The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1836-03-08 00:00:00

Mr. Councillor RATABONE (with very great warmth.)—l was
nut out of order, and 1 do nut think it necessary for him to say
1 was. (Loud cries of " Order.")
Mr. Councillor Coo LAN would move that they should proceed
to business.
The MAYOR would be very glad to do so if they could.
Mr. Councillor Coot.a 1,1 thought, whether the motion for
£5OO salary was seconded' or not, that the office of deputy town-
clerk was a very important one; and whether a gentleman
chose to offer to fill the office for £lOO or £2OO a-year was nut
the question. They ought to consider what was due to them-
selves in giving a salary adequate to what they considered
ought to be a ieruuneration for his services. He thought the
sum fixed on by Mr. Bolton was the haypy medium. They
ought to argue on the broad scale of what was right. He should
therefore second the •proposition of Mr. Bolton, that the sum
fixed be £7OO a-year.
Ur. COuncillor E. SMITH would ask if he was in order to
second Mr. Earle's motion ?
Tire MAYOR.—He was really too late; he should collect him-
self in time; but he might put it to the council. (Cries of "A 0,
no.")
Mr. Councillor E. SMITH would then move a fresh amend-
ment, and would state his reasons. It, had been stated that
£7OO a-year was only an adequate compensation. He under-
stood they had a letter before them tendering services for £5OO
a-year. He thought it would be better for them to ascertain
whether the gentleman making that application was a fit per-
son, in order that they might not fix £7OO a-year as the salary
and afterwards find that the gentleman making the offer of £5OO
was equally competent with any other. His amendment would
be rather different froth Mr. Earle's ; he should take the medium
of £6OO, and would move "'That £6OO be the salary of the
assistaut town-clerk, and that it be left, to the town-clerk him-
self to choose his assistant, subject to the revision of the council.
(Loud cries of "No, no.")
The MAYOR said Mr. Smith had stated a point independent
of the question before them. He wished, however, to take the
opinion of the council whether the question as to the gentleman
offering his services for £5OO per annum should be answered?
(Cries of " No, no.")
Mr. Councillor EA aLE.--Were they to resist information on
so important a question as this ?
Mr. Cooncilho.l3t,LTuN.--We don't. require it.
Mr. COuncillOr EauLE.—l do require it. (Cries of "So do
y fly

Mr. Alderman RoßiNsoN.—Then, injustice to the other gen-
tlemen who had applied, they must have a god-father for every
application.
After some further conversation, in which it was urged by
Mr. BLACKBURN that they should consider the question ‘. ab-
stractedlv," and in Which,M r. BOuroX justified his motion, as si-
milar to 'Mr. Birch's; the MAYOR stating that there was no simi-
larity whatever, Mr. S'NIITH withdrew his motion.
Mr. Councillor HENRY LAWRENCE said if there was no 1110-
tion before the meeting, he would move " That £6OO be the
salary."
Mr. Councillor EA II LE'seconded the motion.
Mr. Alderman Eves supported the motion of Mr. Bolton.
He conceived that the man occupying the situation of deputy
town-clerk ought to have a salary nearer the town-clerk. And
with regard to the offer made, ,if they were to make the salary
Eltrd a-}'ear, they would have offers made, • if they made the
salary very low now; perhaps, after a few /ears, there would be
an application to raise the salary to wolf than £7OO. A man
ocOupying that situation ought to live respectably, and they all
knew what £7OO a-year was.
The MA Y .—A motion was made-for £7OO a-year, and an
amendment fur £6OO a-year. They would now proceed to the
division.
The votes were then taken, when there were for the amend-
ment, 15; against it, -11 ; viz. :—For the amendment—Messrs.
Horsfall, E. Smith, M'Gregor, Barton, Birch, H. Hornby,
Maxwell, Aikin, H. Lawrence, Earle, C.,..H01t, Tayleur, Freme,
T. Smith, and the Mayor. Against it—Messrs. J. Holmes,
Logan, Thornhill, Shed, Harvey, Thornely, Ravvdon, H.
Holmes, L. Hevworth, Mellor, Walmsley, Bolton, 'Woollright,
Rushton, Rathlcone, Preston, Lassen, T. Holt, Carson, Brockle-
bank, Morecroft, Blackburn, Roskell, Coglan, E. Cropper,
Alison, .I'. Cropper, Jordan, Duncan, Evans, Blain, 0. Hey-
worth, Moon, Bulky, Barclay, Robinson, Stuart, Booth,
Brown, Jones, and Benn.
The 'MAYOR.—They would now decide on the individual.
Mr. Councillor BIRCH thought that many gentlemen might
have made application thinking that the salary would be £l,OOO
per annum. He thought it better. to name some other day. He
wquld make a motion, " that the question be postponed till the
next council," (No, no.) ••
Mr. Councillor H. LAWRENCE seconded the motion.
Mr. Councillor BLACKBURN proposed that they should imme-
diately proceed. They were in precisely the same circann-
stances as they had been with regard to the town-clerk.
Mr. Councillor ROBINSON seconded the motion.
Mr. Councillor MO RECROFT said he was instructed to with-
draw Mr. 'Worthington's application.
Mr. Councillor EA RLE would support the postponement. He
wished to ascertain some particulars respecting an individual
applying for the office.
Mr. Councillor H. LAWRENCE thought that many rnightcome
forward at a salary of £7OO a year, who would not presume to
offer themselves at a salary of £l,OOO a year. He would always
support modest merit.
Mr. Councillor SH tEL had listened to the question of postpone-
ment, but all arguments offered in its favour appeared to him
to be offered on wrong premises. Mr. Lawrence told them that
many men might think themselves worth £7OO a year, who
might not think themselves worth £l,OOO. They had not time
to waste on such absurdities. Every man was likely to fix his
full value upon himself. All they had now to do was to name
the best man that had applied. If he should think proper to
refuse the offer, they might at their next meeting substitute
another in bis place.
Mr. Alderman BROWN was afraid the public service would
suffer if the deputy town-clerk were not appointed then, as the
town-clerk would in all probability have to proceed to London.
The question was then put, " Whether they should proceed
or not?' and it was carried by a large majority that they should
proceed.

The MAYOR said it was now his duty to lay before them the
applications he had received.
The TOWN-CLERK then read an application from Mr. Fisher,
of Temple-court, stating that he had been twelve yi.ars an at-
torney in the town, and was otherwise qualified for the office.
An application was then read from Mr. Holt, which Mr.
Councillor Holt, on behalf of his son, begged to withdraw.
An application was read from Mr. Lowe, of the town-clerk's
office, stating that he had for three years managed the business
of the town-clerk's office, and was otherwise qualified for the
office of deputy town-clerk, and offering to fill the situation for
£5OO per annum.
An application was read from Mr. Frederick Rowlandson,
of Drury-lane, representing himself as capable of fulfilling the
duties.

An application was made by Mr. William Crooke, offering
himself for the situation, and stating that he had been in private
practice eight years.

An application was made by Mr. Keighley for the clerk of
the peace's office.—A member of the council begged to with-
draw the application, stating that Mr. Keighley thought it
" beneath his notice."

The MAYOR begged to speak, as a member of the council, as
to one of the candidates, Mr. Lowe. He had asked the opinion
of the assessor as to that individual. and he had told him that he

thought he had perfect experience in his practice; that he was
a man of unwearied diligence, perfectly acquainted with his
duties, and of much ability, though diffident in his manners. He
should not he doing his duty if be did not mention this.
Mr. MORRCROFT said, after the Mayor had mentioned the
merits of Mr. Lowe, it would only be fair to mention the merits
of other individuals. He should propose Mr. Fisher, and he
did so having a perfect knowledge of his abilities and his effi-
ciency as a notary, a lawyer, and a conveyancer' and as having
sound legal knowledge and a happy measure of health to 'fit him
for the office. If elected, he would be a right arm to the town:.
clerk. He would submit that they should as a council elect no
gentleman who had been in. office under the late toWn-clerk.
Mr. Lowe would do. all he could to obtain the late town clerk
coin pensation.
The M A YOR.—No member of the council had a right to make
any insinuations against any gentleman whatever.
Mr. Councillor MoriEcaosT knew it for fact that Mr. Lowe
had stated that he ought in gratitude to Mr. Foster to do all be
could to hely Mr. Foster.
Councillor Dr. CARSON spoke as to the merits of Mr. Fisher;
he was a man of scientific attaininents,as well as great legal know-
ledge, and those qualifications would give ease and dignity to
the situation if he were called to fill it. He waS.alSo a man of
liberal principles, if that was considered of any influence, ("to
be sure.") He would therefore second his nomination.
Mr. Councillor SHIEL would be doing a great injustice if he
did not bring under the notice of the council one of the candi-
dates for the office; he alluded to Mr. Crook; and he believed
the council would bear him out that he had on several occasions
evinced a very great share of intelligence, industry, persevff-
ance, and real, which he had seldom seen equalled and never
surpassed. His exertions in the municipal election had claims
of gratitude on that council. Mr. Crook was 32 years of age,
as good a man as he ever would be. He had served his appren-
ticeship with Mr. Ambrose Lace, and had been some time in a
special pleader's office in London, and he was therefore per-
fectly fit for the situation. With regard to Mr. Lowe he felt it
his duty to state that he did not think him a•fit man. He could
not forget what had been said by the late town-clerk, that dur-
ing his absence in London 1100 freemen were placed on the roll
of the Liverpool burgesses who had no right to be there. This
was a proof that he was not competent for the situation, being,
as he was, the representative of the fete town-clerk.

The MAYOR never heard such a report.
Mr. Councillor SHIBA. said it was matter of public notoriety.
He never had,-and never would enquire into the private afiatr
of any individual. lie would second Mr. Crook's nomination.;
The MAyou said the statement, with regard to Mr. Lowe,
mivht have been a matter of public notoriety, but he never
heard of it before. ,

Air. Councillor EARLE was very happy to hear what Mr.
Shiel had declared. After that he should vote for Mr. Crook,
who was a personal friend of his. Otherwise he should have
vote,' from a sense of duty against his wishes.
Mr. Alderman EVANS bore testimony to Air Crook's merits.
Mr. Councillor HoitsrALL conceived Mr. Lowe to be very
competent fur the situation, and was very much surprised to
hear Mr. Shiel's statement. The freemen were passed by the
Mayor and the bailiffs, and afterwards confirmed by the coun-
cil, therefore they were to biome if there were an error. Ile
believed Mr. LotVe to be a very honourable man, and believed
the statements made by Mr. Alorecroft were not correct.
Mr. Councillor SHIEL Only stated facts without any com-
ments; the late town-clerk • had, on one occasion, said, when
the enormous increase of the freemen was alluded to, " gentle-
men, I am exceedingly sorry, but the thing is owing to my un-
avoidable absence in London." If the presence of the town-
clerk would have prevented this, ought not the presence of his
representative to have prevented it? lie made that statement
merely by inference.
Mr. Councillor HolesFeu. said that most of the time that
the town-clerk was in London Mr. Lowe was with him assist-
inF him; the error might have occurred then.
I'he MAYOR was not aware of the circumstance.

After some discussion as to the manner of taking the votes, it
was.decided that the gentleman having the greatest number of
names should be elected :—The votes upon the several candi-
dates were then taken, when there were—For Mr. Crooke 52
viz., Messrs. J. Holmes, S. Hope, C. Horsfall. C. Logan, W.
Thornhill, R. Shiel, E. Harvey, E. Smith, J. D. Thornely, C.
Rawdon, A. M'Gregor, J. Barton, H, Holmes, L Fleyworth,
J. Mellor, J. Walmsley C. Birch, T. Bolton, J. Woollright, H.
liornhy, W. Rathbone, W. R. Preston, W. Maxwell, J. Aikin,
W. Lassell, T. Holt, W. Earle, jun.. T. Brocklebank, T.
Blackburn, R. Ruskell, T. Coglan, E. Cropper, G. Holt, J.
Cropper, jun., F. Jordan, W. M. Duncan, C. Tayleur, E.
Evans, W. Blain, 0. Heywortb, J. Moon, T, Bulky, W. P.
Fume, T. B. Barclay, G. Robinson, W. Stuart, T. Booth, W.
Brown, T. Smith, C. H. Jones, E. Benn, the Mavor.—For Mr.
Fisher,—Messrs. W. Rushton, J. Carson. T. Morecroft, R.
Alison, jun.—Absent, Messrs. R. Bright, J. Lawrence, H. Law-
rence, J. S. Leigh, J. Sandars, W. Sharpies, (from illness,) J.
Ifornby, T. Leathom. There were no votes either for Mr.
Lowe or Mr. Rowlinson.
The MAYon.—lt woul • now be necessary to pass a resolu-
tion for the town dues' committee to take the necessary securi-
ties, which the town-clerk thought it necessary to give.
A resolution for that purpose was then agreed to.
THE CHURCH ENDOWMENT QUESTION.
The town-clerk reported that it would be requisite, in point
of form, acting on the opinion .of conasdl, that a fonnal demand,