The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1845-02-11 00:00:00

TOWN COUNCIL CIVILITIES

At a meeting of the Newcastle-on-Tyne Town Council
on Wednesday, one of the members (Mr. Harle) brought
on ti,e following motion—" That the Right Worshipful
the Mayor for the time being, be respectfully requested to
invite to the usual dinners at the taverns in the town, all
the members of the Council, without reference to party
or personal feelings." When Mr. Harle was about to
proceed the Town Clerk was appealed to as to whether the
motion was in order, when he said, I have referred to the
order in Council, and find that the Mayor for the time
being, is required to give two dinners on a large scale,
one on the Queen's birth-day, and the other at the Sum-
mer Assizes, besides one in the barge on Ascension-day,
and two balls at the Assembly Rooms, with tea and re-
freshments, but no supper,—(laughter)—but there is no
attempt to control the Mayor as to whom he may invite.
The motion implies, that the Mayor be respectfully re-
quested by the Council to invite such and such parties.
1 cannot say the Council are not at liberty to do so if they
please, but it would be rather bard to impose such a re-
striction.

Mr. Philipson—l entertain a decided opinion that this
is not a motion that can be decided in this meeting, nor
is it a lezilimale question for the Council to discuss. A
person comes here, and-7...

Mr. [lade —lf Mr. PhiUpson will be less the partizan
of the Mayor, and will listen patiently to me a few mi-
nutes. I will answer his objection ; and I will give him
this assurance that I shall not utter one syllable that can
be offensive to any individual.

Mr. wish to state, that neither Mr. Hark,
nor any other individual, have any right to charge me with
being a partizan of the mayor. (Hear, hear.) I stand
upon my opinion that this is a matter which cannot be
disetpsed in this council, and I put it to Mr. liarle, whe-
ther it would not be better to withdraw his motion at
once.

Mr. liarle.—The mayor must settle that question. I
am not inclined to withdraw it.

This sort of fireaway conversation was carried on for
some time, when Mr. Harle was at last allowed to state
his erievanee, which appeared to have been that he him-
self was not invited to the civic dinners, and for the ocnis-
sion of which he said the mayor was influ-need by party
feelings. It seems the mayor has £l,OOO a year allow-
ance, and has been accustomed to give, during the year,
three dinners at taverns.

The Mayor said—l will take the opportunity of making
one or two remarks, as it is a matter personal to myself,
notwithstanding the motion has not been seconded. Mr.
Ilarle has been pleas-d to accuse me of being actuated by
personal and party feeling in sending out my invitations,
I think the company at the Assembly Rooms would show
that I was not influenced by party feelings in that instance.
(Laughter, and " hear. hfar. ') And that it was not per-
sonal feeling in Mr. Harle's et:4e must be evident from
the fact that he was one of those who congratulated me
on my election. The very first d yof my fill.ng this office
I was told that Mr. [Tarte would not leave a card.

Mr. flarle (in ao elevated tone)—lti a lie. -(Great sen-
sation, in the midst of which)

Mr. Alexander George Gray rose and said, they could
not proceed till that expression was retracted.
Mr. Haile, with even greater vehemence than before—
I say its a lie, and it was some cozening knave who said
it.

Mr. Gray—This language cannot he allowed here.—
r. Hart,. must retract that word. (Great confusion.)
The Mayor continued—l was told so by several indi
viduils. ( Hear, hear). And as to my critiing Mr. Hanle
in the street, it is pure imagination. There is no man
with whom I would more readily shake hands, than Mr.
Hanle. (Hear, hear, arid laughter.) But when I was
told that a gentleman did not intend to leave his card, and
when that was borne out by the fact of a card not having
been left, I was obliged to credit the statement, and I did
not think it necessary to send an invitation under such
circumstances. Wi:h respect to Mr. Gibson's card, one
was left, rr at least a card thqt I understood was from
him, was left previous to the dinner, or I certainly would
not have invited him. With respect to Mr. Crawhall, in
consequence of circumstances, which it was not necessary
to mention. having imputed something to him, of which I
have had since reason to believe he was not guilty, I
thought it my duty, having done Mr. Crawhall wrong, to
make all the reparation in my power, and I accordingly
sent him an invitation, though he had not left his card.
(II ear, hear, and laughter.)
Mr. Crawhall—May I ask what imputation you made
against me ? (Cries of " No, no," and " Yes, yes," and
some confusion.) • I certainly would like to know upon
what point any imputation has been cast upon me.
The Mayor—No, no. The matter won't bear explana-
tion. (Hear, h-ar, and general laughter.)
Mr. Hark.— I am sorry you should have listened:to and
acted upon such information as you did, but the thing is
now past, and I am willing to shake hands with you if
you say the cut was n•rt intended.

The- Mayor repea'cd his former assertion, and Mr.
H arta went up to him, and they shook hands amidst
laughter mingled with applause.
Mr. Crawhall said, I am extremely sorry to press the
question, but I should wish to know why my name has
beet. mixed up in this matter? Something has been said
about an imputation. but it was not very clear, and I
should like to know what any one can charge me with in
the roaster?
Mr. Jm,tice Nichol (we believe).—l think Mr. Craw-
hall ought to be satisfied. The Mayor has admitted his
error, and the thing should eo no farther.
Mr. John Nichol.—l move that Mr. Crawhall and the
Mayor shake hands after this.
Mr. Crawhall.—lf any mat acknowledges he has done
me wrong on any point, and says he is sorry for it, I am
quite willing to accept his apology, though I confess I
don't know, in this case, what it is all about.
(Laughter.)
Mr. Crawhall and the Mayor then shook hand!! ; and
the interesting conversation dropped.