The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-09-09 00:00:00

~ ~ ~ \ y \ , k \ ` . ` ~. '" -\\ • .\ •\, ' - PRESTON GUILD MERCHANT. TUESDAY. The proceedings of the guild commenced at the Town hall at half-past ten, when the mayor, aldermen, town coun cillors, and officers of the guild, assembled to prepare for the procession to the parish church. The leading gentry and visitors also assembled at the invitation of his worship. A table was laid out and abundantly supplied with champagne, hock, and other wines ; and, his worship setting the example, the company drank success to the guild in full bumpers. Among the company we noticed J. W. Patten, Esq., M.P., W. Garnett, Esq., Lark Hill, and a most numerous assem bly, including the clergy of the town and neighbourhood, several officers of the 60th Rifles, &c. The fine band of this regiment was stationed in the ante-chamber, and preceded the Mayor and corporation throughout the procession. Due justiee having been done to the liberal provision made for the guests, the word was given for the procession to march. The trades were already drawn up in Church-street ; and at a few minutes to eleven, the mayor, &c., left the Town-hall, and proceeded straight to the parish church. Church-street was densely crowded ; but the arrangements for the pre servation of order and of an uninterrupted line for the pro cession were very good, and no confusion or delay occurred. We need hardly state, that the windows on both sides of the street were filled with fair observants of the spectacle. On arriving at the church, even the roof of which was filled with spectators, the corporation, clergy, and gentry entered. The trades filed off and continued their march, the building being altogether inadequate to afford accommodation to them. The freemasons club, a most respectable body, who march with all their sashes and insignia, made a line near the church, through which the pr6cession passed. The freemasons then took their station in the capacious front gallery of the church. THE CHURCH. On entering the spacious parish church of St. John's, the nave, aisles, and choir were occupied by a most respectable congregation, principally composed of ladies, whose light summer dresses and white bonnets gave a cheerful and ani mating appearance to the scene. The mayor and his friends had great difficulty in procuring seat room ; but, after some delay from this cause, the service began. Prayers were read by the Rev. Charles Richardson, curate. The musical part of the service was sung by Miss Birch, Miss Maria B. Hawes, Mr. H. Phillips, and Mr. Hobbs, assisted by a numerous chorus. Mr. George Holden presided at the organ, which has recently been enlarged and improved, at the expense of the mayor. At the commencement of the service, Gibbon's full anthem for chorus only, the Collect for the Third Sunday after the Epiphany, was given by the vocalists and choir. The "Te Deum" and •• Jubilate" were by Dr. Nares. After the third collect, Kent's fine anthem, " Blessed be thou, Lord God of Israel," was effectively given by the vo calists and chorus. Before the sermon, the Psalm 41, quar tet and chorus, and after the sermon, the well-kown anthem, " In Jewry is God known," concluded the musical portion of the service. The guild sermon was preached by the chap lain of the guild, the Rev. J. Owen Parr, M.A., vicar of Preston. The preacher delivered a discourse from Deute ronomy vii. 6, " For thou art a holy people unto the Lord thy God." He argued, from the Jewish dispensation, in fa vour of a nationally established religion. The sermon finished, the corporation returned in order as before to the outside of the building, where the trades were in waiting. The whole cortege, which extended more than half a mile, then moved on, along Church-street, through the Market Place, and along the whole length of Friargate to the bars, in the following order Two Marshals, showily attired, and mounted on two piebald horses. Joiners, Carpenters, Cabinet Makers. Plasterers. Plumbers, Glaziers, and Painters. Smiths. Coach Builders. Letterpress Printers and Engravers. Glass Cutters. Butchers. Freemasons. The Corporation and Gentry, i.e. Corporation Band. Halbardman. Halbardman Silver Mace. Gilt Mace. Silver Mace. Town Steward, in his gown. Town Clerk, in his gown. Councilmen, two and two. Aldermen, two and two. Magistrates of the Borough. Guild Steward, Guild Steward, Guild Steward, with white wands. Clergy, in their robes, two and two. The Recorder, The Mayor, The Vicar, in their robes. Patrons of the Guild. Magistrates of the County. Gentlemen. Each trade was headed by its own band, and distinguished by its peculiar insignia and banners. The joiners and carpen ters followed a large stage, drawn by three grey horses, gaily caparisoned, on which stage some members of the craft were going through the operation of planing, &c. The members of this trade wore white aprons, and carried white wands, on the top of which were placed the compasses and square. The plasterers wore weite rosettes. Ths plumbers, glaziers, and painters, were preceded by a large stage, in which the opera tions of their craft were proceeding. A grotesque-looking figure, wearing a red robe, white beard and hair, was using his pencil and palette, and laying on the colours in a way Turner himself, whose pictures resemble omelettes, might envy. The smiths sported their leathern aprons and appro priate rosettes. The coach builders carried several elegantly built and painted chariots, railway carriages, &c. The letter press printer followed a large stage, upon which a dcmy print ing press was placed, from which they struck off impressions of a neat programme of the week's proceedings. The glass cutters carried at their head large glasses, vases, goblets, and other articles of their manufacture. The procession of butchers was headed by all the butchers' boys in town, mounted up on their favourite cobs, dressed in new blue coats, such as are worn by the trade, under each saddle was placed a white sheep skin. The masters themselves, in their new blue coats, clean white aprons, each with his " steel " suspended by its well greased "strap," followed. The tailors refused to join in the procession, on a point of etiquette, if it may be so called. They claim precedence of all other trades, on the ground of the superior antiquity of their call ing ; fig leaves having been, they allege, resorted to, before plasterers, printers, carpenters were. This claim of theirs was urged at the last guild procession, and they withdrew in a body on that occasion. The w e avers also did not assemble. This body gave notice of their intention to join in the pro cession, and expose the wretche d state of their habiliments, and their deplorable and s tarvin g condition. This, it was feared, proceeded from some ill feeling, and was calculated to excite more; and a sum of money was therefore given to them to forego their intentio n, and provide something for their families at home. The route taken by the procession was . down Friargate, as far as the Adelplai. It then turned up Friargate, through the Market Place again, and down Fishergate, through Winckley street, to the top of Winckley Square,Chapel-street, Fisher gate, to Stanley Terrace, then up Fishergate to the Town Hall, where it separated. The sun shone brilliantiy all the time—the streets were everywhere crowded—" bright eyes rained influence " from every balcony and every window—the bands played their best—and "all went merry as a marriage bell." The spec tacle had every thing in its favour, and was one of the most animating and joyous character. Altogether, the day has been one of a nature to give satisfaction to all who have wit nessed it, and to live in the recollection. The town has been perfectly orderly ; not a single case of disturbance or ill humour having occurred. It is a fact that, under the new " Liberal " corporation, the citizens of Dublin pay twice as much money in rates, &c. as the ever did before ! TESTIMONIAL OF ESTEEM.—On the 19th August last, the members of the Allen Heads (Durham) Loyal Miners Society held their anniversary meeting. After a procession, and listening to a sermon at the church, they adjourned to the inn, where an excellent dinner was provided. The mem bers, to the number of upwards of three hundred, sat down, and took the opportunity of presenting a handsome timepiece to Joseph Helmer, Esq., who had for about ten months been the resident surgeon of the district. Although this promi sing young gentleman had been the professional adviser of the neighbourhood for so brief a period, he gained the warm est admiration of every inhabitant for his medical skill and persevering attention. Whether as a surgeon, friend, or sympathising adviser, his heart and hand were always at the immediate call of the afflicted either in body or mind ; and when it is known that nearly the whole of the inhabitants are amongst the working classes, we need not sar that the most disinterested motives elicited this kind solicitude. The timepiece, of the value of 30 guineas, bore the following in scription :—" Presented to Joseph Helmer, Esq., M.R.C.S., by the inhabitants of Allen Heads and its vicinity, as a token of gratitude and respect for his kindness, humanity, and unremitting professional attention to them during a sea son of unparalleled sickness. August, 1842." After the presentation, Mr. Helmer made a most feeling acknowledg ment—but his characteristic humility and sensitive feelings prevented him giving utterance to all the sentiments which the occasion naturally called forth. RATHER TOO SooN.—A singular circumstance happened at Todmorden a few days ago. A young man from the neighbourhood of Halifax, in the pursuit of his daily avoca tions, had got a card-tooth stuck into his knee. The part became swollen to an alarming extent, and he was brought to a celebrated surgeon at Todmorden in a rather dangerous state. After being treated in the usual manner for some time, the swelling and apparent mortification extended up the thigh in a frightful manner. On Sunday, the 21st ult., the Surgeon, in the depth of his wisdom, declared that at the very farthest the man could not survive the following morn !Alft; His friends accordingly came to pay their last visit. !;l sweetheart also came in bitter anguish, and obtained the Promise of a lock of hair, to keep as a memento of his ardent love. His parents, overwhelmed with grief and sor row, awaited in sadness the awful event. And such firm reliance was placed on the doctor's word, that the joiners (Messrs. bourhood) orsfall, of coffin-making notoriety in that neigh morning, were directed to have the last dress ready in the hours small, The had therefore to deny themselves of the themselves ~ ti l l otted to repose, in order to accommodate take him to the emergency. The hearse was ordered to and with it th e ._?aae of his fathers. The morning came, everything was ieuaud'ers' punctuality—the coffin was, made — His hour was not y 5! But no ! the man refused to die ! ! nounced him better e . ere' The surgeon visited him—pro e immediately called lustily for beef, broth, ,SLc•, and, to th e fast recovering, of his parents, sweetheart, a nd friends, is ng, and will shortly again be in Halifax. His father has 'c heerfully paid the joiners, and has ROW , therefore, on sale a wooden box for holding a dead man. HORRID MUR DER AT QTIAD RA , t NEAR SPALDING.— On Friday m orning last the inhabitants of this village were t h row n into a state of alarm by the report particulars are as follows : i that Miss Mary S penc er was murder ed. The ticul ara M ar y Spencer kept a da y school n Quadri a g' and resided of two rooms leg-room, in a small cottage le ft by her father, consistinggachildrent saw her o l on the ground-floor, the smaller be ing bet the other as the ho use and school-room. Three went, as usual, on Fri da y morning, at nine o'clock, the deceased's house, and on opening the door across a form in the school -room, dressed only i n h er nig Tg_ llothes, and a quantity of b loo d u p on the floor ; they imrenet. cloth.._, ran away in teir, an . d told a neighbour slat they hadseen. The person, ongoing to a th n e d s e p n o m t, saw Mary S a p s e u n r ... cer lying across a form as described,. he found a wound from geon, of Gosberton, being called in, the right ear under the throat to thaecelri ye:t.anadb pronounced in length, and dividing the carotid rt that she must have bled to death. On examiningthe house, it appeared that a back window adjoining the he'd bad been broken open, and that the murdere r had made an en trance. It is supposed that the deceased in attempting to escape got near the street door, but was pulled back by the monster and stabbed as described. It is supposed _t_ Ihr.allm that he was alarmed, and then made off. A man named 11' Howett, a labourer, was apprehended on Friday night, on suspicion, u n d r th e f o ll ow i ng c ircumstances :—On the day of the discovery Mr. Loughland, a land surveyor, whilst mea suring so me l and, met a ne i gh b our, an d ta lki ng a bout this tragical event, a labourer (the father of Howett) was sitting by taking some refreshment, and listening to the conversa tion, exclaimed, " I wonder what Bill's been up to ; he was out all night, and came home all over blood." Mr. Lough land immediately informed Mr. Sooms, a very active con stable, at Donington, wh o t oo k H ow ett i n to c ustody. The inquest was held at the Red Lion Inn, at Quadring, on Sa turday, and was adjourned to yesterday, (Thursday.) No doubt is entertained as tothe guilt of the prisoner. We hear that a clasp knife was found upon him with blood upon it. He is deaf and dumb, though quite sane, and about twenty six years of age. The deceased Was forty-one years of age, and much respected. ,•~ ` \ , THE QUEEN'S VISIT TO SCOTLAND. (From Wednesday's Edinburgh Standard.) HER MAJESTY AT DALKEITH. The dinner party at the Palace on Friday consisted of — The Queen and Prince Albert, the Duke and Duchess of Buccleucb, the Duchess of Norfolk, the Earl and Countess of Morton, Lord Viscount Melville, the Countess of Had dington, Lord Echo, Lord and Lady John Scott, Mr. and Lady Georgiana Balfour, Sir James Clarke, Miss Paget, Sir Robert Peel, the Earl of Aberdeen, the Earl and Countess of Eglington, General Wemyss, Colonel Bouverie, Mr. Anson, Hon. Miss Dundas, Dr. Welsh, Moderator of last Assembly, the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, the Earl of Liverpool. On Saturday the dinner party were—Lord and Lady Bel haven, the Lord Registrar of Scotland, Hon. Capt. Dundas and Miss Dundas, Sir John Hope, the Lord Advocate, the Officers of the Inniskilling Dragoons. Sunday her Majesty and Prince Albert attended divine service within the palace, when the Rev. E. B. Ramsey, of St. John's Episcopal Chapel, Edinburgh, preached from Isaiah xi, and the latter part of the 9th verse. A temporary pulpit was fitted up in the dining-room, where divine service was performed on the occasion. In the evening the Duches of Buccleuch drove the Queen through the Park in a low pony phaeton and pair, Prince Albert and the Duke of Buccleuch attended on horseback. They returned to the Palace about seven o'clock. We may add that Sir Robert Peel, with the Earl of Aberdeen, the Earl of Liverpool, and Mr. Anson , attended divine service in the afternoon, in the parish Church of Dalkeith, when Mr. Duncan, assistant minister of the parish, lectured on the 14th chapter of the Gospel according to John. In the evening Sir Robert and the Earl of Aberdeen took a stroll through the grounds, and issuing out at the Lugton gate, came along the high road into Dalkeith, and courteously returned the salutations of the passengers. PRINCE ALBERT IN EDINBURGH. On Monday his Royal Highness Prince Albert paid an early visit to the city, to inspect some of the public institu tions, Szc. He left Dalkeith Palace shortly after eight o'clock. accompanied by Col. Bouverie and the Hon. G. E. Anson, on horseback. Exactly at nine his Royal Highness rode into the court of the University, where he was received by the very reverend Principal Lee, Professor Bell, and Profes sor Traill. Mr. Laurence Jameson expressed the deep re gret of his uncle, and stated that sudden illness prevented his paying his duty on this occasion to his Royal Highness. Professor Trail], however, in compliance with the request of his friend, Professor; Jameson, conducted his Royal High ness through the Museum. His royal highness manifested great delight in minutely examining the specimens ; and occasioned much surprise by his profound knowledge of various branches of natural his tory, particularly of ornithology, mineralogy, and geology. In ornithology he seemed intimately acquainted with the most recent discoveries; asked if the collection possessed several new species which he mentioned, and detected many of the rarest specimens, before his attendants had time to point them out. He made a round of all the galleries in the Western Museum ; entered the lecture-room of the learned professor of natural history, and at once recognised many of the drawings of icebergs, and Alpine scenery, and especially those illustrative of the glacial theory. In the model gallery, his royal highness pointed out the various remarkable objects in the scenery around Mont Blanc, and showed the arduous path by which he himself had reached the Jardin across the Mer de Glace, in his Alpine excursions. The principal conducted his royal highness through the splendid hall of the library ;—directed his attention to the small, but classical collection of paint ings, and exhibited several of the interesting manuscripts. After which his royal highness visited the eastern museum, containing the fine collection of skeletons. The interesting fossil bones of the Himalaya Mountains, Australia, &c., and the extensive collection of crania of different nations ; the latter he compared with the collection of the celebrated Blumenbach; and he particularly noticed the unique remains of the Livatherium. In this department of the museum his royal highness availed himself of the intimate knowledge of Mr. L. Jameson with the subject. He then paid a visit to the interesting museum of Professor Low, illustrative of the different races of domestic animals, and of agricultural implements. The early hour had rendered his visit, as he intended, private. Only two ladies, whom we understood to be the daughters of Professor Traill, accompanied the party. His Royal Highness took his departure at about ten o'clock,leav ing all who had the good fortune to meet him, charmed with his urbanity, his elegant manners and deportment, the sagacity of his observations, and the extent and accuracy of his knowledge in natural history. His Royal Highness then proceeded to the Institution on the Mound, accompanied by Principal Lee and John Russell, Esq., C.S. After viewing the Royal Society Room, Principal Lee conducted his Royal Highness to the Antiquarian Museum, where he pointed out the most interesting objects to the Prince, such as the Maiden; John Knox's pulpit; Jennie Geddes's stool; the Thumbikins ; Rizzio's walking cane ; the Ribbon worn by Prince Charles Stuart ; with all of which the Prince seemed highly amused. He afterwards minutely inspected the Gallery of Ancient Pictures, where he was joined by Dr. Abercromby and Sir John Robinson, when he shortly afterwards left. The Prince expressed to Mr. Smith his regret that time would not allow him to inspect the ancient sculpture. His Royal Highness, in order to have a view of the ro mantic scenery in the environs of the city, ascended some of the eminences in the neighbourhood. From the Institution he proceeded to the Calton Hill, and thence taking the route by George-street, Moray-place, Lothian-road, &c., he pro ceeded as far as the brow of the hill at Morningside. From this point the Prince returned by Bruntsfield Links, up the middle walks of the Meadows, and turning up Teviot-row, left the town by Bristo-street for Dalkeith. THE QUEEN'S DEPARTURE FROM DALKEITH. On Tuesday morning, about nine o'clock, a crowd col lected around the Queen's gate, Dalkeith-palace, and also within the Park, to witness the' departure of her Majesty for the North. A few minutes after nine, a squadron of the Inniskillen Dragoons came up to the park, when the cry arose that the Queen was coming. This, however, was not the case, for her Majesty did not appear before a quarter past nine o'clock. The Queen appeared in an open carriage, and looked remarkably well. While the royal cortege was proceeding through the Park, a crowd of boys caused some amusement to the Queen by their endeavours to keep up with the royal carriage, which they were scarcely able to do. No sooner had her Majesty appeared outside than the crowd sent up a deafening cheer, and the greatest curiosity was manifested to catch a glimpse of the royal person. Her Majesty and the Prince repeatedly bowed to the crowd in the most gracious manner. In the carriage behind the Queen was Sir Robert Peel, who was also loudly cheered, and be hind him came the Earl of Liverpool and several members of the household. The Duke of Buccleuch accompanied her Majesty on horseback. The cortege proceeded in by the Gilmorton Road, and came through Newington, round by Laurieston, and the Lothian Road. PASSING THROUGH THE CITY. `r . Although no definite information as to the exact hour ?f her Majesty's passing through the city had been communi cated to the public, yet a very general impression prevailed that it would occur about nine or ten o'clock in the morn ing. Accordingly, betwixt these hours, numbers of people took up their positions in Queensferry-street, and along the Dean Bridge, as the best places to await the royal arrival. The morning shone out with exqusite brilliancy, and town and country looked supremely beautiful and refreshing. At a few minutes past ten o'clock the royal cortege entered Queensferry-street from the Lothian-road. Her Majesty and Prince Albert were seated in an open carriage, and were received with the warmest demonstrations of loyalty and devotion, by the crowds who lined both sides of the streets. Her Majesty acknowledged the greetings of her subjects with great affability, and was evidently extremely gratified. Indeed, her whole manner evinced a sense of great delight and happiness. Her Malesty's carriage paused for a few moments at the Dean Bridge, to enable her to examine the magnificent prospect which that lofty structure affords, and certainly the romantic beauties of the scene were never beheld to greater advantage. The Frith looked like a silver belt encircling the foreground, which stretched far beneath, gleaming with edifices—and the picturesque Island of Inclikeith glanced under the brilliant rays of the sun. In the distance, the fields and undulating hills of Fife were seen clear and distinct, forming altogether a coup d' ail of landscape unequalled in the world. Next to her Majesty, public curiosity centered in Sir Robert Peel, who, on being recognised, was everywhere received with the great est cordiality. For our parts, we can truly say, that we never heard a single hiss or other unmannerly sound uttered in his presence during any of the public appearances he has made in our streets, and if such has occurred, as is stated to be the case, they must have been the solitary ebullitions of non-intrusion or anti-corn law rancour and spite Sir Robert Peel is entitled to regard the reception awarded to him as a testimony of admiration for his character, and as a gratifying approval of his conduct as a minister on the part of the enlightened public of Scotland. We unwillingly make these observations here, but the remarks of some of our con temporaries leave us no choice, as they have very injudiciously mixed up with politics their account of the circumstances attending the royal visit. A royal salute was fired from the castle on the arrival of her Majesty at the Dean Bridge. The royal cortege then proceeded at a rapid pace to Queensferry. HER MAJESTY'S PASSAGE ACROSS QUEENSFERRY. On Tuesday the greatest interest and anxiety was mani fested by the inhabitants of North and South Queensferry to witness her Majesty's embarkation and landing on her passage across the Firth. Crowds of people thronged the line of road leading to the pier at North Queensferry, along which a carpet was spread for the accommodation of her Majesty in proceeding to the steamer which was appointed to bear her across the ferry. About half-past eleven o'clock, the Royal cortege reached the pier, when her Majesty pro ceeded on board of one of the Ferry steamers, fitted up and handsomely decorated for the occasion. Her Majesty and Prince Albert took their station on deck behind the tiller, and the vessel was steered by Lord Adolphus Fitzclarence. The steamer was immediately followed by a yacht, contain ing her Majesty's suite, the royal carriage, &c., whi c h was towed by another small steamer. This latter vessel pro ceeded directly across the Ferry, but that which contained her Majesty continued to move about for upwards of half an hour, evidently to afford the Queen and the Royal Consort a full opportunity of viewing the magnificent scene which was presented on all sides. Several stearn-vesselskeptcom pany with the Royal party. Amongst these was th e Mo narch, the General Steam Navigation Company's splendid ship, which appeared conspicuously in the river, with all its flags and streamers flying, and a band of music on board. As soon as her Majesty and Prince Albert were recognized, the ladies and gentlemen on board gave a loud cheer, whi c h the Royal party grrciously acknowledged. At twelve o'clock, the Queen's steamer, which had been waiting a few minutes for the signal from the pier that all was ready, made direct for North Queensferry, where a great crowd was assembled to greet her Majesty. Every house, and all the rising grounds were covered with people. A guard of honour of the 53d regiment was drawn up at the landing place. Her Majesty having stept ashore, the pro cession moved along the pier, and the Queen and Prince Albert:entered their carriage. They were followed by the other ladies and gentlemen of the royal party : and after the delay of about three minutes, the royal party escort departed amidst the acclamations of thei people. At the same time, the Monarch fired a royal salute, which reverberated along the coast as the royal cortege proceeded rapidly on its way. The Monarch, which was filled with a numerous and res pectable company, immediately thereafter bent its course back t o Granton Pier ; the whole of those on board uniting in the expression of their high gratification at the splendid and stirring scene which they had witnessed. While we are on the subject of the reception given to the royal party, we feel it to be our duty to notice the manner in which the Prime Minister, who formed the most conspicuous personage in her Majesty's train, was received on this occa gsioointe. fo W rg e etf b o e l li o e f povetihitaii tosthfeeereat body of the people were manifestation of such sentimentsing—and anxious to avoid any in the p re sence of th e sovereign. Still, it wou ld be grossly unjust t o s upp ress th e fact, that Sir Robert Peel was welcomed throughout the uss acclamations, which he whole line with the most vociferous ro o rmly ww,ittaat the Premier in repeatedly Borne places acknowledged.rnimanifest Nay,ttheir admiration a did the throng n had to shake hands from his carriage eager ly pressed upon him. Sir Robe r t was umbers who evidently much p l ease d with the marked attention which he received ; and we must say that a more palpable proof of In • s popularity co uld not have be en g iven than what wa s spontaneously ten dered on this o ccasion. This statement is made on the tes timony of gentlemen placed at different points of the line of procession, and we introduce it in this place as a complete answer to the inuendoes (for there are no open allegations) to the contrary, come from what quarter they may. r \ _~ ~~, ' . MEETING OF THE TOWN COUNCIL. The usual monthly meeting of the town council was held, ,n the Town-hall, on Wednesday. The MAYOR presided. FINANCE COMMITTEE. The DEPUTY TOWN-CLERK read the proceedings of the Finance Committee, which comprised matters relating to the enlargement of the Gaol and House of Correction. The TOWN-CLERK reported to the committee that, after having consulted with two eminent barristers, the latter had given it as their opinion that the council possessed not the power of granting any land to the Roman Catholic Female Orphan Asylum ; and the committee accordingly entered the statement on their books, and referred the whole subject to the council. Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE moved the confirmatio❑ of the proceedings. In doing so he said that those who had paid attention to the reading of those proceedings would have ob served the nature of the several topics which had occupied the consideration of the committee during the last month. The committee had, amongst other things, especially agreed to the recommendation of the Courts of Law Committee, and authorised a further expenditure of £10,700 for the pur pose of obtaining a superior quality of stone wherewith to erect the new Assize Courts. The committee had refused the application of the committee of the Homan Catholic Orphan Asylum for a grant of land, and they had recom mended the council to appropriate tilt sum of £230 for the purchase of a clock for the new Scotch Kirk (St. Peter's), in Scotland-road. But the subject they were more particularly desirous of attracting attention to was in reference to the Borough Gaol and House of Correction. This was a subject of great importance. It was a subject which had, neverthe less, been frequently before the council and the Finance Committee ; and the members would all remember, for it was only three months since it occurred, that they had agreed to the grant of a further sum of £6,000 for the pur pose of making alterations and affording increased accommo dation in that building. Those alterations had met the ap proval of the council ; they were acquiesced in by the magistrates of the borough, whose views, in matters of the kind, the council were always desirous to consult ; they were also approved of by the recorder; and the committee had sent them to the secretary of state for his sanction and ap proval. That sanction they had failed i►► obtaining, for in a letter from Sir James Graham, he had refused his assent to the alterations. In the meantime, the difficulties of the committee pressed very much upon them. The gaol was more full at present than ever it had been before, there being now, in the Borough Prison and at Kirkdale Gaol, 869 prisoners, while in 1838 there had been only 480 pri soners. Added to this difficulty the county magistrates had forwarded a communication to say that they could not ac commodate the borough prisoners at Kirkdale to the extent they had done hitherto. They had provided a room to a considerable extent for the accommodation of the borough for some time, but- _ _ _ The MAYOR—At present I believe they can afford no ac commodation whatever there. Mr. LAWRENCE continued—They had intimated that the Council must reduce the number of borough prisoners very considerably, and they had further stated that the time might arrive very shortly when they would be compelled to deny those prisoners admission altogether; and w.re it not for the veto of Sir James Graham, he (Mr. Lawrence) should have come before the Council that day prepared to ask for a still further expenditure on the borough gaol. Under those cir cumstances, it behoved the Council to consider well what they ought to do. They were pressed by the Magistrates, Sir James Graham, and the Grand Jury to do something in the matter, and, influenced by those sort of considerations, which could not fail to have weight on their attention, they should feel the difficulty of the subject. He repeated that it was indeed a most important subject. He could have wished that Sir James Graham had sanctioned the improvements. However much Sir James Graham and his advisers might see the necessity that existed for the erection of a new building, he (Mr. Lawrence) sincerely wished that he had sanctioned those improvements, because whether the Council agreed to build a new gaol or not, those alterations were absolutely necessary to enable them to go on. Besides the intelligent governor of the Borough Gaol would not have recommended the alterations to be made if he thought they would interfere with the:arrangements of the prison. He (Mr. Lawrence) wished also to observe, on public grounds, that until the go vernment had tried their new gaol at Pentonville, it was some what hard for them to say that Liverpool must make a further experiment on their behalf. On private grounds he thought it right to observe that great improvements had been made, and that with an increased poor law assessment, the income tax, the 13werage rate, and other taxes of a like nature, which already pressed heavily, he should feel loath to ask the burgesses to incur a further expenditure of fourpence in the pound, to which it would actually amount for some years to come, in order to erect a new gaol. (Hear, hear.) It was quite im possible that the corporation estate could do anything material towards the liquidation of such an expenditure. He felt happy that such a large estate was in the hands of the corporation, and the public had many advantages from it in Liverpool which parties in other communities were necessi tated to provide for from either private sources or by local taxation—(hear) —but vast as their estate was, they must acknowledge that the income was no more than adequate to meet the present demands upon it. He admitted that theirs was an improving property, but it should be recollected that their revenue had not been increased in late years ; and, therefore, if the corporation happened to decide on the erection of a new gaol, they must have recourse to Sir James Graham for a new prison bill. If the corporation thought this the fit and proper course to persue, he, for one, would not shrink from acting his part ; but, on the contrary, he would bear the odium, rather than the responsibility or slight reproach which any man must feel who neglected his duty. He had thrown these remarks out at random for the consideration of the Council, and he would now read the letter of Sir James Graham, upon which he founded his re marks, and which, they would observe,entered rather fully into the subject. It had been written by Henry Manners Sutton, Esq., and was as follows : " Whitehall, 31st August, 1842. " SIR,—I am directed by the Secretary, Sir James Graham, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 23rd instant, and the accompanying documents and plans for the enlargement of the Borough Gaol of Liverpool. " Sir James Graham observes that the number of prisoners is stated to be ' increasing,' and that the accommodation to be gained by the proposed plans will be 184 additional cells, obtained by relieving portions of the existing prison from their present appropriation, which renders them available, but DO substantial improvement in construction results from it. The total number of cells by these means will be raised from 333 to 517 ; but it appears to Sir J. Graham, that this latter number is quite inadequate to provide in the manner contemplated by the existing acts of parliament, for 688 prisoners, the number which the grand jury found confined in the prison. " Sir James Graham is informed that the construction of the Borough Gaol at Liverpool is defective, and the contem plated outlay, so far from being in furtherance of any real improvement, would only add to existing difficulties, and fill up the area within the walls, which is already much too con fined. " Under these circumstances, Sir James Graham is of opinion that he cannot properly certify his approval of the plans which are herewith returned. " Sir James Graham desires me to submit, for the con sideration of the magistrates, that when such extensive ad ditions are imperatively called for, it is of great importance that the whole subject should receive their most serious attention with reference to the following points : " I.—The means of making adequate provision for the whole of the borough prisoners, and for future enlargements. "2.—That as large a portion as possible of the funds to be expended in additional accommodation, should be laid out in new cells on the latest principle of construction. " 3.—That such cells should be placed in relation to the existing buildings with a prospective view to their future improvement or enlargement of the prison. " If the magistrates decide on adopting these suggestions, Sir James Graham will direct Major Jebb, of the Royal Engineers, to afford them all the assistance in his power in arranging the details.—l am, sir, your obedient servant, " H. MANNERS SUTTON. " The Town-Clerk of Liverpool." This was the letter. The Mayor had, moreover, received a memorial from the county magistrates in reference to Kirk dale Gaol, which he had handed to him (Mr. Lawrence) to read to the Council. The following is the document : " At a meeting of the magistrates, held in the Council room, in the Town-hall, on Saturday,the 13th day of August, 1842, to take into consideration a ;communication from the Rev. J. Brooks, as chairman of the visiting justices of the Kirkdale House of Correction, relative to the number of prisoners to be committed by the borough magistrates to that House of Correction, "PRESENT, " John Shaw Leigh, Esq., Mayor, " Edward Rushton, Esq., Richard V. Yates, Esq., Thomas Bolton, Esq., Robert E. Harvey, Esq., Thomas Sands, Esq., Hugh Hornby, Esq., Adam Hodgson, Esq., John Holmes, Esq., William Rathbone, Esq., Stanley Percival, Esq.. " Charles . Parker, Esq. " The Mayor having read the following communication, which he had received from the Rev. J. Brooks : Committee-room, Sessions' -house, Kirkdale, 'Blh August, 1842. "Dear Sir,—l have been requested by the visiting justices of the Kirkdale House of Correction, to communicate to you the following resolution which was passed in committee , this day. , • " I have the honour to be, dear sir, " Your obedient servant, " JONATHAN BROOKS, Chairman of V.J." RESOLUTION REFERRED TG :- " Resolved—That, in consequence of the great increase of county prisoners, a communication be made to the Mayor of Liverpool, that the visiting justices are under the necessity of limiting the number of prisoners from that borough to one hundred." " It was resolved—That, in consequence of this communi cation, and from the inadequate accommodation for the prisoners now confined:in the Borough Gaol, it is highly ex pedient to appoint a committee of justices for the purpose of taking into consideration the state of the gaol, with a view to the increased accommodation rendered necessary, as well by the crowded state of the prison as by the determination of the county justices ; and that such committee be instructed to report the result of their deliberations to a future meeting. " That the following , gentlemen be and they are hereby appointed a committee...or the purpose aforesaid :—Edward Rushton, Esq., Adam Hodgson, Esq., Hugh Hornby, Esq., Charles Horsfall, Esq., and Robert E. Harvey, E sq . " That, in the opinion of this meeting, it would be desir able to have a committee appointed by the Council to confer with the committee appointed by this meeting. " That the Council be respectfully requested to nominate a committee for this purpose, and to empower the united committee to report the result of their labours to the Coun cil." He (Mr. Lawrence) had now laid before the Council what ever documentary opinions he possessed upon the subjects, and begged to conclude by moving— " Resolved, that it be an instruction to the Finance Com mittee to make all requisite inquiries, and by deputation, or by correspondence, to confer with the Secretary of State on the subject of his letter of the 31st ult.; and also with the offer ing loagaukgasei Mr.nso e t yf r aß a rt i h e aybe s csrle o ee3r f pi rvto t T: l r i tt e sui oati ß nitod.s o ;th r ht ia o eepu u dodc g in l do l t ,huwnwaniotici what tl h hr ohi ersnaeedftefhofraiersln Committeelt se c hun e e bt.i t re o o chm t te h .,d e m, i r r e r e e t e s o d u t 0 - purpose ro.f Law rence, but to ask him to allow the grant of £10,700 for the superior stone for the New Assize Court to sand over for the present, until the Council shall hear the report of the Courts of Law Committee upon the sabject. He thought the adoption of a such a course would save discussion Mr. LAWRENCE admitted the suggestion to bea very good the he laying shoulda out s t of t e one, t ‘r. and B immediately a h t a e d l y saesyseernatle objectionsdtoit. to u a r t th u e ie r sum upon time.ponth e courts, and that ' r. PARKER had heard w ith great pleasure the rep or t o f tahin'ee:ni further sum upon the CO*rts, and that he should state them at the proper time. Mr. PARKER had heard with great pleasure the report of the Finance Committee, and was willin g to agree that it em braced something of the utmost i mpottance; but he did not coincide with Mr. Lawrence in thinking that the subject of the gaol was of the most importance.. There was one subject in the report which would be considered of vast importance, not only in the Council, but also out of doors. He alluded a le Orphanemanated from A sy l t u h m e c om which i t t e h e a d o f beenthe tßomanoth e memorial Catholic whichFem referred to the Finance Commiteee for consideratio n; an d into the particulars of which, as well as the legal opinions t c h o e m r e m o e h e e t should have r l e i d k e atd the greater C i ai r i n e i n a g n t h othe . f He Financehim himself f never had, since the Vice-Chancellor's judgment had been grantpromulgated,afonry suchdoubta on p r u p his os e m , i o n r d , a a t s to least, the thatillegality th ey oh.afaid. a no legal power to comply with the prayer of the memorial. He wished the Chairman to state that there had been a differ ence of opinion on the subject amongst the members of the committee, and that the Town-Clerk had obtained legal opi nions in order to have the matter set at rest. He believed the conservatives were much indebted to their political op ponents on the committee for, the valuable information which those opinions contained. The opinion of Mr. Tinney, one of the most able men at the bar, had been obtained ; and there was one sentence in that opinion of so strong a nature that it would for ever set at rest the question of grants to Roman Catholics or any other denomination of Christians except the members of the Established Church. (Hear.} It was this : " I should," writes he, " be inclined to say, that any appro priation for the exclusive benefit of the members of a distinct church, or religious persuasion, other than the Established Church, would not be consonant to the policy of the acts." (Hear, hear.) This was clearly laid down. It was moreover corroborated by the opinion of the Vice-Chancellor ; and he hoped it would for ever set at rest the applications from Catholic orphan institutions. Mr. BIRKETT.—Roman Catholic. Mr. PARKER meant Roman Catholic Orphan Institution ; because, however much the Council might be inclined to make the grants, the law distinctly laid it down that they were incapacitated from so doing. And it further appeared, from those opinions, that although the misapplication of the corporate funds for the system of education, introduced by the late Town-Council, was not utterly against the letter of the law, it was against the spirit ; but as that system had now been placed upon its right footing, he hoped they would not hear anything more of their schools, or of grants to the Roman Catholic I ns titutions of the town. (Hear, hear.) Mr. BIRKETT seconded Mr. Lawrence's motion. Mr. HODGSON said that under the circumstances in which he had been placed at the last meeting of the Council, he might be excused when he briefly expressed his opinion upon the present subject. lie was at the last meeting induced to withdraw his motion on the declaration of the Town-Clerk that the Council could not legally dispose of property than under discussion. He, therefore did withdraw it. lie un derstood now that two opinions had been received on this question of law, and he thought, not for the purpose of con tinuing the discussion, but to allow it to rest, that it would be very advantageous, in addition to what had been so very ably stated by his friend Mr. Parker, if the two opinions were separately read, so that not only those already ac quainted with the subject in the Council, but those unac quainted with it in the Council, should be put in possession of the exact state of the case ; and still more—in order that the legal ground on which the conservative party were acting, and which might save them a great deal of trouble hereafter, might be fully known,—that the same reporters who gave in substance what transpired in the Council, should give the opinions verbatim. He thought it well to have it generally known by those who advocated the giving away of property, now declared illegal, and those who opposed the giving of it away on conscientious grounds, and their legitimate con troul of which was supported by the laws of their country, :hat they could not distribute that property, even though . . _ they were to overcome their conscientious convictions, with out being guilty of a direct violation of the laws. (Hear, hear.) He, therefore, thought that, though they might occupy some time, they could not occupy it more impor tantly than by giving verbatim the case as stated to counsel, with their opinions as separately taken : and if he was rightly informed, that Roman Catholics, or those who advocated their cause—he would be corrected if his statement was in correct—had particularly desired to have the opinion of one barrister by name—that the name of that barrister—a man, he believed, of very high integrity—had been submitted — that he had been chosen, and that he had given as strong an opinion against their own cause as they could possibly have had. (Hear, hear.) Therefore there was no partial state ment of the case, but, upon the contrary, the opposite party had had every benefit respecting the way in which they could place their case. (Loud cries of " Read, read.") Mr. G. 11. LAWRENCE thought that if the opinions were to be separately read, the case should be read also. (Hear, hear.) He should have entered wore at length into the question in the course of his speech ; but when a flat nega tive to the proposition had been received, he thought the less said the better. Mr. SANDS was of opinion that for the information a those within as well as without doors, it would be well to have both the case and the opinions read at once. (Hear, hear). Mr. HENRY LAWRENCE said there•could be no objection to have the whole read. It had been the wish of the com mittee that no barrister of political prejudices should be consulted, and that wish bad been carried into full effect. The MAYOR asked whether it was the wish of the Council that the opinions should be read. (" Yes, yes.") The TOWN-CLERK said it would be necessary, in the first instance, to inform them of the part le had taken in the matter. First, he reported his own opinion to the commit tee, recommending that his opinion should have the test of the opinions of counsel. Then he proceeded to state a case which was approved of by the Finance Committee, he be lieved unanimously. Then that case was communicated to the secretary and solicitor on the part of the Roman Catho lic Orphan Institution, and met with his approval. The opinion and case having been returned, he (the Town-clerk) received a note from that gentleman (the secretary and soli citor) suggesting that probably Mr. Tinney would be as good a person as any to lay the papers before. He (the Town clerk) then sent to his agents the names of two gentlemen— one concerned for one case and the other for the other—in the case of the Attorney-General v. IV' Cullen, and also the name of Mr. Tinney, and requesting his agents to select two from the three, and to send the papers to them, provided that neither of them had committed himself upon the ques tion. The case was as follows : " CASE. " This case will raise a question, whether the council of a Municipal Corporation can lawfully make an appropriation for purposes which comprise education of poor orphans in the Roman Catholic faith, doctrine, and practice ? " By the act for the regulation of Municipal Corporations in England and Wales, 5 and 6 William IV., c. 76, sec. 92, it is enacted, "That after the election of the treasurer in any borough, the rents and profits of all hereditaments, and the interest, dividends, and annual proceeds of all moneys, dues, chottels, and valuable securities, belonging or payable to any body corporate named in conjunction with the said borough in the said schedules (A) and (B), or to any member or officer thereof in his corporate capacity, and every fine or penalty for any offence against this act (the application of whiCh has not been already provided for) shall be paid to the treasurer of such borough, and all the moneys which he shall '" .:“.11 he em.tierl by him to .c rand to be called ' The Borough Fund ;' and such fund, subject to the payment of any lawful debt due f r o m such bod y corpo rate to any person, which shall ha ve been contracted before the passing of this act, and unredeemed, or of so much thereof as the council of such borough from time to time shall be required, or shall deem it exp edient to rede em , and to the payment from time to time o f the interest of so m uch thereof as shall remain unredeemed, and saving all rights, interests, claims, or demands, of all persons or bodies corporate in or upon the real or personal estate of any body corporate by virtue of any proceedings either at law or in equity which have been already instituted or which may be hereafter insti tuted, or by virtue of any mortgage or otherwise, shall be applied towards the payment of the salary of the mayor, and of the recorder, and of the police magistrate hereinafter men tioned, when there is a recorder or police magistrate. and of the respective salaries of the Town Clerk and Treasurer, and of every other officer, whom the council shall appoint; and also towards the payment of the expenses incurred from time to time in preparing and printing burg ess li s t s , ward lists, and notices , and in other matters attending such elections, as are herein mentioned, and in boroughs, which shall have a separate Court of Sessions of the Peace, as is hereinafter provided, towards the expenses of the prosecution, maintenance, and punishment of offenders and towards such other sum to be paid by such Borough to the Treasurer of said County, as is hereinafter provided ; and towards the expense of maintaining the Borough Gaol, House of Correction, and corporate buildings, and towards fund the shall surplus the payment of the constables, and all other expenses, not herein otherwise provided , or which shall be necessarily in curred in carrying into effect the provisions of this act ; and i ft more ohre rt eh oe t fl publicas than i lbbee benefit sufficient efl t appliedf oof underpurposes r t the e dßoroughireeaforesaid,t direction f theCouncilthe inhabitants and improvement of the Borough. " And by a local act, Ist Vic., C. 115, for the i m provement of the Borough of Liverpool, and to enable the corporation t n he net the to appropriate lands, tenements, and hereditaments for pub lic purposes, it is enacted, sec. 46 :--` That it shall be lawful for the said Council to appropriate any part of lands, situate in or near Lime-street, Islington, Shaw's-brow, the New Haymarket, and St. John's-lane, in the said Town, formerly the site of the old Infirmary and Lunatic Asylum, and the gardens, grounds, yards, and offices of the said Infirmary and Lunatic Asylum, and lands contiguous thereto, all such lands being the estate of the said Mayor, Aldermen, and Burgesses, for the purpose of erecting thereon buildings appropriate for and to be used for public purposes, and also to appropriate any other land of and belonging to the said Mayor, Alder men, and Burgesses for the like purposes, when and so often as they may think such appropriation will be for the public benefit of the inhabitants and improvement of the said Borough." At a meeting of the Council of the borough of Liverpool, held on the Ist of June, 1842, the following memorial was presented : " To the Mayor, Aldermen, and Common Council of the Borough of Liverpool, " The humble memorial of the Committee of the Catholic Orphan House. " The members of the Town Council are doubtless aware that for many years there has existed in Liverpool a chari table establishment for the reception and education of Ca tholic Female Orphans. " Phis establishment owed its first existence to the libe rality and charitable exertions of a few individuals, who, by their own contributions, and by soliciting the contributions of others, were enabled, in the year 1819, to rent a house in St. Paul's-square, and to open it fo r th e reception of desti tute orphan children of Catholic parents. " Owing to the favour which was subsequently shown to this charity, the committee were enabled, in the year 1826, to purchase a more commodious house, with a garden at tached to it, in Mount-pleasant. This house they at present occupy. " Of late years the average number of female orphans constantly lodged, fed, clothed, and educated in this house, has been about 80. The house is under the immediate ma nagement of a respectable matron, and is governed by a committee chosen at the annual general meeting of the sub scribers to the charity. " Within the last two years, the house adjoining the orphan establishment was purchased by Messrs. Samuel and James Holme, and they converted the ground contiguous to the garden of the establishment into a building yard, wherein they have built a limekiln, steam engine-house, stable, smithy, &c. ; and, for the purpose of making their premises more extensive, it became an object of importance to Messrs. Holme to purchase the property belonging to the charity, and after repeated offers made by those gentlemen, the com mittee were at last induced to sell it them. " Two considerations induced the committee to come to this determination. In the first place, they wished to free the establishment from the nuisance occasioned by the proximity of the building yard and the erections above-men tioned. In the second place, they hoped to be enabled to increase the efficiency and usefulness of the charity by build ing a house, on a larger scale, for the female orphans, in some other locality, and by providing also an asylum for orphan boys. " The committee, considering the important nature of the charity, and the benefit which must necessarily result to the town from an establishment which supports, and provides education for the orphan children of so numerous a class of its poorer inhabitants, have felt it to be their duty to bring the subject under the consideration of the Town Council, and respectfully to solicit a grant of a portion of Corporation land, whereon to erect the contemplated new buildings, and sufficiently ample for the purposes of the charit y ; and they are encouraged to do this with confidence in the success of their application, as a similar grant has lately been made by the Town Council for a similar purpose. " In conclusion, the committee take the liberty of remind ing the Council, that the great majority of Catholics in Liverpool belong to the humbler classes, and from the many schools and other charities which have to be supported by the voluntary contributions of the Catholics, they are neces sarily much cramped in their resources; and inasmuch as the well-being of a charity of this description is a benefit to the town and a source of gratification to the friends of the poor and destitute orphans, the committee trust their application will receive the favourable consideration of the Council. " Signed, on behalf of the Committee, " AMBROSE LENNON, president. "Liverpool, 30th May, 1842." This memorial was referred by the Council to the com mittee, and under the authority of this committee the Town- Clerk called upon the applicants for further information. In compliance with this demand, the papers were delivered, of which copies (A.) are herewith laid before Counsel. These will be found to Consist of I.—Report 2.—Rules end resolutions of the Institution. 3.—Extract from the trust deeds " Appropriations heretofore made by the Council in favour of two other institutions, viz., ' The Deaf and Dumb' and ' The Female Orphan Society,' which will he found in the papers (B) herewith. " The question for consideration is, whether the Council, supposing no question as to the state of the corporate funds to stand in the way, have in law power to comply with the request of the memorial on behalf of the Roman Catholic Orphan Institution, if they, in the exercise of their discre tion, think proper so to do." [See as to the public nature of the trust of the Council " Attorney-General v. Aspinall," 2 Mylne and Craig,.6l3 ; and as to the particular point in this case, " Attorney- General v. Cullum," and " Same v. Le Grice,"---Jurist, of May the 7th, 1842, page 362.] He would now read the opinions of counsel in the order of date. The first was that of Mr. Bacon, a gentleman who was one of the counsel in the case of M'Cullum. Mr. Bacon said : " I am of opinion that the Town-Council of Liverpool are not empowered by the act of parliament of the Ist of the Queen, or by the Municipal Corporation Reform Act (so far as it can be in any manner applicable to the subject of this case) to comply with the request contained in the memorial of the Committee of the Catholic Orphan House. There can be no question that providing for the maintenance and education of poor orphan children is an object in which all the inhabitants of the borough have an interest, and there can be no reason why orphan children educated in the Ro man Catholic faith are not as well entitled to share in the public benefits of the borough as any other persons ; but, however desirable it may be, and however proper it would be, if no legal restriction were interposed, to appropriate the land now required for the purpose of building an asylum for Roman Catholic orphans, I am of opinion that the act of parliament does not justify it. The words of the statute of the Ist Victoria are sufficiently clear. They authorise the appropriation of town land for the erection of buildings ap priate, and to be used, for " public purposes," so often as the corporation may think such appropriation will be " for the public benefit of the inhabitants and the improvement of the borough." The latter words being identical with those which are to be found in the 92d section of the Municipal Corporation Act. The discretion given to the corporation, it will be perceived, is guided and restricted by the preceding words, which authorise the appropriation of the land to build ings to be used for public purposes ; and I am of opinion that although the corporation may, at their mere discretion, choose when, and what, and how much land they will appro priate, yet they cannot exercise this power for any other than public purposes. Building a town-hall or a market, widen ing straets, erecting fountains, and many other things, would be public purposes; but inasmuch as, notwithstanding the indirect benefit which the general inhabitants of the town would derive from the establishment of a Roman Catholic Asylum, a building to be erected for that purpose would not be a building for any public purposes. the council cannot, in my opinion, without exceeding the power given to them by the act of parliament, grant land in the manner or for the pur pose suggested by the memorial. " JAMES BACON. The next was Mr. Tinney's opinion : " According to the best of my opinion the Council have not in law, power to comply with the request of the memo rial on behalf of the committee of the Catholic Orphan House. Although the rules and resolutions of this charity do not purport to confine its objects to members of the Roman Catholic Church, nor to provide that they shall be brought up in the Roman Catholic faith, I think that these matters are incidentally secured by the constitution of the society, and by one or more of the resolutions. " I think that an institution being thus for the benefit of a particular class of the inhabitants, virtually excluding all who do not belong to that class, is not (within the provisions of the two acts of parliament cited in this case) an institution for the public benefit of the inhabitants of Liverpool. Al though it may be justly said that the improvement of the borough is promoted by an institution securing the mainte nance and education of even a distinct class or portion of its inhabitants. " If it be legitimate to speculate on the policy of the acts as a medium for construing them, I should be inclined to say that any appropriation for the exclusive benefit of the members of a distinct church of religious persuasion, other than the Established Church, would not be consonant to such policy. " It seems to be suggested that a similar appropriation was countenanced by Lord Cottenham in the case of the Li verpool Church Endowment, and that a like appropriation has been made by the Council in favour of the Liverpool Female Orphan Society. Now it might probably be suffi cient to answer with respect to the first, that the specific ob lection may not have been presented to Lord Cottenham, and, at all events, that his observations do not amount to a decision ; and with respect to the second, that it proceeded on the authority of the first. But I am disposed to adopt Lord Cottenham's view, and to approve of the Female Or phan Society appropriation, and to consider that an institu tion for the instruction of persons in the Established Church is not open to the objection. " I think that such an institution, not excluding expressly any description of objects, may, within the provisions and policy of the acts, be taken to be for the benefit of the inhab itants as a mass, as well as the improvement of the borough— and this view I think is sanctioned by the decision in Attor ney-General v. Cullum. " W. H. TINNEY. " Snowdenham,l9th August, 1842." Mr. BOLTON said the case had been fairly stated for the consideration of counsel ; but if grants of the present kind were to be confined to the Established Church, then the words of the acts—" for the public benefit of the inhabitants" —were a farce. Mr. BIRKETT said his opinions on subjects of the kind under discussion were so well known that it w as unnecessary for him to occupy the attention of the Council; but so long as Mr. Bolton thought fit to give his opinion that it was wrong for the people to be brought up in the Established Church, so long would he advance the contrary opinion. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Bolton had gone out of his way to argue the question, and had brought up cases already settled. With regard to the grant to the Deaf and Dumb Institution, he (Mr. Birkett) thought that if the Council, as at present constituted, had made that grant, it would be put upon a different footing, and with the sanction, too, of a large ma jority of the inhabitant s of the town. (Haar, hear.) Mr. Bolton had been railin g , not merely against the majority of the burgesses, but absolutely against the laws of the laud ; and was this consistent with the conduct of a representative in Council ? (Hear, hear.) He (Mr. Birkett) alleged, and the more he saw the more lie was convinced of the truth of the allegation, that the bringing people up in the knowledge and the fear of God was the best means which could be adopted for making them good and honest subjects, and keeping them out of gaol. (Applause.) Mr. YATES hoped that the experience of the past would he a warning to them, and that they would never give one farthing to any sect whatever, be it Church of England or any other sect. Mr. ATKIN observed, that the Council had no other course left except to submit. (Hear, hear.) Mr. LLOYD asked whether the alterations in the gaol would, under the circumstances, be proceeded with ? The MAYOR replied in the negative. Mr. ASPINALL expressed a hope that no further sums of money would be granted by the Finance Committee until such time as the next decision of the Secretary of State should be made known. The proceedings were confirmed, with the exception of that part which referred to the £10,700 for the superior stone for the new Courts ; but at a later period of the day, this exception was set aside, and the whole of the proceedings were confirmed. Mr. Lawrence's motion was also adopted. IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE. The proceedings of the Improvement Committee were read and confirmed. PAYMENT FOR THE FORT. Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE moved the appropriation of two per cent. to the accumulating fund, in respect of £4,611 13s. 4d. taken up for the first payment to government for the site of the Fort. Mr. BOLTON seconded the motion, which was unanimously adopted. WATCH COMMITTEE. The proceedings of the Watch, Lighting, Cleansing, and Fire Police Committees were next read. The committee recommended that the Watch, Lighting, Cleansing, and other offices be continued in their present site, and not re moved to the new Assize Courts. The MAYOR read a memorial from Mr. Edward Deane, law-clerk, stating that at a meeting of the commissioners for the better paving and sewerage of the town, held on the Ist instant, they unanimously resolved that the removal of the Watch, Lighting, and Cleansing Offices to the site of the Islington Market would sever the Watch and Highway Boards, now conducted by the same persons, as treasurer, clerks, and collectors, at salaries or allowances borne pro portionately, and thereby entail a great additional expense on both establishments, and that it was highly objectionable to disconnect those offices, or, with regard to the public service, to remove either of them to a distance from the Pa rish offices, or from the neighbourhood of the Exchange, the centre of general business. Mr. EVANS hoped that gentlemen would not endeavour to confine the official business upon the edge of such a great and increasing community as that of Liverpool, but allow the whole to be concentrated, because he had no doubt but the more concentration they had, the better the public busi ness would be carried on. He said that one great cause of the neglect of the magistrates to their duty at present was owing to the want of such a concentration. He could not conceive that they would be justified for a moment in refu sing to carry the whole of the judicial and public business of Liverpool into the centre of the town; and he concluded by saying that nothing could contribute more to the ornament of Liverpool than a concentration of the public business on the Infirmary ground. Mr. ASPINALL mentioned that at a meeting of the Parish Committee, held the day before, they were unanimously of the same opinion as the Watch Committee and the Highway Board. He felt much obliged to Mr. Evans for the compli merit which that gentleman had indirectly paid to the old magistrates, many of whom had been displaced to make room for others, who, as it now appeared, were not very attentive to their duties. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) He hoped the Council would seriously take the matter into consideration, and allow the offices to remain where they were at present. The TOWN-CLERK said the discussion would more pro perly come on when the proceedings of the Courts of Law Committee were subsequently read. Mr. BRIGHT thought that the removal of the offices to the proposed site would be conducive to the interests of the town. His objection was to the internal arrangements of the new site, for he thought them inadequate and inconvenient. Mr. PROCTER was also of opinion thot the plans were ex tremely inconvenient. Mr. Whitty had eighty-six yards for his office, and at the new courts only thirty-nine square yards were given for the watch-offices. Mr. Dowling was, moreover, to have forty-seven square yards in his drawing room—(laughter)--while the whole of the watch-offices were to have only thirty-nine. Mr. Dowling's house was also to have the windows in the front. (Continued laughter.) He (Mr. Procter) doubted if the special committee would send such exceptionable plans before the Watch Committee again. (Hear, hear.) Mr. HouGsoN believed that unanimity on the subject did not prevail before the magistrates, but that there was no substantial objection to the proposed locality. Mr. YATES thought it ought not to be inferred from what Mr. Evans had said that there had been inattention on the part of the magistrates. (Great laughter.) Mr. PARKER contended that the Watch Committee transacted more business than any other committee belonging to the Council. The proceedings were confirmed, with the reservation of that part relating to the non-removal of the offices. ALDERMAN FOR CASTLE-STREET WARD. Mr. BOLTON begged to inform the Council that Castle-street ward was without an alderman ; and that the burgesses thereof had unanimously resolved to elect Sir Thomas Brancker as their alderman. (Hear and laughter.) He, therefore, moved that Sir Thomas he their alderman. Mr. JORDAN seconded the motion. Sir THOMAS jocularly remarked that Mr. Bolton had first previously informed him that the burgesses had nothing for it but Hobson's choice. (Continued laughter.) MARKETS' COMMITTEE. The proceedings of the Markets' Committee having been read, Mr. COOPER presented a memorial from the inhabitants of Great George's-place , in favour of the haymarket being removed to that locality. After some discussion, the memorial was referred to the Markets' Committee. EDUCATION COMMITTEE. The proceeding; of the Education Committee were next i read. The numbers n attendance in the schools, from the 27th of July to the 30th of Au! low : NORTH SCHOOL. Boys. Girl5.... Infants... The numbers on the books NORTH SCHOOL. Established Church.... 627 Protestant • Dissenters.. 213 Roman Catholics....... 59 'gust, were stated to be as fol- SOUTH SCHOOL. Boys. 194 Girls. 120 Infants. ere set forth as follow : SOUTH SCHOOL. Established Church 456 Protestant Dissenters 97 Roman Catholics GI 990 I 614 Mr. SANDS moved the confirmation of the proceedings. Mr. PLATT seconded the motion, which was adopted unanimously. BOROUGII COURT COMMITTEE. The proceedings of the Borough Court and Court of Re quests Committee were read and confirmed. COURTS OF LAW COMMITTEE. The proceedings of the Courts of Law Committee having been read, Mr. LLOYD moved their confirmation, and in doing so, pro ceeded to shew that no want of courtesy had been exhibited by the Courts -)f Law Committee towards the Watch Committee, as had been alleged at the last meeting of the Council, but that on the contrary, their surveyor had been sent to explain and receive suggestions in reference to the plans. Mr. THORNHILL considering the plans improper, said that neither Mr. Whitty nor Mr. Ashlin had been ever con sulted about them. Mr. BIRKErr discredited the charge of discourtesy, but denied that the corporation had any money in their possession to incur a further expenditure. Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE expressed a hope that the Counsel, for the sake of £lO,OOO, would not shrink from procuring the best stone. Mr. PLATT thought it would be wretched policy if they had not the best stone, provided the money could be had. Mr. llonGsoN said it would be better to stop the building altogether than to construct it with a material which they were told beforehand would not be equal to what was re quired. After a few words from Mr. Bramley-Moore, Mr I. Holmes, Mr. Sands, and Mr. Bright, the proceedings were confirmed; andit was agreed that the proceedings of the Watch Committee be approved, with the reservation of the resolu tions as to the removal of the Watch-office, which are re tained for consideration after the report thereon of the Courts of Law Committee, to which committee the same have been transferred by the Watch Committee ; and the resolutions of the Highway Board be referred to the Courts of Law Committee. TOWN-HALL ESTABLISHMENT COMMITTEE. The proceedings of the Town-hall Establishment Com mittee were read and confirmed. The eornmittee decided on not taking a lease of the judges' lodgings in St. Anne-street, but on renting it for another year, and hiring the furniture for the same period. The proceedings of the Observatory Committee, and of the Church Expenditure Committee, were next read. DOCK COMMITTEE. The proceedings of the Dock Committee having been read, Mr. SANDS moved their confirmation. Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE asked when the transit sheds would be ready? Mr. SANDS said they were ready at present. Mr. BRAMLEY-MOORE complained of the crossings at the Prince's and George's Docks as being very inconvenient for passengers, and suggested a mode of remedying it. Mr. SANDS said the subject had already undergone con sideration. Mr. AIKIN said it w i ls a mere matter for the police, who were always stationed at the places mentioned. The proceedings were confirmed. APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEES. The TOWN-CLERK said the next subject on the paper was the appointment of committees to execute the powers and provisions of the act of last session for the improvement, good government, and police regulation of the borough. The resolutions he submitted were 1;() the effect that the act be referred to the Improvement Committee for widening t strects and making streets more commodious—to the Watch Com mittee as far as regarded the constables and Fire Police of the borough—to the Lighting Cleansing Committee as far as regarded the cleansing of the old borough—that Mr. George H. Lawrence and the other gentlemen of the Finance Com mittee be appointed a committee to make, alter, and repeal all by-laws authorised, and that the act be referred to the Finance Committee to include the provisions not referred to the other committees. _ _ —.—. ---- Those several resolutions were unanimously adopted. ENROLMENT OF INDENTURES. . _ _ The TOWN-CLERK stated that he had received fifty appli cations to allow, under speciel circumstances, the enrolment of the indentures of apprenticeships. The applications were referred to the Finance Committee to report to the Council. DECAYED WALL. The TOWN-CLERK read a presentment of the grand jury of the borough setting forth that a certain wall, belonging to Mr. Rigby, on the south side of Harrington-street, was so decayed and dilapidated as to be in danger of falling. It was referred to the Finance Committee for the surveyor's report. THE ROMAN CATHOLIC ASYLUM. Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE said he had been guilty of a slight irregularity in his opening .statement. He had told the Council that the Finance Committee had refused the applica tion for a grant of land to the Roman Catholic Orphan Asylum. It appeared that the committee had not actually refused the application, but that they had entered the statement on their books, and referred the whole subject to the Council. It would, therefore, require a formal vote ; and he would move with this view, that the council are advised that they cannot legally comply with the prayer of the memorial. Sir T. BRANCKER seconded the motion, and it was carried. THE MAYOR'S COMMUNICATIONS. The MAYOR read a memorial complaining of a nuisance in Prince 'William-street. It was referred to the Finance Com mittee. He read a memorial from the Rev. Thomas Carter, on behalf of the Liverpool Benevolent Society for reclaiming unfortunate females, and soliciting assistance. It was re ferred to the Finance Committee. He also read a letter from Mr. Statham, containing the amount of unclaimed money at the Court of Requests. It was referred to the Court of Re quests' Committee. The Council adjourned at ten minutes to three o'clock. SENTENCES OF THE YORKSHIRE RIOTERS. On Monday, at York, Lord Denman proceeded io sen tence the prisoners, who to the number of 150 were assem bled in the two courts. The Lord Chief Justice addressed himself first to the case of one Mitchell, who had been con victed of plundering a soldier, senseless and bleading 'in one of the affrays between the military and the mob. This man was sentenced to ten years' transportation. The other pri soners were then called upon to say anything the chose, after which Lord Denman proceeded to address the prisoners generally, who, he said, had been guilty of violating the rights of persons and of property most seriously, all of them having been guilty of rioting, many of them of conspiracy as well. They had lent themselves meanly and abjectly as the instruments of men much worse than themselves, who had, after duping them, left them to bear the brunt of the in evitable consequences. If they had felt like Englishmen, they would have manfully resisted such disgraceful influences, and refused to become (the tools of base incendiaries. The law had not yet laid hold of the main movers in these dis graceful proceedings; and it seemed that some persons at a distance even hail power enough to induce many to prefer sacrificing their resources for (seditious purposes to profit ing by a course of steady and honest industry. Examples must be made of all who in whatever manner set the law at defiance. Men must he taught that the law was not to be broken and the peace disturbed with impunity. The least intelligent must be fully aware that no dependance could be placed on the forebearance of a mob ; that nobody could fore see how long the grossest outrages might be delayed ; and that it was only the salutary terror of such proceedings as the present that could restrain the lawlessly disposed. It was necessary this also should be impressed upon the minds of the people—that if, in consequence of an unlawful assem bly, and the attempt to disperse it on the part of the autho rities, any one so engaged were to be killed, the guilt of murder would be shared by all who ‘vere included in that assembly. There was not the least doubt that this was the law of England, and it was well that it should be so, for otherwise every one would say, what the generality of the prisoners now present had said, " I had no part in the mat ter ; I wielded no weapon ; I gave no blow ; I committed no violence." It was quite possible that some of those now ' at the bar might not have actually injured any person, but all those who were all together in an illegal gathering, giving thereto the sanction and the encouragement of their presence, were equally involved in the responsibility. Danger and terror necessarily arose from the congregation of a large and riotous assembly, and in the guilt all were sharers who com bined to form the multitude. Extreme, indeed, would be the peril if the law followed any other rule. In some cases per sons had endeavoured to extort money under the apprehen sion of violence. If in any such case money had been paid, the receiver—it should be well understood—would be ()linty of no less a crime than highway robbery. The essence of this offence was the extortion of money through the fear of vio lence. What could be a greater source of terror than a vast and lawless mob ? And the absurdity of the multitude rendered them not less dangerous or less criminal. In several of the cases which had been tried on this occasion the jurors had made recommendations to mercy, which the judges were disposed very much to extend over the whole number, for the jurors had evidently entertained the im pression that many of the prisoners had been misled by others, but still, it was to be feared, too much with the con sciousness of ill-doing, and too much with the concurrence of their own will. It was a painful duty to deal in the way of punishment with numbers of men who had the power of maintaining themselves in a very respectable sphere of life, and with every desirable comfort, but who, through their own folly, had placed themselves in a position in which they were liable to be imprisoned among felons, in gaols—the disgrace of which many of them had never be fore incurred—there to expiate the criminality they had become involved in. The judges would, of course, en deavour to draw the best distinction they could, though it was not possible to be thoroughly accurate. Some would have punishments lighter far perhaps than they merited; others would be discharged with none at all ; and it was to be hoped that this lenity would have the effect of teaching them not to distrust the law, but to feel assured of its considerate protec tion, while its authority must be maintained. Let it be borne in mind, that though character had answered once with many of them, it could never prevail so again ; and that if any of them were hereafter caught in such proceedings, their treat ment would be, deservedly, far more severe. It was impos sible not to remark how ably, and at the same time humanely, the magistracy had behaved through these transactions, at the same time their conduct had been such as must have satisfied the people that magistrates of all politics and all persuasions were firmly resolved to preserve the authority of the law. In the prosecutions the greatest forbearance had been manifested, probably too much so, for the judges ima gined they had not heard the worst of these proceedings ; however, they could only deal, of course, with what they had before them in evidence; but they felt concerned to find symptoms of something like intimidation and improper displayed in the indisposition of some wiinesses to re peat at the trials testimony they had decisively given before the magistrates. (In one or two cases witnesses pretended not to be able perfectly to identify men to whom they had previously sworn distinctly.) It would serve such people right if actions were brought against them by the men who had been confined so long on their evidence, which after all it should seem they durst not adhere to. The humanity of the prosecutors were remarkably examplified in the case of Wilkinson, who had been convicted of a riot in which it ap peared he had stabbed a constable witn his k n if e •, this was only laid as misdemeanour, though it mi g ht h ave b een put as a felony. The sentence, however, would be the most severe that could be inflicted for the offence on which the indictment had been framed, and that was imprisonment with hard labour for 18 calendar months. The next case in point of violence would be 12 months. Armitage (who had been so respected as to be appointed a Wesleyan Sunday school leachers,) with some others, 6 months; o th ers ( w h om t h e learned judge named) were sentenced to terms 5,4, 3, and 2 months. Sornes were let off with a nominal term of three weeks, dated from the commencement of the assizes, and a number were discharged on their recognizances. Mr. Justice MAULE disposed of his cases in a similar way, addressing the prisoners in the same strain. A soldier, in a newly raised Irish corps, observed to his comrade that a corporal was to be dismissed the regiment. " Faith and indeed ?" replied the other " who's that sure ?" " Corporal Punishment," said the wag. MEETING OF THE DOCK COMMITTEE. The Dock Committee held their weekly meeting yester day, when the following rneno. , ers were present :—Messrs. Sands (chairman,) Holt, Holmes, Middleton, Molyneux, Chilton, Nicol, Mellor, Evans, Shand, Ripley, and Aikin. CONTRACTS FOR THE NEW WORKS. The Sub-Committee of Works presented several recom mendations for the acceptance of contracts for the new works. The first was one from the Haigh Foundry Com pany, for three cast-iron swivel bridges for the new dock works ; the second for five cranes for lifting three and seven tons, to be placed on the west side of Prince's Dock, frog► Messrs. Foster and Griffin ; and the third for general cast ings, from Messrs. Mather, Dixon, and Co., iu the place of Messrs. Davenport, Grindrod, and Co., who have resigned the contract. The CHAIRMAN said a great deal had been said out of doors concerning work not being done by contract. These bridges, however, were about to be made by contract. Mr. RIPLEY believed that the surveyor had never made bridges? The SURVEYOR replied that he did not. All the bridges had been made by contract. Mr. Horaies mentioned that the Queen's Dock bridges had been made by contract i❑ 1811, and they had stood very well. The recommendations of the Sub-Committee as to the contracts were then confirmed. COMPENSATION FOR AN ACCIDENT. A person named Robert Smith, in a letter to the Surveyor, stated that during the night of Monday, the 15th August, he had a horse worth £l4 killed by falling into the lockpit to No. 1 Graving Dock, whilst at work for the contractors of the new dock. The horse, with two others, was drawing a number of waggons on the west incline, when the first horse missed its footing, and it was precipitated to the bottom of the excavation, dragging the other two horses with it. The first horse was killed on the spot; and the other two were injured, but had since returned to work. As he was a poor man, gaining his livelihood by the horses, he could ill afford the loss, and he requested some assistance from the com mittee to enable him to replace the animal which he had lost. After some conversation as to the power of the committee to afford compensation under the circumstances, a motion was proposed by Mr. HOLMES, and seconded by Mr. RIPLEY, to the effect that the sum of ten guineas be given to Smith. An amendment to the effect that it be not given, on the ground that no case had been made out of the liability of the Dock Committee, was moved by Mr. EVANS, but not se conded. The original motion was therefore carried. PURCHASE OF AN ENGINE. The SURVEYOR requested permission to • order a steam engine for the purpose of driving piles, on which to erect the walls of the new dock, in order to expedite the works. He had made enquiry, and had found three or four engines on sale, which would answer the purpose. Mr. EVANS enquired how much piling was already done? The SURVEYOR said it had scarcely been begun. Mr. HOLMES asked the surveyor what he could get a 20 horse power engine for? TheSunvEl;;Jß in reply, said he had been asked £4ll for a new engine of that size, delivered on the spot. A resolution was then passed authorising the surveyor to procure an engine of twenty horse-power. CLARENCE SOUTH GRAVING DOCK. The CHAIRMAN reported that the chairman of the Ship builders' Association was from home. The surveyor there fore had not received from him the drawings of this graving dock ; but he expected the matter would come again before the committee next week. CANNING DOCK. Messrs. D. M'Arthur and Co., in a letter addressed to Mr. Tobin, in whose absence it was laid before the commit tee by Mr. Nicol, complained of a considerable portion of Canning Dock being taken up by laid-up ships and ships for sale. The letter expressed a hope that the committee would give the coasting trade all the accommodation in their power, and stated that those vessels were frequently detained in George's Basin longer than they would be if Canning Dock were appropriated to them.—Referred to the Harbour Mas ters' Sub-committee. JOHN BROWN'S CASE OF ALLEGED IMPROPER DISMISSAL. The CHAIRMAN said the next business upon the paper was the case of John Brown, which was mentioned fast • week. He doubted himself whether the committee ought to go into it; but if they thought otherwise, the papers were before them, and they might go into the investigation. Mr. RIPLEY said his name had been mentioned in the meeting of the committee last week, as Brown having called upon him, but he was too busy, and he could not see him. That was true, but he had other motives for it, one of which was that he did not like to hear the complaints of any officer of the dock trust unless it came officially before him. He had known Brown for a long time, and be had always looked upon him as a clever man, so far as he was capable of judging : he was sorry, too, that any 'thing should have occurred that should have induced Mr. Hartley to part with him ; but he was convinced that if the committee went into this investigation, it would involve a very impor tant principle. A great deal had been said on 'Change upon this matter, and he (Mr. Ripley) had reason to believe that it emanated from the same quarter from which emanated the charges which led to the last investigation. A most search ing enquiry was then made into the conduct of the Surveyor in consequence of charges brought against him by a then member of the committee. Mr. Hartley came out of that investigation very much to his own credit ; and he (Mr. Ripley) thought that even on that occasion justice was not done to him, because the report of Mr. Stewart, which spoke highly of Mr. Hartley's character, had not gone forth to the public. Mr. Hartley had the appointment of his servants; and if the committee listened to the complaints of Mr. Brown, upon what ground could they refuse to listen to the complaints of any of the two or three thousand men whom they employed ? They might, if the precedent were admitted, sit every day in the week for the purpose of hearing complaints against Mr. Hartley. The fact was, however, that if it had not been for the very great exertions of some one individual, neither the committee nor the public would have heard so much of this matter. Ile alluded to Mr. Chapman, whose name he was justified in mentioning, seeing that he (Mr. Chapman) had mentioned the subject to him (Mr. Ripley). Without Mr. Chapman's interference, nothing would have been heard of it. A very important question was involved in it; and he did hope that the committee would look at it in a general point of view„ rather than at this particular instance. If the committee lost Mr. Hartley, he was convinced they would lase( a servant whom they never would be able to replace. He, therefore, moved that the papers produced by the Chairman be not' read, and that the investigation be not gone into. Mr. EVANS.—The Chairman will now get another " ad mirable" letter from Mr. Chapman. The CHAIRMAN said he agreed with Mr. Ripley, because, as he had stated last week, if the committee at all interfered with Mr. Hartley's servants, they at once destroyed his efficiency. Mr. EVANS asked where the committee were to stop if • they entered upon an investigation of this kind ? Mr. Arxisz drew a wide distinction between the committee taking cognizance of any complaints and listening to all com plaints. If a strong case were made out, it would merit in quiry, but not unless a strong case were made out. The CHAIRMAN asked the committee whether they would go into the papers or not? Mr. EVANS did not agree with Mr. Ripley that because one man complained all the three thousand might complain. If they were to make an unfounded charge, in all likelihood they would be punished for it. Mr. Nicol. agreed with Mr. Evans as far as the general principle was concerned ; but in cases where the dock trust had been put to expense, through the blundering of their servants or otherwise, it might be a question how far it was their duty to institute investigation. But he contended that this was a question between Mr. Hartley and one of his own servants. The man was employed by Mr. Hartley; he was paid either weekly or daily ; and he received his wages. The Sub-committee of Works had investigated the matter so as to serve all the ends of justice ; but cases might certainly occur where they were called upon to sit as guardians of the estate ; and if it were shown to the committee that a sum of money were wasted or lost through the blundering of Mr. Hartley, or any other servant, it would be a question how far they would enquire into it, and not out of any feeling for the man who had committed the gross blunder. The question, there fore, was, had the dock estate suffered any loss or not. The CHAIRMAN said if any particular case of that kind oc curred, he was sure the Dock Committee would inquire into it. Mr. MELLOR.—These papers, were they referred to the Sub-committee ? The CHAIRMAN.—Yes ; they have been before the Sub committee. Mr. SHAND.—Do they come in the shape of a report ? The CHAIRMAN.—No. Mr. AIKIN.—I presume the Sub-committee of Works do not recommend any further investigation ? The CHAIRMAN.—Yes. Mr. MELLOR.—What is the report of the Sub-commit tee? The CHAIRMAN.—They may make no report, but their opinion is we ought not to go further into it. Mr. AIKIN.—Then if the Sub-committee of Works do not recommend anything, I presume there is an end of it ? Mr. EVANS.—I think enough was said about it last week. Mr. SllAND.—Enough was said last week to raise ex pectations of more this week. The CHAIRMAN.—Here are the papers, if you wish to hear them read, and the matter gone into. It is for the committee to go further into it. Mr. RIPLEY.—I move that we do not proceed further into it. Mr. HOLT seconded the motion. The CHAIRMAN asked whether any gentleman had any other motion to propose, and received no answer. The re solution proposed by Mr. Ripley was declared to be carried. NEW IRON LIGHT-SHIP. The Sub-committee for the Department of the Marine Surveyor reported that the new iron light-ship was now trimmed and bolted up to the upper deck, whereby the con tractor had become entitled to the payment of the second instalment of £1266 13s. 4d. The payment of this sum was ordered. ROCK LIGHT-HOUSE. William Henry Lawrence, a seaman belonging to the cut ter, was appointed one of the keepers of the Rock Light house, at a salary of £BO per annum. DAMAGE TO THE CROSBY LIGHT-SHIP. The Marine Surveyor reported that, on the sth instant, the Rosina, galliot, ran foul of the Crosby Light-ship, and did considerable damage.—Referred. VICTORIA CHANNEL. The MARINE SURVEYOR reported that he had examined and sounded Victoria Channel at low water, on the evening of the 6th, and the morning of the 7th instant, being two of the lowest monthly tides in the year ; and lie was glad to be able to state, that after the lapse of three years from the opening of the channel, there was not the slightest diminu tion in the depth of water. The Medina, and Isabella Na pier, steamers, had passed through at low water at the same time. MISCELLANEOUS. The Harbour Masters' Sub-Committee reported, that the allowance to Thomas Tausey, superanuated dock gateman, of 15s. per week, for three months, had ceased, the period having expired, and they recommended that it be continued to him for three months longer.—Ordered. Messrs. Orford and Cain, in a letter to the committee, requested to be informed into which dock potatoe vessels were to go, and also asked permission to be allowed to sell their potatoes at the north end of the Canning Dock.—Referred. An application from the consignees of the American packets—Messrs. Baring Brothers. Messrs. Thomas and Joseph Sands, Messrs. Chapman, Bowman, and Co., and Messrs. Wm. and James Brown—was read, stating that, in consequence of the intended alterations in the working of the Prince's Dock caused by the erection of the tra ns it s heds. however convenient those sheds might he in the di sc h arge of vessels of moderate burthen, dischargi ng miscellane ouset in tained. the l l" lie y therefore suggested tiu ca object rgo, wouldsuch notss was brought b be obtained. American packets, the expediency of removing the whole. of t h e five regular li ne of packets to the south side of 'Waterloo Dock, and that three quay and one s tage berths b e appropriated to t h e i r exclusive use in loading and dischar g i ng. —R e f erre d to the Harbour Master's Sub-committee. The committee then separated. Sir William Massey Stanley, Bart., arrived at his seat, Hooton Hall, from the north. The worthy baronet's arrival was greeted by a merry peal of the Eastham church bells. Sir William, with Lord Maidstone, the Hon. James Mac donald, and the Hon. Mr. Lumley, killed at their shooting quarters in Invernesshire, in 14 days, one stag, 1,200 brace of grouse, 56 brace of ptarmigan, 18 brace of black gam e ' and 42 blue hares. —Chester Courant. jII