The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1843-01-03 00:00:00

TOWN COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS

The adjourned meeting of the Town-council was held at
eleven o'clock yesterday, in the Town-hall, for the further
consideration of the statements of the Town-clerk, the
Deputy Town-clerk, and Clerk of Committees, and the re-
marks of the Paid Officers' Committee on those statements.

C‘-;U:lei I was also summoned specially for the purpose of
nuking several annual appointments. The NIAYOR pre-

)NS PROPOSED BY THE PAID OFFICERS

COMMITTEE

The Council on the motion of Sit' T. BRANCKER, seconded
by Mr. G. 11. LAWRENCE, resolved itself into committee for
the consideration of the third and remaining resolutions pro-
posed by the Paid Officers' Committee on their report, and
the answers thereto of the Town clerk, the Deputy Town-
clerk, and Clerk of Committees.
Mr. LLOYD then rose, and commenced by observing, that
at the last meeting the council having passed the first and
second of the resolutions proposed by the committee, hail
very properly adjourned on the third, with the view of
enabling the younger members fully to inform themselves of
the subject in the meantime. At the last meeting he had not
answered the question put by Mr. Birkett, " how the commit-
tee arrived at the conclusion in page ten of their report, that
if the scheme proposed by them were adopted, there would
be a saving to the borough fund of £5OO per annum." lie
bad not answered this question then, because he felt that the
proper time to do so would be on the motion for the adop-
tion of the third resolution, which he was now about to pro-
pose. The Paid Officers' Committee in entering upon their
labours had kept in view the strict letter of the resolution of
the council by which they had been appointed : without
having regard to persons they had inquired only, in compli-
ance with the resolution, into duties and salaries ; and in
coming to any conclusion in their report, there had not been,
either collectively or individually, the slightest personal feel-
iug with reference to any of the officers or servants of the
corporation. They had first inquired into the Town-clerk's
department. As their report stated, they could not separate
the indi% iduals employed, as if they were acting in several de-
partments ; they considered them all as one acting under the
direction and control of the Town-clerk. Prom the evidence
before them, they could come to no other conclusion than
that the Town-clerk was responsible for all the officers whose
named appeared in the report, although the duties were so
mixed ; and, indeed the Town clerk had to a certain extent
admitted the same, for he said he was responsible for all ex-
cept two—the Clerk of Committees and his clerk, who re-
ceived their appointments direct from the council. Now,
although those officers had received their appointments di-
rectly from the council, the committee could not separate
their duties from the Town•clerk. for the duties which they
performed were, strictly, legal duties. The Clerk of Com-
mittees had been acting from- tae year 1836 as the custodiar
of the muniments : he had also attended committees- and
taken their instructions, but he had not attended the whole
of them. There was a confusion of duties, in this respect,
by the Town-clerk attending some committees, the Deputy
Town-clerk others, and the Clerk of Committees others,
the inconveniences of which were pointed out in the
report. The only difference then between the Town-
clerk's statement, and the report of the committee, was
simply this,—that the Town-clerk not having the ap-
pointment of these two officers, did not consider him-
self responsible for their acts, beyond what the Act of
Parliament imposed upon him as the custodian of the
deeds ; whilst he (Mr. Lloyd) maintained that the Town-
clerk, since the passing of the Municipal Act, was the legal
adviser not only of the Council, but of every committee ;
and that, as there could be no act done except directly under
that act, or under some local act, therefore he was respon-
sible for every act which passed the Council. This being
the case, the officers named in pages two, three, and four, in
the opinion of the committee formed one department, with
the exception of the prosecuting solicitor and the sub-bailiffs;
and, after hearing the evidence, and entering into further
inquiry, they came, to the conclusion that, if a scheme,
founded somewhat upon that contained in their report, (pub-
lished in Friday's Standard.) were adopted, all the dutie,
performed by the officers named in pages two, three, and
four, with the exception of the crier and the sub-bailiffs,
could be properly rulfilled by persons at the respective salaries
set forth in the report. '['his opinion was borne out by the
statement of the Towu-clerk. The Town-clerk certainly
suggested some trifling or not very considerable alterations
as to the salaries; and, if the committee had not recom-
mended the salaries named upon the basis of the duties to be
performed, keeping in view, also, that there were other de-
partments to be inquired, they might have adopted the Town-
clerk's suggestions. It was with regard to what the De-
puty Town-clerk had said in his statement, that he being so
much absent from the office attending the sessions and the
assizes, there should always be one there in whom he could
have confidence, that the committee proposed to allow him
an efficient clerk, at the salary of £3OO per annum. The
committee saw it was right and necessary for such a person
to be appointed, and they came at once into the Deputy
Town-clerk's view. Then, with regard to the Borough
Court, they proposed to appoint a clerk there, at a salary of
£2OO per annum, the Town-clerk considering that there
would be a difficulty in procuring a person with the know-
ledge requisite for the office at such a salary, proposed
that £5O a year should be added. The next point was the
subject of the chief clerk to the Town-clerk. The com-
mittee had gone very fully into the importance of such an
assistant being at his right hand ; and, indeed, if any one
would sit with the Town-clerk; as he (Mr. Lloyd) had on
this enquiry, and see the constant interruptions to which he
was exposed upon trifling matters, they would at once
acknowledge that he ought to have such assistance. These
were the three chief alterations pointed out and suggested in
the report; there would then be a chief clerk to the Town-
clerk, a deputy registrar to superintend the business of the
borough court, and a chief clerk to take upon himself, in
the absence of Mr. Shuttleworth, the management of the
leasing and conveyancing. Besides these, there would be a
book-keeper, a cashier, and seven engrossing clerks ; and
the Town-clerk had told the council, that this efficient
establishment, considering the inconvenience and extra ex-
pense last year, would not be any additional charge upon the
borough fund. All the calculations in the report were
founded upon the treasurer's account for 1841, which was
the last published when the enquiry commenced. The
officers and clerks, independently of the criers and bailiffs,
received,
In 1841
The scheme proposed by the committee
a-iounted to

Showing a saving of ............. .•• • . 918 810
Besides this, there ought to ba added to we expenses of 1841,
although it did not appear in the committees report, the law
stationers' bills for work done out of the office, which
least £l3OO, in''r.ohuienhd'
oalneirokiinstieldinteossa,bout £250 extra. Then there had been £332
paid for professional assistance during the late Deputy Town-
saving, supposing that
Fameoifn thediv
individual
the establishment now proposed would be equal to a great
portion of the extra work. Mr. Lloyd then mentioned that
nwnitnahbtehres,£a9slBa, would give a sum of at
all the doubts of the committee as to the legality of the Clerk-
shiprkeehaa
Wm. Follett, Mr. Starkie, and Mr. Martin had been taken
for the opinion of Sir
on the question, and it was that they were compatible. The
dndbethene Treomwon;celde,rkship being held by
Council, therefore, might be relieved from any difficulty on
this matter. The total difference, with regard to salaries be-
tween the Town-clerk, the Deputy Town-clerk, and the com-
mittee amounted to £236. Mr. Lloyd here pointed out the
strictest economy, he would willinglY
differences in detail. Though he was an advocate for the
give his individual vote
for the salary of the Deputy Town-clerk to be £l2OO per an-
num instead of £9OO, for the duties of that office last year had
been enormous. Having now gone through the scheme both
in the report of the committee and the statements of the
Town-clerk and Deputy Town-clerk,
he begged to move the
third resolution :
Town-clerk submit-
principle of Town-
nßg eas osnlcyfhetedbm,e—e
iTonflinea
snt
eblnirkht tang
nndtg,
Dui neptpoonn
tconsideration the state-
ments
Town-
clerk and Deputy Town-clerk, that this council do approve
of such scheme, subject to the following alterations in the
salaries thereby proposed.
That, the salary of the clerk,
Viz.:—That, the salary of the clerk, No. 4, in the scheme,
be £lOO instead of £l3O.
Np. 6, be £BO instead of £9O.
That, the salary of the Deputy Town-clerk and Prosecu-
ting Solicitor, be £9OO instead of £lOOO.
And, that, subject to such alterations, the Town-clerk and
Deputy Town-clerk and Prosecuting Solicitor, do severally
proceed with the requisite appointments in their respective
departments.
He would name here, and the Town-clerk would excuse him
for mentioning it, that several members had suggested to
him (Mr. Lloyd) that these appointments being given to the
Town-clerk, he might make some which the council would
not consider proper and correct. Now, so far as he (Mr.
Lloyd) had seen of both the Town-clerk and the Deputy
Town-clerk, he did not see why they should not have the
fullest liberty of appointing the instruments for doing that
for which they were responsible to the council. The busi-
ness of the office never could be carried on, if, whilst the
principals were responsible, the subordinates were allowed
to come before the council with complaints. He might also
add. that the Town-clerk had not the slightest idea of ap-
pointing any relative of his own to the chief clerkship, at
£4OO per annum.
Mr. KILSHAW seconded the resolution.
Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE was one of those who, at the out-
set, had been opposed to the appointment of the Paid
Officers' Committee, inasmuch as be conceived that any en-
quiry into the emoluments and duties of the several officers
of the corporation might have been investigated by the re-
spective committees to which they were attached. At the
same time, he did not anticipate the painstaking report
which the committee had presented, or else he might pro-
bably have taken a different view of the thing. He was but
an indifferent reformer in matters of this kind ; he was not
much in favour of changes, because changes were generally,
if not always, accompanied with a considerable increase of
expenditure, and because, in making changes in their duties,
they might be apt, at least for a time, to interfere with or
damage the efficiency of those officers whose efficiency it was
intended to improve. That was his feeling in a great dagree
on the present occasion. Added to that it appeared to him
that the Paid Officers' Committee had spoken rather with
regard to things as they ought to be than with regard to
things as they were, or were likely to become at present.
They presented to the council the beau ideal of a town-clerk,
atßna
side-windbdacvl
effef 0. rg Atnotst
set
oon
pttehhreas
etc
dlbeeer
him
I:ifs
;tc
eowdmi
without remembering that they had such an officer as Mr.
m
he
tl
whilst
att sn(,rmt
throe. ybLesaepwe
rmreepenadcreee)i
dt
was
sure that there was hardly a man in the council who would
wish to be deprived of the services of such a valuable officeras
Mr. Okill. He (Mr. Lawrence) could hold out no hope
ast£Bmdbo
effectednonusui
erdo:coutt:tot
mulcting
bir
ovkaae,
uwerealykyrcfnicoeerint:taoi
knew
nartmiauwah.
gn el
dismissed,fi
lysthtoThhorfdsa eertwhaenohsvepedhr
negi
acranrhrporge teodaemam.
xoltstwtbmierp:
teanUi
expense
prsaitot
eennt
law-stationers.
opwfee-sfrrssnatetstwsuoihnspadapsbel
to
would
tssokoheorstenaeotbhy
tenmaseiol4rbottnsufenioolgc.
cmnbrrui
hp.
putt
whatever that the measures now proposed would be pro-
olhaOssogtrei
toofnaek:vopet di
savingi
al
good would
some
ssew: asls;
paltrynehaßoosnyclabu Besides,
dtluasnMdxtsitgbdi
system,
oenonst
ohneoAte,
rti
rmhbcikobiyi
nheeer-,
With this question, however, he was not competent to deal.
He would much rather have entrusted this part of the
business to the discretion of the Town-clerk than
.to look for
any great improvement by such laws and regulations as the
council were now asked to propound. Their labour would
be too much for X6O or .£7O a year; they were kept all hou
and it was too much to require from them such conditionr,

_ .
Mr. LACE said the hoUrs expected frontilem;;;;;-
sonable. They were not required to work later than seven
o'clock.
Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE said they must work longer if re-
quired ; and he contended thatf
they were earning something they would work neither so
well nor so fast as they i
would
worth having. Then two new lawyers were to come into the
building. He was willing to acknowledge that assistance was
wanted in the Town-clerks office, and that Mr. Shuttle-
worth must be provided with a clerk ;
but at the same time
he felt rather reluctant at the introduction of two additional
legal gentlemen at high salaries. He was aware they must
conform to the law, but they might encumber. their march of
proceeding by conforming rather too tightly to it ; and they
would
must not expect that these parties. be satisfied for any
considerable length of time with £3OO and £4OO a-year. With
regard to the muniments, whatever the Town-clerk said must
be carried out ; but if the Town-clerk thought that he had
not that sufficient custody of the deeds and muniments of the
corporation which the law enacted, that was his fault, and
not the council's ; he ought to have seen to it better. He
(Mr. Lawrence) never for a moment supposed it was in.

tended that the Town-clerk should sit all day long in the re.
pository, taking care himself of the deeds, books, and muni-
ments : the Town-clerk's time would be ill employed in such
occupation, and he did not think that the arrangement of the
office would be improved by such a change. The Town-
clerk was an excellent Town-clerk, he delighted in his
advice and assistance, but he did not think his manage-
ment of the deeds would be an improvement upon that
of Mr. Okill. The law, however, must be carried out ;
and lie was sure that both the Town-clerk and Mr. Okill
would willingly bow to what was essential and right. The
custody of the deeds was not, however, so completely in Mr.
Okill as seemed to be imagined ; for the more important
ones were kept in the iron safe, or box, to which the Town-
clerk and the Mayor for the time being, had access only. in
conjunction with the Treasurer. Mr. ()kill had no access
to them ; and it would be very easy to add any others which
might be necessary. Ile (Mr. Lawrence) would never con-

sent to anything which would degrade Mr. Ukill in the opi-
Uion of the council or of the town ; for he was an old and
faithful servant, a man of experience, greater than any other
he could mention, to whom.w.ts owing the protection of the
town dues, and whom, only a few years ago, all part
lighted
aware, was a large on
nary, whose practical a _
the corporation would be usef

nd rest

s could

attend as
form the m.
If Mr. Okill
quired for such a person. There
which could not fail to be morti
word from bim (Mr. Lawrence)
the council to alter it. lo page
t'he Town-clerk was called " le
committees." He-hoped the council woul
striking the pen through " clerk to all co
leaving the Town-clerk legal adviser, for as it stood it ap-
peared to Mr. Okill that he was virtually dismissed.
Town-clerk would bear him out in this.
The TOWN-CLERK said, most decidedly, and nc
could be more agreeable to his ftelings than to cons
the alteration.
Mr. COOPER said, still tb
some committees, for there were many which Mr. Okill did
not attend.

'would, he thought, induc

al adviser and clerk of all

consent to his
mittees," thus

ierk would be clerk tc

The TOWN-CLERK said, there could be no doubt that, as
to any committee to which there was not a special clerk, the
town-clerk was, by virtue of his office, clerk to that com-
mittee.

Mr. LACE observed, that the greater title was the town-
clerk, which includes all.
The TOWN-CLERK said, yes ; and he should certainly
consider the term " Clerk of Committees" as degrading to
him.

Mr. HORNBY remarked. that besides this, there would be
the great inconvenience of
_two officers having the same title.

The TOWN-CLEftli explained that he had used the term
" degrading " in its proper derivative meaning ; not as dis-
graceful to, but as lowering;
Mr. G. 11. LAWRENCE, resuming, alluded to the duties of
the chief clerk, and suggested, that, in the absence of the
Town-clerk, the chief clerk should act under the direction of
the Deputy Town-clerk ; so that he might not supersede, in
any way, that officer.

The TOWN• CLERK said, that, as a general principle, the
moment his absence took place Mr. Shuttleworth became
Town-clerk, and took all his authority, except as to the
office of Clerk of the Peace.

Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE repeated, that he looked with
some jealousy to this ; but, after the explanation, be should
not press it further. He would certainly be no party to the
dismissal of Mr. Abbott, to whose zeal and assiduity during
the twenty-two years he had been employed in the building
he warmly commended. He could find no fault with Mr.
Abbott.

Mr. LACE suggested that Mr. Abbott's case should be
considered when a subsequent resolution was proposed.
Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE assented ; and he then proposed an
amendment, which was to the effect that the scheme of the
Paid Officers' Committee be adopted, with the understand-

ing that no interference was desirable with the emoluments
of the clerk of committees, or with those duties that be now

discharged, which in the opinion of the Town-clerk are not
compatible with the corporation act.
Mr. LLOYD said the effect of that amendment would be to
relieve the Paid Officers' Committee from any inquiry into
what the duties of the clerk of committees would be when
the Town-clerk took the legal possessions of the muniments
upon himself. This, as he understood, was the effect of the
amendment?
Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE.—Yes.
Mr. LLOYD said, he, for one, shouldbe obliged if the
council would relieve the committee from the duty.
Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE said he chiefly alluded to the
Muniments. It was for the Town-clerk to observe the legal
bearings of the act.
Mr. BRAMLEY-IVIOORE said, if that was so, there was an
end to the inquiry.
The TOWN-CLERK explained that the effect would be that
Mr. Okill would remain as clerk of committees, and he
(the Town-clerk) should have the custody of the deeds and
muniments, giving, as he should of course, every facility to
Mr. Okill and the surveyor that the Municipal Act would
admit of. This would carry out his (the Town-clerk's) state-
ment, so far as regarded the charters, deeds, and muniments,
whilst it would leave Mr. Okill in his present position and
emoluments. _ _

...,LAIP,•••••••••••••-”.”
Mr. BIRKETT thought, after the statement of the Town-
clerk, that the amendment was unnecessary. He would be
no party to loosing Mr. Okill ; and he contended that the
new arrangement should be tried for twelve months, and Mr.
Okill be continued at his present salary. The system would
then have had a fair trial, and the council would then be in
a situation to come to a conclusion—a conclusion the more
valuable because it would be founded upon experience.
Mr. LACE thought Mr. Birkett's idea was founded upon
an erroneous impression of what was intended to be done with
regard to the custody of deeds. Mr. Okill had hitherto had
general access to the strong room. Under the Municipal
Act the Town-clerk was the proper person to be the custodian,
and the only person to have access. The Town-clerk, for
instance, was responsible if a deed was stolen, although it
might be by Mr. Okill's negligence; it was, therefore, per-
fectly right that he should be put on a proper footing with
regard to the custody. There could be no one who would
not go to the fullest extent in acknowledging the, value of Mr.
Mill's services to the corporate estate; and Mr. Lawrence's
amendment was with a view to keep Mr. Okill for all the
purposes of the corporation, but still leaving the legal custody
of the muniments to the Town-clerk. As he (Mr. Lace)
understood the Town-clerk, there could be no difficulty in
making an arrangement to give Mr. Okill access to any do-
curaents he might want, and more than that he need not have.
The TOWN-CLERK repeated, that consistently with the
law he should feel himself bound, with a due regard to the
interests of the council, to grant every facility he could, and
show the greatest courtesy and respect, towards both the
officers—the clerk of committees and the surveyors.
Mr. LACE expressed his concurrence in the views taken
by the Town-clerk ; and he read, from a statement laid be-
fore the old council, a detail of the very eminent services
rendered to the corporation by Mr. Okill.
Mr. Alderman EARLE applauded Mr. Lace for having
brought forward such a very satisfactory document. He
begged to add, too, that he had always found Mr. Abbott
most attentive to his duties.
Mr. Alderman EVANS, in a speech of considerable length,
assigned a variety of reasons against both the recommenda-
tions of the committee and the statements of the officers. He
contended that the committee, instead of having proposed
such sweeping measures, should have proceeded gradually,
and have recommended first one clerk and then another, as
might be found necessary.
Mr. BRAMLEY-MOORE commenced by observing, that a
great deal of the difficulty in which the council now felt it-
self arose from gentlemen dealing with persons instead of
things. When the committee was appointed, they were
supposed not to possess any knowledge whatever of persons;
and they understood they had to deal with the establishment
as they found it, to report how it should be carried on, and
what staff would be necessary. They had put aside allA.con-
sideration of Mr. Okill personally, and made their tiPport
only on the number of individuals necessary to carry on the
work. The committee had never, for one moment, enter-
tained the idea of dismissing him. Mr. Moore then entered
into a brief examination of the accounts for extra labour
from 1837 to 1842, to shew that there would be the saving
described by Mr. Lloyd from the permanent arrangement
sow proposed. He then defended the proceedings of the
committee from the observations of Mr. G. H. Lawrence,
and stated that if the amendment was carried, he would not,
for one moment longer, continue to sit upon the committee.
Mr. HORNBY said he entirely approved of the suggestion
of the Paid Officers' Committee, that three principal clerks
should be added for the assistance of the Town-clerk and the
Deputy Town-clerk. He had for a very long time felt that
such assistance was absolutely necessary, considering the
greatly increased business of the corporation. But, he con-
tended, there could be no saving effected unless Mr. Okill
and Mr. Abbott were dismissed.
Mr. Nicol, said, that no person could have more confidence
in the Town-clerk and Deputy Town-clerk than be had, but
he thought, contrary to the proposition in the report, that the
council should have the confirmation both of the dismissal
and appointment of the officers to be employed under them.
Mr. LACE thought the confirmation should refer rather to
the appointment than the dismissal.
Mr. NICOL considered that the council ought to be con-
sulted in both. He presumed ihat the Town-clerk, in what
he had stated with regard to access to the deeds in the Re-
pository, did not intend to exclude the auditors of the corpo-
ration accounts?
The TOWN-CLERK said, certainly not.
Mr. PARKER spoke warmly in favour of Mr. Okill.
He
defended the report of the. Paid Officers' Committee ; but he
trusted that whatever might be the saving, it would not be
adopted by the demolition of Mr. Okill's present salary.
Mr. NORTH was of opinion that the whole of the fees ought
to be enjoyed by the law officers ; but he had no hope of
that idea being carried at present. He was in the predica-
ment of agreeing neither with the motion nor the amendment.
He also differed, though in a less degree, from the proposals
of the Town-clerk and Deputy Town-clerk ; and he rested
his objections upon the belief that additional assistance could
not be effectively obtained, according to the scale of expense
at which it was proposed. The chief clerk, instead of £4OO,
he thought should have £5OO per annum—for the additional
£lOO would make all the difference in obtaining an efficient
officer. For the same reason he would make the proposed
deputy registrar's salary £3OO instead of £250. He thought,
however, it would be carrying matters a little too far, if the
appointments were made by the Town-clerk and Deputy
Town-clerk entirely irrespective of the council. The coun-
cil ought to have the approval of the appointment, but not of
dismissal. The proposal for a bookkeeper and cashier was
most useful; but he did not know whether the Town-clerk
and Deputy Town-clerk were to be relieved from the care of
the cash concerns of their respective departments. If they
were not they ought to be.
Mr. LLOYD explained that the Clerk of the Peace could
not be so relieved as to the fees in that department.
Mr. NORTH would make the book-keeper and cashier as
useful as possible. lie contended that the whole scheme
of proposed salaries was too low for the duties to be perfor-
med. With regard to the engrossing clerks, those situations
should be rendered desirable by their being paid at the rate
of .-E2 a week ; and the sooner the system of taking ap-
prentices was abandoned the better. He did not approve of
the intended salary of the Town-clerk being reducetl from
£lOOO to £9OO, in order to give the £lOO to his head clerk ;
and he should move an amendment to the effect that the
alterations be made which lie had suggested.
After considerable discussion, in which a general feeling
was expressed that the amendment should be withdrawn, Mr.
G. H. LAWRENCE consented to do so, stating that if, when
the report upon the office of clerk of the committees was
made, he found Mr. Okill was not to receive the amount he
at present received the committee must be prepared to meet
his opposition. He withdrew the amendment.
Mr. LLOYD then replied to the objections to the resolu-
tion ; after which,
Sir THOMAS BRANCKER strongly urged the council to
adopt the recommendations in the statements of the Town-
clerk and the Deputy Town-clerk.
Mr. LLOYD said be had no objection ; and the resolution
was altered so as to embrace this object with the verbal al-
teration in the third class of the Town-clerk's duties sug-
gested by Mr. G. H. Lawrence.

A veil; long discussion then commenced upon the question
whether the council should have a veto on the appointment
and dismissal of the chief clerks ; at the end of which the
council recurred to the proposition of Mr. Lloyd. On the
division the numbers were—

For the motion
Against it ....

Majority for the motion 34
For.—Councillors—Housbton, Preitcoa, Thompson, North,
Saadi, lionsby, J. Holme, Priestley,
Royden, 3. Lawrenee, Coolier, Wood, Birkett, Bushell,

Lloyd, Kilshaw, Parker, Brassey, Plimpton, Leigh, G. H.
Lawrence, Lace, Trotman, Smith. Aldermen—Barclay,
Bulley, Brancker, Turner, Freme, Nicol, Bramley-moore,
Molyneux, Moon, Chilton, and the Mayor-37.
Against—Councillor Isaac Holmes. Aldermen—Earle,
Evans-3.

Mr. NORTH then moved a resolution, that the appoint.
ment of the clerks he had named previously be subject to the

approval of the council; but that they should be removable
by the Town-clerk and the Deputy Town-clerk, without the
interference of the council.
Mr. Nicol, seconded the motion. On Li division the num•
hers were—

For the

Majority for t

Aikin, Hohale, Prie

Nicol, Molynet

I,.Birkett, Lloyd, G. ILA.

TOWN-CLERK

confirmation, they ought to tt►l+

LLOYD t

id by every clerk or assisi

ent, whatever

Mr. Bus

The motion was carried b

rnment to Wednesd
,jority of 19 against
onsequently postpon

The r
at half-i

1 OF WALLASEY BRIDGE

The opening of ti

bee on Frid

of persons was present

As early as twc

ick the roar of cannon announced the approaching scene
exactly at three the procession, led by Mr. Palmer

The Re,i. James

rth, J. D. Cas

ag ordgr. i

Esq., John Jackson

Esq., W. Smith, 'EsQ
the corn

and Jos. 'Wallaby. Esq. Amongs
_ ywe noticed the Hon. Sir Edward Cost, J. D
11addock, Esq., W. Jackson, Esq., E. J. Kent, Esq., ant

with !Jags, t

nd vla

conclusion of whic

given, and on p

was decorated

god save the Queer

,h, three times three hearty cheers were
ng through the turnpike cc the Poulton

dressed the assembly as folloviTs

Gentlemen,—We are now art ived at that point of our little
ceremonial when, perhaps. it may be expected that I should
say a few words with reference to this undertaking itself. In
the first place, I must express my sincere conviction, that a
regard to the public accommodation was a principal motive
with the promoters of the work ;—that a direct and facile
communication between two districts of country hitherto
dissevered, and, as it were, hermetically sealed against each
other

, .as with them a great and desirable object. The
principle must he admitted to be good, though the manner
in which the principle has been carried out may be somewhat
contracted, l will not deny. Still, however, as much has
been accomplished as might have been expected. With the
limited means at our disposal, we have achieved much, and
I think w'

may take to ourselves some credit for the appear-
nce which the work now assumes. In the department which
has more immediately devolved upon me, I have tc

!know-

ledge all the assistance which lit
can bring to an undertaking ; at

and judgment
st my colleagues will
uniary one, at least one

arising from the reflection that they have contributed, in a
material degree, to the improvement of the district alluded
to. When we look around and see what has been accom-
t:lished by individual enterprise—when we see a new town,
not a rival, but a sister of the old emporium, starting into
life upon our Mersey's banks, we cannot but anticipate some
results .from the ceremonial of to-day. It may suggest
another wink of larger dimensions and more
_eligible site,

which I, for one, should not regard with the eye of jealousy, but
hail with feelings of joy and satisfaction. What a few years
may do for the district on which we now stand, I dare not
predict. In my day I haVe witnessed mighty changes, and
perhaps this work of ours may lead to still further changes.
With these feelings I beg to consign this work to your in-
dulzent considerAtion, trusting it may prove what its pro-
moters sincerely intend it should prove,—a benefit and

•
aerommodation to the districts more immediately interested.
Permit me to solicit your approbation in three hearty ex-
pressions of your feelings for the success of the Wallasey
Pool Bridge. [The rev. gentleman's speech was followed
by unanimous cheering.]

-Sir Edward Cust, iii proposing a vote of thanks to the
Rev. James Mainwaring and the committee, expressed his
thanks for their generous and assiduous conduct in carrying
out the design and completing the bridge.
J. D. Case, Esq., in seconding the proposition, passed a
high eulogium on the committee for the zealous discharge of
the duties entrusted to them.

The gentleman composing the committee and their friends
dined together at Mrs. Parry's, the Seacombe Hotel, at six
o'clock.

THE AMERICAN CorroN CROP.—For the last two years
comparatively little curiosity has been felt as to the amount of
the crop of cotton in the United States, every one being sa-
tisfied that it would be large enough to meet any demand
which could arise in the then prostrate condition of the cot-
ton manufacture of this country. But the present improved
aspect of the trade, and the probability of an extended con-
sumption during the next twelve months, have revived the
interest which was previously felt on this subject ; and, as the
period of the year has now arrived when some reasonable
judgment may be formed as to the probable extent of the
conking crop, the advices just received by the Columbia have
been regarded with great attention by parties interested in
the matter. We sre glad to state that, so far as we have
been able to learn, the mercantile letters generally tend to

confirm the previous anticipations of a very large crop ; not
less, at all events, than 2,000,000 bales, and estimated by many
at from 2,100,000 to 2,250,000 bales. That these latter esti-
mtees are a little too sanguine is probable enough, and the
assumption may be admitted without endangering that steadi-
ness of price in the raw material7which is at the present time

so es3ential to the prosperity of the cotton manufacture. A
crop of 2,000,000,000 bales (of which probably 1,100,000 or
1,200,000 may be expected to reach this country) will re-
move all apprehensions of inadequate supply.—Manchester
Guardian.

AFRICAN EMIGRATION TO THE WEST INDIES.—Mr.
Macgregor Laud, in a letter to a weekly journal, makes the
following statement :—" The government have at length de-
termined to follow out the recommendatious of the West
African committees of last session, by taking into their own
hands the African migration that has been and is now going
on to the West Indies ; and on Saturday advertisements for
transports of 350 tons, to convey free African emigrants from
Sierra Leone to the West Indies, will appear. 'Faking for
granted that Lord Stanley has given the sanction of his
name and that of the government to this great experiment
(fraught as it is with the most important consequences to the
cause of freedom throughout the world), on condition that it
shall be carried out on the broadest basis of freedom—that
the emigrant invited from the African coasts shall, after the
lapse of a stp :1 iced time, have the option of a free return to
his native country, and that he shall be landed in the West
Indies as free as a British-born emigrant is landed at Quebec
or Sydney,—considering that no British minister would dare
openly (it has been done covertly for some time) to encourage
and invite emigration without such conditions attached to it.
I do most heartily rejoice that free African emigration is to
be taken up as a government measure—is to be carried on
under the immediate superintendence of government officers
specially appointed for the purpose, in national ships (which
to all practical purposes transports are), and taken entirely
out of the control of the commission and colonial agents, in
whose hands it was fast running into abuse. The colonies
are to pay the whole expense incurred ; and, as far as trans-
ports are concerned, this is right and proper—the direct and
immediate benefit will be to them; but if a mail communi-
cation by steam-vessels had been carried out, the Imperial
Government might fairly have been called upon for a moiety
of the expense, on the ground of the increased facilities it
would have offered to commerce, and its political importance
as connected with the right-of-search question. Steam-boats
were proposed, but rejected, on the ground that the im-
portance of the sublect did not warrant the expense; a
pretty sure proof that the government of this country do not
as yet look upon African emigration as anything more than
a mere sop to the West Indian interest—its importance in a
moral and financial point of view has yet to be developed."
THE IRISH POOR LAW.—If proof were wanting of the
proposition that Ireland would be most benefitted by avail-
ing herself in full of the aid of powerful England, instead of
relying on her own local agitators, Mr. O'Connell's newest
production, his letter on the Irish Poor Law, would furnish
it. For the nonce he waves the direct discussion of repeal ;
but lie does not give up that main object of his present ef-
forts. Now, if the Union were repealed, Mr. O'Connell
would inevitably be a leading man in the country—a chief
lawgiver; and here is a test of his qualifications for the
office. Be it never forgotten, that Mr. O'Connell was
greatly instrumental in obtaining Catholic emancipation for
his country—a service which can scarcely be overrated, un-
less it be repaid by given 'I w license and opportunity to .do
his beloved country all the nj ury which his wayward fancy
can devise. lie opposed the passing of the Irish Poor Law,
as he had a right to do. He has a right also to revive the
discussion, as he now does : if the thinks it worth while to
put forth a tissue of assertions, the gist of which is that spon-
taneous charity is a better provision for the destitute than a
national relief under proper regulations, one can only wish
him a less idle employment for his talents than the simple
contradiction of what all the best authorities have declared
in favour of. But that more harmless matter is introduced
by the suggestive warning, that unless the present system
of Poor Law be abolished, " it will produce a san-
guinary and general insurrection ;" and with the still
more mischevious admission, that resisting the law to
the death is a venal offence.—" Blood, alas ! has been shed :
and, taking it for granted that the slayers on the recent oc-
casion were as guiltless as the circumstances would admit,
yet that very fact may, perhaps, give to every thinking mind
a stronger impression of impending pet ils ;" in the qualified
allowance for the police, who resisted a tumultuous mob ar-
rayed against the law, is conveyed to the excitable Irish peo-
ple the assurance that the guilt was on the side of those who
enforced the law. With that implied license to the working
Irish, Mr. O'Connell's letter couples a set railing against the
landlords of Ireland. Such is the temper of the "pacificator,"
what are his measures ? Either the total repeal of the poor-
law, followed by an augmentation of medical charities and a
multiplication of other charities, or a poor-rate on income ;
all incomes to be exempt which are below £5OO a-year ; the
rate to augment proportionately as the income rises, " until,
if necessary, it should be 50 per cent. upon the enormous
incomes of absentee proprietors!" Such is the neasure of
justice which Mr. O'Connell promises to the Anglo-Saxon
part of the Irish people, if his repeal of the union were car-
ried out. And it is proposed as a principle of practical and
judicious legislation, that persons whose incomes are under
£5OO a-year should he held exempt from all share in the sup-.
port of their destitute countrymen. Perhaps Mr. O'Connell's
letter had no greater object than to absorb into the repeal ranks
the anti-Poor Law body which he thinks he sees growing up in
Ireland. But he could not plead that ruse to withdraw his
letter from criticism : it is either a very unbecoming trick,
or it is a specimen of the measures which he would think
wise; and, accepting it in the latter sense, it is a sample of
the legislation to be expected from the College-green Par-
liament, could that by possibility be restored. Being so, it
may be put to sensible men in Ireland, whether they bad not
rather cultivate a more intimate union with England, and a
more thorough extension of English governmenttotheir
land, than have heaps of legislation like this timple? Pro-
bably the best antagonism to the repeal agitation—whicb
is
not harmless because it is an agitation—would be a combined
effort to draw closer the union with England ; to abolish the
lord-lieutenancy, for instance, and place Ireland, like Scot-
land, directly under the Home-office; retaining, like Scot-
land, its Attorney-General in Parliament,to
if possible, _
watch over its legal technicalities, and retaining all needful
staff of judges, but having no distinct political department.
Such a measure would tend to deaden much gratuitous and
perverse hostility, which is now provoked by the fact of hav-
ing such a target as a Lord-Lieutenant : Ireland would be
one of three kingdoms to judge the acts of the Minister; it
could urge no arbitrary dislike to the person of a special go-
vernor. It would also tend to indncegradually over Inland
a Home-office practice in the business of government uniform
with that of England.--Speetainr.

CORRESPO3VDENCE.

SUNDAY TRADING

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LI7EZiPOOL STANDARD.
your excellent paper of Fr iday last, you relate,
under the head of " Sunday Tradin,,,'.. certain proceedings
which have been taken• against the se)ler,i of cheap period'
cals, unstamped Sunday newspapers, &c..&c., who has.
long carried on this most injurious track- on the Lc,'
I have been favoured • •
-of t.

rhursd

4 really c

to refer them to the treatise oz

I am rejoiced to find that the gel
the district of St. Matthias' Church
force the act of parliament in the reic

~____
enacts that no business or ordinary-becul
carried on on the Lord's Day: th
for sale on the 1

sever .be

ion
and fruit expo.v

sold foi• tLe

of the I

I deeply regret to s
last, a paragraph purl

,00l Mercury of Fri

Police-court, in whic
fined ss. for selling

g to be a report of acase in the
defendant (Bridget Cooper) was
on Sunday, Dec. 18th ; and the