The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-11-13 00:00:00

OIISERVATORY COMMITTEE.

The members of the Observatory Committee for the cur-
rsnt year are Messrs. Aikin, Leathom, Roskell, Platt, Case,
G. H. Lawrence, Gladstone, J. Hornby, and Sandbach.

APPOINTMENT OF ALDERMEN TO WARDS.
It was agreed, that to such wards as had two councillors
present, the aldermen should be appointed, subject to con-
firmation when all the three were present, as required by
law. To St. Paul's and Great George's, having each only
one member present, (Mr. Wright and Mr. Cooper,) alder-
men were not appointed. The following were the aldermen
assigned to the other wards respectively: Everton, Joseph
Hornby, Esq. ; Scotland, Thomas Holt, Esq. ; Vauxhall,
T. Bulley, Esq. ; Exchange, Robert Roskell, Esq. ; Castle-
street, Enoch Harvey, Esq.; St. Peter's, Thomas Leathom,
Esq. ; Pitt-street, Thomas Booth, Esq. ; Abercromby, T. B.
Barclay, Esq. ; Lime-street, Wm. Earle, Esq. ; St. Anne's.
Robert Benn, Esq. ; West Derby, J. Moon, Esq. ; south
Toxteth, George Holt, Esq. ; North Toxteth, C. H. Jones,
Esq.

HEALTH OF THE TOWN.
The MAYOR called on Mr. Case for his motion for the ap-
pointment of a committee to inquire respected inhabited
cellars, courts, &C., with reference to the health of the
town.

Mr. CASE said, he approached this subject with consider-
able anxiety, for it was one of great importance to a vast
mass of the poorer inhabitants. A notice on the subject had
already been sent up to London for insertion, and he hoped
the Council would take powers in some bill during the next
session, to do something effectual to resist the letting of
cellars, to secure the ventilation of courts, and to insure the
provision of reasonable conveniences into the dwellings of
the poor. After alluding to the inquiries that have been
made in parliament on the subject of the public health, Mr.

Case said, he had examined the evidence of Dr. Duncan and
a gentleman Who had taken statistical notes, and he had
checked it against some notes which he had been furnished
by Mr. Whitty, the head-constable. He found that there
were in this town 11,996 houses in back courts, and 7,800
inhabited cellars. He would take the cellars at a popidation
of five each,.whith gave 30,000. He would take the courts
at 12,000, and six as the number of inhabitants to each house,
which gave 72,000. This gave a total of 111,000 individuals
living.in cellars and courts, pretty nearly half the population.
Many of the courts had entrances not more than four feet
wide, which were covered in at the 'top, so that in many in-
stances in these narrow courts there was no mode of venti-
lation whatever. Many of the courts as well as the cellars
had no privies. It was evident, that these were the places
where fevers and pestilences were generated, so that if fever
ever got in, it would he difficult to get it out. It was lament-
able to remark, that the mortality of last year was no less
than one in thirty-three of our population. This called for
inquiry ; and if they could ameliorate the condition of the
poor, they would be able to lower the rate of mortality. It
was natural to suppose, when they contemplated th 6
gloomy, damp, and noisome dwellings in which many of
them resided, that when they had finished their daily toil,
they were tempted to the alehouse, or the gin-shop rather
than to their homes. After some further remarks, for which
we regret that we cannot spare space, Mr. Case moved,
that a committee be appointed to make all necessary inqui-
ries, and to take into consideration the subject of the inha-
bited cellars and small dwellings in back courts, with reference
to the health of the poorer inhabitants, and to report to the
Council thereon, with any recommendation that may seem
proper to such committee.

Mr. JORDAN seconded the motion.
After some discussion the committee was appointed, and,
at the suggestion of Mr. Gladstone, a member was chosen
from each ward. The following is a list of the committee :
Messrs. John Holmes, Houghton, Case, Wright, Mellor,
Aikin, Bright, Yates, Cooper, Birkett, Gladstone, Kilshaw,
Slaiter, Moon, Jordan, and Harbord.

NEW JUSTICES.
Mr. SIIEIL, after many compliments to the late mayor,
for the great services which he has rendered to the town, pro-
posed the following resolutions :

" That Sir Josliiia Walmsley, knight, Mayor of Liverpool
for the year that has just expired, be recommended to her
Majesty's principal Secretary of State as a person who, from
his station and standing in the Borough, would be proper, if
her Majesty should be so advised, to he included in the Com-
mission of the Peace for this Borough, and who, if appointed,
would, in the judgment of the Council, discharge the duties
of the office of magistrate to the general satisfaction of the
community ; and
Resolved unanimously,
That the Mayor be requested to lay this recommendation
of the Council respectfully before the Secretary of State, ac-
knowledging the consideration given to the recommendation
of the Council on former occasions, and requesting a continu-
ance of his Lordship's courtesy in this present instance."
Mr. HENRY LAWRENCE rose for the purpose of seconding
the resolution, but he was forestalled by Mr. Jordan.
The resolution was passed unanimously.
Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE hoped, as the majority of one party
in the magistracy was so large, that the Council would be
disposed to hold out the olive branch in this instance, and to
send a similar recommendation in behalf of a gentleman
whom he would name, and whom his constituents had de-
lighted to honour. He would propose that Mr. Sands be
similarly recommended.
Mr. GLADSTONE seconded the motion, which was carried
unanimously.

Mr. EAdLE said, he could not but admire this offering of
the olive branch. He remembered the time when he sat in
that room, and when there was no such offering by the other
party.
Mr. CASE remembered it too. He remembered that Mr.
Earle sat in that room, and he was a Reformer.
Mr. GLADSTONE.—Mr. Earle certainly sat in this room at
that time ; how he got in I cannot tell.

Mr. EARLE.—I was not made a magistrate&ertainly ; and
if they had known my politics, 1 should not have been ad-
mitted.

The Council broke up at a quarter before two o'clock.

MEETING OF THE DOCK COMMITTEE.

The Dock Committee held a meeting in Revenue-buildings
yesterday for the dispatch of business. Mr. Sands and Mr.
Aikin, the two new members of the committee, appointed by
the council on Monday, were introduced. There were pre-
sent besides these gentlemen, Messrs. Leathom, Benn,
Barclay, T. Holt, Holmes. Middleton, Booth, Mellor, Bul-
ley, G. Holt, Evans, Horsfall, Martin, Smith, and Chapman.
Mr. LEATROM took the chair.
The proceedings of the last meeting were confirmed, and a
number of accounts-ordered to be paid:
Mr. Franklin, the corporation surveyor, in a letter to the
surveyor, applied for a quantity of the committee's mortar for
the purpose of being used in repairing the south side of the
Chester and Ellesmere Basin, and in the reconstruction of
the steps in part of the wharf.—The application was granted,
on condition that it be paid for at its fair value.
A letter from the manager of the Steam Tug Company was
read, acknowledging the offer of a piece of land by the com-
mittee, for a life-boat station ; and stating that the directors
of the company gratefully accepted the terms.
The north harbour-master presented a reportdated the sth
instant, in which he recommended the immediate deepening
of the Prince's basin. The report assigned several reasons
for this proposal ; and after a few remarks, it was referred to
the Committee on Works.
The CHAIRMAN reported to the committee the appointment
of Messrs. Sands and Aikin in the place of Messrs Gladstone
and Segar.
The Harbour-master and Dock-masters' Sub-Committee
presented a long report, from which it appeared that the
north harbour master had been under the necessity of em-
ploying a number of men on Sunday, in place of the dock-
gatemen, and that he requested the instructions of the sub-
committee thereon. The sub-committee decided that the
men should be paid their wages, and that they approved of an
extra number of men being employed in cases of emergency,
but each case to be reported to them. The report further
stated that the snb-committee could not recommend any alter-
ation in the dock-masters' regulations for discharging berths,
and also that they had most peremptorily required all
dock-masters to place a copy of the dock-laws on board of
every vessel entering any stock. The report concluded with
suggesting a list of fines on the servants for petty offences.
The report was approved, with the exception of the list of fines,
which was ordered to be printed for further consideration.
On the motion Mi. CHAPMAN, a resolution was passed,
recommending the ship owners and steam-packet proprietors
to confer on the best means of preventing collisions, and that
a letter be written to the Admiralty, suggesting the introduc-
tion of some general enactment on the subject.
Mr. HORSFALL referred to an account which appeared in
one* of the Liverpool papers of a disturbance amongst the
extra men employed by the committee, on Sunday ; and ex-
pressed his fear that they often occurred.—A resolution was
passed that Mr. Hartley should report on the subject.
The committee then separated.
* The STANDARD.

CORRESPONDENCE.

BRIBERY IN EXCHANGE WARD.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD,

•
Sia,—A case of unparalleled bribery occurred in this ward
during the late contest. The niece of a butcher, not a hun-
dred miles from Byrom-street, was promised by the better
half of a celebrated Jewish pawnbroker, and in expectation
of victory, a gift in remembrance of the eventful day. When
the present arrived, all was expectation and gratitude, for
the size of the article seemed to forebode something in the
shape of a plate-chest. 'What: therefore, was the surprise of
the parties, when the cover was carefully removed, and be-
hold ! a—a cradle was exhibited to their wondering eyes.
The " daughter of Israel" proceeded to set off its value to
the young lady by stating, that it had rocked all her large
and interesting family ; but the butcher, not liking the looks
of the relic, ordered it off to the house of a neighbouring
publican, where it remained for two days. It is said that
the independence of the butcher and the liberality of the
pawnbroker were well matched on this occasion.
I am, sir, &c., UNCLE BEN.
Moss-brook, Nov. 7th, 1840.

IMPROVEMENT OF THE TOWN.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

you or any other person give me an answer to
my inquiry, viz. :—The liberals, or rather I should say radi-
cals, are constantly boasting of the mighty great acts that
their party have done for us since they got into power. I
beg to ask, how many streets have they widened ? or what
have they done to add to the improvement of the " good old
town?" There are a number of old, narrow streets in the
central part of the town, which might be widened at a low
cost, and would add greatly not only to the facility of bUsi-
ness, but would be a great improvement and comfort to the
town at large. It was only the other day I read in all the
newspapers that a poor man, driving a brewer's dray, was
killed in Cunliffe-street, owing to no other reason than the
narrowness of the street. It is a well-known fact that there
is an• immense communication from the north end of the
town to the central part. Now Leeds-street and Highfield-
street are good streets ; and if Cunliffe-street and Sir Tho-
mas's-buildings were taken down on either side, we should
then have an excellent thoroughfare from the north end of
the town to the neighbourhood of the railway, the principal
streets and hotels, &c. By giving me any information re-
specting the above inquiries, you will greatly oblige
Yours, &c., A CONSTANT READER.

THE ELECTION IN EVERTON WARD.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

Szn,—l would not have troubled you by noticing anything
respecting the late election for Everton ward, had it not been
for the remarks which appeared in the Journal on Saturday,
which contained, with respect to Everton ward, a complete
tissue of falsehoods. He says 15 voters were sent to Ire-
land. This is false. He says £l5 was in many instances
given to voters. I do most solemnly assert that no voter
received, to the knowledge of the committee or to the know-
ledge of a single canvasser, a single shilling ; and I do not
suppose that now-a-days gentlemen are so liberal as to spend
£3OO or £4OO without some one knowing about it.
The same number polled for Mr. Hodgson this time as
last, and the falling off was in the radical majority 21. This
is accounted for in some measure by deaths, and by many
voting for Mr. Hodgson who last time were out of town, and
did not vote at all. His success, however, was chiefly gene-
ral, owing to the management of the worthy chairman, the
committee, the canvassers, and to the desire of the intelli-
gent portion of the community for good, honest, and inde-
pendent town councillors to represent,them.
The case about the watch you have noticed. Now I will
give you another sample of radical liberality, which I defy
our opponents to contradict. A man named Taylor, with
eight children, and who drove a cart for a Mr. , and
who was not bribed, went up and voted for Mr. Hodgson.
His master, who was standing-by, abused the poor fellow,
and dismissed him from his employ at the hustings, before
the public. I will not comment on this ; but I do hope the
poor fellow's case will be taken into consideration by the
committee at Everton, and that they will have the satisfac-
tion of knowing that, if they get the poor man a situation,
they will prevent him and his family from starving, merely
for giving a conscientious vote. I hope you will make this
public; and if this fact is denied, the man lives at Kirkdale,
and can easily prove it himself. I am, sir, your's, &c.,
ONE OF THE COMMITTEE.

NORTHERN HOSPITAL.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD,

In your paper of this day I perceive the following editorial
remark :—" • Humanity' asks us why we have not taken no-
tice of the late disgraceful proceeding at the Northern Hos-
pital. Our rule has hitherto been, that if we cannot advance
the interests of a useful charity, at least we refrain from do-
ing it harm ; and however we may feel inclined to expose
such an improper manifestation of ' liberal' spirit on the part
of some individuals connected with the Northern Hospital,
we are content, for the sake of charity, to allow the affair,
as far as we are concerned, to remain in oblivion."
With due respect for your kind feelings displayed towards
the charity in the foregoing remarks, I think its interests
would have been better served by its omission, as the inser-
tion of such a paragraph must tend to injure the hospital in
the eyes of those who are not in possession of the facts
alluded to ; and as they have given rise to much discussion in
the town, I consider it only an act of justice towards the
subscribers, from the position I hold as their honorary trea-
surer, as well as to the public generally who feel an interest

in the welfare of this valuable institution, to lay before them
a true statement of the case, from which they may form their
own conclusions thereon ; and every unbiassed person must
allow, that it is only such a course as the committee have
hitherto pursued that can advance the true interests of the
hospital.

During the late municipal contest, a voter from North
Toxteth ward was a patient at the hospital; -a day or two
prior to the election, being canvassed by the conservative
party for his vote, they were informed that the man was not
in a fit state to be removed; and it was understood, both on
the part of the house-surgeon and a medical friend of the
conservative candidate, that the man not being convalescent,
he was not to be taken to vote. However, on the day of
election, the party alluded to, without the consent of the
house-surgeon, took the man from his bed and carried him
away in a coach. Prior to leaving the hospital, the man was
told that he was not in a fit state to go, that if he went it
would be at his own risk, and he would consequently break
through the rules of the internal management of the institu-
tion, and should not be again admitted. Notwithstanding
this caution, he accompanied them to the polling booth, and
on being brought back was again placed by them in his bed.
The following day being the monthly meeting of the coin-
mittee, the subject was brought before them, and the man
ordered to be discharged on the grounds above stated.
It has been attempted to cast the imputation upon the
committee of having acted from political motives in coming
to this decision, but such was by no means the case, although
various shades of political and religious opinions are repre-
sented in this committee, yet upon the question referred to
the majority were composed of gentlemen known to be con-
servative, and their opinion as to discharging the patient was
unanimous. I was unavoidably absent on that day, but was
previously aware of the circumstances of the case, and on
being made acquainted with the proc..edings of the committee,
I fully concurred in what they had done. as they acted solely
upon the principle which they always wish to see enforced,
to allow no party or political considerations to bias their pro-
ceedings. They had acted precisely upon a similar course
on a former occasion, when patients were taken out to vote
fur the reform party ; and I trust that such principles will
always be firmly adhered to.
We might adopt for our motto—" Open to all parties, in-
fluenced by none." Our doors are open to the crippled and
the diseased of every clime ; our funds are supplied and ad-
ministered by men of every shade of party ; and surely the
arena of political warfare is sufficiently wide without includ7
ing-the neutral ground of charitable institutions in the stormy
and bitter conflict. It is gratifying that there are some points
on which we can all meet in union ; and I trust that the same
perfect unanimity which has hitherto prevailed in our com-
mittee will long continue. Some years have now passed
over since the trust I hold in this charity was pressed upon
me ; for, having other important avocations which press hea-
vily on my time, I was reluctant to enter upon such a duty ;
but I consider that we have a duty to perform to our neigh-
bour as well as to our God, and as every one is called upon
to exercise the talents he may possess in promoting the hap-
piness and welfare of his fellow-creatures, so did I feel plea-
sure in contributing rr.y poor services in aid of the wretched
and diseased, and assist in the alleviation of their calamities.

When I first took a part in the management of this charity,
I found its resources crippled to such an extent that, without
the greatest exertions of its supporters, its utility must be
considerably diminished, if not totally abandoned ; but I
have had the pleasure to see it rescued from these difficulties,
and diffuse its benefits on a more extended scale. It is un-
necessary here to speak upon the great benefits it now con-
fers on.the poorer classes, and the advantages derived by the
public therefrom ; but I hope shortly to see it occupy a much
higher position, and the great increase of the town calls upon
us loudly for increased accommodation. To carry out this
we are solely dependent upon the public for their co-opera-
tion ; but I am convinced that it is only by acting upon such
principles as we have hitherto pursued that we can ever main-
tain our present position. For my own part, on the slightest
deviation from such principles, I should despair of receiving
from the public that support for which we have now so just
a claim ; I should immediately resign the post I occupy, and
decline acting with those whose opinions of management
were no longer in unison with my own.
As regards my own private political sentiments, they are
generally known, and have at former periods been publicly
avowed ; I trust that on every proper occasion I shall be pre-
pared to exercise them independently without fear of reproach,
which I consider is the high privilege of every educated
man,—at the same time I hope when placed in situations of
public trust, that I possess honesty of purpose and sufficient
firmness of character to throw aside all private feeling and
act with the strictest impartiality.
I must apologise for having trespassed at some length upon
your columns, but I trust that the subject, affecting so deeply
the interests of one of our most valuabe institutions, will be
deemed of sufficient importance,—and I am anxious, by re-
plying to an unjust charge, to remove a foul stigma which
might otherwise be attached to a body of gentlemen with
whom I have long acted, it having been imputed to them that
they were base enough to sacrifice the best interests of a va-
luable charity for the mere gratification of a paltry political
feeling.—l am, sir, your obedient servant,
R. W. BATESON.
Water-street, Nov. 10, 1840.
[We have given insertion to the preceding communication
at Mr. Bateson's particular request ; but we still adhere to •
the opinion which we originally expressed, that it would have
been far better to have left the matter rest as it was, without
any further notice. Mr. Bateson's letter will, in all proba-
bility, provoke a reply from one of the parties referred to;
and though we cannot in fairness refuse insertion to such
reply, we beg to intimate that we cannot open our columns
to any further communications on the subject.—E. L. S.]•

POPISH PLOT-FIFTH OF NOVEMBER.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD,

Sift,—l was delighted to find sermons preached in many
of our churches, to commemorate with thankfulness our great
deliverances from popish vengeance and persecution in 1605.
But I must still ask—Why our churehes were not all open
for service on that day ? It is enjoined by Act of Parliament,
that " service should be performed in all our churches," and
I verily believe that if every clergyman did his duty, he would
not allow the day to pass over without calling together his
flock, to join with him in offering up thanksgivings to Al-
mighty God, for so great a national deliverance. I believe
by so doing we should continue to raise such a protest against
the infernal plotting and despotism of the popi,l, system, as
would materially assist, by God's blessing, to oven the eyes
of a multitude of our lukewarm protestants. I fear it is true,
as Fuller said, " that the keeping of this day among the pro-
testants begins already to wax weak and decay, so that the
red letters, wherever it is written, begin to grow dimmer
and dimmer in our English calendar." Do we doubt
what Fuller also observed?—" If this plot had taken effect,
the papists would have celebrated this day with all solemnity."
If we doubt it, let us boldly and manfully avow it. But first,
consider well the St. Bartholomew massacre, and the medal
cast in commemoration of it, and also, consider well that this
medal was re-cast by order of the Pope at the mint at Rome,
in December last only. And why ? This we must leave to
the mild and lamb-like spirit of popery in the present day to
answer.

Sir, it is no fair excuse that a congregation would not be
got together. Some would meet ; and are we not to believe
the unerring Word of God, that " where two or three are
gathered together in my name, I am in the midst of them."
Besides which, the responsibility of a congregation not as-
sembling does not rest with the minister. His not giving
them the opportunity does. Ido trust that on the Fifth of
November next, we shall have a protest sounded from every
pulpit in our town. Yours, &C. &c.
A PROTESTANT.