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

LOCAL NEWS

We perceive from a Glasgow paper that the Rev. Hugh
Crichton of the Scotch Secession Church, Mount-pleasant,
in this town, has had the degree of D.D. conferred upon him
by the University of Glasgow.

THE NIGER EXPEDITION.-A letter has been received in
this town, dated Ascension, March 9, from which we take
the following extract :—The,Albert left the Fernando Po on
the 18th of December. We called at Prince's, St. Thomas's,
and Anabona, and arrived here on the 28th of January. Dr.
V6gel, the botanist, died at Fernando Po on the 17th of De-
cember. lam going in the Wilberforce to Fernando Po to
join the Soudan, and go up the river again. We will sail to-
morrow. I believe the Albert is coming home.

THEFT FROM A SHOP.—Two girls, Jane Jones and Jane
Roberts, were yesterday charged at the police-court with
stealing a pair of stays. About nine o'clock, the prisoners
went into the shop of Mr. Hayes, Park-lane, and looked at
some stays, which they said would not suit them. On their
going out the person in attendance observed that Roberts
looked rather bulky, and, on detaining her, he found the
stays in her apron. They were worth 3s. 6d. Both pri-
soners were committed for trial at the sessions.

TESTIMONIAL, OF ESTEEM.—On Saturday last, a party of
gentlemen sat down to an excellent dinner at the Monk's
Ferry Hotel, when a piece of plate, as a token of esteem,
was presented to John Dixon, Esq., civil engineer, who has
just left the situation on the Chester and Birkenhead Rail-
way, which he has filled with great satisfaction since its
opening. The plate consists of an octagon-shaped tea-kettle,
engraved in compartments, in the style of the time of Queen
Elizabeth, supported on a richly-pierced piedal stand, in the
centre of which is a lamp for burning spirit of wine. On
one side is the following inscription :—" This well-merited
tribute of respect, presented to John Dixon, Esq., civil
engineer, by the contractors, officers, and servants generally,
of the Chester and Birkenhead Railway, as an humble token
of their regard for him as a master and admiration as a man.
April 30th, 1842." And in a shield on the obverse side are
engraved the arms of Mr. Dixon.

FRENCH LANGUAGE AND THE HARP.—There never was
a period when elegant acquirements were more valued, and,
we may add, valuable, than at the present day. On exten-
sive information and high accomplishment may be said to
depend success in life ; for whether a person be rich in the
gifts of fortune or otherwise, his or her position in society
must depend mainly on those qualities which the world has
been taught so highly to value. This direction of the general
taste into the right channel is becoming every day more and
more determinate, and hence high cultivation is becoming
still more essential. Amongst the accomplishments which
are at once useful and ornamental, are those indicated at the
head of this paragraph, the language of France being abso-
lutely necessary, while a knowledge of the harp may be
looked upon as one of the most elegant acquirements of which
a lady can become possessed. It is no disparagement to the
piano to say, that it is the more general instrument, but, for
that very reason, to play well on the harp is the greater dis-
tinction. In connexion with a subject of so much interest
to those classes to whom high accomplishments are absolute
necessaries we have great pleasure in mentioning the name
of Professor Barre De Ballicourt, who teaches the harp on
the method adopted by the celebrated Bochsa. Mr. De
Ballicourt's capability as an instructor in French is highly
spoken of.
MR. POPJOY ON MANNERS !—We are requested by Mr.
Popjoy to notice the indecent practice, so common amongst
our juvenile dandies, of sticking their hands, whilst prome-
nading Lord-street and Bold-street, into the back pockets of
their coats, and protruding in the face of modest people that
ur,sightly portion of the body which all civilized nations have
concurred, in devising fashions, to conceal. The laps of a
modern coat were meant to hang down, not to be drawn
aside, as if for the express purpose of showing how like a
human being can make himself to a barn door fowl in moult-
ing time, or a pigeon which has lost its tail in a trap. Insert
your hands, young gentlemen, in your waistcoat pockets, or
breeches pockets, if you like; but do permit Ow skirts of
your coats to serve the purposes for which they a, ; . ~uvised,
viz., to cover that part of the body which, although " the
seat of honour," is not, certainly, a spectacle of grace and
beauty !

CHARLESTON LAW AED BRITISH LAW..--Several sea-
men of the British ship Ann Hall, who were committed to
prison at Charleston, in February last, at the instance of the
British consul, for having seized and confined the master
with hand-cuffs and a strait jacket, under pretence that he
was intoxicated or insane, were recently brought before the
Hon. Jacob Axson, Recorder of Charleston, on a writ of
habeas corpus to obtain their discharge. His Honour de-
livered his opinion, discharging the prisoners, o❑ the ground
that in the absence of any treaty stipulation to that effect be-
tween this country and Great Britain, there was no autho-
rity to arrest or retain them as fugitives from justice. If
such is Charleston law, it is very much like British law, as
exemplified in the case of the slaves of the Creole. If Ame-
rican courts have no right to • detain British subjects for
crimes committed on board of British vessels, then by parity
of reasoning, British courts have no right to detain Ameri-
can subjects for crimes committed on board American ves-
sels.—New York Journal of Commerce, April Id.
FRIGHTFUL ACCIDENT ON THE CHESTER AND BIRKEN-
HEAD RAILWAY.—On Tuesday evening on one of the last
trains quitting Chester, the number of inside places was
found too few to accommodate all the persons applying for
tickets on the line. Several, in consequence, mounted to the
top. The train proceeded, and all went on safely till within
a short distance of Sutton, when one of the most tragical
events occurred which we have had to record in connexion
with railroad travelling. On the outside of one of the car-
riages was a party of young men, one of whom, in some man-
ner elevated himself so that his bead came in contact with
one of the bridges, before he could perceive the danger; and
in an instant his skull was dashed to pieces, and his blood
was spattered on his fellow-passengers. He was killed on
the spot. An inquest was held on view of the body yester-
day, before Mr. Churton, the coroner for South Cheshire,
when the following rather extraordinary verdict was returned :
" Died from accident, but of what nature there was no evi-
dence to show." We certainly anticipated a heavy deodand
on the carriage from what we have heard of the circumstances.
Several persons were present at the inquiry who witnessed
the accident, but for some reason they were not called. The
deceased was a solicitor of the name of Thistleton, in prac-
tice in this town, and was, we are credibly informed, per-
fectly sober all the time.

ANOTHER DISCOVERY BY THE " LIVERPOOL TIMES."—
The stream of inane twaddle which ordinarily dribbles from the
pen of our enlightened contemporary, the Liverpool Times,
has this week been obstructed by the fume into which our
remarks of Friday appear to have thrown him, or by the cruel
necessity of displaying to his readers that he is able to retort
upon an opponent without the necessity of resorting to the
kennel for his weapons. Whatever be the cause, however,
the effeet has been most singular. Having no leisure to be-
stow upon any sublunary anirs besides our unworthy selves
and his own unhappy temper, he has been compelled to draw
upon imagination for matter to dole out to the numerous ad-
mirers of his profundity ; and, amongst other marvellous dis-
coveries, has produced the following, which will be news to
those mere terrestrial beings who have not the sublimated
perceptions enjoyed by the inhabitants of the seventh heaven,
amongst whom our contemporary has evidently been sojourn-
ing. Under the heading of " The Income Tax," the Times
remarks :—" This delightful measure progresses (as the
Americans say), if not very fast, at least quite fast enough.
All its most grinding clauses have been agreed to, with the
single exception of that which compelled a man engaged in
two businesses, one profitable and the other losing, to pay
on the profits of the one, without any allowance for the losses
of the other. With much difficulty ministers have been in-
duced to give up this point, and to allow persons so situated
to pay on the average gains (if there are any) of the two bu-
sinesses. Several other proposed amendments, and amongst
them one moved by Mr. Roebuck, for the purpose of making
the per centage paid by persons in trade lighter than that paid
by owners of realized property, have been rejected by large
majorities."—The whole of this statement, with the excep-
tion of the last paragraph, at the time when it was penned
was sheer imagination. The " delightful measure" in ques-
tion had not progressed fast, and did not begin to progress
fast until Monday night, too late for the Times, with all his
peculiar sources of information, to be aware of the fact.
The " grinding clause," which " compelled a man engaged
in two businesses, one profitable and the other losing, to pay
on the profits of the one, without any allowance lot the losses
of the other," had not "with much difficulty been given up"
by the ministry ; and that simply because no sueh clause
ever existed in the bill. It was never proposed by this
measure that persons having more than one business or pro-
fession should pay upon more than their " average gains ;"
and hence the injustice of the requirement, upon which we
remarked last week, that a man having a business which
would come under Schedule D, and property under any other
schedules, is not allowed to set his gains from one against
his losses in the other. With respect to this, which is doubt-
less the point at which our sublimated contemporary was
aiming, it will be seen, by the debate on Monday, that, in
reply to a question from Mr. B. Wood, by whom it was first
brought before the especial notice of the house, Sir Robert
Peel intimated, that although he had, according to his pro-
mise, " taken the subject into consideration, he was bound
to say that he did not think that he could accede to the pro-
position of the honourable member." So much for the pro-
fundity and accuracy of the Liverpool Times!

THE EGREMONT STEAM-PACKET COMPANY.—In the
Vice-Chancellor's Court a motion was made on Tuesday on
behalf of Laycock and others, iron merchants of this town,
to dissolve an injunction which had been issued against them
last January, (on the motion of Mr. Vincent, an attorney
in London,) restraining them'from contracting any debts or
liabilities, or entering into any engagements in the name or
on account of the Egrernont Steam-packet Company. The
material circumstances detailed in the case were given fully
in the evidence in a recent trial at the last assizes in this
town, brought by Messrs. Page and Grantham against Mr.
Vincent. The bill in Chancery, filed by Mr. Vincent, prayed
for the injunction above stated, and also for the dissolution
of the company and the winding up of its affairs in the usual
manner. After hearing counsel, his honour said, it was
plain, upon the face of the affidavit upon which the injunc-
tion had been granted, that pains had been taken to show as
stinted a knowledge as possible of the affairs of the company.
It was important that parties applying for an injunction
should state all the circumstances within their knowledge, in
order that the court might have an opportunity of judging
whether the injunction should he granted ex parte or on
notice. In this case he thought the plaintiff should have
stated two notices which he had received in July and Octo-
ber, 1811, which were set forth in the answer of the defend-
ants, but of which not one word appeared in the plaintiff's
affidavit; and it would have been but fair to the defendants
that those notices should have been stated ; for if they had
been stated, his honour would not have granted the injunc-
tion ex parte. It appeared to him essential to the cause of
justice, and especially to that delicate species of justice which
related to the granting of injunctions, that the case should
be fully stated to the court. In the present instance this had
not been done, and he was bound by that rule, by which he
had, ever since he had administered this branch of the juris-
diction of the court, acted, and by which he should always
act,--he was bound, he repeated, to say that the injunction
must be dissolved with costs.

FORGED WILLS.—Ou Tuesday Mr. Rushton was occu-
pied, in the Police Court, with hearing some further evidence
as to the forged wills of John Kenney and Robert Wilson,
both mariners; but the prisoners in both cases were remanded.
COTTON.—AIarge import of this staple commodity is ex-
pected to arrive this month. We perceive, from our usual
circular, that not less than twenty vessels arrived with this
article yesterday.

WASHINGTON InviNG.--This gentleman was one of the
passengers by the Independence, from New York to this
port, which arrived here on Tuesday morning, but he land-
ed at Waterford and proceeded to Bristol by steam, and
from thence to London, and has thus frustrated the inten-
tions of his friends and admirers as to the honours intended
to be shown him in this town.

A PASSENGER DROWNED AT SEA.—We are requested to
state, that George B. Bedford, supposed to belong to some
part of the South of England, was a passenger in the ship
Susquehanna, on her recent voyage from Philadelphia to Li-
verpool, and that when she was about ten days out he fell
overboard and was drowned.

STEALING FROM- A CART.—A man named Thomas Wil-
liams was yestetday charged, before Mr. Rushton, with hav-
ing stolen a loaf of sugar, the property of Richard Taylor and
Sons, from a cart containing a quantity of the article, as it
was passing along York-street. He made off with it, but
was overtaken in Pitt-street, and given into custody. The
prisoner said he had only taken it as a lark. He was commit.
ted for trial.

ST. SAVIOUR'S CHURCH.—We understand that, in the
course of next month, a bazaar will be held for the purpose
of obtaining funds towards liquidating the debt on St.
Saviour's Church ; and that the Town Council have granted
the use of the Exhibition-rooms for that purpose.
CAUTION.—HAWKING ARTICLES OF BASE COIN METAL
FOR COIN.—At the Police-court yesterday, a young man
was charged with selling to a gentleman a small chain and a
seal attached, for gold, and for which he received 10s. Tl•ey
afterwards turned out to be merely brass. The prisoner d
no hawker's license, and was committed to prison fot a
month as an unlicensed pedlar.
SHORT WEIGHTS.—CAUTION TO BUTCHERS, PROVIS ON
DEALERS AND OTHERS.—Yesterday, about -thirty butch-
ers, provision dealers, and others, were brought by summons
before John Shaw Leigh, Esq., the Mayor, in the Sessions-
house, to answer charges preferred against them respectively
by Mr. Atkinson, inspector Of weights and measures, for
having defective scales, or short weights, in their places of
business. They were all fined in various penalties of
is., is. 6d., 25., 55., and 205., together with costs, and the
Mayor, in imposing them, strongly reprehended the practice,
by which the poor especially were defrauded to a great ex-
tent ; and he cautioned them to adopt a different course of
dealing for the future, intimating that their conduct would
be strictly watched by the proper officers. Several of them
pleaded various excuses, some alleging that they had never
used the short weights seized on their premises ; others that
the defective state of their scales was counterbalanced by
penny pieces, bits of iron, &c., invariably put into the light
scale; others, that they were altogether ignorant of the defi-
ciency, and so forth, but his worship over ruled the defences
set up in every instance, proportioning the fines, as far as
possible, to the several (trades of offence. We had prepared
a list of the offenders, but forbear publishing it, in hopes
that the present exposure will put a stop to such a fraudu-
lent practice.
ST. MARTIN'S CHURCH.—We understand that a proposi-
tion will be submitted to the Town Council to-morrow, by
the Church Expenditure Committee, for a reduction in the
rents of the pews of St. Martin's Church.-7-[Alluding to
this proposition, Popjoy says that the definition of Puseyism
in Liverpool is, high church and low rents.]
We beg to call the attention of our readers to an adver-
tisement in our columns of this clay, announcing the time
of the anniversary sermons and meetings of the Church
Missionary Society in Liverpool. We understand that ener-
getic exertions have been lately made elsewhere to make up
the deficiency in the society's funds—a deficiency in a great
measure caused by the annually increasing extent of the so-
ciety missions—and we trust this town will not be backward
in this good work, and that the approaching anniversary will
bear testimony to the growing liberality of Liverpool towards
this invaluable society.

EXTRAORDINARY ESCAPE OF A CHILD.-011 Monday
morning last, a son of police-officer Moran (who attends daily
on the magistrates at the Police-court), of a little more than
three years old, was left by himself for a short time in a room
on the second floor of his father's hou.9e, in Richardson's-
buildings, Park-lane ; and seeing some children playing in
the street, he by some means got up to the window, probably
on to a table, and overbalancing himself, fell down upon the
flags in the street below. A crowd immediately gathered,
thinking he could not long survive the shock, the height
being 14 or 15 feet. Strange to say, however, not even a
scratch or a bruise was to be found upon him, and he has
since been in his usual health, and has attended school as
usual!

The ship Shannon, Capt. Harrison, from Mobile, arrived
here late last night, and from one of the passengers we have
learned that she spoke the following vessels :
April 23. British Queen, from Liverpool to Miramachi, in
lat. 41 10 N., long. 49 20 W.
26. Caledonia steamer, from Liverpool to Halifax and
Boston, in lat. 44 59, long. 33 45.

- 28. Witton Castle, from London to Prince Edward's
Island, in lat. 46 35, long. 27 30.
May 1. Glengarry, from Savannah to Liverpool, in lat. 49
32. long. 18 25.
- 2. Elizabeth, from Charleston to Liverpool, in lat. 50,
long. 15.
- 5. Acadia, at 5 a.m., off Bardsey.

DEATH FROM APOPLEXY ON BOARD A STEAM PACKET.
An inquest was yesterday held before Mr. Curry, the
borough coroner, on view of the body of William Fisher,
who was by trade a rigger. The deceased had been to Bel-

fast, which he left on-Tuesday afternoon, coming as a pas-
senger by the Falcon steamer. On the arrival of the vessel
at this port on Wednesday morning, at two o'clock, he was
found lying dead on a coal bunker on board. A post mortem
examination of the body was made, and the surgeon gave it
as his opinion that he had died from sanguinous apoplexy.
There were no marks of violence, and th jury returned a
verdict to the effect that the deceased died from natural
causes—namely apoplexy.

A CHILD OVERLAIN.—An inquest was held yesterday,
before Mr. Curry, touching the death of Martha Ann M.
Mitchell, an infant. The deceased had been taken to bed
with her parents, who live in Virgil-street, and on Wednes-
day morning was found dead in bed, having, it appeared,
been overlain. The jury returned a verdict of " Accidental
death."

DEATH BY DROWNlNG.—Yesterday an inquest was held
before Mr. Curry, borough coroner, on view of the body of
James Sherratt. The deceased, who was 37 years of age,
was returning home on Tuesday night from the races, at
Chester, and took passage across the Mersey by the Ellen-
borough Woodside steam-boat. On the arrival of the packet
at George's Pier, about ten o'clock, while he was stepping
on shore, being a little intoxicated, he fell into the water. A
boat-hook was immediately handed to him, but he could not
avail himself of it, and sunk almost instantly. The body
was got out in a few minutes, and conveyed to the receiving
house, where the usual means were resorted to to restore
animation, but without avail. The jury returned a verdict of
" Accidental death." The deceased was the son of Mrs.
Etty Taylor, of St. John's Market, by her first husband.
MR. WEISS' CONCERT.—Mr. Weiss' Concert took place
last evening at Lasselle's Room, at which we had an oppor-
tunity of hearing Mr. Willoughby Weiss, the new Basso,
who made his first appearance before his townsmen. We
had heard the most flattering opinions of this gentleman's
powers, and we may say that, instead of being disappointed,
our expectations have been more than realized. Mr. Weiss
studied for a short time under Sir George Smart; he then
placed himself under Mr. Balfe, with whom he has been for
the last six months in Paris. We quoted the opinions of
the Paris papers on the debutane s singing ; and, when now
we give our own, we may safely say that our town may be
proud of the young artist. His voice is really a true bass—
in compass it exceeds two octaves—his intonation is perfect—
his execution brilliant, if we may use the term, in the
management of any voice so ponderous. His power is ex-
traordinary, while his tones are full, sonorous, and clear ; in
fact, the musical world have received a great, a very great ac-
quisition, and if lie has health, and strength, and perseveres,
we may at some day not far distant name him as the first
bass singer that England has produced for years. Mr. Weiss
is but 22 years old. We have scarcely met with so much
promise of excellence with such a chance of fulfilment. Mr.
Balfe may pride himself upon his pupil. In the first part of
the concert Mr. Balfe and Mr. Weiss sang Balfe's duet from
Falstaff, which has been so much extolled in London and
Paris. It was encored enthusiastically. " Bello Ardir,"
sang also by Mr. Weiss, gave great delight ; as did the air
from the " Stabat Mater ;"—this was loudly encored.
Madame Balfe sang a fine aria of her husband's "La
Speranga." Mr. Balfe gave from M.S. a new ballad, but
we cannot say much of its merits.—lt was encored.
The composer sang a very graceful ballad, entitled " The
Blighted Flower "—this was encored. i Mr. Dodd sang
Lee's ballad of " Woman Love ye Best "—it was honoured
with an encore. Mrs. and Miss St. Albin played a de-
lightful duett of Czerney's on two piano-fortes. This ap-
peared to give great satisfaction. Mrs. St. Albin played
afterwards the air from " Giovanni " (arranged by Thal-
berg) with her usual grace, execution, and skill. We hear
too little of this admirable pianist. Altogether we may
pronounce this concert to have been a most excellent one, and
every one present seemed to be delighted. The room was
comfortably full. We noticed that members of all the
leading families in the town were present, and appeared to
take much pleasure in Mr. Weiss's success. Mr. Weiss
appears next in Dublin with Miss Adelaide Kemble and
party.

Mr. I. N. Wigney's library was sold on Wednesday in 16
lots, and fetched the enormous sum of £5 10s. We under-
stand Mr. Wigney said, " he did not spend his money on
such trash as books."—Brighton Gazette.
PAISLEY Itacs.—The Paisley race committee have an.
nounced, that, in consequence of the great commercial and
manufacturing distress now felt, there will be no meeting
this year in Paisley.

PAISLEY.—Mpssrs. Hastie, Oswald, and Johnston, mem-
bers of parliament, have remitted to the provost of Paisley
£l,OOB ss. 4d. which they received from gentlemen in Cal-
cutta, Madras, and Bombay, in aid of the fund for the relief
of the distressed operatives of Paisley.

The Earl of Wicklow will be honoured with the riband of
the order of St. Patrick, vacant by the death of Lord Shan-
non. The Earl of Bandon will succeed Lord Shannon as
lord lieutenant of the county of Cork.
A respite has been received by the Governor of Chester
Castle, from the Home Secretary, deferring the execution of
Robert Sandys, who was left for execution for having
poisoned his child at Stockport, during her Majesty's
pleasure.

THE LAW OF COPYRIGHT.—A HINT FOR LORD MAHON.
—The New York papers contain an advertisement, intimat-
ing that, on April the sth, " an extra quadruple Brother
Jonathan" (which, for the information of the world, is a Yan-
kee newspaper somewhat larger than the double Herald)
" will be published at the price of 25 cents. (is.), for the pur-
pose of giving in a complete form the whole of Sir E. L. Bul-
liver's last new novel, Zanoni.' " The American public are
informed that " this will also be a rare opportunity for per-
sons wishing to forward their country friends the latest and
most popular novel of the day, as the postage can be only from
3to 41 cents to any part of the union." So here is Bulwer's
last new work selling in England for £1 lls. Gd., and pub-
lished in New York at Is. !

BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE .SOCIETY.—On Wednes-
day the annual meeting of this society took place at Exeter-
hall, Lord Bexley in the chair; and amongst those present
were the Earl of Ilarrowby, the Marquis of Cholmondeley,
the Earl of Chichester, Lord Glenelg, Lord Sandon, Lord
Teignrnouth, the Bishops of Chester. Chichester. Peter-
borough, Winchester, and Norwich, Sir T. D. Acland, the
Dean of Salisbury, &c. The noble Chairman having
briefly addressed the meeting, called upon the secretary
to read the report of the proceedings of the last year,
from which it appeared that the total amount
received during the year, applicable to the general
objects of the society, including subscriptions, dona-
tions, legacies, dividends on stock, and contributions of
auxiliary societies, was £44,045 lls. r which, compared
with the receipts of the former year, shows an increase of
£1,300 17s. The amount received from the sale of Bibles
and Testaments was £50,204 14s. 10d., and the total amount
from all sources £95,09
5 4s. Bd. The number of copiest
issued by the society from the same depository Was 584,544,
and from the depots abroad 231,007. Total issues dur •
ng
the year, 815,551, and the total number of copies
issued
since the commencement of the society amounts to
14,038,934.

TOWN COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS.

The periodical meeting of the Town Council was held on
Wednesday, in the Town-hall. The MAYOR presided.

FINANCE COMMITTEE

Mr. RADCLIFFE, jun. read the proceedines of this com-
mittee. It appeared that there had been a further payment
by the corporation on account of the purchase of the Birk-
enhead property to Mr. Leonard Addison (of the Liverpool
Standard-office), of £4476, to Mr. John Lowe, as trustee
of William Leonard Lace, £904 ; to Mr. John Addison of
£9Ol 13s. 4d. ; and to Dr. Grindiod, £4,000. The proceed-
ings also comprised a❑ application from the surveyor for
additional assistance in his office. _ _ _

Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE, in moving the confirmation of the
proceedings, said there' was nothing in them to which he
need draw the particular attention of the council, unless it
was the application of the surveyor for additional assistance
in his office. In that application he concurred, not without-
some reluctance, however, because he felt the full force of
the objection to adding to the burdens of the corporation ;
but he had come to the conclusion that the application was
just, and he asked the council to concur in it, not for the
purpose of conferring a favour upon the surveyor, or of re-
lieving him in the duties which he discharged so well, and
so much to the satisfaction of the council, but in order to do
justice to the corporate estate itself, and to facilitate those
several plans of improvement which the council was pledged
to carry into effect. During the last six months be had had
many opportunities of seeing the interior of the surveyor's
office, and he knew that the great pressure of business there
was inseparable from the increase of the town, and the im-
portance of the corporate estate. He thought the surveyor
was considerably under handed at the present moment,
although he devoted the whole of his time to his duties, and
the subordinates in the office did the same. They were there
from nine till seven; yet an increase in the staff was requi-
site. There were in the office three persons, besides the
surveyor, receiving salaries of £l5 a year, and he had had
the assistance of Mr. Parry, who had been out of his time
since July, and who had received no salary whatever from
the council. He (Mr. L.) proposed then that a salary of
£lOO a year be granted to Mr. Parry, and that the surveyor
should have permission, when he could find an eligible per.
son, to engage an additional clerk, at a salary of £l5O per
annum. Less assistance than that, if the pressure of busi-
ness continued as it was, would not be sufficient ; but it
would be well understood, that if the pressure were removed,
the person whom it was now contemplated to add to the
office, would be the first person to be discharged. With
these remarks he begged to move the confirmation of the
proceedings.
Mr. HOUGHTON seconded the motion.
Mr. BRIGHT inquired whether it was proposed that Mr.
Parry should receive salary from July last ?

M. G. H. LAwnENcnreplied he had not proposed that;
but it would be for the council to say what they wished in
that respect.

Mr. LLOYD said that with regard to the assistance now
required in the surveyor's office, he should only be doing his
duty to the council, as well as to the public, by stating what
had taken place in a committee where the assistance of the
surveyor and his staff was much required. He alluded to
the Courts of Law Committee. The subject of the assist-
ance required by the surveyor bad been mooted in that com-
mittee, and he then thought it his duty to state a rumour
which prevailed generally in the town that the assistants in
the surveyor's office did not devote their whole attention to
their duty to the Public, but that they engaged in private
pursuits. He knew it himself indeed ; for it had come to
his own knowledge more than once. (Hear, hear.) The
office was one where the fullest assistance ought to be given,
and it was not for the consideration of an additional £l5O a
year that a large estate like that ought to suffer. (Hear.)
He entertained the greatest respect for the surveyor, and lie
admitted that the fullest assistance ought to be afforded to
that gentleman in his department, and he added that the
committee of which he was a member had been kept waiting
for plans from the surveyor's office since last November, and
that they had been as yet unfurnished. (Hear.) He should
follow up these observations by an amendment, that the pro-
ceedings be not confirmed, so far as they relate to the giving
of additional assistance to the surveyor; and be intimated
his intention of further moving that ai committee be appointed
for the purpose of inquiring into that and other departments
in which the council had reason to expect that the whole of
the time of the assistants was not devoted to the public

service.
Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE said the corporation had a per.
fect right to the services of these men from nine in the morn-
ing till seven in the evenings, but he did not know whether
they could prevent them from making anything in the time
beyond that. All their services, however, between nine and
seven belonged to the corporation, and he understood that
they were given. He had heard that one, and only one, Mr.
Kilpin, might make something beyond his salary, in his own
time, but Mr. Robinson did not. And after all, what was
their salary ? It was only £l5O a year—a sum so trifling that
how could they expect a clerk to live respectably out of it ?
Mr. BIRKETT.—Then increase it.
Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE, in continuation, said he had no
objection to the proposed committee, but he trusted the
council would grant the assistance requiste for the service of
the estate. Do not let them throw an imputation on the sur-
veyor by refusing it.
Mr. LLOYD threw no imputation whatever upon the sur-
veyor. if there was talent in the office he wished it to be
paid, but at the same time he wished it to be given to the
corporation, who were entitled to it. The statement he had
made now had not been made without calling the surveyor
before the committee, and he then stated to the committee
that he had his suspicions.
The MAYOR believed the surveyor himself had been allowed
to furnish the plans of a public buiding, but he had not been
permitted to receive any remuneration.
Mr. PLATT thought the case, as made out by Mr. Lloyd,
was one of the very best arguments for increasing the salary
of the clerks in the surveyor's office. If they devoted their
services to the corporation from nine in the morning until
seven at night it was as much as any reasonable man could
expect.

Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE suggested that the inquiry should
be referred to the Finance Committee, but that temporary
assistance shout,' he granted as it really was required.
Mr. HODGSON said the chairman of the Finance Commit.
tee had not shown why the corporation were not entitled to
all the time of their servants, because they paid every per-
son for their services. He agreed with Mr. Lloyd that it was
important that all doubt be removed on this subject ; but he
could not agree with the chairman of the Finance Committee
that the services of the persons to be employed by the sur-
veyor, so long as those services were not superabundant,
ought to be given to any private purposes whatsoever, be-
cause they were entitled, not merely to the services of stated
hours, but to such an exertion of mind as would not allow
them to do any duty but that to the corporation, because the
corporation could afford to keep them fully occupied. But if
the corporation were in a bankrupt state, either of feeling or
money, and could not afford to pay them for their services,
they must let them work for others, but the corporation were
not in that condition : whatever remuneration was proper
and fitting they were enabled to give to the full extent, and in
return they called for the full dedication of the services of
their servants to them. The Improvement Committee the
other day were called upon as to some property without an
adequate report from the surveyor. He did not blame the
surveyor for this; and if his time was so occupied that the
committee could not have the benefit of his assistance, the
council must see that adequate means were supplied to him,
but at the same time all the persons in, the office truest give
the whole of their services to the corporation. He thought,
after the statement made by Mr. Lloyd, that it would he Weil
for the Finance Committee to make themselves thoroughly
acquainted with the fact as to whether the clerks in the de,
partment devoted their time to the discharge of the necessary
business or not.
Mr. Alderman EVANS said that all who were versed in the
modern history of this country would recollect a remark made
by Sheridan at the time of the mutiny at the Note. He ob-
served " this is no time tor going into disputes about what
ought hereafter to be done, hut we should save the fleet."
Now it was quite obvious whether they had the whole time
of the gentlemen in the surveyor's office or not, that even if
they had it, they required extra aid under the present pres-
sure. It was, therefore, the duty of the council instantly to
order temporary assistance, and then leave Mr. Lloyd and
other gentlemen who had any cause of complaint to institute
their inquiries. He was aware of the pressure upon the sure
veyor, because one of the committee, to which he had the ho-
nour to belong, had for the last nine months beers asking far
plans 'for the new market in Gill-street ; but he had access
constantly to the surveyor's office, where every diligence was,
at least outwardly, shown ; and he had not the slightest
doubt that let what would occur, with regard to the whole
time of the assistants, they could not dispense with the aid
the chairman of the Finance Committee had asked.
Mr. Alderman EARLE said that Mr. Hodgson's remarks
might cause some misconception ; if they went before the
public without explanation it might appear as if the Im-
provement Committee had been called upon to decide upon
purchasing property without having had a valuation of it.
This was not the case.
Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE agaid suggested that the matter
should be referred to the Finance Committee, the proceed-
ings in the meantime to be confirmed.
Mr. MELLOR agreed with Mr. Lloyd. He thought it
preposterous to engage further assistance until they knew
whether the present servants were not sufficient to perform
the necessory duty, and whether they could not discharge
that duty efficiently if they devoted their whole time. He
seconded Mr. Lloyd's amendment.
Mr. HENRY LAWRENCE thought it desirable that their
servants should devote the whole of their time to the services
of the corporation, and not be eking out their income by the
doing of other work.
Mr. LLOYD said the surveyor, in the presence of the com-
mittee, had distinctly stated that he had his suspicions—that
he had a difficulty in getting work from some, and that he
had not the same satisfaction from those in his office that he
considered himself entitled to receive.
Mr. PROCTER thought, under these circumstances, that
Mr. Lloyd had done no more than his duty in bringing the
subject before the council. (Hear, hear.)
The TOWN-CLERK begged to be allowed to make an ob.
servation upon this question. It seemed 3o him that the
council-had not looked at the question fairly raised upon the
demand of the surveyor himself for assistance. AU the dis-
cussion that had taken, place had applied to the regulation
of the clerks or assistants in the Surveyor's office ; but here
was a demand made by one of the officers of the corporation
for assistance. He thought there was not an officer of the
corporation whose duties were so well established as those
of the surveyor ; and there could be no question at all that
if there were any of them who discharged his duty effectively
and most efficiently it was the surveyor to the corporation.
Mr. HonGsoN really must say, with greahtimdetfoerpenrocceeetdo
the Town-Clerk, that it was out of ordr for
thuth s. The
u Town-clerk had not been asked to give his opinion
Mr. JOHN e
SMITH said there was no legal question before
onstio
the council.
The TOWN-CLERK said he was aware that there was no
legal question before the council, but at the same time he
thought that some courtesy ought' to be paid to one officer
when be spoke for the services of another. He thought also
that the councillor who made the objection. seemed to, have
forgotten the fact that he (the Town-clerk) did not stand
there merely as a servant or as an ordinary officer of the
corporation, but as a person whose office was recognised in
the charter; and, therefore, he had in that respect a right to
bring forward his views before the council, independent of
any legal capacity upon his part. Such was the notion he
entertained of his office—such.was the notion he had endea-
voured to carry out, and such was the notion of the most re-
spectable solicitors of the town—that he was a material part
of the corporation ; that he was a kind of steward of the cor-
poration, and that he had a right to bring forward; beyond
what belonged to him in his legal capacity, that which apper-
tained to the good administration of the estate. He re-
gretted to be obliged to allude to this point, but he would
still suggest that the question before the council on this
occasion was not immediately as to the management of the
assistants or clerks of the surveyor, but that it was a consi-
deration of the request which the surveyor had himself made
for additional assistance in his department.
Mr. Alderman BARCLAY, with all due deference to the
Town-clerk, thought him decidedly wrong in the law he had
laid down for himself. He looked on his duties in the coun-
cil as arduous and responsible, but unless the question were
one of law, or that he was called on to give an opinion, he
had no right to speak. Upon a question of the present kind,
the Town-clerk had no more right to give his opinion than
any man out of the council chamber.
Mr. HODGSON ventured as a personal friend of the Town-
clerk's to make the observation he had made, because it could
not be supposed that he had any other than a very kind feel-
ing towards that gentleman. The Town-clerk had, however,
no vote in the council, and was not an acknowledged,party
there except for consultation and advice, and when he gave
an opinion without being asked for it, he was trying to influ-
nee the council without right or authority.

Mr. EVANS thought they had better close the discussion,
and proceed to business.
Mr. LLOYD then shaped his amendment in nearly the fol-
lowing terms :—That the proceedings of the Finance Com-
mittee be confirmed, so far as authorising them to give such
temporary assistance to the surveyor in his office as they may
deem necessary, and that it be an intimation or instruction
to them, to inquire as to the efficient performance of the
duties of all the clerks there employed.
This amendment was agreed to, and the proceedings were
confirmed.