“19, Walpole Street, Chelsea,
December 3, 1860.To the Committee of the New Vestry Hall, Chelsea,—Gentlemen,—We beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 21st instant, and to thank you for allowing our Council the use of your room for their weekly meetings.
The Council have taken into consideration the proposal of the Vestry Committee for letting them the suite of rooms and use of the hall for £30 per annum, as a rent for the same, besides paying all expenses incurred for cleansing, warming, and lighting.
The Council are apprehensive that this proposal may prove a stumbling block to their future progress!
The object of the promoters of the Institution was, to establish a Literary and Scientific Society so comprehensive in its objects, and at the same time so accessible to all classes, that it might possess almost all the advantages of a free library, without its inconveniences.
To accomplish this desirable end, the Council fixed a low rate of subscription, so that the industrious mechanic might share the advantages of the Institution, in common with all the other classes of the inhabitants.
In order however to meet the views of the Vestry Committee, so far as the faithful carrying out of the above purpose will permit, and also to expedite the arrangement between the Vestry and the Council, the following resolution was agreed to at a special meeting of the Council on Thursday evening last, the Rev. Frederick Blunt in the chair:—
“Resolved,—That in answer to the letter of the Vestry Committee of the 21st instant, the following proposal be submitted in lieu of that contained their letter:—
“‘That the sum of £40 per annum be offered to the Vestry Committee as the utmost that the Council can give consistently with the avowed objects of the Institution, this sum to include the use and occupation of the three rooms, with conveniences, on the ground floor of the building, and use of the large hall once a week, together with all expenses incurred for lighting and warming, the Council taking upon themselves to keep in order the three rooms, leaving the cleansing of the large hall in the hands of the Vestry.’
“The Council trust that the Vestry will take an enlarged and liberal view of this proposition; and whilst the stated rent of £30 per annum would be of infinitesimal value to the ratepayers, this sum, in addition to the other charges, would prove a heavy burden on the funds of the Institution, if it did not altogether put an end to its future proceedings.—We are, Gentlemen, your obedient servants, Thos. Bull, Markham R. Evans, Hon. Secs.”
We find that the cost of lighting, warming, and cleansing the hall and anterooms, and of warming and lighting the suite of rooms, will reach, on a moderate estimate, £38 19s. (say £40) per annum, and we continue of opinion that if the Vestry undertake these expenses, the Institution should pay in addition, for the reasons above stated, £30 per annum as rent.
We understand that an influential deputation will attend you this day upon the subject. We therefore, as the application is for the permanent occupation of a portion of these premises, leave the ultimate decision of the question respectfully in your hands.
Respectfully submitted,
| Blazdell | W. Newton Finch |
| William Rabbits | W. Hall |
| J. H. Leete | J. Perry. |
ESTIMATE LAID BEFORE THE FINANCE COMMITTEE ON THE 21ST FEBRUARY, 1861, BY THE VESTRY CLERK, OF THE TOTAL PROBABLE COST OF THE VESTRY HALL BUILDINGS, INCLUDING THE FITTINGS AND FURNITURE.
| £ | s. | d. | ||||||
SITE—Purchase of the Leasehold Interest of Nos. 5,6, and 7, Manor Terrace | 1920 | 0 | 0 |
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Mr. Graham for Possession | 25 | 0 | 0 |
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Mr. Walgrave, Purchase-money of the Leasehold Interest ofthe Garden at the rear | 280 | 0 | 0 |
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Cost of the Freehold, invested in Three per Cent. Consols,producing £427 2s. 1d | 400 | 0 | 0 |
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Messrs. Lee & Pemberton Law Charges | 272 | 2 | 2 |
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Ditto for Mr. Brooks’ ditto | 13 | 0 | 0 |
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| 2910 | 2 | 2 |
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BUILDING—Messrs. Willis & Cowley,Excavations | 87 | 1 | 0 |
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Mr. J. Corbett, Drainage Works | 10 | 12 | 2 |
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Messrs. Piper & Son, Contract | 5630 | 0 | 0 |
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Extras (See Mr. Pocock’s Certificate) | 1492 | 10 | 2 |
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Omissions (See Mr. Pocock’s Certificate) | 315 | 4 | 6 |
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| 1177 | 5 | 8 |
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Further Works, January 28,1861 | 100 | 0 | 0 |
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| 6907 | 5 | 8 |
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| 7004 | 18 | 10 | ||||||
FITTING—Messrs Piper & Son, seeditto | 565 | 0 | 5 |
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Messrs. Weeks & Co., Hot Water Apparatus(say) | 220 | 15 | 0 |
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Messrs. Buckley & Beach, Lighting(ditto) | 180 | 7 | 6 |
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Messrs. Fuller Brothers, Blinds | 36 | 10 | 0 |
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Messrs. Toby and Son, Sundries | 25 | 18 | 10 |
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| 1028 | 11 | 9 | ||||||
FURNISHING—Mr. Chapman, Seats, Chairs,&c., (say) | 266 | 16 | 0 |
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Mr. Dawes, Tables (ditto) | 72 | 2 | 0 |
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M. Bosson, 500 Rush Chairs | 37 | 10 | 0 |
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Mr. Jackson, Looking Glasses, &c. | 6 | 17 | 6 |
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Mr. Davis, Mats | 16 | 16 | 4 |
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Messrs. Smith & Baber, Matting, &c.,(say) | 50 | 0 | 0 |
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Sundries (ditto) | 50 | 0 | 0 |
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| 500 | 1 | 10 | ||||||
SUNDRIES—Architect and Clerk of theWorks (say) | 427 | 0 | 0 |
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Premiums for Designs and Exhibition ofsame | 81 | 14 | 0 |
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Watson & Son, Loan Charges | 26 | 17 | 6 |
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Piper & Son, First Stone | 24 | 1 | 10 |
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Pocock ditto | 5 | 15 | 0 |
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Vestry Clerk ditto | 25 | 13 | 3 |
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Rev. Mr. Huelin, Compensation | 25 | 0 | 0 |
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| 616 | 1 | 7 | ||||||
| £12059 | 16 | 2 | ||||||
Abstract of the Foregoing.
Cost of Site | £2910 | 2 | 2 | |||
,, Building | 7004 | 18 | 10 | |||
,, Fitting | 1028 | 11 | 9 | |||
,, Furnishing | 500 | 1 | 10 | |||
,, Sundries | 616 | 1 | 7 | |||
| £12059 | 16 | 2 | |||
Cr. | ||||||
By Proceeds of Sale of Old Houses | 187 | 18 | 6 |
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,, Dividends on Consols | 24 | 12 | 1 |
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| 212 | 10 | 7 | |||
Net Estimated Cost | £11847 | 5 | 7 | |||
I think the divisions in the foregoing account are proper and sufficient.