The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-09-07 00:00:00

ANNUAL LICENSING MEETING

eles th

Yesterday, at eleven o'clock, the annual general licensing
meeting of borough magistrates took place in the Court-
house, to consider the applications for new leases and re-
movals. The magistrates met in cansiderable numbers, in
the first instance, in the room between the two courts.
Neither the public nor the reporters being admitted to the
consultation, we are unable to furnish any particulars of the
proceedings. The premises of all the parties applying for
licenses, (with the exception of, we believe three,) had pre-
viously been visited by the magistrates of each ward respect-
ively, in order to their reporting upon them as suitable or
otherwise for inns or public houses. The recommendations
of the applicants were also taken into consideration, and this
occupied some hours. These parties meantime remained in
anxious expectation of the result in the Nisi Prius Court.
Shortly before two o'clock the consultation having closed,
the Mayor and several of the magistrates entered the court,
and at the request of the former, Mr. Ellis, their clerk, read
the names of the individuals to whom it had been agreed to
grant licenses.
There were 163 applicants. Of these, 15 received grants
of licenses, and 3 grants of removal. The following is a list
of the successful parties, with their residences. Those for•
merly beer-houses are marked B. H.:—

. .....
48, Argyle-street, B.H
Wellington-buildings, Castle-st. South . Ebenezer Gladstone
4, Cazneau-street, B.H.George Williams.
3, Cleveland-square..
2, Dryden-street, B.H William Atkinson.
27, Fleet-street
Frederick-street, B.H. (removal)
48, Gill-street, B.H. Ann Hewson.
__. _ _

5, 'Oldhall-street, B.H Thomas Moss.
32, Pownall-street (Lower)
16, Vernon-street, B. H Francis Clayton
33, Water-street .... John Mehan

TOXTETH-PARK.
Mill-street (corner of Mozley-street) John May.
120, Mill-lane (removal).
Park-street, B.H. (removal) Mary Ann Taylor
WEST DERBY.

Falkner-street, B.H John Hughes.
Wavertree-lane, B. H
EVERTON.

1, Christian-street ................... Robert Walsh.
The total number of licensed victuallers in Liverpool is now
382, and the number of beer-houses about 900.

THE ONLY MAN KNOWN OF LONDON.—Thousands and
tens of thousands of individuals are known in London, but
it is curious enough that there is only one man now in
existence known to London; to the city, the west-end, Mary-
lebone, Southwark—every point, in short, of the metropo-
litan compass. Much of this notoriety the illustrious indi-
vidual in question owes to his glory, and much also to his
nose ; nor would he, phaps, with all his victories, have
ever been enabled to achieve this signal conquest over the
indifference of universal London, if his features were not in
some sort the heralds of his fame. When this distinguished
Person appears out of doors, there is a general commotion :
well-dressed people, forgetting their business or pleasure, run
after him like little boys trotting at the heels of a showman ;
Hats off " is the word wherever he makes his way ;
carriages stop without orders, that the ladies, coachman, and
John may have a stare ; equestrians wheel about and fol-
.
low his footsteps; There he goes," you'll hear the people
say ; but nobody asks who goes there, for to everybody
he is as well known as the Monument. When he goes down
to the house crowds assemble to await his Coming, and
crowds await patiently to see him corning away. How he
looks is the general topic of discourse, and he is the only
person in London or the world who for twenty-five years has
occupied the same large portion of the public eye without fa-
tiguing the sight or escaping the memorv—without diminu-
tion or decay of a respect as universal as extraordinary.
Need we say there must be more than popularity in this ?
When we said that the illustrious person in question is as
well-known as the Monument, we forgot for the moment that
he is a monument himself, a living moving trophy of the
might and majesty of England, of her bravery and her glory.
We do not name him ; to name him were to detract from
that universal fame that accompanies his footsteps ; let it be
enough that every one knows and no one can mistake him.
He is the single solitary exception to the rule we have laid
down, that no living man is large enough to fill the universal
eve of such a vast body as London.—Blackwood's Maga;ine
for September.

LITER

1Y NOTICI

Blackwood for Sep tem&

Blackwood, Edinburgh

has appeared in this

the people of England do not take warning byl these lessons
we shall be surprised. Experience bought is
Few will read this able paper without agreeing on most points
with the writer. " A Convent of Franciscans" is a fearful
Spanish tale, which those who are fond of the horrible and
romantic will doubtless highly relish. The searcher for his-
torical facts will be pleased with the information contained
in " Chapters of Turkish History." The " Picture of

isdom taught

Danes " is an amusing and extremely clever dramatic trifle,
in which Salvator Rosa is discovered as one of the dramatis

personce. It is a sort of vaudeville, done in blank verse. 'lt
would act well : several of the situations would be very effec-
tive on the stage. " The World of London " is continued.
The author of these articles is evidently a man of great ob-
servation, and, like Plato, " reasoneth well." There is
much truth as well as entertainment interspersed in this
series of articles. To a Londoner they are highly diverting.
The " Notice of the Royal Academy," although it comes
late, is not the less bien venu. The article on the " Spanish
Gipsies" gives us a good insight into their characters and
habits. " Nicholas Dunks, or Fried Mackerel for Dinner,"
is a well-told and droll story. " Biron and the Bastile "is
a detail of a circumstance which occurred in the reign of
Henry IV. of France. The number winds up with an able
article, entitled " Sir Robt. Peel's Position on next resuming
Power," evidently from the pen of one deeply versed in poli-
tics, and well accustomed. to political writing. We quote
the following from " The World of London " :
COMPETITION IN LONDON.—It is the prevalence of the
competitive principle throughout all the shades of condition
observable here that gives this great population a vivacity of
action with which the slow-coach, jog-trot, do-very-well style
of country towns contrasts to great disadvantage. Life is
twice as long in town as in the country : we do not mean as
to years, for years have nothing to do with life : in the qnan-.
tity of work we get through in the same given time, we make
life twice as long as our vegetative brethren in the country.
For this we deserve no credit, and we take none : needs must
when the devil drives ! The love of London is so intense,
and so universally planted in the minds of men, that no one,
tradesman or other, willingly relinquishes the metropolis for
the provinces ; hence the struggle to keep possession of town
is desperate and incesEant. The multitude of customers
afforded by London is the life of tradesmen. The best cus-
tomers are in London, because in London a portion of the
superfluous wealth, or saving of almost every man, is now, or
will be hereafter, spent. Your country gentleman will tint
his table, rack-rent his tenants, and starve his cat that he and
his family may sport a job-coach, and the share of an opera-
box, for three months during the London season. Your

" as he call

spruce ensign hoards his paternal allowance, and lives o
pay nine months in the year, to have
_a

spree,
ion. I

clerk, who bolts with the money of his employers, hides him-
self in the wilderness of London, spending his ill-gotten

gains nearly as fast as he procures them. One way or another
the accumulated wealth of all lands over which the British
flag waves in any authority finds its way into London, and is
there wholly or partially dissipated. Therefore, a shop for
which a man will pay three or four hundred pounds a-year
rent would become a fortune but for the intensity of com-
petition. If customers are the life of tradesmen, tradesmen
are the life of customers : watching opportunities, the cus-
tomer takes advantage of the rivalry and necessities of the
tradesmen. The tradesmen in like manner

flourish upon

the ignorance or carelessness of the customer ' • every where
the principle between retailer and customer is, that of diamond
cut diamond. In this way, while tradesmen break and
customers are plundered, the prudent manager contrives to

supply himself with whatever he requires at a reasonable
rate. He adjusts the fluctuations of exchange, and the con-
sequence is, the success of all business in London depends
upon the extent of your connexions ; for the profits allowed
you by competition with your rivals in the same line, as
profits, never can pay. The desperate rivalry of competition
takes every form of deception to put down rivals and estab-
lish supremacy : bankrupts able to pay forty shillings in the
pound, advertise their stock to be sold off at an immense sa-
crifice, which always implies ten per cent. above the ordinary
prices of the trade ; damaged goods, fresh from the hands
of the manufacturer, may be had for half—that is to say,
double the value; burnt out tradesmen, whose premises are
as good as new, offer you their articles, " removed for the
convenience of sale." You pass a shop, large bills in the
window announcing that the tradesman is " selling off ;" you
think you will buy, and find, after you have bought, that you
are sold a bargain ; passing that way six months after, you
find your old friend still selling of as briskly as ever. If
you venture to inquire what is the reason he puts up a hum-
bugging placard of this sort, he will assure you, with great
coolness, that every shopkeeper in London is " selling off"
as fast as he can, and that he only imitates his neighbours!
Another Rill announce, by staring, bills a yard long, that
every thing in his shop may be had for half nothing, " this
shop closing on Saturday,"—a device that succeeds, perhaps,
in hooking a great many flats. If any remonstrate, seeing
these bills for a year or more, the clever tradesman will
reply with a grin, " that he believes most shops in Loudon
close on a Saturday!" A third, after filling a well-dressed
window with high-priced articles, ticketed at low prices, in
a manner peculiar to these gentry, and which, when we come
to treat of London rogueries, we will take the trouble fully
to expose, will desire one of his porters or shopmen to fling
a stone through a pane of costly glass in the middle of his
window; a crowd is instantly attracted to view the smash ;
customers cannot help seeing the tickets, and, remarking
how cheap every thing is, rush in crowds into the shop to
lay out their money, and get cheated for their pains. Some
establishments break their own windows every Monday
morning, and have them glazed again every Saturday night,
and find it answer their purpose admirably. Manufactories
of new second-hand articles of fancy ware, furniture, and
the like, are established every where about town, and shops
opened for their sale, where the broker assures you, with
unusual veracity, that you will find every article he has to
dispose of "as good as new." Pawnbrokers' offices and
auction-rooms are chokefull of articles made expressly for
these places ; in short, there are twenty thousand laudable
inventions for the purpose of bringing to their senses those
myriads of shortsighted persons who, instead of dealing with
a respectable tradesman, pay double for every article they
require, under pretence of getting it a bargain. In one of
his invaluable maxims, Sir Morgan O'Doherty has declared
of hooks, that if you see a work frequently advertised, you
may suspect it as a bad one ; but if, in addition, you observe
a puff or laudatory paragraph, you may be sure of it.
Whenever, in like manner, you are invited to purchase arti-
cles for less than they can be made for, or paid for, you must
consider yourself in the light of a receiver of stolen goods, or
else the dupe of ' a knave, who professes to stand in a shop
selling you goods for less than he must pay fot them, which
is absurd.

The Dublin University Magazine. Curry and Co., Dublin

September's number opens with a paper entitled, " Drift-
ings and Dreamings in Foreign Lands," by H. Snogby,
Esq. Who Mr. Snogby may be it is not our business to en-
quire, but his dreamings are extremely amusing and his
driftings well worth gathering. " Winslows Anatomy of
Suicide," published last year by , in London, is
brought under review. Copious extracts are made from it,
tending to show the wickedness of suicide, proceeding as it
does from folly and want of courage to meet the ills or mis-
fortunes of life. " Savoren" is a metrical tale, translated
from the Rheinsagen, by Mr. Merrivale. " Sketches in
Erris and Tyrawly," by the author of Sketches in Ireland, is
next reviewed. The critic has highly and deservedly com-
mended this clever book, which will be the means, it is to be
hoped, of bringing an almost terra incognita portion of Ire-
land under the notice of the tourist. The niche in the
gallery of illustrious Irishmen is occupied by Sir Thomas
Molyneux. It is a most interesting memoir, and gives us a
good insight into the history of his times 1717. Sir Thomas
was Fellow of the Queen's and King's College of Physicians
in Ireland, Professor of Physic to the University of Dublin,
at that period, and State Physician and Physician General to
the Army. " September Flowers" contains some very
charming lyrics and poetical compositions by different hands.
" Letters from the Coast of Clare" next attract our attention.
Some most interesting particulars of the establishment of a
school at Kilkee are given, in which a Liverpool bookseller
receives honourable mention. These papers are extremely
amusing, and will bring Kilkee into note next summer. The
authoress's descriptions are vivid and well told. " The
Memoir of Dr. Barrett," late Senior Fellow of Trinity Col-
lege, Dublin, is very amusing. His portrait is capital. His
peculiarities are admirably hit off. We can well believe the
truth of them. The portion of Charles O'Malley contained
in this number we reviewed in our last.

Master Humphrey's Clock. No. 17. Burnaby Rudge,
W. Webb, Liverpool.

This number is wholly occupied in detailing the riots which
took place consequent upon the conduct of Lord George
Gordon, and the part our friends Barnaby, Hugh, and Dennis
took in them. The attack upon the Maypole, as also the
destruction of the Warren, are both forcibly told. Curiosity
is greatly excited by the closing peges. The woodcuts con-
tinue to be beautifully executed, and the story loses none of
its interest.

George Cruickshank's Omnibus. Webb, Liverpool

The young actress, Madlle. Racial, who is at present oc-
cupying the notice of the playgoing portion of the community;
is introduced to us in a memoir and portrait. " Frights No. 2"
is very well narrated. The strange cat, with the illustration,
is rich. " A Short Cruise at Margate" serves to introduce
to us an anecdote or two of Napoleon Buonaparte, with a
sketch of him, in, an out of a cocked hat. " Passionate
People" is a very good paper. The illustration of the man
who. when he got into a passion went and knocked at a door
till he cooled, is most laughable. " Our New Cooks" de-
scribes the dilemmas of a family who were " rather particular"
in this description of the genus honzo. "Frank Heartwell"
is pleasantly continued. The illustration is cleverly drawn.
" Tea Table Talk" is a skit at those who pretend to know
much but know little. The cuts are capital. The Omnibus
Chat, touching the fashions, is a deservedly hard hit at the
ridiculously " long clothes" of the ladies. There are several
very amusing anecdotes interspersed through this portion of
the Bus. " Mrs. Toddle's Letter to the Proprietor," with
her portrait, is droll enough. The following extract is from

FRIGHTS.—'Tis midnight, and " the very houses seem
asleep," outhouses and all. The " quiet family" has at-
tained its utmost pitch of quietness. All sleep soundly,
where no sound is heard. A breathless hush pervades the
domicile. On a sudden, there is a smart crash, a rattling
sound below. This sleeper starts up in bed, that darts
farther under the clothes. " What's that?" is the inward
question of everybody. The thought of thieves occurs to
each in turn : one is certain that the area-door has been
forced open, another is sure that the back-parlour sash has
been raised. They lie still, with panting hearts, and listen.
Again there is a noise. It is like creaking footsteps on the
stairs, or the opening of drawers ; then all is silent again,
and then the noise is renewed. At last, one little, quaking
miss ventures, half stifled, to whispe,r,,l;;a? adriadh,yeaure
hearyou
awake ?" and Sarah faintly answers,
that ?" and both bury themselves in the bed, and dare not
breathe. And then they hear a door open softly, and they
utter a low cry of terror; and then, in another minute, the
door of their own room opens, and, with a loud scream, they
start up—only to see their dear, good mamma, with a candle
in her hand ; but she is pale and frightened, and desires to
know if they had made the noise,—but tey hadonly
they distinctly heard somebody getting in aht the back door or
the parlour window. Then papa commands the whole assem-

lot to I

s he lo

htened", and shakes dreadfully
t his blunderbuss, and avows his
atiou to proceed down stairs. And then there is a
" Hush !" and a general listening. Yes, there is a noise
still, and to the stairs he advances, while his better-half

lights his way and holds his garments tight to check his des-
perate enthusiasm ; and the eldest daughter hardly ventures
beyond the chamber door, but, with astonishing boldness and
exemplary daring, springs a rattle, and the others hold on
by each, taking fresh fright from one another's fears. What
an amount of suffering, dread, terror, is in the bosom of the
little, quiet family as down to the scene of danger they
creep, with tortoise-pace ! And what is all this anxiety, this
trepidation, this sickness of the heart for? What has occa-
sioned so terrific a commotion ? Perhaps the tongs have
fallen down, and the clatter has filled their ears with all de-
scriptions of imaginary noises. Perhaps the cat is clawing
at a string tied to the pantry-door; or, perhaps, the stupid
little kitten, having got her tail into the catch of the last new
oattent mouse-trap, has dragged that excellent invention off
the dresser, and is whisking round, at intervals, in a weary-
ing and vain endeavour to extricate her unprehensile appen-
dage. " Dear me ! well, I declare, how I have been fright
ening myself!" cries every member of the shivering family ;
and the very next night, should the very same noises again
be heard, the whole frightened family i.ould start, turn pale,
quake, wonder, pant, scream, and spring rsttles, exactly as
before. Where fear has once taken possession, experience
does not always make folks wise.

Roscoe

Wandering

in Wales, Part 8. W. Webb,

Liverpool

This number includes wanderings in the neighbourhoods
of Penmorfa, Clynog, the town of Nevin, Pwllhelli, Harlech,
Dolgelly, Barworth, Machynnleth, &c. To those who are
conversant with this part of Wales this part must have
great charms, while to those who are not it will excite very
strong wishes to do as the author has done before them—
namely, " wander." The plates represent "The Falls of
the Ogwen "—" a View of Chester from the Roodee Cop,
previous to the building of the new bridge ". " Rhuddlan
Castle and River Clwyd ",—" The Vale of the Llugwy ",-
1, with :Mel Sidbod, Snowdon, and the
istance. " Bala L
Ind a vignettte of " St. Winifred's Well at
Roscoe is a delightful writer. When complete
t will be a standard work

an alpine view indee

Carnedd Point in the

of the angle
Holywell."

this work will be most valuable
as long as Wales endures.

:'ORRESPONDENCE

—the haunt

TO THE HON. AND REV. BAPTIST NOEL,
(No. 3.)

Liverpool, 614 September, 1811.
REVEREND redeeming my pledge of pointing
out in this letter some further exaggerated and, to my mind,
very mischievous statements which appear in your pamplet,
I will commence with the following, from page 13 :

Let it also be remembered, that a weight of taxation
Its also on others. who are less able to bear it. In a

" 1838, from William Blaxland, of Birmingham, he stated,
" that he then used weekly-2 oz..tea, 2 oz. coffee, 8 oz.
" sugar, 3 lbs. 8 oz. meat, 7 lbs. flour, 7 pints ale, pint
`• brandy, 1 oz. tobacco; the cost of which, freed from tithe,
" corn, customs, and excise duties, would be 2s. ; but
" with these taxes, those articles cost him, 7s. 7id., being a
" weekly tax of ss. 30., amounting in the year to 133
" 13s. 6d."

You then go on to say,—" Whether William Blaxland was
" accurate in his calculations or not, they serve to show, that
" the labourers lie under a weight of taxation at least equal

" to have protection, much more should the former

Now, sir, to a plain, plodding, but practical man, it does
Lppear to me very important to see " whether William Blax-
_

gist of your argument on this head hinges upon the truth or
falsehood of the statement; and so strongly do I feel this to
be the case, that I will unhesitatingly declare my belief that
you were by no means justified in using William Blaxland's
statements until you had verified their accuracy. You have
adopted them in fact as your own, and have thereby given
them an importance by being circulated with the authority of
the Hon. and Rev. Baptist Noel, which they never would
have received simply as the statements of a William Blaxland.
But, sir, I thank you for having done so, as it will afford an
opportunity for showing upon what false grounds such state-
ments are made, and how readily they are caught at to serve
a one-sided view of a subject. But now to the matter of
fact. I have taken the various items at the respective duties
on each article, and I believe it will be found that the case
stands as follows :—On the three articles of meat, flour, and
ale, I have no means of accurately calculating the tax, but
to be quite on the safe side, I shall give an ample amount :
s. d.
Duty, &c. on 2 oz. tea, at 2s. 2d. per lb., say 0 34
~ 2 oz. coffee, at 6d. per lb.
f IP 8 oz. sugar, at 245. per cwt.
, ~ 4 pint brandy, at 265. Bd. per gallon 010
ft 1 oz. tobacco, at 3s. per lb. 0 2
Tax, &c. on 7 lbs flour
nr

~ 7 pints ale }. say
Pf 3 lbs. 8 oz. meat
Making a total of.
The extreme amount of taxes, therefore, on_ the articles
named comes to 2s. 3d. instead of ss. 30., as stated. And
for one moment to analyze these taxes—of 2s. 3d. it will be
seen that above ls. is on articles of pure luxury, 10d. on
brandy, and ad. on tobacco; this amount being deducted,
it will leave no room whereon to found so plausible an argu-
ment in favour of the poor man and against the rich : the
tendency of which must be to shew up the interests and feel-
ings of the one as opposed to the other, when the very oppo-
site should be the case. It would at first sight appear strange
why William Blaxland, in stating his grievances, should in-
clude this quarter of a pins of brandy and one ounce of to-
bacco in his weekly consumption ; but when that heavy duty
on those two articles is seen, the motive, (viz., that of swelling
the amount of tax,) is tolerably apparent. Now, sir, I appeal
to you as a lover of truth, does not this case shew the neces-
sity of precaution, before adopting second-band statements,
as matter of fact? It certainly was your duty to do, that
which I have done, before using these calculations as argu-
ment. Your making it matter of no-importance whether the
statement be accurate, appears almost as ridiculous as the
schoolboy's problem—" If one pound of butter buys two
pounds of cheese, what will a cart load of paving stones come
to ?"

Your quotations from Scripture, when twisted to suit the
case of the corn-laws, would almost make one shudder from
their misuse. You quote—" He shall judge the poor of the
people; he shall save the children of the needy, and shall
break in pieces the oppressor." "He shall deliver the needy
when he crieth ; the poor also and him that hath no helper."
" He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls
of the needy ; he shall redeem their soul from deceit and vio-
lence, and precious shall their blood be in his sight."
And you apply, or, as I am constrained to say, mis-
apply these quotations thus—" Agreeably, therefore, both to
the practice of the legislature, and, what is infinitely more
to be regarded, the will of Christ, should the weak and the
poor be freed from those artificial restraints upon their in-
dustry, and that unproductive taxation of their food, which,
without serving the country, inflicts suffering on them."
How these texts of Scripture can be made to apply to the
operations of the corn laws I am indeed at a loss to conceive.
And if all the corn-laws hitherto in existence, from the year
1463 to the present time, have been enacted " without serving
the country," and have only tended to " inflict suffering on
the poor," we may well take a melancholy view, both past
and present, of the legislative wisdom of our country, and
hail the enlightened age when 600 reverend gentlemen can
be congregated to deliberate upon the question, and supersede
the legislative functions of our country. Be it remembered,
also, that these 600 ministers, meeting to discuss the question
in a religious as well as a political point of view, at five mi-
nutes per head each, could not, from the fear of man, ask a
blessing upon their proceedings. Thanks be to God, our
Commons' House of Parliament, heterogeneous as is the mass
it contains, has not yet fallen to this pitch of degradation, and
scandal to the name of a Christian deliberative assembly !

Regretting that your pamphlet contains much matter upon
which I shall have yet to comment, I beg to remain, reverend
sir, your very obedient servant, J. C.

To THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD

SIR,—I request the favour of your inserting the enclosed
letter in to-morrow's paper.
Had the matter referred to in it come under the notice of
the Council last Wednesday, I should have given Mr. Aikin's
motion, for the reason stated, my decided opposition, as well
as answered Mr. Hornby's charge of persecution, by show-
ing, that no proceedings of any kind involving expense were
taken by Mr. Carson after Saturday, the 14th ult.. the day
on which Mr. Harvey (Mr. Quayle's solicitor) called upon
him for the purpose of withdrawing his plea of defence,
As I shall be unavoidably absent on Wednesday next, I
take this opportunity of conveying to the Conservative bur-
gesses of Everton Ward Mr. Hodgson's statement, together
with my own opinion on this proceeding.—l am, sir, your
obedient servant, WILLIAM BIRKETT.
Everton, 6th September, 1841.

Prince Edwin-street, 4th Sep., 1841

DEAR SlR,—The circumstances connected with the pro-
posed motion in the Common Council, to return to Mr.
Quayle the £5O he paid to the Corporation, are what alone
give importance to it, and seem to me, in an especial man-
ner, to claim attention.

You are aware that at a meeting of Mr. Quayle's political
adherents, some of whom are members of the Corporation,
it was decided to present Mr. Quayle with a piece of plate
for what was deemed his meritorious resistance to tory op-
pression in the case of Mr. Shand, whose party was assailed
in no measured terms with charges of persecution, and with
having finally succeeded in gaining possession of the seat for
Everton Ward, only from Mr. Quayle's fear of encountering
the further expenses.
- • - -• • -

Under ordinary circumstances, such imputations might be
treated with the contempt of silence, and the legal decision
obtained on Mr. Quayle's own admission that he did not
lawfully hold his seat be an ample answer. And it might be
left even to those gentlemen, some of whom are magistrates,
to reconcile, as they might, the position, in which for party
purposes they appear placed, that of offering a commendation
to any of her majesty's subjects for having heen instrumental
in obstructing the lawful and due exercise of such important
rights and duties as are involved in the corporate affairs of
this great community. But when an attempt is made, which
the motion insidiously involves, to obtain as it were a coun-
tenance to these imputations, it behoves the Corporation to
be on their guard, and examine carefully what they are about
to do.

Primarily, let us overlook what may be legal obstacles to
repaying the £5O, in order to ascertain whether there be any
case of hardship, or warrant for an assertion, that Mr.
Quayle has been subjected to persecution, or unnecessary
expense, whereby, as alleged, he may have been constrained
to abandon his just claim.
Mr. Shand was persuaded that he had a majority of good
votes, but was not returned because of the rejection of Evan
Jones and of the personation of two others ' • he therefore
applied to the Court of Queen's Bench, as the only course
open for redress. .

The following are the facts as regards these votes :
Evan Jones, it is asserted, said at the polling booth, in
reply to the question had he voted before, that he had voted
before. On this allegation his name was erased from the
poll, though subsequently it is not made a question that he
voted before. It is clear that he had not, though a miscon-
ception may have arisen from his having said he had voted
at former elections. It is, however, unintelligible why such
an error was not rectified by restoring this good vote to its
place on the poll, when, as you will see by referring to a
statement in the STANDARD of the 31st August, an altera-
tion was made in the case of John Ashton, favourably affect-
ing Mr. Quayle's return. Parity of circumstances would
authorise the expectation of mutual rectification. As regards
the vote of Evan Jones, there are other circumstances which
call for attention.
In section 34 of the Municipal Act, the law is in these
words :—" No inquiry shall be permitted at any election as
to the right of any person to vote as a burgess in any borough
except only as follows (that is to say), that the mayor or
otherpresiding officer shall, if required by any two burgesses
entitled to vote in the same borough, put to any voter, at
of the timehis delivering in his voting paper, and not after-
wards, the following questions, or any of them, and no
other :—"

Questions 1 and 2 have no bearing on our case, but
" No. 3. Have you already voted at the present election?
" And no person required to answer any of the said quel"

have answered the same.

d to vote until he slut/1

Now if Mr. Hornby, the alderman and presiding officer,
and consequently the only person according to the above-
quoted section qualified to ask the question, did put it, he
evidently had been so satisfied with the answer, as to admit
Jones's name on the polL; and we are not informed what
afterthought or circumstance could warrant the erasure.
But, in fact, it does not appear that the question was ever
put by Mr. Hornby, for a Mr. Wilson Ledger declares on
oath, filed in the Queen's Bench, that he himself

and as he

firmly believes with the concurrence of another burgess, whose
name I don't recall, asked the question. It, therefore, would
appear that, according to law, the question never was put at
all ; and the fact forcibly illustrates the propriety of such a
well defined enactment as is provided on this point ; for had
the legal direction been attended to, the evil, with all its
vexatious consequences, could never have taken place
Should, however, Mr. Hornby or the Town•cle

be able

to clear up this mystery, the facts arc not affected of Jones
not having voted, and of his being undeniably entitled to vote,
thereby warranting Mr. Shand's application to the Court of
Queen's Bench. But there were besides two cases of per-
sonation. To these no reply has ever been made, but the At-
torney-General, as far back as November, on Mr. Quayle's
behalf, admitted them to be personations—fraudulent votes.
At the same period Mr. Quayle was made acquainted that
his attempt at a counterpoise by objections, frivolous in the
extreme as they appear to me, would not be entertained, and
that a quo warranto must issue.
It is hence obvious, that Mr. Quayle might estimate hie
position accurately as far back as November, since which
time I have not learnt that any new feature, in connection
with the facts of the case, has occurred, or was to be antici-
pated. Save, indeed, what might belong to the chapter of
accidents arising out of procrastination, and from whatever
cause, it certainly is to be inferred that as late as July last,
Mr. Quayle was not regulating his course under any do-
minion of fear as to expenses, the plea so industriously put
forth on his behalf ; for up to that period, and till over-ruled
by a judge's order, he offered every resistance to the cause
being tried in Liverpool, and would have carried it to Lon-
don at, as I am assured, greatly increased costs, though not
improbably connected with increased delay.
With regard to the fact of any unnecessary expenses in
prosecuting this case, Mr. Carson has given a complete
answer; but the plea, that Mr. Quayle gave up his seat for
fear of the further expenses, is perfectly preposterous, and
without being uncharitable, it may be asked is it even honest?
Mr. Carson supposes the costs, on both sides, may amount
to £7OO, and computes £l5O as the addition which the trial
would have entailed. Now, if Mr. Quayle was so lion-
hearted in July, as to be ready to encounter increased ex-
pences if he could have had the trial in London, and if he
continued to the last confident of rieht being on his side,
would he abandon such a victory for his cause and con-
stituents for £l5O, even assuming him to be amenable to the
whole charge ; but how reconcile with abiding conviction,
his abandonment at once of the honour of victory, and the
opportunity of punishing a prosecutor, (for such, I presume,
Mr. Shand to be termed,) with £7OO costs, which must now
rest upon his own shoulders. This is not all; for Mr.. Quayle
has voluntarily paid £5O to the corporation, thus reducing
the sum involved in further proceedings to £lOO.
But this folly will not pass. The stratagem—for stratagem
it most evidently was—has failed. It was an unworthy
scheme, and has put the corporation to expence for legal ad-
vice on the occasion, and for the ordinary purposes of an
election, besides exposing the burgesses to the risk of a
contest.

1 cannot, therefore, on all these premises find any ground
for a return of the £5O, were it legal to do it, but that such a
course may be taken in opposition to the law I would not
willingly anticipate.
What, indeed, would be our position if, as a body, we
should be found, under such circumstances, in connection
with a party abetting and countenancing one who had been
the means of withholding just rights from a portion of the
burgesses of the corporation, one who, for nearly two years
had unlawfully exercised the rights and priv
ther

of ano-

The reiterated opinion of the town-clerk, supported, as I
understand, by other authority, and the known_ and esta-
blished facts of the case, do not permit tt

nticip
)e made con-

any new disclosure on which repayment may

sisiently with law and justice ; bui I should be glad on every
account were any explanation to be found in harmony with
justice, by which the liberality and sympathy of the corpo-
ration might be expressed towards Mr. Quayle, for, assuredly,
lam actuated by no unkind feeling towards him. Indeed,
we are not acquainted ; but, independent of the claim, which
this case holds in common upon my attention, I am rather
particularly called to it from its immediate connection with
the ward for which I am in council ; and further, not having
provided for so unusual a contingency as the adjournment
which has taken place, my arrangements do not permit my
attendance on Wednesday, which has led me through this
medium to submit my sentiments to you, and to beg the
favour of your consideration of them, and I remain. dear
sir, yours truly,
W. Birkett, Esq

DAVID HODGSON

ASTONISHING PHENOMENON !

TO TIIK EDITOR OF THE. LIVERPOOL STANDARD

SlR,—rha clock of St. George's is again in an eclipsed
state. A total obscuration is coming on. Really it is quite
r farce to talk about illuminating other clocks in the town,
when those we have are so disgracefully managed.
Sept. 6. PEDESTRIAN.

FREEMASONRY.—The W. M. of the New Lodge of Free-
masons was duly installed last evening, at the Lodge Room,
Market House, Birkenhead. Many of the brethren from
Liverpool and Chester attended the ceremony. An elegant
repast was provided on the occasion.
EARTHQUAKE IN INDIA.—In consequence of a severe
shock of an earthquake, a large hill or mountain was shaken
from its foundation, and thrown into the bed of the Attock,
which completely choked that river, so entirely that passen-
gers were enabled to cross over dry shod. The check to the
natural course of the stream occasioned the water to spread
and inundate the neighbouring Talooka of Balan, which was
totally immersed, the inhabitants flying to apiece called Ghelan
for safety. On the 9th of June there was so considerable an
influx of water in the Attock, that the mountain which was
laid across its bed was thrown up, and its natural channel re-
stored. With such force did the torrent come down, that the
country for five coss on each bank was submersed, and several
people were swept away in its impetuous course : many left
their houses and property and betook themselves to the hills.
The Qusba of Khyrabad, with its fortress, was levelled in
this all-destroying sweep, not a vestige of them remaining.
About 30 of the inhabitants of this Qusha lost their lives on
this occasion, the remainder having saved themselves by flight.
The houses of the community of fishermen located in the
neighbourhood were also destroyed. There was such a swell
of water that it overtopped the Fort : there is no describing
the extent of the ravages committed by a torrent. The
Ilaqua of Lachinee was entirely washed away, with the exten-
sive crops which were standing at the time. The farmers
have sustained much loss.—Bombay Gazette.
FRESCO PAINTING.—Mr. Ilaydon, with character
energy and enthusiasm, has already made a trial in fresco, on
the wall of his painting room ; and the result of his first and
hasty attempt, which we have had the gratification of seeing,
is decisive of two important points, the beauty of fresco paint-
ing as a means of decoration, and the ease with which a know-
ledge of the practice may be acquired. The subject is a study
for the Archangel Uriel, the bust and arms only, of the life-
size : it was painted at once on the plaster, without a cartoon
to work from, in four hours ; the painter's hand trembling
with apprehension for the success of his experiment, and in-
competent from inexperience to do full justice to the means :
it is a rough sketch, in short, made without the boldness and
firmness of pencilling that certainty of purpose and mastery
of hand alone can give. Yet the figure stands out from the
wall, solid in form, lively in colour, and brilliant in tone ;
making the pictures beside it to )k poor, flat, and
muddy in comparison its flesh tints surpassing in purity
the freshest oil-painting. It has a majestic presence,
that seems to enlarge the space it occupies, and to give
new radiance to the light reflected from it ; but, while
it thus fills the sense and elevates the mind, it is not ohtru-
sive. In describing the impression made by this piece of
fresco, our object is not to compliment Mr. Haydon or to
praise his design ; we do but record the effect produced upon
us by the work; though the conception and style of the
painter must have had their share in producing this impression,
we endeavour to regard only the physical qualities of the art.
The large scale of the design, and the breadth and simplicity
of the painting, have unquestionably a material influence over

the mind ; but these characteristics belong to alfresco, and
constitute its chief recommendations • the greatness of its
style powerfully aids the grandeur of the idea, and the large-
ness and boldness of the handling inspire the paint

congenial vigour of execution, which the cartoon he wor
from would prevent from, running into exaggeration. .