The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-01-12 00:00:00

APPOINTMENT OF GOVERNOR AND OF CHAPLAIN OF

THE BOROUGH GAOL.
The MAYOR introduced the subject by stating that the
subject of the appointment of a successor to Mr. Batcheldor,
as keeper of the gaol, and of the Rev. Dr. Buck, as chap-
lain, had been reported on by the general committee to whom
it was referred, and that the report should now be read.
The TOWN-CLERK accordingly read the report, which
stated what steps the magistrates had taken to give the mat-
ter publicity, and to bring the names and claims of the can-
didates before the council. The gaol committee resolved
that-1. All applications and testimonials should be laid
before the council. 2. That lists of all applicants should be
laid in alphabetical order. 3. That out of this list the gaol
committee should select four candidates for each office, and
recommend them to the council as best qualified for it. 4.
That out of each the committee recommend one as best
qualified.
For the office of gaoler there were 36 candidates, of whom
the committee named—Mr. Griffiths, Mr. Highton, Mr.
Paige, and Mr. Parkinson.
For the office of chaplain there were 17 candidates, of
whom the committee named—Rev. Mr. Cameron, Rev. Mr.
Carter, Rev. Mr. Jones, and Rev. Mr. Picton. Of those
the committee specially recommended Mr. Highton as
governor and Mr. Carter as chaplain.
The names of the whole of the candidates were not read,—
the council requiring the names of those only who had been
selected by the committee as the most eligible.
The MAYOR proposed that the report should be received,
which did not bind any member to its adoption, and that the
testimonials of the eight candidates should first be read, and
afterwards those of any others who might be proposed and
seconded by any member of the council.
Mr. DAVID HODGSON moved that no testimonials should
be read unless the parties were first proposed and seconded
as candidates.
After some discussion it was determined by a majority of
32 to 25. that the testimonials of those only should be read
who had been proposed and seconded.
The TOWN-CLERK again read the names of the candidates
for the governorship.
Mr. JOHN HOLMES moved that Mr. Highton 'be a candi-
dates for the situation.
Mr. RICHARD HOUGHTON seconded the motion,
Mr. Edward Highton's testimonials were read by the
Town-clerk. They were of considerable length, and of a
most favourable character, and from parties of the first re-
spectability. Mr. H., it appears, from them, is 30 years of
age, and has a wife and two children. In very early life,
(when, indeed, a mere boy,) he entered the army, and such
was his good education, intelligence, and sobriety, that he
was taken immediate notice of by his superiors, and was soon
raised from the ranks, and placed in the regimental office.
He soon became pay-serjeant, and continued to gain increased
confidence. Of these facts highly commendatory letters were
read from Col. G. D. Pitt, of the 87th Regiment; from officers
of the 80th Regt. and others. He had bought his discharge
when at the rank of pay-serjeant. Of his many very active
and efficient services in the police of this town, for some
years, very strong testimonials were also read from the Watch
Committee, (under whom he has long been as clerk,) from
Mr. Whitty, chief constable, from the Town-clerk, and many
others of the local authority of this town. Mr. Whitty, in
his letter, stated that Mr. H. had been most efficient and
confidential, and that the statistical accounts of the business
connected with the uolice, (which have given so much satis-
faction,) were drawn up solely on his (Mr. Highton's) con-
trivance. In his application Mr. Highton referred for his
bondsman, for the security required, to his two uncles, one
a member of the common council, in Shrewsbury, and the
other an Esquire, residing in the same neighbourhood.
After some conversation respecting Mr. Page and his tes-
timonials,

Mr. JOSEPH HORNBY proposed that 'Mr. Griffiths be a
candidate.

Mr. FREME seconded the motion

; ,The testimonials of Mr. Griffiths were then read, and all of
them were strongly favourable to him. One, from the Mayor
of Shrewsbury, stated that he had been 17 years Governor of
the county prison of Salop, and that his gaol discipline and
management was such, that he had even anticipated the views
of the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in the
improvement of gaols. Letters of high recommendation
were also read from the Earl of Liverpool, from several of the
magistrates of the county, from clergymen' of high station,
and other respectable persons.
The MAYOR said, that other testimonials from Mr. Grif-
fiths had been given to him since the first were received.
Mr. EARLE said, that the testimonials were required to be
sent in by a certain day, and if those were not so, they were
not available.

The Mayor said, it was due to the council that he should
state, that he had just received a Shrewsbury paper, in which
there was a report of the magistrates of that town, which he
believed had reference to Mr. Griffiths. It referred to the
reason of his dismissal from the governorship of the gaol of
that county.

After some conversation, the proceedings detailed in the
Shrewsbury newspaper, was then read. The report was one
of the proceedings at an adjourned meeting of the quarter
sessions, and embodied the report of a committee appointed
to inquire into the conduct of Mr. Griffiths, with reference
to his connexion with trade and his becoming a bankrupt,
and how far the same affected him as a proper person to 're-
main a governor of that gaol. These details were read at
considerable length, and had the effect of turning the tables
against the candidate, many of the members of the council
on both sides expressing impatience- before the close, with
an expression that they had heard enough. The report set
forth that the investigation had resulted in the discovery
that 11r. Griffiths, contrary to the regulations of the magis-
trates, had continued to trade privately after his denial of
doing so ; that he had borrowed money which he had with-
held the payment of in a dishonourable manner ; that he had
sunk his own capital in this manner, and most seriously in-
jured many others ; that he had stated untruths to the ma-
gistrates relative to his estates; that he had supplied the
gaol with coals from his estates ; and had stated that he had
sold his shares in a coal concern, when the fact turned out to
be otherwise; that he had reported havingvisited from time
to time all parts of the gaol, when in fact he had visited but
a part ; that he had not paid the turnkeys regularly ; and, in
fine, that the committee of magistrates to whom the case was
referred, with a view to discover any plea of extenuation in
his behalf, as an old servant, came to the resolution that they
would not be doing their duty in not deciding for his dis-
missal. A letter of Mr. Griffiths, in reply, and printed in
the same paper, was also read, ascribing his pecuniary diffi-
culties, and his remaining in business, to circumstances which
he could not control, and complaining of the magistrates' re-
port, and soliciting them to withdraw the harsh expression it
contained. Another document was also read from some of
his creditors, in which they stated that they considered he
had been unfortunate in his speculations, and was not mo-
rally delinquent. The reading of these papers produced no
counteracting effect on the minds of the members of the
council.

Mr. HORNBY and Mr. FREME disclaimed all knowledge
of the facts which had just reached them. Mr. F. said that,
on seeing the signatures of the Earl of Liverpool and the
Rev. Mr. Lister to the recommendations, he had (particularly
from his knowledge of the latter,) been induced to think most
favourably of the candidate. The exposition made gave the
matter a very different complexion. '
The Towist-CLERK said he had heard some more reports
affecting the candidate, and had yesterday, with a member
of the council, read over his testimonials, in consequence,
and these had removed the impressions from his mind which
those reports had made. He had not before read the news-
paper.

- The MAYOR stated that he had not read the report in the
newspaper or knew its contents until it was read in that
chamber.

The council evinced their decided disinclination to retain
the name of Mr. Griffiths as a candidate ; and
Mr. JOHN HOLMES rose and proposed that Mr. Edward
R. Highton be Governor of the Borough Gaol.
Mr. RICHARD HOUGHTON seconded the motion ; which
was carried unanimously.
ELECTION OF CHAPLAIN TO THE BOROUGH GAOL.
The TOWN-CLERK read the names of the parties proposed
by the committee, Mr. Carter having the preponderance in
their estimation.

Mr. HUGH HORNBY begged leave to propose to the office
Mr. Carter, who bad been especially recommended by the
magistrates.

Mr. HOLMES seconded the motion. He knew the great
zeal and attenticn of the candidate proposed, and from his
charitable and kind feelings to all, a guarantee was afforded
that he would discharge the duties of his office without any
sectarian feelings.
Mr. COOPEIL proposed Mr. Picton, who, he had no doubt,
would give the utmost satisfaction.—This was seconded by a
MEMBER whose name we did not catch.

Mr. P.r..;;-propO;ed-ii:. lones,-;; a young man who
would fill the situation with credit to himself and satisfaction
to those who employed him. He warmly recommended him.
Mr. M'KEE seconded the motion.
Mr. AIKIN proposed that Mr. Carter's testimonials be
first read.

The testimonials of the three candidates were respectively
.ead. The votes were taken, and there appeared
For Mr. Carter
" Mr. Picton
" Mr. Jones.. -
The M kYOI3. declared Mr. Carter duly elected.

The. following is a list of the gentlemen who voted in the

'vision

For the Rev. Mr. Carter.—Messrs. J. Holmes, Quayle,
Houghton. Thornhill, Case, Sandbach, H. Holmes. Mellor,
Walmsley, Aikin' Woollrigh4 H. Hornby, Yates, Toulmin,
J. Lawrence, Robinson, Morecroft, Coglan, Slater, G. H.
Lawrence, M`Kee, Jordan, Mather, A. Smith, jun., Shell,
Booth, J. Hornby, Roskell, G. Holt, C. H. Jones, Benn,
Earle, Moon, Evans, Barclay, T. Holt, Freme, Harvey, and
the Mayor.

For the Rev. Mr. Picton.—Messrs. Hodgson, I. Holmes,
Copeland, Wright, Barton, Blundell. Sands, Cooper, Wood,
Birkett, Gladstone, Procter, Rigby, Kilshaw, R. Jones, jun.,
Leigh, J. Smith, and Harbord.

FOr.the Rev

Mr. Jones.—Messrs. Priestley and Platt,

STANDING ORDERS OF THE COUNCIL.
Several amendments to the standing orders were agreed
o, the details of which would not interest the general public.

THE MUNICIPAL REFORM BILL.
Mr. H. HORNBY then rose for the purpose of introducing
a motion, of which he had given notice, and which was to
the following effect:—" For th appointment of a committee,
to take into consideration the present unsatisfactory and de-
fective state of the law relating to the revision of the muni-
cipal burgess lists, with power to prepare petitions to both
houses of parliament; to memorialise government; to cor-
respond, through the mayor, with the Home-office; and to
take any other measures which they may deem expedient for
obtaining the amendment thereof; reporting their proceed-
ings, from time to time, for the approbation of this Council ;
and that the mayor be authorised to affix the seal to any such
petitions." He said it could not be necessary that he should
adduce any argument in support of the propriety of the course
which he had thought it his duty to take in bringing forward
the present motion. It was not only their legitimate pro-
vince, but it was their imperative duty also. to protect the
inhabitants in the free exercise of their civil rights, and espe-
cially of those rights to which they were entitled under the
municipal corporations act. He thought that if they became
cognizant of any defect in the law, or any abuses by which
the rights of the inhabitants were prejudiced or compromis-
ed, they should be very culpable if they neglected to bring
them under the consideration of parliament; and he had the
less reluctance in performing his share of the dutY, because
he could not be suspected of supporting any party object, in-
asmuch as all parties must feel alike interested in removing
the present abuses. These abuses had now accumulated to
such a degree. as not only to be harrassing to the burgesses
themselves, but they threatened to place in abeyance the
rights and franchises of a considerable portion of the inhabi-
tants for an indefinite period. If. then, he succeeded in con-
vincing the Council that evils of the nature he alluded to
existed, he thought it must be their unanimous feeling to
adopt his proposition. It was known that the act of parlia-
ment required that a list of burgesses in all boroughs should
be revised within the space of 15 days. Now, at the com-
mencement of the Court of Revision for this town, in October
last, there was a list of 14,417 names, besides some thousands

of claimants, and of the names there were 7300 who were ob-
jected to, being more than half the entire number. Of course,
many of those objections were of a most frivolous description ;
he believed he would be borne out in saying that some of
them were made without the slightest foundation. (Loud
cries of " Hear, hear.") For instance, objections were made
to Sir Joshua Walmsley, the late mayor, and the presiding
officer, to Mr. Harvey, one of the assessors, and to" several
other equally respectable gentlemen, of conservative as well
as liberal politics, which were afterwards withdrawn, as hav-
ing avowedly no colour or shadow of pretence. They were
made for factious purposes, and to annoy political opponents,
and he believed the fault was as much on one side as it was
upon another. (Hear, hear.) At the conclusion of the fif-
teen days it appeared that one-third of those objections had
not been disposed of, 5,000 being untouched, and it then be-
came necessary, in accordance with the opinion of some emi-
nent counsel, to fall back on the burgess roll for 1839, the
consequence of which has been that a considerable number of
the inhabitants have been deprived of the franchige to which
they were justly entitled, while others who had no claim,
per Haps, if investigated, were on the burgess roll, and voted
at the last election.., This was a state of things which called
loudly for amendment. If it were temporary, it would be of
an aggravated character; but it was not temporary, far, un-
less some effectual remedy should be applied, similar circum-
stances might and would return at the next Court of Revi-
sion, whereby the burgess roll of '39 would remain in force
for years. There were several other evils incidental to the
registration as it affected Liverpool which required alteration,
but he did not think it necessary to take up the time of the
council with entering on them. It had been suggested to
him- that by leaving out three words in his motion, namely,
" the revision of," it would enable the committee to take
into consideration those evils which existed previous as well
as subsequent to the registration, and, though he was in-
clined to assent to the suggestion, it would be his duty in the
first place to make his motion in the terms of the notice he
had given. His object in bringing it forward had been to
relieve the burgesses of the town from those vexatious ob-
jections to their votes which were periodically made, and prin-
cipally to secure to his fellow-citizens the civil rights to which
they were justly entitled. He therefore begged to propose
the motion in accordance with the terms of the notice he had
read.

Mr. SANDBACII seconded the motion.
Mr. A. SMITH, jun., did not rise for the purpose of op-
posing it, but rather for the purpose of carrying out the prin-
ciples Mr. Hornby had so well expressed, and to remove
some of the great difficulties which attended the last registra-
tion. Believing that some of those difficulties were created
in consequence of the system pursued in paying rates for
others, he proposed to add the following words to Mr.
Hornby's resolution :—" And further, that the said commit-
tee be instructed to embody in the petitions a representation
of the practices which were resorted to last year hi this town,
of paying the rates of a class of persons who were unable to
do so for themselves, thereby interfering with the just rights
of those who were constituted electors by the municipal act,
and praying parliament to take measures for preventing a
recurrence of such practices for the future." (Hear, hear.)
Mr. Smith concluded by hoping that there would be no ob-
jection on the part of the council to adopt the present sug-
gestion.

- Mr. COOPER felt very happy in seconding the addition to
the motion which had been just proposed by Mr. Smith. It
was absolutely requisite that some amendment should be
made in the revision of the municipal lists, as he himself had
ueen objected to every year, and as he had had quite enough
of it by this time. (Hear, and a laugh.)
Mr. H. HORNBY objected to Mr. Smith's amendment, on
the ground that his object in appearing there was not to make
any alteration in the principle of the reform bill, whereas the
amendment aimed at an alteration in the principle of that

_
measure.
Sir J. WALMSLE a thought it proper to observe, that at the
conclusion of the registration he had called the attention of
her majesty's government to the subject, and that he wrote
to the principal leading members of the cabinet, explaining
the evils to the best of his ability. He had .
their replies, by which he had the gratification of finding
that the subject was now fully before them, and that it was
likely to meet their attention ; for according to a letter writ-
ten by Lord J. Russell, he promised to attend to the subject,
and several other menabers of the administration had written
to a similar effect. At the same time he (Sir Joshua) thought
Mr. Hornby's motion well worthy the attention of the coun-
cil, for it was absolutely necessary that some amendment
should be made in the present state of affairs. lie had no
doubt but the government would bring in a bill for the pur-
pose.

received some of

Mr. EVANS rose in order to oppose Mr. Smith's amend-
ment. It was well known that the conservatives always beat
the reformers in the matter of giving money ("No, no," and
uproar.), and it was utterly at variance with the principles of
the act to ask a party how he got his money to pay his rates.
All that was necessary was to see whether the man had, per
se, a right to vote, and if he had that right, he (Mr. E.) con-
ceived they had no power whatever to institute an inquiry as
to how he had obtained the money wherewith to pay his
rates.

Mr. EARLE was also opposed to the amendment, and
thought they ought to go a step further, and petition govern-
ment to remove certain barristers—uncommon wise barris-
ters—(a laugh)—who came to Liverpool to disfranchise half
the population of the town, upon points which were in direct
opposition to the opinions of Mr. Kelly, Mr. Wightman, Sir
F. Pollock, and others.
Mr. HARBORD thought it was not the law they had to
complain of, but the breakers of the law ; and in deciding
who the breakers of the law were, he would have them judge
from circumstances. The conservatives were not the trans-
gressors, although they followed in the steps of the reform-
ers, unfortunately, for their own preservation. He alluded
to the fact that a vast number of frivolous objections were
made by the reform party, and that the conservatives were
obliged to adopt a similar plan, but, as soon as the revision
court was opened, the barrister engaged for the conservatives
proposed to withdraw every frivolous objection, and if that
proposition had been agreed to by the reform pary, the court
might have been closed in less than a day, but the reform
party opposed it, and therefore he (Mr. II.) said the viola-
tion of the law commenced with the reform party, and that
the conservatives were obliged to follow their practice to a
slight extent. (Cries of "Oh. oh.") Had the conserva-
tives not done so, the law would have been perverted to their
extinction. But now he hoped that no subterfuges would
be made use of for the purpose of evading the law. if the
law required alteration, let no restrictions be introduced for
the purpose of frustrating that good intent. In the present
instance the rates of the poor bad been paid with the money
of the rich, whereby the rich had broken the law ; but, if
Mr. Smith's amendment were adopted, the former would be
saved from the injury that must otherwise await him eventu-
ally, and the latter would be spared from making a sacrifice
in cases where such sacrifices tended to no good.
Sir J. WALMSLEY did not remember that the conserva-
tive barrister offered to withdraw the frivolous objections.
An offer had certainly been made to withdraw all objections,
but that offer was not accepted. He believed however, that
the two parties had met, and that 500 or 600 objections bad
been withdrawn ; and so far as he was able to judge, one
party was equally blameable as the other about the payment
of the rates. One party had the tax collectors in their inte-
rest, and those tax collectors met at particular places. There
was a tax collector in one room—he (Sir Joshua) knew not
whether it was his own room or not—the clerk of a certain
gentleman who might or might not be in the council then,
was in another room, and the voter came out of the one room
and went into the other, where he paid his rates to the col-
lector. So far as he (Sir Joshua) was able to judge of the
Protector Society, he believed it to be legal, and that no such
thing was proved with regard to the Protector Society as had
been proved in regard to the Peel and Conservative Societies,
only the manner in which they managed their business, by
means of the tax collectors, seemed to be much the cleverest.
(Hear, and a laugh.)
Mr. CASE thought both partieslad committed themselves.
Mr. BIRKETT complained of the manner in which the
sabbath had been desecrated by the payment of rates for
whole bodies of paupers in the lump previous to the Revision
Court being held, and said he was not over sanguine as to the
beneficial consequences likely to result from the present mo-
tion.

Mr. YATEs thought it never could have been the intention
of the legislature that persons' rates should be paid for them,
inasmuch as that would be making it a contest of purses and
of wealth against the constitutional rights of the people.
(Hear, hear.)
Mr. AIKIN thought both parties were to blame in what
had already passed ; but as they were all desirous of mending
matters for the future, he hoped Mr. Smith would be in-
duced to withdraw his amendment, provided the words " the
revision of " were left out in Mr. Hornby's motion.
Mr. J. HOLMES was anxious for a complete alteration in
the bill, and said that the present system of Paying rates for
those who were unable to pay them out of their own pockets
was nothing more nor less than subornation of bribery. He
had no doubt that £15,000 had been expended in paying
taxes for paupers, two-thirds of which came out of the
pockets of the reform party.
After a few observations from Mr. Sheil, Mr. Hodgson,
and Mr. Coglan, the council divided. when there appeared—
For the amendment
Against it
The following gentlemen voted in the division
For the amendment—Messrs. J. Holmes,
Isaac Holmes, Houghton, Sandbach, Copeland,
Barton, Blundell, Sands, Toulmin, J. Lawrence, Robinson
Cropper, Wood, Birkett, Gladstone, Procter, Rigby, Kil-
shaw' R. Jones, jun., Leigh, J. Smith, G. H. Lawrence,
Harbord, and A. Smith, jun.
Against it—Messrs. Thornhill, Case, H. Holmes, Mellor,
Walmsley, Aikin, Woollright, Hornby, Yates,
Morecroft, Coglan, Slater, M`Kee, Jordan, Platt, Mather,
Sheil, Booth, J. Hornby, Roskell, G. Holt, C. H. Jones,
Benn, Earle, Moon, Evans, Barclay, T. Holt, Freme,
Harvey, and the Mayor.
The original resolution was carried, with the omission of
the words " the revision of," and the substitution of the
word " correspond" for " petition."
Mr. HORNBY moved that the following gentlemen com-
pose the committee:—Sir J. Walmsley, Mr. Case, Mr.
Evans, Mr. G. H. Lawrence, Mr. Aikin, Mr. Birkett, and
the mover (Mr. Hornby.)
Mr. AIKIN wished to withdraw his name.
Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE thought the, committee could
never be considered a fair one. 41.
Mr. J. HORNBY presumed that the reason of its being
considered unfair was, because the conservative party denied
Mr. Case.
Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE said he believed Mr. Case to be a
good conservative, but could not shut out from himself the
fact, that in almost every division he had voted against the
conservative party.
Mr. CASE said as he was expected not to exercise his own
judgment, he begged his name might be withdrawn. (" No,
no. ')

Hodgson,
Wright

Mr. LAWRENCE believed Mr. Case gave his votes con-
scientiously, but he could not be looked upon as a man on
whom the conservatives could always rely.
Mr. HODGSON moved that the name of Mr. A. Smith,
jun. be substituted for that of Sir J. Walmsley.
Mr. TOULMIN seconded the motion.
The question was put. and Sir Joihua was elected by a
majority of 17, the numbers being—
For Sir J. Walmsley 37
For Mr. Smith

Majority l7
Mr. Case refused to vote in the division, but on being told
he could not remain in the room without voting, he took up
his hat and left the room.

All the other names of the committee were then passed,
that of Mr. Sheil being substituted for Mr. Aikin.
It was now, however, past three o'clock, and the council
was adjourned until eleven o'clock on Monday.

ADJOURNED MEETING.
Yesterday, pursuant to the adjournment from Friday, the
council again met. Immediately on the MAYOR having
taken his seat,
Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE rose and said, that before the pro-
ceedings of the day commenced, he wished to say a few words
in order to set himself right. He had reason to apprehend
that the few words which had fallen from him on Friday, in
the heat of the debate upon the political composition of the
municipal registration list, had given pain to the gentleman
who was the subject of them, who, from his age, experience,
and long connection with the corporation, was entitled to
their respect. He (Mr. L.) could not, however, retract
what had fallen from him on that occasion; but he must
express his regret that anything of the kind should have
occurred, feeling satisfied that such scenes as that which
had taken place towards the conclusion of the day did not
tend to raise the council in the estimation of the public, or
to heighten the individual influence of the parties who took
part in them. He would not willingly hurt the feelings of
any one. He was glad to have an opportunity of making
these remarks, and he hoped that, having done so, Mr. Case
would take his seat in the committee of which he had been