The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-10-29 00:00:00

DEATH OF THE TOWN CLERK.

We have this day the painful task of announcing to our
readers the death of Richard Radcliffe, Esq., Town Clerk
of this borou4h, which took place at Leamington, about
half-past eleven o'clock on the nighi. of Friday last. For
some months past the health of this universally esteemed
gentleman, and excellent public officer, ha I been in an
uta atisf ietory state; and he was urged by his family and
tai nds t:• endeavour to recruit himself, by a temporary
absence fr •rn the labours and cares of his 11104 responsi-
ble office. It was not, however, until about three weeks
ago that he was induced, at the instance, mainly, of everal
leading members of the various committees; who feared
for the effect of the incessant pressure of bus:ness upon
his then shattered frame, to co rop' v with this recree:l; and
he proceeded, accompanied by Mrs. Radcliffe and his
son, to Leamington. Since his arrival there, his health
has continued with a slight and treacherous intermission,
to decline, so rapidly es to excite the serious alaroi of his
friends; and it was rumoured a'mut on Saturday, that
death had terminated his labours in this world. Tne
run= our, liosever, though unfortunately it has since
proved too correct, was at that period supposiCtious, and
had arisen apparently from his having had en attack of para-
lysis about four days previously, which partially deprived
him of the use of his left t.;,4.1e:, and ClT3ed the nrst ap-
preheni•ions to b 4! e., lertained by his physicians. Nttite-e,ou4
and anxious enquiries were made at the Town Hall durMA,
the day ; and the accounts given led his friends ti expect
that the post on Sunday. or Monday morning at furthest,
would bring an account of the melancholy event; and on
Sunday it was aceordingly,communic 'led to the Mayor
and to the members of his family at home that be had
ceased to live.

Mr. Radcliffe was the son of Mr. John Radcliffe,
enrages in the Customs ; and was educated at the school
of the Rev. Mr. Fe anon, then situated in Mount-pleasant,
in this town. He served his clerkship to the late Me.
Joshua Lace, (fathsr of Mr. Ambrose Laos; of the firm of
Ltess, Myers, R)ege, and Roscoe,) by whom he was,
highly valued and esteemed, and who predicted, when he
had only served the first three years of his clerkship, his
fete-e eittinence in his profession. As an i stance of the
esteem of Mr. Lie for the lamented deceased; we may
mention that after Mr. R. had been for some time in prac-
tise, he presented him with a handsome service of plate.
In 1813 he commenced business on his own account, and
was for many yeas at the head of the eminent firm of
Radcliffe and Duncan; and, in 1835, he was appointed
Town clerk and Clerk of the Peace, at a salary of ze2,o';o
per annum, which offices he held up to his death, a period
-of eight years, with credit to himself and satisfaction to
the public. He presided. during the whole of that time,
over one of t;;e subordinate courts, where numberless
complicated coetstions came continually before him. His
decisions on each were always considered sound, and
given with remarkable judgment and perspicuity, and
there never was a case tried before him which was after-
wards sent for adjudication elsewhere. The records of
the Town-hall contain many testitnonies'from the judges
of the land, as well as from the- most eminent counsel of
the day, respecting his abilities as a lawyer, and his saga-
city arid foresight as a man of business.
Io his early youth Mr Radcliffe's politics were of the
conservative school, as were those of his father. He was
an ardent supporter of the late George Canning in all his
contests in Livetpool ; and although, during the agitation
for the Reform Bill, and previously, he entertained liberal
views (as it is well kown did many conservatives) with
respect to the necessity , f this and other ameliorating
measures, he never identified himself with the whig party,
and, indeed, always disclaimed any change from the °pi-
niolut of his early days. Considerations of politics, how-
ever, never entered into the perfcrwsnce of his public
duties ; and he succeeded in the very difficult task of -
performing them to the satisfaction of both parties, and
cf winning the confidence of all.
By the death of Mr. Radcliffe the borough of Liver-
pool has sustained a loss which will he deplored by men
of all parties, as well upon private as upon public grounds.
There_are few who have had the pleasure of enjoying his
sod. tv in his private circle, who can readily forget his
amiable and engaaing character ; and none with whom he
has ever been brought in contact in the course of hi, pro-
fessional career who will not readily acknowledee the
cle mess of intellect and judgment, mingled with deep
legal knowledge, which on every occasion he displayed.
Ner were opportueities wanting to test any of these
qualities, especially since his entrance upon the arduous
duties of Town Clerk and professional adviser to the
Bench. In all the multifarious, and some of them in-
tricate, qnestions which have been presented to him in
these capacities, a general correctness and soundriesa of
information and judgment have characterised his decisions.
which have stamped him as a lawyer of the highest order,
and an authority upon whose opinion no individual or
public body need fear to act with implicit cenfidence.
Mr. Radcliffe .vas married ti Miss Mary Anne Havton,
(the daughter of the late Mr. John Wytort,) be whom
he had five sons anti tsvo daughters. Mrs. Rodcl:ffe, the
two daughters and four of the sons, are Lett to mourn the
loss of one of the best of huSbands.and mo-t affectionate
of fathers, in which they will receive the heartfelt sym-
pathy of this community.
A most important question now arises, and unfortunately
toe, with respect to the party to he appointed to fill the
• ffi held so efficiently by Mr. Radcliffe. Upon this
object we should have hesitatel to offer any suggestions
or even rem irks ; but a contemporary has given to the
public the names of three gentlemen, as aspirants to that
position, which crenmstanee releases us from arty difficulty
upon the score of delicacy at least. The names in question
ive those of Mr. A mbrcse Lace, Mr. John North, Mr.
&antleworth, and Mr. John Buck Lloyd. All these
gentlemen possess in every respect unexeept imitable claims
t t the office, but they are evidently mentioned without
authority as we know that neither of the two first has en-
tertaitwd the slightest idea of offering himself to the
Council ; and we i are reminded, moreover, that n ac-
enrdance with the resolution of the Council two years ago,
adopted on the recommendation of the paid officers' Com-
mitt,e, it is extremely probable that the duties performed
by the tate Tow's Clerk will, for the future, be apportio :ed
betwsen two distinct officers, the one performing the
duttes which belong to the uffice of Town Clerk, and the
other that of the Clerk of Peace. The saary recom-
mended for the former of these two offices is £2,000 per
annum. That for the latter remains to be filled up by
the Council; hot will scarcely, we believe, be one-hall
that of the Town Clerk, though the gentleman appointed
as ill not be debarred from traitsacing other business.
Toe same committee also recommends the appointment
of at, additional officer, who shall perform the duties ot
Cleft: of the Council and Prosecuting Solicitor, with a
salary of £l,OOO per annum.
Of course we are not at present advised how far these
arrangement s will he adopted by the council. Presuming,
however,ge r, will in a great measure be carried out,
a
cot:asters, tat Mr. Shut tleworth, the present most tfficient
that
tm they
ye
feelingexisting at present in influeetiat
dsputy, is likely to be strongly supported for the cffice of
Po:co-clerk, with the duties of which he ronst be intimately
toorainted. Mr. J. B. Lloyd, we believe, will offer him.
„It as Clerk of the Peace; and, from that gentleman's
known business habits, and his long experience in the du-
ties of the office, during his connexion with the late Mr.
Thomas Foster, anti since that period, we cannot conceive
that arty more eltaible seleetion can he made. We gladly
leave the matter, however, to the unbiassed decision of the
council.
Sterol the above was written, and at too late an hour to
ruble us to make• inquiry into its truth, a report has
reached us that Mr Peter Wright is a candidate for one
or other of the vacant offices. Mr. Wright is a man in
all respects qualified for office, and his claims are ant itlsd
70 every rote-Listatioo. lie stands high—very high—in
the profession, and has devoted gratuitously his time and
talents to the puhlic service fir a considerable period.