The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-05-12 00:00:00

TOWN COUNCIL MEETING.

The usual monthly ineetirn: of the Council was held on
Wednesday, D. Hodgson, Esq., in the chair.
The MAYou announced that it had been ascertained
that Prince Albert would visit Liverpool on the occasion
of laying the toundation stone of the Sailors' Home, on
receiving a suitable invitation. He could not sufficiently
express the gratification he was sure the liOnOtir of bis
royal big visit would confer on the Corporation
and 11;.‘t town at ;‘:7se, and preparations would immedi-
ately be node to celebrate the event with becoming splen.
been ascertained
H e hlwhsnayt
no mote
day
ur'oeu od suit the coliremenee of
the Prince; bur, when the day was fixed. be trusted they
would give him their cordial support, in order that ar
rangements might be made in a style suitable to the rank
li; the subject until it had
and position of their illustrious guest, and worthy of the
loyal, opulent. and liberal Corporation over which he bad
the honour to preside. (Applause.)
Mr. Nicol. alluded in feeling terms to the late mur-
derous sttemyr, upon the life of Louis Philippe King of
the French, whom he eulogized for his mild but firm sway,
his encouragement of the cultivation of the arts of peace
and civilization, his affection to Queen Victoria, and
good-will towards the British people, and concluded by
moving the adoption of the following addresses, which,
after a short conversation, were unanimously passed :
"TO HIS MAJESTY THE KING OF THE FRENCH."
" We, the M-ryor, Aldermen, and Burgesses of the
Borough of Literpo.,l, in the County Palatine of Lancas-
ter, in Council assembled, venture to approach your
Majesty with the expression of our heartfelt congratula-
tions that, by the interposition of divine providence, the
late traitorous and atrocious attempt upon your Majesty's
lire has been averred.

" Representing a community qualified by its intercourse
with the nations of Europe, and of the world, to appre-
ciate the blessinzs which the enlightened policy of your
Majesty's governm'nt is calculated to bestow, we assure
your Majesty of the feeling of respect and veneration with
which your Majesty is regarded by the inhabitants of this
borough.
" We express our horror and detestation of the crime
of assassination (whatever be the motives by which it is
actuated), and we fervently pray to Almighty God that he
will be pleased to protect your Majesty's person, and to
enable you still to direct the energies of the powerful mind
with which he has endowed you, to promote the true glory
and happiness of the great peop'e over whom you have
been called to rule."

"TO HER MOST GRACIOUS MAJESTY THE QUEEN OF

TH K FRENCH.

" Madame,—We, the Mayor. Aldermen, and Burgesses
of the Bnrough of Liverpool. in the County Palatine of
Lancaster, in Council assembled, approadi your Majesty
with ihe expression of our heatfelt congratul-itior.s that
the laic traitorous and atrocious attempt upon the life of
your Royal Consort has, by the interposition of Divine
Providence, been rendered abortive.
" Our detestation of so diabolical a crime is increased
by the considerate in that it was attempted in the presence
of your Majesty. and of other members of your Majesty's
famil v.

" We cordially join in the prayer fervently uffered by
the French nation that the life of sour Majesty's Consort
may long be spared, and that your Majesty may, by the
example of every tion.estic and soci l virtue. continue to
adorn the high station in which you are placed.''
Mr Alderman TURNER rose to propose his motion of
a vote of thanks to the British Army in India, and after
an eloquent ulogiurn on the valour of the troops, both
generals, offic rs, rind men, and a grateful tribute of admi-
rat i ►n to the tn. rit of the heroes slain—Sale, Gaskill, Dick,
Ta‘ tori and others—and expressive of deep regret for their
loss, the spetilic-r concluded by mentioning the name of a
townsman, Captain Richard Houghton, brother of Mr.
Houghton, the respected Councillor for .it. Anne's NN'ard,
who had disririguished himself in a high degree by his
bravery and skill, and had already been rewarded by 13, °-
motion to the rank of napjor. (Applause.) He moved
the following :
" That this Council, deeply impressed w.th the great
and increasing importance of the trade of India to the
commerce of this coon. or. and of this port in particular.
reflect with pride and •atisfa.:tion oil the late brilliant arid
decisive victorie,, achi. ved by our gallant army on the
banks of the Soilrj, the beneficial affects of which, in
restoring the blessings of peace throughout the Indian
em pi e, and securing the continued sa'ety of our vast pos-
sessions in that country, cannot be too highly ap-
preciated.

"That, in the accomplishment of these important ob.
kcts, the services of Lieutenant General the Right. Hon.
Vis ount Hardinge, G. C. 8.. Governor-General of India ;
Lieutenant-General the Right Hon. lord Gough,G. C. B.
arid Maj)r-General Sir H. G. Smith, Bart., G. C. 8.,
are eminently conspicuous, arid that the best thanks of
this Council be prem wed to those gallant officers, not
only for the consum irate skill, unwearied zeal. and un

daunted brave y displayed by them in the several actions
t.f Moodke- and Ferozrshah, Aliwal and Sobraon, but for
the truly Christian moderation and forbearance shown
towards the v mquished in the preservation of the capital
of Lahore, thus tempering justice with mercy, and evincing
to tne world that British soldiers are as nobly distin-
guished for discipline and humanity as fur high honour
and indomitable courage.
" That the best thanks of this council be also presen'ed
to Mljor Gene. al Walter lialeizh Gihert, C. B ; 111sj r-
Geherdl Sir John Littler, K. C. B. ; Major-General Sir
Joseph Thackwell, K. x. B.; and the several officers,
non-commissioned officers, and soldiers, European and
native, enttized in the actions 1,1 ,
cember, the 28 h of January, and the Bth of February, it
being the opinion of this Council that the annals of British
valour, glorious as they tire, have rarely furnished more
signal instances of personal bravery and devoted heroism,
than were so generally manifested both by officers and
men on those memorable occasions.

" That this Council deeply sympathises with the sur-
viving relations of those gallant heroes who terminated
their career of glory on the field of battle, and proved, by
an honourable death, their loyalty to their sovereign and
their devotedness to the best interests of their country.
" That the Mayor be requested to transmit a copy of
these resolutions to Viscount llardinge, Lord Gough, arid
Sir Harry Smith, with a request tlr-it they will con.muni-
cote the same to the respective officers under their com-
mand."

Mr. AIKIN seconded the resolution.
Some slight opposition to the :notion was expvssed by
Mr. R and Mr. Birkett, but t.iis was dropped, and
the resolution was cat rind nem. c:m.
Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE rose to or, pose that the adoption
of th- recommendation of the Finance l unimittee, that
the Corp.Tation should rurc as; the B ,tanic Gardens,
which had been postponed from the last meeting of the
Council. It was very desirable the gardens should be main-
tained, not for the purpose merely of cultivating exotics,
but as a place of recreation for the lower classes. Ile con-
cluded by a motion t., the eff, ct that thesegardens ought not
to heahando"ed, and that the Council hu horisethe Finance
Committee to secure them on the terms proposed, and to
take such steps as might be necessary to carry the Museum
Act into effect, in order to the paym,nt, there being so
many pres-nt and prospecti•e denia,als upon the borough
funds. (The price required was £BOOO and £-1000—the
li.blities of the subscribers )
Mr. TURNER seconded the mction.
Mr. BIRKKTT objected to anything which imposed a
new tax on the town.
Mr. HARBOR") oipcted to the purchase for the same
reason. As to the sanatory resu is expected fr,,m opening
these gardens, tiny were greatly o,errated. Unless they
improved the habitations of the pi or, it was useli.ss to
give them places of recreation in the outskirts of the town.
Mr. THORNHILL opposed it on account of the ad-
di i•itial tax. . .

Mr. PARKER ot,j^cted to going to the Museum Act to
'Ay a tax on tine burites-es. He moved an amendment,
" Trott the sum of £8.:00 be offered to the stoseribers to
the Botanic Garden f..r their prop. rty, without any re-
strictions whatever as to the mode in which it was to be
cLs;o,ed ot."

Mr. AMIN entirely approved of Mr. Parker's sug-
gestion.
After a brief and somewhat strong discussion the votes
were !alien, wl;eto thew appeared tor Alt. Pat ker's amend-
ment 10; against it 19.
For —Mes.rs. Toorlllu 11, Chatmer. Evans, Robinson,
Hoyden, Robertson, Ki shaw, Parker, Maun, and K.
Hou2htora,
Auoiast—Messrs. Preston, Hill. Littledale, Toulmin,
G. G. Hornby, Birkett, Wood, Kaye, Procter, Ittade,
J. ,rushy, G. H. Laarence, Booker, Glaze-
brook, Harb Sand's. Crook, and the Mayor.
Mr. Puocritts then brought forward the motion of
which he had given notice—nett ely, " That it be all
stitic.ion to the Finance Committee to re-consider the
propriety and necessity of still adhering to the Wa,ertree-
hall es' ate as a site for a new gaol, and also to take into
ronstd,ration the propriety of laying out lb* Wa.ertree-
halt estate in connexion with the Botanic Gardens, now
ffered to the Corporation for one-halt their value, as
grounds for recreation, and for promoting the gener.l
heal'h of the inhabitants, and report to the Council
thereon."

---
After a short discussion, this resolution was agreed to
without a division.
Mr. I-Iout:FALL then brought forward his motion rela-
tive to the ch sing of public-houses on Sunday—namely,
"That a clause be inserted in the sanitary bill now before
Parliament, enacting that no licensed victualler or other
person shall keep open his house within the borough for
the sale of wine, spirits, beer. or other fermented or
distilled liquors, pr permit, the sante to be sold therein on
any Sunday, Christmas Day, or Goad Friday, before the
hour of one o'clock in the afternoon, or between the
hours of three o'clock in the afternoon and five o'clock
in the morning of the next succeeding day, with a proviso
that these provisions shall not extend to prevent refresh-
ments to travellets " He commenced by asking p-rmis-
sion of t' e Council to withdraw the words " Christmas
Day and Good Friday." He explained that he was in-
due, d to do so from the fact that many of the rublicans
were in Noon.- of the clause, hut not of those two days
being included in it, and that if they were taken out.
perhaps 3ho of them would declare in its favour. lie
then entered. at great length, upon a reply to some. of the
statements made at an intetint meeting of the licensed
vic rs, and particularly to s,me remarks upon the
morality of his own conduct, by Mr. Atkinson, relative
to Sunday sailing of ships. the slave-trade. 61,c.; but a 4
the character of the speaker (who ably vindicated nimself
from any possible imputation that may be drawn from
the sta•ernenfs alluded to is of a standing that renders
his observations on this point unnecessary. we omit them.
lie concluded by expressing a hope that every member
would cordially. z •alously,
faithfully, and fearlessly sup-
pot t the reso ution, leaving to others the responsibility of
en•leavouring to defeat it.
Mr. H tootsis seconded the motion. They had closed
the markets earlier on the Saturday night, and must now
carry out their principle, by closing drain'-shops on a
Sunday.
The TowN.CLEnst read two memorials which had been
received, in reference to this subject. One, from the
licensed, victuallers, was signed by 4065 ; the other was

signed by both the Rectors, and a considerable number
of the inhabitants.
Mr. HORSFALL said another memorial had been sent
in, but at too late an hour for presentation to the Council,
signed by 1600 persons, in favour of the clause.
At the request of several of the members, the MAYOR
read a letter he had received from the parliamentary
agents, with regard to the effect the introduction of the
clause would have on the bill. The general import of
this opinion was, that the clause being local, and partial
ill its tendency—not affecting any other town—its inser-
tion mialit be fatal to the hill at its present stage.
Mr. HIRIKETT opposed the motion because it was an
attack upon the poor, while it left the rich untouched.
Mr. PARKER was quite ready to go heart and hand
with Mr. Horsfall, if he would carry his principle fairly
and fully out. But they would interfere with the rights
of 200,000 inhabitants of tte borough by this motion ; and
that without any argument or statistics to support it.
tie obj'cted to it because it was an urijuat attack on the
morals of the poor ; he gloried in bearing testimony to
the high moral character of thousands of his poorer
townsmen. The clause would also prejudice the bill.
Mr. EARLE—If they followed out the principle they
ought themselves to have the corks drawn on the Satur-
day night of all they intended to drink on Sunday.
Mr. CHALMERS considered the motion highly inexpe-
dient.

Mr. H. flortNnY, expressing the opinion of Mr. Lace,
the chairman of the Sanatory Committee, also considered
it highly inexpedient and objectionable.
Mr. EARLE did not believe that men could be driven
into churches by act of parliament, If the public did not
frequent the public•houses, they would go to worse places,
where they would be completely from under the control
of the magistracy.
Mr. GLAZEIIROOR strongly supported the motion, be-
lieving that, it carried, it would have the effect of induc-
ing men to spend their Sabbaths in the bosoms of their
families.

Mr. MANN opposed the motion fig partial, and on the
ground that there was not yet sufficient church accommo-
dat•on for the inhabitants.

Mr. ROBERTSON raid they bad no right to legislate for
any re.igiuus observance whatever. He objected to the
present law, which closed the p,,blic-house* at all on the
Sabbath. The observance of that day ought to spring
from conscientious mo►ives alone.

Mr. THORNnILL and Mr. RATHBONE opposed the
motion. The latter gentleman said he was for a better
and not a bitter observance of the Sabbath.
Mr. HORSFALL, in reply' said be had no desire to
jeopardise the 13,11, but merely that the Council should
recognise the principle of the clause. He concluded by
saying that, as to legislating for the sabbath, the law now
said they should not go to the public-houses in ihe morn-
ing, and on the same principle it might say they should
nor go in the evening. lie had no desire for hasty legisla-
tion, but that was a question which had been well con-
sidered ; and as to the magistrates, he did know that
,onie of them had wii.hed them success with the measure.
He concluded by hoping the members would recollect
that the bill was not to be jeopardised by the clause, and
calling on the Council to pass a measure, which be be-
lirved to be right in the sight of God and man.
The votes were then taken, when there appeared—
For the motion.
Against it..

26

For.—'lle,srs Athr rton, Hill, Tyree, Middleton, Little-
dale, Roy den, K'ye, tirade, Higgins. Borker, Glazebrook,
Jones, Horstall, Sands, Crook, and the Mayor.
Against.—Messrs. Thornhill. Chalmer, Preston, Rath-
bone, Evan., H °lmes. Hornny H rnderson, Stewart,
l'oul.nin. Robinson, Hornhy, B rkett, Robertson, Procter,
Kilshaw, J. Hornby. Parker, Earle, Lawrence, Harbord,
Mann, Houghton, Turner, and Swainson. _ _ _

The Cour.c,l adjourned at a quarter past three o'clock
until the following day.

ADJOURNhI) MEETING.
On Thursday, the Council again assembled to dispose
of the ordinary business of the usu,l monthly meeting,
having been occupied the whole of the previous day in
special crialtel-S.

On the proceedings of the Dock Committce being read,
another discussion took place on its rights and privileges,
and Mr. EVANS complained that they were going on
uilding the remainder of the dock warehouses without
any au, hority.
Mr. Alderman Them, sail no instructions had been
issued by the Chairman of the Dpck Committee, or by
the Sub committee of Wnrks, for the proceedings alluded
to by Mr. Evans. Mr Hartley was under the impression
that tlie act of the 4th Victoria authorised the erection of
the warehouses up to the first fLior, and had gone on with
them up to the last week, when he was instructed to stop.
After some discussion, Mr. MANN said the secret was,
that Mr. Hartley had some very valuable bricklayers,
and as it was likely the act of parliament would be ob-
tained for completing these wartlouses, he thougl,t there
would be no very great harm in 1-tting them go on.
It was repotted that, in consetrience of the strike in
the building trade, the works at St. George's Hall were
completely at a stand.

The proceedings of the Markets Committee recom-
mended that the Haymarket should be eoclr.sed. and
that sheds should be erected, at a cost of £1350. It was
also stattd that the Agricultural Society could be accom-
modated on the occasion of their annual show of cattle.
Agreed to.

Tne Gaol Committee, to whom letters respecting the
houses of occupation were referred, considering the Ina-
por ance of tiie subject, had called the whole body of
magistrates together, and submitted the proposition Sc'
gcties tu, c•..sx. A tit: alinu Ir..' es, n Lieu inftra rue subject
under the it deliberate considtrat,on, and had resolved to
present a petition to the legidature, which, though it
does not pray for the immediate establishment ef houses
of occupation, does pray that parliament will cause
inquiry to be mad, on the whole subject. The petition,
which was very lengthy, and principady a compilation of
interesting statistical facts, was adopted by the Council,
and ordered, alter being signed by the Niftor, to be sent
up to the members for the borough for presentation.
t e
rTe
she ti ogt h edre.
she': si
pi rti
jeosns
bewhichn g wd
ssp
oosfe
da roofT int
thee andc Council
broke up at; a quarter past two o'clock.