The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-01-29 00:00:00

TOWN COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS.

A special meeting of the council was held on Wednesday,
for the purpose of taking into consideration and determining
upon the report of the special committee, appointed on the
11th instant, to inquire, consider, and report, whether alte-
rations cannot be made in the dock bill, as it now stands, to
prevent all reasonable opposition. The Mayor presided.

DEATH OF MR. ALDERMAN LEATHOM.
The MAYOR said it was his painful duty to announce to
the council the death of Mr. Alderman Leathom. In private
life Mr. Leathom was amiable, kind, and considerate ; as a
merchant he was honourable, just, and intelligent; to these
qualities he united a sound and a discriminating judgment,
which endeared him to his friends, and those with whom he
was called to associate. He possessed a minute and exten-
sive knowledge of local affairs, and, associated many years
ago with Mr. Horsfall, Mr. Myers, and others, was mainly
instrumental in discovering the frauds on the dock estate
under the old management. Those discoveries gave him a
knowledge of the affairs of the port and dock estate which
enabled him, very efficiently and advantageously to the pub-
lic, to exercise the office he so recently filled. Those who
knew his services best would most sincerely lament the loss
they had all sustained. He (the mayor) might say much
more in testimony of the respect to which his memory was
justly entitled, but he could not satisfy himself with saying
less than he had said in bringing the fact of his demise under
the notice of the council. His place, as an alderman of the
ward, would have to be filled up, and another in his room
would be required to be nominated by the council for the
management of the dock estate. It would also be the duty of
the council to nominate a chairman for the dock estate; and,
on referring to the town-clerk, it appeared that those several
vacancies would have to be filled up at the meeting of the
council on Wednesday next.
THE DOCK WAREHOUSE QUESTION—REPORT OF THE SPE-

CIAL COMMITTEE.
The MAYOR next called on Mr. Robertson Gladstone to
present the report of the special committee appointed upon
the warehouse question, that gentleman having presided
over the said committee.

Mr. GLADSTONE having accordingly presented the re-

port,
The TOWN-CLERK read it at length, as follows :
REPORT.

The committee to whom the council, on the 11th January,
1841, specially referred " the dock bill as it now stands,"
with instructions " to inquire, consider, and report whether
alterations cannot be made therein to prevent all reasonable
opposition," have agreed upon the following report :
That the committee proceeded forthwith upon their ap-
pointment to take into consideration the matters referred to
them, each member approaching the important subject with
an anxious desire to effect conciliation, and with a disposition
to submit his moderated views to the test of candid discus-
sion and calm deliberation.
That in coming to the following recommendations, the
committee duly considered the dock bill as it now stands on
the one hand. and on the other, the representations of the
Land and Warehouse Owners' Association. contained in a
paper laid before the committee under the signature of secre-
tary of the association, dated the 16th January, 1841.
That the result of their deliberations is, that the committee
are enabled to submit the following conclusions without a
division on any of their resolutions ;
First—That, in the judgment of the committee, alterations
can be made in the bill to prevent all reasonable opposition.
Second—That the following alterations are recommended
by the committee to the consideration of the council for
effecting that most desirable object :-
1. That the intention of building warehouses on the west
quay of the Prince's Dock be abandoned.
2. That transit sheds should be erected on the west quay of
the Prince's Dock as soon as practicable after the passing of
the bill.
3. That such sheds should be so constructed as to combine
security to the revenue and the greatest possible despatch to
business, the goods being subject to a rent amounting to a
penalty if not removed in twenty-four hours after being pas-
sed by the landing-waiter.
4. That power ought to be taken to erect transit sheds on
the quays of the other existing docks.
5. That it ought to be obligatory to erect transit sheds on
the west quay of one other of the existing docks, unless the
committee, at the expiration of six calendar months after the
opening of the transit sheds on the west quay of the Prince's
Dock, should pass a resolution against the erection of such
further sheds : and such resolution, on being submitted to
the council, as dock trustees, should not be annulled under
the power reserved to them by the existing dock acts.
6. But that the bill ought to proceed as to the new dock to
the west of the Salthouse Dock. with warehouses on its
quays, and without any restriction as to the period of such
warehouses being completed or opened, save that there
should he none commenced upon such parts of the north and
east quays as are between the two intended entrances until
two years after the completion and opening of the ware-
houses on the south and west quays, and the part of the east
quay not lying between the two entrances, provided that in
such excepted space there may be laid and built, along with
the filling up of the quay, foundations and walls up to the
surface, of sufficient strength for the erection thereon of
warehouses after the expiration of the two years, with vaults
under the quay surface.
7. That the warehouses should comprise vaults under the
surface of the quay ; but the surface of the quay over which
the warehouses are to be erected should be reserved as a
public quay, subject only to the general regulations of the
dock.

8. That the funds necessary for the erection of the ware-
houses should be raised on the security of the rates of the
general docks and the warehouses.
9. That the accounts of the warehouses and the docks
should be kept distinct, and be separately audited ; but the
profits of the warehouses should merge in the general fund.
10. That provision should be applied for to enable any
owners or masters of vessels, or their consignees, to enter
goods unclaimed, or on which freight shall not be paid, or of
which entries shall be delayed, and to deposit them in any
warehouses that may be specially licensed and duly autho-
rised.

11. That the new warehouses should be subject to the
watching, lighting, cleansing, paving, and sewerage rates as
well as what are strictly parochial.
12. That it be recommended to the council and Dock
Co:nmittee to pass a resolution, giving a pledge that there
shall be no application to parliament for further powers to
erect warehouses on any of the existing quays until the ex-
piration of four years from the completion of the warehouses
to be authorised by the bill, and to consent that such pledge
should be laid before the committee of the House of Com-
mons, and, if there should be no parliamentary objection,
that it should be made part of the bill, provided that upon
such pledge and consent opposition to the bill be withdrawn
by the Land and Warehouse Owners' Association, and that
the bill, as now proposed to be altered, shall pass in the pre-
sent session.
13. That if these principles for alteration of the bill be ap-
proved by the council, the carrying of them out, comprising
the adjustment with the Dock Committee of all matters of
detail, and the approval of the necessary corrections in the
bill consequent upon the proposed alterations, be referred to
the Finance Committee, in addition to the references already
made to them, with instructions to confer ,with the Dock
Committee thereon, and to report to the council on the bill
as corrected.
Mr. ROBERTSON GLADSTONE, as chairman of the special
committee, begged leave to move that the report be received.
In doing so, he would take the opportunity of stating that
the important subject which had been referred to the special
committee, had received from every member of it the most
serious and undivided attention. It was right, however, that
he should state, in movinc, that the report be received, that
it had been agreed to without prejudice to the opinions of the
members of the special committee in the event of its being
rejected either in that council chamber or out of doors. He
stated this fact because it was so understood in the committee,
but he hoped no such circumstance would happen.
Mr. HENRY LAWRENCE seconded the motion.
The MAYOR said, that as it had been proposed and se-
conded that the report be received, he presumed there could
be no objection to the motion being passed.
Mr. SHELL said he should like to know, before making any
further observations, whether the whole of the bill was to be
again submitted to the consideration of the council, and whe-
ther ample time would be afforded the council before de-
ciding on it ? If it would be again submitted, and if ample
time would be afforded, which had not been the case last
year,—(hear, hear)—then it would-not be necessary for him
to make any observations on the subject at present; if other-
wise, he would feel it necessary perhaps to submit a motion,
and to divide the council.

The TOWN-CLERK, by way of reply, again read the latter
part of the report.
Mr. SHEIL wanted a simple answer to a very plain and
simple question—namely, whether the bill was to be again
submitted or not? If it were to be again submitted, he saw
no necessity for taking up the time of the members with any
remarks at present, but if this were to be a final measure he
would divide the council.
The MAYOR said that the receiving of the report at pre-
sent was not a final decision of the council. The bill had
been already ‘read in separate clauses, and various matters
respecting it had been discussed ; therefore, all the new
matter contained in the report read, would be brought before
the council again, when, upon every item, the members
would have an opportunity afforded them of expressing their
opinions.
Mr. SHEIL said the mayor's reply was quite sufficient, but
he begged to make an observation or two with regard to the
present report, and also with regard to all future reports.
lie was sure every member must see the unreasonableness
of calling a number of individuals together to take a subject
into consideration without giving them the slightest informa-
tion beforehand as to the details of that subject. In cases
of necessity, or emergency not amounting to necessity, such
an omission ought to be looked over, but no such excuse
could be offered in the present instance. A meeting had
been held on Saturday, and the council had met on that day
(Wednesday) without any step having been taken by the
committee to give the slightest information to the members,
or to let them know the course they had thought proper to
adopt. He did not say it was intentional, but it was acciden-
tal disrespect to call on the council to decide on matters of
great importance without telling them the details in the first
instance. He made those remarks now ; he had had occasion
to make similar remarks before, and if the council did not
perform its duty in calling on the committees to furnish de-
tails, he would have to make the same remarks again ; but
he hoped such an omission would not occur hereafter. How-
ever, as long as he was in the council, which he thanked
God would not be very long (hear, and a laugh), he would
always express his unqualified disapprobation of such hasty
proceedings.
The MAYOR said that the report read had been agreed
upon by the committee on Saturday last, and that it had been
since within the Town-hall, accessible to every merober of
the council for perusal. If, therefore, gentlemen did not
avail themselves of such an opportunity for ascertaining its
details, it was hardly fair to cast reflections on the committee.
(Hear, hear.)
Mr. HUGH HORNBY thought that the charge made by Mr.

Sheil was quite groundless. The committee had been ap.
pointed for the purpose of ascertaining whether they could
not adopt some plan to do away with all reasonable opposi-
tion. They were further directed to draw up a report, and
that the mayor would call a meeting of the council to take the
propriety of receiving that report into consideration. He
(Mr. H.) had never heard of any report being sent to the
members of the council after it had been adopted, and to pur-
sue such a course in the present instance would be quite un-
precedented. The most respectful plan was to leave it in
the Town-hall for perusal ; and that plan had been pursued.
Surely, then, no want of respect was manifested on the part
of the committee in having merely fulfilled their instructions.
(Hear.)
Mr. AIKIN said that the committee had a simple duty to
perform, and that they had discharged it by adopting Lord
Sandon's recommendations. It did not require any very
acute mind to discover from the reading of the report that
they had been precisely following up Lord Sandon's recom-
mendations, for, whoever read the report would find that the
whole pith and marrow of his lordship's suggestions were
therein embodied. The question of the warehouses had,
however, been so much before the council, that he was really
astonished there should be anything like a degree of warmth
evinced by
the speakers on the present occasion.
Sir JOSHUA WALMSLEY could notconcur with others in
saying that the question at present was, whether there should
be warehouses or no warehouses ? The question really was,
whether any differences of opinion could be se.ttled by the
adoption of the report to which the committee had agreed,
and whether the opponents of the warehouse question would
meet the plan proposed ?
Mr. PROCTOR agreed with the former speakers, that inas-
much as the committee were called on to report and had re-
ported, Mr. Sheil was in error in attaching any blame to
them.

Mr. SUEIL explained that the summons convening the
present council was a little different from the ordinary sum-

mons, and,.with regard to what the mayor had said about
the report having been lying in the Town-hall since Satur-
day, he could only state that the fact had never been com-
municated to him before. Now, he did not recollect that
the words " to determine upon the report," which were in
the present summons, were ever in a summons before. If,
indeed, it had been .said, " to determine upon the report now
in the town-clerk's office," he would have found no fault,
because he was only sorry that lie had not received the in-
formation about its lying in the town-clerk's office in time
for it to be of use to him.

The Tow N-CLERIC said that the standing orders showed
that the report would be open for inspection for the space of
two days. The whole subject was at present under the con-
sideration of the council, and would remain so if the question
were carried that the report he received. Whether it would
come before the council again, would determine on the sort
of resolution to which the council would come upon that
occasion. With regard to what Mr. Sheil had said about
the summons, he had added the words " to determine," but,
although inserted, they were not obligatory.
Mr. EARLE said, that as he had been instrumental in
having the committee appointed, he wished to express his
satisfaction at its having led to the present favourable re-
sults, particularly as a mode seemed to have been at length
adopted for settling the question without entailing the ex-
penses of litigation. Had such a mode been adopted before,
vast sums of money would have been saved. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. ISAAC HOLMES stated, that the trustees of the late
Duke of Bridgewater were willing to let entrances be made
from the Bridgewater Dock to the King's and other docks;
and if this were so, he hoped the Dock Committee would
take the circumstance into their consideration, as great be-
nefits would be likely to arise in consequence of such en-
trances being made.
The MAYOR said, that in the discussions which had taken
place last year with the Duke of Bridgewater's trustees,
every friendly disposition was shown on their part to enter
into a mutual arrangement for the benefit of the dock estate,
and that he was sure Mr. Holmes's suggestion would receive
that attention from the Dock Committee to which it was
entitled. He (the mayor) begged now to ask whether there
was any objection to the report read being received? (Se-
veral voices, " No, no.")
Mr. HENRY HOLMES said they were all unanimous on
the subject of receiving it.
Mr. EVANS begged to put a question. As the object of
the report was to allay or prevent opposition, he asked any
gentleman connected with the warehouse interest whether
that object had been then effected ; and he wished to know
if there was any body to speak for them in the council?
Mr. II ARBORD was quite prepared to answer for them, and
to express his answer as laconically as the question had been
put. In the first place, he would say that Alderman Evans
had heretofore protested that he would oppose any conces-
sions; and, in the second place, that as the warehouse own-
ers had not as yet received the report, they were not enabled
to say whether they would accept it or not. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. EVANS then proceeded to say, that whatever might
be the result of the report, and that whether the council di-
vided on it or not, he could not pass the arrangement over
without declaring that it was anything but satisfactory to
him. He looked upon it that they had got opponents who
had wriggled everything out of them without giving them
anything in exchange. The council were now called on, not
only to bind themselves, but to bind posterity, not only to
bind the present Dock Committee and council, but future
Dock Committees and councils. He questioned very much
whether the legislature would consider it right, or whether
they would quietly permit an interdiction of improvements
for twelve years with a town like Liverpool, which was the
great commercial arm of the whole empire, and which was
advancing with gigantic strides. He could not believe that
the inhabitants of Liverpool would look on with patience
when they found warehouses rising in the Harrington and
Herculaneum Docks, and that they were interdicted in the
middle of the old town—the place of all others which in
equity ought to precede every other part in improvements—
(cries of " Hear, hear, hear")—and he believed that the first
warehouse that would spring out of the earth in the Harring-
ton or Herculaneum Docks, would cause warehouses to be
raised up about the Old Dock of Liverpool. But why should
any obstacle be placed in the way ?' If it were right that
warehouses ought not to be built, why not confide in the
wisdom and equity of future dock committees and councils ?
There was another matter that he considered concerned the
character—he would almost say the honour—of the town ;
for, to go up to parliament with a plan for a new dock, mu-
tilated as it was, was, in his opinion, to exhibit a monument
to the eyes of the legislature, the British empire, and indeed
all Europe, which were looking at them more than they were
aware of—a monument, he repeated, of an unworthy subser-
viency to interests which, if they had any equitable claim,
would have found supporters. He had a firm reliance on the
integrity of Lord Lyndhurst, and he would be content—
much as he disapproved of his political character, if they put
him in his official situation, subject to his official responsi-
bilities—to place the utmost confidence in his rectitude and
correctness, and to Lord Lyndhurst and Sir Robert Peel he
would confide the whole adjustment of this question. So far
from apprehending weakness in the quarter alluded to in
committee, he looked there for his strength, and was sure he
would find it thee. He had remonstrated with the sub-
cotnmittee for overrating the power of the opposition, and he
had begged of them not to come down, as it were, to zero,
while they were getting nothing for it, and they then rose to
blood-beat.
The MAYOR rose to order. These observations would be
very appropriate when the report came under consideration,
but at present they were ill-timed.
Mr. EVANS said he was referring to the course pursued by
the committee who had framed the report, and he desired it
to be taken as his protest against parts of that report. He
reserved to himself the right of addressing the council here-
after upon their having limited the number of warehouses,
because they had narrowed into so small a basis that, consi-
dering what they had given up, it was scarcely worth while
to go to parliament.
Mr. EARLE hoped he would have the right to reply to
these observations.
Mr. EvANs begged he might be allowed to proceed.
Mr. EARLE said he was anxious to have the fullest dis-
cussion.

The MAYOR said that the observations Mr. Evans was
then addressing to the council would be exceedingly well
placed if a moticu had been made for the adoption of the re-
port, but, that not being the case, they were out of place.
Mr. EVANS was sorry to differ in opinion with the mayor,
but if they came there, as he had heard it once said in Scot-
land, " to vote and not to speak," or, if it was the opinion
of the council that he ought not to proceed, he would sit
down.

The MAYOR asked whether Mr. Evans meant to propose
any motion against the reception of the report ? because, if
so, he might proceed.
Mr. EVANS thought the mayor bad no right to drive him
into that at the beginning of his observations. The subject
to which he was addressing himself was then before the
council, and, though his remarks might not be approved of,
he maintained that he was not going into irrelevant matter.
Mr. BUSHELL asked the town-clerk whether it was not
competent for any member to speak on a motion that was
made?

Mr. EVANS said he would bring his remarks to a close, in
consequence of what the mayor had stated, but that he would
first offer one observation in reply to what fell from Mr.
Isaac Holmes, about the Duke of Bridgewater's trustees.
To that project they had given every attention, but they
found it to be impracticable, because an amount of money
was asked to effect an improvement that no man in his senses
would say it was worth. (Hear, hear.)
The MAYOR asked if Mr. Bushell wished to put the ques-
tion to the town-clerk which he had asked shortly before ?
Mr. BD SHELL replied in the negative, but said that he was
surprised at the course Mr. Evans had pursued ; because,
according to the word of the report, it appeared to have been
unanimously adopied, and that no division whatever had taken
place upon it in committee, whereas it now appeared, in point
of fact, that there had been a very great division on it, not

perhaps in numbers, but certainly inopinion. What did the
report amount to ? If Mr. Evans was candid in putting forth
the opinions he had then expressed, why did he not embody
them in the report received ? And if he was candid, and that
in fact be was laughing in his sleeve at what had taken place,
tbei4 he (Mr. Bushell) would say, that the opinions contained

in the report and the opinions held by Mr. Evans were as
contrary as white was from black. He (Mr. Bushell) con-
fessed that he was in a dilemma with regard to the report
under present circumstances, because, at first, he was glad to
find that an unanimous opinion was come to in the committee,
but now he was astonished to find that that opinion was not
unanimous.

Mr, EARLE said that with regard to what Mr. Evans had

said about not allowing warehouses to be built, he had one
observation to make. If the proposed transit sheds answer-
ed, there would be no necessity for warehouses ; if not, it
was more than probable that warehouses would be built.
The report was then unanimously received, a slight altera-
tion in one of its provisions being first agreed to without ob-
servation.

Mr. H. HoRNDY then rose and said that the following re-
solution, which he had great pleasure in proposing, had been
just placed in his hands :
" That the reference recommended in the report be made
to the Finance Committee, subject to the reconsideration by
this council of the whole matter, if the object of conciliation
be not effected."
He would not trouble the council with any observations on
this motion, hut just to notice a remark which had been made
use of by Mr. Evans. He (Mr. H.) thought the committee
had not shown any unworthy subserviency to private inte-
rests, as had been alleged by the gentleman in question. It
was true, he (Mr. H.) admitted, that some advantage would
arise to local interests, by reason of the time originally in-
tended for erecting the warehouses being postponed, but it
was only using a proper regard to those interests, that no un-
necessary or undue haste should be used in bringing the
warehouses into being. (Hear, hear.) It was influenced
by that reason that he was willing to concede to a postpone-
ment ; and he had only now to hope that his resolution
would be adopted.
Mr. J. Smirk' asked whether the resolution was in strict
order, for he thought they, had already disposed of the busi-
ness of the day.
Mr. H. HORNBY said that the resolution was in accord-
ance with the latter part of the report.
Mr. J. SmITH understood that they were merely called on
to receive the report on that occasion.
The TOWN-CLERK replied. The council had then to de-
termine whether they would receive the report in whole or in
part.

Mr. JOHN IloulEs then seconded Mr. Hornby's motion.
Mr. SHELL moved, as an amendment, "That the report be
taken into consideration at the next meeting of the council."
He was induced to move this amendment in consequence of
what had been stated at the commencement of the report—
namely, that it had been agreed to without a division. Now
he would put it to any plain man whether that was not the
conclusion to which he would arrive on reading the passage
in question ? Ile was never more astonished, therefore, than
when he heard Mr. Evans say, that he disagreed with the re-
port, a fact which plainly proved that it had not been unani-
mously adopted. It was the duty of the council, under those
circumstances to devote a little time to its consideration.
Mr. EVANS wished to say a few words with regard to the
want of unanimity in the council. It was only on one point
that he had reserved his right to dissent, on every other he
had acquiesced with the rest of the committee, and, there-
fore, the argument raised by Mr. Sheil had a very limited
and narrow basis to go upon. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. R. GLADSTONE said that the observation alluded to
in the report was merely intended to convey to the council
the unanimity that prevailed in the committee.
The MAYOR would further state that there bad been very
considerable discussion on the subject in the committee, but
that all minor matters were merged into a general agreement.
There were certainly some strong expressions made use of
by members on both sides, but as those expressions had sub-
sequently merged into a mutual agreement, it would not be
judicious, perhaps to allude to them on that occasion.
Mr. BUSHELL said it occurred to him that the motion be-
fore the council held out a premium to the warehouse owners
for further opposition. He asked when this question was to
be settled ? The appointment of the committee had cer-
tainly weakened the strength of the warehouse owners, inas-
much as there were six warehouse owners upon it who were
now committed to the principles contained in the report.
The effect of the motion, however, would be, to hold out a
premium to further opposition.
Mr. YATES seconded Mr. Sheil's amendment. He thought
it would be rather unfortunate were the council to express its
approbation of the report, because it would be well to know,
in the first place, if the warehouse owners would withdraw
their opposition, and by adopting Mr. Sheil's amendment,
there would be plenty of time for ascertaining that fact. If
they would not withdraw their opposition, it would be unwise
to adopt the report ; for, although he wished the matter to
be settled, he could not agree to what was proposed in the
report, except on the ground of giving up largely for the sake
of conciliation, and to prevent injury from being done to the
port of Liverpool by reason of nothing being effected. He

thought the time would arrive when the proposed transit
sheds would he turned into warehouses.
Mr. AIKIN thought that if Mr. Shed and Mr. Yates had
had looked to the words " reasonable opposition," expressed
in the report of the committee, they would have been saved
the trouble of making speeches. Was it to be supposed that
that council would stay their bill in consequence of any un-
just opposition on the part of any portion of the warehouse
owners ? There was no doubt that let the council resolve on
whatever course it would, some persons would be dissatisfied;
and it was impossible to have all satisfied. He had given up
several points for the purposes of conciliation and also for
the purpose of disarming hostility, and he believed that i
they went to parliament, based on the present recommenda-
tions (recommendations which were contained originally in
Lord Sandon's letter) they would disarm opposition ; but he
also believed that delay would entail disgrace. Mr. Hornby's
motion was indefinite, because, according to its tenor, if the
report failed in bringing about conciliation, or if, in fine, any
warehouse proprietor was not conciliated, then the whole
thing was to be opened_ up again ! The present course was
far preferable. They were now prepared by a large majority
to adopt the course suggested by Lord Sandon, and which
reflected great honour upon his lordship, who was now fol-
lowing in the steps of the great Huskisson. As the commit-
tee, therefore, had followed up Lord Sandon's recommenda-
tion, he begged to move " that the report be adopted."
Mr. ROBINSON agreed with Mr. Aikin's motion, and
hoped .Mr. Sheil would be induced to withdraw his amend-
ment, as delay would only have the effect of raising up ima-
ginary opposition:

Mr. CASE could not agree to either the motion or the
amendment. (A laugh.) He disagreed from the motion,
because it was totally unnecessary, inasmuch as the report
recommended a reference to the committee, who were to
report to the council, and then for the council to discuss and
determine on the report as made by the committee. He
disagreed from the amendment, because it proposed to refer
the whole subject to the next council, which would take place
before the committee could have made any report whatever.
It was, therefore, different from the report of the special
committee appointed upon this subject, to which the council
were much indebted, and the object of which was, to carry
conciliation completely into effect. He agreed to the motion
just made by Mr. Aikin for the adoption of the report. For
what was the adoption of the report? The adoption of the
report meant the adoption of the general principle of the
measure, subject to a discussion in the committee, and sub-
ject to a discussion in the council afterwards whereinl all
matters in the bill would be taken into consideration. It
would be competent for any one to open a discussion on the
subject in the council; and he believed many of the clauses
of the bill would have to be altered in consequence of the
suggestions of the committee.

Mr. AIKIN said they only pledged themselves at present
to the principle, and then the matters of detail would be
under the supervision of the Finance Committee. The
principle being conceded, he thought there would be no oc-
casion to bring that question before th4e-council again.
Mr. H. HORNDY said he had no objection to withdraw
his motion in favour of Mr. Aikin's.

Mr. BIRKETT then rose for the purpose of showing that
the committee had not adopted the recommendations con-
tained in Lord Sandon's' letter; as alleged by Mr. Aikin ;
but was interrupted by
The MAYOR, who commenced to recapitulate Lord San-
don's recommendations, in the course of which Mr. Birkett
resumed his seat. At the close there were several calls for
Mr. Birkett to proceed.
Mr. BIRKETT said that he had three times attempted to
address the mayor, but was as often interrupted. He con-
sidered it extremely unfair, but he would not attempt to ad-
dress him a fourth time. •

Mr. H. LAWRENCE suggested that there be an end to the
discussion.

Mr. ShEIL said, as it appeared to be the general opinion
that the report should be adopted, he would not divide the
council Cu his amendment.

Mr. YATES said, that if the warehouse owners should not
have any unfair advantage in parliament, he would consent
to withdraw Mr. Shell's amendment, he having been its se-
conder.—Withdrawn accordingly. _

The report was then declared to have been unanimously
adopted, and the council adjourned at a quarter after twelve
o'clock.

HER MAJESTY'S VISIT TO PARLIAMENT TO
OPEN THE SESSION.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
It is a practice so congenial to the feelings of the whig
party to make the personal popularity of their Sovereign
cover their own notorious want of favour with the public,
that I was anxious to be able to inform you, from personal
observation, of the exact degree of merit which Lord Mel-
bourne's administration was fairly entitled to claim, on the
score of the favourable reception accorded to her Majesty on
this occasion by her subjects. If ever there was a time when
the appearance in public of the, monarch was likely to excite
in a more than usual degree the affectionate congratulations
of her people, one would naturally imagine that on this occa-
sion such congratulations might have been fully calculated
upon. Since her last public appearance her Majesty had
presented to the nation .an heir to the throne ; and upon so
youug and so lovely a mother, could a body of English men
and women be found callous enough to visit the sins of her
advisers, or to manifest towards her any feelings but those of
kindly sympathy and loyal devotion? The natural supposi-
tion was, undoubtedly, that none such could be found ; and
those who are in the habit of jumping to conclusions antici-
pated (as the ministerial organs have represented the fact)
that the royal progress from the palace to Westminster would
be " a triumphant ovation."
A description of the procession (which you will have from
the ordinary sources) I will not trouble you with, but proceed
to describe the expression of public opinion which it attracted.
In the park the company was very numerous, the entire dis-
tance, from Buckingham Palace to the Horse Guards, being
lined on both sides of the procession, by people apparently of
the middle and lower classes, a great portion being females.
During the progress of her Majesty, the most decorous order
was observed by the anxious gazers ; but except on one occa-
sion, when first leaving the palace, there was scarcely any
manifestation of popular feeling which could, by a stretch of
the ordinary use of language, he termed enthusiasm. In
Downing-street and Parliament-street the same concourse of
people lined both sides of the road, and most of the shops and
windows were crowded with well-dressed females ; but beyond
the waving of white pocket handkerchiefs, and la occasional
feeble attempt to get up a cheer, no feeling bv) uud that of
ordinary curiosity was manifested. Au evident apathy
peered to pervade the entire assemblage.
The prevailing sentiment, I venture to say, felt towards
' her Majesty in the minds of her subjects present, was that of
affectionate pity. Throughout the whole of her progress she
was evidently suffering from an exertion to which her present
strength was manifestly unequal. Her features were very
pale, and marked by an agitation of manner which it is said
is unusual in her to display ; and by some observers it was
thought that disappointment, caused by the evident coldness
with which her greetings were received on the part of her
subjects, contributed to increase the anxious expression of
her countenance. Her winning smile and deeply-interesting
manner would have disarmed any hostility, however deep-
rooted, could such a feeling exist towards her ; but even these
failed in converting pity and admiration into enthusiasm.
Beyond the ordinary number of mere sightseers, I believe
that nine-tenths of the crowd assembled would gladly have
forgone the pleasure of seeing the person of their Sovereign,
and have preferred that the session should be opened, and the
royal speech read, by commission, rather than that her Ma-
jesty should be dragged from her domestic privacy, and ex-
posed, within so short a period after her accouchement, and
in her present evident state of weakness, to the fatigue con-
sequent upon this pageant.
Some public demonstration, however, was desired in favour
of the Melbourne incapables ; and her Majesty was willing
to make the sacrifice of personal comfort to strengthen her
ministers. I doubt much, however, and lam not singular
in doubting, whether the result has answered ministerial
expectations. The members of the ministry themselves, I
may remark, very prudently abstained from making any very
prominent display of their own persons on their way to both
houses.

STRANGE ADVENTURE-SUPPOSED CASE OF

FRAUD

Public attention has been much attracted to the suspicious
circumstances of the loss of the Dryad. A somewhat similar
transaction has recently come to light, and been the subject
of much conversation i❑ Liverpool. Some few months since
a vessel called the Activa sailed from Liverpool for Lisbon,
laden with British manufactures. A letter was subsequently
received from some place in Spain, from the captain, stating
her total loss. In due course he presented himself in Lisbon,
prepared the necessary documents, and forwarded a minute
account of the circumstances to the parties who had shipped
the goods. The usual claims were of course made on the
underwriters, and duly honoured. Letters, however, have
just been received, stating that a Hamburgese vessel had
arrived at Madeira, and had offered for sale goods which had
been taken from the Activa. Some merchants in Madeira
recognising the mark of the Lisbon house to whom the goods
belonged, called for the interference of the consul, and by his
exertions the Lisbon owners were made aware of the facts.
The account given by the Hamburger was, that having fallen
in with the Activa abandoned by her crew, they had taken
out the goods to make her navigable, and had sent her into
the island of St. Thomas. On the other hand it was sworn,
in the papers sent home by the captain of the Activa, that she
had been seen to go down after she was abandoned !
Whatever may be the real history of the transaction, one
fact is certain, that the risks and losses incurred by British
merchants from the incapacity, cowardice, or roguery of such
people as the crew of the Activa, are wholly due to the apathy
with which our government permits foreign powers to cripple
our mercantile marine by capricious fiscal enactments. For
instance, merchants at Liverpool are virtually compelled to
ship goods for Portugal in Portuguese bottoms, because our
grateful allies impose an additional 15 per cent. on British
goods imported in British bottoms ! Such matters as these
are quite beneath the consideration or notice of the diplo-
matic dignitaries of the foreign-office.

Since the above was in type, we have received the Morning
Post, and in the Lisbon letter we find the following allusion
to this transaction. It will demand a searching investigation.
By the Portuguese schooner Funchal, arrived here in six
days from Madeira, it is related that a Danish barque had
appeared there with a quantity of Manchester piece goods,
which were attempted to be sold by the captain, who, how-
ever, from a want of knowledge of the custom. house regu-
lations, had not made proper manifests, so that the property
was seized under the custom-house law, and the captain fined
some £6OO. It appears that the Dane had met at sea the
Portuguese brig Activa, dismasted and abandoned, from
which he had taken the goods in question to lighten the ves-
sel, upon which he shipped his mate and some five men,
sending her on to St. Thomas ! If such are the facts, the
Dane appears to have been disposed to appropriate the whole
cargo, and will probably get himself into unpleasant diffi-
culties ; whilst, had he gone honestly to work, the salvage
must have been very great, as the cargo was estimated at
£15,000 value.

FEMALE PoActies..:—An offender answering this descrip-
tion, was, about two o'ciock in the morning of Sunday, the
10th instant, caught following her vocation on the game pre-
serves of I. B. S. Moffitt, Esq., of Rokeby Park, in the
north riding of this county. The female alluded to, is house-
keeper to a person named Hodgson, residing in Barnard
Castle. The fruits of this fair one's early rising, is said to
have been a plentiful supply of hares, which were found in
her possession, carefully wrapped lip in an under garment
which she had (notwithstanding the inclemency of the season)
stripped off for the purpose. The matter has been investi-
gated before the magistrates, and the gallant fair committed
to the House of Correction at Northallerton, for three ca-
lendar months.—Halifax'Guardian.
MR. OASTLER.-At a meeting of the friends of Mr.
Oastler, held at the house of Mr. James Wade, New Inn, on
Thursday week, the following resolution was moved by Mr.
Auty, and seconded by Mr. Hustler :—" That it is the opi-
nion of this meeting that our warmest thanks are due and are
hereby given to that great and good man, Richard Oastler,
for his indefatigable exertions on behalf of the poor, op-
pressed factory slave ; his unabating labours in defence of
the ill-used handloom weavers ; and his stern and unflinch-
ing opposition to the New Poor Law Amendment Act (falsely
so called) ; and
while we lament the influence which has in-
duced Mr. Thornhill to cast his old steward into prison (af-
ter having faithfully and efficiently served him for 18 years,)
they trust that He who has all hearts in his hand will soften
the heart of Mr. Thornhill. In the meantime we hereby
pledge ourselves to promote his interest by every possible
means that lays in our power," We are happy to add that
Mr. Oastler's " Fleet Papers." are
looked for with interest
by a numerous body of his friends in this town.—Halrfax
Guardian.