The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-12-10 00:00:00

Dec. 10,18 14 TOWN COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS. On a Wednesday the usual monthly meeting of the council was held at the Town-hall. C AN CE COMMITTE E .— THE LATE TOWN - CLERK . tOto Y"VN-CLERK rea d th e procee di ngs o f t h e Fi nance cha naittee, co m p r i s i ng a recommendation for the pur se of M r. L ogan ' s premises, in Oldhall-street, and a viaeuernendation for the sale of the reversion of a piece of Pre in Upper Islington, for the erection of an Irish this!)s yrian Chapel. It appeared from the proceedings I‘l , committee, that they had received a letter from M r, John Radcliffe, requesting that the late town-clerk's salary might be paid to the expiration of the current Z av ter, namely, to the end of January next, and that M reco mmended the counc il t o re f use t h e app li ca ti on . 13 ra r Cr * H . LAWREN CE , econded by Sir Thomas Mr, PROCTER er, mov e d the adoptions of the proceedings. Paocrea asked whether it was true that the Pi family Committee h a d re f used a quarter ' s salary to the of the late town-clerk ? Mr. G H.LAWRENC E r e pli e d i n th e a ffi rma ti v e. T he had recommended the family to be paid all that they were m v as e e r r t. p . entitled to and no more . Mr• PRO CTER b elieved there was not a merchant in toGhoe.l H. w ou ld h ave refused a similar application ci rcumstances. t LAWRENC E sa id th e counc il b a d no power Lion liberally, and that they were bound as a corpora acting together under the m un i c ip a l ac t, t o do what r: ri ght and no more. Th e surplus income could only tab applied f or the public benefit of the inhabitants and counicilProvement of the b oroug h ; an d, th ere f ore , th e s of i h had no r i g h t to pay gratuities or recompences out ue a fund. r, a Si r THOMA S B RANCKER said a merchant could do ionuntd byhe liked with hi s own, but that the council were Mr. an act of p ar li ament. UGH HORN 111 observed that the feeling on the Part " every memb er o f t h e committee was to grant t h e ap p li cation P P li cation if th ey could, but they were assured by the town -clerk that, if granted, it would be contrary to law. THE BIRKENH EAD PURCHASES. Mr. TINNE said he had heard no mention made of the payment of the l arge sum of money My r n n r o. a t s G e h s . Hv and g h a e s e k n e d p a d h t reason there for thewas for the e h mo .... need H. LAWREN CE rep li e d th a t no a pprehension be entertained on this score. A draft of the leases had be approv e al l . engrossed made out and submitted to Mr. Mallaby for his hoped there d Th and pai a few days the draft would be returned and then he expected the money would be be chasers in cre v sa s no delay on the part of the council; and .would be no delay on the part of the pur rnaelng the payments. ..biriticerr expressed a hope that, when the money ii".'ine,.there would not be a strong desire to catch hold of lauferh . l Mr. W When onn said it was understood out of doors that u . o ,,,Lne money was paid the covenants in the leases The not be carried strictly into effect. cants TOWN -CLERK said this was a mistake. The c0ve ...44s in the leases would be the same as in the contracts, Ix] h the exception of the part relating to the payments. every other respect the covenants would be the same. , THE SALTPETRE AND TRANSIT SHEDS. 'vir• Nicoe complained that the sheds erected for the me eesit of s a lt petre h ad been appropr i ate d to t h e s t ow a g e of tobacco, an d t h at those who importe d sa lt pe t re h a d to seek for places of deposit elsewhere. Mr. G. H. L said the council had constructed AWRENCE four sheds to meet the wants of the saltpetre trade, and t h,st, when finished, it was ascertained that two of thse sheds were quite as much as were required, other parties . having in the meantime constructed sheds for special were purposes. Consequent l y on l y t wo s h e d s ere appropriated for the deposit of saltpetre; the other wo were l e t t o t h e co ll ec t or f or the warehouseing of to bacco ; but, if the saltpetre trade was inconvenienced, the collector would give up his two sheds when accommodation ....should h ave b een prov id e d f or hi m a t the New Tobacco Warehouse. , Mr. B RAMLEY- M OORE sa id there was a greater evil t aan that complained of, for the transit sheds at the Prince's Dock were occupied with tobacco, to the great i nconvenience of the port, parties having taken possession, and there being no means of removing them. They kept possession moreover free of all charge, in consequence of a clause in the act which provided that no charge could be made until after the goods deposited had pa-sed the scale. Mr. TYRER agreed with Mr. Moore that the warehous ing of tobacco at the transit sheds was a serious evil. The conversation here dropped, and the proceedings were confirmed. MR. MILLER'S RESIGNATION. The proceedin gs of the Watch Committee comprised a recommendation of Inspector Henry Morley for appoint ment as beadle of the p ar i s h. The proceedings, embodied a report, which contained the heads of the several reasons for which Mr. Miller, the late head constable, had been considered incompetent to discharge the duties of the office. The report was to the effect that, during the time Mr. Miller acted as head constable, the printed rules and regulations for the good conduct of the peonse_eorce bad not been carried out ; that Mr. Miller had not ma d e him self acquainted with the duties of his office ; that he had not attended the bridewells and stations a t intervals during the day and night; that since his appointment the force bad d ec li ne d i n ge neral discipline, partly from the forego ing causes, and from his having selected young and inex perienced inspectors ; that he had kept himself aloof from the superintendents and inspectors, and that his general conduct and demeanour had been so haughty and over bearing as prevented intercourse with him; that acts of i nsubordination and dissatisfaction in the discharge of their duties had been more frequent in the force under Mr. Miller than before, and that there was a greater desire on the part of the men than ever to quit the force ; and that the cause of much of the insubordination amongst the officers might be traced to an injudicious system of drill introduced by Mr. Miller. The report was signed by the mayor as chairman of the Watch Committee. It further _appeared that subsequent to his resignation, Mr. Miller bad applied for a copy of the evidence taken, in his case before the sub-committee, and that his application was refused upon the ground that, as his resignation had been accepted there was an end of the matter. The proceed before the ins further contained a full report of the evidence taken magistrates with reference to Mr. Parker's alleged interference, the resolutions of the magistrates thereon, and the subsequent resolutions of the Watch C ommittee. Mr. H ODGSON, seconded by Mr. ASPINALL, move d the adoption of the proceedings. M. Nicol. said he observed by the proceedings that a. . g mlb-cominittee had been appointed to inquire into the ef "cieney of the force, but that the general tenor of the evidence taken b e f ore them appeared to refer entirely to th e Conduct o f th e l a t e H ea d Constable, Mr. Miller. He Wished to know if Mr. Miller was allowed to be present during the inquiry, to cross-examine the witnesses, or to offer any explanation ? The MAYOR replied that Mr. Miller was not present When the other witnesses were examined. He was pre sent only during his own examination. His resignation 'was sent in prior to the termination of the inquiry. Had it been otherwise, he would have been afforded an oppor- Nulty of hearing the evidence, and making any explana tion in his power. Mr. HARBORD said that had there been a formal charge against Mr. Miller, the sub-committee would have re quested his attendance; but there was no specific charge against him. The facts before the council were obtained °Y the sub-committee when making their investigation Into the condition of the force. Mr. Thew. asked whether it did not appear somewhat singular that the proceedings against him should be pub licly read in the council now, six weeks after Mr. Miller had resigned ? Those proceedings would go forth to the public, and perhaps prevent the man from getting another situation. Mr. BIRKETT agreed with Mr. Nicol. The proceed ings contained a most unmitigated comdemnation of a Public servant. He did not mean to say that it was not justified ; but he thought when the council allowed him to re sign, they s h ou ld h a ve washed their hands of him alto gether, to resit, The fact was, he ought not to have been allowed ; he ought to have been dismissed. Mr. A SPINALL said he was absent from the Watch Committee when the report had been ordered to be in serted on the minutes, but he was quite sure that that report would never have been inserted if Mr. Miller bad not voluntarily come forward, and published a letter in th e public prints, containing a series of misstatement s . The report was i nserted i n just i f i cat i on of the course pur sued by the sub-committee. The Mayor would tell the tained a ti council that, from first to last, Mr. Miller's letter con - MAYOR admitted the fact. THE /MAGISTRATES AND THE WATCH COMMITTEE. tar LACE th oug h t th e d u ti es o f th e mag i strates and Watch C omm i ttee so d i st i nct t h at a magistrate ought e arl not to be a member of the Watch Committee. It was zLe Y i ntended that the police force should be u n d er flee of superintendence of the Watch Committee. The of -I„,lYa magistrate was merely that of a judge. I :r; PROCTE R rose to order. Certain magistrates had lected members of the Watch Committee upon the kd t aY, and on that occasion, and not upon the present, i l'ace should have risen and made his objection. Mr 'LACE said he was absent from the last council. He our'shed to record it as his opinion that if they looked at cons titution of the W a t c h C omm i ttee an d t h e pos i t i on ishoth 9 magistrates, it was inconsistent that any magistrate A V sit on the Watch Committee. seriou s Ryon HORND Y thought that if Mr. Lace had any tnittees 3.bjection to magistrates being on the Watch Corn- If M r ' ue eught to give notice of motion on the subject. berso ; 'nor yL)aaseacould show that it was unfitting, he (Mr. magistrate would willingly resign his mem -membmemlP of the 'Watch Committes; but atthe same time he b e loss to k now how a person was unfitted to be a era gistr of the W atch Committee because he was a ma ate. lusi4hrn.,;LAcE objected to the term " unfitted ;" the word bri o "' used was inconsistent. He then promised to t e gle subject before the next Council : and the mat r dr o I. Pen r, N • an no „ oftTu rose to express his great satisfaction at an ve `‘ecernent, in the proceedings, of the termination of AtteY: 'unhappy affair, which had of late painfully attracted liopc,-,414°11*--a termination desirable in itself, and which, he effect' Would be satisfactory to all parties, because it, in satcowdieoreprised everything that, as a bsody, the Council "ere expected or enforced. He sincerely congra u to sa the council on the result. For himself, he begged sens e o it was doubly gratifying, because, under a deep . he h What was due to the council on such an occasion, 4110'4 intended to express himself very strongly on the tl ia irct, and to have moved a resolution, which he was tha n k f ul, and he was sure the council also would be 14g"rful. now to be relieved from. Thus happily dis d from one duty, he felt that he should be want /4.e ° some degree to another, if he omitted to take the coo s : l , l4 _ oPportunity of expressing an opinion . to which a exis„'4cration of the whole subject had led him, upon the Nivat"l,3g circumstances between the magistrates and the en Committee, and he felt bound to declare that that __Mr , R. rce, an" !en Po' an ts and bat dig' opinion was decidedly, and absolutely, and altogether in favour of the Watch Committee—(hear, hear)—whose conduct throughout appeared to him, and he believed it would appear to the council as a body, to have been marked by very much forbearance and good sense, con trasting strongly and advantageously, as he thought, with that of the magistrates, who appeared to him to have mis understood their proper course. (Hear, hear.) Their latter proceedings especially—their resolution was, as he thought, misconceived, while he thought the direction that it should be read to every member of the police force was most offensive and in very bad taste. Indeed, one could not but see in the whole proceeding, a determina tion to revive a recent grievance, and a petulant attempt to damage the Watch Committee. rather than a dignified rebuke of a grave offence. (Hear, hear.) If the magis trates had expressed their own opinion on the facts be fore them, and they could have hardly expressed it too strongly, and conveyed that opinion cautiously to the Watch Committee, whose sole and undoubted right it was to act upon it they would have had the approbation and thanks of the whole community, whereas the very reverse was now the fact, an undue sympathy to meet the offence having been created by their own very injudicious method of dealing with it. He had felt that in some form the expression of some such opinion as this, under present circumstances, was eminently due to the Watch Committee, and he hoped it would be received as his apology for introducing the subject to the council. (Hear.) Mr. AIKIN thought it was neither the province of Mr. North nor that of the council to sit in judgment upon the magistrates. Mr. North admitted that the magistrates were in duty bound to take cognizance of the very grave offence, but thought they might have done it in a more dignified manner. Now he (Mr. Aikin) was present at the fist meeting of the magistrates, and he must take this opportunity to state that there was more of provoca tion then than met the eye—that there was something con nected with the look, tone, and manner, of Mr. Hodgson calculated to provoke far beyond the use of words. He believed that Mr. North would do no great credit to him self by making an attack, nominally on the bench of ma gistrates, but in reality on the Stipendiary Magistrate, than whom a more honourable man never existed. Mr. NORTH, in explanation, said that he had purposely abstained from reading the newspapers on the subject, and that, so far from making any attack on Mr. Rushton individually, all he looked at was the resolution of the magistrates in their collective capacity. Mr. HODGSON thought that Mr. Aikin had no parti cular right to complain of an attack on one individual, when he converted it into an attack on another, with a degree of virulence hardly exceeded by the stipendiary himself. He (Mr. Hodgson) was not going to reply. He was willing to leave the whole case to be judged of by the public ; but he persisted in saying that a less moving cause for action on the part of the magistrates was not to be conceived than that of Mr. Parker. It now appeared that he (Mr. Hodgson) had provoked the ire of the ma gistrates—that his awful looks—his provoking looks, had disturbed the whole bench, the stipendiary into the bar gain, who himself was so highly gifted with mild looks and submissive gestures—(loud laughter, and cries of hear, hear.) Certainly this was a power he (Mr. Hodg son) never fancied he possessed before,—(continued laugh ter.) He took his own views of the duties of men hold ing Her Majesty's commission. He thought they should be uninfluenced by either heat or cold, or warmth of pas sion—that they were particularly called on, as judges, to execute right and justice, not to become informers, and to be free from the spirit of advocates. Mr. Hugh HORNITY hoped it would not go forth to the public, that the council looked at the alleged interference with the police as a light matter. He admitted that the resolution of the magistrates was drawn up hastily, on the spur of the moment. He thought then, as well as now, that it would have been better to adopt the plan of Mr. North—that of expressing a strew: opinion about theinterference, and having such a resolution submitted to the Watch Committee. (Hear, hear.) Mr. HODGSON called attention to the circumstance that Mr. Earle, the unsuccessful opponent of Mr. Parker at the last election for St. Anne's Ward, was one of the magistrates at the first meeting, and that the Commis sioner of Police was forbade to communicate with the Watch Committee. Mr. HARBORD said that if the Watch Committee were to yield to the inlerterence of the magistrates, then the former body might as well be dissolved at once. After some further conversation, Mr. PARK ER said it was not his intention to say a word on the subject. He left his case in the hands of the council; and if they thought him unworthy, he should resign his seat and appeal again to his constituency. The proceedings of the Watch Committee were then confirmed. DOCK COMMITTEE. The proceedings of the Dock Committee were read and confirmed. A letter from Mr. Alderman Horsfall, re signing his seat as a member of the Dock Committee, on account of pressure of business, was also read ; but, at the request of Mr. Moore and Mr. G. H. Lawrence, Mr. Horsfall was induced to withdraw his letter and to continue a member of the Duck Committee. In reply to a question from Mr. KAYE, Mr. MOORE said that the site for the intended new fort had been submitted for approbation, and that a report was expected. EDUCATION COMMITTEE. The attendance at the Corporation Schools for the last month was reported as follows : 80y5.... Girls.... Infants.. North. South. 251 179 148 133 152 194 551 506 The numbers on the books were—North, 712 ; South, Gil. The proceedings were confirmed. HEALTH OF THE TOWN COMMITTEE. The proceedings of this committee having been read and confirmed, Mr. AsriNm.L reported that plans for the new baths had been prepared and would be ready for the next coun cil meeting. Mr. BLACKBURN complained that the scavenging of the streets was being very much neglected. Mr. PARKER said there were 7,000 cellars occupied contrary to the act—that Liverpool was in consequence the most unhealthy town in the kingdom, and that the council were indirectly the cause of the deaths of hundreds of thousands of their fellow-creatures. He promised to submit a motion on the subject at the next council. Mr. BIRKETT said that, until last Monday, Mr. Parker hld not attended a meeting of the Health Committee for a period of four months, and that it was exceedingly wrong for him to make the statements he had just uttered. The fact was, the committee were doing all they could, but the act was beset with difficulties. Mr. PARKER said there was not a court in his ward that he had not been in—(loud laughter) ; and, therefore, he was not quite so inactive as Mr. Birkett would have the council to suppose. CORONER ' S ACCOUNTS. The d a r read ud Coroner'saccounts,referredto the Fn amoivalnie Committee.ti c ngtolol. los. 2d., were Mr. PARKER. — The amount is higher than ever. Mr. Moou.E.—Yes ; it's the month of November. (A laugh.) lIUSKISSON ' S BRONZE STATUE. The MAyoti read a letter from Mrs. Huskisson, in which she returned thanks for the sanction the council had given to her request, and said that Mr. Gibson, on his return from Rome, would select a site in the open area, at the Custom-house, for the bronze statue of her lamented husband. The letter was ordered to be recorded on the minutes. THE COLLEGIATE INSTITUTION. The MAYOR read a long memorial from Rectors Brooks and Campbell, praying for a grant in aid of the Liverpool Collegiate Institution. The memorial set forth that a sound religious education, in accordance with the doc trines of the established church, was imparted at the Collegiate Institution ; that the cost of the building, in cluding land, furniture, and fittings, amounted t0X36,600, of which £24,905 had been voluntarily raised, and £7,360 advanced by trustees; that there were in the Upper School 101 pupils, in the Middle 261, in the Lower 377, and in the Evening School 315, making a total of 1051; that the evening school was open to the working classes ; that there were 795 subscribers to the lectures ; and the me. morialists concluded by praying for a grant out of the surplus income of the corporation, to support an institu tion which was open to all the inhabitants of the borough without distinction. Mr. SHEPPARD.—If you want to give anything, the Royal Institution has a prior claim, for they have edu cated a great number of your fellow-townsmen, and my son among the rest. (Loud laughter.) I don't know ' how lam to take that cheer. lam the only Irish gen tleman in the council, and I hope the same courtesy will be shown to me that Irish are inclined to show to English gentlemen. My son was born in your town ;heis a fellow-townsman, therefore, of a great many of you; and he obtained high collegiate honours at Oxford. (Great laughter.) Alderman Swainson's son has also obtained high honours. I think it my duty as a parent to speak highly of Dr. Duff. Mr. PROCTER rose, but was almost immediately stopped by Sir THOM AS BRANCKER asking if he was not a donor to the institution, and had not, therefore, a pecuniary in terest in the establishment? Mr. PROCTER admitted that he was a donor, and so were thirty-five others of the council, but denied that he had any pecuniary interest. Mr. SHEPPARD.—Have you any direct or indirect in terest ? (A. laugh.) Mr. PROCTER.—NOt that I am aware of. Mr. SHEPPARD.—Have you a son? Mr. PROCTER. --1 have a son—an only son. What does pecuniary interest mean? Mr. SHEPPARD.—Why, pecuniary interest means— (Loud laughter, during which the remainder of the sen tence was inaudible.) The TOWN-CLERK decided that donors were not enti tled to speak or vote on the question, as it appeared such parties had a right to nominate pupils on lower terms, and that they had, therefore, a pecuniary interest. Mr. PARKER asked whether £2,000 bad not been granted for the erection of the unsightly entrance to the Railway Station in Lime-street? Sir THOMAS BRANCKER.—Yes ; but that was in the days of bribery and corruption, under the old council. (Loud laughter.) I voted against it. After a lengthened conversation had taken place, and a variety of motions had been submitted and withdrawn, it was at length resolved, that the many difficulties which surrounded the question should be laid before the memo rialists by the Mayor. The council, having disposed of all the business on the paper, adjourned at a quarter to three o'clock. On Wednesd a £5O by Mr. R us ht on , f or h av i n g pined 100 tons of salt y, Messrs. Green an d Ta y lor were fined petre in a shed w hi c h was not fire-proof according to t he provisions of the dock act ; but if the saltpetre was re moved in twenty days to a proper warehouse, the fine was ordered not to be levied. THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD CORRESPONDENCE. TO LORD SANDON, ALP. " Never came Reformation in a flood, With such a heady current." My LORD,—If I may be permitted to estimate your lord ship's political position in parlia men t by so me ofvour record ed sentiments and votes, I should consider that you are not a convert to Puseyisrn in the church, or Peelism in the state. You have an important part therefore yet to play, for the times must necessarily develope a new arrange ment and embodimmt of governmental powers and par ties, before the dangers which are thickening around us can be confronted or effectually conflicted with. We live in an age possessing an insatiable and diseased desire of change, and of ceaseless aspirations after some thing which we do not want, to the neglect of things of practical utility which are indispensable. This troubled spirit of discontent, and of a misbegotten ambition, is but too symptomatic of those towering flights of empire, in the elevations of which nations have been frequently stricken as with a judgment of Providence. The me nacing tides of reform are not confined to our political institutions : they pervade the entire circle of our domes tic relations—political, religious, civil, and social. 'We are placed like the Indian amid his burning prairie —girt in a circle of advancing fires. No law, order, or institu tion is permitted to be at rest: the very skies are dark ened with impending theories, threatening us with a chaos of all the elements of order thrown into disorder. The paltering neutrality and indecision of government are only encouraging the agents of agitation, and giving audacity to all their movements. Ten years of experience, in an age so teeming with important and impressive lessons, do not appear in the slightest degree to have enlarged and extended the horizon of Sir It. Peel's judgment, but have rather cowed his courage and increased his indecision. Matriculated in the weak conciliation policy of Lord Li verpool's ministry, he has fallen back on the spurious toryism which characterised its wretched career, when the opponents of government had preference in the ap pointments to offices of trust and power, over the ablest supporters of the constitution. It was this policy which nursed and fed the powers that confederated their creeds in 1829, and fused their politics in 1830 ; before which the modern genius of conciliation has quailed, and con ceded to clamour what he refused to the pretensions of reason and remonstrance.f When we recollect the able and prophetic speech made, my lord, by your venerated father, against the sweeping confiscations of the Reform Bill,—which speech remains to this day the faithfullest illustration of the designs and tendencies of that bill,—and when we see the monument* in Sandon Park, created to the memory of the great founder of those principles under the influence of which the entire nation was rallied against revolutionary France, —we are entitled to expect something from your lordship beyond the drivelling, split-difficulty politics of the pre sent Premier. I will now only take one out of the department of many important considerations which press upon the time, and address you as a neighbour rather than as a constituent. You have recently taken an active and useful part in some affairs relating to the restoration of the ancient parish church of the county town near which you reside; within the jurisdiction of which county, though it contains near half a million of inhabitants, we have not a single journal, or other organ of public opinion, possessing political in dependence enough to insert this letter. It is no part of my intention to offer any criticism on the anomalies of architecture upon which a large portion of the £lO,OOO has been expended, in the repairs of the church in ques tion; leaving the mixed company of carved saints and monsters to agree as they best may. The new interior arrangements of the church have all a semi-Popish character, and have given great and general dissatisfaction. The extreme lowness of the pews, put ting aside their unfitness for feeble age, is such as to render them very little, if any, better than plain forms, and impresses you with a sense of doing Popish penance, rather than offering Protestant worship. We have no objection to a system of some uniformity, and disapprove much of the presence of the occasional towering and cur tained pews of the olden time, which secluded a brother sinner from public gaze, while it obstructed a view of the clergyman from a portion of his congregation. But per sonal discomfort is no aid of piety : to humble the mind, and to debase it, are essentially different things. It is true that, in the presence of the Deity, we are all a tho rough democracy of sinners ; hut it is not the absence or the presence of distinctive sittings which will duly regu late our duties as Christians, or that will impress the mind with the equality of human nature before our com mon Creator. There has been a proverbial pride in af fected lowliness from the days of Plato and the cynics ; and when the Pope puts on his apron to wash the feet of beggars, does any one believe that he either feels greater humility himself, or sets an example of it to others ? It is a prime ingredient, and works profitably, in Popery : for the power of the priesthood, and the dominion of priestcraft, take elevation and extent over the prostration of mind in the laity. There is said to be a natural ten dency to idolatry in human nature. The first reformers in the church (in 717) were iconoclasts, or image-breakers. The Greek church arose in that form, and the sect wor ships paint and canvas instead of wood and stone. The Chintse, with less knowledge, had more wisdom ; and the simple inscription of the name of Confucius super seded all physical objects of irrational worship, or idols, which are the nuclei of superstition. Burke has said that " Superstition is the religion of weak minds." But this is not said with his usual philosophical accuracy ; for it is rather the cause than the effect of mental weakness. Stript of superstition, Spain would be one of the first nations in Christendom ; a country which, after a quarter of a century of bloody struggles to emancipate itself from the more intense thraldom of Popery, is now retrograding on state tyranny and church absolutism. It is from the head-quarters of the Anglican church that the decree has gone forth that we shall fall back on antiquated positions, and the old forms of the Rubric— forms retained at a period when the people were wedded to the usage of ceremonies and priestly formula, which the majestic simplicity of Protestantism had gradually sloughed off and exploded • and this is now done, not only without consu lti ng the laity, but in contempt of their opinions and in defiance of their remonstrances. It may be " breaking ground" in trifle s , n th o e th e i n n d g m an o d re t a h n e d a n im oth i i s n the ascendancy one h ene r o o f a Po m ry lord; but i m e e s n t ct is r of t no — sooner tolerated than another is put on the 'We may soon expect here that which slips. schism at other places — th e weekl y o f ques tionable purposes, or to eke out poor c h urc h is offertory, producing in practical strife and aid thelivi n s g u s r , pl i i n c e s te ad of t hoef priest i ministering nthep u to lpi t t h , e in p s a te r a i d sh p of o t o h r e ; and of the theologian and scholar. There is no doubt, my lord, but that the troubles and divisions of the church will come before parliament, in some shape or another, in the ensuing session ; and we, as good Protestants, trust that you will be prepared to meet it. Popery and Protestantism are elementally anta gonist principles, as acids and alkalies are antagonist sub stances ; and their danger of conflicting is in the ratio of their proximity. Peace is found in their remoteness and isolation. The endeavour to fuse them in the rudi ments of our schools, or work them in harmony in public appointments, may be a part of the crack political philo sophy of the shallowness of the times, in the dearth of enlarged minds in our senators; but it shows an utter ignorance of men and things. Sir R. Peel may seek to 1 moderate and modicate, and dilute and adulterate, our national faith ; while Popery, in some quarters, biding its time, creeps and crawls before the spirit of the age, adopt ing its old maxim, divide et isnpera ;—but we know that its exclusive spirit is intact ; that its boast of being a church without schism is true, for it tolerates no freedom of thought ; and that it will remain " unchanged 'and 1 unchangeable." It has become a maxim with strong governments, that, to keep power in wind, it must be kept in exercise, in that direction in which it is most liable to be resisted. The Peel policy has reversed the principle, and called on Protestants to disarm and disorganise themselves, while their opponents were levying contributions for war, and giving vigour and discipline to their confederacies. Sir Robert's starling's cry of " Register 1 Register ! ! Regis- ter ! !!" and that " the battle of the constitution is to be fought on the registration lists," has lost its talismanic efficacy ; and that spirit which placed him at the head of the government. at an expense of labour and of sacrifices which no mere power can command, no profligacy bribe into action, and no doling out of offices remunerate, will never again rally at the registration-court or at the hus tings, under the fustian banner of the Tamworth baronet ; for to have served as volunteers in his ranks, and fought his battles, has become a disqualification to serve the constitution or the country. _ . I reserve, my lord, some animadversions for another letter, and am, &c., ALPHA. * Erected to the memory of the immortal William Pitt: t Popery has reduced hypocrisy to a species of science, or system; being made up, as Coleridge sa'd, " of all the cunning of six thousand years," dovetailed with politics and paganism, and grafted on ambition and selfishness. The triple-crowned tyrant, who sets himself forth in his bulls as serous servorum Del. and attaches the fisherman's seal, has, !with his episcopal staff, in the palmy days of Popery, interdicted entire nations from Christian rites, placed his foot on the necks of kings, and deposed sovereigns as a sportsman would dispense with super numerary puppies : ex. gr.:— ..., And I have eiitynlyted Yngelond. Ther schal no preest synge masse with hond, Chylde schal be crystenyd non : My bisschoprycke thou renest me, And Crystendom Vrbede I thee. Freest schal then non syngge." ANCIENT POETRY. TO THE WORSHIPFUL THE MAYOR OF LIVERPOOL. SIR,—A report of the Watch Committee was read yes terday in Council, and a statement made by you which does me great injustice. You will recollect that some weeks since when a para graph appeared in the public papers stating that the Watch Committee, were inquiring into my conduct, as Head Constable, 1 called upon you, (as chairman of the Watch Committee,) either to contradict the report or apprise me of the fact. You authorised the contradiction of the report, and you assured me that my conduct was not the object of inquiry, but that the inquiry originated in the presentation of my plan of police reform. Hearing then, for the first time, that you were enquir ing into the efficiency of the force, I solicited permission to be present. You refused ; but you, while in the chair, and the committee sitting, promised that a copy of all the evidence would be,furnished me. When the evidence was concluded, I demanded the perusal of it. You refused. On hearing that a suppressed report was to be now brought forward, I again applied to you for a copy of the evidence, It was refused. I asked for a copy of the report. It was refused. Thus, Sir, you a magistrate. have been a party to a cruel—a monstrous wrong. You heard evidence against me in my absence. Yov gave me no opportunity to rebut, refute, explain or qualify. In violation of every rule of justice, honour, candour, and fair play, the Com mittee left me no alternative but to resign, and then pub lished against me an official libel. I brought to you only eight months since eight years' experience, and a charac ter which never had been impeached. I left a lucrative situation to take yours, and the result is before you. I indulge in no vituperation ; I will not, however . provoked, retort, as I might, to retaliation, but I leave my case to the public; they will judge between you, and, Sir, your obedient servant, Liverpool, December 5, 1841. H. MILLER. CELESTIAL POLISHING POWDER is superior to any other composition hitherto used for Polishing Gold, Silver, Plate Glass, German Silver, Brass, Britannia, and all other compound metals ; it is perfectly free from all acid or mercurial preparation, and will re move the peculiar tinge from German Silver, and impart a lustre and brilliancy equal to that of the purest Silver. In cleaning Uniform and Livery Buttons, Crests, and Mountings for Harness, &c., it will be found an infinite improvement to any other composition ever yet used. Manufactured and Sold Wholesale by J. H. COBHAM, Bear's Paw, 9, Tithebarn-street, Liverpool ; and retailed by most respectable Jewellers, Druggists, Ironmongers, Cutlers, &c., in packages, Is. each; also by Horwoon and PARE, Wholesale Agents, Fishgate-hill, London. Removed from Birmingham to 19, Berners-street, Oxford-street, London. • Just published, the Thirteenth Edition, price 2s. 6d. ; free by post, 3s. Gd., THE SILENT FRIEND, a Medical Work on Human Frailty, Nervous Debility, Constitutional Weakness, excessive Indulgence, &c. With Observations on Mar riage, &c. By R. and L. PERRY and Co., Surgeons, London. Published by the Authors, and sold at their residence; also by Strange, 21, Paternoster-row; Noble, 109, Chancery-lane; Crocker, 4, Milford-lane, Strand; Ward, 103, Strand, (opposite Exeter-hall); Gordon, 146, Leadenhall-street ; Purkin, Compton-street, Soho ; Wil son, 338, Oxford-street, (two doors from Argyll-street,) London ; and Newton, 16 and 29, Church -street, Liver pool ; and by all Medicine Vendors in Town and Country. THE CORDIAL BALM OF SYRIACUM is a gentle Stimulant and Renovator in all cases of Debility, whether Constitutional or acquired, nervous mentality, irritation and Consumption—by the use of which the im paired System becomes gradually and effectually restored to pristine health and vigour. Sold in bottles, price Ils. and 335. The £5 cases may be had, as usual, at their Establishment. PERRY'S PURIFYING SPECIFIC PILLS have long been used as the most certain remedy for Scorbutic Complaints of every description, Eruptions of the Skin, Pimples on the Face, and other disagreeable affections, the result of an impure state of the blood. These Pills are perfectly free from mercury, capavia, and other delete rious drugs, and may be taken with safety without inter erence with, or loss of time from b usiness, and can be relied upon instance. Sold in boxes at 2s. 9d., 4s. Gd., and Ils., by all Medicine Venders. Messrs. Perry and Co. may be consulted at their resi dence daily, from Eleven to Two and Five till Eight. On Sundays from Ten till Twelve. Sold, wholesale and retail, by EVANS, SONS, and Co., Chemists, Lord-street, Liverpool. Sold Retail by Mr. J. PRIESTLEY, Lord street. TO MR. PROUT, 229, STRAND, LONDON. Copy of a letter from Wm. Wilson, Esq., Clifton, near York. " Clifton, York, Feb. 5, ISII-1. _ . " Sir,—lt is with the greatest pleasure that I inform you with what success Blair's Gout and Rheumatic Pills have effected a cure in me. Fir many months I have had the Rheumatism ; and, in spite of all I could do, I was not able to obtain the least relief, until a friend recom. mended to me Blair's Pills, which, after a few trials, effected a complete cure. " You are at liberty to use my name if it will be of any set vice to you. " Your's truly "WILLIAM WILSON." The above recent testimonial is a further proof of the great efficacy of this valuable medicine, which is the only effective remedy for Gout, Rheumatism, Sciataca, Lum bago, Tic Doloroux, Pains in the Head and Face, often mistaken for tooth-ache, and for all Gouty and Rheumatic Tendencies. It. is also gratifying to have permission to refer to the following gentlemen, selected from a multitude of others, whose station in society has contributed to advance this popular medicine in public esteem :—J. R. Mandell, Esq., coroner, Doncaster; the Rev. Dr. Blomberg; the Chevalier de la Garde ; Lieut. Masters, late of the Royal Newfound land Veteran Companies ; Mr. Miskin, brewer and malt ster, Dartford ; Mr.' Richard Stone, Luton; John J. Giles, Esq., Frimley ; Mr. Inwood, Perbright ; all of whom have received benefit by taking this medicine, end have allowed the proprietor the privilege of publishing the same for the benefit of the afflicted. _ _ _ Sold by THOMAS PROUT, 229, Strand, London ; and, by his appointment, by Rennie. Wagstaff, Howell, Phil lips, Aspinall, Fisher, Apothecaries' Company. G. Syers. J. Syers, Roberts, Johnson and Son, Lathbury, Schole field, Smith, King, Bradford, Blake, Bird, Gerard, Wat son, Mucklow, Lloyd, Carter, and Rowland, Liverpool : Law, and Gaskell, Manchester ; Grindley, Chester ; and by all iespectable Medicine Vendors throughout the united kingdom. Price 2s. 9d. per box. Ask for BLAIR'S GOUT AND RHEUMATIC PILLS, and observe the name and address, " Thomas Prout, 229, Strand, London," impressed upon the Go vernment Stamp affixed to each box of the Genuina Medicine. FRAMPTON'S PILL OF HEALTH. THE manifold advantage s t o th e Heeds o f F am in e from the possession of a Medicine of known efficacy' that may be resorted to with confidence, and used with success in cases of temporary sickness, OCClAtring in fami lies more or less every day, are so obvious to all, that no question can he raised of its importance to every house holder in the kingdom. From anion; numerous testi monials, the fol!owing is respectfully s•lbmitted : " TO MR. THOMAS PROLIT , 229, STRAND, LONDON " 5, Cooper-street, Manchester, March 12, 1812. " Sir,—l have much sat;sfaction in communicatiog to you the result of my experience after repeated trials of FRAMPTON'S Praa OF HEALTH, and I feel it but justice to state, that in the course of many years' trial of vatious Aperient Medicines, I have never found results trA once salutary and efficient in the relief of the system from re dundant bile, &c. &c., with so little inconvenience ; I am, therefore, warranted in declaring that they supply to me a means lo.ig wanting, of being ably to reeomalend ti, Fami lies, Schoos, and especially Mercantile Men, whether at the desk or on the road, a most valuable resource in an occasional medicine. And I shall take credit to myself if, in giving this testimony, I am" the means of making FRAMPTON'S PILLS more generally known and appre ciated. " I am, sir, respectfully yours. " WILLIAM SMITH." The unprecedented sale of these Pills, arising from the earnest recommendations of the many thousands who have derived benefit film their use, render any lengthened comment unnecessary; they are not put forth as a cure for all diseases to which mankind is liable, but for Bilious and Liver Complaints, with their many well known at tendants, Bilious and Sick Head-ache, Pain and Oppres sion after Meals, Giddiness, Dizziness, Singing Noise in Head and Ears, Drowsiness, Heartburn, Loa of Appe tite, Wind, Spasms, &c. Two or three doses will comince the afflicted of their salutary effects. The stomach will speedily regain its strength • a healthy action of the Li ver , B owe l s , and Kid neys, will rapidly j take place; and instead of li s tl essness, heat, pains, and jaundiced appearonce, strength, activity, and renewed health, extending to good old age, will be the result of taking this medicine, according to the directions accom panying each box. Sold by T. D Paou'r, 229, Strand, London. Price Is. lAd. per box; also by Rennie, Wegstßff, 'Howell, Phil. lips, Aspinall, Fisher, Apothecaries' Company, G. Syera, J. Syers, Roberts, Johnson and Son, Lathbury, Scholefield, Smith, King, Bradford, Blake, Bird, Gerald Watson ' Mucklow, Lloyd, Carter, and R ow l an d , Liver pool ; Law, and Gaskell, Manchester ; Grindley, Che ter ; and by the Vendors of Medicines generally throughout the kingdom. Ask for FRAMPTON'S PILL OF HEALTH, and observe the name and address of "Thomas Prout, 229, Strand,' ondon," on the Government Stamp. AS SUPPLIED TO THE ROYAL TABLE. f 1 APT AI N PIDDING'S HOWQUA'S MIXTURE TEA is an admixture of 40 careßlrck Teas, produced on as many different plantations, ej'•h Tea differing from the rest, and possessing a flavour, a fragrance, or strength, peculiar to itself. Blended together in the proper pro nor; ions, they comprise all that is desirable in Tea. This discovery was not the effect of chance, but of many great advantages united in one individual, and the result numerous experiments and the most minute analysis. For another to produce the same result, he must possess equal skill, the same discriminating taste, equal power of orocuring the forty various Teas required, and know the exact proportions of each Lind used—and though he may never once have visited China, he must have had equal opportunities of securing to himself, its productions : with one who, like Captain Piddin ,, , has spent years there in acquiring these advantages, and to whom alone How ' q 1 1: —years before his dealt—imparted at Canton, the secret of compounding his Mixture. 1 et 'there are upwards of 500 retailers pretending to sell lei, they call " Howqua's Mixture"—each mixture dif fering from all the others. Now as there can be but ONE nEAr. " Howqua's Mixture," it follows that, as 500 dif ferent medleys are offered-499 must be spurious. The 499 counterfeits are so many evidences of the superiority of the ONE G ENUINE. And it would be absurd to suppose c hat Captain Pidding, with advantages, the result of Eight Voyages made to China, and five years spent in that country, would be so silly—even were it possible —as t) yield them up to 500 others, or impart to them so valuat'e a secret. The very great celebrity this Tea has acquired, having tempf.ed many unprincipled persons to give si m il ar , or nea-ly similar titles to their own spurious mixtures, guard against such imposition, purchasers should observe that "THE SIGNATURE THUS," Captain JOHN RHODES PIDDING, Honourable Company's Set vice, is oil every genuine Package. To those who drink Green Tea. " Captain Pidding's Howqua's Small Leaf Gunpowder," grown on l y on one estate, is recommended for its strength and economy, and as lying the purest and most wholesome Green Tea im ported from China. _ Captain Pidding has appointed the under Agents for this District : GEORGE CARLYLE, Repository, 3S, BOLD-STREET, A%ent for Liverpool. Accrington.— E. Bowtier, BooLsellcr. Ditto W. Hutchinson, Staiioner. Blackburn J. Parkinson, Chemist, Church-street. Bolton .1. French, Silk Mercer. Burnley .. Chester Evetton J. H. Pver, Gre:3l, Homer-sheet. Knutsford J. Williams, Draper, &c. Ltneister George Carruthers, Cheruisl:, New-st , cei. maticbestcr J . Ft, d & Cu., Di .pc. f3L. A nu's-square. Prescot Preston Ditto Ditto J. Highatu, Draper. Ditto T. Knight, Waterloo House. Ditto ...... T. Wren, Auctioneer. Rochdale .... J. Booth, Chemist. Southport .... S. Whitely, Wine Merchant. Wigan. ....... E. H. Bnrmish, Chemist. For Agrncies, Address, Capt.x;ti Pidding, 22, College hill, London. PUBLIC NOTICE. HER Majesty's Commissioners of Woods, Forests, end Land Revenues, having taken Mr. GRIM STONE'S extensive premises in Broad-street, Mr. G. has, at a very considerable expense, prepared very commod;ous pre mises, 431, Oxford-street, London, at which place he earnestly solicits a continuance of the kind support wi'h .viiich he has been favoured by the NobiEty and Pcblic generally. Mr. Giimstone's commercial intercourse enab:es him to vend his foreign goods in the most genuine condition, and he pledges himself to continue the menu facture of every article in its pure and pristine state. Testimonials of undoubted authority, from the highest characters, proving the efficacy of his EYE SNUFF, may Le seen at 11;s Warehouse as abeve, and in the sixth ' edition of his Almanac, 1844.—GRIMSTONE'S EYE SNUFF.—A few of the stanv thousand Testimonials of Sight Restored and Deafness Curcd Copy of a Letter. Kirby-street, Hatton-garden. Dee. 'A, 11142. _ . . Sir,—l was from my childhood afflicted with dimness of sight, and as I advanced in years became almost blind. My husband being a medical practitioner, every oculist of any eminence was consulted, but unfortunately without any real relief. I was re- commended by one of my friends, although a member of the profession, who said he had taken it for a few monihs with the happiest result he being relieved from inflammation after long suffering, induced me to give it a trial. I have taken four 2s ad canisters, and shall continue to use it to the end of my days, for I have derived so much benefit from using it, that I can now rear without the assistance of any kind of eye glrsses. I shall feel happy at any time to acknowledge the great cure your Eye Snuff has made in my case. Make what use you may please oc this testimony, and remember, I am in my seventieth year, and can read and do needlework much better than I cculd for the last forty years, without any glasses. I am, Sir, yours gratefully, 0. FOTHERCILL. Widow of the late Dr. Fothergill. Co,iy of a Letter rent to Mr. W. Grimstone, Inventor of the celebrated Eye Snuff To W. Grimstone, Ezzq., Inventor of Eye Snuff, 39, Broad : street, London. The Marchioness de Broglio Solari presents her best compli ments to Mr. W. Grimstone, and has the nleAsure to inform him she has had the most convincing Wools of Jhe beneficial qualii ies of his Herbaceous Eye Snuff in many cases of its restorative power, both of sight and hearing. Mr. Grimstonc—Sir, you are at liberty to make use of her name.—September 22, 1812, 4j, Charlotte-street. Any quantity can be forwarded through the General Post, by sending money orders. A 2s. 4d. canister, with postage, will cost 35., and so on in like proportion. Agents for Liverpool :—PIERCE and CROSSFIELD, Castle-street ; Rosf , and Nrc HTINGALE, Lord-street ; C. SHARP, Church-strcei;; W. PROCTER, London- oad. BETTS'S PATENT BRANDY. Distillery, 7, Smithfield Bars, London. BETTS'S PATENT 13HANDY, at EIGHTEEN Stin- LINGS. PLR GALLON, in Stone Jars ; or at FORTY SHILLINGS PER DOZEN, in Glass Bottles, the Bottles included, and PROTECTED by the PATENT METALLIC CAPSULES ' ' may be obtained o f th e f o ll ow i ng Wine and Spirit Merchants : WHOLESALE. Blackburn .... W. Suites. Bolton Clithero ..... Henry Herdman. Kirkdale . Lancaster Ditto J. Moss. Liverpool M. Atkinson, 64, Tithebarn-street. Ditto land-road, and Queen's-buildings, Bath street. Ditto Danson and McNeill, 55, Dale-street. Ditto Ditto Ditto Ditto Ditto Manchester Ditto Ditto E. Evans, 148, Deansgate. Ditto Green and Co., Market-street, Spring gardens. Ditto Ditto E. Lawton, 26, London-road. Ditto Great Ancoats-street. Ditto J. Veysey, 44, Cross-street, King -street. P, - est on Mrs. Jane Eccleson. Salford. .. Veysey, SG, Chapel-street, Bailey-street. Stockport T. Cox, Higher Hillgate-street. Ditto John Rugg, Heaton Norris. Warringto❑ Mrs. C. Bowker. Ditto R. R. Pickmere. Wigan J. Stringfellow. And that any one unacquainted with the superiority of BETTS'S PATENT BRANDY, may be convinced of its ex cellence for a trifling outlay, it may be obtained, of the following, by RETAIL, AT 3s. Go. PER BOTTLE : Lancaster.. J. Aldreen. Liverpool.. J. Bishop, 84, Park-street. Ditto .. S. Bryant, 42, Myrtle-street South. Ditto .. E. Griffiths, Richmond-street, Williamson - square. Ditto .. B. Holmes, 12, 72, and 74, St. James-street, 1, Blundell-street, 1, Norfolk-suTet. Ditto .. G. A. Mills, 85, London•road. Ditto .. J. Smith, 35, Brownlow-hill. Rochdale.. F. L. Johnson_ St. Helens. Henry Johnson. And, also, upon application to the above Wholesale Dealers; to whom Retail Dealers, who wish to be suppled and advertised, are respectfully referred, by J. T. BeTTS, JUN. and Co., 7, Smithfield Bars, London. Observe that the Signature of the Proprietor, " G. C. Serjeant," is written on the Government Stamp. SERJ EANT'S LOTION, the only effe c t ua l R eme d y against Rheumatism, Rheumatic Gout, Sciatica, and Lumbago. Sold by the Proprietor, G. C. SERJEANT, No. 1, Lovell's-court, Paternoster-row, and 2, Bell-yard, Temple-bar, London ; and by all Vendors of Medicine. Price 2s. 9d. per Bottle. The astonishing success which has crowned the applica tion of this external Medicine in the most hopeless and deplorable cases, when the unhappy sufferer had despaired of ever gaining even the least relief, and this after the ablest advice and every other means had completely failed, most justly entitles it to the attention of the afflicted. This excellent Medicine, so universally esteemed, is un attended with the least danger or inconvenience, and hundreds have , experienced its happy and salutary effects since it was first introduced. Such are the properties of this invaluable Specific that persons labouring under the most distressing Rheumatism, Rheumatic Gout, and Lumbago, and rendered thereby in capable of assisting themselves, have been relieved in a few hours. Amongst many which are being daily received are the following Testimonials ; 4, Paternoster-row. Sitt,—Having been informed of the surprising cure of Mr. Barnes, of St. Paul's Churchyard, who was so severely afflicted by Rheumatism, the intense pain causing delirium, that he was com pelled to be confined by a strait waistcoat to prevent his commit ting any violence, and whose ewe was considered entirely hopeless, I was induced to ascertain the particulars, and being satisfied of the truth of my information, encouraged me to make a trial ofyour most invaluable Medicine, entertaining little hopes of success, hav ing been many years so severe a sufferer, and tried many said to be very valuable remedies. lam very happy in being able in adding my testimony of the benefit I derived: after a few days' application the use of my limbs are perfect:y restored, and I am now able to attend my business, and, making an allowance for my age, never was better in my life. To those, however severely afflicted and hopeless their case may have been pronounced, I beg of them to make a trial, feeling quite satisfied they will be restored to the use of their limbs, from the severe cases that have yielded to this Me dicine. Health is a great blessing to those who can enjoy it, but to those who are deprived, none feels it so severe as the tradesman or mechanic, as it generally causes loss of business, and ruin on families. I shall at all times feel it my duty to make it known to those afflicted, to evince how grateful I am for my restoration, and am, Sir, yours truly, GEORGE POLLARD. October 20, 1844. Milk-street, Cheapside. Si rt,—l feel it a duty I owe to society, publicly to make known the benefit I received by using your excellent Medicine. Having been confined to my house three years with Lumbago and Rheuma tism, unable to remove without the use of crutches, I had despaired of ever gaining relief, having tried every popular remedy which hay been sent by my friends from various parts of the globe, none of which had any effect. I have consulted the most able Physicians, one of whom stated, that however lamentable my case was, 1 ought to be thankful, from my great sufferings—being frequently in a state of madness—that I could with the assistance of crutches move at all. From the high recommendation I bad of your valuable Medicine I was induced to make another effoi t, although in strict opposition to my medical attendants ; and, doubtful as it may appear, to the short space of twelve hours I was enabled to walk the length of my warehouse without the assistance of crutches. The Physician who had declared my case hopeless was equally rejoiced as myself that he was deceived, and hoped that publicity would be gives to the remedy, as the London Hospitals were not in possession of any re medy to relieve their unfortunate Rheumatic patients. Being so long an invalid, I was not without knowing a number of unhappy sufferers; to several I sent some Medicine, and am happy to state that the accounts I have received are of the most gratifyi g description. I trust you will use every exertion in making public your excel lent remedy, that those afflicted may know where to get relief. JOHN MITCHELL. Well-street, Cripplegate. Strt,—l have been several weeks confined to my bed by Gout and Rheumatism, not a part from my head to feet free from pain, and as helpless as au infant: not even a linger could I move. In this unpleasant situation I was informed by my medical attendant he had applied all the usual remedies, and that I might remain months in my deplorable situation. Fortunately your remedy was made known to me, or I migh have been to this day confined to my bed. After a close application of four days, my troublesome companion began to disappear; in a • week I was capable of walking about my ro o m, a n d by a n other wee k' s perseverance in the use of your Medicine was enabled to leave London. Fearful of another attack, ycu will please to send six bottles.—l am, Sir, your obedient servant, D. W. STONE. 14, Belmont-place, Wandsworth-road, Oct. 26, 1844. Stu,—l feel in duty bound to acknowledge, that after suffering acute pains from Sciatica, or severe Rheumatic affection in the h•p joint, and being deprived of rest, I was persuaded to try your em brocation, and have the pleasure to say that after three applications I was restored to my usual health ; and, although two years hale passed, I have no return of the disorder.—l am, sir, gratefully yours, EDWARD NOYES. NEWHAVEN AND GRANTON RAILWAY. Edinburgh, 30th Nov., 1844. TO J. 0. MACK, ESQ., ONE OF THE MAGISTRATES OF THE CITY OF EDINBURGH. SIR, TN the conference which we had this morning in the Council Chambers on the subject of the accident which happened early yesterday morning, in the guide mine, on the line of the tunnel of the Edinburgh, Leith, and Gran tots Railway, you requested that I should report to you, in your public capacity, as ene of the magistrates, a general description of the wo r k s w i t h th e l ea di ng circumstances connected with the unfortunate accident, which every one connected with the railway so deeply regrets. At this conference, I stated to you that the works of this guide mine had been contracted for about eighteen months ago; that the object was to facilitate the execu tion of the main tunnel, by providing for its perfect ven tilation, and to afford a passage for the water which is ge nerally found in such situations, and also to afford a ready means of removing a considerable portion of the materials of the main tunnel, without being brought up to, or con veyed along, the streets of the city ; and by proceeding with eight or ten different points of the tunnel at one and the same time, to enable the Railway Company to com plete the works in a very much less time, than if the whole work had been going on at one point only ; as well as to ascertain the strata through which the main tunnel will have to be cut. In entering into the contract, the directors of the com pany did not, as is usual on similar occasions, advertise for tenders, and accept the lowest proposal, without much regard to the prudence of the contractor. On the con trary, they selected (without the most remote competition) men who had not only completed very extensive railway works, upon almost every railway which has been executed in Scotland during the last eight or ten years; but who had, besides, successfully completed the great tunnel at Falkirk, on the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway,—thus securing as their contractors men who, in point of prac tical knowledge of their work, are second to none in Scotland. The directors were not lel to adopt this course from any apprehension that the execution of these works was attended with any actual risk or difficulty ; but from the consideration that they would thereby secure the benefit of the great experience arid practical knowledge of Messrs. Ross and Mitchell, in carrying the works into execution— which certainly caned for more caution and prudence than is usually required in the general run of railway opera tions. In carrying out these works, the contractors sunk shafts to the level of the drift at five different parts of the line: in St. Andrew-square, North St. Andrew-street, the top of Dublin-street, another in Dublin -street, nearly opposite the entrance to the Broughton Markets, and at the northern side of the wall which encloses the ground attached to the Custom-house, in Drummond-place. The depth of these shafts respectively will be found on refer ence to the section of the guide mine, which I submitted to you, (and which I now send herewith,) which you will find to vary from ninety feet in St. Andrew-square to forty-five feet at the north of the Custom-house-gardens- From the bottom of these shafts the works were carried on in both directions until they joined each other. The last barrier but one which divided these different portions of the drift, which was cut through, was that nearly op posite to the end of Drummond-place, and the last was that near the end of Abercromby-place, where the unfor tunate accident, so ranch to be regretted, took place. In forming a junction between the different divisions of the drift, the quantity of water was more or less consider able; but in the two last divisions, owing to the time which the water had been allowed to collect and other circumstances, the accumulation was by far the greatest_ The whole of these barriers were pierced, and the water drawn off without inconvenience to any one, or danger to the workmen, and even witho u t th e k now l e d ge of the in habitants in the neighbourhood. It is to the two last only that I feel called upon to call your particular attention. It was hardly to be expected that in a mine of this size, (six feeet by six feet,) extending to nearly 100 yards, the different headings vvould . pre cisely meet ealh other. The plan adopted at the Drum mond-place barrier was to keep a jumper hole always considerably ahead of the works. When the bore reached the water which had been collected it flowed off slowly, and was completely under the control of the workmen- The water was thus slowly drawn off without injury to any one. _ The perfect success which had attended the drawing off of the water in the Dublin-street part of the mine, led the contractors to adopt the same plan for drawing off the water from the upper division of the drift: they were the more inclined to adopt this course from the obdurate na ture, if not the similarity, of the material of which these barriers were composed; by so doing, there was every reason to anticipate that it would have been attended with equal success. The workmen, for eight or ten days preceding that on which the accident happened, were engaged in removing this barrier. The men employed were not only well skilled in mining operations, but the works were frequently vi sited and carefully inspected by Mr. Mitchell, one of the contractor=, whose experience in such matters none can question : and he was so satisfied of its perfect safety, that so lately as the 19th current be became responsible to the directors for its being done without damage. I never had occasion to inspect personally that part of the mine where the accident occurred ; but I am assured that the same caution had been exercised by keeping a jumper hole always in advance of the workmen, as had been so successfully adopted in removing the Drummond place barrier. The headings of the mine did not precisely join each other, so that the jumper hole which had been made may not have been quite in the direction of the up per mine. It has, however, been since ascertained that one of these jumper holes had actually reached within one inch and a half of the water : had this hole been carried forward this very short distance, the accident, which we all so much regret, would not, in all human probability, have taken place. The material of which this barrier was composed was very hard shale or blaea, lying on edge, and interlayered with strong bands of hard stone. It seems to have been the displacement of one of these hard bands of stone which was the more immediate cause of the accident. Workmen had been engaged in the mine during the night of Thursday, but it does not appear that there had been any blasting for twelve or eighteen hours before the accident occurred. This is perhaps to be re •retted, for, had the opening been made by a blast of gunpowder, ne loss of human life could have happened, as, on all such occasions, the workmen were under instructions to station themselves in a place of safety in the adjoining shaft be fore the explosion took place. On the harrier being broken, the water immediately rose to a considerable height in, if it did not flow over, the shaft at the end of Albany-street ; if it did flow over, the quantity must have been very inconsiderable, as the mouth of this shaft is very little below the summit level of the water in the upper division of the mine. A still greater quantity flowed from the shaft opposite the Dublin-street entrance to the Broughton Markets ; but from the relative levels of the water in the upper division of the mine, and the top of these shafts, the quantity could not on the whole be very considerable; and from there being a lateral mine from the second of these shafts to the common sewer, the quantity could not, on the whole, be very considera ble. When I examined the works a few hours after the acci dent occurred, the shaft at the Custom-house appeared in a state very much like that which it presents after a con siderable fall of rain. The greater part of the water flowed in the first instance into that compartment of the mine between Albany-street and Drummond-place, which the barrier at Drummond place prevented flowing off very rapidly, and by the even mg of the day on which the accident occurred.:the flow of water at Cannonmills was little more than the ordinary flow from the guide mine. As respects the barrier at Drummond-place, it is now all but removed. and the mine open from end to end, and several of the workmen have to-day passed along its whole length, so that there can never be any further ac cumulation of water in it. It now remains for me to say what effect this sudden discharge of water has had upon the works. I have much satisfaction in being able to state, that beyond the re opening of the shaft opposite to Broughton -street Mar kets, (which had been temporarily closed with beams of timber, and causewayed over,) 1 have not been able to discover any injury. I have myself ascertained from those who have passed through the whole length of the mine, that no part of the work has received the slightest injury, and the workmen are now engaged in removing the Drummond-place barrier, which work I expect will be completed by Tuesday or Wednesday first. I now described the situation of the works—the mode of carrying them into execution—and all the cir cumstances connected with this most distressing occur rence, in so far as I know, and consider it necessary for you as acting magistrate of the city to be informed. I have been induced to go a little more into detail than might be thought necessary, in consequence of the false statements and gross misrepresentations which have appeared in one of the newspapers of this day, respecting the nature of this accident, the extent of the damage which has been sustained by it, and the nature and pernicious effects of the works upon the adjoining properties. The extensive circulation of such erroneous and exag gtrated descriptions is calculated to have a most mis chievous tendency on the public mind ; and in order, as far as possible, to_counteract such injurious effects; I" feel myself called upon to assure you, that, from an intimate knowledge of the nature of the strata through which the drift is carried, the nature and extent of the works which have, and are, to be performed before the tunnel is com pleted, and all the circumstances connected with the un dertaking, that the tunnel may be carried into execution, in all its parts, with perfect safety to the property on the line of it. Tunnels much more extensive have been recently exe cuted through much less favourable strata, in different parts of the kingdom, and that, too, actually passing under buildings of greater extent ; but this tunnel, on the other hand, passes under no houses or buildings whatever. I do not, however, expect that this circumstance will wholly exempt the Board of Directors from many petty annoyances. But, be that as it may, so far as I have seen, I am satisfied these gentlemen are, collectively and individually, most anxious to carry into execution this abort, but most important, link of th e ra il way communi cation between the River Clyde at Glaszow, and the Frith of Forth at Leith and Granton, with the least possible - an noyance to those who reside upon or near to i ts course , or are otherw ise interested in the works ; and that they will, by pursuing that decisive line of conduct which has hi therto characterised them, surmount every obstacle which may occur in carrying the works into execution. In conclusion, permit me to say that I have no doubt that, when the avowed enemies of the scheme, as well as its traducers, are dead and forgotten, the tunnel in ques tion will remain, another monument of the enterprise of the nineteenth century. _ I am, &c., THOMAS GRAINGER, Civil Engineer. VV/ - -4' -.AN " ` 3l 44. ••■OO f essr s ; iVoou , Ileton , aa d sp.p a l WC4a Ise, cl ang. ,tch the the ■