The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-11-22 00:00:00

THE CONGLETON TOWN COUNCIL.

If anything could make the reformed Town Councils more
obnoxious than they are in the eyes of every man who has a
regard for decency, and for order and courteousness in de-
bate, it is the " scenes" which so frequently occur in the
midst of their deliberations. The Municipal Bill has every-
where lifted men of the lowest character and most contemp-
tible attainments into positions so elevated, that their giddi-
ness makes them play the most fantastic tricks ; or their
momentary elevation and introduction amongst their betters
has so inflated the various bull-frogs, that they display their
vulgarity and unseemliness in no very creditable light.
Amongst other boroughs which had the blessings (?) of the
Municipal Bill thrust upon them, was the town of Congle-
ton—a place characterised by a popular novelist as being

'' celebrated for its ill-lighted streets and abominable pave-
ment." If he writes again, he may safely add,—" and also
For its public bear-garden, held in the Town-hall." This

little place, before the passing of the Reform Bill, was tole-
rably quiet,, and, barring the gossip so common to small
towns, the inhabitants were peaceable, and lived in some
degree of harmony. But suddenly they were enfranchised,
and lo ! every mushroom became a voter and a politician.
Their former Mayors had generally been the most respectable
inhabitants of the town ; and of this class, too, their corpo-
rate body had been elected. Politics were then unknown in
the Council; the public business was well managed, in a
gentlemanly way, and personal squabbles were unheard of.
But since the Reform Bill passed, many low, brawling poli-
ticians have been introduced into the Council-chamber, who
have carried their pot-house manners with them ; and the
following specimen of their mode of conducting business,
which we extract from the Macclesfield Herald, will give
our readers some idea of the working of the bill:—
On Saturday last, a meeting of the Congleton Town Coun-
cil, was held, for the election of Mayor for the ensuing year.
The following members of the body were
PRESENT : The Mayor (Mr. J. F. Reade) Messrs. J. B.
Johnson, T. Broad, Andrew, J. Broadharst, Snelson, Hogg,
lladfield, R. Goodwin, J. Reade, J. Washington, Chapman,
Duncalf, Woolley, Pickford.
ABSENT: Messrs. Templeton, Brown, Pearson, G. Bar-
low, C. Lowe, Edwards, Whittaker.
The Mayor, (J. F. Reade, Esq.) opened the proceedings
by stating, that as the present was the last opportunity he
should have of presiding at the Town Council, lie hoped they
would grant bins their indulgence while he drew attention to
a few matters which had recently transpired. Mr. Johnson
had, at a meeting held on the 15th October, cast some un-
just reflections on the financial state of the borough during
the two years that he (Mr. Reade,) had held the office of
Mayor. That great financier—
Mr. J. B. Johnson.—Don't be rude, your observations are
personal and irrelevant.
The Mayor.—l am opening the business of the day, and
claim a right to offer a few observations.
Mr. J. B. Johnson.—Then pray keep your temper.
The Mayor.—Mr. Johnson, on that occasion, asserted that
the funds of the corporation were sufficient if properly mana-
ged, and no rate ought to have been required ; a reflection
certainly upon the administration of the finances of the bo-
rough during his (Mr. Reade's) Mayoralty. He (the Mayor)
was not surprised at the applause which followed the annouce-
ment, an applause not very enviable certainly since it was ob-
tained at the cost of truth. He had now before him the dif-

ferent items of annual expenditure of the corporation, and he
would, with their permission, read them over. Item the
first was £292 10s. interest to be paid. Some thought 20s.
.in the pound ought to be paid, while others perhaps concei-
ved it would be better to pay 10s. or 15s. in the pound, though
he (the Mayor) was one of those who preferred 10s. (Great
sensation.) Then here was item the 2nd,..C80 9s. Gd. to be
paid annually to the Church, a sum which Mr. Johnson has
always contended, has been "irregularly," and "illegally"
paid; no one can doubt the sincerity of Mr. Johnson in this
respect ; and the friends of the Church, (and I hope there
are many here,) will do well to remember it, for he has al-
ways bitterly opposed the payment.
Mr. Johnson.—l thank you for stating my objections to
that payment so clearly.
The Mayor, addressing Mr. Johnson.—Yon are welcome.
Now this assertion I at once allow is perfectly correct : he (Mr
J.) has, I can assure you, been a most consistent opponent of
this payment. The next item, £42 9s. Gd. for rates, taxes,
&c., cannot be got rid of : then £2O for inspectors of weights,
and £3O annual salary to the treasurer. This last I think
Mr. Johnson will not wish to reduce. Then £lolos. to the
Mayor's sergeant. How he intends to deal with this I know
not. £5 for polling booths ; £25 2s. 7d. yearly compensa-
tion voted to the Town-clerk ; and about £lO a-year for
printing and stationery. I now come to the expense of our
police establishment, which I put down at £lOB per annum ;
and 1 do contend that an efficient police force for this bo-
rough cannot he maintained at less cost. What the inten-
tions of Mr. Johnson may be in regard to this item I don't
pretend to say ' • but on the Ist of November some of his party
were heard to declare that a police force of 10s. a week was
sufficient. Next item, looking to the average legal expenses
during the last four years, I feel justified in patting down at
£l5O. I would here observe, that during the last canvas,
prior to the Ist of November, some of the poor rate payers
were given to understand that Mr. Pickford would perform
the duties of the town-clerk for a much less sum than Nr.
Moorhouse.
Mr. Bullock (with much energy.)—l don't believe it.
Name your authority.
The Mayor.—lt is not necessary. (Much clamour.)
Mr. Pickford.—But I insist upon knowing.
The Mayor.—You insist ! You arc a very pretty gentle-
man.
Messrs. Johnson and Bullock.—You ought to give up the
name of your informant.
The Mayor.—Well then my informant was Joseph Pick-
ford. A namesake of yours : (addressing Mr. Pickford.)
Mr. Pickford, (evidently much excited)—The Mayor might
perhaps discover a namesake of his own, not moving many
grades higher in society than the individual alluded to. It is
shamefully and disgustingly unbecoming in any president to
convert his office into a vehicle of vituperation and personal
attach. In regard to Mr. Moorhouse, Mr. P. most solemnly
declared that no one ever heard him publicly or privately ut-
ter one syllable in disparagement of that gentleman, and that
he had never entertained the most distant idea of supplanting
him in his office. (Here several gentlenten rose and spoke
together ; a long established practice at Congleton meetings ;
and the greatest confusion prevailed).
The Mayor.—l merely stated that such a report had been
circulated. It is is time enough for Mr. Pickford to enter
his disclaimer, when I snake an accusation against him.
[The mayor was prevented by the clamour that arose,
from concluding the observations he had intended to make.]
Mr. Bullock, (jumping off from his seat and addressing
the Mayor)—We will not allow you to proceed any further.
Your address is impertinent to the object of this meeting,
and in order that the business of the day may be delayed no
longer, I propose Mr. Pickford as a fit and proper person to
be made Mayor of this borough.
Mr. Johnson.—l gladly second the proposition, for I think
it very desirable to get rid of the present Mayor, whose be-
haviour is scandalous : lie is snore fit to preside at a meeting
at Billinsgate, than at this council.
The Mayor, (with much warnith.)—Be on your guard, Sir.
Mind what yon are about, or—
Mr. Johnson, (who evidently mistook the first remark as
an intimation of personal violence,) rose and said.—l do not
care for you, though you are a few inches higher than myself.
The Mayor.—l don't mean that, there are other ways of
treating you, Sir, I intended to caution you as to the language
you employ. Whoever may be my successor, I hope he may
please all parties, though I am sure the rate-payers cannot
find a man more anxious than I have been, so to conduct the
affairs of the town as to secure the greatest amount of bene-
fit to all. (Applause)
Mr. Johnson.—They cannot find a worse.
Mr. Moorhouse.—l regret extremely the display of such
unnecessary warmth. Pray, gentlemen, what mode will you
adopt in taking the votes.
Mr. Pickford.—By a shew of hands, that is the proper way.
I have Sir Frederick Pollock's opinion in support of that
mode.
Mr. James Reade.—l move as an amendment, that Mr.
R. Goodwin is a fit and proper person to be made Mayor of
this borough.
Mr. Hogg.—l second it.
The Mayor.--I agree with the mover and seconder that
Mr. R. Goodwin is a fit person to be Mayor. The office
could not be better filled than by a person who has been
brought head and shoulders into the hall, lo eat his own
words and cancel his own vote.
Mr. Johnson.—l deprecate these personal attacks. Mr.
Goodwin has given a very satisfactory reason for the change
of his opinions, and ought not to be subject to such sarcasms.
The Mayor.—lf the cap fits Mr. Goodwin, let him wear it.
Mr. R. Goodwin.—The mayor ought to be the last person
to twit me with inconsistency, for he changed his opinion in
less than one hour and a half, whereas I took a fortnight to
consider. (Loud laughter.)
Mr. Johnson.—Let us proceed to business. I hoped our
proceedings would have been carried on in perfect harmony.
The Mayor.—(lronically) Oh ! I dare say.
Mr. Moorhouse.—How shall I take the votes ?
The Mayor.—l will put the question to the Council.
Mr. Pickford.—Such a question cannot be entertained—
for you cannot adopt any other than the legal mode of voting.
viz.—by show of hands. Let Sir F. Pollock's opinion be
read.
Mr. Johnson.—That is the usual way of voting in Mac-
clesfield, Liverpool, and other places.
The Mayor.—lt is all the same to me. I have no objec-
tion to publicity ; on the first formation of the council, I
proposed it.
I lOn the amendment being put, there appeared for it—Mr.
James Reade, Mr. Hogg, and the Mayor.
When the resolution was about to be put,
Mr. Pickford said—l beg to be understood, I don't vote
for myself—that has never been my practice.
Mr. Johnson.—Nor mine.
The following thirteen gentlemen voted for the resolution
—Mr. Bullock, Mr. J. Bulkeley Johnson, Mr. Broad, Mr.
Andrew, Mr. J. Broadhurst, Mr. Snelson, Mr. Hadfield,
Mr. R. Goodwin, Mr. J. Washington, Mr. R. Washington,
Mr. Chapman, Mr. Duncalf, and Mr. Woolley.
The " insisting" man Pickford was then led to the chair
(instead of the stocks,) and in the course of his inaugural
speech rebutted the assertion that lie was an enemy to the
Church, by " appealing to all who heard him whether he
was not regular at Church, and attended to Isis devotional
exercises." Of his political sentiments he observed:—
There is another circumstance, to which I cannot forbear
alluding, viz : the current report, that I am about to change
my coat in pblitics. Now, sooner than I would forsake that
high-minded and well-tried patriot—sooner than I would
abandon that enlightened and consistent statesman—that
liberal landlord and gentleman—that very excellent person,
both in public and private life—George Wilbraham, Esq., our
much and deservedly prized county member—l would con-
sent to have my right hand cut off.—(Cheers.)
The man has yet to learn that as Mayor he ought to have
no politics at all. If we mistake not, his worship was once
a practising solicitor in Liverpool ; and is a very suitable per-
son to preside over so well conducted an assembly. Pity
that he had not remained in Liverpool, as by this time he
might have been Town Clerk, or at least Dock Solicitor.
The functionary, however, was not born great so he has had
greatness thrust upon him. Although the whole affair was a
storm in a tea-pot, we could not help reprinting it for the
benefit or amusement of our readers. We hope every re-
spectable inhabitant of Congleton will leave such a set to
themselves. When rogues fall out, honest men will get their
rights, and such scenes as the above will do more to bring
the council into public contempt than ten thousand orations,
' though spoken by a Demosthenes.
,11 wpareng-Acramoroo.....-40.1

The City of Dublin Company's mail packet made the
passage on Friday last, between Kingstown and this port, in
ten hours and twenty minutes I
THE NEW SHIP GLENGARY.—The Glengary, a fine new
ship built at St. John's, New Brunswick, is now lying inthe
Brunswick. She is 170 feet in length over all : her beam is
37 feet 6 inches, and she measures 1056 tons. Her decks are
unusually spacious, and her cabins neatly fitted up. She is
built of excellent materials, her bottom being of African oak,
and ker top sides of teak wood. She has brought a fuil cargo
of timber, for Messrs. Gibb, Bright and Co.