The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-01-13 00:00:00

THE EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE.

We, the undersigned clergymen, being members of the
Manchester Clerical Soci9ty, and invited to take part in
" The Evangelical Alliance," having, at our recent
monthly meeting, calmly, candidly, and prayerfully de-
liberated upon the invitation which had been addressed to
us, and having unanimously come to the conclusion that
we could not accept that invifation, deem it right, in
faithfulness, but in all charity, to place in the hands of
our respective congregations, for their information and
satisfaction, the following statement of the chief reasons
which determined our decision :
We arrived at our conclusion,
I. Because we cannot, as we conceive, in consistency
with our duty to the Church of which we are ministers,
identify ourselves with an association which appears to
regard all the unhappy separations from our Church as
comparatively unimportant, and to take it for granted
that such separations must, and indeed ought to,
continue.
2. Because having already subscribed articles of faith
and union, we do not feel ourselves called upon to sub-
scribe others of a vague and general character.
3. Because whilst we hold that tender consideration
is due to the feelings and scruples of Christian men
without the pale of our Church, we boll that still
greater consideration is due from us to the feelings and
scruples of Christian men within the pele of our
Church, to many of whom we know we should occasion
much perplexity and distress were we to join " the pro-
jected alliance."
4. Because, solemnly pledged as we are to uphold the
principle of a national establishment, we do not see how
we can consistently strengthen the hands of Wen who
declare, on the vesy platform of " The Alliance," that
they consider " the anti-state-church principle as
amongst the essentials of their Christianity."
5. Because, although deeply anxious to cherish bro-
therly kindness and fellowship with true believers, how-
ever separated from us, we entirely concur in the lan-
guage of one of the speakers at the " Liverpool Confer.
ence," that unless the society be composed of none but
real believers, " it will be fraught with danger and dis-
appointment,"—" there will he seeds of disunion sown,
which will constantly spring up ;" and concurring in
these sentiments, we see no snfficient guarantee that
tne projected Alliance shall consist exclusively, even in
the judgment of charity, of the living members of
Christ.
6. Because Holy Scripture charges Christians to be
" perfectly joined together in one mind and one judg-
ment," so that they may " with one mind and one
mouth, glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ ; ' but on the face of The Evangelical Alliance,
we find all attempt at such unanimity openly dis-
claimed.
7. Because we conceive that the substance of union
ought to precede the manifestation of union, and that
instead of Christians saying to the world—" see how we
Christians love one another," they ought rather, by
their quiet example, to compel the world to exclaim, as
in primitive times—" see how these Christians love one
another."
8. Because we perceive no likelihood of any practical
and important measure emanating from a combination
which is embarassed and crippled by so many conflict-
ing peculiarities of sentiment and opinion.
9. Because even irrespectively of all beside, we do
not think it would be wise to commit ourselves to a
movement the principles of which are avowedly so par-
tially developed, and its plans so faintly indicated.
In submitting these considerations to the devout and
charitable attention of those for whose souls we watch,
we would solemnly assure them that we do so with the
kindest feelings towards those who do not see eye to eye
with us in this matter; and that, instead of courting con-
troversy, we shall not, collectively at least, notice any
strictures which may possibly be made on this statement
of our views.

lIUGH STOWELL, M.A., t,nairman ; HENRY W.
M`GRATII, M.A.. ROBERT FROST, M.A. ; WM.
HUNTINGTON, 4.A.. ; JNO. HOLLIST ; ARTHUR
W. ARCHER, M.A.; JOHN BYWATER, M.A.;
HENRY DECK, M.A.; HENRY MARLEN ED-
WARD BIRCH. P. J. O'LEARY; CHAS.
CAMERON, M.A.; EPHRAIM HARPER, A,B. ;
JOHN HERON MACGUIRE, S.C.L. ; RICHARD
HILL, A. 8.; J. G. VANCE, A. 8.; JOHN HAYES,
M.A.; WILLIAM KELLING, .A.; WILLIAM
READ, B.A. LTHos. FARTHING, 8.A.; WILEIAM
VERDON, A.B. ; J. A. BODDY, M.A.; A. P.
WINE, M.A. ; STEPHEN RICHARD WALLER,
M.A.; WILLIAM BURNS; P. THOMPSON, B.A.
Manchester, January 2, 1846.

BURSTING OF THE TANK AT THE WATER
WORKS.-VERDICT OF MANSLAUGHTER.

On Tuesday last an enquiry commenced in the Nisi
Prius Court, before the Coroner, into the circumstances
connected with the death of Ann Deveney, (wife of Joseph
Deveney,) another of the unfortunate sufferers by the
bursting of the tank at the Harrington Water Works.
The following gentlemen were sworn on the jury
William Hutton, Francis Eaglesfield, Charles Pain,
Thomas Kirkpatrick, Patrick Thompson, Daniel Turner,
James Lloyd, John Thompson, John Satterthwaite Swith-
enbank, William Hetherington, Daniel Cross Sudlow,
George Nickson, Thomas Neale, Peter Marsh, Joshua
Powell, George Brown, John Chadwick, George Phillips,
Benjamin Smith, Joseph M`Cartin, Joseph Burrows,
Joseph Ritson, and Robert Wilson.
Mr. Jamieson, prosecuting solicitor for the Corporation,
was in attendance. Mr. Stanistreet, solicitor, appeared
on behalf of the Water Works, and Mr. Miller, solicitor,
for the Hawarden Company.
The Coroner said he had been induced to summon the
full number of twenty-three, not for the purpose solely of
inquiring into the cause of the death of the deceased Ann
Deveney, but from having beard observations made—
remarks made, to say the least of them, injudiciously,
after a previous inquiry of thirteen hours' duration—to
show that the facts gone into and the verdict come to upon
those facts, were not satisfactory to the public. It was
his duty, and their duty, to dismiss from their minds every
thing but the facts which would be brought before them at
the present inquest, and upon those facts to determine
their verdict.

Witnesses having been examined as to the nature of the
accident ,the following scientific gentlemen were examined.
Mr. John Grantham called, and examined by the Town-
clerk.—His evidence: was substantially the same as that
he had given at the former inquest, namely, that the
foundation of the tank was solid and undisturbed, the
quality of the iron good, and the side plates strong enough
for the pressure, if they had been well stayed. He ex-
plained the mode in which the tank was stayed, illustra-
ting his observations by reference to a model. The mean
pressure on the sides with 16 feet water would be nibs. to
the square inch ; and the outward pressure 255 tons. He
objected to the mode of placing the stays, and considered
if they had been properly placed they were of sufficient
thickness. The principal defect was, that when the pres-
sure came on the horizontal or diagonal stays there would
be a leverage exerted tending to break the bolts which se-
cured the binder to the side plates. The bolts he exam-
ined did not fit well in the bolt holes, which would have a
tendency to produce danger when the strain came on them.
The diagonal stays would have been much better had they
gone directly across, and been fastened to the sides,instead
of with the intervention of a binder, and the stays should
have been more numerous, and more evenly divided over
the surface of the sides. The greatest pressure on the
tank would be at the bottom, and a few feet from the bot-
tom the stays should have been the most numerous, but
that precaution had not been adopted to the extent de-
sirable. He attributed the accident to one of two causes,
either one or more of the horizontal stays breaking off at
the nuts, or the bolts in the flanges breaking, leaving the
side plates without support. He considered there was no
want of care in the construction of the tank, but there
was a slight want of skill.
By the Coroner.—Knew Mr. Howell, and considered
him a person of great experience in such matters. The
mode of construction, in matters of detail as to a tank,
was a matter of opinion amongst engineers, upon which
there would be a difference.

Mr. Samuel Holme called.—He had examined the
place in which the tank was erected, and his attention
was directed to the foundation, which he examined, and
which appeared to have been constructed carefully. He
could not find the slightest subsidence or fracture in any
part of it, not even in the arches, which would have been
the first to show if it had occurred. He agreed with Mr.
Grantham, that the method adopted for fastening the
stays was not the best, as there was a probability of the
bolts being drawn out by a wrench, or unless the whole
of the nuts and screws had been equally tight, an unusual
strain might be thrown upon them, and break them off.
He had observed that the plates were broken in front of
the bolt holes, and many of the bolts wrenched, but with
one or two exceptions there was not much to complain of
as regarded thetolt holes. He attributed the bursting to
the wrenching out of the bolts. He considered there had
been a want of skill, or an error in judgment, in regard to
the construction of the tank, but it was in the quantity or
quality of the materials.
In this opinion Mr. Kennedy, of the firm of Messrs.
Bury, Curtis, and Co., Mr. Macgregor, of the firm of
Messrs. Forrester and Co., Mr. Alfred King, of the Gas
Works, Mr. Pooley, ironfounder, and Mr. Franklin, Cor-
poration Surveyor, coincided.
Mr. Miller then called Mr. James Beaumont, builder,
Mr. Barnes, bricklayer, Mr. Clarke Rampling, Mr.
Samuel Siddon, pattern-maker, and Mr. Robert M'Kean,
ironfounder, to show that the foundation, by giving way,
had caused the rwcident.

The Coroner proceeded to sum up the case to the jury.
Their business was to deal with the evidence as it appeared
before them. A case of manslaughter might be the result
of commission or omission. If a person did a work in an
improper manner, and death ensued therefrom, the party
might be guilty of manslaughter ; and if a person had a
work to do, and failed to do it, and death resulted in con-
sequence, he was equally guilty of the crime of man-
slaughter. Be then went over the evidence with great
care, calling the attention of the jury, as he proceeded, to
those parts of it which would require their more serious
consideration.

-
The jury retired at twenty minutes to nine, and re-
mained locked up about half an hour, when they returned,
bringing a verdict of manslaughter against Joseph Howell,
the manager of the Hawarden Iron-works, with a deodand
of £lOO on the tank. .

The Coroner informed them that a deodand could not
be levied for two reasons,—first, because in a case of man-
slaughter no deodand was admissible; and, second, that
the tank was an appurtenant to the freehold.
The foreman of the jury stated that nineteen of the jury
were unanimous in returning the verdict which they had
brought in.
The Coroner—l take this opportunity of stating that I
quite agree with the dissentients.

TOWN COUNCIL, PROCEEDINGS

The usual meeting of the Council was held on Wed-
nesday.

The Finance Committee presented their annual report
on the probable income and expenditure of the year, be-
tween the Ist of September last and the 31st of August
next. They stated that the net income of the Corpora-
tion for the current year could not be estimated at more
than £142,200, and the expenditure for the same period at
not less than 114,256, leaving a surplus of £27,944. A
continuation of branches of discretionary expenditure
might be set down at £2,042, thereby reducing the sur-
plus to £25,902. Out of this surplus the observatory
would have to be maintained, and the new baths in Paul-
street completed ; and thus the surplus would be further
reduced to £21,202. Out of the remaining surplus, the
bottom of Water-street would have to be opened at an ex-
pense of £1,600. The committee went to report that the
whole of the sum of £67,000, appropriated to the erection
of St. George's Hall, was exhausted, and that the re-
mainder of the money required to complete that building
would have to be taken out of the surplus income. The
time for the completion of Mr. Tomkinson's contract
would probably expire in the course of the present finan-
cial year; and then the Corporation would be required to
pay a sum of £43,000. The surplus income, therefore,
for years to come, would be completely absorbed by the
building of the hall; and it was by the observance of
rigid economy alone that the Corporation could meet its
liabilities until after the expiration of that period. The
committee reported that they had made arrangements re-
lative to Mr. Bailey's premises in Water-street, and also
for the sale of land in Great Howard-street to the Grand
Junction Railway Company; and they recommended the
payment of the following subscriptions and gratuities :
The Dispensaries £157 10s., the Northern Hospital £lOO,
the Southern Hospital £lOO, the Ophthalmic Institution
£3O, the Refuge for the Destitute £25, the Botanic Gar-
dens £lOO, the Royal Institution £lOO, and the Ladies'
Charity £3O.
Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE moved the confirmation of the
proceedings, and that the Treasurer be authorised to pay
the subscriptions. He considered it unnecessary for him
to say any thing relative to the claims which the charities,
just mentioned, had upon public sympathy and support;
but, at the same time, be felt well convinced that money
given to them by the corporation did not tend to induce
the public generally to act with that liberality which was
to be expected at their hands, and that it often checked
and prevented the public from doing what they ought.
He was the more induced to make this remark because
he saw from the summons paper that an attempt would be
made by Mr. Bramley-Moore to induce the council to in-
crease the amount of their subscriptions to the Dispensa-
ries. He would oppose that attempt on financial grounds,
and he had only to hope that the Council would not be
considered niggardly if they voted the sums now proposed
and no more. (Hear.) He then proceeded to say that
Mr. Gladstone was willing to surrender such portions of
his property at the corner of Mount-pleasant and Hope-
street as the Council might require for the improvement
purposes, on the value being settled by arbitration. He
hoped the Council would come to an early decision upon
the point, and that notice of motion to that effect would
be given. For his own part he saw no great advantage to
be gained by making the improvement ; and should such
a motion be submitted, he would vote against it
Mr. ROBINSON moved, as an amendment, that the sub-
scription to the Dispensaries be increased to £3OO, and
that £lOO of this sum be granted to the Northern, £lOO
to the Southern, and £lOO to the Eastern Dispensary.
He said they were most excellent institutions, the first
places to which the poor man repaired when sickness and
disease overtook his family, and at which he received ad-
vice and medicine " without money and without price."
The subscriptions, which dwindled down in 1844 from
£2,000 to £1,366, had, through the active exertions of
Mr. Williams, the secretary, been raised up to 1,800;£
the difference between that and £3,000, the annual expen-
diture, was solely dependent upon the liberality of the
public in forwarding donations. He regretted to find that
out of the 64 members of the council, only 34 were sub-
scribers to the Dispensaries. He expressed a wish to have
the subscriptions to the Ladies' Charity raised from £3O
to £5O, but he did not submit any motion to this effect.

Mr. THOMAS LLOYD seconded the amendment

Mr. BRA.MLEY-MOORE said he should support the
amendment, with this addition to it—that the sum of 200
guineas be given to the Infirmary, an institution well
known and justly appreciated.
Mr. ROBINSON expressed his willingnesg to make the
proposed addition to the amendment; but tfs Mr. Reade
said the committee of the Infirmary were not desirous of
getting any subscription from the corporation, the addi-
tion was not made, and the amendment stood as it was
originally proposed.
Mr. lIUGH HORNBY had not the slightest doubt but
that the surplus income this year would not be able to
meet all the demands made upon it, and that the council
would be acting illegally if they were to do more for the
charities than was proposed by the Finance Committee.
They could not discontinue the discretionary payments hi-
therto made, but they could not do any more. If parties
would wait patiently for two or three years more until the
St. George's Hall was completed, there would be a very
large surplus remaining, which the council could apply in
various ways. .

Mr. RATHBONE complained that strangers in the town,
and others who were amassing wealth here, did not sup-
port the public charities in the way in which they ought.
He believed the sums voted by the council acted more in-
juriously for charitable institutions than many were aware
of; and he was afraid that if the subscription now sought
for were granted, it would be used as a salve for the con-
sciences of those 30 members of the council who were
not subscribers to the Dispensaries. (Hear, and a laugh.)
Mr. EVANS said that a great many years ago he had
opposed all charitable gifts, on the ground so ably and
conclusively stated by the gentlemen who preceded him
in the debate. The corporate income was given for other
purposes. If he bad his will, he would not give a farthing
to the charities, which ought to appeal to private sympa-
thy, but much less would he consent to any augmentation
of what they at present received.
Mr. HORSFALL, as a general principle, agreed in what
had fallen from Mr. Evans, but, as the council had re-
cognised the principle of contributing to the charities un-
der ordinary circumstances, he hoped that, in the extra-
ordinary circumstances in which the Northern and
Southern Dispensaries were now placed, the grant which
Mr. Bramley-Moore was about to propose would not be
rejected.
Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE replied, and in doing so, re-
called to the attention of the council some of the heavy
items of expenditure which they had to meet in the course
of the past year. Having got the dry-rot among them (a
laugh),-they had to expend £7,000 in beautifying and im-
proving the Town-hall.:

Upon a division there appeared—for the amendment,
22 ; against it, 25. The amendnent was consequently
lost.

Mr. BRAMLEY-MOORE then moved, pursuant to notice,
" That the sum of five hundred guineas be granted out of
the surplus income at the disposal of the council, in aid of
the funds of the Liverpool Dispensaries." He thought
he could submit a plan by which there was not an institu-
tion in the town worthy of support that would owe a shil-
ling in the course of a month. (Hear, and laughter.) His
plan was this : that every alderman should consult with
his colleagues ; that meetings should be held in every
ward, and a committee for each appointed ; and that every
street and house should be canvassed for subscriptions,
because he believed that many did not subscribe now,

and for this plain reason, that they were never solicited:
He proposed, as a sort of commencement, that every mem-
ber of the council should subscribe 20 guineas. This
would raise a sum of 1280 guineas to begin with ; and if
the plan were spiritedly taken up,. ample funds would be
raised. He intended to submit the plan to his colleagues
in Lime-street Ward, and he beleived that, so far as that
ward was concerned, it would be carried out.
Mr. KILSHAW seconded the motion.

The TOWN-CLERK was of opinion that, in a legal point
of view, the motion could not be passed, and, after consi-
derable discussion, it was negatived by a majority or 28
to 18.
SALE OF LAND TO THE GRAND JUNCTION RAILWAY.
Mr. PARKER said he found by the proceedings that the
land in Great Howard-street was recommended to be sold
to the Grand Junction Railway Company, at the rate of
£3 ss. per square yard. He was informed by competent
judges that it was worth four guineas a yard. Who, he
asked, were the sellers in this case ? The burgesses. And
who were the buyers? The Grand Junction Company.
He contended th,t any shareholder in that company, who
was a member of the Finance Committee, was out of his
place when he became a seder of the land in question.
Understanding, as he did, that from £lO,OOO to £15,000
more could be made of the property than the Finance
Committee were about to sell it for, he moved that that
ptirt of the proceedings be referred back for further consi-
deration.

Mr. KIasHAW seconded the motion.
Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE said that, being a shareholder
Id also a director in the Grand Juncti, n, he had taken

no part in the carrying on or the negotiation. mile
ri-
trance Committee asked £4 10s. a yard for the land in the
first instance. To that price the Grand Junction demur-
red : and eventually the sum of £3 ss. was fixed upon as
a sufficient and satisfactory amount.
Mr. STEWART said the land consisted of 18,000 yards,
and that in his opinion, a very judicious bargain had been
made.

Mr. KILSHAW thought that, in asking £4 10s. a-yard,
the Corporation had asked no more than the land was
s+orth.

MT: LEIGH bad sold more valuable land at £3, and con-
sidered £3 ss. a very fair price.
After some further discussion, Mr. Parker withdrew

his motion

An addition of £5O was ordered to be made to the sa-
lary of 111 r. Tasker ; and the proceedings of the Finance
Committee were confirmed.

WATCH COMMITTEE

The proceedings of tnis committee to the 20th Decem,
her were confirmed; and they were ordered to report the
reason why their subsequent proceedings had not been in-
serted in the books sent to the council. They recom-
mended the council to obtain compulsory powers, in the
next act of parliament, to remove the ashes and night soil
from all premises within the, borough ; and the recom-
mendation was adopted.

THE PROPOSED DOCKS AT W kPPING

The proceedings of the Dock Committee having been
read,
Mr. "BR AMLEY- Mocntz moved their confirmation. _

Mr. EVANS remarked upon the increase to the sum of
£lOOO in the salary of the secretary of the committee; he
also remarked upon other increases which had been made,
amounting altogether, within it very short period, to
£5OOO a year. But what concerned the council most were,
the proceedings relative to the proposed docks at Wap-
ping,—proceedings enacted in the name of the Dock Com-
mittee, without the Dock Committee having either dis-
cussed or sanctioned them. The proceedings were not
contained in the dock books, and, consequently they had
not come before the council, as the trustees of the docks,

for approval or disapproval. His information upon the
subject was derived upon the 29th of November last from
the public papers ; and, he believed, the great majority of
the Dock Committee had had their information from the
same quarter. On that day there were plans deposited
with the Clerk of the Peace, of very great magnitude
and involving impossible consequences, which he would
not go into then. If ever the plans came before the coun-
cil he would have an opportunity of speaking to their me-
rits or demerits ; but he might say now that they were of
great magnitude, and bore the same proportion to the pre-
sent dock bill as Great Britain bore to the Isle of Man.
Mr. BRAMLEY-MOORE rose to order. Mr. Evans was
anticipating the question. In due time the plans would
be brought before the council, and the fullest explanations
would be given.
The Mayon. intimated that Mr. Evans must confine
himself to the proceedings of the committee as read by the
clerk of the council.

„...
Mr. EVANS asked whether in a ease of emergency like

the present his hands were to be tied and he was to be le-
strained ? He contended that unauthorized acts had been
done in the name of the council,—that the constitution of
the Dock Committee had been violated, and that the su-
premacy of the Council over the Dock Committee had
been altogether set aside.
Mr. BRAMLEY •MoortE denied that the constitution c
the c

of power had been taken. The plans had been before II
committee, and they were at present in abeyance, nnt--
estimates had first been complete

So soon

completed they would be laid before the Dock Committee,
and then they would be submitted for the sanction of the
Council, a spenial meeting of which would, he believed, be