The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-11-23 00:00:00

IMPROVEMENTS IN SIR THOMAS'-BUILDINGS.

The MAYOR presented the following memorial from the in-
habitants of Sir Thomas'-buildings:—
" Liverpool, 1914 November, 1838.
"To the Mayor and Gentlemen of the Common-council.
" We, the undersigned, beg most respectfully to solicit the
attention of the common-council and improvement commit-
tee in behalf of one of the oldest, mostabandoned, and neg-
lected thoroughfares in the town, viz., Sir Thomas'-buildings,
of the stands recorded in its ancient annals—being for-
merly a foot-walk through the fields—and which might
through your enterprising influence flourish in such a man-
ner that would convey its name as famous to posterity as any
principal street we have, for convenience and elegance, which
would be surpassed by no other.
" We beg first to call your attention to the dangerous and
disadvantageous condition which it at this time presents to
your view. Secondly, the obvious and important benefit
likely to result from improvement, not only to the neighbour-
hood but to the several adjacent thoroughfares connected
with it; and thirdly, which is not of the least consequence,
the removal and abolition of two soaperies, which are at pre-
sent the most disagreeable and intolerable nuisances in the
centre of the town, which cats be well attested by us as re-
gards the baneful effects produced upon metals, painting,
and other things liable to such causes as are injurious to
health, property. and business, by using a chemical composi
bon, called black ash, which, though not generally known,
is as vicious in its effectsl as any other chemical factory;
sometimes in the night season filling the atmosphere with
such a dense effluvia as to render breathing difficult.
" This straight thoroughfare is so much obstructed by carts,
omnibuses, &e., continually passing, frequently causing con-
cussions dangerous not only to them, but to foot-passengers
crowding the parapets to excess, which has been the occasion
of several serious accidents, a few of which, for instance, are
related :—A few months ago, the pillar of the doom of Mr.
Steel's house was carried away and broke by the passing of
of two carts; another, a cart loaded with iron bars, in turn-
ing, crushed a female against the wall, which injured her so
much as to require surgical assistance; and only a few weeks
since, the shop window of Mr. Tunstall was stove in by the
turning of a cart; and accidents are kippening alMost
daily, paiticularly on market days, too numerous for inser-
tion her.

" The improvement of this Street seems to us so obvious
and necessary that we beg your most particular anti early
attention to it; and feel assured your investigation will suffi-
ciently recommend to you the excellence of a thoroughfare
that might be effected for the benefit of the public, when con-
sidered for its several advantages, could not be excelled by
any other from the north end through the several central
public parts of the town, by widening Sir Thomas'-buildings,
and opening a small narrow wint called flockinhall-ally,
which would at once form a direct road from Leeds-street,
intersecting Tithebarn-street, Dale-street, and • Whitechapel
(from which it is at present the only general thoroghfare),
and proceeding to the squares, theatres, markets, railway
station, numerous inns, and other public places of resort.
Therefore, that yon will look favourably on these few just
remarks, and weigh them with your judicious discretion for
the public good, is the petition of
" Gentlemen, your obedient servants.
-Herefollow the signatures.]
Mr. Councillor JORDAN said the consideration of that me-
morial gave rise to two questions, one as to the nuisances
from a species of gas similar to that formerly so much com-
plained of, and the other as to the inconvenience arising
from the narrownes sof the street. He had heard it rumoured
that there was a gas evolved from some manufactory in Sir
Thomas'-buildings similar in quality to that which caused the
nuisance for which Mr. Muspratt was prosecuted.
Mr: Alderman EARLE said that there was an intention of
putting this street to the act of parliament on the recent ap-
plications for powers to make certain improvements. Per-
haps the town-clerk would state why this had not been done.
Mr. Councillor BOLTON said there was no street in greater
need of improvement, and he hoped it would be attended to.
The TOWN-CLERK explained that the notices were too late
to secure the insertion of this street in the act.

Mr. ISAAC HOLMES said there were no alkali works in Sir
Thomas'-buildings; there was nothing but a soapery, and if
they attempted to put that down as a nuisance, they had bet-
ter.attetnpt to do.away with all the soaperies in the town. He
thought they should pause before they attempted to destroy
manufactories that were beneficial to the commerce of the
town.

The memorial was referred to the Improvement Committee.

OBSERVATORY.

The following memorial from the Literary and Philosophi-
cal Society of this town was read:—

"To the Washipful the Mayor and Town-council of the

Borough of Liverpool.

"The Memorial of the undersigned members of the Liver-
pool Literary and Philosophical Society.
" Showeth,—That the attention of your memorialists has
been lately 'most powerfully attracted to the want of an ob-
servatory in the town of Liverpool, for astronomical and ma-
ritime purposes.
. _ .

. .
"That your memorialists are fully aware that the advan-
tages of an observatory in a maritime point of view are well
known; but they venture, notwithstanding, to recall to your
recollection the important facts, that the longtitude of Liver-
pool is nut known with astronomical accuracy—that the
means of regulating chronometers and giving true time does
not exist at this port, and consequently that chronometers are
sent to sea with various sources of error, the extent of which
will be at once understood when it is considered that an error
(,f four seconds of time produces one mile in a ship's longti-
tude. Besides which, with iron vessels, which are likely soon
to come into inure general use, the greatest differences as to
magnetism prevail, the laws applicable to which can only be
laid down after considerable experience and examination by
persons conversant with scientific and practical computations
of this nature.

"That your memorialists have the sanction of the astrono-
mer !oval of England for stating, that a portion of the upper
flat and roof of the western end of the Liverpool New Cus-
tom-house might be most conveniently applied to the erection
and establishment of an observatory similar to, that at Green-
wich, which, at a very trifling cost, at-folds to masters of ves-
sels an easy and certai❑ method of determining the rates of
error existing in their chronometers before proceeding to sea.
And your memorialists have reason to believe that the ex-
pense of erecting and fitting np and maintaining an observa-
tory for practical maritime purposes, would be very much
less than previous computations may have led the council to
expect.
. . _

" Your memorialists therefore humbly pray that your wor-
shipful body will be pleased to resume the consideration of
this question, so important to the maritime and mercantile
interests, as well as to the scientific character of this great
port, with the view to the establishment of such an observa-
tory as it above suggested.
"And that you will also be pleased to make application to
the lords of the Treasury, or if necessary to parliament, for
leave to apply part of that great public structure, the New
Custom-house of Liverpool, to that national object."
Mr. Councillor CA SE inquired if this subject had not before
been discussed by the council, and had it not been decided
that, on account of the state of their pecuniary affairs,
through the provisions of the new law, they were unable to
comply with the wishes of those who thought an observatory
desirable. If so, he would move that a❑ answer to that effect
be at once given.
The TOWN-C LER K explained that it had been in contem-
plation to apply for an act of parliament to enable them, in
conjunction with the Dock Committee, to appropriate a por-
tion of their respective funds for the purpose in question.
Owing to an after decision on the part of the Dock Com-
mittee, rescinding their former resolution, the project was
afterwards given ❑p. It was still in their •power to build au
observatory by applying to parliament.
Mr. Councillor CASE moved that the memorial be referred
to the Improvement Committee.
Mr. Alderman BARCLAY thought, as the real question was
one of expense, that it ought to be referred to the Finance
Committee.

Mr. Alderman BLACKBURN was of opinion that the sub-
ject aeserved the consideration of a select committee. He
therefore gave notice, that he should move at the next coun-
cil that a special committee he appointed to report on that
memorial. He thought a more useful or honourable appro-
priation of any part of their surplus revenue could not he
made. jl-leat, hear.) . . _

Mr. Cimncitior HIGGINS said the Dock Committee had
not power to apply their funds to such a purpose.
The TOWN-CLERK said the act of parliameat would have
authorised the expenditure.

TOE BUSINESS OF THE PORT

The MAYOR said he had to present to the council a copy
of resolutions passed at a meeting of the commercial associ-
ations of this town. They were placed in the hands of the
late mayor too late for his worship to have au opportunity of
presenting them. . .
The TowN-CLERK said the delay arose through his fault,
as he had Kept the documents too long in his possession.
The following are the resolutions and report:—
" At a Meeting of Deputations from the Mercantile Associ-
ations of Liverpool, at the Office of Messrs. Radcliffe,
Duncan, and Lowe, on the 26th September, 1838,

. " William Brown, Esq. being called to the chair:
Resolved,—That, in the opinion of this meeting, iLis
desirable that in the first local act which may be requiNd
for this borough there should be inserted a clause authorising
owners or consignees of vessels (except in cases where the
cargo is wholly consigned to one house) to receive and de-
spatch goods, from the quay at certain rates, to be fixed by
the Dock Committee, and that the sub-committee of chair-
men be instructed to adopt such measures as may appear
expedient for carrying this object into effect.
" liesolved,—That, in the opinion of this meeting, the
appointrnerit of resident commissioners in Liverpool, to de-
cide upon questions of seizure, and other matters connected
with the customs or excise, without the delay and inconveni-
ence of a reference to London, would be attended with very
great advantage to trade, and that the magnitude of the in-
terests connected with this port demand this accommodation.
" ltesolved,—That the sub-committee of chairmen be in-
structed to take such measures as may appear expedient to
accomplish this important object, and that the co-operation
of the Town-couucil and the Dock Committee be requestedllii

" Liverpool, 10th October, 1838.
" My DEAR Sta,---The Mercantile Associations at this
port baring appointed deputations to confer upon matters
connected with the interests of the town, I beg to enclose the
names of the gentlemen representing the several bodies, and
I have particularly to refer you to the enclosed copy of reso-
lutions, passed at the first meeting of the deputations, over
which they were pleased to appoint me to preside.
" With regard to the first, it is scarcely necessary to point
out the great advantage which would be derived from the
power proposed to be obtained from parliament, to enable
the owners or consignees of ships, where the cargo is con-
signed to several houses, to appoint one set of porters to dis-
charge the whole.

"The present system, according to which the several con-
signees send different sets of porters to receive their respec-
tive portions of the cargo, has, you are aware, been produc-
tive of much delay and expense, both to the shipowner and
the merchant. Thus, where there are seven or eight con-
signees, there are as many gangs of men attending the dis-
charge of a vessel; and as only one set can be employed at a
time, the others remain idle on the 'quay. A consignee who
may have merely a few packages on board, must incur the
expense of keeping porters alongside the vessel, perhaps for
several days, as it is uncertain when hisgoods may be landed;
and, on the other hand, if his porters are not ready to weigh
and load off his goods, the discharge of the vessel is impeded.
" It not unfrequently happens that the quay becomes so
crowded by the numbers of porters, that the landing-waiter
is obliged to stop the discharge until the quay is cleared.
" The useless expense thus occasioned, the extent of pil-
ferage, the confusion and consequent obstruction to business,
from the crowds of idlers, and the frequent changes in the
labourers, cannot easily be over-estimated.
" The remedy we propose is simple; but.as any voluntary
arrangement of the kind might be defeated by die dissent of
even one consignee, the authority of parliament is essential
to carry it into effect. The enactment should embrace pro-
visions to enable the shipowner to warehouse goods after pro-
per notice to the consignee, or after a certain lapse of time,
where consignees cannot be found. -

'` You will at once perceive that the proposed measure, by
facilitating the discharge of vessels, will promote the general
good of the community•
" With regard to the other very important subject referred
to in the resolutions, the appointment of resident commis-
sioners of customs and excise in Liverpool, it ie hardly ne-
cessary to say, that we have long suffered grievous delays
and inconvenience, from being compelled to appeal to Lon-
don on difficulties that are constantly in our business, con-
nected with those departments of the revenue.
" it might, perhaps, be thought that our more rapid means
of communication w►th London now obviate the grievance;
but, as you are well aware, the great loss of time is not so
much in the simple transmission of intelligence to London,
as in the frequent references that are necessary to be made
in most cases to the offices here, and in the explanations' by
means of correspondence with a distant place.
"The inwortance not only of the prompt examination of
witnesses and evidence on the spot where the transaction
originates, but also of direct personal communication with
the commissioners, thus securing the early decisions of ques-
tions,is too obvious to require comment.
. .

With these observatioans, I have to request that you will
bring the enclosed resolutions under the consideration of the
council at the earliest opportunii, trusting that they wilt co-
operate in such measures as may be thought best for effect-
ing the important objects in view, the attainment of which
would so greatly tend to promote the commercial prosperity
of the town.

" I am, dear sir,
" Yours very truly,
(Signed) " WILLIAM BROWN.
" William Ilathbone, Esq.,
Mayor of Liverpool, &e."
The resolution and report were referred to the Finance
Committee.