The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1836-03-04 00:00:00

ECIL MARCE:4 1S 6 TOWN COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS. After entering into Very minute details as to the internal Management of the magazines, the report concluded by recom mending greater precautions to be taken in the transport of gunpowder, and also that it would b e d es i ra bl e th at anot h er s i te should b e fixed on for the magazines. At a meeting of the finance. committee on the 29th of Feb., it was resolved that Mr. Walinsley be authorised to purchase ~ the Oil Gas Works on Rose-hill . for a police station. - The MAYOR.—Was it tha4ileastire of the council to confirm ,the finance - committee report. Mr. Councillor JAMES LAWRENCE understood that the sale of land in Hope-street was postponed for one month. The MAYOR.—Transactions had in the meantime taken place satisfactory to both parties, and, if tha council confirmed this, he apprehended the matter would be settled. Mr. Councillor J. LAWRENCE understood they were not satis fied with this second arrangement. Mr. Councillor AIKEN.—The finance committee, instead of waiting to have their . actions confirmed, had given orders for a lease to be made out. The Christian Society stated that they were damaged to-the.exteat of £6(l by the arrangement, and the Medical Institution were equally benefited by it. The MAYOr:.-1 3, :iliaps the council would defer any comments they might have till the reading of a memorial sent to him by the Christian Society on the subject. Mr. Councillor EAet_E rose on another po,int. respecting the Lyceum. He could not thiak but that it wild be a great pub lic nuisance to let the cellars under it; and it would be no great emolument to the proprietors. The bottom of Bold-street was already too narrow without the carting of merchandise there. Mr. Councillor MAXWELL understood that point was arranged before. Mr. Councillor EARLR differed from Mr. Maxwell. (The )natter was then referred to the minutes, and found to have been so arranged.) Mr. Councillor EARLS thought it a very improper resolution. It had established a great public nuisance for about the benefit of ss. a year to each of the proprietors of the Lyceum. Mr. Alderman STUART differed from Mr. Earle; the carting 'would be arranged to be carried on behind the Lyceum. Mr. Councillor EARLE.-It would be a nuisance in Lyceum place. IMPROVEMENT • COMMITTEE. The TOWN-CLERK then proceeded to read the reports of the i mprovement committee relating to several contemplated im provements in various parts of the town, principally as to %widen )rtg some of the streets, and purchasing the property of patties in those streets.• Mr. Councillor RA WDON, on behalf of the Commercial Bank, entered into a long explanation of negotiations which had taken Place lietivat the proprietors and the old council for the sate of a Part of the premises for contemplated improvements, but which negotiation had never been completed, and that they could not longer keep the land open for sale. They wanted £:) : 3(1.) for the land. The MA.yon, es one of the old council, could btate that that ' 4l ; equal to £27 a square .yard, did appear to them a mon strous sum, and that was th e reason th ey h o d not purc h ase d i t. After some discussion this particular was left to the commit tee; and the report confirmed. WATCH COMMITTEE REPORT. - The May oa would ask Mr. Shi,3l if ho would wish to have it read. Mr. Councillor Sui t. did not know why heshould be pointed out rn particular._ • ... • . The Mayon did so in perfect good nature. He would take care and not do it again. The TOWN-CLERK then read the report containing the condi tions of service pf the constables; recommending the new con stables to be immediately sworn in ; that a number of the old for ce be dismissed.—'Then followed the report of the contracts for clothing for the police entered into.—The .appointineuts of the head constable, superintendants, And inspectors, confirmed. That ten additional police be sent to Toxteth-Park to prevent the frequent robberies.—Then follo we d a re p or t respec ti n g the fire-police. —That the committee do represent to the committee oil the dock bill that it was, necessary f or econ o m y an d goo d order that the" W h o le cons t a bulary force of the town should be under one controlling and regulating committee, acting under the directions of the common council of the borough; and that this committee cannot apprehend any difficulty in making any arrangement of the police on this principle.—That the best thanks of the committee are due to Mr. Walmsley for his im-• Portant report on the state of crime, made to that committee. The MA YOR stated that the whole of the constabulary force came into operation on Monday last. At a meeting of the watch committee, held that day, resolved that Messrs. Walmsley, Cropper, and Mellor, be a sub-commit , tee for the purpose of examining the proceedings of the police force. STATE OF CRIME IN L IVERPOOL . at The watch committee submitted th e f o ll ow i ng repor t o f t h e at e of crime in Liverpool :--The report was to the effect that the amount of crime would It l waYs necessarily b ear a p ro p ort i on to t h e f ac ili ty w i th which Could be committed. 'Those who afforded ease and a prospect e ncouragement in cise of success to delinquents should be li !ost vigil an tly wa t c h e d , an d i n case of detection should be vis ited with the utmost rigour of punishment which the law could inflict. The class here allud e d t o . were rece i vers o f 'stolen property, keepers of brothels, public-houses, taps, and beer -shops. The first named of these were the most dangerous, ;ad were i n f act t h e c hi e f s u pporters of every class of ilepreda ,°,ll, as with ou t t h em t h ey wou ld not be able to dispose of their th',lI -gott en commod i ties to the requisite advantage. in Liverpool ere were numbers of persons pursuing this avocation, and wi"ugh it might be impossible to eradic a t e th em entirely, yet th .11 well-regulated police. who w ou ld p ursue them with a ,rgour which should leave them no pause, numbers of them allid abandon it. There were in this town between 300 and v public-houses, nearly on e -f our th o f th e w h o l e o f t h e li cense d public-houses, of Liverpool, which were habituaily kept open until r 4 er t we l ve o ' clock, 'a nd from 900 to 100 U were opened on each 134 " Y morning_ between the hours of tour and six o'clock, - oeu they were filled With the most depraved characters unl hurch time. There were between 60 and 70 taps and severa ti l n andreds o f b eer s h ops, wh i ch were en ti re l y ' supported by the hiost infamous individ u als. In Williamson-square and its fin 121ediate vicinity there were upwards of twenty saloons, in which thieves and prostitutes were nightly entertained. There were la the town fully three hundred brothels, in alt of whim'h, spirits ielciald be obtained ; otie . huudred of the se were i n th e neighbour pd or Williamson square, and within a c i rcu it o f fift een -.mutes' walk. th The late Mayor, James Aspinall, Esq. had issued an order Was all public-tiouses should be closed at stated hours. This ti as for a time rigorously carried into execution.. Previously b l e aumber of drunken and. disorderly persons who had been 4,,Nught before the magistrates, had been from 100 to 120 each 11.7 during the tune that this order was in force, without R4telaxation which subsequently ensued, the number of per- U brought up on the above charges diminished to fifty. fortunately the law did • not 'well bear the chief magistrate I,ilt There was one publican in Brick-street who chose to set t ake dens at defiance, and eight or ten individuals were daily every" from there for disorderly. conduct. At length, bow , licens e charge was brought against him, and he lost his b eetS Since then, Bri c k- s t ree t, w hi c h h a d b een most otor; houses°as, was reform e d. The taps of disorderly nublic th! were let off, a n d so ld li quor un d er t h e sanction o f 1,„. Publicans' license. The saloons where crime abounded 3 ,1 was matured, possessed the allurements of the dance, the t i'"g, and the comic recitation. The result of the investiga -4413 had presented a frightful picture of depravity. The number 4 b rothels was very great, and some of them contained three ta . ,a es, others ten. The average might be taken at four to did In In all there would be upwards of four thousand. These either aot all procure a subsistence by prostitution alone, but were thieves themselves, or the companions of thieves. There a j,!*: . numberles s wea k individuals, who thus suffered them v s to h e pl un d ere d , and who from the dread of exposure, re to come to come forw ar d . Th e known robberies in one house had amounted in the space of twelve months, to the sum Ivh6l9° o - Each g i r l o f t hi s descript i on, cohabited with a man th,-,,Lived by plunder. Besides these, there were upwards of a hioi!ttad notorious male thieves. There were five hundred i ce i: Who worked at intervals but steal when they can. There th e ne arly six hund re d more emp l oye d a b out and frequenting or a 9°llS, and upwards of twelve hundred under fifteen years who w ere th e w illi ng and act i ve tools of the adult Jelin sot , • The combined efforts of these, took from the public a D mv which, however, incredible it might appear, could be £7oo e Lbs documentary evidence. It amounted to nn less than Ril at ru,Per annum. If it were found that an effective and vie with ~) ° , ,c 6 and active magistracy were ineffectual to do away fur et r it would be necessary to apply to the legislature 4!,.'ed powers. re rt councillor J. CROPPER, jun., begged t o move that the printed. taTj• Councillor EARLE said that in printing the reports the With e t t °I the Parties furnishing them ought to be printed along Ports of He would wish his own name to appear on the . re. "' c ommittee s which he . furnished, but he did not wish to • et4srtecateasintgenious ealculator. who drew up this report may be a s t °. the " tottle of vision hole." but we suspect he is in fo ur _ 01 his fractional di. Should the average not be a-flay' females to each ? On Wednesday a special meeting of the cnuticil was held vs eleven o'clock, according to acljk)ururnent, principally for deter mining on the , report presented at the previous council meeting relating to the office of town-cierk. It was also - the monthly special meeting. The To wN -cLERK read the witiptes of' the preceding meeting, and also oc the last gitaitertneeting held un the 3d of Feb., and afterwards by adjournment. FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT The TorOrr.cCaux then proceeded to read the report of the finance committee relating to a number of petty expenses. Amongst others the putting in perfect repair of St. Thomas's Church- on the plan of the surveyor was recommended. That the cornices of the stone, which had failed in many places, should be made perfect with cement, and afterwards that the whole 'should be oiled over and painted stone colour; and the tower also was recommended to be rebuilt, The estimated cost of repairs was stated at £893. 3s. 10d., and of building the tower £2,400. A number of items of expenditure were also voted for alterations in the fish market. The MAYOR said plans were lavingon the table for the inspec tion of the members or tile council. The report of the finance committee of the 12th of February was then read, in which, amongst other private applications of minor importance, it was resolved that the land in Elope-street, adjoining the medical institution, should be offered the Medical Society for 20s. the square yard on a lease of 75 years, - subject to the usual restrictions; and it was further • reSolved, that. the remaining land heuffered to Mr. Pearson um behalf of a reli gious society for 15s. &square yard.—That the town-clerk be authorised to pay £52, the price cf the stipendiary magistrate's commission.—At a meeting held' on the 19th of February a let ter from the proprietors of the, Lyceum, thanking the council for the liberty granted them, and praying fora lease of six years. Resolved thit the lease be subinittedi—Resolied that the wheels of the moveable landing at George's Pier be repaired at the lowest terms, they having got broken during the late gale by one of the steamers.—That the town-clerk take counsel's opinion on the 92d section of the, municipal bill.- 7 . Resolved that the va rious' annuities (the particulars of which were read over) be recommended to be continued.—At a meeting of the finance committee on the 26th of ,February. That the thanks of the committee be given to Lieutenant Fox and to Lieutenant Ro binson for their full report respecting • the powder magazines. The report of Lieutenant Robinson on the powder magazines, which was of great length, was then read. The effect of it was, that no danger could accrue to the tow nof Liverpool if an ex plosion were to occur. The report, however, stated that the usual precautions used at powder mills were not in this instance generally made use of, and that the building was of an inferior nature. The report recommended that the public should be more efficiently guarded against accidents, and that the build ingohould be made fireproof. - Mr. Councillor SNIEL interrupted the reading or the report by inquiring if it sere necessary to read all the details? It took up the public time needlessly, and he thought it a matter which might very well be left to a committee. The Mallon.—Mr. Shiel would perhaps recollect that the nuance committee had adopted that report, and the proceedings were brought there to be confirmed by the council. if it was the wish of the council that it should not be read, of course he would stop it; but it would ill become him not to have reports read Which were not known to the public. The council signified their assent that the reading should proceed. be thought responsible for reports of committees on which lee was not. Mr. Couneillor BATH RON E thought the names of this com mittee. ought not to be published. They were much obliged to the-committee furnishing • it,, and they were bound to protect them froth any odium which Might attach to the furnishing of such particulars. , Mr. Alderman.STUAßT would second 'Mr. Cropper's motion. Mr. Councillor EDWARD Clicieeim, for.one, felt no objection to his name being added to that report. Ile thought it highly important that the facts there stated should be laid before the public. Mr. Councillor E attLE had no objection to his name appear ing as attached to the report. After some further conversation, The MAYOR said there were gentlemen who wished the re port to be printed; they could take the sense of the council on that point; and there were gentlemen who wished the names of the furnishers of the report to he attached to it, which, from the nature of its contents, was objected . to; they could next take the sense of the council on that. He saw no 'reason to depart from the usual rule. The report, on the suggestion of a member of the council, was then first adopted. The MAYOR.—They would now decide as to its being printed. Mr. Councillor E. SMITH wished to know what they were to get by printing that document. He could riot see what was to be got by affixing a stigma on their town in particular which was shared by every large town in the kingdom. He thought there was no greater degree of crime existed in this town than in any other large town. Mr. Councillor HENRY LAWRENCE expressed his concurrence in what had fallen from Mr. Smith. He thought the subject a very proper one to bring before the council. _He was one of the committee who had adopted that report. He could - not con sider himself as adopting it.any further than as believingit to be true. There was a great objection lb bringing all these things before the publi c; i t was enoug h to b r i ng it before the magis trates and the council. He concurred in the propriety of generally attaching the names of a committee to a report,but not in this particular instance. Mr. Councillor LAWRENCE HEYWORTH entirely differed from Mr. Smith; the facts contained in that report were such as the enblic'should know. It - was not likely that crime existed particularky.in,this town, By publishing this report, the public would be set to look out t o see if th ose , c rimes did n o t ex i st i n other large - towns:. (Ilear.) It was not by the force of law that they were to make alterations in the state of crime; it was by public opinion. (Hear.) Ile was confident that the better part of the community would immediately express their abhor rence of-such a state of things, and that that opinion would have mo-e effect in putting down those crimes than any law they could make. Mr. Councillor JORDAN.—The question asked by Mr. Smith of Mr. Cropper had not been answered. To oppose such a mass of crime required a good deal of activity and power on the -part of. the police, andin eiving that power to the police it was natural and necessary that the council should have public opi- - nion with them. The town should know the extent of crime in order to judge of the extent of power necessary.to counteract it. This state of things had arisen out of extraordinary neglect, and the present - police would have to act in a manner to sup press it, which would probably be in a degree beyond the law. The MAY on hoped not; as a magistrate, lie would not sup port any'police acting contrary to the law. Mr. Councillor JORDAN thought the law might lean to excess in that way. Mr. Councillor HENRY LAWRENCE hoped .the law would never lean to any excess. • Mr. Councillor Hopa.—Would Mr. Crupper say to what ex , tent he would have it published? .. }}The MAYOR understood it was to be printed for the use of the council. Mr. Alderman EVANS was of opinion that they were losing their time. The publishing was going on there, (pointing to the reporters, amidst general cheers and laughter.) Mr. Councillor BOLTON would propose that 500 copies be printed to be distributed. Mr. Alderman BLAIN thought it desirable that the magis trates should know the extent of crime. He-believed if they could carry public opinion with them they would enforce the fret extent of the law—they would support the magistrates and the putteein the execution of their duty. Mr: e,ohncillor HENRY LAWRENCE would „move that 100 copies fie printed for the u s e o f th e magistrates and the council. Mr. Councillor COGI:.AN• would second that proposition, as the lesser or-two evils. Great praise was due to the gentlemen who lied furnished that report. He believed, after all, that those who bad had an opportunity of knowing mankind, appalling as that picture was, it was familiar to , every individual who knew society at all. It might not be known that there were such a number of prostitutes, but it was known that houses of ill fame did exist, arid, unfortunately, prostitutes also. It had been a question whether these crimes were not necessary evils, He believed that the object of the gentlemen in drawing up the re port was to prevent crime, and he thought that object would be best accomplished by publishing it to the magistrates and the council without giving it to the public ; and let the silent ope ration of the law work its effect. He made .no doubt but th a gentlemen connected with the press would, if requested,• yield to the wishes of that council, and suppress the report if it were not thought right to publish it. He begged leave to move that the report be not published at all; it would be shocking the feelings of the inhabitants of the town, audit would be painfu to the feelings of the virtuous part of the community, withou accomplishing any end which might not be gained by the alien operations of the law. . Mr. Councillor LA WRENCE would second that proposition. Mr. Councillor HATHBONE WOUM support the original mo tion: He considered that .a very important question of morals was involved in the decision of that day. He was certain that no gentleman who was not a member of the committee could have believed the extent of crime which existed in this town He was not one of those who thought it cast any reflections on Liverpoain particular—it nrust.exist in every large town. Ile thought it important that the full account should be published, and that every member of his majesty's government should have a copy of that report. He thought the infoimation Mach bad been brought forward ought to be communicated to them. Councillor Dr. CAfiS6N conSidered the document ; an excel lentstatistical one,• and that it -cught to be published. He agreed with the last speaker, and thought that no particular odiuna.could attach to- Liverpool-from that report being dirtrlg ed, as he believed such crimes were common to all large towns. Mr. Councillor J. CROPPIiIt, being called ou by. Mr. Smith to state his object in bringing forward that report, said his object was that it might not be made a dead letter—that the public might assist the law in suppressing crime. The MAyoa then read Mr. Cropper's motion, seconded by Mr. Stuart, " That it b e printed," and . also 'Mr. Coglare's amendment, seconded by dr. Lawrence, " That it be not printed." Air. Councillor CROPPER would alter - his motion to "500 be printed," which was seconded by Mr. STuAirr. Mr. Councillor HENRY LAWRENCE would alter his amend ment to, "10J be printed for the magistrates and the council ;" which was seconded by Mr. Colan, as " the lesser evil." On the division there appeared, 23 for the amendment, and 29 for the motion " that 500 be printed TOWN DUES' COMMITTEE. The TOWN -CLERK proceeded to read the report of the town dues committee, which was ordered to lie on the table to be re ferred to. TOWN-CLERIC'S APPOINTMENT. •-••• Mr.'RATHBONE said Mr. Earle had given him such a touching look at the previous meeting - when he prayed for more time to consider the question of the tow n - c le r k' s sa l ar y, an d th ere f ore if it was any wish of the council that the Matter should be adjourned till Friday, he had no objections. His only wish for forwarding the business was, that the town-clerk might not be called to London before anything was settled. The MAYOR begged to .say that the fault of the council not !riving the report of the town-clerk's committee on Saturday last rested with him. The town-clrk being out at the time it was ordered to be printed, and no one taking minutes it had escaped his memory till the evening before. Mr. Councillor EARLE, as he wrs alltded to by Mr. Rath bone, would say that he was anxious to see this report in order to make some inquiries before he entered on the discussion of the ques ion, and he had not seen it till he entered that room, and was consequently prevented front making any inquiries. The Ma Y tt.—M r. Rath bone had put it to the council whether they would defer the discussion till Friday. Mr: etinci!lor HENRY LAW R ENCE would move that the re quisite notice.had been given, if Mr. Rathboue would withdraw his Motion. Mr. Councillor BOLTON said they heard the report read on Saturday, and it was improper to defer it. There were not any additional facts. Mr. Councillor EA RLE.—If it were persevered in he should move that the discussion of the question he deferred till Friday. He should not go into the subject; be was not prepared. Mr. Councillor SHIEL was unprepared, from absence. lie was also at a loss to account for the detention of these reports ; for he saw one of them wns only a single page, and might have been printed in less than three days. The MAvoa repeated his apology, and the .reason of their delay. Mr. Councillor SHILL begged to agologise. He thought it would be well for the council to arrange amongst themselves that,'whenever subjects of .great importance were to be brought forward for discussion, they should not be brought on at a meeting called at three days' notice. He was a man of business like many of them, and must attend to his own affairs sometimes. He might therefore be compelled to be absent. As he wished to do his duty to his constituents, he did not wish to_be absent on such occasions; and that, on important questions, longer notice should be given in order that they might better arrange to be present. The MAYOR, in answer.—Motives of extreme urgency were stated as the cause of their meetin g ou Saturday last. Was it their pleasure that the sttbject should be adjourned until Fri day ? Mr. Alderman BROWN thought they could not delay the ap pointment of town-clerk for any length of time; the public service would be delayed. _ _ The TOWN-CLERK then said, before h e ret i re d f ro th t h at. room he wished to be distinctly understood on three points, rewirding .which he would be as bridf as he could. In the first place, when he was honoured by. the temporary appointment conferred upon him, it was clearly understood that his actin g fur that time in the capacity of town-clerk gave him no claim on the council as to the ultimate . appointment. That was one point which he wished distinctly to have understood had not been forgotten by him now the period was about to arrive when that appointment was to be made. The second point was, that whatever his too partial friends might be pleased to say of him, he put himself forward merely as willing to devote such abilities as he possessed to their service, without comparing those abitities, whatever they might be, to the talents of any other member of his pro fession; but fcunding his tender of services to them more in the devotion he was disposed - to make of such powers as he possessed and could exercise in their service. The ,third point he wished to be understood, was this, if it should so happen that he should not have the honour of serving the council in the office of, town clerk, he wouid wish it to be distinctly understood that, satisfied as he was that their separation would take place on terms ho pourable and satisfactory to both, it would be his duty, having a deiire to place himself completely at the disposal of the council as to all business in progress until final arrangements were made . as to the office he now held; and therefore he should be as ready to go to London that night, if necessary, on the dock bill, or any other marter on his hands, if he was not appointed town-clerk, as he should he ready to go if he were appointed. (Hear.) As far as regarded himself, it was of little difference in the situation he should return to, or if he should remain in their service: both would require all the labour he could give to them. The choice with him depended on the ambition he felt to serve the public in an official situation, (Applause.) The town-clerk then left the room. Mr. Councillor RATHBONE.—He must on this occasion claim their indulgence. He most sincerely wished that the duty of bringing this question forward had devolVed on some more able, more talented, and more reading man than himself. He felt that it was a question involving most important pripciples, and he felt that the character of the council was that day dependant very much on the decision they formed. He could not consent to urge, in the first instance, pounds, shillings, and pence. He thought, after the statement they had just heard of the enor mous amount of crime, and the evils which had resulted from the negligent adi: ;niF.tration before .after whit they had seen (he would use th' v,iidest term) of the inefficiency and - neglect which had existcc , is , sv must proceed on broader grounds. He could not help feeling that it was the duty of that council to get the first legal assistance they could=the first not merely in THE - LIVERPOOL STANDARD. knowledge, not merely in talents, but in integrity, and, they mast excuse hi en for adding, in physical ability for going through the woe k. This, not merely tbr the pressing arrange ments now, for if the machinery was at work it would require all those qualifications to keep it in order. How were they to obtain this? He had been asked, rather tauntingly, whether he would oic £5OOO out of his own business for these quail& catioas, and he had at once answered " yes." /f the leading men in the profession were earning their £5OOO a-y.ear, it was their duty to make the emolument £5OOO a-year, because it was their duty to look, not to the mere saving of-money, but to have the very first individual in every respect for town-clerk that they could obtain. How were they to obtain him but by making it an object to them to get the office. This was the principle to go on, and he . could not therefore consent, having that view of the subject, to argue, the question on any other ground,' What did they • require of their professional adviser? .Did they re quire him- to be a sound lawyer? to have the experience of a great deal of previous practice ? Above all, to be a man de voted to carry on all the improvements of the reform municipal bill? They required hint to be devoted, therefore, mind, body, and soul, and with the utmost integrity to the object they had in view.- This was the great ground on which they ought to argue it. •And about the money, he had been unwilling to argue it at all on that question ; but if he must condescend to pounds, shillOgs, and pence, he would do so. He was sorry to do so, becaue he was bringing forward details which he had much rather had--been kept back; .but seeing it was to be done, he went into it because rit was extremely important that they should have some one on whom they could feel confidence. The Mayou.—Allow me to ask, is it really necessary to bring forward those tails which your own mind would wish to keep back. Mr. - Councillor RATHBONE did feel that it was necessary that they should be brought forward. If it was unanimously their feeling that Mr. Radcliffe should be appointed town-cleat, and it' he should have that' emolument as to'wn-clerk—if the report were unanimously adopted- by those gentlemen who could not attend—he would waive going into this discussion; if there was a shadow of doubt, he felt' bound to go into that question. The Mayon.-The propriety Of such course would be if you hear in the course of the discussion opinions against the report. Mr. Councillor Earti,E,Are we now going into the appoint ment ? The MAYoR.—Yes. Mr. Councillor EARLE.—I shall certainly not vote on it, be cause I am not'prepared; The Mayoa.—That point had been fixed unanimously already. Mr.,Councillor E A ni.E.—But on this understanding, that this report was in our hands three days ago. (Several gentlemen called - to order.) The Mayori.—lt is my province to call to order. lam going to tell Mr. Earle that-he is totally out of order. I had made my apology, and the council bad decided that we should proceed. Mr. COUlleillOr EARLE did n o t un d ers t an d it i n that way at all. The Mavon.—lt is now too late. - Mr. Councillor EARLE bud Some inquiries to make on that very report, and he had only received it on entering the room. He should not thereefore remain. If called to order he could not move an amendment. The MAYOR.—BV silence the subject was assented to to be proceeded with. If Mr. Earle wished to propose an amend ment he was at liberty to do so. Mr. Councillor EARLE would move an amendment if he was not out of order. Mr. Councillor RATHBONE then proceeded. He must really' claim the increased indulgence of that court from this interrup tion, becanse he felt his own inability to do justice to this very important question. He did take a very strong view of the im portance-of the decision, and be was sure they must be aware that it was a most embarrassing- thing if a gentleman was not accustomed to bring forward measures. It put a great cause Under great disadvantage. Let them blame him as much as they liked, but let not the cause suffer by the inability ofhis ad- - voeacy. (Cries of "No, no.") He thought it-ri g ht, i n hi s opening speech, to give all th e particulars he had obtained; he begged pardon for saying "he —upon which the committee had arrived at that conclusion. He had therefore to go through the duties of the town-clerk and the sources of emolument of all' future town-clerks, and then show them how small a sum they would be called on to pay for a great object. The borough' court fees were X 1000; the clerk of the peace's fees were estimated at £700; theleases of the public, he believed it was not an 'ex , travagant statement, but rather under than over, to state £5OO, making-altogether £2,200. The sum for which he ventured to ask them to vote for—the united salaries—was £3,500; taking £2,200 from £3,500, it left a balance of £1,300 for the borough fund to pay. But in addition to this there were the prosecu tions; and there was a saving from the fund if one of their own officers conducted those prosecutions of £1,500 more, leaving something like ni/to he paid by the borough fund. The re newing of leases was Ell); the general business amounted to £400; and the receipts of the town-clerk for attending on com mittees, &c., burgess list -revising, as clerk of the records, revis-. ing freemen's roll, attending insolvent court, attending, on ma gistrates at elections, parliamentary and municipal, and he con cluded with the parliamentary actions and suits, the amount derived from which it was very difficult to ascertain, and ho took it considerably lower than it averaged when he stated it at £1,500 a year, a sum which came out of their funds, and which their officer would not receive at all having a fixed salary; and there was the prosecutions of the nightly watch cases, which had hitherto amounted to 1:300 per annum, which by the present arrangement their own officers would take charge of. He there fore -wished to show that by this arrangement there was a posi tive saving. They had paid £6,800 a year to the former town clerk, according to an average of five years, and their two offi-. cers were now to be paid £3,500. With regard to the town clerk it was not necessary for him to enlarge on his merits:, So far as he had been himself concerned, he bad been at nine, at ten, and eleven o'clock at night st the town-hall with hits', and he believed Mr. Walmsley had been at much later hours in the morning with him. As to his talents and iuformation, it was ' not necessary for him to speak on them. The very saving of time in the looking over the municipal act—the 'way in which their town-clerk had everything at his finger ends, must be very obvious to that council. One word with regard to the assistant. £lOOO a year for him was not too much. That assistant was to .conduct the prosecutions. The public were not compelled to, employ him. If he was not qualified by his talents to secure the confidence of the public, -those prosecutions might go into the hands of the 'public at large ; therefore there would be a losing if they did not get the best - member they could of the junior profession,—there would be a losing of £l5OO a year on those actions they intended to have. He would contend for what he had said and shown,—that it w as essen ti a l to t h em t o offer such a salary as would get the first man in the highest branches of the profession in Liverpool,—that it was not merely necessary for the present but for the future that they should have that man. It was not therefore a matter, of pounds, shil lings, and pence, but if they could get a man competent to fill:- that situation, they would by so doing save many thousands to • the public, of whom they -were the representatives aneU guarrL ians. For the convenience of separating the two questions he would move in the first place " that Mr. Radcliffe be appointed as town-clerk with a salary of £2,500 a 'year," and then th ey would come to th e d ec i s i on as to the assistant, which, though an important point, was of secondary importance to having/a good head to the whole. Mr. Alderinan acLar.—LSubject to the. reduction of fees, as stated in the report? Mr. Councillor RAT lIBONE understood most distinctly that Mr. Radcliffe should have £2,500 coining into his pocket, nei ther more nor less. The Mayou.—The motion is, " that Mr. Radcliffe bp ap • pointed town-clerk, with a salary of £2,500 a year, subject to the reduction of fees." Mr. Councillor WALMSLEY seconded the motion. • Mr. Councillor H. La waErscE.L . -The report recommended that a town-clerk should be appointed, with a salary of £2,500. Mr. Rathbone's was a different motion. They ought first to li the salary, and then the individual. The Al A rott thought it was determined that the salary should he fixed first. Mr. CoUncillor RATHBONE had no wish to take the council by surprise in any way. He was very much obliged to Mr. Lawrence for his suggestion. 'With their permission he would move, "that the salaryof the town-clerk shall be £2,500 a year, subject to the reduction of fees." Mr. Councillor WALMSLEY seconded this motion. Mr. Councillor ''ABLE supposed he might now make his amendment. He would not say that he should not be prepared to vote £2,500 on a future day for the office of town-clerk: he was not one of those who would wish to have the officers of the corporation scurvily paid : he only wanted to have his own mind satisfied The report had only just been handed' to him, and therefore he should move " that this subject be deferred until Friday next." That would give gentlemen an opportunity to make any inquiries that they might think necessary. Mr. Councillor SHIEL had much pleasure in seconding the amendment. He had applied for those reports—he was anxi ous to have all the information he could, and he'apnlied to the town clerk himself, and asked lkira when they would be printed, and he replied that they would be in the hands of the council by post time on Monday night. - He merely mentioned this, as there seemed some inconsistency between tbat and the Mayor's statement. There'did not seem to be so much ignorance about them. • Mr. Councillor.RATittioNE.-7Mr. Shiel would allow him to explain that there were three or four reports to be printed, itit the possession of Mr. Radcliffe, and his answer to Mr. Shiel's ap plication would necessarily be, that " these reports" were ready, and would be in the hands of the council. There was no incon sistency in that. - Mr. Councillor SHIEL begged to be understood. He' was pretty clear that he had asked the town-clerk•for this particular report ; but it was a matter of nolnoment whether he did or not, for the:+• had been no report sent, in since. (Hear.) The MA Yon, in justice to the town-clerk, must add that the town-clerk called his attention to it the day before. (Hear.) Mr. Councillor EARLE would wish the votes on the amend ment to be taken down, as there were gentlemen who voted neither one way or the other. Mr. Alderman ROBINSON.—Many gentlemen of the council might probably come to a decision they were not prepared for. If the amendment was lost, he took it for granted that the mo tion was carried. The MAYOR would put both the amendment and the motion. The votes were then taken, Mr. J. Lawrence signifying that he must vote against the amendment, because he should be out of town on Friday; otherwise he would hot. For the amendment—Messrs. Hope, Thornhill, Shiel, E. Smith, Barton, L. Heyworth. Bircti, H. Hornhy, H. Lawrence, Lassell, Holt. Earle, Carson, Brocklebank, Blackburn, Leigh, G. Holt, Tayleur, and Freme. • Against the amendment—Messrs. J. Holmes, Logan, Har vey, ThOrnely, Rawdon, M`Gregor, 11. Holmes, Mellor, Walms ley, Bolton, Woollright, Rushton, Rathbone, Preston, James Lawrence, Maxwell, Aikin, Morecroft, Roskell, Coglan, E. Cropper, Alison, Sanders, J. Cropper, Jordan, Duncan, Evans, Blain, Moon, Bulley, Barclay, Robinson, Stuart, Booth, Brown, T. Smith, Jones, Benn, and the Mayor, being fur the amendment 19, against it 39. - - Mr. Councillor BIE'Cli presumed he could move another amendment on the motion. The remarks he intended to make would have reference to the present, and more particularly to the previous discussion on this question. When this subject ,had been discussed at the last meeting, Mr. Rathbone had re presented that the ground on which he fixed the particular sum of £2500 per annum was because Mr. Radcliffe's professional emoluments amounted to that sum, and they could not faiily expect that he would transfer his services to the public fbr a smaller amount. Mr. Rathbone had not attended to this point in his speech on this occasion, and seemed altogether to have removed his ground ; and he seemed now to have assumed that the sum of £2500 per annum was only a fair remuneration, no matter whoever was appointed to the situation. He appre hended that Mr. Rathbone had Mr. Radcliffe in his eye when he said £2500 was only sufficient for the office. With reference to what Mr. Rathbone had said on the last occasion, it did ap pear to him (Mr. Birch) then as it now (lid, although a very proper consideration, and a very natural one for Mr. Radcliffe, yet it was not a very fair one to that council, when an important arrangement was desired, unless they were compelled to - admit the remainder of Mr. Rathhone's position, namely, " that there was no other man who was competent to fill the office." If they were bound to make that admission, and it were - found as an unquestionable truth that they bad no option whatever but to appoint Mr. Radcliffe, because there , was no other .man ade quate fort he office, then he must s;iy they.were reduced to a most painful and perplexing dilemma, and it 'would be very kind in Mr. Eathbene to extricate them on any terms. But without the slightest disrespee! to Mr. Rat Maine he must deny the truth of, his statement. ; : Teinted assent to the great talents, and the energy which 1`,.1r. iadcliffe combined with them, but he would not be brought so far to stigmatize the other members of a large and learneu prafession 'as to listen fur one moment to this doctrine of peculiar and exclusive eligibility of - any indi vidual member of the profession. (Hear.) They must well remember that when the Lite Mr. Statham died, his loss was considered as a great public calamity, for it was mentioned to . be extremely difficult to supply his place. They must also re member that when the council appointed Mr. Foster it was very sown discovered that iu the person of Mie Foster they founa a very good substitute for Mr. Statham; and not more than two j months ago, when the subject of Mr. Foster's removal was dis cussed, it was equally maintained that they should be placed in a very awkward predicament—that no other person could be found to fulfil • the duties of the office.. He would appeal to every member of the council present if the experience of the services of Mr. Foster's successor had not been amply sufficient to dispel this second illusion. But he would go further, he would say that he did not think Mr. Rathbone had displayed the fairness and candour which he ought to have done, in raising up this fictitious argument about peculiar and exclusive compe tency for the purpose of entrapping their judgments and drawing away the consciences of gentlemen who ought to assemble there for the single purpose of acting fairly and uprightly by the trust confided to them, and not for the furtherance of any peculiar feelings, or the gratification of any personal partiality. If Mr. Rathlione did truly believe his own statement, it was perfectly consistent in him to acquiesce in Mr. Radcliffe's exclusive fitness. He (Mr. Birch) did not acquiesce in it, and he thought the sum fixed on was far more than the public ought to pay. He, therefore, could not concede to the motion, and should conclude with an amendment. He was rather at a loss how to word it. If Mr. Radcliffe were requested to continue his.services as town-clerk, he would move that he should have £2OOO per annum ; if he re jected this offer,. he would move that the situation should be open to the public for £l5OO per annum.. He was aware that it was extremely desirable that Mr. Radcliffe, whose talents were very great, and who enjoyed the confidence of the council . and of the public, should beappointed, and this would be sufficient explanation for the exception made in the salary in his case. If Mr. Rathbone persisted in his motion he must move that £l5OO per ant= be:the future salary of the town-clerk ; if he coupled. it with Mr. 'Radcliffe, as to fill the office, he must move that £2OOO a year be given him. Or if Mr. Rathbone would state, as Mr. Radcliffe's friend, that he would be likely to continue in the office 'at a salary of £2OOO a year, he would move £2OOO a year as an amendment to his motion, and not £l5OO. Mr. Councillor RATHBONR did not come forward as Mr. Radcliffe's friend; he was the friend of nobody; he came for: ward on behalf of the public. His private opinion was that Mr. Radcliffe would not take £2OOO a-year. Mr. Councillor BOLTON hoped that in the observations he was about to make, that it would not be construed that he had any disrespect to Mr. Radcliffe; he had . pellet:a confidence in, and respect for him, from the . .experience he had of hint. At the same time, he : must say that Mr. Radcliffe had rather made lighteif the pounds, shillings, and pence; and the circum stances of the-estateewere such as.to make it necessary .to look very closely after them. He had looked at the expenditure, and he could not think but that the expenditure would exceed the income for some years to. come. At the same time, having the unnost.confidence in Mr. Radcliffe's ability, and having no other attorney 'in the town. who cou ld di sc h arge t h e duties bet ter, probably not eo well, he would;) vote more in his case. But circumstances made it necessary in them to snake ieeco nomical arrangement, though he was no advocate for a stingy economy. It appeared to. him that they should come-to a con clusion how much they ought to pay for the town-clerk and the deputy—that the two questions should. he united together. Though the duties of the office had been large, vet, when regu larity had been establiihed, the ,duties might he greatly dimi nished by a division or labour.. Some particular branch might he given to both. Ile would propose that £3OOO be the salary fur the town -clerk and his deputy. By adopting this course, they ensured the services of Mr.Jßadcliffe, and left the .matter open fornegociation to Mr. Radcliffe, whether the sum be £5OO, £6OO, or £7OO which he would allow for the deputy. Ile would, therefore, .propose " that the whole amount of the salary do not exceed £3OOO • Mr. C 06116116- BIRCH W 01.114 beg to alter his amendment to "that Sir. Radcliffe he requested to continue his services as town-clerk at a salary of £2OOO per annum." Mr. Councillor fIoRNBY begged to second this. Mr. Alderman' 4LAY. appeared to him in the first place, in speaking on the subject, that gentlemen looked too much at the pounds, shillings, and pence. It appeared to him that the ,consideration was nut so much what the salary ought to be, as whether there were duties to he performed cowmen surete with the salary proposed; and if it could be fairly proved to the satisfaction of 111/a tOtHleil, that the duties required a salary of £5OOO instead of £2500, it would be their duty to pay that. He thought it beginning at the wrong end of the subject to say what - sine should be paid; they ought first to look at what was wanted. The town-clerk must have legal knowledge, or he could net inform them; he must have .practical know. ledge, or he could not advise them; so he must have zeal, or he would sadly disappoint them; he must have industry, or they should leave him hehind; and he must have integrity, or all these things were not worth anything. Where must they Look for these requiSites? Not in a young man just come out of an office; not in . a young solicitor ri s i ng i n th e wor ld , b ut they must took fur them in a thorough-bred, seasoned lawyer, who alone was fit to act as'tbe legal adviser of the second muni cipal corporation in the kingdom. If, therefore, ,they found such a man, they would Cud him settled and established in his profession, and in the receipt of a considerable income. They called on him to give up all his practice completely, and they employed him as long as they pleased. And, then, there was another consi , leration which was not mentioned; after he had given up all. his . practice, „for some cause or other they aright dislike him—they might disagree, and they tinned biin off, and every thing he had would be gone,,and he e would have to begin the world again. .Therefore, the salary they ought to give a .man should enable him to support the rank of a geotleman— should enable 'hint to bring up a family—should enable him to lay by somethieg as a provision against probable dismissal. When - they considered all this—what kind of a man he was to be—when they considered the situation - such a man was pro bably filling at this moMent, what he was to do, and what he was one 'both hher shilling and toohe rienatile.teh. i, he did not think the um o o f MreCotinCilleeKAllLE thought they had rather begun at the sum of give£ .O 111 0 1) 1 ; v wrong end of thie,bueluess. 'There.had been a report read, and • the hrst act ougiit-te have been to hiee confirmed that report. The committee recommended that the salary of the town-clerk should be £2500. Now, those gentlemen who formed this had had Mr. Radcliffe either in one eye or both. Had it been not less than £2500, they might have made their arrangements with anybody. But the committee had recommended a report tying them down ; if it had been " not less," they might have given as much more as they pleased for great and extraordinary qualifications wherever-they could be found, Mr. Councillor Settee had already alluded to this report. When he first read it in the papers' on Monday morning, and saw the office of town-clerk with a salary of £2,500, it imme diately struck him that the first figure, two, must have been in-, tended for a one, and that it must have been a mistake of the „printer. He turned the thing over in his own' mind, and saw . clearly that this report referred to Mr. Radcliffe., He was sa tisfied-that there was such great competition in- the profession, that they might get any number of gentlemen they might want perfectly competent in every way to fulfil all the duties they, might require to have performed for £lOOO a year., (Cries of No, no.") Why it might be "No, no, no,'' but he would show them a good reason why the council ought to sity,'t Yes, yes, yes." A thousand a year would get them a man competent in every way. But Mr. Radcliffe had, been in possession, an d therefore they did right in securing his services. Ile thought, howev6e that this report was the mistake of the printer, but he found, on inquiry, that it was perfectly correct. tie would take the liberty of replying to the noes around him. lie had always heard that 'of the two brancheS of the legal profession the bar krister stood highest; his. education was more ,costly, and he could not obtain practite until he had arrived ,at a certain age. It was not very long since he sawtheni in waist of a barrister, and the law provided that they must have a barrister of five years standing, and they very properly selected one of the most eminent men in Liverpool. With what salary? .At a salary of £lOOO a year; and in order to have that gentleman's ser vices efficiently, moved that he should give up all practice but chamber practice. Then if they could get a barrister of long standing andacknowledged abilities for £3OOO a year, for fifty per cent. more he was convinced they could get a solicitor com petent for the office of town-clerk. To tell hint that they .could not get a man competent for town-clerk without placing a value of two barristers and a half upon him was absurd. (Laughter.) It oas a sort of insult to them as it was to the other branches of the profession in Liverpool to say that there was but one man competent to fill the situation. He begged leave to say that he did not profess to be more attached to the pounds, shillings, and Pence than any gentlemah in that room; but pounds, shillings, and pence must be considered in all cases. In the first place they wanted an efficient and a clear head, and they wanted nothing more. Thev did not want a Copernicus, or a Napoleon, or, as was said of a young gentlem an o f twenty two -lately—a second William Pitt e -eall they- wanted was .a sound-headed man. And what were they to pay hint ? Exactly what they could get him for. But if thee had !lath' dozen men, which he was convinced they would. have, offer themselves at £1,500 a year, they were bound not to pay more. This was his opinion, and they would act against their principles, and in a manner entirely different to what the town was led to expect from them if they did otherwise. In his opinion the two appointments should be kept distinct. In many cases the duties of the town clerk would have to be performed by his deputy; and in that case he would say that they were bound in their duty to the public to get two men capable of performing each duty. They might, require the services of both at the same eminent. How, therefore, could Mr. Bolton propose that they should name a fixed sum to pay the two, and by implication that they should give five or six hundred to pay one man, who must be equally competent to act, as deputy, as the town-clerk. himself? The thine,' seemed to him to be quite monstrous, and he diff ere d en tirely from Mr. Bolton. He begged to second Mr. Birch's motion. He should not move any other amendment, but, as Mr. Birch had proposed £2,000 a year,. he would support it. Mr. Councillor E. Ssthei said that, -when he heard -of the sum fixed to be given the town-clerk and his deputy, he could not help thinking it a very extraordinary sum. lie had made some inquiry into - the salaries received by public men in similar situations, who had great responsibilities, and who had great -duties to perform, and the result of those inquiries he left them to determine on. It appeared that Mr. Moule, the solicitor to the treasury, who left a very excellent practice, had £2,000 a `ear; that the solicitor to the customs had £1,500 a year; the solicitor to the excise £l,lOO a year. He presumed that all these were men who had a great deal of work. He belieVed the rule in the customs was to come to business at ten o'clock in the 'morning, and leave at four o'clock in the afternoon—as much m's any man intellectually ought to work. Mr. Hall was a gen tleman of academical education, who had left a very excellent business who 'had • great responsibilities attached 'to his office, w ho wits liable to prosecution in certain cases if he should give false awards, and such a man, giving up the greatest part of his practice, had mu thousend a year. The collector of the customs in Liverpool had the highest salary of any officer, with the ex ception of that proposed to be given to Mr. Radcliffe; hut that was given wider peculiar eircontstances, and he understoodthet it teas the intention of government, when the, present. direction should cease, to • reduce the salary very considerably. The comptroller of customs had £6OO a year; the inspector of cus toms £3OO a-year. With these facts before him, it could not be considered as personally offensive in him to vote for a smaller sum. He was not influenced by any personal feeling in the matter; he admired Mr. Radcliffe' s i n t e ll ect an d hi s sterling, honesty, and he thought it would be worth some sacrifice to ob tain him. He could not help saying that he preferred, on the whole, the principle on which the late town-clerk was compen sated—he meant the principle that the emolument or the office should correspond with ,the duties he had to perform. Mr. Foster had been paid for his duties according to what he did, and he believed no person found fault, with his charges. But the emolument was infinitely too great. It did aepear to him for any town-clerk to put in his pocket twice as much as a judge of the land was disgusting. Brit, if the present town-clerk was to derive his emolument in the same manner, only reducing, the scale of charges, it would be more satisfactory. He did not like the principle of paying a man a fixed slim at all : it would perhaps have the effect of making him begrudge to do everyjob they gave him: Mr, Councillor COGLAN thought that they were not doing:ins tiee to Mr. Radcliffe if they called on him for an immediete de cision. It was a very important subject to Mr. Radcliffe to decide on, (Cries of" We do not wish it.") The MAYOR said that in point of feet this emolument did not .come out of the borough-fund, but from the public. Mr. Councillor RATHSONE rose in reply. The first question Tilt - STEEPLE CHASE.—A suspicion has arisen in the minds of the sportsmen who attended the late steeple chase respecting the accident which occasioned the fall of Mr. Powell from Laurie Todd. It was stated in our report that the gate to which the mishap was attributed was accidentally closed. It is now, however, supposed to have been wilfully done by parties in terested in the event of the race. A reward of ten pounds has been offered for the discovery of the person or persons who had recourse to this trick in order to defeat the winning horse. THE WORRALL CONSERVATIVE ISOCIETV. —A preliminary meeting was held at the King's Arms, Trauniere, on Tuesday evening, for the purpose of forming a conservative association, upon Se principles of the South Lancashire Conservative Ass ociation. l'he meeting was most respectably and numerously attended, and onTnesday next the first motnlily meeting will be held at the same house, when Nathan Sewell, tsq., will take the chair. The societvintend to commence their labours by a rigid investigation of all the'claims to the right of voting throughout the hundred of Worrall, and make their report to the parent society at Chester. Nearly all the parochial offices in the hundred of 'Worrall are at present held by radicals and unita rians. As far, at least, as regards the town of Tranmere, this will be reformed at the ensuing Easter elections. Idleness appears always to have been considered by the Dutch as a crime, and one which wa s f ormer l y ra th er t oo se verely punished, if we may judge from a curious contrivance shown at Amsterdam. It is a confined place, into which a stream of water entered on one side, with a pump on the other, so that if the culprit did not incessantly wort at the pump, he' must inevitably be drowned. INDEPENDENCE OF THE BAlL—Like a 2:1100—a thing much talked ot, and .seldom seen. If a barrister profess any profes sional or moral independence, it cannot be worth much, for a few guineas will generally purchase it. It Must be confessed that he is singularly independent of all those scruples which operate upon the consciences of other men. Right and wrong, truth or falsehood. morality or-profligacy, are all equally indif ferent to him. Dealing in law, not justice, his brief is his bible, the ten guineas of his retaining fee are his decalogue: his glory, like that of'"a cook-maid, consists in wearing a silk gown, and his heaven is in a judge's wig. Head. heart. con science, body, and soul, all are for sale: the forensic bravo stands to be hired by the highest bidder, ready to attack those whom he has just def en d e d, or def en d t h ose w hom he has just attacked, according to the orders he may receive from his tem porary master. Looking to the favour of the judge for favour with their clients, and to the government for professional pro- motion, barristers have ton often been the •abject lickspittles of the one, and the supple tools of the o ther. M. de la B--- ! a French gentleman, seems to have formed a very correct notion of the independence of the bar. Having invited several friends to dine on a maigre day, his servant brought him word that there was only a sing le salmon left in the market , which he had not dared to bring. away, because it had been bespoken by a barrister. " Here," said his master, putting two or three pieces of gold into his hand, "go back directly, and buy me the bar• lister and the'salmon too."—Paul ChaVeld. • t he should , tage was with respect to the sum of £2,500. He must again disclaim coming forward as Mr. Radchtfe's friend, or as anylmdy's friend, btit as coming forward on behalf of the public. lie thought they ought to ascertain what services were required, and what was the amount they ought to pay for those services ;. it was the only ground on w h ic h th ey cou ld come for ward, and he thought the council owed it to him to take it on that ground. The reason he p!oposed so large a sent was, because he believed Mr. Lace's business was woad' that amount to the partnership. If a counsellor had that sum, he believed that they ought to have choice of the first solicitors in the town for that amount. He did, in the hurry of debate at the last meeting, say more than he was entitled to say, with respeCt to the pro fesSiou at large, Having many other respectable friends in the profession, he could not say, or rather he did not ineap to say, that there was no other man in the town capable of filling the the office. But he did mean to repeat that Mr. Radcliffe was the best qualified of all those they had the power of gaining, and the only merchantable view in which they could look on it was, front whom could they select the town-clerk? Some gen tlemen had spoken of Mr. Foster as the substitute for Mr. Sta tham. He thought those gentlemen who knew Mr. Statham would think with him—he wished to say nothing about Mr. Foster, save that he was no substitute for Mr. Statham—that if his life had been, happily for his family, preserved, it would have been the unanimous feeling of that council that he should be retained. And Mr. Birch, when he talked about his," in terfering with the consciences and'drawing away the judgment of the council," made use of rather hard words—it Was incon sistent with the straight-forward course he had ever pursued. He would not attertipt to insult the judgments of the council by trying to mislead them; it would be disgraceful in him to at tempt it, and an insult to the council to chi so. It had been said that he made light of the pounds, shillings, and pence; he begged to say that he did no such thing; he was not in the situ ation, either privately or publicly, to drake light of the pounds, shillings, and pence. But he would - not look at the sa.vine'of of 6s, .Bd, when he knew thereby that the public would perhaps lose £6OO. "If he-were possessed of landed property, which un fortunately he was not, and wanted a bailiff; he would not offer to a bailiff £lOO for his salary if •he could get him for £5O; but he would rather give £lOO for a good bailiff than £5O for one -who was good for nothing at all. It was even the same in- their.kitchens. - If he could get a good cook for £3O he would rather pay that than take a dirty slattern at £l5. It had•been mentioned that Mr. Hall had only £lOOO a year, and therefore that it was hard to give Mr. Radcliffe £2,500. His own opinion was - that Mr. Hall was badly paid, and ought to have more. , However inferior they were in merit, it was a fact that attorneys were better paid than barristers, and there tore if they would have a good attorney they must pay for him. Then Mr. Shiel had spoken of the very extraordinary position they were taking in giving to the - superior a large sum, and to his assistant a small one. He would just put it to the good sense of those present whether that was not their mercantile ar rangements; and whether having the advantage of a good head to guide did they not render the assistant of less consequence. It is therefore not so necessary that they should have a good junior -partner, as it.was to have a very superior man at the head of the concern. His friend, Mr. Smith, had spoken of the judges, and they had £5,500 a year, and very light work com pared with the town-clerk. Then it was objected to pay a fixed sum. He -honestly confessed that this was one of the great merits of this scheme, that it did hold out the temptation to a man to increase his emoluineut at the expense of the public. It delivered hint from those temptations which they had seen had been too often held but; that was the great benefit of this plan. He felt obliged for the patience with which they . had heard him, and concluded with supportirg the original motion. The Mavon.—lt was now understood that the discussion was cloSed. He would proceed to take the amendment. There ap peared for the amendment - 33, against it 22. The following is a list of the division:— For the amendment.—'Messrs. J. Holmes, Hope, Logan, Thornhill, Shiel, E. Smith, Tliornely, M`Gregor, Barton, 11. Holmes, Mellor, Birch, Bolton, Hornby, Maxwell, Aikin, H. Lawrence, Lassell, T. Elolt, Earle, Carson, Brocklebank, Cog lan, G. Holt, Sandars, Evans, {noon, Freme, Robinson, Stuart, Booth, Jones, and Benn. Against the amendment.—Messrs. Harvey, Walnisley, Raw. don, Woollright, Rushton, Rathhone, Preston, Morecroft, Blackburn, E. Cropper, Alison, Leigh, J. Cropper, jun., Jor dan, Duncan, Tayleur, Blain, Bulley, Barclay, Brown, T. Smith, and the Mayor. Mr. Councillor Butch then moved "that the Mayor commu nicate this resolution to Mr. Radcliffe after the breaking up of this council, and that he be requested to state his answer to the council on next Friday." Assented to. Mr. Councillor HENRY LAWRENCE as it was now four o'clock would move an adjournment. Mr. Alderman STUART seconded that motion. PAID OFFICERS COMMITTEE. The MAYOR said that the next . report of the paid officers committee was important; he thought they had better read it and defer the discussion on it till the next meeting ; it would be a step advanced. REPORT OF THE PAID OFFICEhS COMMITTEE, APPOINTED THE 2GTH OF JANUARY, AND REAPPOINTED THE 3D OF FEB. The committee, in their inquiries into the salaries of the chartered officers, had been constantly met by the question of coinpensat ion, and their report laid been consequently influenced by it. That the department of the treasurer's office was so well managed that they could not recommend any alteration. They recommend that the present salary of the treasurer should be reduced to £l5O per annum, and that he should give security to the amount of £BOOO. The salary of Mr. John Sudlow to be £250, and that of Mr. William Sudlow 4150 per annum. The salary of the collector to be £lOO per annum. It was the opinion of the committee that thearansactionsol the office could be carried on by the treasurer, one clerk, and a collector. The committee was of opinion that the surv e y or s h ou ld h e a very active, intelligent man, having an accurate knowledge of the value of property; be capable of drawing specifications so as to report on the same, to direct and superintend public works, and to carry into.execution the plans of artists, and give bond not to enter into business on his own account. The committee were of opinion that these qualifications were not embodied in the present surveyor; _but, in order to secure his scientific services, shall have a salary of £5OO per annum, and superintend the Custom-house till completdd, to be paid for his paper, and be °allowed to :carry on business on his own account. That the surveyor wOuld'reqiiire two clerks. at £l5O each, and an ont doorassistant. Mr. ()kill was an efficient officer—recommended that his salary be £750 per annum, and to have a clerk at - £l5O per annum.—Tlecommended that the salary of Mr. Corrie, the receiver of the town dues, be £O5O per annum, and to pay his own clerks. The number of public entertainments at 'the Town-halt was stated to have been thirty—recommended that they be reduced to one-half. That the allowance to the Mayor be £l3OO, and that the carriage be continued. Recommended that the keeper of the Town-hall be retained at £5O per annum, his other emoluments being considerable; being altogether a reduction in the salaries of upwards of £2OOO. Mr. Councillor J. IlotsiEs then stated that he had received letters from Mr. Foster, the surveyor, and Mr. Currie, the re ceiver of town dues, acquiescing is this arrangement. Mr. Councillor RATHBONE then moved that the report be taken into consideration on Friday (to-day.) The council then adjourned, at half-past four o'clock, to...this day, at eleven o'clock, having sat five hours and a half. COMMERCIAL HIGH SCHOOL.—Mr. Tate, a gentleman who for many years has devoted his attention to the education of Youths whose future lives are intended to be devoted to com mercial pursuits, has issued a prospectus of a proprietary school about to be established in Liverpool. The capital will be raised 'in transferable shares of £3O each, and the financial management of the school will be vested in a committee of pro prietors. Similar institutions have been attended with very successful results in Wakefield and other places, and one of this description is now actuiilly forming in Manchester. The system of education intended to be pursued will comprise the chief modern languages, the classics, mathematics, &c., with a regular course of instruction ,on all subjects connected with the laws, usages, and practice of British and foreign commerce. AMPHITHEATRE.—Mr. Stirling's benefit, on Monday n ext, we hope will prove, indeed, a benefit. He picks out a tempting bill of fare. As a caterer for the public amusement, as an ac tor, and as a stage manager, he has thus a triple claim upon the Liverpool public. Liven THEATRE.—Mr. Melville and his bustling little wife take their benefit on Monday. As old favourites, we trust that they Will not be forgotten by their friends. • SHIP LAUNCH.—A fine ship, built for Messrs. Heves, Lither land, and Co , will be launched to-morrow morning from the building yard of Messrs. Seddon and Leadly, Woodside, North Birkenhead. The launch will take place at half-past eleven o'clock, TOBACCO WAREHOUSE.—Our attention has been particularly directed to the subject of an advertisement which appears in another column, respecting this establishment. If it be here, as is reported, that the planters have been made acquainted with the enormous charges made by the persons alluded to, the mer chants of this town have no other alternative than that of mak ing the strictest scrutiny into the matter, and remedying the grievances complained of, if any exist. YANKEY DOODLE TAKING IT EASY.—OII Sunday week, the brig May, belonging to Sir John Tobin, put back in company with the Caledonia American packet, they having come in con tact. The May sailed on Sunday l as t, w hil e th e Caledonia did not get away till Monday. The May discharged part of her cargo, shipped v new foremast, and repaired her rigging, while the Caledonia merely sustained a short damage in her upper works. DREADFUL ACCIDENT. SIX PERSONS KILLED-UPWARDS OZ• THIRTEEN' SERIOUSLY WOUNDED. (From the Second Edition of Tuesday's Standard.) This- morning about half-:past six O'clock a Most dreadful ac cident oecurred in Thomas-street, Pool-lane, it) this town, whi c h has occasioned the loss of the liveS of no less than seven per sons, and the serious injury of thirteen others, several of whom are not expected to recover. The house situated at the corner of Thomas-street, which was tenanted by a person of the name of James Carlo, who sold groceries, bread, &c. in the shop to the front of it, and let the upper and adjoining rooms to lodgers, chiefly poor Irishinen and their families, was the scene of this tnelancholyaccident. Inforthation was given at the Po l ice-oflice at thetime above stated by one of the duck police that the ing had fallen do wn , and buried upwards 430 pelSonsin the ruins. Upon - going to the spot, the boiling presented a laces of ruins. Several of the unfortunate inmates were cr)ing in the Most piteous manner for assistance, while the cries of the relatives of those of them whom it was too certain wete lying (lead upon the spot buried in the ruins, we:e heart-reuciieg beyond de scription. Several of the persons who had lodged in the house last night, had only arrived from Ireland yesterday, and were on their way to America and New SOuth Ntiales. Flow many of them have been killed we have not been able to learn, but from what we can. gather from one or two of the men who es* caped without injury, four out of the six killed were about to emigrate; and had recently cane to Liverpool for that pur pose. Ant.tony Carlin, a boy about 13 years of age, son of the landlord, lies dead in a house opposite to the rains; he slept iu the garret of the house. His father escaped without injury; bat his mother has been conveyed to the lofirmary. A poor woman, wire of one of the lodgers, fortunately, as it has happened, quarrelled with her husband last night, when she left the house with one of her chi , dren, to which she, no Mark, owes the preservation of her own life and that of her child. James Healey, a tailor, who had lived some time in the house, lies dead in the same room as the boy Carlin. James Stockman, a labouring man, about 3'5 years of ag e , li es i n t h e N orthern Hospital. labouring has received a severe wou nd on the back part of his head, and is otherwise serioesly injured in his bark and limbs. A %r . houring roan, named - tiommerlield, and his wife, lie in the sane house dead, together wbb another Mal) of the name of Owen Conlin, who was employed in the ducks as a ship scraper. Michael M'Noughioa, who ot copied the cellar underneath the building, together writ), his wife and four children,' have all Leen providentially saved. The escape of 111`Naughton aud • his family has been most miraculous. Thee, it appea:s, bad all slept lit tire upper part of the cellar, and on the house falling, the floor of the kitchen fell entire in a standing position, one side of the floor being supported by the rafters against the wall at its original eleva tion, the oilier end of the rai . !ers on the side of die house which fell out red!iu n g on_the gr o und. O n re.ov ;rig the robbi s h f rom . one end of ;he whole of the siri, along with two pigs, walked out no injii,•ed. One of the inmates of the opposite house was looking out of his window at the time the accident occur red, and saw the outer wall crack outwards towards Sough John-street, Immediately a'te. - wards a sailor in the failing building, the one who had quarrelled tviih hiS w;fe, inshed to the window, burst open the sash, and threw himself out, clinging only byliis hands previously to jouipieg- (hiw it, when at the same moment the corner of the hou.: , h-itn, and buried him enderneath_ an instant longer and be would have been saver]. ruler one of the bedstocks, which supports a quantity of rubbjsb, are two pigs, which appear unhurt. The seclie of the ruin itself baffles description. Beds. old tables, old elm hing, lea tray s , an d h alt all tithed up with rubbi s h. Quite: in the corner, at, the upper side of the ruin, is a part which has nut Wien in, and the pots, tea-cups, and candlesticks arranged in a closet in this corner present a sitanav appearance to the confusion and inivaround. The sight in tire house ,opposite,' where the birdies have been conveyed to, is most shraling. Pour lie dead on the floor, and on a chair is IN ? boy Catlin, covered only by a few scanty rags, besmeared will . blOod and rubbish; and in, a house next door lies the body of the sailor. Nine of the sufre , ers we , e conveyed to the Infirmary and one to the Northern Hospital, and three others to priva:e houses At the Infirmary there are five men, four women, and two children The names of the sufferers are, Marcella Joyce, hav ing a severe con ilsion on the back ; Maly at.; o. havin g severe contusion on the left hip, and gent , ailv much • bruised; Bridget. Carlin, the landlady of the house;severely bruised on the hip and general contusion ; Bridget O'H ara , the upper part of the l e ft a tm and genera ll y mach contused, particularly about th e b o dy. She is not expected to recover. lrwo children of Joyce's were not much bruised. The men's names are John Searstield, James Martin, Wm. Gill, Thomas Bone, and Patrick I•Ardle, all of whom are generally cruised about the limbs and bc,dy, but not seriously so. From the state ment of one of the sufferers, it appeals that the house fell at once without the slightest warning as the majority of them were get up. , The came of the falling of the building has not yet been ascertained. It is, however, supposed that the foundation of time house had been somewhat 'undermined by an excavation which was going forriard immediately adjacent to the ruins. FURTHER PARTICULARS. It appears that as soon as Mr. Parlour and Mr. Whitty were made acquainted with the accident, they caused the fire-hell to be rung as the best means of bringing assistance to the spot. In a very short time John Hewitt, the superintendent of the fire engines, together with a number of the firemen arrived, and immediately commenced a search among the ruins for the per sons buried amongst them. Notwithstanding the early hour at which the accident happen ed, a large crowd had assembled, but this, by the exertions of the constables and officers of the dock police, was soon driven back to a suitable distance, that it might not impede the opera tions of those who were actively employed. In a few minutes Hewitt, whose sense of - hearing Seems to be extraordinary, said that he heard the moans of a person under the rubbish at tjie extreme end,where the workmen had not hitherto been employed. Their efforts were instantly directed to this spot, and at the depth of about a yard a man was found alive ; though he had been literally buried in dust and fragments of bricks. Mr Scott, surgeon, who was on the spot from the commencement, direbted that a little water should be administered to him, which con siderably revived him. Some time elapsed ere his arms and legs could be extricated, and it was then found that he was so much bruised that it was deemed advisable to send him to the Infirmary. _ Immediately after this Mr. Parlour, who worked during the whole time with unceasing vigor, discovered another body a lit tle higher up - in the ruins which was instantly released, but it was lifeless, having been crushed to death by the pressure of the rubbish which covered it. In the meantime Hewitt, having worked down about two feet in a particular spot, discovered a little boy alive, who, having been extricated, was examined by Mr. Scott. The latter having administered sonic restoratives, sent the lad to the Infirmary. Scarcely had the la s t n ame d i n ; dividual been dragged f o rth, when Hewitt declared that there was another living being beneath the rubbish at a spot which he pointed out. The men instantly commenced working down wards at this point, and, after great efforts, and having pro ceeded to a considerable depth, a female was taken out alive. While clearing the place of her exhumation, a bed wa's dis covered, and from between it and the rubbish protruded the arm of a man, with the hand firmly clenched. In the hope that life might not haVe been entirely ilestroyed, he was extricated with the greatest speed, and every means used to resuscitate him, but in vain. During this operation a further search was made in the bed, when a female corps was discovered horribly mangled, and it was evident, from their relative positions, that they had perished together, while fast hound in the fetters of sleep. Almost immediately beneath the bed above-mentioned, but a little to the right, twit deeper in the ruins, the workmen came to another bed, and on turning it over, a couple of aged men, in a state of extreme emaciation, were found lifeless, having, no doubt, also perished while vet asleep. Hewitt de clared that he heard a man moaning faintly between the ruins and the wall of the excavation. The first floor of the building had fallen diagonally, some of its joists being, supported at one end by a piece of wall, and a great part of it having been pre served entire in the fall. On turning this over,a man was found immediately under it. He was alive and comparatively unin jured. At some depth.below this the body of a boy was found dead. THE INQUEST. On Wednesday morning an inquest was taken before John Reyes, Esq., the county coroner and a respectable jury, at the Police Court, High-street, upon the bodies of the six unfortunate persons, named Thomas Summerfield, and Mary his wife, Owen Carlin, Patrick Healey, Thomas Bullen, and Anthony Carlin, who came by their deaths from the falling of the house in Thomas-street. Patrick Naughton examined.—He lived in the cellar of the house which had fallen. On Monday evenino. he retired to bed with his family, consisting of his wife and three children, and was awoke earl• in the morning by his boy screaming that the house was tumbling down. He instantly sprung up, and dragged both his wife and the tiny .into a cellar adjoining the one in which they slept, where they remained in safety for some time, and were ultimately released by some of the police. None of them received any serious injury. OLe little boy was slightly contused. _ _ James Carlin examined.—He was the occupier of the house in Thomas-street, in which he had resided about eight vears. The low room to the front of the street he occupied as a shop, and the room at the hack and four upper rooms were let for lodgings. On Monday evening there were 21 persons in the house, including himself and family, together with five persons in the cellar. About six o'clock (in the following morning he was alarmed by a loud noise in the house, and by the dies of some of the lodger's. Had no recollection how he got out of the house. Had not received much injury. Witness had repeat edly been warned by the landlord and the persons who were excavating the foundation of the adjoining building, ihatthe house was in danger. He had been served with a notice to that effect nearly a month ago. A copy of the notice was here lead by the coroner, and was as follows : "Mr. P. CA RUN. SIII,—The house you now live in is in great danger of fall ing ; you must therefore leave it immediateis .. . (Signed) WALkEIt, Solicitor to Mr. Warrington, your landlord. Liverpool, 13th February, IRlti." The Coroner asked witness if he had made his lodgers ac quainted with the contents of the notice, to which he replied, he had. The reason %shy he did not leave the house was, that he could not get another which suited him so well ; and that he had paid a sum of money to the former tenant for the good will of the house, which he wished to get repaid beture he left it. Upon being again asked whether be had told all the lodgers of the danger in which the building was, he said, that he could not recollect telling any one in particular, but it had been made the subject of conversation in the house. Two of the deceased had only been a few days with him. About four or lire years ago the house adjoining to that in which he lived was ti;ken down, and a few weeks ago an exca vation was continence(' upon the site of that house for the at length, Ann Bull foun dation of another building. But he was not able to say how much the house he lived in was endangered by the excavation. He could not see very well, and had not been much out of th e sent for. She said she en ' house. ConsideraWe di ff iculty arose in procuring Persons to , i , d i e te n identify 0 tnhee of bodies e, t , h s e ed, sti . l ff ya e s rers; had hat morning seen five of the bodies, I ; t. 1 tliede o c f : udic,, so f , r ee • oginzed as those of Thomas Summerfield, and Mary hi s w it• e, Owen Can_ Stn, Patrick Healey, and her (witnesses) hu s b and, Sullen. The boy Carlin was identified by his Thomas father. Mr. Samuel Rowland, surveyor, said that during the last week he had examined the excavation which was going on in Thomas-street. The foundati on i s v a t` , sandy , and the exca vation was very near to th e foundation bad fallen. lie had been ca lled of the build ing which upon, together with M r . Stewart, the surveyor, to • ascertain whe • thei the wall of the house was a party wall, which they decided it by itself, without support, and I the beams of the house next to it were fixed in it, and the.: roof of the h o use res ted u p on it. H e thought the accident was caused by the rain, whi c h h a d b een the very heavy during evening 01 Monday, beating . I'mm the east upon the foundation, and which had no doubt earned a way a considerabl e portion (4 . the sand upon which the me ' ho built. The sand t h at was left to support the w:illshelveddt:‘ . s a m l between three and four feet into the new foundation, end several yards of the wall of an old holise, which had been taken down some years ago, were left standing, iu order to support the gable ,end of the building which had fallen. He had called upon MG- 6"1.4 A have ;and es of ch ; Jer•• ms. I fer t a ese )R let ke cli ns