The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-11-01 00:00:00

ROYAL INSTITUTION REPORT.

The Town-clerk has considered the memorial of Sir John
S. P. Sainsbury and Dr. Reynolds, the vice-president;,
acting on behalf of the Liverpool Royal Institution, of which
the following is a copy :
" To the Worshipful the Mayor and Members of the
Town-council.

" The Memorial of the President, Vice-Presidents, and
Committee of the Royai Institution,—
Sheweth,

" That this institution was founded for ' the promotion of
literature, science, and the arts,' in furtherance of which
objects large sums have been expended in the erectiop of
school-rooms, capable of containing more than one hundred
boys ; in the formation of a gallery of casts, and of a museum
of natural history, now one of the most valuable and exten-
sive in the kingdom ; in the purchase of philosophiCal appa-
ratus, and the occasional delivery of lectures .on sublects of
general interest. _ _

"That the operations of. the managing committee have,
however, been greatlY impeded by thelimited state of their
finances, the greater portion of the furid originallY subscribed
having been expended on the purchase and fitting up-of the
buildings ; , and that, during the last four years, their efforts
have' been still further- restricted from the annual grant of
£l5O, formerly voted bythe corporation, having been dis-
continued.

"Your memorialists beg to state that it has been their
constant endeavour to render the institution as generally be-
neficial as possible to the inhabitants of the town at large ;
that artists and students have free admission to the gallery
of casts ; that on the payment of one shilling, or by an an-
nual subrcription of one pound, the museum of natural his-
tory is open to all Classes, and that one day in each month it
is open gratuitously to the public ; a privilege of which,
during the last six months, upwards of awenty thousand per-
sons have availed themselves.

" On these grounds your memorialists venture to indulge
a hope that an institution, from which so large a portion of
the community derive instruction and amusement, may not
be deemed by the members of the present town-council un-
deserving of the support and encouragement which it has for-
merly experienced from the governing body of the town of
Liverpool.
" Signed, on behalf of the Committee,
" Jot4S. P. SALUSBURY,
Vice-Presidents."
" Wm. REYNOLDS,
The Town-clerk has considered it his duty to communi-
cate with the vice-presidents, and from Sir John S. P. Sains-
bury, he has received the following letter :--
" Royal Institution, 17th October, 1839.
" Sir,—Your letter of the 7th instant has been laid before
the committee, and, in compliance with your wishes, I have
been requested to draw up the following statement, which I
trust may prove satisfactory, and justify you in making such
a report to the members of the town-council as will induce.
them to grant the prayer of the memorial presented to tbein
at their last meeting.

" The Royal Institution was originally established in shares
of £lOO each, the number of which should not exceed five
hundred. But two hundred and sixty-six only were sub-
scribed for. Of the fund thus raised, the greater portion
was expended on the building, in the purchase of specimens,
and their requisite cases. The surplus was invested in pub-.
lic securities, and furnished the only source of permanent
income. Within the last year, shares have been issued at
the reduced price of £4O, conferring precisely the same
rights and privileges as the original shares.. Of these, about'
sixty-eight have been taken. Annual subscribers are also
admitted to the museum and lectures, on terms explained in
the enclosed circular. The income derived from all these
sources is barely adequate to meet the current expenses of
the establishment, repairs, salaries of officers, &cc.; conse-
quently our finances will not admit of purchasing any new
specimens, or even providing cases for a large portion of
those which the institution already possesses—a circumstance
which cannot fail exciting much apprehension, lest they
should be materially injured from unavoidable exposure ; an
evil which is greatly augmented on those days when the pub-
lic are admitted, not only from the liability. to accidental
injury,.but from the dust occasioned by so large a concourse
of persons (the manlier on thelast .openday exceeding, seven
thousand); and it is only doing justice to the orderly conduct
of the visiters, that every precaution should be taken to
secure the specimens from any risk of being damaged. The
committee trust, therefore, that the consideration may have
its due weight with the council, and induce them to lend
their aid in preserving a collection which, for extent and
high state of order, need not fear a comparison with that of
any similar institution in the country, and which is 'now ren-
dered accessible to all classes of the community.
" It is, perhaps, right to add, that at .a former meeting of
the committee, it was agreed, that should the Education
Committee of the council apply for admission to admit a
limited number of the children attending the corporation
schools- to visit the museum occasionally, such permission
would be gladly conceded.—l am, sir, your most obedient
servant,

JOHN S. SALUSBURY, Vice-president."
The report of the Town-clerk was similar to that on the
preceding subject.

WATCH RATES.
The following is a copy of the Town-clerk's report on the
subject of the rate for watching, empowered by a recent en-
actment :

" The Town-clerk, in the outset of this report, would ob-
serve, that ever since the passing of the recent act of Par-
liament, it has been a subject of consideration with him, and
has been likewise suggested to him by several members of
the Council, whether it might not be desirable to remove the
obligation on that body to levy a rate to the additional ex-
tent provided for by the legislature. The Town-clerk now
submits that a clause might be procured to be inserted by
government in a public bill in the next session, to give to
Councils of Municipal Corporations, having surplus revenue,
after payment of obligatory expences, the power to apply
money, part of such surplus, to the payment of any amount
of watch expences that may be incurred, and which may ex-
ceed the amount to be levied under the general act of 1835.
The Town-clerk understands that a public bill will be brought
forward by government in the next session, to amend the
Municipal Corporations Acts, and that the barrister, who,
under the direction of the home office, will have the prepara-
tion of this bill, will give attention to any suggestions on be-
half of the Council. The amendment will be properly brought
before parliament, as a general proposition applicable to all
boroughs having surplus income over obligatory expenditure,
but to guard against the possibility of disappointment, the
object in view might be included in the notice, for the next
session, of a private bill, which, for other purposes, will have
to be directed by the Council."

THE DOCK COMMITTEE'S NOTICES OF APPLICATION TO

PARLIAMENT.
The notices for the new bills, approved by the Dock Com-
mittee were read to the Council. They are very lengthy ;

but the following abstract will put our readers in possession
of the main features. Application to he made in the next
session for leave to bring in a bill or bills for 'power for the
trustees of the docks to purchase, and for the Council to con-
vey to them, the several graving docks belonging to the Mayor,
Aldermen, and Burgesses of the borough, with the quays
and appendages, with the power for the trustees to make a
wet dock, with basin, piers, river .wall, and other works, on
the west side of the Salthouse Dock, and ,to extend, enlarge,
and alter the Salthouse Dock. Also a power to enlarge and
alter the graving docks purchased, so as to make them avail-
able for the acComodation of steam-packets; and to make
new graving docks on the land belonging to the trustees in
the parish of Walton-on-the-hill. Also power to the trustees
to erect warehouses on the west quay.of the Prince's Dock
and land adjacent -thereto within the dock walls, and to erect
warehouses on the wharfs and quays of the said intended wet
dock to the west of the Salthouse Dock and land adjacent
theaeto not extending beyond the dock walls, and to manage
all such warehouses, and to use the same for the deposit and
custody of goods and merchandise, and to grant transferable
warrants and certificates on the deposit therein of goods and
merchandise, (the occupancy of the said warehouses b'y the
trustees being subject to parochial rates,) or to let or demise
the same warehouses, 3vhen built, to any joint-stock or other
company or companies, anl, in either case, to fix rates or
other charges for goods or merchandise deposited therein ;
and power, so far as relates to the Prince's Dock and "the
said intended wet dock, to take charge of and unload all
goods from and into vessels lying in the said docks ; and;
for facilitating the business of the docks to unload acd take
charge of goods from vessels in any of the docks of the said
trustees, and to warehouse or store the said goods, with
power to pass all necessary entries thereof with the officers of
customs, and to fix rates and charges to be made by the
trustees in relation to the matters aforesaid, and to make
bye-laws for regulating the use of the warehouses, and for
the regulation of all persons employed in and about the same,
and the carrying on of the business connected with such
warehouses, and concerning the admission of fires and lights,
&c.: to make or authorise the making of tram-rods on any
of the quays or wharfs of the present or intended docks or
basins, and across or along the streets or highways upon such
quays ; and for power to purchase from the Councilor others
any land and strand of the river Mersey, or other place that
may be required for any purpose herein-mentioned. The
remaining powers to be applied for are powers to raise mo-
ney, to receive rates and dues, to adopt a new mode of ad-
measureinent for vessels navigated by steam and using any
of the docks, in order to obtain a just and adequate compen-
sation to fix a rate on steam-vessels, craft, or boats plying
on the river, for the time such vessels may use the docks or
basins, except as pretectures against storms ; to lay an extra
rate for vessels lying ingthe docks longer, than three months,
a prOvision for preventing the shipment of aqua-fortis, vi-
triol, &e. without due precaution, to make bye-laws con-
cerning fires, &c. on board ships ; for permanently establish-
ing the union of the •dock and town police, and regulating
the payment of a fair proportion-of the expense of maintain-
ing the, same ; and to alter enlarge, amend, &c. the former
dock acts. Notice further given, that the plans and sections,
with books of reference, will be deposited in the office of the
Clerk of the Peace for the county palatine, at Preston, on or
before the 30th of November next, and, for public inspection,
with the clerks of the parishes of Liverpool and Walton-on-
the-hill, on or before the 31st of December next.
Mr. DAVID llonGsorr begged to express his dissent from
one portion of the subject which had been brought before
them, and in doing so, he was sure he expressed the opinion
of Many gentlemen in the room. The point to which he
alluded,' was that relating to the building of warehouses on
the Dock Quays. He was sure he was expressing the desire
of others who would take an active part in opposing the mea-
sure, and who would not, however hopeless it might be at
that juncture, permit the subject to pass without entering
their protest against it. _ _

C‘inatii.:. hoped the Council would understand, that
the documents which had been read, merely related to the
•
notices, and were not such as oug-4to give rise to any dis-
cussion. The question would again be brought before them,
and gentlemen who opposed the measure, would have an op-
portunity of expressing-their opinions at the proper time.

THE ROYAL INSTITUTION.
Mr. SHELL said, it was not his intention to oppose any
grant to the Royal Institution, and he hoped it was under-
stood that the grant proposed was only for one year. How-
ever, unless they made that Institution a little more popular,
he would oppose any such grant in future. The Institution
was only opened once d month to the public, and could there-
fore be of no use in improving their taste. He hoped en-
deavours would be used to make it a little more popular. He
bad a remark to make on the subject of the Town-clerk's re-
port respecting borrowing money. If it were intended that
the confirmation of the report of the Finance Committee were
to pledge the Council to agreement with that report of the
Town-clerk embodied therein, he should oppose it. They
ought to have had more time for the consideration of a sub-
ject so important, than that given by the mere hasty reading
of a report. If they were to be bound by the confirmation,
he would move an amendment. He asked the question, and
would proceed accordingly.
The TOWN-CLERK said, so far as he was concerned in
submitting the report to the Finance Commitee, be thought
it desirable that the discussion should he allowed to stand
over till December. It was desirable, however, that the
notices should be given as required by the standing orders of
the House, and if they were allowed to stand over, it would
be too late. He was satisfied, that the more deeply the sub-
ject was considered, the more clearly it would appear that the
measure was expedient.
Mr. SANDS thought the subject oughtto have been brought
forward before.

Mr. CASE thought they might merely empower the Town
clerk to give the requisite notices, and the subject could
stand over for discussion either at a special council, or at one
of the monthly meetings. if they did not ultimately coincide
with the report, the notices would fall to the ground.
Mr. SnEIL said he should regard such proceedings as that
proposed as a deviation from the constitution of the Council
and of the municipal act. He should therefore bring for-
ward an amendment, that the proceedings of the finance
committee be confirmed, with the exception of that point to
which he had alluded, that the Town-clerk's report be print-
ed, and that the subject be discusied at a special Council, to
take place some time after the 9th November. Mr. Sheii
explained, that he should,have brought the matter under the
notice of the finance committee, but he had been unavoid-
ably absent from Liverpool 'during the last month: •
Mr. CURRIE said the amendment which Mr. Sheil had
stated his intention of bringing forward, did not .affect the
proposition of Mr. Case. All that was required was to have
power to give the notices, and it was wished that the discus-
sion should take place at a Council to be summoned here-
after, when, however, it Would be too late to give the notice.
.He would add,:that the. measure was a very important one,
as they-could not go '.on improving the town in the manner
that was required without some extraordinary means. The
plan proposed by the Town-clerk seemed best adapted to the
purpose. They had one very large sum to pay to the ord-
nance, which must be provided for.
The TOWN-CLERK said the subject might be discussed at
a Special Council, or might be fixed for the first Council in
November. He might remark, that it was not contrary to
the spirit of the municipal act to seek poWers to borrow mo-
ney, as the principle was distinctly required by that act. If
the bill proposed passed, the taking up money on bond would
be similar in spirit to the powers vested in the Corporation
by the municipal act. Why should a Council like that, pos-
sessed of a corporate estate, wi.h three millions of money,
be driven to the discreditable plan of raising money upon
mortgage, when they could, at a day's notice, borrow money
on their own bonds ?

There seemed to be a desire in the Council to adopt Mr.
Case's suggestion at once, but ultimately the amendment of
Mr. Sheil, put into the following form by the Town-clerk,
and seconded by Mr. Mellor, was paised .—That the report
of the finance committee be adopted, with the exception of
the report on extraordinary,expenditure, as to which the ne-
cessary parliamentary .notices be authorized, but that the
subject should stand for the discussion of a Special Council,
to be called in the course of the present year, and that in the
interim the report be printed, and circulated amongst the
members of the Council.

HACKNEY COACHES IN CASTLE-STREET, &C.
The Town-clerk and Surveyor had reported to the Finance
Committee in favour of the Stand from Brunswick-street
southward for hackney coaches and cars being removed to
South Castle-street, opposite the south side of St. George's
Church, the number of carriages being limited to eight : also
in favour of a regulation for compelling the carriages on
stands to be placed in their lines at a distance of not less than
four ket prom any part of one to any part of the other. These
alterations are to be effected by rescinding the present bye-
laws, and ordaining a new act throughout. The report was
approved.

WATCH COMMITTEE.
In the report, of .the Watch Committee, it was set forth
that the- Chairman having vacated his
.seat, Mr. Case took
the chair, when it was moved by Mr. JOHN NELSON WOOD,
that the best thanks of the committee be presented to Joshua
Walmsley, Esq. for the zeal, ability, and impartiality, with
which he had presided over the committee during the year.
The motion was seconded by Mr. MELLoR, and 'passed una-
nimously.

POWNALL-SQUARE MARKET.
The Market CoMmittee reported, on the subject of Pow-
.
nall-square•Market, that the proposed alteration of opening
Edmund-street to the market, and enclosing the market, was
unnecessary, as the acCommodation at present possessed was
sufficient for the wants of the neighbourhood.

BILLET MASTER.
Power was given' to the. Watch Committee to appoint, as
Billet Master; some person in their own office, with an addi-
tional salary of per annum, and to pay also an additional
salary of £25. per annum to one of their clerks, for such oc-
casional services as may be required.

CONVEYANCE OF CONVICTS TO NEW SOUTH WALES.
'Pile MAYOR. read the following letter, which he had re-
ceived from .Mr. Potter, the Chairman of the Liverpool-Ship-
owners'. Association, enclosing a copy of a memorial trans-'
mitted to the Marquis of Normanby :
"Liverpool, 18th Oct. 1839.
" Sut,77-It has occurred to the Committee of the Liverpool
Shipowners „Association, that your: Wors.hip, on behalf of
the 4T-Otvii Council. of Liverpool, by a proper representation
to Gi:iierninent, might valuably promote the restoration to
Liverpool of the privilege (not to say right) of competing for
the public contracts. for the conveyance of 4iish-convicts,to
New South Wales, of which we have been, unaccountably,
de, rived for some years past; and, with this view, I was
-qudated to" forward you the enclosed copy of a representation
.wq,are makingle. the .Bone Secretary on the subject, with a
request that von will, obligingly, aid us therein.
(Signed) " WILLIAM POTTER, Chairman.
" To the Worshipful Thigh Ilornby, Esq. Mayor.
he - Memorial 'to -the Marquis of Normanby was as
follows

" Mr Loßn.—On behalf of the Liverpool Shipowners'
Association, I respectfully address your Lordship on the sub-
ject of the Government tender for the conveyance of convicts
from Ireland to New SOuth Wales. In, and previous to,
the year. 1836, Liverpool shipowners had, the privilege 'of
making their tenders in common with London • and there
was an "obvious propriety therein, inasmuch as Liverpool is
situated much nearer the port of embarkation in these cases ;
and for the same reasons provisions and sea stores can be
laid in at a much lower rate than in London,—where, for
some cause,
inexplicable to us, this employment is of present
monopolized by a few houses. That Government, therefore,
will find their advantage in opening these contracts for con-
ception at Liverpool, and trust your Lordship will also be
desirous, in that case, of restoring to the shipowners of that
port a privilege of which they seem to have been unreasonably
deprived,. we cannot allow ourselves to doubt ,• and we shall
be greatly obliged by your Lordship directing the proper in-
quiry to be forthwith made with that view. We may mention,
that the contracts for the conveyance of emigrants have
always been Open at Liverpool,—which leaves us more at a
loss to account for our exclusion to the other case.
(Signed) " WILLIAM POTTER, Chairman."
The Mayor said, as the Finance Committee were negotiating
with the Government on the subject of the conveyance of
convicts frOm`this town, which was at present chargeable on
the Borough fund, it would he well therefore, to reter the
subject. to that committee.—Agreed to. •

THE MAYOR. •
The MAYOR said, shortly before he entered the Council-
chambeg he was made acquainted with the subject of a
placard which had been posted about the walls of the town,
making a very grave charge against him. He should make
no apology for occupying their time in explaining his conduct
in reference to the subject alluded to, for he believed that
when they appointed him to preside over their deliberations,
they thought him incapable of unjust or partial conduct, and
he thought it was his duty to show them that he was incapable
of the conduct attributed to him.• • •
The MAYOR proceeded to read a placard which he said was
headed, " Gross partizanship. The MAYOR," &c. The
placard reflected on the conduct of his worship in having, as
the writer alleged, directed that the polling-booth for
Abercromby Ward be not held at the Phoenix Inn, because a
•

Conservative committee sat there.
The MAYOR said it was stated to him, by the chairman of
the ward, that some inconvenience had been experienced in
consequence of the polling-place being at a house where a
committee of the Conservative party held their meetings.
In consequence of this, he gave directions that the polling-
places should not be fixed at houses where the committees of
either party met. At the same time he said he would not
have any thing to do with the appointing any other places for
them. An objection was made to him by the other party,
in consequence of the Phoenix Inn not being appointed ;
but he referred the complaints to the proper persons, end he
was now totally ignorant of what place had been appointed.
He hoped the Council, and the town generally, would con-
sider that he was not amenable to any such charge as that
which had been brought against him—(hear, and applause.)
Mr. CAst hoped he should be excused if he brought for-
ward a motion, which he had intended to propose at a later
period of the day. It was a vote of thanks to the Mayor, for
his excellent and impartial conduct during the year of his
mayoralty. It was important to them, and to the town at
large, that any imputation on the Mayor's character should
he forthwith rebutted. He had pleasure, for one, in declaring
that the conduct of the Mayor had been governed by strict
impartiality. He moved, that the Council cannot separate,
at this its last meeting under the present mayoralty, without
expressing their best acknowledgments to Hugh Hornby,
Esq., the Mayor, for the steady and efficient discharge of the
important duties of his office during the past year, as well as
for the courtesy and impartiality with which he has presided
over their deliberations.
Mr. JOHN SMITH said, in rising to second the resolution,
he need scarcely add one word to the deserved eulogium
pronounced by Mr. Case. Placed in a difficult situation, as
the Mayor had been, it would readily be admitted, that he
had performed his duty in a manner so impartial as to have
given satisfaction to all parties, and to men of all shades of
opinion in the Council.
The motion was carried by acclamation.
The MAYOR said, in awarding him the thanks of the
Council, they had given him a recompense exceeding his
merits. He was compelled to confess to many failings in his
official capacity, both in and out of the Council ; but what-
ever they might be, they were not intentional. There was
no impropriety in saying, that in restoring back the honour
which they had conferred upon him, it was as unsullied by
anything unworthy as when he received it.

PROPOSED SCHOOL ON THE SITE OF ISLINGTON MARKET.
Mr. BOLTON said it was not from any hostility to increas-
ing the number of corporation schools that he was led to
oppose the proposition of the Education Committee to build
a school on the site of Islington Market : on the contrary,
be should wish to see these schools increased till there was
one in every ward. He thought, however, that the selection
of Islington Market had been made without due consideration
of the importance of the locality and the value of the land,
which was in the vicinity of the proposed new Courts and St.
George'§ Hall; and might be required for other buildings.
He hoped the subject would be referred back to the School
Committee, in order that they might select some other site,
instead of the valuable ground in quetion.
Mr. COGLAN cordially seconded the motion.
Mr. BLACKBURN said the subject had been under the
consideration of the Finance Committee, and they bad come
to the determination not to oppose any resolution which
might be brought forward on the subject. Mr. Blackburn
urged the importance of schools being erected somewhere in
the vicinity of Dale-street, the avenues from which were
densely populated with those classes who most needed edu-
cation.
INTERFERENCE OE SALARIED OFFICERS WITH ELECTIONS.

Mr. Isaac Holmes was called upon for his motion on the
interference of Salaried_ Officers, in Municipal Elections.

Mr. HOLMES regretted he had not had an opportunity of
bringing forward his motion at a former meeting, for as no
committee would now sit before the election it would now be
ineffective. He would however take an early opportunity of
bringing the subject forward next year. If it were proper to
fulfil the provisions of the 22d Geo. 111. cap. 41, in respect
to the interference of Government officers, how much more
proper would it be to prevent the interference of the salaried
officers of the corporation with municipal elections. There
was nothing more improper than for persons to canvas who
received the public money. However as there were many
gentlemen in the agonies of dissolution, he would not disturb
their dying agonies by any further remarks.
Mr. NVALMSLEY said, if Mr. Holmes had been on any of
the committees he would not have considered it necessary to
bring such a subject forward. Many gentlemen might have
entered the committees with the notion that partiality was
exercised, who were now undeceived. The Watch Commit-
tee was one in which it might have been conceived, and from
the patronage which it was supposed to possess that parti-
ality had been shown, but those who had had an opportunity
of observing its proceedings know that not the slightest ad-
vantages of a political nature was then gained.
The Council adjourned at a quarter to two o'clock.