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

122230 8 6

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 1
of this borough, which took place at Leamington, about
half-past eleven o'clock on the night of Friday last. For
some months past the health of this universally esteemed
gentleman, and excellent public officer, had been in an
unsatisfactory state; and he was urged by his family and
friends to endeavour to recruit himself, by a temporary
absence from the labours and cares of his highly responsi-
ble office. It was not, however, until about three weeks
ago that he was induced, at the instance, mainly, of ieveral
leading members of the various committees, who feared
for the effect of the incessant pressure of business upon
his then shattered frame, to comply with this reque,t ; 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 as to excite the serious alarm of ills
friends; and it was rumoured about on Saturday, that
death had terminated his labours in this world. Tne
rumour, however, though unfortunately it has since
proved too correct, was at that period supposititious, and
had arisen apparently from his having had an attack of para
lysis about four days previously, which partially deprived
him of the use of his left side, and caused the worst ap-
prehensionsto be entertained by his physicians. Numerous
and anxious enquiries were made at the Town Hall during
the day; and the accounts given led his friends to expect
that the post on Sunday. or Monday morning at furthest,
would bring an account of the melancholy event; and on
Sunday it was accordingly communicated to the Mayor
and to the members of his family at home that he had
ceased to live.
Mr. Radcliffe was the son of Mr. John Radcliffe,
guager in the Customs ; and was educated at the school
of the Rev. Mr. Fearon, then situated in Mount-pleasant.
in this town. He served his clerkship to the late Mc.
Joshua Lace, (father of Mr. Ambrose Lace, of the firm of
Laces, Myers, Rigge, 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
future eminence in his profession. As an iestance of the
esteem of Mr. Lace for the lariented deceased; we may
mention that after Mr. R. had been for some time in prac-
tice, he presented him with a handsome service of plate.
In 1813 he commenced business on iii 3 own account, and
was for many years at the head of the eminent firm of
Radcliffe and Duncan ; and, in 1836, he was appointed
Town-clerk and Clerk of the Peace, at a salary of £2,000
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 the subordinate courts, where numberless
complicated questions 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 testimonies 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 and foresight as a man of business.
In his early youth Mr. Radcliffe's politics were of the
conservative school, as were those of his father. lie was
an ardent supporter of the late George Canning in all his
contests in Liverpool ; and although, during the acitation
for the Reform Bill, rind previously, he entertained lberal
views (as it is well kown did many conservatives) with
respect to the necessity of this and other ameliorating
measures, he never identified himself with the Whig party,
and, indeed, always disclaimed any change from the opi-
nions of his early days. Considerations of politics, how-
ever, never entered into the performance of his public
duties ; and he succeeded in the very difficult task of
performing them to the satisfaction of both Rallies, and
of winning the confidence of all.
By the death of Mr. Radcliffe the borough of Liver-
pool has sustained a loss which will be deplored by men
of all parties, as well upon private as upon public grounds.
There are few who have had the pleasure of er3joying his
society in his private circle, who can readily forget his
amiable and engaging character ; and none with whom he
has ever been brought in contact in the course of his pro-
fessional career who will not readily acknowledge the
clearness of intellect. and judgment, mingled with deep
legal knowledge, which on every occasion he displayed.
Nor were opportunities 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, questions which have been presented to him in
these eanacities, a general correctness and soundness of
in'ormation 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 confidence.
Mr. Radcliffe was married to Miss Mary Anne Hayton,
(the daughter of the late Mr. John Hayton,) by whom
he had five sons and two daughters. Mrs. Radcliffe, the
two daughters and four of the sons, are left to mourn the
loss of one of the best of husbands and mo-t affectionate
' of fathers, in which they will receive the heartfelt syea-
pat lay of this community.
A most important question now arises, and unfortunately
too, with respect to the party to be appointed to fill the
offices, held so efficiently by Mr. Radcliffe. Upon this
,übject we should have hesitated to offer any suggestions
or even remarks ; but a contemporary has given to the
public the names of three gentlemen, a= aspirants to that
position, which circumstance releases us from any jifficulty
upon the score of delicacy at least. The names in question
are those of Mr. Ambrose Lece, Mr. John North, Mr.
W. Shuttleworth, and Mr. John Buck Lloyd. All these
gentlemen possess in every respect unexceptionable claims
to the office, but they are evidently mentioned without
authority as we know that neither of the two first has en-
tertained the slightest idea of offering himself to the
Council ; and we are reminded, moreover, that in ac-
cordance with the resolution of the Council two years ago,
adopted on the recommendation of the paid officers' Com-
mittee, it is extremely probable that the duties performed
by the late Town Clerk will, for the future, be appertioned
between the two distinct officers, the one performing the
duties which belong to the office of Town Clerk, and the
other that of the Clerk of Peace. The salary recom-
mended for the former of these two offices if £2.000 per
annum. That fot the latter remains to be filled up by
the Council; but will scarcely, we believe, be one-half
that of the Town Clerk, though the gentleman appointed
will not be debarred from other business.

The same committe also recommends the appointment
of an additional officer, who shall perform the duties of
Clerk of the Council and Prosecuting Solicitor, with a
salary of £l,OOO per annum.
Of course we are not at paesent advised how far these
arrangements will be adopted by the council. Presuming,
however, that they will in a great measure be carried out,
we gather, from the feeling existing at present in influential
quarters, that Mr. Shuttleworth, the present most efficient
deputy, is likely to be strongly supported for the office of
Town-clerk, with the duties of which he must he intimately
acquainted. Mr. J. B. Lloyd, we believe, will offer him-
self as Clerk of the Peace ; and, from that gentleman's
known business habits, and 11;s long experience in the du-
ties of the office, during his connexion with the late Mr.
Thomas Forster, and since that period, we cannot conceive
that any more elihible selection can be made. We gladly
leave the matter, however, to the unbiassed decision of the
council.

Since the above was written, and at too late an hour to
enable us to make inquiry into its truth, a report has
rtached us that Mr Peter Wright is a candidate for one
or other of the vacant offices. Mr. Wright is a man in
all respects quaiified for office, and his claims are entitl,d
to every consideration. He stands high—very high—in
the profession, and has devoted gratuitously his time and
talents to the public service for a considerable period.