The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-10-30 00:00:00

rageous character

FRoM all we can learn it appears that the trades-
men of Lime-street Ward are resolved to return
Mr. J. R. JEFFERY to the Town Council. That
gentleman's able and luminous speech has satisfied

them that he knows more of our corporate affairs
as a Burgess than Mr. J. BUCK LLOYD does,
notwithstanding his fifteen years' servitude, and
long professional experience. And why should it
not be so ? What is there in the business of the
Corporation to require our Councilmen to be so
many Cicero's, and philosophers ? An honest man
can never make a jobber it is true, but an intel-
ligent and active citizen ought to be quite as
capable of arriving at a sound judgment on
corporate subjects, after hearing them debated
when in office, as ho is before he enters it. The
public can tell by newspaper reports whether the
Council are acting wisely with their property or
not. They do not want Mr. J. BUCK LLOYD to
tell them when the prodigals are squandering their
substance, and getting up costly and impracticable
schemes. Away, then, with the cant about expe-
rienced representatives, and length of servitude.
Why are our Municipal representatives elected
every three years? Simply, for the purpose of
giving local taxpayers the power of getting rid of
extravagant, thoughtless, and incompetent mem-
bers. Our Constitution

wisely

suspects

every man. It was designed to prevent
the monopoly of place, and emolument by any
individual or party, and there is no ingratitude in
telling a public servant, who pleads a long life
devoted to the service of a constituency, his
services are no longer required.

It must also be remembered that public opinion
is progressive, and that, as education and refine-
ment advance, liberal sentiments, a just regard
for the honest administration of public affairs, and
political moderation spread rapidly—that con-
stituencies change, and the voice which was once
illiberal and corrupt, speaks out with moral force
and honest determination. Mr. J. BocK LLOYD
has found this to be the case in the course of his
personal canvass of the electors of Lime-street
Ward. The mejority of that Municipal district
are Reformers, and ho finds the fifteen years he

has spent in opposing their moderate behests, and
appropriating their funds contrary to their often

repeated opinions, are not recognised as giving
him a claim upon them for their suffrages. If
there had been the considerable excess of Reform
voters in the Ward fifteen, or even three, years
ago that there is now, Mr. J. BUCK LLOYD would
never have offered himself as a candidate for
election. The constituency has changed, and Mr.
LI.OYD is not the right MAUI to represent Reform
He cannot do them justice in the

exclaim—'

Burgesses

Town Council. Mr. ROBERTSON GLADSTONE
has told us why Mr. LLOYD ought not
to be returned, and Mr. LAWRENCE HEY-
WORT FT could gives us a few more cogent
reasons for keeping him out of the Council
Chamber. Mr. LLOYD may not have written the
articles which have recently appeared in the
London Times against Mr. LAWRENCE HEYWORTH'S
views, but we may rest satisfied that he is ready
to endorse every word the " leading journal" has
published on the subject to which Mr.
letter relates. He is a man of no independence.
He dare not speak, think, or vote against his party.
Whatever jobs the dock, water, finance, or improve-
ment committees propound heanust support. They
can rely on him with as much certainty as they
can ou the return of sun set. If it should so
happen that he could not be seen at the moment
a division was about to take place, it would only
be necessary for the whipper to ask, " Where
`` are you, Mr. LLOYD ?" to make the Town Hall
re-echo again with the answer, " Here I am, Mr.
" Chairman."

AEYWORTH's

These are the chief recommendations which
belong to the great length of corporate servitude
of which Mr. J. BUCK LLOYD and his prodigal
associates boast. Men who have been for years
in the Council know the critical moment at which
they should show up on the carpet, or make them-
selves scarce. These may be very desir
able accomplishments; but to say they give
their possessors a decided preference over
talented, active, and experienced men of
business, is drawing a little too freely
on public credulity. Nor is it one whit
less preposterous to hear Councilmen talking
of the strides the trade and commerce of
the port have made, as though they were the
authors of the Mersey's prosperity. The weelth
of Liverpool is due to the ohipowneis and mer
chants. The frightful cost and remaining indebted-
ness of the port and Borough belong to the prodi_
gal Councilmen. All the accommodation the
shipowner receives might have been supplied at
one-half the cost, whilst the merchant has built his
own warehouses .and all the other appliances of
his business ; and the Mersey must have become
just what it is if there had never been a Council
sitting in the Town Hall I " Look at what I have
" done for the trade and commerce of Liverpool"
may be a great catch-line for an electioneering bill ;
but the interest of the money which has been sunk
with a reckless hand is beginning to alarm think-
ing men who see the subject in the right light It
must tell a tale ere long, unless wasteful expendi-
ture be rendered impossible, and some provision
made for the liquidation of the dock and corporate
debts, and when these matters are brought up for
discussion, few of those gentlemen who talk so
majestically about what they and their supporters
in the Corporation have done for our trade, will
venture to identify themselves with the past as
freely as they do now to secure their return to the
Council. There is much to be said about the
allurements held out to the confiding Burgesses of
some of our Wards ; but they shall be enlightened
in due course.

The reign of clap-trap is drawing to a close,
and then the Electors of Liverpool will be

"country

-LIVERPOOL, THURSDAY.

shown without reference to politics of any kind)
that their real interests are inseperablo from those
of the multitude. The dry and threadbare cant
of party is easily seen through, when figures which
reveal the truth are placed before the public.
When Mr. J. R. JEFFERY gets the return of the
Borough Estate moved for by Mr. ROBERTSON
GLADSTONE, he will, no doubt, make a full and
legitimate use of it ; and by the time the indebted,
ness of the Dock Estate and the Borough has
been carefully handled, we shall know pretty well
who to thank for the position we have been
brought into. We shall then be able to refer to
Mr. J. Bues LLOYD'S and his Corporate associates
votes with advantage to the Burgesses. El:action
squibs only touch the surface. It is necessary to
count the millions which have passed through the
hands of the Council, and their Committees
within the last twenty or fifteen years, to examine
the votes in every case where a division has
taken place, and then see the exact state into
which the town has been brought financially.
We do not wish to make habitual jobbers tremble
at the thoughts of the disclosures which are in
store for them, but we do earnestly entreat the
Reform electors to aid the good work of Munici•
pal purification, to show that, as a Reform Ward,
they will be represented by one of themselves, and
that they do know how to receive and reward
tradesmen who owe all to their own talent,
industry, prudence, and integrity. If such men
are not trustworthy in public affairs, what then
shall we say of our representative institutions ?

THE news received by the last mail from the
United States, with regard to the Presidential
election, appears to be quite incredible. Pennsyl-
vania—the Quaker State—cannot have declared in,
favour of BUCHANAN and despotism. Its Puritan's
and freemen cannot have countenanced slavery—
in word, much less in deed ! We will never credit
such a report, until we see it confirmed by a
majority of votes. The American people may
differ among themselves on religious subjects, and
with all the world on politics; but there can be
but one voice in Pennsylvania respecting slavery
—the stealing, selling, and flaying of human
flesh. The man who would traffic in the blood of
his fellow-creature, simply because he has a black
skin, would enslave his white brother-man; and
this is the character BUCHANAN'S return will
secure for the great nation called into existence by
the immortal WASHINGTON. But, although
the tools of European despotism would thus
degrade their country to gratify their ambition,
still the gauntlet has been thrown down to the
Free States ; and those Abolitionists who have
taken up arms in the cause of Negro Emancipa-
tion, will not lay them down until they
have driven slavery out of the Republic. BUCH-
ANAN'S triumph will not settle the Kansas
struggle. It will only add fresh fuel to
the flames of civil war. The Southern news-
papers have spoken out in strains which will fill
the Northern men with exasperation which it will
be difficult to remove. They have dared to give
expression to political sentiments which, in this
peace-loving country, would draw down the sum-
mary vengeance of the masses upon their authors'
heads, and endanger the public peace.
Will BUCHANAN, or his supporters in Pensyl-
vannia, presume to endorse the opinions of the
South, or to indentify themselves with a cause in
which we find the most terrible political profanation
coupled with the most abominable social curse ?
I Are we to have a civilised government who " sicken

" at the name of Free Society ?"—a Cabinet of
Americans who ask, " What is it but a congloma-
" ration of greasy mechanics, filthy operatives,
small fisted farmers, and moon struck theorists ?"
Well may their Printing-house Square enemies
Shades of WASHINGTON ! is this, then,
" the end of the great experiment ?" Well may
we in Europe tremble for the future, when we hear
these things coming from the West. We flogged
HAYNAU in our streets for less than the
abominations the slave-holders practices daily ;
and we have just shed torrents of our best blood,
and spent millions of our treasure, to avert a far
less threatening and unholy future than that
which is impending over the Great Republic,
if BUCHANAN should be raised to power- But, we
reiterate, such an event cannot come to pass. It
would be a signal for the Free States to sake up
arms to a man, and to demand an, instant separa-
tion from the South. Europe may be anxious to
witness this scene, and BUCIIANAN may not shrink
from such a line of policy; but this will not delay
the emancipation of the slave. The Abolitionists
will have no slavery on the North American
Continent. The recent insults heaped upon
them, and the outrages offered to civilisation, will
give intensity to their zeal and determination.
BUCHANAN, if elected, would go into office in direct
opposition to the voics. of the people, which in a
republic goes for something more than a majority
of votes ; and, notwithstanding his old European
associations and influence, he would be compelled
tc throw the South overboard to retain place, the
attainment of which appears to be his sole aim.

Apart from the question of slavery, the return of
a President to guide the destinies of the New
World would be a matter of little import to this
country, and we are inclined to think that the
people of the United States would treat the subject
with as much indifference as we should. And
since it is quite manifest that BUCHANAN'S elevation
to power cannot retard the cause of progress iu the
West, or subvert the decrees of a merciful Provi-
dence, we should trouble ourselves as little about it
at the present moment, if we did not know that it
must inevitably lead to civil war and bloodshed.
It' he persists in his canvass, and his Southern
supporters in their exuberant depravity, the next
mail or two will put us in possession of some
strange tidings. His over zealous partisans have
coupled his name with doctrines which his agents
will not, we hope, attempt to import into the
North, where " Free society" is appreciated far
more highly than it is even in Great Britain. The
electors of Pennsylvania had spoken in favour of
BUCHANAN before the South put forth its anathe-
mas against civilisation. If they were the first to
sanctify the slander of the Free Soilers, their dis_
grace is indelible. The use which will be made of
them throughout Europe will develope itself

for many generations. The foes of the popu-

lar cause ...
will revert to them with delight,

and Americans will be made to blush at their

recital in every land. BUCHANAI,I himself may live

to be humiliated in the presence of despotism by

the repetitions of the political beauties of the

school, whose succour be asks to raise him to the

rank of ruler over a free and enlightened people

The world-wide mischief has, however, been done,

and when slavery falls, and BUCHANAN disappears

beneath its polluted and ruined bulwarks, we hope

there will be some scribe bold enough to say of

him what a Roman historian has said of CATALINE,

that "his fall had been glorious si pro patria sic

" concidesset, had he so fallen in the service of his

MONETARY AND COMMERCIAL.

LIVERPOOL, WEDNESDAY EVENING.
There was a fair demand for Cotton to-day, the
sales reaching 8,000 bales, cf which 2,000 were for
export. Prices, of all kinds, were much the same as
last reported, with the exception of American which I
may be quoted 1-101. per lb. lower than on Friday
last. The following statement, on behalf of the Liver-
pool American Chamber of Commerce and the
Cotton Brokers' Association, respecting the evils
arising from the false packing of Cotton, has just
been issued :-" Liverpool, 23rd October, 1856.
To the Chambers of Commerce of New Orleans,
Mobile, Charleston, and Savannah, and to all cow
cerned in the Cotton Trade of the United States-
The magnitude and importance of the commerce of
Great Britain with the United States, in the article of
Cotton, is sufficiently known, and to those who are
acquainted with the details of the trade is a matter of
satisfaction, that the machinery by which the distribu-
tion of so enormous a quantity of material is effected,
has, up to this time, worked so smoothly, owing to the
honourable character of all concerned, from the planter
to the manufacturer. But, in order to sustain the
character of the trade, and to retain the mutual
confidence which has hitherto existed, it is essential
that every sample of Cotton offered in the market
should fairly represent the quality of the bulk
from which it is taken, as every deviation from this
rule tends to create distrust. Of late, however, so many
instance of careless packing have occurred, causing a
discrepancy between the sample and the bulk, that
serious loss has been sustained both by the manufacturer
and the merchant, and it has become a duty to call the
attention, not only of the American planters and factors,
whose reputation is thereby injured, but also of
the trade generally to the present growing
increase in the proportion of irregular and false
packed bales, and to invite their serious consideration of
the evils which must inevitably follow the continuance
of the practice, and to solicit their assistance in checking
it. In most cases, the irregular packing is only dis-
covered when the bale has reached its ultimate destina-
tion, and is opened by the manufacturer, and the trouble,
cost, and inconvenience of repacking and returning the
bale, and the trouble and difficulties which attend a
prosecution of his claim have frequently induced him to
bear the loss in silence. Similar reasons have prevailed
with the merchant to suffer the loss resulting from such
cotton, returned by the manfacturer, rather than resort
to the tedious and often useless process of, seeking
redress against the planter abroad. It is on this
account that so few instances have occurred
in which the real offender has borne the
consequence of his neglect, and, presuming on this
forbearance, the evil complained of has, from careless-
ness or otherwise, increased to such an extent that, in a
large proportion of shipments arriving in Liveopool,
instances of false or irregular package are discovered, I
and occasionally whole parcels, consisting of twenty,
fifty, and even a hundred bales are found mixed in the
bale, and sometimes plated ; in other words, the outer
layer, from which the sample is taken, is more or less
superior in quality to the interior of the bale. It is
hoped that all parties will see the urgent necessity of
promptly coiiperating to stop and remove this serious and
increasing evil, which will otherwise disorganise the
trade, and destroy that mutual trust and confidence
without which such an extensive and important branch
of commerce cannot be carried on.-THOMAS SELLAR,
President American Chamber cf Commerce. THOMAS
HAIGH, President Cotton Brokors' Association.
At the Liverpool Share Market there was rather
an improved feeling-more business was done, and
higher prices were obtained for the leading stocks
and shares. The transactions consisted of Black-
burn, 71. East Lancashire, 201.. Lancashire and
Yorkshire, 93i, 94, .1. London and North
Western, 102!4, /, 31 Manchester, Sheffield, and
Dovers, 2(4,1,
21. Bank of Liverpool, 23. Liverpool Exchange
Buildings, 251. The following business was done
for next account :-Lancashire and Yorkshire, 961,
g, London and North Western, 1034,
Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, 34. Mid-
land, 7514, I-, 3-, 1,1; 79. Dovers, 20, 9,1, 20, 16-1.6,
1, 1-16. Great Western of Canada, 24,1. The closing
prices, which were not so high as the best
quotations of the day, were as follows :-
Aberdeen, 12 121 Chester and Birkenhead,
151; 152. Caledonian, 273- 27A. Chester and
Holyhead, 16a 167-. Eastern Counties, 8 0.
East Lancashire, 20 201. Great Northern, 238
231. Ditto, A shares, 10 101. Great Western,
64 641 Lancashire and Yorkshire Stock, 03a.
03;4, Liverpool, Crosby, and Southport, 171 18.
London and North Western Stock, 103 103 .
Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincoln, 331 331.
Otoolr, 77a 77;5'. North D. itioh, O 010
9 5-16. North Staffordshire, 5150. South Eastern
and Dover, 201 21. York, Newcastle, and
Berwick, 191 20. York and North Midland, 281
281. Leeds Capital Stock, 171 171. Buffalo and
Lake Huron, 4 2d. Dutch Rhenish, 1 3-16 lip.
Great Western of Canada, 24:1; 24g. Ditto, New
Shares, 21, 27-,7p. Great Luxembourg, 11/ l 1 d. The
continuations paid were --Caledonian, k is • con.
Eastern Counties, is 1-16 l s 1-16. East Lanca-
shire, is 61. Great Western, 8. Lancashire and
Yorkshire Stock. 2. London and North Western
Stock, a 4. Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincoln,
is 91. Midland Stock, a 7-16., South Eastern,
even. York, Newcastle, and Berwick, 2s 3d 2s.
Dutch Rhenish, is 6d 1-16.

THE MURDEROUS OUTRAGE IN PARLIAMENT

STREET

About seven'o'clock on Monday evening the unfortunate
man, Richard Cope, who had not previously articulated a
single word, was heard by one of the nurses in the ward
where he was lying, to whisper his ability to eat some-
thing. Immediate information was given to the house
surgeon, who felt it his duty to communicate with the
chief superintendent of the police, with a view to obtain
the attendance of a magistrate at the bedside of the
injured man. Mr. Jardine, on learning the facts, at once
accompanied Mr. Burnaby to :the hospital. Upon the
prisoner's arrival at the hospital, Mr. Marshall having
first satisfied himself that Cope was in a perfectly rational
state, and able to articulate, allowed Nlr. Jardine and the
other officials to be introduced. Mr. Burnaby took a posi-
tion close to the bedside of the injured man, to whom he
explained in a soothing manner, the occasion of the visit,
introducing to him Mr. Jardine, who stood on the other side
of the patient's bed. All being in readiness, the prisoner
was brought in between two officers, and placed at the
foot of Cope's bed, iu a position allowing full observation
of his features. The prisoner bore this trying ordeal with
remarkable nerve, looking down sternly, and unmoved
upon the emaciated and pallid form of his Tictim, whose
personal appearance was rendered more haggard than it
would otherwise have been by a grizzly beard and
moustachios, which nearly covered his face. The first
question addressed to Cope by Mr. Burnaby was—" Do
you know the man standing at the foot of your bed ? "
Cope surveyed him with a penetrating glance for some
few moments, and then faintly ejaculated—" Yes." Mr.
Burnaby pursued the question by enqniring how he knew
the prisoner, upon which Cope replied, in a tremulous
voice, " That is the man who struck me." Mr. Burnaby
next asked Cope whether he could tell what it was
he was struck with? Cope looked anxiously towards
the prisoner, and articulated, in a thick guttural voice,
"A. life-preserver." Mr. Burnaby then asked the
sufferer whether he could tell how many blows had been
given to him by the prisoner? Cope appeared anxious to
reply more fully to this enquiry, hut, after an effort, was
only able to articulate a simple "No." Mr. Burnaby,
after a short pause, next asked Cope whether the prisoner
had spoken to him before commencing to attack him. The
unfortunate man, whose utterance up to this point had
been gradually becoming more imperfect, appeared
excited by the last question, and in reply muttered
some inarticulate sounas, from which nothing could be
gleaned. Mr. Burnaby looked towards Mr. Marshall,
who all this time stood at the bedside watching the effect
of the examination on his patient, and on gathering from
him that a continuation of this mode of examination
might probably be very prejudicial to Cope, Mr. Burnaby
said he had got quite enough, and that if the patient would
affix his mark to the deposition he should not be troubled
any further. Upon this intimation Cope stretched out
his hand and tremblingly affixed his attestation, upon
which the prisoner was removed, and the few present
retired, painfully affected with the scene they had
witnessed.

THE BRIAN-MALLY COLLIERY ACCIDENT.—Faur more
bodies have been discovered in the mine and brought up
to the surface. A jury was sworn, and after two meet-
ings, the inquest was adjourned until Monday next.
The workmen in the employ of Messrs. Blackey Brothers,
celebrated the festival of St, Crispin on Monday last. At
noon, accompanied by an excellent band, they started for
the Aigburth Hotel, where for some hours they enjoyed
themselves. In the evening a most sumptuous supper was
provided for them, at the Vine Hotel, 14, Pitt street, the
style in which it was served up reflecting the greatest credit
on -the obliging proprietor, Mr
.Hofken. Singing and
dancing was kept up with much spirit, and the company
broke up at a late hour, highly delighted with the enter-
tainment, and the spirited manner with which the liberal
host Mr. Hofken, carried out the imanagement.
LIVERPOOL BonouGu SEssioNs.—At the Sessions, yester-
day, the following prisoners received the undermentioned
sentences, viz , for felony—Gilbert Patterson, five months ;
Bernard Shevlin, six N,veeks ; Patrick Smith, six weeks;
Henry Gibb, eight months ; John Holborne, fifteen months ;
James Westtiead, four years penal servitude ; Eliza A. Tur-
ner, ten days; and Elizabeth Turner, ten days. Misde-
meanours--Pedro Delmas, six weeks; John Sidney, six
months ; Henry Guy, five months ; Margaret Carroll, seven
months ; Archibald M`Glashan, nine months ; Peter Har-
rison, three months ; Thomas Tripp, seven months ; Mar-
garet Cochrane, twelve months ; Antonian Eaddie, three
months,

mz,i).ll

TOWN COUNCIL.

A special meeting of the Council was held in the Tom
Hall, at eleven o'clock, yesterday, for the purpose of winding
up the corporation business, previous to the municipal elec-
tions. The mayor, John Stewart, Eq., occupied the chair:

FINANCE COMMITTEE.
The proceedings of this committee comprised the folloW;
ing :—" Recommendation that notice be given to lgeset,',
Parry and Fowler to determine their contract for the suPP!!:
of coal. Recommendation to purchase a freehold house.
Eldon Place, from Mr. William Wright, for £3OO.
commendation to extend and improve the chain test.irnes
machine and premises, so as to meet the increasing re(lll.leee
meats of the trade of the port." The proceedings con the
a number of regulations recommended for adoption invent
collecting and paying over of dock fines, in order to Pte ' of
defalcations for the future. The plans and s
the new daily courts, in Dale Street, were also refereed,.
as being now fully prepared. The consideration of ~:`,..
Mansfield's application for increase of salary was still tw
ther postponed. .4 or
Mr. Alderman Samuel Holm moved the con&raatie.,
the proceedings. lie said the council would have perceVel
that there was a variety of very important matters contTthe
in the proceedings, Tice„ it
was. his duty to move th,e,d, be
council do adopt. Three of them were special, 31.`tiee:
should have to make separate motions for their adOP
ee quite
The first subject t o which he should make allusion vees b-eur,
pecificatioes_,
that the surveyor had now completed, after immense 'soy
the whole of the plans and spt cifications of the nevr were
courts to be erected in Thle-street. The quantities
ory
now being taken, and the committee hoped that at Ci cote,
early period of the next year the buildings would be sent
menced, when they would be enabled to liberate the Pereewell,
daily courts, and should have for sale the present brit': gee
together with the whol3 of the property at the not 011
of Exchange-alley, and the block which was subsecitleivera
purchased, and which, as the council were aware, 6000
simply keeping in readiness at the present time, the tee aet
being all on yearly notice, for disposal as soon es theytefe
the new courts er: etell. The surveyor hoped °lost
eighteen months, but assuredly within two years, all 0 t to
property would be liberated for sale. The next subjecdeelt
which he had to draw attention was the collection 0f.060,
and town fines. The sub-committee, who sat mall tide of
and took a great deal of pains to ascertain the best an
keeping the accounts, entertained a hope that the resole .1 to
they had come to, and which he should ask the ellitelataa
adopt, would have so circumscribed the collection, anueeeiell'
have given such an effective check and placed the re'rbette
bility where the responsibility ought in all cases t°, tee
been placed, that it would be almost impossible Woe
future any defalcations should occur in that respectoo of
next subject to which he bad to direct the attenil bt it
the Town Council was a special one, and be bolos
forward with some degree of pain. It was the reconenleeriwolelsr
that notice be given to given to Messrs. Parry and "ere eor
to determine their contract for the supply of coals. Toy
sequence of the complaints made as to the very bed grtier
of the coal and slack supplied by these gentlemen--Ps.,,ebt
larly from the Baths and Testing-ma Chine buildings, soil
subject had been taken up by the Finance Conernittenef the
the contractors were invited to attend. SaraPlese;4o,l
coal and slack were produced, but as the causes of 00'10000
were not of casual occurrence, but were, unhalWiliPraed
to be very frequent and grievous, and as there atottl
be no prospect of better coals being obtained, the 00'0001
felt themselves bound to recommend that the by
should put an end to the contract, as they NVerLner:.
terms authorised to do. This was only another int."og, P;
if any instance were necessary—of the evil of te'" 00"
every case, the lowest tender for the supply of article:oo of
corporation, without reference to the qualifiefiTo ceiree'
the parties to supply the articles. (Hear, hear.)
tinue, however, the receiving such rubbish, vr°-bo
thought, be an act of injustice to all the parties Who
sent in tenders to the corporation. Many of them 01).
the highest respectability, and the corporation voe„oitSes:
doubtedly, authorise the committe to determine theeyo 11P„'
which had not been broken through by the corporal° ;At
had fulfilled, faithfully, their part of the stipulations, the
_fr
the parties themselves, who had contracted to sulePlideer,
M h
tidies. He begged to add, that one of the parties callfe UP;
last evening, and presented him with a letter. 'he sea
was addressed to himself personally, he stated to t is
tleman that he could hold no communication with
his private capacity. I declined opening the letter, be Loos'
ing him, if he had any thing to state, to send it tot tob
cil, through the Mayor, as its recognised head. As 1,611
probably been done, it would be only fair that teoollo
should be read. This morning, however, he 1(1°' st 91e
had received an anonymous letter through the Pet; te't.
although he usually threw anonymous letters in oeeitt
fire, yet as this contained some very grave charges t; the
some of the officers of the corporation in reference 00°4
contract—charges which, if they were true,
instant dismissal of the officers referred tot andeee,sBtbrotag
not know the writer, tho letter having reached mulhonti
the post. he should take the liberty of laying, it 00,ra; '4,"
hoping that some person would discover the writ"' obey;
would cabs d
whenever one person made grave charges agein,,6'net
charges which affected their moral character, wit"-aeser-
ing the manliness to put his name to the letterenelorel,
to be shown up. (Hear, bear,) He should, to
move that the council authorise the giving of 11°t
4
termine the contract of Messrs. Parr and Fowler' idt ts'ef
The Mayor said he had received, within the cyoll'
minutes, a memorial from the Messrs. Parry
an
upon the subject. mot
Mr. Woodruff moved that the memorial be re3f(if: etitho'"
The memorial was accordingly read. It se" 11'90(Voti
the order given in the first instance for best coals 004,
changed in several places, which it mentioned, 048,4
coals—that for six months there had been but bat 'lOO
plaint, and that the complaints at any time were isit,stee,
few. A letter from Messrs, Parry and Fowiperootenett,
read, addressed to the chairman of the "'inane.
The letter repeated the statement of the nie— reKeeilt
added that the contractors had been frequent bad vtis
that they were not so liberal as their predecessorgoote,to
and not having paid any attention to those broad iv 001
had probably some influence upon the matter. -"lnateeceet
denied that the sample of coal shown to the coney the 001
a fair specimen, as it was taken from the toP fthekode
where the small' coal all was found, and stated tbetioeS '00!
who brought the sample said he had had instreee theft,
so. They also urged that their coal had receive" Do
approbation from corporate officials and others bt/1
quarters. tbetimeg
Mr. Woodruff said, in the few remarkgr reisitt-dr,
necessary to make upon the subject, it was no '-cootr.teri
to support Messrs Parry and Fowler, or any other "el
who did business for the corporation, in supplYiTelletelas
rior to their contract. On the contrary, he woootre".o,,i
to use every effort possible, where parties wile -ot °mit'
certain prices to supply proper goods, did 111
determine the contract at the earliest opporttleireete,iiief
thought they had a duty to perform to the COs etar
seeing that full justice was done to them, lot tbsto
alleged that they had not had fair play, and !Ai,/ tire
cumstances under which the contract was,;:etea "gesoil
determined had not been thoroughly inYestetaeVe
finance committee themselves, then he thought aetehdosif
not be doing justice to the contractors if te,b,,ele ooe:t
the:contract without any further enquiry. -L-e to Peorief
did not hesitate at all to tell the council, 011-4. eiS 40,411
names to the document, that during the.„‘ t fil% 5 rad
they had had no complaint. At the end oft edri,"ooo.o
they stated that they were reminded that they
.4010.1E10
so liberal as their predecessors. Gentlemen "007 0
stand what that meant, he presumed. I°lo SPOsetto
that was not responded to, then the contratore t bee,
complaints, from one quarter only. It ineso Caeei
mind that the complaints came principally frAie 000 ord
street, and the chain cable testing machine. ieeees,e rte
reminded them of six or eight other Loteely,4l
made no complaint. He could not eerlsell
of 1 be eon
the finance committee intended to do an 36" bt 4.A 11-01 R
the contractors. If anything at all, he thloagb
a mistake in not having proper information,
toitteesitertbe
suggest that the chairman of the finance 03100, 0#3061
pouargthiets
to
permit this resolution to go hack again for o,' to eitihir
mation. If the charges were true, they ouguythe 0°4191,
who s o
determinea cted
"lief they
contract,w e ee;
do t true, the °ode
leaveee 00114 tlie
having made a false charge to rest upon 011 t°
(Hear, hear.) Mr. Woodruff concluded bal bael‘
this portion of the proceedings be referee
finance committee. of
Mr. Haydock seconded the motion. 03'0° tlll
Mr. Fernihough said he bad listened to tiles, Pied of be
contractors with some attention, inastnue,lity 1001‘,010,114
charge of his public duty, having freceneltion tierresi,
coal, and been called upon to pass an opinion
tnied e'd
could not keep silent upon that occasion• a deeeeoo or
of the finance committee were aware, b 0 "etc, Ocoee 001.;
duty to draw the attention of the comoratetetbe 66,e4 tebetro
would be in the recollection of members °
iestreel to aAil
mittee present, that the surveyor
au Iva! tbe"-eoeisitS dd
municate with the contractors, and ,viii"re. it °to )0
mode of treating the committee in fur ft Is" it
feeds
elapsed, and the thing was not improve' ootel!ijecledoet!
thing to have it said in the letter that ne"yeti eje.Pj
been made, because complaints were.on of f 1)11/ et 111
head-quarters. He drew the attentl_ence 00111.0041
committee to the subject, and, in conse%o corn 001005
so, the surveyor was instructed to go to ow. ea pd 1?
baths and examine the coals. lie is w sit.° t,
arranged to meet the surveyor, and the eoe
denimitte_, tio, lie
samples of it :were sent before tbe.. ft ;1;4'01
committee were aware of the resth' ot Yeittli)
that, after the interview they had wneed d nto threit',/
Fowler—he could not say which, for UPMot 01
gentleman—the coal was satisfactor% gessrpoolobot:of
however, the name on their card warae of Lail stein
Fowler, but since that period the ri.g.erent Ser. ty,
upon the card. They were getting dite with it ter 010
Messrs. Parry and Fowler had arrangusuenaing_ lee osolli
to improve the quality of the coal, by ~0 the, Pere et
place, he did not know. it was stet_eili;stre,ertlie
the only complaint came from Corns
orris
only say most positively, that Mr.
complained more than once of the ee"'

k
tot :11114°411 expressed a hope that this subject would
.A t :ere
back to the committee.
lialer, Ifoltne said he could not agree to the very injudicious
the
coil',Tnt proposed by Mr. Woodruff. He hoped .
6f Pil6,7°llld agree with the committee, as to the necessity
8110,410 an end to the Contract at once, and, therefore, he
booA diress the question to a division.
tiler 's on was then taken upon the amendment, when
_
aPPeared:—Por the motion, Councillors : John
the
~,roff, William Nicholson, Roger' Haydock. Against
_
Asle;°tien, Councillors : Daniel Crosthwaite,
.Thomas. P.
eglnT, Archibald C. Stewart, Richard Shell, John B.
tiri,i gite, Thomas Godfrey, Charles Turner, Joseph g_
l' g"" .I Holme,Harmood. Banner, John C.
ertliti miles
rlYill Nil' Walter P. Jeffreys, John Gladstone, jun!,
1,,m441,-„,,41.3n0, Alexander Shand, Thomas Wagstaff, John
741.%%:, 'Tames As inall Tobin, John B. •Brancicer,
;4111‘lai ''.,,,irie, John rjAbraham Tinne, James Johnson,
;44i,- a-L-'eton, Joseph Kitchen, 'l'. Llewelyn Hodson,
v,ntleee-",,- 4. Clint, Richard M. Beckwith, John Atkin,
nate trnobertson John Farnworth. Matthew Gregson,
.
lia4l 4falllcad. ' Against the motion, Aldermen : Wil-
Dorp„-annett, William Preston, Thomas Bold, Thomas
Ilielninrlannies Parker, Thomas Robinson, Joseph Cooper,
arld the Gardner J Bramley-Moore, Samuel Holme,
The rAi a ,J. )Or.
kr by elnmendation was then confirmed.
NI p "dna moved, that the letf--
for the ovvler he referred
etteeenrpose,Of investigating
t,raeto„ cal justice- done to the 0...
aittic. the charges were true, let tn..
theft 80Ci* If the charges were not true, tht
Mr' 'Olt to be punished.
!Ir. Ear Rolnie seconded the motion.
tontleil -11.`e thought, that gentlemen who held seats in
of
tbii Rile
very injudicious in listening to
'kail Be tied, *here there weilt any causes of
reprleonmtaptiiaiii
Ilte r ritractors. It would be better to enquire in,
natter
taal : . : ir 1,--

be con-
arged be

a who mad

;r,
f . Earl °Nara. u
elsAetr. Woodruff : An act of justice, as I would for any one
flott 'on-Tr :I do not see what act of justice you have donteo.
'e R 7, " have done an act of justice if yhu had gone
eotamittee and conversed with them.
;41""(114.41"I2011ruff: If 111 r. Earle had mad I
a little mar
' solf, he would hare found that had no 0
g so, and would not have

a.vc Air, woodruff had done so,
,odrnire! posed

4-1: No friends of mine, sir. .
When I am surprised you bring

ata net TY Cin
r_ k".
ail eacivAeil urged the council not to shrink from enquire
k
Nitaige so dirbetly made, and signed with the ne-
Kr
tter
e,;,:, remarked, that-when the parties came before,:trcil Ira hey made no such charge. He consented, how.
The fit the letter should be referred to the committee.
en; kr, irit°,tirm Nves accordingly carried.
ar. °HIle said, the next motion he had to make was the
izt,eee'i4tion of the recommendation to purchase a freehold
reZry_l(l9.ll-place, from. lir. William Wright, for £3OO.
~ Pre?, ''e.o that this house had been put into many
req. -tent acts. It stood directly across the top of the
et°lfl '?,4,1141 eta off the communication between Vauxhall-
"ealtawilkievington-st,eet. The owner, Mr. Wright, had
The committee in a very liberal way.
I Met
ti -tr. l°n was seconded and carried.
t,411.0n, in"lne then proposed the adoption of the recommen-
,Ae
.• .(!ference to the extension of the chain-ca_blse
e'rtiPhecerTaEtienblin,e arrangements... ll° explained that delay
e ote taking place, in consequence of the inadequacy
' eviaee which they already had for the purposes of
elelit,D44 the chains required.
thltett* 'lB,Bolf-sustaining, or nearly so, and.the cost .
"e? `",e7 pro ed to make, and the additional machine
krv7-° aDeut to erect, would be about £3,200.
b 'Alder giderroanCoeopeiseconded the motion.
Haanine;d Bennett thought much less expense would
wl, aving the machines at the north end of the
sAI, -Z? the site would not have to be purchased.
117(1over 811 -VI that the recommendation should
tey to the gnlex't Meeting. of the council, in order that
tite attalZht co •ti nveder how far it might be possible to find a
tlenhead, and the relative advantages of it.
1111114:(113th();scif suPported Mr. Aikin's suggestion. He re-
ehei, 'a at the present moment, not. one-sixteenth of
lehitp.'s used in Liverpool were tested in the Corporation
The expenseof taking a chain to that place and
he,
sa ton. Very few chains were made in
;tesi.n.' at. Present, and he believed the number was de-
`'lt the g every day. By havi-g the chain testing machine
';B,,ketc?,,Pilstte Side of the water, he believed chains could
Vo'a for about 2s per ton.
111te i,„lmes replied, stating that, at present it would be
"e Pe uieseible,while the arrangements of Birkenhead
The'‘)ric'l3lPlete, to fix upon a site there.
kr. ile°Moiendation was confirmed.
43-rae moved the confirmation of the general urn „•thed°': ate said there was one subject to
wL
'4Qttati on ho attention. In one. of the newspapers of
.4..ted Lizal tine eueeen aoo
g- tate. Such an idea could only ea. existed in
1.
bedT
,I,Rtnation of the writer in the newspape,.
'4tfeetl4° bad given him the information, because it
Aetelitioy incorret. (hear, hear.) 14.--
The „n. Meal., hear.)
proceedings were then confirme

ales of

The eatablishinent at
of the

hich he

~ or of some

yr r.

council, Mr. Holt's determination to retire from among
them. (Hear, hear.)
The procedings were confirmed.

THE LIBRARY AND MUBT.UM COMMITTEE.
Tha proceedings of this committee were read. They
stated that, in conformity with the resolution of the council,
the plans for the new library and museum had been submitted
to the examination of the surveyor • and that he had re-
ported that Con Amore's plan would cost, without the
ornamentation, £32,000; and Alma's £76,000, including
the contemplated additions—which will amount to £19,000.
Mr. Piston, before moving the confirmation of the pro-
ceedings, requested that a letter, addressed to the Mayor by
William Browne, Esq., M.P., might be read.
The Town Clerk read the letter. It was as follows :
Richmond hill, Liverpool, October 27, 1856.
MY DEAR SlR,—Having had occasion to go into the
Town ball a few days ago, I asked Mr. Weightman what
was his estimate of the cost to carry out Con Amore's
plan of the library, &c., he said about £32,000. I
entertain no doubt that it is the cheapest and best of any
that was brought before you, taking into view the
accommodation it would afford ; and, as you see your
way to £20,000, and that £12,000 more is required to
erect such a building, I have no objection to furnish half
of it, provided the corporation will furnish the other half.
When I informed the Mayor, Mr. Holme, in 1852, my
wish to contribute to the cost of a Free Library that
would he useful to my fellow . .

-townsmen, it was my
lotion and expectfition that a building would be
proceeded with almost immediately; but so long a time
has now elapsed, if the corporation decline to meet the
suggestion I have made, and further obstacles present
themselves—although I have no intention to witheraw

the sum, I have named, £12,000, from, the objec%
intended,—l am desirous that no further delay should
take place, and you will be good enough to look out for
a suitable site for a library. I hope, however, that Mr.
Alloan's plan may be carried out for attaching the
museum to the library, as it would increase the induce-
ment to visit both, and, I trust, be the means of affording
much useful instruction to those for whose benefit it is
intended.— E ver respectfully, WILLIANI BROWN.
His Worship the Mayor of-Liverpool.
Mr. Piston then proceeded to move the confirmation of
the proceedings. He observed, that it would be his duty.
first, to say a few words on the subject of the question of
the premiums. They had heard the report of the surveyor on
the subject. They had heard that, in his opinion, the cost
of the plan, signed Con Amore, would, without the erne-
mens, cost £32,000; and the one signed Alma, £76,000 in
its present condition; but which might be reduced, by
comparison to the other plans, to about £57,000. In order
to enable the council to arrive at a just conclusion, with
regard to the appropriation of the premiums, it was neces-
sary that they should have a few facts laid before them.
First, as regarded the comparative cost of the plans sent in.
They bad sixteen designs on the list of competition, and the
surveyor was directed to report on the two plans sent in by
CJ:n Amore and Alma, and to furnish the areas of the other
plans. The surveyor had done so, and he (ilr. Picton)
held in his hand the list of areas so furnished. The surveyor
was asked, " Is it your opinion that, area for area, the plan
of Con Amore can be executed as cheaply as any of other
plans ?" His reply was, " Certainly." He was also
asked, " Are there any of the plans which could
be executed for £20,000 ; and if so, which ?" The
reply was, " None—probably for £25,000 to £26,000 for
the lowest.". He vier also asked, " Does this plan, Con
Amore, comply with the conditions as to the separation be-
tween the library and museum ; and as to the accommodation
in each department ?" The reply was, " Yes." He (Hr.
Picton) concluded that these answers were conclusive as
to the superiority of Con Amore's plan; but ns a specimen of
the discrepancy in the cost of plans, as estimated by their
authors, he would give one instance which had come under
the committee's notice. Amcing the plans were two of
nearly similar area. The cost of one was estimated by its
author at £20,000, but by the surveyor at £40,000; the
cost of the other was estimated by its author at £40,000, but
by the surveyor at £55,000, and yet both
_plans covered
nearly the same area. Some conversation had taken place
in the committee with reference to the propriety of granting
any premium at all under the circumstances, inasmuch as
none of the plans complied exactly with the requirements of
the committee. Now, he questioned whether, even if it
were legal, and could be done without any imputation upon
them, it would be right to take the labour, skill, ability,
and cash out of the pockets of so many gentlemen who had
done their utmost to keep within the amount stated, and
not remunerate them for their work. (Hear. and cheers.)
To do so would certainly not be conduct for the Corporation
of Liverpool. (Hear.) He, therefore, begged -to move the
confirmation of the proceedings, and that the two prizes,
of 150 guineas and 100 guineas, be awarded to Con
Amore and Alma for their plans.
Mr. Hodson seconded the motion.

Mr. Brancker could not understand why they should
give a prize to Alma, the cost of whose plan was so much
in excess of the sum stated, £20.000. (Hear.)
Mr. W. Earle admitted that he was one of the corn-
mittee of bungler,:—(hurrhterN_whn had i.med tha
advertisement, which was, in fact, merely calculated to
lead architects into error. It was a farce to suppose that
all that they required, as by the advertisement, could he
cxecrited for £20,000 and he therefore took blame to
himself in not having examined it more carefully before
t was sent out to the public. The best thing they could
,ow do was to divide the 250 guineas among the compe-
-(laughter)—and to begin de eiovo. At the same
the liberal manner in which Mr. Brown met them
ved every consideration, and he had no doubt that
t would receive such. (Cheers.)
I r

Alderman Parker and Mr. Alderman Cooper
objected to the prizes being awarded, all the prizes
being so much in excess of £20,000.

Mr. John Aikin supported the motion, and contended
that both Con Amore and Alma were entitled to the
prizes. The corporation were not bound to carry out
the plans, but it was only just they should remunerate
those gentlemen for their skill and labour.

Mr. Sheil, on the other side, urged that it would be a
manifest injustice to the other competitors to award the
prizes to the gentlemen whose plans had been selected by
the committee.

Mr. Alderman S. Holme regretted that, instead of issuing
the advertisement, the committee had not employed an archi-
tect, in whom they would have confidence, to draw up a plan
which, while accomplishing all the requirements; could yet
be executed for something near the stipulated sum. None
of the plans sent in could be built for £20,000, and, there-
fore, none had fulfilled all the reqUirements. (hear, hear.)
The Council, however, had got into a quandry, and the only
way they could get out of it was by paying for it. He,
like Mr. Brown, looked upon the design of Con Amore as a
most beautiful one, and as the very best of all
the lot—(hear, hear, and cheers)—and he considered
that they could not properly refuse to enmp2nsate him for
the classical taste and skill evinced in it. Under all the
circumstances of the case, he thought they would do best to
award the prizes to the two gentlemen whose plans were
before them.

Mr. C. Turner thought the competitors should have
observed the conditions, and, having failed to do so, were not
entitled to the prizes. It the conditions were not to be
observed, what was the use of advertising at all ? (Hear,
hear.) If they adopted either of the plans before them, it
would involve them in an expenditure of £40,000, and to
that they were evidently driving. (Hear, hear.) As to the
second plan, it was still more monstrous than the first ; and
it was absurd to say that they were bound in honour and
justice to award a prize to it. The town was, no doubt,
deeply indebted to Mr. Brown for his liberal aid towards
this object; but still they had all a taste as well as Mr.
Brown ; and they also could not forget that both the plans
were enormously in excess of the stipulated cost. (Hear,
hear).

Mr. A. C. Stewart defended the committee, and con-
tended that the prizes were justly earned by Con Amore and
Alnza.

After slme further discussion.

Mr. Brancker moved, as an amendment, that, inasmuch
as neither of the plans complied with the conditions of the
advertisement, the council did not feel justified in awarding
the prizes.

Mr. Clint seconded the amendment, which, on being put
to the vote, was lost by ninct,:en to twent-four.
The voting was as follows : —For the motion, Coun-
cillors : Thomas D. Anderson, Richard Sheil, Roger
Haydock, Charles Turner, Joseph G. Livingston, Harmood
Banner, John C. Fernihough, Walter P. Jeffreys, John
Gladstone, jun., John B. Brancker, William Earle,
Francis A. Clint, James Robertson, Matthew Gregson.
Aldermen : William Preston, Thomas Bold, James
Parker, Joseph Cooper, Francis Shand-19. Against the
motion, Councillors John Wooddruff, Archibald C.
Stewart, William Nicholson, John R. MeGnflie, Thomas
Littledale, James Holme, Thomas Wagstaff, John Lawrence,
James Aspinall Tobin, Robertson Gladstone, John Buck
Lloyd, James Johnson, James A. Picton, Joseph Kitchen,
T. Llewe,lyn Hodson, Richard M. Beckwith John Aikin,
John Farnworth, Hilton Halhead, Aldermen • William
Bennett, Thomas Robinson, Richard C. Gardner,' Samuel
Holme, and the Mayor-24.

The original nioticn was then put and carried, and the
Town Clerk was affected to cornmu.nicate the thanks of the
council to Mr. Brown for his munttteeni; donation, and to
inform him that the subject of his letter would receive
every attention.

The proceeding of the hackney carriage's committee were
confirmed.

BATHS' COMMITTEE,

~r
i ~., ~~

accused hiM of intemperance, an imputation which was
denied by Mr. Fernihough and Mr. Wagstaff.

ECobertson Gladstone

Is Clark a sober man ?

Mr. Wagstaff : What do you mean by sober ?
(Laughter.) Do you mean that he does not take a glass
of grog ? (Laughter.)
Mr. Gladstone : Is he a drunken man ?
Mr. Wagstaff : He is not a drunken man. I will say
no more. (Hear, hear.)
Mr Beckwith : Had not one of the committee to lock
him up in his room on the occasion of the Duke of
Cambridge's visit to the Cornwallis street baths
(Laughter.) Was he not on that day so drunk that the
committee were afraid to let him out lest he would
disgrace himself? _

Mr. Hodson protested against such questions, and
declared that Mr. Beckwith should be the last man to
cast such imputations on any man's character.

Mr. Reek‘with : Does Mr. Hodson mean to Itavetit
inferred that I am a " drunken charactert " "(Great
laughter, and noise.)

IClr. Alderman S. Holme : If we ought to have all
ber servants, we.ought to have all sober councillor's.

Mr. Hodson explained that he cast no itnpt;tation on
Mr. Beckwith. He merely protested against such an
inquisitorial line of questioning, and the more especially
as Mr. Clark had been before honourably acquited,
after a full investigation of this charge.
After a lengthened and noisy discussion, the motion
was carried on a division.

The proceedings of the gas committee were con-
firmed without remark.

BIRKENHEAD DOCK COMMITTEE.
The proceedings of this committee contained a re-
commendation that £l,OOO be paid to Mr. J. Hartley
for his services in connection with these docks since
their purchase by the corporation; and that Mr.
Bartley be appointed engineer of the Birkenhead docks
and works at a salary of £750 per annum.
'l-- Alderman Holme moved the confirmation of the
In doing so, he stated that Mr. Thomp.

Mr. A

proceed
son

had commenced the excavations of the great float,
and expected to have a lame body of men at work
there in a week or two. Negotiations were proceeding
with the parties who formerly appeared in opposition
to the bill, and the committee would shortly have a
second conference with them, after which they hoped to
be in a position to report to the new council that the
negotiations had come to a favourable termination. A
recommendation had also been made to the council, to
which he begged to direct attention, on the subject of
remuneration to. Mr. John Hartley for his past services.
Looking to the close attention Mr. Hartley had paid to
the important works now about to be constructed, and
to the proper development of the estate-to the most
able evidence given by him in Parliament—to the prepa-
ration of the plans and sections necessary for that extend-
ed enquiry, and to the valuation and arrangement he
had • made of all the plant, the committee had
,decided to recommend to the council that, for these
special services, the sum of .1,000 be paid to him, which
they believed fair remuneration and no more, for the very
important services lie had rendered since that period
when the docks at Birkenhead came into the possession of
the corporation. (Hear, hear.) With regard to the other
question mentioned, this committee also recommended
that Mr. Hartley should be 'the engineer appointed to
carry out the works, and that his remuneration should be
£750 a year. Looking at the enormous amount of the
works, and at the ability which had been exemplified by
Mr. Hartley in the works at this side of the water, and
his known talent, they believed that it .would be only fair
and reasonable compensation tor the important services
which would be:required.
Mr. Gladstone seconded the resolution. He said he
was very happy to learn that the services of Mr. Hartley
had been secured. They all knew his great worth and
ability, and he Was satisfied that a more faithful and
efficient servant could not be got. (Hear, hear.)
The motion was carried.

The general proceedings were then confirmed.
The Coroner's account, amounting to £33 Os 6d, was
passed.

Tlrpvp-yyrprif-Ny
9

be redeemed within a period of 28 years, which involved
a very large annual payment of 21 per cent as a sinking
fund, beyond the interest upon the money which they
were obliged to pay. In consequence of the rise in the
value of money, they had had to borrow money, and
should probably have to do so for some time to come, at
a much higher rate than they had been in the habit of
borrowing it, so much so, that upon the amounts they had
recently borrowed, they had an increase of 15s in the
pound, three-fourths. They should want from £90,000 to
£lOO,OOO for the landing stage. They were about to erect
daily courts, which was of imperative necessity, for it was
utterly impossible to cram their prisoners any longer into
the bridewell. When they looked at the engagement they
had entered into at Birkenhead, having issued £1,143,000
in bonds, for which the corporation would be liable, and
to the surplus income they were likely to have, and
particularly, when they recollected the investigation into
their Town Dues before Parliament, then it became the
duty of the council to pause before they entered
'al projects of such magnitude, with the
6S •
'hey had already assumed, and intended
bly to fulfil, without coming upon the town for a
at all. .(Hear, hear.) When the chairman
elittee asked them to enter into engage-
Jtint of :5220,000, which would probably
,0,t300, and to go to Parliament to ask for
without being able t 6 show the possibility of
a sufficient surplus, be contended that the council
'est until at least some of their large liabilities
swept away, and until they knew the exact
'e which the corporation stood. (Hear, hear.)
man having, such liabilities to meet in his
7s, would think of encouraging such
Tonal responsibilities. Their Birkenhead
"perfectly unieveloped—a mere mudbank—
,es, he strongly urged upon the
ore they increased their engagements
s they must do, in order to
which he fully admitted to be
(Hear, hear.) Finally, Mr.
.oitowing amendment :—" That the
,at, owing to the heavy engagements and
'ed upon previously, under the authority

into ad

undert aki
hone
I,jor
of II
men

to the E
extend to •425'

such a bill

should r

No prud

private busin

e-cireumstanc

an enormous extent, a

improvemen

and a desirable ouc

THuRsDAy.

,her that repo!

on this occalion no

inly it is a mo.

is correct or otherw

tiles Nlonday,
port of the proceedings

add, tbose questions are of daily occurrence, by private

viduals, and by professional men; both solicitors and surveyors;
and can and :ire, in all cases, readily answered ; so much
so, that-if Hr. Gladstone were to canvass the two professions
on the subject, I venture to believe he would find it difficult
to meet with any member of them who could endorse his
assertion. The plans of the Corporation estate aro regularly
laid upon the Council table at every sitting of that body.

These; with the registers, give an accurate description of every
existing lease, and also of every property of which the fee
simple has, unfortunately, been granted; and I should have
great pleasure in testing the questions' to which Mr. Gladstone
refers. With regret at thus far trespassing upon your
valuable time, or that of the Council., I have the honour to
be, sir, your, obedient servant. Jolil WHIG HTMAIi. •
The Worshipful the Mayor.

Mr. Gladstone: Mr. Mayor, that would appear to me
to be a very extraordinary, and, I may add, most injudi-
cious communication on the part of the surveyor. I think,
sir, you will hear me out in the correc'ness of my asser-
tion when I say that it is usually customary, on such
occasions, to transmit to the party making a statement a
of the report, for the nurpose

t aso

Now,

lei rale has been observed ; a

'dinary circtimstano

remarks made by me were spoken on the evening of
Thursday last—on Friday, I suppose, in all the papers
published, the report appeared. I have not looked at
them, and, therefore, merely presume such was the case.
The Saturday's papers would also have had what took
place. We have then the interval of Sunday. Then

one paper having that day smile sort of
Tuesday passes by, and nu to

just as I was leaving for home, about five o'clock, I
received an intimation that this letter had been
transmitted to his Worship the Mayor. Now, how
in the name of fate, could the surveyor, who professes
to feel himself aggreived, have hesitated from Thurs-
day until Tuesday, when he transmitted this
communication? Somebody will, perhaps, state who was

his friend upon this occasion. Now, sir, I have not read
the report in the Mercury, although I generally do read
that paper, hut from the pressure of business, I had not
been able to do so on that occasion ; and I need scarcely
say no opportunity has been offered me in the short interval
of ascertaining what was stated there, or what precedes,
or what follows,- the passage to which the surveyor has
directed the attention of the council. I would merely
remark that my statement—the words of which I cannot
at this moment give you exactly, on account of the short-
ness of the interval—was to this effect. I was referring
to the want of that return which I have already moved
for, and which has been ordered by a majerity In this
council. I stated, with reference to that return, and
the particular information required by its terms, that if
you applied to the officials foran answer to any particular
enquiry, with reference to the extent, the situation, the
number of square yards, the right of area, whether held
on lives or on lease, or on freehold, they could not give
you the information when you askodfor it, but that, by a
process of- time, and by that course alone, they were
enabled to procure the information. And is that not the
correct statement? What have the council done? They
have ordered a return which I moved for, and which
has for its object the supplying of this information. Now,
sir, it does so happen that my reference was not in
any way intended to point to the surveyor. When I want
information with regard to leasehold or freehold property,
or how it is held, I consider the proper place to apply for
the information to be where the leases, deeds, muniments,
and conveyances are deposited in duplicate. This par-
ticular department is not presided over by the surveyor.
He has, I believe, no earthly connection with it whatever.
He performs the surveyor's duty—his business is to make
plans. He is not the party to whom I referred, and,
therefore. he has at least been premature in writing this
letter. Now, sir, supposing for a moment this version of:
my remarks, which the surveyor supposes me to have
used, to be correct—which I do not admit—what does it
prove ? That the very information which was to have
been furnished within twelve months, he has been occu-
pied upon for a period fast approaching two years, and
yet we have never been told, up to this day, how large or
how small a portion of the labour has been performed. If
my memory serves me correctly, when I brought `forward
my motion in the council-room, I held in my hand an
offer from one of the most respectable architects in Liver-
pool, to have the whole work completed within a period
not exceeding three months. 7 believe at the time I drew
the attention of the council to that circumstance. Now,
sir, I contend, that if I had made such a statement as the
surveyor informs us he has taken it word for word from
the Mercury—if I had made such a statement, his duty was
to confine himself to a protest against being included under
the Know-Nothing denomination. But, sir, what does he
do ? The servant of the corporation—an official, draw-
ing a salary—he takes upon himself to lecture me—to tell
me what I ought to know, and ought not to know. And,
not satisfied with that, he gives the council a kick as well,
for he talks of the want of wisdom, in selling reversionary.
interests in the property of the corporation. It does
appear to me, that I can view this in no other light than
as a most unnecessary, uncalled-for, and injldicious, if
not impertinent, interference with a member of the coun-
cil, and a member of the community, who, actuated, by no
other principle than the principle of right, discharging his
,luty as in his conscience he believes he ought to do. I
have no_other remark.to matte upon the subj,:t.

—The as it appeared that the remarks
did not intend to apply to the surveyor, they must apply
to his department.
__

Mr. Gladstone: No; I beg your pardon. I alluded to
the department which Mr. Topping presides over, for
whom I have a very great respect, but who is a stranger
to Liverpool. and has not local acquaintance sufficient
with the property, and whom, for that reason, I do not
think competent to give the information, and manage the
department as it ought to be managed.

The Town Clerk said Mr. Topping was one of his subor-
dinate clerks, for whom he considered himself responsible.
and he had no hesitation in saying, without disparagement
to the gentleman who preceded him, that the registers
and documents were in fat better order now than they
had been before. (Hear, bear.) He would state
further, that if any solicitor, surveyor, or any other
occurrence,
into the ttlni e ounder-
standffice the position of any particular property, he could
sdaily
information,
at once get the information he required. (Hear, hear.)
for
any person, went,amount
of ".
It was done daily, and by members of the council, He
believed that all the business there was arranged in the
most strictly business-like, and me thodical, order, so
that Mr. Topping could at once tell all the particulars
connected with any property. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. Gladstone : Very odd we have not had the infor-
mation I required sooner if that be the case.
Mr. Alderman S. Holme did not think the tone Mr.
Gladstone had assumed, in attacking Mr. Weightman as
he had done, was one in which Mr. Gladstone was
justified. The character of Mr. Weightinan, profes.
sionally aad morally, was as dear to him as the character
of Mr. Gladstone, or of any one of them. He (Mr.
Holme) stood there to say, from the experience of many
years of one of the most faithful and able officers the
corporation had ever possessed, that the remarks which
were made by Mr. Gladstone, at the meeting in question,
did that gentleman great injustice, and that Mr. Glad-
stone himself ought to have been thankful that the
surveyor, in so temperate, proper, and gentlemanly
a manner had given to him an opportunity of
giving an explanation as he had done—an ex-
planation, however, which he thought did not
make the matter very much better. (Hear, hear.) For
years he (Mr. Holme) had been in the habit, profession-
ally, of coming to the Town Hall, for tits., purpose of
acquiring information, and was still in the habit of
doing so in connection with his business, and he would
venture to give a direct contradiction to everything
which had been said by Mr. Gladstone. Long before he
was a member of the council, whenever he came into
that building for the purpose of obtaining any informa-
tion as to property, instantly the officers of the corpora-
tion turned to the books, and be never had occasion to
lose any time in receiving the information he sought.
He put it to every surveyor, or professional man in
Liverpool, whether they ever had occasion to remain there
five minutes without getting full information. (Hear )
Mr. Gladstone had thought proper to use bard words,
and had designated the letter 4s an " impertinent inter-
ferance" of the surveyor ; but he (Mr. Holme) should
say that when a man was so attacked, it was not imper-
tinent of him to vindicate his character, and set himself
right with the council, his employers. (Hear, hear.)
He had read the remarks of Mr. Gladstone on the occa-
sion with the greatest pain, and he could not but say,
that a gentleman who was so apt to take offence, should
be exceedingly careful that lie did not himself fall into
the same error. He knew that gentlemen, sometimes
on a public platform in the heat of a discussion, cr when
at a loss for words, even when delivering a prepared
speech, let drop expressions which they afterwards
regretted. lie hirribeiC had frequently done so, but,
prompted by the feelings of a gentleman, he had, he
hoped, always made the amends honourable, and apolo-
gised for the unintentional offence. (hear, hear.) He
thought it only an act of justice to say,
that if there were eter a body of officers, who
were attentive to their duties, it was the officers of the
corporation who had been characterised and stigmatised
as " princely paid officials, who knew nothing of their
duty," Such remarks ought not to have fallen from the
lips of any considerate man, or if inadvertently used,
o the
toe
council g o
obtained t tle
i
should have been at once withdrawn, more especially as
Mr. Glad Stone himself ought to have known that it was
utterly ilmnproucsrosnni
ihoslhleue
saif,no him
b iy o ee yoe I
ot, r Toi. p ngsruertpoyeeamta.rd; dha
, Mi..
k et
aloanutt
ltootniegt
b
single doer'. without all the dimensions of the property
e
eoib tvete ef ‘ii
\orne. yrarges. i first
cif
he
ou rbi ttei ca
impossibleat ne a
member
bm forer fon b
as to the corporate property from the
l it bi
fl
ae
r forinu
sd Mr.
duties, W
officers with the greatest readiness, and that it was
utterly
an, with his other
to the time requi-
site for tile preparation of the
return
moved for by Mr.
Gladstone. It was not inability, or ignorance of the
corporate estate, that p
urgent
prevented Mr. Weiohtmaa, whose
duties often kept mp him e lod even atntil late in thnight, his own house,
u
ye,
e from furnishing the return, but
want of time, and the pressure of other more important
business. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. Alderman Cooper said he could state, after an
experience of forty years, that he had never gone to the
Town Hall without almost immediately obtaining the