The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-10-12 00:00:00

TOWN COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS.

INDICATIONS OF A SEVERE WINTER.—Many animals have
a much warmer fur in the winter than in the summer months,
and this winter coat, it has been observed by naturalists, is
found far advanced in the preparatory autumn. This boun-
teous provision of nature seems to have been extended to the
vegetable world; and it has been observed that the pellicle
of onions is much thicker on the approach of a severe win-
ter than on that of a more temperate season.—Curiosities of
Medical Experience.
PUGNACIOUS CAMELS IN THE DESERT.—About the mid-
dle of the day, as usual, the sheik rode ahead, and, striking
his spear in the sand, and had coffee prepared before we came
up. While we were sitting around the spear, two of our
camels so far forgot the calm dignity of their nature, and
their staid habits, as to get into a fight ; and one of them,
finding himself likely to come off second best, took to his
heels, and the other after him ; they were baggage camels,
one
.being charged with my boxes of provisions and house-
keeping apparatus, and his movements indicated death to
crockery. I will not go into particulars, for eggs, rice,
macaroni, and lamp-oil make a bad mixture; and though the
race and fight between the loaded camels were rather lu-
dicrous, the consequence was by no means a pleasent thing
in the desert.—Stephens's Incidents of Travel,
MATRIMONY.—I've been afeerd to ventur on matrimony
myself, and I don't altogether think that I shall spekelate in
that line for one whilo; it don't jist suit a rovin man like
me. It's a considerable of a tie ; —and then it ain't like a
horse-deal, where, if you don't like the beast, you can put it
off in a raffle or a trade, or swop and suit yourself better; but
you must make the best of a bad bargain, and put up with it.
It ain't often you meet a crittur of the right metal: spirited,
yet gentle; easy on the bit, sure-footed, and spry; no bitin',
no kickin', or sulkin', or racin' off, or refusin' to go, or run-
nin' back, and then clean limbed and good carriage. It's
about the difficultest piece of business I know on.—Sam Slick
FISHING IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA.—The king stood erect in
his bark canoe, while nine young men, with short spears,
went up the river, and as many down the river, until, at a
signal from him, they all dived into it, and returned towards
him, alternately swimming and diving ; these divers trans-
fixing the fish under water, and throwing them on the bank.
Others on the river brink speared the fish, when thus enclosed,
as they appeared among the weeds. In this manner they
speared, with astonishing despatch, some enormous cod (Peel's
perch;) but the largest were struck by the chief from his
canoe, with a long barbed spear. The death of the fish, in
their practised hands, was almost instantaneous. and caused
by merely holding them by the tail, with the gills immersed.
—Major Mitchell's Expedition into the interior of Australia.
LUDICROUS MISTAKE.—A great restraint is placed on the
expression of public opinion throughout the Austrian domi-
nions, but more successfully in Austria Proper than in Hun-
gary. Here politics are freely discussed; not so there. At
Vienna, an Englishman in a cafe was speaking to a friend
about his partiality for tea, and observed in the language of
the country, " Ich liebe thee," nr, " I am fond of tea." One
of the undress police, catching indistinctly the last three syl-
lables, immediately accosted him, saying, Sir, "liberte" is a
word not to be uttered in Austria!" In fact, as Napoleon
decreed impossible to be excluded from the French language,
so liberty is declared not to be Austrian.—Elliott': Three
Great Empires.
HMV TO BOTHER MINISTERS.—SaIaries area never-end-
ing theme for you; officials shouldn't be paid at all; the ho-
nour is enough for 'em; a patriot sarves his country for
nothin'. Take some big salary for a text, and treat it this
way; says you, there's John Doe's salary, it is £750 a year,
that is £2 a day. Now, says you, that is sixteen common la-
bourers pay at 2s. 6d. each per day;_ shall it be said that our
eat marmouth official is worth 16 free citizens, who toil
harder and fare worse than he does? Then take his income
for ten years, and multiply it. See, says you in ten years
he has received the enormous sum of £7500; then run over
the things £7500 would effect on roads, bridges, schools, and
so on, and charge him with havin' been the means of robbin'
the country of all these blessin's; call 'em blood-suckers,
pampered minions, bloated leeches."—Sam Slick's Sayings
and Doings.
AN EARTHLY PURGATORY.—CertaiII convents were said
to have an apartment or itungeon into which the friars every
day, during the warm season, brushed or shook the fleas from
their habits through the aparture above (being the only en-
trance), and where, whenever a frail brother was convicted
of breaking the most fragile of his vows, he was let down
naked, and with his bands tide ! This earthly purgatory was
called •• La Pulciara," that is the near)! ; and there the
culprit was left, till it was deemed that he had suffered punish-
ment enough in this life for his offence.— The Doctor.
INSTANTANEOUS GINGER BEER.—FiII a bottle with pure
cold water, then have a cork ready to fit it, also a string or
wire to tie it down with, and a mallet to drive the cork, so
that no time may be lost; now put into the bottle sugar to
your taste, (syrup is better,) and a tea-spoonful of good
powdered ginger, shake all well, then add the sixth part of an
ounce of super carbonate of soda; cork rapidly, and tie
down—shake the bottle well—cut the string—the cork will
fiy—then drink Ginger Beer.
STATE OP HEALTH IN THE METROFOLIS.—We regret to
state that the small-pox have been for some time very preva-
lent in various parts of the metropolis, and exceedingly fatal.
The bills of mortality for the past week mention 45 deaths as
owing to that disease alone, and we have heard from several
registrars that they have had a very large proportion of deaths
to register from that cause. The bills of mortality give an
increase of 560 deaths upon the past week, principally attri-
buted to age and debility, consumption, convulsions, and
suiall-pox.—Observer.
A FaastEa's NoTinli OF WHlGS.—(Slightly altered from
the Globe. )—A farmer in the neighbourhood of Godalming,
Surrey, dining with oue of the inhabitants of that town a
abort time since, and politics being introduced, the conduct
of the Whigs was commented on by some of the party, when
the farmer observed—" Why, now, gentlemen, I can com-
pare their general conduct to nothing better than that of some
of my pigs. I feed them with pease in my farmyard; those
who happen to be within the gate eat the pease very orderly
and quietly—you hear no noise or grumbling amongst them;
but presently come a parcel of other pigs from the field, and
being without the gate, they run to this side and that, push
the gate with their nose, squeak, halloo, and kick up a dis-
turbance; but the moment I open the gate and introduce
them to the pease, they become as quiet as so many mice in
a full barn."—John Bull.
PERILOUS SITUATION OF THE DUCHESS OF BUCCLEUGH.
The young and beautiful Duchess of Buccleugh made a nar-
row escape last week, on the mountain of Ben Nevis. The
duke has been deer-stalking in Badenoch ; and the duchess,
on Monday last, undertook to ascend Ben Nevis, on foot,
from Corpach Inn, at the western end of the Caledonia Canal.
She was accompanied on the expedition by a young gentle-
man, a near relation of the duke; and they took with them
a guide, who proved subsequently imperfectly acquainted
with the road. When on the summit of the mountain, the
day, which had been previously been fine, became hazy, and
night was at the same time drawing on. The little party
were soon enveloped in a dense mist, and the guide became
perfectly bewildered. The duchess, with a degree of moral
courage scarcely to have been anticipated in a young lady of
delicate nature and constitution, exerted herself to keep up
the spirits of her companions and to nerve them to persever-
ing exertion. Her efforts had been unavailing amid that
wilderness of precipices and morasses—for who can say what
would have been the effect of exposare to the inclement night
air on so delicate a frame ?—but for the sagacious exertions
of Mr. John M`Donald, proprietor of the Ben Nevis distillery.
The long delay of the duchess had excited alarm, and the
inhabitants of Fort William were mustering to the rescue,
when Mr. M'Donald mounted his horse, and, taking with him
a lar cantered out into the dark night. The
so 4is bill u_gjat the ear of the wanderers; and the
Intl ntl dill/ 16 relative were, by this ingenious de-
", *Cgsool4l4lo ellTdangerous situation. Mr. M`Donald's
4101101411 dAto a tempoary pack-saddle, the noble
e ltran almost exhausted state to Fort
-7ithe ret nature's best restorer" effaced all
1.41 L, , reenow Courier.
Iry
•

On Wednesday an adjourned meeting of the Town Coun-
cil was held, for the purpose of considering the proposition
of the Dock Committee, for making a new dock, and erect-
ing warehouses on the quay, as also on the quays of other
docks. The question being one which has created much ex-
citement, there was a very full attendance of members.

BYE LAWS.
The TOWN CLERK announced that, in pursuance o! the
standing orders of the Finance Committee, a bye law was
now before them, for amending the bye law as to the admis-
sion of lights on board steam vessels, so as to admit lights on
board steam vessels when the machinery was under repair.
The bye law would lie on the table aspraposed to in amended.

THE WAREHOUSE QUESTION.

The MAYOR.—I suppose, in conformity with the adjourn-
ment, we will now take into consideration the dock proceed-
ings ; and it will probably facilitate those proceedings if we
first read over and confirm those proceedings which are under
the dock acts. By disposing of these, it would rather sim-
plify the proceedings of the day. Some person will then
probably move that these proceedings be confirmed, which
will then introduce the debate.
The DEPUTY TowN CLERK then read the proceedings of
the Dock Committee.
It was resolved that proper life boats be constructed, and
that models be obtained.
Mr. Alderman LEATHOM moved that the proceedings, so
far as they had been read, be confirmed.
The Mavon.—lt has been suggested, that in reading the
proceedings of the Dock Committee that are now about to he
read, it will be also desirable to read the proceedings of the
Finance Committee that have taken place since the last Coun-
cil, as they have a material bearing upon the question. It
would put the Council in possession of all that has passed.
The DEPUTY TOWN CLERK then read the following:—
"'The Sub-committee appointed on the 2nd of August and
6th of September last, to consider the consolidation of the
existing Dock Acts, the heads of a New Dock Bill, together
with the necessary. .notices, and also to produce plans em-
bracing all such dock and warehouse accommodation as may
seem desirable, having given their most serious consideration
to the important matters referred to them, beg to present
their report to the General Committee. First, with regard
to a dock, &c., capable of admitting large-class steamers at
the north end of the present dock works, the expediency for
which at this ;sort has become apparent by the success of the
transatlantic voyages recently made, and the insufficient
width of the entrances of the docks at present used by steam
vessels, which could not now be altered without considerable
expense, and the greatest inconvenience to the general trade
of the port.
" In considering the various plans submitted by the Dock
Surveyor for these proposed improvements northward, the
Sub-committee having regard to that which seems to them
likely to promote the general interest of the port, and to give
the greatest accommodation at the least possible expense,
both as to the price of land and the construction of the works,
have arrived at the conclusion that it will not be advisable to
build the proposed docks from east to west, but that one dock,
together with an entrance, &c., and a graving dock, should
he built, extending north and south, preserving the present
line of river wall, and leaving ample space for the removal
of the fort to another site. (The report here embodied a re-
ference to the plan which had been approved of.] To carry
this proposed plan into effect, the Sub-committee recommend
that power be taken in the new bill to enable the trustees of
the docks to purchase from the Corporation so much of the
land, and strand of the river, extending from the north boun-
dary line of the present dock works, as far northward as may
be necessary for the workscontemplated.
" In connexion with the proposed increase of accommodation
of steam vessels, the Sub-committee have seen the necessity
of adopting a different mode of measuring steam vessels so
as to increase the Dock tonnage duty on such vessels, in a
just and fair proportion for the accommodation afforded them,
and for the purpose, have requested the owners to appoint a
deputation from among themselves, to confer with your Sub-
committee on the subject, with a view of effecting an arrange-
ment on a satisfactory basis. The Sub-committee also re-
commend, that a charge be made on the Steam ferry and
other vessels not liable to dockage, but which are brought
into the Docks for the purpose of repair, or laying up, for the
time they may remain in dock.
"Secondly, with regard to the proposed improvements to
the northward of the Salthouse Dock, the Sub-committee
recommend, that power also be taken in the bill, to enable
the Trustees to purchase the whole of the property to the
westward of the Salthouse Dock, including the strand of the
river, and extending from Gower-street and Cornhill on the
south, and including No. 1 Graving Dock and Quays on the
north. (Here were further references to the plan, setting
forth, that the Sub-committee had endeavoured to devise.
that the works might be executed in the most economical
manner, and so as to give the greatest accommodation to the
general trade of the port.) The report proceeded as follows :
The Quays of the proposed New Dock, to the westward of
the Salthouse Dock, have been planned so as to admit of the
erection of warehouses, and a future period to be limited by
the provisions of the intened bill. It is also proposed to
widen the east quay of the Salthouse Dock, and to add to
its waterspace the spare ground at the north-east end. The
Sub-committee also reccommend the purchase of No. 2 and
3 Graving Docks, with their appendages, to form part of the
Dock Estate, and the introduction of clauses into the bill, to
enable the trust to effect a communication from the Salthouse
Dock to the King's Dock, through the land and premises of
the late Duke of Bridgewater. The Sub-committee thought
that the 'Trustees should be empowered to borrow upon bonds
or assignments, sums of money for the general improvements,
and for the erection of warehouses intended to be built on
the west side of the Prince's Dock. The Sub-committee
stated, that the Dock Solicitor had been instructed to pre-
pare a notice to be published in the Gazette, &c., in compli-
ance with the standing parliamentry orders. The Solicitor
had also, by direction, prepared the heads of a bill for build-
ing the proposed warehouses at at the Prince's Dock ; also
the heads of a bill for carrying into effect the general objects
contemplated for the improvement of the Port and Harbour
of Liverpool. The Sub-committee further recommended a
compliance with certain forms required by the standing
orders of the House of Commons, so that the Trustees might
be enabled to apply to Parliament in the next Session."
The minutes of the Dock Committee proceedings also
contained the notice alluded to, which had been approved of.
The minutes embodied the heads of the proposed bills.
Mr. MAYOR.—Plans of the intended docks have been sent
up. by the Doets Cetiiseittee in the Council. I have also re-
ceived this communication from the underwriters' room,
signed W. Jones, chairman, calling attention to the great
danger to the vessels in the docks, during the late fire, by
the falling of pieces of fire, and stating, that by the building
of warehouses on the verge of the docks that danger would
be greatly increased. (Hear.) Gentlemen, allow me to
make a very few observations. We are about to commence
a discussion of very great importance, and I feel that my
position will be one of very great difficulty, and I shall have
to call the assistance of the Council. It will be my duty not
to confine gentlemen to the discussion before the council.
And, gentlemen, let us remember that there is a large amount
of property which persons think is involved in the question,
and which other persons think is not involved, but rather
improved. But do let us keep in mind that on which we are
deliberating, and deliberate on it with coolness. (Hear.)
I shall call upon Mr. Alderman Evans to open the debate.
Mr. ALD. EVANS.—Mr. Mayor, I rise for the purpose of
moving for the conformation of the Dock Reports: they are
reports of unusual interest, most particularly where they re-
late to the introduction of new bills into parliament for the
construction of the warehouses on the Prince's Dock, which
have already received the sanction of this council. They
also go for two new docks in other parts of the town, one of
them to be enclosed with warehouses, which I apprehend
will he used for bonding purposes. It is highly desirable
that we should have warehouses of that sort to attract com-
merce, of which we have had an inconsiderable share, and
one infinitely below what Liverpool ought long to have pos-
sessed. Of the advantages of warehouses upon the docks.
What I expect they will be, will be the despatch of ships,
the consequent desire that ships will have to come to Liver-
pool at more reasonable rates of freight, a considerable re-
duction in the existing charges upon merchandise, perfect se-
curity given to property as well from robbery or wholesale
abstractions as from ordinary pilferage; the great advantages
that will also arise from the legalized system of warrants, by
which merchandise within the public warehouses will be con-
verted, without expense, and at a moment's notice, into mo-
ney, either to enable the harassed merchant to get relief, or
the enterprising merchant to go into other schemes. It, in
some measure, is giving that absolute security that can never
be acquired in private warehouses, which, in a great mea-
sure, has a tendency to double the capital of merchants.
These, Sir, are among the pecuniary advantages : but there
is another and a great one—moral advantages. It will be
the withdrawal of the temptation which is so widely spread
at present over the whole town and around all our open docks,
and is also carried into the private warehouses, over which
there is not, and there cannot be, any adequate superintend-
ence. Every person who knows the commerce of Liverpool,
knows that the establishments not on a large scale keep no
warehousemen; those upon a large scale, it is out of the
question that they can keep any adequate number, because
their business comes on in gushes. And what are these
warehousemen, who are, after all, the only watchman—the
only guardians? Why, sir, they are men drawn out of the
lowest ranks; out of that very order of the porters over
whom they are thought to preside, but with whom, on the
contrary, they are more likely to have sympathies, and may
be connected with interest: for, I believe that some of them
have a per tentage out of the wages of those labourers to
whom they may choose to give the preference of employment.
This subject, at a former council, was so completely dis-
cussed that I consider myself quite exonerated from the
necessity of going into any further details in order to point
out advantages which, I believe, are generally admitted. I
believe it is nowhere denied that warehouses around the
docks of Liverpool would give Liverpool a very great advan-
tage over her rivals, not only in her foreign, but in her coast-
ing, and in her inland commerce. But, sir, having stated
that I will nut go (at least for the present, nor will I here-
after unless the course of the discussion in a measure com-
pels me to go) into it, nor trouble the council with more de-
tails. I know that lam addressing au assemblage of as in-
telligent mercantile men 'as can possibly be brought together,
and were Ito attempt to, go into minor details, it certainly
would be a work of supererogation. But there is one point
only which I shall now go into; it is the recent calamity al
the late fire. It is a subject intimately connected with that
before the council. I have no other view in requesting the
indulgence of the council to allow me to refer to a printed
letter in the Albion. I have no other wish to make use of it
than to shorten what I would otherwise have to say. This
letter has the peculiar merit, I believe, of embodying all the
arguments that have been raised out of doors in order to
pervert the circumstance of that calamity—which speaks
more eloquently than words could possibly do, in favour of
the warehouse scheme—into an argument against it. I shall
not attempt to read the letter out, but will merely refer to
points in it.
The MAYOR.—WouId you like the Deputy Town-clerk to
read such parts as you wish?
Mr. Alderman Eva tes continuing. No, I shall not. These
arguments, as they are the arguments of others, I would like,
you know, to refer to specifically. The writer of this letter
is a man of the highest standing in Liverpool, who would be
distinguished in any place in the world in his profession of
an architect. He is a man for whom I have a great respect,
but in this case I cannot believe that he has brought his usual
candour to bear upon the subject. Mr. Holme is the gentle.
man to whom I allude. Now, sir, his question is, " had this
accident happened to warehouses on the edge of the dock,
where would the shipping have been ?" Sir, I reply, that in
the warehouses we propose to have at the edge of the dock,
there would have been no fire happening. (Hear.) There are
neither,n
opi ifloparf etonhasu
oarnescoleei
glass
sct
ryoamonna
fodrd
enormous
wessuesea. ate
water;
lrtoa; wb ehl des ,h
had
ai red.
nt
sT.
not he
b(eetvinri d. ne
ivel
Evans
for
of that
is
twod
here
ex-
istences)taNblioswh,mseirn,tsthieneLvoidnednocne.isthteheEast
India,
Docks, he
allof Westth
em India,e the
n vironLdn, e
do
with London, and
wadrehthoeusSets.,Ka'antdheartin's
epor-
tions of the year filled with ships, acd the most dangerous of
all; and one of these set of warehouses—the loftiest are built
of wood upon the very verge of the dock, and in that dock
there is no restriction whatever upon the ships as to using fire
or lights; they cook and do every thing on board. Now, sir,
here is for an immense number of years four chances of fire
upon a scale which, if you look at individual warehouses, are
nearly equal to a thousand chances for fire, and yet the fire
has never existed : and such is the confidence of the world
in that security, that the shipping, goods, and warehouses, al-
together, are insured for Is. 6d., while we here have, I believe,
from Bs. up to 123. to pay.—(Hear.) Now, sir, if any one
was to enter into a calculation from the period of duration of
these London warehouses—of the whole four, and average
them, they would find the saving between the London insu-
rarß:e and the Liverpool would be millions of money already.
Now, sir, Mr. Holmes is a terrestial animel, and it certainly,
would be quite as well, if he confined his attention to ware-
houses less connected with water; but in his observations he
talks of the-Liverpool docks as if ships were not _moveable.
Now, upon any dock that we are proposing to build ware-