The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1835-04-28 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

' Mr. Wnon.—Will you vote for a measure to do away with
the system of having three generals to each regiment, and three
admirals to each ship of the line ?
Mr. TeloAtSoN.—l shall do all I can to promote every mea-
sure having forits object the carrying into effect greater eco-
nomy and retrenchment in every department.
Mr. Waon.--Will you vote for an immediate repeal of the
Irish coercion bill?

Mr. ThomsoN.—lt repeals itself at the end of a year.
Mr WRos.--T.Will you vote for its re-enactment?
Mr. THOMSON.—I will give no pledge. I come before you,
gentlemen,"(to the crowd, to-day because I am anxious to do
full justice to Ireland, and because I have'supported measures
which, we are anxious to carry into effect, and which, if carried
into effect, will do away with. any occasion for the Irish coer-
cion act.

Mr. WROE.—llid you vote for any inquiry into the Manches-
ter massacre?

Mr. THOMSC6L—I really do
.not recollect being present on
any occasion 'when such an opportunity was afforded ine Of I
had been present I 'dare say I should have voted against it..
Mr. Witos.—l want to know how the hon. member recon-
ciles his condoct on the occasion of voting for Lord John Rm.-
sell's motion on the 'lrish question, when he and his colleagues,
whilst in office, consented to the house of parliament expunging
the 147th clause of the Irish church 'reform bill, which was the
very same as Lord John Russel's motion?
Mr. Tuomsot,r.—The worthy elector is completely mistaken
in asserting that the 147th clause was the same as the motion
of Lord John Russell; that principle was not in the bill brought
forward by the government in the last session. It was a prin-
ciple, however, admitted by the majority of the government of
Earl Grey, and on it they parted with their colleagues Lord
Stanley and Sir James Graham, and in conformity with what
was then done, and because it would be impossible to pacify
Ireland without that principle being carried, I and my col-
leagues voted for it.
Mr. Wuox.-LWhy, sir, did you vote against the motion of Mr.
Attwood fur an inquiry into the distresses of the labouring
classes ?

Mr. THOMSON.—Which Mr. Attwood, there are two.
Mr. Wnoe..—No matter which. Did you not vote against
an inquiry of that nature ?
Mr. 'fnoMsoN.—l vuted against the motions brought forward
by each of them because. it was a vagne and general inquiry,
and I always find such inquiries tend more to mischief than
good.
Mr. WtioX.—Why did you vote against the motion of ti 4
Marquis of Chandos, that in any reduction of taxation the agi4
cultural interests should be benefitted, but which ended only
taking the tax offshepherds' dogs. (Laughter.)
Mr. THoMsoN.—Because I did not, consider that the agriculr
Writ interests elioUld have a preference over those of the ma-
nufacturer. .
Mr. Watik-.—Wlfy fill you vote for that clause in your bless
eoi whig.reform bill (laughter) which deprives a person of his
vote should he -change his residence to the next door ? •
Mr. THOMSON.—:it..was p,. question of detail, a general
measure of which lapproved.
Mr. WROE.—How can the iton. gentleman expect electors of
Manchester to give him a pledge when he himself will give
none?

(Here there *as so much confusion that the answer was
lost.)
Mr. WROE.—Why did you not vote for the abolition of the
impressment of seamen?
Mr. THOSISON.—There is no man more anxious than myself
to get rid of the measure, and I can tell the hon. gentleman,
the worthy elector I mean, that there were endeavours made by
the late government to introduce a system less objectionable. •
Mr. Woos.—Why did you vote for the disfranchisement of
the poor freemen of Licerpooland Warwick instead of bringing
to justice the noble lord and the hon. gentleman who tempted
them to bribery ?
Mr. Tnomson.—So far from regretting that vote, I rejoice
at it, and I am only sorry that there were no means of bringing
to justice the parties who were the chief offenders.
Mr. Waos.—Will You vote for relieving the bishops froni
attending as temporal barons in the House of Lords ? (Laugh-
ter.)
Mr. TitOstsori.—Lwill give no pledge of any kind.
Mr: WROE.—WiII you vote for the separation of the church
and state ?

Mr. TuosiSost.—l almost regret that I have said I will give
no pledge for I am almost induced to give a pledge on this
question, but I shall give a very strong opinion that it would be
very unwise to part them.
Mr. WROE.—Do you approve of the conduct of Lord Mel-
bourne, who, whert.in office as Home Secretary, employed
policemen as'spies.-to: fittend .public meetings, to excite the
people to sedition, and then to. inform against them ?
Mr. THOMSON.—I do not approve of a government employ-
ing spies, nor do I ayprove of clerical spies at an election.
(Cries of "Oh!. oh laughter and cheers:)
Mr. Wens.—DO you approve of the sentences passed upon
the Dorchester labourers who were convicted under an obsolete
act of parliament, of: the provisions of which they Were en-
tirely ignorant ? • . •
Mr. ThomsoN.--Larn very
.sorry it was found necessary to
carrythat sentence into execution. At the same time, ignorance
of the law was not to be allowed as an excuse to offenders,
otherwise it would-be attended in many cases with very bad
effects.

Mr. WrloE.—Will you support Mr. Wakley's motion for a
remission of the sentences ou these unfortunate men, so that
they May be restored to their unfortunate families ?
Mr. THomsoN. —When the motion is brought before the
House of Commons it will then be the time to give my opinion
upon it. •
Mr. Wnort.—Oh ! tbis whiggery, von see he'll give no pledge.
(Laughter.) Will you vote for reaucing the army the 10,000
men, the number it was increased in Lord Grey's vigorous ad-
ministration ? (Laughter.)
Mr. 'I BorasoN.—l shall give no pledge ; but will (13 every-
thing to promote economy in every department.WßOE.—Will you vote. for a repeal of the tax on news-
papers ?
Mr. ItiOMSON.-I will give no pledge. My opinion on that
question has already been stated, but 1 shall be very glad to do
away with the tax if it can be spared.
Mr. WROIL—WiII you vote for a repeal of a bill which gives
£OO,OOO per year, out of the pockets of the country, to support
the metropolitan police ? . .
• 4,4- •
Mr. THorosots.—Tbat bill was considerea. a measure of frO-
neral utility, and therefore it was considered right that the
.
country should bear a portion of the expense. . .
Mr. Warm—Then Mr: Thomson approves of my paying
:towards your police in London, and also nay share towards the
•maintenance Of the police in Manchester. (Cheers.) In the
proposed corporation. bill do you approve of aldermen being
elected for life, and that the possession of '£looo should be the
qualification for 4 cotrimon.councilinan ?
Mr. Tuoarsox.-.—ln that bill 'my object would be to suppcitt
such a measure as would give the most satisfaction to the
country.
Mr. Warm—Will you vote for putting a stop to the granting
of new commissions when there are so many half-pay officers
almost starving ? •
-Mr. TkromsoN.—l shall give no other pledge than au earnest
desire to carry into effect every economical plan consistent with
the independence of the country.
Mr. Wroe having concluded -his catechising, Mr. THoirsoN
said that he begged leave, in return, to ask him a question. -
wish to know (said Mr. Thomson) who the worthy elector ill,-
tends to vote for?.

s._ .s..
Mr. Waois.--Having examined the pretensions of both can-
didates, he thought the only difference between them was, that
the one came openly and said I must have voile money, and the
other visited him with smooth words, but when they were gone,
he found his pockets empty; and under these circumstances,
seeing -that there was no difference between the two parties, he
was determined not to vote for either. (Laughter.)
Mr. ELIJAH DIXON, another well-known radical, now step-
ped forward, and asked whether Mr. Thomson would vote for
an inquiry into the affair of the 16th of August, 1819; for a
measure to prevent electors having an 'opportunity of catechist'
ing candidates on their acceptance of office; or fur a repeal of
those clauses of the reform bill which' had a tendency to depriVe
the poor of their suffrages? In answer to which, and several
other questions, Mr. ThoMson said he would give no pledge.
• The•last question asked by Mr. Dixon was, whether the hon.
candidate would vote for Mr. Shell's motion, viz., that all clers
gymen hereafter appointed to a living Should not hare a vested
right, in it?
Mr. T oar soN.—I will give no.pledge on the subject. (Hisse,
and groans.)
Mr. ERAIDLEY then stepped forward and was received amidst
the cheers of his friends and the interruption of the whigs. He
.perceived that it was the case, as at the last election, that a.
great number of the persons present were assembled with a view
to preventing„him from being heard. (Cheers.) If he had
reason to suppose, however, that there was a majority of per-
sons present with that view, he had a sufficient feeling of his
i totalindependence of them to withdraw from the expression of
his sentimenta. (Cheers.) He had no personal reason to
court the applause or to fear the frown of any man ; and neither
that applause nor that frown should prevent his pursuing, the
path which he conceived to be his duty. He was sensible of
the disadvantage he laboured under in appearing before them
at that late period of the meeting, and, labouring as he was
under the effects of a severe cold, be should not detain them
long if they would concedeto him a patient hearing. (Applause.)
He had •been.toldhy one the periodical papers of that week
that he had come forward as a candidate for their suffrages
without invitation. He denied the aspersion, and begged to in-
form the-writer that he was solicited by the same body of indivis
duals that invited him on the last occasion. Whetherahat was
so or not, he bad a perfect right to appear before them in his.
preseut, cbaraeter tosclaira their suffrages arid to ask them to
place him in the situation of their representative. (Cheers.)
Ailtitiorrhad been -made by an honourable gentleman (Mr.
Gregg) to the Maucheeter• tithe question, -and it bad been'
eaid that he (Mr. Braidlev) had token much mora,credit to
himself for the part he took in the settlement of that qnestion
than he had any right to claim, and that other persons had an=
equal share to credit and appeobation with himself. He knew.
the late lamented Mr. John 'Walker had taken an active part'
in inducing the warden and fellows of Manchester to accept an
offer made to there, but vigil that day he hail never heard that,
either Mr. Gregg or his father had taken any particular active
• part whatever m the settlement of the question. (Hear.) With
respect to the rat-traps, or clap-traps alluded to by the hon. gen-
, tleman his opponent, it was stated in a certain placard which
bore the signature of " Honest Man," (whether truly or not he
could tint say,) that he (Mr. B.) had brought forward certain
measures and introduced topics with a view of catching. votes;
and his pun. opponent stated that there were men on his (Mr.
B.'s) side ready to get into parliament by pledging themselves
to a repeal of the malt tax, who had when in parliament scat-
tered those pledges to the winds. In making that statement,
he (Mr. Thomson) knew perfectly well that upon his own side
could be fuund men who had one day voted for its repeal and
the next day against it. (Loud cheers.) Therefore. Judging
him from their own standard, he probably might suppoSe that
he should follow the same course on the question. He told
them that he would not. (Cheers.) The writer of the paper
signed an " Honest Man," to which be had before alluded', told
them "that the, tories, under the presidency of Mr. Thomas
Hardman, of Pitt Club and Pcterloo notoriety, forgetting their
clamour against those who factiously opposed the King's choice
of tory ministers, are endeavouring to depriye this great trading
community of the eminent services of the minister of trade,
solely bec;use be also happens to be the tried friend of free-
dom and good government. They have found a willing in-
strument in Mr. Braidley." This was false. Mr. Hardman
was not the chairman of his committee, this" honest man" there-
fore acted dishonestly, fur he totally misrepresented both his
(Mr. 13raidley's) motives and feelings. (Cheers.) He neither
was, had been, nee would be the instrument of any man, and in
every part of his political conduct he should besguided by his
own judgment, and would not be dictated to by anyone. The
"hontst.man",wenton to say, "that Mr. Braidley was an igno-
rant, uneducated bigot, holdiug .narrow and exploded opinions
on questions of trade." He supposed that the honest man, in
this respect,. was measuring from his own standard. The next
charge brought against him was, that he held an insignificant
station in society. He thought it singular that men who ad-
vocated whig principles should hold this doettine, as he Ander-
stood that the principles of their reform bill contemplated the
advancement of persons of ability, although of a low station.
Wit they saw how an aristocratic feeling was hidden under the
name of liberality. (Cheers.) This " honest man" stated
another falsehood, which was, that he (Mr. Braidley) was re-
commended to them solely by ordering into the custody of a
police officer a catholic priest. (Gioans and hisses.) Now he

never, under any circumstances, ordered a catholic priest into
custody. (Cheers.) He was also charged with having presided,
for electioneering purposes, at a methodist meeting.
.He sup-
posed that the. insinuation meant to convey the writer's ideas
that a person who took part in the proceedings of a public
'charity must necessarily have a political motive—(cheers) —and
that the methodists who invited him to preside at the meeting
had done so in order to advance his interests in the election
(Cheers, and cries of " That's whig Oiarity.") He knew that
sometimes requests of charitable donations from members of
Tarlianient were made with political motives; but he took such
.requests merely and simply on their own proper grounds.
This same writer went on wean him Sir Roger Gresley, because
he had stated that he should Vote for a repeal of the malt tax.
Now although he should give no pledge, he was of opinion, that
the tax should be repealed, and if any minister of the crown
'turned round upon him, and said that the tax could not be
spared, it was very likely he should tell him that he was ready
to vote for the imposition of a tax which would bear more
equally on the rich, viz, a property tax, which would be a less
:objectionable impost. (Loud cheers.) With respect to the
new poor law bill, they had heard his opinions on that subject
'before, and he should only state that he was of opinion, that the
`funds would be much better administered if they were under
the contrail of a local board than the Central Coinrnitte in Lon-
don. This was an objectionable principle, and he was asto-
nished that even the whigs, with their professions of liberality,
could have passed such a bill. He held the Opinions with re-
spect to this bill of the whigs of the old school, and be thought
it would be a difficult matter to amend this bad bill, the wisest
plan would perhaps be to repeal it altogether. (Loud cheers.)
He had been told that he had pandered to the •13assions of
the electors by stating this, and that he was for the abolition
of flogging in the army. tie was, however, happy to say that
a committee had been appointed by the• latd administration to
enquire whether the abolition of flogging in the army could not
be effected with safety to the service. lie was .not sufficiently
acquainted with the subject to be able to form an opinion on
. this point, but he thought that the late ministry had its removal
iu view, and he should be glad if sent to parliament to exert
his influence in procuring its abolition altogether, or in some
• measure an abatement. (Here the friends of M. Thomson be-
came so clamorous that Mr. Braidley could not be heard, nor
could the Boroughreeve for some time command silence.) At
length Mr. Braidley said that he was quite awai e that there were
many persons present, who, for more reasons than one, wished
him to be brief. (Hear, hear.) He should net occupy their
attention longer, but should reserve his remaining strength to
answer the questions which he expected would be put to him by
Some of the electors, and as the present was too large for a
deliberative assembly, he hoped his friends would hear them
patiently, and give him an opportunity of distinctly answering
the questions put to him. Should r. Wroe demand any
pledge from him, he should not in return ask hint for one. He
should not ask him Which way he jaitended to vote, nor should
he ask him for his vote. He could only in conclusion say, that
if they should think proper to senfhim- as their representative
to parliament, he should endeavour to do the best in his power
to serve the interests of every elector in the important borough.
(Cheers and laughter from the opposition.) t
Mr. Braidley having concluded, Mr. PRENTICE, of the Man-
chester Times, a supporter of Mr. Thomson, came forward to
question the honourable candidate. He said Mr. Braidley had
stated that he never took into custody a catholic priest. He
asked, whether he did not cause the priest alluded to to leave a
meeting, by threatening to take him into custody.
Mr.ISIIAIDLEY.-1 did not.
A young man named Bennett here jumped up and in a very
impertinent manner said, "'I was present, and I sew 'yeit do it."
Mr. BeAtoLsi.---4t is entirely false. (Loud cheers.)
Mr. Bennett now popped down. as quickly as he popped up,
and said no more.

Mr. PRENTICE (to Mr. Braidlev).Did you not order the
priest into the custody of a police-olficer?
Mr. BRAIDLEY. f did not; but I have no objection to ex-
plain what actually occurred relative to the circumstance. I
was called upon to preside at a meeting which no person had a
right to enter, excepting' guinea subscribers. (Cheers.) The
Rev. Mr. Kaye came into that room, not being a subscriber,
and began to interrupt the proceedings. My duty to the so-
ciety as its chairman was to -prevent such interruption, either
franisini or any one else. The expression I used to Mr. Kaye
was this,--" I am extremely sorry that I shall have to interfere
to prevent you from addressing the chair, and I hope any fur-
ther annoyance to the meeting- from'you will not put me to the
necessity of requesting you toreave the room." Mr. Kaye said,
"Do ;you order tne to leave the room ?" I replied, ".Mr.
Kaye; I should be . xtremely sorry to order you out of the room,
but as'you see what the feeling °tribe meeting is, you will judge
for Ourself what you ought to do." Mr. Kaye then left the
room. - (Loud cheers.) -
Mr, PRENTICE was then putting another question when he
was received with cries of "Off. off." Mr. Prentice, having re-
gained a hearing, said that a placard issued by Mr. Braidlev's
committee, and signed by James Copley, stated that those who
him (Mr. Braidley) were the friends of confusion ; be
wished to know whether Mr. Braidley so considered them ?
Mr.: BR All)LEy.—The placard was issued by my committee
without soy knowledge or consent,-but I have no hesitation in
saying I do not consider Mr. Thoms&u and all his friends as
necessatily the friends of disorder and contusion.
Mr. PiteleTlee.—Does Mr. Braidley approve of the placards
issued by his committee ?
Mr. BRA IDLEY.--Yes, of every one of them. •
Mr. PIiENTIcE.—I wish to know whether Mr. Braidley ever
did ans-thing to promote tho cause of catholic emancipation ?
MrAlitai °LEI' (iu a loud voice).--I did not. (Cheers.)
Mr. PRENTicx.—Has he not stated that if catholics were
true to their creed they could not be believed on their oaths ?
Mr. BRA LDLEY.—I nave said this, that there was upon record
catholic documents intimating that oaths taken to the prejudice
of their church are null and void, and, therefore, I have said
something very like it..
Mr. PRENTICE.—WiII he consent to an appropriation of
church revenues to other than ecclesiastical purposes? (Off,
off.) •
Mi. BRA tOLEy.—No, 1 will not.
Mr. PRENTICE.--4 ask him did he support the national
education scheme in Ireland? •

Mr. BRAID!. RY.-1 did not, for a very good reason. I was
already a supporter of two better schemes, and further the
schenae.which Air. Prentice calls a religious education scheme
is notsa scheme for educating the people in religion. .
Mr. ressizicE.—Was Mi:Braidle4 in favour athrOwing
open the grammar school for the poor of the town?
Mr. BRA I Dt.h:Y.—l never had the opportunity.
Mr. PRENTICE.—CouId he never make the opportunity? .
Mr.•B R A IDLEY.—Opportimities must present themselves.
Mr. 'loos. Parrea called out from the hustings " Well'
give you en opportunity."
Mr. PRENTICE.—If a bill should be filed on a liberal scale for
opening the grammar school, I ask Mr. Braidley will he give it
his support ?
. Mr. BRA I DLEY.—If Mr. P. will explain what he means by
" liberal," as it is applied to so many uses, I will answer his
question.
Mr. PRENTicE.-ra is quite impossible to explain what the
term. " liberal" means. Does Mr. Braidley approve of that
scheme which will give a bishop to Nlanchester.
Mr. Ilea tint y.—Yes, I do.
•• Mr_PIiENTICE.—D
oes•he approve of Mr. Sturges Bourne's
bill,- and has he ever acted upon it?
Mr."BesiDL&Y.—l can give the same answer which I gave at
the last election, which I believe in substance was this, I am of
t- I
r.
l
opinion that a man who subscribes a very large amount in sup-
port of the church ought to have a greater voice in the distribu-
tion of the hinds than he who pays only a smaller one ; and on
this question a great majority of the whip on the other side will
agree With me.
Mr. PRENTICE.—WiII you carry the same principle into the
qualification of the elective franchise ?
Mr. BEA' DI.EY.—No ; because representatives of the people
have to legislate for the lives and liberties of the people, and the
lives of all, the poor as well as the rich, are equal in the sigh
of the Lord. (Applause.) t
Mr, PRENTICE.—Does Mr. Braidley think it right to pay a
protestant clergyman when he has no parishioners ?
Mr. BRA widiv.—Not exactly, but I have a great notion of
paying the protestant clergyman just as I would pay a mission-
ary, to try if he could get any converts. .
Mr. PRENTICE.—Does Mr....Braidley mean to say that the
protestant clergy of Ireland should go out as missionaries ?
Mi. BRA I DLEY.—MASt undoubtedly, a church esta,blisbinent
is founded on missionary principles, and if Mr. Prentice does
• not know that he has been writing a long time about what he is'
igndrant of.
Mr. PRENTICE.--DOCS Mr. Braidley approve of the grant of
the regime: donum to the presbyterians of the north of Ireland?
Mr. BEAIDLEY.—Yes, I do.
Mr. PREN TIC E.—ls he prepared to give the whigs a fair trial?
Mr. BEAIDLEY.—Yes, a much fairer trial than they gave the
tones. . .
PRENTICE.—Is it consonant with.that. declaration to try
to throw out one of them on the present occasion ?
ht r:.o'
.•
Braidley's friends stepped forward and would not allow
him to answer this question, •
Mr. PRENTICE.--IS he its favour of the vote by. ballot?
Mr. BRA IDLE Y.—N o, I usa not; my opinion is that the vote
byhallot cannot be carried into effect safell and secretly, and
as it would have a tendency to degrade Englishmen, and to de-
stroy their independence of character, I will never'vote for any
such measure. As regards safety it had been .found impossible
in America to carry it on, for in one town lately 3,000 more
votes had been given than there were voters, and one man was
detected voting for the fifteenth anie: . ' .
• Mr. BEA 1 DLEY then underwent, with most exemplary} pa-
tiente, an infliction of a series of foolislihessei 'from Mi. Elijah,
Dixon, a radical of the first water; but Which we will sPare our,
readers the disgust of perusing. ,
'The BORO I: G if REEVE then calledfura show of hands in fa,v ot.ti,
saf Mr. Thomson, when nearly all on One aide of the' hustings,
' held• up their .hands, and almost all the crowd below both hands,:
,clapping them above their heads. . • .- . , - .
A similar show was demanded and taken in favour of Mr.
Braidley ; but some gentlemen at the.,back of the hustings ob.
jectiog to the show of hands taken- for Mr: Thomson, on the
ground we have stated above, the Boroughreeveagain took the
'show of hands for both, and then declared it to be in favour of•
Mr. Thomson.
Mr. GARDNER demanded a poll for Mr. Braidlev.
The 8012 OCS/111 EEVE then announced that the poll would be
taken on Tuesday and Wednesday, at eight o'clock on the
former and at nine o'clock on the latter day, to close. at four
o'clock each day.
Mr. TtiosisoN, in a brief speech, complimented the Borough
-
reeve for his conduct in the chair, and moved a vote of thauktO
to him. - •

'---1117:131Z A I DLET seconded the motion, which was carried, with
acclamation.

YORKSHIRE ELECTION.—We have been favoured with the
sight of aletter from Halifax, from which we take the following
extract:—" Both parties are very active in canvassing, and,
from all accounts I can hear, my opinion is it will be well con-
tested on both sides. Not a stone will be left unturned in this'
populous district, (being composed of a great
.number of the.
lower orders of society.) I do expect the factious party will
have the majority; but, in the farming districts, he (Lord
Morpeth) is very unpopular; and, in addition to this, Nis'.
Wortley's native place being very near Sheffield, Barnsley, Sze.,
he has the general good feeling for a considerable distance in
those parts, which will secure him a favourable reception in
that neighbourhood. The number of electors in this district
is 1,800; in the whole West Riding, 48,000. I hear that a
wealthy conservative has subscribed -£lO,OOO for Mr. Wortley,
and that Lord Fitzwilliam has opened his purse strings in
favour of the destructives."

• DounLAs Ist.E or MAN..—The 141anks Attorney-General
has just filed an ex-officio information against the publisher
and editor of thr Mona Herold, for sonic observations made in

that impel on the conduct of the water bailiff at the period when
the John Fairfield, of Liverpool, was wrecked on that island.
VIRNNA, April 13.—His Majesty the Emperor is, happily,
almost recovered horn his indisposition, and has been able to-
.day to sit up for spine time. If we consider how deeply he was
affected by the loss of his revered father, and then 'by that of
an uncle so dear to him, together with the great change in his
wav of life consequent on his accession to the government, it
will not seem surprising that his health, which-is generally so
very good, should have suffered a momentary shock.

FRANKFORT, April 18.—His Excellency Sir C. Begot, Am-
bassador Extraordinary and Minister.Plenipotentiary.from his
Majesty the King of treat Briton to the Imperial Court of
Austria, has arrived here on his way to Vieutmp

,~

THE WATCH BOARD.FIRE POLI(E.

Under this head the Chronicle of Saturday last contains a
'long and laboured article in answer to the observations which
appeared in the SraNDAnn of Friday on the same subject.
rhe Chronicle, to prove that its sources of information are
superior to ours, says—
. "Wo have now sat, officially, twelve months at that board;
we have hardly missed a single Friday, and fur the preceding
twelve mouths we attended regularly in a professional capacity.
We may, therefore, be supposed to know something; about the
character of that Board ; something about its conduct; some-
thiog about the matters discussed there. Our period of office
terminates on Tuesday next, and though we expect no thanks
for our parochial labours—the parish of Liverpool is proverbial
for its ingratitude, we presume—we are auxious to do justice to
our colleagues as well as ourselves."
This exordium of rear contemporary, we naturally expected
would be followed by an indignant denial that "our colleagues,"
or ourselves," had placed themselves in the relative situations
of tradesmen and customers; that any member of "the hoard"
had supplied "the board" with ironmongery, buttons at the mo-
rferaie charge of Is. perbutton, oils, paints, creels, hose, or, indeed
any other article, or species of labour, connected with their se-
veral private trades or occupations; we expected, in short, to be
told not only of the immaculate purity of "the' Board," but that
it was absolutely above the suspicion of tolerating or con-
niving at such a glaring infraction of the law. Strange as it
may appear, on this subject, we of the Chronicle, we, who have
"eat, officially, twelve months at that Board," appear nut to
have had one sy liable to offer. Hence the inference is that Mr.
Commissioner Chronicle cannot adventure upon the peiilotts
enterprise of denying that on this head our statement was, and
is, substantially correct; and we have therefore a right to as-
sume that the charge of petty jobbing which we alleged against
the Board is unanswered, and unanswerable. To dissect and
anatomise such a mouse as Mr. Commissioner Chronicle, would
be but an unprofitable task, for which the public have perhaps
as little relish as ourselves, both having, we imagine, matters
of greater importance to attend to. We shall, therefore, pro-
ceeir to examine the account which has been recently published
as the balance-sheet of the receipts and expenditure of the Fire
Police department of the Board.
-This document purports to be an account current" between
the commissioners of "watch, scavengers, and lamps" for six
months from 30th September, 1834, to 31st March, 1835. with
the " parish of Liverpool," and is signed by " W. Wales,
treasurer," and "audited by James Gill and Samuel Johnson,
commissioners." In the first place we have to observe, that no
iates-are prefixed to the sums received or paid. A credit is
given of £250 as a contribution received from the Yorkshire,
the Guardian, and the Alliance Insurance Companies towards
the outfit of the establishment. Are these the only offices that
contributed towards this outlay? We have.bAenatold that the
Atlas-and 'other offices contributed £350 oxerausiat above this
sum. This sum, however, we cannot find anywhere4ntered to
the debit of the commissioners. Such an amount having-been
received by them, the parishioners have a right to inquire how
it has been appropriated. At the Lancelot's-hey fire credit is
given for the sum of £352 6e. 101 paid by the Sun Fire-office.
Did no other office contribute towards the expenses of that fire?
On the per contra side of the account we find some articles
omitted and others charged which require explanation. Mr.
Conunissioner Jackson's button account of E'lb 12s. for the fire
police is transferred to the clothing account-of' the nightly
watch. How comes this to be, while his bill for ironmongery of
£BllBs. 4d. or thereabout, does not appear in either balance sheet ?
If this account has been paid, it should have appeared under the
head of expenditure; unit paid, it should have a ppeare d as a debt
owing by the board. We can only account for the omission by
Supposing' that the board, when re-elected, intended to settle it
on some future day, or have already done so in some oilier way.
We forbear to enter into some minor articles and discrepancies
of this side of the account, although the greater part of them re-
quire revision. All that we have to suggesa is that the whole
accounts of the board should he seat to a fresh audit, and that
an accountant should be employed to investigate them, with the
usual parliatneutary power of examining " persons, papers, and
records." This the commissioners, as reformers, will, of course,
have no sort of objection to.
We should have supposed that the duties of the board were
rather of a leoislative than executive character—that they were
called upon to provide the means, of extinguishing fires speedily
rather than of giving their personal attendance to effect that
object.• Not content with performing these their legitimate
function; the officer to whom thatduty was delt.: .red was con-
stantly interfered with in the most vexations manner. At one
tire, his authority was superseded by Mr. Chairman Wales; at
another, interfered with by Mr. Cointnissiouer Jackson, or Mr.
Commissioner somebody else, realising to a certain extent the
ancient proverb, that "7too many cooks spoil the bash." All
this we have been informed of by gentlemen ou•whose veracity
we can depend, and which, indeed, in some instances, we
have personally witnessed. We have, we imagine, said enough
to convince the parish that "the board" must be reformed by
the dismissal of every one of the "eighteeh most substantial
householders" who now eocapose it. Such a little snuggery of'
petty peculation should be altogether removed. The election
takes place Tn-MORROW, AT TWELVE O'CLOCK PRECISELY, AT
ST. NICHOLAS'S CHURCH, and we call upon the parishioners,
and more especially those who are now obliged to pay enormous,
we may say disgracefully, high rates of insurances, to come for-
ward and protect themselves by electing in their place such
tradesmen and gentlemen of the town in whose prudent manage-
ment of the fire-police the insurance offices cau place some
degree of confidence.
On this subject we have received a communication from a
correspondent, which we subjoin:—