The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1849-05-08 00:00:00

The ninth meeting of the Historic Society of Lanca-
shire and Cheshire was held on Thursday evening last, in
the Board-room of the Collegiate Institution ; Richard
Brooke, Esq., F.S.A., in the chair. Nine new members
were elected, and applications were received from ten
others, including several clergymen and distinguished
antiquaries, and one peer. Several valuable presents
were received of much interest and antiquity. It appeared
that 70 new members had been added to the society since
the commencement of the ses:ion, and thEZt donations of
great value and variety had been received from nearly 60
individuals. Several votes of thanks were passed by ac-
clamation before the company separated.

THE LYCEUM NEWS ROOM—ANNUAL MEETING.—
On Tuesday evening the annual meeting of the proprie-
tors in this news-room was held in the library. Mr. J.
A. Picton occupied the chair, and there was a very large
attendance of shareholders. The report congratulated
the proprietors on the improved and flourishing state of
the institution. It stated that the attention of the com-
mittee had been especially directed to the titles of many
proprietors to their shares which had been involved in
great confusion and uncertainty by the frauds committed
by the late master, by the sale of fictitious shares. The
additional subscription of five shillings agreed to last year
towards the payment of the outstanding liabilities of 1847,
produced £159 ss. towards £267 4s. The report, which
was adopted, stated that at no period has the institution
been in a more satisfactory condition. Dr. Nevins sub-
mitted a resolution that, in future, the news-room be
open on Sunday, from 3 to 6 p.m., instead of 1 to 10 as
heretofore. Mr. Robinson, seconded by Mr. Bradbury,
moved as an amendment, that the room be open on Sun-
day from one to eight o'clock. After some further dis-
cussion Dr. Nevins withdrew his motion in favour of Mr.
Robinson's amendment, which was carried by a majority
of 68 to 53. It appeared, however, that such an altera-
tion of the rules required two-thirds of the meeting to be
in its favour, and that the majority was not sufficient;
the decision, therefore, had no effect, and the regulations
as to Sunday remain as heretofore. The consideration of
some verbal alterations in the laws of the institution was
adjourned for a fortnight, after which the meeting broke
up.

DOCK COMMITTEE.—A plan was submitted of an erec-
tion for shelter on the new landing stage, the estimated
cost of which was £lOOO. Mr. Nicol explained that a
portion of the building could be let off as a refreshment
room, the rent for which would nearly pay the interest for
the whole outlay. A letter was read from Mr. Cabin, ap-
proving of the erection, and it was ordered to be proceeded
with.—Mr. Tyrer and two other gentlemen attended as a
deputation from the Shipowners Association, to com-
plain of the dirty state of the dock quays, occasioned by
having vessels landing oil, guano, and hides, on the same
side of the docks where goods were loading for the East
Indies and China. It was represented that in consequence
of goods being dirtied in this way, manufacturers of
Manchester were sending their packages to London to be
shipped. Mr. Saunders thought it more a question of
price than dirt. The subject was referred to the Harbour-
masters' Sub-committee. The subject 'of granting a
stated berth to Mr. Crook, for his New York vessels,
whilst other persons in the same trade were refused a si-
milar privilege, was again discussed, and as the committee
disclaimed all intention of showing any favouritism, the
subject was referred to the Harbour-masters' Sub-com-
mittee.—Mr. Hendrick, who had ceased to be a clerk in
the customs, resigned his situation as auditor, it being
necessary that the auditor should be a clerk in the cus-
toms.—The committee refused to interfere in the dispute,
whether the consignees of the ship or the owners of the
goods should pay the weighers in the cases where the cus-
toms did not weigh. The subject was named in a letter
to Messrs. Gibbs, Bright, and Co.

BIRKENHEAD COMMISSIONERS•—On Tuesday, the
usual monthly meeting was held. Present,—Richard
Bryans, jun., (chairman,) Messrs. Fox, Bentham, Hughes,
Stevenson, Ravenscroft, Goulborn, Appleton, and Wil-
liamson. The Market Committee reported that they had
given notice that the fishmongers' rents be raised to the
same rate as the butchers', on the ground of improving
business. The Ferry Committee had ordered that a
notice was to be placed at the ferry, announcing that any
contractor crossing after his subscription expired without
paying was liable to a penalty of 40s. After the Ist of
May it was announced that the free boats would be dis-
continued. Mr. Fox asked how the boats were to run in
future ? Mr. Ravenscroft said that they intended to run
boats from Liverpool at the half-hour, and as often be-
tween the half-hour as possible. He complained of hin-
drances thrown in the way of the boats by the Liverpool
Council. The Chairman called the attention of the Com-
missioners to an agreement for paying additional interest
to Mr. Price, which was signed by him and several of the
members. Mr. Bentham refused to sign the document,
disapproving of the arrangement. Mr. Appleton thought
they had made the best of the bargain. The Chairman
read a letter from the clerk of the Dock Trustees, sug-
gesting that those who had frontages to the pool might
then have their walls built, as it was necessary to run the
pool dry. The letter was referred. The meeting then
adjourned till Monday.—The ferry receipts for the year
ending April 30, 1848. were £19,503 16s. 3d.: the same
period in 184 a. £15,878 4s. 11d. The expenses from the
Ist to the 30 of April, 1848, were £1554 18s. against
£1552 13s. 9d. in 1849.

GOVERNESSES' INSTITIITION.—On Tuesday a public
meeting was held at the Medical-hall to promote this
interesting object. The chair was taken by Archdeacon
Brook., who, in opening the business, said that he would
have been glad to have seen a better attendance, but many
great and useful institutions had sprung from small begin-
nings. He remembered when it was proposed to form the
first public library in Liverpool; he referred to the Athe-
naeum : that advertisements were issued calling a public
meeting fir that purpose. Dr. Currie had told him (the
Chairman) that on that occasion Mr. Roscoe, himself,
and one or two others, were all that were present.
" Well," said Dr. Currie, " we shall never be able to
found the institution," to which Mr. Roscoe replied, " It
is not numerously attended meetings that form institu-
tions such as this; we will vote you in the chair, pass
certain resolutions, and publish them in the newspapers."
They did so, and in a few weeks they had the support of
the community generally. He hoped they would find
it so in the establishment of the Liverpool Governesses'
Institution.—Mr. Bainbrigge then in a very feeling speech
enlarged on the necessity which existed for providing a
home for governesses, and moved a resolution to the
effect, that the objects of the institution should be—a
residence for daily and unemployed governesses—a train-
ing college for governesses—an annuity fund—a benevo-
lent fund and an asylum for aged governesses.—The Rev.
J. Baylee, in seconding the resolution, referred, at consi-
derable length, to the present position of governesses and
gentlewomen generally, urging with much force that,
however well they might be educated in the generally
accepted attainments and accomplishments of life, yet
that for want of a training establishment for those females
whose lot it might be to have the education of children
falling upon them, they were unable to undertake their
arduous and responsible duties with that knowledge of
their charge which was so essentially necessary for those
who have the care of forming the youthful mind. in
illustration of the advantages of a training college for
governesses, Mr. B. stated that a certificate of a gover-
ness having been connected with such an establishment
would be an immediate and satisfactory introduction to
the family of any parent.—Dr. Hume moved the next
resolution, which recommended the erection of a gover-
nesses' residence, with the hope of gradually carrying out
the whole objects of the institution.—This was seconded
by Netlam Tory, Esq., and carried.—The Rev. F. Parry
moved the appointment of the following gentlemen as a
committee to carry into effect the objects of the meeting :
—Archdeacon Brooks, Samuel Martin, Esq , T. B. Hors-
fall, Esq., Netlam Tory, Esq., Charles Cotesworth, Esq.,
The Rev. Joseph Baylee, W. H. B inbrigge, Esq., Dr.
Nottingham, John Clow, Esq., William Nixon, Esq.,
Mr. C. Rawdon, Mr. Wm. Rathbone. This resolution
was seconded by W. Nixon, Esq., and after a vote of
thanks to the chairman the meeting separated.
SELECT VESTRY.—At the fortnightly meeting on Tues-
day, Mr. Steele was appointed a district medical officer by
a majority of 15 to 4 over Mr. M'Clellan.—The medical
relief committee recommended, in accordance with the
advice of Dr. Duncan, the closing of the house in Queen
Anne-street as a cholera hospital, and suggesting the open-
ing of a house near Vauxhall-road in the event of cholera
becoming epidemic in Liverpool, to which there should be
attached two or three ambulators.—This closed the busi-
ness, but the chairman said that a deputation consisting
of Messrs Callis, Jeffreys, and Macmillan, was waiting to
have an interview with the vestry. The deputation was
introduced, and Mr. Callis said he begged to call the
attention of the committee to what took place at the
Easter vestry when he charged the chairman of the work-
house committee with tampering with estimates for the
supply of goods to the house. On that occasion the chair-
man of the Workhouse Committee turned it off by saying
that he (Mr. Callis) was a disappointed contractor. A
great deal had been said as to his having supplied ham-
mers with soft heads to the workhouse, but the truth was,
that it was not so. He had offered to supply the house
with good hammers at one shilling, but he believed they
were now paying 15.„,6d. for them. He was so disgusted
at what then took place in reference to the contracts that
he had never since that time sent in another. He then
proceeded to make a series of charges of irregularities
connected with the supply of goods, the charges being
chiefly directed to Mr. Riding, the late chairman. The
first was in reference the article of spades. When he
(Mr. C.) first sent in the estimates for spades he offered to
supply them for 325. per dozen; but he found that Mr.
Riding had ordered eighteen spades on the 3d of July at
4s. a dozen more than he had offered to supply them, and
that in this case there was no contract. He then went on
to make several other charges against the late chairman
for having ordered nails, bedsteads, bread cart, forms,
stools, Indian corn, and other articles, mostly without
tenders, and many of them from his own tenants, at very
high prices, although there was a resolution on the books
dated 27th July, 1848' to the effect that all goods esti-
mated to exceed 20s. should be contracted for, and three
respectable tradesmen be applied to for tenders. (Hear.)
Potatoes, too were purchased in the same way, and
weighed at " G. R.'s" machine, but what put him (Mr.
C.) out of the way the most, and which at least
showed bad management, was, that these potatoes were
never weighed at the workhouse machine, and the excuse
was that the machine was broken. The fact was, it had
been broken above twelve months, potatoes and other
articles being seldom or ever weighed upon it. It was a
disgrace to that board. Mr. Callis said he only came
there to ask the Vestry to appoint a committee of inquiry.
He did not wish to make a charge against any one per-
sonally. He had no personal feeling of to any
man ; but he had sifted the matter, and considered that
he had done his duty to himself and the town at large.—
In reply, Mr. Riding said that he bad the authority of the
committee fer all that he had done, and that he thought
the charges arose from a little personal pique. A com-
mittee, consisting of Messrs. Earle, Wylie, Molyneux,
Whitby, Cafferata, and W. P. Jeffreys, was then
appointed to inquire into the charges, which the deputa-
tion were informed must be reduced to writing.