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I

THE

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1856.

Ribtrpool '-tanba-rb,

FROM OUR LONDON CORRESPONDENT.

MONDAY AIONNING.

HER Ninny' and the Court return to Londen in the
course of to-day, the royal sojourn at Buckingham Palace
being to extend till the 22nd of March, the day after Good
Friday, when the QUEEN will return to Windsor, to spend
the Easter recess at the Castle. Among the regal notabilities
of the past week has been the institution of a new Order of
Merit, and the promulgation of the rules by which it is to be
regulated. This, when first spoken of as a matter in contem-
plation, was looked on as a vigorous step in the right direc-
tion, and the project was hailed by a general acclaim of
welcome. Henceforth, merit was to have an acknowledged
official position, and everyone rejoiced in " the good time
coming." In this, as in numerous other instances, it has been
found that

'Tis distance lends enchantment to the view.
A closer inspection of the " Order of Merit" denudes it of
many of the golden rays of promise with which expectation
had invested it. The " Victoria Cross," the badge of the new
Order, it is provided " shall only be awarded to those officers
or men who have served in presence of the enemy, and shall
have performed some signal act of valour or devotion to their
country." From this it is evident, that although the distinc-

tion will be bestowed without regard to rank or station, no
merit will be recognised by it which is not of a military cha-
racter. Many shrewd, and not over-caustic observers, remark
an anomalous and absurd practice in a nation which owes so
much to a cultivation of the arts of peace, and which is de-
cidedly of a non-military character, resolutely shutting its
eyes, and refusing to see in its worthiest sons any merit which
is not entirely of a military order. To take an example,
familiar to all by the recentness of its occurrence, let attention
be for a moment directed to the admirable service rendered
by the mercantile steam marina of this country, in the con-
veyance of troops and stores to the seat of war, with a
degree of rapidity and regularity hitherto unknown in the
history of war. The builders of these steamers, the contri-

vers of the mighty engines through the instrumentality
of which that invaluable service was performed, are not consi-
dered to have any claim to recognition in the "Order of Merit."
A prophet is of no honour in his own land, and men of science
are subjected to like neglect, if not even to more contumely, in
Great Britain ; their services are not only unrecognized by the
state as of any merit, but worse, if their merit should be espied
and honoured by the potentates of other lands, such acknow-
ledgment of " merit" must be hidden in their own country.
Cases directly in point have just occurred. Conspicuous
among the contributors to the great Paris Exhibition, were
one or two gentlemen belonging to Glasgow, and so striking
were their contributions, in point of excellence, that the EM-
PEROR, of the FRENCH conferred on them the Order of the
Legion of Honour; those gentlemen were ROBERT NAPIER,
the unrivalled maker of marine steam-engines ; Jonx TEN-
NANT, of St. Rollox, proprietor of the largest chemical works
in the world ; and WALTER Cnum; the highly scientific
calico-printer. These men, although considered worthy of
decoration, by a foreign sovereign, have no claim upon the
"Cross of Victoria," the badge of the "Order of Merit" of
their own country ; but worse, they are forbidden to wear the
order of distinction, which their merits have earned for them,
among strangers. Our gallant allies have their Legion of
Honour, into which men of every profession, whether civil or
military, may be admitted, the claim to admission being
merit ; the British Sovereign has been advised to institute a
"new Order of Merit," from which every kind of merit, save
that of a strictly military character, is carefully excluded.
Verily, as Sterne says, " They manage these things better in
France,"

Doubt has been expressed relative to the new Order, in
several quarters, on another account than that already
glanced at. Some affect to fear that it will be put in lieu of
that incentive to heroism, promotion from the ranks, which
has so recently been introduced with such happy results
and so favourable augury into the British army; if this
suspicion prove well-founded, the "New Order of Merit"
will speedily be discovered to be no great boon to the
army, while it is entirely useless as respects any branch of
civil employment. To anticipate dissatisfaction, or to prog-
nosticate mischance in a case where the movement has been
admittedly in the right direction, is no wise policy nor any
generous act; and so hoping for the most favourable result
from an institution, the want of which has been long felt and
frequently complainel of, the general public will watch with
curious scrutiny, and see how the "Victoria Crosses" are
bestowed; and will accord fitting honour to those whose
breast is decorated with the coveted badge.
-The Parliamentary "sayings and doings" of the past week
have been notable in more respects than one: A great sensa-
tion was created in the House of Commons on Monday
evening by the sweeping measure introduced by Mr. ROBERT
LOWE, the member for Kidderminster, and Vice-President of
the Board of Trade. Every one felt that the proposal for
abolishing Town-dues upon goods imported into seaports was
specially levelled at Liverpcol, although—with the cunning
peculiar to the Manchester school of politics—he contrived to
mix up one or two other ports along with the great maritime
emporium of Europe. The antecedents of Mr. Lows would
have induced many to think that one wedded to a daughter of
the ()REEDS of Aigburth would not have been desirous of
despoiling the town in which the wealth of that family was
accumulated; and not a few considered that his not very

remote interest in the Weaver tonnage dues would have
restrained his hand in making an onslaught on the Liverpool
Town-dues. All who thought or agreed in this line, laboured
under a delusion ; and whatever reasons may have existed for
his following a contrary course of action, in him the Liverpool
corporation

" Found not a generous friend, a pitying foe."
The measure which he introduced on Monday night, in a speech
of keen, cold, unsympathising hardness, is one of great import-
ance to the threatened localities—of little or no significance to
the nation. It is generally believed and said iu the Club-
circles to be an emanation from the spleen of Mr. CARDWELL,
excited by the ejection of that consistent "personal patriot"
from the mis-representation of Liverpool. The project is said
to have been hatched nearly to maturity by him, and on his
quitting office to have been imparted to the Manchester
plotter against the interests of its seaport. These gentlemen,
in turn, ever on the alert to secure what will mortify their
rivals, if they cannot also benefit themselves, perceived in the
CARDWELL pet a measure which would serve the first of these
purposca, and they set themselves with might and main to
compass its adoption by the legislature. In this object they
have been so far successful as to enlist a subordinate govern-
ment official on their side, and the display of Monday night
has been the consequence. In dealing with the alleged facts
of the case, Mr, LOWE displayed a large amount of careful and
somewhat showy cramming ; but was evidently not at all well
up in his lesson. In taking up the gage of battle in defence
of the Liverpool Town-dues, Mr. HonsFALL appeared to great
advantage. His ready coolness of manner, and the aptitude
of his illustrative arguments told well with the House,
and has established for him a position which many men of
equal talent and far greater Parliamentary experience have
failed to attain. It was immediately felt that he understood
the subject, and could grapple with its details, while he was also
manifestly able to comprehend and unravel the sophistries by
which the Vice-President of the Board of Trade sought to
disguise the real nature of the question at issue. The demoli-
tion of Mr. LowE's assertion as to the bad sanitary condition
of Liverpool, was very happily done, while, at the same time,
it afforded Mr. HORSFAIL the opportunity of paying a grace-
ful tribute to the professional skill and natural sagacity of
Mr. NEWLANDS, the Borough Engineer, whose services in
carrying out the sanitary arrangements of the British camp
in the Crimea, have not hitherto met with that publicity of
acknowledgment which they are admittedly entitled to. The
-few but well ordered remarks of Mr. HORSFALL told well,
and considerably reduced the pretentious dimensions of Mr.
Lows, who in his reply considerably modified several of his
most showy averments.
The question, however, is too momentous a one to be treated
hastily, and the enemy too unscrupulous and untiring to ad-
mit of apathy on the part of those who should strengthen the
hands of their representative. The Manchester men will
exert all their influences, and bring all their wiles to bear in
favour of the measure. In addition to this, Mr. LOWE, by
declaring his bill a Free-trade measure, will have secured the
votes of many members who take names for things, and are
satisfied to be saved the trouble of thinking by being fur-
nished with a plausible pretext for recording what can be
represented as a popular vote. These constitute considerable
odds against a question which is made to turn upon legal
right, and against which the ad captandurn rulgus plea of
diminished imposts can be so readily yet so groundlessly
directed.

The House of Peers presented an unusually brilliant and
interesting appearance on Thursday night, great attraction
being found in the.e.spected debate upon Lord LYNDHURST'S
motion for referring the question of life peerages to a com-
mittee of privileges. At five o'clock, the attendance of peers
and visitors of distinction was very great, and the array of
strangers behind the woolsack and below the bar was such as
is but rarely witnessed. The qkiestion to be debated was the
constitutional legality or illegality of the patent for creating
Baron PA.nicr a peer for life. The matter has excited much
iAterest, and no small amount of discussion in the various

aristocratic, 'parliamentary, and legal circles, and the utmost
anxiety'svas evinced to hear the venerable Lord LYNDIIURST
open his case against the Government. The attendance of
peeresses: was not so numerous as has frequently been the case,
when an important debate was pending, occasioned, no doubt,
by the greatly diminished space allotted to their accommoda-
tion since Lord REDESDALE complained that the house was so
filled with ladies that it looked like a casino ; among those
present were the Duchess of ARGYLL and Viscountess PAL-
3IERSTON. Many foreigners of distinction were present, in-
cluding the MAHARAJAH -DHULEEP SING, who now attires
himself in European costume. The members of the House of
Commons mustered in great force, and were there represented
by Mr. GLADSTONE, Mr. LAYARD, and other men of mark
among the various sections of the people's house. The tall, '
thin, and elegant figure of Sir FREDERICK THESIGER was
striking and conspicuous as he stood listening with evident
satisfaction and reverence to the speech of Lord LYNDHURST.
Mr. Justice COLERIDGE and several other members of the
judicial bench were among the privileged auditors stationed
about the steps leading to the throne.
When the venerable nobleman rose to speak every eye was
rivetted on his person, and all ears were eagerly attentive to
his eloquence. For a considerable time past Lord LYNDHURST
I has abstained from senatorial conflict, and the knowledge that
he was to reappear in the arena, added to the importance of
an occasion, otherwise felt to be one of uncommon interest.
-In personal appearance, Lord LYNDHURST has suffered less
from the assaults of time than from his great age —now eighty-
four years—and the extremely laborious life he has led might
have been expected. He is still tall, and is as courtly in his
demeanour as ever. He stands erect, and although somewhat
slow in his perSonal movements, his mental faculties are still
alert and vigorous. His voice is yet obedient to his nicely
modulated ear; and although some of fine aural organization
affected to detect slight musical inaccuracies in his intonation,
the display lie made on Thursday evening was one, in all re-
spects, worthy of the first senatorial assemblage in the world
Calm, self-possessed, and clear, he delivered himself of a
lengthened address, remarkable alike for its vast historical
knowledge, its lucid arrangement, and the convincing
character of the arguments founded on the cases quoted.
He admitted that the subject under debate was one re-
quiring much delicacy in handling, lest it should assume,
on the one hand, the implication of personal dislike to
the subject involved in it, or on the other might infer
a desire to limit the just and indefeasible prerogatives of the
crown. Against the first he appealed in eloquent and con-
vincing terms to the great personal worth and professional
eminence of Sir JAMES PARKE, declaring his conviction that
that distinguished individual was in every respect deserving
of the peerage ; but further that he was entitled to a full and
not a stunted share of the honours inferred in such a dis-
tinction. As regards the exercise of the royal prerogative,
he frankly admitted that the creation of a life peerage was
not an illegal stretch of the prerogative, further than that
he showed that it was far from unprecedented. His tour de
force however lay in the argument, which he supported with
great logical clearness, that such an exercise of the prerogative
was unconstitutional, inexpedient, and dangerous. The ques-
tion as put and successfully argued by his lordship was,
whether a Minister of the Crown, almost invariably the organ
and instrument of the House of Commons, shall or shall not
be entitled at will to modify and mould the upper House of
Parliament into obedience to his wishes by such a creation of
I life or temporary peerages, as would denude it of its con-
' stitutional independence. " The hereditary principle of this
house" said his lordship "is a great and important advantage.
It strengthens our desire to support the stability and con-
stitutional powers of the house. The hereditary principle is
entwined with every part of our constitution. We in this
house .enjoy hereditary rights in common with the crown.
We mutually support and assist each other. As hereditary
legislators, we form a barrier and a defence to both branches
of the constitution ; to proteet them from danger, from what-
ever cause it may come." " The hereditary peerage," says an
able constitutional writer, " is, in same degree, a check to
the power of creating new peers—whereas peerages for life
would obviously be liable to be given away with far less
caution and reserve. A peerage for life would probably be
used as a retirement and reward for the mere creatures of
the Ministry, and inefficient or worn out functionaries,
and a Minister would be enabled at any time to gain an
ascendancy in the Upper. House by a sufficient infusion of his
own adherents." The defence of the life peerage project was
left principally in the hands of Earl GRANVILLE and the
LORD CHANCELLOR, the latter of whom took upon himself
the entire responsibility of recommending the creation, he not
having consulted with the law advisers of the crown upon the
subject. He laboured arduously to defend the principle of
life peerages, and laid much stress on the bare legality of the
proceeding as admitted by Lord LYNDHURST. The Earl of
DERBY supported the motion for referring the patent of the
Wensleydale peerage to a committee of privileges, which was
in effect to condemn life peerages. All the law lords who
spoke on the subject, except the LORD CHANCELLOR, ex-
pressed themselves as adverse to the creation of life peerages;
Lords CAMPBELL and ST. LEONARD'S declaring their convic-
tion that such peerages are illegal. The discussion, which was
a protracted and unusually animated one, did not terminate
until nearly three o'clock, when Lord ImsDnunsfs motion was
carried by a majority of thirty-three. Whether the affair
will end in an extension of the patent for the Wensleydale
peerage into one of the ordinary form or not, is still gravely
debated by those who profess sonic knowledge in the tactique
of parliamentary proceedings. Some of these gentlemen pro-
fess to foresee a stormy debate on the same subject in the
' House of Commons as looming in the not distant future.
Upon what ground the discussion in that quarter is to be
based they do not state.

The same night which witnessed so arduous a contest
among the Lords was one onwhich considerable " expectation"
hung, in the Commons. Sir CHARLES NAPIER. had a notice
on the paper, by which he hoped to " pitch into" the late
First Lord of the Admiralty. The veteran " salt" made his
appearance early, armed with lots of papers and heaps of
documents, with which he meant to rake Sir JAMES " fore
and aft." He was evidently made up for mishief, and seemed
like young Norval

- in a proper mood
To chide the thunder, it at him it roared ;

but he was disappointed, motions having preference of priority
cccupied so much of the sitting, that the gallant Admiral
had to postpone his long-threated castigation of Sir JAMES
GRAIIAM for another week.

During the week several matters, important in a parlia-
mentary sense, have taken place out of doors. Not a few of
the vacant parliamentary scats have been filled up, several of
them re-electing their former, and a considerable number- re-
ceiving new occupants. At Leeds the Right Hon. T. M.
BAINES was returned without opposition on Wednesday, as
was also, on the same day, Mr. SAMUEL WARREN, Q.C., for
Midhurst. Mr. WARREN is new to parliament ; and in his
address to his constituents, after his election, the learned
gentleman declared his strict adherence to the constitutional
party, at the head of which stands the Earl of DERRY, In
the person of Mr. WARREN the electors of Midhurst have
paid a graceful tribute to literature and mental culture by
electing him their representative. To a clear and sagacious
intellect, highly tutored and refined, Mr. WARREN adds
sound religious and political views, warm sympathies, and an
ardent wish to benefit his fellow-men. As an able constitu-
tional and practical lawyer his accession to the legislature
must prove highly valuable ; but as an honourable and
honoured member of the republic of letters, his admission to
the senate must be hailed as a triumph of no mean or trivial
order. The Cambridge University election made favourable
progress ; and, so far as appearances could warrant conjecture,
the return of Mr. WALPOLE was from the first beyond the
reach of danger. This was tardily acknowledged by his oppo-
nent. On the close of Saturday's poll, the Hon. Mr. DENMAN
withdrew from the contest, leaving Mr. WALPOEE master of
the field, and member for the University of Cambridge. The
Edinburgh constituency have indirectly lent their imprimatur.
to the promotion of the literary element in the legislature.by
"the election of Mr. BLAcR, au extensive and respectable
bookseller and publisher, as their representative, in the room
of Mr. 31ACAULAT, which they did ou Friday last.

THE SABBATH QUESTION.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

Sitt,—l have on more than one occasion, in the columns of
your paper, recorded my protest as a Churchman against the
slothful and irreligious custom which prevails in Liverpool of
shutting up the churches and chapels on the afternoon of the
Lord's-day, and thus practically depriving many of the aged
and Infirm, as well as children and servants, of the only op-
portunity or which they can avail themselves for attending
public worship, and driving many others to seek employment
or amusement in wandering about the streets and outskirts of
the town.

The consequences of this most inexcusable apathy to the
wants of the people, on the part of the clergy, are now begin-
ning to manifest themselves iu the denial of the sacredness of
the Sabbath, and the demand for legalized amusement in
those hours which the ministers of religion have so long
abandoned to every man's own devices.
It may seem a hard and hasty judgment to throw on the
clergy the blame of the Sabbath desecration movement, and it
is not in anger but in sorrow that Ido so—the proof of its
justness appears in the fact, that itis chiefly in London and
Liverpool, and one or two other large towns, that this move-
ment has arisen and is progressing, that is—in the very places
where the clergy think proper to shut up the churches on half
the Sabbath-day. In the smaller towns there are, almost
everywhere, three services on the Lord's-day, even when
there is but one officiating minister ; but here, with two
clergymen to almost every church, two services only are
attempted,

Can we wonder that Popery and Secularism, if not positive
infidelity, are progressing with such rapid strides? Can we
wonder that they take advantage of a state of thingS so
evidently in their favour, and clamour for the secularization
of the Sabbath, with as much earnestness as they contend for
the secularization of national education ? And can we be
surprised if they succeed in both ? We, as churchmen, have
abandoned our high and holy principles, have ceased publicly
to instruct the -young and ignorant in the duty of keeping
God's commandments by catechising in the church, and we
need not wonder that we are now told that to keep the Sab-
bath•day holy is incompatible with the spirit of the age in
which we live.

From the total absence of all reverence for revealed religion
which characterises the writings put forth by the advocates of
Sabbath desecration, it is evident that it would be a' mere
waste of time to attempt to reason with such writers—one
can have no-common ground to stand upon —they can neither
understand one's principle nor appreciate one's motives. It
is important, therefore, that, to arrest the progress of the evil,
all ministers of evangelical religion, of whatever denomination,
should set themselves earnestly to the-task of fortifying the
faith of their own people, and ,urging them to endeavour,
each in his own sphere, to inculcate the sacred duty of keeping
holy the Sabbath-day.
, It may be that this attempt to violate the sanctity of God's
'holy day, and set at nought His word, will cause religious men
to forget some of their differences, and lead them. to see that
the gratification of their unholy rivalries has, given their
enemies an advantage over them. The moving spirit in this
matter is the Papist. Cardinal Wiseman suggested the open-
ing of the National Gallery on Sundays, two years ago. Mr.
Vincent Scully, an Irish Romanist, now makes the motion in
the House of Commons. These are . ardently seconded by the
Socinian body, and by that portion of the democratic press
which delights in nothing so much as weakening the autho-
rity of law and order, whether human or divine, and can con-
ceive no higher gratification than the scattering of a church
or the overthrow of a throne. Shall these—the Papist, the
Socinian, and the "Revolutionist—succeed ? The religious
mind of England must answer the question.
For the encouragement of those who may be moved by
what I have written to exert themselves on the side of religion,
I will conclude by quoting the Divine promise to his people of
old (Isaiah lviii., 13, 14) :—" If thou turn away thy foot from
the Sabbath,from doing thy pleasure on ray holy day; and
call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable,
and shalt honour Him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding
thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words : then
shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord, and I will cause thee
to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with
the heritage of Jacob thy father : for the mouth of the Lord
hath spoken it."—l am, Sir, your obedient servant,

VOX.

PROSELYTISH.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

Sfu,—The church of Rome has lately been boasting much
of the accession made to her ranks by the perversion of some
members of our Protestant communions ; and that she should
be able to instance many such cases is not at all surprising,
at least to those who are acquainted with the means she
employs to effect this object. I shall, with your permission,
detail the circumstances attending an attempt at proselytism
made a few days ago by a holy father, not far from the docks.
A Protestant was engaged working in the docks, and caught
cold from repeated wettings, and was suffering from inflam-
mation. Three of his fellow-workmen, who were -Roman
Catholics, brought the priest to see him, and, leaving his
reverence with the sick man, retired. The father confessor
began his operations at once, and having delivered a long
homily on the necessity of baptism, of which the sick man
entertained no doubt whatever, he proceeded to shrive the
poor sufferer. He asked him very particularly if he had been
in the habit of drinking ardent spirits to excess, also if he
were in debt, intending, no doubt, as fully to cancel the
guilt of intemperance as the obligation of his debts. Some
might, perhaps, say that the holy man's motive in the latter
enquiry was not altogether disinterested. Then came ques-
tions which proved that his reverence had long been engaged
in raking up the polluted dunghill of " D. Dens on the
Confessional." But, sir, I forbear, and only add that the•
sick man is still a Protestant, and lives to tell the story. His
wife having providentially entered the room, soon rid the
sufferer of such an impertinent intruder. I would wish to
procure some employment for the poor fellow elsewhere• than
where he has been lately engaged, as I fear on his return to
his fellow-workmen they may show him little mercy. If any
person, not a Jesuit, should be anxious to help me in• this
matter, and should make further enquiry of you, please give
him my name.—l remain, your obedient servant,

Feb: 9, 1858.

MELANCTHUS..

LIVERPOOL TOWN COUNCIL.

- r

THE quarterly and monthly meeting of the Council was
held on Wednesday ; John. Stewart,. Esq., the Mayor,
presiding.

After a question, put by Mr. Robertson. Gladstone, as to the
legality of introducing new matter for discussion at the
present Council, without previous notice. (no intimation of this
being a quarterly meeting having been macleoni the summons),
had been answered in the affirmative by the Town-clerk, the
subject of

TIIS GOVERN3ftST ITTACK 021' THE LIVERPOOL.TOWN DUES
was introduced by Mr. Picrom, who said it had always been
considered that any question affecting the privileges of the
Council as a public body should take precedence of every
other business, he, therefore, seeing, that no other gentleman
gave indication of moving in the matter, had been induced to
allude to it, deeming the subject of interest paramount to any
other, threatening, as it did, serious iniury to the interests
and property of the town. (Hear, hear) He considered it
expedient and advisable that the chief magistrate should call
a town meeting on the subject, that the•opinion of the inha-
bitants may b fairly taken upon the matter ; and if they
were content to sit quietly, and allow themselves to be robbed.
of their property, the Council would, at least, be exonerated of
blame. His chief object in alluding to. this topic was to
ensure that whatever steps were deemed,. expedient to protect
that property might be done with promptitude and energy. If
there be a proper spirit actuating the inhabitants of this town,
they will, as if with one voice, petition. the Houses of Parlia-
ment, and request to be heard by counsel, and through
their representatives, and, by every means in their
power, bring the matter in its true• and just light before
the legislature and, the country, in doing which they would
present a very different view of the case to that contained in
the ad captandnnz speech of the Vice-president of the Board
of Trade. From that speech it appears that every sum re-
ceived either from. dock dues or town dues, has been charged
against the corporation, while for expenditure on the other,"
no credit was given beyond that for-a.few paltry items of no
real:importance. whatever. Instances are given of vessels
having taken part of their cargo onboard in the Birkenhead
Docks, and part in the river, being subjected to dock dues ;
and this is charged against the corporation; which had nothing
to do with the matter. In a leading article in the Time: it is
made to appear that nothing bad. ever been done by the cor-•
poralion for the commercial interests of the town or of the-
country beyond the expenditure of the paltry sum of £3,000
or £3,000. Not a word as to the- expenditure of £73,000 for
the Revenue-buildings, and land which would be worth two
or three times as much more. (Hear, hear.) In London,,it
should be known, all these things are constructed at the•ex?
pense of the government, while-here we have to pay customs,
and to provide a building in which they are to be received.
The great lauding-stage also now in construction—that would
cost a large sum of money, and would be paid for entirely, by
the corporation. Reference bad been made to St. Gcorge's-
hall as having cost an enormous sum, taken from the-p,ookets
of Manchester and other towns in the manufacturing districts.
What was that building erected for? To facilitate-the dis-
pensation of justice in the southern division of the-county of
Lancaster, in which Manchester, Bolton, Bury, and the other
manufacturing towns in this division of the county. are as.
much interestd as Liverpool. Were they to lose sight of the
large outlay incurred in, improving the various; avenues of
commerce, and to be told that the sums expended in• that
manner was of no advantage to the commercial interests of'the
country? In conclusion he moved,—" That the• Mayor- be
requested to convene a public meeting of the inhabitants of
the borough, to be held in St. George's-hall, on. an.early day,
to consider the course to be pursued in consequenee•of the
bill introduced int©, the. House of Commons. by the govern-
ment for the abolition of passing tolls and reg,ulationsof local
charges on shipping, or on goods carried in ships,,and pro-
posing to abolish such dues without compensationor• equiva-
lent to this or any other corporation entitled, to. such dues—a
measure subversive, of the rights of property, which have
hitherto been held. sacred in this country?'
-Mr:-Honsort. seconded the motion.

Mr. HonmnY expressed a general coreurrence.in the views
stated by Mr. Picton, and also concurredwith him in thinking
that the matter was of such deep importance that the council
should be called together on an early day, when they would
have an opportunity of reading the• bill, which would be
brought before the house, and considering what stens they
should take. _ _

Mr. It GLAMONE made a few remarks on the subject, in
which he severely ridiculed the general management of affairs
left ha the hands of government, and expressed his conviction,
that the attempt of government to usurp the management
of the Liverpool town dues was, in itself, so .monstrous and
absurd, that the country would not for a moment listen to it.
The MAYOR, while concurring in the views expressed as to
the importance of the subject, suggested the propriety of wait-
ing till the bill itself was actually in their hands, before decid-
ing upon any particular course.of action, otherwise they might
resolve on something which might turn out very injudicious..
Considerable discussion ensued as to the best mode of pro-
ceeding, under the present circumstances of the case; after
which, on the understanding that the time for calling a,public
meeting be left in the hands of the Mayor, Mr. Pictou's mo-
tion, with the following addition, was unanimously adopted :
"That the bill be referred to the Birkenhead docks committee,
with power to add to their number, and that they be. empow-
ered to take all steps necessary for the protection of the pro-
perty of the corporation and the interests of the inhabitants;
and that the Mayor be authorised to affix the common seal to
any petition or other document necessary in the course of the
proceedings of the committee."