The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-02-12 00:00:00

LIVERPOOL GUARDIAN SOCIETY.

Thh eighteenth anniversary of the establishment of the
Lixerpool Guardian Society for the Protection of Trade was
celebroted on Wednesday evening by a grand public dinner,
in the assembly-room of the Adelphi Hotel. More than 120
gentlemen sat down. Amongst them, in addition to the
officers of the society, we noticed Thomas Bolton, Esq.,
mayor of Liverpool, H. R. Sandbach, Esq., Mr. Egerton
Smith, Mr. J. Y. Caw, and Mr. S. E. Cottam, of the .Man-
chester Guardian Society, and many other gentlemen. The
chair was filled by the President for the year, Mr. George
Sumners ; Mr. William Coward officiated as vice-president.
It is but justice to Mr. Radley to say, that the plenty and
the quality of the viands prepared for the occasion and the
attention of the waiters reflected the highest credit upon his
establishment. The proceedings of the evening were greatly
enlivened by the songs and glees of a party of excellent
singers, consisting of Messrs. Jones, Woodward, Roberts,
and Wilkinson.

The cloth having deep drawn, and " Non nobis Domino"

chaunted,

The PRESIDENT, in proposing the first toast, said that in
no year since the establishment of the society had there
been so many causes for a right royal salute of the name of
her Majesty the Queen. There was first her marriage, then
her happy escape from a horrid attempt at assassination, and
lastly the birth of a Pr'ncess Royal of England. These all
produced joy and gladness in the hearts of her faithful sub-
jects; and in that same feeling he begged to propose the
health of her most gracious Majesty the Queen. (Three
times three.)
National anthem—'

"God save the Queen."

The next toast was the healths of the Princess Royal and
his Royal Highness Prince Albert. In proposing it the
PRESIDENT said a new star had arisen in our political hori-
zon in the birth of the Princess Royal. Her Majesty, in
selecting a husband, had made a happy choice in his Royal
Highness Prince Albert ; and as our Queen promised to be a
very fruitful vine, he hoped that next year they should have
the pleasure of drinking the health of a Prince of Wales.
Glee—" Hail! Star of Brunswick."

The toast of " The Queen Dowager and the rest of the
Royal Family," was next introduced by the PRESIDENT, and
drunk with loud applause.

Glee—

Lady of Beauty."

In proposing " The Army and the Navy" the PRESIDENT
observed that—whilst we repudiated war, and disliked carnage
and blood, yet, when we were called upon to support our na-
tional honour, to defend the weak, or to punish the oppressor,
it would always be found we had men in our army and navy
able to defend our cause, our country, and our honour. Late
events had proved that in our navy we had the spirit of a
Nelson, and in the army the dauntless courage of a Welling-
ton. (Cheers.) _ _ _

Song—'

The flag that brav'd a thousand years
The battle and the breeze."

The PRESIDENT said, that as there were a number of new
members present he begged to state that the discord of political
strife had never entered among the society or any of its meet-
ings. [A Voice.—Nor never shall.] In all its committees
and sub-committees each and every member enjoyed their
own opinions; they agreed to differ, and differed to agree.
(Hear.) He had now to propose the healths of the members
for the borough. (Cheers.) It would be borne in mind that
those gentlemen had always professed themselves the servants
of their constituents. In that capacity he could bear his
humble testimony to their services with regard to the Guar-
dian Society. The committee had upon all occasions when
there had been a necessity to write to them received the
greatest attention and promptitude from the honourable
members, particularly from Lord Sandon. The committee,
during the last year, had not had to draw much upon their
time and attention, but he (the President) could assure the
meeting that the members for the borough were worthy of
being heartily toasted for the attention they had given to the
interests of the Society. He had therefore great pleasure in
proposing " the healths of Lord Sandon and Mr. Cresswell."
(Cheers.)
Glee—" Life's a bumper."
. _ _ _ _

The PRESIDENT said the next toast he had to propose was
the health of the Mayor of the borough. (Great cheering.)
For some years the society had been honoured with the pre-
sence of the chief magistrate, and he was with them on this
occasion. It would be impertinent in him (the President)
to attempt to pass any eulogy upon their worthy guest, for
his character was too well known, as a gentleman, as a mer-
chant, and as a citizen, to need it. (Applause.) He had,
therefore, great pleasure in proposing the health of Thomas
Bolton, Esq., the Mayor. (Three times three.)
Glee—" The mighty conqueror."
The MAYOR, in reply, said that he received with most
heartfelt thanks the honour they had done him in drinking
his health. When he considered that it came from a class of
gentlemen with whom he had no very great acquaintance, al-
though he recognised many friends amongst them, he assured
them that the manner in which they had received the toast
made a strong impression upon his mind. He must pre-
sume, indeed, that it had been paid more in respect to the
office which he had the honour to fill than to the merits of
the humble individual who stood before them. (Cries of
" No, no.") However, in the situation in which the kindness
of his friends had been pleased to place him, he would always
endeavour to do his duty. (Hear, hear.) lie was not con-
scious of ever having done anything dishonourable in attain-
ing the situation he now held ; and it would be his endear
your to discharge with fairness and impartiality the duties of
it, so that he might merit upon his retirement from office the
approbation of those friends who had so kindly honoured him
by placing him in the chair of the chief magistrate. (Hear.)
He had now been in Liverpool more than 40 years. (Hear.)
He had come to this town with as few advantages as any in-
dividual in that room. But he had, as he had said before,
endeavoured to do his duty in the various situations in which
lie had been placed. The manner in which his health had
been drunk, considering that it had come from the middle
ranks of the town—for lie maintained that the middle ranks,
whether they were in the higher spheres of life, or whatever
position they filled, were those classes in which the most
virtue and independence were to be found—was most grati-
fying to him. (Hear, hear.) The object of the Guardian
Society was of a deserving character ; it was the prevention
of fraud and imposition upon those who otherwise might be
defrauded by the arts and management of the dishonest and
worst classes of mankind. Every one must approve of this
design, and in pursuing it they were conferring a great bene-
fit upon society. (Applause.) The Mayor concluded, amidst
loud cheers, by again thanking the company for the compli-
ment paid to Trim.

The Vice-PnesiDENT proposed the next toast, which was
"The Town Council of Liverpool." It was pleasing, he
said, to know that that body had taken into their considera-
tion the propriety of forming public parks and gardens for
the recreation of the inhabitants ; and he hoped that before
the. end of the present mayoralty that important object would
be gained, or placed in such a position as to leave no doubt
of its accomplishment. (Cheers.)
Mr. H. R. SANDBACH, as the only member present of the
town council, except the mayor, rose to return thanks for
the honour just conferred upon them, and for the approba-
tion which the meeting had expressed of their proceedings.
It would always be to him a source of the highest possible
gratification to receive an invitation from the Guardian So-
ciety to be present at their annual dinner; but he was aware
that he was indebted for that honour to the circumstance of
having been the person to propose to the town council to in-
quire into the practicability of obtaining public parks. (Cries
of " No, no.") He was happy to tell them that the interest
expressed by this society in that object, and the steps they
had taken by memorialising the council, had been one means
of placing the success of the measure beyond a doubt. (Hear,
hear.) There had never been, on any occasion when the
subject had been discussed, more than one objection even
hinted at, and that objection was a fear lest the expense of
it might unduly absorb the surplus fund of the corporation,
out of which alone the town council were enabled to pay
everything which they were not directed to pay by the act of
parliament. For instance, all their contributions to charita-
ble objects, and so forth, were paid out of the surplus fund.
It was true that the expense of the parks might absorb the
whole • but he was happy to say, that, partly by the dona-
tions of private individuals, whom it would be premature to
name at present, and partly by the prospect of funds being at
the disposal of the corporation ere long, he expected the object
would be attained without any permanent burden upon the
borough fund. (Cheers.) He was not aware how their
neighbours at Manchester were situated with respect to pub-
lic parks, but he understood that in several towns similar
places had already been, or were about to be, provided.
(Hear, hear.) In 'Derby the munificence of a private indi-
vidual had provided the town with an arboretum, on an ex-
tended scale ; in Sheffield the Duke of Norfolk had present-
ed fifty acres for the same purpose ; and in another town the
corporation bad come to the resolution to devote a plot of
land to alike object. (Hear, hear.) He was sure that, after
these instances, Liverpool would not be backward in provi-
ding the inhabitants with so valuable and so necessary an
acquisition. (Hear, hear.) He need not, to that society,
who had expressed themselves so decidedly upon the subject,'
use any arguments or assign any reasons in favour of public
parks ; but he could not forbear rejoicing with them in the
prospect of having such places where individuals of all classes
might meet, where every man, woman, and child in the town
might enjoy themselves, and find refreshment and recreation.
(Cheers.) It had been said that the labouring classes of the
population would derive little benefit from the establishment
of public parks ; but he, for one, held a very different opinion.
He considered it of the greatest importance to the health and
comfort of those classes that such places should be provided.
It had also been urged by some that labouring men had never
any time to g-.) to them except upon Sundays. Even if that
were so, it was no reason why they should not have a park to
go to upon Sundays (hear, hear) ; and, although he should
be sorry indeed to see the Sabbath made a day of pleasure by
those who could attend at other times, he was sure that if
the parks were confined, on Sundays, to those who could not
go on any other day, to enjoy the fresh air, no one would call
that a desecration of the Sabbath. (Hear, hear.) He did
not, as lie had said before, agree with those who said that
Sunday was the only day on which labouring people could
have leisure for such a pursuit. That proposition certainly
might be a rule, but it was a rule which had many excep-
tions—individual exceptions in those who did not work every
day in the week, as well as general exceptions in holidays
when all might go, and which were frequent enough. Be-
sides, had not the labouring classes wives and children?
(Hear, hear.) How many of their wives and children were
now confined in narrow streets and alleys, who perhaps had
been accustomed to the country ? How delightful it would
be for those women to go to the parks, to breathe the fresh
air, instead of being obliged to turn their children into the
streets to play. The children might there run about and
gather daisies, and their mothers still be at home to meet
their husbands, in time for dinner with their rosy-cheeked
offspring. (Cheers.) He believed that not only the lower
classes, but every class would derive much advantage from
the establishment of public parks. He never thought the
advantage would be confined to the labouring classes exclu-
sively ; on the contrary, he believed that every class would
be benefitted by them, and none more so than the middle
classes (hear, hear), of which, as the Mayor had observed,
this society was chiefly composed.—Mr. Sandbach detailed
a few other advantages which would arise from parks, and
concluded an eloquent speech by again thanking the meeting
for the reception of the toast.
Mr. GEORGE WALKER, vice-president (elect) of the so-
ciety for the ensuing year, proposed the health of Richard
Ratcliffe, Esq., town clerk of Liverpool, whose exertions to
improve the Court of Requests he highly commended.
The MAYOR returned thanks on the part of the town-
clerk, whose absence had been caused by the pressure of
public business, which would detain him at the town hall
till a late hour, In Mr. Ratcliffe, the town council had a
most valuable public servant. To considerable legal know-
ledge he united a very sound judgment ; and upon all occa-
sions that knowledge and that judgment were exerted for the
best interests of the town. In the absence of the town-clerk
he (the mayor) begged to propose " Prosperity to the Liver-
pool Guardian Society." (Cheers.)
Glee—" Glorious Apollo."
Mr. TURNER (the father of the society) replied to the
toast, in a very neat address. He considered that the society
had done great good to the whole community by procuring a
reduction in the price of gas,—(hear, hear,)—and by their
efforts to promote the establishment of public parks. Ile
would direct the attention of the committee for the ensuing
year to the prices charged for water,—(hear, hear,)—and he
trusted that the two water companies would take the hint he
had thrown out. The Guardian Society did not wish either
of the companies to supply water at a loss to themselves, but
he must maintain that the shopkeepers and others would not
be satisfied with paying more for water than they ought to
pay. Mr. Turner then referred to the efficiency of the society
in detecting swindlers, several instances of which he men-
tioned, and said it had proved " a terror to evil doers, and
the praise of all men that did well." (Cheers.)
The PRESIDENT prefaced the next toast by observing that
' " union is strength." The object of the Guardian Society
was not only to protect its members, but also to promote the
; establishment of similar societies throughout England. In
several places this had been accomplished; and the utility of

the plan had been proved by the connection of this society
with that of Manchester. (Hear.) He looked upon Man-
chester and Liverpool, by means of the railway communication
between them, as Siamese twins ; one pulse beat in both
bodies, and information was communicated from one place to
the other so rapidly, that if a swindler was detected in one,
they were prepared to receive him in the other. They were
favoured that night with the presence of the president and
secretary of the Manchester Society, who, especially the
secretary, had been most anxious to promote the welfare of
both institutions: He trusted that by their united influence
similar institutions might be established in the numerous
manufacturing towns round Manchester, and, ere long, in
every town in the kingdom. (Cheers.) With these remarks
he begged to propose the " President and Officers of the
Manchester Guardian Society." (Three times three.)
Mr. J. Y. CAW, (manager of the Manchester and Salford
Bank,) president of the Manchester Society, returned thanks.
He had observed with much pleasure the good feeling which
had been raised up between the Liverpool and Manchester
Societies, and he hoped it would continue so long as they
should exist. He could bear testimony to the advantages
which had arisen out of their unity of interest. He knew of
cases where evil would have ensued, and in which, by
timely notice, the advantages of both societies were drawn
into one. He agreed with the president in the wish that such
societies might be diffused throughout the kingdom, as pro-
tectors of the trading interests. A remark had been made
by a gentleman who preceded him (Mr. Turner), which
coincided exactly with his own views, namely, that the more
strong, energetic, and vigorous the working of the society,
the less symptoms of its existence would be perceived, and
the fewer " circulars" would be published. (Hear, hear.)
When he heard gentlemen saying " you are doing nothing,"
from that moment he considered the society most efficient,
because by its prudent checks it had driven away dishonest
individuals before they could commence operations. This
was a point to which he had called attention in another
place, and he was sure they would pardon him for having done
so on this occasion, seeing that it had been introduced by
their oldest member. It was indeed necessary to do so, as
some people thought their subscriptions ill bestowed, because
they were not daily receiving some intelligence. It was be-
cause depredations were not committed that criminals were
fewer. (Hear, hear.)
Mr.'S. E. COTTAM, secretary to the Manchester society,
next addressed the assembly in a brief and appropriate
speech.

Mr. CAW proposed, as a toast, " Prosperity to the town
and trade of Liverpool," which was received with three
times three.

The MAYOR proposed the health of the president, for his
ability and courtesy in discharging the functions of president
for the evening.

The PRESIDENT said it was most gratifying to his feelings
to receive such a compliment "from the chief magistrate of
the town, and from the members of the Guardian Society.
If his endeavours to promote the interests of the society
had met with the approval of the members, and of the com-
mittee who had placed him in the situation he had the
honour to hold, he assured them that he felt the present mo-
ment to be the happiest of his existence. (Applause.)
Mr. FERGUSON in a complimentary speech proposed the
health of Mr. Reay, the secretary, who acknowledged it in a
neat speech.
The PRESIDENT then proposed the health of Mr. Evans,
the society's solicitor, and alluded to the committee's report
with reference to his efficient services during the past year.
Mr. EVANS, in acknowledging the toast, said, that at that
late hour of the evening they would not expect him to make
any lengthened observations. It was always his pride and
pleasure to cultivate a good understanding with those with
whom he was connected in business. If it was so in individual
cases, how much more ought it to be his ambition to stand
well with the society, a great portion of which were then cele-
brating their anniversary—a society second to none in this
great commercial and trading community, in point of utility
and importance? He felt deeply the responsibility of the post
he occupied as their legal adviser, but the kind encourage-
ment which he was in the habit of receiving at their hands
enabled him to perform his duty with cheerfulness. He
should not be doing justice if he omitted to bear testimony
to the experience and efficiency of the committee and sub-
committee. They were in fact the very lungs of the society,
without which it could not exist. The ability and activity of
the secretary were beyond all praise • he performed hi, duties
so well that he appeared as if made for his office ; he had ca-
pacity not only for conducting the general business, but also
for drawing up of petitions and memorials and the various
other documents, which formerly were prepared by some
other person than the secretary. Attempts had of late been
made through the means of legal proceedings to crush the
society or to impair its efficiency ; but they had proved so
disastrous in their results that he (Mr. Evans) trusted it
would be long before any one would have the temerity to re-
new the attack, but let it come when it might, they would
meet it manfully and he hoped successfully, and they might
rest assured that any humble abilities which he possessed
would be devoted to the maintenance of the independence
and integrity of the society.
" The Lancashire Witches," and several other toasts were
afterwards proposed and suitably celebrated. The list being
gone through, the President and several of the invited guests
retired; but those who remained enjoyed themselves for
some time longer.