The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-12-03 00:00:00

Dec. 3, 1844 M EETING OF MAGISTRATES. On Thursday a meeting of the Borough Magistrates Was held to teke into co ns id erat i on t h e reso l ut i ons , f t h e Watch Committee as to the alleged interference with the police. tioSome conversation took place as to sending the deposi lis taken in Mr. Parker's case, when it was decided to furnish them, Mr. David Hodgson having said there was I ., 3 _ o ( ;pirit o f h ostility whatever in the minds of the Watch to.;t_ n inittee, to war d s the magistrates, and they had no her object in view but to obtain information for the pur pose of investigating the conduct of one of their own _ b udY, to th e i r own satisfaction. They had pre-judged ' itZlheing and th ey were de , irous to have the evidence in r t o go through an examination, so that they might arriv e at a just conclusion. our The resoluti ons of the Watch Committee (as given in ast) were th en read, after which Mr. Rushton rose ands aid that at the last meeting they had rather a warm disc ussion upon th e matter, and the resolution that had been read was passed upon his motion. That resolution contained what he believed to he essential to the good go yeennient of the police force ; a n d th ere was a l so a dd e d t o 02 that it sh ou l d " be entered upon the general order book the police force." That resolution pas s ed unani- R Y• M r . D owling who was ordered to execute the lihs l'esolution, and o enter it, ca ll e d upon so t him (Mr. hton,) the next da , and said he had soe doubts Whether the magistrates y had thou g ht of the fact m that " the general order-book " was the property of the Watch t?:iniriiittee, or that, properly, the agistrates had no right to order entries in it. Immediately he (Mr. Rush ton) said, " We have no right to eater it in the Watch turpittee's book ; get a hook of your own, letter it tc." ll Mintr es of orders ' received by you from the Ma le'oaes, and enter the order there." He (Mr. Rushton) 3 had a c orennunication with the Mayor upon the sub a°ect. He went over to his he TWorship, and saw him with ""n-elerk He di scussed the quest i on w i th t h em , l!nne, upon his own responsibility, he excused Mr. Dow ;e from the specific performance of that part of the d which related to the entry of the resolution in the Watch Committee's book, desiring him at the same time toeet a book of his own, in which to enter the order of fimagistrates. He (Mr. Rushton) also said, that at the teat ananedeting of the magistrates he would explain the mate boreks the ask for a resolution to prevent any entries in the of Watch Committee. He then said to the another ineetin.g of that he would take the further step of having finally the magistrates forthwith ; but it was „., agreed that it would not be necessary, as he (Mr. Whichet tcould not explain the whole business at the first e. , .ruight be held. He had, therefore, now explained i p ‘ re a ve ld he trusted he had exercised a sound discretion, in teeing'stng the inadvertence being carried into effect of en e - e...th. ir resolutions and orders upon the books of w a. eh . raoth i Committee, with which they, as magistrates had procenedgittiogado. (Hear, hear.) Upon some parts of the sonaethin of the Watch Committee, he . had certainly had g to say. He assured the magistrates, that it Fpedigiven him the greatest pleasure to read those pro noegs. They were an approach to an harmonious ac be those who had but one interest at stake te - 7 - t!ie Watch Committee and the magistrates. The Watch Committee had adopted, a one of their regulations, substence of the resolution s the magistrates had passed e last week, and this new regulation the Watch Committe could enforce as well as the magistrates could enforce their order. They were, indeed, one and theaanneld therefore, he hailed the regulation as a sign of a good Proper:feeling body of the in reference to these matters, and which he ~s a w with great pleasure emanating from the watch Comtnitee. It was one of those t things that w ould redo un d more to th it honour, an d credtt, in anything the town, than - . He must however, take the liberty of saying, though he agreed with these regulations, that he could not permit, upon any occasion, any doubt to be thrown upon the au thority e titY of the m ag i s t ra t es t o i ss ue ord. rs for the direction of the police f orce . He. said this to save the right of the ma g i strates. H e did not o bj ect t o the f o rm of the resolu tion of the Watch Committee, which was skilfully drawn That it is the opinion of this committee the above resolution [of the magistrates] amount to a regulation of the police force—(he was very glad they had made it 30 )—and can only as such legally emanate from that committee." The words as such saved all cavil about the matter ; but still the jurisdiction of the Watch Com mittee and the magistrates carne very near to each other, and be wanted it to be understood that the magistrates had a right, a pre-eminent right, to give orders directly from themselves, to the police force. If the Watch Com mittee should fortunately (for he should esteem it a very fortunate circumstance) see in any orders which the ma gistrates issued, such power as might be conveniently by them applied to their own regulations, and by adopting hem enlarge their own jurisdiction, it venial() give him the greatest pleasure ; and he was sure the magistrates would issue no orders to the police force which the Watch Com mittee might not wholesomely adopt as p ar t o f t h eir regu lations. He, therefore, hegdto exp had, re by the frrn ss the great aplea sure he felt that the Committee Watch lug of thi s , recognised the propriety and importance o f keep'ng the officers of police beyond all ititerterence ; 'whilst, at the same time, lie must save the jurisdiction o f the ju s ti e es by saying that their order was in force, as regarded them ; and, as the Watch Committee had made it a regulation, it was in force, as regarded them. There could be no cavilling, then, upon the matter : the magistrates had ordered the Commissioner of Police to communicate an y i nter f erence t o t h e M a yor ; whilst the Watch Committee had ordered the Head-constable to communicate it to them, and they would lay it before the Mayor. There was, therefore, little or no difference be tween them ; and, in conclusion, he was very glad to move that the " evidence be sent to the Mayor, for the in formation of the Town Clerk and the Watch Committee." Mr. Hoßtenv seconded the motion. Mr. D. HooosoN was very sorry to hear the expres sions which had been used with regard to the language of the Watch Committee's resolution, for he could say, with perfect truth, that among the members of it there was only slhesentiment, whi ch was to give efficiency to the force. They certei e l y deprecated the assumption of their infunc tions the regulation of the police, not that they were in dividually jealou s in Vie , but b ecause th e y had a duty to perform maintenance of their position and the support of the law. They did think that the order of the magistrates Was an interference with them • but they did not see any r e jectio n to it as a regulation. It was a part of the whole gulations of the police force, and the Watch Committee did not object to the reiteration of it. After one or two otter observations, the speaker said that the Head Con stable and Comtnissioner had been required peremptorily to carry out the order, by one of the magistrates, by lead ing if at the head of the force, and given to understand that if he did not, there would be a meeting of magistrates called the next day, for the purpose of exercising their au thority in his disiniesal. He was told that if he also asked Permission from the Watch Committee to read the order, the same consequences would ensue. He (Mr. Hodgeon) did not think that this was a course which any magistFite, e At Porte ought to have taken with regard to the Head Constable and Commissioner. However, the resolutions of the magistrates, such as they were, were di s tinctly fra med to pre ven t the interference of any individual member of the Watch Committee, without authority, but if they, se magistrates, were in a position to prevent that interfe rence, it was not a little s i ngu l ar th a t an individual ma gistrate should take upon himself, under any circumstan ces, tne exercise of his authority to suppress a portion of those resolutions without calling the magistrates together to ask them whether it had thei r concurrence . He quite agreed that, in an exigency, such an exercise of au th or i ty Was proper and right ; hut, in this case, where was the haste ? Why were not the magistrates consulted ? The Head Constable had himself stated he believed the whole to be irregular, in fact that it was illegal ; and, after all, what did he do? Why he only read a portion of the re solution to the force : he did not read the preamble which bad induced t he magistrates to come to the decision. The preamble contained a charge against an individual, and though no lawyer, he shoat say that whether the indivi dual ac c u se d were gu il ty or not, he was gui l ty o f no legal ; derel etiee - therefore, any magistrate publishing and de elating that preamble so affects: g his character, would be gaily Opposed to a prose , ution. He did not say it would actually b e so, b ut he thought the discretion exercised by the Head Constable a very sound discretion, in not going before the force and publishing the resolution, as against an individual member of the Watch Committee—a man Who had not been convicted of anything the magistrates could take cognizance of. He thought the decision of the tziagisirat s at their last meeting most extraordinary, and he must confess he was taken by surprise at it. He re sPected their decisions in general; they were entitled to consideration at the hand of every individual, and he w_oald not speak of them with disrespect. But he had aoud ght very muc h s i nce upon their proc eediegs, and he he read with men u po n the bench (not h ere ) w h o th ID,rf - ctly surpri s ed, th a t, w hil st t h ey complained of 6alue interfere nee of an individual with their officers—not to ~ - %`' ld the law, but to give effect to it—they should not the ; been called together themselves to consider whether bo y would w arrant the interference by one of their own agreed tosuppress °tie portion of the resolution they had th i e 4 i r a . Ru sirrox here s a id th a t h e h a d b een attacked by a gs i r 8 1 3 hker, but be did not mean to besa provked how ever strongly hi s f ee li ngs m i ght be roueed, o into he ri tf oii r. Hodgson what he had said last week, which ee . Y deserved, and which he deserved now. He earn Rushton die ru i se, or hold d a h d done no such thing as t o th rea ten to gtlage to that ff eut tiny intimidation, or ute any lan e eet to Mr. Dowling. Mr. Dowling came tered rn, a Rush, iri) t,!i2ert,Nrt,d. ? I said he feated the resolution could not be en. etc.h Committee's books; and he (Mr. want tUnask- e with him. Mr. Dowling then said " I the ; your advice, and I hope you will give it to the 1 You Mink I ou g h t t o su b m i t t hi s reso l ut i on of the IZ%tiates to th e W atch Committee beforel read it oughtnni He (Mr. Rushton) said, " Mr. Dowling, you • if you d YoU are either to obey the magistrates or not; be e echn e to obey their orders the magistrates must ut .nneone." Dove ti „ sr d . . As to using any sort of threat to Mr. it was e dismissal or holding out anything of the kind, utt „ etlY untrue. ...sr: n_teer Rusir ODGeore.—He says so. roN.—lt i s utterly untrue: I deny i t alto ee . I)..oweiNo was se n t f or , an d d ur i ng t h e i nterva l , w eal() nlustrroet, agai n d eny i ng t h e assert i on, sa id h e that this edge his h onour to this point. He must, now th, charge had beet, made, demand a formal vote from the ' - uagistrat eeone , Lir retioluti to his discretion in waiving the part o f byref as erred to. e very strong personal agusions were here made Rathbone and Rushton. u ,X I.ierl o nosoN said h e did not mean to t a k e t h e matter tc ri u .. `" Ti l l n e anner in which it h a d b een t a k en up b y M r. Rush gentlerrii.ne roaring and ge s ti cu l at i on t h a t came f rom t h at f ort), were best. ex hibi te d to the town in their native th e towe tt . left him and hie education to be estimated by had h h's (Mr. H o d gson ' s ) education and conduct .v_p formed another school. r Eaßea.—l should like to have the opinion of the town on that point ; I think there would be a vast majo rity in favour of Mr. Rushton (hear, hear.) MR. ADAM HODGSON expressed his sincere regret that for the first time these sort of personalities seemed to have been introduced among them. He earnestly hoped that gentlemen would rememb-r the office they held, and the respect they claimed from the town at large, and that they would calmly and quietly discuss the various mat ters before them without indulging in personalities. Mr. Rushton had asked their sanction for withdrawing part of the proceedings of the last meeting, and he thought him entitled to it ; but, again, he hoped that personalities would not be renewed, and that their proceedings would henceforward be conducted with becoming care and dignity. Mr. D. HODGSON denied that he had referred to Mr. Rushton. Mr. Rushton, be said, bad appropriated to himself what was applied to the whole body of magis trates; and he (Mr. Hodgson) should act always as he believed to be right, it respective of any party. Whether he pleased or displeased he did not care. He was not going to be personal beyond what the state of facts justi fied, but Mr. Rushton most egregiously over-rated him self and his position if he fancied for one moment that lie would overawe him (Mr. Hodgson.) He had sat with Mr. Rushton in the discharge of magisterial duty, and should sit with him again, irrespective of what occurred there. Nothing that Mr. Rushton had said should affect his conduct—not one straw. Ma. HUSHTON. — The less you say of Mr. Rushton, the better, if you please. Mr. HORNBY remarked that Mr. Rushton was p e r. fectly justified in altering a technical mistake in the reso lution ; and he added that the resolution of the Watch Committee had been drawn carefully in such a way as to avoid all offence to the magistrates. Mr. Dowling having entered the room whilst Mr. Hornby was speaking, was examined by Mr. Rushton as follows: — Mr. RusnToN.—l wish to ask you a question about the magistrates. It has been represented here that you state you were threatened with dismissal if you did not read the resolution to the police-force before going before the Watch Committee. Mr. Dowling.—l have never made any such assertion. Mr. D. HODGSON.—Have you not stated to the mem bers of the Watch Committee, and to Mr. Thompson, what passed between you and Mr. Rushton—that he did threaten you with calling the magistrates together if you did not read tha► resolution, and that you anticipated con sequent dismissal? Mr. Dowling.—l steed what I state now, that Mr. Rushton told me unless I read those orders, agreeably to the instructions of the magistrates, he would call a meeting of the magistrates. Mr. D. Honnsosr.—Did yon state DO inference? Mr. Dowling.—No, air. Mr. D. HODGSON. — Did you not state before the Watch Committee, that that was the same thing as your dis missal ? M r. never recollect having so stated. Mr. D. HODGSON. — Have you not stated that to Mr. Thompson ? Mr. Dowling.—l possibly might have stated that the magistrates had power to dismiss me. Mr. D. HODGSON.—Did you not state you considered that as a threat ? —that if you did not obey, that that wo uld be the con‘equence ? . - - Mr. Dowling.-1 have never gone beyond stating—and I probably did state—that the magistrates had the power of dismissing me if they thought proper. Mr. D. HODGSON.—Have you anticipated that as a re sult ?—have you stated so or not ? Mr. Dowling.—No, I have not. Mr. D. HODGSON.—Did you ask Mr. Rushton's per mission to submit these resolutions to the Watch Com mittee ? Mr. Dowling.—l did ; and Mr. Rushton told me I was not to eo so, but to read them to the force as the order of the magiArates. Mr. D. onosorr.—Did he tell you what he would do if you would not ? Mr. Dowling.—That is, if I did not read them, he would call the magistrates together Mr. D. HODGSON.—Recollect that you have given evi dence before the Watch Committee. Mr. Dowling.—He said, if I did not read them he would call the magistrates togeiher. Mr. RUSHTON.—Did you come into this room and ask my advice because you were placed between two fires, — whether you should submit the resolution to the Watch Committee before reading it to the police force? I said, "no, go and fulfil the magistrates' orders—that is my advice." Did anything pass that would lead you to be lieve I had a hostile feeling, or that I exercised any threat. or held out any inducement? Mr. Dowling.—No. Mr. RUSHTON.—Yon see, Mr. Mayor, the imputation attempted to be cast upon me is perfectly untrue. Mr. D. flonosoN said he would pledge his honor that Mr. Dowling had stated, be considered that if he had read those orders without consulting the Watch Commit tee, he should be called before the magistrates, and he anticipated dismissal. Mr. Dowling here appealed to Mr. Hornby as to what had passed in the Watch Committee. Mr. HORNEY said most distinctly he had not heard Mr. Dowling say before the committee that any threat had been used. He was not aware that he ever stated that his impression was that it would lead to a dismissal. After some further remarks of a somewhat personal na ture from Messrs. Rathbone, Brown, and Earle, Mr. Hodgson left the room. The resolution was then carried unanimously; and on the motion of Mr. ADAM HODGSON, seconded by Mr. BOLTON. it was unanimously resolved, " that the magis trates consider that Mr. Rushton exercised a sound dis cretion, in authorising Mr. Dowling to omit the in sertion in the general order book of the police-force of the minutes of the magistrates at their last meet ing." A vote of thanks was moved to the mayor, for his con duct as presiding magistrate, and his worship, in reply, briefly acknowledged the compliment. The meeting then separated, being occupied nearly two hours. DOCK COMMITTEE MEETING ON THURSDAY. There were present—Mr. Moore (in the chair), and Messrs. Nicol, Middleton, Chilton, Wood, Henderson, Mann, Aikin, Boyden. Tobin, Bold, Moon, Sandber), Kendall, Evans, and Ripley. It was agreed to let 4000 yards of land on the west side of Brunswick Dock, at Is. 6d. ,a yard yearly, to Messrs. Hodgson and Co., for shipbuilding, until they could proeure another site—pos session to be given up at any time on six months' notice. A letter was read from Mr. T. Wilson, accepting the terms upon which the committee agreed to let him the land required for a ship-building yard at the Brunswick Dock, but expressing a hope that he might be allowed compensation for the buildings he might erect, or be per mitted to re-lease the land for the same purpose. A dis cussion ensued, the result of which was that the committee had no power with re-leasing. On the motion of Mr. Nicol, the standing orders before discussed were adopted, to he considered in detail in a fortnight. The receipts of dock and light dues at Runcorn for the last month were £52,000 14s. 6d., being an increase of £6 lls. 2d., as compared with the corresponding month last year. THE SUB-COMMITTEE OF WORKS. Mr. Evasrs said, in effect, that when he was elected into that committee he was in Ireland, and his conduct was arraigned at the meeting as a justification of removing him from the sub-committee of works. The excuse was, that he was opposed to dock extension ; and what if he were? If he were convinced that he ought to do so in degree at the time at which it was proposed, it was his duty to do so. He never did oppose dock extension alto gether. He had opposed docks at the south, because he considered it for the advantage of the dock estate to do so. With regard to the north, he thought it premature to apply to Parliament this year; but he had it always in contem plation that the Dock Committee should construct a large dock at the north ; and indeed he himself was the main suggester and negociator for the purchase of the land, with a vie% to its being so appropriated hereafter. His opposition to what he conceived the premature con struction of docks in that quarter did not render him inca pable or unwilling to do his duty and carry out what was ultimately resolved on. So much otherwise ind ed was the fact, that the only improvements in the plans officially adopted were made by Mr. Aikin and himself. He re ferred to Mr. Hartley, whe her the halt-tide basin which was added had not been suggested by him. Mr. HARTLEY said he believed that was Mr. Evans's suggestion. Mr. EVANS said he bad thus shown his willingness to work on that committee, and his ability to be of use in the executive of dock management. His past conduct had received the approbation and sanction of the rate-payers, the merchants of Liverpool, and the constituents of the committee. His election should have placed his past con duct out of view, and alvolved him from their hostility. He was not there for thefurtheraiice of any private views of interest, but the accredited and honoured representa tive of the ratepayers and merchants. Wish one excep tion. he believed, he was the oldest member of that com mittee—certainly the oldest of the committee of works, at the formation of which he assisted. The ratepayers had had his conduct and views before them for nine years, and it was with a full knowle lee of these that he had been elected without any interference of his own. When they flew in the face of that constituency, in order to disgrace one of the members of that committee, they were at issue with the public; and they were on their trial, and not he on his. It might be said that that committee had a right to choose their own sub-committee, but that would not get them out of their dilemma, for they would be judged by the public not according to what they had a legal right to do, but what they were morally bound to do. On the part of those who sent him there, he claimed that station which he had had in the committee in former years, and from which he bad been improperly removed. To remove him from an executive committee, where he had acted a useful part, to a mere negative committee (the fieenc,), was an aggravation of the insult which had been offered to the ratepayers and merchants who had returned him into that committee by an overwhelming majority, in the ex pectation that he would be there to attend to their inte rests with unimpaired efficiency. If he were not on the committee of works, it was impossible he could perform the duties which the public expected. He concluded by reiterating his protest against the conduct of the com mittee with regard to him, and making a distinct claim to be reinstated, by some means or other, in his proper station. _ _ Mr. RIPLEY regretted that he had not been present at the last meeting to join the minority, as no good reason had been shown why Mr. Evans should be removed from the i•ub-cominittee of works. Mr. MOON expressed the same feeling. Mr. Nicol. was glad Mr. Evans now thought the rate payers and me rc h ants an i mpor t an t body, for he recol lected him speaking of them as little less than a fugitive body, in which he Mr. N. differed from Ilion. After noti cing the hard expres , ions of Mr. E., such as " violent and unjustifiable," " insult to the rate-payers," Ste., he came THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD to the matter in question. The placing of Mr. Evans on the Finance Committee was proposed by one of the re presentatives of the rate-payers, and all the representa tives of the rate-payers present concurred. If, therefore, they were to be guided by the opinions of the rate-parrs they had acted correctly. He did not consider it an insult to Mr. Evans, or to the rate pavers at all. Mr. Evans had objected to the act recently obtained, the carrying out of which was the work of the sub-committee, and it might well be supposed that it would be disagreeable for him to carry out a matter to which be was opposed. The finance committee, too, was almost annihilated, all the members but Mr. Molyneux having retired, and he thought it desi rable to place an old member of the committee upon that sub-committee, along with the new members. The finance committee was an important one, and as Mr. Evans had on every occasion taken an active part in financiol mat ters, he thought he would be a very valuable man. He did not consider the committee of works more executive than any other. Finally, he considered the committee quite justified in coming to the conclusion in which they hail acted. Mr. BOLD said Mr. Evans had taken so active a part in council and in London in opposing the measure alluded to, that he did not consider he was a proper person to carry out the construction of the works. He referred to the Parliamentary Sub-committee. Mr. EVANS said he was not present when it was read, and he never thought it worth while to notice it after wards. Mr. TOBIN said he had opposed Mr. Evans because be had used his strongest exertions to prevent the extension of docks. Mr. AIKIN said the same argument that applied to Mr. Evans applied to himself; but he was satisfied that the various committees would not have been proposed as they had been unless previously sanctioned by a number of those who took the leading management in the affairs of that board. Great importance was attached to the fact that, because Mr. Bold, as one of the candidates of the rate-payers, was the mover, therefore it sprang from Mr. Bold and the rate-payers, and not from those holding in terests there. He, (Mr. A.) however, knew too much of the real working of party business to suppose that this was a candid or sincere view of the matter. Mr. Mann, for instance, who had only attended once or twice, would never have mentioned thenames for a committee if he had not been authorized to do so. He and Mr. Evans were not opposed to dock extension ; what they were opposed to was being hurried into an expenditure involving a million and a half to two millions of money, when it appeared to them that a dock could be obtai ed in Wallasey Pool for £5,000 which would take off the surplus from the docks of Liverpool, accommodate the lying-up ships, and give a space equal to the largest dock in Liverpool, besides pro viding a place for the deposit of timber either on the land or water. They believed and hoped that if they could have had a little more time, they would have been enabled to do that which would have prevented the opposition anti cipated from the docks on the other side of the water. He would not say whether the removal of Mr. Evans from the sub-committee of Works was intended as an insult to Mr. Evans or not, but he thought it was something like an in sult to the community which so recently voted him back there—not because of any political party feeling, but be cause they knew his efficiency in carrying out the works and advocating warehouses round the docks. Knowing his efficiency, it was wrong in the committee to lesson it. Mr. Tostx considered that no insult had been intended to the rate-payers. They were sent there withuut any pledge whatever. For his own part he had voted accord ing to his conscience. Mr. Evans was not a proper man to go on the committee. Mr. MANN said he had certainly been requested to move the committee, but that was after he came i❑to the room. Mr. EVANS, in reply, stated that when the Board of Works came with a report, their influence was generally so irresistible, that any one who heard it had seldom or ever any chance of wee - hieing an alteration. Thus the Committee of Woiks was in reality the organ of the ge neral committee. Mr. Aikin and be had suggested great alterations and improvements in the plans adopted for the docks. There was evidence both of their ability and their will to do their duty. As to what he might have said about the rate-payers eight or nine years ago, and, no doubt, sedulously repeated by his political enemies, who were legion, still, in d fiance of this alleged insult, they had overlooked it all, for he supposed they bad dis. covered some little merit in him to re-elect him. Those who proposed him on the committee to which he was ap pointed, had, no doubt whatever, received their orders. With respect to his being placed on the Finance Commit. tee as being an old member, if that were mentioned out of ilo,irs it would be laughed at. He knew of where an old member ought to be, it it were not on the first committee of the docks. He (Mr. E.) was the oldest member of the sub-committee and the oldest member of the dock nom mittee, except Mr. Tobin, and,therefore, he should think, it' he, like old wine, was of any value whatever, he ought to have been made use of, where he could have been of the greatest service. To put him on a committee which had absolutely no duties; for they just opened tenders, which were mentioned there, and then accepted or nut; to put him on that committee was, as he said before, an aggravation of the insult offered to the rate-payers and the merchants of Liverpool. Atter alluding to the un biassed manner in which he had been elected, he said that those who continued to insinuate that he would betray the carrying out of what had become law, insinuated what was false. He would tell any one gentleman of that commit tee who chose to take it to himself, that he (Mr. Evans) would hold himself personally responsible for any remark be might make. He considered it a daring outrage of principle, and one he could not permit without giving it the " lie" at once. (Confusion) The CHAIRMAN called the speaker to order, noticing the language used as exceedingly improper. The party alluded to should he named, and no such language as that applied to the committee generally, which was a gross in sult to the whole. He (Mr. E.) had insinuated that the members of that committee had received orders to put him off the Board of Works. Mr. EVANS said "certain members of the committee." The CHAIRMAN asked from whom? Mr. BOLD said he htid received no such orders. Mr. lixtinaasoN considered the whole committee in sulted, The CHAIRMAN remarked on the extreme impropriety of such insinuations cast upon the committee. For him self, be did not know the constit ution of a sin g le com mittee. Mr. ToniN said he should have been insulted if he had been ordered to vote for any c ommittee. Mr. EvAxs. — With respect to orders, so far as gentle men have declared that there was nothing of the sort, I am bound to believe them. Mr. MAI.N disclaimed obeying any orders. Mr. EVANS said he had no objection to withdr aw it. TheCHAIRMAN hoped hewould withdraw the others too. Mr. EVANS said he was bound to believe gentlemen when they made an assertion, bu: he saw no reason for their complaining of receiving orders, because it was the order of their party—another word for saying they yielded to the influence and dictation of one another. As to the opinion he had expressed with regard to any one who would assert that be would knowingly act contrary to nis duty, h could not treat it otherwise than be had done. The CHAIRMAN said so such imputation had been cast upon Mr. Evans, and his remarks were therefore un. called for. Some explanation followed, to the effect that no such imputation was made, and Mr. EVANS then said he was bound in honour to withdraw the expressions. Mr. BOLD said Mr. Evans would not be deprived of the power of making improvements, because decisions were come to in the whole committee, and not on the Board of Vt'orks. The CHAIRMAN remarked that the improvements in the plans were not ent;rely confined to Mr. Aikin and Mr. Evans. Other alterations were made before they saw them. Mr. EVANS said he was not aware of it. The CHAIRMAN.—However the thing is settled, and the public will have the benefit of it. Mr. EVANS.—There were suggestions for great altera tions. Mr. AIKIN did not attach the slightest importance to any suggestion he made; it only went to show that they were by no means inimlcal to the interests of the docks, and that that was a good reason why Mr. Evans should be on the Sub-Committee of Works. The committee adjourned at half-past three o'clock. COURT OF REQUESTS.-PARKER v. BROWN- BILL. The Commissioner of the Court of Requests having adjourned the case from Friday until Tuesday, that he might consider how he should decide ution it, it was ac cordingly resolved on Tuesday morni , ig. Both the parries, and several of their friends, were present, but the att-ndance of others was very meagre. _ The Commrss lON ER said, that before be gave judgment he wished to put a question or two. Th , defendant. being sworn, said, in reply to questions put, that the application for payment of the promissory note was first made to his brotlier.in-law, James Brown bill, by Mr. Parker's clerk, ou the 2d November. De fendant was not himself present, and his brother-in-law was not now here. He was his brother-in-law, though of the same name, as they were c iusins, and had married two sisters. He supposed Mr. Parker's collector had called on his brother-io• law in mistake. Mr. Wigge, the collector, being called. Raid, he had called on the brother-in-law of defendant on Friday fort night, the 9th instant. He had mistaken the man, as both were watchmakers, and both of the same name. He did not see the defendant about it until Saturday fortnight. Mr. Parker. being sworn, said he had mentioned the amount to be due to his collector amongst other small debts, but he could not recollect the precise day. His suspicion had been raised (as he before stated) by the defendant drawing his attention to the post-mark of the letter. But he would not have proceeded so hastily against him, had he not been informed that a member of the Reform Association had declared that they would spend £l,OOO sooner than not turn him out of the ward. He certainly felt hurt at this, and therefore brought the matter forward. The COMMISSIONER then proceeded to give his deci sion with great slowness of utterance and at great length, but we can but give the beads of his principal remarks. He said that the court had undivided jurisdiction in claims of £2, but between £2 and £5 it had a concurrent juris dic' ion with the Borough Court, in which last the ques tion could be investigated by a jury, and an appeal could be bad to the courts at Westminster. He remarked on the evidence of the two parties, and quoted several law authorities as to what constiuuted bribery and corruption. There were two modes in which the court might come to a conclusion. One was to nonsuit the plaintiff, %h.ch would not prevent him from proceeding in another court if he thought that advisable ; and another was to give judg ment to the defendant, in which case there would be no appeal, and penalties might he proceeded for in the higher courts. He had come to the conclusion that the case was one of such suspicion that the plaintiff could not recover the amount in this court. He had not, however, come to the conclusion to give judgment for the defendant, for that would imply that there had in reality been a cor rupt transaction add a bribe, and a party could pro ceed for the penalties upon that judgment as con clusive evidence. if he saw this to be a clear e;:se of bribery, he should have no difficulty in pronouncing his decision in that form, which would be final ; but, under the circumstances, he would not pre judice the plaintifl by the selection of courts made by his collector, a person whose conduct in this court he had observed to be universally re-pectable. He should not therefore give a conclusive judgment, because I , e con sidered it no more than a case of suspicion. The plaintiff would, by the decision he shduld come to, have an oppor tunity or proceeding against the defendant in another court, from which an appeal might be had to the superior courts if any penalty were invol, ed. He then decided that the plaintiff should par the costs and be nonsuited. CONSERVATIVE CELEBRATION. On Thursday evening the Operative Protestant Conser vative Association, of Toxteth-park, celebrated the tri umphant return of eight staunch conservatives from North and South Toxteth Wards, at the recent municipal election, by a public dinner. The festive assembly took plac , at the Royal Oak Inn, Park-road, when a most eir:ellent and substantial dinner was served in admirable style by the worthy host, Mr. Atkinson. The dinner room was tastefully decorated with evergreens andflowers, and a great number of flags and banners, inscrired with various loyal, constitutional, protestant, arid patriotic mottoes were displayed upon the wal s. At the upper end, on either side the president's chair, were posted two large white placards, exhibi'it g the numbers polled by each of the conservative candidates, and the majorities by which their return was secured. At about seven o'clock the dinner was served, and upwards of 120 operatives, with the visitors and friends took their seats at the tables. Mr. John Longworth, the president of the society occu pied the chair, and Mr. Inman, vice-president of the so ciety, the vice-chair. On either side of Mr. Longworth were placed Mr. Jones and Mr. W. Mann, two of the newly-elected councillors. The tables were set down each side of the room, and at that on the right of the chairman were seated the following gentlemen :—Coun cillors Glazebrook and Lace, Mr. S. L. Troth an, Mr. H. G. Harbord, Mr. Jos. Cooper, Mr. Short, Mr. Hunting don, Capt. Foston, &c. On the left were Alderman Chilton, Mr. Councillor Harhord, Mr. Jas. Robertson, Mr. W. B Jones, Mr. J. Bunnell, Mr. R. Carter, Mt. J. Outram, Mr. Hunton, &c. On the cloth being withdrawn. the Chairman (who is an intelligent opera tive) proposed, in neat and appropriate speeches, the following toasts, which were received with the greatest enthusiasm. __ " The Queen," three times three ; " The Queen Dow ager," three times three ; " Prince Albert, ft.() the rest of the Royal funily," three times three ' • " The Duke of W ellington, and the House of Peers." three times three; " Sir Robert Peel, and the Conservative members of the House of Commons ; and may the Premier ever adhere to those Protestant principles by which he was placed in power," three times three; " The Army and the Navy," three times three; "The Aldermen and Councillors of North and South Toxteth Wards," nine times nine. When the hearty and enthusiastic cheers, with which the last toast was received, had subsided, Mr. LACE, as one of the councillors present, rose first to acknoaledge the compliment. He felt deeply the manner in which the toast had been received, and was delighted to meet so in trlligent and respectable a body of those whom lie repre sented in the Town Council. He, considered it indispen sabl, necessary that the councillors should meet and mix with their constituents, in order that both parties might be made acquainted with each other's sentiments and opinions ; and while the councillors all went into the hall free to support their own opinions, sill it was thei boun den duty, if they found those opinions did not concur with the views of their constituents immediately to re sign their seats. (Hear, hear.) With regard to those religious subjects which came before the Council, al though he was not one of those who thought the council chamber a fit place for reli g ious debates, but rather that it was their duty to promote by every possible means the health and c••mfort of the lower classes, still he had not the slightest hesitation in saying that his principies were distinctly and decidedly Protestant. (Hear, hear, and loud cheers ) Let them refer to the history of for mer times, when the Papal supremacy extended over all Europe, and look at the ignorance and superstition of all classes, which resulted trorn its policy ; let them look at the fate of Spain in our own day, and the state of degra dation and misery to which the Roman Catholic religion had reduced that unhappy country, and it would be strange indeed it they could be otherwise than hostile to such an erroneous and mischief-fraught hierarchy— (cheers.)—and every man who did not join in support of the Protestant cause was guilty of a gross dereliction from a plain and sacr:d duty. After an allusion to the intro duct on of the Bible into the schools under the direction of the Council, he remarked that he was in favour of per suasive rather than forcible measures fur effecting the conversion of the Roman Catholics, but he did not see much hope of influencing the minds of the old ; but he thought by placing the Bible in the hands of the young, the next generation of Romanists would be converted to Protes tantism. He was not afraid of the Roman Catholics gain ing the ascen :alley. It was not to be believed in these days that the knowledge and truth-seeking people of Eng land would be deluded by such a system of superstition and idolatry ; and lie hoped rather to convert the Itoroan , ists than feared they would seduce the Protestants from the pure faith. NN ith regard to the boasted increase of Roman Catholics, he thought the pries's had drained every penny from the pockets of their deluded followers, and had used it to create a false show ; and that although their buildings increased, there really was no advance in the number of their worshippers. (Cheers.) Several ex cellent letters had been lately written by his friend, Mr. H G. Harbord, on the subject of improvements in the Park, and he thought that was a subject to which the Council ought to pay great attention. He wished to see the dwellings of the poor made comfortable—public walks—play-grounds, and places of amusement provided for their recreation—so that on a summer's evening, the labouring population might spend their leisure in such a manner as to secure health and happiness, and by destroy ing vicious and drinking pursuits, to produce among them good and virtuous habits. (Cheers.) Mr. Councillor GLAZEBROOE expressed the great sa tisfaction he felt in accepting the invitati n for warded him by the worthy secretary, Mr. Bunton, to meet the Protestant Conservative Association of Toxteth Park at that festive board. He agreed with that society in think ing that all genuine, vital. and so id politics were based on Protestantism ; and he thought great praise was due to them for setting an example to a class of society more wealthy than themselves—he meant that next above themselves—of a firm adherence to such a sound princi ple, the adoption of which was equally irnportaet to all classes, Having based his politics upon Protestalt ism, he could then safely trust in the superstructure ; and if he was asked why he was a conservative, he should reply, because he saw himself in possession of security to life and property, of a rational liberty, well defined and well explained, and of the right of private judgment; because he found himself in a country where the freedom of the press was a certain guarantee for the maintenance of true constitutional liberty ; and where the principles of the Christian faith were ever first acknowledged in all public acts— " Church" and State. (Loud cheers.) When he reflected upon the strides towards intellectual, cotnmercial, and n'.tional greatness, made by this country during the few centuries it has ranked among the nations of the earth, and the vast cost of this advancement, and the comforts and blessings now in the possession of this country, and that other nations were still in a barbarous state, worshipping devils, thirsting for each other's blood, and ranging the "foods and wilds naked and untaught savages, he was enabled properly to calculate the position of England. It was reflections like these, and some such, which made him a conservative. This was the more needful, because their privileges were attacked by some; and close familiarity wttli theta had lessened the sense of their value in the minds of others. (Cheers.) The mind and spirit of a man required nourishment and refresh ment as well as his body, and he came among his con stituency for the purpose of deriving new strength and encouragement to stand forth in behalf of principles they professed in common. " As iron sharpeneth iron, so • doth the countenance of a man his friend"—(cheers) — and he never came among them, but he receked the en couragement he required, (Cheers.) They were not only attacked by open enemies, but injured by professed friends—(hear, near)—but he would have them never for ' get that theirs was an association of principle. not of party. (Hear. hear, and cheering.) He would cast off party to the four winds of heaven sooner than relinquish one atom of the principles of truth. Ile would say tnat, let a man come to them recommended as highly as he might, of excellent private character and great commer cial elevation, unless he came on Protestant principles, reject him. He would not mention names, but they had acted nobly, and as he would have them on a late occca sion, when they rej -eted a gentleman of hi h name and distinguished connexions, because lie possessed not this one thing needtul. (Cheers.) Mr. Glazebrook con cluded by a further exhortation to prove faithful to their principles, and sat down amid loud cheers. Mr. Councillor HARBORD also returned thanks for the honour conferred Oil him by the meeting. It was pretty well known that he was a Protestant, and he was riot ashamed further to confess that he was also an Orange man, as Orangeism was but the essence of Protestantism. (Cheers.) He was more proud ot belonging to that body than he was of being a member of the Town Council— (cheers)—not that he lightly estimated the position in which their votes had placed him, but because he could better advance those right, honest, English, Protestant principles which he believed to be essential to the well being of the country. After a few other remarks Mr. 11. concluded by reiter ting his thanks. Mr. Councillor JONES, in a neat speech, acknowledged the cotnpliment. al r. MANN said—As one of the youngest members of the c ounc il, aad representative , f the last Ward, No. 16, it was fitting be should be the last to rise to acknowledge the honour paid to him, although he was proud to say that be represented a Ward whicti returned its principles by the largest majority to the Town Council. He would be, indeed, devoid ot feeling if he was insensible to the very kind manner in which they hid welcom e d hi m amongst them that evening. He assured them he re ceived their invitation to dine with them with tnuch gra • tification—not for the sake of exulting over their oppo nents, although their conduct on the occas i on o f t h e l ate election for North Toxteth Ward was exceecingly ques tionable, putting the electors to the trouble and annoy acme of a contest with a counterfeit candidate, whilst they held Mr. Holt's letter of refusal to take the office if re turned ; neither did he think Mr. Holt well used by she withholding of the letter, and giving cause for suspicion of its sincerity. He was gratified, moreover and espe cially, by their invitation, inasmuch as it afforded him an opportunity of making a more intimate acquaintance with the operative Conservatives of the Ward, a body of men who, if they are true to their principles, must have learned, in common with himself, not only to tear God, but to honour the Queen, and to do their duties in those stations which Providence in His wisdom had allotted to them. They had all of them their several duties, commencing at their homes, amidst their families, and extending in their proper positions through all the relationshii.s of life; and ' he might be permitted Co say, without intending it as a complaint, that the duties of their representatives were anything but of a light or artificial nature, occupy ing muc h time, constant attention, and frequently perplexkg and vexatious ; they had, however, placed the I lough in his hands, and it was not his intention to look back. and it would be his object to deserve the approhation of that great body the operatives of the town , whether clothed in a little brief authority or as a pirate individual. lie had been anticipated by the preceding speakers in some re marks he had intended to have made, and would, there fore, not detain them further, but take the liberty of moving the suspension of the standing order of toasts. whilst he begged the permission of the Chairman to pro pose the health of a gentleman, of high honour, respected and esteemed by all who knew him. one who had served them in troublous times, in whose shoes it was his pri vilege no less than his misfortune to stand—h, said mis fortune, by reason of the distidvantage of the contrast — be need hardly mention the name of their late represen tative, Alexander Smith, Esq. The toast was drunk with the warmest applause. Mr. Alderman CHILTON returned tirmks to the com pany for drinking his hi alth ; and apologies for the ab sence of Mr. Bushby and Mr. Sheppard were made. Mr. Alderman CHILTON then, in a highly complimen tary speech, proposed the health of the president, Mr. Longworth. The toast was drank with three times three hearty cheers, and the Chairman returned thanks. Mr. ROBERTsoN proposed the health of Mr S.L.Trot man, the late member for South roxteth, and expressed the great satisfaction all his constituents felt with respect to his public conduct as their rep' esentive. Mr. TROTMAN briefly returned thanks, and intimated that his retirement froM the Town Council was only tem porary, and owing to other private engagements. The VICE-CHAIRMAN proposed the health of Mr. Joseph Cooper, a gentleman who had also seivtd the electors in the Town-Council. Mr. COOPER returned thanks, and made some excel lent remarks respecting the state of the It wer classes, and providing them with a mere plentiful supply of water ; the paving and flagging of the courts in the ttrvo ; and of the necessity of a stip at the south end of the town for the Cheshire ferry boats. Mr. Cooper also intimated that he might at a future period be induced to offer his services as a member of the Council. The VICE-CniattmAN proposed " Our glorious con s'itution in church ard state," which was drunk with nine times nine cheers. and •' Prote,tant fire," most of the company adding to the toast the words "and no surren der ! " Mr. JOHN DOYLE responded to the toast, and in an ex cellent speech enlarged upon the inroads making under our present Conservative administration upo❑ the Pro testant church in these realms. Mr. THOMAS INMAN, in proposing the next toast, now felt it necessary to say a few %ords wits reference to it. All strong partisans were looked very coldly upon, even by the more moderate of their own party, and more espe cially by their political and religious opponents, such sub jects, therefore, should be approached in a cautious and deliberate manner, so as not to give umbrage to our more moderate friends, or to excite the feelings of our political enemies. This ought to be our general conduct, but in times like the. present, when the Protestant institutions of our country are attacked on every side—threatened too, from that man who was carried to Hs present exalted po sition by the Protestants and conservative electors ot Eng land, by a man who, we must admit, is in the possession of talents of the very highest order, who has raised his coun try from the depths of despondency, m sery, and ruin, to her present healthy and 1-uo ant state; has restored trade, promoted commercial confidence, banished disaf fection, and, by his management, has brought us a surplus revenue—in times, too, when associations of loyal man are persecuted by the arbitrary interference of the liadical magistrates of our own borough, it is the duty of every British subject to speak boldly his opinions and to protess openly his principles. Three years since, he thought Orangt-ism must, of necessity, have been something very monstrous ; he was now convinced that ever• consistent Protestant is at heart a sound Orangeman, without being aware of it himself, and without knowing anything of the arcane of an Orange lodge. He would not trespass any further on the rime of the meeting, but would propose at once, " The Grand Protestant Association of Loyal rangemen." The toast was received with the most vehement cheering and rounds of Kentish fire, again and again renewed. Nlr. R. HARBOR') briefly responded to the toast, and stated the determination of every member of the order, whilst unflinchingly maintaining his principles, to uphold the public peace and render strict obedience to the consti tuted authorities. Several other toasts were drank with much enthusiasm, and some of the company did not separate until a late hour. LOCAL AND PROVINCIAL NEWS. Mr. Henry Phillips Cooper, of Eastham, and Mr. Thos. Vaughan, of Poulton. cum Spittle, have been duly ap pointed the High Constables of the Hundred of 'Wirral,' for the ensuing year. ZOOLOGICAL TRANSIT.—A remarkably fine polar bear, two royal tigers, and a splendid tigres4, taken from Li verpool, were shipped at Hull, on Thursday, for Ham burg. Sir Philip Egerton, M.P., by whom the foundation stone of Birkenhead Docks was laid on the 23d ult., has completed his sittings to T. H. Midge, Esq., fur a whole length portrait, which is to be placed in the Town-hall at Birkenhead. POLYGAMY.—On Thursday last a man named George Morris, alias Moran, was brought up at the Manchester Borough Court, charged with having no less than three wives. It appeared that he had married a woman named Sarah Wood, as his first wife, at the Collegiate Church, Manchester, some time ago, He afterwards married another woman, who now lives in Gun -street, Manches ter; and he has married a third, who lives in Liverpool. He was committed to the assizes. A man of the name of Joseph Woods, was, on Thurs day. fined ss. and costs, by Mr. Rushton, for having broken a window of the Mayor's dressing-room at the Town-hall. His defence was, that he had been an attor ney at Leicester for eight years, and that, being now ar rived at the very lowest state of destitution, he had bro ken the windt•w for the purpose of being taken into cus tody, and thereby provided with bread. He was recom mended to apply to the overseers. • MANSLAUGHTER.—On Tuesday, an inquest was held before the Borough Coroner, on view of the body of John Mullineux. The deceased, it appeared, was in a state of intoxication, in Milton-street, on the Ist instant, and quarrelled with a fellow of the name of John Lomax. whom he accidentally met, and with whom be had some slight previous acquaintance. From words they fell to blows, and, in the scuffle that ensued, Lomax threw him on the ground, and in the fall his left thigh was fractured. From the effects of the injury he languished in the North ern Hospital until Saturday last, and then died. A ver dict of manslaughter was returned by the jury, and Lomax was committed for trial. A respe , table looking man, named Thomas Kean, was brought up on Tuesday, charged with having forged the will of a gentleman named James Baines. The case was opened at some length by Mr. Owen. snlicitor, at the con clusion of which the prisoner earnestly desired that a re mand might take place until the following day. He said he had f,ur witnesses, whose evidence would bring home the forgery to another individual then in court. Mr. Rushton ordered the case to stand over ill next day. On Wednesday the prisoner was again brought up, and after some part of the evidence had been gone into, the case was further remanded till Friday, when the prisoner was committed to take his trial at the ensuing assizes. HOOTON AND EASTHAM. — The birthday of Sir W. Masaev Stanley, bart., the worthy proprietor of Hooton and Eastham, was celebrated on Monday list with a series of rural festivities of a most gratifying nature. The hon. bart. entertained near one thousand of his neighbours and friends to dinner, in a splendid marquee ; and several hundreds of the scbrol and other children in the hall. In th afternoon the populace were amused with a profusion of rural sports which created great enjoyment and excite ment. in which the family at Hooton mixed most freely. The health of the hon. bart. was drank with the most hearty good will and uproarious applause. On Wednes day the worthy baronet entertained a large party to a ball and supper, which passed off with great eclat. EMBROIDERY.—We have just inspected one of the patent quaquaversal stands applied, among other pur poses, for needle-work, and pronounce it to be one of the most useful and ingenious contrivances of the present day. It consists of a beautiful enriched frame. in imita tion of carved work, in which the work is enclosed, and ever it is placed a thick plate glass. The frame is richly gilt, and supported upon a handsome turned pillar, inside of which revokes a rod with a joint and a screw, that enables the frame to be turned to any ande, and used either vertically or i orizomally, so as to be applied at. pleasure either as an ornamental tab .e or fire-screen, rendering it a very useful and elegant ornament to the drawitiv,-room. Others are in imitation of oak, rose won& &c., and are really beautiful. We advise our fair readers to inspect them at the manufactory, 52, Bold street. SELECT VESTRY, TUESDAY.—In the Workhouse, the week bt forelast, there were 1.791 paupers, who cost la 101 d. per head, and £167. 18s. lid. in money. At the same period last year the number was 1.815, at Is. 71d. net head, and £146. Ils. 61d. The number cf out-doo • cases relieved during the past fortnn.ht was 6,843, at an expense of £758. 12s. lid ; being 213 cases and £ll. 12s. sd. less than at the corresponding period of list year. The retort from the fever hospital at the Workhouse shows a still turther increase of cases both of fever and small pox, there having been upwards of one hundred cases within the ward=, attributable to the existence of epidemic pre vailing in the town. Cases left at the last report. 66; ad mitted since, 37—total, 103. Discharged, 22; dead, 6 remaining of fever, on the 22d November, 75. Small pox cases : lett at last report, 1 ; admitted since, B—re maining, on the 23d November. 9. Ophthalmia cases : left at last report. 5 ; admitted since, 4—total, 9. Dis charged, 4 ; remaining, on the 23d November, 5. On the motion of Mr. Arthur Henderson, seconded by Mr. Maynard. an increase of £lOO per annum was voted to the secretary's salary. A subcommittee was appointed to confer with the Mayor respecting the intended new law of settlement. The supply of good wheat straw for the use of the Workhouse for the next twelve months Wllll contracted for with Mr. John Rimmer, of Httyton, at 6d. per stone. CHARGE OF MUTINY—OR I neschty \Volum ker and James Elliott were brought before Mr. Rushton, at the Police-court, on a charge of mutinous conduct on board a vessel in the American trade, called the Jersey Tar. The testimony of Joan M'Kaee, the captain, and Elias Lessueur, the mate suppored by that of Captains Alexander and Bailey, the commanders of English ves sels, who were present at the time, showed that while the ship was lying at Trieste the prisoners tell upon the mate and beat him sev ere l y , an d upon Captain M'Kane inter fering they also struck him. The men were atterw,rds taken before the civil authorities of the port, and sent home in irons on board twir own vcssel. Mr. Rushton highly complimented tile c pain for his temperate and forbearing conduct ; the evidence scarcely established the charge of mutinous intention, but for the assault he ordered that the prisoners should forfeit all their wages and each pay a fine of £5, or, in default, to be imprisoned two months. MEETING ON THE DUTY ON COTTON. —ln accordance with notice given by Mr. Cl ,re, on Friday we-k, the Li verpool Cotton Broker's Association met on Thur-day last, for the purpose of taking into consideration a me morial to the Lords of the Treasury, with a view to obta;n the abolition of the duty on cotton wool ;—Mr. Marriott, the chairman presiding. The arguments used by M r. Clare were, in effect, that restrictions in the free irn portation of raw material for manufactures in this country were impolite, and especially the duty on cotton ; that our continential neighbours paid a much less duty, and that it a-as necessary fur the comfort of the artisan and labourer, end in order that we might to that end be en abled successfully to compete with toreign-rs, the duty should be abolished. Mr. Clare proposed a resolution founded thereon. An amendment was proposed to the effect, that, as it was not the province of the association to move in the matter, ►he question should be considered that day six months. Mr. Clare's proposition was, how. ever, carried by a very large majority. IRON HOUSES.—We some time ago described the iron palace constructed by Mr. Lsycock for an African king. Since that time Mr. Laycock has received almost innu merable applications for plans of iron houses from d ffer ent parts of the world. He has now in his work...hop, just finished, a very neat iron cottage, which he has just built fur the use of two maiden ladies residing in the island of St. Lucia. It consists of three rooms, each n i ne f eet high, viz., one room 20 feet by 14 feet, and two rooms 12 feet by 10 feet. There are six large jealousy windows, and two small ones over the front and back doors; these and the floors are the only parts made of wood. Tnere is an inside ceiling of iron in panels, and the roof is in wrought iron frame and covered with galvanised plates of iron. The walls are formed of double plates of iron, with a thin stratum of air between them, an arrangement that will prevent the passing of the solar heat into the interior I of the building, at least through the walls, and keep the interior delightfully cool. Fire weight of the hnitding is fourteen tons, and the cost rather more than £2OO. M Rs. WARE'S READINGS ON MUSIC.—On Thursday sen'night Mrs. Ware gave the first of a s ties of reAings upon this interesting subject, at the Union Rooms, Slater street, to a select audience, to whom her able and per spicuous manner of treating it, arid the pleasing vocal illustrations by which her lessons .were intersnetsed, seemed to afford the liveliest satisfaction. We can honestly assure cur readers, and especially those who have families to train up, that, with respect to the correct princirles upon which musical instruction ought to be conducted, and its difficulties simplified for the better comprehension of the young, they will receive much use ful advice and much pleasure by attending Mrs. Ware's lectures. In addoion to the matter, which is excel'ent, and displays the possession by Mrs. Ware of a richly stored mind and elegant taste, we must state that ye never heard a lecture upon any subject more beautifully delivered. Mrs. Ware is evidently an elocutionist of a very high order. In the course of the evenn,g Mr. Ware performed, in excellent style, and with great judgment, a fantasia on the piano-forte, and a capriccio upon the violin. The second of the series was delivered on Thurs day evening last. and was respectably attet•ded. by an audience which appeared fully to enjoy the excellence of matter and manner which characterized the former. We should really recommend the enaagement (if practicable) of this lady to deliver these lectures at some of our public institutions. As an oratorical lesson merely, independent o f their other excellencies, they would be invaluable. BALL AT TILE TOWN HALL.—The fifth annual Cha rity Ball, of the Licensed Victualler's Society took place at the Town-hall, on Wednesday evening; the attendance, though not so numerous (approaching 600) as on for mer occasions, was of the most respectable description, lolly justifying the patronage conferred upon it by the neigh bouring nobility and gentry. Among the company pre sent who took an active interest in either its proceedings or objects, we were glad to perceive Peter Greenall, Esq., M.P. and party, from St. Helen's ; John Lawrence. Esq, and party ; Sir George Munro, Bart.; Robert Jones, E-q.; P- Wright, Esq. ; James Wilson, Esq.; J. Rent, Esq. ; Thomas Rees, Esq.; James Mulleneux, Esq. ; James Radley, Esq.; James Miller, Esq., &c. &c. The refreshments a ere furnished by Mr. Towers, who, on this occasion, outdid himself. The music for the two rooms was under the direction of Mr. Horrabin. who was in attendance with the well-known Wellington-rooms hand, whilst Mr. Parker's Royal Cheltenham band was placed at the foot of the staircase, who played, during the evening, some of the most popular and favourite airs in their usual excellent style. The whole arrangements were such as to reflect the highest credit on the managing committee, and will, dcubtless, be rewarded on future oc casions by an increased patronage from the public. Per haps, however, the gentlemen composing it will deem themselves in some degree recompensed for their disinter es'en exerti-ns by the sight of so many lovely smiling faces assembled together in the enjoyment of a pleasura ble and innocent recreation, whose ultimate object was the promotion of the interests of the sacred cause of Cha rity. The company broke up at a late hour, highly gra tified by the whole of the evening's to ertainments and arrangements. PRESENTATION TO MR. BROWN, SUPERINTENDENT OF LOCKERS.—A meeting of the custom Iriuse lockers took place on Thursday evening, for the purpose of pre senting to Mr. J. Brown, a gold watch, and an address expressive of their esteem and regard for him, for the kindness and urbanity uniformly displayed by him in the discharge of his duties as superintendent during the 12 years he had been amongst them. M r. Bell, one of the oldest and most respectable officers of the port, was called to the chair, and expressed the plea-ure be felt in presid ing on so interesting an occasion, which was alike honour. able to both parties. After highly complimenting Mr. Brown as a man and an officer, he said they were about to lose him, but there was the pleasing reflection that he would carry with him the approbation and respect of his brother officers. He felt honoured in being deputed by the sub-cribers to present the watch and address, of which he begged Mr. Brown's acceptance, as a small but genu ine tribute of their regard, and hoped he might long live to enjoy the pleasing remembrance of that evening's pro ceedings, as well as the delights of consc'ous rectitude, and the full approbation of his fellow men.—Mr. Brown, in affecting terms, expressed the gratification he felt in reflecting, that while he had ever been diligent and faith. tul in the discharge of his duty, he had so deported him self as to leave behind him so many kind friends, and he trusted but few enemies; at all events he could say he was not aware that he bad ever needlessly given offence to any one ; feeling, as became his duty, a warm interest in the service, and in the character and conduct of its officers, he bad always urged a willing and cheerful obe dience to its rules and discipline. He thanked them most sincerely for their very cordial reception, their splendid present, and very feeling and flattering address. He would certainly keep both by him, not only as testimo nials of the approbation of his brother officers in Liver pool, but, if requisite, as incentives to the continuing in well doing. He would only say it would always afford him the highest pleasure to hear of their continued una nimity, happiness and prosperity.—A vote of thanks was then passed to the chairman and committee,in the course of which some appropriate remarks were made by the se. conder, complimentary to the higher officers of the cus toms as a body. INFORMATIONS AGAINST PUBLICANS.—On Friday, at the Police-court, the following publicans and beerseliers were fined in the amounts (with ccsts) attached to their names for various intracti ins of the local act, chitfly for permitting drunkenness, or selling within hours, *speci ally on Sunday.) when liquors cannot be supp.ied with law :—Stephen Lowry, beerseller, William-street, 605.: Elizabeth Lynas, beer-seller, Frtetnason's-ri w, (i , gairist whom there were several former convictions,) 50s ; Bar tholomew Golding, beerseller, Bolton -street, (tor permit ting men, women, and mere boys—known thieves, to dance and drink in his house,) £5. In the follow ng cases the parti• s were acquilted :—Robert Edwa ds, a ing cellar keeper, (tor permitting druiikencess.) Wi Halliday, of the Commercial Inn, Dale-str, et, w l o was charged with havng allow' d dru 'kermess in his house. This case had been adjourn •d limn the previous Friday. Inspector Burton stated that at ten ninnies past two o'clock on Sunday morning, tie 17ih instant, be heard a noise in the house, and on going in with police constable No. 256, he found six young gentlemen in the front par lour ; five of them were engaged in tossing; one was laid full ler4th upon the table, and another had his head upon the table. He considered the whole of them to be in li quor; three of them cernenly were drunk. A decanter and glasses, one of which contained wine, were upon the table. Mr. Halliday told him the parties were stopping in his house all night.—Police constable No. 256 con firmed this statement.—Mr. Harden, barriste-r. sew:tied for Mr. Halliday . He said the house was one of the most respectable inns in the town, sti that it hate tie,n con ducted now for a per'od of half a century without the slightest complaint. He contended that a chstincti'.n must be drawn in the application of the law, between houses of this sort, where great conveniences were afforded to commercial men, and houses of another character. The ponies found in the house were all inmates, commercial men, who, it being the end of the week, had ordered sup per to be prepared for them, and it was placed upon the table at a quarter to twelve o'clock. There were only two bottles of wine served to them, which, being divided among seven, would not be sufficient to make ativ of them drunk. In conclusion, he urged that Mr. Halliday had dine more than he was bound to do in providing fit the comfort and accommodation of these c mmrrcial teen — which, indeed, was the only means of inducing customers to resort to his house. Mr. Harden then called several witnesses, who cleatls proved the' the parties were lodg ers, that only two bottles of wine had been supplied; that none of them were drunk ; and that all of them were in bed in less than ten minutes after the police were in.-- Mr. Rushton, in announcing the decision of the magis trates, said they were of opinion that a case of drunken ness had not been made out; but he thought it one for caution, because it was quite a mistake to suppose that a house like this was under any other law than the general law. The officers had done quite tight in entering the house when they heard the noise ; but, at the same time, the charge of permitting drunkenness had not been made out, and the defendant must therefore be acquitted.