The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-09-27 00:00:00

)e a suit

perfect concurrence, if this Council thought fit to carry
out that improvement. The visit made a deep impression
on my mind. It now only remains for me to disclose to
this Council, and through it to the community, the name
of the gentleman who has made this munificent offer. It
is Mr. William Brown, one of the members for South
Lancashire. I have no doubt, in making this communi-

generous a gift. (Applause.)
Mr. CHARLES TURNEr

pass a resole

said he was sure that all the

members of the Council had heard the Mayor's announce-
ment with deep gratitude to Mr. Brown, and with great
satisfaction that they had among them a merchant of his
worth and high abilities, who had justly earned, during a
long life in this town, the esteem and approbation of his
fellow-townsmen, and who had always been ready to come
forward to advance the interests of the inhabitants of
Liverpool. Until a few minutes before he entered the
Council-chamber, he had not the slightest idea that this
announcement was to be made to this Council, and he was,
therefore, not prepared to express his feelings adequately
upon the occasion. He was, however, sure that the

&amen would not allow the announeenient of this gift to
pass over without adopting some such resolution as that
to which the Mayor had alluded. In conclusion, he pro-
posed a resolution to the effect, " That the thanks of the
meeting be conveyed to Mr. Brown, for his munificent
offer of £6,000 towards the erection of a Free Public
Library at the north end of Shaw's-brow, when the con-
templated high-level bridge has been constructed."
Sir JoUN BENT had great pleasure in seconding Mr.
Turner's motion ; but, after the well-deserved eulogiums
which the Mayor and Mr. Turner had paid to Mr. Brown
for his munificent gift, no words of his were necessary to
add to its importance. He should, therefore, content him-
self by observing, that, as an inhabitant of this town, he
appreciated very highly the value of the establishment of
a Free Public Library of this kind in Liverpool ; and he
was as grateful to him as, he was sure, the inhabitants of
tie
l‘rO.ViclLWEOGrillsodiceq: equally
nb-ee. to understand that the offer is
made on the consideration that the site of the building
shall be Shaw's-brow ? because I think it is possible that
a better site may be found.
The MAYOR 1 I pointed out to Mr. Brown the improve-
ments that were contemplated on Shaw's-brow, and he
said that if the Council thought fit to make that improve-
ment, that site would meet with his concurrence, as being
nearly the centre of Liverpool, and accessible to all classes,
particularly to those for whose peculiar benefit the institu-
tion would be formed.
bestlair.
p la. Aldermantßo adoptß,r 1), c
wouldß OTO 1 : tsbe .1ctthoughtomo itv e would of a .
vote
Ro E so G An r was that the
to
3diirs.cuss the questionL of situation at present.p
Mr. Brown, and to keep the question of situation entirely
separate and distinct. He was very sorry that the two
had been mixed up together, and that the question of
thanks should have come before the Council in the shape
of a cut and dried resolution. The question of a high
level bridge was involved with difficulties, and ought not
to have been introduced along with that of a vote of
thanks to Mr. Brown. He suggested that a vote of
thanks should be moved to Mr. Brown distinct from the
question of situation. Let them do justice to the muni-
ficentoffer, and afterwards to the other subject.
Mr. STEWART thought Mr. Gladstone was right. There
could only be one feeling of gratitude to -Mr. Brown ;
and they should confine themselves, in the first instance,
to an expression of the warmest thanks to him for his offer.
Mr. THOMSON, in the name of a large party out of doors
—the mechanical apprentices, tendered Mr. Brown his
warmest thanks.
Mr. BENNETT.—As Mr. Brown has expressed a wish as
to the site, I think the two resolutions should go together.
Mr. J. H. TURNER.—He does express a decided wish
on the subject, I think.
The MAYou.—Mr. Brown said the Council would no
doubt select a suitable site. I mentioned the north end of
St. George's Hall, and he thought it a very convenient
spot.
Mr. BrGagm wished the Council to be informed clearly
under what circumstances the offer was made. Was it
simply on the condition that they should provide a suit-
able site ?
The MAYOR repeated that Mr. Brown had offered the
sum of £6,000 for the erection of a free library and mu-
seum, on condition that the Council should privide a suit-
able situation. Mr. Brown did not mention any particular
site ; but he (the Mayor) pointed out a site which he
• thought was obtainable, and Mr. Brown expressed his con-
currence, and stated that he thought the situation a very
central, and, therefore, a very suitable one.
It was agreed that the consideration of the subject
should be deferred until a later period of the proceedings,
in order that the Town-clerk might divide the two ques-
tions of "vote of thanks" and "situation" into two sepa-
rate resolutions.
This was subsequently done, and the amended motion,
conveying a vote of thanks to Mr. Brown, was unani-
mously
adopted. It was in the following terms :---
" That the Mayor be requested to convey to Mr. Brown
the full appreciation, by this Council, of the noble senti-
ments which have actuated, and of the generosity which ,
has prompted this most munificent proposal, and to inform
him that the Council readily avail themselves of an offer
which will secure to the inhabitants a suitable building
for the Free Public Library. And this Council desires,
also, to tender to Mr. Brown their warmest thanks for a
gift which, they feel assured, will be fully appreciated by
all classes of the community."
PROPOSED TOWN IMPROVEMENTS.
Mr. Alderman BENNETT, in the absence of the chair-
man of the Museum Committee, (Mr. Picton,) moved the
confirmation of the minutes of the Improvement Com-
mittee, which recommended the widening of Hatton-
garden to a width of 20 yards at the cost of £16,150; the
construction of a " street from the bottom of Shaw's-
brow to the top of Manchester-street, including improve-
ments in Shaw's-brow, and the works connected
therewith," at an expense of £80,600 ; the purchase of
a small portion of land in Hardman-street to enable them
to make it the same width from top to bottom, at an
expense of £1,500; and lastly, the widening of Water-
street, by carrying it down past the iron warehouse, at
the same width as it is opposite to the office of the City
of Ltablin Company, at a cost of £7,250; making a total
of £114,500. The Town-clerk, in offering a financial
statement, thought they would be justified in expending
this SUM of money, which, calculated at an interest of 6
per tout would be something like an expenditureueient of
£6,800 a.-year ; and the Corporation Estate was s ffi rly
ftlhoeuricosrahiugnxitteeto
cojunsstiiSyeredthisw.ereTlienseth.weerriegiallit
distepstiown:.iaseh
gunbpefroorveemtheen
et,
owuhn.
ciwih.
ionwustedbgebit
the public meeting at
ftnebceomrecomitmtenele;nattionnes
he forming
hopdp t!.l Arte yo fshould a
grandbe ablescheme
ofth
would be bgehtpatissed"' tiut.
apitiipiTioi
Town Committee,Mayor
presided, were alsedoroollNu,netana.nennnitOecollab
elErnmWei
dti St
eh
in g these i t
oe-
move that the proceedin the p
mprovements to o
fbrlTin
be confirmed- -c ........va lonoth ensued in the ennrge of

A discussion of some cnoucut, Lai Tv uvulae vi
which Mr. BIG/rAN said—The recommendation to erect
a high-level bridge was the result of a committee's deli-
beration out of doors, and the considerations which caused
them to adopt the suggestions were quite secret. Would
it not be proper for some persons representing that com-
mittee to give them a few reasons why this recommenda-
tion was made, to enable them to arrive at the same
conclusion, if possible ? Taking a common sense view of
the question, he should say that a high-level bridge was
likely to do serious injury to property in and about
Shaw's-brow ; and that the compensation to which parties
would be entitled would be a very large sum indeed.
With the present high rate of interest, and a probability
of an increase, combined with the possibility of a check
in their trade, which would be likely to continue for some
time, would it be wise and prudent to enter upon a scheme
involving a certain expenditure of £ll4,soo,—and it might
resolve itself into an outlay of £250,000,—a quarter of a
million ; and he dared say he had as much ground for
thinking it would be £250,000, as Mr. Bennett had for
imagining it would be £ll4,soo,—would it be wise to un-
dertake those improvements ? He thought the subject
ought to receive the careful deliberation of the whole
Council, in order that they might condense the whole a
the facts, and then consider what measures they should
adopt. He should, therefore, move that the subject be
referred back to the mgalt*,—Nr, iizziDERBON se-
coded the amendment.

Committee

COM_VISSIO.N:z.ns
EETING.

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