The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-12-30 00:00:00

mily, entitled ring care, r Sir :meet oi II this fee , ' hey will learn vretched an ll l ave to ca it udignatiou good Ai 'wb ich good, yes the evil-- vords to our town. for a large Tort, whir , a esty of 011 ! mance. 11 e fly; arid we r desertion 01 d, worthY , e are at tile , i undred ana tl id way - )se who nol the Ton 3 were Pre )f the Jong" Cook-street. vhorn the se !omplY with s confer a° nd healltD f ) n lost, abt ne d Th o , o so much a )een enggete,, e j, conwl nil carriet be dead 1" day. on of th e b e i ;sin, case St.'Arid"llls his bed , j his wife th e eldest oin k , tll Id be thr any furthe !ti to be, ° a l ; L 1 ingeffii°,e, d of E`,l r , essage, n the nog° b e ,acnen•lll in 'll a ce r fbe ed Pre e % found vil'e n.--Duna J 4 Y • c i rcu late sta ble Pair ts , i nd wcua a i r :ed at tP e „ 5 1 q uest_i°ii , je begi e presua l, on that ge tS 9 31cg eld oc ietY their ci icing 00: wit h tb B ! i t all tinl " gilts of th e and tun e ; . lanY l e 1y gratin ro d J° l / 1 1 m I lic e e - c ° re ur h t e r 90. ious eve,is telling h i s him o I f re d, Icsasseecibie i admirabl? ocessiow, blic sco u i t o twoto orr s suPPI• 0 ted . 9 3 ,, 1 to 1,7,- 1 s:cheq u,r , ,d sectu., which 1,, the swot 1, ' i s hard l Y in red to of e e Sta partie s , e Active porter 40 to Dan ish, pa" • )„ wed" 'dene e ' ) rsh, a nd - ackages' vas more partie u t a ni nc o e :o : I a C ar, , 1 dealer s, f . c hests s ware: iNfeE s° ' it for . 3 kind 11 ' ' r anes tY ) eing i n es, it 01.5., Nnv YEAR'S DAY.—In compliance with the Apostolic Invitation to united prayer, for the:outpouring of the Holy Spirit, issued by the Rev. H. Stewart, we understand that a special service will take place at St. Bride's, when, as usual, the sacrament will be administered, and the other directions recommended in the Invitation will be complied with. NARROW ESCAPE. — On Wednesday morning last, as sonic workmen were engaged in sinking a cellar kitchen for a house recently erected, in George's Road, near Newsham House. the whole of the back exterior wall came down with a tremendous crash. The men had just sufficient inti mation of their approaching danger to enable them to make their escape. The remainder of the building is now kept standing by means of props, but we fear the damage is very considerable. GRAND BALL IN AID OF TILE LADIES' CHARITY. — The annual ball in aid of the funds of the Ladies' Charity took place last evening, in the Town-hall. About SOO were present, amongst whom were comprised many of the first families in the town and neighbourhood. Dancing com menced shortly after nine o'clock, to the lively strains of Ilorabin's quadrille band ; and at the period when we were obliged to go to press, " the light, fantastic toe" was still being tripped with unabated spirit. Joliffe's band was sta tioned in the vestibule, and performed many marches, over tures, &c. as the company was introduced. - - - - DOCK COMMITTEE.—YESTERDAY.—Present : Messrs. Sands, Horsfall, Barclay, Holt, Holmes, Smith, Moore, Molyneux, Nicol, Royden, Tobin, Shand, 13ulley, Ripley, Evans, Moore. Wilson Dunlop, a dock-gateman, was ap pointed to assist the dock -master in working Clarence Graving-docks, at a salary of 235. per week. A letter from the agent of the Mostyn steam-packet, complaining that only twenty minutes are allowed for the loading and discharging of the vessel at St. George's Pier-head, was directed to be sent to the Town-clerk. The receipts at Runcorn during the month were stated to be £36 15s. 3d. The chairman said he had received a communication from the American Consul, with regard to the plan of charging the tonnage of American vessels. After some conversation on the subject, the treasurer, Mr. Withers, was called in, and informed the committee that precisely the same plan was adopted in mea suring foreign as in measuring British vessels. SUSPICIOUS POSSESSION OF A BILL.—At the Police- Court, yesterday, a short thickset man, apparently a sailor, named John Smith, was placed at the bar, on a charge of having suspicious possession of a bill for £ ll6 and odd, drawn on the late highly respectable firm of Messrs Wildes, Pick ersgill, and Co., of this town, who have been succeeded by Messrs. Fielding Brothers. It appears that Messrs. Wilde and Co.'s office had some time ago been broken open, and amongst some other articles taken were several bills, including the present one. The prisoner had on Wednesday gone to a man who appeared as a witness and showing him the bill, had got some directions to Messrs. Fielding's office, to which he went in a state of intoxication, and peremptorily demanded payment. The bill, however, was of no value, as the amount had been paid. He was given into custody with a view to detect the robbery, but there was no evidence to show how he had become possessed of it. Mr. Rushton fined him ss. for being drunk, telling him lie was bound to say where he got it. He said he had come from New York by the Garrick (which was denied by Messrs. Fielding's clerk, who had made en quiry), and that he would tell who the man was from whom he had got it. As, however, he was entitled to his release on paying the fine, nothing more was seen of him in the court. SUNDAY TRADlNG.—Yesterday, at the Police-court, Mr. Weaver, sexton of St. Matthias's Church, and a gentleman named Mather, appeared before Mr. Rushton to prefer in formations against several parties for trading or selling articles on Sunday—contrary (we believe) ;to an act known as " The Sabbath Day Act." The first offender brought up was William Kehoe, who was charged with selling penny papers. The defendant said that he bad only sold a few Sunday papers, and that it was useless in him to keep open his shop at all unless he were allowed to sell on that day. The vending being proved, Mr. Rushton said that he had no power to mitigate the penalty, and accordingly imposed a fine of ss.—John Dunn was next called, for exposing fruit and vegetables opposite his dwelling. Mr. Rushton enquired of the informants whether they had seized the articles. The reply was, that they had not, but they had applied to Mr. Whitty, chief constable, from whom they produced a note in reply. Mr. Rushton read the note, which, he stated, was to the effect that he (Mr. W.) had not the power, in his own opinion, to seize them without the authority of a magistrate ; but he (Mr. Rushton) knew that Mr. W. had such power; and if the goods had been brought into that court, they were liable, on proof of exposure for sale on a Sunday, to be for feited, and sold for the benefit of the poor of the parish. He (Mr. R.) was sorry that the goods of poor individuals should be forfeited ; but if they were so brought, he must administer the law. No seizure having taken place, this case was dis missed.—Robt. Hampson and Patrick Scallon, small dealers, were next charged with selling, on Sunday, various kinds of goods. The sale being proved, they were each fined 55.—J. Shepherd,Vauxhall-road, was then charged with selling books and papers of various descriptions, and the sale was proved. Defendant said he should like to know the object of these information ? Mr. Rushton said it was no doubt to put down Sunday trading. The defendant enquired if it were not for the share of :the fine ; for as there were a great many common informers abroad, people in business ought to look about them. Mr. Rushton said that was not the case in the present instance. One informant was a churchwarden and the other a sexton. The defendant said that papers were allowed by the government to be sold in London on Sunday. Mr. Rushton replied that it was uo doubt the object of the informants to put down that system, which they considered to be an infringement of the law. The defendant then said he had carried on business for ten years, and it was strange that he had never before been interfered with; besides, he dealt in nothing that he conceived to be injurious to the public morals. Mr. Rushton replied to this that the law as it stood was that no Sunday trading whataver should be carried on ; and he thought it would be better that it should be carried out without !partiality, as all would be then on a like footing, and no one would be individually injured. But if the Rectors or Churchwardens required their officers to enforce the law, he was bound to abide it, and if generally enforced there would be an end of all F , l:llday trading. In doing so, however, he was of opinion that the complaining Parties might he led further than they were aware of. The defendant said that he received Sunday papers from London, Dublin, and other towns, which he could sell on no other day with advantage. He had no objection to observe the hours of Divine service by closing his shop ; but he was de termined to open on Sunday, summon him as they pleased. He added that he might as well pay another ss. for next Sunday, as he was a rich man, and might as well save the time required in attending the court next week. Mr. Rush ton of course met this improper tender by stating that he had no power to enforce or receive the tine prematurely. Another person was then brought up for exposing fruit, &e. for sale ; but as the goods had not been seized (under the requirements of the Act) the case was dismissed. THEATRE ROYAL The engagement of Mrs. and Mr. Charles Kean has proved highly attractive. The house has been very well and fashionably attended dining this week. " The Game ster," Mr. Sheridan Knowles' last newelay of " The Rose of Arragon," Mr. Knowles' play of " Love," " The Stranger," with the new pantomime, have proved magnets sufficiently potent to draw the public into the " royal pro perty." " The Rose of Arragon," although possessing an ingenious plot and occasional bursts of fine language, we do not reckon as one of the best of Mr. Knowles' productions. It is long and somewhat heavy, and was made still more so by the intolerable time the audience were kept waiting between the acts. Mrs. Charles Kean's Olivia is a chaste and beautiful performance. Her acting throughout was replete with that grace, feeling, and pathos that have ever distinguished her, and placed her as the leading actress of the day. She appears somewhat thinner than when last here. In Mr. Charles Kean there is a great change—he seems to have toned down with an un. sparing hand all those clap-traps in which he was wont once to luxuriate. We noticed the absence of those starts, strut tings, and sudden alterations of voice, that no doubt told with the audience, but which were unnatural : he has, in fact, " reformed them altogether." There is a higher quality about slr. Kean's acting than we ever expected to see—not that we detract from his merits, which are great, but that we say he has adopted, or somebody else has suggested, improve ments most palpable in his style. His Alasco was full enough of fire and energy to mark the proud Spanish peasant without being over done. His Hoon, in " Love," on Wednesday night, was ex tremely clever. Of Mrs. Kean's Countess of Eppenstein we have often spoken. It is like everything else she plays — the perfection of histrionic art. Miss Gardner's Catherine quite surprised us. As a singer she is acknowledged to be one of the sweetest we have had for long, permanently connected with the theatre. Miss Gardner is an excellent musician, and understands well her art, but singers are not expected to be good actresses as well, and the instances of their ability, " out of their line," are rare. Miss Gardner has proved that she may lay claim to being one of them—for her acting in this instance constantly drew forth very marked tokens of approbation. She made every line tell ; lost not a point where one could he made ; and in the scene where she ap pears as a page, her archness and vivacity were most amu sing, and she was warmly applauded at its co nclusion. Without question Miss Gardner's Catherine is the best that has been seen at this theatre since the play was produced. The pantomime of Baron Munchausen is an admirable one ; the tricks and changes are all new, and apply to the local as well as the general topics of the day—for instance, mesmerism, the corn-laws, hydropathy, the tariff, the Chi nese war, hullabolooisra, and other novelties, that draw money from John Bull's pockets. Some novel effects are Produced ; one particularly excites surprise, where the scene falls down flat on the stage, and exhibits the harbour of Hong Kong, very beautifully and correctly painted. The introduction is amusing, in which Baron Munchausen is made the medium of introducing the comic business on the stage. The " Baron bold" is extremely well acted by Mr. L. S. Thompson ; Mr. Jonas's Pantaloon is really the clown of the piece, Mr. Paulo being about the worst representative of this character we ever saw. He appears to possess neither life, spirit, nor fun. Mr. and Mrs. Schmidt make a good Harlequin and Columbine—the dress of the former is a remarkably handsome one. The pantomime is got up with great care, and there is a considerable display of ingenuity in it. Some of the scenery is very beautiful. Amongst the best tricks are the " Weighing of the Sovereigns," " The man with the growing leg," " The hvdropathic cure," "The !irtist's chamber of magic pictures , " &c. Th is p roduction is quite equal to last year's—which was admitted to be the best of the season, either in or out of the metropolis. The Keans take their benefit to-night, playing Benedict . and Beatrice, in " Much ado about Nothing." LITERARY CURIOSITY In the first number of the Liverpool Magazine (for Janu ary of the coming year), we find the following specimen of literary trifling. The author, Mr. James Scott Walker, concludes an alliterative epistle to the editor of the magazine 1 0 these words :—" You will remark that the rigmarole is really in rhyme, but it is neither right nor reasonable to "Peet, in a writer so restrained, right rhyme and right rea s°ll.' Nevertheless, I hereby challenge any poet, poetaster, or pet of the petticoats, pedant or pedagogue, in the parish, to prove his pre-eminence in producing a parallel piece, per taining to poesy, so playful and so pointed." GREAT BRITAIN AN ALLITERATIVE ACROSTIC IZEAT-BRITAIN ! glorious, gallant, generous, good ; II espeeted round remotest regions rude; -11 E nlightened, envied, energy-endued; A liens and allies, all award alone o thee Truth's tribute—triumph to thy throne 1 ritannia! braving battle, billow, breeze ; etrieving rights repriss'd, restores, refrees: iidustrious, indomitable isle! T by treasures te'; !by thriving trade; thy toil : rts, arms, achic% ,ments—Albion's ardent aim, Insult incenses. injuries inflame; lit numbers, nine-fold nervous, note thy noble name ! [The only slip (if it may be so called) from perfect allite ration thro ug h ou t is the use of the pronoun thy in the last line, which appears to have been unavoidable from the pau city of words in the English language commencing with the letter n. —En. STAN D• 3 A Young French lady, said to be worth " £lOO,OOO ster- L ug;" advertises in the Parisian papers her desire to marry aq English nobleman. The intrinsic value of such a lady, without her money bags, is something less than a farthing. ADJOURNED MEETING OF THE TOWN COUNCIL The adjourned meeting of the town-council was held at eleven o'clock on Wednesday, in the council chamber of the Town-hall. The MAYOR presided. GARDENS ' COMMITTEE The DEPUTY TOWN-CLERK read the proceedings of this committee ; from which it appeared that Mr. Isaac Holmes had been appointed chairman. COURT OF REQUESTS' COMMITTEE. From the proceedings of this committee, it appeared that - Cattrell, assistant clerk to the treasurer of the Court of Requests, had been dismissed for the misappropriation of certain monies in his possession. There were F. ixty-two can didates for the vacant situation, whose testimonials were carefully examined, and the number reduced to six. The committee recommended that Thomas Ashbrook be appointed to the office, at a salary of ;£llO per annum, on condition of his finding security in the sum of £2OO, and not to be di rectly or indirectly concerned in private business. On the motion of Mr. COOPER, seconded by Mr. J. B. LLOYD, the appointment of Mr. Ashbrook was confirmed. cnuncu EXPENDITURE COMMITTEE. The proceedings of this committee comprised only the appointment of Mr. William Birkett as chairman. TOWN-HALL ESTABLISHMENT COMMITTEE The DEPUTY TOWN-CLERK read the proceedings of !this committee. It appeared that the committee had left the appointment of porter in the Town-hall (in the place of Robert Hurley, dismissed for misconduct) at the disposal of the Mayor. The MAYoR stated, that he had appointed a person of the name of John Jones, who was formerly in the police force, to the office of porter. He mentioned this circumstance because the appointment bad not, as yet, come before the committee.—The proceedings were confirmed. OBSERVATORY COMMITTEE. The Observatory Committee, it appeared, had re-appointed Mr. James Aikin their chairman. HEALTH OF TOWN COMMITTEE The DEPUTY TOWN-CLERK read the proceedings of this committee, from which it appeared that Mr. James Aspinall had been appointed chairman, and Mr. Birkett deputy chair man. The proceedings detailed several acts, on the part of the committee, under the new law with reference to the erection of cottage property in different parts of the town. The surveyor, it further appeared, had been requested by the committee to report whether, in his opinion, the two district surveyors would be adequate to the duties of inspection under the new act ; and his report being in the affirmative, as their present duties would be lightened, the committee had ap pointed thew, without any recommendation for increased salaries. Mr. BIRKETT said, that in the absence of the chairman of the committee, he had been requested to move the confirma tion of the proceedings, and in doing .so, he should make a few observations. The committee had proceeded, in the first place, in the carrying out of their duties, to direct the town clerk to placard the walls of the town as extensively as lie could with the regulations imposed by the new act upon parties about to build; and, in the next place, to provide that, at the small cost of sixpence, every one interested in building might have a copy of the act itself. The committee had, since then, given an opinion—which he believed they were not bound to• do, but which they were willing to take upon themselves for the general benefit of the inhabitants ; namely, that if the parties about to build would submit to them two copies of their plans, the committee would then give the sanction of their opinion. The committee could not allow or disallow any thing except in conformity or other wise with the act; but if parties would submit their plans to them, the committee would, under the advice of the town clerk, give their opinion whether or not those plans were in conformity with the act. This course, he thought, would be found to do away with much of the objection to the act. In the course of his engagements with this committee, he had had occasion to notice, in conjunction with Mr. Lace, the great improvement which had, of late, taken place in the construction of dwellings for the poor. The new act, he thought, would be a very great benefit to the town. With regard to old property, the committee hoped it would be found that, by this act, the council had delivered the owners of that description of property from the great burden of the Marquis of Normanby's bill, which would have been in many instances injurious to their property ; the committee earnestly hoped, therefore, that the owners of that property would save them the trouble of doing that which they were determined to do, firmly but temperately, to carry out the act by flagging and paving courts. The committee had desired the district surveyors to enforce these regulations upon all parties, without respect ; and, at the same time, the committee were determined to carry out the regulations with regard to old property; for if they did not, it would be a fraud upon parliament, which, in this act, had given Liver pool an exemption from the more stringent clauses in Lord Normanby's bill. He moved the confirmation of the pro ceedings. Mr. COOPER seconded the motion, and it was carried. PAID OFFICERS' COMMITTEE—STATEMENTS OF THE TOWN-CLERK, THE DEPUTY TOWN-CLERK, AND THE CLERK OF COMMITTEES. Mr. J. B. LLOYD, as chairman of the Paid Officers' Com mittee, said the committee thought the more convenient plan would be for the council to receive the remarks of the com mittee upon the statements of the town-clerk, the deputy town-clerk, and the clerk of committees, which had been printed on Saturday, for the convenience of the members of the council. It was only on Saturday that the statements had passed the committee, or else it would have been more in order that the remarks of the committee, together with their resolutions, should have been, in accordance with the standing orders, deposited in the office of the clerk of com mittees. Time, however, had not been allowed for that. Tile committee had sat day by day in order to bring up the report, so that the council must come to some conclusion, for it was most important to all the departments, that a speedy settlement should take place. If the council would permit him, he would read the remarks of the committee upon the officers' statements which had been printed. By the sum mons paper, it appe , red that the statements of the town clerk, the deputy town-clerk and the clerk of committees, would be read and taken into consideration ; now they could not be taken into consideration, except in connection with the report. Perhaps, therefore, the remarks of the com mittee should be first read. Mr. LACE suggested that the council should first hear the wishes of the town-clerk and the deputy town-clerk. Mr. LLOYD admitted that their statements must first be read ; and the remarks of the committee thereon would fol low. Mr. HORNDY presumed it was not the intention of the chairman of the Paid Officers' Committee to press the coun cil to a decision, either by receiving the report, or the adoption of the plan suggested by the Town-clerk and other officers. He conceived that as the standing orders had not been ad hered to by which members of the council were entitled to see, two days before the meeting, what was to be brought be fore them, it would not be correct to come to a decision upon such a very important question to-day. The council were not at all aware of what the proceedings of the Paid Officers' Committee had been since their last report; in fact, all they knew was the substance of the statements of the officers. Mr. BIRKETT thought it would be very desirable for the chairman to make the committee's statement, and for the officers to make theirs, in order that the council might see how the matter stood. He candidly confessed that he was not, at present, in a position to give an opinion upon the subject one way or the other. He understood from one party that the report recommended an exceedingly large amount of salary ; and, on the other hand, he had been told by the committee that it did no such thing—on the contrary, that there would be a saving. On these grounds he wished to hear the chairman of the committee first. Mr. Nicol. inquired where this was to end. First, there was a report of the Paid Officers' Committee, then an answer from the officers ; next they were to have a rejoinder to that reply, and, in all appearance, the Paid Officers' Committee would wish to make their comments on that, it appeared to him something like a chancery suit, in which the Council were to have a paper communication from the parties every month respectively. Was this reply to the statements of the Town-clerk and the Deputy Town-clerk to be the last? Was the Council now to come to a decision ? The MAYOR said it was impossible for the Council to form an opinion on that point until they had heard the statements. Mr. Nicol. asked whether the standing orders defined or limited such a proceeding? Sir Tiros. BRANCKER and Mr. LLOYD apprehended that the statements of the officers should be first read. The TOWN-CLERK said it was only necessary to refer to the order of the council to see at once the correct course of pro ceeding. He then read the resolution of the 19th October, directing the officers to make their statements upon the re port of the Paid Officers' Committee. From this he consi dered that the straightforward course would be, first to read the statements of the officers, made through the committee, which had been printed. With regard to any rejoinder on the remarks of the committee, he should hope that nothing of that kind would be necessary ; they would take place in council, and save any further trouble on the part of the Paid Officers' Committee. After a few words from G. 11. LAWRENCE and Mr. LLOYD, it was arranged that the officers' statements should be read in the first instance. The DEPUTY TOWN-CLERK then read the statements, which occupied considerably more than half an hour. The document commenced with a general introduction, stating, that the statements of the Town-clerk, the Deputy Town clerk, and Clerk of Committees, were made in compliance with a resolution passed in the council of the 19th October last, to the effect that the first report of the committee was to be taken into consideration at a future day, and that in the meantime the above-named fdrictionaries, with the Serjeant at Mace, were to state their views in writing upon the portions of the report which referred to them, with any suggestions for the improvement of their respective depart ments. It then proceeded with the TOWN-CLERE ' S STATEMENT This set out by giving extracts from the report of the Paid Officers' Committee, presented to the council of the 27th February, 1836, setting forth the future functions of the Town-clerk and Deputy Town-clerk. The resolution of the council of the 4th March, 1836, appointing Mr. Radcliffe Town-clerk, Registrar of the Borough Court, and Clerk of the Peace, during good behaviour, with £2,000 a year as hi s sole emoluments, the fees of his offices, deducting clerks' salaries and office expenses, to go to the borough fund, was also set forth, followed by some details as to the mode in which the arrangement was subsequently effected. The state ment next alluded to the appointment of Mr. Shuttleworth as Deputy Town-clerk, on the sth of May, 1841, when a division of duties between the Town-clerk and Deputy Town-clerk was declared by the council. " On this division," it was observed in the statement, " and certain important improvements on it, recommended by the present committee, the Town-clerk founds his suggestions for the scheme of establishment intended to be submitted by this statement to the council." The Town-clerk recurring to the report submitted first some explanation touching that portion of it which refers to the Recorder, observing that the assistance of a special clerk to the Recorder had been discontinued, the clerk at the desk being able to render him the requisite assistance, and that the refreshments at the sessions had been on the most moderate scale. The statement next referred to the Town-clerk's depart ment. In allusion to the observations in the report on the various offices in this department, it was set forth in the statement that the Town-clerk is not responsible for all the officers comprised in the report, as for instance the clerk of committees (except as to the repository), or his clerk ; or for the sub-bailiffs beyond a vigilant supervision of them. Touching the want of system and arrangement, the state ment refers to the subsequent declaration in the report that the establishment of clerks is and has been insufficient for the great weight of business continually pressing. The state ment set forth the great changes and increase of business since the passing of the Municipal Act, principals being now daily compelled to discharge duties that ought to he dele gated, while sudden exigences requiring immediate attention prevented satisfactory system or arrangement. It was the opinion of the Town-clerk, given merely to show the extent of business that the whole duties of the offices held by him and the Deputy Town-clerk would, if paid by fees, so far as fees are now payable, and by the usual professional charges for the rest, amount to not less than £9OOO per annum, after all deductions for clerks or otherwise. As regarded the portion of the report on the increase of salaries, the statement showed from the return of the Trea surer, that the increase in the cost of Town-clerk, Clerk of the Peace, Deputy Town-clerk, and Prosecuting Solicitor and their clerks in seven years was, including an addition of £lOO a-year to Mr. Shuttleworth's salary, £75 145., the lowest annual amount being that of 1836, £3,588 Bs., and the highest that of 1842, (which - includes Mr. Shuttleworth's additional £lOO per annum,') £3,633 12s. The amount of fees from the Borough Court for the year ending 31st July, 1842, was £960 16s. Sd. The system of receiving was continued from the times of former Town clerks. The receipt of the fees was confined to the Deputy Registrar and Mr. Tyson. Sin , e, the 11th July last the names of the parties have been entered w . ta the fees, but this ha:: required the assistance of a❑ extra- eierk, who, tiniii , 4ll gen e rally one of the apprentices, could be ill afforded. Tile system to some extent retards the business of the court, but the proposed increase of the establishment would enable the Town-clerk, he expects, to do away with this objection and to improve the check. The fees were entered in the Town-clerk's cash book un der a resolution of the council, and were posted into an official book kept exclusively for the fees account, and both the summary and the several particulars duly indorsed, were delivered to the Treasurer without being called for. In the Public Office and that of the Clerk of the Peace, there could not, in many cases, front the nature of the business, be any check beyond original entries. Refreshments have been allowed to clerks only when they were detained till a late hour. . The Town-clerk confirmed the opinion expressed in the report on the illegality of the present arrangement for the custody of the charters, deeds, muniments and records of the corporation, he (the Town-clerk) being the legal custodier. Opinions were given as to the inexpediency of allowing per sons to inspect deeds without the express order of the Town clerk, and of the convenience which would ensue from the legal arrangement in consequence of the privileges of the custodier and the Deputy Town-clerk, as attorneys, of with holding evidence or disclosures touching the contents of such deeds. The Clerk of Committees and Surveyor would have every possible facility in obtaining every necessary informa tion. _ As regards the registering of leases, the statement simply set forth that " this undoubtedly belongs to the Town-clerk's department." In reference to a doubt expressed in the report as to the legal compatibility of the offices of Town-clerk and Clerk of the Peace, the statement contained arguments to prove that the junction of those offices is strictly in accordance with the Municipal Act. On the extra expenses on account of prosecutions and the impediments to the general business of the Town-hall, the Town-clerk looked forward to the proposed increase in the establishment for the prevention of any future inconvenience of the kind adverted to. The Town-clerk concurs generally with the report on the subject of paying salaries in lieu of fees, and the appropria tion of the latter. The Town-clerk nest, in his statement, addressed him self to the scheme of the establishment. The Town-clerk proposed various qualifications upon the scheme of division of duties approved by the Council on the appointment of the Deputy Town-clerk, most of which qualifications belonged to the scheme of the committee. Preserving the principle of Town-clerk and Deputy Town-clerk, and the relation of senior and junior partner, but with separate establishments and every practicable division of duty, he would cheerfully accept the scheme of the committee. 'rile increasing business of the Borough Court requires an v 'int to the Town-clerk as Registrar, who must have an interior clerk, both of whom are to make the duties of the above office paramount, but to hold the rest of their time at the disposal of the Town-clerk for the Corporation. In lieu of salaries of £2OO and 00, proposed by the committee, the Town-clerk urged £250 and £lOO. For the engrossing clerks small increases to the salaries proposed by the com mittee were recommended. The Town-clerk submitted that the appointments, as well as dismissals, in the several departments of himself and the Deputy Town-clerk, should rest with themselves respectively, subject to the approval of the Council as to salaries. The statement concluded with some observations on the salaries and fees of the Crier at the Sessions, Sub-Bailiffs. The Town-clerk suggested that the Watch Committee might justly require the pay of their constables while employed as summoning officers to he made a charge upon the courts. The statement of the Town-clerk on the Sergeant-at-Mace and his Bailiffs, the Crier of the Borough Court, and the Mace Bearer, stand over, as the committee have directed cases for the opinion of counsel on these offices. DEPUTY TOWN-CLERK ' S STATEMENT, The Deputy Town-clerk's statement opened by a reference to the following passage in the report :—" The amount of bills of costs for leases come through the Deputy Town clerk's department, in as unsatisfactory a manner as the above-named fees to Mr. Tyson." The statement is, that the charges for leases are fixed. Since July last the charges have been received by Mr. R. Radcliffe, jun., and paid over weekly to Mr. Tyson. On the alleged mixture of duties between Mr. Hughes and Mr. Tyson, of which the report gave details, Mr. Shuttleworth remarks that the business has been confused by the clerks. The system of paying wit nesses by orders on Mr. Tyson was introduced by Mr. Shut tleworth's predecessor as a check, but Mr. S. has introduced one as efficient which does not call upon Mr. Tyson to in terfere out of his department. Mr. Shuttleworth then re fers to his report to the committee in September last, in which he set forth his opinion that a principal, in order to prevent delay, to be prepared to act on emergency and to superintend with efficiency, should be relieved from detail. The inquiries of the committee, he observes, will have satis fied them that, with the present limited assistance, these ar rangements are impracticable in his department, The divi sion of duties between him and the Town-clerk, approved by the council, he confirms the Town-clerk in saying, has been strictly observed, with a cordiality wholly uninterrupt ed, and his statement sets forth a long detail of its advan tages, and expresses his opinion that the system is the best that can be devised. The establishment of clerks for each office should, however, be complete, their duties clearly de fined, and to those duties they should be exclusively directed. The salary of his principal clerk, he submitted, should be £3OO instead of £2OO per annum, and he recommended that of the engrossing and copying clerks to be £7B per annum instead of £65. With these alterations the establishment would, he believed, enable him to discharge the duties of his department in a manner satisfactory to the council and the public. STATEMENT OF THE CLERK OF COMMITTEES. Mr. Okill's statement set forth that, with an experience of twenty-eight years, he had adopted in his office that sys tem which he conceived best adapted to insure a correct management of the landed estate of the corporation, and to afford all requisite facilities to the various lessees. He res pectfully stated that he could not suggest any improvement in the present plan. The statement showed that the necessi ty of assistance had been acknowledged by the vote of £l2O for the services of his son. The increase of business conse quent on the Municipal Act, led to the appointment of a permanent assistant in the office, and he submitted that the extent of business since then transacted had justified the ap pointment. Mr. Okill thought it is duty to state that he had every reason to be satisfied with the zeal and assiduity of Mr. Abbott since his appointment. He (Mr. Okill) had never presumed to have the custody of the deeds, muniments, &c., of the corporation, but the management of the Repository under the late and present Town-clerk had remained with him since his appointment, and it had ever been his study to render that management complete and useful. After showing on what his experience is founded, Mr. Okill con cludes by saying that the resolutions of former councils have led him to suppose he has been successful in his endeavours, and he trusts the council may never experience any change in his faithful and diligent exertions in their service Mr. LLOYD said the course would now be for him to make his remarks upon the report of the Committee, and the state ments of the officers ; but it would be more convenient for the council to have those remarks in writing than to make them in the shape of a speech. He would now ask the coun cil to allow those remarks to be read ; after which the whole subject might either be postponed, or he would at once pro ceed to move the resolutions which the committee bad agreed to. After some desultory discussion, it was agreed that the document should be read with the view of giving the council further information. It set forth the general concurrence between the views of the Town-clerk and those of the com mittee, and then proceeded to remark on the statements in order. The decision of the committee as regards the Recorder was, that copies of depositions may be furnished to the Recorder in special cases, and that refreshments at the Borough Ses sions he done away with. Under the head " Increase in Salaries," the Town-clerk omitted the amounts for extra work simply referring to fixed salaries. As to the fees, the committee say that the Treasurer could not have been aware that the particulars were delivered to him " or certain replies (quoted) would not have been made ' by him." Touching the custody of charters, &c., the committee say, " After the opinions given by the Town-clerk, the council cannot longer withhold the custody of the deeds which the provisions of the Municipal Act ass►gns solely to him." The committee have requested the Town•clerk to take counsel's opinion as to the co►npatability of his office with that of Clerk of the Peace. The committee recommended that power should be obtained, the first opportunity, to pay the clerk of the Peace a salary in lieu of fees. The only difference between the scheme of establishment proposed by the Town-clerk and the Deputy and that of the committee, consists in the former maintaining the relation of Town-clerk and Deputy, and the proposed increase of the salaries. _ • The committee, after stating their reasons for their former proposal to separate the two offices, recommended the adop tion of the Town-clerk's and Deputy Town clerk's scheme, with the following exceptions as to the increase of salaries The Deputy Town-clerk's salary to be £9OO instead of £l,OOO, and two other clerks £lOO instead of £l3O, and £BO instead of :.£9O. The statement of the Clerk of Committees, the committee observed, contains much which comes not within the inquiry. The committee repeat that there was no clerk to the Clerk of Committees previous to 1836, and the statement admits that no formal appointment was ever made. The committee fear that the law w ill view "custody" and management as the same. The Town-clerk has a duplicate key to the repo sitory, but the Clerk of Committees locks the outer office door, of which the Town-clerk has no duplicate key. What follows on this subject expresses the resolve of the com mittee to comply with the act, and give the custody of the muniments to thr Town-clerk. With the proposed establishments for the Town-clerk and Deputy Town•clerk, the committee consider there will not be any necessity for a clerk to the Clerk of Committees. The Clerk of Committees can have a separate office, and attend such committees as he does at present, and give such information as he is enabled to give respecting the estates of the Corporation. The salary now paid to the Clerk of Corn mittees is, in the opinion of the committee, too high for the duties performed in the absence of all legal responsibility. As an alteration is proposed in the giving the custody of the muniments to the Town-clerk, the apportionment of the duties and salaries are to be considered, and a recommenda tion made to the Council. _ _ _ . . . The remainder of the report from the Bth to the 14th sheet inclusive, relates entirely to Mr. Abbott. The document takes a review of the proceedings on the appointment of the clerk to the Clerk of Committees. The first resolution on the subject was the confirmation, on the 16th March, of a report of the paid officers' committee of that day, which re commended the appointment of such clerk, he not being al lowed to do any business on his own account. This led to the statement that Mr. Abbott had carried on business as a law-stationer in the face of the resolution of the council, passed in 1836. It was not till the receipt of Mr. Abbott's letter, of the 12th of October last, that the committee were made acquainted of the appointment of Mr. Abbott by the Finance Committee of the 22nd April, 1836. The resolution appointed Mr. Abbott at a salary of £l5O per annum ; his hours of attendance to be from nine o'clock in the morning till live o'clock in the afternoon, and later when the work of the office required it, but to be allowed to carry on his busi ness as a law-stationer, the same not interfering with his exclusive personal attendance during the prescribed hours. " It does not appear," the document went on to state, " that the resolution of the Finance Committee has been attended to, if the words ' attendance from nine o'clock in the morn ing till five o'clock in the afternoon, and later whenever the work of the office may require it, are to convey that Mr. Abbott was not to be paid for extra work in the Clerk of Committees' Office." Here followed a number of items paid to Mr. Abbott for extra work in Mr. Okill's office. The document proceeded with some explanations on the statement of Mr. Abbott's letter touching the subject of his taking half the fee from the poll-clerks supplied by him, giving an extract from Mr. Abbott's evidence before the • committee. Mr. BIIeKETT begged to ask the chairman of the Paid Officers' Committee one questiob. In the first report of that committee it was stated that if their recommendations were adopted the public would have their business done much more satisfactorily, and there would be a saving of £5OO per annum. If the business of the town was not sufficiently well attended to, he (Mr. Birkett) would not object to an extra £5OO per annum; but if the plan of the committee would save that sum, they should not only be thanked, but have a piece of plate. He had been told, however, that there would be an additional charge of £l,OOO ; and on these grounds he wanted more information. Mr. AIKI2 , suggested that some plan of proceeding should be adopted before the subject was fully taken into conside- ration. Mr. lIORNBY said he should think it his duty to move that all these proceedings should be considered at a future day. Sufficient time lnid not been given for the considera tion of a matter of such great impoi tanee. Mr. HonGsoN thought it would be inexpedient to press the whole matter at that moment ; but it would be well if questions were asked by way of eliciting information. After much desultory and unimportant discussion upon the mode of proceeding, it was agreed that Mr. Lloyd should be allowed to read the resolutions. He did so, and the fol lowing is a copy of them :- 1. Resolved,—That, copies of depositions be furnished by. the Clerk of the Peace to the Recorder in such special cases as he may request. 2. Resolved,—That, all refreshments, now provided at the charge of the Borough Fund for the Quarter Sessions and Borough Court, be discontinued. 3. Resolved,—That, on taking into consideration the state ments of the Town-clerk and Deputy Town-clerk submit!ing a scheme of establishment, upon the principle of Town-clerk and Deputy Town-clerk, that this council do approve of such scheme, subject to the following alterations in the salaries thereby proposed. Viz. :—That, the salary of the clerk, No. 4, in the scheme, be £lOO instead of £l3O. That, the salary of the clerk, No. 6, be £BO instead of £9O. That, the salary of the Deputy Town-clerk and Prosecuting Solicitor, be £9OO instead of .1:1000. And, that, subject to such alterations, the Town-clerk and Deputy Town-clerk and Prosecuting Solicitor, do severally proceed with the requisite appointments in their respective departments. 4. Resolved,—That, in all such appointments, it be a clear understanding distinctly expressed, and by every clerk or assistant agreed to, that he shall not directly, or indirectly, carry on or assist in any private business, or employment, whatever. 5. Resolved,—That, the provision of the Municipal Act with reference to the charge and custody of the charters, deeds, and muniments be carried out, and that the pro tections, advised by the Town-clerk, in his statement, ought to be observed. 6. Resolved,—That, as recommended by the committee in their report, the sum of £165 2s. 4d. be paid to Mr. Thomas Tyson for his extra services stated in that report. 7. Resolved,—That, on the establishments of the Town clerk, and Deputy Town-clerk and Prosecuting Solicitor being formed, the clerk to the clerk of committees will not be any longer required, and the Town-clerk is directed to make the arrangements for the change accordingly. The MAYOR said, there could be no doubt that each of these resolutions would involve a separate discussion. Mr. EvANsisaid, that now the resolutions had been read, he hoped time would be given for their consideration. There were many new members who were but imperfectly acquaint ed with the subject, and he mentioned Mr. Blackburn as an instance, and there were others who, not believing that resolutions would be definitely put that day, were not in attendance. He (Mr. Evans) had not had time to consider the subject as he wished. They had received the state ments but a short time before, and he had made marginal notes on his copy, but he wished to carefully collate and compare the statements with the report, to which they con stantly referred. Mr. LACE said, if the statements of the Town-clerk and the Deputy Town-clerk had varied very materially from the report of the Paid Officers' Committee, that would have been a good reason for adjournment; but there was scarcely any difference between the two. The report had been a long time before the council, and they were competent to go into it now. The MAYOR intimated, that before Mr. Hornby could move the amendment lie had spoken to, Mr. Lloyd must move his resolutions. Mr. LLOYD said, he would, then, propose the first of the resolutions. They were all founded upon the report of the committee. He would also say, that it was most important that the establishments of the Town-clerk, the Deputy Town-clerk, and the Prosecuting Solicitor should be made at once complete, according to the scheme. Ile now moved the first resolution, "'That copies of the depositions be furnished, by the Clerk of the Peace, to the Recorder in such special cases as he may renuest." Mr. KILSHAW seconded the motion. Mr. HORNBY said he had no objection to the resolution, nor had he any to the scheme generally, but he was not pre pared to press it in all its integrity. He thought it incum bent on him, as a former member of the Finance Committee, to state that that committee had long been aware of the ir regularity of the Town-clerk's department, arising from ineffective assistance ; and the only reason that had caused delay in the application of the remedy was the increased expense that it would occasion. In the last year or two the business in both offices had greatly increased. After offering reasons to show that more consideration was necessary, Mr. Hornby moved, as an amendment, that the resolutions and written statement be printed and circulated amongst the members of the council, and taken into consideration next Wednesday week. Mr. EARLE seconded the motion, urging that he had not the smallest conception of the subject being intended to be considered that day. Mr. BIRKETT opposed the adjournment ; and asked whether, if he voted for the first resolution, he was not thereby pledged to vote for the others ? (Cries of " no.") Mr. Honcsosz was in favour of delay. The TOWN-CLERK stated that an adjournment might be moved upon any of the resolutions. Such was the practice of the Ilouse of Commons. The council then divided, when there appeared— For the amendment. Against it Mr. SAMUEL HOLME re-entered the room just as his name was called ; and the question having been explained to him, he said he should vote for the adjournment, as he was entirely unacquainted with the subject. Mr. LLOYD having again read the resolution, Mr. AIKIN was opposed to this proposition, because it would be virtually withholding from the Recorder deposi tions which had been heretofore at his service. The great objects of the existing system was to secure the ends of jus tice ; and if it was proposed to withhold them on the score of the small expense occasioned thereby, it would be false economy. As an amendment he would move that the de positions be furnished as heretofore. Mr. H. HOLMES seconded the amendment. Sir T. BRANCKER inquired what was the cost ? Mr. H. HOLMES said it was only about £6. Mr. LLOYD said it amounted to about £5O a year, which, although small, involved a principle. It was quite right that the Recorder should see the depositions, but it should be the originals and not a special copy. Why should the Recorder have a privilege which the judges of the land had not ? Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE understood that the Recorder had the original depositions sent to him. 'What was the reason he had not? The DEPUTY TOWN-CLERK replied, that, by Act of Parliament, the clerks to the magistrates were bound to fur nish prisoners with copies of the depositions against them, if required. If the originals were furnished to the Recorder it would be impracticable to furnish copies to prisoners. Mr. LACE inquired whether the Recorder had not time to look at the originals when he came to Liverpool ? The DEPUTY TOWN-CLERK.—Certainly, except perhaps in some special cases. Mr. LLOYD remembered the time when the Recorder used to come to Liverpool on the Saturday previous to the Sessions, and go to Church on the Sunday ; but now he came on the Monday morning, from Lancaster, and he had no time to read over the depositions. Mr. EVANS said, this was a question which did not affect the Recorder only, but the public. A judge ought to be well informed of every thing on which he was to pass his judg ment ; but it seemed that, if the Recorder was to have these copies furnished to him, there must be more out-door work. Mr. LLOYD.—No, no. Mr. EVANS hoped that the professional gentlemen present would look at the question as one affecting the well adminis tration of justice, and afford every necessary facility ; but he had not as yet made up his mind. Mr. LLOYD said gentlemen should be made aware of what these depositions were for. The depositions were in the hands of the Judge for the purpose of testing the accuracy of witnesses, who might prevaricate materially from the evi dence they had given before the magistrate. There had been individuals, however, who had tried prisoners on the deposi tions taken before the magistrates, instead of on the evidence brought to the jury, and in one case, a Judge had, in sum ming up against a man, having used depositions, and not taken a single note of his trial, included the testimony of a witness who was dead! (Laughter.) Mr. G. 11. LAWRENCE hoped the chairman of the Paid Officers' Committee did not mean to say there had been any such practice in Liverpool. Mr. LLOYD said such things had been talked about. The Recorder ought to come as formerly, and not put the cor poration to the expense of £5O a-year to send copies of the depositions to him at Lancester. Mr. AIKIN hoped the practice would not be deviated from. Public justice required its continuance, as the Recorder was aged, and required some attention to his comfort. He should press his amendment. Mr. LACE thought the Recorder was more likely to get confused than otherwise by the copies being furnished to him. If the Recorder was at that time of life when be could not go on without them, it was time for him to resign. If the judges of the land had not the depositions before the day of trial, the Recorder should be put on the same footing. Mr. Anus said, he should like to know whether it had not been the practice from time immemorial for the Recorder to have this assistance ? Sir THOMAS BRANCKER said, it was not the practice when he had anything to do with the Quarter Sessions. It was the Recorder's duty to try the prisoners upon the evi dence before him. The Town CLERK said the present practice had originated in 1836.7 and not before. The total cost last year was £4B 17s. Sd. Mr. LACE said it was not to the amount, but to the prin ciple, that he objected. Mr. G. 11. LAWRENCE enquired whether the Secretary of State could not compel them to send the depositions ? The TOWN-CLERK said certainly not: they were not compelled to send them at all. The Judges did sometimes ask, but rather as a favour, to be furnished with copies, in special cases. His statement had been made with reference to making the case of Recorder conformable with that of the superior Judges. Mr. AIKIN said the feelings of the Council were so mani festly against him that he should withdraw the amendment. The resolution was then adopted. Mr. LLOYD now moved the second resolution to the effect that all refreshments be discontinued. Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE : Except in such special cases as they may be required (Laughter). Mr. KILSICAW seconded the resolution. Mr. BIRKETT—Does that include the Alderman's Court ? The MAYOR.—NO. Mr. EARLE.—What Alderman's Court ? The MAYOR.—On the first of November, do you mean? Mr. BIRKETT.—Yes. Mr. EARLE.—Really it must not go before the public that any alderman ever had refreshments at the expense of the corporation. Mr. BIRKETT.—But it must if it is so. Mr. EARLE.—I beg to say that I have had refreshments at my own expense, but not at the expense of the corpora tion. Mr. HORNBY.—No refreshments ever have been allowed to the aldermen. Mr. BIRKETT.—I beg to ask the chairman of the Finance Committee whether we were not called upon for a bill of £l6 lately for refreshments ? Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE.--We were, but we did not pay it. (Laughter.) Mr. EVANS.—I have been seven years an alderman, and I know nothing of such entertainments. Mr. TURNER.—Whatever I have had, I have paid for out of my own pocket. The conversation then dropped, and the resolution was carried. Mr. LLOYD then moved, and Mr. KILSHAW seconded the third resolution. Mr. EVANS opposed it on the ground that the subject re quired the previous consideration of the Finance Committee, and he proposed an amendment to that effect. Mr. liacsis: said, he should be sorry to be an advocate of delay, but be thought sufficient deference had not been paid to the younger members of the council. He would for one thing object to the reduction of Mr. Shuttleworth's salary. If the matter were pressed forward in this way he felt placed 1 in a very awkward position, and it would be impossible for him to give an intelligent vote. Mr. BLACKBURN said ditto to Mr. Holtne. He was not a member of the council when the subject was first brought forward, and he had only recently seen the report. He had not had time to form an opinion that would enable him to give a vote. Mr. THOMPSON said he bad only got a copy of the report on the preceeding night, and he had not yet had time to peruse it. Mr. BRAMLEY-MOORE said, the new members ought to have got the report before, and made themselves acquainted with the subject. Mr. EARLE thought, on the contrary, that the committee ought to have shown the courtesy to the new members, of sending them copies of the report. Mr. EARLE thought. after the statements of Messrs. Holme, Blackburn, and Thompson, it would not be justice to those gentlemen and others to proceed. It was ultimately decided, that the subject should be taken up at a special meeting of the council, which must according to law, be called next Monday for the appointment of certain annual officers. ENROLMENT OF INDENTURES. An application to allow, under special circumstances, the enrolment of the indentures of apprenticeship of John Birch, Hornsby Billinge, and Nathaniel Bethel Thomas, was re ferred to the Finance Committee. THE LANDING STEPS, PIERS, &C. The MAvoa presented a memorial from the ferry-boat pro prietors of Birkenhead, Woodside, &c., complaining of the obstruction occasioned to parties landing, by the porters, fruit-sellers, newsvenders, and others, who thrust themselves on board the ferry-boats, and endanger the passengers, three of whom had recently been pushed into the water by these intruders. Mr. AMIN suggested the appointment of a committee on the subject, as heretofore. Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE said, the Finance Committee were doing all they could to improve the landing-places. They had expended a large sum on the Seacombe landing-place, and would have to proceed to make similar improvements in the other landing-places. Mr. PARKER said, the foundation of the evil was with the ferry-boat proprietors themselves, who caused individuals to have to pass from one boat to another by a single plank. Nothing would satisfy the Cheshire people, if they were to spend half the corporate estate upon them. They were un reasonable to a degree. There had already been too much done for them. Mr. EARLE said, there was no occasion for any display of jealousy. The landing-places required better regulation. Mr. HOLME and other members bore witness to the jostling, &c., that takes place at the steps. Mr. Holme said these places were a disgrace to the town. He dreaded taking his family over the water. Mr_ NORTH supported Mr. Aikin's proposition for a com mittee. He thought a committee of the council could not be more usefully employed than in regulating the landing places. As the proposition could not be entertained without notice, the subject was dropped, and the memorial was referred to the Watch Committee. WIDENING OF COOK-STREET. The following memorials were read on the subject of widening Cook-street : " To the Mayor, Aldermen, and Councillors, of the borough of Liverpool in Council assembled. " The memorial of the undersigned proprietors of offices, land, and buildings, on the south side of Cook-street, in Liverpool, " Sheweth,—That upon the purchase of the property which your memorialists hold on the south side of Cook-street, under the Corporation of Liverpool, there was an under standing, or expectation held out to your memorialists, or those under whom they claim their respective propel ties, that the street should be improved and widened ai the upper end ; and on the reliance on such improvement being made, a large price was given for the property in question, and con siderable sums of money have been expended upon it ; but, that instead of any improvement having hitherto been made, large and lofty buildings have been erected in the narrowest part of the street. Your memorialists, however, observe that the hotel and buildings, formerly the Queen's Arms Hotel, and the carriage-houses and stables attached to it, which belong to the Corporation of Liverpool, are now un tenanted, and, consequently, that an opportunity is now pre sented to take down a portion of the hotel, buildings, &c., and to widen the north side of the said street. Your memo rialists, therefore, respectfully pray that you will cause mea sures to be immediately adopted, so that the archway leading into Castle-street may be removed, and the whole of the upper end of Cook-street, on the north side, may be made wide and commodious. " Liverpool, 301/4 December, 1842." [This memorial was signed by Mr. Edward Crudgington, Mr. H. Brooke, and Mr. Thomas Avison.] " To the Worshipful the Mayor of Liverpool. " SIR, — We, the undersigned, carrying on business and interested in property in Castle-street, North John. street, and the immediate neighbourhood, respectfully request you to bring the subject of the improvement of Cook-street be fore the town council. We observe that the Queen's Arms Hotel is now in the possession of the corporation, and we hope the council will now widen Cook-street, to the width of the part already improved, nearest to North John-street, which would be a great convenience and advantage to our part of the town, and to the inhabitants in general. " Liverpool, 131li December, 1842." [Signed by 39 merchants and tradesmen.] Both memorials were referred to the Finance Committee MAYOR'S COMMUNICATIONS. The MAYOR read an application from the officers of the Court of Requests, praying that top-coats might be allowed to them.—Referred to the Court of Requests' Committee. A complaint from Mr. William Jones, of a nuisance in 13acl: Seel-street, was referred to the Finance Committee. , An application from Bickersteth for a license as a marine-store dealer was referred to the Finance Committee. Applications from several parties for the situation of in spector of hackney-coaches and collector of lines, were re ferred to the Finance Committee. A memorial from Mr. G. C. Beckett, passenger-broker, praying for an investigation into a decision of the Commis sioner of the Court of Requests, was ordered to lie on the table. The MAYOR stated that he had received several anony mous communications, which, of course, could not he no ticed. One was a printed paper, on " the cause and evil effects of the standard price of gold being fixed at £3 17s 10d. per ounce." It was headed " The mystery of England's misery revealed." Another communication was si ! , ned " A British Merchant," suggesting meetings to be held all over the kingdom to petition the Queen to prohibit the growth of opium throughout all her dominions. Both were ordered to lie on the table. The MAYOR entered into some explanations, showing that he had no power to order a public holiday on the 2Gth inst. (Monday last). ALTERATION OF A STANDING ORDER. Mr. Li.ovn u brought Tor;alr4l;following motion, of which notice had been given : " That it be declared by the council, that the standing order, No. 26, shall not extend to any case which shall be within standing order No. 36." Mr. HouNnY opposed the motion, but after a short dis cussion it was carried by a majority of 11 to 12. The council separated at three o'clock. THE CENSUS FOR 1841 The following is an official statement of the population of Liverpool and the adjoining Townships : Liverpool Increase since 1831 Everton Increase since 1831 Kirkdale Increase since 1831 West Derby MALES. 108,641 31,998 3,816 FEMALES 114,359 25,784 5,405 TOTAL. 223,003 57,782 9,221 860 .... 1,706 5,504 .... 9,760 Toxteth Park Increase since 1831 7,639 .... 1,529 .... 16,168 Thus showing the population of Liverpool and the suburbs to be 286,487, exclusive of the seamen belonging to the port, who may be estimated at about 12,000. Number of Inhabited Houses in Liverpoo Uninhabited Houses Building 32,079 971 469 33,519 Increase since 1831-7912. Number of Inhabited Houses in Everton 1,680 Uninhabited Houses Building 139 Number of Inliabifed Houses in Kirkdale Uninhabited Houses Building Increase since 1831:-30-1 Number of Inhabited Houses in West Derby 1,742 Uninhabited Houses Building.... Number of Inhabited Houses in Toxteth Park 6,738 Uninhabited Houses Building 327 Increase since 1831-2,5% 45,392 ON THE LATE ACCIDENT TO TILE DUKE OF WELLINGTON. BRITANNIA watched, with growing dread, While Wellington on Partridge fed ; " Ye Powers !" she cried, " shall Valour's own His exit owe to flesh or Gone ?" But firm remained the Hero's heart — He never fear'd a Bony-part. Shrewshnry J. W. B TERRIFIC AFFRAY WITH POACHERS. — On Saturday last, four men named George Rawlinson, Richard Rawlinson, John Stockton, and William Dawson, were charged at the county court, before Dr. Penny and several other magistrates, with being out armed in the pursuit of game, on lands be longing to the Marquis of Westminster, on the previous Sa turday morning ; and also with violently assaulting the keep ers. It appeared from the evidence, that on Saturday morn- Mg, the 17th instant, four keepers belonging to the Marquis of Westminster, named William Hurst, jun., Charles Dry land, James Morgan, and William Roberts, were on the look out on the preserves belonging to the Marquis of Westmin ster, at Sour Butts, 'near Churton, by Aldford ; and about two o'clock a disturbance amongst the pheasants gave inti mation that they were being disturbed by poachers. In the course of a few minutes afterwards, they came suddenly upon five poachers, four of whom were the men whose names we have given above, and the fifth is not yet in custody. All the poachers, except one, were armed with guns,—the pri soner, William Rawlinson, carrying a pitch-fork. On see ing the poachers, the keepers of course hailed them ; when the former presented their gulls, and warned them to stand off at their peril. The keepers then desired the poachers not to fire, adding that as both parties were armed, if a shot were fired, it would be returned, and lives would be lost. After a good deal of manoeuvring, the poachers retired from the pre serves into an adjoining field, being still followed by the keep ers, when William Hurst suddenly sprang at George Raw lison, and threw him down. The latter immediately called to his mates to come to his aid, when one of them stepped forward and aimed a tremendous blow with a musket at Hurst, but which, happily, did not take effect. Both parties then closed, and a terrific combat ensued—man to man— which continued until the keepers were severely beaten and overpowered. During the struggle, Dryland and o'ne of the poachers had a severe fight in a ditch, and while they were both prostrate, William Rawlinson assaulted Dryland with a pitch-fork, and beat him until he became nearly insensible. The keepers now finding themselves defeated, were on the point of retiring, when they heard one of their antagonists say--" Let us follow them, and give them more;"—they at tempted to do so, when Hurst fired at the poachers, and one of them fell. The poachers no w retired in their turn, leaving the wounded man behind them ; and after the keepers had seen them clear away, they returned to pick him up, and hav ing conveyed him to the Kennels, he was there treated with the utmost kindness. Information of the affray was imme diately given to Mr. Stewardson, high constable of Broxton, and he, w ith the assistanee of Thomas Parkinson, of Farn don, and William Moor, of Christleton, succeeded in appre hending Rawlinson, Dawson, and Stockton, by Tuesday morning. Both the keepers and watchers were very severely beaten. After the evidence had been heard, the prisoners were fully committed for trial.—Chester Courant. UNITED STATES. The Royal Mail Steamer Columbia arrived at this port, yesterday morning, at one o'clock, after an extremely quick passage of only 10 days lfg : hours, from Halifax to Liver pool. We have received New lock papers to the 13th in stant, being eight days later than those brought by the packet-ship Independence. The Columbia left Halifax on the 18th, at half-past two, p.m., and, an hour afterwards, saw the Britannia steam-ship on her way to the port. The Columbia has brought an unusually heavy mail, having on board the Canada mail missed by the Acadia. About one half of the present month's mail was lost in coining down the St. Lawrence. The steamer has brought home from Canada a soldier under sentence of transportation for life, for having shot his sergeant. We subjoin an abstract of the log and the list of passengers. There is little intelligence of general interest. The ques tion of " Who is to be the next President ?" is agitated with considerable earnestness. A new Candidate, (General Cass,) who looks for the support of the republican party, is started in opposition to Clay and Van Buren, and all the papers are occupied with the subject. The Courier and Enquirer, which supports Mr. Clay, states, that General Cass is the only party who can be looked upon as a dangerous party to Mr. Van Buren. . • There was but slight alteratio❑ in the markets. A mo derate business was doing in stocks. But little had been done in exchange. The rate of premium was 6to 61 per cent. on England, and sf. 45c. to sf. 4.3'.1c. on Paris. Flour was dull, Canal being quoted at 4 dollars 94 cents to 5 dollars. Cotton was not in demand, and prices had a tendency down wards. . . The Canada papers do not contain any news of import ance. Sir Charles Bacot was still in a precarious condition, and the New York Herald says that little hope was enter tained of his recovery. His disease is stated to be an en largement of the heart. The same paper says that the death of the honourable gentleman would be deeply deplored, in consequence of the great liberality of his administration. It was expected in Canada that in the event of Sir Charles's death, or retirement in consequence of ill health, (which was strongly recommended,) Lord Elliott would succeed him. Navigation throughout the Canadian provinces was sus pended. Large quantities of snow had fallen. The latest advices from Campeachy state that a pitched battle had taken place between the Yucaticos and the Mexi cans, in which the former had completely beaten the Mexi can forces, and the latter were said to be suffering considera bly by desertion and want of provisions. The loss of the Mexicans in killed and wounded was 200, and that of the Yucaticos 150. The Indian allies of Yucatican are said to have fought with great bravery. The Mexican army was de creasing rapidly ; their loss from death and desertions amounted to over 500 since their landing at Champoton. Two American schooners, laden with grain and flour, had been captured in entering the poi t by the Mexican fleet. The army of Yucatan was over 6000 strong, and was receiving daily reinforcements from the interior. The enemy asked a capitulation, which was peremptorily denied. The " natives" hoisted a red flag, and expressed their determination to resist the invading force, or perish in the attempt. The Mexican Consul at New Orleans had given notice that the port of La guna had been opened for foreign commerce, while that of Campeachy was closed. During the blockade of the port of Campeachy the naval force of Mexico would not allow any vessel to enter the said port ; and should any vessel attempt to do so, she would ha captured and sent to some port in Mexico, to be tried for violating international law. All ves sels bound for Laguna were to provide themselves with mani fests and bills of lading, attested by the Consul at New Or leans, according to the revenue laws of Mexico. The latest accounts from Texas were not of much importance. Gene ral Woll, the Mexican General, had been driven beyond the Rio Grande, and there were Texians enough in the field to keep him at bay. As the entire Mexican navy were engaged in bombarding Campeachy no attack had been made upon Galveston. The Texan navy had met with the loss of the schooner San Antonio, and the remaining vessels belonging to that service were shut up in New Orleans for want of funds. The steam frigate Montezuma, built in England for Sauna Anna, is probably at Vera Cruz ere this.—She was at St. Thomas on the 22d tilt. Accounts had been received of a hostile movement on the - - - part of the authorities of Cuba against the Island of St. Do mingo. A correspondent of the New Orleans Bee, writing in Havana, under date of the 26th ult., furnishes the follow ing particulars :—" A Spanish schooner, which arrived in our port on the 14th instant, has brought us unexpected and unfortunate intelligence. The Haitians have captured two Spanish ships. from Santander, laden with flour—without, . _ it is said, injuring the crew, who were taken with the prize to St. Domingo. The negroes declare that they were driven to this act of piracy by famine, and that they were perishing of hunger, as the late earthquake had destroyed everything they possessed. It appears that the blacks were in command of a ship, and numbered from fifty to sixty men. As soon as the government, became officially informed of these events, the armed steamship Congress was despatched to St. Do mingo, followed by the frigate Isabel 11. and several smaller vessels." The local journals say little on the subject, but it was said that preparations were making on a terrific scale for acting against the blacks and making reprisals, as the Governor of Cuba was determined on vengeance. The news from Brazil is to the 29th of October. In Bahia and Pernambuco there had been more conflicts between the rebels and the imperial troops. In Rio Grande the rebellion was active, and a battle was expected between the revolters and government troops. It is stated in the Journal of the 231 d, that the British consul at Rio had informed the Board of Commerce, that the treaty between Brazil and Great Britain would remain in full force till the 10th of November, 1844. Peru, whence the news is to the 16th October, was ha rassed by seditious bodies of troops under the rebel Aidal. The chief of the nation had marched against him with the determination of bringing matters to an issue. The treaty of peace between Peru and Bolivia had been ratified, and a treaty with Ecuador would follow. Mr. Braham and his son were still at New York giving concerts, but it was expected they would leave for the South in a few days Rumours were in circulation at New York from Wash ington, that the Hon. J. C. Calhoun was to proceed to England, on a luission based upon the late movements of Gcn. Duff Green, in relation to a reciprocal treaty between the States, France, and Great Britain, • The Packet Ship, Virginian, sailed from New York for Liverpool, at noon, on the 13th instant. Mr. Woodworth the author of several volumes of songs, comedies, and miscelleneous pieces, died about the middle of November. Considerable anxiety was felt as to the operation of the llankrnpt law, i:i conscquenct of fears that Congress might repeat the law before they could have time to take the benefit of the Act. ABSTRACT OF THE LOG Dec. 16. Wind W. at 2 30. p. m. slipped moorings and proceeded to sea—moderate breezes and fair weather. 17. Wind N. distance 196 miles, lat. 43. 09, lon 66. 39-- fresh breezes, and cloudy. 18. Wind S.W. at 10 a.m. arrived at Halifax,—morning thick weather, with snow—afternoon light winds and clear —2 30 p.m. started for Liverpool-3 30, saw the Britannia. 19. Wind N.W. distance 205 miles, lat. 44.48. lon. 58.57 fresh breezes and cloudy weather. 20. Wind W.N.W. distance 216 miles, lat. 15.09. lon. 53. —53. strong gales and cloudy, with a heavy sea. 21. Wind W.N.W. distance 240 miles, lat. 45.56, lon 48. —l4. strong, breezes and cloudy, with a heavy sea. 22. Wind N.E. and S.E. distance 223 miles, lat. 46 43, lon. 43—steady breezes and clear. 23. Wind S.S.W. distance 240 miles, lat, 47.14, lon 37.17. fresh breezes; with a heavy northerly swell. 24. Wind W. distance 218 miles, lat, 48.52, lon, 31,33 — moderate breezes. 25. Wind W.S.W. distance 255 miles, lat. 49. 41, lon. 25. 10—strong breezes and squally. 26. Wind N.N.W. distance 266 miles, lat. 50. 18, lon. 18. 22, strong breezes and squally, with showers of hail and a very heavy sea. 27. Wind N.W. distance 255 miles, lat. 5L 14, lon. 11. 42 —strong breezes with a heavy beam sea. 28. Wind N.N.W. running up Channel—light breezes and clear. _ - 22. At 1, a.m. arrived at Liverpool LIST OF PASSENGERS From Boston to HaYax.—Messrs. T. B. Smith, Botsford, Chandler, Jordan, Cobb, and Edw. Cunard, jun. From Boston to Liverpool.—Messrs. E. Corrie, Wood maney, William Booth, Walter Colquhoun, J. Brailsford, G. 13. lronside ' William Rowe, Murdock, James Owen, A. Currilleive, James Gilmore, J. M'Ktnnon, F. G. Moun tain, W. E. Logan, G. B. Tymes, H. Allen, and Edward Fairelough. From Halifax to Liverpool.—Captain Rooper, and Mr Robert Pow. We are enabled to state that the King of Prussia has con sented to become the arbitrator between France and England upon the difficult and long-contested subject of the Por tendic claims.—Standard. THANKSGIVING IN MASSACHUSETTS.—This day was a great day in Massachusetts. It is estimated that at least 200 marriages took place between sunrise and sunset. In the single town of Ware nine weddings came off.—New York Herald. THE TEA. TRADE, Dec. 2G.—The deliveries of tea laat week were 316,7601 b, The market is flat, and since this day week prices have fallen Id. to 2d. per lb., owing to the further public sales which have taken place, besides more being aunounced for next month. NAVIGATION OF THE BALTIC. — The number of ships that passed the Sound in November was—from the Baltic, 704 ; from the North Sea, 241. Of these the English were 12, from the North, and 323 from the Baltic, or 335 out of 1,005, or one-third of the whole. STRANGE TALE.—Some few months ago one of our townsmen left for America, in company with his wife. After having set foot on the Eldorado of the went they found to their unspeakable disappointment, that they had travelled far without mending matters. They tramped over a great part of America, till they were reduced to ask charity from passing strangers. One day the husband asked charity of a black gentleman, who, instead of giving bins any, offered him 250 dollars for his wife. The offer was refused by the husband with becoming indignation. The wife immediately turned to him, and said, in an under tone, " Thou fool, take t' brass, let me go, and then I'll come to thee." Entering into the spirit of the dodge, he pocketed the money, and bade farewell to his wife, with the understanding that she would return to him directly. Three days afterwards he saw his wife in her carriage, attended by black servants, and had an interview with her. She told him to go home and think no more about her, as she had found a good shop and was determined to keep it. She still remains under the influence of the black gentleman, and the disconsolate hus band returned to our town last week to tell his own misera ble tale, and to exhibit himself as a living proof of the trea chery and inconstauay of woman.—Leeds paper. Additional accounts from Alexandria of the 7th instant state that the mortality among the cattle still continued, and it was calculated that upwards of 200,000 oxen had already died. The Pasha and his son experienced the greatest diffi culty in ploughing and sowing the lands, and were obliged to employ for that purpose their own horses, those of the cavalry and artillery, and a number of camels. Mehemet Ali, on that occasion, caused a chief, named Shell Beled, to be de capitated for neglect of duty, and Ibrahim treated with similar rigour several of his stewards who had not attended to his instructions. On the 28th ult., an artilleryman be longing to the garrison of Aboukir was removed to the Lazaretto of Alexandria, where he soon died of plague. Three other soldiers of the same regiment having been like wise taken ill, were placed in quarentine, and commissioners were sent to Aboukir to inquire into the nature of their malady. The sanatory regulations were enforced w ith ex treme rigour. The officers of the Lazaretto and hospital being ordered to remain constantly at their posts and not communicate with the city, the latter had all resigned their situations. The Russian sanatory commission sent from Odessa, under the direction of M. Wartsblio, was still at Alexandria. They intended to try the exPeriment of puri fyin, goods and merchandise by means of heat. Pestiferous articles were to be exposed, in rooms or stores, to different degrees of temperature, and, after remaining there a certain time, they were to be placed on individuals in order to ascer tain if this process had been effective in destroying the con tagion. The Russian Consul, it appears, intended to ask Mehemet Ali, on his return, to allow the commissioners to make the experiment on some capital convicts. A rich coal mine had been discovered near Cosseir. CORRESPONDENCE. TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOT, STAkDARD SIR, — Mr. Rushton having, in reply to a note addressed to him by me respecting the proceedings in the Liverpool Police-court on Monday the 19th instant, in the case of Sergeant-Major Whitebread, stated as follows :—" I have therefore to inform you that I did not pronounce you guilty, but that I advised Sergeant Whitebread to tell the whole truth to his superior officers ; and that I merely repeated a portion of the evidence given by the officer and sergeant examined." Now, as this Aatement goes far to impugn the correctness of your reporter as to the most offensive portion. of the language imputed by him to Mr. Rushton, and as the remarks attributed to that magistrate is calculated to inflict the most serious injury on my future prospects, it is incum bent on me to ascertain whether your reporter is or is not satisfied with the correctness of his notes. The bearer will wait an answer. _ I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient servant, JAMES HOPE Lancaster Castle, 213th Dec., 1842 [We had not an opportunity. and if we bad we should not have availed ourselves of it, of giving a verbal reply to the above note from Adjutant Hope. We do not see that the passaga here given from Mr. Rushton's note at all im pugns, but rather that it confirms, the correctness of our report. As to the remarks of Mr. Rushton inflicting " the most serious injury" to the future prospects of Ad jutant Hope—with that we have nothing to do. The case was correctly reported; and if Adjutant Hope feels ag grieved at its publication, however unfortunate it may be for him, we cannot help it.] [Yesterday (Thursday) we received the following addi tional note from Adjutant Hope : Sir,—As the injury done to my character by the statement of the Liverpool Police-court procedings, in the case of Ser geant-Major Whitebread on the 19th instant, has been GREAT BEYOND WHAT language can express, I beg to remark that nothing can possibly repair that injury but the most full and explicit acknowledgement of the error on the part of the Po lice-court, and yourself can remove it. I have been informed that Sergeant Christian denies the language imputed to him, written correctly or not, is best known to those who were present at his examination. I remain, sir, your most obedient servant, JAMES HOPE. 28th December. 1812. [We do not exactly comprehend what Adjutant Hope here demands, and we are inclined to think that he scarcely knows himself. But if he means to require us to acknowledge some error, which he neither specifies nor shews to have been committed by us, we can only say he has mistaken our character. We repeat that our report of the case against Sergeant Whitbread was correct in every part. As to Sergeant Christian denying " the language imputed to him," we ha his ipsissima verba.] TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD, perceive that the Dock Committee have appro priated berths for the American liners in the Waterloo Dock, which, no doubt, will rive great satisfaction to a large majority of those concerned in the American trade. Now this appears a fit time for a rendezvous to be appointed for the pilot-boats in port, instead of having them scattered over two or three miles in length of dock space, as at present—a great inconvenience in this extended port when a boat ar rives in thick weather or in the dark at one end, and the next in tarn to go out lies at the other end of the docks. This oc ahout high water, the probable consequence is a turn is lost ; sometimes more, when two or three boats arrive together by the crew or crews of another boat or boats being aware of the arrival or arrivals before a messenger could ar rive at the boat whose turn it was to proceed to the station, and when he did arrive, perhaps, the tide had fallen so much that he found her shut up in dock until the next tide. The superintendent appointed by the Pilot Committee remedies this irregularity in some degree by ordering the boat waiting, and first upon the turn, to cast her anchor in the river. This plan is not without its evils ; a storm may come on, parti cularly at this season—or she may be run foul of by another vessel in the crowded stream before her turn to proceed to sea arrives. To avoid such evils, and perhaps perfect the im proved regulations of the Pilot Committee, nothing more is requisite than that a dock, having the advantage of locks in the gut, be selected for a rendezvous for all the pilot-beats in port. This, or something similar, would be a great boon to the crews of the boats, and relieve them from the necessity of being cooped up on the river, and the apprentices from a great deal of duty they are now subject to while waiting the arrival of the boat that is to give notice to weigh the anchor. If you can spare a corner or any part of your valuable paper for in serting this, you will much oblige an admirer of REGULARITY. 27th December, 18-12. DARING ACT. TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD, It is a prominent feature in the English character to seize every opportunity for rewarding any act of intrepidity or daring, especially when such an act has been the means of preserving human life. _ _ _ I am induced to make these remarks from having per ceived the mention of a testimonial presented lately to a gentleman of the name of Pyke, for saving the life, most probably, of a female who had fallen into the river, but at all events for having risked his own by rescuing her from her perilous position. Without at all wishing to derogate from this instance of coolness and courage, or in the remotest degree to disparage such meritorious conduct, it is somewhat singular that a case involving greater danger, and followed by severe suffering, should be totally , neglected—in fact, so far as remuneration is concerned, entirely overlooked. I allude to a circumstance which occurred, about four years since, near the Zoological Gardens, when a person of the name of Mayman, observing a bear (which had escaped from the gardens) making towards a child, rushed between them. The infant was gallantly borne off, and deposited in safety by its intrepid deliverer. He, however, was seized by the animal, and dreadfully bitten and lacerated in several places, first in the hip, then in the arms. The struggle throughout was terrific. Mayman, however, being a man of nerve and power, when the animal relinquished his grasp there, still continued the conflict, until, weak with loss of blood, and no assistance being rendered, he was overpowered by his ferocious opponent, dragged by the hair of his head across the street, and, but for the interposition of the Great Disposer of Events, must have inevitably perished. Notwithstanding this man, I may say this hero's fearless conduct, over and above the actual expences paid by Mr. Atkins for professional advice and medicine, not a sixpence has be received in the shape of reward. It is a trite but good old adage, " better late than never"; and, though some time has now elapsed since the occurrence, knowing, as I do, that Mayman was in so precarious a state for five weeks as not to be able to raise his head from his pillow, and was not the same man for twelve months after, circumscribed as my means are, my mite towards a remem brance of his heroism shall not be wanting. ____ . Yours, &c., ADMIRALS [The hero whose intrepidity is justly eulogised in the pre ceding letter now occupies the public-house in front of the Zoological Gardens.] TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. SlR,—Permit me to offer one or two observations in reply to a letter contained in your last publication, and purporting to have been written by `• A Lover of Fairplay." Your correspondent speaks in a tone of utter contempt of the few subscribers who are opposed to the retention of the brass tire-guard in the Lyceum Newsroom ; denounces the objectors as a " set of old gentlemen ;" is particularly un ceremonious in his treatment of one of their number, whom lie consistently represents as " quietly sleeping" all day be fore the fire, and yet as disturbing the subscribers by his " eructations ;" and appears, in short, judging from his letter, to have arrived at the very comfortable conclusion that he is " to have all his own way" in reference to the sub ject lie writes on. Now, will your correspondent patiently submit to be informed by me why I do not think his expects • tions, in this respect, at all likely to be realized? In the first place, the parties who have objected to the fire guard are not, as your correspondent would insinuate, few in number ; and an inspection of our petition, now lying for signature at the rooms, will at once convince him that the names of those subscribing it (including those of Mr. Isaac ' Holmes, the Rev. E. Spencer, and a host of others of equal respectability) cannot fail to carry considerable weight with them. If our opponents be really numerous and influential, as is asserted, why do they not, without delay, originate a counter petition, and invite the attention of the committee to its prayer ? The reason, I think, must be obvious to the understanding of every one—they are conscious of their in ability to procure an adequate number of signatures. The paucity of their numbers is attested by the tact, that while the local press, on all sides, has been literally assailed with communications demanding the removal of the fire-guard, they have been compelled to content themselves with thii puny protest, and the tardily advanced arguments preferred by your correspondent in your paper of Tuesday last. Your insertion of these observations in your next publica tion will greatly oblige, sir, your obedient servant, A LOVER OF TRUTH. P.S.—The assertion that " nine-tenths of the subscribers" are in favour of the guards, will at once appear so palpably incorrect to any one acquainted with the actual circumstances of the case, that I shall not do more than simply contradict it here. December 29th, 1842. A SHREWD REPLY.—Sir Walter Scott says that the alleged origin of the invention of cards produced one of the shrewdest replies he bad ever heard given in evidence. It was made by the late Dr. Gregory, at Edinburgh, to a coun sel of great eminence at the Scottish bar. The doctor's testimony went to prove the insanity of the party whose mental capacity was the point at issue. On a crow interro gation, he admitted that the person in question played admirably at whist. " And do you seriously say, doctor, said the learned counsel, " that a person having a superior capacity for a game so difficult, and which requires, in a pre eminent degree, memory, jmdgment, and combination, can be at the same time deranged in his understanding ?" 4' I am no card player," said the doctor, with great address, " but I have read in history that cards were invented for the amusement of an insane king." The consequences o f tnis reply were decisive. DONE FOR."—A wag, a few years since, procured sonic eye-wash of a quack oculist in this city, to be app lied glass-eye which he wore. The oculist, not being ver y sharp sighted, discovered there was some defect in the e y e, but to a thought it was so trifling that he warranted a c ure or no pay. The wag took the wash and departed. Ina week or so after wardsan dy in he returned with th e emp ty phial, great distress. "0, doctor, doctor !" s aid he "app r end stuff has wholly destroyed my e v e !" a t the same time opening the lids of the empty socket with h i s finger, to the horror of the the eye tinker. knew my medicine to gasping oculist. "Is it possible? can it be possible." ex claimed so before. Well, rey„ 4, I n ever .ope ratedearsir, I can do nothing less than return you your money. " But you must more, sir. What is five dollars to I will coni pared with the loss of an eye ?" f v be ll will give me 200 dollars I will s' replied the wag. a pledge never to " j " ;:you ; hut if you do not, . ex il ie and you are a ruined man." ' The secute you forthwi. : a quack forked ov e r check for the amount, and the covey cu t his stick perhaps for Texas.—New York Sunday Mercury. NEwsP Ar En, REPORTERS.— What most extra or di nary men are tues e reporters of the English newspapers ! Surely, if there he any class of individuals %ho are entitled to the appellation of cosmopolites, it is these ; who pursue their avocation in all countries indifferentl y ,jand accommodate them selves at will to the manners of all classes of society ; their fluency of style as writers is only surpassed by their facility of language in conversation, and their attainments in classical and polite literature only by their profound knowledge of the world, acquired by an early introduction into its bustling scenes. The activity, energy, and courage which they oc casionally display in the pursuit of information are truly re markable. I saw them, during the three days at Paris, mingled with canaille and gamins behind the barriers, whilst the mitraille was flying in all directions, and the desperate cuirassiers were dashing their fi erce horses; against those seemingly feeble bulwarks. There stood they, dotting down their observations in their pocket-books as unconcernedly as if reporting the proceedings of a reform meeting in Finsbury square ; whilst in Spain, several of them accompanied the Carlist and Christino guerillas in some of their most desperate raids, exposing themselves to the danger of hostile bullets, the inclemency of winter, and the fierce heat of the summer sun.—Borrow's Bible in Spain. 1 by )so a nY be,