The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-12-04 00:00:00

ENLARGING THE COUNCIL CHAMBER

Mr. G. HOLT then moved " That the surveyor be re-
quested, without delay, to report upon the practicability of
enlarging the council-chamber ; and also upon the subject of
a better system of ventilation, together with the cost thereof;
and also for providing another place for the business of the
council during such alteration."

Mr. H. LAWRENCE seconded the motion, and, after a few
observations, it was carried.

THE STANDING ORDERS

The DEPUTY TOWN-CLERK was about to read the stand-
ing orders, when

'Mr. HODGSON moved an adjournment.
The MAYOR put the question, and declared it to be lost.
In the midst of some disorder, consequent upon several-
members retiring from the chamber.

Mr. Coopgn moved the adoption of all the standing orders
with the exception of three, to be considered at the next
meeting, which was carried ; and
The council adjourned to the first Wednesday in January.

ANNUAL MEETING OF THE TRADESMEN'S
CONSERVATIVE ASSOCIATION.

The annual meeting of the Tradesmen's Conservative As"
sociation was held on Tuesday evening, in the large room at
the York Hotel. On the motion of a member in the body of
the room, Alexander Smith, Esq., the newly elected member
for North Toxteth, was called to the chair, the motion being
carried by acclamation.

The CHAIRMAN, having taken his place, thanked the
meeting for the kind manner in which they had received him,
and expressed his regret that the seat which he occupied was
not filled by their respected friend, Samuel Holme, Esq.,
who was absent in consequenee of indisposition. There was
not a single individual present, he was persuaded, who had
not rejoiced, and did not rejoice, in the success which bad
attended the conservative struggle at the recent municipal
election. (Loud cheers.) He ought to have said, in order
to make himself perfectly understood, the general municipal
election, for he did not intend to allude to the struggle with
which he had been cAmected. (Cheers.) Owing to the
spread of conservative principles, the strength of which had
emanated from that conservative association over which he
had now the honour of presiding, they .had been enabled, at
the general municipal election of the 2d November, to return
a considerable majority to the town-council. (Loud cheers.)
If he might for a short time allude to the last struggle, he
meant to the more recent struggle in which he himself was a
party, they had great reason to congratulate themselves on
the triumph of principle which had been evinced in North
Toxteth. He did not intend to arrogate anything to himself,
for be regarded it as a struggle of principle. Every exertion
had been made by their opponents ; in fact, the most strenu-
ous exertions had been made by both sides ; but in spite of
the efforts made by the other side, the conservatives had suc-
ceeded. (Cheers.) It was on the part of their adversaries
a most desperate effort. There was not one single thing which
could possibly conduce to success which they did not put in
operation. They brought forward Mr. Rathbone, an excellent
gentleman in private life, but one whose political principles
were not in unison with those of the ward, and he verily be-
lieved of the town. He was, amongst other things, a strenu-
ous advocate of the system of education adopted in the cor-
poration schools, and he thought he owed his defeat to the
principles which he espoused, but particularly to that part of
them to which he had just alluded. It had been proved to
demonstration, that the principles of that party were opposed
to those of the great mass of the people of Liverpool. They
were all aware of the great efforts which had been made to
place on the list of voters persons who,__ till now, were not
known amongst the constituency. When they wished to
make voters who did they go to ? To the lowest individuals
of the Roman catholic church. They did not go to the
Englislithen and protestant members of the community,
but to those only who were priest-ridden, and who would
do whatever their priests commanded them. These were
not English principles. (Loud and continued cheering.)
When they endeavoured to put the same individuals, by_the
same means, amongst those who possessed the franchise on
the parliamentary registry, they were told by the revising
barristers that such a proceeding was illegal. It appeared to
him that it had been sufficiently proved that many of the
leading men of that party had given large sums of money for
this purpose, and these persons were to be driven up to the
poll by every influence that could be brought to operate.
(Cheers.) He would tell them of one instance in Toxteth-
park, of a poor fellow, a Roman Catholic, an honest man,
who, previously to the recent election, called upon him, and
told him that nothing in the world should induce him to vote
against him ; he had been in his employ a number of years,
and had received many hundred pounds from the concern to
which he belonged, and nothing should induce him to tote
against him. Yet, between half-past three and four o'clock,
that very man was brought up, and he voted for Mr. Rath;
bone. Ile thought it was desirable to trace this matter, and
see how it had occurred. The poor man called at the ffice
a few days after, when he (the chairman) learned that the
man had been carried away by an agent of his landlord. He
was shut up in this agent's house, and no friend of his (Mr.
Smith's) was allowed to see him, as a matter of course. I-4
was, however, seen by several of the other side, and at last
he was seen by a priest. After some little whispering by the
priest, the man went and voted for Mr. Rathbone. He
called and expressed his sorrow for what had occurred, but
lie said such means had been used to coerce him as he did
not dare to resist. For the opposite party to talk of briber/
to them was utterly absurd, when they knew of such cases,
on the part of Mr. Rathbone's friends. They were aware
many instances of a nature that rendered the insinuations
and assertions that had been thrown out against them Per
fectly ridiculous. That Mr. Rathbone himself was cognii
sant of these proceedings he did not say ; he believed most
sincerely that he was not. The influences used by his party,
however, were notorious ; but in spite of them the goo
feeling of the town had evinced in a most marked manner,
and they knew the result, which was that he (the chairman!
had the honour (the conclusion of this sentence was drowned
;
in the loud cheers that ensued.) Why did lie state these
facts ? Because he thought he ought to make it known, that
those who styled themselves the reformers, and who charged
his party with delinquency, had been the greatest delin„quetts
bad
themselves. (Loud and long continued cheering.) "e
now to turn to more pleasing subjects. They had tn. Le.
business before them, but there was one subject which calowc.
ed preference. Since they last met, a circumstance had
curred which must be gratifying to the feelings of every
Englishman : he alluded to the birth of a princess-royal.
(Loud cheers.) They I.‘ would most of them remember the
their
melancholy result which had occurred when the nation
looking forward once before to a similar event, when This
hopes we fixed on the Princess Charlotte of Wales.
impelled them now to hail with double satisfaction an° joy
the safe delivery of the Queen, and to thank the Almighty
Disposer of Events that he had been pleased to preserve __e
who had given to her a successor to her throne, and one
who, they trusted, would preserve the protestant ascendency'
(Cheers.) This must never be left out of view; they Int
!!,
never forget the principles which had placed the house 01
Brunswick on the throne of these realms. (Hear, hear, an!
cheers.) Her Majesty's successor, they hoped, would pre
serve to them the valuable institutions which they enjoyed.
(Cheers.) He would not delay the meeting longer, but

wo
Severalulr'oceed at once to the biness of the eianin.
em new mbers havingus g
been proposed and admitte"A
in the usual form,
Mr. DANIEL LEDSON then rose to address the meeting
amidst loud cheers. He said he was sure it must be mot
gratifying to them to see occupying
_the chair, the gentlemen
who had so successfully opposed Mr. William Rathbone
In
North Tortexth Ward. (Cheers.) He believed there was

sin member of this association who must not have admired
the manly sentiments Just uttered by him,—(bear, hear,)
—and feel that we could not have done better than we bad
in sending Mr. Rathbone, by means of Mr. Smith, back
into a private station. (Cheers.) He held in his hand a re-
solution, and that resolution, he thought, when he read it,
would give the greatest satisfaction to them all. Their wor-
thy chairman, in the course of his address, had touched upon
many of its particulars ; but he trusted they would excuse
him saying a few words previous to moving it. (Hear.) He
congratulated them most sincerely on the result of the late
municipal election ; an d he was sure no one could have sup-
posed when they considered the overwhelming means of in-
fluence the possession of the Town-hall conferred upon their
opponents, that year after year would have seen a fresh ac-
cession of conservative members, anxious to do their duty to
their constituents zealously and without fear. (Applause.)
He saw some gentlemen in that ' ,ted

room who represen _ re-
spectable constituencies in the town, and he hoped that the
whole of them had taken for their model that admirable
union which pervaded the great conservative opposition in
parliament, an opposition which every successive party
struggle had rendered more solid and more compact. If
such were the case, they would find that, by the assistance of
associations like this, by the assistance of every man who
loved his country, they would soon have the power to carry
out within the walls of the council chamber the admirable
advice of Lord Stanley, to mark, watch, and crush every
birth which whig-radical ingenuity might bring to light.
(Loud cheers.) As a young man, they would allow him to
make one remark. He did not stand there nor wish to stand
there for the purpose of advising the gentlemen he saw around
him—gentlemen of mature years who had long fought the
battle of the constitution, and who knew what line of
politics would best promote the welfare of the nation;—
but he would give one: piece of advice, and he trusted they
would believe him when he said, that the ingenuity of their
opponents was as busy as ever, and that it behoved every
man, more particularly on the next first of November, to
strain every nerve to return into that Council chamber those
gentlemen who would give satisfaction to the t ,wn of Li-
verpool at large—(hear)----who would turn it into an instru-
ment of good, instead of making it, as it had been made, an
instrument of very considerable evil. (Hear, and applause.)
He was sorry to say that the Conservatives of Liverpool,
during the last municipal election, had been obliged to con-
tend against no ordinary obstacles. (Hear.) Hitherto our
political battles had been fought with that good faith and
candour for which our political warfare had been always dis-
tinguished, and they had a right, meeting their opponents
fairly in the field, to expect from them the same candour and
uprightness. (Hear.) But what had been the fact? Let
them look at the occurrences of the last few weeks. No
common machinations, no unaccustomed stratagems. had
been used. They had met in the registration court not by
fair and honourable means, but by the poisoned weapons of
forgery and fraud. (Vehement cheering.) He trusted that
when they reviewed all these things, they would feel it to be
their duty to use all their influence,—to put forth their best
exertions, to send into that chamber those gentlemen who
would legislate for the good of the town, add of its inhabit-
ants. He trusted they would feel that there was a necessity
for them, during the next twelve months, to use every legi-
timate means to maintain and strengthen their position ;
for he could assure them that their opponents were on the
alert, and not letting slip any chance for returning those
who would enable them to retain their majority. (Hear.)
He trusted it would not be displeasing to them if we turned
from the trifling peccadilloes of the whigs in the council to
the amiable qualities of the whigs in the cabinet,—(a laugh)
—the contrast, he was sure, would be very pleasing and sa-
tisfactory to them all. (Loud laughter.) What vigour and
what vigilance pervaded every department of the state ! (A
laugh.) How admirably our foreign possessions and our fo-
reign tactics were conducted ! (A laugh.) What singular
felicity had attended our strict and intimate alliance with
France! (Hear.) How successfully our trade with China
had been carried on ! (Hear and laughter.) How speedily
the blockade of Buenos Ayres had been terminated ! (Hear.)
How satisfactory the settlement of the American boundary
question! (Renewed laughter.) What very profound and
statesman-like legislation had stopped that upnarious con-
duct in Canada. (Hear.) How totally the cry of " repeal "
had been put down, and how completely the Power of Daniel
O'Connell had been annihilated ! (Laughter and cheers.)
And, oh, above all, how the Chancellor of the Exchequer
must chuckle over that financial statement which he exhibits
quarterly to the applause of our admiring nation ! (Cheers.)
These were only a few of the blessings that had resulted from
ten years of whig-radical misrule. And though he talked to
them quietly, he trusted that they would not be so quiet as to
subject themselves to the infliction of ten years more of the
great satisfaction that the country had experienced from those
who now held the reins of office. (Hear.) That association
was formed for the purpose of protecting the institutions of
the land, and he was sure that at their annual meeting they
would not deem him out of place when he said, that the pe-
riod in which they lived was a period of great difficulty and
danger. (Cheers.) Those institutions which they venerated
for their age and valued for their usefulness were undergoing
the ordeal of public opinion. (Hear, hear.) That church of
which they were members, and which they respected and
loved,—(applause,)—was attacked in every manner and mode
that infidelity could suggest. Its members, its ministers, the
excellency of its mode of worship, were assailed. (Cheers.)
The very existence of the church as an institution was threat-
ened. And whether it was to stand or fall, to perish or to
be triumphant in the strife, it was for the faithfulness and
firmness of the Protestants of England to decide. (Loud
cheers, and a cry of "no surrender!") Thanks to the exer-
tions, the unremitting exertions of a band of learned and il-
lustrious divines, the town of Liverpool had been saved from
that foul spirit of anarchy and confusion that was stalking
through the land, and which showed itself here in the shape
of a godless Socialist, and there in the shape of a misguided
Chartist. (Loud applause.) He must mention to them one
remark which he remembered to have heard. He remem-
bered a gentleman who once had the honour of soliciting
the suffrages of a certain portion of the constituency of
Liverpool, and who, though he had not gained much cele-
brity, had gained a great deal of notoriety,—(a laugh,)—
meant Mr. Tindal Atkinson. (A laugh.) That gen-
man, in one of those muddy and maudling orations
which he was in the habit of delivering to his frienas
the papists and Socinians, finished one of his most
splendid speeches, which he (Mr. Ledson) heard, by saying,
" If you will only do as I tell you, toryism will be swept
from the town for ever." (Laughter.) It was previous to
that election which had sent into the council chamber 11 con-
servatives and only 5 radicals. (Renewed laughter.) He
(Mr. Ledson) would say that there was very little credit to
be given to that gentleman as a prophet. (A laugh.) He
would tell them more. This election had proved, notwith-
standing, the plausible colouring by, which their opponents
had attempted to cover their views, that they (the conserva-
tives) were not yet quite prepared to abet the measures and
malpractices of the whig-radical faction. (Cheers.) It had
proved that they were not yet quite prepared to surrender to
such dangerous keeping the ark of our glorious constitution.
(Great applause.) It had proved that come what may, let
the boasted progress of liberal principles be what it might,
they were not yet quite prepared to enter into an unhallowed
compromise with the foes of the bible, be they secret or be
they avowed. It had proved that whether their foes mutilated
it with the Papist or derided it with the Unitarian, there
was, thank God, a healthy spirit alive.in society which would
frustrate and unmask their fraudful schemes. (Loud cheers.)
And it afforded another lesson, and justified another predic-
tion, that whenever the present administration could screw
up their courage to face the country in a general election,
they would most assuredly meet the same discomfiture, dis-
grace, and defeat, that awaited their supporters in the town
of Liverpool on the last 2d of November. (" Hear, hear,"
and cheers.) It had also proved another thing. After what
they had heard from their chairman, and what they knew
from their own experience, they would feel it to be their
duty to look to the registration courts ; for they knew not
when an election might take place. (Hear.) When the
great conservative leader, Sir Robert Peel, called upon the
people of England to remember that it was in the registration
courts of the kingdom that the battle of the constitution was
to be fought, he never could have anticipated that a misera-
ble, expiring, and desperate faction would have used the
means they had done in order to secure their own political
ends. (Much applause.) He felt that he was trespassing
upon their time. (Cries of " No, no ;" "Go on.") He
had no idea, when he undertook to move the address, that
he should have detained them so long. He trusted they
would excuse him; he was so much a conservative that when
he did get an opportunity of addressing a meeting, he felt
desirous of inspiring them with the same sentiments that he
felt himself,—(applause)—and he knew that when he ad-
dressing the Conservative Association of Liverpool, he was
addressing those who were ready to do everything in their
power to secure the church on a proper and legitimate
foundation, to see prosperity and happiness once more
flourishing in the kingdom, to see the manufacturing dis-
tricts, as they were once seen, in peace instead of in wretch-
edness; in plenty instead of in want. (Hear.) And he
was sure that when sending that address, emanating as it
did, they would feel all that was embodied in it, and be only
anxious that her Majesty should call into the place of a
Melbourne, an O'Connell, a Russell, and the rest, a Stanley,
a Wellington, and a Peel. (Rapturous applause.) Her
Majesty would believe that when signing that address they
were actuated by those principles which were truly conserva-
tive,—which made it their object to protect her upon her
throne, and to protect the just and constitutional rights of
her subjects, protecting themselves, at the same time, from
that spirit of anarchy and destructiveness which aimed at
the overthrow of everything that was good in the land.
(Loud and continued cheers.) He should conclude by ask-
ing them cordially to adopt the address he was about to
to submit to them. There was no man who felt respect for
her Majesty, and pleasure at the auspicious event which had
had taken place, no one who felt anxious for her Majesty's
safety, and next to her, for that of the Princess Royal, who
would not gladly respond to the call. (Cheers.) Mr. Led-
son then read the following address :
" We, your Majesty's most loyal subjects, the members of
the Liverpool Tradesmen's Conservative Association, beg
leave to offer to your Majesty our heartfelt congratulations
on the auspicious event of your Majesty having given bikth
to a daughter ; and to express our hope, that the life of your
Majesty, and that of the Royal Infant, may long be pre-
served to an affectionate and loyal people. And may He, by
whom alone " Kings reign, and princes decree justice," ren-
der your Majesty's reign long and prosperous—may He
grant to your Majesty health and strength to guard and de-
fend our unrivalled constitution in church and state ; and,
surroun"ed by wise and faithful councillors—[Gentlemen,
(asked Mr. Ledson,) will you not, from the bottom of your
hearts, respond to that? (Immense cheering.)]—to maintain
those principles which we firmly believe are best calculated
to strengthen the attachment of your Majesty's loyal sub-
jects."

He need not say that the Liverpool Conservative Association
had shewn itself on many occasions ready to rally round the
throne, and to support the sentiments embodied in the ad-
dress. (Hear.) Before he sat down, they would allow him
to make one remark. When they placed in the situation of
the " popular" administration the individuals he had named,
the Duke of Wellington, Lord Stanley. Sir Robert Peel, and
Sir James Graham—(" And Sir Robert Inglis")—Sir
Robert Inglis, and Lord Viscount Sandon as well—(loud
cheers)—and Cresswell Cresswell as well—(loud cheers)—
Mr. William Ewart Gladstone as well—(loud and reiterated
cheers)—then the face of things would wear a new aspect,
and such a change would take place as would come home
to the heart of every conservative in the land. (Hear.)
Then would peace and happiness be spread throughout her
Majesty's dominions—then would joy and comfort be sent
to the cottage of the poor as well as to the mansion of the
rich—then they should see loyalty, and justice, and truth,
and all that a man, who venerated his God, could desire—
they should see the constitution of England based, as Lord
Stanley said in Liverpool, on the rock of ages, and if they
only did their duty, the batteries of their opponents might
batter against it, but firm in its concentrated strength, it
would bid defiance to their efforts, and stand, he trusted, for
ever. (Loud and continued cheering.)
Mr. INGRAM seconded the rssolution.

The CHAIRMAN said they had heard the address read,
and he was sure they would all cordially agree in its senti-
ments. The motion was put and carried unanimously.
Mr. ROBERTSON GLADSTONE, who stood in the body of
the room, here begged to say a few words. He had listened
with great pleasure to their respected chairman and the gen-
tleman vim bad moved the address. When he heard such
sentiments falling from those with whom he did not come in
contact, it did occur to him as a matter of regret, that within
the walls where he occasionally sat, and where he hoped on
an early occasion to see some of them—(hear, hear, and
cheers)—the same class of men, the same honest opinions,
an undauntedly spoken, did not more frequently appear. He
was one of those who looked too sanguinely, perhaps, at
coming events ; but to this extent he trusted to them, and he
hoped the day was coming—nay, was not very far distant—.
When they should see that Augean stable purged of its impu-
rities—(loud cheers)—and instead of those who threatened
anarchy and confusion, that they should see seated in the

council-chamber the friends of the constitution and of ra-
tional and religious liberty. (Applause.) He was one of
those who had long deprecated and lamented the absence of
such individuals ; but now, he was happy to' say, the sun
seemed to shine with splendour upon them, and those ob-
jects and purposes which had long been pursued in vain were
on the eve of being attained. The day, he did think, was at
hand when they should see such a change as would leave
them, not promises and prospects only, but substantial bene-
fits. (Hear.) Let those gentlemen who took an interest in
municipal proceedings look at those points in which they

themselves had an unquestionable concern. y Let them look
at the ga eat school question, and say whether the system as
adopted in the corporation schools was to go on as it had
done, or whether they were to reinstate in those schools
that system of instruction which had for its basis the re-
ligion of the established church. (Loud cheers.) Those
who were not permitted within the walls of the Town-hall
kriew very little of the secrets there concealed ; but he did
trust that the time was not far distant when they would be-
come better acquaintdd with them. They would then find
how party feeling made slaves of all—(hear, hear)—how flesh
and mind were made subservient, and bartered to carry out
certain political purposes. He would take the employment
the corporation had to bestow among the various tradesmen
of -the town. How was it disposed of ? Was there any one
of those present, or persons of their opinions, who got a
share of it? (Hear, hear, hear.) Such was the system, that
any one, he would say, professing conservative opinions, but
even suspected of leaning that way, was marked for ex-
clusion. (Hear.) If he were disposed to take up their time,
he might enumerate many points which would one day be
marked with their severe censure and condemnation. But
learning, as he had done, the sentiments of their worthy
chairman, and of the mover of the address to the Queen, he
would refrain. But being present among them, and holding
an honourable office, at least with regard to those who gave it
him—(a laugh)—he could not leave the room without bidding
them God speed, and encouraging them to go on, as the time
was coming when success would crown their efforts. Let
them not, however, allow relaxation to take the place of
activity. The Ist of November would determine whether
they were to have a majority or not, and whether they were
to have a conservative mayor or not. (Loud and prolonged
applause.)

Mr. PETER HOPE was received with loud cheers. He
hoped they would accord him a patient hearing, for, though
he was not much accustomed to speaking in public, he was
so animated with what he had heard that evening, that he
might say he was big with speech. (Laughter and applause.)
Far be it from him to speak disrespectfully of any man, or
body of men, but it was with principles that they had to deal,
and it was for protestant principles that they principally con-
tended. (Cheers.) Did they wish to have real rational li-
berty? if they did let them look for one single moment at
the places where papacy reigned. Had they liberty at those
places ? Wherever papacy had the preponderance, look at
it ! He thought it would cure some of their radical friends if
they went to Ireland, particularly to the province of Con-
naught. (Hear, hear.) If they went and observed the state
of things there Under the dominion of papacy they would not
conic back radicals. (Loud cheers.) He would be behind
no man in protecting protestant principles, because if they
wanted any description of comfort, it must be from protestant
principles. (Cheers.) He was a liberal man, and would not
speak unkindly of any person. Not long since he was in
conversation with a most decided radical, and the subject of
their discourse was the election which had taken place re-
cently in North Toxteth ward. The gentleman to whom he
alluded was a protestant, and he (Mr. Hope) said to him,
"You profess to be a protestant, and you know Mr. Rath-
bone's principles and acts as a member of the Education
Committee ; could you, as a conscientious man, conscien-
tiously lay your band on your heart and vote for him ?" He
replied that conscientiously he could not. They (conserva-
tives) must not give this up. It was because the people did
riot know the value of protestant principles, that a number of
them continued either lukewarm or opposed. He asked his
worthy friend Mr. Bolton, some four or five years ago, why
it wasthat the children should not be instructed in the schools
in the fundamental principles of the fear of God as inculcated
in prayer. Mr. Bolton had told him then, and he was at a
meeting as large as that which he saw before him, that he had
thrown the apple of discord, and that he had done so know-
ingly and purposely. However, his conscience was clear,
and he knew his own motives, and he knew the purity of his
intentions. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) He asked Mr. Bol-
ton, why the children.were not instructed in the fundamental
principles of the fear of God, and Mr. Bolton replied, that
the reason why they did not open the school with prayer was
because it would offend the priests. (Expressions of disap- •
probation.) They did not know the great importance of
what they were now contending for. If they were sent over
to Ireland or to Spain for a season, then they would be more
fully sensible of the blessings which they enjoyed, and would
know better than they could do at present the importance-of
the principles which they sought to maintain. (Cheers.) He
would not detain them longer, but would read the address to
his Royal Highness Prince Albert, of which he had been re-
quested to move the adoption. Mr. Hope read the following
address :

" We, the members of the Liverpool Tradesmen's Conser-
vative Association, beg leave to present to your Royal High-
ness our sincerest congratulations on the safe delivery of the
Queen and birth of the Princess Royal, and on the prosper-
ous state of her Majesty's and the Royal Infant's health since
the happy event. The full possession of that most valuable
of all blessing, the Protestant religion, which the people have
enjoyed since the accession of her Majesty's family to the
throne ofthese kingdoms, has so endeared it to them, that they
could not but be anxious for the continuance of the succession
in her royal descendants. We shall never cease to offer our
earnest prayers to Heaven, that the Princess Royal may long
live in the enjoyment of the inexpressible advantages of pa-
rental precept and example, and your Royal Highness's ten-
der care and affection to her."

Mr. Hope said he was sure there was not a Protestant in that
room who would not most heartily join in the sentiments ex-
pressed in that address. He had great pleasure in moving
that it be adopted. _ .

Mr. ANDREWS had great pleasure in seconding the reso-
lution. After the sentiments which they had heard ex-
pressed, in which he fully and most cordially coincided, and
in which he was sure all present would participate, he would
not consume their time by any additional observations.
The CHAIRMAN was satisfied that the address would meet
with unanimous approbation ; nevertheless for form's sake
he must put it to the meeting. The address was carried
amidst loud cheers.

Mr. KrtsHkw, seconded by Mr. RIGBY, proposed that
the addresses should be signed by the chairman on behalf of
the association, and transmitted to Lord Sandon and Mr.
Cresswell, to be presented to her Majesty and Prince Albert
at the next levee.

Mr. WILKINSON claimed the attention of the meeting for
a few minutes. He held in his hand a motion with which he
was sure they would all agree, and which they would receive
with pleasure not unmingled with regret. The health of their
respected friend Mr. Holme was such, that he was grieved to
say he might be unable ,to attend their meetings .for some
time. The gentleman whom he was about to submit to their
approbation as his successor was one whose name they would
all rejoice to hear, and whom they would all regard. He
proposed Alexander Smith, Esq., as the Chairman of their
Association for the ensuing year. (Loud cheers.) This
nomination, he trusted, would meet the approbation of all
present. (Continued cheering.)
Mr. HARDISTY seconded the resolution, which was put
and carried amidst loud cheering.

The CHAIRMAN thanked the meeting for the confidence
which they had manifested towards him, and for the com-
plimentary manner in which they had proposed the resolution.
In undertaking to act as their chairman for the ensuing year
he was instigated by the conviction that it was his duty to do
all in his power to contribute towards the advancement of
that excellent spirit that had been manifested-for some time
past amongst the tradesmen of Liverpool. To that spirit he
was indebted for the position which he had then the honour
of holding, and to that spirit was to be ascribed the de-
monstration of principles which had distinguished the town.
He believed it had been a wonder to the country at large that
this town had been enabled to send two Conservative Mem-
bers to Parliament, opposed, as they were, by the great influ-
ence of the Town-hall, and the Dock Estate. It was known
that these two had made use of the greatest possible exertions
that they could command. The had, however, done their
duty in spite of all this powerful influence, and they had now
the honour of calling, as their representatives, Lord Sandon
and Mr. Creswell. (Loud cheers.) There were two staunch
Conservatives. (Cheers,) They were no doubts as to their
principles ; they had shown themselves right on all occasions,
and no doubt if her Majesty found it compulsory,—he said,
if her Majesty should find it compulsory, and she would
do so, he believed, ere long,—to change her Ministry, they
would see both these gentlemen in the phalanx that would be
called to the council. (Loud and continued cheers.) To
return to the subject more immediately before them. he
would endeavour to do his duty as their chairman as well as
his ability would permit. He feared he should be found very
inefficient-after the gentleman whom he had succeded ; but
he would take his advice on all occasions where he might need
it, and do all in his power to aid the good cause which he
had at heart.

Mr. GLAZEBROOK proposed that the following gentlemen
be requested to accept the office of vice-presidents for
the ensuing year : James Aspinall, Robertson Gladstone,
T. B. Horsfall, George Hall Lawrence, Joseph Cooper,
Christopher Bushell, John Nelson Wood, Thos. T. Glaze-
brook; Francis Foster, Robt. Rigby, and James Proctor, Esqs.
(An exclamation of " slap-up names !" and a laugh.) Mr.
Gladstone had stated in his excellent address, that he hoped
the association would continue its usefulness and activity, and
that it would not be prevented by the present condition of
Conservative affairs from exerting itself for the future with
as much earnestness and, he trusted, with as much suc-
cess as it had hitherto done. He (Mr. Glazebrook) was
glad to hear that remark, and glad that the sentiment that
dictated it appeared to have been acted upon, and adopted
into the resolution which he had just read. The association
had been useful during several past years, and, if they
considered what its effects had been, how important they
were, taken separately and collectively, it surely became a
matter of solemn personal obligation resting on every one of
them to see that an associate, productive of effects so import-
ant to the body politic, should be maintained in its energy,
and, as far as this town was concerned, in its universal ap-
plication. There was no doubt that, although they at pre-
sent stood in a position of comparative advantage, and were
but a short space from taking that position to which the Con-
servative body was entitled by its rank, its intelligence, and
its characteristic principles ; though they were but a short
space from carrying out their principles to the utmost extent,
yet they would not secure that object, if they did not perse-
vere with unremitting diligence in the use of the same means
which had proved so successful during the last few years.
(Hear.) They would he called upon, from time to time, to
contend with the same enemies, or with others actuated by
similar principles ; and not only so, but they would have to
contend with that disposition to be quiet, that inclination for
ease, and comfort, and non-exertion, that vis inertim, which
often lost a good cause—(hear)—and which if they did not
take especial care would speedily endanger theirs. They
would have to contend with men of their own party, who
might be inclined to act upon principles which Conservatives
of high characters and honourable motives must repudiate.
They would have, he did not doubt, springing from their own
party some who would damage the church by making it the
vehicle for principles not Christian. And judging by articles
which had appeared in some of the public prints, and by
principles which had been avowed by some of the members
of their own church, they would have to contend against
those whom they would like to see engaged with them step
by step, and from whom, if they separated, they would always
separate with pain. (Hear.) At the same time it must be
distinctly declared and understood that they stood forward
and professed Conservative principles, and declared them-
selves for the Church of Christ, and the Church of England,
inasmuch as she and her members were in accordance with
the Scriptures. But if they found men amongst themselves
taking advantage of the power the Conservative body had
acquired to obtain authority for principles, which have been
more especially characterised as those of Puseyism, he thought
it right, on that occasion, the first after the success which had
crowned their recent efforts, to state his own conviction
that they must plainly and explicitly draw the distinction
between the Church of Christ, the Church of England,
and Paseyism. (Hear and some hisses.) He was pre-
pared to hear some dissenting voices. He knew well that
there were persons amongst them unhappily tainted with
that heresy. But at the same time, while he expressed
freely his own opinions, he was willing to allow others to ex-
press theirs also : still, if those principles were admitted into
the church, if, now that the church stood on high ground,
and had all the constituencies of the country to support her,
he did think they should be careful not to allow any person
to take advantage of the position in which the evangelical
party had placed them to further views and principles alto-
gether destructive of the best interests of the nation and of
the world at large. (Cheers and marks of disapproval.) To
Prevent this was a part of the duty which that society would
hereafter have to perform. Another part would be to rectify

such consciences as those of which they' ad had specimens
in Mr. Blackburn and his party. They had set up a plea of
conscience, and justified most of those acts which had re-
ceived favour at the public hands, at least in their first steps
by a plea of conscience. It seemed extraordinary, however,
that the consciences which were so sensitively alive to the
abominations of the church establishment, were not so sensi-
tive to the abominations of popery, the filthiness of socialism,
or the danger of chartism. (Hisses and loud cheers.)
When they heard from Mr. Blackburn and his party that
they did all because their consciences dictated it, it was
strange that that conscience should never have suggested one
objection to popery, one protest against socialism or
chartism. (Hear.) And he could not help being reminded,
when he saw such an imperfect conscience, that it must
somehow or another have been infected by those extracts of
which they had heard so much, and that Mr. Blackburn's
conscience and the consciences of many like him were but
extracts themselves. (A laugh.) But there was another
duty that society would have to perform. It would have on
all proper occasions to support those men whose services
were most for the good of the people, and for the good of
the church of God ; and when those men were attacked, that
society would, be bound to support and defend them ; and
even in instances when, by reason of human infirmity, they
should fall into occasional error, it must not withdraw its
sympathy or withhold its cordial support from them, but
encourage them to renewed exertions in the great work that
they all had so much at heart, and for which they sacrificed
so many comforts and so much that was dear to them. But
he would not trespass further : he feared he had already oc-
cupied too much of their time, and would sit down merely
moving the resolution.

JONES, jun., said, he had great pleasure in second-
ing the resolution which had been so ably expatiated upon
by his friend on his left. 'l,O go into detail in reference to
religious subjects would not be expected from him. The
resolution had in itself sufficient to recommend it without
his feeble advocacy, and after what they had just heard, any
arguments which he could advance appeared still more unne-
cessary. He should content himself, therefore, with simply
seconding it, which he did with a good deal of pleasure. He
would,:with their permission, detain them for a few moments
on another subject. A report had gone abroad which was
calculated to increase an erroneous impression, and, as lie
was cognisant of the facts, he would take this opportunity of
explaining, as, from the presence of some portion of the press,
the true state of the case would be made public. (Hear.)
The subject on which he was about to speak had reference to
the ward which their chairman represented. The report had
been made public through the medium of the Mercury, and
he had been identified with a transaction which had been dis-
reputable to him as a tradesman, and also in consideration of
the station which he had the honour to fill in the town. The
true state of the affair was, that Mr. Patten was the landlord
of the gentleman alluded to. He was also formerly the trea-
surer to the Reform Association. The license which the
publican had in James-street was given to him, not by the
present magistrates but by the tory magistrates, and it was
an understanding that he should, if he left the premises, be
allowed to have his license transferred to any other house that
he might fit up. The publican placed in the hands of the
treasurer to the Reform Association the sum of two hundred
pounds on interest. Some time afterwards the former took
other premises and went to considerable expense in fitting
them up with the view of taking his license to them. When
he was on the point ofleaving the house in James-street, the
£2OO which he had lent was repaid with the interest, and not,
as had been erroneously stated, paid for the license. Mr.
Patten observed, " you can do what von please with your
license, for I am the treasurer of the Reform Association, and
it does not matter to me." The result, however, was that
Mr. Patten kept the license to his house, and the publican
had a new one granted to his new premises in lieu thereof.
Once wore, he repeated, he had great pleasure in seconding
the resolution.

The CHAIRMAN put the motion to the meeting, and it was
carried unanimously.
Mr. INGRAM said, a resolution had been put into his hands
which he had great pleasure in mo'ring, and he was glad of
an opportunity of proposing to them a gentleman who was
one of the first promoters of that great and glorious institu-
tion with which all present were connected, and which had
wrought such powerful effects. They had much to be thank-
ful for : for their achievements had been very great. He was
glad that they had such an association in Liverpool, for it
had been the main spring of all their success. He was glad,
also, that they had such an association as the South Lan-
cashire Conservative Association;—(loud cheers) ; and he
was glad to :see its able secretary, Mr. Dawson, present
amongst them. (Loud cheers.) There were so many speak-
ers ready and anxious to address them, that he would not
detain them long ; but there were one or two other delin-
que►icies appertaining to the Whig-radical ministry that he
would just touch upon. (Cheers.) They said, when they
came into office, that they would reduce their taxes. Lord
Althorpe was very full of the great reductions which he
would make ; but when he came to look over the list of what
the Conservatives had done, he (Lord Althorpe) did not call
them Conservatives ;—no, he called them Tories,—and a very
good name it was too. (Laughter and loud cheers.) When
he came to look over the list of the reductions made by the
Tories, the Chancellor of the Exchequer said they had done
so much that he could not do any more. (Cheers.) But
what had they done recently? Had they reduced the bur-
dens of the country ? Look at the assessed taxes. (Cheers.)
They had levied ten per cent. on the duties, and five per cent.
on the windows. Would the Tories have done this ? No.
Instead of levying ten per cent. on this, and five per cent. on
that, they would have taken 15 per cent. off. (Loud cheers.)
He was happy to inform them, that at a recent meeting,
when he was present, they had ascertained by an accurate
calculation that they could, at any moment, return Lord
Sandon for this borough by a majority of 1,000, and Mr,
Cressw•ell by a majority of 600 votes. (Great cheering.)
Therefore he would candidly advise Sir Joshua to make his
sun stand still while he had the power to do so with a good
grace. (Laughter and cheers.) If he attempted to dim the
political hemisphere he would soon find that his star was not
in the ascendant. (Cheers.) The gentleman to whom he
wished to draw their attention was Mr. Wilkinson, their
tried and valued friend. He, therefore, proposed, that John
Wilkinson, Esq., be the treasurer to the association for the
ensuing year. It would be detaining the meeting too long to
dilate, as he deserved, upon his energy, activity, good sense,
and services. In these qualities there were none to equal
him.