The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-05-06 00:00:00

EDUCATION COMMITTEE

The proceedings of-the Education Committee were ne::t
read. They stated that Miss Ellis, one of the mistresses of
the South School, had been reprimanded for having been
guilty of insubordination, and allowed to remain in the school
on trial; and that Charles Taafe, the second master of the
North School, had been dismissed for having been also guilty
of insubordination. The number in the schools at present
was stated to be as follows :—North, 444 ; South, 467.
Mr. SANDBACH, in the absence of the chairman of the
Education Committee, moved the confirmation of the pro-
ceedings,
Mr. YATES moved, as an amendment, that Mr. Taafe be
not dismissed and, in support of his motion, read a memo-
rial which he had been requested by Mr. Taafe to present to
the council. It stated that Mr. Taafe had been six years in
the school, and that he had been dismissed for refusing to
carry into effect certain orders of Mr. Stone, which he be-
lieved had never emanated from the committee, and for
having answered certain questions put to him by Mr.
Yates. It further stated that the orders of Mr. Stone were
to order all the boys to learn the Church Catechism, and to
go to church on Sundays, and to drive the apprentices who
refused to teach the Church Catechism out of the school
by force and violence. In the memorial a copy of the in-
formation given by Mr. Taafe to Mr. Yates was enclosed.
It stated that Mr. Stone had denied that he wanted the Ito-
' man Catholic children to be taught the Church Catechism,
but that he simply wished them to be present in the class
when it was taught. All the rest he tacitly admitted to be
correct. Mr. Taafe was of opinion that he would have been
guilty of an assault if he had turned out the apprentices by
•force, and that Mr. Yates had a perfect right to go to the
school and to make inquiries on the subject of the education
afforded. He, therefore, humbly hoped that the council
would take his case into consideration and reverse the de-
cision of the committee. In another letter to Mr. Yates,
Mr. Taafe informed him that Mr. Stone's first visit to the
school was only on the 23d of February, although his appoint-
ment had taken place in January or early in February. Mr.
Yates, after halting read these several documents, which were
of some length, and included a testimonial from Mr. Nelson,
the late master, as to Mr. Taafe's good conduct, said that
the subject was a most important one. Mr. Taafe had been
turned away on two grounds—first, because he refused to
turn the apprentices out of the school as well as refused to
compel them to teach the Church Catechism or to learn it;
and, secondly, because he had given him (Mr. Yates) the
information he had submitted to a previous council, but
which the council did not hear upon that occasion. lie
maintained that Mr. Taafe had done nothing but what he
was bound to do as a man of integrity and a servant of the
corporation—that he had simply answered the questions put
to him, and that the " head and front of his offence" was,
that he had written a letter to him (Mr. Yates) giving him
the required information.
Mr. HODGSON begged that Mr. Yates would state the
Questions which he had put to Mr. Taafe.
Mr. YATES said that he would endeavour to recollect them,
as they had never been reduced to writing. A letter from
Mr. Stone, dated the 10th of March. had been submitted to
the council ; and he referred to this letter on the present oc-
casion in order to show that he felt bound to go to the school,
and to make the inquiries. He thought it was the duty of
the Education Committee to make the inquiries themselves.
On the 10th of March Mr. Stone stated that the schools could
not be properly conducted so long as the apprentices were
permitted to absent themselves during the time of religious
instruction : and on the 25th of March there was a statement
brought before the public in the Liverpool Mercury, showing
that the Roman Catholic apprentices had been ordered by
Mr. Stone to teach the Protestant Catechism and to go to
church. These things ought to have led the Education Com-
mittee to make the inquiries. On the 6th of April the same
statement had been repeated in the council ; and thus there
were three occasions upon which a direct variation of the
rules of the council had been charged on Mr. Stone. The
Education Committee ought not to have lost an hour
in making inquiries which were so important ; but as
they had not done so, he (Mr. Yates) had made the
inquiries himself. He went to the North and South Schools.
At the North School he was met by Mr. Taafe. He told
that individual his name, and that he had come to make
inquiries from him, and he said—" I think it is your duty to
answer those inquiries as I am a member of the council."
Mr. Taafe then answered all the inquiries, as it seemed to
him, very candidly. He asked whether Mr. Stone had or-
dered the Roman Catholic apprentices to teach the Church
of England Catechism and to go to church on Sundays ; and
another was with respect to the attendance of Mr. Stone at
the North School. Mr. Taafe stated, in reply, that Mr. Stone
came regularly to the school on Monday, the day the commit-
tee met there, but that in general he did not come above a
quarter of an hour for each day during the rest of the week. He
(Mr. Yates) thought this was information which ought to be
submitted to the council, and accordingly he brought Mr.
Taafe's letter on the Bth of April. He thought he should
hardly be credited when he said that there was not a single
minute brought before the council as to any inquiry insti-
tuted on the subject of Mr. Stone's conduct, up to the pre-
sent moment, by the committee. He maintained that it was
the duty of the Education Committee to have Investigated
most narrowly into charges which affected so deeply the reli-
gious liberties of the apprentices who have been bound to
the corporation. He now called upon the committee to in-
vestigate fully into the charges brought against Mr. Stone.
If they refused so to do, he should move for a committee upon
the subject. He had sent a letter to the Education Committee,
in which he suggested the propriety of their examining the
five apprentices and three of their parents, whose names
he had given them. He now asked the committee whether
they had asked anybody as to the conduct of Mr. Stone—
conduct which, he maintained, was in direct contradiction to
the rules of the council? He entreated the council to direct
their attention to a subject so important. He asked them to
say whether Mr. Taafe could have acted otherwise than he
had done ? and he put the question with the more concern
because he (Mr. Yates) had been the innocent cause of the
man's dismissal.
Mr. HODGSON.—No.

Mr. YATES.—The words set forth in the proceedings are,
that he has been guilty of insubordination, " particularly in
consequence of sending the letter to Mr. Yates."

Mr: HODGSON.—No.
Mr. YATES.—Let the passage be read.
Mr. RADCLIFFE having read the paragraph,
Mr. YATES continued to say that there was great vague-
ness in the charge of insubordination. He never would be
content, and the public never would be content, when char-
ges were brought against a man so vaguely and dismissal
followed ; and he thought the council would not confirm the
proceedings under such circumstances. Since 1829, Mr.
Taafe bad supported his mother and four of his brothers and
sisters, and he was at present supporting his mother, a sister,
and a brother, the latter of whom was dangerously ill of
consumption. The case was one, therefore,of peculiar hard-
ship, against a man of exemplary diligence, irreproachable
conduct, good manners, and great ability as a teacher. If
there was one man more than another who deserved the sym-
pathy of the council it was the man who dared to be just,
although he thereby brought down upon himself the frowns
of his superiors. He thought if ever there was a case which
called for their sympathy the present was that one, and lie
appealed to the sense of justice and humanity upon the Part
of the council to act uplightly in the matter.
Mr. EARLE said he had great pleasure in rising to second
the amendment proposed by Mr. Yates, but would not make
any observations at that stage of the discussion, as he had
been informed by the Town-clerk that he might reserve him-
self until after other gentlemen had spoken.
Mr. lloycsoN.—l appeal to the Mayor whether you can
speak again upon the question.
Mr. EARLE.—I'II do so when I choose. (A laugh.)

The TOWN-CLERK said the Mayor must determine this
point. According to the rule of the House of Commons, a
member seconding a motion might reserve to himself the
power of making his observations at a later period.
Mr. Alderman EARLE.—And it has been acted upon here.
Mr. Alderman TuaNEß.—Before the discussion proceeds
I should like to be informed whether every member of the
council has not a right to attend either of the schools, and to
ask any questions they may think proper;—because, if they
have that power, the resolution of the Education Committee
is an infringement of that right. How can we attempt to
discharge our duty,
_if a resolution of the kind is to be put
upon the books, and we are told, in direct terms, that we
have no right so to do ?
Air. G. H. LAWRENCE.—You have every right, certainly,
to attend them.

Mr. BOLTON.—Perhaps the Town-clerk will declare it
authoritatively.

The TOWN-CLERK.—In answer to that question—whether
every member of the council, not a member of the Education
Committee, has a right to he a visitor of the schools—l must
only give the answer I gave on a former occasion, according
to the best of my recollection, in the case of Mr. Isaac
Holmes. I then declared that a member of the council, who
was not a member of the Education Committee, had no right
to visit the schools. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. BOLTON.—Has he not a righti to ask questions:for his
information and guidance?
The TOWN-CLERIC—My opinion is that he has no other
right than that which belongs to any gentleman in the town.
(Hear, hear.)
Mr. Alderman EARLE.—Then, how are we to judge if
these gentlemen have reported nothing as to the investiga-
tion going forward respecting Mr. Stone?
• The TOWN-CLERK.—I know not that I am bound to
answer that question, but you know that every committee of
the council is subject to the control and correction of the
council in every respect.
Mr. BRIGHT.—The Town-clerk labours under a misap-
prehension with regard to Mr. Holmes, who wanted to be
present io the committee, and not to go to the schools.
The TOWN-CLERK.—It was so with respect to the Watch
Committee ; not with respect to the Education Committee.
Mr. EARLE.—Has a burgess a right to go to the schools
and ask those questions?
The TOWN-CLERK.—Certainly not. (Hear.)
Mr. EARLE.—Then we are kept in glorious ignorance.
(A laugh.)
Mr. PLATT was of opinion that Mr. Taafe had been un-
justly dismissed.
Mr. BOLTON did not rise to speak on the question, but to
protest against the opinion just given by the Town-clerk.
He maintained it was the right of every councillor to visit the
schools, and he thought it the duty of the masters to give
such information to the councillors going there as might be
asked for in a civil manner. He certainly would bring the
question fully before the council on an early day.
Mr. HODGSON said he was of opinion they might dispose
of the present question without a great deal of discussion.
Mr. Yates had entered into it with much good feeling ; but
it should be recollected that the management of the schools
had been entrusted to a committee, who were responsible for
the carrying of them forward in a proper manner. The pre-
sent was not a question of feeling, with regard to whether
Mr. Taafe took care of his mother or his sister, neither was
it a question of moral conduct, though moral conduct might
be involved in cases of the kind; but it was a question of fit-
ness,t'orwhich the committee were to be responsible. Mr.
Yates had attempted to damage the character of Mr. Stone,
by bringing
forward vague reports against him. He had at-
tempted to cast a slur upon the conduct of the head master
who had been appointed by the council, and who had been
make
a ag ke approvedemgeonot
do; and hs
fi,lissocafar as be had gone, by the committee of ma-
nagement
bthyoturgalheil
ti lNllig r.o lurtatoefshhisawdabye,eanndtrbyyingt
mak-
ing an attack upon an individual whose conduct was not be-
fore
artdhteo council.
afe( eaTr,
clear.)
) repeatedly What was
toldthem
fact with
ton
he would obey his masters, but that be would not obey him !

Could discipline be carried on under these circumstances?
(Hear, hear.) He said that he should see the orders of the
committee; but a most essential part of the instructions of
the committee was, to teach the children obedience to their
superiors, because if subordination were not to be established,
nothing in the shape of benefit could be inculcated. He
next refused to carryout the orders of the committee with
regard to the apprentices, from fear, as he said, of commit-
ting an assault ; but this was a fiction of his own. It was
an attempt to put a colouring on that which was not fair
nor honest, and could not be allowed to have any weight with
a man who was to teach, not merely obedience, but truth
in every respect. He (Mr. Hodgson) alleged that Mr. Taafe
had thus shown himself unfit for his situation. In the firstplace,
he refused to turn out the refractory apprentices who would
neither teach as they had been directed, nor transfer their in-
dentures. Then, with respect to Mr. Taafe giving a account
to Mr. Yates of the attendance of Mr. Stone at the school,
did Mr. Yates so little understand the proper discipline to be
observed that he should go to the second master in the school
and ask him to become a spy upon his superior. (Laughter.)
Was that Mr. Yates's discipline? He thought if Mr. Yates
happened to be upon the committee, they would teach him
that they held different views upon the subject. (Renewed
laughter and cheers.) Mr: Yates had next spoken of the
violence offered with respect to the teachers in religious in-
struction, and he had said that it had been deemed contrary
to the orders of the council, and that it had been attempted to
enforce on the Roman Catholics the going to church. But he
had failed to draw a distinction between teachers in the school
and the taught. (Hear.) The committee never held that
they would have as teachers in the school, people who would
refuse to give instruction in the Church Catechism. The
teachers must teach that which had been appointed to be
taught, because there was no way of enforcing the plan on
which the schools were to be conducted, except by making
the teachers teach the Church Catechism. The teachers were,
however, told that if. they could not comply with those re-
quisitions their indentures would be cancelled ; but they
stood in the anomalous position of being nobodies in the
schools, when they were told that unless they adopted the
plan pointed out they could not be there at all. There was
no question contrary to common sense in saying that the
council could not expect to go on with people under them in
such a situation, and so refractory as the apprentices seemed
to be. He would not say anything with regard to Mr. Taafe's
moral character. He would not do what Mr. Yates had, impugn
theconductof men perfectly unimpeachable on the committee,
but he would say that Mr. Taafe's mode of going to Mr.
Yates, arid reforming his letter and breakfasting with him,
and giving him private information, rendered him unfit to
hold any situation in the schools as a teacher, although it
might be no breach of what Mr. Yates would consider
" moral conduct." (Laughter and cheers.) He should like
to know how Mr. Yates would himself act under similar cir-
cumstances ? If the gentleman were going to choose a servant
would he be likely to engage an eavesdropper, who wotild tell
privately what had been passing in his house ?—(hear, hear)
—or, rather, would he not say to such a servant, " If you
find anything wrong you had better come to myself and tell
it ?" (Hear, hear.) Why had not Mr. Taafe done this
Why did he not come to the committee and tell what he
considered to be wrong ? (Hear.) But, no ; he went and
reduced his private information to writing; and whether Mr.
Yates wrote a letter for him to copy, or not it was difficult to
say, but, at all events, Mr. Taafe had made but a sorry figure
at composition, and had rendered himself totally unfit for
the situation by his conduct. The committee were deter-
mined to subdue any spirit of similar insubordination which
might evince itself in either of the schools; and, notwith-
standing all the spirit of faction abroad, and all the attempts
made to ex 7ite discontent, he was happy to say that the
schools were increasing from day to day. (Cheers.) They
were taking in more and more children every week. Both the
schools would be filled much sooner than he had expected,
and in a short time, he trusted they would be an example
worthy to be followed by the country at large. But mean-
while he called upon the council to give their cordial support
to put down the spirit of trifling and vexation which was
being constantly evinced, and taking up the time of the council.
He called upon the council to give their support to the
schools for only a short time longer, when the progress of
improvement would, he was satisfied, be such as to render
entire satisfaction. He believed Mr. Yates to be acting in
accordance with the feelings of his party, and he admitted
his candour, but he dissented from his judgment in tote on
the present occasion. He hoped the proceedings of the com-
mittee would be confirmed by such a majority as would show
the gentlemen opposite that although they might amuse them-
selves by bringing statements of this kind forward, such state-
ments were altogether out of place. (Hear, hear.) When
the radicals had been in power in the council, it was well
known that they had used their power. The conservatives
had certainly protested against their proceedings on the sub-
ject of education, but what had been the conduct of the con-
servatives at that time? They said they dissented, but then
they never became disturbers of the common peace. (Hear,
hear.) And all he would now say was this—the conservatives
have got the power—that power they will exercise ; and the
radicals may enjoy the vox et prceterea nihil, as all that
belongs to them in their fallen position. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. PRIESTLEY contended that Mr. Taafe had not done
wrong in answering Mr. Yates' questions, because he was
under the impression Mr. Yates had a right to ask them, as
one of the councillors.

Mr. A. SMITH said there existed some misconception as
to the cause of the dismissal of Mr. Taafe. Mr. Yates
seemed to think it was because he had written a letter to
him ; but this was not the fact. (Hear.) He had been
dismissed for insubordination, in havinc, brought charges
against Mr. Stone, which were not founded on fact. (Hear,
hear.) The committee had investigated these charges, and
found that every one was incorrect. In the first place, the
Roman Catholic children had not been compelled to learn the
church catechism, or to go to church. In the next, the ap-
prentices had refused to do what Mr. Stone had ordered them,
and Mr. Taafe refused to turn them out when Mr. Stone had
desired him to do so. Then Mr. Stone had been accused of
not having attended the North School when first appointed,
but the fact was that he had been compelled to pass the
greater part of his time at the South School, there being no
other master there, and of course he was unable to be in two
places at the same time. In short, every charge against him
had undergone investigation, and was found to be incorrect.
(Hear, hear.)

Mr. YATES asked Mr. Smith if he would be so good as to
say whether the committee had examined the five appren-
tices or the three fathers whom he had named ?
Mr. Alderman EVANS expressed a hope that Mr. Glad-
stone would fulfil the engagement he had given some few
weeks ago, and inquire whether the Roman Catholic child-
ren, who had been in the school heretofore, had returned.
There were only twenty-five who could be called Catholics
at the South School; and when they heard of the schools
being filled again, he would ask Mr. Gladstone to pursue his
inquiry, and to ask what had become of the Catholic child-
ren, and whether other schools had been denuded of their
scholars to fill up the void in the corporation schools?
Mr. PLATT said the number of Roman Catholic children
at the North School amounted to fifty-four.
Mr. Alderman EVANS.—What has become of the others ?
Mr. GLADSTONE, in reply to what Mr. Alderman Evans
had said, would remark that he was not aware of having
given any pledge. He had asked a question, and he would
ask the question again, when the system had been tried, but
the system was not yet matured. (Hear, hear.) He had
asked what had become of the catholic children, formerly in
the corporation schools ; and he had since had the pleasure
of seeing a small sprinkling of them return. Whether the
number would increase, of course it was impossible for him
to pronounce an opinion ; but be adhered to the opinion he
then expressed that, if the schools were not made available
for all classes, he for one, would propose some change in
them, but he would not say what the change would be.
Mr. PLATT, in answer to a question, said the number of
Catholic children at the South School was 25.

Mr. BUSHELL was only afraid that the expectation of the
gentlemen opposite, of a change in the views of a most influ-
ential member of his (Mr. Bushell' ) side of the house,
would operate rather as an inducement to continue the agi-
tation of this question than to allay jr, That was his fear,
however benevolent the motive bmpted such an opi-
nion, or which dictated conduct bas, . :upon such opinion.
It might, he greatly feared, operate as a premium upon agi-
tation instead of a check' to it. There seemed to be some
misapprehension with regard to the record of the committee's
proceedings : the committee merely referred to Mr. Taafe's
letter as evidence to bear out the fact of insubordination,
and it was the very best evidence that could be given, inas-
much as it proceeded from Mr. Taafe himself. The letter,
proceeding from himself, was evidence of his insubordina-
tion ; and he (Mr. Bushell) would ask the committee how
discipline could be preserved in a large body, such as the
army for instance, if every man insisted upon receiving his
orders and instructions directly from the commander-in-chief?
Each officer was there responsible to the one above him, and he
was merely the machine to put his orders in execution. When
Mr. Taafe said he would not obey Mr. Stone, insubordina-
tion commenced, and it might have descended through the
whole system if it were not stopped. The committee, there-
fore, could do nothing else than what they had ; and, how-
ever he (Mr. Bushell) might sympathise with Mr. Taafe on
the situation in which he was placed, the committee, he
contended, could not have acted otherwise towards him.
He thought the wonder was, not that there was not a large
body of Roman Catholics in the schools, but that there was
one Roman Catholic in them. That there should have been
so many as twenty-five in one school was matter of surprise.
In conclusion, he thought that none of the present attacks
ought to receive any sanction from the council until the sys-
tem had first received a fair trial.

Mr. AIKIN asked when the time was to arrive when the
system would be considered to have had a fair triW He
cared not about the military law of the last speaker or the
uncivil law of the town-clerk ; but he thought the common-
sense law was, that the council should make particular and
personal inquiry into the mode of conducting the schools.
He was satisfied that no man could lay his band on his heart
and say that Mr. Taafe had been properly and honestly dis-
missed.

Mr. B!RKETT thought that the private affairs of individuals
would soon go to wreck if the conduct of Taafe, which
seemed to have been approved of by Mr. Aikin, were gener-
ally adopted. He maintained that the man had been guilty
of gross insubordination. He had refused to do what Mr. Stone
told him, and he had made statements wholly untrue of the
head master ; he had put them into the hands of Mr. Yates ;
those statements had gone to the public ; and was it likely,
under those circumstances, that Mr. Stone and Mr. Taafe
could ever draw together? Was it likely that the children
could learn obedience from such insubordinate conduct
on the part of one of their masters? (Hear, hear.) That
had happened to Mr. Taafe now which he (Mr. B.) told some
of the parties who lent themselves to the present factions op-
position would assuredly happen. He called it " factious
opposition," because the council had to go over the same
subject every day they assembled. (Hear, hear.) It was
the case of a small minority against a large majority, and
that majority carrying out the wishes of the inhabitants.
(Hear, hear.) The radicals stood as 13 to 35 in the council.
After alluding to the large majority by which Mr. Brassey
had been returned for St. Anne's Ward, on this very ques-
tion, Mr. Birkett concluded by again denouncing the con-
duct of the minority.

Mr. PARKER expressed his belief that Mr. Aikin would be
the first to stand up for order, decorum, and subordination
in every department with which he stood connected. If any
of his servants showed anything like the insubordination
evinced by Mr. Taaffe, or if any of the officers under the
Dock Committee were to be guilty of it, the consequence
would be instant dismissal. (Hear, hear.) In the hope of
putting a stop to the present system of opposition, he moved,
as a second amendment, a vote of confidence in the Education
Committee.
_

Mr. fouLTAIN seconded the amendment.
Mr. BULLET believed the proceedings of the committee
were as illegal as they were unjust and unrighteous, and en-
tered his protest against them.
Mr. BOLTON contended that when the party with which
he stood connected were in power, they invariably acted
upon the principle of " do unto others as you would wish
others to do unto you." He referred to the late debate in
the House of Commons, and said that the government were
going to send out Catholic clergy to give instruction to the
Catholic soldiers in India. He wished to contrast the liberal
conduct of the government in this respect with the puny,
and petty conduct of a few tyrannical bigots in Liverpool.
He was strongly reminded of a period in history,—
Mr. GLADSTONE.---1 rise to order, Mr. Mayor. I, for one,
will not submit to be called a tyrannical bigot by any man.
If that language is addressed to me as a member of the
Education Committee, I ask the mayor whether it is, or is
not, to be retracted? Am I to be called a tyrannical bigot
because, as a member of the Education Committee, I do
what I conscientiously believe to be right? (Hear, hear.)
Is that language to be applied to me? I shall not ask the
question again.
Mr. BOLTON.—I did not apply it to individuals, but to
the committee as a body. (Cries of " Oh !")
Mr. HonosoN.—lf that language is not immediately
retracted, I shall move a vote of censure. (Great applause.)

Mr. BOLTON.—It .is my opinion that the conduct pursued
by the committee in those schools is tyrannical and unjust.-
(Great uproar.)
Mr. GLADSTONE.—That is not the question.
Mr. BOLTON.—I_ repeat that it is tyrannical and unjust.
_

The MAyon.—You mean, of course, with respect to the
dismissal of Mr. Taafe ?
Mr. BOLTON.—I am speaking of the rules by which the
schools are regulated •, they are tyrannical and unjust, in-
asmuch as they exclude the Catholics. (Much uproar.)
The MAYOR.—But that is not the question before the
council now.
Mr. BOLTON.—I say the conduct of the committee in the
management of these schools reminds me of a period of his-
tory, in the year 1780, when some fanatical spirit— (Im-
mense uproar and continued cries of " Order."
The MAYOR.—But Mr. Bolton, that is not the question.
Mr. LLOYD.—Does the passage of history refer to Mr.
Taafe ? If it does not, Mr. Bolton is not in order. (Great
laughter.)
Mr. BOLTON.—It is the same feeling of bigotry and in-
tolerance that led you to expel the Catholics. (Cries of
Order.")
Mr. BIRKETT.—If we sit here as bigots the town is of our
way of thinking. (Cheers.)
Mr. BOLTON.—if lam not allowed to go on—
The MAYOR.—Go on as to the dismissal.
Mr. BOLTON.—Exactly. I shall not proceed with the
passage from history if I am not allowed. I canot help
thinking that Mr. Taafe's offence was a very venial one, and
that he ought only to have been reprimanded, and his mistake
in the rules of the schools pointed out to him. I think the
committee have acted in that respect extremely harsh ; and
I call on the council not to confirm proceedings which, in
my opinion, are very arbitrary and unjust.
Mr. GLADSTONE.—I am sorry to bring myself again be-
fore the notice of the council ; but I am by no means satis-
fied. When I found fault with Mr. Bolton's remarks,
which he afterwards seemed to retract, and called me a" ty-
rannical bigot, he made use of a most unwarrantableexpres-
sion, for he told me " I might sit down" " under it." lam
not of a quarrelsome disposition ; I wish to live in peace with
all men, but that is an expression I will not permit any man
to use towards me. (Cheers.) I will be insulted by no man.
(renewed cheers-) I have a character to protect ;it is at-
tacked in this instance; and I will not allow Mr. Bolton or
any other man to make use of expressions which are not to
be tolerated. (Great Cheering.)
Mr. BOLTON.—I retracted what I said in the firstinstance,
and I regret having made use of such expressions as Mr.
Gladstone complains of ; but, I repeat, I was speaking of the
conduct of the committee ; and I cannot help thinking still
that the committee have not acted according to the strict prin-
ciples of justice and impartiality ; nor do I think the rules
which they have adopted, in conformity with the rules that
ought to have actuated their conduct.

Mr. TOULMIN.— I think we ought to have an unqualified
retractation ; but that is not an unqualified one.
Mr. JonnAN.--It is quite enough. (Oh.)
Mr. Aldrn. BARCLAY.—What is the offensive expression ?
The MAYOR.—A tyrannical bigot.
Mr. Alderman BARCLAY.—I do not yet exactly understand
what Mr. Bolton is accused of. As to the act done by the
committee, I do myself consider it to be a very tyrannical act.
Mr. Alderman EARLE—Hear, hear, And very unjust.
Mr. Alderman BA RCLAY.—That is my opinion, and I
shall be prepared to maintain it upon another occasion.
Mr. MELLoR.—I did not understand the words spoken to
be personally offensive to Mr. Gladstone. I understand Mr.
Bolton to be speaking of the systam. (" No, no.")
The MAYOR.—It was decidedly against either the com-
mittee or Mr. Gladstone.
Mr: MELLOR.—I understood Mr. Bolton to say that the
ssstem was tyrannical, unjust, and bigotted. (Renewed cries
of " No, no.") That was the meaning of it.
The MAYoR.—It was decidedly, in my opinion, against
the committee or Mr. Gladstone.

Mr. MELLOR.—I beg to add that I confirm Mr. Bolton's
opinion with respect to the system. I think the system
The MAYOR.—You may explain what fell from Mr.
Bolton, but you are not at liberty to go into the general
question.

Mr. sat next to Mr. Bolton, and after he had
made use of the expression, I heard him say that he did not
intend it to apply to any member of the committee, but to
their acts. He said he did not mean to apply it offensively
to any member.

G. H. LAWRENCE.—Mr. Gladstone is satisfied with
respect to the withdrawal of the charge of " bigotry and
intolerance," but he complains that when he said—" I will
not put up with language such as that," Mr. Bolton said,
" If you won't put up, you may sit down under it." •
Mr. GLADSTONE.-1 es, Mr. Bolton said I might sit dovan
under it. I should like to know whether that language is
not personal? (Hear, hear.)

Mr. BOLTON.:—I afterwards said that what I said referred
to the system.
__

Mr. LLOYD.—The first impression among the members
near me was, that Mr. Bolton was referring to individuals ;
but he says he applied it to the committee generally. He
shoved it from the persons, and then spoke of it in relation
to the system.

Mr. JORDAN.—And he had a right to do so. In the House
of Commons every member has a right to explain.
The MAYOR.—I consider that Mr. Bolton has retracted
the charge against the committee and Mr. Gladstone.
Mr. BOLTON.—I spoke of the system.
The MAYOR.—Not in the first instance. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. BOLTON.—I was speaking of the system, which I con-
sidered unjust and bad.

The MAYOR.—Your remarks were applicable either to
Mr. Gladstone or to the committee.

Mr. BOLTON.—I did not mean to apply them personally
to Mr. Gladstone.

Mr. TOULMIN.—He has only withdrawn the expression so
far as Mr. Gladstone personally is concerned.
The MAYOR.—I understand it to be withdrawn with re-
spect to the committee also.

Mr. BUSIIELL.—I think he has withdrawn it as fully as
he could.

Mr. Alderman EARLE.—It is great presumption on the
part of any gentleman present to make any further observa-
tion after the mayor has decided that it has been retracted.
Mr. GLADSTONE.—I understood the first charge to be
withdrawn. After Mr. Bolton had explained the first charge,
the second which he made was personal to myself, for di-
recting himself to me and looking at me, he said —" You may
sit down under it." That was an attack upon me. I un-
derstood that was to be withdrawn, and I now must know
whether it is so or not.

Mr. BOLTON.—It was merely a little pettish .)bserration
of my own, brought on by the petulant manner of Mr. Glad-
stone himself.

Mr. GLADSTONE..—PetuIant ! What do you expect us to
be made of? (Hear, hear.)
Mr. Alderman EvAss.—lt would be more in accordance
with the charity, which we hope ought to exist in Mr. Hodg_
son's mind, if he would facilitate the arrangement.

The MAyort.—lt is now terminated.
Mr. EVANS.-With regard to what fell from Mr. Bolton,
I am not surprised that gentlemen took offence at it; but
when withdrawn and apologised for quite sufficiently, I am
surprised that Mr. Hodgson should endeavour to prolong
the subject. I conceive it is amply and honourably adjusted.
Mr. HODGSON.—If Mr. Gladstone is satisfied, I shall not
pr2ceed with the vote of censure.

Mr. GLADSTONE.—I am satisfied if I am right in thinking
that it has been entirely withdrawn.
Mr. BUSHELL.—I don't see how the withdrawal can be
more effectual. (Hear.)
Mr. ROBINSON said he should oppose the confirmation of
the proceedings in consequence of what Mr. Yates had said
with respect to Mr. Taafe considering himself at liberty to
give information to a member of council.

Mr. EARLE said his party had always been attacked when
they introduced the present very " factious opposition ;"
but he hoped so long as injustice prevailed, that there would
be plenty in the council to raise their voices against it. At
all events, so long as he was in the council he would apply as
strong a blister as it was in his power to do. (Hear, hear,
and a laugh.) There was the utmost honour, candour, and
religion about Mr. Hodgson,and yet his sting was generally
of the severest kind. He (Mr. Earle) was not speaking then
of what had taken place in the council, but of what had oc-
curred in a building close by a short time since. (Oh !)
Mr. HODGSON.—I appeal to the mayor whether this ought
to be allowed.

The MATOR.—I think Mr. Earle ought not to proceed.
Mr, EARLS.—I am sorry for it, sir; but it's out. (Great
laughter.) He agreed with what Mr. Evans had said in re-
ference to what had fallen from Mr. Bolton, but when one wit-
nessed injustice, it was enough to make the blood and bile
rise in him, and it was excusable if a little slip were made,
though it might not be in accordance with the rules of po-
lished society. The reason Mr. Taafe had been dismissed
was, because he was a superior man to Mr. Stone, and be-
cause they wanted to bring all the masters down to the level
of the latter. This was the whole secret ; and more tyran-
nical, bigotted,,and unjust conduct he had never heard of in
his life. It was such a system of religious bigotry as had
never been known in the land before.
Mr. GLADSTONE said that some reference had been made
in the course of the debate to the page of history. Now,
if those who succeeded them should ever be tempted to ex-
amine the records of their proceedings in the council, he
thought that the conduct of Mr. Aldrman Earle since he
entered the council, would produce some risibility, if not
something mot-e. Everybody would recollect what had taken
place when he (Mr. Alderman Earle) attempted to criticise
Mr. Stone's letter. That circumstance reminded him (Mr.
Gladstone), of a preacher who was accused of reading other
persons' sermons. By reading them wretchedly, he made them
his own ; and Mr. Earle would have the council infer from
that circumstance that Mr. Stone was incompetent for the
duties of a master of the schools. To-day the council had
heard of Mr. Taafe. Mr. Earle had referred to what he
(Mr. Gladstone) said at the last council of Mr. Taafe : and
whatever grounds he might have for forming an opinion
of Mr. Taafe, he had refrained from saying more on the
occasion Mr. Earle referred to because he had no wish
to do what might be injurious to Mr. Taafe. That was
his feeling when he heard Mr. Taafe's fitness for a master
st. highly eulogised. His own opinion of Mr. Taafewas
that he had been in that school six years too long, and
that in some respects he was incompetent for the duty.
If any gentleman doubted it, as Mr. Alderman Earle
seemed to do,
Mr. Alderman EARLE.—Very much indeed.
Mr. GLADSTONE.—Then he would refer them to docu-
ments in possession of the Education Committee, from
which Mr. Yates must have seen that Mr. Taafe was no
great adept at composition or spelling either. (Hear, hear.)
He (Mr. Gladstone) did not make this charge without having
ascertained something to justify it. (Hear, hear.) He had
been accused, because it was only natural to feel strongly
where there were two great contending parties, of having in
that council made contemptuous remarks. He had heard
many people attack him in contemptuous terms, and angry
ones he might have made in reply, but nothing more ; he had
made none of a contemptuous character. He contended
that the proceedings of the Education Committee, with re-
gard to Mr. Taafe, could not have been otherwise than they
had been. How was it possible for Mr. Stone and Mr.
Taafe to work together? (Hear, hear.) It would have been
much better for Mr. Taafe to have gone away with a good
grace, rather than have been the means of causing all this
ferment and turmoil.

Mr. MELLOR thought the motion of Mr. Yates deserving
of every consideration, and expressed a hope that Mr. Glad-
stone would bring the present turmoil to a conclusion by pro-
posing some plan for the management of the schools which
would allay unpleasant feelings.
Mr. SANDBACH replied. He was very sorry for Mr. Taafe
because he did not believe that his insubordination originated
with himself.

Mr. PATES said lie would have to vindicate Mr. Taafe's
conduct if Mr. Sandbach continued these observations.
Mr. SANDBACII said it was the conduct of Mr. Yates him-
self he was impugning more than that of Mr. Taafe. In the
course of the investigation before the committee, Mr. Taafe
was asked why he had not made some communication to the
committee if he thought matters wrong, and his reply was
that Mr. Yates told him it was unnecessary for him to make
any communication to the:committee. (Hear hear.)
Mr. YATEs denied that he had told him anything of the
kind.

Mr. SANDBACII said that Taafe's words had been taken
down at the moment. Whether Mr. Yates had acted in the
matter as a councillor ought to have done. he would leave
the members to judge. He (Mr. S.) thought he had not.
(Hear.) He did not like to characterize Mr. Yates's conduct
in the manner which he thought it deserved. He had his
own opinion of it; and so distinct was that opinion that he
should be sorry to have acted in the manner in which Mr.
Yates had. (Hear.)
Mr. YATES armin denied that he had expressed to Taafe
the words attributed to him by that individual.
The council then divided upon the amendment proposed by
Mr. Yates, when there appeared :
Forit.... ...................... 20
Against it ..... . ................ 32

The amendment was consequently lost. The following
members voted in the division :
For the amendment—Messrs. ThornhEl, Preston, Holmes,
Mellor, Bolton, Aikin, Bright, Priestley, Yates, Robinson,
Jordan, Platt, Mather, Holt, Bulley, Freine, Evans, Barclay,
Earle, and Moon,
Against it—Messrs. Shaw, Shand, Hodson Houghton,
Sandbach, Copeland, Edwards, Barton, Blundell, Sands,
Toulmin, J. Lawrence, Cooper, Wood, Birkett, Gladstone,
Bushell, Procter, Lloyd, Rigby, Kilshaw, Parker, Brassey,
G. H. Lawrence, Trotman, A. Smith, jun., Harbord,
Nicol, Chilton, Bramley-Moore, and the Mayor.
Mr. Parker's amendment was not pressed to a division, and
the proceedings were confirmed.

The leases were then read and confirmed, after which the
council adjourned to Friday, for the despatch of the remain-
ing business.

MEETING OF THE DOCK COMMITTEE

The following members were present at the Dock Com-
mittee Meeting yesterday :—Messrs. Sands (chairman),
Horsfall, Barclay, Holt, Holmes, Middleton, Sandbach.
Nicol, Aikin, Mellor, Bulley, Evans, Tobin, Shand, Martin,
Smith, and Ripley. A large pile of English oak, taken up
from the excavation for the new dock, was laid in the com-
mittee-room for the inspection of the members.
Mr. RIPLEY, looking at it, said he was glad to find that
it had a piece of iron at the end of it, which iron was in a
state of perfect preservation, although he supposed it had
been down for 150 or 200 years. This was a strong argu-
ment in favour of the iron light-ship. (Laughter.)
Mr. TOBIN thought these was no argument at all in the
matter. (Continued laughter.)
The light-house at Hoylake was ordered to be repainted and
whitewashed inside and out; and, on the recommendation
of the Sub-committee for the Department of the Marine Sur-
veyor, it was ordered that the new iron light-ship now build-
ing by Mr. Laird should be fitted up with the improved
lanterns, reflectors, and lamps.
Mr. HOLT said that Mr. Horsfall could not have failed to
observe, from his country residence, the superiority of the
improved lanterns over those of the old construction.
Mr. HORSFALL replied that any improvement in the mode
of lighting the entrances to the port ought certainly to be
adopted.
Mr. SANDBACH asked what would be the cost of the im-
proved apparatus ?
Mr. HOLT, in reply, said it would be manufactured by their
own Surveyor. There would be three lamps, and each lamp
would cost £416, so that the cost of the three lights would
be somewhere about £1,400.
Mr. RIPLEY wished that gentlemen of the commitee would
inquire into the cost of manufacturing this kind of apparatus.
If they would, they would find that their Surveyor manu-
factured it much cheaper, in their own yard, than regular
makers themselves. As Mr. Hartley had sometimes been
charged with extravagance, it was only fair that this circum-
stance should be known.

Mr. TOBIN.—The difference is that in one case the maker
charges no profit, whilst in the other he puts one on of 30
per cent.

A resolution was then adopted, authorising the Surveyor
to make the necessary lanterns for the iron light-ship upon
the most improved principles.
WRITING LETTERS IN THE NEWSPAPERS.-CAUTION TO

THE SERVANTS OF THE DOCK ESTATE.
Mr. RIPLEY said that he had seen a letter in the LIVER-
POOL STANDARD of Tuesday, purporting to be signed by the
signed by Mr. Askew, the South Harbour-master ; and he
should like to know from Mr. Askew himself whether he was
the author of that letter.
Mr. IlintsFALL suggested that the letter be read.
The SECRETARY then read the following letter, which ap-
peared in the lastnumber of the STANDARD:—

" THE NEW LIGHT-SHIP.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD

" SlR,—The Dock Conimittee having determined on an
iron light-ship, I hope they may be not more disappointed
than they have been in the last N.W. ship, built under the
snperintendence of the Marine Surveyor. I cannot afford
time to discuss the relative qualities between wind, cork, and
wood, with " Proselyte " or any other jack-in-the-box.
" May 2, 1842. " JOHN ASKEW."

Mr. liorr said that Mr. Askew suspected that the Marine
Surveyor was the author of a previous letter, signed
" Proselyte," which appeared in another paper ( The Albion),
but without making any enquiry upon the subject from Mr.
Lord himself, he had printed the very improper letter in the
STANDARD to offend him.
Mr. HORSFALL said he was not aware before that any
such letters had appeared.
Mr. HOLT added that it was not the present Marine Sur-
veyor who had had any thing to do with the light-ship : it
was Captain Denham.

Mr. Alderman EVANS said he did not mind the imperti-
nence of theilletter so much as its being calculated to create
dissension among the officers of the dock estate.
Mr. HORSFALL suggested that the committee had better
ascertain whether the letter was of Mr. Askew's writing be-
fore they took any steps upon it.
Mr. Alderman Evaxs.—Has he not signed ?
Mr. Alderman BARCLAY.—It is signed with his name,
but it may be an assumed signature.
Mr. Alderman EVANS.—There can be little doubt whose
it is.

Atxus: asked whether the subject was worth the
serious notice of the committee? If one man was in favour
of wood and another of iron, it might lead to a controversy
between them in the papers, but was it worth while for the
committee to notice it ?

Mr. AldermanivAN. s.—l do not think that any officer of
the dock estate ought to write to the public papers upon sub-
jects connected with the estate.
Mr. HORSFALL.—To say the least, it is unbecoming and
improper; but I think it would be only right, if you are all
of that opiniou, that Mr. Askew should be called in, and
made acquainted with it.
Mr. TOBIN asked whether Mr. Askew referred to the last
light-ship built under the direction of the marine surveyor?
Mr. HOLT.—To that of Captain .Denham, I believe.
Mr. TOBlN.—There have been two or three light-ships
built since then.

Mr. HOLT.—He says the north-west light-ship.
Mr. RIPLE4 would ask what business had Mr. Askew
with that ? He could not reflect upon the marine surveyor
without reflecting upon the committee ; and, therefore, his
letter was exceedingly improper, and, at least, he deserved a
reprimand.
Mr. MELLOR asked Mr. Ripley whether he had read the
previous letter of " Proselyte,' which had called forth Mr.
Askew's reply?

Mr. lILEY said he had not, but that was a matter of no
consequence in this question. The Dock Committee had
nothing to do with any correspondence in the newspapers ;
but he understood that Mr. Askew had written a former
letter to the STANDARD, and he should like to see that let-
ter.

Mr. Alderman BULLET.—Is it worth while going on with
this?

•
Mr. Rul,Er.—l think it is.
Mr. TOBIN said Mr. Askew's opinion vas correct, but he
should not have written the letter.
_ _

Mr. Alderman :Mum recommended that Mr. Askew be
called in, before any further discussion, in order to ascertain
whether he was the writer of the letter in the STANDARD.
Mr. RIPLI;Y.—That is precisely the course I recommend.
Mr. Alderman NtcoL.—And he might retire after he bad
answered the question.

Mr. Alderman EVANS.—He certainly had no right to
bring the business of the dock estate before the public ; be-
sides, there is also a sneer at the Dock Committee in that
letter.

Mr. Rll'LEY.—Precisely, and by our own servant.
Mr. Alderman EVANS.—We dismissed Captain Denham
for something worse than that, certainly, but net altogether
unlike it. Let him answer newspaper correspondents if he
likes, but he has certainly no right to do anything of the kind
in a case like this ; he has no right to bring the b usiness of
the Dock Committee before the public so long as he is a ser-
vant of the estate.

The CllAlßMAN.—Certainly not.
The SECRETARY was then desired to fetch Mr. Askew in
before the committee. In a few soconds he returned and
reported that Mr. Askew was not in. the building, but that a
messenger had been despatched for him.
Mr. Alderman EVANS.—The letter is his, I have not the
slightest doubt.

The CHAIRMAN.—No doubt of it.
Mr. Alderman EvaNs was understood, by the reporters,
to say that it was sufficient ground for dismissal for a servant
of the estate to have written to the public papers impugning
a decision of the committee.
Mr. HORSFALL said, .he would leave the matter in the
hands of the chairman, who should inform Mr. Askew that
the committee disapproved of his conduct in writing the
letter.

Mr. RIPLEY should be very sorry if such a matter as this
was likely to lead to the dismissal of so valuable a servant as
Mr. Askew : he did not think the offence deserved such a
punishment; but he did think that the least thing the com-
mittee could do would be to reprimand him for having writ-
ten the letter.

Mr. AIKIN thought, if any resolution at all were passed
against writing letters in the newspapers, it should apply to
all the officers of the establishment.

Mr. Alderman EvANs asked whether the committee were
to be afraid of their servants? They had not been afraid of
" the great captain," and why should they be afraid in this
case ?

Mr. ToniN.—Who do you mean by " the great captain ?"
Mr. Alderman EVANS.—There never was but one " great
captain" in our service.

Mr. At KIN would not be afraid of any one in their service;
but at the same time, he would pass a resolution that no
servant of the estate should write letters to the papers. He
did not think there was any thing in Mr. Askcw's letter to
call forth all these proceedings. _

Mr. MELLoit was of the same opinion.
Mr. Alderman EVANS.—He had a good. right to address
theru bit
ullfs!crALaLn y
thoughtl rsu btjhcese thant
subjectt
hl/la.d now received
sufficient notice.

It was then agreed that the Chairman should reprimand
Mr. Askew for having written the letter.
The committee next proceeded to the consideration of some
financial affairs, and shortly afterwards separated,

RANDOM THOUGHTS ON WEDNESDAY'S
COUNCIL.
I think great praise is due to Mr. Councillor Lloyd, for
the manner in which lie opposed the motion to grant addi-
tional assistance in the surveyor's office, on the ground that
the town has not the entire and undivided services of those
already employed in his office; and I think it was very silly
of Mr. G. H. Lawrence to say we ought to connive at this.
I think that Mr. Councillor Yates has clearly proved that
he advised and " edged on" Mr. Taaffe to quarrel with his
bread and butter, and then, conscience-stricken at his own
moral liability to support Mr. Taaffe, he makes a magnilo-
quent appeal to the humanity and justice (! !) of the council
to reinstate him in his situation, after being dismissed for
insubordination, clearly proved by one of his own letters,
concocted and written at the " Hall of Science," in the
Dingle !

I think every "fact" stated by Mr. Yates was proved to
have no other existence than in "his own fertile imagination."
I think the Member for Castle-street Ward, commonly
denominated " the lumber in Sunday clothes," must have a
great superabundance of gastric juice, to eat and digest, with
such wonderful facility, his own hard words, when forced
down his throat (without even the ceremony of mastication)
by Mr. Robertson Gladstone. We heard a wag say, " Two
to one on Bolton against any ostrich in the Zoological
Gardens."

I think Mr. Alderman Earle outdid by "chalks," in grace-
ful attitudes, Dr. Braid's somnambulist young lady, which
have been so very deservedly admired. I was once firmly under
the impression, when the alderman turned up his eyes, and
his " eyelids quivered," that he was in a state of catalepsy.
To be perfectly serious ; when Mr•. Earle lifted up his stick,
and said to Mr. Toulmin, " this is a thing," and " you are
a person," the painful reflection flashed across my mind of
what the late John Barber said he was alone fit for, viz., " A
sign for the Crooked Billet'."

I think Mr. BirkettiftMr. Councillor Mellor rather hard
when he reminded him of what he said in committee, on the
the testimonials of an individual being signed by about
a
dozen clergymen, " that a recommendation signed by so
many parsons was enough to damnany man !"
Exchange Ward, hear that ! write it on the tablet of your
memories ! Write it on your banners next first of Novem-
ber,--" THE RECOMMENDATION 01,, TWELVE PARSONS'
IS ENOUGH TO DAMN ANY MAN ! !!, B.
P.S.—I forgot to say the Town-clerk gave a volunteer,
which I think made Mr. Alderman Barclay open both his
eyes :
" Good wine cures the gout, the choke, and the thysic, 0 !
And it is to every man the very best of physic, 0 !"
which was loudly encored.

CHESTER RACES.

TUESDAY

A PRODUCE SWEEPSTAKES of 50 sovs each, h ft, colts Bst
41b, fillies Bst ; two miles.
Mr. F. R. Price's gr f Valentine, by Speculator
Sir R. Bulkeley's ch f Wide-awake, by Physician
THE TRADESMAN'S PLATE of 200 sovs in specie, added to a
Handicap Sweepstakes of 25 sovs each.
Mr. Plummer's br f Alice Hawthorn, 4 yrs ....
Mr. Kirby's hr h Lanercost, aged
A SWEEPSTAKES of 5 says, with 50 sovs added by the Pro-
prietors of the Grand Stand.
Mr. Meiklam's b c by Physician
Mr Walter's b c Wilton Brown..
Mr. Collett's br c Heads or Tails 3 3 d
WEDNESDAY.
THE DEE STAND STAKES of 10 sovs each, p p, with 50sovs
added by the Dee Stand Proprietors.
Mr. Kirby's br h Lanercost vraed over.
A SWEEPSTAKES of 25 sovs each, for two-year-old colts.
Lord Westminster's b f Mary Day, by Physician
Mr. Griffith's b c Newcourt, by Sir Hercules
THE DEE STAKES of 50 sovs each, with 200 says added.
Mr. Copeland's b c Cornbermere, by Bran 1
Lord Westminster's ch c William de Fortibus, by Plenipo 2
Sim GUINEAS, (clear,) the gift of the Members for the

City.
Mr. Jones's gr c Portrait, 4 yrs .....
Mr. Meiklorn's b c Physician, 3 yrs ....
Mr. Owsley's b c Happy-go-lucky, 3 yrs
_ _ THURSDAY.

1 1
0 2
2 d

HER MAJESTY'S PRATE Of 100 gs.
Mr. Orde's b m Bee's Wing, aged
THE MARQUIS OF WESTMINSTER'S PLATE, value 100 soya.
in specie, added to a Handicap Sweepstakes of 20 sovs..
each, h ft for all ages (two years old excepted.)
Mr. Heseltine's br m The Shadow, 6 yrs ... .
... 1
Lord Eglington's b m Bellona, aged
THE SELLING STAKES of 5 sovs each, with 20 sovs added
from the Racing Fund.
Mr. Price's ch h Prince Albert, 5 yrs ..
Mr. T. Walter's b f Miss Winney, 4 yrs 2
A FREE HANDICAP STAKES of 20 sovs each, 10 sovs ft,
with 50 sovs added by the Grand Stand Proprietors.
Mr. Plumer's br f Alice Hawthorn, 4 yrs
Mr. Ferguson's br h Humming Bird, 5 yrs

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE SHIP WALLACE FOR PORT PHILLIP

For the satisfaction of the friends of those who went out
in her, we publish the following letter, addressed by one of
the passengers in the ship Wallace, from this port to Port
Phillip, to the editor of the Port Phillip Patriot newspaper :
Siß,—The ship Wallace left Liverpool on the 18th of
August, bound for Poi•t Phillip, and arrived in Hobson's
Bay on the 26th day of November, after a very pleasant and
short passage of 100 days. She brings eight cabin, and three
steerage passengers, and three hundred and twenty-eight free
emigrants, of whom there are sixty-seven married couples,
fifty-one single men, and thirty-nine single women, and one
hundred and four children from one to fourteen years of age.
She has two surgeons on board, Mr. J. Greenwood, the
superintendent, and Mr. W. W. Burnell, the assistant-
surgeon. She had a rough passage down the Channel, and
was baffled by variable winds about Madeira and the Equator,
otherwise her passage would have been one of the quickest
on record, for after crossing the line on the 20th of Sept.,
she distanced every ship which came in her course, running
the distance from the line to Port Phillip in 58 days. The
haziness of the morning of the 25th instant prevented Cape
Otway being discerned
-until very near land, and in conse-

quence the captain preferred dodging about during the after-
noon and night to venturing to the entrance of the bay in the
evening. The commodiousness of the ship, her swift sailing,
and the vigilance and firmness of her commander in preserv-
ing order, and cleanliness especially, recommend her as an
emigrant ship. She was abundantly supplied with excellent
provisions by the shipping agents, Messrs. W. Smith and
Sons, Liverpool. There were but two deaths on the passage,
viz., Mary Mercer, an emigrant from Ashton-under-Lyne,
who died in consequence of a premature delivery of a child
which lived but two hours, and James Walker, a seaman, of
Liverpool, who was dragged overboard by a rope in a squall
and drowned, notwithstanding great efforts were made to
save him. Three hundred and twenty-three emigrants are
prepared to land in good health as soon as the usual formalites
have been gone through. The subjoined testimonial was
presented to Captain Main for his considerate attention to
the passengers and emigrants. " We, the undersigned pas-
sengers on board the Wallace, respectfully present you with
this memorial conveying our approbation of your great ex-
perience in command, of your firmness in maintaining dis-
cipline and good order, and of your vigilance in preserving
cleanliness throughout the vessel, which not only ministers
to comfort, but is likewise indispensable to health. We also
wish particularly to express the gratitude of those who have
been afflicted by illness, for your endeavours to mitigate their
sufferings, and to restore them to health ; also for your
kindness in suggesting amusements to relieve all from the
weariness of a sea voyage. Our wish, sir, is, that all your
future voyages may be prosperous, that you may attain a
green old age, comforted by the reflection of a well-spent
life, and the assurance of securing a happy immortality."

Yours, &e.!
A PASSENGER,

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD

SIR,—It is fortunate for you that the STANDARD is in its
course accompanied with two excellent contemporaries in
the Albion and the Mercury. In common with the remain.
der of the world, you cannot fail, I imagine, to receive a
stream of perpetual light from two such suns ; and you must,
long before this, have recognised an almost special providence
in the circumstance of the two luminaries irradiating our
otherwise dark hemisphere at different ends of the week.
For this mercy the inhabitants of " the good old town," of
every clime and nation and creed, cannot be too thankful ;
because, had their risings been coincident, few indeed could
have stood against the united brilliancy of the combined
orbs.

There was a time when these magnificent planets were in
opposition to each other—in opposition to such a degree,
that many began to think that either one or the other would,
by the attraction of repulsion added to its own gravity, lose
its place in the solar system of the broadsheet. lam not
quite sure that there is any remarkable cohesion in them vet,
except perhaps under occasional circumstances of mutual
danger from the singeing of some fiery comet.
One element, however, there is, besides the apprehension
of common danger,,which, with magic influence, has, for the
moment, sapped ancient animosities, and engendered an
amiable concord between these most valorous champions.
Being of a pacific temperament myself, I have watched over
this promise of peace with no common interest ; and I now
congratulate my fellow-townsmen upon the gratifying fact,
that harmony and reconciliation have superseded quarrelling
and contention. We are thus spared from collision upon a
most vital subject—a collision the bare contemplation of
which is very nearly as horrible as treading upon the interior
surface of a discharging volcano to an hypochondriac who
fancies himself a lump of the lard described in Monday's
Albion.
And what do the most enlightened people of Liverpool
think is this wondrous element, which thus presents pheno-
mena vastly more surprising than those of the Mesmerists,
or the Homeopathists, or even of Mr. Claridge's Hydropa-
thists ? The venerable " Crito " (to whom I shall address
myself at a future time upon his favourite topic) may, and
for aught I know to the contrary does, rejoice in the disco-
very of an agency, which has apparently had the happy power
of exchanging feud for friendship. What, then, is this invi-
sible and mysterious power ? Why, it is no other than a
wholesome species of nervous irritability, somewhat similar
to that of which Sir Giles Overreach might be supposed to
be the victim, were he to have sinned only with reference to
his stomach. It is, in short, no other than the circumstance
that the retiring disposition of our present chief magistrate,
whose aversion to display of any kind is next to his unques-
tionable integrity, his. chief characteristic, has not led him
into the practice of giving a dinner every month or six weeks
to some sixty or hundred of his townsmen—to men who
ought never to want, and who never do want, but who are
as hungry as paupers when the prospect of a civic feast sti-
mulates the appetite. Really a tremendous catastrophe has
befallen the " classic " Albion and the " venerable Mer-
cury; a common misfortune has, by their own admissions,
overtaken them, and their =Rings are only to be consoled
by that judicious clause in the Municipal Corporations Act.
which, probably in relation to this very case, enacts that all
mayors must be elected annually. It requires no skill in
divination (but if any divination at all be made, it must be
by the ancient mode of the entrails and stomach) to foretel
that the re-election of the present mayor will be opposed by
the unanimous pens of these voracious complainants.
Without doubt, however, there are a tolerably large class
who are by no means satisfied with the conduct of Mr. John
Shaw Leigh, in his capacity as mayor, with regard to the
lamentable lack of dinners. In the eyes, or rather in the
mouths, of these gentlemen, the dining-room of the Town-
hall should be immediately converted into a gratuitous ordi-
nary, the mayor into a Boniface, the town-clerk into a wine-
drawer, and the surveyor into the superintendent waiter—
, an office wherein he might exhibit his skill in design, for why
should not his works be as clever on a table as in a town ?
On the principle of the greater comprehending the less, what
might not the gourmand expect from his tabulated inge-
nuity ? As to the aldermen and town-councillors, they
might be distributed in the establishment as cooks and scul-
lions. Thus, then, is the outline of an eating-house on a
magnificent scale immediately drawn, and the details can be
filled up_ by the grumbling gentlemen of whom the Albion

and the Mercury are the o-rg-ans.
Well, but for their information I will mention that the
Town-hall Establishment Committee have just ordered the
kitchen-range in the Town-hall to be repaired, at an expense
of seventy pounds of the corporation money. This looks
promising. Dinners will not always be at a discount. They
may be had for going for shortly; and the doctors may
speedily anticipate a prolific season of dyspepsia.
But, in the meantime, whilst the kitchen -range is mending,
some steps must be taken to bring the mayor to a sense of
his duty—to make him try whether the corporation tinker
has not made more holes than he has soldered up in the
various pots and pans and kettles which form part of the
civic culinary garniture. It certainly will be incumbent on
him to risk an experiment ; but if the mayor should be so
shockingly obstinate, so deaf to the cries of the ravens, as
to persist in not making the Town-hall into a turtle-soup-
shop, then there will be but one mode open for redressing
this grievous wrong.

This mode of redress, happily, has the merit of being as
easy as it will be successful. It is, that a special meeting of
the council be summoned instantly upon the discovery of the
mayor's refractoriness, at which the persuasive eloquence of
Mr. Alderman Earle should be exerted in support of a mo-
tion by Mr. Alderman Evans, for the appointment of a com 7
mission, after the approved liberal fashion, to inquire into
the intolerable abuse of his office by the mayor, and report
thereon to the council. The motion for a commission should
embrace two specific points—first the number of dinners the
mayor has hitherto given, and next the number he ought to
have given; besides which, it might be so wisely framed as
to imply Porter's tables (not lie of the board of trade) to be
the corporation catechism for the instruction of succeeding
occupants of the chair. A single commissioner would per-
haps be capable of conducting the investigation ; and as the
town-clerk must not be supposed to have any bias on this,
no more than on other matters, probably the council would
nominate him to the office. Indeed, if his own doctrine—
that, because his office is mentioned in the charter, he has a
right equally with the aldermen and councillors to debate
and discuss the several motions propounded before them—
be correct, I expect to hear him claiming the appointment
of commissioner as his legal privilege. And as he evidently
is not a man to lose what is his own for want of asking for,
I would confer this office upon him on both grounds : first,
that it is his by ancient right, and so gratify his weakness in
antiquity ; and secondly, because he is eminently capable of
conducting such an inquiry, and so obtain, after the tempe-
rate manner of a lawyer, the benefit of enlarged individual
experience. The evidence ought to be taken down in short-
hand, and printed along with the learned commissioner's
report, for the information of the council and the edification
of their constituents. By the way, although the mayor's
dinners ought on all occasions to display high celery, I think
the commissioner's salary might be paid in invitation carcisci
and this for an economical reason—namely, that, like g"
bills, they would readily be accepted.
Giving your shining contemporaries all the advantage they
can make of these valuable hints,
I remain, sir, your obedient ser...--nt,
Tv' QUOQUE.
Great George-street, Wednesday menus'

The Irish whiskey duty in 1839 was £1,510,092 ; in 1840,
£1,032,582; and in 1841, £964,711.

SECOND EDITION.

Standard-qffice, Eleven o'clock

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE THIS MORNING, AT THE

LIVER STEAM MILLS

We regret to announce that about three o'clock this morn-
ing a most destructive fire broke out in the extensive works
of Messrs. Edward Holme and Son, millers, on the west
side of the Canal-bank. The flames, we understand, burst
out very suddenly. An alarm was immediately given, and
messengers were despatched for the fire-engines at the dock
stations and the station in Temple-court. Five powerful

engines from the latter place were instantly on their wa
to the scene of conflagration, and in about twenty minute
afterwards no less than ten engines were on the spot. Ali
were playing upon the flames at once, but without effect. No
effort could save the building, and at this moment it is a
heap of ruins. We are sorry to add that four men were very
severely injured in their efforts to extinguish the flames.
One of them was a miller in Messrs. ilolme's service, and
the other three were men belonging to the fire brigade. They
are now in considerable danger. We have not heard any
probable account of the origin of the fire, nor whether the
property was insured.

DISASTROUS FINANCIAL CONDITION OF INDIA

The Morning Herald of yesterday, in a leading article
upon the news brought from India by the overland mailhust
received, observes that—

" Sir Robert Peel has not, it would appear, been at all pre-
mature in his fears as to Indian finances. Monetary em-
barrassments are accumulating throughout the three presi -
dencies; the whole country suffers from the drains of specie
caused by the Affghan war; the currency is becoming so
contracted that the ryot is unable to find silver to pay his
land-tax ; trade is oppressed and stagnant ; the demand for
our goods rapidly decreasing ; the wealthy natives are be-
coming distrustful ; the new loan is not tilling up ; credit is
languishing, and prices are falling. These results of our
Indian wars will add to commercial distress at home, and
selfishness may at last induce us to make that demand which
justice and right ought to have begotten, that the Afghan
war be brought to a speedy conclusion, and trans-Indan con-
quest and subjugation be at once stopped."
- - -

This disastrous state of things there are few, except the
thoughtless admirers of whig policy, whether abroad or at
home, who must not long ago have foreseen ; and when it is
borne in mind that the rash occupation of Aflghanistan has
already cost, independent of 13,000 valuable lives, the enor-
mous amount of nineteen »zillions sterling, even these peo-
ple, we imagine, will confess that its occurrence is not very
surprizing. Let those excellent politicians who but a few
months ago attributed every evil under which the foreign
commerce of Great Britain laboured to the effect of " mono-
poly" at home, tell us whether it is not quite possible that
the mismanagement of our foreign affairs, by that sublime
of foreign ministers Lord Palmerston, may not have had
quite as much to do with the matter ! By the bye, may we
not enquire into what bole bas the sublime statesman in
question crept from observation of late ? We thought he was
to have led the opposition, in the House of Commons; to
Sir Robert Peel's government; but it is gratifying to find
that the rouged cheeks of the venerable dandy are not imper-
vious to the blush of shame.

THE DISC-ENGINE AND CAPTAIN CARPENTER'S

PROPELLERS

(From the Railway Magazine.)
We have had the pleasure to witness some experimental
trials of the above apparatus, made in the presence of Sir
Edward Parry, comptroller of her Majesty's steam marine
Messrs. Ewart and Lloyd, the government engineers, several
gentlemen connected with the Admiralty, and a number of
eminent engineers who attended on the occasion.
The apparatus was fitted in the pinnace of H. M. steam-
vessel, Geyser, which is under orders to sail for China. The
boat is 30 feet in length, 9 feet in width, and is capable of
carrying 8 tons. The engine is of the peculiar kind called
the " Disc-Engine," which appears to be well adapted to
marine purposes. Its nominal power is equal to five horses,
but it was estimated to be performing considerably more
during the trial. _ _

The engine itself occupied a space of 3 feet by 1 foot 6
inches, and its total weight, exclusive of the boiler, is 5 cwt.
The propelling apparatus is the invention of Capt. Carpen-
ter, the commander of the Geyser. It consists of two hori-
zontal shafts passing through the stern of the boat, (the
joint made tight by a stuffing box,) one on each side of the
keel, carrying two arms placed at right angles to the shaft,
at the ends of which arms are two lozenge-shaped propellers,
the angle of which with the horizontal shaft may be varied
at pleasure.

These propellers are caused to make about 300 revolutions
a minute, and judging from their effect they appear to be well
adapted for the intended purpose.
- The boat made numerous trips up and down the river, and
the facility with which the motion could be reversed, and the
perfect command obtained in steering, called forth the com-
mendation of the gentlemen present. On making use of
Massey's log it was ascertained that the speed of the boat,
when the engine was making 100 revolutions per minute,
was equal to seven miles per hour.
The form of the boat is very unfavourable to obtaining
velocity, and it was observed that in consequence of the
bluffness of the bows a wave of considerable height was
carried before the boat.

We understand it is intended to employ this boat as an
assistant to the steam-frigate, and that it will be employed
for the purpose of towing other boats into creeks and shallow
rivers where it may be desirable to conduct an armed force.

It appears to us-that not only for purposes of warfare, but
also for the more peaceful operations of commerce, the com-
bined apparatus we have inspected presents great advantages,
as, from its extreme simplicity, it is perfectly manageable by
ordinary workmen, and the small space it occupies, and its
small weight, do not prevent the boat taking a full comple-
ment of men; and it will frequently happen that the assist-
ance in towing afforded by a boat of this kind would enable
a vessel to make considerable way even in a perfect calm.
We are not a little surprised and pleased to learn from
Captain Carpenter, that the whole apparatus was so arranged
that the engine and boiler could be taken out of the boat and
replaced in it ready for operation in less than ten minutes.
This simple fact is the best illustration of the Suitability of
the disc-engine for such an application.
The duration of the trials was not such as to enable us to
determine the consumption of fuel ; but, as far as we could
judge, this appeared to be remarkably small.
The engine employed was only 15 inches diameter, and the
steam pressure estimated at 381hs. to the inch. The mean
number of revolutions of the disc per minute was 160, and
on repeated trials we observed that the full number was al-
most immediately got upon starting.
The above experiments were attended by Mr. Herapath.
Another trial, we understand, was made on Saturday. The
pinnace sailed from Woolwich against a strong tide and
powerful head wind, and made such way as surprised the
party on board. Afterwards they took in tow a man-of-
war's launch, having on board fifty men, with their arms and
ammunition, and two cannons with their equipments, and
made good way also against tide and wind. It does not ap-
pear that any log was on board, or any account of the steam
pressure or consumption of fuel, but the experiments were
confined to what may be called ocular inspection of general
deeds.

CATARACT REMOVED BY GALVANISM.—Prof. Pirogoff
and Dr. Crussell, St. Petersburg, the operators. The con-
vex capsule was opened by a crucial incision, and then a
weak galvanic current was introduced into the eye for about
a minute. The pupil became almost instantaneously black
over a large portion of its circumference, and immediately
the patients saw the objects that were presented to them.
The reabsorption of the cataract takes place soon after the
operation.

On Monday a serious fire broke out in the printing-office
of Mr. Lee, at Lewes, which was not extinguished before the
whole of the establishment was destroyed. Nothing is known
of the origin of the fire, but it is conjectured that it was oc-
casioned by the accidental falling of a spark from a candle
during Sunday evening, and its smouldering till past mid-
night, and then bursting into flames. The damage is esti-
mated at about £1,600. The premises were insured, but not
to the full value.

TIMBER DUTIES.—MEETING OF THE BELFAST CHAM-
BER OF COMMERCE.—On Saturday, pursuant to an adver-
tisement that appeared in the papers, a public meeting of the
members of the Chamber of Commerce was held at twelve
o'clock, for the purpose of considering the propriety of send-
ing a memorial to government to allow the proposed duties
on timber to have an immediate operation, when it was re-
solved unanimously, that a petition be forwarded from the
Chamber to her Majesty's government, praying them to pass
the proposed measure, and to let it come into operation with
as little delay as possible.
- -

Low PRICE OF BUTTER.—Fresh butter, of excellent
quality, sold in our market on Saturday for 9d. per pound:
at an earlier hour it fetched Is., but much rentainitp, undis-
posed of, a reduction was submitted to, and at
thei lower
price above stated a great deal remained unsold. It is possi-
ble that apprehensions among the dairy farmers, excited by
the cautious arrangements with them on the part of the Lon-
don factors, have led to this eager supply. The latter may
not improbably be alarmed at the probable effects of the
tariff when it comes into operation. Whatever may have
been the occasion, it is certain that so large a stock of dairy
produce at this early season has not occurred for many years
past.—Taunton Courier.

The extreme drought of the past two or three weeks ii,
been suddenly terminated by a mild, and for several hour.
copious, rain, which commenced yesterday, though we
its extent was but limited. The appearance of the country in
and about this neighbourhood, and in the adjoining county
of Hereford, is truly luxuriant as regards all kind of crops,
but rain is much wanted, especially for the grasses ansdoilpo, .
toes ;we therefore hope that a continuation of sea :::.
showers will now come to the aid of the cultivator. The
harvest of
chards present a beautiful tint, and rich will be the fear
cider and perry if no untoward change occur;
_tomological
is springing up with much vigour, but that fell en
winds, has
devourer—the fly, wafted -b. y the late easterly,on
tof these
plant,
pretty generally attacked it ; and
the locus s, c
voracious tribes, like their cousins-gen-nano—well known i,
convert " the paradise into a desert," ".
is (-ct anything sati
the dispsl
the history of hops, that we cannot yetePrielope, will, in a fe
factory of the crop. The weather, the. hopl . t
weeks, give a favourable turn to
Journal. ' o 1-
At near one o cl c .
,‘,vegetation.—lfroreest
A COURTLY ADVENTURE.—At „., was pinning
den rap-tap at the dressing-
Queen's hair, there was a sudse,
morning, while the wardrobe-woman
looked at the Queet,
room door. Extremely surperi
did
not speak. I had
see what should be done ; h
ratch used, instead of tap'.
sefor at the royal doors th,
and the Queen called t
alwaysheard such a
rat
iseouul
an
rd
kindb e fo,r,e_cf::i n , _
liberty as to come to the Queen
I beard it, hm,ere,F,wasgreally startled, not conceiving n
" What is that?' i
igVannouneing of a page ; and no page,
would make such a noise. Again the sound
evil at nand, either regarding the
I was very sure,
w couldasapartment :
e takep_
withoutso
A d more smartly. Igrew • eate., an ..
.• quite alarmed,
imagining
scgnof the princesses. The
etrssenri 0 u s
Queen, however, bid
king or s°l-hmedoor. I did ; but w,
we open ---e • . Ghat was my surprise to see
there a .
large man, in an immense greatcoat, buttoned up
round his chin, so that Ile was almost hid between cape and
hat. I stood quite motionless for a moment ; but he, as if
so surprised, drew back ; I felt quite sick with sudden terror
--I really thought some rill-flan had broke into
the house, or
a madman. " Who is it
veered,"' cried the Queen. "I do not.
know, ma'am," I ans ll 1 l d •
and ien, taking g• his
" hat, entered the Prince of Wales.
The Queen laughed very much ; so did I too, happy in this
unexpected explanation. He
told her eagerly, he merely
came to inform her there were the most beautiful northern
lights to be seen that could possibly be imagined, and begged
her to come to 'tl u • d -
ie gallery-windows.--Diary ery-win ows. Diary qf Madame
D' Arblay.

Peep out at the balmy day ;
And a thousand birds, that mutely flew
From branch to branch, crown bolder too,
Break forth in a roundelay.
And joy is the burthen of every song;

There iq Joy in the river's flowing,
In the voice of the breeze as it floats along,
In the kine's soft, pastoral lowing;
You may hear it the grasses and reeds among,
On the merge of the streamlet growing.
Joy on the new-born earth!
Joy in the halcyon sky !
Poor mourner ! from thy silent hearth,
Look upward hopefully,
to those sounds of mirth,

Ai.d give no

Wrung heart and tearful eye.
And thou, pale child ! that low

---On saddest couch art lying—
Go forth, and Health shall fan thy brow,
And chase away thy sighing.
Go forth, and sport beneath the bough,
Where the gladsome bee is humming,
And thou wilt bless, as I do now,
The young Spring's joyous coming.

LITERARY NOTICES

Poems, by Robert Nicoll. Second Edition, with a Memoir
of the Author. Edinburgh : William Tait. London :
Simpkin, Marshall, and Co.

We have perused with delight the unpretending verses
which compose the bulk of the volume before us, and with
some interest the narrative of the author's brief career, by
which they are accompanied. Many of the poems themselves
are not entire strangers to us. A considerable number, how-
ever, which did not appear in the first edition, published
during the author's lifetime, are here added—some of them
from the various periodicals in which they were originally
given to the world. The work is neatly got up, by poor
Nicoll's kind and early friend, Mr. Tait ; and we heartily

wish it an extensive sale
We az

y prepared to class Nicoll with either Robert
He could never have
achieved a poem like " Tam o'Shanter," or furnished us with
Bonnie Kilmenie" of Hogg.

Burns or

he Ettrick Shepherd

3 compare with ti

For all that, however, his limited opportunities taken into
consideration, (which, by the way, were scarcely more limited

of the youth of either of these poets,) it cannot be
extent, " the vision and

lied that I-

sed, to sour

' and that had his lot, after gathering, in
ation from the wild heaths and streams of
!en cast in a path somewhat brighter than
1, matter of fact, and toilsome career of radical jour-
manufacturing town ; had such a man, removed
—removed too from the
)tiori of people, (the ultra-utilitarians and republicans
radical borough of Leeds,) amongst whom, and for
. be toiled—been permitted to cultivate his intellect

the faculty divine

his boyhood, inspir,
his native land, be

s of party warfare

is sympathies in a more generous atmosphere,
that within him which might have raised him
)rld of literature, into which

position, in

ave cast him

at many, very many, of the