The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-09-28 00:00:00

SOUTH CHESHIRE REGISTRATION

The Revising Barrister(William Charles Townsend, Esq.)
began to revise the lists for the Wirral district on Wednes-
day last, at the Birkenhead Hotel, and the business of the
court terminated on Saturday. _ _ .

The Revising Barrister, on opening his court, said he had
appointed tour days for the revision of the lists, and had ar-
ranged that certain townships should be taken on each day ;
had taken care to give publicity to this arrangement, and he
hoped it would have the effect of saving trouble and loss of
time to the overseers and parties objected to; it was a pain-
ful thing to see parties attending for several days together to
have their cases heard. _ _

Mr. Peacock, assisted by Mr. More, attended on the part
of the Conservatives; and Mr. W. W. Mortimer and Mr.
James Gregory, attended for the Radicals.
The recent election, it would seem, had enabled the agents
of both parties to discover defects in the qualifications of
electors, and the consequence was an immense number of
objections was made by both sides; hut as usual the ob-
jections made by the Radicals were much greater than those
made by the Conservatives. _ _ . .

The decisions of the Revising Barrister seemed to give
universal satisfaction ; in almost every case where he struck
a voter off the list, he gave a reason for doing so, in language
so clear and pointed, and in so conciliating a manner, that
satisfied_the party that he had justice done him.

New Conservative clains...
Radical objections sustained

New Radical claims

Conservative objections sustained

The result of the revision gives the Conservatives a clear
yaia of 170 over the Radicals.
Few cases of novelty occurred ; we subjoin a few oT the
most interesting ones, and they will tend to illustrate the
practice resorted to by the liberals to obtain voters.
A preliminary objection was taken by Mr. Peacock to the
validity of the service of the notices of objection made by
the Radicals ; the notices, it appeared, were signed " John
Goulborn ;" the notice server admitted that he was not ac-
quainted with the handwriting of Goulborn, and therefore
could not swear that the notices delivered by him were
really signed by Goulborn. Mr. Peacock submitted that the
services of the notices were bad, inasmuch as it lay upon the
objector to prove that the notices of objection were signed
by a person on the register, in pursuance of the 39th section
of the reform act, the witness, it was contended, merely
proved that he had served certain notices, but not that those
notices were really signed by Goulburn.
Mr. Townsend, the Revising Barrister, said he was in-
clined to concur with Mr. Peacock, that an elector could not
be called upon to prove his qualification, unless it could be
proved that the notices were signed by a person on the list.
The Radicals were for some time in great consternation,
when a gentleman present said he was well acquainted with
Goulburn's handwriting, and he proved that the copies of the
objections then produced were signed by him.
Mr. Peacock still urged that this did not cure the defect,
because it was still a matter of doubt whether the notices
actually served were signed by the objector.
The Revising IThrrister said the services were not very sa-
tisfactory, but as it had been proved that the copies of the
objections kept were actually signed by the objector, it was
but fair to presume that those served were also signed by
him—and, if it were not so, the party objected to should
prove it by producing his notice.
Several electors were objected to by the conservatives, on
the ground that their description on the register was too ge-
neral; some of them were described as of " Liverpool,"
without mentioning any street. Mr. Peacock stated that
this was generally done by parties who had no bona fide qua-
lifications, and with the view of throwing difficulties in the
way of being served with notices of objection to their claim ;
this, he contended, was contrary to the reform act, and, in
confirmation of his view of the case, referred to the schedule
of the act, in which the street was invariably given.
Mr. Mortimer contended that the description was suffi-
cient, and he instanced several cases where Mr. Peacock had
sent in claims with the description " Manchester" and other
large places.
The Revising Barrister said he was inclined to think the
objection good, but, as it would affect many votes, he would
consider the point. On the following morning he held the
objection fatal to the claim, and the claimants were struck
off.
This is an important decision, and we trust that our con-
servative friends residing in Liverpool will examine the re-
gister to see that their description is not open to the.
objection, with a view to its correction next year.
Thomas Gregory, of Birkenhead, claimed for leasehold
land in Church-street, Birkenhead ; he was objected to on
the ground of insufficiency of qualification. It appeared that
I the land would not produce £lO a-year, and he was conse-
quently struck off. This gentleman actually voted for this
qualification at the last election for the liberal candidate.
William Williams, of Sweeting- street, Liverpool, claimed
in respect of a leasehold house at Oxton ; he was objected to
by the conservatives. Claimant, on his examination, stated
that the house was worth £2B a-year, and was in mortgage
to a building society, in lieu of interest he paid (1:2 75.)
monthly for what is called redemption money.
Mr. Peacock contended that this qualification was insuffi-
cient, for it appeared clear that the redemption money ex-
hausted every shilling of the rent, and that consequently the
claimant had not £lO a-year clear of all charges.
The Revising Barrister held the objection fatal.—Claim
rejected.
Several other Oxton votes were struck off on the same

ground.
Randle Newby, of Birkenhead, Joiner, was objected to by
the Conservatives, he claimed for two freehold houses in
Brandon-street, Birkenhead. Mrs. Newby attended to sup-
port her husband's claim, she said her husband bought the
land several years ago, and built the houses himself, and he
was then the owner of them, and had voted at several elections.
Mr. Peacock.—Mrs. Newby, have you, yourself, any in-
terest in these houses ?
Mrs. Newby.—Yes, they were built with my money, and
they belong to me and my husband.
Mr. Peacock.—Just tell me, Mrs. Newby, what claim
you have to the house?
Mr. Newby.—Why, I tell you, I advanced money to build
them.

Mr. Peacock.—Yes, but do the houses belong to you, or
to your husband ?
Mr. Newby.—l have them now, and after my death he will
take them.
Mr. Peacock.—That is just what I wanted to know. I
suppose they are vested in trustees for you, during your life,
and, if your husband should outlive you, then he will take
them—is that it.
Mrs. Newby.—Yes, that is it.
Mr. Peacock.—Then your husband's claim is bad ; he has
only a reversionary interest in the property, which is not a
sufficient qualification.—Name expunged.
William Courter, who qualified as part owner of a field at
Seacombe, was objected to by the radicals • he appeared and
established his claim.—Mr. Courter complained that he had
been objected to for five successive years, and upon every
occasion had been put to the inconvenience of attending to
prove his claim.
We sincerely trust that the Legislature will provide a
speedy remedy for the crying evil, of which Mr. Courter so
justly complained.
John Nevitt Hill, of Poulton, was objected to by the con-
servatives •, it appeared that the property for which he claimed
was the subject of a Chancery suit, and that the rents are re-
ceived by a receiver appointed by the Court.
The Revising Barrister said the claim could not be sup-
ported, as it was uncertain to whom the property belonged.—
Name expunged.
Peter Lowe, of Upton, was objected to by Mr. Peacock, on
the ground that he had omitted to comply to the 56 section
of the Reform Act by paying a shilling with his claim, that
section distinctly enacts " that notice of claim shall not be
deemed valid until such sum shall have been paid."—Name
expunged.
It subsequently appeared that Mr. Lowe, who is a warm
radical partisan, had sent in several claims for his friends,
but in all cases omitted to pay the shilling, and the claims
were consequently disallowed.
John Lowe, of Barnston, was objected to by the conserva-
tives, on the ground that he had not occupied his farm 12
months, on his examination in chief he stated that he had
occupied the farm seven years, and paid more than £5O a year.
—On his cross-examination by Mr. Peacock, he said his
father's name was " John " but he had nothing to do with
the farm, he was only a lodger with claimant; his father
died six months ago; his neighbours might think his father
was tenant, but it was a mistake ; his father was rated in the
parish books for the farm.
Mr. Peacock.—Now man, I ask you upon your oath, did
you not bring your father to the hustings to poll at the elec-
tion in 37, for the very farm you say you have occupied for
seven years?
Lowe.-1 don't know any thing about that election.
Mr. Peacock.—But I will take care you shall know some-
thing about it. I ask you again, did you not stand by your
father when he voted for George Wilbraham ?
Lowe.—lt was a mistake altogether, he voted instead of
me. (Loud laughter.)
Mr. Peacock.—A mistake ! What, when you stood by him
and heard him record his vote?
Lowe.—l don't care for that, I am the tenant.
Mr. Peacock.—Did you send in a claim this year to be put
on the register ?
Lowe.—Yes, I did, and I paid a shilling with it to the
overseers ; he referred to the overseer, who confirmed him
in this statement.
Mr. Peacock (addressing the Revising Barrister).—This is
one of the most impudent and audacious claims that I have
met with, it is notorious that this man's father was the tenant
of the farm. The claimant admits that he (the father) was
rated to the poor as the tenant, and that he actually voted as

such tenant at the election in '37 in the presence of this very
person, who now deliberately swears that he himself was
the tenant; but there is one fact which is quite conclusive,
the claimant has just sworn that he sent in a claim this year
to be put upon the register. Now, if he had been on the re-
gister before, this was quite unnecessary, but this he never
did until after the death of his father.

The Revising Barrister, with some warmth, told claimant
that it was quite clear he was not, in the lifetime of his fa-
ther, tenant of the farm, and as he had not been dead twelve
months, he was not entitled to be on the register.—Name
struck off.

Mr. Peacock.—This man was told before the last election,
that if he voted he would be indicted for perjury, and yet he
still had the hardihood to vote ; of course in favour of Mr.
Wilbraham, the liberal candidate. (A laugh.)

Benjamin Hancock claimed to vote in respect of a farm at
He,wall. He was objected to by the conservatives. He
stated that he occupied a farm jointly with Mrs. Mary Law-
ton, at the rent of £l6B a-year. On his cross-examination
by Mr. Peacock, he said he had been the managing man for
Mrs. Lawton for 15 years. Two years ago he agreed to be-
come tenant along with Mrs. Lawton, and had since paid a
proportion of the rent. Mr. Edward Davies Davenport is
their landlord, thinks his name is not entered in the land-
lord's books as tenant, nor is it entered in the assesment-
book, would not swear that he had paid for half the stock,
but had left some money in Mrs. Lawton's hands, and would
swear that he had an interest in the produce of the land.
Mrs. Lawton's name was on the carts, he was still paid
wages as before (he refused to answer this question for some
time.)

Mr. Peacock.—This is an attempted fraud on the reform
act. Mrs. Lawton of course cannot vote, and no doubt it
occurred to Mr. Davenport, who is a liberal of the first
water, that Hancock should be nominally one of his tenants
for the sake of his vote, and but for the caution of Mrs.
Lawton, there would have been great difficulty in resisting
the claim ; it is admitted that everything is carried on just
as it was before; he pretends to have become the tenant ; he
is still paid wages, the stock still belongs to Mrs. Lawton,
she alone is rated in the parish books, and her name alone
appears on the carts ; these facts are pregnant with fraud,
and prove to demonstration that he is not a bona fide tenant
of the property.
Mr. Mortimer made a rambling speeCh in support of the
claim, but the Revising Barrister said he should strike the
claimant's name off the list, as he was not satisfied that he
was tenant to Mr. Davenport—name expunged accordingly.
Thomas Ellis, (who was one of Mr. Davenport's workmen,)
claimed for a freehold cottage at Heswall; it appeared his
brother had verbally given him the property seven years
since.

Mr. Peacock submitted that the.claminant had no title to
the property, there being no conveyance made to him, it was
clear the brother could take back the property any day—
name struck off.
John Daniel Thorneley, of Liverpool, claimed for a free-
hold house at Heswall ; it appeared that the late Mr. Lomax
had by his will given his freehold property to trustees to be
sold, and the proceeds to be divided among his children :
Mr. Thorneley married one of his daughters, who was since
dead.
Mr. Peacock contended that Mr. Thorneley was not en-
titled to the property, for as his father-in-law had directed
his freehold property to be sold it must be considered as
personal estate, and would, therefore, not confer a vote, and
if it could be considered as real estate it would not belong to
Mr. Thorneley, but would go to his eldest son as the heir
at law of his mother.
The Revising Barrister concurred in this view of the case,
and rejected the claim.
William Boumphrey claimed for a house at Heswall; he
was opposed by the conservatives. He said be was entitled
to the house in right of his wife, and that it was settled
upon her.
Mr. Peacock.—When you were in Chester Castle some-
time since, did you not omit this property in your schedule,
because it belonged to your wife?
Boumphrey.—Yes, I did.
Mr. Peacock.—Then you considered you had nothing to
do with it ?
Boumphrey
disallowed.
John Williams claimed as occupier of a house and land in
Lower Bbington ; he was objected to by the radicals, on
the ground that his farm was situated in two townships.
Mr. Mortimer contended that the claim was bad, inas-
much as claimant stated that the land was in Lower
Bebington, whereas it was partly in that township and partly
in the township of Higher Bebington, which should have
been stated on the face of the register; he also contended
that the claimant should have sent in a claim to the over-
seers of each township.
Mr. Peacock pressed the Revising Barrister to amend the
desription, which he contended, at considerable length, he
had power to do, under the 42 sec. of the Reform Act.
The Revising Barrister considered the claim bad, and that
he bad no power to amend it, he concurred in the view taken
of the case by Mr. Mortimer—name expunged.
John Hadley Bally claimed for freehold houses in Chester-
road, Tranmere, and was objected to by the conservatives,
on the ground that he had not 40s. a-year clear for his own
use after paying interest on the mortgage—name expunged.
Henry Simpson claimed as occupier of a house near the
Rock Ferry. He was objected to by the conservatives on
the ground that he had let his house ready furnished, and
thereby ceased to occupy the same within the 20th section of
the Reform Act. Name expunged.
George Law claimed as occupier of a house at Holt Hill,
and was opposed by the conservatives. Mr. Mortimer called
the overseer to prove that Mr. Law was rated at a sum of
above £5O a year. Mr. Peacock objected to this loose way of
proving a qualification.
M. Mortimer.—lt has been allowed in several cases with-
out objection.
Mr. Peacock.—Yes, Mr. Mortimer, but I am not to be
caught in this way. Last year and the year before I objected
to Mr. Law, and upon each occasion I made him prove that
he had no qualification. He first claimed as an occupier,
then I knocked him off; then he claimed as owner, and I
knocked him off again ; and now he falls back upon his first
qualification. My objection is this : The property is settled
upon his wife for her separate use.
The Revising Barrister.—lf that is the case, his claim
cannot be supported.
Mr. Mortimer admitted that it was the case, and the claim
was for the third time disallowed.
William John Harden, barrister at law, claimed, " As
occupier of house and premises at a rent exceeding £5O per
annum, in continuation of a similar qualification in the
township of Liscard." He was objected to by the conserva-
tives on the ground that he had not occupied the premises
twelve months. The Revising Barrister and professional
gentlemen present were much amused at this claim, which is
bad upon the face of it, inasmuch as successive occupations
will not constitute a county qualification; and as Mr. Harden
is a I evising barrister for one of the Yorkshire districts, it
was thought he ought to have been aware of his defective
qualification. His name was, of course, struck out of the
list.

—I believe I cannot make away with it—claim

The following gentlemen, all residing in Liverpool, at-
tempted to qualify for a dissenting chapel at Birkenhead ;
they were, however, objected to, and all their names were
purged from the list :—Samuel Blackburn, Thomas Baines,
Jeffrey Blackaller, James Howell, William Henderson,
Samuel Job, Charles Robertson, Henry White, and Reuben
Wright Davies.
Upon the revision being concluded,' Mr. Peacock rose and
thanked Mr. Townsend (the Revising Barrister) for his
courtesy throughout the revision, and for the excellent 'ar-
rangements made by him for the despatch of business, and
above all, for his strict impartiality : he believed his decisions
bad given universal satisfaction.
Mr. Townsend expressed his acknowledgments, and re-
gretted that he should not have the pleasure of meeting the
same gentlemen in other parts of the country, for he had
never seen better feeling than that exhibited on both sides.

PUBLIC MEETING IN BEHALF OF THE LIVER-
POOL DISPENSARIES.

In compliance with a requisition of the committee of the
dispensaries, Thomas Bolton, Esq., the mayor, appointed
yesterday, at the Session-house, for the public meeting of
the inhabitants, " to take into consideration and determine
upon effectual means to augment and extend the means of
supporting this charity, in consequence of its appearing that
the present resources will no longer maintain the institution
on the scale in which it is now necessarily carried on, to
meet the demand of the poor claimants upon its charity."
The meeting accordingly took place, and, though not very
numerously, was most respectably attended.
The MAYOR, on taking the chair, said that, agreeably to I,
the terms of the requisition addressed to him, he had called
the present 'fleeting, to consider the finances of the dispen-
saries, an institution of so unobjectionable and beneficial a
nature, that he sincerely hoped something effectual would be
the result, to rescue it from its embarrassment, and render it
efficient for the benevolent objects in view. He regretted
that the subscriptions were not adequate to the demands of
the increasing claimants upon its assistance, and that there
was a necessity to raise a sum of £lBOO to relieve it from
debt, and also to enable it to go on with that usefulness and
advantage to the public by which it had for a number of
years been so eminently characterized. He then called upon
those gentlemen who were more intimately connected with
the subject than himself, and more competent to enter into
its details, to deliver their sentiments and submit the reso-
lutions that had been prepared.
Mr. Alderman FREME said, in effect, that it devolved upon
him to submit the first resolution to the meeting which his
worship had had the goodness to call in behalf of a charity of
which all classes must approve. Unfortunately it was not
the first time since its establishment that they bad been
called upon to make a strenuous effort in its behalf, which
had, indeed, too frequently occurred. In 1826 a similar de-
falcation had arisen in the funds, as compared with the de-
mand of those for whose benefit it was originated ; but he by
no means despaired, if due exertion were made, of now, as then,
redeeming it to an extent commensurate with the wants of
the poor ; for when an appeal was then made to the public a
sum of £l9OO was raised, which not only liquidated the debt
contracted, but put into a state of comparative ease and
activity. They certainly laboured under peculiar circum-
stances of depression at present, in common with the other
medical charities of the town, which they had never felt be-
fore. The demand for relief was great, and the legacies and
donations were inadequate to meet it in the absence of in-
creased subscriptions, more particularly as the parish con-
tributions had been reduced. But he hoped the means would
be found amongst their fellow-townsmen, when they became
aware of the facts, to overcome the difficulties that surrounded
them. From the prospects of the crops and other causes,
disease and distress amongst a large portion of the people
were not likely to be diminished as the winter advanced . and
it became therefore the more imperative upon all who had
the means to contribute liberally to the support of charity,
the object of which was the relief of the poor under the most
trying circumstances. He concluded by moving a resolution
(for which see the advertisement,) to the effect that it was
highly desirable that the dispensaries should be supported
by the public.
JAMES MULLENEUX, vice-president of the South
Dispensary, said that he entirely concurred in the sentiments
expressed by his friend who had just spoken. In proof of the
benefits of the Dispensaries, he might state that during the
past year medical assistance had been given to no fewer than
50,217 patients, at an expense of £4068 ; 26,674 patients had
been attended to at the north, and 23,513 at the south. The
expenditure of the former was £1143, and at the latter £1602,
or, in other words, at at an average expense of is Bd. for each
individuel. So much for the expenditure. He, noticed in
forcible terms, the great advantages of the institution, and
called upon the meeting, in eloquent terms, to support it. It
behoved his townsmen to consider whether it was wise or be-
nevolent not to uphold one of the oldest and finest charities
of the town. If some withheld their aid from not knowing
the real state of the town, he trusted they would come for-
ward when they were informed that a vast mass of the popu-
lation were in destitution. He would ask the rich, who en-
joyed themselves in comfort,
whather they might not appre-
hend, in their neglect of such charity, that disease would
spread, and, eventually, enter ther splendid mansions? And
he would say that, little as they might regard the poor, there
were amongst them, as a class, feelings and virtues that dig-
nified and ennobled human nature. It was the duty of all to
wipe the tear from the eye of the distressed, and to pour oil
add wine into the wounds of the afflicted. He earnestly
called on the meeting to give its support to the motion.
DR. BANNER here stated that he thought it would be well,
before the motion was put, to consider the institution with
reference to the present system pursued, and its future pros-
pects. He was of opinion that if even the money stated
were raised, its benefits could not be fully developed without
some alteration in the present system. He alluded to the
number of patients that might now be recommended by a
subscriber as being unlimited in proportion to the amount of
subscription, and that a committee should be appointed to
devise amendments.

The CHAIRMAN said that the resolution before the meeting
involved no question of funds to be raised, or of the regula-
tion of the charity. He read the resolution, and enquired
whether Dr. B. proposed to conclude with an amendment.
Dr. BANNER Said that he concurred in the sentiment ex-

pressed in the resolution, and should not propose an amend-
ment to it. He had, however, one question to ask, and that
was, whether the parish authorities were not bound by law to
administer medical as well as general relief to their destitute.
If so, and the dispensaries were not in existence, the poor-
rates would be considerably higher. He had understood that
they gave annually to the charity only £6OO.

Mr. MULLENEUX remarked that the sum was now reduced
to ZlOO.

The CRAM, interposed, stating that it was not
requisite nor competent for the meeting to enter into the
legal question as regards the purity. It was a charity that
was supported by private bounty and affluence, and their
present object was to increase their funds.

Mr. CHRISTOPHER BUSHELL said, the present was not
the proper time, nor the occasion a fitting or a judicious one,
for the remarks which had been offered, no doubt with an
excellent object, by Dr. Banner. Anything which might
tend to throw a slur on the committee of the dispensaries
would do an injury to the institutions in question, and he
was sure that Dr. Banner had not come to the meeting with
any such intent. (Hear.) They were assembled that day
to forward the charity and to increase its usefulness ; and, to
do both those things, and also to do away with such meet-
ings as the present, which would constantly occur unless
they had some permanent fund to rely upon, it was necessary
that their subscription should be increased. Those important
objects could only be accomplished by means of additional
subscriptions. He regretted to know that there were in the
town of Liverpool hundreds of men of immense wealth, who
had derived that wealth. from their business, and who, if
they subscribed at all to any of the charities of the town,
did not subscribe in proportion to their means. (Hear,
hear, hear.) Mr. Mulleneux had put the case forcibly when
he said, that if such persons desired to keep disease from
their own doors, they ought to contribute with that view to
the necessities of the poor. But he (Mr. Bushell) would
put it more forcibly still, for he would ask them by what
means or by what machinery had their wealth been earned
and increased? Was it not by means of the lower classes
for whom the present institutions were intended ? 'W ere not
these classes the machinery by which they had acquired
their wealth ? (Hear, hear.) Surely, then, if they had any
regard for themselves, they ought to say that the machinery
of an institution of the present benevolent kind should be
kept in perfect repair. (Cheers.) He would suggest that
the subscriptions of those in the list, so far as they extended,
be increased. He had been looking through the list of guinea
subscriptions. He had been loking at those who ought to be
ashamed to see a guinea opposite to their names. (Hear,
hear.) He called upon them to double and treble their
subscriptions. He called upon them to revise their incomes
annually, to revise their subscriptions also, and to see then
if they could do the latter without a blush. (Hear, hear.)
Though it might suit them at present to keep their money in
their pockets, there would be a time when sickness and sick-
ness unto death would come upon them, when, though they
might leave the world giving large sums in legacies, they
would have reason to regret that they had not gained respect
during life, outwardly by the world, and inwardly by their
own consciences, for charitable emotions and good inten-
tions. (Cheers.) _ _

The resolution was put and carried nem. con.
Mr. Tllomns CASE rose to move the second resolution.
He regretted the necessity of this appeal, but he trusted It
only needed the necessity to be known to obtain for it a
favourable answer, and that this excellent charity should be
put on a solid basis, and the same necessity not occur for
'many years again. He thought the best plan would be to
appoint an active committee to canvass the whole town for
donations, and to increase their subscriptions. Mr. C. con-
cluded by moving a resolution to that effect.
Mr. JOHN CROPPER seconded the resolution. Ile hoped
gentlemen would not be satisfied with increased donations,
but the subscriptions must be increased if the institution was
to be conducted as it ought It had never properly been
supported by subscriptions, but had depended casually on
legacies and collections. It was a painful thing to state, but
gentlemen, unless called on, did not feel it their duty to give
money to it.

A GENTLEMAN, whose name we could not learn, observed
that the average cost of a patient was ls. Bd., of which 9d.
went to the cost of management, medicine, and surgical in-
struments. By a different system, he thought the 9J. might
be saved, namely, by dividing the town into districts of 2000
each, to be under the care of a separate medical man, with
or without salary. By this arrangement the poor would have
the advantage of the advice of men of standing in the pro-
fession, instead of young men fresh from the schools. He
earnestly entreated the attention of the meeting to this pro-
position.
The MAYOR was obliged for the suggestion, but it was one
that would be much better laid before the annual meeting of
the subscribers. (Applause.) It was impossible for them
to take into consideration here the question of alterations in
the management.
Mr. J. H. SMITH said the great difficulty under which
they laboured was to collect an annual meeting. He had ac-
tually to go upon 'Change and canvass for an attendance.
These subjects had been very frequently discussed before the
committee, which had come to the best decision in its power,
and if gentlemen would come to the annual meeting, and
make their proposals, they would give them the best consi-
deration in their power ; but the present meeting was only
called to consider how they could get on until the next an-
nual meeting.
The resolution was then carried nein. con.

Rector CAMPBELL proposed the third resolution, and as,
he said, he did not foresee any reasonable objection, he
hoped he might be permitted to spare his own strength and
the patience of the auditors, by offering a very brief recom-
mendation of it. It would hardly be necessary for him to
preach a long sermon on the necessity of Christian duty,
more particularly after the admirable remarks which had been
made by others, who said more than he could with respect to
the strange inconsistency of those who, with large incomes,
had given very small subscriptions. He bad heard that day
that the board of guardians, or parish authorities, had dimi-
nished their subscriptions. He confessed thht he was always
anxious to get as much out of the poor-rate as he could ; for,
by so doing, he got money out of the pockets of those who
would not give it otherwise. (Hear, hear, and a laugh.)
He believed that all now present were professed Christians.
Whatever differences, therefore, they might have on purely
theological subjects, on this they ought to bet at least, theo-
retically united ; that, as Christians, they should live in the
practice of Christian charity—that, as disciples of a master
who had done everything for them, they were bound to do
something for Him, and that it was their duty to manifest as
much mercy as possible for others. lie would not press this
subject any further, because it was admitted that they ought
to live in the practice of Christian charity and alms-giving ;
but then it came to be asked how were their alms to be
given? He conceived that the worst mode was to give them
to unknown beggars at the doors ; and here he begged to
express his regret that the District Provident Society had
received such little support as it had done. Nevertheless,
the charity now before the meeting answered the same pur-
pose in some degree. If people were unable to look into
the necessities of the poor themselves, they ought to employ
those who were able to do so ; and this the dispensaries did.
(Hear.) By the intervention of its professional gentlemen,
whose labours in the cause of charity were little known, the
wants of the poor were searched into; they knew when a
man came to them whether he was in want; they felt that
poverty with sickness had a double claim ; and for the relief
of that the dispensaries had been instituted. He hoped
something would be done to rescue the institution from the
penury in, which it appeared to labour. With regard to its
future management he also hoped that something would be
done, but be felt with the mayor that the present was not a
fitting time to take the subject into consideration. If by
any change the dispensaries could be rescued from their
present and future necessities, great good would be done, the
utility of the institution would be benefitted, and the public
would be satisfied. But what Mr. Cropper had suggested
was the best thing that could be done under the circum-
stances, namely, to get an active committee to go round, for
nothing could be done without pressing solicitations. With
regard to the clergy, he hoped they would not be called on to
make personal solicitations in this instance, as they had so
much to do in that way for other objects. He would be glad
to preach a sermon in behalf of the said society, and be
hoped his brethren in the ministry would do the same, and
that all the ministers of religion in the town would, so far as
they could, preach, some time this year, most convenient to
themselves, in behalf of the charity. The rector concluded
by observing that he had great pleasure in moving the reso-
lution, and sat down amid applause.
Mr. BATESON, jun. seconded the third resolution. He

said he did so with confidence, knowing that the appeals
made on behalf of the most valuable charities in Liverpool
had always been successful. When they reflected that about
this period lost year the sum of i:4,000 was raised by an
effort for the charities of the town, it augured well for their
success on the present occasion. As they were met to con-

Sider the most effective means for supportiug the charity, lie
thought it right to inquire in what way that could best be
done, particularly as it had been remarked that it was neces-
sary for some change to be made. The committee of the
dispensary was now placed in the situation of the financier
of another department, and should either keep down his ex-
penditure, or raise the income to rceet the expenditure, or,
by a combination of both, effect the object in view. He
thought that, by proper attention being paid to the different
items of expenditure, a great deal might be done in the mat-
ter of economy. He believed that the ministers of the dif-
ferent churches had not preached so regularly of late on be-
half of the charities of the town as they had done formerly.
It had been said, some years ago, that all the charities should
have the benefit of an annual sermon, but last year only £4O
had been collected in the churches for the institution, while
large sums had been raised for more questionable purposes.
£BOO, for instance, had been raised for the conversion of the
Jews, although only 21 of them had been baptised during the
whole year. (Cries of " Question.") There was a degree
of ztal exerted by parties for other objects, and lie thought
it would be more valuable if it were exerted on behalf of the
medical charities of the town.

Rector CAMPBELL said it had been just observed that the
clergy of late had diminished the number of their sermons on
behalf of the dispensaries. He was not aware of that being
the case, but, if it were, it should be recollected that they
had to preach charity sermons every two months. Letters
were received occasionally from her majesty commanding
them to preach. They had schools in every district also
which were to be supported; and, in short, the claims on
their congregations was such that they really could not preach
for secular charities as often as they used to do ; and there-
fore he hoped no reflection would be cast on them on that
account. (Hear.) It would be advisable to abstain from
such topics, because whenever the clergy were solicited they
did their best. (Cheers.)
Mr. MULLENEUX said that some remarks had been made
to the effect that some of the funds had not been carefully
applied, he begged to read the following extract of the cost
of each patient in different places, from which it would be
seen that Liverpool was lower in amount than any or all the
rest :—At Bristol, the average was 10s. 6d. ; at Hull, 3s. ; at
Leeds, 3s. ; at London, 2s. 4d. ; at Birmingham, 6s. 3d. ;
at Manchester, 2s. 10d. ; at Sheffield, 4s. sd. ; and at Liver-
pool, only Is. Sd. (Cheers.) From this statement he con-
cluded that they could not make much improvement in Li-
verpool, so far as regarded the reduction of their expenses.
(Hear, hear.)
Upon the proposition of Dr. Vosu, seconded by Mr.
Councillor PARKER, thanks were returned to the mayor for
his promptness in convening the meeting, and his kindness
in presiding thereat, and the assembly separated at twenty
minutes after three o'clock.

The total proceeds of Lady Londonderys' splendid Bazaar
at Sunderland, in behalf of .the new church at Seaham Har-
bour, amounted to the handsome sum of £l2OO.

CHINESE CANNONS.—In the Parrock-hall, which arrived
in St. Katharine's Docks a few days since from China, were
two splendid cannons, which were taken from the Chinese
by the English at the Bogue Forts. They have been sent to
this country as a present to her Majesty's government, and
are to be placed, it is believed, in the Tower of London as
curiosities. They are of Spanish manufacture, about eleven
feet in length ; the touchholes have been spiked, which ren-
ders them quite useless ; they weigh about two tons each.
One of them bears the following inscription :—" Por vida
do Capitao-Geral de Macao, Manoel y Tavares Bocarao,
Afez, 1651." On the other is the Spanish crown, and " Don
Felipe I. Rey d'Espana."—" Don Miguel Tavares Rocae_
roze y San Geral v Mor, ecaptiad de Ari Aean Macao, A.
1652." They are looked upou as great curiosities, and num-
bers of persons are daily drawn to the wharf of the docks
where they now A large bullet of Chinese manufacture
was also sent by the same ship ; it is exceedingly rough and
ill shaped, and seems to have been cast in two pieces, and
rivetted together afterwards ; this also, it is supposed, will
be deposited in the tower.