On the twenty-second of May, 1860, upon the motion of Mr. Finch, a
committee, consisting of the rector (the Rev. A. G. W. Blunt), the
churchwardens (Dr. Diplock and Mr. Collier), three past churchwardens
(Messrs. Hall, Perry, and Leete), and Messrs. Whitehead, Jones, Miles,
Brown, Rabbits, E. O. Symons, Till, and Finch, was appointed to enquire
into the charities of the parish, the present particulars of the several
properties, and the application of the respective annual proceeds
thereof, and to report thereon. At the same time, the vestry clerk
reported that, at the request of the rector, he was making arrangements
preliminary to the appointment of new trustees, and laid before the
vestry the following letter from Mr. Druce:
Mr. Lahee,
Dear Sir, Doubtless you are aware that the information contained in
last Saturday’s “Chelsea Times” {20} was provided by me, as far as
concerned the Chelsea charities.
The article of this morning {20} would lead me to suppose that it was
taken to be the opinion of the writer of such information that under
present circumstances it would be to the advantage of the parish that
the vestry clerk should be a solicitor; nothing can be more foreign
to my opinion, and without compliment, I think the office is now in
very good hands. In the wicked old tory times on Easter Tuesday, a
man might blow out the steam of discontent, and tell a few truths
profitable to the parish to hear; now a few highly honourable and
sensible parishioners ‘make things pleasant’ in a comfortable room in
a house in the King’s Road. The money of the parish charities is not
properly looked after; for many months I have been trying to get the
late rector to put matters to rights, but without avail. Being
therefore left sole trustee for some portion, and knowing more than
most, about the parish school and trust funds, I thought I was the
proper person to light the match. Should the vestry appoint the
committee on charity affairs, I shall be happy to attend their
summons to give them any information in my power: and I think they
ought to have a committee, both on this subject and that of the
church trustees, and at least chronicle the exact state of facts;
for, seriously speaking, we owe ‘liberal opinions’ no small grudge
for shutting up Easter Tuesday. I do not recollect that in your
charity report {21} you mentioned the large sums belonging to the
charity schools, if you did, the vestry ought to have seen that the
trustees were dying out. From my experience of the working of the
parish charities, schools, &c., I am quite convinced that the vestry
should annually qualify themselves to issue a report on all charity
money. I have never found anything to make me think otherwise than
favourably of the honesty of all dealings with the charity money, but
I have found abundant reason to rest satisfied, that without some lay
assistance and watchfulness, all matters get into disorder,
especially where there are any accounts to keep. This letter is at
your service, and may be used as you think fit. I am, dear sir,
always yours very faithfully, WM. DRUCE. Swan Wharf, Chelsea, 14th
April, 1860.
The committee, favoured occasionally with the assistance of Mr. Druce,
and strengthened by the addition to it of Messrs. Butt, Tipper, and
Callow, have met upon numerous occasions, and are carefully pursuing
their enquiry.