The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1836-07-15 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD

principal clauses were agreed to, in spite of all the oppo-
sition that Mr. WAKLEY could offer to some of them.
Ministers, as we have already stated, are anxious to
wind up the session ; but the cheap political knowledge
people must be first conciliated. This bill will be pushed

through without delay. And by the first of August, we
understand, the news-stamp will be reduced to one pen-
ny ; and the duty on paper is also to be lowered, to take
effect on the 10th of October.

Mr. Superficial•knowledge SPRING RICE declares that
he is determined to put down the unstanaped press. He
i? quite right when he says that justice to the proprie-
tors of the stamped journals calls upon him to remove a
burthen from their shoulders which the contraband dealer
avoids by violating the law. But if he supposes that the
reduction of the duty will put down the unstamped or
raise the character of the newspaper press generally, he
woefully deceives himself and shuts his eyes to the light.

So far as we are concerned, however, we have no rea-
son to reason to regret the proposed change. We are
persuaded that the conservative press will acquire
strength through it; but some of the bawlers for " cheap
knowledge" will find that they have burnt their fingers.
We look forward with horror to the fate of our venerable
compeer the Mercury. The penny luminaries will out-
shine him ; and our friend of the Albion is fated to clip
anecdotes, love verses, and pretty stories out of the lite-
rary periodicals in vain, for the halfpenny caterers for old
ladies will step in and put his nose out of joint, and dry
up the source of his great literary reputation.
Yet this is no affair of our's—it is a matter that must
be arranged between Mr. SUPERFICIAL KNOWLEDGE
• SPRING RICE and his admirers—a race of animals with
which, thanks to our stars, we have no right to claim
affinity.

O'CoNNELL has sent forth another epistle in aid of his

agitating scheme; it is addressed " to the Members of
the National Association of Ireland," and was read at a
meeting of the said " national association", in Dublin,

on Saturday, Mr. COPPINGER in the chair, and Mr.
M'Carthy, JACK LAWLESS, Mr. BARRETT, and other
equally eminent pc.triots, in attendance to play minor
parts to the Bully-in-Chief, who promises to be in Dub-
lin, " as soon as the cause of the soreness of his heart
will permit." What this may haPpen to mean we do not
profess to understand. Perhaps the less such a man is
understood, the better for all parties.

The address is altogether the most wretched fustian
we ever saw in print. The fellow acts the hypocrite and
liar, however, to admiration. He says—

" I never despaired in the worst of times : I know my countrymen
too well now to doubt of success. We hare with us many and pow-

erful allies—holy allies, not in name, but in nature.
"I. We have the revered name of the King with us. Read his
opening speech to his Parliament.
" 2. We have with us the King's Government, forbidding us to

despair.
" 3. We have with us the government of Lord Nlulgrave in Ireland,
dispensing all of justice that is within his reach, and bidding us to
confide and to hope.
" 4. We have with us the reformed corporations of England, and
the intelligent and patriotic inhabitants of the great towns and cities.
" 5. We have with us the wealth, intellectual power, patriotism,
and energy of this great metropolis. The corporation of London and
the inhabitants of Westminster, Southwark, Lambeth, Finsbury, the
Tower Hamlets, and Marylebone, with their representatives, save one,
are strenuously, actively, our friends.
" 6. The intelligent, patriotic, brave, and ever-unconquered people
of Scotland, are with us. . .

" 7. The House of Commons, with a daily-increasing majority, are
with us—a majority of about one-sixth of the entire representatives

of the people are with us.
" Compare the state of affairs when the Catholic Association was
formed with your present prospects, and see how glorious and un-
erring is the hope of success—if, Irishmen—if you are true to your.
selves.

" • Hereditary bondsmen, know ye not,
" ' Who would be free themselves must strike the blow ?'
The "revered name of the King !" The traitor would
pull the crown from the king's head, if he had the power.
His praise of the government—of " Lord NIEL-
BOURNE, in England—Lord MULGRAVE, in Ireland,"
is natural ; they are his creatures, and by them he does
his work of sedition.
It is a melancholy truth that he may boast of having on
his side some of the " reformed corporations of England."
We suppose that he had Liverpool in his eye when he
penned his fourth proposition ; but we had thought that
when he was last among us he saw enough to convince
him that "the intelligent and patriotic inhabitants" as
utterly despise him as they despise the ruling faction at
present in the " reformed corporation".i His assertion
that he has " the wealth, intellectual power, patriotism,
and energy, of the metropolis" at his beck, is as false as
his boast that "the House of Commons, with a daily in-
creasing majority," is with him. The last majority on
the appropriation clause, as our readers know, was 13
less than the preceding ; and a majority of 13 English
members voted against ministers!
He thus concludes :
" But why should I enter into details already familiar ? We
were true to ourselves, and therefore we succeeded.
" Mark, I pray you, how we succeeded—without a crime or an
offence—without a sin or a stain—without injustice to any man to
the extent of ls.—without, blessed be God ! one single drop of blood.
" Whatever was done once can be done again. Irishmen—Pro-
testants, Catholics, Presbyterians, Dissenters, rally, rally for Ireland
and liberty !
" Always remember our three great objects-1. To preserve and
support the King's Government—Lord Melbourne in England—Lord
Mulgrave, honoured name, in Ireland.
"2. To preserve, as far as we can, peace, good order, freedom
from agrarian disturbances, and from crime of every description, in-
violation of the law, no breach of morality.
" 3. To procure a satisfactory settlement of the tithe question—a
satisfactory, because a full participation, with Scotland and England
in municipal reform.
"Let our Association be single and independent of any other, re-
specting all unions and societies that struggle in any way in the same
sacred cause, but amalgamating with none of them. Let our Asso-
elation be felt and understood all over Ireland.
Place it upon the basis of the`Justice-rent for Ireland.' That I
may practise as well as preach, I send my " justice-rent for Ireland'
for myself, my family, and descendants for the year 1836.
" Meet weekly; digest in committees every point upon which
honest men may differ. Let every man be disposed to yield to others
equally honest with himself every thing but principle. Harmony,
union, exertion, perpetual unremitting exertion."
The true interpretation of which is, support the mi-

nisters, for they are my tools; subscribe your money,
for I expect to use it for my own especial benefit.
He subjoins his own " justice rent," and parades the
names of twenty-six branches of his family, and appends
to their names sums amounting in all to 1:3. This is
all be can afford as a "justice rent" out of the <£20,000
a-vear that he wrings from the half-starved poor as the
price of his execrable labours.•

• We cannot resist the temptation of reprinting his list ; it throws
an air of ridicule over the whole affair, and proves that the incendiary,
like the tiger, is playing with his victims.
'• JUSTICE-RENT FOR IRELAND" FOR 1836.

- - -
Daniel O'Connell, M. P £5 0 0
Mrs. O'Connell 2 0 0
Maurice O'Connell, M. P 2 0 0
Mrs. M. O'Connell 1 ti 0
Fanny O'Connell 1 0 0
Mary O'Connell 1 0
Christopher Fitzsimon, M. P •.. . 2 0 0
Mrs. Fitzsimor 1 0 0
Mary O'Connell Fitzsimon 1 0 0
Daniel O'Connell Fitzsimon 1 0 0
Christopher O'Connell Fitzsimon 1 0 0
Thomas O'Connell Fitzsunon
Henry O'Connell Fitzsimon 1 0 0
Charles O'Connell
Mrs. O'Connell 1 0 0
Mary O'Connell... •
Teresa O'Connell 1 0 0
Kate O'Connell 1 0 0
N. J. French 2 0 0
Mrs. French 1 0 0
Daniel O'Connell French 1 0 0
Harriet O'Connell French
Mary O'Connell French 1 0 0
Morgan O'Connell. M. P 2 0 0
John O'Connell, M. P 2 0 0
Daniel O'Connell, junior 2 0 0

At present we will do nothing more than beg the pa-
tient and serious attention of our readers to the admira-
ble addresses delivered on Wednesday in the Amphi-
theatre. Long as they are, they will most amply repay
the time spent in perusing them. We shall probably
notice their contents in detail on Tuesday.

The iron ore trade at Whitehaven is in a state of greater ac-
tivity at this time than for many months past. Immense quan-
pany in South
Ntivt iaelSe
sa;r ea
dh i i‘rvriitehdi
iwoeheek
sfto r tfe‘le
‘i.dPlym
outhh
eCrofTu e
vein of ore
has been discovered at the company's works, near Whitehaven.
at a depth of 115 feet below the surface, under a bed of stone
about 'Pt feet thick. The quality of the ore in the new vein is
not inferior to that found nearer clay, and which is generally
i
admitted to be the richest metal n the kingdom.
named Vial, who was a desperate lover of
WHlsT.—Mrs. Bray relates the following of a Devonshire
in the midst of a deal, the doctor fell off
physician, hapoilv
whist. One evening,
his chair in a fit. Consternation seized on the company. Was
he alive or dead ? What was to be done ? All help was given
—hartshorn was poured almost down his• throat by one kind
female friend, whilst another feelingly singed the end of his
nose with burning feathers ; all were in the breathless agony of
suspense for his safety. At length he showed signs of life, and,
retaining the last fond idea which had possessed him at the mo-
ment he fell into the fit, to the joy of the whole company, ex-
claimed, " What is trumps ?"—:Mirror.

TOWN COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS.

COMPENSATION TO THE LATE TOWN CLERK ON LIVERPOOL.
On Wednesday a meeting of the town council was held, fur
the purpose of receiving the report of the committee appointed
last .January, to consider the claim for compensation made by
Mr. Foster, the late town-clerk. There was a pretty numerous
attendance.
The Town-clerk, Mr. RA pc LIFFE, at the request of the Mayor,
read an agreement which had been entered into between the
Town-clerk (Mr. Radcliffe) and Mr. J. B. Lloyd, (the late town-
clerk's partner,) and confirmed subsequently by Mr. Foster in
a letter to Mr. Lloyd.
The agreement and letter are as follow:
" It is without prejudice to the rights of either party, Mr.
Foster or the council, and upon the perfect understanding that
this arrangement shall not be used by either party, for any pur-
pose whatsoever, unless the same shall be confirmed by the
council, agreed between the undersigned John Buck Lloyd and
Richard Radcliffe. as follows:
" By Mr. Lloyd, that he undertakes that Mr. Foster shallf
by Tuesday evening next, confirm the undermentioned terms o
compensation ; and by Mr. Radcliffe, that he undertakes that
the consolidated committee of the council on the duties and'
emoluments of town-clerk, &c. will, on such confirmation, re-
commend to the council such terms of compensation; which
terms of compensation are—
" First,—That Mr. Foster shall have, in satisfaction of his
claim for compensation, the bond of the mayor, aldermen, and
burgesses of the borough, for an annuity of Two Thousand Five
Hundred Pounds, payable half-yearly during his life, and com-
mencing from the Ist day of January last.
" Secondly,—That Mr. Foster shall pay to the said corpora-
tion, or allow against the first payment of the said annuity,
two-thirds of the fees received by him whilst acting as clerk of
the peace since the Ist day of January last.
" Thirdly,—That this arrangement shall be in full of all
claims and demands between the parties, save as to any de-
mand which Mr. Foster may have for professional business in
the time of the late council remaining unpaid to him.
RD. RADCLIFFE.
" JOHN B. LLOYD.
" Town-hall, 9th July, 1836.

" London. 11th July, 1836.
" I have duly received your letter of the 9th instant, inform-
ing me of the offer made to you on that day by the town-clerk
of the grant of an annuity to me of £2,500 for my life, in satis-
faction of my claim for compensation under the municipal
corporations act, in consequence of my removal on the Ist Jan.
last from the several offices of profit I then held for my life
under the corporation of Liverpool.
" In agreeing to accept this proposal, and in fully confirming
what you have done on my behalf, as stated in your letter, c,
of course conclude that it is understood by the committee who
instructthe town-clerk, that if the proposed arrangements be
not fully adopted by the town council at their meeting on Wed-
nesday next, every thing that has passed upon the subject by
way of negociation shall be considered without prejudice to
either party, and that I shall nut be in any respect compro-
mised or affected as to any ulterior proceedings by this acqui-
escence. I wish also to state that ram entirely led to agree to
this proposition from an anxious desire for the amicable settle-
ment of a question in which I am so personally concerned, and
likewise that in so doing I consider I am voluntarily relinquish-
ing a legal claim to more than £l,OOO per annum, according
to the terms of the treasury minute, upon the lowest estimate of
the profits of the offices held by my predecessor and myself, and
this not upon an average of the profits of the last five years
only, but upon the well known and acknowledged emoluments

for many preceding years.
" On accepting an amount of compensation so much below
the amount claimed, I feel it due to myself to make this state-
ment, as it might otherwise be inferred that I was conscious the
claim could not be supported as delivered; whilst on the other
hand, having always declared my readiness to meet the town
council liberally on the settlement of my claim, I trust my
acquiescence in their proposal to you will prove that I have
fulfilled that determination.
(Signed) " THOMAS FOSTER."
As soon as the town-clerk had sat down,
Mr. RATHBONE rose to move that the report of the com-
mittee appointed to inquire into Mr. Foster's claim, be adopt-
ed and confirmed. He said he must beg the indulgence of the
council in requesting that the report of the committee, which
he had just moved the adoption of, might not he read aloud in
that meeting, or go in any shape before the public. They must
be aware that there were details in that rapco t which would, if
known, give the other side an advantage which it was desirable
they should not have. He felt assured the council had full con-
fidence in every member of the committee on Mr. Foster's
claim, and therefore, it would be unnecessary to add more to
induce them to support the proposition.
Mr. JOHN CHOPPER seconded the motion.
Mr. SHELL thought they were entitled to some explanation
before they so summarily gave away so large a sum of money as
£2,500 a-year. Such a claim ought not to he settled without
very mature and anxious consideration. They ought to recol-
lect that they were sent into that council as well to protect as
promote the interests of their constituents, and it was only fair
that the public should be made acquainted with the reasons why
Mr. Foster's claim was granted, as well as a select committee
of that council. That committee was composed of men, no
doobt, upon whom erfect reliance could be placed, but then
the people ought to know as well as they did the motives from
which such an immense sum was about to be thrown away. He
confessed that he had as yet heard no satisfactory answer from
Mr. Rathbone why the contents of the report should not be read
aloud. Besides, the decision on this claim would rest with the
treasury, and he did not think they could go beyond the sum
negociated for.
Mr. RATHBONE said it was not the treasury, but the Lords
of the Privy Council, with whom the decision rested, and it was
easy to perceive what would have been their situation in the
hands of such a body constituted as it was.
Mr. SHELL interrupted Mr. Rathbone. He was still of
opinion, with deference to Mr. Rathbone, that it was the trea-
sury, for the confirmation of which he appealed to the Town-
clerk.

The TOWN-CLERK said the decision was with the treasury
Mr. RATHBONE said that the claim had been taken into con
sideration by the Lords of the Treasury, from whom they need
not expect much favour, and it had afterwards been well consi-
dered by the committee. All he asked fur that day was the
confidence of the council, that they would take the determina-
tion of the committee for granted as the best which, under all
circumstances, could be come to, and which, he had great
pleasure in saying, was a unanimous one, viz., that Mr. Foster
should have the sum named, £2,500 a-year. He was aware it
was a great deal of money, and it was with the greatest reluc-
tance that the committee had conceded it.
Mr. CoGt AN was not at all desirous to call in question either
the integrity or judgment of the committee in considering the
question before them. He did not suppose but in their opinion
the decision they had come to was a just one, but it was due to
the public, before the council sanctioned their recommendation,
that they (the public) should be furnished with a full explana-
tion, otherwise it could not be said that the council had done
their duty to that public. The demand was so monstrously ex-
travagant, and so excessively unjust, that the onus of its pay-
ment should not he placed upon the shoulders of the council or
upon any members of it, but upon those of other parties—upon
the Lords of the Treasury. He knew it was said to be the price
of the bill, but he was sure that the framers of that bill could
never have contemplated that so large a sum as £77,000 would
have been demanded by one individual, or they would never
have suffered the clause to stand. He knew that it was said
that compensations were wise, just, and politic, but they were
not so when they were granted where no services had been per-
formed. I'o officers of the army and navy, who were liable to
be called upon at all times on the most harrassing and hazardous
services, half-pay or pension, or some system of the same sort was
but an adequate remuneration. But he knew of no services of any
kind in this instance which had been rendered. It was because the
in lividual was apolitical partizan, and had thus been able to swell
out his accounts, that he had come into this position, and they were
to give him for a number of years a sum of money that would cramp
their future exertions. Ifthe claims ofcharity at some future period
were demanded they could not be met, and why ? hy, because
the enormous sum of £2500 was given to Mr. Foster. They
would have to be told—that Mr. Foster's carriage stops the way.,
Their hands would be tied up, and if they had to lay on a borough
rate, that circumstance might be referred to Mr. Foster's coin-
pensation. It was said that Mr. Foster had sacrificed a business
—vet he had a partner all the time who carried on the business
for him, and he had also realised considerable emolument in
the £21,000 which he received for his three years' services as
town-clerk. He had paid £7OO per annum to his clerks, and
said he was heartily tired of his office, and now he came forward
to claim this enormous sum. He was not entitled to one penny.
The Lords of the Treasury would see the matter in its right
light. They would ask him why, when his predecessor got only
between £lOOO and £5OOO per annum, he had £7OOO or £8000?
Because he was employed in opposing the liberty of the people,
and bolstering up a system of oppression. Until he (Mr. Cog-
lan) had better information, he would not vote for the granting
of so large a sum.
The MAYOR said they had, in the first instance, the full in-
tention of reading the minutes. He thought, in all cases, that
it was proper the subjects brought before them should undergo
the fullest investigation. But this was a matter of so delicate a
nature, that they felt called upon in this instance, to deviate
from the usual practice. He (the Mayor) was so perfectly in-
clined to put confidence in the committee, was so willing to be-
lieve that they sifted the matter even to the utmost farthing,
that he was altogethet willing to acquiesce in their wishes. He
felt certain of their unwearied diligence and sound discretion.
This payment was a very disagreeable thing, but it was a claim.
made under an act of parliament, and they must abide by it.
Mr. SHELL said, that if, according to Mr. Rathbone's view,
they first adopted and confirmed the report and then proceeded
to the investigation, it would. be worse than doing nothing.
This would be a backward way of doing
.business—an Irish
mode of proceeding, which,. however it ought become him, he
' would not recommend to the council, for it would'be an act of
the most complete supererogation. How could gentlemen who
did not know that the decision was with the,treasury, have come
to a right conclusion on this important subject ?
Mr. RATHBONR hoped that his ignorance would not be made
to attach to all the meinbey of the committee, and
Mr. Al IN said every other member of the committee had pro-
ceeded with the knowledge that the decision was with the
treasury.
mr. SHELL resumed.—He did not think the matter had been
sifted with that care that the protection of the public money de-
manded. He at least had not heard enough to induce him to
vote for handing over £2500 of the public money to Mr. Foster.
Mr. BIRCH said he was a member of the committee. On the
subject of the compromise, the committee was unanimous; but
with respect to the reading of the Minutes, they were not so.
lie had not thought that it was fair to call upon the council
without giving them the necessary light to guide them, and he
was satisfied that if the minutes were read, the council would
at once acquiesce.
Mr. RA THRONE suggested the propriety of having the treasury
minute read aloud. The meetiug would then see how the com-
mittee had been situated with regard to the claim. The minute
was accordingly read over by the town-clerk.
Mr. BROWN said he thought it useless Tor the council to come
to any determination as to the reading of the report, as it had
not yet been ascertained whether ur not Mr. Foster would
accept the sum which the committee offered.
It was here explained to Mr. Brown, who was not present at
the opening of the proceedings, that Mr. Foster had agreed to
take the sum mentioned.
Mr. BaowN resumed.—Then he thought the council ought at
once to confirm the repot t without requiring to be put into pos-
session of any of its details. If by any means the question
should be again opened, Mr. Foster would probably compel
them to pay a much a larger sum than they now proposed to
give him.
Mr. BLACKBURN said this was not a principle of abstract jus-
tice; it was a claim which an act of parliament directed them
to make good. He thought the best thing which they could do
would be to confirm the report.
Mr. HOPE said that, as the question was a highly important
one, he thought the) ought to be made acquainted iu some
measure with the grounds on which the committee had come to
their present decision. He had a suggestion to make %%filch he
thought would at once remove the difficulty. 'this was, that
the reporters should be directed to retire. He had.made a few
calculations which bore upon the subject, and he would go a
little further if his suggestions were acted upon.
Mr. B LACKBURN was sorr) that the subject had been driven