The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1843-02-24 00:00:00

,oration were to be
lordships, be would

y and purely

a political document, hai7ing no reference to giving any one
heathen mythology a preference over another.
Earl Minto acquiesced in the vote of thanks expressed as
it was, but wished to guard himself against hpinr,

to approve of anything- beyond the ability displayed by Lord
Ellenborough in the application of the resources of India to
the purposes of the war in Affghanistan.

The votes of thanks were then put and agreed to seriatim
-id their lordships adjourned. •

SE OF COMMONS.-

iONDAI?

air HOBERT PEEL proceeded, in pursuance of his notice,
o move the thanks of the house to the Governor-General
1 India, and to the officers and men, both British and na-

oy utsciatming an intention of casting
any political reflection, even in the remotest or most oblique
way, upon the course previously pursued by Lord Auckland's
government; and, after alluding to the general character of
wild and romantic interest attaching to those distant services
and scenes, he explained the position of affairs at the acces-
sion of Lord Ellenborough. He related the outbreak of the
rebellion, the movement of Sir Robert Sale from Cabul to
Jellalabad, and the attack then made upon the British, in-
cluding the murder of Sir A. Burnes; the preparation of a
military force by Lord Auckland, the news which reached
him of further disasters, and his subsequent orders to Gene-
rals Pollock and Nott for the withdrawal of the forces. It
was but just to say, that with the discretion thus exercised
by Lord Auckland, Sir Jasper Nicholls's opinion had coin-
cided. It was easy to criticise that discretion, at this dis-
tance, and after the event ; but in the judgment of Sir R.
Peel, the resolution taken by Lord Auckland was justified
by the circumstances under which it had been adopted. The
state of affairs, however, at the arrival of Lord Ellenbo-
rough, being undoubtedly very discouraging, he adopted a
new policy, of which the objects had been all accomplished.
True, he had, on the 19th of April, directed General Nott to
retire from Candahar ; but Lord Ellenborough had then re-
ceived news of the surrender of Ghuznee, and of the failure
of General England in the attempt to relieve General Nott;
and, meanwhile, General Pollock and General Nott had been
writing to the Governor-General to represent the difficulties
of their respective positions. The loss of beasts of burden,
indispensable for securing a supply of food, had amounted in
a few months to the number of 30,000 animals. These cir-
cumstances were an ample justification of Lord Ellenbo-
rough's first order of withdrawal. The Governor-General
had been charged by Lord John Russell with offering such
an insult to Mr. Amos, an eminent lawyer, as compelled
that gentleman to resign his situation. But Mr. Amos's
wife had written a letter, in consequence of the report of
Lord John's speech, stating that there was not a word of
truth in the report ; that he had always intended to resign
at that time; and that Lord Ellenborough had treated him
with the utmost politeness and courtesy. Sir Robert Peel
then proceeded to specify the services of Generals Pollock,
Nott, and Sale. General Pollock, on arriving at the scene
of his duty, had visited the hospitals—had provided for the
care of the sick, as well as for the comfort of the effective
troops—and had brought them back from a state of unplea-
sant feeling to a zealous and loyal spirit, as it appeared from
Quintus Curtius that Alexander had done, in those very
regions, more than two thousand years ago, when discontent
had crept in among the Macedonian forces. Sir R. Peel
recapitulated the successive military achievements of General
Pollock, terminating with the capture of Cabul. He then
traced the victorious progress of General Nott; and after
paying a tribute to the services also of the captains and lieu-
tenants, did justice to the high English spirit which breathed
in General Nott's letters. Lastly, he eulogized the many
and great services of Sir Robert Sale, his fortification of
Jellalabad, interrupted as it had been by the shocks of an
earthquake, his gallant defence of that city, and his 'success-
ful attack on Akhbar Khan, checkered only by the loss of
the brave and lamented Colonel Dennie; and he, in passing,
alluded to the heroism of Lady Sale, and of the late Lieut.
Sturt, whose valour she has touchingly commemorated. It
was impossible to describe al. these services without feeling
pride in the British name ; those services had proved that it
was a name which the long interval of peace had not im-
paired; and they were an earnest that further efforts, when
occasion should require, would continue to be made with
glory and with triumph.
Lord J. RUSSELL said that, considering all the circum-
stances, be was not disposed to blame Lord Ellenborough for
the order of withdrawal he had issued on the 19th of April,'
though he was of opinion that his share of the direction of
the military operations displayed neither steady nor sound
judgment, and that he was not, therefore, specifically entitled
to a vote of thanks. He would not, however, take upon
himself the invidious task of opposing it.
M r. BANKES vindicated the conduct of Lord Ellenborough.
Mr. H UTT regretted the excesses committed by our troops
on their retreat from Affghanistan and exPtessed a fear that
their conduct on that occasion would defeat any expectations
which might otherwise have been anticipated of an extension
of our commerce to that country, by the destruction of every
mart beyond the Indus.
Sir H. HARDINGE said he did not credit the reports which
had gone abroad of those excesses, and believed they would
turn out to be incorrect, and that on the contrary it would
appear that after the storming of Istalif the soldiers had dis-
played the greatest humanity. to the women and children.
He regretted the burning of the bazzar, but it had adjoined
the mosque, at the door of which Sir W. Macnaghten had
been barbarously murdered, and it was generally considered
that an example was necessary,
Sir E. COLEBROOK did not believe the rumours of those
excesses.

Sir R. INoLts approved of the Governor-General as well
as to the officers and army.

Mr. HUME was much gratified by the explanatons given
by Sir H. Hardinge, though he exceedingly regretted the
destruction of the bazaar. He censured the whole policy of
Lord Ellenborough, which was altogether for withdrawal,
there being no less than nineteen orders to that effect. The
hon. member concluded by moving as an amendment that
the vote to Lord Ellenborough should be deferred until
fuller information was before the house.
Mr. B. BARING read from the papers directions by Lord
Ellenborough for the troops to advance.
Lord ErsurNGToN said that as the vote of thanks was con-
fined to military operations he would not support the amend-

Mr. HOGG expressed a hope that Mr. Hume would with-
draw his motion. He then entered upon a lengthened
defence of Lord Ellenborough's conduct, and observed that
Mr. flume must have some correspondence with India, for
he had stated matters not to be found in the blue book, and
his credulity appeared to be equal to his discretion, for he
believed everything he beard. The forts destroyed in the
retreat were, he said, garrisoned by land pirates, and there
was no hope of keeping them in check except by razing them
to the grouud.
Mr. MANGLES sought to impress upon the house the fact
that from March to July Lord Ellenborough was continually
writing to General Nott, advising him to withdraw, and this
before a single step had been taken to retrieve the national
honour. Even the order he had sent to advance was only
permissive, allowing General Nott to advance if he thought
proper to do so, thus shifting the responsibility from his own
shoulders, where it ought to remain, to those of General
Nott.

Colonel T. WOOD denied that Lord Ellenborough had
shifted the responsibility from his own shoulders by giving an
indispensable discretion to General Nott.
Captain BERNAL requested Mr. Hume to withdraw his
amendment, as every word uttered on that motion was so
much detracted from the value of the vote itself. He was
of opinion that Lord Ellenborough was entitled to this vote
of thanks, and he was not disposed to give it to him in a
niggardly spirit. He hoped the officers who conducted the
war would get something more substantial than this vote of
thanks.

hope
assent
that t o
thethe
voterar enelsd)
soootiswfohbi
jtnehtiehoolocnantafet
toorhfifltoestt
a:osis the
Sir H. DOUGLAS expressed an earnest hope that the vote
rightand in
hon.ex expressing his of thanks then before them would be agreed to unaniinonslv
hhise
did
present
those
eodsos
eel old
distinguishedt
acquiredmffi octeirosnwuhffitooc
marklei
would not
.be less acceptable to his gallant-comrades in arms
from the circumstance of its being supported in the house by
;lc ivee esrt
idbewnmahc
eacs nhtt
ryoiotyn
appreciate
was the
pt
dte resvxe
grati-
tude. The circumstances in which Lord Ellenborough found
India were so fully explained and so clearly laid down by the
right hon. baronet who brought forward the present motion,
that it became unnecessary for any one else to enter into fur-
ther detail; but thus much he might, at least, be permitted
to observe—that the intention of Lord Auckland was, that
the British army should retire within the Indus with as little
discredit as possible, while the determination of Lord Ellen.
borough was that our forces should retire with the utmost
possible credit. If Lord Ellenborough bad been so rash as
to have directed armies to advance at one and the same time
from Jellalabad and from Candahar—if the noble Governor-
General had given such an order, then most assuredly the
House of Commons would never be found giving its thanks
for anything so rash and ill-considered. But Lord Ellen-
borough did nothing of the sort. He took a course infinitely
wiser—be acted upon the prudent maxim of receding in order
that be might more efficiently advance. By holding these
two positions he was enabled to issue clear and precise direc-
tions for the combined movements which subsequently took
place, and which were attended with such signal success. It
was clear, from the despatch of. General Not!, and from the
other papers which had been laid before parliament, that as
both those posts were occupied by British troops, the atten-
tion of the insurgents would be diverted, and our ultimate
success rendered safe from the assaults of our enemy. The
policy pursued by Lord Ellenborough and the manner in
which he had supported the military operations carried on in
India, appeared to him (Sir H. Douglas) to merit the highest
enconiums, and it afforded him the greatest possible satisfac-
tion to bear testimony to the merits of his government and

of his plans. Once more he begged to express
Uric that the house would concur unalitatousYy in

c of tilanks thus proposed to the

Woo D

anoly supported the MOt:011.
id he had read, with the greatest satis-
,,,u, ,ue uruers given by General Nott, General Pollock,
~.tod Lord Elle borough , respecting the conduct of the troops,
and, if irregularities had taken place, they could not be at-
tributed to those eiders, which were everything that could be
wished.

T a few observations from Mr. STAFFORD O'BRIEN,
solutions were severally put, and agreed to.

....
Disfranchisement Bill was read a second

rues of the day were then disposed of, and th

horse adjourned

HOUSE OF LORD

.-TUESDAY

luvly Lu a question trom the Marquis of CLANRICARDE,
Lord WARN CLIFFE said that it was not the intention of
the architect of the new Houses of Parliament to finish any
one of them before the other. He was proceeding with both
houses pani passe.

Several noble lords complained that the house intended
for their accommodation should not he expedited. They
had given up their house to the House of Commons, and
having very bad accommodation at present, while that which
the House of Commons enjoyed was very good, they felt that
active steps should be taken to finish off their new house as
speedily as possible. Under this feeling
The Marquis of CLANRICARDE moved the appointment of
a committee to inquire into the progress made in the erection
of the new Houses of Parliament.
The motion was agreed to, and the committee appointed.
The Bishop of CHESTER presented a vast number of pe-
titions from various places in Wales against the union of the
sees of Bangor and St. Asaph.
Adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—TUESDAY.
Mr. T. DUNCOMBE moved "That petitions having been
presented to this house complaining of the conduct of Lord
Chief Baron Abinger when presiding as judge upon the ex-
cutron of the late special commission executed in the counties
of Chester and Lancaster, this house do summon witnesses
to the bar for the purpose of ascertaining the language used
by the said Lord Chief Baron Abinger in charging the grand
juries, and in summing up the cases to the petty juries, who
were impanelled under such special commission, and also in
passing sentences upon prisoners convicted under the same
commission." He charged the nobly lord with having acted
in an unconstitutional, malignant, and oppressive manner
towards the prisoners whom he tried, and quoted the opinions
of the Morning Herald and other papers upon the course
pursued by the noble lord on those trials. Some of the
jurymen at Liverpool had, he said, expressed themselves dis-
gusted at the language used by Lord Abinger, for that
language would imply by inference that it was treason to ad-
vocate the ballot, annual parliaments, or universal suffrage,
a doctrine repudiated by the Attorney-General at the chartist
trials at Newport. The conduct and language of Lord
Abinger in trying arid sentencing the prisoners were to the
last degree indecorous, and the subsequent treatment of the
prisoners was equally oppressive and unjust. If the govern-
ment intended to crush any inquiry, he hoped they would at
all events let the public know that amongst the members of
the government there was not one who felt any sympathy
with the language made use of by the Lord Chief Baron.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said he should ask the house
to meet the motion of the hon. member by a direct negative.
The language of Lord Abinger was not directed against the
right of discussing the charter, but against that system of
intimidation and insurrection which, directed as its move-
ments were by a committee of public safety, which, in the
exercise of its power, gave licences for• the execution of any
work that might be deemed of absolute necessity, was calcu-
lated to destroy all the relations of society. Lord Abinger
had not gone the unconstitutional length of denouncing every
attempt to effect by argument an alteration in the existing
state of things; he had only pointed out the illegality and
criminality of such tumultuous assemblages as had taken
place, got up, as they were, not for the purpose of delibera-
tion, but for the disturbance of the public peace, and com-
mented properly on the dangerous language resorted to at
these meetings. The sentences passed by Lord Abinger, and
which were said to be severe, were the result of the united
deliberations of the three judges in the commission. The
hon. and learned gentleman concluded by eulogising the
character of Lord Abinger, whom he was anxious to shield
in his old age, after a life of honourable service, from the
mortification which such an enquiry could not fail to bring

with it

Mr. Ross, in supporting the motion, said he did not think
the defence of the Attorney-General, concluding as it did
with the argumentum ad misPricordiam, at all satisfactory.
Mr. THESIGER condemned the motion as an interference
with the independence of the judges. He entered into a
lengthened defence of Lord Abinger, who had been also
misrepresented in the case of Nicholas Suisse, as well as in
the present instance, for he had never said in charging the
jury that that person was "an invaluable servant." He had
only said that he must have been so considered and described
by his master.
Mr. Sergeant MURPHY said it should have been the care
of Lord Abinger to have calmed the minds of the grand jury,
and to have soothed the excitement natural for them to lie
influenced by, and which must have interfered with the jus-
tice of their decisions. This he had not done. On the con-
trary, his speech was calculated to increase that excitement.
If such a speech were proper under the circumstances, how
was it that the charge delivered by Chief Justice Tindal was
of a totally opposite character? In this country we had al-
ways a horror of political judges, and therefore it was that he
deprecated the conduct of Lord Abinger in bringing his high
talents to bear for the purpose cf stimulating grand juries
already too much excited.
Mr. J. S. WORTLEY said that if the whole of the charge
had been read by his hon. and learned friend he would never
have called it a stimulating charge. The whole of the outcry
against Lord Abieger arose from a misconception which a
careful perusal by a candid mind of that charge Would re-
move. The charges of Chief Justice Tindal were certainly
admirable—they were excellent ; but that learned judge did
not always strictly confine himself to the case before him, for
in one instance he had stated the constitutional law to the
grand jury, and laid it down as to how far a soldier still re-
tained his character as a civilian, that they might judge of the
legality of what had been done in the suppression of a riot.
Mr. WALLACE said he had not trusted to the newspaper
reports, for he had purchased the noble lord's own shilling's
worth, and from that he would say that Lord Abinger had
travelled far and wide from his duty.
Mr. SCARLETT said he believed Lord Abinger's fault was
really that he differed in opinion from the Chartists and their
friends. It would not become him to trespass on the time of
the House, but he must say that he did not think his noble
relative had been fairly treated by hon. members on the op-
position side of the house. To whatever party in the country
Lord Abinger had given his confidence at any period of his
life, he had always been firmly attached to the constitution
of the country. The hon. and learned gentleman concluded
his speech by a reference to the daily press, to which might
be applied the words of a celebrated historian in reference to
the ti,e in which he lived—that it was iniquitous without
punishment and without remedy.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL did not think that the independence
of the judges could be compromised by a motion like the pre-
sent, but he was nevertheless of opinion that nothing but the
most important considerations ought to induce the house to
give its acquiescence to such a motion. The fault of the
charges of Lord Abinger was that they entered into political
matter in conjunction with legal explanations, which were
thus calculated to confuse the grand jury. Indeed the uni-
versal satisfaction expressed at the charges of Chief Justice
Tindal was in itself a proof that there must have been some-
thing objectionable in the charges of Lord Abinger, or they
would not have excited such general animadversion. He
had introduced his political knowledge where his legal know-
ledge only was wanting ; and perhaps from over zeal for the
vindication of the law, he had introduced politics into his
charges unwisely and intemperately. He should, however,
vote against the motion of the hon. member for Finsbury.
Sir J. GRAIIAM concurred both in the practical conclusion
of the noble lord, and also in the general principles he laid
down. In his opinion such a motion as the present should
not be agreed to unless they were convinced that badness of
heart had led to the perversion of judgment. The right hon.
gentleman then proceeded to define the duties of a judge, and
said he had no doubt but that Lord Abinger had honestly
performed his duties, and had done nothing which could call
for the reprehension of the house.
Mr. S. CRAWFORD supported the motion, and expressed
his opinion that the senteuces passed by Lord Abinger were
unnecessarily severe.
Mr. WATSON said he felt it his duty to vote for the in-
quiry, on the simple ground that a grave charge was made
against Lord Abinger, and the house was therefore bound to
hear the evidence. There were many things contained in
the noble lord's own pamphlet which were deserving of re-
probation.
Mr. CARDWELL believed he was the only member of that
house who happened to be present when Lord Abinger de-
livered his charge, and he therefore was entitled to make an
observation. (Hear, hear.) The present was a motion for
inquiry, and he would venture to prophecy that it would riot
be granted ; and he hoped neither the hon. member for
Finsbury nor the hon. and learned member who had last
addressed the house would imagine for a moment that any
supposed identification with that noble lord in political
opinion would tempt Lim (Mr. Cardwell) to rise up and bear
false testimony. He hoped he should not give either biassed
or exaggerated testimony of what he had witnessed on that
occasion, and he hoped and trusted he had sufficient regard
for the honour of that profession, of which he was an un-
worthy member, not to be peculiarly sensitive regarding the
honour and character of one of the ornaments of that pro-
fession. (Hear, hear.) He recollected one expression which
had made the great gravamen of the charge against Lord
Abinger—he meant the occasion on which the noble lord had
told the prisoners at the bar, that in his opinion the govern-
ment had exhibited too much leniency, and that he should
have passed, had he been there, a much more severe sentence.
If the house divested the case of its political and party bear-
ings, and tried Lord Abinger's caution and observations to
the prisoners and to the jury by the test which might he
fairly applied—namely, that of any other crime against so-
ciety, it would at once be seen that his language was exactly
that which best befitted the circumstances under which the
persons upon whom he was passing sentence were situated.
He had heard the noble lord's manner on that occasion
described as superinhuman ; and would observe, that it was
a difficult task to describe correctly, or with any propriety,
the manner in which any particular charge or other discourse
might have been delivered, and which might have excited
admiration in those who heard it. But be would say that
the acumen. the judgment, and the correctness of legal
knowledge which distinguished the noble lord's conduct to
the prisoners, whilst it was his duty to give them every
facility for proving their innocence, and the just and forcible
manner in which, when they haul been pronounced guilty of
the crimes laid to their charge, Lord Abinger expressed his
abhorrence of their conduct, and pointed out its dangerous ,1
tendency, were such as to command his highest respect; and
he was convinced, that had his honourable and learned friend
heard the noble lord utter those sentiments, he would have
thought as he did, and have voted as he would do on the
present occasion.
Mr. 'l'. D UNCOMBE replied, and said he had heard nothing
to induce him not to take the sense of the house upon the
question he had brought before them. The hon. gentleman
amused himself and the house at the expense of Sir James
Graham, whose former attacks on Sir James Scarlett, when
he called him a recreant whin, he contrasted with the praise
he had lavished on him that night.
The house then divided, and the motion was negatived by
a majority of 228 to 73.
On the motion of Lord ELIOT leave was given to bring in
bill to empower justices of the peace in Ireland to act in
certain cases relating to places to the rates of which they
were chargeable.
Leave was also given to bring in a bill to amend the bill
relating to pa wnbroking in Ireland.

HOUSE OF COMAIONS.—WEDNESDAY.
Mr. S. CRAWFORD gave notice that, on the first night of
supply, he should move that the voting of the supplies should
be postponed until the estimates of expenditure should be
considered with a view to their reduction.
On the 'notion of Mr. LIDDELL, the house went into com-
mittee on the Personation of Voters Bill.
After some conversation,
Sir JAMES GRAIIAM said, be did not think the offence of
personating voters prevailed in England to such an extent as
to call for an alteration of the law, and if the bill passed at all,
it ought to be made applicable to the whole United Kingdom.
It was the intention of the Government to bring
in a Regis-
tration Bill for England and Ireland, but he could not

promise that they would do so with regard to Scotland
during the present session.
The right hon. baronet, after some further conversation,
suggested to Mr. Liddell the propriety of postponing the
further progress of his bill in committee until after the second
reading of the English Registration Bill on Monday.
Mr. LIDDELL at once assented, and the house resumed.
On the motion of the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER,
the Exchequer Bills Bill was read a third time, and passed.
Some other business was then disposed of, and the house
adjourned.
11.2.11•1.1111,41011114M,ROTIOINSIOUNIOMMOOM.M.VMMIIIMMP, ems

remarks our naive contemporary, " it is not usual t 0
admit reporters ; but as one of the cases was expected
to be publicly interesting, our own and another re-
porter applied for admission, and the appellant (Mr.
Cowgill) being anxious that they should be present, the
magistrates and churchwardens at once consented.
We, therefore, subjoin a report of the case."
Well, what does the reader imagine was the "pub-
licly interesting" character of the case in question?
This Mr. Cowgill—a busy personage at vestry meet-
ings--was summoned for non-payment of his rates, in
respect to four different properties. Anything "pub.
licly interesting" upon the face of so ordinary a pro-
ceeding as that ? A keen customer must be the re-
porter for the Liverpool 'limes, to scent the fact that
the case of Mr. Cowgill was different from that of the
hundreds of Jones's and Smiths who are made to un-
dergo the same ordeal, and which cases " it is not
usual" for the keen individual in question to bother
his note-book about. Mr. Cowgill, however, we see,
" was anxious" that the public should look at his case
through the spectacles of our contemporary. Was he?
No. But he was anxious that his paltry defence, and
the paltry personal attack in which it consisted, should
be made as " publicly interesting" as " liberal" jour-
nalism could make it—that the grounds of a con-
temptible sneer of a contemptible paper (the Mercury)
should be placed before the world ; and hence the pa-
triotic ardour with which the reporter of the Times,
" and another reporter" hurried, pen and inkhorn in
hand, to the Sessions House, out of the proceedings
there

" to point a moral and adorn a tale"

for all future parish-rate defaulters !

And what was this defence—this " publicly-inte-
.4" defence--of Mr. Cowgill ?We pass over the
pretended plea with respect to the item of £350 Os. 10d.
That was a mere stuffed man set up for the occasion--
a " dummy," such as we see in some cigar shops, in
the shape of empty boxes, -duly labelled with the
seductive brands "Habana," "Silviaros," "Prinetpes,"
and other mystic words, but not intended to be sold.
That defence was not the commodity to be vended by
our contemporary, or his client Mr. Cowgill. There
was nothing " publicly interesting" in it. The inte-
resting matter for that portion of the public which
reads the paper in question was the paltry personal
attack sought to be made against an efficient and re-
spected servant of the parish—Mr. W. Birkett.

Mr. Cowgill, it appears, had made the amazing dis-
covery, that at the time the summons against him was
issued—at which time Mr. Birkett was sick, and had
cs much to do with the issuing in question as the Lord
Mayor of Timbuctoo, with whom, as with all great
men, our contemporary is no doubt acquainted, and in
habits of correspondence—that gentleman was himself
owing to the parish a portion of his rates. To those
who know anything of the ordinary business of a
warehouse owner, and when it is known that Mt'
W. Birkett and his partners pay annually no less a 511771
than three thousand pounds in parish rates, such a cir-
cumstance will not appear surprising. In many cases,
as was explained by Mr. Birkett's partner (Mr. Dover),
" they let parts of warehouses, and the tenants Pay
the rates ;" and thus, although Messrs. Birkett appear
on the parish books as the parties owing money, the
tenants are the real defaulters. Moreover, we have
their course of business explained by Mr. W. Birkett
himself : " they regularly commence paying three
e
months after the rate is laid, and pay up to the end el
the year." There is surely nothing, therefore, very
startling in the fact that such a firm were, at the ti v 5
of the issuing of the summons against Mr. Cowgill,
less than one third part of their heavy rate in arrear'''
if indeed it could under the circumstances be called
in arrear; and we can only put down the zeal of out
contemporary to proclaim the fact, to the wish of the
party, of whom he is the tool, to make a set at the cha-
racter of the gentleman in question. Our wise bro-
ther, however, we venture to hint to him, has no power
to effect the object in view. The public can see
through the manoeuvres of himself and of his party;
and an army of old apple-women might just as well
attempt to take the Tower of London by escalade, es
the Times, with his popgun, to force an entry for a
mob of pra3datory whiglings into the confidence of the
ratepayers of Liverpool. Thank Heaven, we kW*
the gentlemen !

The debate in the Town Council, at their special
meeting on 'Wednesday week, in consequence, probably'
of its being short, does not seem to have hitherto at-
tracted so much attention as the importance of the
subject under consideration deserves. This town has
suffered so much from fires, even in the rernembratte
of the present generation, that almost any project fcrc,
the prevention of future visitations, speculative °.s
practical, demands investigation ; and it is on this
ground that we accord our sanction to the proposition
of the Council for asking any requisite powers frolit
Parliament.

There was in the debate the appearance without the
reality of a difference of opinion upon the propriety (
going to Parliament this session. One gentlana.;
urged delay on the somewhat original ground that the
people of London were tired of hearing so much of
Liverpool affairs; just as if because Liverpool had 01)
tamed her Improvement and Health of Town Acts i 0
the last session she therefore needs nothing more. 011
this novel principle we might as well consent at once
to place the borough in schedule A, and part eornPall e
with Lord Sandon and Sir Howard Douglas, for there
would he very little use in sending representatives
an assembly unwilling to be moved with our cause,
The dehate, however, as it progressed, gradually worked
a change in the sentiments of the gentleman referred
to, and the practical details furnished by Mr. Sairtj;
Hohne effected his entire conversion. One or tscie
other members objected to proceeding on grounds
equally untenable, but as in the case of Mr. G.
Lawrence, they proved themselves open to conviction'
and, eventually, the motion that a bill he applied I°
was agreed to unanimously.
The report of the Special Committee was drawn Ui;
in general terms ; and, consequently, it laid bare irer
little beyond the principle on which the measure i 9
proposed to be founded. Under existing eirctlo,
.06
stances it appears to be requisite that two distinct bier
b
Should be applied for, one by the Council and the otitA
y Commissioners for Paving and Sewering•
general bill on the part of either would involve an
re,
terference with each others power s, which, in the pre
sent case, it is extremely desirable to avoid, not °lib,
on account of the expense, but for the sake of the Pyre
lie welfare. We assume then that the grounds °of
valid and sufficient which have led to the prospect
0,
two bills to accomplish a common object; and We o
sumo, too, that the execution of the two acts—if to
acts there should be—will be co-operative and har°0,

In his speech the Town-Clerk furnished sortie doe:
tails of the bill to be solicited on the part of the Gctilis
cil ; from which it is evident that all the precautlse
which human ingenuity and forethought can desrf''ar
to prevent devastations by fire, are to be adopted. rto
instance, iron is to be used where wood has hitheop
prevailed ; protective walls are to be built on the /feel
between warehouse and warehouse ; a space of sill'
yards is to be preserved in the front of any new ware
house; certain restrictions are to be placed 00 the
warehousing of goods of a dangerous nature ; dung ea
ous trades are to be prohibited from being f°lleta
n iti
within a given distance from warehouses, under ceror
exceptions ; all warehouses are to be registered; iOll
ters therein are to be licensed, who, it is proposea'sol
be deemed guilty of misdemeanour, if any
agar
ful act" or " negligent omission" is
proved 40
them. These, we understand, are the chief features to
ra
the bill to be recommended by the Council.
.8 ise
will certainly be part of the bill suggested by theC
be'
missioners ; it will be of trifling amount, (Id. we or
lieve,) but we forbear discussing any part of the y
tails of their measure until they have been, as the
soon must be, submitted s4o public consideration:o, 0
In a general point of view we have no objecttlo the
present, to any of the foregoing details, except atie
registration of warehouses, the licensing of porters'
the power to bring men of that occupation be
ligeut
criminal tribunal for any " wilful act" or "flef. woe'
omission." We disapprove of the registration °
Con re'
ould
houses because in the event of any casuality it s
c
throw some degree of responsibility upon the
00'
A certificate of the security of the building, well 001'
hend, would follow from the registration,
whie
ficate would not be given until it had been exa and
by the surveyor, or some other competent officer; the
de
his opinion would, to some extent at least, pie

Council. The inspection, too, must be renewed from
time to time, otherwise the registration and certificate
would become comparativelyuseless. The system, we
think, would be eventually disregarded ; but if it is to
be commenced at all, we do' not see why it should not
extend to private dwelling-houses as well as to ware-
houses ; and we have reasonable grounds for thinking
so. We wait, however, to see the language of the

clause on this point. The licensing of porters
object is to prevent pilferage, will he simply i
tive for good, for it will never supersede the necessity
for vigilance on the part of the employer, whilst in the
event of a felony, it will not, of itself, aid in the proof.
Other objections to it might be advanced, but

serve them till we see the print of the bill. As to mak-
Sing the warehouse porters liable to punishment as for a
misdemeanour, for any " wilful act," or " negligent
omission," we can only say that we regard the proposal
for the establishment of such a power with no inconsi-
derable degree of jealousy.
The town is deeply and permanently interested in
this matter. Premiums of insurance have risen enor.

mously in consequence of the existing state of things,
(and we fear there is little hope of their ever being
lower,) whilst profits on imported produce have dimi-
nished; so that practical measures of some kind are
indispensable, if the character of the port is to be sus-
tained. It is visionary, to say the least of it, to main-
tain that this is only a question between the merchants
and the insurance offices. We might as well contend
that any capital offence is only a matter between the
criminal and his victim. The public are as much in-
terested in the one as in the other ; and in both cases
a serious obligation is owing to society. In conclusion,
let it be remembered that the practical measures sug-
gested by the public bodies referred to, do not neces-
sarily, and they ought not absolutely, excite contenti-
ous feelings ; and therefore we hope that in the full
discussion which they must undergo, political parti-
zanship will be unanimously waived in consideration
of the grand object to be promoted—THE PROSPE-
RITY OF THE TOWN AND PORT OF LIVERPOOL.