The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-04-12 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STANDAIID, TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 1853.

Mantel

LIVERPOOL DERBY MUSEUM

WANTED, a YOUTH from 16 to 21 years of age,
having a taste for Natural History, especially Ornitho-

ASSISTANT and PUPIL to the Keeper of the Liver-

)1 Derby Museum
num, the object
qualify hims

The Salary

will not exceed £4O per
o obtain a Young Man who may wish
or the occupation of a Naturalist, or Curator

o*. addressed to the Chair.

`or Canal Cony

secular Education, there is no one, who has the
slightest pretensions to the character of a Christian,
who would for one instant wish to have the funds
of the State voted for other than religious instruc-
tion ; and it is gratifying su far to observe that
Lord JOHN RUSSELL has declared his opposition
to secular schools, whether they excluded all kinds
of religious teaching—or, whatwas worse, admitted
a natural theology, to the exclusion of Christianity.
He has taken a moderate course, and one which
we should willingly give him credit for considering
a wise one. He proposes that in all corporate
towns a majority of at least two-thirds of the Town
Council shall have authority to make a rate for the

support of such Schools as receive some support
under the minutes of the Committee of Privy
Council ; and he suggests that the rate should be
applied, not to establish Schools, but in aid of

voluntary efforts ; so that twopence a week might
be paid for each
.scholar in cases where fourpence

contributed from other sources. In

all. the advantage of Mr. CARDWELL'S great
experience; and it may be suggested whether the
difficulty could not be far better met by allowing
the former to exercise their own discretion in the
licensing of masters and mates of coasting steam
vessels, without reference to the doubts as to the
local act ; or, on the other hand, of fixing such
reduced rates of remuneration for Pilotage service
as will put the two parties more upon an equality.

THE RECEIVER OF TOWN DUES.
THE question as to the choice of a successor to Sir
THOMAS BRANCKEE, as Receiver of Town Dues, was
set at rest on Wednesday, at the meeting of the Town
Council, by the election of Mr. LITHERLAND. The
discussion which took place afforded the opportunity of
refuting the charges against the Finance Committee, made
by our Radical contemporaries. It was clearly shown that
the whole proceeding had been legitimately and honourably
conducted, and that no ground existed for the imputation
which had been levelled against some of the members of
the Finance Committee.

NEW MAGISTRATES FOR LIVERPOOL.

We understand that the following gentlemen he
added to the Commission of the. Peace for the Borough of

Etve been

Liverpool:—

The Ven. Archdeacon Brooks.
The Rev. Rector Campbell.
Thomas Darnley Anderson, Esq.
Francis Alexander Hamilton, Esq.
Daniel Mather, Esq.
James Stitt, Esq.

IMPROVEMENTS OF LIVERPOOL.
THE Architectural and Archaeological Society have devoted
considerable care and attention to the important subject
of improving the streets of Liverpool, of facilitating the
communication, and adding to the comfort and conveni-
ence of the increasing population. They have published
an elaborate report, containing a lengthened series of
sugrested improvements ; and though the inevitable ex-
pense must necessarily postpone the execution of some of
them to a distant period, there ate others which will, no
doubt, receive much earlier attention. The end of Dale-
street—near Shaw's-brow and the approaches to St.
George's-hall and the Lime-street Railway Station—is a

locality which presses upon attention ; and the advantage
of an alteration in this quarter will be enhanced by the
removal of penny theatres, cheap concert-rooms, and
other haunts of vice which here abound, and to which
the police authorities would don ell to apply their powers
of surveillance. Another of the suggested improvements
is for a better approach from the Landing-stage to the
Exchange, which it is proposed to accomplish by throw-
ing a bridge over the centre of George's Dock and
widening Water-street. The present road, it must be
confessed, is very inconvenient, and also dangerous, from
the number of passing vehicles in all directions, and the
great length of the crossing.

A CATHEDRAL FOR LIVERPOOL.
THE proposal of Mr. BANNER for the erection of a new
Church, or rather Cathedral, on the site of St. Peter's in
Church-street, was negatived at the meeting of the Select
Vestry, on Tuesday. This was rather an ungracious recep-
tion, more particularly as the cost was to be raised by vo-
luntary contributions, and the scheme was in anticipation
of Liverpool being raised to the dignity of a city. There
may be no immediate necessity for the re-erection of St.

Petei's

Church ; but it cannot be denied that Liverpool,
which is justly celebrated for the beauty of her public build-
ings, does not possess a Church with any pretensions to ec-
clesiastical -architecture. Indeed not one of the Liverpool
Churches can bear the slightest comparison to the Unita-
rian Meeting-house in point of architectural beauty.

THE MAGISTRATES AND THE TOWN
COUNCIL.-IMPORTANT MEETING OF
MAGISTRATES YESTERDAY.

Yesterday afternoon, a meeting of the Magistrates was
held in the Magistrates'-room, at the Sessions-house, to
receive the report of the Finance Committee of the Town
Council (presented to the Council on 'Wednesday last), in
answer to the report of the Magistrates, relating to the
alleged interference of members of the Council with the
police force on the subject of licenses to marine-store
dealers.

The Mayor presided, and amongst the magistrates
present we noticed J. S. Mansfield, Esq., the stipendiary ;
also Messrs. Mellor, Barclay, Benn, J. C. Ewart, W.
Rathbone, H. Hamby, G. H. Lawrence, Theodore Rath-
bone, Romilly, Crosthwaite, W. Earle, R. Gladstone,
Grant, Aikin, Evans, Bolton, Nicol, J. Steward, Chal-
loner, J. Cropper. . .

The proceedings commenced with Mr. Wybergh, Clerk
to the Magistrates, reading the report of the Finance
Committee of the Council, a copy of which was ordered
by the Council to be sent to the magistrates. _

tThe report (the substance of which has already appeared
in the newspapers) was an answer to the magistrates
report, charging interference on the part of certain Coun-
cillors, and also complaining of the system pursued by the
Finance Committee with reference to the licenses of
marine-store dealers. The report of the Council was in
effect a denial of the charges imputed by the magistrates.]
The report having been read,
Mr. MANSFIELD, stipendiary magistrate, rose, and,
after some remarks, said that with the view of putting an
end to the personal conflict which seemed impending be-
tween the Town Council and the bench on this question,
he had a series of'resolutions to propose. The first reso-
lution which he had to propose was—
" That it does not appear to thisbench that, according to the
rules connected with the granting of licenses to marine-store
dealers, any licenses have been improperly granted by the
Finance Committee of the Council."
It might be a question whether the rules upon which the
Finance Committee acted were good ones, but it appeared
to him (Mr. M.) that in the licenses they had granted the
committee had adhered to those rules. Those rules had
been agreed upon by the Finance Committee, and they
were the proper parties to say whether they should be
altered or not, and until they were altered no blame could
attach to the Finance Committee. He therefore hoped
there would be no objection to pass the resolution which
had been proposed.
Mr. HORNBy defended the course which the Finance
Committee had pursued with regard to these licenses
since he had been chairman of the committee. He be-
lieved that there was not a single instance where a license
had been granted which ligd been reported attainst by the
police. With regard to any improvement that might be
made in the system at present adopted, he was sure the
Finance Committee would be quite ready to adopt any
alteration which might be deemed advisable.
Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE said, that having been chairman
of the Finance Committee during a portion of the time
referred to, he considered that his conduct had been some-
what impugned by the course which the magistrates had
thought fit to pursue. The speaker then proceeded to
defend the system pursued by the Finance Committee of
the Council, in granting marine store-dealers licenses.
There might have been some mistakes made ; but that
was almost unavoidable. Referring to the course adopted
during the time he was chairman of the committee, Mr.
Lawrence said that it was all very well to listen and im-
plicitly act upon the reports of police officers • but he
contended that it would have been unwise to be guided
altogether by such reports. No doubt the reports of the
officers were to a certain extent true, and represented the
real facts of the case • but was it reasonable that, because
a poor man, who might apply for a license, lived in a cer-
tain locality which was suspected by the police, his appli-
cation for a license should be refused ? It was impossible
in fairness to refuse licenses upon such grounds as these,
because, by so doing, they would absolutely be debarring
many deserving persons from obtaining a livelihood.

Mr. EARLE-:-What, an honest one
Mr. LAWRENCE—Yes, an honest one. They would
have distressed hundreds of persons had they refused such
applications, whereas now, in consequence of the licenses
being granted, they were honest and respectable members
of society. Look how few of the licenses granted by the
Finance Committee had been misapplied or abused. He
quite agreed with the report drawn up by the Town-clerk,
in answer to the magistrates, and he grieved to ace the
hostile attitude which the bench had assumed towards the
Council. He had himself no longer any connexion with
the Council, nor did he regret that his connexion with it
had ceased, but he thought that the course which the
Council had pursued with regard to the granting of these
licenses was the correct one, and he therefore could not
approve of what had been done by the bench. The ma-
gistrates ought to do all they could to strengthen the
hands of the Town Council—not make an attempt to de-
prive them of power. He did not hesitate to say that the
power of granting licenses could not be in better hands
than in those of the Town Council, and he thought there
ought not to he any change whatever. There had been
no abuse hitherto of the powers which the Council pos-

here w

ing to

change suggested by the magistrates .
In answer to an observation by Mr.
LAWRENCE said that during the time 1

report.
Eyre E

of the committee he never recollecieFa;ingTin;t
which a member of the Council had solicited on b,
an applicant for a license.

airman

The MAYon said that, for the sake of formality,
nsfield's motion had better be seconded, on which

Mr. STE

km. seconded the Inc

Mr. W. ItATHBONE observed that, from the report
which had just been read, it appeared that a document of
considerable importance was found amongst the Town-
clerk's papers long after the report was settled. He
should like some information about that, because it
showed great irregularity in the Town-hall.
Mr. BOLTON said that, from what had been read, it
appeared that no license could be granted but by the
Council.
Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE : The Finance Committee have
no power of themselves.
Mr. W. EARLE was surprised to hear the remarks made
by Mr. Lawrence respecting the granting of licenses to
marine store-dealers, when—
[ln the confusion which prevailed, our reporter was
unable to catch the conclusion of Mr. Earle's remarks.]
The MAYOR was about to put Mr. Mansfield's resolu-
tion to the vote, when
Mr. AIKEN rose, and said he thought Mr. Mansfield
should withdraw his resolution, and allow a discussion,
before any resolution at all was proposed, because he was
of opinion that the resolution would hinge on the dis-
cussion which he trusted would take place. He thought
that in the resolution Mr. Mansfield was taking upon
himself, and asking the magistrates to take upon them-
selves, much more than they ought to do. He held that
it would make them go a great deal further than they
were called upon. He did not say that the Finance
Committee had been guilty of a breach of propriety in
granting these licenses ; he thought they had only done
what they conceived to be their duty, but for the magi-
strates to say that no license had been improperly granted,
was going a very great way indeed. He had some
remarks to make himself upon the question, and no doubt
other gentlemen would do the same, and on those remarks
some resolution might be grounded. He, therefore,
hoped Mr. Mansfield would see the propriety of agreeing
with his suggestion.

Mr. W. rCATEIBONE thought Mr. Hornby had placed
himself in a false position by the remarks which he had
thought ,fit to make in the council chamber respecting the
report of the magistrates, when he had thought it neces-
sary to vindicate himself and the Council from a charge,
which, he said, had been made against the members of the
Council. After stating that the magistrates had no wish
to cast any reflection on the Council, Mr. Rathbone said
that Mr. Hornby had placed himself in the position of a
criminal, and afterwards thought he could place himself in
the position of judge of the magistrates. He put it to any
one whether Mr. Hornby ought not to have considered well
before he passed such a condemnation on the bench, as he
had done in the Council chamber. Referring to the state-
ments of Kehoe, Mr. Hornby had talked about guarded
evidence. What more guarded evidence could the magis-
trates have than that of Kehoe, who had been 13 years in
the police force without any charge having been brought
against him ? After repudiating, on the part of the bench,
any personal feeling against the council, the speaker said
he could not agree with Mr. Hornby and Mr. Lawrence
when they said that the granting of licenses to marine-
store dealers was as safe in the hands of the Council as
.in the bands of the bench. He did not think that there
could be the same impartiality in a representative body
like the council as there was in the bench ; and he felt
that it would be a melancholy day indeed for this country
if local government, whether as regardeJ our police or our
magistracy, should ever be subject to the influence of any
representative body whatever. It had always been said
that in the administration of justice the mtuistraev of tl

country was altogether independent, and he trusted it
would long remain so. He concluded by saying that the
system which had been pursued ought to be thoroughly
investigated, with a view of placing it upon a better foot-
ing than at present existed.
Mr. W. EARLE could confirm a great deal that had
been said by Mr. Rathbone. With regard to the report
which had been read, it did not pretend to answer many
points which were alluded to in the magistrates' report.
The truth was, a great deal too much labour had evidently
been bestowed on it, and so much was said in it that it
clearly showed the Town•clerk had not been able to answer
the magistrates. One of the most important documents
forwarded from the magistrates to the Council had never,
it seemed, reached the Town-clerk's hands. He alluded
to a report which, some years ago, was called for by Mr.
Dowling respecting one of the marine store dealers.
A MAGISTRATE, whose name we did not learn, said it
had ultimately reached the Town-clerk.
Mr. EARLE.—WeII, it had never reached his head. ;..r
his heart either—(laughter)—although it did reach ills
subordinate in office.

Mr. Aircnsr again rose, and, addressing himself rather
pointedly to Mr. Mansfield, said that that gentleman must
know from his own daily experience that a great number
of improper characters obtained marine-store licences,
and therefore to ask the bench to say that no improper
licences bad been granted was asking the bench to place
itself in a false position.

Mr. MANSFIELD.—I am willing to add " from im-
proper motivee."

. .
Mr. AIKIN.—If Mr. Mansfield would allow the dis-
cussion to proceed, he would see that they would be able
to concoct a suitable resolution. Mr. Aikin defended
the magistrates in accepting the statements of Kehoe,
and founding their report upcn those statements. He
did not see that the magistrates were bound to have
before them the statements of the different members of
the Council charged by Kehoe, as had been alleged . A
great deal had been said about the magistrates' report
being published before the accused parties were heard.
Mr. LAWRENCE.—Why did you not send for the Town_
clerk ?
Mr. AIKIN, in continuation, complained that 3,1 r.
Hornby, who voted for the admission of reporters at the
magistrates' meeting when the report was read, should
have found fault with the magistrates in the Council
Chamber and before the Finance Committee, for making
the matter public before the accused parties had an oppor-
tunity of answering the charges. With the exception of
Mr. Mellor, every magistrate voted for the admission.of
reporters, Mr. Hornby included, and his condemnation
of the bench afterwards for making it public was not right.
He (Mr. A.) would not now go into the question whether
it was proper to call in the reporter: on that occa:ioa, nor

would he go into the question whether it was not thei
duty to transact all their business in the eye of the
public. He thought the occasions were very few in which
all their proceedings ought not to take place in the eye of
the public. (" Hear" from Mr. Earle.) He concluded

by expressing his opinion that they might adopt a better
resolution than the one proposed by_M

Mr. Romill

to read a resolution

prepared