The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-12-03 00:00:00

MEETING OF MAGISTRATES.

On Thursday a meeting of the Borough Magistrates
was held to take into consideration the resolutions , f the
Watch Committee as to the alleged interference with the
Police,
Some conversation took place as to sending the deposi-
tions taken in Mr. Parker's case. when it was decided to
furnish the4t, Mr. David Hodgson having said there was
no spirit of hostility whatever in the minds of the Watch
Committee towards the magistrates, and they had no
Pone oter objt!ct in view but to obtain information for the pur-
of investigating the conduct of one of their own
body, to their own satisfaction. They had pre-judged
nothing; and they were desirous to have the evidence in
order
to go through an examination, so that they might
arrive at a just conclusion.
The resolutions of the Watch Committee (as given in
our last) were then read, after which Mr. Rushton rose
tiscsaid that at the last meeting they had rather a warm
i,,sion upon the matter, and the resolution that had
been read was passed upon his motion. That resolution
contained what he believed to he. essential to the good go-
yernmeat of the peoice force; and there was also added to
of th that it should " be entered upon the general order book
e ta e force." '1 hat resolution passed unani-
°llsly-(polic Mr. Dowling who was ordered to r xecute the
resolution, and so to enter it, called upon him
(Mr.
Rushton) the next day, and said he had some doubts
whether the magistrates had thought of the fact that " the
general order-book " was the property of the Watch
Uommittee, or that, proy, the ag had no
right to order entries in it eel
mm
. Immediately heistrates (Mr. Rush
-
o said, " We have no right to enter it in the Watch
Co)nimittee's book • get it' book of your own, letter it
with ' Minuses of orders'' received by you from the Ma-
gistra'es, and enter the order there." He (Mr. Rushton)
then had a communication with the Mayor upon the sub-
le Town-
iteict. He went over to his Worship, and saw him with
and clerk He discussed nthe'question with them,
. , upon his own r-sponsibitty. he excused Mr. Dow-
ling! from the specific performance of that part of the
watch
which related ro -tile entry of the resolution in
.the
t ch Committee's hook, desiring him at the same time
0 get a book of his own, in which to enter the order of
leemeetin f the magistrates the agistrates. He (Mr. Rushton) also said, that at the
rs t
asksr a
mayosr ofthe 13/at L
bo„kand
co C mmittee. He then said to the
ttnotber meeting
he would take the further step of having
of the magistrates forthwith ; but it was
finally agreed that it would not be necessary, as he (Mr.
tt,whlecould not explain the whole business at the first
It, anu he tr
• h,might be h id therefore, now explained
ustedehe.had eesearcised a sound discretion, in
reYeriting the inadvertence being carried into effect of en-
•Mlng th-ir resolutions and orders upon the books of the
notfon,.?
11 arch r,
proceedings
mmittee, with which they, as magistrates had
K Lo do. (Hear, hear.) Up, n some pat ts of the
of the Watch Committee, he had certainly
something to say. He assured the magistrat,s, that it
had
epediug,.
given him the greatest pleasure to read ttisepro-
They were an approach to an harmonious ac-
tien between those who had but one interest at stake—
he %to) Committee and the magistrates. The Watch
the
COMmittee bad adopted, as one of their regulations,
substsnce of the resolution the magistrates had passed
last 'week, and this new regulation the \N atch Committee
Could enforce as well as the magistrates could enforce
their order. They were, indesd, one and the sameo:d and,
and
therefore, he hailed the regulation as a sign of a
131'4er:feeling in reference ,to these matters,
body of' the
Law with great pleasure emanating from theandgwohich he
in the
Watch Commitee. It was one of those thingsit: that
Hwould redound more to their honour, and creti
en, than any thing done by them for a long time pa•.t.
must however, take the liberty of saying, though he
agreed with these regulations, that he could not permit,
upon any occasion, any doubt to be thrown upon the au-
thoi i ty
of the magistrates to issue ord• rs for the direction
of the police force. He said this to save the right of the
magistrates. He did not object to the form of the resole-
s i drawn
tier, of the Watch Committee, which was skilfully
---" That it. is the opinion of this committee the above
resolution [of the magistrates] amount to a regulation
of the Police force—(he was very glad they had made it
so)—and can only as such legally emanate from that
committee." The words as such saved all cavil about
the matter; but still the jurisdiction of the Watch Com-
mittee and the magistrates came very near to each other,
and he wanted it to be understood that the magistrates
h d a
from then
se,lves, to a pre- erninent right to give orders directly
the police force. If the Watch Com-
mittee should fortunately (for he should esteem it a very
for ill any orders which the ma-
unate i
gistrates iscsued such rcumstanc ,
hone
pr as might be conveniently by
them applied to their own regulations, and by adopting
hem enlarge their own jurisdiction• it would give him the
greatest pleasure ; and he was sure the magi•trates would
issue no orders to the police force which the Watch Com-
inittee might not wholesomely adopt as part of their regu-
lations. He, therefore, begged to express the great plea-
sure he felt that the Watch Committee had, by the fram-
ing of this, recognised the propriety and importance of
keeping the officers of police beyond all interference;
whilst, at the same time, he must save the jurisdiction of
the justices by saying that their order was in force, as
regarded them ; and, as the Watch Committee had made
it a regulation, it was in force, as regarded them.
There could be no cavilling, then, upon the matter : the
roagistrates had ordered the Commissioner of Police to
communicate any interfr.ence to the Mayor
cowhilst he Watch Cotnuittee hade ordered the Headonstablet to
~.°4lmunicate it to them, and they would lay it before the
tureen them ; an
'-'-‘ayor. There was, therefore, little or no difference be-
d in • conclusion, he was very glad to
,
tor •
"ye that the " evidence be. sent to the Mayor, for the in-
...Mato% of the Town Clerk and the Watch Committee."
Mr. HoRNBY seconded the motion.
si Mr. D. HonGsON was very sorry to hear the expres-
or which had been used with regard to the language of
,perfect Committee's resolution, for he could say, with
one t
sct truth, that among the !members 4 it there was only
They
entiment, I ;
terra' y 'that among
was to give efficiency to the force.
tionY • deprecated the assumption of their func-
div! in the regulation of the police, not that they were in-
'dually jealous, but because they had a duty to perform
in v-re maintenance of their position and the support of
the law. They did think th t the order of the magistrates
was an interference with thema • but they did not see any
objection to it as turegulation. 'lt was a part of the whole
t;,:gulations of the frce and the Watch Committee
-other
old not object to thereiteration of it. After one or two
obssrvations the speaker said that the Head Con-
toto arid Commissioner had been required peremptorily
carry out the order, by-one of the magistrates, by read-
ing t
i' at the head of the force, and given to understand
thorny
ti
tha if he did not, there would be a meeting of magistrates
in
e next day, for the urose of exercsing hir as
his dismissal. liep was told that ifi he alstoe askeud
tralission from the Watch Committee to read the order,
di, e, same consequences would ensue. He (Mr. Hodgson)
net think that this was a course. which any magis•rate,
ea' Parte ought to have taken with regard to the Head
sfonstable and Commissioner. However, the resolutions
,„.,_Te magistrates, such as they were, were distinctly fra-
o.e. to nrevent the interference of any individual member.
a" the 'Watch Committee, without authority, but it they,
r ninceagistrates, were in a position to
prevent that. interte-
:
_,s
tr , it vvas not a little singular that an individual ma-
Zsate should take upon himself, under any circumstan-
o,,etne exercise of his authority to suppress a portion of
askrtelsolutions without calling the magistrates together
to
agreed that,
whether it had their concurrence He quite
was 14, in au exigency, such an exercise of authority
hastep:Vhand right ; but, in this case, where was the
sleau Why
had himself
s. . ~, Y were not a' trates consulted ? The
to be irregular,•
0. , he do slteated he believed the whole
what did in fact that it was illegal ; and, after all,
lotion to the force: . preamble which
had induced V. he only read a portion of the re-
he did nut read the .
preamble he he
to come to the decision. The
though contained a charge against an individual, and
dual act Ile awyer, lie should say that whether the- indivi-
dere' ..sed were guilty or not, he was guilty of no legal
- eiaritic luu ; therefore, any magistrate publishing and des
iegan g that preamble so affecti: g his character, would he
actually oPposed to a prose ution. He did not say it would
she tie,whe
,50, but he thought the it.iscretion e.xercised.by
befors Constable a very sound discretion, in not going
ilt , -.the force and publishing the resolution, as against
w holid "al member of the Watch Committee—a man
eo„,_,'ad not been convicted of anything the magistrates
i'..,_`"9 take cognizance of. He thought the decision of the
l'eagtstrat,s at their last meeting most extraordinary, and
4,22"ett( confess he was taken by surprise at. it. He re-
ustotzration
cri"s! _ i their decisions in general ; they were entitled to
at the hand of every individual, and he
th , trnt speak of them with disrespect. . But he had
had egot very much since upon their proceeduls, and he
Nyt.re onversation with men upor. the bench (not here). who
the init'l If' otls_surprised, that, whilst they complained of
1° a, i Lief"enee of an individual with their officers—not
bave , 5 the law, but to give effect to it—they should
inot
they wur,o.
.ealled together themselves to consider w. het ter
bed,. t", 1,1 warraut the interference by one of their own
agres,4o-11Ppress one portion of the resolution they had
theljasß uBtIToN here said that he had been attacked by
attyinz
o_ _ 'ler stron
again, ilo:eeaker, but he did not mean to be provoked
gly his feelings might be roused, into
. !Mr. Hodgson what he had said last week, which
(Mr. Rushton) had' and
ne richly deserved, a
dismiss, or hold out which he deserved now. He
guage to that effeet tO InVlr
one no such thing as to threaten to
intimidation, or ute any lan-
tered on ti,hgerteUdlatch
to him, and said d. D"ling. Mr. Dowling came
he fear,e the resolution could not e en. Committee
Rusht on)
'8 books ; and Coen( Mr.
Wont to ask with him• Mr. Dowling then said " I
your advice
Me • d , and I hoPe
.you
.will give it to_
th_ , o. you think I o h
e magistrates to the ought to submit this resolution of
the force." th.
(Mr.RN4 etch Committee before I read it
huel:t not ; you are .eitheshten) said, " Mr, Dowling, you
if Yott decline torel.. to obey the magistrates. or not ,
onet;'_..e.trinioned." ,I' their
.orders the magistrates must
u Int As using any sort of threat to Mr.
it
w._ g of dismissal, or holding ofthe kind,
.8 utterl • , out anything
Mr. _. ~ 3 untrue.
Mr. irtiuODGSON.—I-le says so. _
gether. SEIToN.—It is utterly untrue: I deny it alto-
Mr. no
mr.
it wttrio was sent for, and during the interval.
wrnld iusuToN, again denying the assertion, said he
thasth.P'edge his honour to thispoint. He n,
'.
th --'lB char h d bd
e a been made, demand a formal vote from
4, magistratess, as to his discretion in waiving the of
restduti '
1411,_,r ons referred to.
. very strong personal allusions were here made
• yuesSrs .
, Hon • Ralabone and Rushton.
rvi r.
01,i_,
,eiosoN skid he did not mean to take the matter
tong:
Tlineatiner in which it had beentaken up by Mr. Rush-
iteritlem roaring and getviculation that came from that
so, _. pn vet re best exhibit, d to the town in their native
the"). _ He left him end his eetication to be estimated by
ha, ;ow his (Mr. Hodgsen's) education and conduct
" hen for • •
Mr. _ hied in another school.
''''''. EARLa.-1 should like to have the opinion of the

town on that point ; I think there would be a vast majo-
rity in favour of Mr. Rushton (hear, hear.)
Ma. AD AM ii ODGSON expressed his sincere regret that
for the first time these sort of personalities seemed to have
been introduced among them. He earnestly hoped that
gentlemen would remember the office they held, and the
respect they claimed from the town at large, and that
they would calmly and quietly discuss the various mat-
ters before them without induhdng in personalities. Mr.
Rushton had asked their sanction for withdrawing part
of the proceedings of the last meeting, and he thought
him entitled to it ; but, again, he hoped that personalities
would not be renewed, and that their proceedings would
henceforward be conducted with becoming care and
dignity.
Mr. D. HonosoN denied that he bad referred to Mr.
Rushton. Mr. Rushton, he said, had appropriated to
himself what was applied to the whole body of magis-
trates; and he (Mr. Hodgson) should act always as he
helix ved to be right, irrespective of any party. Whether
he pleased or displeased he did not care. He was not
going to be personal beyond what the state of facts justi-
fied, but Mr. Rushton most egregiously over-rated him-
self and his position if he fancied for tithe moment that he
would overawe him (Mr. Hodgson.) He had sat with
Mr. Rushton in the discharge of magisterial duty, and
should sit with him again, irrespective of what occurred
there. Nothing that Mr. Rushton had said should affect
his conduct—not one straw.
Ma. Ru 'tor.—The less you say of Mr. Rushton,
*
the bett ti please.
Mr. Y rem ,rked that Mr. Rushton was per-
fectly justi ed in altering a technical mistake in the reso-
lution; and he added that the resolution of the Watch
Committee had been drawn carefully in such a way as to
avoid all offence to the magistrates.
Mr. Dowling having entered the room whilst Mr.
Hornby was speaking, was examined by Mr. Rushton as
follows: _ . . - _ _

Mr. RUSHTON.--I wish to ask you a question about the
magistrates. It has been represented here that you state
you wt re threatened with dismisi-al if you did not read the
resolution to the polite-force before going before the
Watch Committee.

Mr. Dowling.—l have never made any such assertion.

Mr. D. HonGsoN.—Have you not seated to the mem-
bers of the Watch Committee, and to Mr. Thompson,
what passed between you and Mr. Rushton—that he did
threaten you with calling the magistrates together if you
did not read that resolution, and that you anticipated con-
sequent dismissal?
Mr. Dowling.—l stated what I state now, that Mr.
Rushton told me unless I read those orders, agreeably
to the instructions or the magistrates, he would call a
meeting of the magistrates.
Mr. D. HODGSON.—Did you state no inference?
Mr. Dowling.—No, sir.
Mr. D. HODGSON .—Did you not state before the Watch
Committee, that that was the sane thing as your dis-
missal ?
Mr. Dowling.—l never recollect having so stated.
Mr. D. FlonusoN.—Have you not stated that to Mr.
Thompson ?
Mr. Dm, ling.—l possibly might have stated that the
magistrates had power to dismiss me.

Mr. D IIODGSON.—Did you not state you considered
that as a threat ? —that if you did not obey, that that
would he the consequence?

Mr. Dlwling.—l have never gone beyond stating—and
I probably did state—that the magistrates had the power
of dismissing me if they thought proper.
Mr. D. HODGSON.—Have you anticipated that as a re-
sult ?—have you stated so or t,ot ?
Mr; Dowling.—No, I have not.
Mr. D. HODGSON.—Did you ask Mr. Rushton's per-
mission to submit these resolutions to the Watch Com-
mittee ?

Mr. Dowling.—l did; and Mr. Rushton told me I was
not to do so, but to read them to the force as the order of
the magistrates.

Mr. D. 11 ODGSON.—Did he tell you what he would do
if you would not?

Mr. Dowling.—That is, if I did not read them, he
would call the magistrates together
Mr D. HODGSON.—Recollect !hat you have given evi-
dence before the Watch Committee.
Mr. Dowling.—He said, if I di.l not read them he
would call the magistrates together.
Mr. RUSEITON.—Did you come into this room and ask
my advice because you were placed between two fires,—
whether you should submit the resolution to the Watch
Committee before reading it to the police force? I said,
"no. go and fulfil the magistrates' orders—that is my
advice." Did anything pass that would lead you to be-
lieve I had a hostile feeling, or that I exercised any threat.
or held out any inducement?
Mr. Dowling.—No.
Mr. RUSHTON —Yon see, Mr. Mayor, the imputation
attempted to be cast upon me is perfectly untrue.
Mr. D. HODGSON said he would pledge,his honor that
Mr. Dowling had stated, he conside►ed that if he had
read those orders without consulting the Watch Commit-
tee, he should be called before the magistrates, and be
anticipated dismissal.
Mr. Dowling here appealed to Mr. Hornby as to what
had passed in the Watch Committee.
Mr. HORNBY said most distinctly he had not heard
Mr. D ,wling say before the committee that any threat
had been used. He was not aware that he ever stated
that his impression was that it would lead to a dismissal.
After some further remarks of a somewhat personal na-
ture from Messrs. Rathbone, Brown, and Earle, Mr.
Hodgson left the room.
The resolution was then carried unanimously ; and on
'the motion of Mr. ADAM HODGSON, seconded by Mr.
BOLTON, it was unanimously resolved, " that the magis-
trates consider that Mr. Rushton exercised a sound dis-
crPtion, in authorising Mr. Dowling to omit the in-
sertion in the general order book of the police-force
of the minutes of the magistrates at their last meet-
ing." _ . . _ _

A vote of thanks was moved to the mayor, for his con-
duct as pre=idinz magistrate. and his worship, in reply,
briefly acknowledged the compliment.
The meeting then separated, being occupied nearly two
hours.

DOCK COMMITTEE MEETING ON THURSDAY.

There were present—Mr. Moore (in the chair), and
Messrs. Nicol, Middleton, Chilton, Wood, Henderson,
Mann, Aikin, Rovden, Tobin, Bold, Moon, Sandbaeli,
Kendall, Evans, and Ripley. It was agreed to let 4000
yards of land on the west side of Brunswick Dock. at
Is. 6d. a yard yearly, to Messrs. Hodgson and Co., for
shipbuilding, until they could proeure another site—pos-
session to be given up at any time on six months' notice.
A letter was read from Mr. T. Wilson, accepting the
terms upon which the committee agreed to let him !he
land required for a ship-building yard at the Brunswick
Dock, but expressing a hope that he might be allowed
compensation for the build.ngs be might erect, or be per-
mitred to re-lease the land for the same purpose. Adis-
cussion ensued, the result of which was that the committee
had no 'power with re-leasing. On'the motion of Mr.
Nicol, the standing orders before discussed were adopted,
to ne consi.lered in detail in a fortnight. The receipts of
dock and light dues at Runcorn for the last month were
£52,000 14s. 6d., being an increase of £6 Ils. 2d., as
compared with the corresponding month last year.

THE SUB-COMMITTEE OF WORKS.

Mr. EVANS said, in effect, that when he was elected
into that committee he was in Ireland, and his conduct
was arraigned at the meeting as a justification of removing
him from the sub-committee of works. The excuse was,
that he was opposed to dock extension ; and what if he
were ? If he were convinced that he ought to do so in
degree at the time at which it was proposed, it was his
duty to do so. He never did oppose dock extension alto-
gether. He had opposed docks at the south, because he
considered it for the advantage of the dock estate to do so.
With regard to the north, he thought it premature to apply
to Parliament this year; but he had it always in contem-
plation that the Dock Committee should construct a
large dock at the north; and indeed he himself was the
main suggester and negociator for the purchase of the
land, with a vie% to its being so appropriated hereafter.
Hip opposition to what he conceived the premature con-
struction of docks in that quarter did not render him inca-
pable or unwilling to do his duty and carry out what was
ultimately resolved on. So much otherwise ind ed was
the fact, that the only improvements in the plans officially
adopted were made by Mr. Aikin and himself. He re-
ferred to Mr. Hartley, whe her the half-tide basin which
was added had not been suggested by him.
Mr. HARTLEY said he believed that was Mr. Evans's
suggestion.
Mr. EVANS said he had thus shown his willingness to
work on that committee, and his ability to be of use in the
executive of dock management. His past conduct had
received the approbation and sanction of the rate-payers,
the merchants of Liverpool, aid the constituents of the
committee. His election should have Vexed his past con-
duct out of view, and absolved him from their hostility.
He was not there for the furtherance of any private views
of interest, but the accredited and honoured representa-
tive of the ratepayers and merchants. Will one excep-
tion, he believed, he was the oldest member of that com-
mittee—certainly the oldest of the committee of works, at
the formation of which he assisted. The ratepayers had
had his conduct and views before them for nine years, and
it was with a full knowleige of these that he had been
elected without any interference of his own. When they
flew in the face of that sonstituency, in order to disgrace
one of the members of that committee, they were at issue
with the public ; and they were on their trial, and not he
on his. It might be said that that committee had a right
to choose their own sub-committee, but that would not
get them out of their dilemma, for they would be judged
by the public not according to what they had a legal right
to do, but what they were morally bound to do. On the
part of those who sent him there, he claimed that station
which he had had in the committee in former years, and
from which he had been improperly removed. To remove
him from an executive committee, where lie had acted
a useful part, to a mere negative committee (the fihanc.),
was an aggravation of the insult which had been offered to
the ratepayers and merchants who had returned him into
that committee by an overwhelming majority, in the ex-
pectation that he would he there to attend to their inte-
rests with unimpaired efficiency. It he were not on the
committee of works, it was impossible he could perform
the duties which the public expected. He concluded by
reiterating his protest against the conduct of the com-
irettee with regard to him, and making a distinct claim to
be reinstated, by some means or other, in his proper
station.

Mr. RIPLEY regretted that he had not been pres,-nt at
the last meeting to join the minority, as no good reason
had been shown why Mr. Evans should be removed from
the sub-committee of works.

Mr. MOON expressed the same feeling.
Mr. Nicol, was glad Mr. Evans now thought the rate-
payers and merchants an important body, for be recol-
lected him speaking of them as little less than a fugitive
body, in which he Mr. N. differed from him. After noti-
cing the hard expres-ions of Mr. E., such as " violent and
unjustifiable," " insult to the rate-payers," &C., he came

to the matter in question. The placing of Mr. Evans on
the Finance Committee was proposed by one of the re-
presentatives of the rate-payers, and all the representa-
tives of the rate-payers present concurred. If, therefore,
they were to be guided by the opinions of the rate-payers,,
they, had acted correctly. He did not consider it an. insult
to Mr. Evans, or to the rate pavers at all. Mr. Evans
had objected to the act recently obtained, the carrying nut`
of which was the work of the sub-committee, and it might
well be supposed that it would be disagreeable for him to
carry out a matter to which he was opposed. The fiinnce
committee, too, was almost annihilated, all the members
but Mr. Molyneux having retired, and he thought it desi-
rable to place an old member of the committee upon that
sub-committee, along with the new members. The finance
committee was an important one, and as Mr. Evans had
on every occasion taken an active part in financi-d mat-
ters, he thought he would be a very valuable man. He
did not consider the committee of works more executive
than any other. Finally, he considered the committee
quite justified in coming to the conclusion in which they
had acted.
Mr. BOLD said Mr. Evans had taken so active a part in
council and in London in opposing the measure alluded
to, that he did not consider he was a proper person to
carry out the construction of the works. He referred to
the Parliamentary Sub-committee.
Mr. EVANS said he was not present when it was read,
and he never thought it worth while to notice it after-
wards.

Mr. ToBIN said he bad opposed Mr. Evans because be
had used his strongest exertions to prevent the extension
of docks.

Mr. AIKIN said the same argument that applied to Mr.
Evans applied to himself; bur he was satisfied that the
various committees would not have been proposed as they
had been unless previously sanctioned by a number of
those who took the leading management in the affairs of
that board. Great importance was attached to the fact
that, because Mr. Bold, as one of the candidates of the
rate-payers, was the mover, therefore it sprang from Mr.
Bold and the rate-payers, and not from those holding in-
terests there. He, (Mr. A.) however, knew too much of
the real working of party business to suppose that this
was a candid or sincere view of the matter. Mr. Mann,
for instance, who had only attended once or twice, would
never have mentioned thenames for a committee if he had
not been authorized to do so. He and Mr. Evans were
not opposed to chick extension ; what they were opposed to
was being hurried into an expenditure involving a million
and a half to two millions of money, when it appeared to
them that a dock could be obtai ed in Wallasey Pool for
£5,000 which would take off the surplus from the do,ks
of Liverpool. accommodate the lying-up ships, and Rive a
space equal to the largest dock in Liverpool, besides pro-
viding a place for the deposit of timber either on the land
or water. They believed and hoped that if they could have
had a little more time, they would have been enabled to
do that which would have prevented the opposition anti-
cipated from the docks on the other side of the water. He
would not say whether the removal of Mr. Evans from the
sub-committee of Works was intended as an insult to Mr.
Evans or not, but he thought it was something like an in-
sult to the community which so recently voted him back
there—not because of any political party feeling, but be-
cause they knew his efficiency in carrying out the works
and advocating warehouses round the docks. Knowing
his efficiency, it was wrong in the committee to lesson it.
Mr. Tontrt considered that no insult had been intended
to the rate-payers. They were sent there without any
pledge whatever. For his own part he had voted accord.
ing to his conscience. Mr. Evans was not a proper man
to go on the committee.

Mr. MANN said he bad certainly been requested to
move the committee, but that was after he came into the
room.

Mr. EVANS, in reply, stated that when the Board of
Works came with a report, their influence was generally
so irresistible, that any one who beard it had seldom or
ever any chance of p.oducing an alteratjon. Thus the
Committee ot Woks was in reality the organ of the ge-
neral committee. Mr. Aikin and he had suggested great
alterations and improvements in the plans adopted for the
docks. There was evidence both of their ability and their
will to do their duty. As to what he might have said
about the rate-payers eight or nine }ears ago, and, no
doubt, sedulously repeated by his political enemies,
who were legion, still, in d fiance of this alleged insult,
they had overlooked it all, for he supposed they had dis-
covered some little merit in him to re-elect him. Those
who proposed him or. the committee to which he was ap.
pointed, had, no doubt whatever, received their orders.
With respect to his being placed on the Finance Commit-
tee as being an old member, if that were mentioned out of
do.irs it would be laughed at. He knew ot where an old
member ought to be, it it were not on the first committee
of the docks. He (Mr. E.) was the oldest member of the
sub-committee and the oldest member of the dock com-
mittee, except Mr. Tobin, and,thetefore, he should think,
it he, like old wine, was of any value whatever, he ought
to have been made use of, where he could have been of
the greatest service. To put him on a committee which
had absolutely no duties; for they just opened tenders,
which were mentioned there, and then accepted or not;
to put him on that committee was, as he said before, an
aggravation of the insult offered to the rate-payers and
the merchants of Liverpool. Alter alluding to the un-
biassedyei
nw ghmoo aucnt,n,
oneftri
wn inuh
eawd, hhtioac
dhi
insinuate
eienc hou ama,tlee bl
taehwean.t
iehnlees
icwrti eou dua
tl,
edl eb id
w aadty twh theas
st
tclawr
false. He would tell tiny one gentleman of that commit-
tee who chose to take it to himself, that he (Mr. Evans)
would hold himself personally responsible for any remar k
he might make. He considered it a daring outrage of
principle, and one he could not permit without giving it
the "lie" at once. (Confusion.)
The CHAIRMAN called the speaker to order, noticing
the language used as exceedingly improper. The party
alluded to should he named, and no such language as that
applied to the committee generally, which was a gruss in-
sult to the whole. He (Mr. E.) bad insinuated that the
members of that committee had received orders to put
him off the Board of Works. _ _ .

Mr. EVANS said "certain members of the committee."
The CHAIRMAN asked from whom?
Mr. BOLD said he had receiv-.cl no such orders.
Mr. HENDERSON considered the whole committee in-
sulted
The CHAIRMAN remarked on the extreme impropriety
of such insinuations cast upon the committee. For him-
self, be did not know the constitution of a single com-
mittee.
- Mr. Toutx said be should have been insulted if he had
ibeen ord.-led to vote for any committee.

---Mr.EvANs.—With respect to orders, so far as gentle-
men have declared that there was nothing of the sort, I am
bound to believe them.

Mr.. MANN disclaimed obeying any orders.
Mr. EvANs said he had no objection to withdraw it.
TheCH AIRMAN hoped hewould withdraw the others too.
Mr. EVANS said he was hound to believe gentlemen
when they made an assertion, bu- he saw no reason for
their complaining of receiving orders, because it was the
order of their party—another word for saving they yielded
to the influence and dictation of one another. As to the
opinion he had expressed with regard to any one who
would assert that he would knowingly act contrary to his
duty, h could not treat it otherwise than he had done.
The CHAIRMAN said no such imputation had been cast
upon Mr. Evans, and his remarks were therefore un-
called fm.

Some explanation followed, to the effect that no such
imputation was made, and Mr. EVANS then said he was
bound in honour ttt withdraw the expressions.
Mr. BOLD said Mr. Evans would not he deprived of the
power of making improvements, because decisions were
come to in the whole committee, and not on the Board of
W(trks.

The CHAIRMAN remarked that the improvements in
the plans were not entirely confined to Mr. Aikin and
Mr. Evans. Other alterations were made before they
aiw them.

Mr. EVANS said he was not aware of it.
The CHAIRMAN.—However the thing is settled, and
the oublie will have the benefit of it.

Mr. EVANS.—Tbere were suggestions for great altera-
tion.

Mr. AIKIN did not attach the slightest importance to
any su2gestion he made; it only went to show that they
were by no means inim.eal to the inter,sts of the docks,
and that that was a good reason why Mr. Evans should
be on the eub-Committee of Works.

The committee adjourned at half-past three o'clock.

COURT OF REQUESTS.-PARKER v. BROWN..

BILL.

The Commissioner of the Court of Requests having
adjourned the case from Friday until Tuesday, that he
might consider how he should decide uvon it, it was ac-
cordingly resuoied on Tuesday moral ig. Both the
parties, and several of their friends, were present, but
the att ndance of others was very meagre.
The COMMISSIONER said, that before he gave judgment
he wished to put a question or two.

. .
The defendant. bzing sworn, said, in reply to questions
put, that the applintion for payment of the promissory
note was first made to his brother-in-law, James Brown-
bill, by Mr. Parker's clerk, ou the 2d Novemoer.
e*
De-
fendant
was not 11' elf present, and his brother-in-law
was not now her e was his brother-in-law, though of
the same name, as ey were cousins, and had married
two sisters. He supposed Mr. Parker's collector had
called on his hi other-irr.law in mistake.

Mr. Wigge. the collector, being called. said, he had
called on the brother•in-law of defendant on Friday fort.
night. the 9th instant. He had mistaken the man, as
bath were watchmakers, and both of the same name. He
did not see the defendant about it until Saturday fortnight.
Mr. Parker, being sworn, said he had mentioned the
amount to be due to his collector amongst other small
debts, but he could not recollect the precise day. His
suspicion had been raised (as he before stated) by the
defendant. drawing his attention to the post-mark of the
letter. But he would not have proceeded so hastily
against him, had he not been informed that a member of
the Reform Assoc'ation had declared that they would
spend £l,OOO sooner than not turn him out of the ward.
He certainly felt hurt at this, and therefore brought the
matter forward.

The COMMISSIONER then proceeded to give his deci-
sion with great slowness of utterance and at great length,
but we can but give the heads of his •principal remarks.
He said that the court had undivided jurisdiction in claims
of £2, but between £2 and £5 it bad a concurrent juris-
diction with the Borough Court, in which last the ques-
tion could be investigated by a jury, and an appeal could
be had to the courts at Westminster. lie remarked
on the evidence of the two parties, and quoted several law
authorities as to what constituted bribery and corruption.
There were two modes i❑ which the court might come to
a conclusion. One wa to nonsuit the plaintiff, which
would not prevent him from proceeding in another court
if he thought that advisable; arid another was to give judg-
ment to the defendant, in which case there would be no
appeal, and penalties might he proceeded for in the higher
courts. He had come to the conclusion that tie case was

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD