The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1843-11-14 00:00:00

Nov. 14 , 1843 CORRESPONDENCE. O pr,„ EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. ''lll he enclosed reply to two letters which lately_ s eu in the Liverp oo l M a il, c h arg i ng th e m i nis ters of rb ws c?leli church here with breaking their ordination th at • 0 ., havi ng b een refused insert i on at t h e o ffi ce o f may j a per unle s s I wou ld pay for it as. an advertisement, TdegreQuest you t o g i ve i t pu bli c it y i n y our co l u mns on is oi .. ' "ay next, as a simple act of justice to the parties Immediately on I ana, Sir Yours respectfully, JOHN GARDNER B, I T TH E EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL ,patstby he Public of Liverpool owe you and your .wor iottis_ .Pondent, " Presbyter." a deep debt of gratitude e.f._inimitable simplicity with which you have disposed tee Sco to tch Church question, and for the extremely de et„aild charitable way q in which' you have, of late. been kk„ — "g With e e l o p the ministers among us who have, "in a N il a t e xcitement"—according to an authority anon littZ...h.!rge space in the public eye of Liverpool at pre p carried away by free church principles. Re tvra,s l• the letter of " Presbyter," in your paper of Sa- It q l r i last, You make the remark that it sets the case in !litedi P t e ,r light in a few words; and you therefore recom ktrest`9 the attention of such of your readers as take an ~aaerl.? the subject. In this calm and philosophical l e ,",°° " subject is set at rest," and " a service is mOis esk le public," by the publication of the sage con l'yetta: which—by a process of strict, logical reason 14‘ild b o a Your correspondent have arrived. f i k l: t ar e _" then, sir, is this grave subject set at rest ? and io.. eeitain ministers proved to have broken their or -1141 vow s ? " Presbyter" quotes correctly the for -111141014d by each minister when ordained ; and then, e °l3 rinciples, proceeds to reason upon the same. !Ir k; r , I admit the force of the reasoning, on his own I llie eo ut I deny the applicability either of the premises Zorti r nc f lusion to the point at issue. The ministers to k _k res‘ c.erenc e is here made, and, of course, made with ;dissncdip n,',lneritions, hold the doctrines, worship, govern ltcihnheeuy, as these existed when they accepted ti ty `us of the rc s h till hold these as they exist in the r tb i l k stra ti Yter"e but not easily e ry e co t m n p o re w h o e r n d d s ed , oversight, does presently" Ittkitesent establishment" in the formula ; and so he Ztc:nee to the grave and solid conclusion, that the d Church in Scotland now is the same, in all as she has ever been ; and would have us believe * Pective of all changes which have taken pl a ce, ._ Must adhere to her. Suppose, for the sake of ~.' the Establi s h e d Ch urc h i n Scotland to become L t40%.0 s r to be o verrun b y h eresy o f any name , m i n i sters uch principles of reasoning, still adhere to her, t i' le utts the Church was in a state of comparative cit! at Y bad sworn to uphold her. I most explicitly k , .the present Establishment in Scotland is the Zlisi tt !_nas ever been ; and this on the authority, not 1 31-b li `:°se noble men who have renounced her commu- N t On the authority of the leading moderates in the k r.s tablishme n t. B u t as l am no t ca ll e d u p on t o Lite o P e gativ . e, I leave to " Presbyter" and you, the 17.4 1 i i t .shewing that the Established Church in Scot- Ikte e i ° connexion with the state, and as a church, is h n doctrine, worship, government, and discipline IZtrei l ls ever been. No minister in the Presbyterian h: t England, holding Free Church principles has ord: • te 44 .rition vows, but, o . n the contrary, the o,themPliolding these in all their integrity, and prov tZeli an p o rld his sincerity in so doing by suffering re lin'. But there is another grievous fallacy in k611..t the Presbyter." He seeks to identify the mi e Pre s b y t er i an Ch urc h i n E ng l an d wi th th e 71e ltet, ta ~.° f the Church in Scotland. This is quite in n...-Lviinisters ordained by Presbyteries in England ordained not for the Established Church in Otie eev ut for the Presbyterian Church in England, kil itice4. „,i sng ° t lvvith the Church of Scotland—a con only in sending friendly deputations, °l,lty be dissolved at any given moment with -44,44t England to eithtr, party. The Presbyterian ill •tngland is a separate, independent church, Ltpet,:ideed the Westminster standards, but free from On the part of the Established Church in Scot yttiel-41klisters of the Presbyterian Church in England liNilati„l l ,te only to their own presbytery and synod, and L. t he least degree so to any church courts in Scot %esentence of deposition may be, and has been, kj ° ltte t .l l 9y the, Presbyterian Church in England, on Itk u elng a licentiate of the Church of Scotland ; Ne4l4o:4ch sentence is reported to the presbytery p e l the minister has received his license to preach tec e ,,,.te rhs ' and to the General Assembly, such sentence 1 .01 1 . 4 4 (" 411 Y confirmed by either court, but is simply t eti ittp roG :t their own guidance as to the deposed person, co f that the Established Church claims no juris le,lllB kingdom. Ministers of the Presbyterian It u titei r talgland are at full liberty, as are all men, to Itli t 'ili en ° W t. n views as to the principles adopted, and th il e t r lib e '23 7 any separate church ; and they are also at ~; ! Ey to act, publicly and privately, in con- Altt""hh own views, so long as they do the ° the hurt or prejudice of the church in kli k le e l.are ministers. In conjunction with their tiae, 6 l l ° ll B, they are also at perfect liberty to make Nth ° °' any object which they may deem a righteous Vet,o4t consulting trustees, or any other parties ; rtle the in these, and in all other matters, they are i tt ll4 t ai , higher ecclesiastical courts, before which, Vtepe"Yrnously, in the pages of a newspaper, how i4;ttet l, e lable, they should be accused and tried. The trtabitf y e an jUStlY calumniated in this, and a preceding ny columns, would had they been ministers of i t ilej ' sh ed church in Scotland, ' have seceded along koobtiogr, brethren—at least I may say so for myself— J;li gt tel lu a r B ,_they most undoubtedly are, ministers of myself— ,. ~,cn, they are not called upon to secede from in'unrch, as there exist no grounds to warrant Yit ar S O doing. It is publicly and privately asserted ott teq y bou ir nd to leave the, churches which we at pre: We • most unhesitatingly say that we are not. AL 1 11 13 " , a t Present, bond fide ministers of the established Veth.rinei Pacotland, we would not b e ca ll e d t o accoun t a t th P es held by us, so long as we had no t 1/ tle r i n , ced of demi ss i on or ac t o f separa ti on . L oo k tim eB°° g cases of Be nn i e an d Gl over , of Edinburgh ? efo ,of Curri e —th e f ormer o f whom, immedi: vi re the disruption, declared that the established ti"Td in the light of the Court of Session and Y'd °t Lords, was a " moral nuisance, and as such \ k talb, B wePt from the face of the earth." All these, te',„°,the.rs, remain quietly in possession of their ‘orseQn stipends, and have never, so far as we have l 'ith e n , been called to an account. In consistency 4_ th e ,T ,l t t i vet k_ Procedure of the establishment. we would ho gs called upon by the church courts to resign !it even • h ere we in Scotland. Ido not seak a i,,!te eea at we should feel bound to do in suc p h GirtL op o i as a testimony for the truth. 'Then, as to the t he h P i r ?Perty, which is held "in terrorem" over our election truth is this, that, while in the event of 11,4 „ e "on of a minister, the point may be raised of not being a licentiate of the church established iSttt:t ° st of the trust deeds requiring a licentiate of tti e h li oed church,) y e t, a s to the present incum &teihti Point can neither in law nor in justice be Ntlki t et that all of them are licentiates of the church Roby ~,and have done nothing either here or else litilliett",oich their status can be in the slightest de u... I hold it then to be at once most unjust h, lit; a , 3 _,to charge ministers with " trifling with the aie t ";lPles of morality, and as having no claim to 8. ' tlp,„ Of 1 , I t not unfrequently happens, Sir, that in a gapp 011o t ae c i a ,Y unconsciousness, we judge others by ) 10 ti t r u , but whether it be so in the present case k kti o Z: P„ a o l . kn . ow, and desire to know, nothing of Il e , thing, however, I would press upon his tv1 11 . 4 1: . in o p ra t a r ks of morality.. Let him then know Ity i n principle is love to God in the .1 , oft Pr actice, it is love to man, flowing from qty wutemitCtem cutain it is, the letter of Presbyter is I.tete i ch th• of the essence of all morality—the tit in' ink itit e r , tite rs etla no evil. Before he ventures so to , let him lay his hand upon his heart, and ';, 4 ltet i f 4 en 111 1. 1 " ounce the sentence. He maybe one og th e ° delight in " injunctions," and may be Ikt w i t th e i,. Pleasure of seeing a few more hurrying Oij, all 0 ,1 career of mischief; but I would remind W' ci ted T h ers i , of an injunction given by one of old, ‘'ili e t care st : law of his day, and given in precisely ‘Otid etas t " o ri ces. Take heed to yourselves what ye \Litit„ it th e itching these men. " Refrain from these alone ; for if this counsel or this work tte l l trth r ,.; curve to nought ; but if it be of God, ye "tkl, , , "iv It, lest, haply, ye be found even to fight i 4i tt I am, Sir, yours respectfully, 4 / 0 ,,, of the JOHN GARDNER, web i a Scotch Church, Birkenhead, Cheshire ets, 1843. 1 , 0 V l k\v MR. ALDERMAN EVANS. I ti l ... - Nt the e nehate in Council, on Thursday last, when '§,,:titlt,,r-election of Robertson Gladstone, Esq. to & 4 e i t' p l ' a o p i r th r o e u p g o h rt t ) proper (i f a I make comparison ma y believe a the s to Pti:lio,f i:thtehtiotlrn9eman fsr : filling the office, and ,R , ti i c e °73 fess it a very painful alternative for him 4.,Nuore-election of Mr. Gladstone, because, :1 L" n ot mention names, the person who pro- yttvittsi's)s; substituted l bstituted for him was one who, in his I t) itrouciPinion, in all the requisites of a Mayor . tA o : a t I tl e r s a u b o l y oes h s i o s r i o n f ferio r r. i Mr. G " l a d N' s t o o w ne Sir, wou 171 11 l Vetti lv fi a !a matter of doubt, at least, nosingwleeirne -1 e 7O te n upon for that honour. There „\ toleauemen, I believe, to be proposed by their' Vel. N OOO 4B , one of whom I well know you . were ti l ''ail t , i 2t ; however, I am justified in coming to N'lr t e tw o qat Your remark was intended for one of ' Vela k ; gentl emen i n quest i on , it is now well 1 is ' T ames Lawrence and Mr. G. H. Law jtttot;4' ea you to the denial that you were 1 / 41 t t ou you would not support, the latter t ti1 te 41 4.1.." it. be, Sir, that the straight-forward, 000;14-Minded, and honest Eyre Evans would 4 4 4 , i ' Ali .. t .,? a gentleman so very far from being ki-ti t l . 'tie civic chair? I think, Sir, it could kat;!erefore I must come to the conclusion ttee‘ e w as intended for the former gentleman. Nlitltgre o nsider how far Mr. James Lawrence's n,,e,, ° .!lot e t w is ith your view of the case. I would ask ," ) .!ti o `,at gentleman ever since his first return ' ikli t me h il' i ' 3, by his indefatigable attention to his \I kailly W- ? , and that he can, afford to devote the 'tt k t litm.fro,'',,tuatio n he may be called upon to fill 1,;.'4 0 - „"im• Has not he been chairman of two 'i tt ' e nli Vot and arduous committees which are - o r o , - n Council ? Committees, Sir, which a - mind could have conducted in the same „-;„ ba d , , o sr' admirable manner. Was be not fixed upon by the coun cil as one individual most fitted to watch the Fire Preven tion Bill through both houses of parliament ; and can you say, Sir, that he did not go through this with ability and judgment. There are many other things which I could bring forward in favour of this gentleman, but the length of this letter forbids my doing so. It appears to me that Mr. James Lawrence's public conduct has been such as to merit the approbation of all classes of the community, therefore, in the remark you made, it could not apply to him on that ground. But, perhaps, there may be some thing in his private conduct which would make him so immeasurably Mr. Gladstone's inferior; and yet, even that I think will bear the strictest scrutiny. For straight forwardness, independence, high-mindedness, and honesty he will bear comparison with yourself ; and if we look a little deeper, and touch upon his moral virtues, they do reflect a purity, a gleam of which even you, Sir, pure as you may be, could not but be ambitious to obtain. if these things are true (and I challenge a contradiction) I am at a loss to know where would be the deficiency ; surely it is not in the fact that his business does not re quire him to traverse the flags of the Exchange, (and I have heard such a qualification strongly advocated,) but you may depend upon it if this is the only point in which he is deficient, you will find that there is a spirit and de termination in this town which, once roused, will make you and your haughty fellow merchants quail under their lash. Let me then advise you and your supporters to consider well before you make such injudicious, improper, and uncalled for comparisons, for they can only tend to cast reflections and insult upon the main stay of this town, viz., the honest and independent tradesmen. I am, Sir, yours very respectfully, CASTIGATOR. I Nov, 11, 1843 PUBLICANISM.—There were five publicans, and three beersellers, brought before the magistrates at the police court, on Friday, all of whom were fined in various amounts from £3 to £l. In the Court of Exchequer, on Wednesday, a rule nisi for a new trial was obtained in the case of Needham a. Law, tried at the recent assizes in this town. The action was against the Leicestershire and Warwickshire Banking Company, and was for money lent. EASTHAM FERRY.—We learn that Sir W. M. Stanley besides building a new pier and hotel at Eastham, is about to build a number of handsome villas at that pleasant ferry, and to take other steps for drawing towards it part of the vast population which is now spreading from Liv erpool on all sides, in search of fresh air and rural scenery. FATAL ACCIDENT.—On Monday last, Thomas Beving ton, while going on board the steamer Blanche, which was lying at the Duke's pierhead, unfortunately fell into the water, and was drowned. The deceased was got out a few minutes after the accident, and conveyed to the receiving house, where every means was used to restore animation, but without effect.—Verdict accidental. MORE FARMING EXPERIMENTS.—Another of our Li verpool gentlemen farmers, Mr. Harold Littledale, has just introduced the cultivation of the globe beet, on his farm at Wallasey. This valuable root, which is scarcely known in the north of England, but to which Mr. Fuse) , has given strong praise, in the " Transactions of the Royal Society of England," is in shape very like a Swedish turnip, but grows to a larger size. It requires no great depth of soil, bears transplanting very well, and forms an excellent food for cattle and for sheep, but especially for mulch cows, as it gives no bad taste to the milk. BIGAMY.—A middle-aged female, not of very prepos sessing appearance, was brought before Mr. Rushton, on Saturday, on a charge of having married 'William Wash ington during the lifetime of her first husband. It ap peared, from the evidence, that the first marriage took place in St. Philip's Church, in April, 1839, and the sec ond at St. David's Church, in May, 1843. At the time she became acquainted with Washington she was acting as a nurse at the Infirmary and he was patient in the insti tution. The courtship was there commenced, she hav ing represented herself to be a widow. She had nothing to say in her defence, and was commuted for trial. DEATH FROM DEBILITY.—An inquest was held be fore the borough Coroner, on Saturday, to inquire into the circumstances touching the death of a new-born fe male child. It appeared, from the evidence, that, as a female of the name of Mary Aikin was going up a dark entry in Leigh-street, the evening before, she kicked against something with her foot, and that, on getting a light, she discovered that it contained the body of the deceased, tied up in a handkerchief. Mr. George Woods surgeon, was of opinion that the child had been born alive, that it had only breathed for a few minutes, and that it died from debility. A verdict to that effect was accordingly returned. BENSON v. CHAPMAN.—This case came before the Court of Common Pleas, on Wednesday, as a special case. The action was brought to recover the amount of a policy of insurance effected on the ship Neptune, trading between Liverpool and Pernambuco, which was materially damaged when off the latter place. The cargo was taken ont, and certain repairs were done. As soon as the owner heard of the vesssl having been wrecked, he gave notice of abandonment to the underwriters, as for a total loss. The question was whether, when a vessel is injured, and requires more repairs than she is worth, the assurer can give notice of a total abandonment, and recover damages from the underwriters. Sir I'. Wilde argued on behalf of the plaintiff, and Mr. Sergeant Channell ap peared for the defendants.—Judgment deferred. MURDER.—An inquest was held, on Saturday, before the borough Coroner, to inquire into the circumstances touching the death of a new-born female child. John Harrison, a porter, stated, that, as he was going along Grafton-street, about half-past six o'clock the evening before, he observed the body, in a state of nudity, lying on the parapet, and that, a police officer having immedi ately called, it was conveyed to the Southern Hospital. Mr. Andrew M'Clennan, one of the Surgeons, of the hospital, said, that there were three marks of contusions, one on the left cheek, another on the left side of the head, and a third on the right side of the forehead. He was of opinion that the child had been born alive, and that con cussion of the brain, the result of violence, such as a fall or blow, had been the cause of death. A verdict of " Wilful murder " was accordingly returned against some person or persons unknown. INCENDIARY FlRE.—Between one and two o'clock on Sunday morning last, a large oat stack, the property of John Gore, a respectable farmer, at Roby, about four miles and a half from Liverpool, was found to be on fire, and 200 bushels of very fine oats, part of the produce of a Cheshire acre and three-quarters of land, were destroy ed. The property was insured in the Atlas office for XBOO. There is but too much reason to believe that the stack was maliciously set on fire; for no fewer than five gates, belonging to the adjoining fields, had been taken off their hinges and thrown into the middle road, for the purpose, as is supposed. of impeding the progress of the engines to the scene. The West of England engine from the town, came in contact with one of the gates, and was in danger of being overturned. Not far from the stack, about 40 yards, a box of lucifer matches was found under a hedge. It appears that Gore had, during the last autumn, cut down the wages of his Irish labourers, and that he thereby caused a general outcry to be raised against him in that part of the country, and by that class ; and itis presumed that the fellows adopted the present mode of revenging themselves for his illiberality. It is said, that they had previously been dropping hints and using threats as to what might happen in case he persevered in his attempt. COUNTY SESSIONS.—An adjourned annual meeting of magistrates was held at Preston on Monday last, for the purpose of electing a governor of the Preston House of Correction, in the room of Mr. Edmund Gibbs, resigned, and transacting other business, of which notice had been given. There were eighty magistrates present, and the Rev. Jonathan Brooks, rector of Liverpool, presided. The number of candidates for the vacant governorship was twenty, but several of them were withdrawn. On the first voting the numbers were—for W. Martin, 34 ; E. Sheppard, 20 ; S. Banister and J. Goodwin, 7 each ; and T. W. Hill, 6. On the second voting the numbers were —Martin, 37 ; Sheppard, 35 ; 'and the former was, ac cordingly, elected by a majority of two. Sir Thos. Potter then brought forward a motion to the effect that at the close of the present financial year the hundreds of Salford and West Derby shall be separated from the rest of the county for all matters relating to the county income and expenditure. He observed that the population of the northern division was only 402,671, and the valuation .£1.362,850 ; whilst in the southern division the popula tion was 1,264,383, and the valuation £4,828,217. This motion was, however, after some discussion, rejected by a majority of 24, the numbers being—for, 13; against, 37. THE DISPENSARIES.—We have been requested to call special attention to the important facts set forth in the memorial from Messrs Morrell and Fosberry, vice-presi dents of the Liverpool Dispensaries, which was presented to the Council on Monday week, and referred to the Finance Committee. We cannot suppose that the Coun cil and the town at large will allow a debt approaching to £1,700 upon those invaluable institutions to remain for any longer time unliquidated, the more particularly when they are informed that unless additional funds be placed at the disposal of the committee one of the Dispensaries will have to be closed. The case calls imperatively for immediate consideration : To the Worshipful the Mayor, Aldermen, and Council of the Borough of Liverpool. The Committee of the Liverpool Dispensaries beg leave respectfully to lay before the Mayor and Common Coun cil, the following statement, hoping that it may appear entitled to a favourable consideration, with a view to ad ditional assistance from the Borough Fund. The Dispensaries have now been in active operations during a period of sixty-five years, the calls upon them live been annually increasing with the increase of the town, until at length the number of cases relieved during the past year amounted to 46,528. A strict inquiry is made in each case as to the ability of the party to pay for medical aid, and none are relieved except those whose poverty gives them a claim upon the charity of others. Were it not for this institution, it is evident that the par ish would be responsible in all these cases, and thus an immense additional expenditure be entailed on the poor. rates. Neiertheless the parish authorities have declined contributing at all to the funds of the Dispensaries. Owing to this circumstance and the inadequacy of the public support, unless additional funds are in the mean time placed at their disposal, the committee look forward to a deficiency at the end of the year of £1,700, which will oblige them, however reluctantly, to close one of the Dispensaries. The amount of suffering which will neces sarily be occasioned by such a step, it is painful to con template. Under these circumstances the committee hope they will not be considered importunate in petitioning the Council to increase their present subscription, and they hope that they are not, in that case, unreasonable in the expectation that their example will be followed by the parish and the town at large. THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. TOWN COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS He thought there was no good ground at present to justify any individual in holding the office for two years. What would the country say ? Either that he (Mr. Gladstone) was the only individual fit to preside ove On Tuesday a special meeting of the Council was held at the Town-hall, "for the purpose of appointing some officer of the corporation to be (subject to the pleasure of the Council) Sergeant -at-Mace, until the appointment to that office (now vacant) is filled up according to the stand ing orders." Liverpool, or that there was some under-current which ought not to exist. (Loud cries of " Hear, hear, and " No, no," from Mr. Aspinall and others.) In making these observations, if he did not appear to be grateful, he did not appear to be what he really was at that moment. (Hear.) lie had experienced no thing but kindness from the council, but he could not shut his eyes to the fact, that the council ought to take the highest grounds for all its proceedings, but in this es pecially, and he thought it was only right arid fair that every man, by good conduct, and by the honest and faithful discharge of his duties to the council, should look, at some time, as a fair object of ambition, to ascend to the chair. (Hear, hear.) He happened to commnicate lately to one who was very near and dear to him, the idea that had been suggested by some friends that he should again be a candidate for the mayoralty ; but the reply he re ceived was opposed to his accepting the offer, if made,) with the remark, that " turn about is fair play." ( Hear, and laughter.) He saw on all sides of that room men as fit as himself for the office. Ile thought he should be damaging the fair fame and reputation of the council by accepting it, for he did not see how he could do so without affording ground for the inference to be drawn that he was the only person amongst them qualified to hold the office of Mayor. (No, no.) Without affectation, he might say, that if they had re-elected him, it would have been a very great inconvenience to himself. It would have been his duty to give up any objection on that score, but the other objection was of a different nature, and in his mind a very strong one, and he did hope that the council would now proceed to elect some gentleman to succeed him, for he was satisfied that they would obtain gentlemen much more able than himself, in whom every confidence might be re posed, let the circumstances with which they had to con tend be as difficult as they might, and who would have no other consideration to actuate them but the public good. (Hear, hear.) He therefore hoped the council would make such a selection as he had spoken of, and he was satisfied that the individual would do ample justice to them in the situation in which he (the Mayor) had been placed during the last twelve months. Mr. AIKIN was exceedingly glad to hear the observations which had fallen from the Mayor, and he must say that he rejoiced at it because he thought Mr. Gladstone would render them more service out of that chair than he could by possibility render if he remained the Mayor of Liver pool. (Cries of " No, no.") The proposition had been made to relieve the Council from a very painful position. (Hear, hear.) He was extremely sorry that this came so suddenly upon them ; he lamented that any gentleman's character should be injured in the slightest degree by an unjust charge • he would be the last to lead himself.to any trick which was to trip a man's character up ; and if it had been possible 'Within the meaning of the act to ad journ for a short time, if they could go that day into an inquiry, he thought that before three o'clock some such report might be made as would enable the Council to proceed exactly as they would have done if no such charge had been heard of. (Hear, hear,) He thought they would have an excellent mayor in Mr. George Law rence, the chairman of the Finance Committee, because he had been zealous and earnest in the discharge of his duty. (Hear, hear, hear.) There was no man with whom he (Mr. Aikin) had differed more than Mr. George Lawrence, but he thought him first entitled to the chair. (Loud cries of " Hear, hear.") Next to him was Mr. Thomas Sands, and if this charge were found to be frivo lous, he would make the asnende honorable to that gen tleman who had been so unjustly charged. (Hear, hear.) He said all this without any knowledge of the facts, or means of judging of them, but he would never allow a man's character to be taken away without inquiry. If Mr. Sands now allowed his name to be withdrawn, it wonld, under all the circumstances give an additional impetus to this on dit that might be injurious to him and to his house, and he and his friends would act more wise ly by saying, " Let us have the facts ascertained now.' (Hear, hear.) He was quite convinced that, under the circumstances, Mr. Sands had exercised a wise discretion in declining the office of Mayor. Mr. BIRKETT quite agreed in what Mr. Aikin had said, with one exception. Mr. Aikin had thrown out a hint that this charge might have arisen from an improper mo tive. Now he (Mr. Birkett) had never heard of it until yesterday, and it had given him a great deal of pain, for a more painful charge could not have been brought. Whether it was true or not it was not for him to judge, but it was only fair towards an officer of the Corporation to say, that he was a person of high, honourable, and un impeachable character, (Hear, hear.) He thought it the more incumbent on him to make this statement, on account of the suggestion thrown out by Mr. Aikin. If it could be considered compatible,—legal he meant, he was ready to agree to an adjournment for two, three, or five days, or for a week, if necessary, but before he proceeded, he begged to ask the Town-clerk whether the Council could legally adjourn. The MAYOR.—The Town-clerk says the Council can adjourn. Mr. BlRKErr.—Then I move that the Council do now adjourn till next Wednesday. (Hear, hear, hear.) Mr. Alderman LAWRENCE..--I am most happy to sec ond that. I think it is a most cruel thing to take away the character of a gentleman in this way. The TOWN-CLERK said the 69th section of the Muni cipal Act—in some copies it was printed as the 68th— contained the regulations as to the meetings of council, and after stating that all questions must be decided by a majority of the whole number present—not being less than one-third—enacted that the first business transacted at the quarterly meeting in November should be the elec tion of Mayor. It was incidental to all meetings of asso ciated bodies to allow adjournments, and in doing so, to allow the discussions which then took place to go as part and parcel of the proceedings of the day on which they originally met; but there was another point which might have been an awkward one under the first act. In that act it was enacted that the Mayor shall continue in office for one year ; but by an amendment, in the 4th section of sth and 6th Wm. IV., chap. 105, it was enacted that the Mayor shall continue in office one whole year, and until his successor shall have accepted the office of Mayor, and subscribed to the necessary declarations. Mr. H. HORNBY was anxious that Mr. Sands should have every opportunity of clearing himself, and certainly he would not be one to offer any opposition to an ad journment of the council, but he questioned whether the adjournment could or ought to take place, or whether they would be justified in doing so. Mr. Arms quite agreed with Mr. Hornby, that there was no sufficient ground for adjournment. Mr. Alderman EvaNs said it was his unfortunate lot again to be on the opposite side. However much he might regret a charge lying in abeyance, which might prove false, and probably would, he could not satisfy himself that the business of this great community ought to be obstructed by any such circumstance. It was a misfortune, no doubt, but it was not one of such irrepa rable character that the council must redeem it at the expense of forming a very injurious precedent. (Hear, hear.) A committee of gentlemen might investigate the matter. Here was a charge made by an officer of the corporation, and deliberately placed in the Mayor's hands. It was the duty of the council, as a council, and in an official manner, to investigate that charge ; and he ques tioned whether the council, without a new Mayor, was exactly in a position to do so. (Hear, hear.) Mr. NORTH said he was inclined to the same view of things, though for different reasons. His object was to obtain the vindication of Mr. Sands in the most perfect, clear, and candid manner. If that council, by adjourn ing, could take up the question, not with reference to Mr. Sands only—for he understood it was to be taken as a general question—then he might be much in favour of an adjournment. He had two objections to the adjourn ment. He thought, first, in an adjournment for a week, any committee appointed could not give the necessary consideration to the general question. His second ob jection was, that such a committee would naturally act with a sort of leaning to vindicate Mr. Sands, who would, I'S-' et, be on his trial for the mayoralty. (Hear.) He d, as an earnest and faithful friend of Mr. Sands, advise him against that course. He would advise them to have a fair and impartial committee of that council, who, with time and consideration, should go into the whole subject, and, without bias of any kind, come to a decision on the subject. ( Hear.) Mr. Sands had done him the honour to consult him on that most painful case. He (Mr. North) had devoted some days of intense anxiety to it, and he concurred in the resolution which Mr. Sands had come to, in declining until a committee had been ap pointed to inquire into the matter, the high honour in tended to be conferred upon him. In that opinion, he, for one, still remained, but, of course, he was liabl e to b e over-ruled. He would just add one word in reference to what fell from Mr. Aikin—without intention, he knew, and meant nothing. In his zeal for Mr. Sands, he said it was barely possible that this accusation—such as it was—frivolous, indeed, as he (Mr. North) believed it — might be the result of a trick. Now they knew that it came from Mr. Corrie, than whom a more pure-minded man did not breathe. It was utterly impossible that he could be guilty of a trick, or anything approaching to a bias or leaning of any kind. It was utterly impossible to conceive of such a thing, and lie thought those remarks due in justice to Mr. Corrie. (Hear.) Mr. AIKIN said he had no more notion of applying that word (trick) to Mr. Corrie than he had of flying. How the word got into his mouth he knew not. It did appear to him strange that—not at the eleventh hour, but at the eleventh hour and fi'ty-fifth minute, this shoald come out, and it flashed on his mind that it might by a trick. " I declare to God," said he, " It did not come from our side." (Laughter.) In justification of Mr. Corrie, he wished to be allowed to say that he was a man highly ho nourable, and in using that word he did not impute to him any trick. Mr. BUSHELL said it seemed very strange to him that they first heard of this charge from Mr. Sands himself, and that they heard nothing of it from the Mayor. He, (Mr. Bushell,) taking not a legal view, but a common sense view of the subject, thought it very rational that the Mayor, having received a charge against a member of that body—be he high or low—should state the nature of the charge, and he could not but think it extraordinary that the Mayor had not thought fit to bring the matter before the council. He had received the charge in one of his communications, and he (Mr. Bushel) was anxious to know what it was. Let the council hear the letter to the Mayor, and let them see whether it contained charges of such serious importance as should induce them to de prive Mr. Sands of the honour intended for him. The MAYOR remarked that if Mr. Sands had been pro posed it would have been his duty to lay that document before the council ; then it would have been strictly in accordance with his duty, as it would have reference to the subject before the council. He bad the document ; and if the council called for it he was prepared with it. If Mr. Sands was not proposed, the course for him would have been to have handed it over to his successor, and let him lay it before the council. Mr. Nicol, said he seconded the motion for adjourn ment (apprehending a difficulty had arisen out of the cir- The MAYOR opened the proceedings by stating that, contrary to the usu a l p rac ti ce , it h a d been his duty, on the recommendation of the Town-Clerk, to request the attendance of the Council to communicate the lamented death of Mr. Roscoe, who held the appointment of Ser geant-at-Mace; and to bring before them the propriety of appointing some officer to discharge the duty for the pre sent, the confirmation being subject to the pleasure of the council hereafter. The TOWN-CLERK said, the Sergeant -at-Mace in this borough was the officer of the Civil Court of Record. His duties in that capacity were similar to those discharged by the under-sheriff of a county. He had the appoint ment, suspension, and finally, if necessary, the removal of all the officers who were known as sheriff's officers or bailiffs. It was his duty to take care that those officers satisfactorily accounted to the suitors of the court fer the monies they levied, and that they conducted themselves in such a way as to act with humanity towards persons in custody, and also when they took possession of the goods of families. He would simply suggest that a gentleman might be proposed temporarily to fill the office, who would not, under any circumstances, be a claimant for the final appointment ; and he would suggest that the present as sistant registrar, Mr. Francis "Venn, should hold the tem porary appointment. Mr. LLOYD said, the only question which seemed to arise with respect to the appointment of Mr. Venn was, as to whether he should be appointed, he being the Deputy Registrar, and, the person who issued the processes. The TOWN-CLERK said he would suggest that -as the many duties to be discharged by Mr. Venn were to be without emolument, it was only fair that he should not sustain any responsibility, but that that should fall on the borough fund. Mr. LLorD moved that Mr. Francis Venn be appointed to the office during the pleasure of the council, and that in the diligent discharge of his duty he be indemnified by the council, his present emoluments comprising his whole compensation. Mr. Tuompsotc seconded the motion, which was unan. imously adopted. It was understood that the instruction to the Borough Court Committee should be made on the 9th instant, immediately after that committee should have been appointed. The Council adjourned at twenty minutes after eleven o'clock. The first quarterly meeting of the newly constituted Council was held, pursuant to the statute, on Tuesday. There was a very full attendance, but business did not commence until about ten minutes to twelve. The MAYOR then rose and said that the first duty of the Council would be to elect his successor. Mr. SANDS said that it was well known both in and out of the Council that it was the intention of his friends to put him in nomination, but he had received a communi cation from the present Mayor, that a statement bad been made by Mr. Corrie, the receiver of the town dues, im puting to his house that the clerk had, for a period of years, been calling bales " trusses," and cases `• boxes." Now, he knew nothing about this. They believed that they were doing that which was right and correct; but, until that imputation was wiped away, he must decline the honour which was intended to be conferred upon him— the highest honour which the Council had in its power to bestow. (Hear, hear.) He thought the Council would be of opinion that he was taking the right course ;—for his n honour as a gentleman, and as a British merchant— and the honour of his party, were all involved in the mat ter. Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE.—There must be an investiga tion. Mr. SANDS.—lnvestigation! of course! I demand in vestigation. (Hear, hear.) Mr. A. LACE wished to state, that throughout the whole of the painful discussion on this subject, which commenced on Monday evening last, Mr. Sands's anx iety had been that everything on his part should be tho roughly investigated. Until the slightest imputation upon him was wiped away, he felt that, as a man of honour, he ought not to aspire to that situation, which they intended to confer upon him. Every gentleman would agree that Mr. Sands had come to a right decision, and acted in the manner which it became every honourable man to adopt under such circumstances. (Hear, hear.) The proceed ings which were at present going on at the other side of the water would most materially affect the town of Liver pool, inasmuch as those proceedings involved the whole question of further extension of dock room. Important matters would have, therefore, to come before the council in the course of the year • and, under such circumstances, he hoped he should not be stepping out of his course if he said that the council would do well to request of Mr. Ro bertson Gladstone to continue in office for twelve months longer. (Cheers.) He meant not the slightest disrespect towards the two other gentlemen who were intended to be put in nomination—(we believe Mr. James Lawrence and Mr. Geo. H. Lawrence) ; but as Mr. Gladstone possessed the confidence of the whole council, and was best suited to proceed to London to carry on the great matters which would have to be carried on there this year, be hoped that he should be seconded by some gentleman, or, indeed, by the whole council—(hear, hear)—when he proposed that Mr. Gladstone should be requested to accept the office of Mayor for the ensuing year. (Loud applause.) He re peated that he meant not the slightest offence to any one, but as Mr. Gladstone possessed the confidence of all par ties, he trusted that every gentleman would yield to him, whether he were an advocate for docks at the north or docks at the south, for every thing sank in im-ortance compared with the great question of docks elsewhere, which would soon agitate the town. (Hear, hear.) Mr. SANDS.—I beg to say one word more, which I in tended to say before. It is simply that the practice we have followed has been that of most of the respectable gentlemen merchants in the town of Liverpool, a list of whom I now hold in my hand. (Hear, bear.) Mr. ISAAC HOLMES.—Mr. Sands's name is only men tioned first, because it stands first in the town— The M AYOR.—Mr. Holmes's evidence will be received very gladly, at the proper moment, but at the present time Mr. Sands bad better confine his own remarks to what relates to himself. If others have been concerned in transgressing the law, it will be for them to be respon sible in their own persons, bue I think the council will be of opinion that Mr. Sands will do best to defend himself, and himself only. (Hear, hear.) Ido not see that it can serve him to say that others have been doing what he has done. Sitting here, I should not do my duty if I allowed the characters of others to be impugned. Mr. SANDS.—I beg pardon. Mr. Mayor; but lam not impugning their characters. lam not admitting that I have done wrong myself. (Hear, hear.) Ido not admit the allegation. (Hear, hear.) I deny it; nor am I im pugning the characters of others. The MAYOR.—I think Mr. Sands will admit that there is, in the first instance a prima facie case against him, and that there is nothing against others. (Hear, hear.) Now, I think I should be doing injustice to the community if I allowed the names of others to be introduced here. Mr. SANDS. - --1 have the authority of Mr. Thomas Ripley, one of the greatest merchants in this town, and one of the largest importers, for saying that he has been in the habit of doing precisely the same thing, and he told me that 1 might mention his name in the council. (Hear, hear.) Mr. LACE thought it right not to enter into the ques tion now, and therefore that Mr. Sands was right in not accepting the office of mayor before the matter was inves tigated and cleared up. Mr. Alderman EvAris.:—lt was at my suggestion that Mr. Sands got up to mention that numbers of other houses had acted as he has acted. (Hear. hear.) He had a list in his hand of the first houses in the town, and I asked him why he did not mention it. Alderman Sir THOMAS BRANCKER begged to second the motion of his friend Mr. Lace. He was quite satis fied that the important matters to come befare the council during the ensuing year would be of a description to re quire the very greatest amount of discretion, and if Mr. Gladstone acceded to the request to occupy the chair for another year, he would confer a great obligation on the town at large. (Hear, hear.) Mr. H. HORNDY thought that after what had fallen from Mr. Sands and Mr. Evans, this discussion was pre mature. In the next place, he could not hold, and he trusted neither that council nor the law of Liverpool would hold, that because a practice was general it was therefore right. (Hear, hear.) Until the investigation had taken place they had nothing to do but withhold their judgment, and he hoped the public would do the same. (Hear, hear.) It was with great satisfaction he had heard it proposed that the present Mayor should be con tinued in office another year. (Loud and general ap plause.) The council seemed about to pass the motion for Mr. Gladstone's re-election unanimously, without further dis cussion, when Mr. Alderman EVANS rose and said, that however un popular the course he was about to take might appear, he would pursue it. There was no man in that council that entertained a higher opinion of the present Mayor, or his fitness for the office, than he did ; but the question of his re-election involved a general principle, and was the com mencement of a system under which civic honours might ring the changes amongst a few families or individuals, and they would see every individual made twice a Mayor. (Hear, hear.) "0," it would be said, "you made Mr. So-and-so Mayor twice, and he has not half the merit of our friend." Now, he held that the rotation of honours, —the opening of a wide field, and conferring them on a great number,—was a great encouragement to good con duct on the part of those who entered the council, and he had no notion that they ought to narrow the honour for any of toe temporary reasons that he had heard assigned. He wanted to see the council benches well filled with men who had received the highest honours in the town, in order that others might conceive that it was not an unat tainable position for any one of them. (Hear, hear.) He must confess it was a very painful alternative for him to oppose the re-election of Mr. Gladstone, because, though he would not mention names, the person who probably might be substituted for him, was one who, in his (Mr. Evans') opinion, in all the requisites of a Mayor, would be immeasurably his inferior. The MAYOR was sure that if he had failed, on a late occa sion, to find terms of fitting acknowledgment for the kind ness of the council towards himself, he had much more reason now to feel deeply indebted to them for what had passed that day. (Hear, hear.) The opinion just ex pressed by Mr. Alderman Evans was the answer he (the Mayor) gave that morning to a deputation of gentlemen who had called upon him to request that he would suffer himself again to be put in nomination. (Hear, hear.) He had always considered, since he had been a member of the council, that the mayoralty was an object of fair am bition to every member of that council. (Hear, hear.) cumstances) on the spur of the moment. The council had been taken, very much by surprise, and the town would be much surprised at what had happened were led up to yesterday, to believe that if Mr. S proposed as mayor he would be elected without opposition Surely, a thing of such moment—the election of mayor —the first office—the chief magistrate—might be consi dered worthy of some consideration and some thought. Whether the council had arrived at a point where they could g ive it that consideration and thought he very much doubted. He thought a little longer time was necessary, apa. t from all considerations as to the character of Mr. Sands. The matter was only before them in the shape of his refusal to stand, but apart from that, there had been no time for the council to come to a decision, and therefore, for these reasons, he hoped an adjournment would take place. Mr. LACE said a sort of insinuation had been thrown out that Mr. Sands was not prepared for his defence.' It would be gross injustice not to say that Mr. Sands imme diately, thatugh the Mayor, received a copy o f t h e l etter , and the oriVreason of the Mayor in not bringing forward the letter was not a desire to put Mr. Sands in an impro per position, but as he (Mr. Lace) understood, he detained it until called for. Mr. H. LAWRENCE said, it occurred to him that what had been stated by Mr. Aikin was correct—that they should not be doing Mr. Sands any favour or kindness, but they would be placing him in an unfavourable situa tion by the adjournment. He was not inclined to quarrel with the Town-clerk's law—in fact, he concurred with him entirely that until the election of Mayor nothing could take place—but he did not think that any adjournment of the election ought take place under the circumstances. Mr. North had spoken with considerable feeling, and he (Mr. Lawrence) fully concurred in every thing he had said. Mr. PARKER said he supposed the question before them was as to the adjournment. He asked the gentleman who brought it forward, if, after hearing the Town-clerk's ex planation, they would persevere? If they adjourned till Saturday, they would be exactly in the same position, for the first thing they could do was to elect the Mayor. From that day till Saturday not a single committee would be in existence, and the whole business of the town would be neglected. What would become of the Watch Com mittee ? (Laughter.) There was none. It was dissolved now. Gentlemen might laugh, but when they looked at the immense population of this town, there were very es sential things to look to. He would willingly vote for the adjournment; he was willing that Mr. Sands should have every advantage; he would give Mr. Sands every oppor tunity of clearing himself of the charges made against him, but the Town-clerk told them that if they did not elect the Mayor they would be exactly in the same posi tion. The worthy Alderman (Mr. Nicol) wished them to adjourn to consider who was to be the Mayor. Did he suppose that the 9th of November came upon them by surprise—that they were not aware of the 9th of Novem ber—that they had overlooked it, and that they did not know who was likely to be the Mayor? Mr. BARCLAY and Mr. AIKIN suggested the propriety of proceeding to the election of Mayor, and that this in quiry should take place afterwards. Mr. J. HORNBY said that it appeared to him that an adjournment would be •ery injudicious. Before whom was the investigation to be made ? It would be made either before the friends or the opponents of Mr. Sands for the mayoralty. In either case there would be some bias, and the investigation would not give that satisfaction to the town generally as a fair and unbiassed opinion. Besides that, he did not think a couple of days sufficient. There might be documents required from a distance, and these could not be provided in so short a time. Mr. Nicol had no idea, in seconding Mr. Birkett's motion, to give time for Mr. Sands's investigation. He had merely the idea that it would give more time to con sider of the Mayor's successor. If they were to adjourn for a month they could do nothing in investigating Mr. Sands's affairs. Mr. Hu&n HORNBY had stated that he should not ob ject to an adjournment, but on further reflection, and after what had fallen from Mr. North and others, he was per fectly satisfied that it would be exceedingly injudicious for the council to adopt that course; one not only improper as regarded the council, but exceedingly ungracious to Mr. Sands. Any investigation could not be received as an official one, and they would still be placed in the situa. tion they now were in. Mr. LLOYD thought the adjournment was necessary, even to Mr. Sands, and it was only what was done to every member of the council, in order that they might consider who was to be the successor. He agreed with the obser vation, that next year the town of Liverpool would have subjects before it that would require the council to take seriously into consideration which way to fill the office of Chief Magistrate—not only from what was going on in the borough, but from matters out of the borough. The council and the town having been taken by surprise, they would be anxious to know why Mr. Sands had not been elected. It was only just to Mr. Sands that they should not go headlong to elect a Mayor, believing as they did, that a few minutes to twelve o'clock they were to put Mr. Sands into the chair. What would have been the course if they had not had the knowledge of these charges up to the present moment ? Mr. Sands would have been placed in the chair, and then the present Mayor would have had to give him documents impugning his own honour. It was only right that they should adjourn for the first busi ness on the paper. _ _ _ Mr. BusiiEit would vote for the adjournment, in order that the question might have consideration out of doors ; for although they were members of that council, they lived in a commercial community, the members of which were capable of investigating the charges; and if they could be satisfied that Mr. Sands was guiltless of any crime or fraud like that imputed to him, if they could come to that council satisfied that Mr. Sands had done nothing meriting punishment at their hands, they could elect him Mayor of that council, and then proceed to appoint a commit tee to inquire as to this charge. After some fur , her conversation, there were loud cries of " Vote, vote ! " and the question was about to be put, when COMMISSIONERS OF BI On Tuesday last a meeting o Town.hall. Birkenhead. Mr. SANDS rose and said,—Before I retire, which I intend doing before you go to the vote, I wish to express my deep sense of gratitude to the council for their con duct towards me. (Applause.) The votes were then taken, when there appeared—For the amendment. 42; against it, 18. For the adjournment.—Messrs. Shand, Shaw, Hough ton, jun., I. Holmes, Blackburn, Blundell, Edwards, North, H. Holmes, Tinne, Toulmin, Fawcett, Aspinall, Sothern, Royden, Birkett, Wood, Boutfiower, Bushell, Lloyd, J. Hornby, G. H. Lawrence, Plumpton, Leigh, Glazebrook, Lace, Trotman, Harbord, Sheppard, Smith, Houghton, sen., J. Lawrence, Brancker, Turner, Freme, Crook, Nicol, Moon, Chilton, and the Mayor. Against it.—Messrs. Thornhill, Chalmer, Thompson, Preston, Aikin, H. Hornby, Stewart, G. Hornby, H. Lawrence, Kilshaw, Rigby, Jones, Parker, Barclay, Bulley, Griffith, Holt, and Evans. Absent.— Messrs. Hodgson, Sands, Rae, and J. Holmes. The council adjourned, at half-past three o'clock, till Tuesday (this day). In the Court of Exchequer, on Wednesday last, a rule nisi for a new trial was granted in the cause Platt and others, v. Young and others, tried at the last assizes. ARRIVAL OF NINE AMERICAN INDIANS. — The packet ship England, which reached Liverpool on Monday, from New York, has brought to our shores an importation of an unusual kind,—nothing less than nine bonafide Ameri can Indians of the Ojibbewa tribeoincluding the chief of the tribe, and other persons of authority. Their object in visiting England is to obtain an audience of her majesty, to whom they are charged, as delegates from the tribe, with a mission, the purport of which is to seek assistance of some kind, in consequence of the wars in which they have been engaged with another more powerful tribe. The chief, who is 75 years of age, bears the singular name of Oquewezance, whilst another member of the embassy rejoices in the still more unpronounecable appellation of Puttonogattowabee. They made a very short stay in Li verpool, having only stayed to refresh themselves at the Angel Inn ; and they arrived in Manchester on the same Nl - IEAD was held at the In reply to a question from Mr. WAI. JACKSON, as to whether commissioners who had sold land to the township could legally retain their seats at the board, Mr. Mallaby, the law-clerk, stated that they could, provided that they rticular q Mr. Cox ince COLIC day (Monday), accompanied by an interpreter, named Notinbam, who is what is called of " three-fourths" In dian blood, but who speaks English with facility, from a residence of some time in the United States. Since Mon day, the whole of the party, which comprises two females and a child, have been lodged at the Mitre Inn, Manches ter, where every accommodation is afforded them ; but so small is the value they as yet attach to European arts and civilization, that they cannot be prevailed :on to sleep in beds, but uniformly prefer the couch of skins which is in general use amongst this and other tribes. One of the ladies, we should state, is ill, probably from the effect of sea sickness on her voyage. During last week they visited Mr. Catlin's unique collection of American Indian curi osities, at present in Manchester, and during the present week they will form part of that interesting exhibition, after which they will proceed to the metropolis. Upon the report of the f read, Mr. STANSFIELD moved that ensuing year he reduced which se veral of the members took part; eventually the following amendment, proposed by Mr. Wm. JACKSON, was carried by a majority of one :—" That the subject be referred back to a committee, consisting of the chairman of every committee, to look into the state of the funds of the ferry, and the necessary expenditure of the enQn;no. Brine was went rate ave rise to an an see whether it would or would not be expedient to appro priate any portion of the profits to the reduction •of the improvement rate The proceedings of the Health Committee, which con tained a recommendation to purchase 10,000 yards of land for slaughter-houses, were confirmed. The Woods mount r Ferry Committee stated, that the iced in the last month exceeded that of the corresponding month of the past year, and that, as addi tional packets would be wanted at Monks' Ferry, they wished for liberty to contract for another new boat. The report was adopted. ERECTION OF A DOCK AT WALLASEY POOL. Mr. STM. JACKSON here rose and said,—There are two subjects, sir, which I wish particularly to bring before you on this occasion—one of which has been already be fore nearly every member of the board ; and perhaps it is the most important measure ever brought forward, so far as regards Birkenhead. You are aware that our neigh bours on the opposite side of the water, in the Council and in the Dock Committee, have, for several months past, been discussing the propriety of dock extension, and I certainly have been surprised that in all their discussions they never alluded to the advantage of Wallasey Pool. But however silent they may have been, I can assure you that we have not been idle—(hear, hear ;)—for you are all pretty well aware, from what has passed in committee, that plans have been prepared, sections taken, borings made, levels obtained, notices prepared, and everything ready for your instructions this evening for our law-clerk to go to parliament for the purpose of receiving powers to make the most capacious dock that ever was made in the kingdom of Great Britain or Ireland. (Hear.) We have obtained, as you are aware, the assent of the Admiralty to our enclosing the, whole space from the bottom of the Woodside Ferry to Seacombe—an area of not less than three hundred and 'forty acres. You are aware that our plans have been submitted to them, with gates and a tidal basin of 30 acres, or nearly three times the space of the Prince's Dock, which, at all times of tide, will never have less than 12 feet of water for vessels to float in ; and, by damming up at the narrowest point, we shall have dock space at Wallasey Pool to the extent of 120 acres. (Hear, hear.) This may fake the public by surprise ; but I would only say that though the matter was under our consideration, prudence induced us to keep our own counsel until such time as our plans were ripe, and we had received the assent of the authorities. Such, gentlemen, is the subject upon which the committee have to report ; and they now coma before you for the purpose of obtain ing the necessary Sanction to proceed to Parliament. I may as well state, for the information of the members generally, that the principle upon which we proceed is this :—that we, as commissioners of Birkenhead, proceed to obtain the necessary powers to perform a necessary work in Wallasey Pool—that on its own merits we raise the money—that, while the commissioners of Birkenhead will be the commissioners of the dock estate, the rate payers of the townships will not be taxed, directly or in directly, for the untkrtaking. I may al so s t a t e , th at t h ere are parties prepared to meet the vided we are defeated in parli cannot possibly anticipate —so that no reflection ca. us made on the commissioners that they were using the mo ney of the township for this purpose. (Hear, hear.) It is proposed that all the pecuniary advantages derived from the dock shall be appropriated to the measure itself ; and if ever, from the sale of land or otherwise, any other re venue from the dock shall arise, it is proposed that that also shall go in the reduction of the cost, and in the re duction of the cost, first of all, on the dock rates ; and I hope that the amount received in this manner will be sufficient to defray the cost of the construction of the whole. (Hear, hear.) Many say we are very sanguine. I own we may appear so ; but, I say, judge us by the past ; for I may safely : state, that there is no measure which we ever brought before the public that did not exceed the most sanguine exp . fetations of its promoters. And if I, for one, am sanguioc. allow me to observe, that I base my opinion on the report of Mr. Hartley, the dock surveyor, and also on the opinions of men in the Town -council and the Dock Committee of Liverpool ; and I have no hesita tion in saying, that we may go to parliament, and that, with no other opinions but these, we may prove our case in favour of docks being made at Wallasey Pool. If we were going to make docks for the benefit of any landown er, or for any individual benefit, notwithstanding any general benefit the works might afford, we might be op posed ; but we go that money may be raised for the con strustion, that any money which shall go in the cost of construction shall be repaid, and that the revenue derived shall be applied towards the same, until such time as, with water space greater than that at Liverpool, we shall be open to the whole world free of charge. (Hear, hear.) I consider this subject as deeply interesting to the port of Liverpool, and without that port we, as a bran c h, wou ld go to nothing. (" Hear, hear," from Mr. Mallaby.) I consider that we are conferring a boon on the merchants of Liverpool, greater than ever was conferred upon them. A short time ago, an alderman of the borough said to me, " I perceive you have got your pigmy committees." This was at the time when the question of warehouse rents was being raised, and when the insurance offices were advanc ing their rates from fifteen to twenty-five per cent. ; and it struck me forcibly then that the fable was about to be Many a verified, ny p e persons s that allege the that mouseo our ro docks ock Birkenhead here il l wouldn obet b used s the . means of arousin g th e li on o f Li verpoo l . (Hear, hear.) It is a fallacy, and upon this ground :—seven-tenths of the produce received at Liverpool goes into the interior, and about five-sevenths by water conveyance to the interior. It can make no earthly difference to the forwarders of these goods whether they send them from the east or west side of the Mersey; and if we can introduce competition among the wharfingers, on each side of the pool, for we are going only to make such charges in the docks as will be reasonable for entering them, that competition among the wharfingers will induce them to avail themselves of the lighter charges. There is cotton, for instance. When the raw material is at a shilling, and when it is brought down to fourpence, the expenses are now the same. The per centage on a bag of cotton is enormously heavy : so that it behoves us to exert ourselves to carry this measure, and to prove to the world that there is a means of giving accommodation to them at a cheaper rate than any port in the world can do ; and this we shall succeed in accom plishing by proceeding with this important work. (Hear, bear.) I may also observe, that in the higher quarters the project has met with unqualified appr3bation, and that they consider it highly beneficial, not only because it will afford increased dock space, but also because it will, in all probability, tend to remove that great impedi ment to the working of the upper dock, Pluckington bank. It is the opinion of many that it will cause the removal of that obstruction ; but, under any circum stances, it appears to me to be fraught with good. It may affect individual interests in Liverpool, but, as a public body, we can hare nothing to do with those inte rests. It is our duty to legislate for the many, without regard to the few—to serve the masses rather than the smaller number ; and in a few years I have no doubt we shall show that, instead of injuring the property of the corporation, we have been its benefactors, by giving the public that accommodation which the other side cannot give, except at a most enormous cost. In the event of the bill being carried, there are certain parties ready to come down with money to commence the undertaking : so that you are not proceeding on the supposition that you will have no support. You will have the support of all the outports. You will have the support of the Ad miralty in Parliament. You will have the support of parties to carry on the competition in Parliament to any amount ; and you will have the money to construct the works. (Hear, hear.) lam able to prove, from statis tical tables, that you will derive a revenue from this un dertaking greater than it is possible now to mention, and that the cost of all we contemplate is only £300,000. Mr. Jackson concluded by proposing that the law-clerk have power to give the necessary notices in the next Ga zette, and to take the necessary steps to obtain an act of parliament. Mr. Pim seconded the motion. necessary e ses, pro. ch I DOINGS OF THE SWELL MOB.—On Tuesday a fashiona bly attired man named John Fry, was brought up at the Police-court. John Lythall, from Carnarvon, stated that being a littl e intoxicated he was proceeding up Church street, in order to reach Bold-street, and asked the pri soner and two others his road. The prisoner took old of his arm and said he would show him the place. They walked for a long time up and down the street, and at last went into Mr. Wrigglesworth's public-house, in Brownlow-hill. A joiner, who said he knew the fellows to be part of the swell mob, immediately gave information to one of the police, who went into the public-house before any attempt was made to get any of Mr. Lythall's money. The prisoner made his escape, when he saw the officer coming, through the lobby at the back, lying on which were afterwards found a number of flash notes. Mr. Rushton did not think the case sufficiently strong against the prisoner, and was about to discharge him, when Mr. Edward Price, tailor, of Hanover-street, said he had a charge against the prisoner. He said that a few days ago two men, the prisoner being one, came into his place and asked him if he could make two suits of clothes be fore Saturday. He replied that he could not, as he had some mourning to finish. They then said they would give him till Tuesday, if he could complete the order by that time. He agreed to do so, and one of the party (not the prisoner) asked him if he could change a£s note. He said he could, and brought five sovereigns, receiving in his hand at the time he handed over the sovereigns a note. The fellow asked then if he could not give him two half sovereigns for one of the sovereigns? He said he could not. The man then pretended the change would be of no use, and asked the note back again. He opened his fin gers and pretended to put the five sovereigns into his t ANOTHER LIVERPOOL LINER.—A new packet ship, (witness's) hand. " I," said the witness, " thinking I to be called the Yorkshire, was to be launched in New was dealing with honest meal, and supposing that at first York, on or about the 25th ult., from the ship-yard of they wanted to divide the £5 for the purpose of buying Mr. W. H. Webb. The New York Herald says, she is the cloth for the clothes, gave the note back, closed my it was all right. As soon as th ey were gone, however, cons tructed after the model of the crack ship Montezuma, if hand upon the money, and put it i n t o my poc k et, t hi n ki ng barring a few feet more in length , in order, possible, to I give her increased speed. She is about 1050 tons b ur th en , found I was three sovereigns, short." Mr. Price said he and is to be commanded by Capt. D. G. Bailey, late of would not like to swear to the prisoner. Mr. Rushton the packet ship South America. Sh e was to sa il f or Li said he must be remanded. verpool on the 19th January. Mr. Woon expressed his belief that the corporation of Liverpool would not have sold the land at so cheap a rate had they known the intention of the commissioners. At the same time he thought that the commisioners ought to make the dock at Wallasey rather than the corporation; and he was glad it was going to be erected, for he was an advocate for the extension of dock room. Mr. BENTHAM read the following extract on the sub ject from an anonymous letter in the Liverpool Times : - "As mercantile men, we most heartily wish, with Mr. G. H. Lawrence, success to the Cheshire Docks, by who ever made. Every increased facility to trade increases that trade, and in no place are those facilities more wanted than in this port. The Cheshire men have great advantages to start with. Nature has done wonders for them. - As Telford said, when he looked down from Bid ston on Wallasey Pool at high water ' They have built Liverpool on the wrong side.' Their docks are half made already, and for £500,000 they can give the same area of dock surface as all the Liverpool docks. They have no warehouse interest to contend with, by introducing the London dock system, may lower the insurance to the me tropolitan rates." The motion was unanimously adopted. The question of going to Parliament to confirm the purchase of the Monk's Ferry was referred to a committee: and a me morial proposed by Mr. W. Jackson, on the subject of C pr h e e s s e t n e t r ed an t d o H th o e l a y d h m ea i d ral l t in y e b o y f L r o a r il d w ß a be o'clock. The commissioners adjourned at a quarter after nine railway, was r a t s Grosvenor. ordered