The Sun.
London, England, 1852-10-19 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY

AND MUSEUM.

This (Monday) afternoon the doors of the Free Pub-
lic Library and Museum were thrown open to the in-
habitants of Liverpool ; the ceremony of inauguration
having taken place in thi forenoon, at which Thomas
Littledale, Esq., Mayor ; William Brown, Esq., M.P.;
Thomas Thornely, Esq., M.P.; and Charles Turner,
Esq., M.P., were present, and took part in the proceed-
ings.
At eleven o'clock a procession, consisting of the
mayor, alderman, and town councillors. started from the
Town-hall through Castle-street, Lord-street, Church-
street, and Bold-street, to the new library in Slater-
street; on arriving, at which, Mr. Councillor Picton,
chairman of the library committee, met the civic autho-
rities, and conducted them through the building.
After a brief inspection of the library, reading-
room, and musenm. the distinguished company
returned to the large hall of the institution, where
The MAYOR addressed the meeting in a neat speech,
congratulating his fell° w-towesmsn on the auspicious
opining of this instittt )u upon St. Luke's Day—a day
which, in the annals of Liverpool, was rendered memor-
able for the contests which were carried on in the elec•
tion of Chief Magistrate, but which would be rendered
far more glorious in the future annals of the town as the
day on which a Free Public Library and Museum was
opened to the whole of the inhabitants. (Cheers.)
Mr. Picrorr, who was loudly applauded, gave an elo
quent description of the commencement, progress, and
completion of the undertaking. An association had
been formed by the Town Council, with power to raise
funds to be appropriated in the purchase of books.
From this association they have received 1,3891. 2s. 10d.
and the library at present contains 10,000 volumes.
Many valuable books have been presented by the Liver-
pool Library, the oldest literary institution in the town;
and the Dramatic Society have devoted the proceeds of
a public performance at the Theatre Royal to the pur-
chase of books. In the course of the present year, the
committee intended to add 4,000 more volumes to the
library; about 3001. remains in hand, 5,7441. bad been
expended; making more than 6,0001. which had been
contributed to the funds of the association, of which
Mr. T. B. Horsfall was the chairman. (Cheers.) By
the recent act, the Council had power to levy a rate of a
penny in the pound for the support of the Free Library,
the Derby Museum, and the Zoological Gardens, and he
(Mr. Picton) was sure that if it was found necessary to
levy the rate it would be cheerfully paid.. (Applause.)
Let Manchester, therefore, look to her laurels ; for
Liverpool would yet be at the head of every provincial
town in institutions of this nature. (Protracted
cheering.)
Mr. W. Brown, M.P., next addressed the meeting.
He was happy to see the honourable rivalry between
Liverpool and Manchester in institutions of this kind,
and heartily wished success to all such efforts.
Mr. Chas. Turner, M.P., then briefly addressed the
meeting, and was followed by Thomas Thornely, Esq.,
M.P., the Rim Dr. Hume, Mr. Samuel Holme, Joseph
Pollock, Esq. (Judge of the Liverpool County Court),
and other speakers. After which a vote of thanks was
passed to the Mayor ; also to Mr. Picton and the com-
mittee ; and the initiatory proceedings terminated.
Many hundreds of respectable perilous afterwards
visited the Library and Museum, the opening of which
is an era in the history of Liverpool.

CANNON'S IMPRISONMENTS FOR ASSAULTING THE
PoucE.-Since the commital of the sweep Cannon, for the
murderous assault on Dwyer, the police-constable, the offi-
cers at Horsemonger-lane Gaol have ascertained that he had
been convicted no less than 20 times for assaults, chiefly on
police-constables. The following is a list of some of his con-
victions :-Assault on police, Nov. 23, 1842, seven days or
10e. • do., March 20, 1843, ten days or 20s. ; do., Dec. 27,
1843,' twenty-one days or 20s. ; do., Jan. 25, 1845, one calen-
dar month ; do., April 21, 1845, one calendar month ; threat-
ening language, Oct. 24, 1845, sureties for one month; do.,
Dec. 1, 1845, sureties for one month ; assault on constable,
Sept. 16, 1846, one calendar month ; bastardy, Aug. 6,1847,
one month or 17s. ; assault, Nov. 26, 1847, twenty-one days
or 20s. ; assaulting constables, March 7 (Sessions), 1848,
twelve months' hard labour and sureties for twelve months' •
do., April 18, 1850, thirty days or 30s. ; do., July 31, 1850,
one calendar month or 505.; do., Sept. 30, 1850, five calendar
months; do., March 1, 1851, two calendar months; remanded
fur arson, May 27, 1851, discharged; common drunkard,
Jan. 28, 1852, sureties for one month. He has since had
afternoo
four months at Wandsworth House of Correction ; has been
Indies.
also previously three or four times in Kingston Gaol, and
With
several times at Brixton.
. _ THE OUTWARD CAPE MAIL.-PLYMOUTH, OCT.
mailth ship,The General Screw Steam Shipping Company's new
Calcutta, Captain Vine Hall, sailed yesterday
Cape of 4roeotovcsieein four and five o'clock for St. Vincent, the
-lope, Mauritius, Calcutta, and the East
passage from light easterly winds she accomplished her
the South London to Plymouth in 34 hours ; she was off
Plymouth ForelandSound
da at 12 at noon on Wednesday, and at
speed is greater thant tli3l.alf-past 10 a.m. on Thursday. Her 1
engines, which are by tof any of her predecessors, and her 1
and the bearings are not Maudslay, are perfect in every respect,
Lowe, of Her not subject to being heated. Captain
Majesty's ship Impregnable, inspected the
gallant officer expressed his entire yesterday in the Sound ; the
throughout, especially of ntiFe approval of her equipment
safety of the ship in case Captainof Hall's printed rules for the
and has on freight 100,0001. in specie.e.She is full of passengers,
mails the Calcutta has received r Beside the ordinary
intended to be taken by her otmo
thele bielbourne 33 bags,
South African Squadron. The MelbourneCae Colony and the
hours start of the Calcutta, both being had about two
and the Cape. Their progress win belound to St. Vincent
idarAble interest la nautical Dam watched with con-