The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1843-04-28 00:00:00

THE FIRE RILL.

The Council then resolved itself into a committee for the
consideration of the Fire 13111.
The DEPUTY Town-CLERK read the proceedings of the
committee since the adjournment. At tE meetjng held on the
24th inst. at which Mr. Rowlands, architect, was present on
behalf of the parties who deemed' their interest affected by
the bill, it was resolved that the following modifications in
the bill be proposed to the conned :
No cellar used for the deposit of goods shall make the
building above liable to the regulations if the cellar be made
to comply with the regulations affecting it, and be arched
with brick, or the ceiling lined with sheet iron, zinc; or other
approved material.
[This modification would exempt chapels over cellars used
for goods.]
The dOot-frames or jambs, door-sills and heads, window-
frames apd pent•houses, and also catheads (except the
sheaves, which must be of hardwood), may be of wrought or
cast iron, at the option of the party ; or, as to existing ware-
houses, may, with the exception of the pent-houses and cat-
heads, at the party's option, be lined with sheet iron, zinc,
or other approved material. But doors and window-shutters
must be of wrought iron, or, in existing warehouses, be, at
the option of the party, lined as above mentioned. Teagle-
blocks, not being used in warehouses, to be struck out of the
bill.

The doors and door-frames or jambs, door-sills and heads,
and window-shutters and frames of a room in a warehouse,
not used as a warehouse-room or es a iorwatcling"
shall be exempt from tlic.• rci;,ulations ;'`provided that in new
warehouse-a pp roOM'itintediatety Under any room used as u
Warebonse•roorri shall'be exempted, unless the same shall be
arched, or the ceiling arched with sheet iron, &c.

[This would exempt offices, counting-houses, sale-rooms,
news-rooms, &c.]
Palm oil to be excepted from the list of dangerous goods.
The dangerous goods specitied in the list to be allowed to
be disposed of in existing warehouses, having doors, &c.,
lined with sheet iron.

The boiling of oil, blubber, or t;r, and the manufacturing
of vegetable or mineral naptba, 'or tarnish, to be inserted iu
the list of thingercius' trades, with the exception, as to any
building detached by 75 feet from any other building.
At a'meeting on the 25th instant, it was further resolved
that the following exemptions be proposed to the council :
Of buildings and rooms in which retail trades only shall
be carried on, such trades not being in the list of dr,nerous
trades ; of warehouses or rooms attached to or funning part
of buildings entirely in the ssux rind' used only
for retail trades not in the list of dangerous trades for the
purposed ofwbibli retail trades only, goods shall be deposited
in such' warelionses• or Warehouse=rooms ; of buildings de-
tached from' any' other buildings not in the same occupation,
and in which manufactories only shall be carried on, such
manufactories not being in the list of dangerous ; of
warehouses or rooms attached to or t'2.rrn4..• part of build-
ings entirely in the same, occivation; and- detached from
buildings in ::n- other odebPat.ion, and' which shall be used
only for.rnannfActories not in' the list of dangerous trades,
by Mr. i\T“;o:t., moved
for thiptirpoSes'ef which manufactories only, goods shall be
deposited in such warehouie or rooms,
it wa bis intention
conainittei.
Mr. PARKER opposed the bill: the Measure
theS confirmation iBo LIB oRfAtYh ce
KpEr ogc'eseedci;,' seconded
eedf the
was unjnst to the ratepayetS,.hean,seit Was a mere question
between the insbrerS and the rnssbyed.
to oppose the
additional hal-flied/4 the 1304nd, proposed to be added to
the rire;police rate.
Some allusion having been made to the Water Bill,
TtloNxii,t, 'said
Mr. AsrxNALL said that a constant and abundant supply
of water was the great desideratutn. This had been experi-
enced in numerous cases in tlstown. At the tire on Satur-
day night last, at Messrs. Robinson and Co.'s premises, it
fortunately happened that there was a tank of water on the
o
premises, or the whole stack t 711rehouse-
wouldhave been
destroyed. With prootPt ,:uPPI,eB Of Water, 'none of the
recent great fires in this OWLI would have attained any mag-
nitude.
11,1 r Time answered somalengththe arguments nr.ed
against e
bill.

Mr. LLOYD moved, as an amendment, that considering the
many important interests embodied in the bill, and the great
change which its provisions would make in a great mass of
property in the town, and also considering the short time the
bill had been before the inhabitants, it should he withdrawn
for the present session, but that the council was of opinion
that at present the town is not sufficiently supplied with
water.

Mr. KILSHAW seconded the amendment.
Mr. BRAMLEY MOORE opposed the bill as distressing and
arbitrary, and urged the necessity of delay, in order that the
town might have an opportunity of judging of It.
Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE expressed similar opinions, but
was afraid the Paving-board would also withdraw their bill.
Mr. J. HoLmEs said there was no such intention. The
Water Bill would proceed under any circumstances.
Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE proceeded to say that the fault was
in the bad regulations of the present warehouses, arid the re-
medy would be in building warehouses round the docks,
which were the proper places for them, and the only places
of safety.

Mr. EARLE said the great requirement was water. The
bill imposed great hardships and offered no commensurate
good. The regulations were not the cause of the evil, for
all the great fires had originated not in the warehouses but in
the buildings adjoining.
A conversation ensued on the subject of the effect of giving
up the Fire Bill for the present. It was again stated that the
Water Bill would be persevered in, and that it had been read
a second time and would go into committee on the 11th May.
It was intended to use fresh water, though power would be
given to use any water, salt or fresh. The Town-clerk ex-
plained, that if the Fire Bill were postponed, it would be
necessary for the council to give their assent to the water
clauses. But if the bill provided that the council should pay
£5OO a-year for the water, it was necessary to have a pro-
vision to enable them to lay a rate of a halfpenny in the
pound to meet that payment. It was stated by several
members of the Watch Committee, that the present rate of
a halfpenny in the pound would be more than sufficient, as
they bad a surplus sf £2500 in hand over their expenditure.
Mr. Lloyd's amendment was pet, when there appeared—
For the amendment
Against it

Majority
The following is the division :
For the amendment.--Councillors : Isaac Holmes, Thorn-
hill, Copeland, Thompson, North, H. Holmes, Hornby, J.
Holmes, Aspinall, J. Lawrence, Wood, Procter, Lloyd, Kil-
ahaw, Parker, Brassey, Plumpton, Lace, Platt, Sheppard,
Harbord ; Aldermen: Houghton, Earle, Freme, Crook,
Bramley-Moore, E►ans.-27.
Against it.—Councillors : Shand, Hodgson, Aikin, S.
Holtne, Birkett, G. H. Lawrence, Trotman, Smith ; Alder-
men : Bulley, Brancker, Turner, Holt, Nicol, Molyneux,
Moon, and the Mayor.-16.
The council proceeded to the consideration of the clauses
of the Water Bill, and Mr. BIRKETT, seconded by Mr.
EARLE, moved that the clauses be adopted.—Carried.

BREWERS AND SPIRIT DEALERS ON THE 'WATCH

COMMITTEE

Mr. EARLE was about to bring forward his motion on this
subject, when, being past three o'clock,
Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE suggested that it should be post-
poned, urging that at that late hour it would be impossible

to do justice to the subject.
Mr. Alderman EAGLE said be had been called on by the
Mayor, and be regarded this interruption as an unworthy
attempt to stifle what he (Mr. Earle) was determined should
go abroad. . _

- Mr. G. H. LAwimicx.—Then you should have a special
council for the purpose.
Mr. Alderman EARLE.—I disapprove highly of what the
Chairman of the Finance Committee says : the Chairman of
the Finance Committee is " I, I, I," upon every occasion ;
and it is really setting every body else in this council practi-
cally at nought. I must protest against this sort of thing—
Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE.--I do not know that I have said

" I, I, I ;" but go on, if you like.
Mr. Alderman EARLE then said, it was upon public
grounds alone that he had put this motion upon the paper,
for he had had no personal feeling whatever upon the subject.
(Hear, hear.) Mr. Hodgson might sneer, but he (Mr. Earle)
would give the council his honour that it was so. (Hear.)
The MAYOR thought that Mr. Alderman Earle's assurance
should be received.

Mr. Alderman EARLE.—And very likely, with the excep-
on of Mr. Hodgson, it would be.
Mr. HonhsoN._--We shall hear that by and bye. _

Mr. Alderman EARLS.--I have no wish to hear any thing
from you. (Order, order.) He must now request the Deputy
Town, clerk to read certain acts of parliament of which he
had a list.
The DEPUTY TOWN-CLERIC then read them.
Mr. Alderman EARL]; then said he had desired these acts
of Parliament to be read, in order to chew, as they had all
seen the notice he had put on the paper, how jealous the le-
gislature was of persons acting as justices in matters where
their private interests were likely to interfere with their pub-
lic duty. It was quite impossible that any man could stand
altogether independent of private feeling ; he accused no man
with doing wrong, but he contended they ought not to be
placed in such a position. He dared say that be (Mr. Earle)
should act as any other gentleman would under similar cir-
cumstances ; and therefore he thought it an act of propriety
on the part of the Council not to place gentlemen so situated
upon the Watch Committee, and of delicacy on their part not
to seek for those situations. At the last Connell he made
some remarks about Mr. James Lawrence, which, he dared
say, were incorrect, and that be had no tenants in public
houses; but it was very well known to the magistrates that
gentlemen in that business (and he wished he was doing such
a good business himself,) were the owners of public-houses.
At least they were in the habit of giving notice that they did
not object to the transfer of licenses. Mr. James Lawrence's
name was often brought forward in this way, and other gen-
tlemen on the committee came before the magistrates very
often, in like manner, for allowing a man to remove his li-
cense from one house to another ; and unless they were the
owners and proprietors of the houses the magistrates could
not receive it. That, then, :hewed the proprietorship. It
was very clear, therefore, that the police, seeing there were
so many of these gentlemen upon the watch committee, and
their masters, would be biassed thereby ; of course, there-
fore if publicans were brought up to be fined, who were their
tenants, it must interfere with the proper discharge of their
duties, although they, no doubt had every disposition to do
so. It was not likely,—we could nut expect it, that the cir-
cumstances would have no influence upon them.
Mr. PAattnt hoped the worthy alderman would confine
himself to facts, not to suppositions.

The MAYOR called Mr.. Parker to order, observing that
he would stop Mr. Earle if he went wrong.
Mr. Alderman EAuLE said he was only arguing according
to the law of the country. There was surely no suppositions
there. He did not know what Mr. Parker meant.

The Mayon said that Mr. Parker would have an oppor-
tunity, if he chose, of expressing his sentiments.
Mr. Alderman EARLE, in conclusion, said that with these
observations be should move the following resolutions :
" That in the opinion of this Council, it is their imperative
duty to do all in their power to enforce the salutary law pro-
hibiting the sale of ale or spirits on Sundays before the hour
of one in the afternoon ; and that, in accordance with the
spirit of sec. 6, 9th Gee. IV, cap. 61, quoted below, no
brewer, spirit dealer, or other person selling wine, beer, or
spirits to publicans, should sit on the Watch Committee when
any case affCcting publicans and beer-sellers, or informations
against them, or the conduct or employment of any officer
on any case respecting a publican or beer-seller, shall be un-
der discussion." _

" That no Justice, who shall be a common brewer, distiller,
maker of malt for sale, or retailer of malt or of any exciseable
liquor, or who shall be concerned in partnership with any
common brewer, distiller, maker of malt for sale, or retailer
of malt, or any exciseable liquor, shall act in or be present
at any general annual licensing meeting, or at any special
session for granting or transferring licenses under this act, or
shall take part in the discussion or adjudication of the Justices
upon any application for a license, or upon any appeal there-
from ; and no Justice shall act upon any of the aforesaid oc-
casions in the case of any house licensed or about to be
licensed under this act, of which such Justice shall be owner,
or for the owner of which he shall be manager or agent, or
of any house being in whole or in part the property of any
common brewer, distiller, maker of malt for sale, or retailer
of malt or of any excisable liquor, to whom such Justice
shall be, either by blood or by marriage, the father, son, or
brother, or of whom such Justice shall be the partner in any
other trade or calling; and that every Justice who, being
hereby disqualified, shall knowingly or wilfully so offend,
shall, for every such offence, forfeit and pay the sum of one
hundred pounds."
Mr. Alderman FssEME begged to second the motion : in
doing so he would observe that this was one of those pain-
ful duties which a man was sometimea called upon to per-
form ; and it was the more painful, tp him because it would
have something like the appearance of personality. He as-
sured the conneil, however, that he did not second this mo-
tion upon personal grounds, or from any objection to any
individual member of the Watch Committee, but because
the system was founded upon an unsound principle. He
did not second the motion because the gentlemen affected by
it were opposed to him in politics, but because this was no
new thing with him, for it was a question he had mentioned
years ago when the party to which he was attached were in
the majority. lie then proposed, at a private meeting,
exactly the same thing, and it was unanimously carried.
There were then only a section of gentlemen in that parti-
cular trade in the council, and he thought then, and it had
always struck hint, as being a dangerous principle in as much
as it brought men too much iu eontactwith their own interests.
'rite Watch Committee was not to judge between the publicans
and the police only, but it was the judge to see that the in-
terests of the public were duly regarded, and the law should
be administered by them, not only with reference to the pub-
licans, but with reference to the public also. Now, be bad
always thought that there was too much sympathy in that
particular committee, between the brewer and his customer,
that it was putting them in an unpleasant position, or, at all
events, laying them open to suspicion. This was not a ques-
tion of party politics • but it was a question which the real
interests of the public were eoncer,tised: The Watch Com-
mittee should nerfect confidence of the public, and
be desiitiqaf anyihing like suspicion, which was certainly
unpleasant to them, but arose from the nature of their trade,
and from their strong connection, nay, their identity almost,
with their customers. But the great feeling which he (Mr.
Alderman Freme) had, was this—he did not think it fair that
those publicans who were not the customers of brewers upon
the committee should be put upon a worse, footing than
others who were : these latter might ;:tax;'"lM, I have a
friend at court who will prote# melinm the consequences of
every thing, which amnliar roan can not do:" A little thing
in this wtv,- once decurYed to himself. A gentleman said to
him he *as niuch annoyed to find, on speaking to the police-
, man to interfere; he said, " I dare not speak to the publi-
can, because he belongs to so-and. so, who is on the Wadi
Committee." (Great cries of " Name, name.").

Mr. JAMES LAWRENCE called upon Air. Freme to name.
Mr. Freme was a member of iihe'cpinthittee when it had
something to do with iziortnatioas';, and he called upon him
to name thz Whi.eh this matter Occurred. It was most
un,iust that statements Of this kind should be made without
the' shadOW of proof: (Hear, hear.)
The NI AYoR said it was competent for Mr. Frewto make
statements, and he (the Mayor) did not q,;..,e that, in this
instance, it was necessary for him, glve names; inasmuch
as he was merely advocetizg a Oinciple; and he had given
an assurance that, hc.. did: not mean'anyrneinber of the present
committer:.

Mr. Conrcw.-1. think, as Mr. Freme made a direct
charge, he bught to give the names. (Hew, hear, and
" order.").
Mr. Alderman FREME.—But J 40, act know who the gen-
tleman vas. (Hear, hear.)
The MAypn...-4Ae merely stated, that such things had pc,
curred, witilotit giving 'names.
PARicb..--Mr. Mayor, I now think yq:.; Lava allowed
supii6SitiOus., instead of facts. (Q:rdcz.)
The MAVOR.—Namea have not been mentioned. _

Mr. Alderman VltExiit, in'continuation, said he had stated
he did kit knoW within his own knowledge that the fact had
occurred, and that a gentleman had only told him so. He
wished, however, clearly to prove that this motion was not
seconded because the gentlemen concerned differed from him
in politics, but upon the ground that. they were liable to
great suspicion in the discharse pf t4etr' duties. When he
was upon the Watch Committee, the gentlemen in the trades
referred to, an far. as his awn knowledge went, never did any-
thing unfair or improper ; be hid never seen anything of
that sort in them, not the least; but as a general prinplple he
did. think, especially as there were other committees to which
they were eligible, it was unwise to put them upon this par-
ticular one—namely, the Watch committee,
Mr. PARKER wished to give both the worthy aldermen
whO'broiight 'figivi this motion every credit for their dis-
interestedness. r. Alderman Freme.had said that the
N.VoAcli comusitto must bocomo populansod—made popular

with the public ; but how, in point of fact, did the Watch
I Committee stand with the public ? By whom had the mem-
bers been sent into the council? Let Mr. Frecne, if he
could, point to any one of those affected by this motion who
had not gone into it with the full confidence of a constituency.
(Hear, hear.) None of them were aldermen who brought
forward charges which were mere assertions instead of facts,
and who said they might or might not be true, but they had
heard them, and, though they did not believe them, thought
it becoming to publicly mention them. (Hear, bear.) Thu
fact was, these charges had been " trumped up ;" and,
coming as they did from two magistrates, they made their
appearance with very little grace. Said the worthy aldermen,
" the Watch Committee we wish to stand upon good grounds
with the public." Why, there was not a single member of
it now concerned who would not, if it were necessary, wil-
lingly appear before his constituents to-morrow ; be would
himself go to his constituents, and. if they brought one single
charge against him, he would resign not only his seat in the
Watch Committee but in the council and pay the fine, be-
cause the allegation of any member being unfit to sit on the
Watch Committee what (lid it imply but that he was also un-
worthy to hold a seat in that council. (Cheers.) Let the
worthy aldermen go to his (Mr. Parker's) constituents, call
a meeting of them, and he would resign it the majority said
so ; but there were those who had not a constituency to
appeal to, who bad been rejected by the inhabitants, and who
had been returned into that council, by the then dominant
party, contrary to the wishes of the people. He was not
quite certain whether the alderman for Exchange Ward
(Mr Earle) was not himself ha that position; at least, report
said he was—
The MAYOR.—I think you are getting a little out now; I
do not see what the council have to do with that. You are
getting out of the line.
Mr. PARKER.—Very well. He then alluded, first of all,
to the names of the seven gentlemen, beginning with Mr.
Preston, affected by this proceeding. Every one of them had
been personally attacked by the motion, and being himself
one of them, he claimed the privilege of defending himself
against the attack made upon him personally. The worthy
Alderman for Exchange 'Ward had said, and it was rather a
bold assertion to make, that it was impossible for any of them
to act conscientiously
The MAYou.—l did not understand Mr. Earle to say so.
Mr. Alderman EARLS.—I did not intend to say so.
Mr. PARRKR.-4 took it down so.
Mr. Alderman EARLE.--You took it down, and the Mayor
is taking you up. (Laughter.)
Mr, PARKER—That is the impression upon my mind.
The MAYOR—Perhaps Mr. Earle will mention what he
did say.
Mr. Alderman EARLE had meant to say that the legisla-
tion had provided against this sort of thing, because their
own interest might interfere with their conduct, and because
a man could not always divest himself of the feelings of pri-
vate interest. The man did not fancy he was doing wrong,
but look at the difficulty he was placed in when his private
interest was concerned ; it was on account of this very diffi-
culty that the legislature had prevented anything of the kind
occurring.
The 111AvoR.—You make no charge of not acting con-
scientiously ?
Mr. Alderman EARLS.—Not at all.

1 The Maron.—Then it is quite satisfactory.
Mr. PARKER resumed. The clauses which the Deputy
Town-clerk had read referred only to justices of the peace;
and they could not by any ingenuity be made to apply to
members of the Watch Committee. Did he (Mr. Parker) hold
the same sentiments, he would not call them liberal though
proceeding from liberals, for they were illiberal. As to the
particular trade followed by members of the council being
an objection to their forming a committee, he might assert
that the five gentlemen forming the Fire Committee had no
business to be there because they were interested in pro..
perty. To carry out his own doctrine, Mr. Earle must, of
course, assume that their private interest could sway their
public opinion. Ile (Mr. Parker) should be very sorry to
say anything like that ; he should be sorry to suppose there
was any gentleman in the council who would act from any
other motives than those suggested by conscience and prin-
ciple. Those were the motives upon which he (Mr. Parker)
had always acted, and on which he always would act ; but he
hoped that out of this charge (for he could call it no less,)
something definite would be attempted, some dereliction of
duty without throwing a shield over it. (Hear.) The fact,
however was, that the Watch Committee had no more to do
with the charges preferred against publicans than the coun-
cil, for they never came before the committee in any shape.
Besides, the offences referred to in the clauses just read, re-
ferred to cases before justices where the parties were heard
upon oath. The Watch Committee had nothing to do with
oaths ; and he appealed to Mr. Hornby to say whether any such
cases had come before the committee. The only case which
had been before them, as far as lie knew, was when Mrs. Dixon
made a charge against the officers Cunningham and Dutton,
and that would not have gone before the magistrates if it
had not been for the vice-chairman. Mr. Whitty said, the
characters of the three men were affected by it, and it had
better not go before the magistrate, but the deputy chairman
said, that as the character of the force was concerned, it
should go before Mr. Rushton. It did go before the stipen-
diary magistrate, not that Mrs. Dixon was thought of as a
publican, but because the committee were looking at the
character of their men. If Mr. Hornby, a member of the
committee, had brought forward this motion, or Mr. Hodg-
son, (the public would see that the committee was not alto-
gether a " refuge for the destitute," and that there were some
respectable men upon it,) there might have been supposed to
be some grounds for complaint; but what was the present
motion founded upon ? Absolutely nothing. If there were
any charge which could be brought either against the com-
mittee or against himself (Mr. Parker), he shottli be happy
to meet it ; but he did think, that without some such inten-
tion existing, there had been a want of that courtesy and
respect which was due from one member to another. He
was not accusing the mover of the resolution of any thing
else ; no doubt he had acted upon what he considered right
principles, and be (Mr. Parker) gave him credit for that;
but at the same time, where individuals were attacked with-
out there being the slightest grounds for a railing accusation
against them, there was not only a want of courtesy, but a
want of good breeding and good manners. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. AsPINALL was very sorry to have to rise on this occa-
sion ; but he really thought that when six or seven gentlemen
upon one committee were assailed----
The MAYort suggested to Mr. Parker that he should with-
draw his charge of " a want of good breeding and good
manners."

Mr. Alderman EARLE.—Never mind it, Mr. Mayor; we
will take our pattern from him hereafter.
Mr. PAILICER said that if, in the excitement of debate on
this subject, he had said anything which was considered of-
fensive, he would willingly withdraw it.
Mr. ASPINALL was very sorry to take up the time of the
council on this matter, as be was neither a member of the
Watch Committee nor a justice of the peace; but he did not
like Mr. Earle, who had been a member of the Watch Com-
mittee for five years, and sat with some of the gentlemen
whose conduct be impugned nearly the whole of that time,
(for he held the cards in his hands of the members during
that period,) bringing the subject forward now for the first
time, when he had never thought of mentioning it before.
(Hear, hear.) And it was the more remarkable because Mr.
Earle had himself been a member of the Watch Committee
when Sir Joshua Walmsley was chairman. (Hear.) He
(Mr. Aspinall) mentioned the name of Sir Joshua Walmsley
because that gentleman was a justice of the peace, and be-
cause justices of the peace were particularly and exclusively
referred to in the clauses of the several acts of parliament
which had been read by the Deputy Town-clerk. Mr. Enoch
Harvey, for whom he (Mr. Aspinall) had always entertained
the highest respect, although a brewer, was also upon the
committee at that time, and he was never objected to—
Mr. Alderman FREms.—Yes, yes. (Counter cries of
" No, no.")
Mr. ASPINALL.—Mr. Harvey was never once objected to
in the council, whatever might have been said at the Angel.
(Hear, hear.)
The MAYoR.--You must not refer to what has been done
at the Angel, Mr. Aspinall. That is not the question.
(Hear, bear.)
_ _

Mr.' Aspi;:ALL.—l only referred to the Angel, because
Mr. Freme was permitted to refer to it. (Hear, hear, and
cries 0f,." Order.") _ _ _

The MAYOS.—I did not hear Mr. Freme say anything
about it.

Mr. ASPINALL.—I only repeat Mr. Freme's own words;
and will sit down, Mr. Mayor, if you wish me. (Hear.)
The MAYOR.—AII these things are not necessary at all ;
but proceed.
Mr. ASPIN ALL. had only to say that it was most incon-
sistent in Mr. Alderman Earle now to hold up to obloquy
seven gentlemen of the Watch Committee, when, fora period
of five years, he had himself been a member of that body
without making any objection to the system. (Hear.)
Mr. Alderman EARLS.—I beg your pardon. (Cries of
" Order.")
Mr. ASPINALL declared it was neither fair nor consistent
in Mr. Alderman Earle to adopt such a course. (Cheers.)
Besides he (Mr. Aspinall) would appeal to the Town-clerk
whether, in point of law, the council could now make a law
which should be binding upon those who might come in next
November, and require them to act upon it. (Hear, hear.)
The gentlemen alluded to ought to have been objected to, on
the ground of their trade, at the time when, or rather before.
they were appointed ; and the council could neither make
a retrospective law nor one by which the new council in
November next should be guided. (Cheers.) Again, what
had the members of the Watch Committee to do with the
justices of the peace? If any of the gentlemen to wham
the motion had reference sat as justices of the peace at the
licensing sessions, as licensing magistrates, they would each
have been liable to the penalty of £lOO. (Hear.) There were a
great number of gentlemen connected by blood and marriage
with members of the Watch Committee, some of whom had
even acted as chairman of the licensing sessions ; and if a law
was made for one why would it not be made for another.
(Hear, hear,) let here, at the end of seven years, this
thing war, brought forward ! (Cheers.) It was most ulagra-
cioue and uncalled for. (Cheers.) He was sorry to make
r. use of this strong language, but he did not like to hear gen-
tlemen holding themselves up, at a very late hour, as if they
had done nothing wrong. (Hear.) He (Mr. Aspinall) was
one of those who thought that every gentleman admitted to
a seat in that Council ought to. have some independence, that
he ought to be considered as a man of honour, and no mo-
tives imputed to any one before it had been clearly proved
that wrong, had been done. (Great applause.) Such were
his feelings; and whether the gentlemen alluded to consisted
of the same party as himself, or were opposed to him, he
would at least have done them the justice of sitting in the
Council with them without imputing improper motives ; but,
at the same time, if be had ever seen, or believed them guilty
of any job, or imprcTriety, he would have been the first to
stand up against Skew.. He had spoken warmly on this sub-
ject, because he was sorry Mr. Earle had been so ill advised
as to bring it forward; and he thanked the Council for the
attention they had given to him. (Load cheers.)
Mr. A. Smarr, jun., objeetc4 to the motion; because,
however much the intentions might be disclaimed of reflect-
ing upon the characteza 04 individuals sitting on the Watch
Committee, certainly, if the motion were carried, it would
convey an imputation, of no light nature, upon the seven
gentle:nen refetred to. (Hear.) It would go forth to the
public, as. a charge against them„ of having acted in an im-
-1 proper manner upon that Board. (Lieu, hear.) There was
no analogy, whatever, between the extracts from the Acts of
Parliament read by the Deputy Town-clerk, and the case of
those gentlemen a the gentlemen who sat on the Watch
Committee had pp, direct intercourse with the publicans,
because if informations were laid against them they were
taken and heard before the magistrates. (Hear.)
Mr. Alderman E4aste.v..—By the police ?
Mr. A. Satialt continued. The police laid all informations,
but not before the Watch Committee. (Hear.) If the in-
formatiens were heard, as in the olden time, before the Watch
Committee, there might have been some ground for the
motion, but they did not now go before the Watch Com-
mittee; they went direct to the magistrates, and
thereforeo
he (Mr. Smith) could not conceive how those gentlemenh
o• who
were concerned in breweries, and in the sale of spitatsw_o_
sale, could in the slightest themdegreeinc,anpaecarit,atheear.)
They
had heard many times, a great deal of discussion of
sitting npon the Watch Committee.
an un-
pleasant nature in thateroom and,, in order toput a stop from
it, lie should move, as an eapendenent, that the
te Chounccoilurito
eide-
precate the frequeilt personal attacks made in
upon individual, neeeabers of its body, which have a tendency
to bring the Council into disrepute, and provoke rejoinders
of an opplcasaut nature.
Mr. HODGSON had no difficulty in rising to second the
amendment. The council had just changed their posit!mi
greatly : a while ago they were discussing a subject in which
all must deeply sympathize, and feel a common interest,
namely, the great subject of extinguishing fires, but now, to
use a common phrase, they had fallen " from the frying pan
into the fire." It was clear to him, inferentially,
that the
resolution, if tolerated by the council ,would cast a most in-
jurious imputation or reflcetion upon a large body of
most respectable connelUers, who had been sent into that

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Hodgson supf

Much die
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LACE moved

A further disc
On a discussion
For the at
Against it

The amen&

G. H. LANRE
an amendment

of Mr. Alderr

council divided
For the 1

Against it

Mr. Alexander
tered on the books
council separated.

FOREIGN INTELLIGENCI

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inclusive, by the packet-ship
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