The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1836-02-05 00:00:00

3 . 1 . i , , Itilloga . ''' , 111101115, jil FEBRUARY 5, 1836. COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS. On :Wednesday the second quarterly meeting of the town council was held at the Town Hall, at Twelve o'clock. The proceedings commenced by the town-clerk reading over the minutes of the last meeting. WATCII The I\l4 rot: said the first question in point of importance which would demand their attention, would be the report of the watch committee. The TOWN-CLERK then proceeded to read the report—lfor which see our advertising columns.] The MAvolt.—They had heard the report of the watch com mittee ; perhaps some gentlemen had considered the matter, and was prepared to propose some resolution to the council. Mr. Councillor SAN OARS thought that the council was ex ceedingly indebted to the committee for the very able report they had drawn up. It was a subject of.deep interest to the public and to every member of the council, and he thought that the whole report ought to be advertised in all the Liverpool journals. He should move " that the report be printed in each of the Liverpool journals, and that a sufficient number of copies be printed for the use of the members of the council." Mr. Alderman STUART seconded the motion. Mr. Councillor LOGAN suggested that the report should be first adopted. The MAvott.--Certainly. Perhaps some gentlemen would move to that effect. Mr. Councillor EARLS did not know that the council had any controul over the acts of that committee. He thought they were absolute, and the only committee that was so. The Towx-c LERK.—The watch committee is the only commit tee that is not directed to be appointed under the g•eneral autho rity of the council. The watch committee had particular duties assigned to them by the act, but he understood that the report of the committee was submitted to the council as a matter of courtesy. He therefore thought the council should take cogni zance of it. I\lr.doun. calor LiwitENc E Would suggest to the town-clerk to read theB2d section. The TowN-cLus lc read the section :—to the effect that the proceedings of the committee were subject to the approbation of the council. He was aware of that clause, but the power to appoint the constables was a power given to the watch com mittee independent of the coun c il. Mr:Councillor. I.ANCNCE.—Yes ; but the amount of their salaries must be paid with the approbation of the council, whiCh showed that the whole of their proceedingS must come before the council. The MAYOR.-With the exception of that part which regards the appointment...6f voilStibies- • Mr. Counc4ir 2 gAni,.on;y wanted to be satisfied on that Mr. Couneilior Anti * A.Anoved;atir.ol Mr. Councillor LOGAN seconded the adoption of the report, which was udannuously agreed to. Mr. Councillor SANDARS' motion was then put and carried, "that it he advertised in all the papers." Mr. Councillor LAWRENCE begged to move as an amend ment, on the siltz(r"e , ,tion of Mr. COGLAN, that one copy only be printed, and that it be not advertised. The MAYOR was afraid Mr. Coglan was rather too late; the question had already been decided. It was too late to hark back on it; he thought Mr. Coglan had known better. The T owN-cLhitic then read the report of the sub-committee. That committee had at its meeting on Friday last, engaged a Anther numb er of sixty-one men. They had also advertised for tenderstor clothing the men. They had ordered an adver tisement to be inserted in each of the Liverpool journals, ad vettising for a number of men for the constabulary force. That they were not yet prepared to report on the lighting and sca venging department. At a meeting of the sub-committee, held that day; a letter having been read from Mr. Parlour, the su perintendant of the police, requesting a further hearing, it was res ° l7 ed, "that the committee deem it unnecessary to make any further inquiry into the case, and that the letter he laid be foie the council. The letter was then read as addressed to the chairman of the watch committee as follows:—.,lt having come to my knoWledge that charges have, in my absence, been made before the watch committee, I respectfully beg to be furnished with a.copy of those charges, and that an opportunity may be afforded me of rebutting that testimony, and of proving my in nocence, of whichlaut myself consci o u s ." He ought to read to them a previous minute of the committee of the '2Bth of January, `that the committee had taken into consideration Mr. Parlour's previous examination, and it was resolved that they were of opinion that there was no necessity to proceed further in the examination of Mr. Parlour,.or to require his further attend ance before the committee." The MA yo a.—The committee had not thought it right to en ter into the subject, but,had referred the matter to the council ; it would be for their consideration, to determine what answer to return to that letter. Mr. Councillor EARLS.—As one of the committee, he could inform the council that it was from Mr. Parlour's own evidence that they had recommended that he was ineligible. Mr. Councillor SHARPLES thought it was but fair that he should be examined. Mr. Alderman ROBINSON.—The sub-committee made use of the word charges. The sub-committee in the course of their investigation had spent a great deal of time. The charges against Mr. Parlour were rather things arising out of the in formation given by himself than in the shape of charges. He believed the majority of the sub-committee were not influenced either for or against him. They found the system under Mr. Parlour's direction so very bad, and Mr. Parlour so incapable,. that they could not in their duty recommend him. Mr. Councillor It:miaow: begged to move "that the council was perfe c tly sa ti s fi e d with the report of the committee, and, therefore, th a t th ere was no necessity to go faither into the matter." Mr. Alderman BROWN seconded the motion. • • After some further conversation, in which it was suggested that the evidence gone into in Mr. Parlour's case should be read, and which was negatived, - and in which Mr. Itathbone thought it a reflection on the watch committee for that council to examine their evidence, or to call in question their deci sions, to which the Mayor replied that all committees were responsible to that council for their proceedings, and that their acts were subject to the sanction of that council, and might, if the council thought necessary, be sent back for their revision, with the exception of the watch committee in the appointment of constablei, with which theitiad nothing to do ; and, therefore, no committee Cottitl 'think . relieefititt•Ost-the m if the council should think it necessary to .94-der them to revise their report. Mr. Rathbone's motion was then put and adopted. FINANCE COMMITTEE. The MA von.—The next subject for their consideration was the report of the finance committee., 'The Town-clerk then read the report of the finance commit tee at a meeting held on -Frid•iy,. the Isth of January, at which Mr. Holmes presided. An application from Mrjames .Pierson for the use of the .Exhibition-rooms was. declined.. An application that the baths might be repaired.—The sur veyor ordered to inspect them for that purpose. An application for a. grant of land in Hope-street for the building of a chapel, six hundred free sittings to be reserved as a recompence.L--rrhe committee could not entertain the ap plication. An application relative to the removal of the powder mills.— Referred to the town-clerk and clerk of•the committee to report. - An application from the Gas Company to supply the Custom house with gas.—lteferred to the customs committee. An application from Thomas Taylor for a share of the sta tionery orders of the conncil.—For further consideration. At a m ee ti ng o f t h e finance committee held on the 22d of January, an application from the churchwardens of St. Thomas's Church for the repairing of the building.—The surveyor to re port the state of the building, with an estimate of the cost of zepairing it. An application from the Lyceum, for leave to let the unoccu pied cellars under the building. Mr. Maxwell t.o see the presi dent and report the object for which was wanted. A resolution to . petition the Board of Ordnance to send an efficient officer to inspect the powder magazines, and report thereon. An application for a lease for some land in Flops-street for a chapel to be erected. The land to be offered at 15s. a square yard; not to be used as a burial around. An application from Ellice Wilmer for a butcher's stall. Referred to the superintendent of the market. The town-clerk's and the clerk of the committees' reports on the state of the powder mills received. An officer, in conse quence, had come down from London to inspect them. An application from Mr. Edward Bourne, for the renewal of a lease. Granted, subject to a fine of £4lOO An application from James Harper to alter the situation of his weighing machine. Not complied with. Resolved, that the expenses incurred by Mr. Hall in obtain ing his appointment be .defrayed. At a meeting on the 29th of January—Resolved, that the town-clerk and the clerk of the committees report on the investi gation taking place with regard to the powder mills by the officer. ' _ _ An application from Messrs. Ross and Nightingale for a share of the council stationery business. To be considered. An 4PliCtition for relief from Esther Smith, the widow of the late bridge master. No power to grant it. Resolved, that an account be furnished of the livings in the gift of the corporation to the House Secretary's office, a. letter from that office requesting it. A report from the sub-committee to enquire into the past ex penses since June last read and adopted. An application from Mr. L Pearson, on behalf of a christian society, for some land to build a chapel on. That,it be offered the society for 20s. the square yard. Resolved, on the report being read, with regard to the appli cation of the Lyceum newsroow.—Granted, in the first instance, for five years; no carts to ply in Bold-street, and accommoda tion to be made for getting the goods out of the cellars by a back way. The report of the Sub-committee for inquiring into expense:B since the sth of June last, stated, that on the sth of December the treasurer had paid over to Sir Thomas Brancker and Mr. Charles Lawrence the sum, of £105,000 for the endowment of the clergy. The whole endowment amounted to £4OOO per an num. This was payable in addition to the present other emolu ments arisin, all of which were paid up to the 25 th of Decem ber last. No g part of the corporation property was ever before mortgaged f or any purpose of a similar nature. A letter had been received from Mr. Theakstone,lnforming them of the evosian of town dues by the coasting vessels; and a resolution thanking Mr. Theakstone - for his information. The sums, as procured for the Church endowment, were then stated to be ac cording to the foll Owing items, which were read over by Mr. Welwood ,Maxwell. On the sth of December, from J ' Gso l ae r hmon fi ru y el H osi o tto l a t nn L ,i Ef e o s i r g qt hh. Esq. 20,000 13,440 Rayner,.Esq Deficiency supplied by the Corporation Making a total of £105,000 The whole of this sum, said Mr. Bolton, was paid over to Sir Thomas Brancker and Mr. Lawrence. Mr. Councillor RATHaoNE,moved that these sums be inserted in the r e p orts, an d b e f ore th a t report be received by the council, the Particulars of those sums be inserted in the report. Mr. Councillor BOLTON would give the dates of the receipt of ;those sums as well. After some relative to the Lyceum application, Councillor Dr.'e ARSON said an applicaticu was made for some land near the Medical Institution, in Hone-street; he thought before they granted this application it. would be desirable to low whether the medical gentlemen conducting that institu tion would require more land in that situation, and whether any tart of the land they were now going to grant would be desirable 'or the m . l4tt Councillor BLACKBURN seconded the suggestion, and tvrril dtihneggrant be postponed a month to give time to consider question. It was not from any wish to prevent parties from the chapel. Some other part of the land might perhaps o RR well for them. Mr. CouncillOr MAXWELL conceived that t hes e remarks now came t.o late. off er. Councillor BOLTON thought the land was now distinctly to Mr. Pierson. He thought such a motion as this h. 4 ` ) , t i lhl be interfering with fair trading , and until Mr. Pie rson iVdecli ne d the offer they could not entertain the question. sl in 7; Councillor JOHN -140LMES thought these observations c I have been made before the offer was made. Ti l l uncillo r Dr. CARSON was not aware of it before. to the M AYOR said the offer was made by the committee, subject 7,sooartnation of the council `-°tlhCillOr BLACKBURN. —They were there to confirm or • not the decisions of the committee; he conceived they were per fectly in order. Mr. Councillor Bo LToN.—Such application ought to be made through the Finance Cominittee. Mr. Pierson's answer would be received through the Finance Committee on the next Friday. He was of opinion that the land question was not now before the council. Councillor Dr. CARSON supposed then that tl& Finance Coin-' mittee proceedings would afterwards come Venire the council. The MAYOR.—It was for the conned A; 'Say Whether or not the proceedings of the Finance Committee should be confirmed. - It was for the council to say whether or not the Finance Com-. mittee should suspend their proceedings till inquiry be made. The question now would be that the proceedings of the Finance Committee 6e adoPted, with the exception of those questions which were objected to. . N. . Mr. Councillor BOLTON rose-to make a remark— The MAYOR begged pardon; Mr. Bolton had risen rather often on this subject. Mr. Alderman BROWN thought the premises of the Medical Institution might be enlarged backwards as much as required. Mr. Alderman STUART concurred:with Mr. Brawn. If that were the case there would be no necessity for a delay or refusal to Mr. Pierson's request. Councillor Dr. CA RSON.—Thev could not be built backwards. Mr. Alderman BA RCI. AY.—lf Dr. Carson's request was of a private nature it would be a different thing; but as it was con.; nected•with the general improvement and welfare of the town it would admit of a little attention. Mr. Councillor BLACKBURN.—If they had not fallen into er ror, that that council was the place to apply to on the subject; they should before have applied to the finance committee. Mr. Councillor Hour said the land had been advertised for sale, and.put up to auction, and there were no bidders for it. Mr. Cottacillor SHIEL thought it-his duty to state, that the finance committee had certain duties, and a certain responsi bility given to them subject to the decision of the council. He thought it tif i essary that some distinct line should be Marked out at which their proceedings might be called in ques tion without having any reason assigned. Dr. Carson had stood up, and told them .that , the directors , ofthat medical institution might at -some fiiture time consider it necessary to enlarge their building. The same thing was repeated , by Mr. Blackburn. There was no proposal from those gentle men; but that it-might at some future time be convenient to enlarge the building. Were the proceedings of the finance conanitteeofie done away with for this ? No proposition was made, 'and lie hoped the council would not rescind the decision of the finanCe committee on those grounds. Ma. Councillor HORNBY, as a - member of the finance Om mittee, took quite a different view from Mr. Shiel. Mr. Shiel seemed to think their proceedings ought not to beltie,ddled•With ; Vbisuivdieal institution - wag to be an improvement of the town, and he thought it a very fit subject for the council at large to take into their consideration. The MAYOR said he had seen Mr. Pierson, and he considered the offer of the finance committee as pending on the decision orthe counci' on that day. . Mr. Councillor -Honk; thought the plestion should be sub mitted to the improvement committee, and should decidedly re commend that the delay of.a month should take place before the decision of th& qaieslion. Mr. Alderman MANS thought the finance committee wanted to take the power oat of the hands of the council, and he felt quite alarmed at some of the expressions which had fallen. What were they there for? Were they to be told that they were nut to question the acts of any of the committees? If that was the case they were reduced altogether to a cypher. Mr. Collticilloi...§HlEl„ in e xplanation, said it would be wrong to interfere with the decisions of the finance committee unless better reasons were given for it than they had heard. That was all he meadt,to convey. After some for er conversation the motion was put, "that the report of the fi nce committee be adopted, with the excep tion\ of the offer of l• 'id," and carried. ': • - . Mr. Councillor EA s LE then moved, and Mr. Councillor SAN OARS seconded "that the select finance committee be requested to suspend their offer to Mr. Pierson of the land in Hope-street for one mouth." After some conversation the amendment was agreed to. COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY INTO THE DUTIES AND EMOLUMENTS OF THE PAID OFFICERS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE TOWN-cLERK AN,D RECORDER. "The Committekappointed at an adjourned quarterly meet ing of the Council of the borough, held on the second day of January, with full powers to examine and inquire into the du ties.anti emoluments o the paid officers of the corporation, ex cepting the recorder ann tcFwnclerk, and to report thereon have proceeded in their inquiry, and do agree upon the following REPORT - a.._ " Tr:East:antes OFFICE.—Mr. John Dean Case, the trea surer, was appointedin 1820, at a salary of £lOOO a-year, with two sureties of £5OOO each and himself in £lO,OOO, for the due performanre or his duties. He receives and pays all monies due to and by the corporation—conducts the correspondence — has the superintendence of the office—keeps the cash account and cash himself; and pays all the bills by orders of Commit tees—derives no emolument in any other way, and is restricted from engaging in any other business.' He has two clerks in the office, Mr. John Ludlow, whose salary has been £262 10s. per annum., and who has also an allowance of £5O per annum for taking eharge of and keeping an account of wine and other li quors in the cellars 'of the Town Hall—gives surety to Mr Case for nw. Ile receives from the paoprietors of the Exchange Buildings, £52 10s. for keeping their accounts, which he does at'his own house. " William Sudlow; 'assistant clerk; was appointed in 1832, at a salary of £l5O, and connected with the treasurer's office . is Mr. James Pierson, the outaof-door collector, at a salary of £lOO per annum. The hours of attendance in the office arc, from nine to half-past four, except at busy periods, when they are later. "'Thomas Corrie, appointed in 1821, receiver of town dues and anchorage.—His duty is to receive these two branches of the borough revenue, and hand over his collections, weekly, to the treasurer. He is assisted by two clerks to whom he pays ont of his own funds £250 to £3OO per annum. His allowance at first was £3 per cent on the gross amount of his receipts, but in 1825 it was reduced to £2 10s. per cent. He has no other emoluments. He gives security in £lO,OOO for the faithful per formance of his duty. His annual nett income (after paying his clerks) has been on an average of the last five years, £1121; 10s.-34. The appOintment of the principal auditor of town dues seem to be nearly, if not quite, useless, no adequate services being performed for his salary of £lOO a-year. The assistant auditors, and also the recent appointment of Mr. Ben son seem to be necessary under the present mode of collecting the town dues, but it has been suggested to your committee, that a better and more economical plan might be adopted, by their being collected in the Dock Office in connection with the dock rates. " the duties of the office of surveyor, held by Mr. Foster, are, to furnish plans and estimates, to reportupon orders and attend committees, to see to the performance of contracts, to examine and certify bills, and to inspect the materials supplied for the . service of the corporatien, &c. &c: The salary is • £l,OOO per annum. He derives a further sum of £BO to £lOO per annum from paatieS taking leases, for counteiapart plans thereon. 'Phis work is done by one of the assistantdraftsme.n in the sur yeyor's.office during his hours of attendance there. Mr. Fos . - ter has also £5 per cent. commission upon the cost of the New Custom-house now building, but not to be charged upon more than £175,000; and he is not restricted' from- practising pro fessionally within twenty miles of Liverpool, and, with permis sion from the council, (which permisSion he states he always had from them—the mavor or chairman of finance committee,) - it - maam! does practice elsewhere. In the surveyor's office, Sir. Weightman has been principal draftsman, with a salary of £3OO per annum, (having also from Mr. Foster £l5O more for his private account.) He also practices his profession for his private emolument.. Ilir. Weightme.n receives sketches from iii r. Foster, whence he draws plans. He states himself to have been employed to make estimates, to superintend the erectien of buildings, to measure work, inspect materials, and ,much of the business would appear to have devolved upon him. - R. J. - Barrow, J. Barclay, and J. E. 'Turner, assistant draftsmen, appointed by the surveyor, paid by the corporation £157 10s. each, have no emolument except a gratuity of £ls.each; lately received, unasked for by them. The extent of work assigned to them fluctuates, and is frequently insufficient to keep them all employed. In the filling up of future vacancies in the sur veyor's office, your committee recommend the appointments to 'be made by the council. The gentlemen filling the last-named officea have been in the practice of drawing plans for their own emolument. "John. Smith, surveyor's out-door assistant, superintends ,new buildings and repairs for the corporation. His salary is £lO4 per annum. Receives a gratuity of £5." "Mr. Charles Okill, is clerk of committees; has the custody of the repositty; conducts the correspondence of his department ; - prepares petitions for - leases, and calculates their value. Ap pointed in 1824, at a salary of £250, increased in . 1825 to £4OO, in 1826 to £5OO, and in 1828 to £6OO. - Has received'-grants, at various times for extra services for himself and son, amounting to £1770. Has no other emolument. Was formerly assisted'by his late sow et his own expense. Contrasting the duties per.: formed by Mr. Okill with those of all the other paid servants of the corporation who have been before your committee, they are Of opinion that an undue share of I,b;ur is done by him; and your committee recommend that he should have an assistant, which the maintenance of the system established by Mr. Okill requires. "SartiaatiTsAT-Macit.—Timothy Parkinson has the execu tion of all writs issued from the borotigh-court; swears juries and witnesses; is crier of the court; attends sessions all day, andjoins in processions. Has a salary of £l3O per annum, and various.fees. emoluments, &sc. tnakingh is nett income up to from borough. h e ou £4OO to £6OO, whi ch is like ly to be augmented by the recent no ex t e nsionorthe by bo h u is n d a a py r i n e i s n o tin ft e h n e t security, which Ert .—John H anna h . A t t en d s a t th e. Town, gh t o ile have has sd given orie. ha;l.Sti;:nlltphel3l\lAal;or on all public occasions ; .has charge of the regalia. His salary is i: 150 perannum ; has no other emolu ment, except ss. at every quarter sessions. i‘ TowN-H.AL.L ESTABLISHMENT. " On this subject your committee beg leave to remark, that by a statement appended to the inquiry by the municipal commis sioners, it appears that for seven years' allowances to Mayors amounted to .................. . ................ £B4OO f 1 0 The payments on account of the carriage establish ment amounted to .................. ...... 4905 5 1 Ditto for repairs, furniture, pain,ters, &c., of the Town-hall ... ............................... 7631 19 1 Ditto for 'Town-hall establishment, consisting o f servants' wages, gas, candles, coals, waiters, &c. 3591 5 7 3151 11 7 Ditto for wine in that period • • £27,688 1 4 or, on an average £3,995 Bs. 9d. per annum ; and by thus ex. hibiting, in one -view the particulars of which the expenditure has consisted, the council will be better able to consider, whe ther any, an 4 if any, in what particulars the future expenditure may be diminished. James Woods, George Barton, and W. Woodward, the two first with salaries of £5O, and the last £lOO per annum, as having two districts to attend. Are appointed by the 'corpora tion. Their duties are to see that all new buildings are con formable to the building act. " Joseph Darlington, Billet Master. Duties are to quarter the soldiers according to certain rules, amongst the public houses. Salary £lOO per annum. " Inspector of Coaches and Cars, John Martindale. Salary £65 per annum. "CHAIN AND CABLE TRIAL MACHINE.—Your committee have pleasure in observing that this establishment fully answers the expectations of the promoters of it, and that it is found to be useful to the public, and yields a surplus beyond the ex penditure. " HARBOUR MASTER.—Has a salary of £2OO per annum. Has the entire management of the three Graving Docks. Nova Scotia; furnishes the treasurer with accounts for collection. Has a clerk _and messenger under him. He is also water bailiff, and has charge of the ships and stairs at the river side. Surveys strand , tl Vessels; and has references to him for trifling anchors and damage done on the river, for which he makes no charge. He has also an appointmen t under the Dock-office, for which he receives £3OO per annum and no perquisites. Th e propriety of a transfer of these Graving Docks to the dock estate, will doubtless receive the consideration of the dock com mittee. - • -• THE BATris.—Your committee find that the baths cost £7 lOs. per Iveck ;',l wages for the attendants; and there being . ino effivent check upon the receipts, your committee recom mend, that if any adequate offer could be obtained from any ~/~ ~ 4~f 1.~._ /'~ . THE LIVERPOOL STANDARb. competent person, the baths should be let at a fixed rent upon proper terms as to maintenance and repairs. The Beadle receives £1 ss. 6d. per week; and the Beilman £l5 per annum, besides what he may make by his bell. "PUBLIC MARKETS.—Your committee do not at present re. commend any alterations in, their, management, but they con sider that under a system of contracts, or by changing some of theless efficient for more efficient labourers, some reduction in the expenditure may be effected. "SQUARES AND GA R DENS. —Your committee also find the keeping of the Mount Garden, Abercrombie, Great George, and Falkner-squares, &c. cost £8 per week in wages, and there being no superintendence, would suggest that the keeping of those gardens and squares in order, should, if possible, be done by contract. "POLICE.—Your committee leave the inquiry into the duties of the superintendant of police, constables, and also of the' keeper of Bridewell to the watch committee, being aware that the duties of those officers are under the consideration of that committee. " BonouGu Gaol.—The salary paid to the governor of the Borough Gaol is £350 per annum. There are also four turn key,.s and one watchman, all of whom appear to be fully re quired for that establishment. "SCHOOLS.--Your committee did not inquire into the duties of the schoolmasters, considering such inquiry would more pro perly belong to the committee on schools. " CLERGY. — Your committee considering that an inquiry into the duties, salaries, and emoluments derived under the church establishment is not within the intended scope of their instructions, have no report to make thereon. " Co SCLUS lON.—The committee, in conclusion, think it their duty to express their opinion, that a considerable annual saving may, with propriety, be effected by reducing the salaries of some of' the servants of the corporation to limits proportional to the labours and responsibility of their several duties. The comm ttee do not, however, consider it expedient. under exist ing circumstances, nor within their province to . go into detail upon this subject; but they submit, that a committee should be appointed with power to consider and report upon all proper reductions—receive Communications from parties who may be affected; and report upon such arrangenients as the committee may recommend. (Signed) N i v E er S e ' th C e h i a n i s rin tru a c n tio ' n Mr. Councillor EARLS " i j n O qu H ir N ed 11 :ha L t it : of that committee in the first instance ? The TOWN - CLERK.—FeII powers to inquire into the duties of all paid officers, with the exception of the Town-clerk and He. corder. ' Mr. Councillor EAnt.E.—Then no inquiry into the fitness of the officers. In the watch committee we have done that.—Here is aiiian employed to look after buildings of houses. There are , two houses erected in Hope-street, near the Institution, and two more blackguard buildings never were erected. The MAYOR —That officer is appointed by act of parliament by the magistrates. "Mr. Councillor EARLE believed he was a corporate officer; but he did not wish to enumerote, there were many such cases. If he had been on that coinmitsee he should have made his re port accordingly. Mr. Alderman EVANS.—If Mr. Earle observed the conclu sion of that report, there was more in it, perhaps, than at first met the car. The.TOWN-CLERK being requested, again read the conclusion of the report. Mr. Councillor SHIEL would wish to suggest that the. same committee be re-appointed with power to continue their in quiries, and to urge such inquiries as they might think desirable into the different offices held under the .corporation. And that they should also extend their inquiries with a view of - making a very material reduction in the town-hall establiShment. He ffiund on looking over the accounts for 1831, which be really could not understand, that the treasurer had not yet found it convenient to furnish them with an abstract of the last year's account for the establishment; he could not tell why, for he could not think they were so complicated. In 1831 the account of the expenses for entertainments given in the Town : hall, in cluding wine and the mayor's carriage, amounted to £3,200, or thereabouts. He thought that that was contrary to law as the case now stood. But whether it were or not, it was clearly con trary to good economy. In one item there had been a consi derable increase in the expenditure. At one time three horses were thought sufficient for the mayor's carriages; but in conse quence, he supposed, of the increased proportions of the mayor, the last year tour horses had been thought necessary. (A laugh.) He should hope that in future three horses would he found sufficient. He would therefore suggest in addition, with a view to making all possible reduction in the public expendi ture, that full inquiries should be made into every thing re lating to that expenditure. Mr. Councillor AMIN then moved " that the committee should be re-appointed, with full power and riartieular instruc tions to inquire into all the offices, and into the fitness of the officers, having a view to economy in every department, and with full power to examine witnesses." Mr. SHIM: said he would take that opportunity of stating that he had been suspected of having made communications, in his character of councillor. to the newspapers of the town. He would there state that he . bad never made any communication whatever,.with regard to the proceedings of that council, to any newspaper; and as long as he was connected with that council . he hevenshould. He had heard this report frequently in the town. The MAYOR:never heard anything of_ the kind; .and it ap peared to hint that as long as they had six or seven gentlemen there taking dOwn their procaedings it was not necessary for 'them to take that trouble. Aikin's motion, being seconded, was then- put and carried. 11:A1K IN then moved that Mr. Earle Should be added to the emusnittee, which was carried unanimously. IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE. The TOWN-CLERK proceeded to read the report of the im provement committee, as passed on the 230 of 'January, 1836, is which it was resolVed, after some matters-of form, that an ap plication of Mr. Birkett to know their determination relative to some improvements in Water-street should' betaken into consi deration. , Mr. Birkett had some property in. Water-street, the Boar's. Head, and, before making any alterations and im provements in it, he wished to know whether the improvement the-old council. committee intended pulling down the sale'of Water-strect„on •-.._ which it —vas, as was talked of. ------- Which those by y iade in that . Mr. Councillor EAR LE said this was a very the manner in which affairs were mana! , ed by good specimen -of . 1-tead was, and it The Boar's Head was a, purchase which had guile through the street hads they or tw9 wouldpl parties have to d int. improvemen ts diiii hot 4 - Xe 'r s e, me arrangements the council would i p ,l uit h ie e s s l d o e ul o d f c t i l e le ar s s t ; e tn e e t £olll;w2t'ill'htehiemperonretenents must be made b rd ec t r i i t e s a b b o s: i l d ut b e e ly n iLe , c l e e s . sai p •v e ,..th b: tr s„ ~i therefore t i 1,., g a refer this-to the committee,- with • ' pot I, ( to make the best arraii , - , -r, ments they could with the owner of it. • 'MI'. Alderman BitowN was afraid this dismission would lead to their htivinp.: to pay an exorbitant price for the imprbvments whi ch would have to be made in that street. -.: • IA was then orderetithat tie committee have full power to ne gociate with Mr. Birkett. Some improvements in Pool-lane were then brought forward for the sanction of the council, which were referred to the im provement committee. - ' . . Livgaroor. DOCK ESTATE. • • - . , . . . ' • The TowN-ctEnE then proceeded to lead the reportof the dock estate committee. , . . "LIVERPOOL DOCK ESTATE. The committee appointed on the tith Jan uary, 1836, to in- quire into the relative position of the town council and the dock trust, particularly with reference to the bill now proposed to be introduced into parliament, and to report thereon, and upon all necessary proceedings, have considered. the matters referred to them, and do agree upon the following " REPORT, "The corporation of .Liverpool have, at different periods made tree grants of the town property to a large extent for the use of the docks. The first of these grants was made in 1709, for the formation of the first (the old) dock, described as being 'parcel of the waste of and' belongi,ng, to the said borough and cor poration, lying in or near a certain place called the pool, on the south side of the said town of Liverpool, which shall for ever be and remain to the use, intent, and purpose befkire mentioned, and to no other use, intent, or purpose whatsoever.' "In the same manner was granted the ground whereon have been made the Canning Dock, George's Dock and Basin, Salt house Dock, and a considerable nertion of that which forms the King's and Queen's Docks. Thus the principal part of the space now occupied by the docks.was the property of the town given to the deck estate. anda an(iinterests and s "All the g round to the westward of the decks was the pro perty of the town, freely given by the Alieks, el all the sides rest of ducts oi es t t o a t t h e . e Aflthe gro und to the westwardof .the corpora tion; brinks and d t in manynecessary o tfhoorr respects.O ,ptirt hoe propertyes, belong the town and dock estates are so intimately'combined, that it would be dangerons, if not impracticable, to separate the two trusts. The mayor, aldermen, and common council have, from the first, been the trustees of the docks. "Formerly. they appointed the whole committee of manage ment, consisting of 21, from their own body, to which great ob jection was made by the dock rate-payers, on the ground that the common council were 'self-elected and for life,' and that it was inconsistent with the principles of good goveintnent that the expenditure of a revenue collected from the public should rest with trustees, who acknowledged no responsibility to that public. By the 72d section of the municipal act, the council ere trustees for executing the powers of acts of parliament, of 'which the members of the body corporate were, in their corpo rate capacity, trustees prior to the 26th December last. " It is only by a provision inserted to the 7lth section, obvi ously with a view to give time for a legislative enactment in the present session between the two great estates, that these gene ral powers are in the case of the Liverpool docks suspended until the first day of November next. Availing themselves of this brief period; the trustees, who, when they were in office for life and self-elected, by every means in their power resisted all modification, now give notice of an aftpliCatten to parliament for an act to transfer the trust from the council of the town alto gether, and, as it would seem; because that council is no longer self•elected and irresponsibile, to exclude it from all participa tion in the appointment of the committee of management. 1 he• town council being now the representative of all interests of,the town and borough, including the dock tate-payers, the objec , tions hitherto used are inapplicable; and Your committee are confident that a large majority of the dock rate-payers would be satisfied not only that the council should remain the trustees of the docks, but that they should also have the sole appointment of the committee of management. Your conimitttee, however, deeming it desirrble that so important an interest as that of the rate-payers should be particularly as well as generally repre sented, recommend that, while the future trusteeship should remain in the council, their power to revise and annul the acts of the dock committee should be repealed, and the number now admitted into_the council of management upon the election of the rate-payers should be extended. Your committee are de cidedly of opinion that the proposal now made for the first time to separate the two estates entirely, if allowed to become law, would lead to collision, and to consequences dangerous alike to the interests of both. And, as your committee are given to understand that it is highly probable that bills for the applica tion of the municipal act to particular cases in boroughs will be allowed to be brought into parliament, though there may not have been time for the usual notice, they recommend that . power should be given by the council to a committee to take all necessary proceedings.for bringing the case of the dock estate before the legislature either upon the biil for which notice has been given, or'by means of a 'bill to be submitted on the part of the council of Liverpool. That the committee so to be ap• pointed should be instructed to have in view all such alterations in the constitution of the dock trust and management as are suggested in this report, so far as the same maybe approved by the council; and that the attention of such committee should be expressly drawn to the subject of the dock police, which, in the . • opinion of your committee, ought to be combined with the gene ral police of the town, and to the .revision, amendment, and consolidation of the dock acts, together with all necessary pro visions for the better administration of justice in respect to the laws relating to the dock estate, as the same may be amended by parliament. " Your committee abstain front referring to many other points connected with the dock estate, because they will necessarily form part of the business of the committee to arrange the bill. To show the great and growing importance of the subject, your committee need only to state, that in the first year after the dock rates were levied on goods, as well as vessels, they amounted— In 1812 to. £ 44,40.3 7 11 In 10 years afterwards (1832) t 0... 102,403 17 4 In 10 - years more (1832) to ... 170,047 6 11 And at the end of the last year to.. 217,575 9 8 The debt of the dock estate being £1;400,003. (Signed) " JAMES AIKIN, Chairman." Mr. Councillor JOHN HOLMES begged to move that ." the re port be adopted, and the committee appointed with full powers to carry into effect their report, subject to the approbation df the council." Mr. Councillor EARLE wished to know if the council had not the power of deputing its authority to others, so that they might .not at all times have to come before the council ? The MAYOR.—The proceedings of that committee, as well as of all others, would be subject to the revision of that council. Mr. Councillor Jour; HoLmus.—Supposing they had to op pose that bill, they would have full power to make that opposition? The MAYOR believed the acts of this committee must be sub ject to the approval of the council the same as the other committees. There was no occasion to differ from that course in that case. If it was necessary, the council should be imme diately summoned to depute their authority to them. Mr. Councillor AlKlN.—Circumstances might occurr in which it would be desirable for them to keep their own council, and, if they were to publish their object, they might give their oppo nents a dangerous power. He should like to know whether they would have power to go to parliament for a bill founded on the bill which was now to be read. • The TOWN-CLERK.—As suggested by the reports, there was reason to believe that bills would be received by parliament without the' regular notices in some cases. In this case the legislature evidently meant to reserve the business of the dock estate for the present session in continuing only for a short pe riod the powers of the present committee. From information he had received, there was reason to believe that the sessional notices would be dispensed with for the present. Mr. Councillor AIKIN.—His question was, whether the com mittee would have power to go to parliament without reporting to the council ? .fir. Councillor H. LawrtENcr. hoped an arrangement might be made with the dock estate committee Mr. Councillor Houtinv said he had p*posed that a meeting should be held in order, if possible, to agree on some bill which would be agreeable to both parties, and the answer was, if any such conference should be desired on the part of the council, it would not he objected to. • The Mayon said it would be a thousand pities if a desirable object should be lost on a point of etiquette. ' Ile hoped that the committee would do what was necessary. Mr. Councillor AIKIN said they were willing to concede all that the fernier council was asked. It was ratherextraordinary , that those individuals should give notice of bringing forward a bill in parliament to take away all their interference, while a little while ago they had insisted on so large a majority in the committee. One of the clauses of that bill had the modesty and condescension to say, that nothing in that council should ex chide that council from being members of that committee. _ . Mr. Councillor HOPE would move "that they now resolved to petition his majesty's government to bring in a bill as a government measure, founded on the recommendation of a committee now appointed." He would then recommend that they - gave full powers to - the committee to act. I-le thought there would be noxlittictilty in getting his majesty's ministers to bring forward suclya hill, and that very likely the dock com mittee might withdraw their hill. Mr. Councillor HENRY LAWRENCE.—They must substitute some other lull in that case. _ _ _ Councillor - RATHIMNR thought they had better keep their Own business in their ()WIT hands. The best way would be for the council to recommend their committee to proceed forth wit h. , The AlAron.-1-le was now going to put the question, "that the report of the dock committee just read be adopted and ap proved, and that the committee he-reappointed, with full powers to take such steps as the necessity of the case may require." Mr. Councillor AuctN.—Befove this subject be done away with, it .was absolutely necessary that they should have powers to proceed with a hilt if they saw it necessary. The resolution was then agreed to. A memorial was presented from a person named Isaac Shep herd, who had formerly been employed in the public gardens, hpt who, having come under the displeasure of the late mayor, had been. dismissed, praying. to be reappointed. Mr. Councillor Lawricricu. should like to have an opportunity of •proving, when the subject came tinder conside ration, that the man, from drunkenness and ►misconduct, was unfit for the situation. _ . After some discussion, it was referred to the committee on paid officers. - A memorial signed by the conductors 'of the different insu rance dilices, calling upon the council to adopt measures for the better security of property agaittst fires was then read. The memorial expressed a wish that the expenses of extinguishing fires should fail upon the parties benefitted‘ by the exertions of the firemen, and stated . that the premiums of insurance were too low to meet the demands upon them in Liverpool, in case of an extensive fire among. 4. the warehouses. Mr. Councillor EARLE thought, after the report of the effici ciency of the lire police which had been read, that the gentle men of the assurance co m panies h a d a grea t de a l of as suran c e in making such a request. osti'gonpendi that t a i e t n i ii t ,, x i v a a i s at se t a h r e ce d l il.l a p n os e s e i b o l t e 2 f t iz the l persons miles, to know anything of a report which had just been read. At all events, he hoped the council would enable hit to reply to the parties. . Mr. Councillor RATIIISONF. thought the persons benefitted -were the insurance companies who had received premiums • for fires were put out for their. benefit, and not for the benefit of those who had already been taxed that they might be insured. He thotight there was a great deal of assurance in that request. Mr‘ Councillor Joins Hoot E.s, in-reference to the lire police, said that of. fi7 Sires which had taken place within the last eight months, there had not been.E3ooo worth of property destroyed. The MAYOR said he had done no more than his duty in pre sewing that memorial; they were bound to return some answer, and he took the liberty to suggest that it should be. referred to the watch committee, who would instruct him to give some answer. • • A memorial was presented from the committee of a school in Mount-Pleasant, praying for the use of a private door, that the ladies and teachers attending the , scheol might not have to go through-ti dirty narrow lane.—Granted. A Memorial, Signed by 1331-individuals, merchants, and others, against. any interference with the intended removal of the Postoffiee to the New Custom-house, was then read„,by the town-clerk. The memorial was stated to have arisen in cunse ' quence of remarks made in the council, that it would be advisa ble for it to remain in its present central position, and stated such an interference with the property of individuals rho had bought on the belief and understanding that the Postoffice was to he removed to the New Custom-house, as a hardship. Public bodies ought not to lie slightly interfered with. The Maxon said the remark which had bests made about the Postoffice in a previous council ought not to be considered as a motion. He thought they must refer it to the custom-house commit tee. Mr. Councillor EARIX thought parties had cried out before they were hurt. Mr. Councillor SDARPLES said it might. allay public excite ment to state, as one of the Custom-house . Cocamittee, that the majority of that committee were of opinion that the Post-office should remain where it was intended to be. A letter written by order of Lord John Russell, confirming the •magistracy recommended by the council,•and Apixnuting five additional magistrates, namely, Adam Hodgson, Esq., Peter Heyweod, Esq., Henry Moss, Esq., William Ripley, Esq., and Christopher. liullin, Esq., was read, The M Avon said, in the course of the last week it hail been necessary to make application to the Treasury. for „the £25.000 doe. by the• government for the Custom-house; .the usual for finalities in the application not having been thought sufficient, it had been refused, the'ehief clerk not thinking himself autho rised to pay it.without. the written authority of the mayor and corporation, signed by them and sealed with the corporation seal. lie had brought it before the couneil to.request their au thority so to do.—Granted. • . tuuricit ENDOWMENT. _ Mr. Councillor BOLTON, in pursstaiteeef a notice ofa Motion at the last meeting, rose to propose his resolution on the subject of the endowment of the clergy. They were well aware that early in the last session of parliament, an application was made, and ri hill had been introduced respecting the day police and clergy of Liverpool, and which met with very decided op position, and arrangements had been made again to bring for ward that measure.. That bill did not come to the second read ing till the 22d of May; previously to which a petition had been presented against its adoption, signed by upwards of ten thousand persons. That bill was carried by a majority on the second reading of ISS votes for, to 171 against, a very un usual division on a private bill. Bet if his friend Mr. Harvey had been iu London at the time, the result might have been dif ferent. Preparations were then made for. taking the bill into committee, and early on the sth of June the municipal corpo ration bill was brought in; but as that bill contained a provi sion for the maintenance of police, the town-clerk, who had the cae d n etioe: of the bill, thought right to withdraw it. In the month of July Lord Sandon gave notice of a motion for making a further provision for the clergy of the town. The amount of which provision was to be £4,000 per annum , t o be o btained from the corporate funds. That bill was never inteaduced; several members of the House of Cmummis were opposed to its introduction, and became exceedingly angry at it, and joined in a round robin, requesting ass interview with Lord John Russell on the subject. They were referred by hint to Lord Melbourne, and its consequence nothing snore was heard of the bill. It was therefore taken for granted that no further pro ceedings were intended about the bill. But on the return of the municipal bill from the Lords, an attempt was made to introduce clauses into it having the same object in view. These clauses were not, permitted to be entertained. Soon after the parlia ment was prorogued, and very much to the surprise of the town, it was reported that the common council were doing that which was never before attempted without an act of parliament, for an endowment for some of the churches. No idea was ever enter tained before for such provision for the churches othei wise than by an act of parliament; for reasons suiting their own views, which they did not think proper to disclose, this mea sure had now beets brought forward. Sometime at the end .of October an opinion was entertained that the council were really in earnest to make a provision by their own authority. About the beginning of November inure particulars transpired; and in consequence of that an application was made to the court for the purpose of obtaining an injunction to prevent this, which was granted; and a fortnight afterwards, at the hearing, it was determined by the Master of the Rolls—without entering into the law of the case, he simply determined—that it might lie inj nrirais to the parties for whom it was obtained if it remained, and, if it was removed, it would be only delayed. The amount, as he had already stated, of this further provision was £4.000 a year, the particulars of which he had announced to the public. Mi.. Bolton• then stated the various amounts of different sales which had been effected by the corporation bo. Making up the principle to leave £4,000 a year. This £4,000 a year was to be for the lives of the present incumbents. In the provision which had b e en made there were reductions to be made on the decease of the,present incumbents, which would reduce the provision to £3,665 per annum. These were not the only provisions for the clergy.' In addition, there were provisions for the ministers of St. Luke's, St. Martin's, St. Michael's, and other churches, amounting to £5OO. There was an appointment for the gaol, the workhouse, and the cemetery; and St. George's Church and St. Thomas's Church were endowed also, in addition to what had been expended in the repairs of the churches, making for thelast five veers a sum of about £4,000 a year. Making the total amount of 'funds - taken from the corporation, if the expenses of repairine• were continued as they had been, of about £10,600 a year. 'Pilot was the historical part of the motion he had now to submit. Perhaps, in this state of it, it might be useful to direct their attention to the report of the application, which had been published; and he should first call their attention to page 91 in the report. Mr. Bolton then referred to page 96, 101,105, and II() in the report, reading extracts of what Mr. Bickersteth and others had said on the subject, the gist of which was, thdt the council had no power to take such a proceeding without an act of parliament; that they had no right to appropriate sums derived front the parish rates, as in effect these sums weir, for such a purpose; that such endowment had been made in the fear that the future co uncil would, make no provi sion for the established clergy w hich they thought right to do, and therefore they would bind future councils hand and foot so that they could not help themselves. lie had quoted these passages to show that the late council had no authority to do what they had done. - He thought it necessary, in order that they might be put in possession of an ideaof the illegality of the en inwments In the course of these argurhents it was frequently stated that the endowment of the clergy was a praisewortnv act. There could he no dOubt but that if a catholic endowed a catholic church it was a praiseworthy act; it was a praiseworthy act for a dissenter to endow a dissenting church; -and if a churchman endowed a church of his own.it was a laudable act. But if dis senters, churchman, and catholics were putin one rate, and had a common purse, it was not a laudable aetfor one religious body to be endowed by the contributions of all other religious bodies. (Hear.) With regard to whatever legal receipts—whatever pri vileges the established church had in this town, in the continu ance of repairs of churches and in endowments for which the community were bound, he had no desire to interfere in the least. And with respect to the provision that was sought to be made for the clergy, to the extent of their emoluments which they have been accustomed to receive, he was not opposed ; he was,perfectly willing that they should receive them during their lives; and while they performed their duties every shilling of their emoluments ought to be paid to them, though quite aware that that was not legal. In granting this he acted liberally to the clergy. But as no power existed under the municipal bill to endow churches,and as he conceived their predecessors ought not to have done mat which they were tied from doing, he was opposed to the endowment they sought to make by the sales which had been mentioned to them. For he would maintain and fearlessly agsert that the previous council had no right to Make provisions further than what the act of parliaMent had given—a provision for the lives of the present incumbents and clergy of the establishment. Persons who went there and wor shipped had no other advantage over dissenters. They were all on a perfect equality of rights , and as he should not think it right for a catholic to be supported by a protestant, he should think it wrong for the protestants to provide for their religious instruction out of the funds of the common purse. From the report which he had been reading it would appear that £105,000, on the sth day of December last, was paid to Sir Thomas Brancker and Mr. Lawrence, as treasurers. £50,001) was obtained on the sale of a tobacco warehouse, and other sums were obtained, leaving a deficiency to be taken out-of the cor poration pnrSe of £41;600, He believed this such made up the £105,000, Which sum was pow in the hands of the Graiid Junc tion Railway Company, until it was known whether this en dowment was to be confirmed or not. With regard to the pro. priety of endowing churches at all, was a question on whic,h he had very serious doubts, for he thought that giving clergymen a stipend without responsibility had the effect of rendering them less likely to discharge their duties than they would be if any control was had over their cotaduct. As the clergy had been hitherto circumstanced they 144 often to stand by the good opi• nion of their parishiondes in tlie performance -of their ty; tkey had also had their ell'irricteil and their reputatiops*ita olject to stand good wit] tie corporation for the time being. But now these wholesome restrictions ware removed. With re gard to the amount of the stipends given to the clergy he had no hesitation in saying. with the exception of the rectors who were very well paid, that the rest of the clergy were under paid, and received less than dissenters. And in as much as churchmen are wealthy, and are, also numerous, he wished they would like wise be independent, and not come with their begging boxes for the support of other denominations of Christians., (Cries of " Hear.") He, believed that religion would always beat flourish while unprotected. Whether religion or growing of sugar, it seemed to him that everything that was protected went to decay. (Hear.) He thought the clergy wound have acted wisely to have thrown themselves on the generosity of the pub lic. They would have met with kindness and liberality. Much had been said of the promise of support which had been given by his Majesty's ministers to this scheme of endowment. He questioned the fact that such promise had been given to the ex tent which had ,previously been stated in that council-room. Having taken sonic interest in the matter he had - addresed 'a letter to a member of his Majesty's government on the subject. That member's answer, wherein he had mentioned what was going forward—he had an audience with him in the month of June last in Downing-street—that answer was as follows: " When I recollect that I Oil the pleasure of seeing you in Down inwstreet, I informed you as I bad previously acquainted Lord Sandon, that in my opining the Liver pool clergy had an equitable right for their lives to the stipends they have long been accustomed to receive: At their decease, it will be to be determined what shall be the future pro visions of the ministers." The mayor would be aware that this letter went on further than,a promise to continue to the clergy what they had received for their lives. Froth that letter lie was gratified to learn that those promises of support extended no further than for a provision fur the lives of those 'gentlemen. And if that provision had been intended to go no farther, he would not have taken the trouble of journeying to London to oppose the endowment. There was no - material difference be tween the opinion of the party from whom he bad received that answer and the heads of the government. He thought the clergy had pursued a very improper course in, the whole of those proceedings ; he did not know whether the part which they had acted, and had beets acting in. had been approved of by their brethren, but he did think if they persevered in carrying for ward this endowment they might finathemselves in the situation of Shvlock claiming a pound of flesh, and meet with Shylock's reward.- He should conclude with moving " that an instruction he given to the town-clerk to take prompt and efficient mea sures, under the direction of a committee of the council, for set ting aside the late endowment fur the parochial and other clergy of this borough, by a mortgage on the rents and profits of cers tain property therein." Mr. Councillor BLACKBURN, in rising to second the motion, said iNir. Bolton, in bringing forward this resolution, had so fully entered into the subject as well as the principle of the en dowment that it would not be necessary in him io detain the council at any length. 'With regard to the endowment it had proceeded in time assumption that the clergy of the establish ment were entitled to receive compensation for their services out of the public funds; it seemed to be a principle in volved in the whole of this proceeding. That Ike. funds of that corporation were, in the strictest sense of the term, public funds, needed no arguments to prove; and on what ground it was that one sect of christians had a claim to be portioned out of that fund he could not understand. With Mr. Bolton, he conceived that religion flourished best if those who approved of it were left to their own choice to support it. He hoped that the wealthy and influential churchmen of Liverpool would relinquish the claim they were now making on the funds of that council; that they would respect themselves by supporting their own clergy and their own institutions, as other denominations.achristians were in the habit of doing. He conceived such a course would most effeetnally, .promote religion,, and all tfie biekearngs they had heard would be entirely . prevented. (Cries of " Hear.") It would not be urged for a single moment that the claims of time clergy in the established church on the public funds, result ed lions the inability of time menihers of the protestant church to support their own institutions. 'ale was quite unwilling to stippose Or a single moment that that claim resulted truism an unwillingness on the part of the members of that coannunity to contribute in a direct way to the support of the clergy: He believed, in support of this, it was urged that it was. necessary to the respectability and independence of the clergy that they should be independent of the .people to whom they ministered. The principle, he conceived was oue which laid at the root of every such mischief and evil. He considered that theitrue in dependence of the clergy resulted in the approbation and sup port of those over whom they ministered, and not in a mere inde pendence of others in pecuniary matters. And he would con tend that no support to the ministers of religion was so honour able as a support which resulted from the free-will offerings of people attached to their ministry. (Hear.) But if indepen dence of the clergy were desirable, surely there were other means of attaining, the object than by quartering them on. the public funds. They had heard a great deal about the laudable ness of corporate officers and other persons' worthy exertions to endow the clergy. Now it was very praiseworthy ter persons to conic forward and sacrifice their own properly. ( Hear.) Such a proceeding would be very honourable, and if the very afflusnt persons of Liverpool, connected with the church, had come for ward among themselves and subscribed the £105,000, and se cured it to the clergy at their own proper cost and charges, such a proceeding would have beets very honourable and worthy of imitation. But to take the public funds for such a purpose he did not think worthy of such laudatory comments as had been given to it. in several places. He would therefore beg to second the resolution. Mr. Councillor HENRY LAWRENCE lamented that the task of replying had not fallen into other hands. He thanked Mr. Bolton in one respect for the very handsome way in which he had avoided every thing like personality, and he thought he had put the question on a fair footing,. whether it could. be legally sustained or not. '['hat measure had been charged with a degree of asperity on the late corporation, as if they had their owninterests to serve. Any person who had read that book to which Mr. Bolton had referred, would perfectly absolve them from any such aspersion. Mr. Bolton had told them that the present any Chancellor said on this subject, that it was on the part of the corporation an honourable and .meritorious act. It was perfectly clear that the church had been for some time sup ported by the the benefactions of the corporation, and that it was probable these would cease after a little time. In one point he could not agree with his friends opposite, in thinking that no church establishment was necessary. He did think it was ne cessary, and he did think the church had a right to look for the support which it had hitherto received; and he hoped he should not see the time when the church was not acknowledged and paid by the government. Ile !feared he should make few con verts—that many came pledged to a particular measure. ( Crie s of " No, no.") He was WO to hear that cry, for he feared that on a former occasiettewhen there had been a division of 30 on one side and , 3);on the other, that pledges were given, which the parties were sorry for. He should hype when they came to look at the endowment—at the different sums appro priated to the different objects, that they would not think the various allowances too large. He did nut think it necessary to go into any length in this case, but he should wish to know .what was the course to be adopted on ,this occasion—if it .was merely according to the present municipal act ? for one, .should adopt the course which was adopted by the last council. Many of them would not hays thought themselves justified in moking this endowment, but they had no means of makin g any PthvisiOn for the clergy ; and unless it had been then done, no provision could have been made. He did hope that, setting all feeling .aside, this measure might have no objection made to it, and that that liberality of whieh Mr. Bolton had spoken, would not be lost sight of on this occasion. This question was sounded in every body's ears, and was in every body's mouth. If the ,endowment should be confirmed, well; if it should be set aside he had nothing to say about it. I3ut if any litigation was to be pursued they ought to pause before they run themselves into any expenses. The amount of the endow ment was stated to be £105,000; he believed it would be found to be less. It was stated in the Courier of that day to be £63,000, and he thought there was a good deal of reason in the paragraph in which it was stated. He believed the bone of contention be tween the parties would only be found to be £25,000. A peat part of the sum would be found to be independent of the parish, and in such case became only a transfer„ The very large sum which appeared to be taken from the public funds was not in reality so large as was stated. He wished that every gentleman would take the trouble ef reading the published report on the subject through, before the decision on this subject took place ; it would open their eves, and remove a good deal of their pre judices. They would not think after that that this SUM was worthy of being a bone of contention. He was extremely anxious that this matter should get before government, and that it should be confirmed; he had not the least wish that the subject should not be fairly canvassed and examined into. He was sorry to take up their time; he was so little in the habit of speaking in public, and still less on political measures. He thanked his friend for avoiding all personalities; he would do the same.' Instead of making an amendment he would wish to know the course to be adopted before they run themselves into a chancery suit. Mr. Councillor E SMITH thought that the remarks of Mr. Lawrence had been chiefly confined to pounds,onstlinliCl?ngs'• and pence. It was principles for which they wer on amount of the sum was of trifling co nsideration. It w g 'a ' t s principle that Hampden resisted, the sum otntoneywassotedtrt fling amount; but it was the principle on which he resisted — that that had caused his name to be extolled. lhey were calledon to decide on a similar principle, and it was on principle on which they stood. He thoug ht that religion prospered the most when left to itself. He would not say anything of the great body of the dissenters, but he would instance the four principal churches in their own neighbourhood, Seaforth, Birkenhead, St. Jude's, and St. Ann's; the voluntary principle had been adopted by those churches, and they were flourishing; whilst the endowed churches had no congregations. People would go ' where there were attractions, and where the minister exerted himself. lie should sit down convinced that there never was a more true observation than he had somewhere read, that when Constantine endowed churches he heaped riches 011 the churches -- :.~ . _ J^ w _, f - if -4- • - =,,r• r , • ..ar -----=- , nom -. _.. , ~:~_._.. . . of his day, but that he did more lasting injury to the 6a*Oe hf christiauity than piodlejlan by the perieention..bf the Chris: lions. In proof of the efficacy of the Voluntary principle , he might instance a whole nation —time people of A u t er ics ti . Ashemana said—" no church Was sri costly as the "Anierican ehurCh, and there was no clergy lived so well aS they did." Mr. Cotincillor B Roc KLEWA Nit. must say, that he. wcts hot sufficiently informed on the subject then to go. to a deeitinin; hd should like to have some further time for consideration on it He should move that the question be postponed fti: 14 days. Mr. Alderman BENN seconded the motion. Mr. Councillor RATHBONE.—The subject had been befori them for two months, and it was rather too much. that they should be driven now to adjourn their proceedings. Mr. Bolton had kept clear of personalities, and had been complimented by Mr. Lawrence. The late council had given themselves credit for disinterestedness, but if they had not beneWd themselves, they had benefited their families ; and if the thing were so fair and so open, why did they tuck it to the tail of a police if it were such a measure of justice to the clergy, why Was it net done years ago? Because the self-elected councilors wished, to keep the clergy under their thumb. It was only when power was going out of their hands that they sought to make this en dowment 7 Mr. Councillor EAttLa did not agree with Mr. Rathlione iti his remark reingcting the late council having had interested motives with red to their families. Mr. Councillor LA WRENCE thought the reverse had been thii case. In every new church which had been endowed they had invariably fixed the stipend, and they had therefore taken that discretionary power from themselves. Mr. Councillor LodAN said it would be well for the mittee to take opinion of counsel, and maturely to weigh the matter before they entered upon it. If the opinions when ma• tured continued as now, it Would be Well to proceed, if it appear: ed that the loss were not likely to outweigh - the gain. The MAvon begged to confirm what had fallen frtim Earle, namely, that the main object of the late council keeping the payment of the stipends in their own hands was to enforce the strict performance of their duty by the clergy y. lie never heard of any other reason, nor did he believe there was any. After a good deal of conversation on Mr. Brocklebank's rno. tion that gentleman at length withdrew it: Mr. Councillor lIENItY LAWIIENCE would then move at an amendment, " That no legal proceedir:gs be taken until the purposes on which they are founded be laid before the council." (Loud cries of " Question" and " Adjourn.") Mr. Councillor It ATticoNE thought the time had now gone by for making that amendment. (Cries of " Question.") The M Avoit put the question, when Mr. Bourox again rose • toltake , Tom-e-nbserzitrtinl,' -but wits ohligqd - to sit down amidst loud cries of " Onestfeit'' The amendment was then put, when there appeared for it fire and a great majority against it. Mr. Bolton's motion was then declared carried. The following gentlemen were then appointed the committee to carry- the Wishes of Mt. Bolioh's motion into effect:—Mr. Thomas Bolton, -Mr. Blackhorn, Mr. John Homes,- Mr. Charles Birch, Mr. Lawrence Ilevworth, and. Mr. Shiel. The council adjourned at a quarter to five, until next day at eleven o'clock. THUP:.'.;DAY. COURT OF REQUESTS. Mr. Councillor BRIGHT brought forward a motion for drawing the attention of the council to the constitution and practises of the Court of Requests, with a view to an application to parlia. ment to extend the jurisdiction of that court beyond its present limits to the parliamentary boundary, and to extend the sum sued for beyond , 10j. The court, as it nowexisted; Was confined to obtaining debts under 405.. which was at the timne the coutt was first apppointed equal to ElO of the money of the present day. What he wished was, that a committee should he appointed to take the matter into consideratiOn, and, whether the amount was extended to £5 or £lO, he should be content. He thoaght £lO not too high a sum. Mr. Councillor WALMSLEY was convinced such a measure would lead to the better administration of justice and to thC benefit of the middle classes. lie thought the attention' of the' committee appointed should be especially directed to the objec tionable mode of payment to the officers, by feed inst*ad of by fixed salaries. He seconded the motion. Mr. Councillor DUNCAN heartily concurred in the object of the resolution. Mr. Councillor WOOLLRIGHT said the motion was ona which would give great satisfaction to the tradesmen of the town: Ektending the sum beyond 40s. would enable tradesmen to en force payment of small sums due at much less expense than at present. Mr. Councillor E. SMITH said it was no new tingled thing . A Court of Requests had existed in Bristol for sonic years where amounts of £lO could be recovered. . . _ The"?' AYOtt said it was desirable that a list of commissioners for the Cbprt of Requests for the ensuing month should he read over and a'tointed. which it was now the business of the coun cil to do instead of the clerk of the Court of Requests. It was also desirable to determine what should be done with the ba lances paid into that t ourt which remained unclaimed. The Tow N-CLERK said the appointment of the commissioners now rested with tilt council. Berme the committee on Mr. Bright's motion was appointed it was necessary as bearing on the Court of Requests to notice the Court c . f Passage. The . Court of Passage was extended to the whole parliamentary boundary, in which pleas might be heard cases excepting those which came within the jurisdiction of the Court of Re , quests. There had been during the last \ ear 449 actions in the Curt of Passage for sums under £5, anti 616 actions for sums triMer O. O. The expense on the majority of the 419 actions average' d 30 per cent. on the debt, and in many cases where the action was defended, amounted to 45j per cent. (Hear.) Of the 616 cases the expense varied from 15 to 25'J per cent. on the amount of the debt. Now, the costs in getting a debt in the Court of Requests in no case amounted to more than Iss. He thought that the two courts might with advantage be consoli dated into one, and he would suggest that the committee on Mr. Bright's motion should inctuire into the feasibility of it. The Town-clerk then read over a list' With the names of the aldermen and councillors, and the tradesmen chosen to act is commissioners for the ensuing month in the Court of Re quests, who were appointed. The council in future to nutni nate them. _ '- Mr. motion, with thd addition of the consolidation of the two courts, was then agreed to. The following gentlemen were then nominated on the ei,m tnittee :—Messrs. Bright, \Valmsley, Sandars, liashlon, Dun can, Lassen, And James Lawrence. POWNALL-SQUA RV. MARKET. Mr. AldorMan STUART gave notice of a motion which be should bring forward at the next quarterly meeting, for the establishment, as formerly, of a market in Pownali-square ' on the petition of several of the inhabitants of St. Paul's and the neighbourhood. TOWN DUES COMMITTEE, The following gentlemen were appointed on the town dues committee:—Messrs. Birch, Aikin, Brown, Tayienr, 0. Hey , worth, and Lathom. VACANORS. The 'AI AYort said that it should be taken as a rnl in future. that one month's notice should be given before the filling up of any vacancies in the offices in the gift of the council. JUDGES' ACCOMMODATION. The MAYoR had had a com - munication , vith the clerk of the peace, at the last quarter sessions, who had received a commu nication from the judges, wishing to know if accommodation would be provided as beretoforti - for them. The jnilges had ex pressed their satisfaction at the manner in which they had been received. lie bad informed the clerk that the same accommo-; dation would he provided as before. Complaints having been made of the inconvenience of the court,:, he had got a plan drawn out for its better arrangement, which would nut exceed £l2 expense in carrying into effect. The TowN-ci.Enx read the surveyor's report, and laid his plan on the table. Mr. Councillor IIATHBOINE called attention to the difficulty of hearing in the court, and also to the bad ventilation, and suggested that the Mayor should lie authorised by the council to go the expense of remedying such defect:—Granted: CoUNCIL ROOM ARRA'NGEMENT... . . . ..., .., .. . A plan and estimate was laid before the council for the better arrangement of the council-room, lot affording additional com fort and advantage to the councillors. The expense of the alterations were estimated at about:l:lin—Plan adopted. APPOINTMENT or coat:at - m.l:s. - A long discussion ensued on the duration of the committees and the time, for reappointing them. It wee finally agreed, on the motion of Mr. SUIEL, seconded by Mr. MFA.Lou, that all committees now appointed determine on the of November. the first quarterly meeting of the council after the election of councillors, and then be re-formed. moult - OP MEETING 4. The hour of future meetings was, the suggestion of Mr, Councillor HENRY LAWRENCE, fixed to commence at eleven o'clock. COMPE NSATION AND TOWN-CLERK'S COMMITTF.EI. On the motion of Mr. RATIIBONE, the compensation mittee and the recorder and town-clerk's committees Werd agreed to be consolidated, as calculated greatly to assist each other. The business of the council then concluded at about oner o'clock. LIvEIZPOOL SHIPPING.—The shipping belonging to the Port of Liverpool have so increased of late, that we can now boast of possessing upwards of one thousand vessels owned by Liverpool merchants and engaged in the foreign.trade of this port. Seve ral hundreds of other British Vessels, the propel ty of Yarmouth, Plymouth, London, Whitehaven, Workington, and the ship owners of other British ports are also engaged in the foreign commerce of Liverpool. BooTLR NATIONAL SCHOOL—Mr. Foster, clock and watch.; maker, of Williamson-square, has presented to this institution a very handsome clock, which will he or great service to the school. This liberal donation of Mr. Foster has been grate fully accepted by the clergyman and gentlemen under whose managment the school is supported and conducted.- Ci.oNstat ELEcTioN.—Mr. Spring Rice having recently made a speech in favour of the established church, and against repeal, the radicals in this town are a little perplexed about supporting his son at the coming election. We are happy in being able to state that John Bagwell, Esq. will start—and what is better—will be returned in spite of all opposition. — Clonme l Iferald, Mr. Richards, the Solicitor-General, has declined offering himself a candidate for clonmel.—Cork Constitution. TA TH AM V. WRIGHT.—The Court of King's Bench decided on Monday in favour of an application for a new trial at com mon law of this cause, on the ground that evidence had been improperly received by Mr. BarotrGurney, before Whom it was tried at Lancaster at (he autumn assizes of 1831. REPRESENTATION oP LIVERPOOL.—it is said that the Liver pool tories intend to invite Sir James Graham to offer himself as a candidate for the representation of this town in the event of another elect ion.—Larerpool Mercury. What do they intend doing with Lord Sandon?—Globe. theturn his lordship with Sir James Graham.] —Standard. AIVREHENS lON OF LA KEM AN. — Yesterday mo rn i ng Mr. Divers, landlord of th e Castle Inn, at Dove r , arrivad in town, and iromediatly waited on Mr. Aston, soli c it or, N ew Broad street, and informed hi m he had just arrived f rom B o ul o gne, where he, in company with a gentleman connected with a firm that had been plundered by Lakeman, discovered Lakeman. It appears that he had taken an open boat at Folkstone, near D over , on Saturday last,.and cr osse d over to B ou l ogne. I t j was discovered that he had taken up his residence at an hotel there, and on the arrival of Mr. Divers he was absent, having gene to the theatre. On his return the nature of tlhar business was stated to him, and the authorities of the place were applied • to, and they found in his Dossession money and securities. it is said, to the amount of £52,000 and upwards. The gentlemen who accompanied M property is m the r. Divers remain at Boulogne, , and the possession of the authoritie. After Mr. Divers had communicated with Mr. Aston dr .- - ,, tedi• -ly proceeded to Boulogne, with every assistance th, country.—Evening paper. ILakemai Gazette of Tuesday as a bankrupt.] EXTRAORDINARt Locomouvi, - ; mechanist, has deposited at the Dein Brussels, the model of a new steam which, as a locomotive power, stir►. known. The minimum of its veloc leagues in an hour, and it could perfol sels to Paris in the same time, on an it, without any °ater guide or impuls. and water which it had at ita dvatture they immedidtely proceeded hey could procure from this an's name appeared in the AcHINE. --M. Mathieu, iartment of the Interior at - lb-engine of his invention, rpasses everithieg hitherto oeity is stated to be sixty form the journey from Brin,r, n itbn rail -road prepared f(t hien than the stock otfus i Urea • - 4 , -• _ IP? \ 1 k• '