A Contentious New Year’s Day Tract

As 1855 ended, and 1856 began, work was proceeding well on the new church, if not on improving Newport’s moral character.

Beautiful new church, now fast developing, January 1856

Isle of Wight Mercury - Saturday 05 January 1856

The old year, with all its cares and sorrows, its clouds and tempests has passed. We stand on the threshold of a new, and we hope, a brighter and a better one. Newport has made but little improvement or progress, excepting its beautiful new church, now fast developing its elegant proportions and exquisite workmanship. It will be a structure worthy of the capital town of the Isle of Wight, and will reflect honour on the names and memories of those, by whose liberality, zeal, and perseverance, the great work will be accomplished.

In the early summer of the previous year, 1855, the Saturday 30 June, 1855 edition of the Isle of Wight Observer records in its Fashionable List that the Rev. Carus Wilson, and his wife, Mrs Wilson, were in residence at Pulpit Rock Villa, Ventnor, Isle of Wight. A couple of months later, by Saturday 11 August 1855, it seems that they had moved on to St. Boniface House, Ventnor. (By August 1857, W. Carus Wilson was signing letters from Eglinton-house, Ventnor.)

William Carus Wilson was a retired evangelical Christian, the founder in 1823 of the Clergy Daughters’ School, Cowan Bridge, on the Lancashire side of the Lancashire, Cumbria and West Riding of Yorkshire border. He had also founded, edited and regularly contributed to The Children’s Friend magazine, launched in 1824, and was author of Child’s First Tales, Chiefly in Words of One Syllable, for the use of Infant Schools and Little Children in General (2 volumes?).

As well as his evenagelical penny tracts, he also seems to have been quite outspoken when moved on other matters that he considered to be just and righteous.

Against the new Poor Law, November 1837

Westmorland Gazette - Saturday 04 November 1837.

Also appears in Blackburn Standard - Wednesday 15 November 1837 under the title “WORKING OF THE NEW POOR LAW IN THE CASE OF AN AGED FEMALE PAUPER, AT CASTERTON”.

KENDAL POOR-LAW UNION.

CASE OF AN AGED PAUPER.

Letter from the Clerk to the Kendal Board of Guardians to the Commissioners in London.

Kendal Union. Kendal, September 9, 1837.

Gentlemen,—I read to the guardians this day the contents of your letter respecting the application made to you by Mr. Carus Wilson, relative to the above case, and others similar, and they instruct me to say, that why they intended taking off all pensions to paupers within the union keeping gentlemen’s lodge-gates, was “ That they are of opinion, that if a gentleman wishes to have lodge-gates, and a person resident therein, he ought not to have a person receiving relief from the township.”

The guardians hope the above explanation will meet with your approbation, as they gave the matter serious consideration before they came to the above conclusion.

I am, gentlemen, your most obedt. servant,
(Signed) R. Remington.
To the Poor-law Commissioners, London.

Letter from the Secretary of the Poor-law Commissioners to the Rev. William Carus Wilson.

Poor Law Commission-office,
Somerset-house, Sept. 29.
CASE OF THE WIDOW CASTERTON.

Sir,—The Poor-law Commissioners for England and Wales have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 26th inst., relative to the case of the widow Casterton.

Although the commissioners are precluded by the section of the Poor-law Amendment Act from ordering relief in individual cases (the legislature having placed the responsibility of administering relief upon the board of guardians, who are alone able to judge of the circumstances and necessities of the applicant), yet the commissioners think it right on all occasions in which they are appealed to on individual paupers, to communicate with the guardians on the subject, in order that their attention may be more fully directed to the case, and that the commissioners may ascertain whether it involves any error in principle, or illegality of practice.

The commissioners have pursued this course on the present occasion, and have received a reply from the guardians of the Kendal Union, a copy of which they herewith forward for your information ; they have likewise communicated with their assistant commissioner on the subject, and they are informed by him that the guardians have refused this and other similar applications upon the grounds of their approximation to the allowance system.

The Commissioners think it their duty to avow their approval of the general principle, that where party applies for relief the administrators of relief should wholly undertake the support the applicant.

It was, in fact, the departure from this principle which gave rise to many, and, indeed, to most of those frauds and abuses incidental to the relief of the poor which it was the object of the Poor-law Amendment Act to extinguish. It broke down that all-important distinction between the pauper and the independent poor—it lowered the wages of the labourer, and it very frequently led to the reduction the amount given by way of relief, below what the necessities of tho pauper required.

The commissioners are satisfied that the re-adoption of the principle above-mentioned will gradually but certainly put an end to the evils which its abandonment introduced ; and that, although in a particular instance it may lead to an increase of expenditure of its general operation, it will greatly diminish the burden of the rate-payer.

The Poor-law Commissioners entertain a hope that as you are not unfavourablydisposed towards the system which it is their duty to superintend, you will, upon further reflection, be disposed to acquiesce in the propriety of the decisions of the guardians in cases of this nature ; and that you will, at all events, be satisfied that the commissioners cannot interfere to prevent the guardians from carrying out a principle of the highest importance, although it may in an individual instance be painful to the feelings of an applicant for relief.

The commissioners have only to add that it does not clearly appear from the tenour of the correspondence, whether the guardians have offered to receive the widow Casterton into the workhouse, or to relieve her out of the workhouse, provided she ceases to be the keeper of your lodge. The commissioners are inclined to think that the latter is the alternative proposed to her. The commissioners trust, however, that in either case the guardians will provide her with all the relief her apparently destitute condition requires.

Signed, by order of the Board,
George Coode, Assistant Secretary.
To Carus Wilson, Esq., Casterton Hall, Kirkby Lonsdale.

Letter from the Rev. Wm. Carus Wilson to the Secretary of the Poor-law Commissioners.

Sir,—I received your letter yesterday, enclosing a copy of a letter from the clerk of the Kendal Union. That letter bears date Sept. 9, and I must take the liberty of expressing my concern at the want of humane consideration which has caused so long and so unnecessary a delay communicating your decision, in a case which involves the very existence of a poor aged widow. This is not the first instance which I have deplored the wanton cruelty of the officers of the new poor-laws. Nothing but a reluctance to entangle the operations of a system which I hoped might time get freed from its glaring objections, and, on the whole, work beneficially, has led me to be silent another case, in which, to my certain knowledge, a poor old creature came to an untimely end, through the despondency produced by the wanton disputing of a settlement—a settlement which had long before been decided by the magistrates, and was as clear as possible.

“ His wants contending parishes surveyed,
And this disowned, and that refused him aid;
Awhile who should not succour him they tried :
And that while their wretched victim died.”

And now, Sir, allow me to express my candid opinion as to what appears to me the thorough fallacy of the principle on which the commissioners in London and the guardians Kendal have professed to act in this case Casterton. And let us first come to the rule which the guardians have laid down for themselves. “ They are of opinion, that if a gentleman wishes to have lodge gates and person resident therein, he ought not to have person receiving relief from the township.” Now, Sir, it seems to me strange the extreme if the framers of the poor-laws ever intended that the guardians should have superadded to their onerous and necessary duties, cognisance of or control over country gentlemen and their porter’s lodges! “They ought not to have a person receiving relief.” For what possible reason ? I have tried to examine this principle in all its bearings, and I can only bring myself to the conclusion, that it is as contemptible as it is cruel. Do these guardians of high principle and patrioism fear lest they should accessory to the fault of relieving the pocket of the poor country gentlemen, by paying his gate -keeper out of the poor-rate ? I can, only speak to our own case at Casterton. If the old widow in question is compelled either to leave her lodge, or to lose her pension, she most certainly does the former. She confers no benefit beyond the value of her rent, and so far from our being driven into the necessity of maintaining her, we are only driven into the perplexity of choosing a successor out of the numerous applicants who would be thankful enough for a good house, rent free. But the poor creature has been left a widow in this lodge, in which she and her husband lived for several years. She is attached to it from old associations, and she is proud of her office as gate opener. She is, moreover, favourably situated for friendly succours in illness, and at other times in need ; while a quiet resting-place for her declining years, rent free, forms all that she needs to make her happy and contented with her scanty parish allowance of two shillings a-week. I really can scarcely contain my feelings of indignation, that they who stand prominent the country as the guardians of the poor can do otherwise than be thankful that one of their poor old pensioners is thus befriended. But no : the guardians have decided, and the commissioners in London have sanctioned the decision, that the old woman is be driven out of her house upon the wide world to seek a domicile with her miserable pittance of two shillings a-week where she can !!

Will you allow me to ask. Sir, whether the guardians of the poor are appointed for any other purpose than to carry the laws into execution upon the two-fold principle of due provision for the really necessitous poor, and of careful attention to the interests of their parishes from which they draw their support This two-fold principle maintained, what end can be answered by the guardians troubling themselves to examine into the residences which the paupers select for themselves, so long as they are permitted to live out of the poorhouse?

But what can be said of these watchful guardians of the interests of our parishes, if, as am credibly informed, it be true that they are acting thus in the case in question, under the avowal that they must call upon the township of Casterton to allow the old woman sixpence a-week more for her increased necessities as their wanton outcast on the world !

But I have done with the guardians for the present, and must now beg to say a few words on that general principle which has led the commissioners in London to sanction the decision of the Kendal guardians. The principle is this—that “ where a party applies for relief, the administrators of relief should wholly undertake the support of the applicant.” I admit the principle in its operation between the pauper and his employer, but I altogether repudiate as regards the pauper and his benefactor. It is all right, in the southern counties especially, where the wretched system has so long prevailed among the farmers of giving their labourers almost nominal wares, and making them up out of the poor-rates. It is this system which has demoralised our poor and burdened the country to such an alarming extent. And here lies the strength of the new poor-laws. It is cases like these which called for such measures as they furnish, and no wonder that districts so circumstanced should contribute high testimonies to their excellence. There was a crying and overgrown evil to remove, and the poor laws apply an adequate remedy. But while I must take the liberty of saying that the framers of the poor-laws, in their zeal to amend the enormous evils of the southern counties, have sadly overlooked the circumstances of the northern ones, where the management and condition of the poor are as different as possible, they surely never could intend to check the exercises of benevolence, and to exclude every parish pensioner from private charity. And yet does not your avowed general principle go as far as this? «• Where party applies for relief, the administrators relief shall wholly undertake the support of the applicant.” beg to ask, with all due deference and respect, whether your sanctioning the decision of the Kendal guardians, in the Casterton case, under the influence of your professed general principle, does not at once rob your paupers of private charity You cannot expect to do it, and most certainly you will not drive us into the necessity of wholly maintaining the old woman at the gate. But though no necessity to do this has been felt, there has been a pleasure in administering to her little comforts beyond what her parish allowance could furnish ; and there was a pleasure in doing the same for her husband during a long and weary illness; and if I were not ashamed to speak of such things, I could tell of several poor creatures who have been brought one after another into this said lodge, to be nursed by this said object of your cruelty, and to be near at hand for friendly attentions from the hall; and who have thus had the dark and rugged valley of death cheered and smoothed: but, according to your principle, all this was wrong, and according to the action of this same principle, the aged and infirm for the time to come are to have every” hope of a little alleviation of their sorrows withered and blasted, and to be left to all the horrors of a noisy poor-house, or the tender mercies of a relieving officer!

But, Sir, I am so astounded at the announcement of your general principle, that I must beg to know the extent to which it is really intended to go. There is a general impression in this part of the country that if a pensioner earns anything by labour, it is at once a barrier to parish relief; so that, a poor old woman, in pursuance of her wonted habits of industry, prefers the earning of even threepence or fourpence a-week, by knitting or otherwise, to living wholly idle, and is thankful thus to eke out her pension, and to be able to purchase her little luxuries, or rather necessaries, of snuff and tea, she must abandon her moral principle, and pass her days in idleness, or forfeit her pension. It would seem indeed as if your general principle supported this prevailing opinion; but it really is so preposterous, that I could do more at present than beg for information on the subject.

May I ask for your opinion on another case? Till the receipt of your letter, I have all along felt that whatever differences of opinion may exist on the poorlaws, all must be agreed that they call for an enlarged exercise of private benevolence ; and under this impression I have had it in contemplation to erect aim-houses for twelve couple of aged and industrious poor. My plan is this—not to confine it the poor of Casterton, but to attach it to certain parishes around, the clergy of which parishes shall from time to time place in this asylum those aged persons who have been most exemplary for industrious, and, as far as possible, moral and religious habits. It has struck me that it would be an excellent means of encouraging desirable habits amongst the poor generally, and of helping those who most require and deserve it. I have thought that it would tend to allay much of that fearful and distressing apprehension which exists at present, for the respectable poor to know that there was an alternative for their declining years besides that of the poor-house ; and that so long as their conduct merited it, they might safely calculate on peaceful refuge in which to prepare for Heaven within a step of the church, and with many valuable little aids to their parish allowance.

I have thought that if the experiment answered it might act as a model for other districts ; and that if the plan were course of time generally adopted, and placed on a good footing, much would be done to relieve the hurtful pressure of the poor-law system on the respectful and deserving aged poor, leaving that system to operate in its rigours, as it is meant to do, on the idle and unmanageable.

Will you be so obliging as to inform me whether your general principle, “ that the administrators of relief should wholly undertake the support of the applicant,” at once shuts the door against such a proffered aid as this?

I can truly say that it has been my honest desire to hope the best from the operation of the poor-laws. I have been open to conviction, and have yielded to the opinion of judicious and experienced friends touching the benefits accruing from some of their provisions, which seemed to me mischievous but I see arbitrary power lodged the guardians, and a narrow-minded feeling acted upon by them, which never can be tolerated ; and allow to add, Sir, that if the general principle laid down your letter is really to operate as you sanction its doing in the Casterton case, and is really to followed out in the manner I have described (which every candid person I think must agree with me it is only too reasonable to expect), there shall not be wanting any effort on my part, through the press and in every possible way, to awaken the country to the horrors of system which every Christian, every philanthropist, and every real patriot, must abominate.

I am, Sir, your faithful servant,
William Carus Wilson.
Casterton Hall Kirkby Lonsdale, Oct. 2.

Rather confusingly, it seems as if there may have been another reverend figure on the Island around about this time with very similar initials, the Revd. C. W. (Cornelius William) Wilson — a much loved curate at Cowes.

The Rev. Cornelius William Wilson, M.A., November 1858

Portsmouth Times and Naval Gazette - Saturday 27 November 1858

Testimonial of Respect to the Rev. C. W. Wilson, M.A. There are probably few of the inhabitants of Cowes, of whatever sect or denomination, who will not gratefully acknowledge the good which the town at large has derived from the untiring and active exertions of the Rev. C. W. Wilson during his ministration of three years among us as Curate of St. Mary’s. The rev. gentleman, having been presented by the Bishop of Winchester with the perpetual curacy of Northam near Southampton, has this week left us to enter upon his new charge; albeit rejoicing at his good fortune, we cannot avoid expressing our hearty regret that any circumstance should have occurred to compel him to leave us. His many acts of charity ; his indefatigable industry in establishing the night-schools for the working classes; his instrumentality in obtaining from Mr. Ward the grant of a field for public recreation, and his many other deeds of public usefulness have combined to render him deservedly popular, and with this feeling the inhabitants have subscribed together for the purchase of a silver salver of the value of £50 which has this week been presented to him by a deputation appointed for the purpose. The salver bears the following inscription :—” Presented to the Rev. Cornelius William Wilson, M.A., by the inhabitants of West Cowes in the Isle of Wight on the 24th day of November, 1858, as an affectionate token of their esteem, and appreciation of his many excellent qualities both as a Christian minister and a resident, ever ready to alleviate the sufferings of the distressed and to promote the education, happiness and comfort of the poor.”

His particular passion appears to have been education, along with engaging in community based activities, such as the arrangements for a community party in celebration of the wedding of H.R.H. The Princess Royal, in 1858.

A confusion of Revd. Wilsons

A sample of articles avbout this Revd. Wilson shows the apparently universal ahigh regard and deep affection that was held for him.

The National Schools, December 1855

Portsmouth Times and Naval Gazette - Saturday 22 December 1855

The National Schools. — Through the active and benevolent exertions of the Rev. Mr. Wilson, our respected curate, the debt, which had been for years suffered to accumulate on this useful institution, has been reduced to an almost nominal amount, and we may henceforth hope to see its sphere usefulness extended, and its financial condition prosperous. Mr. Wilson’s exertions are the more be commended as he is a late comer amongst us.

Popular Education, but…, October 1856

Portsmouth Times and Naval Gazette - Saturday 25 October 1856

COWES. Popular Education.— We ere exceedingly gratified to learn that our respected curate, the Rev. Mr. Wilson, with the assistance of two or three well meaning gentlemen, has set on foot a plan by which it is proposed, at a nominal cost to the scbolars, to afford the rudiments of ordinary education to all those of the working classes who desire to receive it. Reading, writing, and arithmetic, will be the principal branches of study at first, and such other elements of education as may be found advantageous, will be afterwards introduced. We receive the announcement of this forward movement with pleasure, and trust it will have the desired effect, but we have experienced so much of the supineness and ingratitude of the class for whose benefit it is mainly designed, that we almost despair of seeing good result from any efforta, however disinterested.

Preaching in the afternoon, May 1857

Hampshire Telegraph - Saturday 23 May 1857

Sermons are to be preached to-morrow (Sunday) at Carisbrooke Church in aid of the funds of the National Schoois established in this parish. The Rev. E. McAll, M.A., Rector of Brighston, preaches in the morning, and the Rev. W. C. Wilson, Curate of Cowes, in the afternoon.

Night Schools for the labouring classes, November 1857

Portsmouth Times and Naval Gazette - Saturday 07 November 1857

The Night Schools for the labouring classes, which were established in this town last winter, mainly by the exertions of the Rev. W. C. Wilson, have been again opened, through the indafatigable efforts of the same respected gentlemen. Whether the end sought will be really attained or not is to be proved by the future, but Mr. Wilson, during his residence among us, has effected a vast amount of good, and by his benevolence and affability has endeared himself to all classes. We heartily wish there were more such reverend rentlemen in the Church of England ; there is plenty of work for them.

Roast beef and plum pudding, January 1858

Portsmouth Times and Naval Gazette - Saturday 30 January 1858

COWES

The Marriage of H.R.H. the Princess Royal. — In celebration of this auspicious event, the children of National Schools of this town were regaled on Monday last with dinner after the good old English style of roast beef and plum pudding, provided by the ever-active benevolence of the Misses Ward and a few other charitable persons. The arrangements were ably superintended by the Rev. W. C. Wilson, whose energetic efforts for the welfare and improvement of our juvenile population since he has been among us have won for him golden opinions from all parties. Many of the leading tradesmen of the town closed iheir sbops so as to give their assistants a holiday, but no other manifestation of rejoicing took place, nor was there any public dinner or ball, although we are so near the favourite abode of Royalty.

Charitable and Christian kindness to all, November 1858

Hampshire Advertiser - Saturday 20 November 1858

COWES

Preferment.— The Bishop of Winchester has presented the perpetual curacy of Christchurch, Northam, Southampton, to the Rev. C. W. Wilson, curate of St. Mary’s church, West Cowes, and the rev. gentleman preaches his farewell sermon on Sunday evening. We understand that it is the intention of his friends and admirers at Cowes (that is the entire population) to enter into a subscription to purchase a piece of plate to present to him as a trifling mark of the esteem in which they hold him ; and we have no doubt but all, dissenters as well as churchmen, will subscribe to it. Such is the estimation in which he is held for his charitable and Christian kindness to all.

The Revered William Carus Wilson

Born in 1791, in Westmorland, and married to Anne Neville, in 1815, William Carus Wilson was a graduate of Trinity College, Cambridge, and early publisher of penny periodicals.

He originally applied for ordination to the Bishop of Chester, but was rejected on account of his “ Calvinistic opinions”, although he was shortly afterwards ordained by the Archbishop of Canterbury and became a curate, then vicar, at Tunstall, four miles or so from his paternal home at Casterton Hall, not far from Kirkby Lonsdale, before becoming rector at Whittington. He was also Chaplain to His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex.

Preferment to the rectory of Whittington, June 1825

Baldwin’s London Weekly Journal - Saturday 11 June 1825

PREFERMENTS

A dispensation has passed the great seal for the Rev. Wm. Carus Wilson, M.A., chaplain to H.R.H. the Duke of Sussex, to hold the rectory of Whittington with the vicarage of Tunstall ; and on the 16th ult., the Lord Bishop of Chester instituted the Rev. Wm. Carus Wilson to the rectory of Whittington, on the presentation of W. W. Carus Wilson, Esq., M.P .

As described in a Brief memoir of the late Rev. W. Carus-Wilson, reprinted by permission from “The Christian Observer” … With extracts from letters to soldiers in India, etc. published in 1860:

He has been heard to say incidentally of himself, that from the age of about eight years he was a distributor of tracts ; he was a composer also of tracts occasionally at a very early age. It was this habit which seems to have suggested to him the idea of publishing penny religious periodicals, of which he was the first to set the example ; an example subsequently followed to an extent and with an amount of success which strikingly shows the justness of the original conception.

…

In the year 1819 the Friendly Visitor was commenced, and was followed, five years after, by the Children’s Friend. These two little periodicals, published monthly at the price of one penny each, were the first religious periodicals of their kind. They gradually attained to a very large circulation, and were carried on for nearly thirty years ; during which long period of time, as Mr. Carus-Wilson used to acknowledge with thankfulness, he was never once prevented from sending his sheets to the press at the proper time. He used also to say, that of all the means of usefulness he had been enabled to employ, none had produced more fruit than these “ humble little messengers. “

The Friendly Visitor

For an example, see The Friendly Visitor, Volumes 4-6, 1822.

THE
FRIENDLY VISITOR,
PUBLISHED IN
MONTHLY TRACTS,
DURING THE YEAR
1822.
BY THE REV. WILLIAM CARUS WILSON, M. A.
VICAR OF TUNSTALL;
And Chaplain to His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex.

VOL. IV.
“Much good may be done this way to considerable numbers at once, in an acceptable manner, at a trifling expense.”— SECKER.
KIRKBY LONSDALE:
PRINTED AND SOLD BY A. FOSTER.
ALSO IN LONDON BY L. B. SHELBY, 169 FLEET STREET, AND ALL OTHER BOOKSELLERS:
Of whom may be had complete Sets, or Numbers to make the Sets complete.
The Profits will be devoted to charitable purposes.

It seems he was also not averse to publishing to his local community.

Just published, A sermon, October 1825

Westmorland Gazette - Saturday 01 October 1825

JUST PUBLISHED,
Price One Shilling,
A SERMON , Preached in the Parish Church of Lancaster, at the Primary Visitation of the Bishop of Chester, and Published at the request of his Lordship and the Clergy.

By the Rev. W. Carus Wilson, M, A. Rector of Vicar of Tunstal, and Chaplain to His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex.

Sold by Miller, Lancaster; Clarke, Manchester; Clarke Preston ; Branthwaites, Kendal; and all the Boooksellers.

Of whom may be had by the same.

Sermons, Two Volumes, price 10s.— The Friendly Visitor and Children’s Friend, published monthly, price One Penny each.

In 1820, he established a School for Training Servants and Teachers, and followed this a few years later by founding a school for the daughters of clergymen.

Clergyman’s Daughters School Proposal, October 1823

Westmorland Gazette - Saturday 25 October 1823

Clergyman’s Daughters.— A Society is forming Lancaster, whose object is to establish a school, upon an extensive scale, the education at a cheap rate of the daughters of Clergymen whose livings do not afford the means of provision for their famiilies. The chief mover in this benevolent undertaking is the Rev. W. Carus Wilson, vicar of Tunstal.

Travelling to warmer climes in Italy, on grounds of ill-health, he took an interest in the spiritual welfare of members of the Sardinian army.

On his journey homewards from Nice, opportunities were found of speaking words in season, and giving Bibles and tracts at several places in France, and especially among the troops then assembled in the camp at Boulogne.

After his return to England, it became manifest that Mrs. Carus-Wilson’s state of health was such as to make it his duty to remain with her for the future, and from that time his purpose was fixed to go no more abroad, though his own health would have led him still to seek a foreign climate. His warmest interests also had become concentrated in the work at Nice, and thither accordingly both health and his Master’s work would have directed his steps.

But as duties of another nature required his presence at home, so another field of labour was speedily opened up, which eventually seemed to bear a richer harvest than any in which he had previously sown the precious seed. His work among the troops at Nice seemed to have touched a chord of which the harmonies were soon heard among our own too much neglected soldiers.

The advice of his medical attendants had pointed out the Isle of Wight as the locality most favourable to his health in England, and his residence was accordingly fixed at Ventnor from that time forward.

As I shall describe in the next chapter, on moving to the Island, Carus Wilson started to develop a keep interest in supporting the well-being of British soldiers.

His exertions were not, however, confined to the benefit of the soldiers. His spirit was stirred by witnessing the fearful demoralization which met his eye. Early in his residence at Ventnor a tract was printed, and left on New Year’s-day at every house in Newport …

Despite having moved to Ventnor for health reasons, William Carus Wilson was not the sort of man to slip into a quiet retirement.

A man of indefatigable industry, Memoir, 1860

Brief memoir of the late Rev. W. Carus-Wilson, reprinted by permission from “The Christian Observer” … With extracts from letters to soldiers in India, etc. 1860,

Nothing was more striking, to those who had the opportunity of witnessing his daily life, than his indefatigable industry. Not a moment of time throughout the day seemed wasted. Early, punetual, and rapid in all his habits, he seemed intent upon crowding into the day the utmost possible amount of work. Even his meals were taken with a degree of haste which was probably not without its effect in undermining, during a long course of years, his iron constitution ; and no sooner was the meal concluded, than he again hastened to his desk.

His only recreation was in his garden, which always presented a scene of beauty and fragrance that might well charm and gratify even his ardent love of flowers. His only exercise was found in his necessary walks while visiting his schools, parish, or neighbours.

Tempters and Tempted

Presumably as a result of a perceived lack of response to the memorial to the Newport magistrates, which he may or may not have signed, and may nor may not have been instrumental in originating and producing, Carus Wilson published a tract early in 1856 that appears to have been even more outspoken in its condemnation of the vices of Newport and the threats they posed to the morals of the young men stationed in Parkhurst Barracks.

Published by Thomas Butler, Bookseller, also of Ventnor, he pamphlet was entitled Tempters and Tempted, and was widely distributed around Newport.

Warning

I have not yet tracked down a copy of this work, nor have I yet found any of its contents reproduced anywhere.

Its contents were seemingly explosive, and provoked the Mayor of Newport, John Henry Hearn, Esq., to speak out about it at a council meeting of Tuesday, February 4th, 1856.

In the first place, he objected to the way in which the tract appeared to have been distributed, not least to members of his own family and some of the women who worked in his household:

No ordinary feelings of indignation , Saturday 09 February 1856

Isle of Wight Mercury - Saturday 09 February 1856

The Mayor rose, and said, that he should not be doing justice to his own feelings or to the town if he did not bring before the Council the gross insult which had been cast on them by the address, the Tempter and Tempted, written, it was said, by a gentleman lately come to reside there, the Rev. Carus Wilson, and it was with no ordinary feelings of indignation that he found the beastly tract had been taken to his house, and was in the hands of his family and female domestics; could any honest man, could any father of a family avoid feeling grieved that such gross accounts of vice should be brought to defile the minds of young persons? He was more astonished and indignant to find that copies had been delivered to the children at the Sunday schools, and the National schools. He hoped the British schools had escaped the pollution. He considered these females who distributed such a work and placed them in the hands of children a disgrace to their sex. He regretted that these meddling troublesome fellows who were interfering where they had no connection with the town, and he should have thought that Mr. Smith might have found other ditties for which he was paid by the Treasury, rather than interfering with the town of Newport.

The Mayor then declared that he felt it his duty to defend the town, and one of the other councillors asked what he might do about the exaggerated claims made against the town.

Falsehoods and calumnies

He felt it his duty to deny most clearly, and to protest most strongly against the falsehoods and calumnies which had been circulated respecting the Borough of Newport. He asserted firmly, and would prove his assertion that there were few more moral towns than Newport and no garrison town where there was so little debauchment. He could prove by official returns which he had obtained, that the health of the soldiers their general morality, while at Parkhurst, were much above the average. He could not have allowed the Council to have separated without throwing off the foul imputation, and pressing from his heart the indignation he felt at the insult that had been put on them, and the town.—Mr. W. B. Mew concurred in the sentiments and feelings expressed by the Mayor, and denounced the exaggerated statements about the town, which had been put forth.—Mr. Robert Pinnock congratulated the Council on the course taken by the Mayor, to revel the calumnies which had been indulged in thousands of the books, had been circulated, and unless contradicted, might cling to the town. He asked the Mayor whether he would take it up as the organ of the Council, & repudiate the calumnious attack on the town. Its origin could be traced to a new movement that had been organized in the memorial addressed to the Magistrates, and to a newspaper paragraph. He considered that the sooner such proceedings were discouraged the better.—Mr. Pring said the memorial had been handed to the Watch Committee, of which he was one, and after the strictest investigation, they came to an unanimous vote, that there was no cause to interfere with the general arrangements. He had lately been in most of the towns in the kingdom where the military were near, and he said with confidence, that Newport for order, quietness and morality, surpassed all the others. Some persons were over nice, and he thought the Town Clerk might as will stay at home, as to go about interfering with others

At this point, it seems as if one of the council members made a claim regarding regular reports made by the Town Missionary, Mr. Tucker, to the Town Clerk (Mr. Eldridge) which he passed on to the Magistrates.

Secret reports

.—Mr. Eldridge (Town Clerk), said he was one of those who agreed with the memorial; he thought it was quite right, and no censure ought to be cast on those who were parties to it. The attention of the Magistrates was called to facts which were patent to all Gentlemen, and if those present had seen the report of the Town Missionary, which Dr. Wavell and himself had presented to them weekly, they would know the amount of vice which prevailed.—The Mayor said they had no right to sit in judgment upon others, they had no authority to judge and collect accusations against their neighbours. If this was the occupation of a Town Missionary, the sooner he was removed the better.—Mr. Eldridge said he knew that he had lifted up many who had been cast down, and he could tell of those in higher places, whose conduct would not bear investigation.—Mr. Pinnock said that the missionary was engaged to raise up the frail, but the course pursued by him and his employers, had turned out a curse to the town.—Mr. Wilkins and Mr. Morgan expressed similar feelings with the other members of the Council.—Mr. W. B. Mew wished to know by what authority these men had set up this court of inquisition; he felt indignant at their presumption.

A reference was also made to a publication in previous years that also seems to have engaged in spreading “unpleasntness”.

The “Paul Pry” newspaper

There was a newspaper once circulated in the town, called Paul Pry, which was very objectionable, and caused unpleasantness in many families but this was much worse, as the scandal was handed from one to the other, without the knowledge of the person whose reputation was attacked. If this Paul Pry defended by Mr. Eldridge, went into these abodes of sin and temptation, he ought to be exceedingly good; as pitch could not be handled without defilement. The exposure that day should induce the Town Clerk to cut such acquaintance, and he could not help feeling disgusted that men should be found, who could listen to the reports, full of scandals and libels on their neighbours.—The Mayor said he was afraid there was a great deal too much of spying and prying going on.

A response to Carus Wilson is called for

After a long conversation, it was determined that it should be left to the Mayor either to write in his own name to the Rev. Carus Wilson or in that of the Council contradicting his statements, as embodied in the address “Tempters and Tempted.” Since the meeting of the Town Council and the exposure of the system of espionage which has been carried on in Newport, principally by the means of the town missionary, Mr. Tucker, several subscribers have determined to have their names struck as they never contemplated that they were paying their money to gratify the curiosity of individuals, or to rake up scandal against their neighbours.

Another report of the same meeting seemed to lay the authorship of the tract at the feet of two people, the Revd. Henry Smith, as well as Carus Wilson.

The Reported Immoral State of the Inhabitants of Newport, February 1856

Hampshire Advertiser - Saturday 09 February 1856

NEWPORT, Saturday, February 9.

Town Council Meeting

The quarterly meeting of the Newport Town Council took place on Tuesday.

…

The Reported Immoral State of the Inhabitants of Newport

The Worshipful the Mayor rose and said, there was one painful matter affecting the interests of the town which he considered it his duty, as their chief Magistrate, to bring before the Council. His feelings had been lately shocked on finding that a disgusting pamphlet, entitled, “Tempters and Tempted,” had been industriously circulated about the town, and by one means and the other had found its way into almost every house ; and he was sure he was sharing the feelings of every, rightminded head of a household, when he said that such vile slander against their town as was therein contained ought to be emphatically and publicly protested against— (hear, hear). He could not express the indignation he felt on learning its contents, and finding that everyone in his house, excepting his wife, had read its contaminating pages; and greatly astonished was he to find that those tracts had been placed in the hands of the children of their Church Sunday and other schools by females— he would not say by ladies. He would ask if expressions such as these— “Your town is on fire with the flames of licentiousness and lust” — were fit for the minds of tender children to dwell upon? And were they not a gross insult, and a libel on the inhabitants of the town ? And by whom was this shameful tract written? Not by one of the pastors or ministers of the town, but by a non-resident, who had nothing whatever to do with the town, assisted by another meddling, troublesome busybody, who, he should think, would be far better employed in his business at the Prison at Parkhurst. The parties to the tract were Carus Wilson and Henry Smith; that was an undisguised fact, and the stigma with which the town had been branded would doubtless be most pernicious to the interests of it ; and he did say they (the Corporation) ought to do all in their power to destroy its baneful influence. The assertions in it respecting the general depravity and debauchery of our town were infamously false.

In a report a week later, it seems that the Revd, Henry Smith was not so keen to be recognised as sharing responsibility for the tract.

The Meeting of last week and the Tabooed Tract, February 1856

Hampshire Advertiser - Saturday 16 February 1856

The Meeting of last week and the Tabooed Tract.—

We abide by the resolution announced in our last publication, not to mix ourselves up in the squabble respecting the charge against the morality of the town and district of Newport. We have received a long letter from the Rev. Henry Smith, who complains that his name was unwarrantably used at the meeting, and that, in consequence, he has been held up to much ridicule. We do not see that the publication of what seems to him to be a satisfactory explanation of the matter can help him in the slightest degree. He somewhat indignantly denies that he was a party either to writing or publishing the tract, but admits that a female friend of his is not so innocent in this respect as himself, and he feels bound to “uphold her in any work of Christian philanthropy she may choose to undertake, rather than spend her time in idleness and gossip.” The author of another letter, signed “ Justitia,” will also find in the terms of this paragraph a reason for the respectful rejection of his comments.

Another Henry Smith…

In passing, I note that it was another Henry Smith, a certain Captain Henry Smith, who collected the story of The Three Little Pigs in Shanklin around 1853.

Back in the council report, a stout defence of Newport not being as bad as other garrison towns was also reported.

Less average disease than elsewhere

There was not a garrison town in England that was so free from the charge as Newport— (hear, hear), and he had it from undoubted authority that there had always been less average disease in the Garrison at Parkhurst than at any other, arising from such vicious habits as are imputed to our town. He would, therefore, once again say, that these infamous and unfounded assertions respecting their borough ought to be thus publicly denounced— (hear, hear).

In this write-up of the meeting, a certain Mr. Pinnock also lays a charge against certain members of the magistracy that they already new how bad things were.

The shocking state of morals was no surprise

Mr. Pinnock said he was proud their Chief Magistrate had shown the moral courage thus to speak out against a matter which ciations than the Mayor had, and desire him to take such further was calculated to be a most serious injury to the town, if not thus publicly disclaimed. And they ought to go further in their denun- steps as be might deem expedient to stop the thing— (hear). For such a false and shocking report of the state of morals of the inhabitants of Newport was unjust to the Magistracy of the Borough, and he regretted to be obliged to further state that some of the members of their Council had been, in a measure, parties to it. They first had their attention drawn to the immoral state of the town by their Town Clerk, some of the ministers of religion, and other parties living in the town, waiting on the Magistrates, at the Town Hall, as a deputation, requesting them to lend their influence, in their public capacity, to suppress vice and immorality in the town; then there were paragraphs in the newspapers on the subject; and at last there were found religious fanatics ready to make a handle of those pharisaical “ good intentions,” and scandal was the consequence, which if not met in some such way as this, the town was likely to suffer most seriously. He had some knowledge of other military towns, and it was with thankfulness he felt that Newport was a paradise in comparison with any of them.

Mr. W. B. Mew fully coincided in the censures which had been passed on the authors and circulators of this most injudicious and injurious tract.

A Mr. Pring is also reported as making some suggestions regarding the possible policing strategy, and the risks associated with taking too hard a line, as well as comparing Newport favourably with other garrison and naval towns.

Generally speaking

Mr. Pring considered at the time that the said deputation took upon themselves to wait upon the Council and lecture them upon the immoral state of the town, that they were going somewhat out of their way, and could not help thinking that their worthy Town Clerk, who headed that deputation, would have been better employed in his office. However, they thought perhaps there were some matters which might be rectified, and instructed their police to be watchful and keep the streets clear, and people moving; and their inspector had shown that generally speaking there was no necessity for interference except on Sundays, and then it was a delicate matter, as people stood about talking with each other after coming out of the various places of worship. Well, the police, in the execution of their duty, civilly requested a group, who were thus standing together in the High-street, to “ move on,” and they turned out to be a tradesman’s family, who had since been to them complaining of the impertinence of the police in this respect. He had opportunities of being acquainted with the state of other military towns, and he could say with Mr. Pinnock, that Newport was not to be compared with any of them. Take Portsmouth, Winchester, Chatham, or even the fashionable town of Southampton, and immorality exhibited itself in a much greater degree in those towns than in Newport— (hear).

At this point, an explosive revelation appeared to have been made regarding the “secret reports” from the Town Missionary, and the implication that members of the council or the magistracy might themselves be indulging in liaisons with some of the lower classes of female company,

The shocking state of morals was no surprise

The Town Clerk (Mr. Eldridge) replied, that as far as the memorial which had been spoken of went, he believed he and the other parties connected with that movement had acted with perfect consistency, and had done nothing in it but what was proper. Their attention had been drawn to the retrograding state of the public morals of Newport, and they were anxious to use every exertion legally to stem the growing depravity of the town— which was patent to all. With respect to the tract in question, he had read it, and thought it a very injudicious publication, and feeling this, when their town missionary spoke to him respecting some which he had for circulation, he told him it would be unwise to do so, and that he had best not have anything to do with it. But, nevertheless, he thought the less said about the matter the better. He and Dr. Wavell had the weekly inspection of the Town Missionary’s report book, and they unhappily knew that many moving in the higher ranks of life were guilty of fostering the immorality of the town by their own immoral conduct —(great excitement, and cries of “Order” from both sides of the Chamber).

The Chairman must call Mr. Eldridge to order. Such Observations were in very bad taste and most improper, and they could not be heard sitting there in judgment on their fellow-townsmen ; and he was surprised and vexed to learn that such a spy system had been adopted of diving into matters of privacy, for the purpose of getting up a Quixotic crusade against an evil which, by parties thus acting with such indiscreet religious zeal, would be the very means of increasing the evils they would wish to suppress. The utmost they could do was to put down dancing- houses and brothels, prevent broils and lewd and improper conduct in the streets, and keep public-houses as orderly as possible. Beyond this they could not go— (hear).

Mr. Pring to Mr. Eldridge— And by what means and authority do you and Dr. Wavell get the regular inspection of this Town Missionary’s Report-book?

Mr. Pinnock— And if this is his mission, the sooner he is out of the town the better. Such a man is a curse to the town !

Mr. Eldridge— Not a curse. A blessing, I hope. His book is strictly private. No one but Dr. Wavell and myself, who sign it weekly, see the book.

Mr. Morris Morgan— It has been said that the Town Missionary had been told not to circulate the tract ; but he had reasons for believing that he did distributed them, and he had been informed that he had also given certain information to Carus Wilson on the subject— (exclamations of “Oh !”)

Mr. Mew was astounded at what had been elicited during this discussion, and expressed himself in the most severe terms of disapprobation at the idea of some of the authorities of the town being so mixed up with such a disreputable matter— and they, too, professing themselves to be Christians ! Such conduct was scandalous and abominable, and was only second in infamy to the Paul Pry newspaper espionage that was some years ago the medium of so much scandal and abuse, and had such a baneful effect on society. He thought if Mr. Eldridge felt rightly on the matter, he would at once cut the acquaintance of this Town Missionary, at least.

After some further stormy observations— many of the Council joining in the discussion—it was agreed that the Mayor should take what steps he might consider necessary as a still further disclaimer to the false and injurious reports which had been so industriously circulated concerning the reputation of their borough ; and the Council broke up with anything but delighted feelings.

A third report of the meeting covers much the same ground as the previous two.

The Mayor defends Newport, Saturday 09 February 1856

Hampshire Telegraph - Saturday 09 February 1856

MEETING OF THE NEWPORT TOWN COUNCIL.

The Quarterly Meeting of the Town Council was held on Tuesday, the Mayor, John Henry Hearn, Esq., in the chair.

…

The Mayor— I should not do justice to my own feelings or my duty to the town, if I were not to bring, before this Council the insult which had been offered by the publication of the “Tempters and Tempted.” It was with no ordinary feelings of indignation that I found the beastly tract had been thrust into my house, and copies were in the hands of my family and female servants. I was still more astonished to find that they had been delivered to the children of the Sunday and National Schools; the British Schools I hope escaped the pollution ; and for such books to be placed in the hands of children by females I consider it a disgrace to their sex. There were meddling, troublesome fellows who interfered where they had no right, having no connection with the town. I should think that Mr. Smith could find plenty of duties at Parkhurst Prison, for which he is paid by the Treasury, instead of mixing himself up in these transactions. There was no doubt it was the work of a Mr. Wilson, a gentleman who had taken up a temporary residence in the Island, but a good deal of it must have been supplied by others. I again deny the accusation, and protest against the slander. With so many soldiers in the neighbourhood, perfection could not be expected ; but with perfect confidence I assert that in no garrison town in the kingdom was there so little debauchery ; and from information he had obtained from an official quarter, the health and morals of the troops at Parkhurst were above the average of other places. I cannot help expressing to this Council the strong feelings I entertain at the foul indignity that has been put on us as a town.

Mr. Pinnock congratulated the Council on the bold manner in which the Mayor had met the foul accusation, which had been circulated ; and which, uncontradicted, might prove an injury to the town. Thousands of copies had been issued, and he had heard that more were to be sent abroad. He traced the scandal to the new movement that had been organised in Newport, to the committee and memorial afterwards published in the newspapers, and considered it the duty of all to discourage such proceedings.

Mr. Pring, as one of the Watch Committee, said, the memorial had been handed to them, and its contents discussed, and they came to an unanimous vote that there it was no just ground for interference. He had travelled much, seen many places where soldiers were near, and fearlessly affirmed that a quieter or better conducted town was not to be found in the kingdom. Some persons were over nice and expected perfection, and he thought it would be quite as well if their Town Clerk were to stay at home as go about interfering with others.

Mr Eldridge (Town Clerk), rose and said, he was one of those who agreed with the memorial ; the memorialists did not intend it as a censure, but called the attention of the magistrates to a fact patent to all. He had nothing to do with the “Tempters and Tempted,” but if gentlemen had seen the lists brought to him and Dr. Wavell weekly, they would be astonished at the amount of crime and the persons committing it; he could name some of the higher classes.— (Great sensation.)

The Mayor said they had no right to sit in judgement on their neighbours ; such conduct was indecent, and he held those who stirred in such things as exceeding their duty. Persons slandered had not the ordinary means of defence, and if that was the office of the missionary it was using it for evil.

Mr. Eldridge said the missionary had raised up many bowed down with sin.

Mr. Pinnock thought if the missionary was engaged to raise up the frail it was not intended that he should be a spy ; it would be found that he was a curse to the town.

Mr. Wilkins and Mr. Morgan expressed opinions in unison with the other members of the Council.

Mr. W. B. Mew would like to know by what authority Dr. Wavell and Mr. Eldridge set themselves up as inquisitors on others ; such conduct raised the indignation of every one worthy the name of man. This missionary was worse than the Paul Pry Newspaper; there you could find out what was said, but this was a private inquisitor. How he could go amongst such vice as he described without contamination he could not think, for it was difficult to handle pitch without being defiled. He was surprised at the Town Clerk ; he would advise him to break off such acquaintance as early as possible.

After a desultory conversation it was agreed that the Mayor be empowered to write to the Rev. Carus Wilson, either in his own name or that of the Council, repudiating the description he had given of the Town of Newport in his tract, “The Tempters and Tempted.”

The outcome of the council meeting was that the Mayor should write to the author of the Tempters and Tempted tract, the Revd. Carus Wilson, repudiating the claims made against Newport in that tract.

Warning

I still haven’t found a copy of the Mayor’s letter, or a copy of its contents, from the mayor to Carus Wilison, but it seems that it provoked a rapid, and very public, response from the Rev. Carus Wilson in the form of another tract with “additional invectives and personal charges”. I haven’t tracked down a copy of that second tract either.

The letter was duly written, but rather than the hoped for retraction, is seems that Carus Wilson double downed, and wrote another tract, with more condemnatory accusations.

A reply to letter of the Mayor, February 1856

Hampshire Telegraph - Saturday 23 February 1856

In consequence of the resolution of the Newport Town Council, J. H.Hearn, Esq., Mayor, wrote a letter of remonstrance to Rev. Carus Wilson, denying the truth of the charges brought against the morality of the Borough in his tract “ The Tempters and Tempted.” Large bills arrived in Newport from Ventnor on Thursday, announcing a reply to letter of the Mayor, to be sold at 2d. each, in which there is not only no retraction of the former scandal, but additional invectives and personal charges. We understand that legal proceedings will be taken forthwith against Mr. Wilson, and a caution has been issued by Mr. James Eldridge, Town Clerk, that the pamphlet entitled “A Letter to the Mayor of Newport,” contains a libel, and any person distributing or otherwise publishing such Pamphlet will be prosecuted.

Adverts publicising the sale of the letter were also published.

Just Published, A Letter to the Mayor of Newport, February 1856

Hampshire Advertiser - Saturday 23 February 1856

Just Published

A LETTER TO THE MAYOR OF NEWPORT, in Reply to his Letter of Remonstrances regarding the Tract, entitled “Tempters and Tempted,” by the Rev. CARUS WILSON. Price 2d. each, or 12 copies free by post, 2s.

“Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”—Acts iv., 19, 20.

Also, TEMPTERS AND TEMPTED, a Tract, by the Rev. W CARUS WILSON. Price 1d, or 12 copies free by post, 2s. Published by Thomas Butler, Bookseller, Ventnor, Isle of Wight ; and Sold by Batchelor, Bookseller, Portsmouth; Sharland, Southampton ; Wayland, Ryde ; Pinhorn, Cowes ; and by all Booksellers at Newport.

That same week, Carus Wilson could be found attending a meeting of the Protestant Reformation Society in Ventnor.

One of the most interesting meetings ever held in Ventnor, February 1856

Isle of Wight Observer - Saturday 23 February 1856

Protestant Reformation Society.— A public meeting in behalf this society was held at the Institution on Tuesday evening, the Rev. J. N. Coleman in the chair. The meeting was opened by prayer by the Rev. W. Carus Wilson. The first speaker was the Rev. M. Clementson, the secretary, who stated the objects of the society. The Rev. Dr. Cumming, in his usual talented manner, spoke at a considerable length, and greatly interested the audience. The next speaker was the Rev. J. Rogers, of the Irish Church Missionary Society, followed by the Rev. W. Carus Wilson, who closed the meeting. This was one of the most interesting meetings ever held in Ventnor, and the room was crowded to excess. The next morning another meeting was held at the same place, for the same object, and the meeting was equally interesting and well attended. Sunday next sermons will preached in behalf of the same society by the Rev. M. Clementson, at Ventnor Church in the morning and evening, and at Bonchurch Church in the afternoon.

From a debate a week later on the question of maintaining the Sabbath and the appeals of the “Sunday League” party, ripples from some of the accusations that appeared to have been made in the previous Council meeting still seemed to be playing out.

An institution for spy purposes, February 1856

Hampshire Advertiser - Saturday 23 February 1856

Mr. Robert Pinnock … Their Chairman had referred to Mr. Eldridge’s mayoralty, to which he wished to add a rider. On the occasion of one of his Corporation processions to Church, a poor man who had been walking from the country on that very Sunday, and was dry and dusty, procured half-a-pint of beer from a neighbour of his, who kept the Crispin public-house in the town, at a forbidden time of the day according to the law, which had just then been altered in it a opening and closing regulations; and the next day the landlord was brought before Mr. Eldridge and other magistrates and fined 7s 6d for this grave offence, although he pleaded that he was not aware of the alteration of the law in question— (uproar); bui the Mayor and his party could retire to his house and drink their wine and enjoy the repast spread for them on that day, and yet be held blameless— (cries of “shame!”) He merely mentioned the fact by contrast, to show how the law oftener bears down on the poor man than on the rich.

…

A hustling was now observed in the crowd, and it was announced amidst much confusion that some gentleman wished to reply to some of Mr. Pinnock’s observations.

The Chairman— “Come forward, Mr. Mollett, we will hear what you bave to s ay, or any oiher gentleman of the company.”

W. Mollett, Esq. then got upon the platform, amidst an indescribable volley of hooting, jeering, cheering, and whistling, and observed, the words he had to say did not refer to the special object of the meeting. Mr. Pinnock had said— “The objects of their Town Mission had been abused by the parties connected with it turning it into an institution for spy purposes”— (renewed uproar. Mr. Pinnock explaining that what he said was, “These gentlemen may have turned a Town Mission into an association for the purposes of scandal”).

The Chairman then recounted the scene which took place in the Council Chamber a few days ago, respecting the tract “Tempters and Tempted.” when matters came out respecting a book kept by the Town Missionary and inspected weekly by Mr. Eldridge and Mr. Wavell, which led some of ;he Council to say that if such was the object of the Town Mission, it would prove a curse, and not a blessing.

Mr. Mollett here attempted to explain that this was not the object of that institution, hut that it was founded entirely on the principles of the London City Missions. What Mr. Eldridge had told the Council respecting the immorality of some of the higher classes, was from his own knowledge, and not from that book. He was, however, stopped by Mr. Pring, and the cries of “ Turn him out,” and so forth, were so vociferous, that Mr. Mollett descended from the platform.

From the Petty Sessions of Monday, February 25th, 1856, we get the sense that some people at least considered Carus Wilson’s response to the Mayor to be libellous and had jumped the gun in taking steps to prevent its distribution.

No one appearing to prosecute, March 1856

Hampshire Advertiser - Saturday 01 March 1856

BOROUGH COURT. Monday.— Magistrates present: The Mayor, and Thomas Cooke, esq.

“Tempters and Tempted.”— James Lewis, a second hand dealer, appeared to answer a summons, for publicly hawking and selling the pamphlet addressed to the Mayor of Newport by the Rev. William Carus Wilson, notwithstanding the public caution which had been placarded by James Eldridge, esq., to the effect that it was libellous; but no one appearing to prosecute, the Mayor informed him that he was discharged. He, however, looked imploringly on the Bench, with the apparent feeling of a martyr, respecting certain sequestered property in the possession of the Inspector of Police, in the shape of a bundle of tracts of which he had been relieved when taken to the Station-house on Saturday ; and George Prince Joyce, esq., who appeared as his legal adviser, respectfully informed the bench, that unless they were immediately restored to his client, he would bring an action against the Magistrates. The Mayor said the defendant might apply to the Inspector, who could use own discretion in the matter.

Arrested for selling the letter of the Rev. W. Carus Wilson, March 1856

Isle of Wight Mercury - Saturday 01 March 1856

BOROUGH PETTY SESSIONS, Monday Feb. 25

Before J. H. Hearn Esq. (Mayor), Thomas Cooke and Edward Way, Esqrs.

James Lewis, alias Nobby Ducks, who had been taken into custody on Saturday evening, for selling the letter of the Rev. W. Carus Wilson, in answer to one sent him by the Mayor of Newport, respecting the tract “the Tempters and Tempted,” appeared in court. The defendant had been liberated on his own bail, and retained Mr. George Prince Joyce as his legal adviser. It was told on his appearing in the box that there was a charge against then put several questions to the Bench, but was answered that his client was discharged. He applied for an order for the restitution of the pamphlets, and was referred to the inspector of Police.

A little more detail about why the initial arrest appears to have been made can be found in the Borough Sessions report from the Hampshire Telegraph.

A caution signed by Mr. Eldridge, Town Clerk, March 1856

Hampshire Telegraph - Saturday 01 March 1856

At the Borough Petty Sessions, on Monday, before the Mayor, Thomas Cooke, and Edward Way, Esqrs.

James Lewis, who had been taken into custody on Saturday evening, but liberated on his own recognizance, for whom Mr. G. P. Joyce appeared, was told there was no charge against him. It appeared that in consequence of a caution signed by Mr. Eldridge, Town Clerk, that the pamphlet containing a letter of the Rev. Carus Wilson, in answer to the Mayer of Newport, was a libel, the defendant was taken into custody for selling the book. Mr. Joyce Wished to know by what authority his client had been taken into custody, and also whether the books would be returned. The Mayor said there was no charge made against James Lewis, and he must apply to the Inspector of Police respecting the books.

What Next?

Notwithstanding the failure to prosecute Nobby Ducks for selling Carus Wilson’s letter responding to the Mayor’s letter, a prosecutor was about to step up to press such a charge for libel against Carus Wilson at the County Police two days later.