The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1835-06-16 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

THE LATE RICHARD DOBSoN, ESQ.
SIR,—I am no scribbler in newspapers, but have waited until
my patience •is exhausted in the hope of seeing my subject
taken up by an abler pen. Longer it ought not, cannot be de-
layed without risk from the too transient nature of the feelings
which just now are so strong upon all of us.
Never in my time did any event take such hold of the public
mind as the death of Mr. Dobson, who, by the inscrutable
decree of Providence, has been taken from us in the mid-career
of virtue and praise, when his extraordinary talents and means
of usefulness were best employed and needed most. Invaluable
is the lesson which such an event might teach us, but it falls
not within my present object, which is but the expression of a
most earnest wish that some public means should be at once
devised to prevent the memory of such a man from perishing
from among us. Vain, indeed, as a tribute to worth like his
will be records of brass or marble, but such means must not be
neglected, if better fail us. His fitting monument would be the
erection of alms-houses, or some such work of charity to bear
his name, or worthier incense still to his memory, would be the
addition and special-endowment of a new ward to the Blue-coat
Hospital, distinguished by a name which there is so peculiarly
revered. lam sanguine enough to believe that the best of these
objects might he accomplished, one of them I am sure might,
by timely zeal.
..Almost twenty years ago—before " the hustle and the busi-
nesses"
of this cold world, whose deadening influence on the
heart 4sne must be ever striving with,. had bade their- first."
attack—when impressions either for good or evil are easily
made and seldom lose their hold—
Just at that age 'twixt boy and youth,
'When thought is speech, and speech is truth,
the character of Mr. Dobson, as it stood even then in the
estimation of his fellow-townsmen, had an effect on my mind,
which nothing will ever efface. It appeared to me that to be
distinguished as he then was, to be praised and loved whenever
he was seen or named, to have the good word and will and wish
of high and low, rich and poor, without One breath or touch of
• censure to sully a fame so perfect; all this, I say, seemed like
honour more than earthly, like one exception to the sad rule,
that virtue is not recompensed here. I well remember too the
enthusiasm with which I tixedupon his friendship as the highest
reward one need seek in this world for doing good, and that our
limited intercourse since could not entitle me to call him
friend, I shall ever cease to regret.
And now that twenty years more of good deeds have been
added to his crown—now that his work is perfected and he has
entered into his rest, I recall that .enthusiasm, and maturer
judgment acknoWledges it to be just. To have lived'ai he did
was surely the most glorious privilege that human nature could
attain to; and, oh! how infinitely rather would I be thatnian,
even now in his quiet grave; than take my place among the
richest and greatest and even best of his survivors.
Believing strictly as I do, that "we never shall look upon
his like again," for a man combining the qualities that made
him so incomparably useful is seldom lent to the world. lam
most anxious that some tribute of public respect, worthy of him
and of the community, should soon be determined upon. If it
must be a monument not of usefulness and charity but of mere
empty show, then I am scarcely less anxious that the selection
of the plan should be confided to persons whose good taste will
be some comfort to them whose ready duty it will be to furnish
the means.
Many more competent than I am to a trust so sacred can be
found among us, but it appears to me that no plan would be'
more likely to give satisfaction, than the transmission of a
portrait, (if there be one) and a sketch of the character of him
whose memory we wish to honour, to such a man as Gibson a
Rome, and 'Wave the whole to him.
June 15, 1835.

Your obedient, servant,
I. N.

THE CLAYTON-SQUARE MEETING.

TO THE 'EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STINDARD.
SIR,—We heard a deal said about the fine speeches which
were to be made at this important and " highly respectable meet-
ing," but when the day arrived, " big," one might have sup-
posed, " with the fate of nations," what do •we find to attract us
to this well-known political square ? Why, sir, .I am much in-
clined to believe that two-thirds of the individuals present were
there because they were not employed for the day, and because
they thought they had nothing ,better to do. I went to this
" highly respectable" assemblage, and took good care that I
removed all valuable articles out of my coat pockets; I looked
around me and found that I was surrounded by Irishmen, come
over, of course, for the hay-making, porters and carters from
the dock quays, and I verily believe, sir, that not more than
one-third of the persons assembled would be in any manner af-
fected by the provisions or operations of Lord John Russell's
measure for corporate reform. lam not one of those individu-
als who can only cry '!' church and king," and have then said
their all ; no, sir, I think that reform in municipal corporations
is most undoubtedly Wanted ; but I do not see any necessity for
men of respectability meeting together on the 'balcony of the
Bull Hotel, in Clayton-sqOare, for the purpose of insulting such
a respectable body of men as our present local governors. Mr
James Brancker amused his intelligent auditory by variou
pieces of wit and humour, which they appeared to understands
intermingled by sundry information, ' 'cabbaged," as school,
boys say, from " Gore's Directory." Of course, these intelli-
gent legislators all held up their hands in support of the resolu-
tioni proposed ; but I very much question it any country villag-
schoolmaster were to ask each of them what they were thus ase
sentiug to and supporting, whether they would be able to tell-
or, indeed, to state the precise object of the meeting then as,
sernbled.
May I ask, sir, what Mr. James Bramcker has lately found in
the corporation of Liverpool so very vile, or what requires so
much of his vile slang to vilify? Ile does not, surely he can-
not, suppose that his sitting in the chief magistrate's chair,
(which he tells us, when major,-he will do,) " his flannel
Jacket and cloth apron," would improve the corporation of Liver-
pool ; but I mistake, sir, for it might improve the then corpora-
tion, as far as regarded respectability, in some measure, for I
have been told, and upon good authority too, that JOHN
LANGAN. Esq., is to be one of our common council. The praise
of such men as Mr. James, Brancker is dispraise, and their dis-
praise praise. Next to Mr. J. Brancker, in asperity of language
and vulgarity, we find our amiable and accomplished townsman
W. Rathboue, Esq. He was obliged to call his conscience ( !
)
to testify to the corruption of our corporate body. I should
have thought that after such repeated offences in the noble
cause of corruption, Mr. Rathbone had but little room left to
parade his conscience in; but his modesty, sir, his modesty, it
was, upon my word, " passing strange ;" I was really astonished
to hear him say that he begged to be excused the honour (?) of
being yoked with Messrs. Wyberg, Fretne, and Co., in the com-
mon council of his " native town." His statement respecting
St. Martin's church-is, as far as I can learn, at variance with
the fact; for, instead of its having the funds of the corporation
wasted upon it, it was, I believe, built out of the taxes of the
county; neither could the corporation property in the neigh-
bourhood of St. Martin's be in any measure improved (as Mr.
Rathbone says it was, and that by design, in building this
church upon it) by being so near to the site of Mr. Muipratt's
chhnney. I was really sorry to find Mr. G. Barnsley amongst
the list of' orators on this occasion; one would have thought
that his late affliction would have occupied his mind too much
to have allowed it to be borne to the balcony in Clayton-square.
I was really grieved at this, as it must lower him very much in
the opinions of all respectable persons.
If, sir, you think you can find room for these remarks in your
ensuing number, you will much oblige yours, &c., _

P.S.—I may return to this subject shortly, whenARGUS we have
heard all the plaudits of Lord-street and Castle-street, as I sup-
pose we shall have plenty of them.