The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1833-09-06 00:00:00

PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Common Council took place on
Wednesday last, when a.variety of business, from there having
been no Council last month, had accumulated for their consi-
deration. The Mayor presented a petition very numerously
signed from the members of the Liverpool Mechanics'
insti-
tution, praying for the grant of a piece of land, for erecting a
suitable building for the purposes of the institution. It was
unanimously agreed, that the further consideration of the sub-
ject should be postponed until the final settlement of the town
dues question had taken place.
A letter from Mr. Lamb, the Secretary to the Home Office,
and addressed to the Mayor, being read, inquiring what accom-
modation the Council would be disposed to afford, in the event
of the assizes for the western division of the county being re-
moved from Lancaster to Liverpool, both as to courts and suit-
able apartments for the judges, as well as the defrayment of the
extra expenses for the sheriff, a resolution was passed, without
dissension, expressing the ready disposition on the part of the
Council to meet the wishes of the government, by affording
every facility in their power, for carrying the object into effect,
inclUding the use of the courts, and the provision of suitable ac-
commodation for the judges; but, that they were not, at the
present period, from the litigation they had been involved in
respecting the town dues question, prepared to incur any greater
outlay.
The TOwn-Clerk was directed to give notice for an Act of
Parliament for next session, for effecting sonic improvement
in the practice of the Borough Court, particularly to prevent
the removal of causes by certiorari, and to authorise actions of
ejectment to he brought in that court, which would secure a
very considerable benefit to the owners of houses in Liverpool.
A petition was read by the Town-clerk, praying for the re-
moval of the oyster-market in Itoe-street.—Referred to the
Select Finance Committee. Also a petition praying for the
renewal of the market in PoWnall-square, for the sale of vege-
tables.--Declined'.
The'Mayor brought forward a motion, of which he had given
notice at the preceding, Council, for enlarging and appropriating
a portion of the North School, belonging. to the corporation,
for the instruction of infants. Ilis object iu giving that notice
was to afford the members of the Council an opportunity of
making some inquiry with a view to satisfy themselves as to the
propriety and advantage of such an establishment, with the bene-
fits of which he expressed himself deeply impressed. The
probable
.cost of such alterations as would be requisite for the
purpose, being stated ,to be limited, his motion was at once
agreed to.
It was moved by. the Mayor, seconded by-Mr. Alderman
Lawrence, that the freedom of the borough be conferrelon J.
Nicholl, Esq., which passed without any opposition.* Mr.
Nicholl's services in the defence of the rights of the freemen,
throughout the late investigation, were deemed to be of such a
character as to merit the fullest testimony of the sense enter-
tained of them by the corporation, Mr. Nicholl being in the
Mayor's room at the time, two gTutlemen were deputed to re-
quest him to come into the Council room, at the termination of
the business, to receive the honour bestowed on him, and to
take the accustomed oaths.
A discussion took place respecting the projected works at
New Brighton, which it was considered might be injurious to
the river, but which was postponed until a communication was
received from Government, in reply to one made to them on the
subject.
A petition was read from the inhabitants of Woodside and Bir-
kenhead, praying for more extended accommodation. for land-
ing from steamboats at low water; and also for the establish-
ment of an illuminated clock. Referred to the select finance
committee.
The Mayor presented a petition of a most extended form, and
most numerously
.and respectably signed by the burgesses of the
borough, expressing their warmest thanks for the exertions
which had been made by the Corporation in defence of their
rights and privileges and in their endeavours to overcome
the machinations of their enemies, when it was resolved that
the Council would pursue the course they had hitherto followed
and do all in their power to support the intwests of the freemen:

A letter from the chairman of the festival'eommittee,
rc-
questing the use of the Town-hall rooms at the approaching
festival, was immediately complied with. - -
A communication from Messrs. Smith and DOlier, for the in-
troduction of their system, in the North School, was referred to
the school committee, with power to act as they may deem ad-
visable.
A letter from Mr. Cragg, respecting his premises in Tithe-
barn-street,.was brought before the notice of the council by the
Mayor. Mr. Cragg in that letter appeared desirous of remedying
the nuisance, of which there is at present so much reason to com-
plain; his terms, however, were such, that the council could not
consider themselves justified in acceding to.
Mr. Nicholl was then introduced, and sworn in by the
Town Clerk, when he was warmly congratulated by the Mayor
and other members of the Council on his appointment. Mr.
Nicholl, evidently impressed with a feeling of gratitude
orrespdnding only in extent with that of pleasure which
had just been manifested by the Council in marking_ their
sense of his conduct and services, acknowledged, ith a
degree of modesty creditable to him as a gentleman, and
equally so as a statesman, his gratitude for the manner in
which the Council were pleased to notice the humble exertions
he had made in defence of the freemen of Liverpool, Assn! ing
them, that it would at all times afford him the most sincere gra-
tification, to render any service whatever on his part, in tor-
warding the interests Of Liverpool.

LIVERPOOL POLICE.

ASSAULT UPON A JotAINRYSIAN PA INTER:—Yesterday, three
journeymen painters were brought before the Mayor and
Alderman Leyland, charged with an assault of a most atrocious
character on Stewart M‘ Water. The prisoners went into the
room where M'Water was working, took. his brushes from him,
and then painted his face, hands, and clothes, in a most unspar-
ing manner, threatening him at,the same time that if he con-
tinued to work for Mr. Thompson, his present master, they
would murder him, and that he might expect to be a corpse in
less than two days. After they had quitted the house, buzzing,
and calling out " black sheep," one of them had the audacity
to return to repeat the operation; but a woman who was scour •
-
iug the house, pitying the deplorable situation in which poor
M'Water was left, locked the room-dcor, and prevented Wein
from re-entering.
The following is the substance of the evidence brought for-
ward by the prosecutor:—
Steward M'Water.—l am a painter, in the employ of Mr.
Thompson, but do not belong to the trades unions. On.
Monday I was at work at a house in Bedford-street, Abercrom-
bie-square, when the prisoners, George Ncwsham, Joseph
Carson, and Daniel Goodwin came up to me. Carson said,
" You have nothing to do with working in this town at all."
I did not say any thing. Carson then took a brush and daubed
me with paint all over my face and clothes. Ile then daubed
my work over, and spoiled it. The other two assisted Carson
in painting me and spoiling my work. They then went away,
and Carson came back and said, " If you lift another stroke
we will murder you." Jane Redman was present. I know
that the three prisoners belong to the Union.
Jane Redman.—l am a char-woman, and was at work in the
house in Bedford-street, where M'Water was employed on
Monday. Saw the, prisoners come into the house, when they
called out " bear.' Saw the prisoners daub M'Water with
paint, and spoil his work.
John Thompson proved that M'Water was in his employ, as
a painter, on the day in question, in Bedford-street. heard
that he bad been abused ; went up to Bedford-street and 'found
that his work had been. spoiled, and it was in consequence
obliged to be washed off. The prisoners are painters in the
employ of Mr. Goore, and belong to the trades' unions.
The magistrates, after commenting with great severity upon
the atrocious character of this outrage, sentenced each of the
three aggressors to three months' imprisonment and hard labour
at the treadmill in the Kirkdale prison.
The young matt so wantonly assaulted is a native of Scotland,
and is remarkable for his industry and peaceable disposition.
Had he made any resistance it:is not improbable that the affair
might have ended in murder. Before the passing of Mr.
Hume's bill, for repealing the combination laws, this offence
Would have been visited by transportation. 'We think, from
the peculiar circumstances of the case, the punishment is not
adequate to the offence, although to the full extent which the
present law allows.