The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-11-16 00:00:00

DOCK COMMITTEE

Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE said he rose to propose for the
consideration of the council the.names of four gentlemen, fit
and proper persons to supply the vacancies in the Dock Com-
mittee. There were two gentlemen retiring from that body
whose loss he was aware could be be but ill supplied. They
had devoted their time zealously and faithfully to the manage-
ment of the affairs of the Dock Estate ; but when he read
the names of those he was about to propose he thought the
council would agree with him that he had endeavoured so far
as in him lay to supply their place. He begged to propose
that Mr. Nicol, Mr. Molyneux, Mr. Shand, and Mr. Chil-
ton be elected members of the Dock Committee, in the place
of Mr. Hornby, Mr. Booth, Mr. Benn, and Mr. G. Holt.
Mr. TURNER seconded the motion, and it was unanimously
carried.

CHAIRMAN OF THE DOCK COMMITTEE

Mr. G. 11. LAWRENCE said the last motion being carried,
he should proceed, with the permission of the council, to
Propose to them a gentleman to fill the chair of the Dock
committee. In doing so, he could not help expressing his
regret that the act of Parliament obliged the Council to pass
over the services of the gentleman who now occupied the
deputy chair, Mr. Horsfall. Had they been able to induce
Mr. Horsfall to enter the Council chamber, which he would
have done with the unanimous approbation of all, they would
not have been driven into this stress. Mr. HorsfalPs years
and previous services were entitled to some consideration,
though it was impossible to prevail upon him to secede to
their wishes. Under these circumstances, he (Mr. Law-
rence) was obliged to propose to the Council the name of
another gentleman. In doing so, he should propose one who
was a merchant of considerable standing in this town, who
had already been a member of the Dock Committee—and let
him add this—who promised to devote his time, to the ut-
most of his power, to discharge the duties of the chair. He
might be told that his friend, Mr. Sands, whom he was going
to nominate—(hear, hear)—had not devoted as much time
as could have been wished to the committee, but when he
told the Council that Mr. Sands was prepared as far as in
him to discharge the onerous duties of the chair with effi-
ciency and zeal, he hoped the Council would repose confi-
dence in him, and confirm the nomination. He begged to
Propose that Mr. Thomas Sands be elected chairman of the
Dock Committee.
Mr. TURNER seconded the motion.

Mr. Alderman EVANS quite agreed in the appointment of
the four gentlemen who had been elected members of the
dock committee, but when it came to the appointment of a
chairman, it was a very serious matter, and quite a different
case. The chairman of the dock committee was literally the
dock committee for six days in the week. He received all
the communications, he attended to every emergency, and,
of course, he required a great deal of judgment and a great
deal of zeal. They had been very fortunate in having had
chairmen who professed these qualities in the late Mr. Lea-
thorn and Mr. Benn. To Mr. Sands as an extensive mer-
chant, an enlightened and clever man, he could have no ob-
jection; but knowing the duties of a chairman, and having
seen the coolness with which Mr. Sands had hitherto attend-
ed to dock affairs, he did not expect him to give up that time
which would be so valuable to the management of his own
affairs. Mr. Sands, the council had heard, had already pro-
mised to devote a great deal of his time to the affairs of the
docks, but he (Mr. Evans) hardly thought he had a right
conceptien of the quantity of time they would require of
him. He therefore should not expect from him a sacrifice,
which, without meaning anything invidious, he would have
to Make: Knowing that the dock affairs would never pros-
per Witlimit 'e degree of enthusiasm in the conduct of them.
he. (Mi. Evans) deelared that nothing but a man who must
be called a zealot ought to hold the high office of chairman of
the dock committee. The gentleman he should name had
Passed all his life among the docks ; his knowledge of them
had not been acquired in his office. He had not gained it
through the medium of clerks, but he had gone to the docks
himself, and had there acquired that practical knowledge
which arose out of the aoteal management of his own affairs
in the docks. Mr. Aikin was a merchant upon a very large
agate ; he was extensively concerned in ships and shipbuild-
ing; his interest and his business were all intimately con-
nected. with the management of the docks; and he (Mr.
Evans) believed that every body who knew the interest he
had taken in the management of the docks both before and
since the passing of the municipal reform act, would admit
that there was no gentleman in the whole community who
could compete with him for capability for the office. Mr.
Aikin had had the office offered to him before ; it was offered
to him upon the last occasion, after the death of Mr. Lea-
thorn, and he refused it. If he accepted it now he would
accept it reluctantly, but, nevertheless, once in office, he
would give it the benefit of his knowledge, and of his great
activity and zeal. Under these circumstances he (Mr.
Evans) thought the council and the town at large would, in-
deed, have to congratulate themselves upon Mr. Aikin con-
senting to take the office. He had no need to tell the coun-
cil that this was no party affair; it would be the height of
absurdity in him to address the council at all in the spirit of
Party ; but he really called upon them to weigh well before
ticy Made any other appointment than the best they could
MOP. As to
pOlitipal influence, he might appeal,he tie 7
.
lieved, to every gentlPiPar; tll4 knpw anythi
whether they had the least intermingling of politics in the
establishnient, or whether the chairman; or the gentlemen
who held different epinions there, ever interfered with those
in the service of the docks, or in any way interfered with
those who were in a subordinate condition. He mentioned
this in order to let the council know that it was an appoint-
ment not recognieed by him with any other view than that of
the . public service. He had now only to move an amend-
ment, that Mr, Aikin be the chairman of the Dock Coin-
Mittee,
Mr. MELLOR seconded the amendment, and in doing so lie
disclaimed all party feelings. The dock estate of Liverpool
Was too vast, and too great to be administered in a spirit of
Party. It was the duty of the council to have in the chair
the ablest man they could find—a man acquainted from ex.
perience and length of years with the working of the docks.
It was no disparagement of Mr. Shand, to say he did not
Profess that experience and knowledge of the affairs of the
Liverpool docks which was absolutely necessary. If gentle-
men could divest their minds of party feeling, he thought the
Private opinions of a very large majority of the members of
the council would be that Mr. Aiken had the preference in
this respect. As a member of Exchange ward, he spoke the
sentiments of a large proportion of the merchants who
assembled upon the Exchange, when he said they would give
the preference to Mr. Aiken, not upon account of his politics,
but simply upon account of his experience of the affairs of
of the docks. He hoped that gentlemen would rise superior
to the little, petty, paltry feeling of politics, and divesting
themselves of party spirit, give their vote in favour of that
gentleman who was best qualified for the situation.
G: H. LAIVnErtgE rOpPed• It was high time indeed
or gentlemen to call upbn the council to rise superior to
Parry, and to throw political feeling aside now that they were
in minority.. It was time enough for them to draw compari-
sons between :Mr.' Sands and Mr. Aiken, which Would not
bave been done had they had the ascendancy. Both were
!gully fit for the chair ; hut it came very late in the day to
tall the council this. What was their course when they had
the power in their own hands in the }'ear 1837, when a near

relation of his came into that room, bound by the law to re.
sign the key of the dock seals—what did they do then He
had been in the dock.trUst since 1813, he bad been a member
and chairman of the committee for years, but be was not then
fit to be upon the committee. He was to sweep the streets,
to be a watchman or a scavenger. That was the way they
had treated him, but now their cry was to throw over party
politics. He wished they themselves had set a better ex-
ample.

A long and very warm discussion followed between Mr.
Evans, the Mayor, Mr. Bolton, Mr. John Holmes, Mr.
Freme, Mr. Aiken, Mr. Earle, and others ; after which the
council divided, when their appeared
For Mr. Aiken
For Mr. Sands
Majority for Mr. Sands —lB
For Mr. Aiken.—Councillors—Thornhill, Preston, H.
Holmes, Mellor, Sands, J. Holmes, Bolton, Bright, Priest-
ley, Yates, Jordan, Platt,'Mather.. Aldermen—Holt, Bailey,
Freme, Harvey, Evans, Barclay, Earle, Moon,-21.
For Mr. Sands. Coancillors—Shaw, Isaac Holmes, Hough -
thn, Sandbach, Copeland, Edwards, Barton, Blundell, Aiken,
Rae, Aspinall, Toulmin, J. Lawrence, Robinson, Cooper, H.
Lawrence, Wood, Birkett, Gladstone, Bushell, Procter,
Lloyd, Rigby, Kilshaw, Parker, Jones, J. Smith, G. 11.
Lawrence, Trotman, A. Smith, jun., Harbord. Aldermen—
Houghton, Nichol, Turner, Chilton, Bramley-moore, Moly-
neux, Crook, and the Mayor.-38.
The MAYOR having announced the result,
Mr. SANDS returned thanks. .He was sure he need .not
inform the council that he had been induced to accept the
office to which he had been elected with considerable hesita-
tion and reluctance. He was quite aware it was not one that:
was a mere honorary appointment ; he was quite sure it was
as important as had been stated by his friends, Mr. Evans
and Mr. Mellor. • It involved not only great responsibility,
but it would entail upon him very great labour. If he found
in the next two or three months' experience, that his other
avocations would not permit him to discharge the duties
which the dock office would entail upon him, he could assure
them, he would come to the council and state that fact, and
request them to appoint some one who could better discharge
the duties of the office. He would not hold the office one
day longer than he could discharge the duties of it with satis-
faction to himself and with advantage to the dock estate.
(Applause.)

REGISTER OF ATTENDANCES.
M-. J. SMITH moved tbatall the committees keep a regis-
ter of the attendances of the members, and lay the same
before the council, previous to the annual election.
Mr. lims}rAw seconded the motion.

The Mayor, Mr. Birkett, Mr. isa;;C Holmes, Mr. Hodg-
son, Mr. Bushell, Mr. Yates, and others opposed the
motion on the ground that it was invidious without being
correct, and after some discussion it was withdrawn.

M. ALDERMAN HARVEY'S CASE

The TOWN-CLERIE read the following-;WOrt, which he
had prepared on this ease :

That the council having, at their meeting on the gth instant
passed -a resolution as follows, " That it be referred to the town.
clerk to inquire, and report at the next meeting, whether any
amicable arrangement for the speedy determination of the legal
difficulties of Mr. Harvey's case cannot be arrived at without ex-
pense to Mr; Harvey," the town-clerk has had interviews with the
solicitors on both sides in the case of the rule to show cause why.
an information, in the nature of a writ of quo warranto, should not
be file against Mr. Harvey, and that he has effected, subject to the
approbation of the council, an arrangment, conditioned as after-
mentioned, which he now lays before the council.
That the condition of this arrangement would he, that, its stipu.
lations being duly carried into effect by the parties respectively
the council shall bear the costs of the necessary proceedings, as
between attorney and client, on both sides.

PROPOSALS

That the facts of the case as to whether Mr. Harvey was " an
inhabitant householder' in 1838, 1839, 1845, and 1841. shall be
ascertained by the town-clerk, and his finding of such facts shall
be final.

That the town-clerk shall lay the facts so found before three
barristers, one to be named by eacb party, and the third by the
town-clerk, and the opinion of such banisters, or any two of them,
shall be final as to the law upon the question of honseholdership.
That all questions (if any) upon the lists and rolls that, after such
opinion, may remain, shall be forthwith brought before the court,
with the householdership admitted according to the opinion of the
barristers, and as a case upon the facts of which both parties have
amicably agreed, with the object of not a day beitir, lost in obtain-
ing the opinion of the court on the law. That, accordingly, counsel
on both sides are to be instructed, and the case is to be brought
forward and pressed on to the satisfaction of the town-clerk.

-
JNO. PENINOTON,
Solicitor for Wm. Nichol, relator;
HARVEY and FALCON,
Solicitors for R. E. Harvey, defendant.
Town-clerk's office, Nov. 11, 1841.
It is understood that the present rule maybe enlarged by consent,
lithe town-clerk approve of the same.

Also, that the opitiion to be expressed by the court on discharg-
ing the rule, or making it absolute, is to be final.

November 15, 1841

JITP. PENNINGTON,
HARVEY and FALCON

Mr. BOLTON moved, that before this matter was taken
into consideration, the case submitted to the council should,
with their opinion, be read, to enable the council to come to
a correct conclusion upon the question.
Mr. Alderman EVANS seconded the motion.

Mr. LLOYD spoke against the proposition, urging that the
matter was now in a train for a legal settlement of the
Question to the satisfaction of the community, and it was not
advisable to do any thing to prejudge it. He begged to
move, that the instruction contained in the Town-clerk's
report be adopted.
Mr. JORDAN seconded the motion.

The M AYOR opposed the reading of the case. -
Mr. Alderman EVANS thought the Council could not un-
derstand the question without the case being read.
Mr. Alderman EARLE was of the same opinion.
Mr. BIRKETT said the Council had heard sufficient at the
last council to enable them to arrive at a just conclusion ;
therefore he should oppose the reading of the case and
opinions, _

• Mr. Alderman EARLE said he would publish the report if
he could get a copy of it.
The MAYOR did not think the public would derive any
more advantage from the reading of the case and opinions
than would be communicated to them by the press.
Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE feared if the case was withheld,
the Council might be taunted with having a desire to stifle
enquiry.

Mr:HODGSON remarked that an agreement for the adju-
dication had been read, which was quite sufficient, and there-
fore he should vote against the reading of the case.
Mr. AIKEN said he should like to hear both the case and
the opinion.

Mr. Alderman EARLE.—Surely there is nothing unreason-
able in that.

Mr. LLOYD further opposed the motion, and a:very long
discussion took place between the MAYOR, Mr. MELLOR.
Mr. HARVEY, Mr. NICOL, Mr. BUSHELL, Mr. AIKEN,
Mr. EVANS, and several others, the council divided on the
question whether the case and opinion should be read. The
result wss—

For reading the report.
Against it

Majority

The TOWN-CLERK then read the case, which recited all
the circumstances of the election and acts of Mr. Harvey,
the protest against his eligibility, and, indeed, all the ques-
tions which have from time to time occurred in the case, all
of which are familiar to our readers. The opinion of counsel,
consisting of the Attorney-General, Mr. Starkey, Mr.
Crompton, and Mr.• Cowling, was in favour of Mr. Harvey's
eligibility. The Town-clerk neat read the affidavits in the
case, from which it appeared that Mr. Harvey's household
qualification was disputed, but only on the ground that he
was entitled to be on the burgess list which came into effect
on Nov. 1, 18-11, his election having taken place in October.
The principle point of contention was, whether the contend-
ing parties should bear the expense of the litigation now pro-
ceeding, or whether it should be defrayed by the council.
The Town-clerk's opinion was that the question should be
decided by the courts at the charge of the council, in order
to prevent inconvenience, and to procure an early settlement
of the point. After a very long debate, the council divided
on the question whether the report of the Town-clerk should
be adopted, which was carried by a majority of 15.
The council adjourned at a few minutes to three o'clock.

OPENING OF THE SHEFFIELD, ASHTON-UNDER
LYNE, AND MANCHESTER RAILWAY.

(From our own Correspondent.)

On Thursday, the directors of this important undertaking,
accompanied by J. Parker, Esq., their chairman, J. Locke,
Esq., engineer, and a numerous party of their friends, pro-
ceeded on an experimental trip along the line as far as Godley,
(a distance of nine or ten miles.) previous to that portion of
the line being opened to the public, which we understand it
is to be on Wednesday next. The train used upon the occa-
sion, consisting of an engine and eight carriages, started from
the Station of the Company in Travis-street, Manchester—
the same at present used by the Manchester and Birmingham
Company—at about a quarter to three o'clock, some delay
having occurred in removing an ,obstruction upon the line,
and proceeded at a slow pace during the whole of the journey
to the station at Godley, in order to allow the party present
an opportunity of glancing, in passing, at the nature of the
works, and of the difficulties which have had to be sur-
mounted in their formation. On its return, however, the
speed attained was occasionally very fair; and the result of
the trip, both in going and returning, must have been highly
satisfactory to the direetors and shareholders present.
We believe we are correct in stating; that, with the excep-
tion of the Summit Typiel, and one or two viaducts, which
are already far adyaneed, the portion of the line now com-
pleted is the heaviest in the amount of mating and embank-
ment, and considerably the most expensive, of the entire
railway. So far as we are enabled to judge of the execution
of the works in their present somewhat undressed state, the
whole reflect great credit, both upon the engineer and upon
the contractors ; and, except in one or two places, the earth-
work appears settled and firm, and the bridges, retaining-
walls, &c., of a permanent and solid character. In the con-
struction of the whole, strength and utility seem to have been
consulted in preference to mere effect and ornament ; and we
believe the result of this common-sense mode of construction
is, that no line of railway hitherto, with equal extent of
works, has been laid down at so small a cost to the proprie-
tors and so near the original estimate.

The engine used in this experimental trip, and we belies
the whole of the engines upon the line, are of an extra
powerful description, calculated to surmount with ease the
somewhat steep gradients which occur throughout. No
difficulty was experienced in ascending the steepest ; and in
the descent towards Manchester, the necessary stoppages
were made at the different stations with a facility equal to
that upon the most level railways. The first-class coaches
are very elegant and commodious. The second-class are
also very pretty, and in convenience, something between
those upon the Grand jun4i.On and those upon the Liver-
Pool and Manchester line. The third-class are what are
termed 't stand-ups," and -resemble the same class in use
upon the Manchester and Leeds line.

There can he no doubt that. when opened to the public,
this length of line even, running through a very populous
manufacturing district, must be extensively used, and be
found of great value to the manufacturing population in its
neighbourhood. That such is the opinion of the public
themselves was made evident by the groups of delighted and
wondering faces which greeted the train as it passed by the
various bridges and inhabited places along the line. It can-
not, however, attain its full degree of usefulness to the pub-
lic, or its value to its spirited proprietors, until completed
throughout, and the important districts at its termini thus
permanently united.
The only accident which cccurred was the destruction of
a poor dog belonging to some of the excavators. The
animal, in a sudden tit of enthusiasm, took a fancy to bite
the heels of the engine in advance of the train; and, after
running along the side of an excavation in pursuit for a
considerable distance, bounded down at length upon his
iron antagonist, and, as the result of his mad emprise, was
severed in two, the whole train passing over him.

THEATRE-ROYAL, MANCHESTER.--We perceive, by the
Manchester papers, that Mr. Charles Kean and Miss Ellen
Tree are announced to perform Mr. and Mrs. Beverley, in
the tragedy of " The Gamester," at the Manchester Thea-
tre, on Saturday next ; on which evening Mr. and Mrs. Kee-
ley will appear in the farce of " A Loan of a Lover."

Powrico CONCERTS.-.-The fifth concert took place last
night. The performances commenced with " God save the
Queen." The following additional verse;' written by 'Mr.
Stonehouse; was sting : • • •
Oh. Lord', by day and night,
did inaidian angels bright
Their care evince !
With strength the prince sustain,
With health infuse each veil.),
Till be shall age attain,
God save the Prince !

GRATIFYING DEMONSTRATION

FMST ATTENDANCE AT THE ESTADLISDED CHURCH. OF

THE MAYOR AND COUNCILLORS, SINCE THE PASSING

OP THE MUNICIPAL REFORM ACT

It will be known to most of our readers, that, since the
passing of the Municipal Reform Act, the majority of the
Town Council having been, until the recent election, " re-
formers,"—and many of them consequently Papists, Unita-
rians, or something worse,—the old and venerated custom
of the Mayor attending the Established Church officially,
preceded by the corporate regalia, and followed by such of
the Councillors and others of the inhabitants as might deem
it proper to give their attendance, had unhappily fallen into
dissuetnde, to the deep regret of the Protestant community,
comprising the mass of the worth, the wealth, and the re-
spectability of the town. The radical press, meantime, de-
precated the continuance of the practice, on the groundless
assumption that it was now uncalled for by the " libe-
ral " spirit of the times, and offensive to those who did not
range themselves under the banners of the church. Hap-
pily, however, the period at length arrived when that open,
manly. and truly English feeling of respect to an establish-
ment ti) which this country owes her pre-erninence in the
scale of nations, might again be legally and appropriately
demonstrated,—when, indeed, the chief magistrate of our
great town could furnish a wholesome example to all classes,
to " prove all things, and hold on to that which is good,"—
an example, mereover which, in the church attendance of
our monarch, the officers of state, and the respected and
learned judges of the land, is essentially interwoven with
the very principles of our constitution in church and state.

That such a custom offers an affront to dissenters of any
.class, we utterly deny. No offensive emblems are carried;
no display is made beyond the few insignia of office, neither
so numerous nor so attractive as those of an ordinary and
even small benefit society—mere emblems, indeed, of the
legal constitution of the body, which may be borne by
any denomination of Christians, and no more calculated to
give offence to good subjects than is the exhibition of the
crown of the realm on the coronation of the monarch.

With feelings, doubtless analagous to those we have ex-
pressed, the good churchmen of the town resolved to accom-
pany the newly elected and highly respected Protestant
Mayor to the house of prayer on the first occasion (Sunday
last) after his induction into office, and in such numbers as
would furnish a decided and gratifying proof of the increas•
ing attachment of the people at large to the most valuable,
the highest, the holiest of all our institutions, the Protestant
established church,—n collection, as is usual, on the new
Mayor first attending divine worship, being to be made on
behalf of that excellent charity the Blue Coat Hospital.
. The day was fine and clear, though cold, and the streets
unusually clean and dry after the recent rain and hail. So
early as ten o'clock, a considerable number of parties anxi-
ous to see or to accompany the procession had- collected in
front of the Town Hall, and the crowd-continued to increase
rapidly until the hour of departure for St. Peter's Church.
A number of police constables, under Mr. Whitty, were sta-
tioned round the portico to keep the passages clear for the
approach of carriages and gentlemen on foot, who continued
to arrive in a continued and increasing stream from a quar-
ter past ten. The parties were ushered by officers in the
vestibule up stairs to the drawing-room, which perhaps never
before held so large an assemblage of gentlemen of the first
rank and respectability ; comprising, indeed, nearly the whole
of the " broad cloth" of the town and neighbourhood. The
room is ninety-eight feet in length. It was crowded to ex-
cess, and many parties were constrained to accommodate
themseh•es on the landings and steps of the grand staircase.
We counted about twenty carriages, many of them handsome
equipages ; but great numbers who reside at no great dis-
tance arrived on foot. About half-past ten the Mayor ar-
rived in his private carriage, and was greeted with every de-
monstration of respect. Shortly afterwards, the boys of the
Blue Coat School, attended by their head master and ushers,
came up, and, as on all former occasions, the neat and quaint
attire and interesting appearance of these children excited
much sympathy and attention. Nearly all the conservative
members of the Council were present, and we observed three
of the reform section of that body, as well as a considerable
number of gentlemen who may be classed amongst the mo-
derate reformers of the town; also a few of the Jewish per-
suasion. The gathering, in fact, though almost wholly con-
servative, contained a sufficient sprinkling of reformers of
respectability as citizens, amply to demonstrate the high mid
general respect entertained towards the new Mayor by all
parties. __ _

By about half-past ten o'clock, the whole of Castle-street,
the top of Dale-street, the top of Water-street, and the im-
mediate thoroughfares were crowded with dense masses of
well-dressed individuals, of various grades in society, in-
cluding many respectable females ; and, in a few minutes
more, the front of the Town-hall, half way down the
capacious street, presented a sea of heads. The utmost de-
corum, befitting the day and the occasion, was, hon ever,
maintained, without the requirement of any effort on the
part of the constabulary force. The favourites in the coun-
cil were recognised by the multitude as they arrived with
lively but, (with the exception of a casual and quiet an-
nouncement of their names to strangers around them,) with
silent respect. The Rev. Rector Brooks, (who was to
preach the sermon on the occasion) came in his carriage, ac-
companied by a lady ; and was almcst immediately followed
by the Rev. Rector Campbell, (both in canonicals)—the
latter accompanied by the Churchwardens. The Blue ;Coat
school boys were drawn up on the west side of Castle-street,
in readiness to take their place near the head of