The Sun.
London, England, 1864-05-20 00:00:00

IMPROVEMENTS IN TUE CITY.

Yesterday the new Town-hall of Tiverton was opened
with every mark of rejoicing. What with flags, flowers,
excursion trains brought thousands
quiet little town was quite
andtransformed. evergreens,
ion c h eap ordinary
in from the neighbouring districts, and the principal
thoroughfares were so densely thronged as to be almost
impassable. The chief attraction was the expected appear-
ance of Lord Palmerston, who had been requested, as the
senior representative of the borough, to honour his consti-
tuents by formally opening their Town-hall, and it may well
be supposed that profound regret was felt by all when it
became known that he would not be present. Late on
Wednesday night a letter, written at Brocket-hall, Hert-
fordshire, was received from the noble lord, in which he said :
" I came down here for a few days for the country air,
am better, and hope to be able to get to the House of Com-
mons on Friday by lying still till then; but I could not
have gone to Tiverton to-morrow. Lord Fo.tescue will
take my place on Thursday, and I hope that this arrange-
ment will prove acceptable."
Yesterday forenoon this communication was read to a
meeting of the Town Council specially convened for the pur-
pose, and it was agreed to request Mr Denman, the junior
member, to discharge the duty which up to the last moment
it had been hoped his distinguished colleague would be able
to perform. In accordance with this arrangement, Mr Den-
man and Lord Fortescue, shortly after noon, were escorted
from their hotel to the Town-hall by the members and offi-
cers of the corporation, and as the little procession passed
along it was greeted with loud cheering by the people as-
sembled on the route, The new hall is built in tho centre
of the town, and for its size is a very handsome and impos-
ing structure. It is in the Italian style, and a peculiarly
rich and ornamental character has been given to it by the
profuse use of coloured stone and marble. Accommodation
has been provided for the transaction of all the public busi-
ness of the town. The Hall itself is spacious and lofty, and
its walls are adorned with several portraits in oil, includ-
ing one of Lord Palmerston painted by Mr. Roden. In
the erection of the building elegance and durability have
not been found incompatible with economy. It is under-
stood that, including the purchase of land and contingencies
of every kind, the entire cost will not exceed £B,OOO and, if
so, great credit is due to the architect, Mr. Lloyd, of Bris-
tol, for having produced so admirable a structure for so
modest a sum. The formal ceremony of opening the
Hall was one of the most simple kind. It consisted
mainly of a brief address delivered by Mr Denman from a
window on the first floor to the crowd outside. Mr Denman
began by saying that the first act ho had to perform was to
declare the building open as the Town-hall of Tiverton.
Here somebody in the crowd cried out, " Where is Palmer-
ston?" whereupon Mr Denman expressed his regret at the
unfortunate and unfavourable absence of his venerable and
respected colleague, who, though rapidly recovering from
his recent illness, bad been forbidden by his medical ad-
visers to undertake so long a journey as that to Tiverton.
He was sure, he continued, that all present, though suffer-
ing under a feeling of disappointment, would join in an
expression of sympathy with one whose name was known
and honoured not only in Tiverton, not only in the House
of Commons, not only in England, but throughout the
world. This elicited an enthusiastic burst of cheering,
which seemed to cow the few persons who had tried to
interrupt the proceedings, and, taking advantage of the
calm that followed, Mr Denman concluded his address with
a law appropriate observations on the value and importance
of munloipal institutions, congratulating his constituents
on the possession of one of the handsomest Town-
halls in the west of England. Lord Fortescue next stood
forward to address the crowd. Ho bore his personal
testimony to the truth of the statement which had been
made to them with respect to the cause of Lord Pal-
oserston's absence. "Unless," he said, "you wish to do
what would not be permitted in any other part of England
—namely, to sacrifice a life so precious not only to you but
to Europe—it would be impossible for Lord Palmerston to
appear in his state of health. It is entirely out of the ques-
tion for him to undertake such a journey. His excuse for
not being present on this occasion was, alas I too well
founded, and no one can regret more than himself his ina-
bility to be present. I received from his own lipsan assur-
ance that he hoped up to the last moment to be able to
take part in the proceedings of this day, and that he is ex-
tremely sorry that upon this auspicious occasion he cannot
find himself once more among you to receive the same
kindness you hive ever Chown towards him. I went down
to Brocket-hall, and although I found him cheerful and
animated he was unable to walk or stand, and his doctors
had positively interdicted him from undertaking so short a
journey as even one of 20 miles. In his journey to Brocket-
hall he was obliged to be lifted in and out of his carriage.
Under these circumstances I think you would not be so
abominably selfish as to endanger a life so precious, not
only to England, but to millions abroad, who look to our
great Minister with confidence and respect. I hope the
scepticism and incredulity of the few have been
come, and and that you, as manly, frank, genuine English .
mon, will believe what has been told you. Some person
called out that Lord Palmerston was a humbug. That
is a now light in which to view the character of the
noble lord, and I think you will agree with me that if
ever there was a straightforward Englishman that man
is Lord Palmerston."
At the close of this speech, which was loudly cheered,
there were numerous calls for " Rowcliffe," And the famous
butcher and Chartist of that name, with whom, it will be
recollected, Lord Palmerston had an amusing encounter
some years ago, showed himself in obedience to the sum-
mons. He was hailed with shouts of laughter,
mingled
with cheers, and merely said that as the present was not
a political meeting he would refrain from commenting on
the conduct of Lord Palmerston. The only remark he
had to make was that in his judgment the real leader
and friend of the people was Mr Gladstone—an expres-
sion of opinion which led to a renewal of the cheering
and laughter. A few words from the Mayor followed, and
the proceedings terminated with "three times three" for
an immense variety of persons and objects, all, however,
of purely local fame. Later in the day there was a
din-
ner in the Town-hall, presided over by the Mayor, and
in the evening at least half a dozen balls were going on
in
many different parts of the town.

Da ring Escape from the Souse of Correction.

Yesterday morning, about a quarter past seven o'clock,
thea t
phmui
this spot
„Ls ge t
bb
yoe i nn:trh.
ofe
Wt o p o f
a man was seen by Mr. John liVlitentan, news agent, of
INapos.o26o,f Guildford-place
muilodmfoerndt-oprlascoe
h(oopspaowsite the walls of the House of
Correction), with his head just above the walls, and he,
suspecting that all was not right, watched him. After a
The man no sooner recovered effectsghrietaoet:
the fall (the walls of the prison
the wall and then drop into the Farringdon-road.
Gray's Inn-road,
height) than ho at ence made off; and, for the purpose of
himself from the
better avoiding detection, he ran along the back of Messrs.
masasnis,tawnheoe,oevoenrtvoeoykedhhimimint.oA.tnahpe toiiln-Pgl.s-cross police-station,
Cubitt's establishment. Ile was
and after a desperate struggle overpowered him, and, with
where he was accused of being a prisoner escaped from the
House of Correction, an accusation which ho did not deny,
and if he had it would not have availed him much, as he
had on the prison clothes and metal numbine er.
who would
isoner
the
Inspector Allen, of the 0 division, detained pr
and sent off for the authorities of the prison, ,it
appear, had not then missed him. It was then ascertained
that the prisoner is a most desperate thief, and was con-
fined in the House of Correction, under the name of John
Day, for two years with hard labour, for breaking into a
gentleman's house at Hammeronith, and stealing a gnaw
tity of plate.
The way in which the prisoner gained access to the top
of the wall was this :—A new wing has recently been
erected, and is now not yet quite completed. Something
of the materials are still lying about, and the prisoner, who
had not long been out of bed, was in the yard for exercise,
and thus took the favourable opportunity of climbing up
with the aid of the nails in the boards, and thus making his
escape.
The prisoner for the present is taken back to the House
of Correction, but whether he will be taken before a magis-
trate for being at large before the expiration of his sentence
has not yet been determined.

Hom 'CIE TO MEYERBEER.—At the recent per-
•
formaneo of the 's Huguenots" in Paris the two principa,
artiste, being recalled, appeared bearing a crown covered
with crape.

Deputy FRY, the chairman of the Improvement Coro
mittee, brought up the report from the committee relative
to the expenditure incurred by the Commissioners of Sewers
in effecting certain street improvements in the City during
the years 1862 and 1863, and recommending that it would
not be desirable for the Corporation to contribute towards
the cost of the said improvements. The ground upon which
the committee made the recommendation appeared to be
that the improvements had been paid for, and that the
accounts were all settled, and therefore it was not advisable
to reopen the matter.
Mr. SAUNDERS proposed an amendment to the effect that
the improvements in question were of great public import-
ance, and that the Corporation ought to contribute towards
the cost of them, in order to relieve the ratepayers from a
portion of the burden, and that the subject should be re-
ferred back to the Improvement Committee for reconside-
ration. He referred to the various important improvements
that had been made in the City, and said that although
much had undoubtedly been done, the public convenience
and comfort required a great deal more, and it was impos-
sible that this could be effected if the Corporation cast the
whole burden upon the ratepayers of the City, and refused
to contribute towards such improvements. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. N °Rads, M.P., seconded the amendment.
A lengthened discussion took place upon the motion and
the amendment, during which
Mr. LAW LEY expressed his opinion that the real question
at issue was whether the Corporation should conduct its
own business or whether it should be over-ridden by the
Commissioners of Sewers. (Cries of" Oh, oh.") He said
that the matter had been fully considered by the committee,
and they ought not to be asked to reconsider their decision.
Mr. H. L. TAYLOR expressed his opinion that the com-
mittee had not fully considered the question that was sub
mitted to them, and that in their report they had entirely
given it the go-by. (Hear, hear.) All they were called
upon to consider was whether the improvements that had
been effected were of importance to the public, and whether
the Corporation ought to contribute towards the cost of
those improvements. He was ready to admit that this Court
had a right to control all the expenditure of the Corporation,
and that was the matter. (Liughter.) He always bowed
to the decision of the Court, although sometimes he did so
very unwillingly, but he had no hesitation in expressing his
opinion that the Corporation had not done anything like
what it ought to have done in reference to the public im-
provements in the City, and that it had neglected its duty
in this respect. Believing that the subject had not been
properly considered by the committee, he should support
the amendment of Mr. Saunders, that the report be referred
back for further consideration.
Mr. RUDRIN said he was riot opposed to the principle of
the City's cash contributing towards the public improve-
ments in the City, but on the present occasion he thought
the Improvement Committee were justified in refusing to
contribute towards improvements that were made in 1862
and 1863 which were already paid tor. In his opinion, how-
ever, the proper course was not to leave the entire control
in the hands of the Commissioners of Sewers, but that this
body should put itself in comtnunication with the Improve-
ment Committee, or some other committee, upon the sub-
ject of any improvements that were proposed to be carried
out, and that the two bodies should, act jointly in the

matter.
Deputy DE JERSEY, the chairman of tne Commissioners
of Sewers, addressed the Court at some length in support of
the amendment, and he expressed his opinion that the con-
clusion arrived at by the committee was not founded upon
the merits of the question, but upon the feeling and preju-
dice that existed in the breasts of some of the members,—
(Cries of " Oh, ob.") He regretted to find that upon such
an important question feelings of this description should
exist, and he could not help saying that in his opinion the
improvement of the streets and providing for the accommo-
dation of the public was a municipal duty, and the Corpora-
tion ought to perform that duty and not allow the ratepayers
to be saddled with the entire cost.
The Court then divided, when the amendment was carried
by a majority of 27.
Deputy DE JERSEY then proposed two motions having
reference to certain proposed improvements in the City, one
of which is the making a thoroughfare out of Newgate-
street through King Edward-street into Smithfield, both of
which were agreed to.
Mr. RUDKIN then proposed that the Improvement Com-
mittee be empowered to confer with the Commissioners of
Sewers with a view to facilitate the widening and improving
the streets and thoroughfares of this city, reporting to the
Court from time to time whether any and what amounts
should be contributed out of the City's cash towards such
objects.
The motion was agreed to, and the Court then ad-
journed.