Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-02-03 00:00:00

TOWN COUNCIL.

The usual monthly meeting of the Council was held
in the Town Hall, at eleven o'clock, yesterday. The
Mayor, William Preston, Esq., presided.
ADDRESS TO HER MAJESTY.

Mr. Steivart said : Mr. Mayor, before the business
commences, I believe I shall only state the feelings of the
gentlemen who surround me, generally, when I announce
that I intend to move, that a dutiful and loyal address be
presented to her Majesty from the Corporation of this
town, upon the happy occasion of the birth of a son to
her Royal Highness the Princess of Prussia. (Cries of
hear, hear.) I am quite sure that, whilst the Corpora-
tion would be ready to show their loyalty to the. Queen,
in her capacity as the Sovereign of these realms, and that
she would receive such a testimony gratefully, it will be
peculiarly acceptable to her now on an event so important
to her Majesty in her domestic relations ; and, I am
quite sure that the feelings of her sex, those feelings
which she has always displayed, So mach. to her own
honour, so much to the advantage, by such an example,
of the people of this country generally, will render
especially gratifying to her Majesty the presentation of
an address from- this Corporation, expressing not only
their feelings of loyalty, but their congratulations upon
an event so interesting and so dear to her. (Hear, hear.)
The birth of a grandson to her Majesty, who, if his life
is spared, will certainly become the sovereign of an
important continental kingdom, must lead us: to hope
that the relatiips which are thus created may continue to
exist, to the pi*Zinotion of the peace and welfarelof both
countries, and may be considered as a happy event in
every respect, public and domestic. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. Charles Turner said : It is very gratifying to me,
Mr. Mayor, to be ' allowed the privilege of seconding
the resolution which has been moved by Mr.
Stewart. The happy event which has occurred in the
Kingdom of Prussia is one which very nearly effects the
feelings of our beloved Queen, and I am quite sure that
the loyal feelings of the people of Liverpool would prompt
them to desire that such an occurrence should not pass
without a public manifestation of their sympathies.
(Hear, hear.) Everything, sir, which affects or touches
the feelings of our gracious Queen, in her private capa-
city as well as that of a Sovereign, is deeply interesting
to the people of this country. The birth of a grand-
child, is an event which comes home to the hearts of all ;
and, when the child thus born is, as has been remarked
by Mr. Stewart, a prince destined, if he lives, to be the
future monarch of the Kingdmii of Prussia, and allied, at
the same time, so closely to the Royal family of England,
it is an event which, I think, we have
every reason to hope will exercise a very favourable
influence upon the future relations of both countries.
(Hear, hear.) Princess Frederick William of Prussia
has, by her marriage, adopted another country, to which
her first duty is now owing. But I am confident, from
the character of that princess, that she will regard the
country of her birth with feelings of affection, such as those
with which we regard her. (Ifear, hear.) At all events,
we can never forget that she is the eldest born of the
Royal family of England, and by her amiability of tem-
per, and kindness of disposition' has endeared herself to
all'who has had the honour and the pleasure of lcnowing
her. (Hear, hear.) I have great pleasure in seconding
the resolution.
The motion was carried by acclamation.

Mr. Stewart moved that a committee be appointed to
draw up the address, and that the committee consist of
Messrs. Earle, Aikin, and the proposer and seconder of
the addresS.

Mr. Alderman Parker hoped the address would be pre-
sented by the Mayor and the committee.

Mr. Ifyley said; upon a former occasion it was inti-
mated that the more convenient course would be to
forward the address through the Home Secretary.
Mr. Turner suggested that they should ascertain what
the course pursued by other towns would be.
Mr. Jeffery asked what other town Liverpool ought to
follow ? He thought they ought to act independently.
He hoped they would present the address through their
Mayor.
. . _

After some conversation, the committee retired to pre-
pare the address, and upon their return, . . . .

Mr. Stewart read the following address, of which he
moved the adoption :
" To the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty.

"May it please your Majesty—We, your 11fajesty's
dutiful and loyal subjects, the Mayor, Aldermen, and
Burgesses of the Borough of Liverpool, approach your
Majesty with the expression of our heartfelt congratula-
tions on the birth of a Prince to your Majesty's illustri-
ous daughter, the Princess Frederick William of Prussia.
In common with all your Majesty's subjects, we should
rejoice in the occurrence of any event tending to
promote the domestic happiness of your Majesty, and
of his Royal Highness the Prince Consort ; but
we especially hail the present occasion as one tending,
with the blessing of the Almighty, God, to cement the
union of two great nations, and to promote by their
united influence and example the blessings of peace and
the progress of civilisation, and freedom throughout the
world. Educated under the eye of your Majesty, your
illustrious daughter has continued to reflect those high
qualities which have justly won for your Majesty the
affectionate regard of your subjects, and, we doubt not,
that she will in her present sphere, and in the more
exalted one to which in course of events she may be
called, afford to the subjects of her adopted kingdom a
brilliant example of public and domestic virtue, and that
she will instil into the mind of her son those
admirable principles which she has herself received under
the guidance of your Majesty. We fervently pray for the
continual happiness of your Majesty and of your Royal
family, and that your Majesty may long be spared to
reign over your subjects, dutiful from obedience, and
attached to your Majesty's person from the equity and
justice with which your government is administered."
Mr. Stewart observed that the general opinion of flip
committee was, that to forward the address to the Home
Secretary would be the most proper course.
Mr. Turner seconded the adoption of the address.

lir. Gladstone said, the address might be very appro-
priate and excellent, but there was one expression intro-
duced to which he entertained a conscientious objection,
and he therefore felt bound to mention it. He noticed
that the words, " with the blessing of Almighty God,"
were introduced. Now he disliked the too frequent
use of that name. It tended, in his opinion, to lead
rather to irreverent than to devotional feelings, whilst
he admitted that it was a subject to which it was
impossible to attach too much importance. It
was very far from his wish to derogate in the small-
est degree from all that was great and excellent in
connection with the introduction of such words, but
such :a practice always suggested to his mind that
everything else worked without any claim whatever to
the blessing of Almighty God, or else why make any
exception, and introduce the 'words in an isolated in-
stance ? He took exception to the introduction of those
words. He conceived that the Almighty Being saw
and governed everything on the face of the earth, and
that his omnipotence, his omniscience, could not be
questioned by any human being ; and, therefore, to
attempt to retail in small parcels that which was grand
in itself, and placed above their reach, had always ap-
peared to him, whether he were right or wrong in his
opinion, to be misapplied and uncalled for.
Mr. Turner quite agreed that, upon ordinary occasions,
it was not desirable to introduce the name of the Supreme
Being, but he could not agree with him that upon the
present occasion, it was not proper to introduce it.
(Hear, hear.) He thought, if there ever was an occasion
when it might with propriety be introduced, it was upon
the occasion of the birth of a grandchild to the Sovereign
of England—the birth of a prince, whose future career
they hoped, with the blessing of God, would be the
instrument of so much happiness to two great countries,
and to the world at large. (Hear, hear.) He would be
the last man in the world to wish for the introduction of
such words upon an ordinary occasion, but he thought
their introduction was fully warranted in the present
instance. (Hear, hear.) _ _ _

It was AnallY resolved, that the Mayor should
be authorised to communicate with the Secretary of
State and with the Tow' Clerk in London, and to ascer-
tain what mode of presenting the address would be most
acceptable to her Majesty, and should be empowered to
act in accordance with the course which he is advised is
the most proper under the circumstances.