The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1836-09-09 00:00:00

place than the present station of the Powder Magazine could,
not be found, reported, that the committee had taken the
opinions of the harbour-master, Captain Denham, and Mr.
Askew. They had come to the unanimous conclusion, that
there was no place on shore more eligible than the present site,
and that there were insuperable objections to Hilbre
from its inaccessibility and the detention that vessels would be
subjected to. It was the opinion of the gentlemen they had
consulted, that floating magazines might be placed with advan-
tage to the shipping, and the danger of an explosion done away
with, at about two miles north of the Floating. Light, at Burbo.
The committee had not thought it their duty to consider what
effect this would have on the trade of the port. Another situa-
tion pointed out for the Floating Magazine was 'at Waterspool.
The committee, according to their instructions, had made en-
quiries into the value of-land in the immediate neighbourhood
of the dep43t. It was stated, that the prices were very much in-
creased, and were increasing three or four fold, and that land
was now sold by the yard and not by the acre, and that
land, which two years ago was worth £5 or £6 per acre, had
risen to £6OO value five years ago. The removal of the maga-
zines would enhance the value of land in their immediate
vicinity.
Mr. Councillor RATHBONE would move, that the committee
be re-appointed, with power to investigate the subject in all its
bearings, and report to the Council, thereon. He thought they
would not find this as time lost.
Mr. Alderman Evales was at a loss to know the object of this.
With regard to the great risk, he looked upon all these as forced
opinions. Nothing would make him believe that, when maga.
zines were anchored up where thousands of river craft were
always passing, and steam-boats continually passing, the danger
would not be increased. But, if they were moored at the Devil's
Bank and exploded, they certainly would play the devil with the
trade in the river, though where they were the danger was con-
fined. The only motive, in his opinion, was to increase the
value of the land, and, in his opinion, the question ought not to
be entertained. It ought to be an instruction to the committee
to make the expense of altering the magazines be on the landed
proprietors there.
Mr. Councillor Moexcaon. seconded Mr. Rathbone's motion.
Mr. Alderman LEATHOM thought, that, with regard to adopt-
ing Waterspool as a situation for the Floating Magazines, the
danger would be much increased. About 24.000 barrels of gun-
powder would pass the town in a year, in vessels past which
steam-boats were plying every half •hour. As to the effect the
placing the magazines on the outer situation would have on the
trade, the merchants would form an opinion. He thought that
situation would be objectionable as a matter of convenience. It
would be a most costly establishment : two vessels would cost
£5OOO or £6OOO each. •
Mr. Councillor AIKIN apprehended that it would be absolute-
ly impossible to get any moorings to hold any vessel outside
of the banks. It was well known that the floating-light was
continually breaking, with all her immense chains, and though
'only a small vessel. He would venture to say it would be im-
possible to have the vessels moored outside the bank, and there-
fore the only alternative was to have the magazines where they
were.
Mr. Councillor BOLTON, conceiving that the Magazines
must remain where they were and that they ought to be built on
the safest plan, and conceiving that by delaying this question
they were losing the most valuable period of the year for build-
ing, he would propose that immediate steps be taken for re-
building the magazines on their present site.
Mr. Councillor MORECROFT would ask whether it did not rest
with the lessees to rebuild or repair?
The TOWN-CLERK said that would be a question for the
finance committee.
Mr. Councillor BLACKBURN thought that Captain Denham
and Mr. Askew were as capable of forming. an opinion on this
subject as any gentleman there, and their opinions were en-
titled to consideration. Captain Denham said that there would
be no difficulty or danger whatever in transferring the powder
to vessels from floating magazines, as it was now done at the
King's ships at the Isle of Wight. The point chosen for moor-
ing the magazines up the river was in a cur de sac, out of the
track of the steamers, and only approachable at high water. It
was a mile from each shore, and, even if an explosion did take
place, there was a perfect security. The opinion of the master
pilots was, that there was perfect security. also at Burbo-bank.
It was not much exposed to the turbulence of the tide, and there
was not:so much danger of a vessel being washed from her
moorings. Captain Denham and Mr. Askew were of opinion
that the commerce of the port might be accommodated without
any danger or inconvenience with regard to the passing of the
powder. He believed gentlemen were not aware of the danger
which now existed. Vessels with five hundred or six hundred
pounds of gunpowder on board were accustomed to pass between
the steam vessels without any protection to the powder. He
thought the expense ought to devolve on those persons whose
land would be doubled in value by the removal of the Maga-
zines. He thought that to meet the wish of the public and the
general 'anxiety that the enquiry should be continued.
Mr. Councillor COGLAN thought they ought not to come to an
immediate conclusion on this important subject. He thought
the Magazines ought to be considered and treated as a public
measure, and leave the onus of finding a proper place to those
who profited by the trade. He thought that those, who profited
by the trade, and not those who would profit by the removal of
the-Magazines, ought to pay the expense.
Mr. Councillor LAWRENCE HEYWORTH compared the Maga-
zines to a railway. The risk and danger was only theoretical;
there was no practical danger. . (Loud cries of " Question.")
Mr. Councillor RATHBONE spoke in reply. All the argu-
ments which had been adduced, he thought, went to show that
further information on the subject was wanted. The danger
was far from theoretical; they had frequently heard of dread-
ful accidents from the blowing up of magazines.
The MAYOR thought, if a stafion were chosen, that Captain
Denham's opinions with regard to the changeable nature of the
banks should be obtained, in order that they might not. be
obliged, perhaps in a short time, to remove the vessels again.
The amendment was then put, when there appeared, on a di-
vision, for it 27 ; on the motion being put, there appeared for it
20. The amendment of Mr. Bolton was therefore declared
carried.
An application from the Liverpool Agricultural Society, for
the usual accommodation at' their annual cattle show, was
granted.
BOROUGH COURTS COMMITTEE.—SERGEANT-AT-MACE.

The subject of the appointment of the Sergeant-at-Mace was 1
taken into consideration, and the committee reported that the
salary of the Sergeant-at-Mace had been £l3O per annum, but
that his income, with fees, had been £4OO. That the sergeant
would, in this case, be entitled to compensation. As the Ser-
geant-at-Mace was willing to accept the appointment, and
abandon his claim for compensation, his continuance in office
depending on his own good conduct, the committee thought,
under the circumstances, and after mature consideration, that
the sergeant should continue in his office, to hold it during
pleasure. That the salary of the sergeant shall be £350 a year,
in consideration of his whole time being devoted to his office;
to have the bailiffs responsible at his risk, and that he provide a
clerk at his own expense, to act for him during his absence.
That he provide a man to carry the mace. To give security in
£100), and two sureties in £2OOO each.
Mr. WALMSLEY, seconded by Mr. JORDAN, moved the adop-
tion of this report, which was carried.
COUNTY CLERKS' OF. THE PEACE COMPENSATION.
The TOWN-CLERK said he had to lay before the council a claim'
for compensation by-parties who held the office of clerks of the
peace for the county, and also by their deputies. The claim was
from John Charles Cbalrendon Earl, clerk of the peace for the
county of Lancaster, Robert John Harper, to be clerk after the
former's decease, and from Edward Gorst and Thomas Birchen,
deputy-clerks of the peace, and set forth; that whereas they
had been removed, by the operation of the municipal act, from
the situation of clerks of the peace for such parts of the new bo-
rough of Liverpool as bad been included and added to Liver-
pool by that act; they claimed compensation for the loss of their
salary and fees, amounting to about £2OO for the last five years,
and therefore claimed as compensation £2087, or £133 per annum
for life.
The TOWN-CLERK thought the council might reject this claim
without pursuing the course observed on former occasions.
The claim was then unanimously rejected.
GOVERNOR OF THE GAOL.
The MAYOR said the next subject for consideration was the
appointment of a keeper of the Gaol and House of Correction.
A governor had been advertised for, and there had been thirty-
ndivd namely,
five applications for the situation, out of which the sub-commit-
tee had selected six for the consideration of the gaol committee ;
and, after
ual an ample
discussion of the qualifications of the differ-
rtcandidates, had come to the resolution of recommending one
Mr. Batcheldor, the keeper of the present
Bridewell.
The TOWN-CLERK then read the report of the committee to
the above effect.
Mr. BLACKBURN thought it would be a satisfaction to the un-
successful candidates to have Mr. Batcheldor's recommendations
read.

The letter of Mr. Batchedor applying for the situation was
then read, from which it appeared that he had served the cor-
poration 15 years, 9 of which he had been in the Bridewell, and
had become familiar with the persons of most of the bad cha-
racters in the town. A recommendation was read from Messrs.
Ellis and Shuttleworth, the magistrates clerks. A recom-
mendation signed by Messrs Harvey, Hodgson, Heywood, and
Ewart, magistrates not of the council, was read. A; recom-
mendation signed by eight or ten of the old magistrates, was
read. A recommendation sinned by the late Town-clerk, was
read. A recommendation signed by Mr. Whitty, superintend-
ant of police, was read, and a number of recommendations
from the various surgeons of the different hospitals, and dispen-
saries, were read, all recommending Mr. Batcheldor, as eligible
for the office.
Mr. Batcheldor was then unanimously appointed as governor.
ENLARGING THE GAOL.

The Towx-contic read the gaol committee report, which re-
commended a considerable enlargement of the gaolas absolutely
necessary, and recommended the alterations proposed to be
referred to the finance committee to act as might be found desi-
rable. A plan of the regulations of the interior with regard to
room, was then read.
Mr. Alderman RAWDON seconded by Mr. Alderman BAR-
CLAY, proposed that it shall be adopted. Carried.
The MAYOR announced that a deputation of magistrates would
wait on the county magistrates at their meeting, at Preston,
to enter into arrangements with regard to Kirkdale gaol. All
male prisoners would be sent to Kirkdale, and the Borough gaol
would be kept for debtors, for female prisoners, and for pri-
soners before trial. With these regulations, a new goal would
not be needed.
The TowN-CLERIC said it would be necessary to appoint a day
for bringing forward the bye-laws. If that day fortnight were
appointed, they would be .ready, and the council might, also, at
the same time make the necessary appointment of surveyor of
buildings.
Mr. Councillor BOLTON moved an adjournment of a fort-
night, which was adopted.
The council then adjourned at three o'clock to Wednesday
week, after sitting four hours.

The beautiful rotunda of Limbur , erected on the summit of
one of the steepest mountains in Germany, near Aix-la-Cha-
pelle, was destroyed by fire on the night of the 27th. A ball
had been given in the evening, which continued till three o'clock
in the morning. Soon afterwards the inmates of the hotel were
alarmed by cries of fire, and in a short time the whole edifice
was but a mass of smoking ruins.—Brussels paper. •
Some pitiful miscreant has attempted to disfigure' the eques-
trian statue of George 111. in London, by throwing over the
pedestal a quantity of black composition similar to paint.
At races, last week, M. A. Pourrat was permitted to
exhibit gbhmeafore his Majesty his invention for detaching runaway
horses from gigs. The first two attempts were made in a walk-
ing pace, and succeeded perfectly, but the third, at a canter,
partially failed through some accident or mismanagement of the
reins.
Dr. Murray says that such is the antiseptic quality of peat
bogs, that the body of a female, in the dress of the ancient Bri-
tons, was found in a bog, of that description in Lincolnshire,
where it must have remained 1,600 years. The same philoso-
pher states that the sandy desert of Zaara is equal in extent to
45 islands as large as Great Britain.
The Landgrave of Hesse Cassel, the oldest prince in Europe,
died on the 17th ult. He was in the 92nd year of his age; and
in 1826 celebrated with his wife a matrimonial jubilee of 60
years.
The splendid Sherry presented with so much' gallantry to
George the Fourth when Prince Regent, by the Spanish Go-
vernment, after having been captured, is, we hear, so nearly
gone, that it is now only put on table at Windsor for the King's
pesonal consumption. His Majesty drinks no other wine but
Sherry, and very sparingly of that.