The Northern Daily Times. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-05-14 00:00:00

_' d---- - rs+~~~ TIIE OLD BOROUGH GAOL PROPERTY, NG IN THE CLARENDON-ROOMS •••••••••=...• meeting was convened yesterday, by circulars, bearing the 41gnature of Messrs. J. R. Jeffery and S. Thornley, for the 1)411 / 4 ° of considering the proposed sale of the Old Borough .a°l P ro perty to the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway 42Pan Y ; Circula rs inviting attendance, at the meeting, were °hilted to a limited number ' of gentlemen from each ward. The meeti ng was h e ld i n the Clarendon rooms at two o ' clock. Among t, jegentlernen Present were t h e f o ll ow i ng: —M essrs S. B.J ac k son , johtt lt. Je ffery, John Sidney, Dr. Hannah, Charles Willtner, W R ogers, Joseph Boult John Stoward, W. M'l%lillen, • P ernie, James Hobbs, Middlehurst, T. Avison, 7..- 1 , 11 r• 4418 ° , ), Tho mas H a i g h , an d A . C . S tewart. '':! Si dney was c a ll e d on to occupy t h e c h a i r. 31r• Jeffery apologised for Mr. Thornle who had been " t ePelled to y, lertv e t Th e own. ; -- .:. , rrean said h o assume d th a t hi s d u t y was a mere l y d °131 , 4141 00 e, as th ere were many gentlemen in the room no t ° 7n°t, mo re famili ar t h an himself w i th the details of the ques thl wh ich had ca l led them together.lie would simply remark t there ° °r was a v ery s t rong f ee li ng on t h e su bj ect out o f wh• ' L and '°nle went so far as to i m p u t e p ersona l mo tiv es , 'might and hoped th e meet i ng wou ld k eep c l ear o f . Th ese mot i ves thi n , iqight not exist for anything he knew. But one undoubtedly, he might say, there would be this advan 'No i n meeting of that character, that should there -41")rttinately be ar groun for acc the hich 4 r tkeeti _ xbg of that character d in u took the sation, subj at " ect interests w would show th ere was no supineness on the part of those to whom the vi e rt Y really and virtually belonged. There were two iq Princ iPally prevailing among those who took an interest I:fret6 su bj ect : Oue, was, that an insufficient price had been 0 d• Another party, with some apparent claim to attention, al' 84 he had been made acquainted, said, that the property de W ° Pen for public improvements, which were very much datt alae ded iu that part of the town. (H ear , h ear .) Undoubt id,,lY the; iromensetraffie consequent on the gr ea t ou tl a y on ...anaili '", in that direction, with which every o b ser v er mus t b e lar, called for a greater contiguity of passage than really '"iste d there and an imense ay had been se in made on 'dock ~ ta 8, it struck him as that that outlay property would increa value er° than Property in the southern part of the town. Now, Ivitether it was premature to offer that property for sale, : et il whether the corporation had. devised the best means of 4 , l t lin g the best price for it, were questions which others trey s d6c11 % who, as he had already said, he had no doubt ,_ —l4ort fa :niliar with them than he was. One thing he wow ( ) w iz ; add --he hoped they would discuss the matter with " h —e a' and efficiency, so as to strengthen too hands of those Zt-e ha d taken an interest in the matter, and who, no doubt, en ded t o d o what was right. The chairman then called rl t a kr. Seiler to address the meeting. a ' —' e t ii,. tisr erY laid - a Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, probably s,"nag lik e an apology is due from me to you for taking e a,B4llnYself, in connection with my friend, Mr. Thornley, the tc Ponsibility of calling you together upon such an important elf a s 7 l B l l ert as thi s . A public meeting would have suggested its Totem 0 best course to respond to the invitation given by the eeti o e° uneil ; but those who had an interest in such pro mtt,P on that occasion thought the time had not been f r i lic i l l elat for the public to be informed upon a question o f the many Were totally ignorant, until they saw the repel t . c, tepo li rt ro ceedings in the Town Council of last Wednesday. Ta . e tiedri.iWa4 only published on Thursday, and many only saw it 4 aY• On Saturday it became the subject of con.vertsha tatill„,' a t'd not until yesterday did it assume—probably in e stir --a °f a great many —anything like an aspect of so much etit e t anee,.., as the subject presented to the minds of many Shen' . , It Was therefore thought desirable, by a few gentle for ~. t nat a preliminary meeting of that sort should be called, i tifo 'e Purpose of discussing the question, according to the su c h r Tation Which they might be in possession of, and pursuing ad . a et:nine as the majority of the meeting should deem a„ isble, tinder the circumstances. Having taken on myself, / i ° a e of the signers of the note, to call you together, of course h. it,,a°o.given the subject some consideration, in order to ung 1. 4 fairly as I might be able to do before your notice to-day. f ] a n d , then, say that the Borough Gaol has stood upon a plot 4, Which has been looked forward to, for very many years, v e "toing into the possession of the Town Council, when the iziihteeZehttesityrongly needed improvements, and which necessary, might be accomplished at comparatively e, I ft i ., Cost to the ratepayers of this borough. • (H hear.) L ee first place let me say that the improvement committee er th e T 4114lieetof °tlwi: Council itself projected a line of street to the condition of Oldhall °ver-c rowd e d and dangerous ter,, ruening from North John street almost straight, Gaol, and going dit...Tating at the other side of the Borough the Architectural NeTettlY through it. Subsequently to that, tut „.Ytrecommended a line of street almost similar to that, Subs„.,.t More direct from the end of North John street t o o -u-oreer street, running through this plot of land als . r eee eo l, tie ntlY to that, the town improvement committee e fla rtd —e aded a line of street passing also through that plot le th e ,„• Three different bodies, therefore, have recommended ioto th eir „..."wn Council, that whenever the land would come ,011.71‘e,ssion, the . opportunity should be availed offor kno ut:l4 ,, 'no thoroughfare of Oldball street of the dangerous all i "°f traffic which now crowds it. Every gentleman at the ' -4d.,,the habit of driving thrcugh Oldhall street, must k lert.,„l.l'eulty Which lie had to thread his way through d n th n e tthe: 1, at(' carts which are always found crow i g entrlrtleolar street. That some relief is needed, I ap . pie- f Liv„' We are all agreed and that the Town Council o :4 tbe -C?1 should immedi p ately, on their getting possession of l ag a n , attempt to part with it en. mass , ' as a whole, ignor ;blest RY iteProvements which may be necessary, I am sure .it, sir -40 Prise every reflecting mind. (Hear, he.a9 I f ta t k he e la tttl t tha t the first consideration for the appropriation o in Intel:r.? igrewing town like Liverpool—a town growing as 11° il l 44 ' inVortance and population, to such an ex ''. l 1 4 ! r t° wa in the United Kingdom has ever grown, _ „,, 14/4 and I' likely to continue to grow—the appropriation . f 44"rtati rho ac commodation of traffic are of the first !na imetlee of T hese objects should, in my opinion, take prece 'and 1 , - ` anY mere .1 money value which could be put upon 11 1 ea -ieteasary for ansuch purposes. (Hear, hear.) . Well, ie -8441' 6 1:I' l i au l of opiynion that the conditions upon which t o l d )re gna -a bin offered are exceedingly injudicious, a hitherto vast mischief. (Hear.) The corporation . have Ic ainabi ° illaPosed of their property by public auction for a ter 1714°Perte,,Pe, riod extending over 75 years. During that period o / tet t e., ,"as been erected—and in some parts of the town °elott.,RiY valuable property has been erected—upon an h at , o lg to the corporation. At the end of every twenty .t Into t a e owners of the property bale the power of , putting it the ret u h e full r, lease again by the payment of one . year 'a rental qap. 4 "418--that is about the scale. Now, sir, if the railway . I. ll , 4 :ol 4Y e f w ge to buy that land at its present market value lot the ll ' u Years our children, or our grandchildren, would , m„..material benefit arising Y (' 4 'PerY ' ‘estericis`st necessarily place upon the land. And if it did not t i ' li ble se . (.4 . r as etir grandchildren—l am speaking now of the jeat a, th .4l/Ir Y or the lease—should they renew it in twenty Net,,,LeY,,,,would have to pay a very considerable fine for ll tte lt a ' t /tv, Why railway company should be exempt . from .en or . Pen d OW, a . 1- 'ltch ~, and private citizens subjected to the inflict' hap: o! alley, I have yet to be . informed ? (Hear, hear). ti , rail ..," the slightest desire, for one moment, that 1. w ' core should have any difficulty MOM die Wll il l tea" Pitra o ,. e way of their acquiring land for or Pa rt e .. ). - 11" a f a rat lway than Liver private individual a , 1 ; 1 'a i Il t es'iliP firm, in. the town of pool. If there be ;414ibillif,-,7e favour of either, I would rather give the turn to "an Ise seeking accommodation for public convenience,. eT rYin .1141 throw any impediment in the way of their vfiti t i fora d•. - hear.) I have brought ro e ar their objects. (Hear, soh-erne a P l an here, bound up in a report, drawn up by the ,ppoiti,tUreittee. and at • Presented and accepted by the committee '.4 1 , 4 „ t 0154 6, - ,a public meeting of ratepayers, printed at tole . 4 0,r0v i t— , toWn Council, after they had expressed their I; 4 ' v g e he a fb re N th t e h ni o , elaborate manner hthem in which the plans were before the public. They §° o ;ed b Y their silence, ignored that report. They have ,g4ored th e report of their g own committee. They have - n ee° Mia i „ - , ° . , r ePort of the Architectural Society, so strongly ds ot -- mmed to th h principal, too, of disposing,. in - I , h t tow at oirn , rof theelmand, even if no portion of it wore required ith e ,, D'ar t P : v ents, I submit, sir, is vicious. To introduce Zro a,. °, selling any property of the corporation ti t t b o 'loanntdal st.,hich may be assessed even • at the present value b e .' th ere .t is pernicious to the interest of this burgesses. l )t ßotr ere la a difference of opinion whether land is (Hear, ar ') I 4 at b 0 per cent less than the real value. on e f . 1, -- hoe een informed by a gentleman, who has it from Voaf th e ,ft"e Most respectable architects of the town, that the eal , - i i th e land throughout would average £6 per yard. 1 1 41tiat ion e 7 1 . Ile Wet over the land, and gave him that 4 4e asity o r t ' L t Now, if that be so, much more is there . a 4 , °t ati 1 , 4 . --e Town Council at least adjourning the consi t;afticiert-o°` ,the question I submit that the time has not been d -tir ßea s sp - Y outingto question, Which .allowed by the Council for the soots to of door wasd scarcely for the members within o ttl o t 1 : 11 4 01 ° aßniviesthe that l su bject an consideration which its magni that his 1. consented to apprehend, sir, that the delay which the . them !€` end might b 11 the object, and with the view, Was obtained—namely, d narcey that those inter ithlaite,illeht l,and, be Tep a r c es — ented and the represen do the should s o lo i land, informed of what . was being done— iiould do it after due deliberation, and endeavour to b What e re tie ., a the right thing. Now, if the interval allowed to d, tl4 :' not to be sufficient I hope, and we have no reason ‘ , .nil e ri t ' .that a :respectfully Worded mernorial,presented to the c opal cif 10-tuorrow, asking for a further adjournment, the aceepted'atlone and the reasons will be listened to, will be b efer e , t°, and Will be acceded to. (Hear, hear.) Therefore, 4 It etti.oerialeipatroate I pro ose to recommend for your adoption tLe Co p uncil with that view. (Hear, hear.) THE NORTHERN TIIEF.!.i Mr. Jeffery exhibited the plans contained in the report of the town improvement committee, appointed at the town's meeting, in illustration of his previous statements, and then continued : —I would first, then, put this matter to the Council ; and, as a burgess deeply interested in the management of the corporate estate, I would say that, until the corporation had determined which of those lines of improvement they would adopt, and how much of the land now in their possession would be requisite for carrying out the plan, no consideration, in respect of its disposal, should occupy their minds. (Hear, hear.) After they had determined on the line of improvement, then the land lying between such line and the railway might be put up to public auction, on leases of seventy-five years, and the public would thus be afforded the same opportunity of buying it in open market as any company. But it is said that railway companies cannot hold land, except in fee, or in perpetuity, in some terms. Now, I have been told by a gentleman who has obtained an opinion on the subject, from an eminent lawyer, that there is no law which can prevent a railway company from holding laud, on a lease of seventy-five years. (Hear, hear.) Now, if that information be correct, and I have no doubt it is, the argument in that respect goes to the wind. But really one would be almost led to suppose that the corporation were not sincere in their efforts to dispose of the land, in the first instance, when it was considered that they put it up in mass, at public auction, on a lease of seventy-five years, at a time when, as Mr. Robertson Gladstone had stated in the Town Council, money was worth from seven to ten and twelve per cent. per annum ; and now they brought forward the fact of there being no bidders at that sale for such a large plot of laud, as a reason why they should avail themselVes of the first offer that is presented for the purchase of it on any terms. I am really at a loss to know why a piece of land, of such magnitude and value, should have to go a begging for a purchaser; but, as I before said, it is the duty of the Council to determine on the improvements to be carried out in that nr ighbottrhood before they snake any attempt to part with the property. If that be not done, we shall have repeated that which happened in the case of Hardman-street. If the land be now sold to the railway company, the corporation, bye-and bye, when they will be imparatively required to carry out the contemplated improvement,—after some mayor's carriage has been smashed in the street, or some mayor's neck broken, (laughter),—will have to buy a portion of the land hack again, and will have to give for that position more than the company paid for the entirety. Not many years ago the corporation purchased one side of Hardman-street. They widened the street, an•l sold the surplus land; but very soon it was seen that the street had not been widened sufficiently, and then they had to re-purchase the land to do that which they should at first have seen was necessary. Again, take the instance of the Arcade. No street in the town requires widening more than Bold-street, and the Arcade, which runs almost parallel to it, would afford just the requisite space. It was offered by the corporation for a comparatively small sum, because it now pays an interest on that purchase-money of 72 per cent., though no money has scarcely been laid out on it, and the offer was refused. In the bringing forward of this sale, then, the finance committee are not to be considered incapable of com mitting a blunder, and their recommendation should not be carried out, simply because it comes from them. If it should be, then the Council becomes a nonentity—the bringing forward of any recommendation by the committee is a mere matter-of form, and representative government becomes a farce. I hope we will never live to see the day when our municipal govern ment will have come to that pass. (Hear, hear). In conclusion, Mr. Jeffery proposed the following MEMORIAL. TO THE 'WORSHIPFUL THE MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL OF LxvintkooL, The Memorial of the undersign 4 Purgesses of Liverpool respectfully showeth, That the land in Great Howard -street, forming the site of the Borough Gaol, is exceedingly valttable for purposes connected with the improvement of the town and port, and is now available for any one of the three amended lines of approach, as laid down in a plan which accompanied the report of a committee appointed at a town's meeting held in 1453. Such amended lines were intended to relieve the much over-crowded, and, therefore, dangerous, traffic passing through Oldhall-street. One of them emanated from, and was recommended to the Council for adoption by, a committee of your own body. A second originated with, and was recommended for adoption by, the Archi tectural Society; and a third was projected and recom mended for adoption by the town improvement commit tee, all of which will be rendered impracticable by the sale of that land now contemplated, and such much-needed relief, therefore, indefinitely postponed. That, in the opinion of competent judges, the terms on which the finance committee recommend the sale of this laud to the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company are very much below its present and prospective value. That to alienate land so situated, and so certain to increase in value, and that, too, not for a certain sum to be paid down, but for a fixed annual rent perpetuity, instead of on a lease for years, renewable on payment of reasonable and proper fines, thus depriving the corpora tion estate for ever, of all prospect of advantage from its probable increase in value, is to deal with public property in a m ►nner in which not one member of your body would A.. 1 with his own, and that SO entire a change in the system of disposing of corporate property ought not to be introduced without the fullest deliberation. That your memorialists have seen, with surprise and concern, that a majority of your body seems disposed to hurry on the completion of this arrangement without affording adequate time for enquiry and consideration. That the reason assigned for this precipitation, viz. : The risk that the railway company may be disposed to declare off in case of delay, seems puerile in the last degree, since it is not customary for men who have suc ceeded in arranging the preliminaries for a most excellent bargain to be so exceedingly punctilious in insisting in their prompt fulfilment. Your memorialists, therefore, request that you will ad journ the further consideration of the proposed sale of corporation property to the Lancashire Railway Company, at least until the next monthly meeting of the Council, in order to afford your constituents generally an opportunity of considering a matter of such importance to the present and future interests of the Borough, and of forming and expressing a deliberate opinion upon it, before any arrangement is finally made by their representatives. Mr. Avison seconded the motion. He observed that Mr. Jeffery had so fully entered into the question, that very little remained for him to say. He was glad, indeed, that the meet. ing had been convened, because he thought that the question involved was one which ought to be sifted, and to which every consideration ought to be given. Having been once a working member of the Town Council, he knew of one evil in the way matters were hurried forward at the last day, on the pretence that if the matter were not immediately con cluded, the parties who were in treaty would break off. He did not think that the company were at all likely to go off. It was too good a bargain for them, for he did not see that they could obtain any other land in the neighbourhood upon the same terms. (Hear, hear.) A great portion of the land belonged to Lord Derby, and his lordship, it was well known, never granted a lease beyond one for seventy five years, and he should like to consider what answer the company would receive from his lordship if they demanded from him a lease in perpetuity. Mr. John Shaw Leigh was also a large proprietor in the neighbourhood, and it was not likely that he either would grant a lease in perpetuity. It might be bold in persons so little conversant with land to give an opinion in regard to the price offered in that instance, more particularly whore they knew that such a gentleman as the mayor—than whom no one in Liverpool was more conversant with the value of land —had endorsed the bargain with his sanction, and stated that ho considered it a good and prudent one ; and, furthermore, when they recollected that that opinion was confirmed by Mr. Samuel Holmes ; but, nevertheless, he should express a decided difference from the opinions pronounced by those gentlemen. The price offered in this instance was scarcely £3 a square yard. Mr. Jeffery : It is less than that. Mr. Avison : And yet land sold in the neighbourhood of Hurst street, and in that looality, for five guineas a square yard. Some of it sold even higher, and even at that price be might mention that the terms wore a seventy-five years' lease. With regard to the proposition of granting a lease in perpetuity, he should confess that, as an individual, he had a strong objection to such a proceeding. Ho thought the corporation had established a wholesome system of letting their land, under a lease of 75 years, a plan which was adopted many years ago, after great consideration had been given to the matter. Before that they were in the habit of granting leases for three, five, and twenty one years ; but it was considered, and wisely, he thought, more satisfactory to adopt a lease of 75 years. As to the argument, that the railway company could not hold land, unless in perpetuity, he was not aware that there was any law that bound them in that respect, and he was very much mistaken, indeed, if the London and North Western Railway Company did not hold property in Liverpool, in the term of a 75 years' lease. He thought that, on investigation, it would turn out to be so. Now, with regard to the propriety of selling the land at all, he remembered that he had been a member of the improvement committee, and that it had always been held forth, that when that property came into the hands of the corporation, it would be devoted to the purposes of improvement. (II ar, hear.) Now, the time might not have arrived to make the improvements recommended by the town improvement com mittee—it might be premature to do so, but ho did not see why the corporation should not make preparations for effecting them at a future time. (Hear, hear) If the land were sold, the next thing they would hear of was, that the corporation would have to make those improvements, and then the corpo ration would have to purchase, at a very high figure, from the company, part of the very same land they now disposed of, in order to effect those improvements. It had bean said that when the property was offered fbr sale no bid was made for it ; but they should remember that it was a very large plot of land indeed, and that no single person would be willing to invest in it as an entirety. Ho should wish that the corporation would divide the land into lots, and get their surveyor to lay it out, and then to offer it for sale. He had no doubt if that were done, they would find plenty of purchasers who would give full and satisfactory prices for the land. Ho did not see, also, why the corporation should be so inclined to favour the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company. He recol lected that when another public company, the London and Liverpool Fire and Life Insurance Company, wished to buy the freehold of certain property in the neighbourhood of the Town Hall, the corporation refused to part with their land on any other terms than on a lease, and, he thought, very properly too. He did not see why the Council should depart from that principle in this instance. In conclusion, Mr. Avison expressed his strong conviction that the Mayor and .-LIVERPOOL, WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, Mr. Hornby were not gentlemen who would do anything in. jurions to the interests of the town, but he should, neverthe less say, that if the Council refused to grant the prayer of the memorial, and confirmed the sale, then it would be well worth the while of the burgesses to petition the Lords of the Treasury to reverse it. (Hear, hear.) The memorial was then put and unanimously adopted: Mr. Fernie said that he Was one of the partibs who had not become aware of the proposed sale tintil Satu •day, and on then reading the proceedings in the newspapers, he felt Much obliged, indeed, to the gentlemen in the Council who had opposed its confirmation. (Hear, hear). He tbOught the hands of those gentlemen should be strengthened in every way by the bur gesses} and that the meeting should adopt a resolution to that effect. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Fernie then moved the following resolution :—" Resolved. That should the Council, at their meeting to-morrow, confirm the minutes of the finance com mittee, as submitted to the local council, embracing the sale of the Borough Gaol land to the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company at the price, and upon the terms therein set forth, this meeting pledges itself to co-operate with those of its members who may memorialise the Lords of the Treasury, requesting them to withhold their consent." Mr. Hobbs seconded the motion, and in doing so, observed that the public of Liverpool were too much ridden over by their representatives in the Council in important matters. Those gentlemen too frequently acted as if they were acting for themselves instead of the public. (Hear, hear.) The motion was unanimously adopted. Mr. Charles Willtner moved that the thanks of the meeting be given to Mr. Samuel Thornley and Mr. Jeffery, for having summoned them together on such an occasion. They all knew that there was a very strong feeling out of doors on this subject, but unless some such course as that taken in this instance had been adopted, the Council could not be made aware of the full extent of that feeling. (Hear, hear.) Mr. John Rogers seconded the motion, which was unanimously adopted. The memorial was then signed by all the gentlemen present, after which thanks were voted to the chairman, and the meeting separated. THE NORTH END. Last evening a meeting of the inhabitants of the north end of the town was convened at the house of Mr. J. Bunbury, Oldhall street, for the purpose of remonstrating with the Council upon the proposed sale of the land upon which stood the Borough Gaol, at 2s 6d per yard, in perpetuity. There was but a very small attendance, but amongst those present were—Messrs William Macnaught, M. Henry, Thomas Morgan, Edward Pulford, Joseph Sharp, John Tyson, M. Scott, James Clarke, Alexander Johnstone, Isaac Brunt, George Frankland, Thomas Richardson, and James Cearns. Mr. Bunbury, however, came forward and said, although the meeting was small, he would propose that, in order that the important business for which tbey had met might be proceeded with, he would request Mr. John Sheehan should take the chair. This being seconded, and carried by acclamation, that gentleman took the chair, and, in doing so, said he very much regretted that there was not a better attendance. He then proceeded to read the placard convening the meeting, and called upon the secretary, Mr. Tyson, to make some observa tions on the subject which had called them. together. Mi. Tyson then came forward and read letters of apology for non attendance, from Messrs. R. Holden, R. R. M‘Goffie' Thomas Godfrey, A. C. Stewart, and John Wilson, regretting' that prior engagements prevented them from attending the meeting, in the objects of which they fully concurred. Mr. Bunbury then proceeded to move the first resolution, and, in doing so, expressed his regret that the attendance was so small, and attributed it to the report that had been circu lated in the ward, that, unless the Yorkshire Railway had the land, the ratepayers of that district would not be accommodated with a market, as the land in question must be sold. 'He had no obj action to the railway company having it—indeed, they must have it, as they could not do without it—for-it might not be generally known that the railway company wore carriers by the canal as well as by rail, and that the plot offered would afford them accommodation for the transit of goods by each. What ho did object to was, that they should have it at the price named. (Hear, hear ) lie conceived that the Council had no right to let their land in perpetuity, but, as in all other cases, for a lease of 75 years ; and, if such a course was not pursued, they would bo robbing, ❑ot only the present gene ration of ratepayers, but also their children's children. He thought that the system was decidedly wrong. (Rear, hear.) The Chairman : What do you consider the real value of the land ? Mr. Banbury : Three shillings per yard is the value, and I have no objection to give that amount, but I can't take the whole of it. He thought that the price at which it was offered at was considerably below the market price. He then concluded by moving the adoption of the following MEMORIAL , We, the inhabitants of the north end of the town, regret the proposal made by the finance committee to dispose of the land in GrAat Howard-street upon the terms stated to the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company. We are of opinion that a much larger sum might be obtained for so valuable a plot, situate as it is in a part of the town which is yearly increasing in value and importance. That great improvements =Wit be made, and the health and convenience of the inhabitants increased, by making one or more streets across the laud, and so cutting it into smaller plots, greatly enhance its value, and facilitate its sale to private individuals. That the sale of the land in perpetuity, by private contract, to the railway, is unfair towards other persons of the borough, many of whom, we have reason to believe, would give a much better price, were it offered on those terms to public competition. - We, therefore, request the Council to postpone the sale, in order that the public may have an opportunity of making offers for the land, or that time may be allowed for projecting some scheme for carrying out the improvements mentioned above. Mr. Henry said he cordially concurred in all that the last speaker had stated, and had much pleasure in seconding the motion. _______ The memorial was then adopted, and, after a vote of thanks to the chairman, the meeting separated. _ . _ The following placard was posted on the doors of the place of meeting, which may in some degree account for the paucity of the members in attendance :—" The meeting announced to be' holden this evening, to remonstrate with the Town Council on the proposed sale of the Borough Gaol, is adjourned to this night week." May 14, 1856. TRIAL OF DR. SIBBALD'S SHIP-COMMU NICATOR AND LIFE PRESERVER. Some time ago we gave a brief outline of an invention made by Dr. Sibbald, of this town, of an apparatus calcu lated to communicate with the shore from ships in distress, and for the purpose of saving life ; and yesterday we had an opportunity of being present at a sea trial of the invention, under the patronage of the Shipwreck and Humane Society, and of the Liverpool Underwriters' Association, and we at once state that the general experi ments were not only satisfactory, but such as to elicit the approbation of all who witnessed them. No doubt when the invention becomes more fully developed, and widely known, as it cannot fail to be, the mercantile marine will be much benefitted by its application on board all ships. There is, very naturally, a prejudice against all devices of this description, until there is a proper trial, and, upon actual experiments, men, capable of giving judgment, pronounce on the merits of the invention. In this regard, if the opinion of practical men who witnessed the experiments made yesterday, be of value, we may say that Dr. Sibbald has approached nearer to perfection in this respect, than any other known inventor in the peculiar matter to which he has directed his skill and attention. Shortly after twelve o'clock, a considerable number of gentlemen—some connected with the Shipwrecked and Humane Society, the underwriters' asssociation, the trade and shipping interest of the port, the corporation, &c., embarked on board the Steam Tug Company's boat Pilot, and proceeded down the river in order to try the effect of the apparatus. It must be remembered that the invention of Dr. Sibbald is confined chiefly to communicating from ships in distress to a lee shore, and, vice versa, also with ships in distress at sea, where other means of communica tion is hardly possible; the great point being to convey ropes and messages. when others means fail. This, in itself, is of paramount importance, and if by any means the difficulties hertofore existing, can be overcome, it would prove of great advantage, not only to the marine world, as regards security to property, but in the saving of human life. Amongst the several experiments made yesterday, that which proved eminently successful, was one with the perpendicular communicator, which without a breeze of wind revolved with the action of the sea, and afterwards ran on shore a mile from Crosby Point in less than twenty-eight minutes, preserving in the pocket, a five pound note, a quantity of cigars and matches, perfectly dry. Indeed, this experiment was pronounced by all who witnessed it, complete and satisfactory. The horizontal communicators did not work so well, as there was not even a zephyr out to touch them; but yet the result of the experiments with them was declared to be satisfactory, taking all things into consideration. it will be remembered that the invention is only intended for and applicable to, vessels on a lee shore in a storm, or vessels in distress at sea in a storm also ; and in these respects better judges than we pretend to be, stated that nothing could be better calculated to meet the want that exists in this respect than the invention of Dr. Sibbald. After these experiments were tested to the satisfaction of the numerous and respectable party on board the boat, the company returned to the cabin and partook of an elegant entertainment ;provided for them by Dr. Sibbald, the caterer being Mr. Robert Walker, of the Mansion House Hotel, Drury-lane, who accorded ample justice to the orders given him, and produced everything the season afforded in great profusion. Several excellent speeches were delivered, particularly by Mr. Court, of the Underwriters' Rooms, Mr. William Walker, Mr. Jones, Mr. Cross, Mr. Clint, T.C., and other gentle men, all of whom bore testimony to the excellence and success of the invention of Dr. Sibbald. That gentleman having returned thanks, and explained the nature of the apparatus, the general expression was, that his invention ought to be found on board all ships, and after spending a pleasant day, the party returned to town highly . pleased, and all convinced that the use of Dr. Sibbald's invention would contribute to save many valuable lives, and prevent the loss of a vast amount of property. SELECT VESTRY.-YESTERDAY The usual fortnightly meeting of this body was held at ten o'clock yesterday. Mr. Churchwarden 'Woodruff presided, and the other members present were—Messrs. Whitby, Owen, Bairstow, Shaw, Satchell, W. Sono, Denton, Jackson, J. Jones, Critchley, Whitty, and Cooke. THE IRISR AND SCOTCH PAUPER REMOVAL BILL. The Chairman stated that a petition had been prepared in reference to this bill, and sent to Rev. Rector Campbell for signature, and he believed had been presented to the House of Commons. The bill now stood adjourned to the 26th of May. The opposition was coming in from all quarters most vigorously ; and it was expected that the bill would either be considerably modified, or altogether withdrawn. Mr. Whitby said the vestry clerk had stated that he furnished a circular to the clerks of various unions throughout the country. He wished to ask the clerk whether one had been sent to the clerk of West Derby Union. The Clerk said he was furnished with one last week. Mr. Whitby asked if there was any particular reason for it not having been furnished before. The Clerk was not aware of any particular reasons. Mr. Denton said he could explain the matter, He offered his services to the committee to see the chairman of the West Derby Board, Mr. Harrison, in reference to this matter. The committee accepted the proposal, and he waitpd on Mr. Harrison, and had some conversation with him, Mr. Harrison promising that he would bring the matter before the West Derby Board. Mr. Whitby said that was no explanation, and that Mr. Harrison was not chairman of the board. The Chairman said the clerk's answer was the only one that could be given—the circular hal been delivered rather late. WORKHOUSE COMMITTEE. The proceedings of this committee were read. It appeared that the numbers last week admitted to the vagrant sheds were 202 males, 120 females, and 25 children, in all 347. The number of sick cases in the hospital on the 3rd inst. was 615, including 32 fever, and 35 itch. The total numbers in the house on the 7th inst. were 2,300. Mr. Shaw moved the confirmation of the proceedings, Mr. Denton asked what was the result of an enquiry which was instituted during the existence of the medical relief com mittee into the conduct of some of the medical officers of the house. The Chairman said the subject was still under consideration. Mr. Shaw said the sub-committee held an enquiry the pre ceding day, and would report to the next meeting of the workhouse committee. After a short conversation the proceedings were confirmed. INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS COIMITIEE, The proceedings of this committee were read, Mr. AV. 'Tone; moved their confirmation, and in doing so referred to a report now going the rounds of the papers, that of Mr. Brown, the government inspector of schools, upon the schools of the various unions within his district. Among others which came under his criticism, were the industrial schools of that union ; and he was sorry to find that Mr. BroWn had brought on again in his report a subject which he (Mr. Jones) thought bad been fairly disposed of. (Hear, hear.) The gentlemen who were on the board at the time Mr. Brown preferred a charge against two assistant school-mistresses, would no doubt remember that a sub committee of the industrial schools committee was at that time formed for the purpose of investigating the charge. The investigation was conducted by Mr. Farnall, Poor Law Inspector, who came down purposely, at the instance of the Poor Law Board, to conduct the enquiry. The sub committee had three or four sittings, and he thought a more careful enquiry could not have been made than Mr. Farnall carried on. That was twelve months ago now, but the girls finding themselves under the charge, did not consider that they could remain in the schools, and, without reference at all to the issue of the investigation, they gave up their situations, and got other appointments. Now, he believed Mr. Farnall had not made his report, but he believed the opinion of Mr. Farnall was that the charge Mr. Brown originally made against the two girls was not proved—that the facts did not warrant the charge against them. Now, he thought under the circum stances, Mr. Brown having been invited to attend the enquiry, which he refused to do, it was au injustice to the schools themselves, and to the two girls, that Mr. Brown should re issue a charge which had no foundation in fact, and to take advantage of it to reflect upon the management of the schools. (Hear, hear.) The proceedings of the committee were then confirmed. FINANCE COMMITTEE. The minutes of this committee were read. Mr. Denton asked if the measurement which had been so frequently applied for to the surveyor had been received ? The Clerk replied in the negative. Mr. Denton stated, that he would oppose any further sum being paid such as that lately paid to the Messrs. .Elohne, until those measurements were received. The Chairman said it was not the intention of the committee to wake any further payments unil those measurements were received, which, he agr3ed with Mr. Denton, should have been received before. Mr. Jackson drew attention to the subject of pauper emi gration, and the extent to which that board could assist it. An enquiry had been act on foot to ascertain how far the board could give it their aid. It appeared they could only assist paupers to emigrate to the British colonies, and not only so, but the law seemed to be in such a state as to become almost inoperative. He did not know whether it might not be desirable for the board to take some initiatory steps to make the law tnore simple and practical. (Hear, hear.) The Chairman thought the subject an exceedingly important one. It was very much to be regretted that the late church wardens should feel justified in locking up money which the ratepayers had contributed, probably, not for that specific object, but which was, at all events, their property, and could not be better empioyed than for this purpose. He did hope that before long they should have a fund to send out families with. Mr. Jackson thought they should appeal to the late church wardens to make a payment out of the fund. The Chairman said the gentlemen had been applied to by the voluntary late committee, and had refused again and again: No doubt if the borough was prepared to amuse itself with a chancery suit they might succeed. Mr. Jones : And divide the funds among the lawyers. Mr. Shaw said he understood Mr. B.utchinson was the obstructor, and that Mr. Carne was willing to disgorge. No motion was made upon the subject. The Chairman brought before the board the great desi rability that they should be enabled to assist the Li verpool Reformatory Committee in their efforts. He stated that a specific case had been laid before the POor Law Boaid to see whether they could not carry out this object. He also referred to a communication received from the secretary of the Soho-street ragged schools, in Soho-street, requesting a contribution towards the funds which they dispensed in educating certain classes of the poor. It was perfectly true that they did educate them, and gave them the best of education, as regarded industrial training. But if they admitted the principle of supporting these schools it would open the door to the whole of the schools of the town to make similar applications, and for the present at least the committee was determined to postpone the consideration of the question. The Chairman then alluded to the disgraceful manner in which great bodies of seamen were imported into Liverpool. They were shipped frequently, he was informed, in America, iu a state of drunkenness, unfit for duty, ill-used upon the voyage, and then cast upon Liverpool in a state of destitution, and frequently in a dangerous state from wounds and bruises, to be supported by the parish One of these seamen lately died. He thought the attention of the consul should be called to it. The Chairman finally drew attention to a claim made to the Finance Committee by Rector Campbell, for fees due to himself and the late Archdeacon. The claim amounted to £162 since March 1854, including the sixpence fees allowed by the Queen's Bench, and also sixpence fees for registration. The majority of the Finance Committee de cided that they did not feel themselves justified in paying these fees. It was a new question to them, and they had not a sufficient amount of information as to the legality of it. They therefore preferred not paying it until some decided information was laid before them. This was the decision of the majority of the committee, The minority of them were of opinion that the payment might be made subject to the poor Law auditor's decision. The proceedings were finally confirmed The vestry then adjourned. MILITARY RIOTS IN MALTA. MALTA May B.—For thr ee days past there have been serious c ollisions between parties of the Italian Legion, the police, the English troops, and the inhabitants. The Inspector of Police has been killed, and an officer of the Marines wounded. General Pennefather has arrested a number of Italian and Maltese. On the Bth, the revolted legionaries entrenched themselves in a fort. The General marched his troops and brought artillery to bear upon the buildings —a speedy submission was expected. THE CRIMEA. Nine thousand of the English troops had embarked. The allied cavalry, at Eupatoria, by permission of General Luders, will come down to the coast by land to their point of embarkation. The Tartars of Enpatoria are leaving in great numbers to settle on the Dobrudscha. The insurrection in Syria had been suppressed. The English agent at - Guaronini has been assassinated by some fanatics. The Russian Embassy is shortly expected in Constan tinople. FRANCE. The Empress Eugenie drove out on Sunday for the first time since her accouchement. The corn markets have risen greatly through France, owing to unfavourable weather. The manufacturers of Paris hive received important orders during the last few weeks. Russian commission agents have made large purchases of fancy goods. Consuls from England will be stationed at Kamiesch and Kaffa, in addition to the places previously men tioned. 866. POLICE COURT.-YESTERDAY (BEFORE HR. ROMILY.) DARING ROBBERY. CAPTURE OF THE THIEF.-- Inspector Murphy (of the detective police) brought up a superiorly dressed young man, named Frederick Binnion, on the following charge. From the statement of the inspector, and the evidence given to support it, it appeared that on Saturday morning, the 3rd inst , about ten o'clock, a cash box (containing upwards of £4O) h been stolen from the publichouse of Mr. Wells, Gloucester-street, and from information which the inspector received, he proceeded to London, and on Saturday he arrested the prisoner in Bishopgate-street without. The manner in which the robbery had been effected, was as follows :—A person went to the house of Mr. Wells, called fora quart of ale in a jug, and while Mrs. Wells went to the cellar to get the ale, the prisoner jumped over the counter, seized the cash box, and ran away with it. The prisoner was identified by Mrs. Wells, by a woman named Sarah Wicklesworth, and a girl named Jump, as the person who rail off with the cash box. Mr. Murphy asked for a remand of the prisoner, as he said he was sure to secure the individual who was with him the time the robbery was committed. The prisoner was remanded accordingly. SUSPICIOUS.—Thomas Fowler, remanded from Saha day, on a charge of having a quantity of jewellery, supposed to have been stolen, in his possession, was sent to jail for two months, as he could not account for the possession of the property. A report of this case appeared in our paper of Monday. One of the gold:chains found on the prisoner was identified by Mr. Joplin, a publican, residing in London-road, who said it had been stolen from him on Saturday night, the 12th of April, while he was going home, " a victim to hospit ality." _ _ ROBBING A SOLDIER.—Jane Taylor was again brought up on a charge of stealing £2O from Junes Conner, a soldier, recently returned from the Crimea, where he had fought in three engagements. 'The particulars of this case appeared in our impression a few days since. On the former occasion, some witnesses were called to prove an alibi, and the prisoner was discharged, but on the present occasion, these witnesses were not again called, having, as alleged, committed perjury on the former examination. The prisoner was again dis charged. FALSE PRETENCES.—John Parry was charged with obtaining £4 4s 6d from John Beasley, under false pre tences. The monzy was obtained in payment for repairs pretended to have been done to a ship, but it was found that no such ship was in the dock. There was a similar charge against the same prisoner for obtaining £3l9s 6d from Mr. W. Cower, a publican, Regent-road. The prisoner was remanded for a week. UONDAT. (BEFORE MR. MANSFIELD.) THE GREAT GUN TRICK.—A miserable looking old man, named Michael Kavanagh, charged a fellow, named Matthew M'Cormick, under the following circum stances:—The poor fellow told a dismal, yet most laughable tale. He said he was a gun man, and exhibited the fragments of a brass gun, amid great laughter. The only chance of its ever being re paired, lay in the cure recommended by an old man once to a neighbour, who told him the way to repair his gun, was to put a " new lock, stock, and bar. ref into it." The complainant went on to say, that he had been an inhabitant of Birkenhead market for 15 years, and the only support he had was his gun and his nuts. (Laughter.) Mr. Mansfield Do you shoot nuts out of the gun ? Witness : No, my jewel of a Worship, (roars of laughter,) I never see'd the man afore in all my born days. Mr. Mansfield : You don't shoot nuts out of the gun—what do you do with it? The witness : The devil a pinsworth I'll ever be able to do with it now; only just look at the havock he made of my beautiful instrument. (Here again the fragments were held up, amid renewed laughter.) Mr. Mansfield : But what used you to do with it when it was a gun ? Witness (with a heavy groan) : Oh ! I used to have it for shooting for nuts—three darts a penny, (laughter), and there's the fellow there that put an end to my exist ance, (renewed laughter,) and I call on you, my jewel of a Worship, to ax him if I ever done him hurt or harm, or offend him since the day of creation. (Uproarious laughter.) Mr. Mansfield : Well, tell me how he broke the gun? Well, my Worship, I was comin from the usual occupashin of my daily labour—that's from the nut shooting at Birkenhead, on Saturday night, and what do you think, my Worship, I was thinking of? Mr. Mansfield : I don't want to know what you were think ing about, tell me how he broke your nut gun ? Wit ness : Well, as I was telling you, I was just thinking of nothing at all, and Louis Napoleon, (laughter,) and walking alone along Marybone, when, my Worship, up he aims, snaps the gun off my back, and without say ing "by your leave," or any thing else, he made mummy of it on the flags, without any mercy or remorse. (Great laughter) Policeman 298 said he was on duty in Mary bone on Saturday night, be saw the poor fellow walking very quietly with a basket of nuts on his arm, and the gun slung behind his back, the prisoner, who was on the other side of the street, crossed over, and, without any provocation, snapped the gun and broke it in pieces on the footway. (Here the prisoner groaned loudly, and exclaimed, " oh ! my beautiful gun, my beautiful gun." There was, we are pained to say, very little sympathy shown for the loss of the " beautiful gun," for instead of groaning with the owner, a burst of laughter followed. Mr. Mansfield : What is the value of the gun ? Wit ness : Why, it's not so much for the value of it, as for the loss I care ; you see, my Worship, this is a holiday at Birkenhead, and the club meets there, and I wouldn't take less than a pound in cash for the nuts—only for the loss of the gun—for this day is the best day at Birken head, from year's end to year's end—the value of the instrument was eight-and-twenty shillings. The prisoner, in reply to the charge, made a statement that caused more laughter than that made by the complainant. He said it was all the fault of a bottle of vinegar. (Great laughter.) Mr. Mansfield : How the fault of a bottle of vinegar ? Prisoner : Because it was that fellow's wife had a bottle of vinegar, and she was walking behind him, and she said she'd make me drink the bottle of vinegar. (Laughter.) I thank you, ma'am, says I, but if it's all the same to you, I would prefer a glass of Parry's brown ale. (Great laughter.) " If you don't drink the vinegar, Mat. M'Cormick," says she, " I'll spill it down your throttle, and then I'll smash in the roof of your skull with the bottle, so I will." (A loud burst of laughter, in which his Worship joined heartily.) Mr. Mansfield (to the complainant) : Was your wife with you, and had she a bottle of vinegar? Mr. Michael Kavanagh clasped his hands together, and gave a long sigh, and then looked up at the ceiling of the court, ex claiming—The devil a wife, thanks be to goodness, I ever had in my life, and what's more, my worship—l never will, if I know it. The manner and gesture of the witness produced another burst of laughter. At this moment, there was heard a considerable row—that is a row of women's tongues at the bottom of the court, some crying out "M'Cormick," and some shouting ,• Kavanagh "—it was a Babel in minature, until the parties were " scattered " into the street by the police. Inspector Chew, in reply to M r. Mansfield, said the gun might be worth 20s. The owner maintained it was worth 28s, and that he could have cleared a " golden sovereign," if he had it at Birkenhead. The prisoner, loudly protested that he could purchase the full of the Royal George of such pop guns for 3s 6d. (Laughter.) Mr. Mansfield: You could not make it for 3s 6d ? Prisoner : Upon my soul you're right, your Worship ; I couldn't now, for three hundred and six pence, and for this reason—l couldn't make it at all, at all ! (Laughter.) Mr. Mansfield : Well, you broke it, and must pay for it. Prisoner : Oh aye, sir; all's very good that way, but I have a wife and children. Mr. Mansfield : So has he—that is, he might have had them ; I sentence you to pay a fine of 1.55. Mr. Garnett (the chief clerk) : Or in default, what imprisonment, sir ? Mr. Mansfield : No imprisonment at all, as I see he has the money, so he must pay at once. The fine was then paid, and poor Kavanagh left the court, and so did Mr. M`Oormick, interrogating to the policemen, as to whether Anderson, (the wizard of the north,) ever had performed such a "gun trick" as he had? ASSAULT.—James Wilson, and Miles Burke, were charged for having assaulted the police on Saturday night. There was a street row, and when the police went to quell it, the prisoners assaulted them. The prisoners were fined £5 each, or in default of payment, two months' imprisonment. GARROTTE ROBBERY.—John Henderson, and John Peters, were charged under the following circumstances. It appeared that at an early hour in the morning, officers Riley 91 and 493, saw the prisoners in Preston - street , and suspecting all was not right, they locked them up as suspicious persons. Some time after, a report of a garrotte robbery was made, and the prisoners were iden tified as two of a gang of five persons. who had knocked down and nearly strangled a tailor, named Doyle, at the same time robbing him of all the money he had. The prisoners, who are very bad characters, were fully com mitted for trial. [Mr. Mansfield begged to acknowledge the receipt of 5s from W. J. P., for the benefit of the poor woman Neill, whose case we reported in Saturday's paper.] (BEFORE MR. ROMILY AND MR. T. BOLTON.) UNLICENSED MARINE-STORES.—James Barton, an un licensed marine-store dealer, was brought up on remand. It may be in the memory of the reader, that the prisoner had been up twice before on a charge of offering brass, lead, and copper for sale, for the possession of which he could not account. Mr. Bluck was for the prisoner, and urged, as he had previously, that the prisoner was not obliged to give any account of how he became possessed of the property. He founded his arguments on a case decided by Mr. Mansfield, as already reported in our paper. Mr. Bolton was of opinon the present did rot come within the case quoted, and fined the prisoner £2, which was at once paid. STEALING TlME—Robert Webster, said to be well con nected, but described as a thief, having been " up " four times already on charges of felony, was charged with having stolen a time-piece from the ship Eliza Hunter, in the Waterloo dock. On Saturday night, after twelve o'clock, a police-officer met the prisoner leaving the dock, and on searching him, he found the time-piece in his possession. He gave several accounts of how be came by it, but at last the constable discovered that It had been stolen from the ship. He was committed for two months. BASE COIN.--Robert Swiney was charged by Constable Amite, who said he got the prisoner attempting to pass a base shilling, and on searching him he found sixteen other base shillings in his pocket. The prisoner was remanded. Rorno OF A GOLD WATCH. —A sailor, named Nicholas Crevia, was charged with having stolen a gold watch and chain, value £2O, from the publichouse of Mr. Lowe, corner of Argyle -street and Canning.place. Mr. Lowe forgot the watch in the closet, and the prisoner found it there, took it to a pawnbrokers, and pledged it for 15s. He called again the same afternoon, and in company of another person, released it; and it was stated that the other person had the watch, and that he had gone to Hull. The prisoner did not deny this, and he was remanded, ROBBERY OF A SHIPWRIGHT'S YARD,—On three or four occasions during the last two months, the ship building yard of Mr. Southerbery, Neptune-street, was broken into and property stolen ti , erefrom. On Satur day, two a pprentices in the yard, named P a t r i c k M‘G u i n, and Thomas Brei - ±ill, along with a carver in the same employment, were brought up on a charge of having committed another robbery in the yard. The carter's name is Henry Rimmer, and it appears that such was the confidence reposed in him by Mr. Southerbery, that he constituted him a watchman at night, and paid him additional for that duty. The use the man made of his privilege had been to assist the other prisoners is plundering their master's stores, in which act they wer caught on Friday night by the police. The prisoner were committed for trial at the sessions. COUNTY COURT. -YESTERDAY (BEFORE JOSEPH POLLOCK, ESQ , JUDGE.) AEKER3 V. FURLONG.—In this cause, which was ad action on a promissory note, and was tried before the court some time since, his Honour proceeded to deliver judgment yesterday. He said that he was of opinior: that the verdict should be in favour of the defendant, because, although the debt was in reality contracted before the defendant's bankruptcy, the promissory note was given subsequently to it; and by the Act 12 Vic. it was provided that under such circumstances such an engagement could not be enforced. Mr. Blackhurst, for the plaintiff, said th .t the bankruptcy was antecedent to the act of 12 Vic., and that it could not therefore apply. His Honour strongly complained that so important an element in the case had not been mentioned during the course off, the proceedings. Of late, many cases were submitted for judgment, in which the facts were not fully stated, and the court had, in consequence, been much inconvenienced by them. In this case, he should defer judgment to the 20th, by which time he hoped all the facts would be placed before the court. MO,GAN V. LEVY AND ANOTHER.—This was an action brought to recover I4s, the value of a half barrel of grapes. The defendants, Messrs. Houghton and Levy, had a sale of fruit, which the plaintiff (Mrs. Morgan) attended, and purchased there a half barrel of grapes, marked " Almeira," for I Is. She got an order fqr the grapes, but the half barrel which was delivered to her, was marked "H. M." This she immediately sent back, but the defendants refused to receive it. The plaintiff had sold the grapes in anticipation for 14s, and she accordingly instituted the present action for that amount. Mr. Levy stated, in defence, that the delivery order was for the lot, 183, in the catalogue, and that he resisted the claim not for the amount involved, but to check the practice of attempting to change lots purchased under such circumstances. His Honour said that the evidence of Mrs. Morgan was very direct, and the verdict should therefore be in her favour, for the amount claimed. THE LANCASHIRE POLICE The returns moved for by Mr. Gore Langton, M.P., of the numerical strength, rate of pay, and cost of the rural police force of each county in England, with the amount that could be raised by a penny rate, were issued from the parliamentary paper-office on Friday. The police force of Lancashire is returned at 614 officers and constables, of which number 21 are supernumer aries, supported at the expense of public bodies and private individuals. The chief constable has ,e5OO a year, and there are 18 superintendents receiving each £lOO a year; two of these, like the chief constable, have no advance of pay for length of service, and 13 of them receive an additional £2O per annum after a further period of four years. The amount expended in pay, clothing, and contingencies was, in 1855, £44.573, and £957 was appropriated to the payment of interest on and repayment of loans, making the total outlay £45,531. In the preceeding year, the expenditure amounted to £43,632, and in 1853 it was £41,563. The amounts received in aid of rates for services of constables, and from other sources, was £6,449 last year, £5,899 the pre ceding year, and £5,901 in 1853. The net expenditure last year, therefore, was £39,082, which was a reduc tion of between six and seven hundred pounds on the cost of the police in 1854, but an advance on the ex penditure of 1853 of £3,421. The sum of £5,249 was expended last year in building police stations, out of money borrowed on mortgage of future rates. This item is one which has grown rapidly, for in 1853 it was only £1,113. and in 1854 it amounted to £3,651. The returns show that the net cost of the Lancashire police is more than double that of the whole principality of Wales, and the amount which would be produced by a penny rate, £13,701, is little more than a third of the annual expenditure. TESTIMONIAL TO MR. COSTA On Monday, a testimonial was presented by the com mittee of the Birmingham Musical Festival to Mr. Costa, to evince their gratefnl sense of his munificence in pre senting the sum to which he was entitled for the compo. sition of his oratorio, Eli, to the funds of the General Hospital. The testimonial, which is a magnificent work of art, consists of a group in oxydised silver, illustrative of a passage in the work, the production of which it is intended to commemorate—that of the presentation of Samuel to Eli in the Temple. The following inscrintion is engraved on a silver scroll on the back of the pedestal : " To Michael Costa, in commemoration of the first per. formance, on the 29th of August, 1855, of Eli, an oratorio, generously composed by him for the Birmingham Festival in aid of the funds of the General Hospital. As a tribute to his genius, and as a record of his disinterested libe rality, this testimonial is presented by noblemen and gentlemen on the committee of management, 1855." Lord Willoughby de Broke, as president of the festival, pre sented the testimonial. Mr. Costa, on coming forward to acknowledge the compliment thus made to him, received a very hearty greeting. Mr. Costa was subsequently enter tained at dinner at the Hen and Chickens Hotel. About forty gentlemen, chiefly the Festival Committee, were present. THE WRECK OF THE RACER Letters from the Irish capital mention that 600 of the passengers of the ill-fated ship Racer, which was wrecked on the Arklow Bank on the 6th inst. arrived in Dublin on Saturday evening by the Dublin and Wicklow Railway, and immediately proceeded to the office of Mr. Kenny, the agent for the owners, who by great exertion and expense found means of lodging them, and made preparations to have them conveyed back to Liverpool. Many of the poor creatures have lost all they possessed in the world, and from the many complaints which they make it is evident that a rigid enquiry into all circumstances relating to the wreck is necessary. The Racer was was manned by a crew of twenty-seven men, of whom it is stated that twenty-four were men of colour, and three Chinese. .She sailed from Liverpool on Tuesday week with 700 souls on board, and was left by the pilot off llolyhead. The passengers were sent to their berths at an early hour and were not many hours at rest when they were roused by the noise of the ship running ashore. A scene of the most dreadful confusion followed, and some of the people state that the captain gave them very little hope of being saved. A number of fishing smacks from Arklow, however, soon came alongside, and, amidst the wildest uproar and confusion, the poor passengers were conveyed on land, after, as they state, having had their boxes pillaged by the ship's crew, and large quantities of their luggage lost or de stroyed. In one case a woman says she was plundered of £2OO, and various sums of RIO to £ 5O are stated to have been lost in the same way. These matters, and other statements made by the passengers, render an enquiry into all the circumstances, almost necessary, and this can probably only take place at Liverpool. One of the crew was lost after the ship struck, and a woman fell over board, but was again recovered. It has not yet appeared whether any other lives were lost. PERSIA AND THE UNITED STATES.: The Constantinople correspondent of the Times states on the best authority, that a treaty has been concluded between these powers, but the text is kept very secret. FRANCE AND BELGIUM. The Paris correspondent of the Times states that satis factory communications have pa sse d b etween the two governments on the question of the press. The Belgium government will take more active measures to prevent the publication of incendiary appeals, but without infringing the liberty of the press. THE MIRDER OF MR. CALLAGHAN.—We learn from Ireland that there are two men now in custody on suspicion of being engaged in the conspiracy to murder Mr. Callaghan. One of the Galway papers mentions that there will shortly be made some disclosures in connection with this tragedy, which cannot fail to surprise the government.