The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1833-11-15 00:00:00

POLAR EXPEDITIONS.

(Written expressly for the Liverpool Standard.)
The first Northern Expedition of. Captain Ross and his gal-
lant companions was a wonderful proof of
.the bold daring of
human nature; a handful of British sailors, accompanied by
a few scientific associates, devoted themselves, for fame, to
the dangers of exploring a part of the globe closed against the
approach of all previous navigators by the icy barriers of the
friged zone. What assurance has this little band of heroes—
thus braving Winter on his very throne—based.es it is by a vast
platform of eternal ice, carpeted with everlasting snow—that
the secret of the pole was not guarded by Providence? That
phenomena,' unknown before, might not forbid man to ap-
proach that point of the sphere, and live? That intensity of
frost would not search out the imperceptible moisture in the
ery timbers of their vessels, and rive .them into shreds? .That
the human body would not-congeal to its vitals, in spite of all
the protection they could-afford to it? In short, that cold
would not be found to possess, in its polar strength, some qua-
lity capable of frustrating' all their calculations, and destroying
even life itself within a few hours.*
How difficult awes for us, at home, to avoid being contincally
and powerfully drawn to take a comparative view of their .state
and ours, as we ruminated on what was passing in various parts
of the world. Who could help admiring the stern resolution
which could calmly place itself in such a situation ? Who could
help thinking of the awful void which awaited their brave coun-
trymen after the sun had shown his face for the last time for
the season, and of their struggles to suppress the feeling of for-.
loin despair ? Row often did we picture them confined to two
Solitary bulk heads, on which the light of the bright orb of day
would not strike for months to come; as separated from every
other thing that had life
.by leagues of solid ice; ignorant of
what was passing in the inhabited world, and environed by a
degree of cold to which the inclemency of our own winter would
be as a summer's day, and in which even the brutes of the re-
'gion could not abide.
But reflecting. upon the interesting events likely to result to
science, our minds dwelt upon a subject, if possible, of still
higher interest. The passage of the pole, from which the north-
ern coasts of Europe, Asia, and America.would bear south of the
navigator—himself then left without anything which could pos...
sibly assist him in determining his course, but a correct know-
ledge of the time, and yet no means of ascertaining that time
afforded him—all his ideas respecting the heavens and the
reckoning of his time reversed—the change not gradual, as in
proceeding from the east to the west or the contrary, but in-
stantaneousthe magnetic needle. pointing to its then unknown
pole, or flying round from the point of the bowl in which it was
suspended—that which indicated north becomingsuuth—the east
being then the west, and the hour of noon that of midnight; were
circumstances and problems calculated to excite in our minds
speeulations at once the most interesting and important.
Feelings and reflections such as these naturally rendered the
first polar expedition, under the command of Captain Ross, one,.
of the most interesting that ever occurred. However short.ol
our expectations, in a scientific point of view, might have beet'
the results of that expedition, happily it proved that it was
possible for man to live, amidst the utmost rigour of the polar
December; and the friends of those who engaged in the second
enterprise had, comparatively speaking, scarcely any room
for apprehension on their account. They could, begin
feel that time was even something snug in the •condition
of the adventurers. We could think of them as well houses
in; picture to ourselves the delight attendant on the reading of
a new number of the North Georgia Gazette; enter into the bus-
tle of preparation for the play; see the grim scenic walrus.
hemmed in by his assailants, his canvas sides panting in shorter
and quicker heaves, until one tremendous groan proclaimed him
dead; view the mimic ship make her way through floes and ice-
bergs, and hear the shout with which her finatemancipation was
greeted. The name of a north-west passage at length became
"familiar as household words," and the yague and erroneoul
notions we had contracted of the polar regions and arctic cli-
mate, were defined and corrected in a series of expeditions pro;
jetted by the national zeal for discovery.
If, therefore the second expedition of Captain Ross excited
a less degree of generaribtereat, it May be accounted for in the
extended knowledge which he and -subsequent navigatora
already had imparted, and our familiarity with its attendant
perils. And if, in the literary and scientific world, the result of
his first voyage tended to damp the expectation or important
discoveries in his second, now, indeed, has this brave and en-
terprising' man not only amply satisfied his country, but bas
drawn upon himself the Well-deserved applause of the whole
civilized world. - In placing the illustrious name of King
William the Foarth on the true position of the magnetic pole,
he has acquired for himself an imperishable and a lasting re-
nown.

Most cordially do we repeat our congratulations on his suc-
cess; nor let him and his brave associates for a moment sal)-
pose, that, while barred by the hand of nature in the frozeo
main, the deepest interest for their safety, heightened, as it na-
turally was, by the delay of all intelligence of them for so long
a time—ever ceased to animate the bosoms of their anxious
friends and countrymen in England. Since the eipedilion
despatched for their relief, under the command of Captain Back,
one of the most frequent and heartfelt toasts at all social meet-
ings in this town was, "The safe return,-to their native shores,
of Captain Ross and his brave companions."—But see!
On winter comes*the cruel North
Pours his furious Whirlwind forth •
Before him—and we breath the breath
Of famish'd bears that howl to death.
Onward he comes from rocks that blanch
O'er solid streams that never flow ;
his tears all ice ; his locks all snow—
Just crept from some huge avalanche.
Oh! breathe thou gently, old Winter, on the dauntless sons of
a land which alone acknowledges thy dominion, who, ignormq
of their deliverance, still seek the brave sailors emancipaten
from thy icy fetters. Alas! and Wave we, in this age of in':
prevement, no invention by means of which *e could impar'
to these generous tars the unutterable joy of the adventurer,
whom they seek, welcomed at' home by their delighted friends,
and repaid for all -their trials by complete and final success•
Spirit of Fortunatus ! where is thv once famed cap?
the recent discoveries of Captain Ross tend to the formation
of more conclusive opinions than have hitherto been expressed.
and will probably terminate all further attempts in search, °a
the north-west passage. Still, however, at the present pert%
.of discussion, it may be desirable to consider how far, in Roin
of fact, the question of a passage from the Northern Atlantic t°
the Pacide is actually solved. With this view, and for the sail
of affording other-inform4tion preparatory to the appearance °`
Captain Ross's forthcoming publication, we propose a hasty
glance at the history ofpolar expeditions to point out briefly
what former navigators have done,and to show the progress made
by our recent expeditions, especially the last; leaving it to oto
readers to decide what, if any thing, still remains to be don
e
for the accomplishment of the contemplated object.
In our next, or its following paper, we propose to supply thig
epitome of polar navigation.

• Count Segur's narrative of the retreat of Napoleon from 11i6.s.c°sc
forbids us for a moment to doubt of the possibility of such an evo,'",
As a further proof of the effects of cold on human life, PontopPi"34li
records the melancholy fate of a corps of about 8,000 Swedes, arrest,
by intense frost, on the high ridge of the TVndal mountain, in Nor;
way, where they were found soon after, .frozen to death—" sonl,
sitting, some lying, and some. in the attitude of,prayer." Polar navo'f
gation has given us so clear an insight into the power and extent
_,_
cc
frost, that we feel little inclined to impeach the veracity of ty
bishop's statement, more especially when we call to our remembran°(
that boiling water poured through a cullender from the main-toP
one of the discovery shißs,fell on the deck in ice, resembling shot-

•
The General Steam Navigation Company's packet the 1-1,3 r;
lequin, from Calais, arrived off the Custom-house on Mond''
at two o'clock, p.m. Also the Company's vessels the llaroonat;
from Rotterdam, the- Lord Melville, from Rotterdam, and th
Queen of the Netherlands, from Boulogne.
Mike Murphy, the successful opponent in the late fie:Wirt
Whetstone, took the death of his antrigonist so muck to•be'li.;
that he never recovered his spirits. He was in a dreadful sPi`,
of prostration when he surrendered to his trial, and,
suffered to go at large without punishment, gradually sunk
der the excitement, and died.--Sunday Paper.
THE RATHCOOLE PEEP. AGE.—A claim to the ancient Peery
age the Viscountcy of Tracy of Rathcoole, which has been psu
nearly 37 years in abeyance, is at present being actively Pr Zile
cuted by a gentleman, a member of a respectable mercanuch
house in this city. Nearly all the preliminary steps in ,s tbe
cases have been complied with, and the opinion of one 0,
he
„
first, if not the very first law officers of the crown taken in 1,,s
matter.—This opinion is decidedly in favour of the clainiao!
right. The possessions attached to this peerage are imirielP'
—Dublin Paper. .
BRITISH FEELII4.—It is a fact illustrative of the stretlr,
feelingS of interest and attachment entertained by Br itsh sl;
jects, in all parts of the world, towards their native land. l;tca
sum of '275 Spanish dollars has been subscribed and re"“wia
to this country by the inhabitants of Singapore, in the llr for,
Ocean, for the relief of the widows and children of the'"'.„. tee
tunate fishermen who perished upwards or a year since, c'LL
coast of Shetland.—Edinbur,gh Advertiser.
a'retw
TUE LATE EDMUND KEAN.—Mr. Kean, it has been
tamed, died intestate, and though it has. been calculated.,"re,
during the 19 years he was before the London public, hr'f his
ceipts amounted to nearly •150,1X10, his affairs at the tinie
death were in such a state that neither Mrs. Kean, his `"`";„is-
or his son, have thought proper to take out letters of ,
tration to his effects. Mr. William Halton, one of the c.;;oa'
tors of the estate, having made an application to the ne.„,tarto
tive Court of Canterbury, for administration to be granvea
him, both the widow and son (the next of kin), were, se„tivg
with a citation, according to the practice of that Court,
them, either to take out administration themselves, or it 'var.
cause why Mr. Halton should not de so. Neither of jest
ties having appeared to this citation, the oroinarV 11 n
granted letters of administration to the creditor, who'has;,,,%e°'
the whole of the effects of poor Kean, within the piev'—
Canterbury, to be under the value of f. 600.

No
vEmßLit 15 1833:

LIVERPOOL CORPORATION INQUIRY.

This „, EIGHTH DAY.—Nov.,I2.
tigatien.ornin
„ g (Tuesday) being the eighth day of the heves-
tered the ``•:e commissioners resumed their sittings. 'they ?li-
the coati 1 Court-house about twenty minutes past ten. Prior to
tate,_nuation of the inquiry.into the affairs of the Dock Es-
at! e 4 gentleman named Troutbeck begged to receive the ear :
to
_ourtesy of the court whilst he made a few remarks relative_
ae`..rePort of the proceedings of that court which had that day
4-rve4ara in
;a newspaper, which, if suffered to'pass without ob. -
usa .st'(:fle might materially tend to injure his character.... It
(lly o'Lel-1 in the report, that he Mr. Troutbeck, had -furnished
hal.eut:titig to
Arftw
In! bill for the article of he,
to the Dock Committee,
£B2 Ils. 4a., Which was stated in the report
.to
quire :,V elfarged 15 per cent, too high. He wished to in-
trees_ . ether the report in the newspapers was taken from what
sei7iree i,
court?
if al; cioannissioner Wilkinson said it most probably was, smi
th"Af• "fr
ctoutbe c ouck hlddu ad anyt further communication to make on
roli,je he se
etude.). roetbeck was sworn, and explained that at. the time
lead,
ant in the report he supplied the Duek Committee withh_
been it was stated that only one bill of £B2 Ils. 4d., had
erhisttul before the audit committee, when, -in fact, every bill
to hi,o'lad been furnished. 'the biil in question had been shown{ •
to 10k c.tl his examiuStion before the committee, which led linn.
cies ' iii his his accounts, and he found that the i.iscrepau-
le aarese from. the miscalculations of weights by his clerks.
Payers amphlet which had been published by the dock rate-
vie and also in the newspapers, he had received the most
Ras slander i
S'ander, which had gone to his
.prejudice, and he
TlLise
,etermined to embrace this opportunity of explaining.
ro
gated we:clerk said that the audit committee had investi-
gated Alr, e
s'routbeck's accounts and had admitted them. e
"'nal' ' ' inquired the mount of overcharge by the
,ssioner a.
clerical errors,
Mr T
..'
8. • routheek replied that he thought about £2O or £3O. .
tee:clGeorge Drinkwater said that, as one of the audit colninite
Wien e was bound to say that that body were perfectly satisfied
Ale
m Corneliusec conduct.
„,,,voerr. Bourne, Solicitor to the Dock Estate,
.being
the n, Said that he was appointed solicitor by a resolution of
the I;•;'enthaittee. The appointment was read ; it took place on
sien ,- et August, 1832, in the room of Mr. Thomas Foster, re-
li'd le,g. Witness was 26 Years of age when appointed. He
"(I his
"a admitted au attorney since Easter, 183 J. His father
• ~. uncle were in the Common Council at the time of his
treetritment _
; they are both aldermen. There were a number
titor°ropetitors for the office. Mr. Thomson, one of the conipe-
eeiv 8, was au old practitioner ; much older than himself. Re-
ek, !is. no fixed salary. The emoluments are derived by•charg-
sernm Dock Estate for professional business as any other at-
the eY would his client. Does the pariiamentary business for
eti estate an the generalroutine of the legal business reqr
• Succeeded- ~.
appoi Mr. 1 homas-Foster. Mr. Foster received 11
done utment abont 1814. There was a great deal of business
Yeste sit
the dock eve_ and' the improvement act alluded toa
tut aY were procured. 'Witness al, acts as clerk to themt e
oek
'nes- Could manage to do the whole of the business of li
of
.__. Estate without the assistance of a clerk. The amount
e, witness's bill last Year was £93, including postages and the
elPense of • -• • ' P lianient. ,There were
-0 oth a notice ot application to ar .
tie, er. emoluments. . Has been twelve months in the eitna-
eete There has been no parliamentary business in the course
Tr Year except the notice alluded to. Finds his own office..
the -1.3 secretary to the Dock Trust said the commissioners ot
4,, _ secretary
Trust were required to be all dock fate-payers to the
ceed)uenli. Of £5l). The commissioners reqUested to see the re-
si ee-e°'. the elections of trustees of the. Estate, which were pro-
was'u-" and ead ; they went to show the mode of electing true-
e whi hawas by the Common Council, a meeting of which
leicalleatiy the Mayor by means of a public advertisement.
I r• Radcliffe inquired whether the £.93 of last year alluded
i:) are the receipts of '.or. Bourne, the solicitor, included the fees
sMercek:,.(l.l as clerk to the magistrates.
.IMr. RaderinitTe—sS7tlVeirY net two documents relating to the
.PrPointutent of Mr.' I3ourenew to the solicitorship of the Dock
et•uuslt which he wished to be put in. One was a protest by six
was
e Dock Committee Keenest his appointment, and the other
a memorial to- the Common Council from the dock rater
Protest praying that body not to confirm the appointment. 1 he
readest dated the 21st orAugust, 1832, and signed bysix of the
° Committee, (the six appointett,by the rate-payers), was
perfect!
It set forth that the capabilities of Mr. Bourne were
seer,:eller unknown to the Committee, and from his y,outh and
talc., se teelinc„
t, in his profession he was not eligible to under-
he LS°_,ioaportant a trust, and that the protesters believed that
they his election more to personal favour than to merit, and
thought that a person filling such a situation should be
Perfect!and
free frO the influence of the Corporatiou. Ihe pro-
anti signed by Alessrs. Myers, Lathom, Brown, Benson,
Mr. A Woodward
d
the A. inquired whether any of those who signed
the were bondholders under the Dock Estate ?
the_ tie Secretary could not answer the question, but. he thought
qr were nee
had 'hos. B. Horsfall remarked, that Mr. Bourne had now
itcl twelvemonths' experience in the office, and he should like to
i,:w whether the fears expressed by the gentlemen who signed
-lit le had been realized ?No answer was returned to the
uiry.
(301% Alderman Lawrence asked how many of the Common
4:leil were resentp et the election of Mr. Bourne ?
.: me Towir-cierksaidthere nine of the Common Coon-
e'l en the e ' • • were , s
The . ommittee, and five rate-paeer . .
Iby number
or d aleirwrial to the Common Council, signet a
etmeek rate-payers, requesting the Common Council not to
'm tm 1 he appointment of Mr. Beet ne, was read.
6,,(r. Radcliffe stated, that the memorial was signed by re-
i ectahi
.\,l e merchants of both sides in politics.
by al T• B. Horsfall said, the memorial was certainly signed
,oti sides, but there were at least nine-tenths on one side.
A:hei resolution of a Common Council, dated Sept. 1832, upon
went receipt of thoue
rne memorial, Was read. It confirmed the appoint-
.
i of Mr. B.
ee'he Town-c:erk stated, that since the act of the 6th George
co , there was not au instance upon record of the Common
see"cii having interfered with the appointment of officers I,?y
-th Delc Committee ; and in section 4 of 6th George IN ~,
neetr,eawas a clause' to" the. effect that' the Cionmon Council
thati
Ape power to annul any appointment of the Dock Comm,ade.e.
ea. '!'• Radcliffe was aware of such fact, but the power ot is-
,stna
The ~. was retained. '' •.- ':" - 'e • - - -
bee -had never
f own-cierk.—No, doubt; but a disposition
w. 11 shown on thepart of the Coineien Connell to interfere
, ith ap . . . ,
.to.,,est pointinente of the Committee f • loin the highest to the
thUr• Alderman Lawrence said there were five candidates for
1‘.5 treasurershi iviz. M• G Mr Braucker, Mr. Withers,
la . 1 1 1. Garner, .
relatives in
h•
the
~, racy, and Mr. Langtou. •Alr. Langton a
get .I.m
te_ 'l3,llnion Council, who had used every influence to
oftdiis_
Ilex,i,nted. He had no wish to say anything in the
way
teen, „anent of Mr. Langton,, as he was a highly respectablei.
teotbut he mentioned to them that patronage to .
_. a certain ex-
f • weuld alwa save it influence. All the candidates had
'lends ou th Committees
lye , e
that the result
ef• 1 I ovvn-clerk informed the commissioners t _
to the memorial alluded to had formed the' round work_o
ineetlin4 of what was termed the dock rate-paecis,.al whichi,
tee, Fie' a petition to the House of Commons was drawn p,
Per•P•ning of the mismanagement of the Dock Estate. That
a :ion was' signed by a number of individuals, and contained
Ittehries
, carbges against the Dock Committee and its manage-
lee." The object of his alluding to the meeting was, that in-
labeY should be made as to the number of actual rate-payers
ii signed that petition.
a e r• Duncan, ill reply, said that the petition emanaterrfeo_m
elt2llernittee of twenty-one rate-payers, and it was signed by
hi3l'..oae of them who were then in town.
not be
eonen4. B. Horsfall said that the signatures could
as theirate-payers
to the committee, as it was signed by the
names,
the • the r Petition. He wished to refer to the number ofnata
to,
the ('- question was whether the signatures were confinede
Nicnltnittee; if not it would be the petition of the ratel y
}.at'iion.
to
.". uncan said he would produce a copy of the pt. i
.I',Zlleiw.
ruitte ruwn-clerk remarked that no member of the Dock Corn
ehe e, Common Councilman., or freeman, were exempt from
re,VYraent of the rates and duties. There were twenty-one
bier 'ers of the Dock Committee, out of whom nineteen were
chants
Mr. e , who paid the dues and rates.
ltlitte 'andbach stated that he was selected as one of the corn-
a„ of the Dock Trustbefore he was a Common Councilman,
titne4.. twhere were others who were also of the committee before
4... ;I'o4 connected with the Corporation.
agadtc,..,l-1 ncan disclaimed any intention of imputing any charges..
tee, re Members of the Common Council individually. 'I he
pai,,P,,aint was that one body was responsible to the parties who
lehlee9.,rates, and the other was not.
Where 1 °,vn-clerk continued.—There is a Dock Police Office,
c., the
i magistrates sit b the 'h it of the acts Geo. Ili.,
al). ell es y au.. or y.
appeit , The clauses of the act of Parliament relative to the
Ihe hruent of officers and establishing the court were read.
Itnttektrisdiction of the magistrates was over offences com-
lo th in the port or iii the docks. Mr. Bourne acts as clerk
are s',!niilgistrates in this office. The fees received by the clerk
was
oucntilar in every respect to fees in other courts. The place
by the an appointment. of the Common Council, but chosen
elated magistrates. Witness, when solicitor to the docks, offi-
act., sucha clerk to the magistrates. For committals tinder this
pens : as for misdemeanours, &c., the clerk has no recom-
4fter holding
is usually charged to townships in other places.
nut a bill office a few years, he (the Town-clerk) made
for
the iell against the Dock Committee, considering them liable
arra xpeuses under the act. In lieu of paying this bill, an
aaiie'llguleut was made by the commissioners with him, by
Lill. 41,?.rieceivet1 the sum of £l5O per annum in lieu of the
of the t)1111 stipend he had -received, but nothing as on. ac •
ee presented. '
eer. 0. B
stipend.
.
The To Bourne.—I now receive the same
authori ‘
vn-clerk.—This is paid out of the Dock Fund, as
Mr. sed by the act.
Dock ?. Bourne.—The fees payable to the solicitor to the
it ret... state amount to about 1.750 per annum. Will furnish
eie „I'. of the number of persons charged ; cannot give those
craee:ivictions. The number of charges passing through the
levied under the dock act, is about 2001) a-year. The finesk
Charit 1)e
, °lac-third to the informer and two thirds to the Doc
The '!„le Fund.
tie,
of
the read the regulation governing the distribiti-.
Buret litte Dock. Charitable Fund. Believed that the fines in tle
the wee Court went, before his time, one half to the informer,
k:stat'eu. r half to a fund of a similar nature to that of the Dock
Resolut.
or ki„ ion of the trustees read, relative to the apportioning
Tl:e‘''.,,easyar to the Dock Solicitor, in lieu of fees.
Pesti F.own-clerk.—There is a Lock-up-house, which has no
~.4,.e.lita na,lne. It has been recently enlarged.
9s. 8:.1
Th'e Wm. 1 e.
It alterations cost the sum of £5507 . •
tion i-: Town-clerk.—Pri ' if under examine-
souers may remain,
exe . ur a day or two in this Lock-up-house. If committed in
cutio
the en of seutence, it is either to the Borough Goal, or to
eeerminty House of Correction. The magistrates attend
hoti,s.dn,Y, at twelve o'clock, and are occupied from one to two.
the be"(l's. aI he magistrates attend in rotation. The property of
are s Committee consist of such docks, basins, mid wharfs, as
bet,el,),79tied in the acts, andsvnessted in them. The trustees have no
it herfieal interest in the proert nor has any other person. It
to the ~11 trust. In the first case}-from the reign of Queen Anne
site Gratin' of George 111. The Common Council gave the ,
autheciS et"e docks. BY the 39th of Geo. 111., the Dock Estate was
bocks --1'
Corpor 1 tO
„'l
t'aV to tfie Corporation such sums of money as the
'm l
i l previously paid for the site then wan for the
rise tbee he built under that act. The subsequent act!authotertsion oeTment for the land wanted for the farther ex-
triode ot.
ac e. docks by the Dock Estate. With respect to the
shoehl hquiring it, in er instance the ac direct that ju-
act. e suminon ito tl 1, • and although the
e -e, with e.assess le va ee,.... . .
0, purea,so . regard to the prOperty of individuais authorise
,t_tases free, tabjcmade by private treaty, yet, iu regard tophrve
clastei'sse'll"t of juriesroration, they are required to be_ dons_,
so-
And the 51st of George 111. lie a
rin. s
t. referred to yest d I • tho-
'e he comaiiss. er ay, t e tlt 1 section), which au
Point a
rime separate solicitor
for auditing the dock accounts to ap-
ea to
assess icitor or agent to act before the juries slim-
e"'' Period to th the value of the Corporation land. And from
st, %Yu the invarieae).assing of the act of the 6th of George IV.
~„heesn.licitor to tle practice to appoint a solicitor who was nots
i h hrst a ) • the Dock Committee to act in those matter
• LI
act i pointment under the act, that of Mr. Joshua Lace,
. runs rent under' 'n• the purpose named, and his second ap-'
the said • act, were then read,

The Town-clerk.—Mr. Lace has constantly acted in that
capacity. Up to the act of 1825, when the constitution of the
Dock Estate was. altered, Mr.- Lace acted on every required
occasion. In subsequent cases the witness had actedon behalf •
of the Dock Trustees, as their solicitor in the' conduct of that
business; the Town-Clerk of -that• time having acted fur the
Corporation. (This -was previous •to the appoiutment of the
witness as Town-clerk.)
Mr. Radcliffe.—It was khoWn that Mr. Lace had been invari-
ably solicitor up to the act of 1825. He asked if it was not the
fact that Mr. Lace had opposed that bill, on behalf of the
merchants of Liverpool. .
The Town-clerk.—Every clause in-the bill was approved by
Mr. Lace, as solicitor to the jearties opposing the bill, and„by
the delegates of the opposition. The present practice was
under the provisions-of that
liachniikl-IheTown-cterk—mentioned the existence of
records, 'sliesing that all the clauses in the bill had been agreed
to; but he challenged him -to produce any record sanctioning-
the particularehnise- referred to. Fle • should be able to show
that the merchants of the port had been dragooned into accept-
ing the bill, rather than be withoul the requii ed accommoda-
tion of ducks.
Mr. Commissioner Wilkinson said- that be should he happy
to receive any evidence which Mr. Radcliffe might be prepared
to offer, wi:h reference to thepassing of the bill.
The Town-clerk ha'd, he said, already read a report of the
Mayor, specifying the alterations, made in the bill. He now
'read again. He was not. the Town-clerk at that time; but, as
.solicitor to.the Dock Estates, he had made the opposing parties.
from time to time acquaint.ed with the clauses of the bill. In
London, whilst the bill.is in progress throug,h Parliament, he
bad constant con ..i.erices with the delegates lentil the merchants
of Liverpool, who were always apprised of the alterations
making.
Air. —lt was evident tint Mr. Lace had been pre-
vims y ii),i,:ifor of 'the Dock Estate.. Mr. Lace had ap-
cii'2le le
s 1
172
peered on behalf of the merchants of Liverpool; and he, Mr.
It., would be able to show that the merchants of Liverpool had
been forced into an acceptance iif the bill, under a threat that
the bill should be withdrawn. The merchants had only a choice
of evils. -He would repeat, thathe was certain there would. not
be• found any :record, to which the merchants were. parties,
which admitted, for them, the alteration of the clause in ques-
tion. Their general consent to the bill had been forced from
the merchants' -as he should be able to prove. The fact was,
that they had been coerced. into it. The term used by the
Town-clerk should have been, that the merchants submitted to
the bill, and not that they consented.
The ToWn-clerk repeated his assertion, that all parties in-
terested in-the bill, either fur or against it, were-apprised, most
fully, of all the Clauses,- and the occasional alterations.
Mr. Radcliffe would admit that, and yet prove his case.
- Mr.-Alderman Lawrence, as one of the.merchants alluded to,
would say that Mr. Radcliffe was so far right. He would ad-
mit that the 'merchants had- done all they could to make the
• best bargain in their, power„ and so also had the Dock Trustees.
-The Town-cler' read the, resolution of the opposing . parties,
agreeing to let W.,,billii.-2.4iaaseil_with certain conditiedS, which
were agreed to.
Mr. Radeliffe—There would be found no record of agreeing
to take awayfthe power of the . commissioners who had done so
much good in 182.3,
The Town-clerk reiterated his assertion relative to the con-
currence of all parties. -
Duncan- put in a list of the Committee of the dock rate-
payers who had prepared the petition relative to the consti-
tution of the Dock Estate. There were twecity-one Committee.
men appointed at the meeting, with power to add to their num-
ber, and they 'had been increased by the original committee to
31.
Mr. T. B..Horsfall said he should not have alluded to any
distinction of
signed by all parties in politics; new he wished
Mr. R. to. point but how many of the names attached to the
petition were not of-Mr. R.'s particular party.
The- petition was then read by the Town-clerk at length, to-
gether with the list of names.
The Commissioners requested to be furnished with a copy of
the petition, awl to• have the amount of sales of laud from the
Corporation to-the Dock Estate.
. Mr. WM. Foster read over the particulars of the property
Sold by the Corporation to the Dock 'Estate, amounting, from
1816 to 1827 inclusive, to £317,638 19s. Also the report of the
sub-committee appointed by the -Dock Committee to purchase,
lands, &c. under the act of the 6th of George IV, which report
is dated the 31 Spril,-1825, containing particulars of expend-
ing £126,821 2S. 7d: under schedule A; 1:87,563 -4s. 3d. under
schedule B; and £51,131 Is. Id. under schedule C, chiefly of
the Corporation.
Mr. Stewart, surveyor, was then Sworn, and stated that when
the land in question was purchased by. the Dock Trustees from
the Corporation, the latter were reversioners of the fee of certain
lands in lease to Jackson's representatives, which lease was to
expire in. about 26 years from that time. The jury of assessment
awarded £6,058 3s. for the reversion of the fee simple to the
Corporation at the end of 26 years. In June, 1827, the Dock
Trustees went to a-. jury with Jackson's representatives ; the
latter chimed the right to a lease for three lives and 21 years
after the end of the 26 years, and the jury were willing to find a
special verdict, reserving that point. and they nad actually
awarded more than twice the sum tar the' reversion of the lease
than the Corporation had given for the fee simple and inherit-
ance. (Laughter.) In -ansifer to several questions. from
Sir George Drinkwater and the ToWn-clerk, Mr. Stewart
said, that he had been' employed as' a surveyor both by
the Corporation and the inhabitants for many years, and that
he had recently been engaged in making a survey of the parish,
and, from his exp-rience of the value of hind, he thought
the purchases of laud under the improvement act, since
the passing of the act, were exceedingly. low, with the excep-
tion Lathe purchase from Jackson, and since the improvements
the value of the land had so far enhanced, that such prices as
were now -asked were ne;er.heard of in Liverpool before.
Mr. Duncan was -of 'opinion that Jackson principally owed
his good fortune in getting his -price- to the present Lord
Chancellor, who, when Mr.- Brougham, was brought down to
Liverpool to espouse his cause, and he certainly made a most
powerful speech in his favour.
Sir Gee. Drhikwater 'said he bad some recollection of the
abuse the Lord Chancellor then bespattered upon the Corpora-
tion, and he should not -forget the compliment he then paid to
him. (A laugh.)
Mr.SteWarr now event through With the items ct SUMS paid
for various purposes` rider the improvement act of no general
intelest, after whicit', theL commissioners Wljourne.d the court
until Wednesday. •
NINTH DAY.

The examination of-the officers, and others connected with
the Dock Estate, was resumed at the Sessions-house this morn-
ing,'(Wednesday,) at half-past ten. There was a strong muster
of the gentlemen opposed to the management of the estate by
the present trustees in court, most prollably in anticipation that
the evidence they wished to furnish would be taken ; however it
did not appear that the examination of the officers
.of the estate
would conclude to-day.
Ors.the commissioners taking their seats, the Town-clerk
wished to explain a part of the evidence given yesterday rela-
tive to him on the subject of the compensation juries. He said
that the commissioners would recollect it was named yesterday
that there was a sub-committee appointed under the act of Par-
liament for. managing the sales, &c., of the Corporation. On
two occasions he (the Town-clerk) acted professionally subse-
quent to the paSsing of the act of 1825. He then retained two
engineers of first-rate eminence, Mr. James Walker and Mr.
Francis Giles, of LOndon, together with several other surveyors
and builders of Liverpool, competent to inform the juries of the
value of property. Upon the occasion of the first jury pur-
chase, the sub-committee met the parties alluded to with Mr.
Venables, the counsel employed by the Dock Estate, and, upon
full and mature consideration of all the parties, the purchase
was concluded. As regarded himself and the then Town-clerk
who acted on the part- of the
.Corporation, there was not the
slightest communication between them, and he (witness) acted
exactly the same way as any. professional man would, or as lie
would-act in a case at the assizes or any where else.
Mr. Withers, -the treasurer, and Mr. Foster, the secretary,
now proceeded with the current accounts of the Dock Estate,
from which it appeared that in June, 1832, the balance in the
hands of the treasurer was £1,578 Is. 6d., and in the hands of
Mr. Heywood, the banker, there was the sum of 16,441 18s. Id.,
besides the sum of £54,587 3s. 3d. for Jackson's Dam account.
The balance at the end of the year in the hands of the treasurer
was £613 2s. 100. The property 'purchased under the au-
thority of the act of Parliament 6th Geo. I.V. amounted to
£60,137 Bs. 10d., which included the purchase of Jackson's
Mills. The bonds issued by the estate varied in their amounts of
interest, but the ^last issued (of £15,000) was at 3y2 per cent.
On June 24th, 1t(33, the amount in baud by cash received on
bond was £57,975.185.
Mr. Commissioner Wilkinson inquired if the witnesses had
the names of the parties by whom the bonds are held?
The Secretary replied that he had, but he should not like to
give them up without the authority of the Trustees.
The Commissioners said he would consider whether the
names were necessary..
Examination continued.—The assignment of bond debts
were. required -by act of Parliament to be sold by auction to the
highest oidder. • The money in bond was raised by public ad-
vertisement, stating that such sums of money were wanted, and
tenders were sent in to the committee, stating the interest re-
quired. The amount of duties on tonnage for the year was
£79,558 33. 113. The amount of duties on goods, foreign in-
wards, coasswise int Wards, and foreign outwards, from June,
18.32, to June,-1833:- was £103,422 12s. 5d.; the Lighthouse
duties were £8,903 6s. 2d.; the Floating-tight duties were
£3,989 14s; tn-e-, Graving Dock' duties were £2,574 155.;
and the Graving-block duties were £1,216 10s. With regard to
the duties on vessels, if they lay in the dock inure than six
months, they were charged 2.1. per ton per month. The
cranes and -I,st.Agliings machines were rented • by persona_
at various, rents, and the rents were paid • over to the
treasurer; there ere three weighing machines erected at the
expense of the Corporation. With respect-to money in bonds
previously alludetlto,. it had been omitted to state that a con-
sulexable sum ot'anoney had been paid Mini consequence of the
inrties not subjeeting themselVes to a reduction of the rate of
terest. Since the above statement there had been £3,800
paid off.
The Treasurersand the Secretary went through the whole of
the. items of -the voluminous accounts, which, 'however, were.
u Youd of. interest, excepting one which excited some
emerriment:tie
riY
it was Due by the Corporation of Liverpool for
repairs, ss. 9d." -•

Lieutenant Watson, the superintendent of the telegraph,
stated that' he had some further information to give respecting
that machine. He said that there are eleven stations between
Liverpool and Holyhead, and if any vessel made a communi-
cation, it was. despatched from the stations to Liverpool. Each
merchant provided his own signal; but there was no charge
for communications made by telegraph. There are souae.thon-
sands of vessels reported, and about 1300 carried the Holyhead
and Liverpool signals. There is a vocabulary pUblished to
'enable masters of vessels to commuuicate intelligen;:e. Regular
reports were•sent from the stations of the change of wind, which
was a matter of very great importance. The signal flans were
made and sold at the telegraph office. The three cost £2 55.,
and the vocabulary 12s. lid. Those parties who did not choose
to 'purchase their signals at the office, were required to bring
them for inspection to avoid mistakes. At one o'clock every
day there was a signal to regulate the Clocks at the different
stations. Receives an answer from the distance of one hundred
and foity-four mites in twetzt-three seconds. On some occasions
witness hadconmiuriicated between Liverpool and Dublin for
the government,.. and communicated the fate of the Reform
Bid, which came; to Liverpool by express. He received no
emoluments besides travelling expenses and salary. The
travelling expenses could best be" told by the treasurer. Mr.
Watson here intimated that business called him away, but if
any gentleman present was anxious to question him, he was
ready to answer them. No person answering, Mr. Watson left
the court.

i Mr. Withers continued.—The mode of auditing., the accounts
was by a committee,. appointed, according to the act of Portia-
: merit. The corninittee was formed of twelve commissioners,
four of whom were of the Common Council and eight were
rate-payers, the lattet appointed by the rate-payers at large.
The accounts were signed by the audit committee. There
have been two meetings of auditors since the 24th of June last.
The commissioners -meet by ajoitinnient. All the vouchers
are laid before the auditors. The accounts are closed up to and
as soon after the 24th of June, in each year, as may be. They
cannot be immediately. elosed, es time must be given for the re-
ceipt of retur4s from various connected with tare estate.

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