The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-07-09 00:00:00

WATCH COMMITTEI

In the proceedings of this committee two lengthy reports
were read from Mr. Whitty, the head constable, detailing
the circumstances of the recent disturbances, and the opera-
tions of the police. It was set forth in the first report
that 175 pensioners had been placed at the disposal of
the head constable by the mayor. On the Saturday prece-
ding the nomination, Mr. Whitty issued the following
order :

" The head-constable feels convinced that, on this occasion,
the Liverpool constabulary force will exhibit the same firm-
ness, forbearance; and strict impartiality, which has charac-
terised their conduct on all former oceasions of popular
excitement. They will recollect that they have nothing
whatever to do with party ; that their duty is to preserve the
public peace, and see that persons of all parties are alike
protected from personal injury.
" Those who have votes will exercise their right in any way
they please, but in the ranks they will studiously refrain from
all observations foreign to their specific duty."
After describing the disposal and operations of the various
bodies of the police on the nomination day, and during the
principal portion of the day of election, the report speaks of
some transactiotis in Toxteth-park. Having described his
part dispersion of the crowd, Mr. Whitty proceeds thus :
"Just emerging from Greenland-street, I met a strong body
of police with Mr. Superintendent Riding. James Lawrence,
Esq., a member of the committee, was with. them. Both
exclaimed against the special constables, who had by their
conduct increased the disturbance. It appeared that in their
way from the different south polling-places, they had stopped
with Mr. Riding, and on the very unexpected commence-
ment of the rioting about six o'clock, he took them out with
him. Discovering, however, their inutility, and something
worse, he was in the act of putting them into St. James's
Market, when I came up. I kept them there till twelve
o'clock at night, lest. they might, if sooner let out, create a
disturbance themselves, as they also had been fearfully ex-
cited."

In a description of the riots in the north end of the town,
Mr. Whitty says—" The police, though frequently attacked,
were always successful, and made, in both divisions, nearly a
hundred prisoners." '
" The conduct of the police on this trying occasion," says
the report, " I have no doubt will meekthe approval of the
committee. in no instance did the nEst formidable mob
succeed in standing one minute before them, and the prompt-
ness of their movements prevented any very serious extent
of outrage. * * * * * * * Although the attacks on
windows and houses (one of them belonging to a police-
officer in Oriel-street), were very numerous, the amount of
damage is not very large. The sufferers up to this time claim,
at their own estimate, only to the extent of £200."
After expressing his obligations to the men generally, and
naming some of the most deserving amongst the superior offi-
cers, the report concludes. with the following sentence :
" During the three entire days there was neither a case of
absence nor drunkenness."

On the motion of Sir JOSHUA WALMSLEY, seconded by
Mr. THORNHILL, the proceedings of the committee were
confirmed.
Mr. BIRKErr said he had intended to have made some re-
marks on the circumstances referred to in the reports of the
Head Constable, but as Mr. Cooper had given notice of a
motion on the subject, he would reserve what he had to say
to another opportunity.
Mr. HENRY LAWRENCE said he wished to avoid, in the
resolution which he was about to propose, every expression
thatcould give rise to any invidious feeling. He thought
they ought not let pass the present opportunity of thanking
the Watch Committee, the Head Constable, and the police
for their exertions during the recent election. Mr. Lawrence
submitted the following motion :—That the best thanks of
the Council be given to the Watch Committee, and particu-
larly to Mr. Whitty and to the officers and men composing
the police force, for their great exertions and exemplary con-
duct in the maintenance of the peace of the town during the
recent election.

Mr. ISAAC HOLMES expressed his regret that the magi-
states should have appeared to have taken the resolution of
the Watch Committee, offering to co-operate with them, as
if such offer were an improper interference with their duty.
It was desirable that the two bodies should zo-operate to-
gether, with a mutual good understanding.
Mr. JORDAN rose to order. Mr. Holmes was out of order.
The MAYOR conceived Mr. Holmes to be in order.
Mr. JORDAN replied that there was no motion before the
Council, Mr. Lawrence's not having been seconded.
Mr. SANDS said he should have great pleasure in second-
ing the motion.
Mr. H. LAWRENCE said he had already stated that his
motion was framed with the view of avoiding anything in-
vidious. There could be no doubt whatever as to the pro-
priety of conduct in the Watch Committee, and that they
were entitled to the thanks of the Council in• conjunction
with the police.
Mr. ISAAC HOLMES said he deplored the circumstance
that the magistratas should have conceived that the Watch
Committee were interfering with their duties. As to the
damage done in the town amounting to only £2OO as mentioned
in the report, he had documents to shew it was much more
in the south end of the town alone. One individual had been
taken out of his house, and beaten in a most shameful man-
ner. No man could have a higher opinion of Mr. Whitty in-
dividually than he had, but the public had not, at the recent
election, sufficient protection for want of sufficient force. A
druggist's shop in Tithebarn-street was at one period like a
slaughter-house. As to the magistrates, the mayor himself
had to go to the watch board for information. He hoped
that in future, (and they were likely to have other elections
soon,) such measures would be adopted by the magistrates,
in conjunction with the committee, as would prevent a recur-
rence of such outrages, and property and persons from being
injured,

SIR J. WALMSLEY said, he should not have offered any
remarks upon this motion had it not been for the observa-
tions of Mr. Holmes. Mr. Holmes had stated that be held
documents in his hand skewing that the amount of damage
was much larger than bad been stated in the report. Now
he (Sir J. W.) had that moment received a letter from Mr.

I,l7liitty, stating that the inspectors had made their returns,
and that the amount altogether was under £220, and that if
the damage was properly estimated, it would, no doubt, be
considerably below that sum ; foi one person claimed £2O,

although the windows alleged to Vave been broken on the
day of election had been broken for months before. The
two greatest amounts claimed were for a public house in
Hurst-street and a beer shop in Naylor-street. Perhaps it
was on claims so founded that Mr. Holmes had grounded
his statements.

.Mr. ISAAC HOLMES rose to explain, but
The MAYOR said, the return had come from the most
authentic sources, and should be held sufficient.

Mr. ISAAC HOLMES again attempted to explain, and said,
Sir J. Walmsley had omitted to mention the damage done
to Mr. Cowburn's property in Park-lane.
Mr. M`Kee suggested, that on an occurrence of this kind
again, Mr. Isaac Holmes should be appointed the superin-
tendent of police.
Mr. EARLE said, certain assertions had been made which,
reporters being present, would go forth to the public. It
was irregular that assertions should be made which had no
foundation. Sir Joshua Walmsley had contradicted them
flatly. yet other assertions had been made afterwards. He
would ask the Mayor whether this was in order?
The MAYOR.—It is quite disorderly.
Mr. EARLE.—Then it ought to have been put down.
Mr. CASE suggested an alteration in the motion, which
went merely to thank the Watch Committee and the police.
Now, the whole operations were planned by the magistrates;
the town was Well kept ; and he thought that the thanks of
the Council were quite as much due to the magistrates as to
the Watch Committee. .

Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE said it would be premature to
adopt a motion of this kind now. Damage had been done to
the extent of about £220, or, as Mr. Holmes had said, it
might be double that amount. That damage had been done,
as many supposed, not through want of efficiency on the part
of the police, for they had done their duty most nobly, but
because a larger force had not been entrusted to the com-
mand of Mr. Whitty. If it could be shown that the damage
had been committed through the want of more force, then
the magistrates were responsible for it. The Watch Com-
mittee gave notice to the magistrates of their apprehensions,
but the magistrates took the case into their own hands, for
to them, after all, belonged the responsibility of determining
whether sufficient had been done.
Mr. EARLE said the object was plainly to make insinua-
tions against the magistrates. They had made such arrange-
ments as' were entirely effectual, and Mr. Whitty, when
called in, said he would not recommend special constables,
as they could not be controlled like the regular force, nor
could they be made to act with the same tact and temper.
Perhaps some of the gentlemen who thus inveighed against
the magistrates, would have had the military called into the
town.
Mr. isAAc HomdEs.—At such an election I certainly
would.
Mr. EARLE.—Who cares? Ido not think these insinua-
tions against the magistrates are very proper. If Mr. Law-
rence thinks the magistrates have been in fault, let him
bring forward a motion to that effect ; but I do not like such
sneaking work as this.
Mr. BRIGHT said the question was particularly put to Mr.
Whitty by the watch committee whether it would not be de-
sirable to have several hundreds of special constables. In
reply, he gave the committee to understand that if he must
be accountable for the preservation of peace, he should ob-
ject to them, as they would only impair the efficiency of the
police force instead of rendering any service, and so the re-
sult had proved. As to the damage, he (Mr. Bright) would
ask whether any police, however efficient, could prevent the
breaking of windows ? With regard to the amount of da,
mage, the council had Mr. Whitty's report before them, in
which it was stated that the sum total amounted to £2OO ;
and a subsequent report described it at £220. Which were
they to believe—the parties who had sustained the damage,
or the unsupported statements of Mr. Isaac Holmes or any
other member of the Watch Committee-? The discussion-
was a perfect waste of time.
Mr. JoaDAN said the report stated that in no case did the
rioters stand one moment before the police. What more
could soldiers have done ? They could not have prevented
riots from. arising, or windows from being broken.
Mr. BIRKETT.said many gentlemen were not aware of the

circumstances which had induced some members of the
Watch Committee to bring forward the motion on this sub-
ject. It was brought forward in consequence of the serious
damage which took place at the last parliamentary election,
and it being apprehended that somewhat similar scenes might
occur at that just closed. There was no intention—at least
be for one had not, and he spoke the sentiments of the conser-
vative members of the Watch Committee—of interfering with
the duties of the magistrates, but there was a strong desire
to assist them in the protection of person and property. Let
him recall the circumstances which preceded the motion.
There had been a series of riots in the town in consequence
of the magistrates having thought fit to allow open air meet-
ings to be held in the town for the discussion of disputed
points, by parties not belonging to the town, and having no
interest in it. He (Mr. Birkett) thought those proceedings
ought ni4 to have been permitted, and so he had stated. He
was confirmed in that opinion by the fact that although riots
hadtaken place, and there had been some destruction of pro-
perty, and although public buildings had been attacked, the
magistrates had not, either by placard or otherwise, offered
any reward for the apprehension of the parties offending, or
cautioned the people against such outrages. Seeing that the
magistrates had not done so, and being fully aware that there
was a disposition to create a riot and to destroy property at
the election, he was very anxious to support, as far as he
could, a large accession to the police force. He did not care
how that accession was to be made, so that there had been a
demonstration of force sufficient to keep in order persons,
whether they belonged to one party or the other.
Mr. WOOLRIGKT, Mr. HARBORD, and Sir J. WALMS-
LEY having addressed the council,
Mr. H. LAWRENCE said he had worded his motion so as
not to give any offence, and avoid discussion. He would,
with the permission of the Council vary it so, that it could
not be opposed by any party. He would move that the
thanks of the Council be given to Mr. Whitty, and the offi-
cers and men composing the police force, for their great ex-
ertions. and exemplary conduct in the maintenance of the
peace of the town in the late election.
Mr. BusitEm, seconded the motion. He was perfectly
satisfied, in looking at the great extent of the population, and
their excited state, that the injury sustained was trifling —a
mere bagatelle, and that no force could have prevented it.
After some further discussion,, touching the reply of the

Riaststrstea to tits re;olutten of the Valet Committee, mut
tuvthor Ostimontro to the good conduct of the polio°, and the
Intro')ldftr of Mr, Whitty, the motion was passed unani-
mously without a division. It was ordered, that Om thanks
of the Council be conveyed through the Towq-cierk, to Mr.
Whitty and the force.

The-MAYOR said he might state that he had received the
thanks of the candidates of both parties and their commit-
tees, for the manner in which the peace was preserved on
the occasion. As it had been intimated that an investiga-
tion was to take place into the conduct of the magistrates, he
might observe for himself he had nothing to fear.

Mr. H. LAWRENCE said, that the two candidates, with
whom he was in communication. had expressed their perfect
satisfaction with his (the Mayor's) conduct.

INCREASE OF SALARY TO MISS ELLIS

Sir JOSIIITA WALMSLEY moved that the salary of Miss
Ellis, under mistress of the South Corporation School, be
increased from £35 to £l5 per annum.

Mr. JOHN HOLMES seconded the motion

Mr. PARKER opposed the motion as follows :—I rise, not
so much to oppose the increase of salary to the under mis-
tress of the South Corporation School, as I do to express my
disapprobation of the system of education carried out in the
Corporation School; a system of education opposed to those
Protestant principles on which our constitution is founded ;
a system of education opposed to those principles on which
the municipal reform act is based ; and in direct opposition
to that solemn declaration, to support the Protestant religion,
we each of us make on entering this council chamber. It is,
moreover, a system of education to which the majority of the
constituency of this vast community (of which we are the
representatives) are decidedly opposed. It is also a system
of education that has driven the Protestant clergy from the
superintendence of these schools, and which will, if persisted
in, ultimately convert our Protestant Corporation Schools
into seminaries for the spread of the errors of Popery. But
as I purpose to bring forward a direct motion on the subject,
I merely state these remarks as the grounds of my opposition
to the motion now before the council. Mr. Parker was pro-
ceeding to move an amendment, when

The MAYOR explained to him that it was merely a direct
negative, and that voting against the motion would have all
the effect he wished.

Mr. PARKER replied that he should content himself with
entering his protest against the system.
The motion was then passed.
HEALTH OF THE TOWN.

Mr. CASE moved the payment of 100 guineas to each of
the building surveyors, as a remuneration for their services
in the survey of the town, &c., including their expenses.
Mr. KILSSAW seconded the motion.—Agreed to.
PUBLIC PARKS.

The report of the Committee on Parks was read, which
embodied a resolution that it be recommended to make the
purchase if Lord Sefton would take the bonds of the corpora-
tion, and the public would raise £20,000 by subscription,
and that parliament be petitioned to contribute towards the
project._

Mr. SANDBACII had hoped that the Finance Committee
might have made a report on this subject to-day, and so have
enabled the council to enter upon its consideration ; but it
had, owing to the election and other circumstances, been
postponed at the two last meetings. It was perhaps better
that it should be so, because the delay would enable the coun-
cil to consider before being called upon to decide, upon the
proposal of the Parks Committee. The lithographed plans
which he expected would have been ifi the hands of the coun-
cil this morning, were not ready, but they would be before
the next meeting. The motion he had now to make was that
the report be received, and that the Finance Committee be
requested to come to an early decision upon the subject. It
was only right for him to point out the nature of the propo-
sal, and to show that the corporation was not called upon to
make any outlay whatever for several years, and that the ul-
timate outlay was remarkably small in comparison with the
importance of the object to be attained. The land proposed
to be purchased would cost £92,000; the land proposed to
be sold would be sold for £59,937—an estimate which seemed
to be a safe one, he called it a low one, because lots of. land
in the same neighbourhood, but by no means so desirable, had
recently been sold for a much higher price. The interest on
£92,000, the first cost, would be £3,705 year. The sum
proposed to be raised by public subscription was £20,000.
The sum required to lay out the land would be £12,206, or
thereabouts. (Hear, hear.) There would then remain
£B,OOO to provide for the interest upon the cost, supposing
none at all were sold for between two and three years; but
inasmuch as the probability was that sales would commence
immediately after the grounds were laid out, before the end
of the second year some sales would be made. In four or
five years, therefore, the corporation would not be called
upon to pay one farthing. It was estimated that the whole
of the land might be expected to be sold in about ten years,
and at the end of that time the ultimate cost to the corpora-
tion of the parks would be £48,924. For that they would
have eighty acres of land, or 819,000 square yards, which,
at the end of the period for which the corporation leased
its property, would become the absolute property of the cor-
poration, with all the buildings upon it. What the land
might be worth at that time could only be guessed at : one
would imagine, however, that it would not be worth much
less than £1 a yard, which would be £819,000. So that for
an expenditure of £48,000 now, in seventy-five years the
corporation would have £819,000.

Mr. SHEIL objected to the subject being entertained,
because the regular notice had not been given that a recom-
mendation would be made to purchase so large a quantity of
land.

The MAYOR observed, that thzre was not a recommenda-
tion to purchase.
Mr. WOOLWRIGHT hoped the council would not reject the
petition, presented some time since, from a large body of
inhabitant householders on this subject, seeing that the land
might be obtained at a cost comparatively small to what was
at first expected.
Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE did not see how the Finance Com-
mittee could report. The purchase was contingent upon the
sum of £20,000 being raised by the public, and until £20,000
were offered, the Finance Committee could not report.
Mr. JOHN HOLMES observed, that the funds of the cor-
poration would not enable them to pay the interest. without a
borough rate.

Mr. EVANS opposed the proposition at considerable length.
A more utopian scheme he had never heard; and when he
heard that zC20,001 were to be raised by the public, he natu-
rally thought of St. George's Hall. That company got a
few thousands upon paper, but eventually they fell back upon
the corporation. If the corporation got into difficulty by
such wild schemes as these, it might be necessary for thew
to produce their securities for the satisfaction of their cre-
ditors ; and as the legislature was apt to make flee with
corporate property add corporate incomes, they did not know
how soon they might be crippled in these respects. He
could not conceive any thing more mistaken than the idea
that the establishment of a little scanty park, with a lake of
an acre, would be an inducement to opulent people to come
and settle in Liverpool. The Mersey was the true source of
attraction ; and as long as that remained to them, they would
not be justified in spending £lOO,OOO on an article of ques-
tionable utility.
Mr. ISAAC HOLMES said, that by the municipal act, un:ess
the eorporation had a surplus income, the idea of making a
park eould not be eneertained. He objected, therefore, to
the subject being referred to the Finance Committee.

Mr. EusHELI replied to the remarks of Mr. Evans, and
said he would make it a condition of having the park that
£20,000 should be subscribed by the public. If the public
did not subscribe that sum, then the whole scheme fell to
the ground. Surely the. physical education of the people was
of some importance. In London parks were spreading.in alt
directions ; parliamentary grants were made for them, and
why should not Liverpool fairly call upon the government
for a grant to assist in keeping its great population healthy,
seeing that government derived such a large portion of re-
venue from Liverpool? Look at the Custom-house returns,
and say whether Liverpool could not fairly call upon govern-
ment to subscribe some portion back towards keeping its
poorer population in health ? Then, with a government
grant, and with £20,000 subscribed by the public, how little
remained for the corporation to do ! Lord Sefton had pro-
mised to take the amount rn bonds, at four per cent., there-
fore there would be no actual outlay of capital. The Sur-
veyor said much of the land might be sold again advanta-
geously, therefore he (Mr. Bushell) maintained that as a
speculation this purchase was desirable.
Mr. CASE feared, if this subject was to be brought forward
the Finance Committee would not be able to make a report
of the state of the finances. The corporate year closed in
August, when it would be necessary to make a complete re-
vision of the general state of the finances. If, then, the
council required a report on the financial part of the question,
they would be requiring from the committee what they could
hardly be expected to accomplish.
Mr. PROCTOR said the scheme, if commenced, would cost
the corporation not less than £300,000 by the end of seventy-
five years.

After a few words from Mr. SANDBACIT, in reply, the re-
solution was passed in the following form :—"That the re-

port be received, to be taken into consideration at the next
monthly council, and that the Finance Committee be re-
quested to make an early report, to enable the council to
come to a decision on the subject, and that a copy of the Sur-
veyor's report, and of the resolution of the Park Committee,
and of the plan, be sent to each member of the council."
CLAIMS ON ACCOUNT OF DAMAGE DONE AT THE RIOTS.
Letters claiming compensation for damage done during the
riots arising out of the meetings against the corn laws, were
read by the Mayor.

The TOWN-CLERK expressed a decided opinion that such
claims could not legally be satisfied out of the borough fund.
To pay such claimants would be decidedly illegal.
RETURNS.

The accounts of the paving and sewerage commissioners
for the past year were laid before the council, from which it
appeared that the commissioners began office with a balance
of 19s. 6d., and left it with a balance of 10s. 6d.
A return was also presented from the commissioners of
the Court of Requests, of monies unclaimed from the Ist of
June, 1840, to the Ist of May, 1841, with the names of per-
sons who had paid, and of those upon whose account the
different sums had been paid. The amount was stated to be
£648 lls. 3d.—After some discussion, the publication of the
names was referred to the committee.
REDUCTION OF FEES ON LEASES, &C.

A letter was read from Mr. Richard Bi:ooke, attorney,
inclosing a memorial from a great number of the most re-
spectable professional men in Liverpool, representing the
hardship upon their client; of the high rate of fees payable
upon the corporation leases, &c.—After some debate, in
which the Town-clerk expressed an opinion that the charges
were too high, the subject was referred to the Finance Com-
mittee.