The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-04-12 00:00:00

THE DAILY TIMES, THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 1860.

ACCESSION OF THE EARL OF SHREWS-
BURY TO THE FAMILY ESTATES.

MEETING AT OXTO.N LAST NIGHT.

To-morrow (Friday) the Earl of Shrewsbury and
Talbot enters into possession of the familyestates, and
being a large landowner at Oxton and the neighbour-
hood, the leaseholders and inhabitants generally of that
township held a meeting last night, at the Queen's
Arms Hotel, and by adjournment at Newburn's Rooms,
for the purpose of adopting a congratulatory address to
his lordship, on his accession to the estates attached to
the title. The chair was occupied by Mr. Francis G.
Harbord, senior overseer, and amongst those present
were Messrs. Nosworthy, H. Danson, the Rev. W.
Tattersall, Cowie, Godwin, Blissett, Henderson, Cropper,
Ashburner, Cowdroy, Edwards, Drew, Nicholson,
Vale, &c.
The CHAIRMAN aid—You will in all probability
remember, gentlemen, that it is not much more than a
fortnight since that the annual meeting of the township
was held, for the purpose of electing your officers.
Since that time several applications have been made to
me, as senior overseer, to call a public meeting. of the
inhabitants, to express to the Earl of Shrewsbury the
gratification that we feel, not only that his lordship has
succeeded to the estates, but also that the title has been
settled. Acting as I have always done with those gentle-
men who were elected by yourselves to represent von—l
allude to the public board—l conceived it my duty, first
of all, to ask our honorary secretary, Mr. Nosworthv, to
call a meeting of the board, so that I might have their
sanction for calling you together this evening. lam
happy to say that they met me at once, and expressed their
gratification that such a course was likely to be adopted.
Supported by them, and by the requisitionists, whose
names are appended to the notice convening this meet-
ing, I have mile(' you here this night. I should
state to you that a sub-committee of the Board
was formed they have prepared an address, which will
be submitted for your a?proval, and I believe that
address is very clearly framed. Perhaps you will allow
me to suggest that its adoption should be moved by the
Chairman of the hoard, and that the Rev. Mr. Tattersall,
the clergyman of the district, should second it. I need
hardly say, that in a matter of this sort the great com-
pliment will consist iu the unanimity with which the
address shall be voted, and that if there is not that
unanimity, the compliment is detracted from. (Hear,
hear.)
The minutes of the meeting, of the board referred
to were as follows:

At a special meeting of the Local Board of the
township of Oaton, held on Monday, the 9th day of
April, 1880, at Mr. Jacobson's house, Oxton, present
Messrs. Blissett, Godwin, Harbord, Cropper, Baty,
M`Whan, NichoLson, liosworthy, and Merrylees, Mr.
Blissett in the chair, Mr, Harbord stated that he had
been requested to call a public meeting of the town-
ship for the purpose of voting a congratulatory addriss
to the Earl of Shrewsbury. Moved by Mr. Blissctt,
seconded by Mr. Harbord, that the secretary be re-
quested to address a letter to the Right Hon- the Earl
of Shrewsbury and Talbot, infbrming his lordship that
a town's meeting would be held on Wednesday, the
11th inst., to vote an address of congratulation to his
lordship.
Mr. NOSWORTHY having read the notice convening
the public meeting,
Mr. BLISSETT said—Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen,
there is no occasion for me to detain you by any
lengthened remarks. It is patent to you all that the
Earl of Shrewsbury and Telhot is now the landlord of
these estates, under which we live; and that it is our
duty, as I am sure it is our pleasure, and I hope will be
to our future honour, that we should pay that deference
and respect to the Earl of Shrewsbury which his ante-
cedents require at our hands and at the bands of
every one of those with whom that excellent
nobleman has come in contact. (Applause.) His
lordship has done us the honour of once appearing
on the Hill, and we have no doubt he will do so again,
and that th4t mutual
_gond feel#g which luta hitherto
existed between as Will continue, and be satisfactory to
all parties. The only object we have at present is, to
congratulate the Earl of Shrewsbury after the severe
ordeal through which he has gone, that he has received
justice at the hands of the tribunals of his country--
that he has proved his right and title to these magnifi-
cent estates; and we hope he may long live to enjoy his
honours. It is due to his lordship ; and I believe the
congratulations are general throughout the whole of the
estates. I have no donbt but that Friday will be q
auspioim day in the district. Alton Towers, and that
his lordship will feet on that occasion that we are doing
our duty, and honouring hits as well as ourselves.
(Applause.) I will now read you the address that was
framed by the sub-committee, and which I now beg to
move fbr your adoption :--

ADDRESS.

To the Right lionowa3le the Earl of Shrea.slary aad

Talbot.

MAT IT 1-41, Alit Poua Loans ri ry, the lessees,
tenants, and inhabitants of the township of Oxton,
approach your lordship with our most heartfelt congratu-
lations on your accession to the full and undisputed
possession of the titles and estates of your noble ances-
tors, and sincerely trust that, a merciful Proyidenee may
grant your lordship mar;y years of health and happiness
to enjoy the 'blessings attainable in your exalted position.
"The important connection of your lordship's ances-
tors with the history of our country for centuries past,
fully justifies our con fictions that your noble house will
ever continue an important bulwark to our native land.
"We trust a favourable opportunity may be soon
afforded us of seeing your lordship in our township, and
that we may he permitted personally to express the
great pleasure with which we received the intelligeKe
of your lordship's obtaining lustice at the bar of you
count►ry, _

‘‘ Yoiir lordship's title to the estates having stood so
severe a test, makes it the more satisfactory to your
lordship, and consequently to your tenants, and we trust
that the connection now firmly established with our
township may be both lasting and mutually satisfactory.
" Signed on behalf of the inhabitants of the township.
of Oxton, in public meeting assembled, this 11th day of
April, 1860."
In conclusion, I have only to say that I do hope, as our
chairman has observed, that the greatest unanimity,
good fellowship, and good feeling. will prevail in carry-
ing thiS address. In addition to this, there has been an
address of congratulation to his -lordship on his coming
into possession of the estates, and to that address I had
very great pleasuxe in attaching my signature. If there
he two or three more gentlemen its the township who
think fit and chose to pour out their own feelings in
separate addresses to his lordship, I should be glad to
sign any of those documents, if asked to do so. As
many as please have a right to do so ; and I have
no doubt the more addresses that are poured into
his lordship's hands on Friday the better the noble
earl will be pleased. (Hear, hear.) But it should
be remembered that the address which I have now
placed before you is an address from the pee;ile of ,
Oxton. If I understand it aright, and hope Edo, it
is an address from every' man, woman, and child in
Oxton, 'and I-hope every one of them will feel that this
address goes from them, and that they may always
rejoice in the remembrance that they were able to
address his lordship that they might bless him as I
have no doubt he will bless them for their sincere
aspirations and goodwill on his behalf. (Ilea; hear.)
Our esteemed and reverend friend Mr. Tattersall will
probably address you. (Cheers.)
The Bev. W. T4'4II3Ii,SALL, incumbent of St. Saviour's,
Oxtail, said :—Mr. Chairman and Clentlenien—l am sure
the chit); deielying upon me this evening is a very plea-
sant one tq me, because t feel that I really oan most
conscientiously and heartily rise to second the very
excellent address which has just been read to you, and
in every word of which I thoroughly agree. Whatever
differencess of opinion there may be, politically or reli-
giously speaking, amongst us, there is nothing whatever
in that address that we cannot most heartily subscribe
to. (sear, hear.) lam happy to think, and lam mire
the noble earl will receive arldiiiono' pleaSitire Weim a
knowle4ge of th'e' iheit-in' this. address there is
manifested no ill-feeling 'or bickering, but that it has
resulted from the responsive feeling of our heart, ready
to welcome him, and to give to him that honour which
his exalted position demands. I am sure this will be
but the beginning of new days of improvement in Oxton,
for we want a head here. We can all feel and acknow-
ledge, . without any injury to our just pride, that we
shall always receive and welcome the ti4le lord among
r{s; and I am pre that f;ent his ahtecedents •We \lll
provelhat he lakes Os Intel.* in the Place, and in Our
improVornent ; and I hope that *.e shrill, as alewriship,
make great strides in the • fhthre. very cordially
second Olaf the address lie received and Acloptecl, (Loud
41)anee,)
Mr. G. C. Cowin, after a pause, rose and said that
he did not intend to move another address in opposition
to this one, but a little might be said in reference to it
without absolutely opposing it. It appeared to him
that it was not exactly in the place of a township to
take a matter of that kind in hand. (Hear,' hear.)
He was not aware that the whole of the township
Oxton belonged to the Vert of 11i.eiyabu'ry; he alsO.
objecteclt9 ate oahlptrlietini being called at the eleventh
hour, to agree to an address, when an address had already
been numerously signed and tendered to the Earl of
Shrewsbury. The letter tendering the address had been
mislaid by his lordship, who wrote to a gentleman in
the neighbourhood of Oxton, stating, that he should be
glad to receive such an address, and asking the name of
the writer of that letter, as he bad forgotten it. That
letter of the noble earl's found its way into the hands
of the parish officers, and then they moved in the tn4tter
and convened the meeting that evening. ' •• •
The CtuitiMAN said' lie* *as 'afrhid Mr. Cowie was
going to do himself au injustice, beedUse the letter Was
not brought under the attention of the 'board until after
they had decided on convening the present meeting and
siibmitting an address. Al far as Mr. Cowie was eon-
eepi.ed the statement titled perfectly. eorreet,'ut it
was nevertheless incerrect,' 'and it was out, of feeling for
Criwie that he mentioned this tact.

Mr. Covets hoped the chairman would have no con-
sideration of his feelings in the matter. lie did not
think the township, as such, should be called upon to
address his lordship ; and, without meaning. any dis-
respect to the seconde'r of the motion, he dtd not, think
that gentleman, had he known all•the facts, would bave
seconded 'the motion. "

The CHAIRMAN hoped Mr. Cowie would ask the
gentleman who produced the letter. in question to the
board Whether or not he Kodaced the letter before or
after the board had. determined on the conve they had
taken.

Ift. Coy= said he hod no objection to do sa, but the
question Was whither the township cf4ciEds we justified
is aqfiag On a private letter. that letter ou&ht not to
have been prociu6el to the board at all.
The CuAn-NAN cleni.‘l that the board bad used the
letter.

Mr. GoDWIN said it was after the boaid kad decided
upon calling a public meeting, and after they had agreed
to an address, that he produced the letter in question.
Mr. &MET; in reply to Mr. CONI e, said he
had lived os the Till twiny Year's, and all that he pre-
tended to was a' feeling 6f honour and honesty, and he
would challenge Mr. Cowie, or any other gentleman
in Otton or elsewhere, to compare to greater advantage
in that respect with him. (Applause.) •
The Rev: Mr. TATTERSALL said he did not thinlc bar.
Cowie had said anything that made him wish 0 etract
ho 114c1 ciao, (L'ouel'appliitse.)'' If 'the tOWnship
oleers, who Were chosen' by the public themselves, chase
to call a public meeting, they had a perfect right to do
so; and espeCially so when the object was to vote an
address to a noble lord who certainly would ocC4,:s: 4
very prominent position in the place, 0,14•40 it
,
i'ery Much 0°4.; •
Mi..9l3:ifsoll'said the conduct of Mr. Cowie.appeared
to bleu been actuated by the very .worst possible feeling;
and Jae, asked, .was that-gentleman jealous lest any