The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-03-06 00:00:00

THE POLICE FORCE.

The preceding remarks, the accompanying returns, and the
orderly state of the town, prove the continued efficiency of
the police force.
Watch Committee-room, 1 (Signed)
29th Feb. 1840. I Wm. THORNHILL, Chairman.

Mr. THORNHILL moved the confirmation of the proceed-
ings, and that the report upon the state of crime be printed,
and a copy forwarded to the Secretary of State for the Home
Department by his worship the Mayor.
Mr. CASE seconded the motion.
Mr. BLACKBURN asked whether these tabular returns
would be furnished to the public at large, and whether the
report would be supplied to the members of the Council?
The report was extremely interesting and important.
Mr. THORNIII LL replied in the affirmative, and amended
his motion, to the effect that a copy of the report be sent to
every member of the Council.
Mr. H. LAWRENCE did not rise to oppose the motion, or
to resist the alterations suggested, because he bad had no op-
portunity of considering them. But the Watch Committee
having taken up more beggars this year than in previous
years, He would refer them to Lace-street, which he hoped
they would clear, for there was no time of the day when pas-
sengers were not molested by vagrants there.
The motion was then put and carried.
PRocKEDLNGs; OF THE MARKET COMMITTEE.
This committee, in their proceedings, reported their hav-
ing appointed Mr. Abraham Lewyer, to the situation of
market-looker, at a salary of £l5O per annum, in the room
of thelate Mr. Henry Lace.
MrAIENwe HoLmus moved the confirmation of the pro-
ceedings, and Mr. THORNHILL seconded the motion.
11r. Isaac HOLMES understood that this appointment had
been made in consequence of the death of Mr. Lace. Mr.
Lewyer, he believed, had been only an attorney's writer, and
therefore what peculiar qualifications he could have for the
superintendent of a market he was at a loss to imagine, except
it was to vindicate reformed principles. He had been told
this man had made himself extremely active as one of the
principal canvassers in North Toxteth Ward, and, as a dele-
gate, from the ward to the reform association, and that
therefore, he had become uncommonly well qualified to till
the situation of a market superintendent. As to Scotland
Ward, they were well off, for they had two extremely active
reform canvassers among the market-lookers there, and he
believed the same was the case, not in that ward alone, but
in Vauxhall and St. Paul's. East, west, and north, there
fore, we found attention paid to canvassing by market-lookers
at the north end of the town, and he supposed the south end
must now have one in the person of this Mr. Lewyer. This
appointment was a wrong one, when it was considered what
other individuals were among the candidates. One of them
had held a situation in St. John's Market for between eight
and nine years, against whom there had never been even the
shadow of a suspicion. That man, he believed, had been
most strongly recommended, but his claims had been passed
over in favour of this Mr. Lewyer, of whom be (Mr. Holmes)
had never heard, except on the Ist of November, 1838, when
it was mentioned in the Mail newspaper that he was one of
those who had been promised a situation when the new docks
should be built. A situation, however, had turned out be-
fore the docks had been built, and, of course, it was given to
him. He (Mr. Holmes) was aware that the majority of the
council would negative any motion he should make; but
when he found there had been applications from 67 individu-
als for this office, not less than two dozen of whom were well
known in the town, and that a stranger was appointed to it,
he must solemnly protest against the measure; and, he
trusted, although he could not hope to be able to prevent
this appointment, that on any future vacancy, the committee
would look for different claims than those of an electioneering
Character, which were the only claims this individual pos-
sessed. He might perhaps be said he was qualified for the

situation of a market-looker, because he had seen an attor-
ney's office swept out, but that, he apprehended, was not a
sufficient qualification.
Mr. M`liEE said Mr. Lewyer was a very honest and a very
honourable man ; and if the member for Scotland Ward
thought that worth and honesty and integrity, along with
liberal principles, were incompatible, let him at once state it.
Mr. Lewyer was a very respectable man, well qualified for
the situation, and if there was only one recommendation
proving it, that of his late employer, who was a very active
conservative, was sufficient. Now, although Mr. Lewyer had
taken an active part in asserting his principles, his employer
considered him as a most efficient servant, and had so much
respect for him that he became one of his sureties. Tlvire
was also another fact which should be known—namely, that
the greatest number of Mr. Lewyer's testimonials, were from
conservatives.

Mr. ISAAC HOLMES.—With regard to honesty and integ-
rity, I particularly mentioned these were the very qnalitica-
tions for the individual in St. John's Market.
• Mr. RATHBONE said it was rather unfortunate that Mr.
Holmes should make these remarks, for he (Mr. Rathbone)
believed that the late Mr. Lace, before being appointed, to
the situation, was a cabinet maker, and taken out of the office
of his cousin, Mr. Ambrose Lace.
Mr. EARLE said, some gentlemen were drawn into conse-
quence by being answered. There was one individual in that
room who was perpetually bringing charges against the coun-
cil, but the best way of treating him was with silent contempt.

After a few words from Mr. JOHN HoLmEs the motion
was carried.

MISCELLANEOUS

The proceedings of the Town Hall Establishment, the
Education, and the Church Expenditure, Committees, were
next read and confirmed.
ADDRESS TO THE QUEEN, &C.

The MAYOR announced, that in conformity with the re-
solution of the council, on the 17th of February Mr. Alder-
man Sheil, Mr. Councillor Bushell and himself had pro-
ceeded to London, and presented the councils address to
the Queen, which was most graciously received. On a sub-
sequent day they had the pleasure of presenting the address
to his Royal Highness Prince Albert, whose answer he would
read :—" Accept my sincere thanks for your congratulations,
and I beg that you will assure the inhabitants of Liverpool
that I have received their address with the most lively satis-
faction and pleasure." They had the gratification of re-
ceiving this reply from the Prince himself, and he (the
Mayor) would venture to suggest, that this would be a most
fitting occasion for the council to possess themselves of a
full length portrait of her Majesty, for the purpose of being
placed in the Town Hall.
Mr. EARLE.—We must have the Prince too, then.
The conversation then dropped.
MR. (MILL'S SALARY.

The •Mnroz next read a letter from Mr. Charles Okill,
clerk of committees, addressed to the council, thanking them
for the increase recently made to his salary.

RE-BUILDING OF ST. GEORGE'S-STREET CHAPEL.

The MAYOR said the next subjectfor consideration was a
letter from Mr. Joseph Franklin, the corporation surveyor,
in which he referred to a resolution passed by the building
committee for re-erecting St. George-street chapel. This
resolution was to the effect that•llr. Franklin should. be re-
quested to'furnish the designs of the intended new edifice ;
but to do so being contrary to his engagement, the matter
was submitted to the council for their determination, as to
whether, under the circumstances, they would permit him so
far to depart from his agreement.
Mr. G. HOLT was not aware of this matter being brought
forward ; but seeing no objection to the proposition, he would
move that the request be complied with, and that Mr. Frank-
lin have permission to act as the architect in this case.
Mr. BRIGHT seconded the motion.

Mr. SHELL moved that the agreement before the council
and Mr. Franklin be read. If they adopted the motion of
Mr. Holt, they would set a dangerous and very improper
precedent. He should be very sorry to interfere with the
views of the gentlemen who had come to the resolution just
read, or with the just wishes of Mr. Franklin ; but they (the
council) had been sent there to perform a duty to the public,
and they ought, therefore, to be very careful how they set an
example—a bad example—of permitting persons in their
service to deviate from their agreement with the public,
made through the council's instrumentality. He did not
think they could safely or justly grant the request,
.and for
that reason he should vote against it.
Mr. JOHN SMITH perfectly coincided with the views of
Mr. Alderman Sheil, and had great pleasure in seconding
his motion, that the terms of Mr. Franklin's appointment
be read.

Mr. W. W. CURRIE said; it could scarcely be necessary
to read the terms of the appointment, because all the council
well knew Mr. Franklin had engaged to give the whole of
his time to the service of the public, arid that to accept the
present offer would be a violation of it. If, however, there
was any danger of this application being drawn into a prece-
dent, of which lie (Mr. Currie) had no fear, he was sure Mr.
Franklin, whom he had seen that morning, would cheerfully
withdraw the application ; but, having been applied to in so
flattering a manner, he thought it only respectful to submit
the matter to the council.

The DEPUTY TOWN-CLERK read the agreement moved
for by Mr. Alderman Sheil, dated May 4, 1836, from which
it .appeared that Mr. Franklin's salary was to be £5OO per
annum, and that, in consideration of it, he was wholly to
devote his time and services to the public. [The salary has
since been increased to £7OO per annum.]
Mr. WOpLRIGHT inquired whether Mr. Franklin, since
his engagement with the council, had not furnished some
plans to the Grand Junction Railway Company, or the Lon-
don and Birmingham Railway Company.
The DEPUTY TOWN-CLERK replied in the affirmative—to
the Grand Junction Company.
Mr. SHELL said probably that might be under some exist-
ing arrangement with the company before Mr. Franklin
entered the service of the corporation.
Mr. BRIGHT said the application was made in consequence
of a very serious calamity to the congregation of Great
George-street Chapel, and the cause, therefore, was out of
the ordinary rules. He could see no impolicy in granting
the permission.
Mr. RATHBONE considered that the permission would be
only shewing a kindly feeling towards Mr. Franklin, espe-
dially as he had pledged himself not to take any time belong-
ing to the public. He would, therefore, give him the per-
mission. As to setting a precedent, it appeared to him that
if Mr. Franklin was allowed to furnish plans only when
places of worship were burned down, the interests of the
council would not be materially injured. .
Mr. JORDAN thought that whenever any place of worship
was burned down, the surveyor to the corporation ought to
give his services.
Mr. BLACKBURN was of opinion the council might with
strict propriety comply with the request, having Mr. Frank-
lin's assurance that it would not interfere with the discharge
of his public duty. It was a compliment to the council to
have elected a 'surveyor-who stood so high in the estimation
of those .who had passed the resolution, that they wished to
avail themselves of his services. From what he knew of
Mr. Franklin's character, and had heard from him, he could
state that if the permission was not unanimously conceded,
he would not accept it. In the case of the Grand Junction
Railway, he had furnished plans without any evil result to
the corporation interests.
Mr. JOHN SMITH asked whether Mr. Franklin intended
to act gratuitously ?
Mr. BLACKBURN was not prepared to answer the question.
Mr. EARLE was also of opinion that it would be ungracious
to refuse. •

The motion was about to be put, when
Mr. Alderman SHEIL intimated that he should divide the
Council upon the matter. He had so strong an opinion of
the propriety of the Council adhering to, and officers strictly
respecting, their engagements, that he could not consent to
allow a departure therefrom in even one instance. If such a
departure were permitted in one case, it would be solicited
in others, until at last the officers would come to think that
they might give to their duties whatever portion of time they
thought necessary. This would be a first step to sinecure
situations, and such first steps ought to be jealously guarded
against.
Mr. BOLTON thought, that as the motion could not be
passed unanimously, it had better be withdrawn.
Mr. EARLE.—Oh, no ; let us go to the vote, whether Mr.
Franklin chooses to take the thing or not.
Mr. BLACKBURN observed, that as one gentleman was
determined to have his pound of flesh, the motion had better
be withdrawn.

Mr. T. CASE was opposed to the motion. He agreed with
Mr. Sheil that they had a great duty to peiform, which,
however anxious they might be to oblige an individual, or a
body of men, they should not shrink from.
Mr. ISAAC HOLMES could not see any necessity for the
application to Mr. Franklin. There were plenty of survey-
ors in the town, one of whom might be employed to furnish
the design, and if the committee afterwards chose to have it
submitted to Mr. Franklin, that could easily be done. Such
applications as this ought to be put a stop to in the beginning,
and he should certainly oppose this.
Mr. M`KEr. contended that it would be a very gross case
of illiberality to refuse it.
Mr. H. Hoitsßy was sorry he could not agree with the
proposition to allow an exception in Mr. Franklin's case, be-
cause he did not know a more meritorious officer : but, at
the same time, he could not agree with Mr. Blackburn that
this was a mere matter of form. It appeared to him to be
rather a principle of great importance. The council should
adhere to the determination expressed by them when they
first came into power, that all corporate officers should de-
vote the whole of their time to the duties of their respective
situations. If, the first time they were called upon, they
should break through that very proper regulation, a prece-
dent would he formed, not only for Mr. Franklin, but for all
other officers,
Mr. H. SANDBACH had every disposition to act in a
friendly spirit towards Mr. Franklin, but •as this was a matter
of public principle he felt bound to vote against the motion.
Mr. Hour, with the concurrence of the seconder, intimated
that he should withdraw his motion.

Mr. EARLE wished the council to go to the vote, in order
that the gracious might be separated from the ungracious.
The council, however, allowed the motion to be withdrawn,
and the subject dropped.