The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-01-26 00:00:00

THE CANADA GOVERNMENT BILL.

The adjourned debate on the question that the house resolve
into committee on the Canada Government Bill was then re-
sumed, and continued to occupy the atten►ion of the house to a
late hour.
Sir W. NlouiswouTH spoke at great length against the bill.
Mr. E. L. But, wER supported the bill, contending that the
outbreak i❑ Lower Canada was not caused by real radicals.

Mr. Gwent resisted the measure.
Mr. GLADSToNg very eloquently exposed the misconduct of
the ministers in the management of Canadian ahairs.
The CHANcKLLou of the Excgtirign observed that the go-
vernment had shewn forbearance till it was no lonl.;er
Liable;• but that it proved the unwillingness o; government to
go to extremes.
Sir H. PtiEL said that he should support the bill, hecause he
saw no other safe mode of proceeding. The assembly bad re-
sisted supplies, not fur the purpose of procuring the redress of
grievances, but to effect a fuedainental change of the constitu-
tion. That was what the tnother country l'oUkt not sanction;
besides, was it right that this country should meet those sup-
plies for which Lower Canada had undertaken to provide Out
of the surrendered revenues?
Lord J. Russet.t, teplied, after which the house divided. The
numbers were—For the motion '262, against it in
favour of the original motion 246.
Lord J. ltt,ssEt.i. ,coved that the bill be committed on
Thursday, and that it have precedence of ail other business.
Mr. WAK LET declared that he should on that day persist in
his motion respecting
the cotton spinners' association.
The house divided on the question of going into committee
on Thursday. The numbers were—for it 101, against it, 6
majority 95.—Adjourned at a quarter past two o'clock.

TOWN COLINCiL PROCEEDINGS.

On Wednesday, .a special meeting of tl►e Town Council was
belt', called for the purpose of determining ou a communication
from the Lords of the Treasury, respecting the removal of the
Postoilice.

The MAYOR said he had received a letler from Joseph Kis-
dale and Sons, wishing an interview with the Finance Com-
mittee, for tits reduction of their rent. Referred to the Finance
Committee.

REMOVAL OF THE POSTOFFICE TO THE NFW CUSTOM-HOUSE

The MAYOR said, the immediate object of their being called
together was a letter front the Lords of the Treasury, welch
'required the opinion of the council iespect►ng the removal of
the Posta-ice.

Mr. JORDAN said, before the letter was read he would take
the liberty of laying belote the council the letters and papers
which had passeu respecting the Postoffice.
The Metros.—Would you wish thew to be read?
Mr. JOtt DA N.-1(you please; I shall request in my own jus-
tification that they be read.

'l'be deputy TO WN-CLERK then proceeded to read the papers
handed in by Mr. Jordan, which related chiefly to the com-
pleting of the new Custom-house. That the comuiittee thought
it not calculated fur the Postultice; that the Post-master General
be requested to send an ollicer down to inspect it, and that a
ground plan of the building be furnished to Mr. Banning, to be
laid before the Post-master General.

Mr. Councillor JORDAN merely wished these proceedings to
be read, to show, that in no one instance had he diverged from
the course intended by the council. He never wrote any priVate
letter on the subject, either for himself or• the committee, to pre-
vent the removal of the Postottice, but he had torwarded it to
the utmost of his power. He had wished the papers to be read
to show bow wrong the insinuation against tiiin bad been.
Mr. Alderman SHIRL begged permission to say one word
in explanation to Mr. Jordan, on the observation fie had made
at the last meeting. His reason for asking the question then
was that he bad been absent for some time, and was therefore
anxious to see the correspondence, if any had tal.en place; and
he begged to assure Mr. Jordan that he had not the most distant
wish to insinuate that he was acting in any way but with the
most correct conduct and gentlemanly feeling.
Mr. Counciltor JORDAN begged to thank Mr. Shiel, and took
his explanation as a very great compliment.
The Mayoa said the council would recollect •that a deputa-
tion was directed to proceed to London, on Vostotlice business;
their report would be the first thing read. •
The TOWN-CLERK. then read the report of the deputation, as
follovis:—

" I n compliance with the instruction of the Town Council,
your deputation proceeded to London, and had an interview
with Mr. Baring, of the Treasury, and with Colonel Meberley,
of the Postoffice, respecting the removal of the Post-office to
Canning-place.
" Your deputation called their attention to the peculiar cir-
cumstances of Liverin,ol, to the immense extent and paramount
itnpotiauce of it. commori,, acid to the fact, that it is almost
-exclusively carried on in the immeoiate vicinity of the docks;
and further stated, that the Irish, Welsh, and Bristol mails are
received by the river; that ships are constantly arriving with
letters from all [tarts of the world, and that the merchants are
obliged, in consequence or the constant despatch and delivery
olletters, to send to the Postolliee several times every day.

. .
"That if the Postoffice were placed at any considerable dis-
tance flout tile centre of business, It would cause great inconve-
nience, expense, and entharassineut to trade ; and finally, that
the Tuwn Council is of opinion that Canning-place is a suitable
site for it.

":11r. Haring declated that the government is inclined to
meet the wishes rot the inhabitants, as expressed through the
medium of their representatives in the Town Council; that he
would iay our statements before the Lords of the Treasury, and
that he had no doubt they would be guided by the opinion of tois
council.

On the subject of adopting a system of contracts, instead of
that now pursued for the conveyance of mails between Liver-
pool and Dublin, your deputation had interviews with the Cha-
ncellor of the Er.chequer, wiin Sir John Barrow, and with Sir.
Charles Wood, the result of which was an assurance from those
gentlemen, that in any change which the government might
deem it necessary to male, the fullestattention should he given,
and the greatest precautions taken to insure, not only 'lie regu-
lar and sneedy conveyance of the mails but also as ample ae-
coniniouation for passengers as at present afforded, and that if,
after a fair trial, the altered system should not prove satisfac_
tactnry, the government would be prepared to return to that now
in operation.

" By desire of the Emigration Committee of this Council,
your deputation saw Sir George Grey, of the colonial depart-
ment, and was informed by him, that the suggestions of this
council were under the consideration of the government, and
would as lar as practicable be introduced into a hill to be laid
before parliament during the present session, for redressiog the
grievances, and preventing the (roods uow complained of in
this.and other parts of the United Kingdom.
" Your deputatioit begs to state in conclusion, that the mem-
bers of her Slajesty'sgoyerniucotpaid the most gratifying atteu-
tion to toe suggestions of this council, and received its deputa-
tion most courteously.

"To Mr. Wainwright, agent, and to Mr. Creswell, member
for this borough, your deputation tee! much indebted for titeir
constant and zealous assistance.

The 't'owN-CL.rLuK tben read tue following letter from "the
Lords of the Treasury :

" Sir, —The Lords commissioners of her Majesty's Treasury,
haYini, had under their consideration subject of the removal
of the'Postofilce from its prescot situation to the Custom-house,
at Liverpool, I am commanded by their lordships to inform, you
in reference to the site of the Costottice, that this board and the
Post Master General consider their that object the convenience
of the inhabitants of that populous and commercial port :—that
my lords appreuend, that onon a noint so entirely of a local
nature, the Town Council, selected by their fellow-townsmen,
and having the means of L &lowing their opinion, would be best
sole to advise my lords, and to COOI Luc uicale what way be con-
sidered as the wishes of the inuabitants in general. And their
lordships are, therefore, desirous of-olitainiog the opinion of the
Town Council whether they consider that the removal of the
Postotlice from its present situation to the new Custom-house
would conduce to the general convenience and interests of the
place. And my lords request that you will take the necessary
steps for the purpose of laving the suhjects before the Town
Council, and forward any cuinihuutcalluu with which they may
favour the board.

(Signed)

"A. G. SHEAKMAN."

The MAYOR said, although the opinion of the council had
beet' so unequivocally expressed on a former occasion, he
thought it right to take their opinion on the letter which bad
been read, and also through the medium of the press, that it
might be communicated to the public, in order that they might
express their opinion on it.
Mr. Alderman BOOlis had great pleasure in proposing this
resolution for the adoption of the council, because he was very
well.conviuced, that, on trial, the situation would prove a good
one, esoecially with reference to the mercantile ciasses. This
subject had been so fully discussed at the last meeting, that he
did not think it necessary further to trespass on their time.

Mr. Couocittor CUORIR begged, before the resolution was
passed, that they should return thanks to the deputation for the
great services they had been of to that corporation, and for the
courteous energy and zeal which, no doubt, they had manifest-
ed to government so soon to obtain an answer. With the per-
mission of the council, he would move a vote of thanks to Mr.
Aloeiman Evans and Mr. Alderman Shiet for the ability with
which they had conducted the deputatioa in London.
Mr. A hierinan EooTu seconded the motion, welch was uani-
=rusty adopted.
Messrs. EVANS and SHIRL briefly returned their acknow-
ledgineois fur the compliment paid them.
The NI Artie presumed be might consider the motion of Mr-
Curlie was confirmatory of the report.
The 'TOWN-ct.eiric then react the following resolutions, pro-
posed by Mr. Booth.
" Revolved,—'That the new Custom-house buildings were
erected in conformity with.a contract sanctioned by Act of Par-
liament. between hiS late Majesty's Treasury and the Corpora-
tion of Liverpool.
" That the especial purpose of this contract being the concen-
tration of all the public offices was inducement to the Corpora-
tion to wake a gift of a valuable site for the building,
and to
contribute a very large sum of money towards its construction.
• " That this Corporation, relying upon the contract with Go-
vernment being carried into perfect operation, have expended,
and are now in the course of expending large sums of money
in forming approaches and a vicinage worthy of so magnificent
an edifice, and of the important public uses for which it .was
originally destined.
"'That,- independent of these circumstances, this council,
after mature consideration, and having taken all circumstances
into view, are of opinion, that for the convenience of the trade
and for the general advantage of the inhabitants of Liverpool,
the new Custom-house building offers the best available situation
for the Post-office, and for all other establishments for the pub-
lic business within the borough.
" Resolved,- That the resolution entered into by this council
on the 3d day of January, 1838—
" That, in the opinion of this council, it is desirable that-the
Post office should be removed to the offices intended for that
department in the' Custom-house buildings, so soon as they can
be fitted up for the purpose," is now confirmed, and that the
Mayor be requested to communicate these resolutions to the
Lords of her M a jesty's Treasury. • •
Mr. Cuuncillor BRIGHT rose to second the resolution, and
be would bee. to add a few remarks. if be thought the removal
of the post-optPce was likely to interfere with the tradesmen and
inhabitants generally, instead of seconding that motion he
would wove au atneudteent on it. lie begged to state that be
believer: instead of interfering with the working of business, the
post-office; it removed, would act as it then stood,- and the in-,.
habitants would receive their letters in the same time anti man-
ner as they did uoir; and that in effect the convenience of the
public would be perhaps greater than it now was. The press
had certainly represented the very opposite of what he had be-
fore. stated. Since then he had thought a good deal on this
subject. Those who resided in the immediate neighbourhood
of the present post-office he found quite lukewarm and apathetic
ou the subject, because it would not interfere with their interests ;
at least it might be supposed to affect their interests. He there-
fore felt more satisfied with the opinion which he had expressed
on a former occasion. He had great pleasure in seconding the
motion. _ _

- - -
Mr. Councillor RAmsuEN noticed the very great expense of
private boxes at the post-office, and giving gratuities to the
clerks at Christmas, for which he thought there was no oeces-
sity whatever, because these persons ought to be properly paid
by salaries; and if the postmaster's salary was not sufficient,
it ought to be augmented from the General Postoffice, and not
out of the pockets of the people of Liverpool. lie did nut see
why this town should be placed ou a different footing from Lon-
don, where deliveries took place two or three times a day.
'there, if a letter were written at night, it might be delivered
at nine the next morning; and if written later still, it would be
delivered at eleven, and sooner than the merchants could pro-
cure their letters if they sent their own clerks; and he did not
see why Liverpool should be on a different footing. This would
be effected if they had proper -receiving houses, and a proper
number of persons to do their duty iu delivering those letters.
tie was quite aware that the present postmaster derived a great
income from the private boxes, and he had no intention to ex-
press any unfavourable opinion of the iervices of the postmaster,
to whom he would give the same remuneration as at present,
but in a different way. He had briefly expressed thoseopinions
to the council. He did not know how he should proceed, but
merely stated those ideas to the council, who he hoped would
take some steps in the matter.

The MAYOR observed that the council would be aware that
anv further discussion on that point was out of order. The only
question for discussion was as to the site of the Postoffice, but
If Mr. Ramsden would give notice of a motion thereon, it ►night
be discussed at their next crieetiag; it was a very important
point.
Mr: Councillor 11,AmsnEtv then gave notice that he would
bring the subject before the council on a future occasion. He
wished by no means to depreciate the services of Mr. Banning
whom he conceived to be as valuable and efficient a public ser-
vant as could be.

Mr. Councillor Woot.watGHT was aware; after the derision
of the council, how unthankful an offiCe it was to oppose the
motion, hut he was still of opinion that the removal, as contem-
plated, would be most inconvenient to three-parts of the town,
and he was not a little surprised to find that at a late meetin g
of the council, held within the last twelve months, when a dis-
cussion was led off by Mr. Leathow, on referring to a newspaper