The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-01-17 00:00:00

TO THOMAS BOLTON, ESQ.

Six,--Since the debate in the Council yesterday, relative
to the Borough Watch-rate Act, 1 have referred to the ac-
count of the proceedings of a General Vestry held on the
30th October last, as reported in the Mercury of the Ist of
November. •
Mr. John Clarke distinctly stated, " That it was net th
intention of the Council to levy any such rate. They nev e
sought the power. He could state that, upon good authoritye
(and this would save the parish £5OO or £6OO, if it should b,
found compulsory on the Council, to levy this rate) the
themselves would come forward to apply to Parliament fo
an act to deprive them of that power. (Hear, hear, with
cheers.)" Name your authority. "He had the authority of
Mr. Bolton for saying what he had done." Oh, oh, and
laughter.) "He thought it was premature of the vestry to
entertain the subject, and moved an adlournment of the
question sine die."
Now, sir, Mr. Clarke thus came forward, declaring him-
self your mouth-piece on that occasion :—You were known
as the deputy-chairman of the finance committee—you are
considered as one of the prime movers of the clique who di-
rect the council : therefore, it was taken for granted that the
dominant party in the council would not oppose the rescind-
ing of this act. In the debate yesterday, you contended for
the propriety of the council retaining the power, of levying
a Borough Watch-rate, It was said that Mr. Cooper and
myself 'ere actuated by improper motives, in our opposition,
that it was electioneering motives which caused us to take
the part we were pursuing. The liberal party are very liberal
in their abuse of those who oppose their measures. I will
not say but that on the 30th of October, the eve of an election
in Castle-street ward, thatyoureally did entertain an opinion,
it was proper this act should be annulled. At present, it is
evident, you entertain a different opinion, and that you con-
ceive it is right, the council should have the power to
levy the rate.
With respect to the act in question, some curious circum-
stances deserve to be noticed. A copy- was sent down to
the Town-clerk, the day after it was introduced into Parlia-
ment. Tire council was not informed of it ; the parish
authorities knew nothing of it but the Town-clerk ; and it
is reasonable to surmise, that yourself and a few others,
were acquainted of the circumstance. Ido consider that the
council and the parishioners of Liverpool, were improperly
treated, in not having the information given.
I have referred to the act, and I must again state, that
there is no occasion to go to Parliament for such a bill, as
the Town-clerk recommends. The 16th-part of a penny is
a sufficient rate, to impose by this act, if it be compulsory to
enforce any rate. The words distinctly are:—" That no
such rate shall in any one year exceed Gd. in the pound." I
care.not if a dozen lawyers told me it was imperative to levy
Gd., the obvious, and the only meaning is, that the rate may
be as much less as the council think proper, but in no case
more than Gd.

I consider it proper to address you thus publicly, in order
that von may place yourself in a right position before the
parishioners ; as it might appear, that on the eve of an
election, You authorised an te..tc in your name,
milieu you never contempiated.—Yours, &c.
ISAAC HOLMES.
Sand Hill, 16lh Jan. 1840. -

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.
SlR,—Will yon allow me, through the medium of your
paper, to acknowledge the liberal donation of £6. from " A
Friend," to be divided at my discretion amongst the various
societies to which 1 have lately called attention.
This is a practical result of the benefit of bringing the va-
rious societies before the public, and I sincerely hope that
many others will follow.
The following appropriation will, I hope, meet the views
of the liberal donor :
Protestant Association
Church Missionary Society
Lord's Day Society
Hibernian Society
Church Pastoral Aid Society
Mariners Church
Naval and Military Bible Society
Trinitarian Bible Society
Irish Sunday School Society 0 5 0 .
Society for promoting Christianity amongst
the Jews
Jewish Institution
The objects of the several societies may be seen in the ad-
vertisement in this paper.
I remain your obedient servant,
JOSEPH CRISP.