The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1847-11-23 00:00:00

LATEST FROM SWITZERLAND.

Advices from Berne of the 18th instant state, that on
reaching Friburg, in the evening of the 15th, the federal
representatives had a long conference with Col. Rilliet,
who commands the division of occupation. The greatest
disorder and anarchy prevailed in the canton wherever
there were no federal troops. The government stated
that it was determined on every sacrifice rather than
yield, if those to whom it had confided the defence of the
country had not declared all resistance impossible. The
effective force of the federal army amounted to 94,000
men.

La Suisse, Berne journal of the 18th, announces that
Lucerne was completely invested, and that its govern-
ment appeared disposed to surrender. •
The Helatie, of the 18th, states that the federal army
was in possession of the country round Lucerne, and had
already made 1200 prisoners. Zug was believed to have
been already occupied. The Ticinese, on the other hand,
had been repulsed by the men of Uri, in an attack against
St. Gothard, with a loss of 27 killed.

The Union Bank of Madrid has stopped payment. It
was established about two years since, professedly with
the view to introduce, as far as possible, the system fol-
lowed by English bankers. The capital was £600,000,
on which dividends of six per cent have been hitherto
paid.

it is said that the hedgehog is proof against poisons.
Mr. Pallas states that it will eat a hundred cantharides
without receiving any injury. More recently, a German
physician, who wished to dissect one, gave it prussic acid, j
opium, and corrosive sublimate, with the same results.
A MONKEY STRATAGEM.—A monkey tied to a stake
was robbed by the Johnny Crows (in the West Indies) of
his food, and he conceived the following plan of punishing
the thieves. He feigned death, and lay perfectly motion-
less on the ground, near to his stake. The birds ap-
preached by degrees, and got near enough to steal his ,
food, which he allowed them to do. This lie repeated
several times, till they became so bold RE to come within
the reach of his claws. He calculated his distance, and
laid hold of one of them. Death was not his plan of
punishment. lie was more refined in his cruelty. He
plucked every feather out of the bird, and then let him
go and show himself to his companions. He made a man
of him, according to the ancient definition of a " biped
without feathers."--Couch on Instinct.

SPECIAL MEETING OF THE TOWN COUNCIL.

Yesterday a special meeting of the Town Council was
held. There was a numerous attendance.

The first business of the meeting was the appointment
of six members of the Council to the Dock Committee,
in the place of those going out of office.
Mr. G. H. Lowrance proposed Mr. George Holt, which
was seconded.—Messrs. Bromley Moore, Nicol, Chilton.
and Molyneux were then proposed and seconded.—On
Mr. Robinson's name being proposed, Mr. Tinne said
that he thought it would not be desirable to elect that
gentleman' as he was already on several other commit-
tees. He had otherwise no objection to Mr. Robinson.
—The Mayor bore testimony to the manner in which Mr.
Robinson had uniformly discharged his duties.
Messrs. George Holt, Bramley-Moore, Nicol, Chilton,
Molyneux, and Robinson were then unanimously elected
members of the committee.

The Council next proceeded to the election of a chair-
man to the Dock Committee.

Mr. MAXN, in rising to-move the re-appointment of
Mr. Bramley-Moore, said that he felt considerable relief
in performing the task assigned to him, inasmuch as Mr.
Moore's merits were so well known and appreciated by
the Council. In proposing that gentleman for re-election,
as the chairman of the Dock Committee, he availed him-
self of the opportunity which it afforded him, of bearing
his testimony to the great ability and uniform courtesy
which had ever distinguished Mr. Moore's conduct in dis-
charging the important duties of the situation he had held.
(Hear, hear.) When, four years ago, Mr. Moore was for
the first time elected as chairman of the Dock Committee,
the tonnage of the port was 2,400,000, and the receipts
£lBO,OOO. At the present time the tonnage was 3,400,000,
and the receipts upwards of £240,000, being an increase
of one million in the tonnage, and £60.000 in the receipts;
and, in addition to this, he might say that, since the 24th
of June last, which was the commencement of the dock
year, the increase had been in a still greater ratio. (Hear.)
He was not going to say that that increase was altogether
to be attributed to the exertions of the Dock Chairman,
but he would say that by his attention, as the chairman,
and his general activity, he had brought about a great in-
crease in the business of the port. (Applause.) Not-
withstanding the greatly increased facilities which had
been caused by the opening of the Albert Dock, their
dock accommodation had still been found to be deficient,
and the works now in progress at the north end of the
town were in consequence commenced, the great credit of
which was mainly due to Mr. Moore. (Hear, hear.)
That dock extension would give them an additional
area of eighty acres, and also give the public the
benefit of the connexion which was forming with the
Leeds and Liverpool Canal. (Hear.) It was expected
that the works would be opened next spring. Great
credit was due to Mr. Moore for the manner in which he
bad forwarded the Wapping scheme. By that a complete
junction would be formed with the whole of the docks,
both at the north and south end of the town, facilities
equivalent to the traffic would be opened, which would not
only be a great benefit of the dock estate, but also to the
town generally. ( Heer, hear.) So much for the past :
now a. few words as to the future :—Mr. Moore's intimate
acquaintance with the dock estate and the present position
of the works in progress, rendered it most desirable that
he should occupy his former position. (Applause.) But
there were other and more important considerations which
should induce the Council to retain the services of Mr.
Moore. He alluded to the parliamentary business of the
trust. The trustees were now before parliament, having
given notice of their intention to apply for a bill in con-
nexion with the docks. Other parties, not very friendly
to the Liverpool dock estate, had also given notice to par-
liament respecting a bill which involved powers of a most
extraordinary nature ; powers which, if obtained, would
injuriously interfere with every Liverpool dock. In re-
ference to this subject, from the manner in which Mr.
Moore had hitherto protected their interests, he thought
the Council would have grounds to congratulate itself on
having his able services as well as those of the deputy-
chairman, Mr. Nicol, for the ensuing year. The manage-
ment of the docks could not, he thought, be in better
hands, not only for the benefit of the estate itself, but
also for that of the town at large. He had, therefore,
great pleasure in proposing Mr. Moore as chairman of the
dock committee for the ensuing year. ( Loud cheers.)
Mr. BUSHBY had great pleasure in seconding the
resolution. Mr. Moore's services were so well known,
that he (Mr. B.) thought he would have the unanimous
voice of the council in his favor, and he was sure that the
public also would highly approve of the choice made by
the council.

The MAYOR then said—Mr. Moore has been proposed
and seconded as the chairman of the dock estate for the
ensuing year. Is it the pleasure of the council that he
should be elected ?

The resolution was met by the unanimous approval of
the council.
The MAYOR.—The next business of the council is—
Mr. MOORE.—AIIow me for a few moments to inter-
rupt the regular business of the meeting—Permit me to
return you my most sincere thanks for electing me for
the third time as chairman of the Dock Committee. I
can assure you that I will endeavour to discharge the
duties-of the situation to the best of my ability. I have-
no other object in view than the benefit of the estate ;
and the same vigour which I have hitherto pursued shall
again be exercised. I;beg, again, to thank the council
for the confidence reposed in me, and for the honor it has
conferred upon me. (Applause.)

THE COUNCIL AND RECORDER.—CLAIMS FOR COMPEN-
SATION UNDER THE SANATORY ACT.
The MAYOR said, the council had next to take into
consideration the orders made by the Court of Quarter
Sessions in reference to the appeal against the decision
of the Council, by the several parties affected by the
Sanatory Act.

Mr. DRIFFIELD read the judgment of the Recorder
on the appeals against the decision of the Council, award-
ing compensation to the amount of £lO,OOO to Messrs.
Snowball, Deane, and the rest of the officers whose claims
the Corporation had resisted.

The MAYOR said a memorial had been sent to the
Council in reference to Mr. Snowball's claim, which the
Town-clerk would read to the meeting.
The TOWN-CLERK then read the memorial. It was
from the burgesses of North and South Toxteth Wards,
and prayed the Council not to sanction the large sum
awarded by the Recorder to Mr. Snowball, denying that
the loss of the office which he had held previous to the
passing of the Sanatory Bill, entitled him to the compen-
sation awerded. The memorialists contended that his
salary of £lOO per annum was the only amount of emolu-
ment upon which he could claim compensation. The
parliamentary business which it was contended he had lost,
was in reality not connected with his office of law-clerk.
The Recorder, in his decision, seemed to have been influ-
enced by the notion that the offices were one and the same,
whilst in reality Mr. Snowball's bills for parliamentary busi
ness had always been kept distinct from his salary. The
memorialists concluded by stating that as the amount of
compensation would fall upon themselves, they hoped the
Council would take every means to resist it.
In answer to a question from Mr. S. Holme, the
MAYOR stated that the memorial was numerously and
very respectably signed. A somewhat desultory conver-
sation here arose, in the course of which
The MAYOR observed that perhaps the Council would
think it right to refer the matter to the Health Commit-
tee._

Mr. HARBORD said he knew not whether or not he
might be considered out of order, but he was certainly
anxious to say a few words upon the subject. He had
taken an active part in the affairs of Toxteth-park; and he
begged to say that on the part of the burgesses of the
North and South Toxteth Wards he was prepared to re-
sist to the utmost the attempted imposition upon them of
the compensation which had been awarded to Mr. Snow-
ball and others. He would not allude to Mr. Dean's
case, but confine himself to the affairs of Toxteth-park.
Mr. Harbord then at very great length went into the par-
ticulars of the case as it referred to the inhabitants of
Toxteth-park. Some time before the sanatory bill was
applied for, certain gentlemen in Toxteth-park had stated
that it was advisable for the interests of the township and
the public that there should be an alteration in the mode
of managing the affairs of that district. An amalgamation
between the various authorities was suggested as the first
step to be taken. The board of commissioners and poor-
law authorities did amalgamate, and in consequence certain
officers were considered not to be any longer necessary.
They were discharged accordingly, and now they wished
the rate-payers of Toxteth-park to pay them a large sum,
in consequence of losing their situations. Some of them
were retained as the servants of the joint board, and
amongst them was Mr. M'Aucliffe, at a salai y of £2OO
per year, £lOO being paid by the commissioners and £lOO
by the overseers. This person was one of those who now
claimed compensation, enjoying, though he did, his salary
of £2OO per year, and never having been, even for one
day, removed from his office. The only difference,
indeed, between his present and former position was this,
that formerly he had £2OO with something to do for it,
and now at least two-thirds of his former labours had
been removed. That a person so situated should have
had awarded the sum of £3OO was most astonishing.
He cast no imputation on the recorder. As the case Itod.
been laid before him, he, no doubt, thought in the exec= -
cise of his judgment, that these parties were entitled to
the compensation which he had awarded, but he (Mr.
Harbord) thought the law and justice of the case were
irreconcileable. Mr. Rogers, another of those who had
had compensation awarded him, was at the present mo-
ment engaged in the same office which he held before the
passing of the act, never having left it for one day. Mr.
Harbord continued to speak at great length in explanation
of the manner in which the sanatory bill had been ob-
tained, and the conduct of Mr. Snowball and others, iu
reference to it, and concluded by suggesting that the
claims should be referred to a Select Committee of the
council, and thoroughly investigated.
In answer to a question from Mr. S. llolme, the TOWN-
CLERK said that the decision might be appealed against,
and the case taken before the Queen's Bench by a writ
of certiorari,
Mr. HORNBY suggested that the subject should be re-
ferred to the Health Committee. With reference to Mr.
M'Aucliffe's claim, lie understood that a written commu-
nanicyaticolanimwasfotor hcaoNn,elpbeenesnaotibotna.i n eldifiraot neoi ,urelinquishing
any claim for compensation. That communication, he
had since learned, was not got. The Committee had
negfleencrteed, be, b
neglected to attend
the claim
ndtoit, a:7lodult(liaebacveentsco begu pence
aTdwouijir.d,.
he
Hornby then moved that the subject be referred to the
Health Committee, which, after some further discussion,.
was carried, and the Council adjourned.

THE WEATHER.—It is now well nigh a month since we
have had a drop of rain. Day after day the sun rises and
sets, and the stars come out in' a sky of peerless lustre,
unflecked by a single cloud. The dust in our streets, as a
matter of course, is bzcoming more and more annoying.
Haw changed from the late summer months ! In eleven
days of July last, there fell twenty and a-half inches of
rain by the gum, ! a supply for six months ; and of this
rain ten inches fell in three hours !—Sar. Republican of
13th October.

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