The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-04-12 00:00:00

e must say a word
rates had thought

APRIL 12, 1853.

WEDDING FESTIVITIES.-MARRIAGE OF
GEORGE HENRY HORSFALL, ESQ.

The South end of Liverpool was on Saturday the scene of a
most gratifying celebration, illustrative of the natural good-
will and respect which may exist between employer and em-
ployed, and of the beneficial influence which must neces-
sarily flow from a master's interest in the social and moral
improvement of those who are placed under him. The
marriage of George Henry Horsfall, Esq., to Miss Sarah
Jane Hodgson, only daughter of Isaac Scott Hodgson,
Esq., of Huddersfield, Jamaica, having been celebrated on
Wednesday last, it was arranged that the men employed
in the Mersey Steel and Iron Works should have the
opportunity of commemorating the auspicious event, and
Saturday last was accordingly set aside for the purpose.
At about half-past nine in the morning the workmen
assembled at the works, all of them dressed in their holiday
attire. The gathering included the elder apprentices ;
but the younger class of employes were not forgotten,
and each had a sum of money presented him in lieu of
the privilege of being present. At half-past ten the
assemblage formed into procession ; and, with banners
flying, and Stubbs's Royal Harmonic Band dis—
coursing sweet music, proceeded up Egerton-street,
Grafton-street, Thornton-place, and Wellington-road.
In Thornton-place a fine arch of flags bad been
formed, and the procession drew up for a short time in
front of the residence of Mr. Clay, manager of the works,
the band playing several airs. Thence the procession
proceeded along Beresford-street, Park-road, and Peel-
street ; in the latter they made a temporary stand at the
residence of Mrs. Wainwright, Mr. Horsfall's sister, in
whose house several members of the family had assembled
for the purpose of meeting the procession. Dividing into
two parties, they next reversed the order of the proces-
sion, and marched down Ullet-lane, and so by the Aig-
burth-road to the residence of Mr. Horsfall. Here the
workmen halted, and were bounteously regaled with ale.
the band meanwhile playing several appropriate airs, and
those present giving vent to their feelings in the most
enthusiastic bursts of cheering. Having re-formed, the
procession returned by Park-road to the Pine Apple Inn,
where a spacious marquee had been erected to accommo-
date the dinner-party. The procession was marshalled
under the direction of the foreman, Mr. Benjamin East-
wood, and consisted of between four and five hundred of
the finest-looking working men we ever had the pleasure
of seeing assembled together.
About two o'clock, the party sat down to dinner, which
was served in a most creditable manner by Mr. Jones,
the landlord of the Pine Apple Inn. Mr. William Clay,
manager of the works, occupied the chair, and Mr. Ben-
jamin Eastwood discharged the duties of vice-chairman.
Among those present on the raised platform at the head
of the room were the Rev. John Jones, and Messrs.
Cookson, Bolas, George Swainson, Thomas J. Smith,
Ralph L. Clay, John Clay, John R. Hughes, John Tol-
litt (of Berkeley-street), Dr. Ferguson, Mosson, B.
Samples, T. N. Simpson, J. S. King, J. Jones, J. Smith,
&c. A deputation from the work 3 of Messrs. Fawcett,
Preston, and Co., were present. After the company had
partaken of a substantial repast, and the cloth having
been removed,
The CHAIRMAN proceeded to the first toast of the
evening— a toast the recognition of which was incumbent
upon all good and dutiful subjects. (Hear, hear.) He
well knew how enthusiastic would be their reception of
it ; for they were a loyal set of men. (Applause.) Long
life and happiness to the Queen, and might she often pre-
sent her subjects with such an additional safeguard for the
continuance and safety of the English throne as had that
week been added to the Royal Family. (Great cheering.)
The CHAIRMAN said the next toast was the health of
Her Majesty's Royal Consort. (Cheers.) Prince Albert,
both as a man and a prince, had endeared himself to the
people of this country, and such ought to be the case if
for nothing else than the part he took in the Great Exhi-
bition—(prolonged cheering)—as the originator of, and
active worker for the carrying out of that mighty under-
taking, which was undoubtedly one of the greatest glories
of Old England even in these wondrous days. (Cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN next gave " The Prince of Wales and the
rest of the Royal Family," expressing the wish that they
might simply follow in the steps of their Royal parents,
and England would be satisfied. (The toast was received
with loyal enthusiasm.)
The CHAIRMAN then said :—The toast I am now about
to propose is the toast of the evening, to which you are all
prepared to dedicate a flowing bumper. It is "The
health of George Henry Horsfall, Esq., and his lovely
bride." (Here the company sprang simultaneously to
their feet, and hailed the toast with the most enthusiastic
cheers, accompanied by the " Kentish fire," which was
again and again renewed.) Your amiable enthusiasm
having abated, I may remark that Mr. George Henry
Horsfall has been seen by the most of you,—not unfre-
quently at our club meetings, where he has attended and
dined with us. But he is not only very well known to the
men employed in the Mersey Steel and Iron Works, he is
also well known throughout the town of Liverpool. He
is, indeed, one of those leading spirits of the age he lives
in, for whom some day we must go to the polling booth,
and whom we must send to St. Stephen's. (Loud cheers.)
I need not descant at any length upon his merits • they
,wn to you, and you appreciate them. (Hear,
As to his amiable_bride, I must say that I am
personally acquaintei

hear.)

with her; but, as far is I u

she is a wife worthy of a worthy man.
,(Cheers,) My
respected friend, Mr. George Swainson, who was present
at the marriage, being, in fact, one of the groomsmen,
will be able to tell you something of Mrs. Horsfall ; for I
intend to call upon him to respond to the toast. (Loud

and, if the candidates for Liverpool should be rejected,
he was sure they would, all of them who had the power
to exercise a vote, go to the poll and vote for Mr. Hors-
fall. (Tremendous cheering.) They knew what he was,
and others knew his worth too ; for, though the rejected
of Derby, yet the very people who had thrown him out,
regretted now that he had been lost. (Applause.)
The CHAIRMAN gave " Prosperity to the Mersey Steel
and Iron Works." For the first time in my life (he said)
I found myself, a few days ago, in the character of a wit-
ness in a court of justice. I had then to give my evidence
as to the existence of certain facts. If a jury
.were em-
panelled here at this moment, and if their inquiries were
directed to ascertain whether there had been prosperity in
the Mersey Steel and Iron Works, I would only have to
say—Look at this body of men. (Great cheering.) I
would say—Do these men look like a set of men on half
work, or like people who are not paid a fair day's wages
for a fair day's work ? (Cheers.) Such a respectable
body of men I have seldom—indeed I may say never,
seen gathered tope! her. (Applause.) It has come to my
knowledge since our arrival upon these premises to-day
that the good order, good conduct, and respectable ap-
pearance of our procession has caused a sensation. We.
have had, along with the whole body of the iron trade, a
great degree of prosperity during the past year. There is
every likelihood of that prosperity lasting for some time
to come. We shall hope that it may be not for a little
time, but for a lengthened period. (Cheers.) The iron
trade of this country is one of the greatest branches of our
national prosperity—one of the most prolific sources of
our national wealth. Unlike the cotton and wool trades,
the raw material in our trade is not brought from foreign
lands :it is procured at home. The value of the raw
material and of expensive importation has not to be de-
ducted from the value of the goods produced. In the
iron trade it is the muscle and sinew of the men employed
which the purchaser buys. These are my reasons for be-
lieving that the iron trade is the most important staple of
this country, and long may it continue to be so. Other
trades may export larger quantities of goods, but ours is
the national trade of England, for no country can in this
respect compare with us. Long may it be so, and long
may we profit by it. (Cheers.)
Mr. GEORGE GOULDER responded. It had been his
lot from infancy to be connected with the iron and coal
trades ; but he could recollect, before he had blacked his
hands with either of them, how it used to be remarked,
that if the coal and iron trades were good, then all other
trades were good. Therefore, if that were so, they must
be the keystone of all other trades. (Loud cheers.) And
they should not stop there. Let them try to be the key-
' stone of something else ; let them try to set other branches
of society an example ; let them be the keystone of a more
elevated morality among their fellow-workmen.
In reply to his health being drunk, the CHAIRMAN
assured them that, if he had merited anything at their
hands as manager of the works with which he was con-
nected, it was a source of pride and gratification to him.
(Hear, bear.) The management of a large body of men
like the present is a matter of great difficulty, if you de-
sire to give satisfaction to all. If he gave satisfaction to
the greater portion of them, he would be satisfied.
It would always be his endeavour to promote the prospe-
rity of the men connected with the Mersey Steel and Iron
Works, for whom, since the beginning of his connexion
with them, he had entertained the very highest respect,
as being the most crderly body of men which he had ever
known.

Mr. HUGHES said it had been truly remarked that
brevity was the soul of wit ; and, if he could not be witty,
he could at least be brief. (A laugh.) The toast he had
the honour and pleasure of proposing was the health of
the worthy vice-chairman, Mr. Benjamin Eastwood, than
whom a better vice-chairman could not be found. (Hear,
hear.) They were all agreed upon his merits as one of a
real good sort. (Cheers.)
Mr. EASTWOOD having briefly acknowledged the com-
pliment, Mr. Tilos. J. SMITH gave " The Press," which
was enthusiastically received. Mr..WYLrE, of the Liverpool
Standard, replied.

The CHAIRMAN gave "The Strangers," acknowledged
by Mr. MossoN, Phoenix Foundry ; then followed the
health of Mr. Benjamin Eastwood and Mr. Hughes,
who had superintended the preparations for the day's
proceedings.
At a little after seven o'clock wives and sweethearts
began to assemble in the ball-room, and thither the party
adjourned. A very happy evening was spent. The
refreshments during the evening were on the most liberal
scale, and the arrangements and orderly conduct of the
assemblage were such as to reflect the highest honour on
all concerned.

The Marquee and its arrangements reflected great credit
on Mr. Richard Miller, under whose superintendence it
was erected.

LIVERPOOL TOWN COUNCIL.

The monthly and special meeting of the Council
held on Wednesday, the Mayor presiding.

INTERFERENCE WITH THE POLICE.

Mr. Alderman PARKER said that, before proceeding to
business, he was desirous of defending himself from an
attack which had been made upon him, in a report of a
Sub-committee of Magistrates on the subject of granting
licenses to marine-store dealers, and a copy of which had
been sent by the bench of magi, to the Fin-
The magistrates

ommittee.
bring a chars

be zAnt

had thought proper to
terfering with the police

hem to go back to the year 1
against him_of interfering with the

of their duties
ner in which the magist

statement. He knew Bickersteth, who was a man of
probity and respectability, and incapable of being guilty
of any of the transactions imputed to him in the report.
He bad, however, taken an active part in the last borough
election, in favour of our respected members ; that had

no doubt given offence to Mr. Kehoe, and no dou

would have his reward if he could raise a prejudice
against so respectable a man as Bickersteth.
The TOWN-CLERK read the report of the magistrates
upon this subject, and also a detailed report from the
Town-Clerk and the Finance Committee, in reply to the
report of the magistrates. This document observed that,
of 530 applications which had been made for these
licenses, of which 66 had been refused and 19 postponed,
5 cases only. since the act of parliament came into ope-
ration, in 1843, were produced on which to ground the
very serious accusations of the magistrates against this
committee. (Hear, hear.) In the first, the-license first
granted in 1844 had not, nor will be, renewed. In the
second, the license was last renewed in 1846, and both
were originally granted in accordance with the rules pre-
viously settled by the committee, by the Town-clerk, and
the Commissioner of Police. In the third case, that of
Bickersteth's, the license was originally granted under
the same rules, by the same persons, and continued till
1845, and had been renewed since 1848, without any
complaint on the part of the police. (Hear, hear.) In
the other cases, the transfers complained of were not
made by this committee, but by the Town-clerk, who, by
the act of Parliament, had no discretionary power in the
matter. It did not appear to the committee that the
publication of such a report was calculated to further the
ends of justice, or to promote that harmony between
public bodies which it was so desirable to maintain.
The report of the magistrates concluded by suggesting a

remedy, which was to-be found in the alteration of two
statutes, one of which was to take from the Watch Com-
mittee the power of dismissing the constabl

other, the alteration of the locafact, so as to deprive the
Council of granting licenses to marine-store dealers. It
was presumed that the power was to be transferred to the
magistrates, a retrogression in legislature which was not
to be expected in the present day—(hear, hear)—and
which recommendation came strangely from such an au-

thority. (Hear, hear.) In conclusion, the Finance Cc
mittee deny that they were actuated by anything like

improper motive in the granting or refusing of marine
store licenses, and repudiated the insinuation conveyed
by the report, that they had in any way interfered with
the proper administration of justice.
On the motion of Mr. HORNBY,
JOHN HOLMES, Mr. M. M. G. Dowling was appo
to the situation of captain of the chain cable testing
machine, vacant by the death of Mr. Knowles.—Mr.
HORNBY proposed that the salary of Mr. Alfred Quick,
clerk to the Town-clerk, be advanced from £l5O to
£2OO per annum. Mr. JoHN HOLMES seconded the pro-
position, which was unanimously carried.

seconded by