ny of our readers (continues the same journal) that the proposition for this new set of bells was first made in the spring of 1857, and that a considerable portion of the required fund was got together, but owing to troublous times and a fancied impossibility to raise the whole amount, the subscriptions were returned, and the project was abandoned. We were not among those who took a desponding view of the case, and we expressed regret that a death-blow should have been given to it so precipitately. It may therefore be conceived that we hail with pleasure the resuscitation of the scheme and that we hope to see it endowed with a more healthy existence. In many respects there is a similarity in the meeting recently convened and the one which took place three and a half years before, a report of which in impromptu verse appeared at the time. (This metrical report will be found on pages 214 and 215, Vol VI of “Local History”.
A Mayor’s Meeting, called by requisition, was held on the 29th of August, when speeches in favour of the movement were made by the Mayor; also by Messrs. Ross, Winter, Phillips (who promised to double his former promised subscription) and Bromley (who moved a resolution “That in the opinion of this meeting there ought to be in the borough one good peal of bells for use on suitable occasions and the tower of St. Clement’s church being the most central in which a peal of eight could be hung, resolves that endeavours shall be made to raise the necessary sum of money”) A committee was then formed, who met on the same evening to make further arrangements.
The Bells Committee met again on the 17th of October, and decided to accept the tender of Messrs. Naylor, Vickers & Co., of Sheffield, to supply the new peal of eight bells and bell-yokes for the sum of £400. The subscriptions, however, to the necessary fund were accumulating very slowly, and the bells were not obtained until the following year.
Explosions and Bombardments.
In Chapter two, Volume one, of Brett’s “Historico Biographies” is given an account of the numerous explosions (and loss of life) of the several powder-mills at Battle, Crowhurst, and other places, owned by Mr. Harvey, a Hastings banker. These calamities mostly occurred during the war, when great quantities of powder were in demand with which to supply the navy and privateers, as well as the army. Since then, however, the accidental explosions have been rare; but on the 16th of May, of the present year, an explosion occurred at Sedlescomb, by which two mills were blown up. Mr. Alfred Vidler, (at that time a Town Councillor) and his youngest son had a very -
