The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1836-10-04 00:00:00

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TO 'Nis REV. THOMAS MAGUIRE.

• Sta,—On the occasion of what your friendi call your chal-
lenge to ine, you, are reported to have said that you %mild at
any time readily meet the revilers of your religion, the:O'Sul-
livanS anti. AP6hees:. and that you would wait three weeks in
Liverpool to giVe my friends time to apprise me of your
lenge. Before that period had expired, I addressed a letter to
you, which was printed on Saturday, the 17th of September,
in
the Lzrerpool Journal, -a paper knoWn to be in circulation
amongst the Roman Catholics of the town and neighbodrhood.
But you sere gone. On Saturday, the 24th of Septet-111;er, the
editor of the Journal inforMed the public that you hart been
somewhere near • Preston but he concluded you had removed
thence, as otherwise a copy of his paper must have reached you.
Another week passed. On Saturday, the Ist of October, the
Editor of the Journal informed the public that he had authority
to say you would be in Liverpool on Tuesday. (to-morrow).
This letter will be ready for your perusal in the STA NDALt D to-
morrow morning, and I shall direct a copy of that paper to be
addressed to you to the care of the Editor of the Journal.
1. First I call your attention to my letter of the 17th alt. ac-
cepting your challenge.
As the challenged party, I have an undoubted right to choose
my weapons, without assigning any cause; but I ens willing
that you and the public should be in possession irf toy reasons
for preferring the press as a vehicle of theological controversy.
If my object were to display my own talents as a disputant : to
excite party contention : to rouse angry feelings of opposition
against my Roman Catholic fellow-countrymen : Wilfully to
darken the subject in hand by quotations from human autho-
rities public or private; and thus at the expense of truth, and
peace, and honesty, to gain an apparent triumph in disputation:
if these or any of these were my actuating motive, then 'should
probably prefer the platform ; but none of theselorm any part of
my object. MY object is to show that the authorized formularies of
the church of Rome and the superstitious practices founded there-
on will not bear the light of the sacred word of God; that what
the Church of Rome inculcates as the gospel ofChrist was never
inculcated by. Christ himself, or by his inspired apostles; and
that, consequently, both priests and people should flee out of
the antiscriptural apostacv, read' nd believe the word of God,
and be saved in the Lord Jesus Christ with a free, full, present,
and everlasting salvation.
Now, what is your objeCt ? Is it to display your talents as a
disputant? Is it to excite party. contention? Is it to rouse
angry feelings of opposition against your protestant fellow-
countrymen ? Is it wilfullY to darken the subject in hand by
quotations from: fathers, and councils, and bulls, which contra-
dict one another as freely and flippantly as fretful children br
angry women ? Is it thus, at the expense of truth. and peace
and honesty to. gain an apparent triumph in disputation ? If
these, or any. of these, be your actuating motive, I do not
wonder that you should, ,prefer the platform. But if none of
these be your object7-but, if your object be to show that the au-
.thorised 'formularies of the Church of Rome are in accordance
with the word of. God; that what the Chinch of Rome inculcates
as the gospel was
.ioculcated by Christ and his apostles; and
that, consequently, all heretics should see that they are guilty
of the fatal sin of schism, and thereupon return for salvation
into the bosom of the mother and mistress of all churchei then;.
ass ircdly, both your object and mine will be. best attained by.
a,paiotaking series of writings.
I prefer the Press then, 'because, first, bravado and bluster,
and sophistry will go for nothing when on piper, and no per-
mapent impression will be. made except by sound interpreta
lieu attested facts, and cousecittive reasoning. And; bectittSe;
secOndly„ such interpretations, facts, and reasonings, Mill etrekill
be Submitted, not to the impromptu snffrages of au extiit4llVltild
impatient :assembly, (small at the largest possible ain4tint"Eifl
auditersy but to the calm deliberate inspection of the United'
Kingdoin, and the educated world.
2. But in the second place, if you have still such an invincible
predilection for speaking, that you will u,n, or cats not write:
then I call sour attention to Mr. INl•Ghee's unans xered challenge
to THE PLATFOHM, and to his letter in the Li: erpoonfail of last
Saturday, in which he says you have skillked his Cbiillenge .for
the last three years. " First, by
,pretendinil !ion never saw it.pr'
three years, though it was publicly adoertised in the 'chief Roman'
Catholic Jour/rats, and culled about • the streets of Dublin, and
lastly, by evading it throw9h unworthy art fices, whenit was posted
on your Chapel door." What say you to this ?
For a contentious man, you are uOw surely- in a happy posi-
tion. You may choose your man, and your weapons. If, on
sober reflection, you are really desirous of eliciting tiuth, and
see the propriety of adopting the quieter, and more effectual
medium of the Press, I aro your man. If, on 'the contrary. you
still prefer the Platform, Dlr. M`Gliee is your man. thrum

horum erotic accipe.
If You feel, as I hope for your own sake you do, that you can-
not properly meet either of, us, until you have vindicated yoUr-
self against a grievous accusation, Mr. Nolan is your man. I
quoted his words to you in my last letter.
3. Finally, if you will neither meet Mr, Nolan on his pub-
lished and unanswered charge against vou: nor accept Mr.
M'Ghee's published and unanswered challenge to the platform:
nor follow up your attack upon me by accepting my published
and as yet unanswered challenge to the press: then for common.
shame sake, 'hide yourself, and never more attempt to delude'
the poor ignorant creatures who bear you, and who are not al-
lowed to read and think for themselves. It is for the temporal.
and everlasting welfare of our poor fellow-countryinen, that we
wage this warfare against the artifices which your'church is'
now practising, concealing her theological and intolerant de—
formities, behind a plausible mask of, charity and liberality,
that she may thus associate with herself the careless and tke
infidel, to the attainment of the grand object of her ambition—
political supremacy. Yes, Sir, it is on behalf of our poor de-
luded, mentally enslaved fellow-countrymen, that we "earnestly
contend for the truth once delivered to the saints"—truth for
the people, a freely, circulated Bible in their mother tongue for
the people, light for:the people, liberty of conscience for the
people, salvation for the people ! This we say to the Priests of
xromo. I am, sir,..your obedient servant,
lIUGII M'NEILE.
Liverpool, 3il October, 1836.

MUSICAL FESTIVAL.

TO THE EDITOR OP THE LIVERPOOL ST,LVDARD.

Sitt,—We observe, with regret, the announcement, this day,
that the service which should have taken place at "St. Michael's
Church,'.' on Tuesday next, has been transferred to " St. Luke's
Church," in consequence (as stated) of the inefficient state of
the organ.
" As the builders of the organ in " St. Michael's Church,"' and
Carrying on that business extensively in this town, the impres-
sion (which would be very injurious to ourselves) might get
abroad among our friends and the public generally, that there
had been souse neglect, on our part, in not attending to the
insrrument: =
The fact is, that for the last three years we have not had the
charge of the organ in question, for reasons known only to the
powers that. then were, but of which further notice is, at present,
unnecessary, our only object being to prevent,- any impression
going to the public generally—and which might be the case—
as to our not attending to business intrusted to us. Had it been
under our' care, there should have been. no occasion, on that
account, to transfer the service front one church'to another.
While on the subject of organs, we would further observe,
that we regret the Festival Committee should :deem it necessary
to overlook resident tradesmen of long standing here, and bring
down patties front London, to attach a long movement to the
organ in St. Peter's Church for the Oratorios, which, to say
nothing of the additional expense thereby incurred, is • casting
an unmerited stigma.on the resident tradesmen of the town,
Particularly in that department.—We are, Sir, your obedient
servants, BEWSHER and 'FLEETWOOD,
Bronte-street.
Saturday Evening, Ist October, 1836.

TO VIE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL ST.IIND,IRD.
Itt.:--Gousiderable perplexity seems to have been experienced
by certain parties in. Liverpool on the subject of Father Ma-
guire's present location. Perhaps I shall be able, in a few lines,
to relieve the anxiety which has been so keenly felt. lam cre-
dibly informed that father Tom was present one day last week
at the Heaton races, and the following evening at the Manchester
Theatre.. He iw'st probably attended the former place for the.
purpose of acquiring a greater degree of proficiency iu the
classical language of the thimble-riggers, or in the art of jockey-
ing his opponents; and the latter place, for the equally laudable
purpose of improving himself in the noble accomplishment of
poSture-making.—l am yours, &c., AMBROSE.

TO THE REV. HUGH M'NEILE., •
My DEAR FRIEND.-1 have seen the Liverpool Journal con-
taining your answer to Mr. Maguire. As I know that your sole
object is the elucidation of truth for the people, I must entreat
of you, for the truth's sake, not to allow your own zeal, or your
conscious capability of vindicating your Master's cause, to force
you into any acceptance of Mr. Maguire's challenge, (or mock
challenge) till he has the common honesty to answer that which
he has now twice skulked from in Ireland; first, by pretending,
he never saw it for three years, though it was publicly advent-
sed in the chief Roman Catholic journals, and called about the
streets of Dublin ; stud lastly, by evading it through unworthy
artifices when it was posted on his chapel door. • •
The popish priests are trained with the deepest subtleties of
jesuitry and sophistry to make a show of truth under the real
and apparent sanction of authoritieS; councils, fathers, school-
men,,&c. which never will allow the common 'people, nor even
educated Roman catholics, to get at the plain and simple word of
God. Such confusion can they raise on every point; that even if
the .minds of the people are led to doubt by an able disputant,
still there is enough- of ambiguity left to prevent them from see-
ing their way clear out of the church of Rome. But the text
proposed in the challenge.which Mr. 111aguire has evaded, and
which no priest in their church dares to meet, forces theta at
once into plain open ground. puts their creed, their infallibility,
.their vanity, and all the principles of their superstition, to the
test.—They blind the people with arguments, to prove what au-
thority, and power, and infallibility, &c. they possess. This
challenge puts all their boasted powers to the proof, and would
at once teach the people by the most summary process of all
arguinent, namely, plain matter of feet, that all the pretensions
of. popery are one enormous mass of falsehood and imposture.
.I, therefore, intreat you. my dear brother, to lead the chal-
lenge which I have sent over to Liverpool. • I trust you will see
the plainness and siaiplieity with which it puts, at once, the
falsehoods of popery to the most cleat and conclusive proof. I
will feel thankful, if you approve, that you will adopt it, as 1
intend to teouest that my revereud brethren in Ireland will do
so; and if you will not think me an 'unworthy coadjutor, let us
:;end it forth to all Romish priests; bishops; and vicars apostolic
of the Roman see; and in the strength of our God we shall, I
trust, stand together, and prove the utter incompetence of all
their. blind gurdes, to expound the word of God to the people,
end show the peoPle themselves that it is their right and duty
to burst the shackles of that tyranny that enslaves•them, and
'vindicate to themselves and their children the rights and privi-
leges of rational, responsible, immortal beings.—Believe me,
my dear friend, your very affectionate but unworthy brother.
Dublin, 2811 s Sept., 1836. it. J. SI'GHEE.

-
We are happy to find that the reprint, by Fraser, of " The
SimimarV of the Session, by-Lord Lyndhurst," has reached the ,
26th edition. "The General Results of the Past Session, and
the Prospects of the Next" has also appeared in the shape of
a smaßpamphlet, and obtained a very extensive circulation.
This cheap reprints are calculated to render great service to the
cause'of conservatism; and we therefore wish the spirited pub-
lisher every success in his praiseworthy undertaking.
Rom isti CATtilinksts.—We have it (says the Minna Ad-
vertiser) on undoubted authority that Tu4li Cathedral, the
eighth wonder of the world, owes its erection almost entirely to
protestant contributions! The Marquess of Sligo subscribes a
hundred-S.:year td the building. Lord Oranmore also contri-
butes largely, and there is scarcely a protestant landlord in
that part of the country who has nut sent in, his tribute to the
far-famed edifice. In addition to this, the priests have been
touring through England and Scotland collecting subscriptions;
and it is only the other day that the Rev. Mr. O'Connor was
announced with three hun-dred pounds, which he had collected
in various parts of the sister kingdom. We believe that a great
part of the labour was performed gratuitously by the Roman
catholic population, but we all know what weapons 6tich priests
as Dr. can bring, into requisition to gather the " boys"
for a service of that kind, and we believe that it forms the ex-
tent of the Roman catholic part of the subscriptions. So much
for O'Mnlgrave tranquillity—so much for the cathedrals raised
by the unaided contributions of the Roman catholic population,
-john

Pli LIVERPOOL sri',AlitbAkii

TOWN-COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS.

•An adjourned meeting of the council was held onFriday
last, at eleven o'clock ; toe Mayor in the chair.
LANO JOHN-STRKET.
The 11 A 'you stated that he had received a letter frotti the Di-
rectors of the Liverpool Tradesaten's Bank, who were dissatii-
lied with the decision of the iniprovetnent committees as to a
piece of laud in John.,treet, called th..Gaibe chambers. They
alleged that they had purchased the land froth tile committee,
and claimed to have the Purchase continued ;
,the committee re-
jeetei their claim, the laud having been previously sold to Mr.
itntheiharO.'
The letter was then read by. the deputy town-clerk.
" Liverpool Tradesmen's Bank, 30th September, 1833.
" beg to refer you to the annexed copy of a com-
munication which we addressed to the Improvement Committee
On 2-Ith instant, respecting the reinainin, piece or laud in North
John-street, called "The Globe ChlinOis," and which com-
munication coutaini all the particulars of our written applica-
tion, purchase, and claim to have such purchase confirmed to us
by said cohitnittee. •

" The I►nprovemPut committee having, at their meet►ng on
Tuesday last, the 27th instant, rejected our claim for conlirm►ng
the purchase of said land and although in our appeal to them
for that purpose, we respectfully solicited "an early reply" to
our claim. their decision of Tuesday was not communicated to
us until Toursday afternoon, the 29th instant, and then only,
after having, on our part, specially written to the Town-hall for
the same.
The Directors of this Bank conceiving they haVe sufficient
grounds for being d►ssatisfied with the decision of the Improve-
ment Committee in this affair, respectfully solicit the favour of
your-laying this, as well as the accoMpanying communications
before the council to-day, in order that a statement of the
whole transaction may come under their deliberate considera-
tion. _ .

To W►n. Wallace Currie, Esq., Mayor, Liverpool.

" TO THE IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE OF THE LIVERPOOI

CORPUKATION.
" September 24th, 1836.
" GENTLEMEN,—Having heard about six or seven weeks ago
that a lot of land, called 'the Globe Chambers,' in John-street,
corner of Temple-court, was on sale by the corporation, and
being desirous of purchasing the same for suitable premises fur
this bank, we made application respecting it through Mr. San-
derson, one of our directors, and on behalf of our board, to your
clerk, Mr. Charles Okill, who informed us that 'it was decided
the landwould be disposed of by public sale, of which due notice
would be given, and that it was useless, therefore, to Make an
offer by private treaty,,'. It will he obvious. to your committee
that the natnitinendency of thiS information, cotuniunicated
through an official chatinel, must have. been, not only to impress
our minds with the hope of seeing the' said lot of land left to
open competition, but also to dissuade us from making any offer
by private treaty. Immediately, on being informed of your in-
tention, to Sell said lot by private sale, we acted on the second
information by directing our, agent, Mr. John Parry, to offer
ten guineas per square yard,'n filch offer was regularly made to
your surveyor, Mr. Franklin.
7" Ott Tuesday last, the 20th instant„Mr. Parry was informed
by your surveyor that the committee had fixed the price of said
„laud at £l2 per square _yard. We their directed Mr. Parry to
go immediately to Mr. Franklin to close the purchase. Mr.
.Parry 'accordingly waited on your surveyor on :idiot! day,
(Thesdav4 and inquired if Mr. Franklin was authorized to sell
.1.40 land; when Mr..Franklln replied in the allirMative. Mr.
,rg4ty then said, will give you £l2 per square yard for it.'
,Mr. Franklin, in :reply said, Write me a note to that effect.'
Mt. •Parry then remarked, 'The purchase money is eadv ;' to
which Mr. Fianktin rejoined, 'Put that at the bottom of rink.
note.' The note: referred to was acciirilinglx handed to Mr.
Franklin, when Mr. 'Parry observed, ' Mr. Franklin, is it S.
sale ?' and Mr. Franklin replied in the affirmative. After some
Lfurther conversation, Mr. Parry again remarked, "rheu it is u
sale ;' to which Mr. Franklin replied,. It is, unless something
supersedes it.' This last expression we understood to allude to
Are 'confirmation .of such sale by the council. Mr. Franklin
~having 'given Mr. Parry a plan of the land, with a card of the
renewals of the lease under which such laud would be held, the
negoeiation was concluded, and we considered the purchase of
I,the land made. •

. "On Wednesday last, however, our agent, Mr. Parry, re
ceived a note fruns-Mr. Parry, of which the following is a copy :
" ' Town-hall, 21st September, 1b36.
" Sir,—ln reply to your note, I have to inform you that the
remaining lend of the Globe Chambers was under offer to Mr.
Rotherham, who has this morning accepted the sense on the
terms asked by the coinniittee;—his first application was dated
10th instant, yours on 19th.-1 remain, &c.,
(Signed) CHAS. OKILL.
Mr. Juhn Parry.' "

We were certainly unprepared for such a communication as
the above, when on the previous day, your surveyor had sold
the land in question to our agent, Mr. Parry, and, consequently,
we
.took the earliest opportunity of apprizing Mr. Okill of
_our
determination to bring • a statement of the whole transaction
under the consideration of your' committee.-
NoW we respectfully submit that, if priority of application
be the ground of preference of sale to Mr. liotherain, we are
evidently entitled to that preference: for Mr. llotheram's first
application is dated 10th Instant. Our application, through
Mr. Sanderson, as already stated, was about the middle of
August.
"Again, if our offer of ten guineas per square yard was the
highest made, that gives us the priority, being the highest
bidders. _ _

" Also, Mr. Rotherham 'accepts' the offer of £l2 on Wed-
nesday, we purchased the land on same terms from your sur-
veyor 4m 'l'uesday. •
And we therefore 'submit that, under all the circumstances
of the case, we are fully and justly entitled to have the purchase
of said land confirmed to us; and we have no doubt but that
your committee will-so decide in the matter.
. "Soliciting an early reply," &c. .

Mr. BA RCL A Y, on behalf of the committee, stated that afters
careful examination, 'they had conic to the conclusion that-the
bank had no claim for the land. Mr. Franklin • was not em-
powered to sell the land, and distinctly denied that he had done
so. On the contrary, he had expressly referred to another and
prior offer being an obstacle in the way.
After some remarks and questions by Mr. Duncan, Mr. Bol-
ton, and Mr. Robinson, the minute book of the improvement
committee was sent for, and the minutes read over. From
these it appeared that there was originally a uegociation with
Messrs. Clibborn and Co. for-the purchase 'of the laud. At the
meeting of the committee, held on the 12th September, a letter
dated the 10th was received limn Mr. Rotherham making an
offer,_and it was resolved that if Messrs. -Clibborn and CO. did
decline it, and at the meeting of the 19th, the letter of Mr.
Rotherham was reconsidered, and another letter was received
front Mr. Perry, agent to the bank, making an offer. It was
agreed that the land should be offered to Mr. Rotherham, and
if he declined it, that it should then be offered to the bank. At
the meeting of the 26th there was a letter dated the 21st re-
ceived front Mr. Rotherham, accepting of the offer, and also a
letter from the bank dated the 20th, claiming the land ou the
ground of the verbal conversation or agreement with Mr.
Franklin. Both parties agreed to give the price of £l2 per
square yard fixed by the committee. At the kneeling of tne
27th the surveyor attended, and explained what had passed with
the agent for the hank, and the committee were of opinion that
the sale to Mr. Rotherham should he confirmed. ,
Mr. ROBINSON thought the committee had done right, as Mr.
Rotherham had accepted the offer on the 21st.
Mr. DUNCA N.—The bank say that Mr. Franklin sold it to
them on the 20th.
Mr. BA IWLA Y.—Mr. Franklin denies it; besides it would
be a dereliction of duty in Mr. Franklin to conclude a pur-
chase.
Mr. SHIM, wished to know what steps the committee had
taken to obtain the .best price. Bath, in the year a great
amount of corporation property was offered for sale, and the
price obtained surpassed the most sanguine expectations of
those belonging to the corporation, and of the best judges of
land in Liverpool. Was this land publicly advertised to be
sold? He disputed the right of the committee to 8.41 land
privately;. they ought to have sold it by auction, and let the
whole town share in the competition. A large price might thus
be got from persons in want of land. It had been insinuated to
him that members of this corporation sere interested in this
transaction, and he hoped therefore it would not be confirmed.
Mr. BeowN thought the committee had done right in award-
ing the land to Mr. Rotherham, with whom the negociation had
first commenced. The bank had no claim unless the bargain
with Mr. Rotherham had fallen through.
Mr. BOLTON said, that on the 19th of September, £lO per
yard was offered by Mr. Rotherham, and 10 guineas by the
bank. On the 20th the bank offered £l2, which was the price
required. The offer of Mr. Rotherham was dated the 21st.
The land-was on sale at a certain price, and the bank was the
first offerer at that price. He would therefore second Mr.
Shell's motion that the sale to Mr. Rotherham be annulled, and
that the land be sold by auction.
Mr. N. HORN BY, as a member of the improvement com-
mittee, denied that they had any motive except to do what
was right and to get the best price they could for the land.
He then recapitulated the particulars of the transaction. The
committee considered Mr. Rotherankthe first offerer Mr. Okill
and Mr. Franklin both thought £l2 a very high price. The
offer was made on the 19th and Mr. Rotherham accepted it on
the 21st. It was not offered on condition of being accepted by
return Of post. On the 20th the bank agent had a conversation
with Mr. Franklin. but this did not come before the committee
till the 27th and Mr. Franklin then denied the fact, and said
that he had expressly alluded to the existence of- another offer
as an obstacle in the way. As to the charge of selling by private
contract they-had constantly done so, and Mr. Shell should have
objected before if he disapproved of it.
Mr. Sturm said he made the objection as soon as he saw the
error.
Mr. IIORNBY said they acted in the same way as the finance
committee, of which Mr. T. was a member. He wished to know
whether the finance committee, whose.transactions were to a
much greater extent, -sold land by auction? • .
Mr. COGLAN said, thitt if the improvement camMitlee sold
the land cud had the power to sell it, Mr. Rotherham would de-
mand the fulfilment of the contract. If they had power to make
the contract, he had power to enforce it. • It was equally binding
on both parties. He did not believe, that the gentlemen of the
improvement committee had acted froth any improper motive.
The bank alleged that it was actually sold to them, and he would
recominend the appointment of a select committee to investigate
the whole transaction, and to report to the council.
The MAYOR reminded Mr. Coglan that the committee had no
power to cotnplete the-contract. The transaction was not con-
cluded, and therefore • not binding, until confirmed by the
council.
Mr. BratrattaN said the proceedings of the committee were
quite regular, and according to the usual practice. They had
very properly considered M Rotherham as the first offerer, in-
asmuch as he was first in treaty for the land. The question now
was, whether there were particular circumstances in this case
to call for further investigation. He thought there were such
circunistances, and the best way, therefore, would be to set the
sale ,aside, and dispose of the land by auction, to the highest
bidder.
Mr. TA YLEUR, the chairman of the improvement committee,
said he had attended the meetings, but he agreed. with Mr.
Blackburn that the heat plan would be to put up the land afresh
by auction.
Mr. litt:cn seconded Mr. Coglau's motion ferfurther inquiry.
The batik had offered 10 guineas against Mr. Rotherham's £to
before Mr. Ittitherhain offered the £l2.
Bot.ToN saw no advantage in -Mr. Coglan's motion, and
as there had been a strong expression of opinion that the sale
should not be confirmed, he would support the motion for selling
by auction.
*Mr. EVANS said that auctions were often abortive, from not
being welt attended. I here was sonic land at the North Shore
actually given away after having been offered by auction. But
as theta, had been great confusion in this case, and as the 10
guineas had been offered by the bank first, he would annul the
sale and offer it by auction.
Mr. H. Salmi said that the statements on this subject were
so conflicting that he dared not vote upon it, and he wished to
know from the Mayor if he might leave the room.
The MAYOR said it was extremely desirable that every gen-
tleman should vote one way or another, but if any one couidnot
tr ake up his mind, he had better walk out without saying any
thing at all about it. As he was ou his legs he would take that
opportunity of saying a few words on the subject before them,
that he might not, as on a former occasion, come too late with

his remarks. 14 iiexperience *as that while the house property
of the corporation sold well, laud did not sell well by tOction.
The sales were put off fto.n time to time without a bidder and
at lait die property Was blown upon and became depreciated in
value. • House property was bought with avidity, but the buyers
of kind would not come forward at auctions. The highest, price
ever got before this fur kind in the same situation was per
yard. He might state that this land had not been offered by
auction: He wished it to be distinctly understood by the comf-
cil as well as by the public that committees could not corithide
sales, cod that all mere verbal eenversation about purchases
for nothing. Every thing must be done in writing. It liA4
been the practice of the council, However, to be most • cautious
as vi the iin'tiutting of tiontracts entered into by committees, as
the dignity of the cou ;Ica and their characters as fair traders
would .nt compromised if they should make a common practii:e
of not confirming the acts of their committees. It had rarely,
if ever, happened that the council did nut confirm the proceed-
ings of committees.
Mr. COGLAN 1161%, said that he would withdraw bis amendment;
and leave the land to be sold by auction.
Mr. BARCLAY said that he would rather the subject was 'fur-
ther investigated than that the sale should be annulled. He
should therefore move the amendment which Mr. Coglan had.
Mr. MocaceorT said he would annul the sale and put the
land up by auction. This was the mode always resorted to when
a dispute arose between toe purchasers.
Mr. EA RLE said the preient case was not one it
dispute be-
tween two purchasers at au auction. if they put tup by auction
it would look as if they wanted to take advantage of the misun-
deistanding that had arisen, so as to get more money for the pro-
perty. ft was better to have an investigation.
Mr. E. CROPPER, as a member of the Improvement Commit-
tee, thought itbetter to investigate. No argument had been
brought forward for selling by auction.
Mr. HoLT said that in the first instance an offer had been
made to Mr. Rotherham, and the committee were bound to await
his answer befOre the bank was in a position to make an offer
or the-committee to entertain it. If the bank had offered £l5 or
£2O per yard they could not have taken it until Mr. Rotherhain's
answer NILS obtained.
_ _

air. SHELL said he had every confidence in the good intentions
of the committee, but he would go no further. They had not
taken pains to make the best of the land. There was no adver-
tisement nor even a board up. The two competing parties
would look to their own interests, and he thou,,ht that it wets
due to the public that the council should get the best possible
price. The Finance Committee renewed leases to present pos-
sessors without advertisement, on payment of the regulated fine,
but he did not recollect a single instance of property being sold
without being advertised. Mr. Evans said that auctions were
not always successful; but he would advertise it by auction, as
they did goods in their private business, its order to bring pur-
chasers forward to treat.

the bawl( was then about to put the motion to the vote, but
on referring again to the minutes of the Improvement Commit-
tee he found a resolution dated 29th August, that the plot of
land called the Globe Chambers should be sold for £l2 a•vard.
This resolution was confirmed by the council. This, said his
worship, was a full justifkation of the conduct of the Improve-
meat Committee.

Mr. RoatNsos said he should now move that the proceedings
of the committee be ironfirtheo.—

The MAYOtt put it to Mr. Sheil whether after this he would
persist in his motion.
Mr. SijaiL declined to withdraw his motion. A similar t ran-
saotioh as to the sale of land took place last rear, awl excited
►ouch► suspicion of unfairness. Ho was one of those who niveS-
tigated time matter, and lie found that the 'suspicion ►n as
unfounded. lie thought therefore all sales should be public.
The Ms you asked if gentlemen were aware of the effect which
would be produced as to the character of the council if, after
price, a subsequent meeting should annul it? 'l'hev had
decided that £l2 should be the price of this land, and if they
now revoked that proceeding the honour of the council would be
gone. If they did such a thing, he fur one would never sit there
and countenance such a proceeding.
Mr. EAKLIti said that. £l2 was a very high price, and it
had only been obtained as there were two parties wanting the
laud.

The council then divided on Mr. Robinson's amendment for
confirming the proceedings of the Improvement Committee,
when there were—For the amendment, Messrs. Logan, Rush-
ton, H. Hornbv, Leigh. J. Cropper, Jordan, Duncan, Tayleur,
Blain, Moon, pulley, Barclay, Rubinson and Brown.—Ae.,ainst
the amendment !Messrs. G. Rawdon, Ni 'Gregor, Barton, 11.
Holmes, Mellor, Birch, Bolton, Rathlmone, J.Lawreuce, Lassell,
Holt, Earle, Morecruft, Blackburn, Coglan, E. Cropper, Alison,
Sandars, Evans, 0. Heyworth, Freme, Stuart, T. Smith, and
the Mayor.—For the amendment, 15; against it, 29 ; Majority
against the amendment, 14.
Mr. BARCLAY'S amendment for the appointment of a special
committee was then put, when theme were--For the amendment,
—Messrs. J. Holmes, Logan, Thornhill, Harvey, 'l'hornely,
Rawdou, M Gregor, H. Hoboes, Mellor, Birch, Rushton, 11.
Hurnbv, J. Lawrence, Lassen, 'l'. Holt, Earle, Coglan, E.
.
Cropper, Alison, G. Holt, J. Crupper, Jordan, Duncan, Ta.y-
ieur, O. Heyworth, Moon, Bailey, Barclay, Robinson, Stuart,
Brown, T. Smith, and the Mayor.—Against the amendment,—
Messrs. SLIM', Barton, Bolton, Rathbone, Morecroft, Blackburn,
Sandars, Evans, Blain, and Freme.—For the amendment, 33;
against it. W. [The Mayor's list gave 11 against the amend-
ment.) The amendment was declared to be carried, and the
original motion (Mr. Shell's) for the sale of the land by auction
was ot course negatived.
Tern MAYOR said, in a low tone of voice, that he was glad (as
we understood him) that the amendment had been carried, as
the Council would have disgraced themselves if they had put up
the laud afresh.

Mr. Alderman EVANS immediately rose, and said with great
warmth, 1 cannot pass over that remark—you have repeated it
betore. I deny it, sir. I hold my honour as high as you can
hold yours, and I hold the honour of the council equally high.
The MAYOR said he had hoped that he should have terminated
his official year without giving offence to any member of the
council.. Ills remark was made in order to vindicate the su-
premacy of the council. (Hear, hear.) He thought that to
annul at that .neeting the resolutionS of a former one, would
affect their proceedings. lie, of course, cast no disrespect upon
any individual, least of all upon Mr. Evans, whose character he
respected. He ouly spoke from a jealousy of the honour of
the council. (Hear.)
The following gentlemen were then named on the special
committee :—Messrs. 0. Hey Worth, H. Lawrence, G. Holt,
111‘Gregor, and Freme.