr. Troup appeared as a conspicuous figure, and his subsequent connection with the Cinque Ports Chronicle when that journal changed its politics by espousing the cause of Conservatism was regarded as a confirmation of previous suspicions. I may have something to say on that subject in due course, but for the present it will serve me to refer to two or three political demonstrations of 1839. It was one of the years, preceding Sir Robert Peel's levy of the Income-tax, in which the finances of the country were in a deplorable condition. The deficits amounted to about a million and a half, and this, following on a similar deficiency of the two preceding years, together with the bad condition of trade and manufactures, created general discontent among the classes whose subsistence depended upon manual labour. The Chartist agitation was growing in intensity, and meetings were held in our midst as well as in other parts of the country. From these meetings serious riots occurred in many parts of England, until, at last, Lord John Russell issued a proclamation authorising Lord-Lieutenants of the counties to accept the armed assistance of persons who might offer their services in the interests of the public peace. The riots, however, continued, and with the aid of the military, many of the leaders were arrested, and afterwards imprisoned. Matters did not take so serious a turn in this locality, although I could name one or two persons who declared their willingness to dare and die for "Universal Sufferage, (sic) Vote by Ballot, Annual Parliaments, Equal Electoral Districts, Paid Members, and No Property Qualification."
That they dared very much is doubtful, but that they died without accomplishing their purpose is certain. In some remarks of the Cinque-Ports Chronicle, the editor says, - "The Chartist meetings in this neighbourhood have passed off in so insipid a manner as to render any serious comments on our part unnecessary; but the fire-brands may have a more dangerous effect among the inflamable (sic) materials of populous cities, and certainly call for surveilance (sic)." The Government, however, was extremely embarrassed in dealing with this incipient rebellion; and to this difficulty was added the rebellious action of the Jamaica Legislative Assembly in refusing to ratify the decisions of the Imperial Parliament with respect to slavery. This latter action induced the Government to frame a Bill for a five years' suspension of the Jamaica Constitution, which being opposed by the Opposition by 204 votes against 289, led to a resignation of the Ministry. The formation of a new Cabinet was entrusted to Sir Robert Peel, who required the Queen to dismiss such ladies of her household as were related to the late Ministers. Her Majesty declined to do so, where upon (sic) Viscount Melbourne and his colleagues consented to remain in office. The Liberals then naturally sought to make political capital out of this event, and meetings were held in many towns to congratulate Her Majesty on the attitude she had assumed. Our own Liberal politicians shared in this congratulation, and on the 23rd of May a meeting was held at the Royal Oak hotel, presided over by the Mayor, P. F. MacCabe, M.D., when the following address was adopted:-
To THE QUEEN'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY.
- The humble address of the undersigned inhabitants of the borough of Hastings and St. Leonards sheweth that we, your Majesty's loyal and most dutiful subjects beg permission to offer to your Majesty our cordial sympathy in the trials to which your Majesty has been lately exposed, in an unprecedented and derogatory attempt to invade the sanctity of your Majesty's domestic life, and our humble and hearty congratulation in your Majesty's firm and successful resistance to the demands as contrary to usage as they were repugnant to delicacy. We trust your Majesty will always evince the same noble firmness, and ever cherish the principles which guide to salutary and constitutional reform, and ever rely on the affections of a dutiful and loyal people, who are determined to support your Majesty in the just exercise of your prerogative at the hazard of our lives and fortunes. We pray Divine Providence graciously to vouchsafe your Majesty a long, peaceable and happy reign on Earth, and everlasting ----
A week ---[c] to the number of 120, held their annual meeting at the Royal Oak, and celebrated the same by a banquet. The room was profusely decorated, and on the right of the chairman (Adam Smith, Esq.) was a beautiful banner, on which was exhibited the Queen's declaration to Sir Robert Peel - "I would rather be reduced to the level of a private subject than be deprived of the society of those to whom I am personally attached, and who have been the friends of my childhood." The meeting, as may be supposed, was a very harmonious and enthusiastic one; but even this did not suffice to develop all the loyal ardour that was within the Liberal body-politic of Hastings and St. Leonards; for, three days after, it being the aniversary (sic) of Her Majesty's nativity, the Mayor, with a number of gentlemen and tradesmen, dined together at the Swan Hotel to celebrate the occasion.
On the same day the Queen's Royal St. Leonards Archers met on the grounds for a prize competition, and afterwards continued the meetings at intervals until Saturday the 17th of August, when, as usual, the grand meeting of the season was held in honor of the birthday of the Duchess of Kent. At this meeting The Hon. Secretary, T. Wood, Esq., presented to the Society a silver coronation medal of Queen Victoria, to be worn by the President at all meetings. The President for that year and for several years after was the Right Hon. J. Planta. The meeting was largely attended, and the proceedings were enlivened by the strains of the St. Leonards Band, under the direction of Mr. Elford. The shooting of the gentlemen competitors was nothing to boast of, whilst that of Miss Mackay, the Misses Wood, and Miss Knox was said to be such as to place those ladies in the first rank of archers throughout the country. Miss Mackay obtained the 1st Royal Victoria and the 2nd Society's prize, whilst Miss Helen Wood won the gold bracelet, and Miss Knox the 1st Visitors' prize. Of the gentlemen competitors Capt. Norton won the 1st Royal Victoria, and Mr. J. Birch obtained both the 2nd Victoria and the 2nd Society's, whilst Mr. Wetherall secured the Visitors' prize. On leaving the ground the party, to the number of 100, adjourned to the Harold Hotel, where Mr. Dovey placed a sumptuous repast on the table, and at which the secretary officiated as chairman. Speeches and hilarity prevailed, during which the chairman eulogised the efforts of Miss Mackay, a lady to whom he said they were all indebted for the admirable care she had taken of the ground, and the taste which had been displayed under her able direction. "Oh!" added the speaker, "Miss Mackay declares it is not herself, but her sister who has done the ornamental part of the grounds; our gratitude must therefore extend to the whole family." The dinner on this occasion was supplemented by a ball, which was kept up till midnight.
Apropos of balls, there was one at the Swan Hotel on the 3rd of January, under the designation of "Hart's Benefit Ball," which was numerously attended, and at which the stewards were the Borough Members (Planta and Hollond), and Messrs. A. Burton, F. North, L. Shadwell, F. Smith and W. Scrivens. There were also the usual Christmas Ball at the St. Leonards Assembly Rooms, and the annual ball at the Oak; but the customary terpsichorean gatherings at the rooms and inns of minor note were almost nil. Politics and poverty were more than ordinarily rife, and there was either not the disposition or not the means for the people to engage in festivities as was their wont under more favourable conditions. Fortunately for the destitute inhabitants of both towns, the purses of Messrs. Musgrave, Brisco, Robert Holland and Francis Smith were again opened, as in the preceding year, for the purchase of coals, food and clothing. This alleviation of the necessities of the poor may account in some measure for the local discontent being of a less pronounced type than the manifestations in most other places. Yet, while giving generously to the poor, Mr. Hollond did not withhold his subscriptions or donations to other objects, even though they should be for purposes of amusement; hence, we find him contributing £50 to the fund for the annual races in September. These sports were still in high repute, and were held as usual in the valley just beyond Bopeep, the name of which recalls an incident that caused amusement to some persons and vexatious loss to others. It was no uncommon thing for some of the country butchers who attended the Hastings Market on Saturdays to meet on their way home at night at Bopeep public-house, known as "The New England Bank." On one of these occasions in the spring of 1839 they were indulging thereat in potations pottle deep, when some thieves made free with divers(sic) articles that were in the butchers' carts, including a round of beef and other articles, together with three parcels of other commodities destined for Ninfield. The thieves were never discovered, but the knights of the cleaver were ever after chary of affording another such an opportunity.
On the night of the 9th of December a desperate attempt was made by two men to rob the Hollington[d] toll-house. The gate-keeper was called up by these men who had driven a horse up to the gate, and whilst he was unfastening the gate, one of the pseudo-travellers threw a round-frock over his head and he was otherwise assaulted. Hearing the scuffle, the gatekeeper's wife got out of bed and called for assistance, at the same time locking the door. The fellows shouted to her that it was of no use her calling, for they knew there was no one else there. But they quickly found themselves mistaken, for a man who had been sleeping there made his appearance, and the would-be robbers made off after they had beaten and bruised the gatekeeper. As though the rascals had known that there was fifty pounds of money in the house, and as though they also had an idea that the gatekeeper's lodger would leave the house to give an alarm to the not very near neighbours, they returned for another attempt, but gave it up as soon as they found the parties within were prepared to give them a warm reception.
Robberies - Accidents - Pedestrianism - Interments at St. Leonards & Hastings
It was a fortunate circumstance that the Hollington toll-taker had a young man sleeping in his little house; and I have sometimes wondered whether that young man, whose presence so effectually assisted in frustrating the designs of the assailants, was only a temporary lodger like myself at another toll-house, a few months later. In my own case I had set out from London with a relative with the intention of walking from that great city to Hastings in one day, but on reaching Robertsbridge, my companion - who had been a laggard a good part of the way - declared his inability to proceed any farther. It was late at night when we arrived at Robertsbridge, and the houses both public and private, were closed. In this dilemma we applied to the toll-house keeper, to whom, fortunately my -
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