The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1835-10-20 00:00:00

Contrarto.

PARISH OF LIVERPOOL.
CONTRACTS WANTED.
TIIE Churchwardens are now ready to receive
for the Sepikly of the ,WORKIWUSF
Articles, namely :
BEEF,
In Quarters, (including from 80 to 100 I
Week,) all of the first quality, for the ne
Months.
V
Also, for the Best and Common COAVR
next Twelve Mouths.
And for the Best Dry WHEAT STRAW for the next
Twelve Months.
Any information regarding the daily consumption, and the
manner in which the Articles must be supplied, may be re-
ceived from the Governor, at the Workhouse.
Sealed Tenders fur each Article to be left with the Secretary,
at the Select Vestry Office. No. 2, Fenwick-strect, on or before
MotsnA Y nest, the 26th instant.
JOHN NIACKINLAY, Secretary.
Parish Offices, Oct. 19, 1835.

;NDERS

Small Meat per
:t Six, and Twelve

End SLACK for the

[ADVERTISEMENT.)
LISCARD POWDER MAGAZ

TO THIS EDITOR OF THE LIVERPO STrINDARD.
Sit:,—Your correspondent Conservator in replying to my
letter, has so novel and curious a system f reasoning, as only
to create compassion that he shoulcf. hay taken the trouble of
betraying his ignorance in print. 1' surn of his arguments
amounts to this ; because he is hi eelin the continuance of
this depot, and frightened at the possibility of losing his agency,
(which no person has at all wished to interfere with,) the lives
and property of thousands are to run the risk of sacrifice.
From Conserrator's confession of his own interest, it were
easy, if necessary, to retort epithets upon him, who appears,
from the date of his letter, to devote his Sundays in the chari-
table occupation of giving abusive names to those persons who
seek a legitimate and humane object, and of ascribing to them
all kind of improper motives. But cui bolo? Why break a
fly upon the wheel? The motives of Conservator are beneath
consideration. The little in the shape of argument that he ad-
duces, a schoolboy would demolish.
Conservator argues, that the depot is not more dangerous now
than it was before the buildings were erected. So, houses being
built nigh to the magazines, and taking fire, do not create dan-
ger; and the lives and propene of people, not alone in Che-
shire but Liverpool, and miles distant, are to be endangered for
Conservator's want of perception ;—.9ilmirable argument cer-
tainly ! Conservator has not denied the danger there was when
the Eiscard Hotel was on fire; but because he in his extensive
knowledge of all matters, knows of no instance of the explosion
of a magazine by accident, he can see no good cause for re-
moval. According to him a steam-packet, passing a mere aux-
iliary floating depOt, might do immense damage, whilst a house
on fire, near the whole store, creates no risk and because it
may be more inconvenient to have the gunpowder depot in ane-
ther situation, it must not be removed—even to save Liverpool
from being blown up.
Conservator's evasion regarding the statement of the quantity
of powder kept at the store is contemptible; he misstates the

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given fact of his opponent, and then, finding _himself detected,
savehe has no doubt that his opponents meant the contrary.
Phis is certainly a new method of argument. Allow me to con-
gratulate Conservator on his discovery of it. Surely he cannot
say that the smallest stated quantity would not be sufficiently
destructive.

Conservator argues,' that land in Liscard being wanted for
buildings, and improving rapidly in value, proves the necessity
for continuing the magazines. Excellent ! As to the begging-
box, I never having seen any, allow Conservator (so well ac-
quainted with its contents) the full benefit of it. ' It may be
serviceable in assisting him in his valiant and disinterested de-
fence before Parliament. How greatly indebted to him are the
poor householders of Liverpool and Wallasey, for his kind in-
terest in their welfi.re. A rate upon those parishes to compen-
sate Conservator and his employers would be an awful thing.
• Conservator, notwithstanding his confidence that au indict-
ment cannot be sustained, does not promise to assist in settling
the case. Why is he so very uneasy if there is no chance of
success? There is no attempt for a rate to support this. Can
he not see that it is not the immediate landowners only who are
interested in removal, but the public at large, who go in
peril of their lives; and can he not conceive that it certainly
was the duty of the persons erecting this nuisance to contem-
plate the probable increase of a sea-post town • and so to -build
their store, and secure such portion of surrounding land, as by
preventing the possibility of the erection of buildings at all ap-
proximating to vicinity, entirely to remove that cause of alarm ?
Every possible precaution should have been taken. Conservator
very likely will yet find the indictment more successful than he
desires.

Sir, in concluding my observations upon Conservator's really
very silly letter, which, whether the production of a lodger in
Liverpool alarmed at the rate, or of a Cheshireman, whose estate
'would be materially benefitted, and against whom and fair com-
pensation (if any necessary) there is, and can be no feeling,
except what his own folly may provoke, allow me to observe,
that I have no desire for jesting upon so very serious a subject
as the one in question ; one upon which, when we reflect, it is
difficult for even the absurdity of the reasons contained against
removal in that letter to raise a smile. The subject is an awful
one; and 1 am glad to say, it is receiving that serious consider-
ation its importance demands ; and now not another word do I
intend to waste in replying to any further argument of such a
writer, for there are none so blind as they who will not see.—
Yours, A REQUISITIONIST.
Liscard, 14th October. 1835.

[ADVERTISEMENT.]
THE POWDER. MAGAZINES.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD,

Sza,—Permit me uuee more to offer some further remarks
upon the letter of Conservator, which appeared in your paper
of the 13th ult., in rejoinder to that of a Requisitionist.
Judging from the style and tenor of that letter, your cytes-
pondent appeared to be very mighty in words, but very ak in
arguments, although I must admit him to be a m t expert
adfpt in the art of evading the question at issue.
Public impartiality will determine in how f Conservator
has succeeded in his attempted justification of anguage, such
as he thought proper to lavish su indisc im. ately, and in no
measured terms, upon a body of men eq n respectability to
himself, yet infinitely his superiors in ti graces of politeness
and common courtesy. In tray opinion there never was a more
miserable failure, aggravated by his persisting in the same
offensive strain, in his application of the words "scheming res.).
lutionists," when a well-timed apology for his former abusive
expressions would have been more creditable to him.
Having acknowledged himself to be an agent of the pro-
prietors of the Powder Magazines, I can readily perceive the
motives which actuate hint in standing up as the valiant and
wordy champion of "the rights and interests" of his employers;
nor am I surprised at his feeling galled at the contemplated
indictment, or an application to Parliament for an act to re-
move a dangerous nuisance. Under the convenient pretext of
upholding his employers' interests, he cannot conceal the pre-
dominating influence of his own—the main spur and incentive
to his laboured attempts to perpetuate the evil.
In the commencement of his letter, he says, "I have done no
more than an act of justice to those for whom 1 have acted as
agent since the
.year 1815." Grown bolder by degrees as he
proceeds, he claims a property in the magazines, and observes—
" I have as much right to any properte I may possess in the maga-
zines now established, as the requisitionists can have to the land
they have recently purchased." Has Conservator's salary been
so small, or his services so great, that his employers have re-
warded him with a permanent life-interest in the concern, and
a reversion in perpetuity ? If not, will he dispute their power
of being able to dismiss him, if at any time they should feel dis-
posed not to set exactly so high a value upon his services as he
himself may think they merit ? Is this the ground upon which
he seeks compensation ?
recommend Cons,:reator to read the cases referred to in the
Mercury of the 27th February last, before he attributes them to
causes which, no doubt, he could wish were analogous to his,
purpose. is be ignorant of the explosion of a vessel laden
with gunpowder in Peel Harbour 14 or 15 years ago? an event
which happened on the very day when the celebrated trial of
Turner v. Wakefield was proceeding in the courts of Lancaster.
The concussion extended far and wide, and must be in the
recollection of many; and yet there was not a tithe of the
powder in that vessel as is usually contained in the depot in
Cheshire.
Whether the sandhills by Hoylake, or the Leasowe, or,
Hilbre Island be the ultimate destination of the present depta
your correspondent has no right to assume that the danger
would be equally great, if removed to any of these places, nor
tharany inconvenience would result therefrom. As to Ililbre
being a proper spot, many persons with a clearer knowledge of
all the circumstances, founded upon snore experience than
what Conservator appears to be possessed bf, are of a contrary
opinion; and I would rather rely upon their judgment than
upon his solitary ipso digit. At all events, the removal of the
depot from where it now stands, to any other place, would be a
great desideratum; for though the danger might not be entirely
obviated by such means, still the risk would be considerably
diminished.

Is it possible to entertain so absurd an idea, that the gun-
powder trade would be destroyed by an alteration in the site of
the existing depot? Is the trade actually dependent upon its
present position? Are the lives and properties of a numerous
class of respectable, residents and proprietors to be jeopardised
for the convenience of the THING? Is Liverpool of less value
than the insignificant selfish interests of a few gunpowdei
manufacturers ? Impossible!
Does Conservator really think he can so easily gull and
bamboozle the public by his long-winded statements so foreign
to the real object in view? The community are too well aware
of the danger of a depot in the very centre of their homes and
property, nor is their attention to be diverted from procuring
its removal as speedily as possible; notwithstanding Conserva-
tor's strenuous endeavours to prove that the whole affair is a
bugbear, and that the danger is contained in a nut-shell!
In absence of all argument or sound reason, he is reduced to
the pitiful alternative of launching out in sarcasm against the
begging box. This is, indeed, his Bernier resort.
I am credibly informed the roofs of the various compart-
ments of the depot are in a very delapidated and insufficient
state of repair, and that there is no ceiling below the slates.
Any passing observer may at once have occular proof of the
exterior state of the dep6t, and its insecurity in many other
respects, and yet men deliberate while so much life and pro-
perty depend thereon!
Would permission be granted to inspect the interior of the
magazines—to report upon its state—to ascertain the quantity
of powder it will contain, and how much is now housed therein?
Or am Ito suppose no such permission would be allowed? If
so, Conserrator's whole case, like his darling depot, is built
upon a sandy foundation.
In conclusion; I sincerely hope the requisitionists will, by
every means in their power, persevere in their laudable and
humane endeavours to get rid of this nuisance before it has
time to put its concentrated qualities of destruction to the test.
If a petition was drawn up, and carried round from house to
house, I am confident hundreds of signatures would be speedily
attached to such an instrument, throughout the parish of Wal-
lasey, as well as in Liverpool, in favour of instant removal,
and would produce an effect in the proper quarter. The acting
committee appointed by the resolutiunists must be firm in their
resolves, and bear in mind—
" When 'tie done, then !twere well
If 'twere done quickly."
I remain, sir. yours, &c. HUMAN IT A S.
October 19, 1835.

LONDON GAZETTE.-FRIDAY, OCT. M.