The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-11-23 00:00:00

my return to_ town, on Saturday last, I addressed the note marked No. 1 to the editor of the paper, and which, as he was stated to be out of town, was en closed by my friend Mr. Adams in another note, marked No. 2. Though the editor of the Standard was stated to be out of town, and not expected to return until Monday, this note, though addressed to him, and marked " pri• vate," was immediately opened by a gentleman who subsequently called upon Mr. Adams, stating that he was the responsible party for whatever appeared in that paper. After some conversation, he stated to my friend that a communication would be made him, on the subject of my note, on Monday morning. No communication having been received upon the Monday morning, the note of which No. 3 is a copy was sent in to the office of the Standard on the even ing of that day, and to which, also, no reply has been received. Under those circumstances I have deemed it a duty I owe to myself to instruct my solicitors, Messrs. Crump and Hassall, to prosecute the publisher of the paper for a libel, and I must leave the anonymous writer of the article to the contempt which his false and cowardly attack deserves. I am, sir, your most obedient servant, ALEXANDER HOY ES. Liverpool, 20th Nov., 1838. [No. I.] Tristram's buildings, South Castle-street, 17th November, 1838. TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. SIR,—In the Liverpool Standard of the 30th of October, you have inserted a letter with the apparently anonymous signature of " William Watch," in which a very free use is made of my name, and an opinion passed upon my character which I deem it necessary to take notice of. I have, therefore, to request you will favour me with the name and address of the writer of the letter in question : would have applied for this information at an ear lier period, but I have been in a distant part of the country fur the last month, and only returned to town last evening.—l am, sir, your humble servant, ALEXANDER HOYES. [No. 2.] Tristram's•buildings, South Castle street, 17th November, 1838. TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. cabled at your office this morning with the enclosed, but not finding you at home, I have now to request you will favour me with the information re quired at your earliest convenience.—l am, sir, yours respectfully, . JOHNADAMS. [No. 3.] South Castle street, 19th Nov., 1838 SIR,—In conformity with the arrangement of Satur day, I expected to have heard from you this morning, on the subject of Mr. Hoyes' communication; and hoving again left my card, with a message for you, I am somewhat surprised 1 have had no reply. As Mr: Hoves' object in requesting the name of the writer of the letter in question must be obvious to you, I have now to inform you that, in the event of my not hearing from you to-morrow morning, with a satisfactory explanation, Mr. Hoyes will then take another, and the only course open to him, by proceed ing against yourself as publisher of the Liverpool Standard, through the medium of his legal adviser.— I am, sir, yours respectfully, JOHN ADAMS. To Richard Pattisson, Esq., Publisher of the Liverpool Standard. After perusing the above correspondence we were curious to learn upon what expressions in the letter of "Wm. Watch" Mr. Hoyes ,or his legal advisers grounded the charge of libel. The following extract from a letter, subsequently received from Mr. Hoyes' attorneys, at once gratified our curiosity, while it served to allay our apprehensions :-. 7 " Mr. Hoyes has placed in our hands the Liverpool Standard of the 30th ultimo, in which is contained a letter addressed to the editor of that paper, under date of the 27th ultimo, reflecting upon the conduct of Mr. Hoyes, who is therein stated to have made use of language " TO DEGRADE AND INSULT THE DIRECTORS AND,ENGINEER OF THE GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY, PERFECTLY UN CALLED FCR AND UNBECOMING A GENTLEMAN!" In this "paragraph" we find the whole gravamen of the alleged libel is concentrated! Mr. Noyes actu ally proposes to prosecute us for inserting a paragraph which is, in one sense, actually complimentary to himself, fur the language of our correspondent dis tinctly implies that Mr. byes is a "gentleman !" Perhaps Mr. Brunel and the directors of the Great Western, if appealed to, might not feel disposed to be so complimentary as "Wm. Watch." We feel assured that our readers will agree with us in opinion that nothing could be more preposterous than to occupy the time of a court of justice, perhaps for a whole day, in adjudicating upon the libellous tendency of a paragraph so innocent and commonplace as the above. - We feel• equally assured that no jury of Englishmen could be found, that would so far stultify themselves as to bring in a verdict of guilty against the publisher of this paper on a charge so utterly devoid of foundation. If we placed a plea of justification upon the record, shat would be the issue to be tried ? No other than this—whether Mr. Hoyes be "a gentleman" or not—whether or not, he "made use of lan guage unbecoming a gentleman" at the meeting of the Great Western shareholders—or whether or not such language was calculated "to degrade and insult the Directors and Engineer of the Great Western !" Were ever such ridiculous questions submitted to the decision of a court of law ? As to the alternative of surrendering the name of our correspondent, without his express - sanction, we hav e only to say that we should feel humbled in our Own estimation if we descended to the meanness of committing a breach of trust. We should act pre cisely the same part towards Mr. Hues, if he reposed a similar reliance upon our honour. In justice to ourselves, we cannot allow this matter to end here. In order to show that we acted advisedly rn admitting the letter of " Wm. Watch," it is neces -4ary that we should revert to the proceedings which took place at the last meeting of the Great Western l hareholders, and to the part enacted by Mr. Hoyes on t he occasion. , We shall probably have something more to say on the subject in our next. P UBLIC OPENING OF THE BATH ARMS HOTEL. On Tuesday evening last the friends of Mr. John Dredge, of the Bath Arms Hotel, gave him a public dinner for the Aurpose of celebrating the opening of the hotel under its n ew !pill; and the iipproved management of its present landlord. h T he improve in the appearance, and conduct of the ouse under its present management, over what it was as the Old Blue Bell," are striking apparent; from a dirty ill eutiducted public-house, he has changed it to a highly respect thle, and comfortable hotel, which is an ornament to its neigh 4urhood. This fact being considered, it is not surprising 14 4 . 1 a large party of upwards of 60 gentlemen, were found '„ 4 'xious to testify their respect to the landlord, and their ap- P r "Vill and support of the house. I ,,The ti c k ets were one gu i nea eac h , and a b out 70 were so ld . 4 e large room in the front of the house was elegantly set 0 , and also one of the back rooms, the front room not being q i r ge enough. A most sumptuous dinner was provided for T e .guests, Mr. Itadley, of the Adephi, presiding, and Mr. v; °l 'ers, of the Angel, occupied the vice-chair. 'I he various i t idads h av i ng been discussed, a concentration of the parties 4,he two rooms took place. 6„ .he CHAIRMAN then, after hoping that no politics would Introduced to disturb the harmony of the social meeting, i t D"ed " the Q ueen ," w hi c h t oas t was g i ven w i t h a ll d ue 4 , n 4 ,, 10yal honours. An excellent company of glee singers the National Anthem. h e CHAIRMAN then gave "The Army and Navy." The Farmers' Oak." 4t,iihe CHAIRMAN next gave Mr. Dredge's health. By his I.l 4t vl tY and general good management he had raised the 1 1 , 1 1 Arms from a c o mmon publi c -h o u se t o a res p ec t a bl e ir lo e '• If it ever laid in his power to assist him, he should be ,n,t. happy to d o so . (L ou d applause.) Mr. Dredge, lo s ticcess to him in his new undertaking." c ord ! ` Dredge was here introduced, and received with the tit 4 g ,' 4, .congratulations of the company, and the Vice-presi lti, telly intimated to him that the company had drank DREDGE, in brief and appropriate terms acknowledged of the' compliment paid to him. It should be his ',,let.ted endeavour to deserve their patronage. I , ll L 'g--" The Chong') and Crow." . , • ,rodee C HAIRMAN then gave in succession " The Town and b r ,r,'f Ltverpool," The Stewards," with musical honours. ,q le • alartztN acknowledged the toast. ut, d e •" Mynheer von Dunk," " The health of Mrs. di r t . I) It nnG E acknowledged the toast. l'6„ e , --- " Here's a health to all good Lasses." r ~ti , "lce,-PRE proposed "The Mayor and Corpo -44.-",," Liverpool," with three times three. Mr. Coglan, tti (he a t s called upon, Lrut declined acknowledging the toast, 1 4 t 4 1,4'nund of youth. Mr Cooper, jun. was called upon, ‘l!;4roadeclined to acknowledge the toast. , Mr. Woo Lt . length, responded. ka`fleuhairman's health, the Vice-Presidents health, Mr. mhe ere t r' health, Mr. Towers' health, and several other toasts ate e 9 proposed and acknowledged, and the harmony . of ~, el uIR was kept up till a late hour, every one being -110 gr, kt • e • t, t , 'am with the social evening, and the excellence ° dance of the wines. P, 4' , ),,; 1. 1; ,14, -.S BY THE ANCIENT MASTERS.—Mr.J.PeeI still I„l'ai r P at the Adelplit, with his . very splen did collection 4 " ' l) t'S by the old masters, which he has on sal illkk t ract. We have heard some of the pictures highly p i) ett or. t s.. "l 4r4Tr,''r, OF THE HON. RICHARD BOOTLE WI LBR AHA M. (1 - 11 8 1;t s-I ri;, (1 , 1 ° "sh . y, of the ' Repositnry of Arts, in Bold-street, I pf),_.. publisher, has at present on view a very Wen leoth, ~4 i t of our respected county member, the H on . , ifichd. INtir -6 ‘Vilbrahain from which it is intended shorty to eis 1,!:'•• au ea", •• ' 11 ? 1 • i• es Kind with those of Lord Fran . - vitti t ""tun ;oil ' Ni lson °( ()r )Patten' Esq. Most good C° ""`" ''ool ' ;. ) : . ,we doubt nor,will furnish themselves with this, as a The " , n to the other splendid priiits. h•-tv e • Poor -Law Commissioners for England and Wales tie r 'ts,stled circulars to the boards of guardians, directing tithetith es i,!.'t't? all suits or appeals in which the rateability of s 1„ irt question ; measures being in progress for settling wngdisputed point. TOWN COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS. An adjourned meeting of .the town council was held on Wednesday morning, at 11 o'clock, for the consideration of the resolution of the Dock Committee, with respect to ware houses ou the dock quays, and for other purposes. PRESENTATION OF MEMORIALS. The MAYOR observed that, before proceeding to the con sideration of. the subjects on the paper, there were certain memorials which he had to lay before the council. A memorial signed by Robt. Bickersteth, Adam Hodgson and others, praying for the reversion of a plot of 2000 square yards of land for the purpose of building a church upon, was referred to the Finance Committee. A memorial from a tenant of a cottage in Finch-street, praying that it might not be given to the Soup Committee, was also referred to the Finance Committee. The 'MAYOR then stated that two copies of the recent treaty of commerce between England and Austria had been forwarded to him. It was perhaps unnecessary to read the treaty, as it had already been inserted i❑ most of the public papers. The following letter had accompanied the copies of the treaty:— " London, 17th November, 1838. "DEAR SIR,---I have the honour of transmitting to you, for the information of the mercantile community of Liver pool, the enclosed two copies of the treaty of commerce lately concluded and ratified between her majesty and the Emperor of Austria. " I think it my duty to intimate that Article 4 appears to involve some slight 'degree of ambiguity, inasmuch as the ports to which allusion is therein made have heretofore been under the dominion of Turkey. " I have the honour to be, dear sir, "Your most obedient, humble servant, "WM. WAINWRIGET. "To the Mayor of Liverpool." Mr. Councillor BOLTON suggested that it should lie on the table, as it did not immediately concern them. The next memorial was on the subject of WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. The following communication from Mr. Airey was then read : " Royal Observatory, Greenwich, Nov. 0, 1838. "Sin,—The attention of government having been called to the necessity of replacing the stairtlards of length and weight destroyed at the conflagration of the houses of parlia ment, it has been thought desirable to ascertain whether might be advantageous at the same time to make any new enactments respecting weights and measures generally, and for this purpose a committee has been appointed. "It has been the first wish of the committee to ascertain the judgment of practical men on this important subject, and, in particular, to learn the opinions of the influential bodies representing the commerce and manufactures of dif ferent parts of this empire. " With the view of learning the opinion of the town council over which you preside, I have the honour to enclose a series of questions, and, in the name of the committee, I have to request that you will lay them before the town council, and that, as early as may be convenient, you will favour me with their answer. I have also to request that you will oblige me by mentioning the suggestions of the council relative to points . which may have' been omitted in the series of questions. " I have to be honour to be, sir, "Your very obedient servant, "To the Mayor of Liverpool." "G. B. AIREY. It was suggested that the question should be referred to the Town-clerk. Mr. Alderman SHELL wished to know the object of referr ing it to the 'Town-clerk? He thought the question one of great importance, and it ought perhaps to be taken into gene ral consideration, and the opinions of people interested in trade be ascertained upon it. The weights and measures of this country were certainly not in the best possible condition ; and it was a question whether the inconvenience attending any change would not balance any imprOvement. He would suggest to the council whether it would not be better to take up the whole subject on some day set apart for the purpose; or, failing that, refer it to the Finance Committee, and let them report. He ultiMately moved that it should be referred to the Finance Committee. Mr. Councillor T. HARVEY was of opinion that the com munication ought to be referred to the Market Committee. Mr. Alderman EVA NS seconded the motion of Mr. Sheil. He said that the alteration of their measures had put them at variance with all their colonies and with the United States. From some difference of drops of water, the bushel and gal lon had been altered, but for what purpose he could not conceive. If he, might extend his observations, he might also say that they had an injudicious alteration in the mea sureme.gl of ships. The Motion of Mr. Sheil was carried. The next was— " The Memorial of the Inhabitan4s and Electors of Scotland Ward, ' Showeth,—That we, several of the inhabitants and elec tors of Scotland Ward, beg leave to state to the town-council that we view with considerable regret the proceedings of the last meeting. After the clear and explicit declaration of conservative principles which were manifested by the inhabi tants of this borough, we had a just ground of expectation that they would have elected, at least, a few aldermen of conservative principles. The gentlemen who compose the dominant party in the present council were formerly loud in their complaints against the former corporation for the sys tem of exclusion then prevalent; but no sooner do they ob tain ascendency in the present corporation 'than we observe practised a- regular and determined mode of exclusion, domination, and monopoly: not one single gentleman being raised to the honour or dignity of alderman but those whose political principles appear to be in perfect accordance with, and in subjection to, what is termed the 'Reform Association.' In the selection of your committees the same system of exclu sion is more fully organised and developed. We have looked in vain for the name of the councillor last elected from our own ward, but it does not appear in any of the committees. We conceive that this gentleman has not only leisure, but is possessed of talents which would have caused him to be an useful member either of the Finance or Improvement Com• mittees. We consider that a slight has thus been cast, not only on outs, but also on St. Paul's and George Wards, by your selection of committee-men. We also most respectfully and earnestly recommend to you, that you would instantly take into your consideration what retrenchments can be made in the salaries of your pub, lie officers, and likewise whether any means can be devised for relieving the public funds from the enormous legal expen diture which so heavily presses upon thew. . . "'We have further to urge upon you the great impropriety committed by a majority of your members Meeting in secret, in which all your public acts are prejudged and predeter mined, causing your council chamber to be a mere place fogy registering the determination and resolutions of a secret conclave. •_ - " We trust that you will take these matters into your seri ous consideration, and beg, gentlemen, to remain, most respectfully, yours, &c. (Here follow a number of signatures.) - Mr. Councillor RATHBONE said-1 beg to move that that memorial be not received. I consider it is a most unconsti tutional memorial, taking out of the hands of the council their legitimate functions. It is not correct in its statements, and as such I think I need not take up the time of the coun cil in enlarging upon it; but I feel it necessary from my own experience as a councillor to move that that memorial be not received by the council. Mr. Councillor THORNHILL.—I—I—I—I beg to move that—that—that is a petition from a portion of—of—of the electors of Scotland Ward. must disclaim it al together as the memorial of the electors. The MAYOR.—It is stated to be a memorial from the in habitants and electors of Scotland Ward. Mr. Councillor THORNHILL.-'-I.—l—l—l disclaim it. The Mavoit said he ought to explain; it was stated as " from several of the inhabitants." __ Mr. Councillor G. H. LAWRENCE.—That explains it. Mr. Alderman C. H. JONES.—I second it. (We conjec ture he seconded Mr. Rathbone's motion.) Mr. Councillor ISAAC HOLSIES.—I certainly conceive that memorial is founded on fact. Can any one say that the al dermen already elected have not been of one particular set sentiments?f Why at the last meeting all elected are un doubtedly known to he pledged to sentiments in accordance with the principles of the Reform Association. Can this fact be denied ? W hat did we see ? Six aldermen Teturning like old cabs in new shells to their holes. They appeared some thing like the silkworm. They left their old cells, and in stantly they return, like one on angel's wings wafted here. (Hear, hear, and oh, oh.) We saw that the aldermen pledged to certain sentiments were immediately re-elected. As soon as one gentleman's voting paper was returned the rest were exactly similar. With respect to Everton Ward, the election was said to be a triumph of reform; it ought to be said that it was a triumph of friendship over principle. If the gentle man elected had said tie canvassed the votes of the electors independent of party, instead of being elected by a majority of six he would have been elected by a majority of 166. With respect to the other matters alluded to in the petition, is it to be denied that secret meetings were held, and the liberal part of the council came predetermined what to do. The memo rial is founded on the evidence of facts, and it cannot be dis puted, and 1 beg leave therefore to move that the memorial be received. Mr. Councillor SHAND said that some of the expressions in the memorial might be rather strone., but it ought to be allowed to lie on the table. The system of electing aluermen from one set ur party was too predominant, and the town would never be satisfied unless that system were altered. The memorial being, in his opinion, foutided upon fact, he should beg to second the motion of Mr. I. Holmes. Mr. Councillor Coot , En remarked that one part of the me morial referred to the appointment of committees, and he appealed to the whole council whether gentlemen were not excluded from many of them who were every way as able and as honest as those who had been appointed. Such was the fact, and he thought that, in common justice to the people whom they represented, a different course of conduct ought to have been pursued. They had acted upon a❑ exclusive system, which he was sorry to see, and which, he could tell them, would injure them materially in the eyes of the public. It had been said frequently by gentlemen, "Do not permit politics to interfere in the appointment of committees;" but the gentlemen who had so exclaimed had.thewsetves acted upon the very principle which they pretended to diScounte- Dance. Were there nut gentlemen o►: that side of the house as well able to do their duty as on the other? There were; and yet persons had been, as it were, marked out, and alto gether excluded from the committees. He hoped, therefore, that the public would express themselves in such a manner as to show that they were indignant at such insulting pre ferences. Mr. Councillor BOLTON could not help wondering at the objections which had been urged to a course of conduct which had been so sedulously followed by the conservatives themselves. Had their predecessors in that chamber ever elected men of different opinions to themselves? (Cries of "Yes," and of "Mr. Currie" and "Mr. Earle.") Mr. Alderman EARLE begged to say that when he was elected no one knew his politics; fur he was at the time in Italy. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) Mr. Councillor BOLTON went on to maintain that the old council had invariably acted upon the principle which was followed in the new. Even when the exclusive system was losing ground in the nation at large, they (the old council) still pursued the same course. When the act doing away with the disabilities under which dissenters laboured was passed, was there a single dissenter elected into the council? No. And when the catholic emancipation bill was carried, and catholics were admitted to all the rights of their fellow citizens, was a catholic elected by them ? (Cries of "No.") He did not mean to palliate, he meant boldly to justify the course which had been pursued in the election of aldermen. The nation was in a state of transition ; and in the struggle between the two great patties, every little superiority of the one or the other was looked to as a criterion of the advance ment of the cause to which each belonged. Every advantage was taken by the struggling parties; and he therefore should say that the present system must be continued. In the elec tion of finance, watch, and other committees, he maintained that no exclusive spirit had been manif es t e d ; but the mem bers of each party in them bore a proper relation to their numbers in the council. It ought to be remembered, how ever, that there were people who, from. the obnoxious man ner in which they stated and supported their opinions, and their impertinent interferences with Matteis which did not concern them, made it evident were unfit to hold pikes as members of a committee. Mr. Alderman Sit lEL said that the crime which they (the liberal members of the council) had committed teas in hav ing succeeded not in the principle which they had adopted; because, if the gentlemen on the opposite side said that the council had done wrong, then they must acknowledge that their own party had done wrong. It was unfair and uncan did to get up in that room and complain of a line of conduct which they themselves had followed, and followed too in the election of aldermen for the council; for 14 of the conserva tives had voted fur Mr. Henry Lawrence. He would say of him, however, that of his whole party they could not select a gentleman who had performed his duties more generally to The satisfaction of every one.. Mr. Shand asserted, that if they pursued this line of conduct they would fail. He was glad to see Mr. Shand so anxious that they should take a line of conduct by which they would not fail. Mr. Councillor BLACKBURN could not see that it would be expressing any approval of the sentiments contained in the memorial to allow it to lie on the table. He would not wil lingly go the length of rejecting any petition which was pre sented to them, unless it was couched in language which was absolutely insulting. He should therefore beg to move that the memorial lie on the table. Mr. Councillor BOLTON seconded the amendment of Mr. Blackburn. Mr. Councillor RATHBONE should adhere to his original motion, because it nas high time for the council to take its independence into its own hands, That was not the only in stance in• which there had been an attempt at dictation, an endeavour to trench upon the independence of the council. Let it not be understood for a single moment that he would attempt to stifle the expression of the popular voice; he was under the proper influence of the popular voice; but there was an essential difference between the exercise of the popUlar voice out of doors, and an undue interference in the affairs of the council. If the council were to obtain. the respect of the people out of'doors, it must main tain its own respect within doors, and not be led by the one hand or the other by the popular feeling. If any of the wards did not do themselves honour in a selection of an indi vidual to the council, it was the duty of its members not to be part and part in that degradation, by placing those gentlemen upon committees. He would ask the respectable gentlemen on the other side of the house whether there had been any partiality exhibited in the appointment of committees, and whether there were nut on them a greater proportion of con servatives than their numbers bore to those of the reformers ? If such were the fact, and he thought it could not be contra dicted, it was rediculous to suppose that there had been any partiality. At the same time, it would be a nonsensical act indeed to put men on committes to carry out reforms which they look upon, not as reforms but as destruction. They must place on such committees men who looked upon the changes proposed, or likely to be proposed,, as reforms, and not as destruction. What would the reformers of Liverpool say if they should put upon a committee a majority of conser vatives to carry out reforms whirls they were anxious to ef fect ? If they wanted a butler, would they put a groom in his situation ? He was glad to see jealousies on the part of the conservatives with respect to the "private meetings," as they had been termed. It was a proof that those private meetings worked well; and he would advise them (the re formers) not to abandon a system which had worked so well. The affairs of the council were not, as had been stated, settled in those private meetings. In resorting to them, they had merely taken a leaf out of their opponents' books: and' he thought that it would be better if they managed to keep the meetings still more private. Their enemies were more care ful and cautious than the reformers, taking care that nothing which took place at them should transpire. It would be going rather strong against the constituency to reject their memo rial; but the independence of the council was at stake, and it was for them now to say whether they would be interfered with or not. In his opinion, whether it was an, alderman or a committee that was to be appointed, the council were better able to judge than the constituency out of doors. He would vote upon such things as he thought would be for the good of the town, and not to be a popularity hunter in affairs of that kind. Mr. Councillor IsAAc Hol-mEs rose; but was assailed with loud cries of "spoke," and sat down. The voting was then taken upon Mr. Blackburn's amend. ment. For it there were 37; against it, 15, The voting was as follows: For thearnendment,— _ _ Councillors—J. HoUales, W. Thornhill, Isaac Holmes, W. Shand, W. Preston, T. Case, J. Barton, B. Frankland, G. Wright, J. Mellor, 11. Holmes, T. Bolton, E. Pilcher, J. Walinsley, J. Bibby, C. Lawrence, J. Cooper, J. Lawrence, J. N. Wood, W. Lassen, T. Harvey, T. Blackburn, T, More croft, J. Smith, G. H. Lawrence, J. S. Leigh, J. Platt, W. M. Duncan, W.W. Currie, and the Mayor. Aldermen—R. Shell, 'F. Leathom, G. Holt, R. Benn. J. Moon, E. Evans, and W. P. : 4 'reme. Against the amendment, Councillors—J. Priestley, J.Woollright, W. Rathbone, V. Higgins, J. Mason, E. Segar, and F. Jordan. Aldermen—T. Booth, J. Hornby, C. H. Jones, W. Earle, jun., T. B. Barclay. T. Bulley, 'l'. Holt, and E. Harvey. IMPROVEMENTS IN SIR THOMAS'-BUILDINGS. The MAYOR presented the following memorial from the in habitants of Sir Thomas'-buildings:— " Liverpool, 1914 November, 1838. "To the Mayor and Gentlemen of the Common-council. " We, the undersigned, beg most respectfully to solicit the attention of the common-council and improvement commit tee in behalf of one of the oldest, mostabandoned, and neg lected thoroughfares in the town, viz., Sir Thomas'-buildings, of the stands recorded in its ancient annals—being for merly a foot-walk through the fields—and which might through your enterprising influence flourish in such a man ner that would convey its name as famous to posterity as any principal street we have, for convenience and elegance, which would be surpassed by no other. " We beg first to call your attention to the dangerous and disadvantageous condition which it at this time presents to your view. Secondly, the obvious and important benefit likely to result from improvement, not only to the neighbour hood but to the several adjacent thoroughfares connected with it; and thirdly, which is not of the least consequence, the removal and abolition of two soaperies, which are at pre sent the most disagreeable and intolerable nuisances in the centre of the town, which cats be well attested by us as re gards the baneful effects produced upon metals, painting, and other things liable to such causes as are injurious to health, property. and business, by using a chemical composi bon, called black ash, which, though not generally known, is as vicious in its effectsl as any other chemical factory; sometimes in the night season filling the atmosphere with such a dense effluvia as to render breathing difficult. " This straight thoroughfare is so much obstructed by carts, omnibuses, &e., continually passing, frequently causing con cussions dangerous not only to them, but to foot-passengers crowding the parapets to excess, which has been the occasion of several serious accidents, a few of which, for instance, are related :—A few months ago, the pillar of the doom of Mr. Steel's house was carried away and broke by the passing of of two carts; another, a cart loaded with iron bars, in turn ing, crushed a female against the wall, which inj ure d h er so much as to require surgical assistance; and only a few weeks since, the shop window of Mr. Tunstall was stove in by the turning of a cart; and accidents are kippening alMost daily, paiticularly on market days, too numerous for inser tion her. " The improvement of this Street seems to us so obvious and necessary that we beg your most particular anti early attention to it; and feel assured your investigation will suffi ciently recommend to you the excellence of a thoroughfare that might be effected for the benefit of the public, when con sidered for its several advantages, could not be excelled by any other from the north end through the several central public parts of the town, by widening Sir Thomas'-buildings, and opening a small narrow wint called flockinhall-ally, which would at once form a direct road from Leeds -street, intersecting Tithebarn-street, Dale-street, and • Whitechapel (from which it is at present the only general thoroghfare), and proceeding to the squares, theatres, markets, railway station, numerous inns, and other public places of resort. Therefore, that yon will look favourably on these few just remarks, and weigh them with your judicious discretion for the public good, is the petition of " Gentlemen, your obedient servants. - Herefollow the signatures.] Mr. Councillor JORDAN said the consideration of that me morial gave rise to two questions, one as to the nuisances from a species of gas similar to that formerly so much com plained of, and the other as to the inconvenience arising from the narrownes sof the street. He had heard it rumoured that there was a gas evolved from some manufactory in Sir Thomas'-buildings similar in quality to that which caused the nuisance for which Mr. Muspratt was prosecuted. Mr: Alderman EARLE said that there was an intention of putting this street to the act of parliament on the recent ap plications for powers to make certain improvements. Per haps the town-clerk would state why this had not been done. Mr. Councillor BOLTON said there was no street in greater need of improvement, and he hoped it would be attended to. The TOWN-CLERK explained that the notices were too late to secure the insertion of this street in the act. Mr. ISAAC HOLMES said there were no alkali works in Sir Thomas'-buildings; there was nothing but a soapery, and if they attempted to put that down as a nuisance, they had bet ter.attetnpt to do.away with all the soaperies in the town. He thought they should pause before they attempted to destroy manufactories that were beneficial to the commerce of the town. The memorial was referred to the Improvement Committee. OBSERVATORY. The following memorial from the Literary and Philosophi cal Society of this town was read:— "To the Washipful the Mayor and Town-council of the Borough of Liverpool. "The Memorial of the undersigned members of the Liver pool Literary and Philosophical Society. " Showeth,—That the attention of your memorialists has been lately 'most powerfully attracted to the want of an ob servatory in the town of Liverpool, for astronomical and ma ritime purposes. . _ . . . "That your memorialists are fully aware that the advan tages of an observatory in a maritime point of view are well known; but they venture, notwithstanding, to recall to your recollection the important facts, that the longtitude of Liver pool is nut known with astronomical accuracy—that the means of regulating chronometers and giving true time does not exist at this port, and consequently that chronometers are sent to sea with various sources of error, the extent of which will be at once understood when it is considered that an error (,f four seconds of time produces one mile in a ship's longti tude. Besides which, with iron vessels, which are likely soon to come into inure general use, the greatest differences as to magnetism prevail, the laws applicable to which can only be laid down after considerable experience and examination by persons conversant with scientific and practical computations of this nature. "That your memorialists have the sanction of the astrono mer !oval of England for stating, that a portion of the upper flat and roof of the western end of the Liverpool New Cus tom-house might be most conveniently applied to the erection and establishment of an observatory similar to, that at Green wich, which, at a very trifling cost, at - folds to masters of ves sels an easy and certai❑ method of determining the rates of error existing in their chronometers before proceeding to sea. And your memorialists have reason to believe that the ex pense of erecting and fitting np and maintaining an observa tory for practical maritime purposes, would be very much less than previous computations may have led the council to expect. . . _ " Your memorialists therefore humbly pray that your wor shipful body will be pleased to resume the consideration of this question, so important to the maritime and mercantile interests, as well as to the scientific character of this great port, with the view to the establishment of such an observa tory as it above suggested. "And that you will also be pleased to make application to the lords of the Treasury, or if necessary to parliament, for leave to apply part of that great public structure, the New Custom-house of Liverpool, to that national object." Mr. Councillor CA SE inquired if this subject had not before been discussed by the council, and had it not been decided that, on account of the state of their pecuniary affairs, through the provisions of the new law, they were unable to comply with the wishes of those who thought an observatory desirable. If so, he would move that a❑ answer to that effect be at once given. The TOWN-C LER K explained that it had been in contem plation to apply for an act of parliament to enable them, in conjunction with the Dock Committee, to appropriate a por tion of their respective funds for the purpose in question. Owing to an after decision on the part of the Dock Com mittee, rescinding their former resolution, the project was afterwards given ❑p. It was still in their •power to build au observatory by applying to parliament. Mr. Councillor CASE moved that the memorial be referred to the Improvement Committee. Mr. Alderman BARCLAY thought, as the real question was one of expense, that it ought to be referred to the Finance Committee. Mr. Alderman BLACKBURN was of opinion that the sub ject aeserved the consideration of a select committee. He therefore gave notice, that he should move at the next coun cil that a special committee he appointed to report on that memorial. He thought a more useful or honourable appro priation of any part of their surplus revenue could not he made. jl-leat, hear.) . . _ Mr. Cimncitior HIGGINS said the Dock Committee had not power to apply their funds to such a purpose. The TOWN-CLERK said the act of parliameat would have authorised the expenditure. TOE BUSINESS OF THE PORT The MAYOR said he had to present to the council a copy of resolutions passed at a meeting of the commercial associ ations of this town. They were placed in the hands of the late mayor too late for his worship to have au opportunity of presenting them. . . The TowN-CLERK said the delay arose through his fault, as he had Kept the documents too long in his possession. The following are the resolutions and report:— " At a Meeting of Deputations from the Mercantile Associ ations of Liverpool, at the Office of Messrs. Radcliffe, Duncan, and Lowe, on the 26th September, 1838, . " William Brown, Esq. being called to the chair: Resolved,—That, in the opinion of this meeting, iLis desirable that in the first local act which may be requiNd for this borough there should be inserted a clause authorising owners or consignees of vessels (except in cases where the cargo is wholly consigned to one house) to receive and de spatch goods, from the quay at certain rates, to be fixed by the Dock Committee, and that the sub-committee of chair men be instructed to adopt such measures as may appear expedient for carrying this object into effect. " liesolved,—That, in the opinion of this meeting, the appointrnerit of resident commissioners in Liverpool, to de cide upon questions of seizure, and other matters connected with the customs or excise, without the delay and inconveni ence of a reference to London, would be attended with very great advantage to trade, and that the magnitude of the in terests connected with this port demand this accommodation. " ltesolved,—That the sub-committee of chairmen be in structed to take such measures as may appear expedient to accomplish this important object, and that the co-operation of the Town-couucil and the Dock Committee be requestedllii " Liverpool, 10th October, 1838. " My DEAR Sta,---The Mercantile Associations at this port baring appointed deputations to confer upon matters connected with the interests of the town, I beg to enclose the names of the gentlemen representing the several bodies, and I have particularly to refer you to the enclosed copy of reso lutions, passed at the first meeting of the deputations, over which they were pleased to appoint me to preside. " With regard to the first, it is scarcely necessary to point out the great advantage which would be derived from the power proposed to be obtained from parliament, to enable the owners or consignees of ships, where the cargo is con signed to several houses, to appoint one set of porters to dis charge the whole. "The present system, according to which the several con signees send different sets of porters to receive their respec tive portions of the cargo, has, you are aware, been produc tive of much delay and expense, both to the shipowner and the merchant. Thus, where there are seven or eight con signees, there are as many gangs of men attending the dis charge of a vessel; and as only one set can be employed at a time, the others remain idle on the 'quay. A consignee who may have merely a few packages on board, must incur the expense of keeping porters alongside the vessel, perhaps for several days, as it is uncertain when hisgoods may be landed; and, on the other hand, if his porters are not ready to weigh and load off his goods, the discharge of the vessel is impeded. " It not unfrequently happens that the quay becomes so crowded by the numbers of porters, that the landing-waiter is obliged to stop the discharge until the quay is cleared. " The useless expense thus occasioned, the extent of pil ferage, the confusion and consequent obstruction to business, from the crowds of idlers, and the frequent changes in the labourers, cannot easily be over-estimated. " The remedy we propose is simple; but.as any voluntary arrangement of the kind might be defeated by die dissent of even one consignee, the authority of parliament is essential to carry it into effect. The enactment should embrace pro visions to enable the shipowner to warehouse goods after pro per notice to the consignee, or after a certain lapse of time, where consignees cannot be found. - '` You will at once perceive that the proposed measure, by facilitating the discharge of vessels, will promote the general good of the community• " With regard to the other very important subject referred to in the resolutions, the appointment of resident commis sioners of customs and excise in Liverpool, it ie hardly ne cessary to say, that we have long suffered grievous delays and inconvenience, from being compelled to appeal to Lon don on difficulties that are constantly in our business, con nected with those departments of the revenue. " it might, perhaps, be thought that our more rapid means of communication w►th London now obviate the grievance; but, as you are well aware, the great loss of time is not so much in the simple transmission of intelligence to London, as in the frequent references that are necessary to be made in most cases to the offices here, and in the explanations' by means of correspondence with a distant place. "The inwortance not only of the prompt examination of witnesses and evidence on the spot where the transaction originates, but also of direct personal communication with the commissioners, thus securing the early decisions of ques tions,is too obvious to require comment. . . With these observatio a ns, I have to request that you will bring the enclosed resolutions under the consideration of the council at the earliest opportunii, trusting that they wilt co operate in such measures as may be thought best for effect ing the important objects in view, the attainment of which would so greatly tend to promote the commercial prosperity of the town. " I am, dear sir, " Yours very truly, (Signed) " WILLIAM BROWN. " William Ilathbone, Esq., Mayor of Liverpool, &e." The resolution and report were referred to the Finance Committee. THE NEW POST-OFFICE. The MAYOR said be had a letter which bad been received by Mr. Okill from Mr. Banning, the postmaster, on the subject of the ['oat-office in Revenue-buildings. The De puty Town-clerk would read it if the council thought proper. The DEPUTY TowN-cLERK then read the following, letter: " Post of/ Liverpool, 191/i Nov., 1838 "DEAR SIR,—In reply to your inquiry, What progress has beets made towards the completion of the new Post office?' I beg to state, for the information of the Custom house Committee, that specifications and estimates for the fittings of the new offices have been transmitted by the Post office department to the Treasury, and when the decision of the lords of the Treasury is received, the Post-office depart ment will, I believe, take measures to prepare for the occu pation of the premises at as early a period as possible after the corporation can put the department into possession. " I informed the Surveyor of the General Post-office that, in conformity with the resolution of the Custom-house Com mittee, a key of the western door had been delivered tome about the middle of September, which gives me access to most of the rooms, but not exclusive possession of any part; and I am requested by the surveyor to ask at what period that full possession of the premises can be given to the Post office department? " I am, dear sir, " Yours faithfully, " Charles Okill, Esq., &c." "-WM. BANNING. Mr. Councillor JORDAN said, Mr. Banning had had un controlled possession of every part of the buitiling to be ap propriated for a Post-office, but he had not a key of the pub lic door. The place was quite ready for the commencement of operations, and had been so for some time. Mr. Alderman SHEIL said he understood that, about the middle of Sept. last, all the work was completed ready for Mr. Banning to proceed to prepare the place for business. The key was delivered up to him for that purpose, and be thought the public ought now to have that accommodation for which they had paid such an enormous amount of money. Some of those individuals who were so well paid for perform ing public services had been guilty of neglect. Much delay, it appeared, h a d occurre d at the - Treasury since application had been made there. He thought the council would not he doing their duty to the public if they did not apply imme diately to the lords of the Treasury, to have that accommoda tion given to the inhabitants of this town, for which they had already paid such a vast price. He should therefore move, "That the mayor be respectfully requested to inform the lords commissioners of her majesty's Treasury that the build ing intended fin a new Post-office, has been ready for the oc cupation of that department since September last, and beg ging that the necessary orders may be given to remove the establishment thereto, in ord e r that the town may be no longer deprived of its accommodation." Mr. Councillor CURRIE said Mr. Banning seemed to say that be was not in full possession. He thought it would be proper to give him a k e y to t h e ou t e r door, that he might have nothing to complain of. Mr. Banning ought to be put in full possession. Mr. Alderman LEATHOM said Mr. Banning had a key of the outer door, and was in full possession. Mr. Alderman EAR LE.—lt's all a mere excuse. Mr. Councillor BLACKBURN could not see that any blame attached to Mr. Banning. Two months since he had had the key given to him, and he had plans and specifications to pro pose and transmit to the Treasury. Two months was not so long a time to complete the arrangements for such a suite of apartments as those were. He thought they ought to be careful in casting reflections on public officers. Mr. Alderman - SHELL said, as Mr. Blackburn spoke, it might be supposed they were complaining that the arrange ments were not yet completed, but they were complaining that they were not yet commenced. But he did not blame Mr. Banning. He had no intention of doing so, for he had done all probably that could he done. There was a great deal of neglect; however, about those at the head of affairs in London. . _ Mr. Alderman I.EaTHom said he believed Mr. Banning had sent the plans and specifications four months ago, and he_had not yet received any answer. _ Mr. Couucitlor JoitosNsaiTih;y had written to the lords of the Treasury in,April last, about heating the rooms, and they had never yet even replied to the letter. The resolution was put and passed unanimously. The TowN-CLERK read the following report of the Gaol Committee. " General report relative to the Gaol and House of Correc tion of the borough of Liverpool, prepared by the clerk of the peace, pursuant to the act of parliament, 4th Geo. IV. c. 64, s. 27, and laid before the Court of Quarter Sessions of the Justices and the Council of the buro - ugh -------- " It appears front the report of the justices for the borough who have acted as visitors of the prison, front the report of the chaplain of the prison, and front the certificate of the gaoler; "'l' at the additional buildings within the walls of the pri son, comprising a residence for the matron and female turn keys, hospital, wash-house, laundry, disinfecting, cleansing, and examination room, and baths, which, on the recommeda tion of the Visiting justices, were ordered to be erected by the town-council, are in a state of forwardness, and will be ready for occupation and use about the end of November. That the general plan of these buildings, on which an opinion can now be formed, appears satisfactory, and likely to secure the expected advantages both in the better accommodation of the female officers, and in the inure complete separation of the juvenile females from the adults, as also in the general prison discipline, by affording means of carrying the prison rules applicable to criminal prisoners, on their first coming into the prison, into strict execution. "'That some minor improvements are intended in these new buildings, on the report and estimate of the surveyor of the corporation, first., by heating the drying stoves, the dis infecting apparatus, the bath, and cleansing room with steam, —a method which is strongly recommended by the surveyor. The expense will be £35 more than the original estimate; and, secondly, by flagging the area in front of the new build ings front the examination room to the north door of the hospital, the cost of which will be £l6. "That it is also proposed that a bath and cleansing room for males should be erected in receiving yard, No. 7, the cost being estimated at £3l, and that a spare room in the lodge should be converted into a store-room, at a cost of £7. "'That these estimates amount together to £B9, and the proposed alterations appear necessary and fully to justify the expenditure.. • "'That the prison has been found in a state of great clean liness and excellent order on the various occasions on which it has been inspected by the visiting justices. "'That with regard to the prisoners, and as to morals, disci pline, employment, hard labour, and observance of rules, • " It appears—first, that on the criminal side a more com plete separation of the male juveniles from the adults has been carried into effect; which arrangement, with the benefit that may be reasonably expected to result from the school, will, in the opinion of the visiting justices, tend to general improvement, although the short terms of imprisonment for which many of the juveniles are committed may prevent much being done for their ultimate reformation; yet the employment for the mind, and consequent division of the labours of the day between the school and work-room, assist in the maintenance of discipline, and lessen the necessity of recourse to punishment. "That the classification of the criminal prisoners generally requited by the gaol acts, and a strict system of discipline, have been observed and maintained; and it is satisfactory to notice that these great objects have been accomplished at a small proportion of punishments as compared with the returns of some other prisons. That the daily average of prisoners is 425%, and the daily average of punishment 81. " That the seventh rule, as amended in the early part of the year, has, in restricting the visiting to every third month, facilitated in a great measure the preservation of good order. " That, secondly, on the debtor's side, the rules of the gaol are enforced, and that, notwithstanding many complaints made by the debtors in the first instance, as to the supposed harshness of some of the restrictions, it is evident that a most beneficial result has ensued in the cheerful obedience of the prisoners to the necessary discipline, in the absence of com plaints against them for drunkenness and gambling, and as between themselves in the social order which prevails, instead of quarrels and complaints, which formerly came too often under the notice of the justices." WAREHOUSES ON THE DOCK QUAYS, --- The MAYOR called upon the deputy towu-clerk to read over the resolutions adopted by the Dock and Finance Com- Mittees, with the notice for the projected new act. The de_ putt' towo-clerk read the resolutions and notices, an abstract of which we published last month. Mr. Councillor CURRIE said the requisite notice had been inserted. The subject was one of so great importance, and so multiplied were the interests likely to be affected, that he believed it would be utterly impossible, in full council, to give it the requisite consideration and discussion. He there fore felt more strongly than he did before when he made a similar proposition, the propriety of referring it to a com mittee. That committee, he thought,'should be the Finance Committee, for it was a committee that was already in ex istence, and was so constituted as to give a fair considera tion to all the interests col.cerned. By referring this im portant subject, therefore, to the Finance Committe e , th e y would prevent the council from having to perform the pain ful duty of appointing a new committee, which, however, judiciously done, might lay them open t o th e c h arge a having acted invidiously. He would propose that the points to be embraced in the discussions of the committee should be as comprehensive as possible. His notice was that the committee should sit from day to day till their report was fully matured. It would be his wish, as chairman of the com mittee, to obtain a hearing for every interest, and to see that all the information was obtained that could be desired. That it be referred to the Finance Commitee to take into consideration all matters brought before the council by the Dock Committee, in relation to the proposed measures in parliament, and in particular, whether it is desirable or not that there should be warehouses on the Duck quays—if it be, whether such warehouses ought to be built up to the margin of the dock, or with quay room between the warehouses and the dock: with the ground floor part of the warehouses, or as public quay, or on what other plan ;—and on the number of stories to which such warehouses ought to be limited : on increased or decreased danger to the property, shipping, and the town from tire. Whether the use of these warehouses (if erected) ought to be compulsory on ves sels in the dock, or such vessels might be at liberty to use any of them, or any other warehouse in the town. Whether such warehouses (if desirable) must be pub lic property, or, subject to reasonable regulations, might be private property :—if public, whether the property of the corporation of the trustees of the docks, or of the corpo ration of the borough; if private, whether absolute private property, or in the hands of lessees; and if lessees, whether joint-stock cotnpinies; for what term or number of years to be leased; upon what conditions subject to what regula tions, and power of regulation, and, with the reversion be longing to one, and which of the corporations; and on the advantages and disadvantages likely to arise front the pro posed measure to commerce, the interests immediately con concerned, and the general interests of the town,—and that the reference comprise both the quays of the proposed new dock near the Salthouse Dock, and the quays of the proposed new north dock, and also the west quay of the Prince's Dock, regard being had to the property of the dock estate therein; and that the Finance Committee be empowered to confer on Ail the matters referred to them with the Dock Committee, the commercial associations, warehouse proprie tors, warehouse.keepers, and other parties interested, and to make all neoes.ary inquiries; and that they be instructed tin record the information which they may attain ; and that they do report such information, with their opinion and re commendation thereon, to the council with all possible ex pedition; and that, in the meantime. the Dock Committee be authorised to take such further measures, consequent upon the notice given by them, as may be proper and expedient for securing the ensuing session, it being understood that, until further consideration, the council do not stand pledged to ulterior measures; and that the further consideration of the proceedings and reports of the Duck Committee and of the Finance Committee relating to the proposed measures, be postponed until a report of the Fivance Committee shall be presented to the council." . Mr. Alderman LEATHOM said. be was not aware that such a resolution was to be brought forward, but the Dock Com mittee would readily accede to the proposal of Mr. Currie, as their wish was to have the most full and complete investi gation. lie, for his own part, could have wished the subject to be considered by a special committee, but he agreed with Mr. Currie that it would be difficult to form such a committee without the risk of giving offence. He begged to second the resolution. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Councillor MASON said, he had no wish to express any disapprobation of the Finance Committee, but it seemed strange that all subjects should be referred to that commit tee. He thought that this question ought particularly to be gone into by a separate committee. He begged, therefore, to move that a special committee be appointed. He thought the Finance Committee had already enough to do, and that with so many subjects to engage their attention, their time niust be very fully occupied. Mr. Alderman EVA NS said, whatever committee might be appointed for the consideration of such a question as this must embrace a large proportion of the members of the Fi nance Committee, therefore the difficulty advanced by Mr. Mason was not got rid of by the expedient which he pro posed. Mr. Councillor HIGGINS seconded Mr. Mason's motion. He had prepared a list of names which he thought would be unobjectionable. Mr. Higgins was about to read the names of those who wished to have been placed on the committee, when he was reminded that such proceeding would be irregular, before it had been decided whether a select committee should be appointed or not. Mr. Alderman BOOTH expressed his opinion that it would be more desirable to have the subject referred to the Finance Committee than to a Special Committee. Mr. Councillor WRIGHT said, as it appeared that they had land to spare on the duck quays, he would suggest that they Should enlarge the Prince's Dock. It would save a great deal of expense. Mr. Councillor Mason's amendment was put to the vote, when there appeared for the amendment— Council!ors—J. Heyworth, B. Frankland, J. Mellor, J. Walrnsley, J. Lawrence, J. N. Wood, V. Higgins, and J. Mason. Aldermen—H. Shiel and J. Hamby. Against the amendment,— Councillors—J. Holmes, W. Thornhill, Isaac Holmes, W Shand, W. Preston, T. Case, J. Barton, G. Wright, H . Holmes, 'l'. Bolton, E. Pitcher, - J. Priestley, J.Woollright J. Bibby, W. liathbone, C. Lawrence, J. Cooper, W. Las sell, T. Harvey, T. Blackburn, 'l'. Morecrolt, E. Segar, J Smith, G. H. Lawrence, J. S. Leigh, F. Jordan, J. Platt W. M. Duncan, W. W. Currie, and the Mayor. Aldermen—T. Booth, T. Leathom, G. Hjit, C. H. Jones, R. Benn, W. Earle, jun., J. Moon, E. Evans, 'l'. B. Bar clay, T. Bulley, T. Holt, W. P. Freine, and E. Harvey. Absent—D. Hodgson, 11. Houghton, Thomas Sands, Might, T. 13rocklebank, J. Carson, It. Gladstone, 'l'. Cog lan, J. Cropper, juu., G. Rams& Li, and Alderman H. kell. • . _ . For the amendment, 10; against it, 43. Majority, 33. Mr. Alderman EVANS said those who were best informed on the subject were the gentlemen of the DoCk Committee. He would move, therefore, as an exception to the general rule, that Mr. Walinsley be added to the committee during its consideration of this subject. He had been so recently a member of the Dock Committee that he would be able to supply a great deal of information which the Finance Com mittee would not be able to get elsewhere. Mr. Councillor PLATT seconded the motion. Mr. Councillor WA LAISLEY expressed his diskike to being placed in such a position, and requested Mr. Evans to with draw his motion, • Mr. Councillor CASE wished to know whether it would not be wise in the Finance Committee, on this particular occa sion, to allow every member of the council to attend their sittings without voting or taking any part in the dissussion. He rernbered that, on occasions when matters of aeat pub lic importance wete to be discussed, this used to be allowed formerly. He would therefore move that on this particular occasiou, every member of the council should have access to the committee. Mr. Alderman LEATHOM thought it ought to be a close and private committee till the inquiry was finished and their report matured. The subject was one that had excited so much attention that the proceeding would be carried out of doors from day to day—they would be talked over on 'Change, and perhaps much misconception would be the consequence. Mr. Councillor CASE w►thdrew his amendment. The original motion was put and carried unanimously. THE TELEGRAPH Mr. Councillor BOLTON alluded to a notice he bad seen in the Underwriters' Room, that after the 24th of December next, no vessels will be telegraphed but such as belonged to parties who subscribed to the telegraph.: and expr e s se d his regret that the Dock Committee hactcliine to the resolution of changing the mode in which the telegraph was managed.He wished' to be informed of the present position of the question relative to the telegraph. Mr. Alderman LEATHOM said, at the meeting of the Dock Committee on Thursday last, the subject was brought before them. They had stated a case for the opinion of the Attor ney-general, as to the position in which they stood with Lieutenant Watson. He expected that it would not be long ere they had an answer. THE CORPORATION SCHOOLS The MAYOR called upon Mr. Isaac Holmes for the motion of which he had given notice. Mr. Councillor Isaac HOLMES said, at the last meeting of Council a statement was made as to the number of children who attended the schools belonging to the Corporation. In consequence of that statement, be asked the Councillor for Pitt-street Ward what number of those children were mem bers of the Church of England? Soon after, the Councillor for Lime-street Ward said the great majority of the Protes tant children attended the church, and belonged to the church.—(" No, no." Mr. Blackburn signified that he had not said so.)—ln consequence of this, Mr. James, the minis ter of Kirkdale, called upon him (Mr. Holmes), and said it was extremely strange that such a statement should have been made, as Dr. Buck had declared there were not twenty of the children went to church. He (Mr. Holmes) after wards accompanied Mr. James to the North School, where, on asking the question, he was informed that there were '268 Protestant boys and 94 girls, exclusive of the infant scholars. He asked what number of them attended the church ? The reply was 31 boys and 29 girls; in all 63. He (Mr. Holmes) said, " What becomes of the remainder?" The reply was, " I cannot tell." He (Mr. Holmes) then asked, " Do all who attend the church belong to parents who themselves attend the Church of England." The answer, " I really cannot tell." The tact was they might be anythingarian; or nothing arians ; they knew nothing about it. He said to Mr. James, and they all knew what sort of a minister he was.—(clear, and laughter.) He believed he (Mr. James) was above his praise—a man whose character was such as would set laugh• ter and jeers at defiance.—(Renewed cries of "hear" and laughter.) He said to Mr. James, what an excellent oppor tunity there was of sending to the parents of these children, and seeing that each or the little ones attended some plcce of worship. He wrote a note from the school-room to Mr. Blackburn, to inquire if he might be favoured with the names of the protestant children. He thought, in fact, he had a right to look at the books and find it out himself, but this was not permitted. He believed that the books had hitherto been regularly opened, not only to.the members of the coun cil, but Lo every clergyman. He received, in reply to his note, an answer from Mr. Blackburn to say that the Educa tion Committee met on the following day. In due time he received another note, which said that the management of the school had been delegated to them (the Education Commit tee) by the council, and to the council alone were they re sponsible, they should therefore decline compliance with his request. This was as much as if he had asked the Education Committee to be accountable to him! Mr. James and him self went next day when the religious instruction was going on. He then learned that Dr. Buck only occasionally at tended, and that Mr. Stokes had deserted the schools alto gether. He asked the roaster if he might be allowed to look at the books. Ile was told that they used to show the books, but could not now because of the new resolution of the Edu cation Committee. He was now obliged to come and make a motion in the council to obtain this information, because he could not get it elsewhere. No children ought to be taken into those schools, he maintained, without a pledge from the parents that they would attend a place of worship.—(Cries of "pshaw" from several liberal members.) Mr. James was asked, while at the schools, to attend, and he was told that they would be glad of his assistance. He (Mr. Holmes) asked him if he would. He said—" No, I can't. See, here is the Roman catechism on the table! I cannot in consci ence attend, however wishful I might be to instruct the pro testant children." It was the first time he (Mr. Holmes) had seen a catholic catechism, and on reflection he (Mr. Holmes) approved of the scruples of Mr. James, and fully agreed With Mr. Councillor COOPEIt seconded the motion. He thought the books ought to be open to all. The Education Com mittee consisted of thirteen gentlemen, who were all of one political opinion (" Of course," from Mr. Earle); and he therefore b egge d t o mo ve th a t Mr. I saac H o l mes b placed on the Education Committee, Mr. Councillor HoLlutss.—i beg to decline it. (Laughter.) Mr. Councillor BLACKBURN thought it would not be ne cessary for him to take up much of _the time of the council to induce them to reject th,e proposition of Mr. Holmes.— Mr. Blackburn then proceeded (in a speech remarkable chiefly for its length, and the time which it occupied) to contend that it was a principle laid down in the municipal bill, that committees should make their reports from time to time to the council, which reports, when so made, should be open to confirmation or rejection. This was laid down in the 70th clause of the municipal bill. It therefore followed hat the council reposed confidence in these committees for he management of the business entrusted to them, and for reporting from time to time such of their proceedings as were brought to perfection. But, in the very nature of things, transactions which were inchoate, or in the course of being perfected, could not be laid open to inspection without being injurious to the interests taken cognisance of by the com mittee. This applied more particularly to the Finance and Improvement Committees, the disclosure of the proceedings of which, before they were ripe, might be deeply injurious. If they applied the same principle to the Education Corn , mittee, the proceedings of. that committee ought not to be pre-disclosed, and their proceedings be subjected to the exa mination of any member of the council who thought fit to take the trouble. They must, on the admission of that prin ciple, by fair reason apply it to all the committees. On that ground he trusted that the council would reject the motion proposed by the member for Scotland Ward; and on that view of the case he should not move an amendment, but meet it with a direct negative. What he contended fur was, that the council should show their confidence in the Educa tion Couainitiee, by withholding such permission, and leave it to the discretion of that committee to lay open their books or to refuse it, as in their discretion they should think fit. He was not at all afraid to enter into the discusiion of the question as to the propriety of this particular course. He thought the council were bound to leave the committee dis cretion to act as they pleased in this matter; but he would meet the councillor for Scotland Ward on his own grounds, and would point out the reasons why the Education Corn mittee had, in the exercise of sound discretion, refused coin- ' pliance with his request. The councillor for Scotland Ward had called on Tuesday week at the school, and saw in the first instance the head toaster and stated to him that he wished to see the books in which were inserted the names of the children, as he called it, of the Protestant Church— es though dissenters were not Protestants, the common error into which ignorant and vulgar minds fell—that he might have an opportunity of examining the children belonging to the Protestant Church. The head master very wisely ob jected to allow him that information without the sanction of the committee. He afterwards applied to the juniormaster, after the first master had refused, but he also refused—(hear.) Mr. Blackburn they pi oceeded to contend that the member for Scotland Ward, as he supposed, a recent convert to the Church of England, and disapproved of these schools, and considered that a minister of the Church of England could not conscientiously attend there and give instruction; enter taining these views, if he were enabled to go amongst the parents of • the children, the effects of his visits were to pre judice their minds, and induce them to draw away the chil dren from the schools. And was it not discretion to refuse to give such information to an individual obviously hostile to the object they had in view : were they to give facilities to a hostile individual? The schools were open to all—Dissent ers, Roman Catholics, or Churchmen; they were welcome to receive the best instruction they could give them. The children went there desiring, instrucoon, departed without any rigtd exam??? alien as 15 Keir religious princzples. They had no concealment in the schools. If a man came with a hos tile intention and a desire to do them injury, where was the man that would give that individual that opportunity ? Could there be anything like secresy in the schools when they were open to the public. The doors bad never been closed against any body. The councillor for Scotland Ward had said it was inconsistent for the members of the established church to take part in the instruction given at the schools; but there were some of a different opinion. "Many clergymen in various parts of the kingdom were strongly attached to the mode of education pursued, and it was winning its way. In Ireland it was diffusing the blessings of education among the people; and the great number of Catholics among the popu lation of Liverpool, rendered it right that it should be intro duced here, if it were not right to apply the system to other parts of the country, which he contended that it was. They were taunted with having no instruction communicated by clergymen. Whose fault was that? (Hear.) Had they not been refused that assistance? Had they not humbled themselves to obtain the assistance of the clergy from the first, but they had refused assistance. The schools were open to any clergymen who went there in a spirit of friendliness and kindness. The dissenting ministers had not gone there lest it should throw an appearance of sectarianism over the schools. But the religious instruction of the children was not neglected; they were taught their different creeds by in dividuals capable of teaching them. He was bound to ac knowledge they had not been so successful as they could have wished in getting children to attend the church; but they had done what they could, and the number was on the increase, and 40 or 50 did attend the church. After "hold ing on" about 20 minutes longer de omnibus rebus, et multis alas, Mr. Blackburn concluded with meeting Mr. Holmes's motion with a direct negative. Mr. Councillor RATIIBONE begged to second what Mr. Blackburn had said, and in doing so would not trouble the council with many observations. When these gentlemen had entered the school, they were asked to put down their names in the visitors' book, which was the rule before any examina tion—they had objected to do so. "Now," said Mr. Rath bone, "One word with respect to this truly respectable man, Mr. James. And let it not be thought that because he has done myself the honour, and Mr. Blackburn the honour, to denounce us in his pulpit by name; I do not think—though he may know his creed very well—that to 'denounce men he does not know by sight even, is a proper feeling; and he who thinks that the pulpit is the lit place for such topics, must be wanting in the spirit of Christinaiity, whatever he knows of his creed. The man who is so Ignorant of the discipline of his church, as to say he will not give the communion to any one who votes for a liberal town-councillor, is not an orna ment of any church; nor can he do that in a Christian spirit. The man who, when the poor population are starving, will refuse to join a dissenting minister (so far as opinions go, and whose only difference of opinion was, perhaps, as to church discipline)—will refuse to co-operate with that minis ter in distributing food to the starving and naked; I care not what be his name, but I know his n a t ure i s no t Christian; and I am justified in so speaking of such a man."—They had wished most particularly the clergymen to attend the schools, and had begged of them to do so, and take the religious education of the children, but they had refused. The church was called, by law, established, and the clergy were bound to go there; they were paid by the dissenters and others, and they were bound to give the education re quired of them. If lie understood anything about the law, being paid by the state they were; bound to gig e the instruction asked, whenever they were required so to do; and they could legally have made them give it. He would appeal to the law in that room if such was not the case. He would not say inure-on the question, for it was now felt to be a-humbug, and brought forward for political purposes. Mr. Alderman SniEt, must allude to one point in the statement of the member for Scotland Ward. It was a brief remark, and which he thought marked the unfitness of both himself and the gentleman who accompanied him to be ad mitted into the schools. Every member of the council must be aware that the use of the term " Roman Catholic," must be offensive to Roman Catholics. The term could only be made use of as one of offence; and for gentlemen to go into a school where there were a large number of Roman Catho lic children, and a large number of dissenters, and many of the Established Church, and make use of such an expres sion, amongst the scholars was calculated to excite disunion in the minds of the children. The manner in which the gen tleman (Mr. Holmes) had made use of the expression con- , vinced hint also that he found fault with his (Mr. Shiel's) religion. Why did he find faults with it ? He (Mr. Shiel) could not say. He supposed it was because it taught a sys tem of morality diametrically opposite to that which he (Mr. Holmes) practised. (Laughter.) He had been attached to it (the Roman Catholic religion) all his life, and should be attached to it as long as he lived. (Loud cries of " Hear, hear.). Mr. Councillor HARVEY said he would refer the council lor for Scotland Ward to a book which he thought might be read with some profit. He (Mr. Harvey) had had it in his hand that morning. It was a book published by one Isaac Holmes several years ago, and there was in it some ex tremely liberal views respecting religion, and the toleration shown in America. He hoped the votes given would have the effect of saving the councillor of Scotland Ward from himself, and do him much good. Mr. Coipcillor Isaac Holmes, in reply, certainly felt paiticularly7 obliged to Mr. Harvey for reminding him of his liberal opinions. He entertained the same opinions still. With respect to Mr. Alderman Shiel, who seemed to have taken g,ieat offence at his expression " Roman Catholic," lie had not intended any offence. The Church of Engltnil called herself Catholic, and he did not know why the Church of Rome should arrogate to herself the title of Catholic. Mr. Alderman Shiel asked why he differed from that church ? It had cost hint no less than 15 or 16 votes of Roman Catho lics from stating his objections to that church. (Loud laughter.) And he would tell them his objections, and what he had said. He said, there was a certain commandment that taught—" thou shalt not make to thyself any graven image —(cries of "Oh")—and further, if you have made it —" thou shalt not bow down to it. (Loudcries of " Question, question." If he went to their Roman Catholic places of worship, he saw many bow down to it. It might be that he was an apostate to the dissenters. Mr. Alderman SHIM, (interrupting.►)—l believe this is very disorderly. I did not ask him any opinion of the creed I belong to. lie would no more dare to talk in this way if he could be replied to— The Mayon (iising)—l have no hesitation in saying that the statement von have made is entirely disorderly. Mr. Councillor ISAAC HOLMES bowed to the chairman ; but certainly very harsh terms had been applied to him by the gentleman who had spoken. The MAYOR said it was stated in a very strong resolution that all religious discussions should be avoided in the council. It would be extremely inconvenient to introduce theological discussions into that room, and hoped the members of the council would abstain from it. ➢lr. Councillor ISAAC HoLsms should certainly not have made the remark, but he had been termed "an apostate ;" and what could be more insulting. There were many gen tlemen who had been dissenters, who now attended the church, because she was more Christian and pure in her doctrines, and were they they therefore to he termed apos tate dissenters? When that gentleman (Mr. Blackburn) had made that remark, he had not been checked. He de nied that they had declined to put down their names at the school. The assertion had been made that a majority of the Protestant children belonged to the Church of England, he went to ascertain the fact, and found 63 out of 268 belonged to that church, and how that was twisted' into a majority he could not imagine. He had been refused permission to in spect the books of the schools for the purposes of enquiry, and now sought that ,permission. The motion was put to the vote. There appeared for the motion— Councillors—lsaac Holmes, W. Shand, T. Case, J. Bar ton, G. Wright, J. Cooper, J. Smith, G. H. Lawrence, and J. N. Wood. For-the amendment— Councillors —J. Holmes, W. Thornhill, W. Preston, B. Frankland, J. Mellor, H. Holmes, T. 1301 ton, E. Filcher, J. Walinsley, J. Priestley, J. Wool!right, W. Rathbone, W. Lassell, T. Harvey, V. Higgins. 'l'. Blackbu rn , 'l'. More. croft, J. Mason, E. Segar, F. Jordan, J. Platt, W. M. Dun. can, W. W. Currie, and the Mayor. Aldermen—R. Sheil, 'l'. Booth, J. Hornby, T. Leathom G. Holt. C. H. Jones, R. Benn, W. Earle, jun., E. Evans, 'l'. B. Barclay, T. Bailey, 'l'. Holt, W. P. Fretne, and E. Harvey. Absent,—Councillors J. Heyworth, D. Hodgson, R. Houghton, Thos. Sands, R. Bright, J. Bibby, C. Lawrence, J. Lawrence. T. Brocklebank, J. Carson, R. Gladstone, T. Coglan, J. S. Leigh, J. Cropper, jun., G Ramsden; Alder. men R. Roskell, and J. Moon. __ For the motion 9—against it 38—majority 29. The Council adjourned, at half-past two, to the first Wed nesday in next month, as a quarterly meeting. The Queen of Portugal has given birth to a prince. The infant will take the title of Duke of Oporto. A GENTLEMAN.—GentiIity is neither in birth, manner, nor fashion, but in the mind. A high sense of honour, a de termination never to take a mean advantage of another, an adherence to truth, delicacy, and politeness towards those with whom you may have dealings, are the essential and dis tinguishing characteristics of a gentleman. The Gloucester and Birmingham Railway, says the Chel tenham Chronicle, continues to make the most satisfactory progress.• The workmen are now engaged in laying down the permanent way, which is constructed on new and im proved principles, from which it is anticipated that the line, at the same time that it possesses all the firmness and solidity of the Great Western Railwly will be free from all its de fects. The works at both theCheltenham and Tewkesbury depots have commenced . and some considerable progress has been made at th e latter. The line will be open the length of Tewkesbury during the ensuing spring, and in the course of the summer as far as Droitwich ; and it is understood that the whole will be entirely finished in about two years from this period, and within the time specified in the contract. THE POST-OFFICE. TO THE EDITOR OP THE LIVERPOOL STAND.tRD. SIR,-1 think it incumbent on individuals, when they suffer from neglect on the part of public functionaries, to make a public exposure of it, as well for the sake of the community at large as for their own—particularly in a department where strict regularity is indispensable. Having been a sufferer myself, of late, through neglect on the part of the post-office in the conveyance of letters, and having also heard of re peated complaints upon the subject, I am induced to begfor a corner in your paper. It is not necessary, in order toim plicate the system, to name the office where the delay arose: it would, indeed, be a hopeless task if it were so; but per haps the instance should be mentioned. The letter in _ques tion was addressed to a person within three miles of War rington, and posted on a Monday evening; and it did not reach him until the Wednesday evening following, even with the advantage of a railroad conveyance almost the whole way : there is a daily twopenny post from Warrington jo the spot alluded to. The consequence was, besides the inconve nience, a pecuniary loss to myself, which, though small, might have been serious. I need not ask where that loss ought in justice to have been felt. I trust, Sir, that you will deem this statement of sufficient importance to occupy a place in your columns, and you will oblige Yours faithfully , Liverpool, Nov. 20th, 1838. H. W. LIVERPOOL MECHANICS' INSTITUTION. LECTURES ON ASTRONOMY. On Saturday evening Mr. John Wallis delivered bis last lecture upon this sublime science. The spots upon the sun's disc prove to us that the sun is a globular body, and point out to us the direction and time of its rotation. It revolves upon its axis once in 25% days. The spots upon the sun are of a transient nature, and seem to be occasioned by openings in the nebulous matter by which the sun is surrounded. No part of his disc is of equal lustre, and sometimes we discern long streaks of light more intense than the average surface. The surface of the sun thus ap pears to be in a course of chemical action. These ridges of strong light have been termed facula3 by Herschell; but, whenever we see them, we shall soon see a darkness in their place. As there are incessant changes going on upon the surface of the sun, it is probable that when this species of de composition, whatever it may be, arrives at the proper pitch, there is a chasm formed in the matter, and that we then look upon the dark solid material of the sun. These spots, how ever, though Peifectly black in their central parts, have always a penumbral edge. We know of no light so intense as the light of the sun. The oxyhydrogen light, and all others, appear quite inconsiderable in luminosity when com pared with the sun. The light transmitted from the sun may or may not be mixed invariably with heat. The rays of the sun, we do not find, with the aid of a most deli Cate thermometer, to produce any effect upon the earth's tempera ture. It is possible that light and heat, whatever their cause, may be merely light and heat on the surface of our planet, and that the same causes may produce other changes in the media through which they are passing: Therefore, astrono my, whilst it gives us the most conclusive knowledge, leads us into regions of speculation as interminable as the matter into which we look. There are millions of orbs visible to our telescopes, and we cannot imagine that they are of less importance and magnitude than our own sun, else they would not be visible. But there are many stars immensely larger than the sun. We cannot magnify stars, and that is-a strik ing point. We can magnify Jupiter and Vemis until they are many times larger than the sun • but we cannot enlarge a fixed star by the most powerful telescope. There are many analogies between the sun and the stellar bodies. There are many appearances about stars which would lead us tobelieve that they rotate upon their axis; thus many of them alter periodically in their lustre, sometimes shining with greater or less brilliancy: and it is supposed that this is owing to the face which is presented to us. Two or three fixed stars hais been observed to make their appearance in the Ifeavens. One of these was noticed by Kepler to increase in magnitude until it shone in the day time more powerfully than Jupiter. Mr. John Wallis then reviewed the different astronomical theories in opposition to the new astronomical theory, and ably refuted them all, illustrating his arguments by Means of numerous diagrams. In conclusion, he said, I have now, to the best of my ability, brought before you such portions of our beautiful science as I deemed capable of being rendered clear to you. Of course I can have brought before yon no 'thing new, and it has only been your continu e d attentiOn , which has led me to use my best efforts to its illustration. We are only on the threshold of discovery. I leave taken" you in a circle whose diameter is four hundred' millions Of' miles, and I have shown you, by the new parallax of stars, that this is but a stripe of insignificant magnitude compared with space. We cannot doubt that all the planets of the solar system are peopled; think then how vast must be the number of those intelligent beings who inhabit the iiaterininX ble universe. It has appeared to some that my Sande of treating the subject, and considering the universe is 'a vast machine, is somewhat atheistical. But I think the reverse, as the machines which man has been able to pioduce Kate led to these rapid discoveries which are now making in sci ence. While 1 say, therefore, that astronomy . is perhaps more intelleytual than any other science, as it is taught by reasoning, and so becomes an excellent mode of leading the mind to a series of facts productive of beneficial results, I do not arrogate to my science anything snore than is juft. I am aware that a grain of sand, when investigated thoroughly,. leads to a train of thought in which we are lost in wonder and amazement ; but whether we look at nature in its two ex tremes, whether with a microscope we view the smallest ob jects in creation, or with a telescope, the vast System of beauty and truth which is exposed around to our gaze, we are as much bewildered and confounded at the minuteness of the one as we shrink into comparative nothingness at the comprehensive view which is opposed to us in the other. But we arrive at this conclusion, that if no clock which we know of can keep time with the arrangementsof the universe—and that any mechanic who should construct such a clock would be worthy of our highest admiration—that the Almighty;whb has launched these orbs into these realms of space, the limits of which we can never ascertain, has manifested to us, in the perfection and the gniind scale of his work, his power and beneficence. It is, therefore, not the man who carefully exercises his reason—it is not the philosopher who Comes to the conclusion that there is no God—it is, to use the expres sion of a book the truth of which is our mainstay, " It is the fool who says there is no God." An atheist is a man who does not reason from causes. Now this is the structure of the human mind, that it is impossible to impress upon a child that his very toy constructed itself accidentally. Surely then a science which has been pursued for thonsands of years, and in which the most stupendous discoveries have lately been made, so as to prove that the heav en ly sys t em i s placed under the dominion of certain laws, by which its har monies are brought about in the desirable manner in which it was the will of the Omnipotent Creator it should be, must possess attractions of no ordinary nature. We are, thei‘ fore, led on to the height and depth of astronomy, which perfectly overwhelm us, but they never ought to confound us: We, therefore, come to this conclusion, that although We ark' trace mechanical dependence amongst matter, we are Mi.: bled, by the modus operandi of our effects, to prove, logicallY, that we can trace these phenomena to mechanical princiPle's, there must be a last step, from which we must pass to the Creator of the World. It is a fair conclusion, that this last almighty cause of all causes, is God, a being whose exist ence—the greatest of all mysteries—is itself, and it alone, the solution of all others. I cannot leave this theatre without acknowledging the great encouragement, and more than flattering attention, which I have received from my nu.' merous audience since the commencement of these lectures. Mr. B. R. Haydon delivers his second lecture to-morrow evening. A report of the first, which was attended by a crowded audience, will appear in our next. LIVERPOOL WOOL SALE. On Friday last, some extensive parcels of wool were brought to auction; amounting to nearly 3,000 bales, of which 1,312 bales consisted of Australian, the remainder East • India, Peruvian, Spanish and Portugal, Smyrna, and various other descriptions. The attendance of buyers, both staplers and manufacturers, was unusually large, almost without pre cedetit, and the bulk of • the parcels offered sold withimods - briskness and at advanced rates, a convincing proof of a healthy state of trade in the various manufacturing districts. • Of the Australian the whole found ready buyers, realising as - under:- 1,008 bales sold per Buchanan and Browne, viz: a. d. s. d. 68 bales unwashed, refuse and locks 1 Ito 1 Si 220 ditto, low clothing and coarse combing 641 ditto, fair clothing, good strong combing, and some lambs 79 ditto, good and fine clothing, and fine combing 2 4to 2 84 1,008 hales, averaging 2s. old. per lb. The other parcels of Australian comprised 304 bales, sold per Mr. Gartside, Messrs. Edwards and Co., and Hughes and Corbett, and brought proportionate rates, as in quality, viz :-30 bales, Is. 2d. to Is. 81yd. ; 173 ditto, Is. 9d. to Is. 110.; and 101 ditto, 2s. to 2s. 2d. per lb. The above prices established an advance on the September sales, in this market, of fully 2d., and in roost instances 3d. per lb.; par ticularly in goo - d strong combing sorts. Of the various other descriptions offered, a fair proportion met with buyers at and after the sale, at good prices; 232 bales of East India *old At sid. to 10d. per lb. (being an advance of lid. per lb...widen the last two months:l 4 50 bales Peruvian brought - Sid. to' n d.; 47 bales Spanish, Is. sd. to 2s. 32d.; 145 bales Puerto:' gal, 11d. to Is. 4d. ; some German, Is. 10d. to 24, &V.l Smvrna, 4td. to 91d.; Italian lambs, 101 d. to 10isl..A n d a few bales Alpaca, 2s. 7d. per lb.—The demand lately for all descriptions of wool has been extensive, the sales considera ble, and the stock is now unusually moderate... " Hannay and Dietrichsen's Almanack, Astronomical Ephemeris, and Book of General Information for 1839. —We are positively at a loss for words to express ourastonishmeat at the unparelleled comprehensiveness of the Alinonick just published by Messrs. Hannay and Dietrichsen, for the:opiu m g year. There is scarcely a subject in the usual routine of events to which we do not rind reference in thisixiekkpf t glip pages, at the insignificant cost of 6d.; a sum which pnestiVslay can little more than cover the price of the paper. The isio: graphical and chronological tables are exceedingly interest.. int:, particularly those for the present 'year. The tides, eclipses, &c. are duly noticed, and the progress of Eneke's comet during the remainder of the rresent year, and Gana bart's in 1839, are traced by diagrams of the heavens. We have the list of the roval households; the House of Lords, giving the titles of the Peers, the family name, the motto of the Peers, and date of creation; 'the House of Commons is given twice, first alphabetically, secondly arranged by the places the members represent;: the whole of the army list, giving the officers' names aphaintically at ranged, (a desidera tum long wanted.) with the dates of commistion, and the ap pointment the officer holds; the navy list is given in like milli ner; the bankers, the provincial and metropolitan; the cor poration dignities; ambassadors and consuls; universities; the list of fairs throughout the kingdom is by far the best ever printed ; and in short, as we have before observed, in formation upon every possible topic of interest is afforded to the public in this most useful pamphlet. Messrs. Hannay and Dictrichsen have certainly put all competition out of the field, for, we should say, it would be impossible for any other firm to produce a similar compilation at five times the cost." —Morning Chronicle, Oct. 28. Published by the Proprietors, and sold at their warehouse, 63, Oxford -street, London; and by all Booksellers and Sta tiogers in the kingdom. In Liverpool, by Smith, 24, Scot land-place. A melancholy accident, we are informed, occurred on Friday evening to the Defiance, London and Exeter coach, by which the driver, Charles Bevan, lost his life, and a lady and gentleman, who were passengers, had each a leg broken. The guard was also considerably injured. It appears that the coach left Exeter about four o'clock in the afternoon ; and, when about 17 miles this side Exeter, the fog became so very dense, that, not withstanding the greatest care on the part of the coachman, who is a steady sober man, the coach got on a bank at tire road side, and was instantly overturned; the driver, passengers, and guard precipitated from 'their seats. The former, who has left a widow and six children; was killed on the spot. The coach did not arrive in town till about five hours after its usual time.—Obserrer; The Publicateor des Cotes du Nord relates with perfect ea vity the following story :—" A young woman lived for six years with a mistress, whom she left twelve months ago. The mistress died about a month since, but, it appears, retained even after death her confidence in her former servant; for the ghost of the deceased was constantly attendant upon the girl day and night, urging her to make a pilgrimage on her knees from her residence at Lanvollen, through Guingarnp, to Bulat, and return back barefooted to tie church of Notre Dame at Guingamp. Having communicated this imperative coMmand from the other world to the children of the de funct, and obtained the necessary supply of money, the girl set out early in the morning of the 20th ult.., attended by two women, and at seven o'clock passed through Guingamp,. on her knees, io ezecutiou of her pious undertaking -••-•